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Innovations to improve the recycling of waste

recycling in the city of Boston

Plastics, textiles, batteries, household appliances… How to optimize the recycling of everyday objects?

Here are some innovative solutions to better recycle your waste!

In Massachusetts, 61% of waste is recycled… which leaves a lot of room for improvement to give a second life to huge quantities of waste and improve sustainability!

If some of them are thrown in the wrong sorting bin, others are simply not recyclable. At least, not yet… Some companies and start-ups offer innovative solutions to properly sort waste, and especially to reuse those that, until then, could not be. Discover 5 innovations to improve waste recycling and preserve the planet.

The connected trash can

Does this plastic bottle go in the yellow trash can or the garbage bin?

You will soon no longer have to ask yourself the question! Indeed, a start-up has imagined the trash of tomorrow: the trash can that automatically sorts waste. This connected trash can works thanks to artificial intelligence.

The waste is identified and then compressed before being placed in the correct compartment. The interest? Put an end to sorting errors. But also store more waste thanks to compression, to reduce collection routes. Intended for public places, this new bin contributes to better waste management and, consequently, to a significant reduction in pollution.

Battery recycling

Electric vehicles, a miracle solution for ecological transport?

This is not the case because of the batteries used to operate them. Between resource depletion and limited lifespan, their design causes significant environmental damage.

But what if electric vehicle batteries could finally be recycled? This is the objective of a research project which is developing an innovative process for recycling lithium-ion batteries.

Unlike more conventional processes, this recycles metals while retaining their physical and chemical qualities. How?

Thanks to the sorting and refinement of the various components. The batteries are first shredded to recover the different elements that make them up: plastic, graphene and metals (cobalt, lithium, manganese, etc.). They are then treated to remove impurities before being reused for the design of new batteries!

A start-up that recycles plastic to infinity

If the plastic is already recyclable, the process is not optimal.

Indeed, not all types of plastics can be reused. And when this is the case, they lose quality with each recycling cycle. What if they could all be recycled endlessly while retaining their properties?

This is the promise made by a French start-up specializing in the recycling of plastics and textiles. The company is based on a process of biorecycling PET plastics (Polyethylene terephthalate).

It uses specific enzymes to completely depolymerize the material: under the combined action of the enzymes, the material is decomposed. The different groups of molecules thus obtained are then purified before being reused. This plastic becomes 100% recyclable… and 100% recycled!

As PET is one of the most consumed plastics in the world, this invention is particularly promising in addressing environmental issues.

Underground waste collection

Already in place for several years in many New England states, underground waste collection is gradually digging its way into Boston.

The principle? Buried pipes connect the collective dumpsters of the municipalities to the sorting centres. The waste is transported to the place of recycling, without the intervention of the collection trucks.

The benefits are multiple: reduction of CO2 emissions, less garbage cans in the streets, less road traffic, less dumpster rentals (click here for more info), etc. Still being tested in Boston and more particularly in Dorchester, this way of collecting waste is emerging as one of the ecological solutions of the future. However, it requires significant adjustments and costs: more than 10 million dollars to install the device in a municipality…

Textile recycling

Water, cotton, manufacture of synthetic fibres… The production of clothes requires a high consumption of resources. In addition, this sector generates many CO2 emissions and not all textile waste is recyclable.

Fortunately, start-ups offer innovative solutions to reuse textiles at the end of their life. Thus, a company markets various clothes, accessories and underwear made from used socks.

Another innovation: the transformation of recycled textiles into yarn! How it works? Used textiles are recovered and then sorted according to their color before simply being transformed into reels of yarn… Although this French innovation only allows the recycling of cotton fibers, it remains a major ecological solution since cotton represents a third of consumption. fiber world.

Waste management and federal laws

Faced with the delays accumulated in waste management regulations in the USA and faced with the inability of elected officials to organize, the state took more drastic measures
hence the deadline of the year 2022 set by the new law which imposes recycling and compulsory recovery of all waste that may be.

Today to meet these environmental objectives, recycling service providers must therefore reach higher standards. The plan, which spans two periods, has entered in a concrete phase.

Waste management that is in line with federal law

At all times, man was aware that he was located in a environment, but today the need to protect it is becoming imperative. Indeed, in the face of various threats, long ignored, which weaken our environment and of which awareness was late, the requirements now are such that a real social demand for the guarantee of an environment emerges likely to bring personal and collective fulfillment.

In this context of rules must be applied in order to define what to do and what not to to do in the protection of the environment; these rules constitute the right which is therefore called upon to play an eminent role. Also, an environmental law has developed over time and has taken on the extent. In addition, the management and treatment of waste cannot be improvised since they fit into a specific legal framework.

Thus, the regulation on waste management fits into federal environmental law which in this case constitutes the general framework hence the interest of defining it beforehand and this in a non-exhaustive way as this subject is vast.

The dumpster rental situation

In the aftermath of World War II, Europe was ruined and weakened. This is why, faced with the stigma of war, France, Italy, FRG, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands direct their concerns towards reconstruction, security, peace, production. Therefore, originally the European community had an economic objective so that the EEC Treaty did not include any specific environmental provision; the need to protect the environment was not glaring; moreover, the problems relating to environment were therefore not on the agenda at all.

Only two articles alluded to the environment more or less: one which uses terms of “harmonious development and balanced expansion, and another one which allows states to prohibit or restrict the free movement of goods on the grounds of “protecting the life and health of persons and animals or animal welfare.

According to experts at a Louisville dumpster rental company, it follows that federal environmental policy has only emerged in the 1970s. In fact, it was in 1975 that the first directives relating to to the environment were introduced at a summit in October 1972. This new environmental policy revolved around thirteen points which are as follows:

  1. The best environmental policy is to avoid the creation of pollution from the outset or nuisances and not to combat after the fact the effects of these pollution and nuisances;
  2. Environmental policy can and go hand in hand with economic development and social;
  3. The impact of all technical processes should be taken into account as early as possible environmental planning and decision-making;
  4. Any exploitation of resources and the natural environment resulting in appreciable damage to ecological balance must be avoided;
  5. The level of scientific and technological knowledge, with a view to more effective action to preserve and improve the environment and the fight against pollution and nuisances. It is therefore necessary to promote research for these purposes;
  6. The facts caused by the prevention and elimination of nuisances are incumbent, by principle, to pollute;
  7. Care should be taken to ensure that the activities pursued in a State do not lead to environmental degradation in another state;
  8. The States must, in their national policies of environment, take into account the interests of developing countries, and, in in particular, examine the possible repercussions of the measures envisaged within the framework of these policies on the economic development of these states;
  9. The Community and the States must make their voices heard within the international organizations dealing with environmental aspects and provide in these pregnant a general contribution;
  10. Protecting the environment is everyone’s business in the community, and it is therefore that public opinion realize its importance;
  11. For each different type of pollution, the best action level should be sought adapted to the nature of this pollution;
  12. Important aspects of environmental policy should no longer be considered and carried out in isolation;
  13. The environmental policy in the Community strives, as far as possible, to the aim of coordinating and harmonizing national policies without hampering progress which, at the state level, has already been made or could be made. Such progress must be made in a form that does not jeopardize the proper functioning of the local markets.

Top 10 Tips for renovating your house

Improving and remodeling your home is a job that can be both enjoyable and beneficial for anyone who owns a home.

However, for a beginner, knowing what tool to use or understanding when you need a zoning permit and what the standard regulation codes are, can be very intimidating. What is the best way for a beginner to start researching a home improvement?

For starters, they can read the following tips!

When you are doing a renovation, consider the investment. Will the renovation appeal to a buyer in the future? It might be hard to sell if you add too much or a personal touch to your home.

Add elegance to your home with a unique addition. For example, a wall-to-wall library or wine cellar. You will impress guest and potential home buyers.

If you are running out of counter space in your kitchen, consider an over-the-range microwave. You can find these type of microwave ovens in a variety of prices.

Many of them have special features like convection cooking. They are great for making all types of foods. This can change the way you cook forever.

Think practical

Don’t make improvements that are impractical. It might not make any sense to put a pool in Alaska, etc. Add value to your home, not negative features.

Make sure you have a good place for all leftover debris when you start your next big home improvement project. You’ll find that trying to handle waste disposal on the fly is both frustrating and expensive; you can save yourself money and headaches by making arrangements ahead of time.

A roof replacement is one of the more expensive home improvement projects. Talk to at least three different roofers to secure estimates — and call their references.

Whether you want composite shingles, lightweight tile, metal, or wood shake on your roof, you’ll have a lot of choices. Have your contractor help you make a decision.

Whenever you paint or stain an object made of wood, you should begin by sandpapering the surface in order to smooth it out, then use a damp rag to dust the object off. If you want a smooth effect, choose a piece of sandpaper with a very fine grit. Wiping it off removes dust which could leave bumps behind.

Don’t overlook landscaping when looking to home improvements projects. Your lawn is seen first by people coming to your home. Keep your grass cut and neat, and you may even want to plant some shrubs to make your lawn look even better.

Think cost

If you’re doing the home improvement projects on your own, be sure you buy high-quality supplies and tools. That may cost you a little more in the beginning, but it will save you money overall.

Cheap tools and materials can break or wear down quickly. Tools aren’t exactly cheap, so replacing them often isn’t something you want to be doing.

When undertaking major landscaping home improvement projects, always consult with your neighbors about drainage before work begins. Your property needs all of its water drained if you want good landscaping. It’s usually convenient to dump it at a neighbor’s property, however, they probably won’t like that. Drainage plans can only be coordinated with proper communication.

When it comes to furniture, you should make sure you have just the right amount. An over-furnished room will feel much smaller than it really is. Even though the furniture is part of your lifestyle, buyers probably prefer more open space in the room. A sparsely furnished room appears larger.

Homeowners should do additions and renovations in the middle of a slump in the real estate market. Contractors, building professionals and big home store outlets are all looking for work during a slump, so homeowners are in a prime spot to save. There is no expiration date for home improvements. Once the housing market becomes better, renovations will hold more value.

You should now be fired up with enthusiasm about commencing a home improvement task.

Home improvement projects can be a lot of fun to people that are trying to improve their house on their own. Use above tips and techniques in your next home improvement project.

Visiting Rhode Island

Founded on the dreams of an idealist, Rhode Island spreads today its rich maritime and industrial history against the backdrop of idyllic beaches and charming colonial villas. Even if it takes less than two hours by car to cross Rhode Island, the smallest state of New England hides a surprising diversity of landscapes and activities.

It is no coincidence that Rhode Island is called the Ocean State: 640 km of sandy coast whose most beautiful beaches are in South County, an amalgam of peaceful cities, established since the 1660s. Block Island, 20 km from the coast, is a true oasis of tranquility for those who want to practice outdoor activities.

In Providence, the past and the present rub shoulders in a remarkable architectural harmony. A revitalization plan started in the 1980s gave the dean of the state a youthful touch to celebrate the port’s heritage, without breaking the century-old charm of her Mile of History which runs along Benefit Street. Experts claim that Providence has the largest concentration of historic homes on American soil, and the variety of architectural styles of the remarkable homes and buildings scattered throughout its territory lives up to this reputation.

The towering Rhode Island State House towers over downtown Providence in all its whiteness. Designed by the New York firm McKim, Mead and White in 1891-1892, this structure has the fourth largest freestanding dome in the world, just after the Taj Mahal in India. The interior is as impressive as the exterior, and you can visit it independently, or with a guide by appointment.

Benefit Street, the most famous street in Providence, the Mile of History, privileged witness of a past greatness and the wanderings of the authors Edgar Allan Poe and HP Lovecraft, who lived in the city, was born in 1758. Quiet artery of the capital, Benefit Street is an amalgamation of residences belonging to different eras and social classes. Colonial and Early Federal styles rub shoulders with 19th and 20th century architecture in a happy mix of private residences and public institutions.

The Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design is one of the most interesting museums in Rhode Island. You will find there several permanent exhibitions; for example, there is a gallery of ancient Egyptian art with a sarcophagus and a mummy, a collection of 20th-century art that includes works by Braque, Matisse, Picasso, Kokoshka and Rousseau, as well as a collection of figures of porcelain. The highlight of all the exhibitions is a huge Buddha from the first Japanese Buddhist temple, installed in the Asian art gallery.

At the corner of Benefit Street and Power Street, John Brown House is a must-see stop in Providence. One of the wealthiest merchants in Providence and the first to enter into trade with China, John Brown (1736-1803) gave his brother Joseph the mandate to draw up plans for a home reflecting his wealth and social status. The interior is marked by the trade with China that John Brown maintained, as well as by European trends and the talent of the best carpenters in Providence who carved the woodwork. The Rhode Island Historical Society inherited the home in 1941 and undertook meticulous restoration work by restoring the original colors and wallpaper, with the help of Providence dumpsters to cleanout the debris. Each piece is a museum in itself, containing valuable furniture and decorative items, as well as an impressive collection of silverware.

The Blackstone Valley unites villages, farms, cities and waterways between Providence and Worcester, Massachusetts further north. Old factories and various other structures dot the landscape of the region, witnessing a prosperous past. As in the Connecticut River valley in Massachusetts, the second half of the 19th century saw the cotton industry migrate to the southern states, where labor was less costly, making collapse the northern Rhode Island economy. Today, however, the Blackstone River Valley is undergoing significant revitalization, and some industrial cities of yesteryear including Pawtucket and Woonsocket have an interesting story to tell and are definitely worth a visit.

The city of Pawtucket holds a special place in industrial history in the United States for having been the site of one of the country’s first successful cotton mills, built in 1793 by Samuel Slater. The latter managed to successfully reproduce spinning looms, fraying machines, carding machines and broach benches of British origin, and its hydraulic plant contributed to the advent of the industrial revolution in the United States.

Today the original facilities are grouped together inside the Slater Mill Historic Site, a museum complex including the Old Slater Mill with yellow clapboard, the Wilkinson Mill, a machine shop, Slater’s house and the Sylvanus Brown House from 1758. The site serves as a regional educational center on the textile arts, the history of industrialism, and how technology has influenced the culture of the region. It is also an excellent historical presentation of the Blackstone Valley.

Woonsocket appeared on maps at the beginning of the 19th century as a crossroads on the Boston-Hartford route, and commercial activity only increased with the inauguration of the Worcester-Providence Blackstone Canal in 1829. In 1850, the city was dotted with factories and spinning mills that kept attracting French Canadian workers from Quebec – in 1930, 70% of the population of Woonsocket was already of Quebec origin, and this locality had a French-language daily until 1942, as well as a partially French-speaking radio station until the 1960s. Some second, third and fourth generation descendants of these immigrant workers still speak the language.

The history of the unique culture of this city, which it owes to the industrial revolution, is told to you in the formidable Museum of Work and Culture, which constitutes a true tribute to the Quebecers who left their homes to work in the factories of the New England. It is a very well-appointed two-story structure that embodies what a very small regional museum should be. You enter it by crossing the threshold of a typical Quebec farmhouse, then going through the workshop of a spinning mill, a church, a school and an assembly hall.

South County, stretching from Narragansett to Watch Hill, is dotted with distinct villages. Those that have been erected along the 160 km of this sandy strip that forms the south of the Ocean State constitute peaceful vacation spots.

Kids will love the South County Museum. Built on the grounds of a farm called Canonchet, the buildings of the South County Museum retrace the history of South County. There is a main exhibit with artefacts, as well as a carpentry workshop and a forge that can still be used, but especially domestic animals that will delight little ones. The dynamism of the staff makes it one of the attractions not to be missed in South County.

Located 12 miles from the Rhode Island coast, Block Island is certainly one of New England’s best kept secrets. This gem, many times compared to Ireland, was once nicknamed “Little Manitou Island” by the Native Americans who lived there. Following the visit of the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block in 1614, the island was named “Block Island”. Here you have to forget everything about a hectic visit and focus on the best that this sweet and mysterious island has to offer: bike rides on idyllic roads, hikes on numerous trails and the possibility of observing a very great variety of birds, or to take advantage of the magnificent beaches that surround it.

At Isaac’s Corner, the Mohegan Trail provides access to one of the most spectacular landscapes on the island. You can walk along trails that descend along a cliff to a beautiful beach. History tells that the native Amerindians, the Manisses, cornered their Mohegan enemies at the end of the mainland; the latter had no choice but to drop from the top of the 45m cliff, now known as the “Mohegan Bluffs”. If you are attracted to the beach below the Mohegan Bluffs, it is safer to get there by the series of steps near the Southeast Light. The tallest lighthouse in New England houses an interpretation center and a small souvenir shop sold to finance the restoration of the brick structure dating from 1873.

Sustainability in Raleigh, NC

Downtown Raleigh in North Carolina can be visited through a sustainability self-guided tour. If you stroll through downtown Raleigh hunting for signs of sustainability, you’ll find plenty of examples. The City’s Sustainability Tour is a 2.3-mile loop through downtown with stops at buildings, parks and restaurants that all represent some aspect of sustainability. The map and tour is quite unique in the nation, showing how much emphasis the local municipality as put on environmental issues.

They are passionate about their community in Raleigh and love to support their neighborhood and the environment, and they pride themselves on their locally sourced food as well and sustainable practices within the restaurant locations in the city.

Raleigh’s commitment to sustainability focuses on interdependent relationships between economic strength, environmental stewardship, and social equity. The Office of Sustainability works to make the world a better place. They save resources and money by testing new technologies and encouraging new initiatives in recycling and waste management.

To advance its commitment to sustainability, Raleigh developed a roadmap to Raleigh’s Energy Future: The Climate Energy Action Plan (CEAP) in 2012. CEAP provides an integrated framework for Raleigh’s continued leadership in energy, climate, and sustainability.

This website, which represents sustainability efforts across the university of North Carolina, is managed by the University Sustainability Office. Contact them at sustainability@ncsu.edu to learn more about junk removal and recycling research.

Sustainable Raleigh, N.C. is their motto. Indeed Raleigh, N.C., has become a pioneer of true sustainability. The city implemented a three-pronged strategy the focuses on (1) environmental stewardship, (2) social equity and (3) economic strength. As they should all three go hand in hand and not been seen as three separate goals. The economic benefits of sustainability are numerous. Raleigh’s commitment to sustainability focuses on this interdependent relationships to develop a better future for all of their residents.

The Office of Sustainability works to make the world a better place. They save resources, and money, through testing new technologies and encouraging new ways of managing the city as well as local business, in order to reduce pollution and improve recycling methodologies.

BSC Director Jessica Thomas was recognized for work promoting triple bottom line principles. Jessica Thomas, director of the NC State Business Sustainability Collaborative (BSC) based in the NC State Poole College of Management, is one of four individuals recognized by the North Carolina Business Council at its Second Annual Leadership in Visionary Enterprise Awards Luncheon.

The Raleigh Convention Center is not only be the “Crown Jewel” of downtown but also the most sustainable building the City has ever built. The goal of designing and constructing a “green” building was established early in the planning phase of the project.

In our current economy there is a growing need for energy efficient technologies. Increasing energy efficiency in residential and commercial structures—Green Building/Sustainable Technology— is quickly becoming a priority among private and public sectors.

Some sustainability solution partners with hospitals to act more environmentally responsible and improve the quality of healthcare through more sustainable resource allocations. They are the leading provider of reprocessing and remanufacturing services for single-use medical devices. Raleigh dumpster rental services are used to dispose of the large quantity of hazardous materials generated from these hospitals.

Raleigh International is a sustainable development charity. They work in remote, rural areas to improve access to safe water and sanitation, build community resilience, to sustainably manage natural resources and to protect vulnerable environments.

How to Use Promo and Discount Codes for Your Business

Growing a business is hard work. Sometimes, it can also be a matter of luck. Nonetheless, if you take the time to develop a solid marketing plan, you’ll get one step closer to your ultimate business goals. For best results, you should always mix in some clever tactics such as using promo and discount codes for your business. Let’s see how you can do this and when you should do it.

Promo codes and discount coupons are meant to attract more people to buy your products. Whenever you offer your stuff at discounted prices, you increase your chances to get new customers.

Some people who may have been put off by the price will now see your offer as an excellent opportunity to make a test purchase. If they like it, they may repeat it. Even better, they may recommend your products to their friends, thus contributing to the growth of your business.

While selling your products for cheaper can attract new customers, doing this may affect your business in the long run. Promotions may affect trust, particularly if you run them too often. Consumers may not take you seriously, if they see a new promo code for your products each and every week or so. In order to boost the effectiveness of such tactics, consider limiting them in time and frequency.

In fact, a discount campaign once or twice a year should be enough for those who want to give your products a try to purchase them at a discounted rate. Like this, you offer your potential customers what they want, while also preserving your brand equity. Unless you have a product you really want to get rid of, avoid offering crazy discounts.

Remember that the ultimate goal of your business should be to make you profit. Why would you work to lose money? Give some small discounts, if needed, but keep an eye on the market and on your main competitors. Most probably, some of them will copy your activities, so they will offer their clients discounts that are at least as good as yours.

This is a war with no winners, so avoid it in the first place. Don’t undervalue your products, because that may lead to an overall decrease of the prices in your niche. On long-term, all players on the market will lose money, so they will eventually go bankrupt.

If you want to make the most our of your promotional efforts, consider choosing your timing the smart way. Take a look at the biggest brands in your industry or niche. When are they organizing their promotions? What kind of discounts are they offering their clients? What marketing channels are they using to advertise their promo codes?

You don’t need to copy their strategy step by step, but rather try to develop your own plan, based on your own insights. Always make sure that you advertise your promotions where your potential clients will be the most prone to seeing them. In addition, try to identify the best coupon codes websites, as they are very popular among smart shoppers.

By listing your coupon codes on these websites, you’ll gain lots of new followers. These websites send regular newsletters to their members, featuring their latest coupon codes and promotional offers. Your codes will reach the inboxes of millions of users.

Even though most of them won’t become your buying customers, they could spread the word about your promotions. You can learn a lot from your competition so be sure to click here to visit laylamattresscoupons.com and see what they are doing to gain more customers.

If you learn how to use discount codes the smart way, you’ll be able to enjoy their benefits without affecting your bottom line. After all, the main point of running a business is to make a profit out of it.

For Kale Realty, the frenzy for commercial real estate is confirmed

nice house

Driven by strong momentum in the US, global commercial investment flows are approaching record highs.

In its Global MarketFlash survey of November 2018, CBRE takes stock of recent developments in the commercial real estate investment market across the world’s major regions: the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, the Middle East andAfrica. Firstly, the annual volume of transactions worldwide has now reached an average of one trillion dollars over the past three years, which is five times the volume recorded at the bottom of the crisis in 2009.

According to Richard Barkham, Chief Economist at CBRE: “Although interest rates are slowly rising, global growth remains strong and investors are still very involved in real estate. We see innovation advancing in all areas of the real estate industry, including the exciting changes currently taking place in the office sector, leading to new investment strategies. “

The proliferation of mergers and acquisitions in real estate since
several years ago is a perfect illustration of the growing appeal for investors. More recently between January and September 2018, some 725 billion dollars were invested in the world, an increase of 3.6% compared to 2017 over the same period the previous year, despite a third quarter slightly down (-1.2%).

In addition, the proliferation of mergers and acquisitions in the real estate sector for several years is a perfect example of investors’ growing attraction for real estate in the current cycle. Witness the purchase of GGP, the second largest owner of shopping centers in the United States, by the US giant Brookfield this year for $ 15 billion.

The US market, which accounts for more than half of global transactions, boosted overall year-over-year growth in the third quarter (+ 17%). Among the most popular asset classes, note the good performance of the hospitality sector (+ 23%) and the residential sector (+ 14%), the latter being supported by a favorable demographic context.

In a context of compression of the capitalization rate, so-called “opportunistic” investors are starting to show a greater appetite for assets located in secondary zones, in search of higher returns, which is symptomatic of an end of cycle position. According to broker Kale Realty, the Illinois and Chicago real estate markets in particular currently attract a lot of foreign capital due to its undervaluation compared to the rest of the nation.

Finally, it is interesting to note that Switzerland accounts for a sizeable share of foreign capital flows to the United States, with an annual growth rate of more than 50% in 2018. Often they look for undervalued properties where they can improve the value with home improvements like landscaping and renovations.

In the Asia Pacific real estate markets which account for about 13% of the global market, capital flows have decreased by 9.7% since the beginning of 2018, although New Zealand, Taiwan and Hong Kong showed solid growth. Nevertheless it is rather in China that investor sentiment has been somewhat affected, anticipating further trade tensions with the United States. In addition, the increased volatility of the stock markets, coupled with a less favorable credit environment and higher mortgage rates, could hamper real estate capital flows within the Asia Pacific region in the coming months.

Capital invested mainly flocked to the UK, France and Germany. In Europe, the Middle East and the Africa zone, commercial real estate investment has totaled US $ 250 billion since January 2018, posting its best result in nine months.

The capital invested flows mainly to three main countries, namely the United Kingdom, France and Germany. It benefits from the strength of the residential and office markets in its five largest cities, while the French market remains dependent on a concentration of activity in its capital.

Even though the uncertainties surrounding the Brexit negotiations remain in the United Kingdom, with investment volumes edging down only 4% since the beginning of the year, while London continues to attract capital from around the world.

Business Dynamics That Will Shape Customer’s Era


Business reorganizing CEOs and board are aware that incremental overhauling on business will not get far enough. Going too slow or doing little may put at risk firms as they wrestle in a consumer-led, digital-driven market.

The big question, how remote do they have to go: getting closer to the consumer? Avoiding the complexities, and a marginal result of trying to convey experiences to multitudinous customers segment across numerous products?

In 2019, world leaders will not evolve operational control downward to individuals brands and subdivisions to stay close to the customers. It will be an equalizer so as not to fragmentize the business or dismantle margins.

The prediction is ⅓ of the companies in the B2C space will start overhauling their business set-up to be able to stay close to their customers and efficiently compete by exposure.

These companies will shift from a functional-siloed organization that prioritizes efficiency and restriction to a customer-driven model structure that leverages shared function to protect margins.

Leadership Changes

With an effective leadership change, organizations and companies will overcome the difficulty of failed change efforts and operate towards more effective, stronger, and more prosperous future. Concurrently, business climate places an incomparable three leaderships dimension:

  • Understand and personalize engagement with customers.
  • Managing a digital business.
  • Mindful what is needed to win in a customer-led, digital-centric market.

A lot of business leaders construct their career on an inside-out approach which is the capability to manage the business and constantly drive efficiency. Business leaders will see doubled attrition rates because CEOs dig in and designate heads with both customer and digital competencies.

Transitioning Roles

There is an original thread to this forecast: CEOs see eye to eye with the deep-rooted changes necessary to triumph in a customer-led, SEO management, and digital-centric market. These revisions must be stable.

Creation of new titles like ‘chief data officer,’ ‘chief digital officer,’ and ‘chief customer officer’ makes sense in one light, but they hush-up gaps in the current team leadership (particularly the CMI and CMO).

Gap-filler roles also institute a governance jumble, precedes unnecessary complexities, and disregard the real tasks at hand of placing the right leadership with the appropriate skills.

In 2019, CEOs will go on strengthening and normalizing the team leaders, and temporary roles will either go out of fashion or are tapered (down) to drive the main digital, data/analytics, and consumer programs.

Trust Becomes A Business Currency

Halfway of 2018, there is a forecast that cyber security will be a catastrophic issue in the U.S. presidential election and that some executives will resign due to a breach. Both of these came true. And it will still get worse in the coming year. What will amplify in 2017 are privacy breach, ransomware, service denial and angled espionage which impacts will be catastrophic:

  • Some companies on the levels of ‘Fortune 1000’ will go downhill due to cyber breach.
  • Healthcare fissure will become as trivial as a breach on retail.
  • About 500,000 internet-of-things will find a middle ground.
  • Midway of the 100 days of the new U.S. President will confront a cyber crisis.
  • National security will hammer on agencies to enhance their technology in surveillance that will create ethical and legal conflict between people and government.

Customers are much aware and wary of security and privacy risks, and they are frustrated by it. Because of this, customers will increasingly lose or gain rapport based on the great trust they will give to a company (e.g., www.linkvistadigital.com).

Talent In Short Supply

Macroeconomic or unemployment statistics conceal and confuse the significant imbalance in employment existence. There is a pressure in low-skilled jobs struggling to keep pace with a fast market momentum.

Demand for certain responsibilities obliterates scarce supply, creating a discontent in labor markets every day. For business leaders in old and new technology, the dominant ten competencies and roles that will be probably in demand and difficult to fill up are:

  • Data scientist.
  • CX professional.
  • Experienced designers.
  • Digital business leader.
  • Software developer.
  • A skilled analyst at predictive and statistical analytics.
  • Seller consultants
  • Cyber security professional.
  • Content professionals well-versed in storytelling.
  • Augmented and virtual-realist designer.

Hand-pick jobs will remain to be in negative unemployment, placing a huge strain on talent acquisition and talent management.

Revenue Risks Is Customer Driven

Customers who are empowered are now moving ahead: 40 percent of clients have a high-reaching willingness and capability to shift spend, with an added 25 percent creation of that mindset.

Today’s customer rewards or punishes companies based on one experience, a one moment in time. This attitude has been a trademark of the millennials, but it is now inoperative for old generations and has now normally considered. It can pivot a P&L into a leaking bucket.

One slipshod experience can spark off an immediate – and probably prolonged – shift in spending to a competitor, triggering companies to increases revenue per customer or increase the customer base to remain steady. We suppose tax risks – both shiftings spend on current product and incapacity to enrich – to boost up to 50 percent.

Industries who are securing customers using contracts are also affected by this one way or another. Revenue risks is a wake-up call for business and will serve to step up their initiatives on customers experiences and a wider effort in organizing and competing in a consumer-led market.

Operationalizing Emotion

Human beings by nature are imperceptibly rational and extremely emotional. Feeling disappointed, valued or frustrated are emotions that overrule decision-making about brand spending and loyalty.

The fact that influencing and understanding emotions are a crucial ingredient in companies success is not incredible – it has been the brand’s effort’s heart and soul. It is also the bedrock of the emotions-recognition technique (measuring physiological response) concurrently to scout for some retailers and conservative ethnographic researchers.

What is amazing is how emotions have been taken for granted and excluded from companies experience designs and core operation. Companies are now facing with some scary numbers: customers who experienced disgust, feeling of neglect or anger in the course of brands interaction are about eight times will unlikely forgive the company.

In 2019, some companies will make a significant incursion on what motivates customers decision. It is an initial step in discerning emotions as both a delineative and prognostic measure to guide experience designs and govern operation.

Companies will start to control better and quantify the power of emotion to attract empathy and spend.

New Technology Revolution

Technology has already altered the world: people’s lifestyle, customers empowerment, parameters on how business operates. The fast pace of innovation is confusing, The next generation of technologies is ready to overhaul industries and customers experience. The next wave will emerge in three schemes:

  • Harmonized engaging technologies that will build a unique virtual, digital and physical experience across journeys.
  • Technology insights that will alter the commitment of personalization and prognostic analytics into reality and be able to execute at a number cruncher level at scale.
  • Technology support that will run new level of speed and effectiveness and sanction the new wave of the technology revolution.

A fresh wave of technologies which remake customer experience and industries will start to emerge in 2017.

Artificial Intelligence

Whether unknowingly or knowingly, customers have contributed a remarkable calculation of personal and behavioral information to companies. From a consumer’s point of view, that alright of the company utilizes the same information to bring about inestimable, secluded experiences.

No worries, this hasn’t happened yet, thanks to data trapped in multifarious record systems and companies’ ineptness to correspond and drive insight that spreads their internal functional silos.

2017 will be the big opening year for information floodgates, run by a rapacious appetite for a dig-deep contextual insight that drives customers engagements via mobiles, wearables, and loT. Artificial Intelligence (AI) investments will triple as companies tend to tap into multiple systems, avant-garde analytics, and machine erudition technologies.

Vendors that are already digging up components of subjective computing talent into their solutions – such as Google, IBM, Adobe, Squirro, Salesforce, and Persado – will prosper.

Companies and businesses will continue to experiment with virtual reality and augmented reality, setting the foundation for greater implementations in 2018 and 2019.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing has been one of the most impressive and eye-popping forces in the past decade technology market. And it is no longer an appendage technology bolted onto an old-school infrastructure as a venue to create a few consumer-facing apps.

Cloud application (SaaS), business service, and platforms (laaS/PaaS) now energizing a whole spectrum of digital capability, from the core systems of enterprise energizing the back office to the mobile apps bringing about new customers experiences.

The cloud market will speed up in 2017. Businesses utilize multitudinous clouds today, and they will use even more onwards as ClOs emerges to harmonize cloud ecosystem that connects employees, partners, customers, devices, and vendors to serve growing customers expectation.

Some will drive further, transforming from mere cloud adopters to creating cloud businesses themselves.

Takeaway

Companies across regions and industries are aware of the consequences of a customers-centric market that are on a fast pace. For a few, it serves as a realistic threat to their survival; for most, it signifies an important and probably prolonged revenue risk battle,.

While you are not still blown-away by this scenario, make an assessment of your structure, culture, talent, technology, business parameters, and technology to comprehend how deep the modification you need to become competitive and triumph in the customer’s age.

It is now the new era of business dynamics where customers expectations are at its height, and downhill tolerance for even mediocre experience pressures the hands of leadership, companies in the mainstream, and laggards alike.

How to Increase Conversion Rate of an Ecommerce Site

Traffic conversion is the blood and soul of any ecommerce business aspiring to make it big in the near future. The word “conversion” refers to a particular action that you want your visitors to complete. It may range from online sales to email signups to social media shares and so on.

Now, what would be the ideal conversion rate for your ecommerce site? Well, the average conversion rate for landing page stands at 2.35%. But you are aiming to beat the competition. So, the target should be to reach somewhere between 5.31%-11.45%.

conversion optimization audit

With almost every other retail store launching its ecommerce outlet nowadays, the competition is fiercely cut-throat in the contemporary online commerce scene. Building a beautiful online store and stuffing it with your inventory alone won’t be enough to beat the competition. You have to “optimize” your site.

The post below offers the top tips to optimize your ecommerce store to boost its conversion rate.

Superior product images

Despite its amazing convenience, online shopping has one major disadvantage.

It does not allow the customers to touch and feel the product physically. Thus, you have to make your featured products as realistic as possible to help customers with an informed decision.

It starts with top notch product images. Here are some points that you should remember while uploading the photos of your products on your online store:

  • High resolution images for a clearer view
  • Photos must be taken with lots of white space all around the item
  • Upload photos of the product from different angles
  • High interactive product images that will enable viewers to zoom, pinch, scale and rotate images as per their want

Strategic product description

Next to photos, your visitors will check the product information before taking any concrete decision. Here are the tips you should remember for the best optimized product description for your site.

  • Information-rich yet concise product description
  • Start with bullets for main features and unique advantages of the specific item
  • Follow the bullets with an elaborate detail of the product in a paragraph
  • Don’t make it too long

Don’t forget to paste positive customer reviews about the product on the same page.

Count on product videos

Product videos are any day more influential than static images. Now, it’s true that video is a comparatively more costly affair than images.

But, there are ways to offset the cost quotient and still get appealing product videos for your ecommerce. The solution is testimonial videos from your customers. Just request your customers to send you testimonial videos featuring the product and the amazing experience they had with it.

Free deals

Nothing attracts a customer most than the “FREE” word.

One of the best ways to keep your traffic glued to your portal is assurance of handy savings. Visitors are as attracted to discounted sales and freebies as bees are to pollen. So, launch occasional sales on your website and coupons for your popular products. Even a handy 10-20% discount from your side will go a long way in pumping up the conversion rate.

You should also consider free shipping to make things more convenient for your consumers. If you can’t offset the shipping costs on all orders, at least allow consumers to enjoy free delivery from a certain order amount.

Invest in remarketing efforts

Remarketing is one of the smartest ways to boost CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization) for your site.

Not everyone who checks your product and adds it to cart, buys it right away. Studies show around 96% of visitors leave a site without any conversion activity. This is where “remarketing” comes in.

The concept refers to the process where you target these visitors through relevant targeted messaging to influence them to complete the sale. These targeted messages will be sent to these visitors when they will participate in various activities in the web world. These include checking their emails, browsing of social media pages or checking YouTube videos.

The whole idea is to create a holistic influence around them. And, yes, while retargeting send your product messages with a lesser price guarantee than what they saw on your web page initially.

The other strong optimization tactics will be 24/7 live chat support, guarantee of advanced security measures to protect customer information, multi-payment facility and of course – easy and speedy browsing. Proof of sales addon tools are a recent tactic that helps build trust in a site the user is not familiar with.

Just put yourself into your potential customer’s shoes before taking up the optimization efforts and everything will fall into place.

Who Uses SEO, Really

“How does Google settle which site to rank first?”

Google utilizes an algorithm that attempts to understand what a particular page or website is all about. It also analyzes popularity and engagement of users. The answer to the question above is basically how a webmaster optimizes his or her site.

SEO expert

Any company with an existing website can benefit from search engine optimization. Not only can it help increase visibility and rankings, but it can also drive more traffic and bring paying customers. Although every page on the Web needs some optimizing, some industries gain more from it. Because SEO is a massive part of branding, it is a pivotal demographic in influencing the wants and needs of the consumers.

Still, some industries or companies benefit from it more than others. Here are some of the people who absolutely study, analyze and implement SEO.

Start-Up Businesses

Start-Up companies have two problems that can hinder them from succeeding. First, their websites do not have visibility, which means the launch of their product will not get to people. Second, they have a limited budget and less revenue, which means they could struggle if they spend for large-scale advertising and marketing efforts.

SEO is a cost-efficient marketing strategy. As long as a business continuous to practice on and off page optimization, publish quality content and use keywords and links wisely, then the site can become more visible to people and the profits will pick up soon after that.

Service Professionals and Companies

Long ago, when the Internet was not as accessible as it is today, people ask for referrals whenever they need a particular service done. This means people know where to get a service done through either word-of-mouth or other traditional advertising techniques.

In today’s modern age, people can quickly turn to their phones and Google a search query that will supply the answers they need. Examples of these include where to get your carpets cleaned, where you can find the best dog groomer in town, where you can deliver your laundry and where you can see the best pediatrician for your kids. Service companies need SEO to reach out to their target audience. Without it, their site will remain unnoticed.

Local Entrepreneurs

Search engines particularly Google does not just operate on an algorithm that can detect locations nearby to their users. If a local company can make his or her site relevant enough with the use of SEO, geographic specific keywords or keyword phrases will land them a position on the triple slot on top of the search results page.

Competing Brands

For the businesses that are in the highly competitive industry, SEO plays one vital role, and that is to stay visible in search engine results page. Stores that sell similar goods or services will have difficulty in outranking other sites that are well-optimized. To survive this competitive landscape and stay relevant, effective SEO campaigns will help these businesses stay afloat to survive. After all, it is better to receive little traffic than none at all.

For newly-built sites, simple optimization techniques can deliver exceptional returns. However, companies that are in the hostile world will need more than just coding skills. They will now require a professional SEO specialist to do the job for them.

Learning the intricacies of SEO takes time. With Google’s algorithm changing so rapidly, only the experts can keep a hawk eye ton these changes. Without a specialist’s help, your business could die. So whoever is responsible for your website optimization should seek for the best strategist and consultant, unless they decide to study this subject full-time.

A website is the typical first point of contact with your target audience. It serves as the business card that generates leads and attracts new customers, and even potential investors. But unless people can easily find it, designing a website will be all for nothing. SEO indeed plays a crucial role in gaining profit and staying in business.