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HomePosts tagged "wall art services"
Decorate a Blank Wall

A King’s Collection: Tapestries at Hampton Court Palace

September 9, 2022
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Henry VIII, king of England from 1509 to 1547, is famous for many things. But not everyone knows he was a great collector. For one thing, he collected wives. He married six different women in an age where divorce was basically forbidden and wives didn’t cooperate by dropping dead on their own very often. The king also collected houses. He laid claim to numerous great homes and palaces, including Westminster, Berkhamsted, Fotheringhay, Warwick, Kenilworth, and some of his favorites: Greenwich, Whitehall, and Hampton Court. He even had Royal Residences in the Tower of London. One of King Henry’s biggest collections was tapestries. He eventually collected more than 2,000 of these woven pictures to spruce up Hampton Court Palace and his other royal residences.

But why would the King spend a lot of money and energy to collect woven pictures to decorate his walls? What was behind these expensive wall hangings?

Tapestry making was huge industry in northern France and southern Netherlands during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Tapestry is a form of textile art created by skilled craftsmen. The pieces were woven by hand on a weaving-loom. Weaving a tapestry required that each thread be carefully placed on the loom by hand. This painstaking process allowed workers to create complex designs that included intricate features for people, animals, and plants. Usually the chain threads were made out of linen or Picardy wool. The striking threads were made of Italian silk or gold and silver threads imported from Cyprus. Textile workers and guilds flourished in Belgium and France, ad tapestries created there were exported all over Europe.

Tapestries were sometimes woven in sets. A set of tapestries often told a biblical or mythical story through a series of pictures. This art in woven tapestry was intended to produce illusions of what reality should be-a more intellectual, more scientific, more grand world. This world could follow the owner wherever he went, as tapestries were portable and could be transported from one residence to another.

Wealthy and powerful men collected tapestries because they could really impress visitors. Before he had to give Hampton Court to King Henry, Cardinal Wolsey sent London merchant Richard Gresham to Brussels with 1,000 marks to purchase the finest tapestries he could find. The Venetian ambassador told this story of his visit to Wolsey: “One has to traverse eight rooms before one reaches his audience chamber, and they are all hung with tapestry, which is changed once a week” (1).

In September 1528, King Henry became displeased with Wolsey’s work and took over Hampton Court Palace. King Henry embarked on an enormous rebuilding project, creating new kitchens, a Council Chamber, and a series of private rooms for himself. In addition, Henry rebuilt the Great Hall, which featured great walls for displaying tapestries. To decorate Hampton Court and other royal residences, Henry collected tapestries to communicate his wealth and power. The tapestries adorned such important public rooms as the Great Hall and the Great Watching Chamber.

One of the most famous series in Henry’s collection is the History of Abraham series, which he commissioned specifically for Hampton Court. This series was woven in Brussels about 1540 by Wilhelm Pannemaker to the designs of Bernard van Orley. The History of Abraham tapestries include ten separate pieces, each of which is approximately sixteen feet high and twenty-six feet wide. These tapestries are of amazing quality, featuring highly skilled weaving and a high metal thread count, with many gold and silver threads. In fact, the amount of gold makes them one of the most opulent products of the Brussels industry.

Because of the amount of gold and silver and the high quality of the workmanship, each tapestry is estimated to have cost Henry as much money as a fully fitted and staffed battleship. This means the entire set cost as much as a fleet of battleships. The Abraham tapestries are a good example of King Henry’s primary purpose in collecting tapestries: demonstrating his vast wealth to visitors from around the world. King Henry believed these tapestries would create a positive impression and convince all who came to Hampton Court and other palaces of his kingship.

King Henry was right about the Abraham tapestries being a symbol of wealth and power. Their influence lasted much longer than Henry did. About 100 years after Henry’s death, during the English Revolution, revolutionaries seized control of the country and executed King Charles I, and Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector. Much of the royal property was sold to the highest bidder. But the Abraham tapestries were worth so much money, he was unable to sell them. They remained in the possession of Oliver Cromwell at Hampton Court. Like the rest of his possessions, they returned to ownership of the crown when the monarchy was restored. These tapestries were selected to adorn the walls of Westminster Abbey at the coronation of King James II in 1685.

The choice of the Abraham tapestries, commissioned by Henry VIII in 1540, to celebrate the restoration of the monarchy more than 100 years later demonstrates their significance as a symbol of royalty and power. Although Henry VIII could not have understood their full historic significance, he did understand the impact of tapestries on his perception as king. Hampton Court Palace was a favorite residence of King Henry. He made it a great symbol of his royalty and the strength of the Tudor dynasty. The magnificent tapestries that adorned the palace walls during his reign were a fitting symbol of the wealth, wisdom, and royalty of King Henry VIII. For him, tapestries were much more than decorations or insulation. They were literally the embodiment of his royal image.

1. Hedley, O. (1971) Hampton Court Palace. London: Pitkin Pictorials.

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Source by Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger

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Decorate a Blank Wall

Protection From Internet Marketers – Nine Tips to Keep You From Getting Burned on the Web

August 22, 2022
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“The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.” Confucius, The Confucian Analects. (551-479 B.C.)

“God looks at the clean hands, not the full ones.” Publilius Syrus, Moral Sayings, 1st Century, B.C.

“He has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.” Walter Lippman, A Preface to Morals, 1929

Internet marketing is now an integral component of our society. The world wide web has totally revolutionized the way business is done. As with anything, it has a positive and negative aspect to it. But remember, as valuable a resource as the world wide web is, it is still a web and as webs are made by spiders, there are some internet marketers who, like spiders, are working predaciously, diligently and daily to construct their webs to entrap their prey and suck their lifeblood, i.e., their money, right out of them. Now, to be sure, not all internet marketers are predators. Many have excellent services and products to offer. However, there are those who are not so noble and who simply want your money and will do just about anything to get it. This article gives you several tips to keep you from being burned by such individuals.

What is an internet marketer? Basically, an internet marketer is a salesman who sells his goods or services on the world wide web. As we all know, there are good salesmen and bad salesmen. The good ones understand that the basis of all successful business is relationship and they focus on building positive and enduring relationships with their customers. Then there are the other kind, the ones who only want your money and once they’ve got it could care less about helping you or giving you post-sale service.

Another way of looking at an internet marketer is like that of an auto mechanic. The really good ones are rare. They are honest, trustworthy, do excellent work, take responsibility for their work, charge a fair price and serve the customer with respect. They know that all good business is based on creating positive and enduring relationships. Because they have this understanding and are ethical and honest by nature, their businesses endure and thrive.

However, not all auto mechanics are good… or honest, as most people know. Finding a good and honest auto mechanic is a difficult task, akin to finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. It is a sad reality of life but true nonetheless. The analogy of the auto mechanic applies to internet marketers. There are good ones and bad ones, the good ones being very rare and hard to find. In order to protect yourself from the bad ones, here are some things of which to be aware.

1. Beware of Smiles, Wiles and Feel-Good Stories.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.” This applies directly to dishonest people. Such dishonest people, such “wolves,” who are really good at their craft and have highly developed hunting skills, don’t advertise or announce their villainous intentions. Just the opposite. The best have mastered the art of disguise, of being like a harmless sheep. They’ve mastered the art of the smile, the pleasant personality, the warm [but insincere] handshake or pat on the back. They’re often also expert communicators with skills in word usage, phraseology, and neurolinguistic programming which is, in general terms, the science of how words affect emotions. In other words using specific words and phrases to evoke certain reactions, one of which is to get the customer to buy the salesman’s product. Thus, the efficient wolf disguises himself to appear wonderful, trustworthy, friendly when in actuality he’s really just the opposite. Let’s be clear: not all wonderful, trustworthy and friendly salesmen are wolves, but the best-of-the-best predatory wolves do don such disguises. This is why one must beware and be wary of smiles, wiles and feel-good stories. Such behavior may well have an untoward design, i.e., the intent of separating you from your funds without remorse by a wolf in hunting mode.

2. Beware of Offerings with No Recourse.

This is huge. Online seminars, webinars and teleconferences that offer special offers or have guests offering special offers but where neither the event is recorded and downloadable or there is no downloadable contract from the guest for his product or service are highly suspect. Some webinar hosts make a point of saying the webinar will not be recorded. The purpose of this is to motivate people to get on the call. That’s fine. It’s simply a marketing technique. The problem arises if an offer and/or a guarantee are made during the online event that are not downloadable. If there is no download of the program in which an offer or a guarantee is made, there is no official record of the event and therefore the buyer has no recourse if a problem arises! Any complaint or request for satisfaction simply boils down to personal opinion of what was said by the host or the buyer and seller. The buyer may say to the seller, “But you said during the webinar you would guarantee such and such.” The unscrupulous seller may well respond, “No. You’re mistaking. I said no such thing.” Thus, there is a problem, a problem which could have been avoided if a downloadable file of the event were offered or existed.

Too, if there is no downloadable guarantee of a product or service offering during the online event, then there is, likewise, no recourse to the buyer! Sales people can say anything they want, promise anything they want, talk about 100% moneyback guarantees all they want but if there is no proof of it, no downloadable document or recording, it’s all worthless, and the burden of proof is on the buyer to prove that what the seller said and promised was exactly that. The end result is that the buyer may well lose. The seller gets his money and walks away, wiping his salivating chin with his dirty paws while smiling with a sneer, having gained another prey for his wall… or bank account. The solution for the buyer is to demand a downloadable mp3 or similar file of the event or a downloadable guarantee that spells out the terms of the offer exactly. If no downloads are made available, the buyer purchases any products or services at his own risk.

As a matter of note, it is plausible that if the internet marketing industry does not take measures to fix this issue by making downloadable documents or recordings available to verify purchases and insure guarantees, the government may well step in to require such actions and instruments. And who wants more government control? Honesty, ethics, and good business practices are naturally accompanied by documents or instruments reflecting the integrity of the seller while insuring the buyer’s safety. Any smart and ethical business person will take measures to not only ensure his customer’s satisfaction and good will but his own personal integrity as well. Wolves, masquerading as sheep, have no such intentions, let alone actions. Therefore, the solution is to “get it in writing” whatever “it” is that is being purchased.

3. Beware of Deadlines to Purchase.

One common tactic of internet marketers is to create some “call of action to purchase” by placing a time limit on the offering. This technique has been used forever. Some people do need a push to buy. However, if a product or service is good, why create such an impulse-buying, pressure-filled demand in the first place? Any person who has your highest and best interest in his heart, will not pressure you into making a snap decision. However, he will do so if he only has his pocketbook and personal profits in his heart. If the product or service stands on its own merit, no pressure should be required to sell it. Therefore, a pressure deadline to purchase carries a red flag. It may be that a pressure deadline is justified. However, it may also be simply a nefarious sales ploy, and a buyer would be well advised when confronted with such pressure tactics to back off, regroup, reassess, think, ponder and consider the situation before he pulls out his wallet.

4. Beware of Inflated Promises.

Over-promising and under-delivering. How common is this reality? There are even internet marketers who tell you they’re under-promising and over-delivering, and they may be right. Yet, there are those who more commonly promise what they never can or intend to deliver. If there’s a promise, get it in writing via some downloadable instrument. See item #2. Remember, too, that a product or service is only worth what a person is willing to pay for it. A person can tell you his product is worth ten times what he’s offering it for. Well, if the product is really worth ten times what he’s offering it for, and if people really are buying it, why offer it for less? Too, is the seller offering names, addresses, phone numbers, contact data or records of buyers who actually purchased his product for ten times what it’s worth? This is really not suitable for privacy reasons so how can one be sure the salesman’s words are true?

5. Beware of Word Usage.

Internet marketers are often seasoned salesman who have crafted their sales artistry. No problem. However, a problem does arise when the art of using words has benefit only to the marketer. All sales transactions must be a win/win exchange. Everyone must benefit from a sale. That’s what good business is all about, right? Of course.

Here’s an example of word usage. One marketer guaranteed her product if the buyer did “exactly” as she said to do once her product was purchased. See the problem? It’s like Nancy Pelosi telling people to pass the health care bill first and then find out what’s in it! It’s absurd. When a marketer requires the buyer to give her money based on doing “exactly” what she says, before she delivers her product, be wary. How can a person know what she means, infers, or expects when she uses the word “exactly” but doesn’t explain what “exactly” means before a purchase is made? What if “exactly” means doing something the buyer is incapable of doing? It might also be untoward, impossible or even illegal. If the buyer fails to perform “exactly” as the marketer demands, the marketer is off the hook for any guarantee made, and if the product costs thousands of dollars, guess who wins and who loses? Therefore, the warning is, pay attention to words.

6. Beware of Inflated Prices.

A product is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. It’s a common practice for some internet marketers to say they are worth enormous amounts of money per hour and their products are worth thousands of dollars, some tens of thousands of dollars. That may be the case… or it may not. A good conversion rate for an online product is considered to be 3%. This means that of 100 people visiting a website, if 3 out of a hundred people purchase the product, this is considered good. This also means that 97% of the website’s visitors rejected the product for various reasons, price perhaps being one of them. The old adage, “Talk is cheap” is a good one to remember here.

7. Beware of the “Free” Offering.

Nothing is free. For example, many “free” online webinars, teleconference calls, etc. require you to give them your name, email address and any other personal data they can get in order for you to get their “free” webinar, product or service. “Free” means without cost. For someone to advertise something as “free” should mean exactly that, free. However, many internet marketers require a person to give them their contact data, email address, etc. before they get the “free” offering. Giving personal data places a cost on the webinar, product, service, teleconference, etc. which invalidates its “free” status. The key is that the internet marketer wants your email data so he can build his most valuable asset, his email list, which he can personally use or sell to other people. If “free” were truly free, the recipient of the product, service, webinar, etc. would never be asked for anything, and this includes email data. Therefore, a red flag arises. If a person says something is “free” when it’s really not free, the buyer would be wise to stop and contemplate the situation as well as the ethics of the marketer before making any hard decisions.

8. Beware of Webinars That Don’t Match Their Billing

Webinars are excellent tools. Most of them carry an outline of what one can expect during the webinar. However, there are webinars that don’t match their billing. For example, if a webinar’s preview statement is, “Join this webinar and you’ll learn six things to be successful in making green cheese,” and the webinar didn’t answer these questions but rather gave an extended half-hour sales pitch on the host’s revolutionary green cheese maker, then be careful. If the host did give six things to do in making green cheese, fine. The problem is that many webinars offer preview questions that never get answered because the host is too busy promoting his product instead. The webinar, therefore, was a waste of the listener’s time and effort. If webinars don’t match their billing, beware. If the webinar’s billing doesn’t meet up to expectations, any product the host is selling, and the host himself, most likely will also not be reliable.

9. Beware of Terms and Conditions [T & Cs].

Read them! How many people actually take the time to read the Terms and Conditions of an offer? Yet, often buried in the T & Cs are statements that the promoter can use whatever information you give him however he wants to use it! Clicking on the Accept button without reading the T & Cs can be costly in more ways than one. In one marketer’s T & Cs the very last sentence of an extremely long document stated that the buyer would have to pay all attorney’s fees if the seller defaulted in his service and litigation were initiated! Small print and last lines – beware and be wary of them? Read the T & Cs!

In summary, salesmen want your money in exchange for a product or service. That’s why they’re in business. It’s the free enterprise system and it’s a good one. The good salesman understands that if he wants your money and good will in the form of continued business and referrals to others, he will treat you right, give you an excellent product for a fair price and excellent follow-up service. The bad salesman will get your money and run. He doesn’t care about the next sale. And when the sale is on the web, it can be extremely challenging to get restitution for a violation of promises made prior to a sale. It’s not like a person can drive down to the local store and talk to the sales person about a defective product or service. When a sale is transacted on the web, the store may be on the other side of the country or even the world.

Remember the words of Confucius: “The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.” It would be wonderful if all salesmen were superior men in the light of Confucius’ statement, but they’re not. Perhaps in a perfect world this would be the case, but believing this world is perfect is living in Pollyanna Land. So… beware when being motivated or conditioned to buy a product or service, especially on the web. Use common sense to mitigate getting burned. After all, it’s your money. Protect it.

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Source by Richard Andrew King

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Beijing Travel

August 4, 2022
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Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China. It has a long history with an abundance of historical and cultural heritage that represents treasures from the city’s civilizations. Beijing has served as a capital of the country for more than 800 years. The city has many places of historic interest and scenic beauty.

The successful hosting of 2008 Olympics Games represents the ultimate statement of China’s emergence as a global superpower, and it is determined to make the ‘People’s Olympics’ the most successful and dazzling ever staged. After the great event, Beijing travel becomes more attractive to international tourists. Now, I would like to show you, my dear international friends around Beijing to experience its culture, history and daily life.

A) Landmark tours:

A good place to start exploring the city is Tiananmen Square, where Mao Tse Tung declared the foundation of the People’s Republic. It is the heart of urban Beijing and large enough to accommodate an assembly of one million people.

Go ahead to the Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved ancient architectural complex in the world. It was the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. For almost five centuries, it served as the home of the Emperor and his household, as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government. Now it houses the Palace Museum.

Another must-see is the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing emperors performed solemn rituals for bountiful harvests. It was constructed from 1406 to 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, who was also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Earth was represented by a square and Heaven by a circle; several features of the temple complex symbolize the connection of Heaven and Earth, of circle and square. The whole temple complex is surrounded by two cordons of walls; the outer wall has a taller, semi-circular northern end, representing Heaven, and a shorter, rectangular southern end, representing the Earth. Both the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Circular Mound Altar are round, each standing on a square yard, again representing Heaven and Earth.

Pay a visit to the Summer Palace, the emperors’ magnificent garden retreat; the Ming tombs, the stately and majestic mausoleums of 13 Ming Dynasty emperors; and the world-renowned and genuinely inspiring Badaling section of the Great Wall. Large-scale construction has brought great changes to Beijing since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 that adds more and more new attractions to the mysterious old city.

Ming tombs was an imperial tomb site where 13 Ming emperors were buried. The Dingling Tomb is the second-largest tomb, and it is the first of the 13 tombs to be excavated and opened to the public. It is an example of a typical imperial tomb.

B) Daily life experience

In the morning, get up early to visit one of Beijing’s public parks. This is when people enjoy their favorite physical activity, be it tai’chi, jogging, singing or even ballroom dancing. In the afternoon, you can have a chance to experience the real life of local Beijing residents on a tour to the Hutongs by rickshaw. Beijing Hutongs are regarded as the last embodiment of old Beijing’s spirit. Walking along the back street of Hutongs and meeting people there will leave you a different understanding of China

C) Chinese Art

Beijing Opera is the most popular of all the opera styles in China. It developed from classical singing and dance styles dating from the Ming Dynasty and gradually merged by the late 18th and early 19th centuries into the Beijing Opera we see today. Beijing opera features four main types of performers. Performing troupes often have several of each variety, as well as numerous secondary and tertiary performers. With their elaborate and colorful costumes, performers are the only focal points on Beijing opera’s characteristically sparse stage. They utilize the skills of speech, song, dance, and combat in movements that are symbolic and suggestive, rather than realistic. Above all else, the skill of performers is evaluated according to the beauty of their movements. Performers also adhere to a variety of stylistic conventions that help audiences navigate the plot of the production.

Beijing acrobatics is another wonderful performance. Though the origins of the performance art are unknown, many believe that acrobatics developed from martial arts exhibitions and date back as early as the Neolithic period. In China they say that every minute an acrobat spends on stage requires ten years of training. Indeed, Beijing acrobatics shows, featuring astonishingly limber performers practicing feats of strength, balance, and skill, are a tremendous sight to behold.

After an exciting, informative, and refreshing introduction of my beloved city, Beijing, I would like to share the following Beijing tours with you.

Day 1 Beijing arrival

Upon your arrival in Beijing, our professional tour guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer to the centrally located four-star Beijing Holiday Inn Downtown Hotel with air-conditioned private vehicle.

Day 2 Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch)

Morning visit the Tiananmen Square, the heart of urban Beijing and large enough to accommodate an assembly of one million people. It stands in front of the Forbidden City, covering over 100 acres. Then visit the Forbidden City, it is the world’s largest palace complex and covers 74 hectares. Built between 1406 and 1420, the Forbidden City was the home of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a period extending over 500 years.

Today’s lunch will be arranged at local restaurant for you to enjoy the Sichuan Cuisine. After lunch, you will visit the Summer Palace, the best preserved and the second largest royal garden in China, with a history of over 800 years. In 1998, it was listed as one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In the evening, enjoy the Beijing Opera.

Day 3 Beijing (B, L)

Today’s tour will take you to visit The Eighth Wonder of the World—Great Wall at Badaling Section. Take the cable car to the Great Wall and enjoy your walking there.

To avoid the crowds in tourist restaurant near the Great Wall, we will prepare a lunch box from your hotel instead which can also assure a better food quality.

On your way back, you will visit the Ming Tomb, where you can see the underground palace of the Chinese emperors with their valuable authentic burial objects. Tonight you will watch the amazing Beijing acrobatic performance.

Day 4 Beijing (B, L)

Today you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where Chinese emperors used to pray the good harvest. After enjoy a typical Beijing cuisine lunch at a local restaurant, you will start your afternoon sightseeing to Yonghe Lamasery. The temple was built in 1694 and the architecture and ornamentation of the buildings show the influence of Han, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan styles. Then continue transfer to the Silk Alley Market and enjoy your shopping and bargain there.

Day 5 Beijing (B, L)

Today you will experience the daily life of local people by watching the tai’chi, jogging and the strolling around the Hutongs. The rest of day is for you to explore the city in depth on your own

Day 6 Beijing departure

Transfer to the airport and fly to your next destination, service ends.

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Source by Eric Xu

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The Dragon Has Entered: English to Chinese Translation

July 17, 2022
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The People’s Republic of China is viewed through different lenses even today. Exotic. Mysterious. Aggressive. Fascinating. These are just some of the monikers that are pasted onto this 9.597 million square kilometres that make up the Land of the Dragon.

What is China today? How did “Made in China” become the most sighted marking on manufactured goods? Why has speaking and writing Chinese gained such significance? If the Chinese don’t master English, isn’t the obvious solution for English users to master Chinese and translate, translate, translate??!

What is China today?

China is a land surrounded by the Gobi desert in the North, thick, impenetrable forests in the South, the Himalayas on the West and the Pacific Ocean in the East. This is why early civilisation had limited interactions with this country. The politics of this country also added to its economic and cultural isolation. It was only in the 1970s that the winds of radical economic reforms swept through China’s vast landscape and ushered in a global trade economy. The Communist government in China has opened up not just the market but the free flow of trade and technology across its borders.

Today:

China is the second largest economy in the world next to the USA

a global hub of manufacturing

the largest exporter and the second largest importer of goods and

the largest trading nation.

Add to these facts that China happens to weigh in with a population of 1,382,323,332 and growing every millisecond (yes, count it live by clicking on the link and you will see how fast the number changes!), and you will know the mind-boggling economy and market that is being considered.

Tongue tied in English

The emphasis on English education in China took off only in 1979 when the dragon established strong diplomatic ties with the American eagle. With estimates of English “speakers” as low as 10 million and English “learners” at 300 million, China has still a long way to go in free and easy communication considering that a sizeable chunk of the West uses English. So, is this mammoth, well connected market to remain incommunicado? Hardly!

“If the mountaine will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will goe to the mountaine”

So said Sir Francis Bacon in his Essays, 1625.

Translation: If the Chinese don’t learn English, then English users will have to learn Chinese.

The official language of China and Taiwan is Mandarin or Standard Chinese. It is also one of the four official languages of Singapore.

Cantonese (a variety of Yue Chinese) is the official language of Hong Kong and Macau, the two mostly self governing special administrative regions of China.

The script uses characters called hanzi: there are more than 100,000 individual characters. Roughly speaking, each character represents a syllable and can be used individually or in combinations to form words. A recent development has divided this script to simplified Chinese which uses reduced and simpler characters; this is used mostly in Mainland China. The traditional version still continues in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.

Pinyin, the official transliteration system using the Latin alphabet, has also been developed to ease pronunciation.

In addition, it should be noted that Mandarin Chinese is spoken by the well heeled Chinese communities of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines and Mongolia where the Dragon makes its presence pretty prominent and breathes a scorching breath.

Language translates to business

With China encouraging the free flow of business and becoming the golden land of opportunity, communicating in Chinese takes on varied shapes and colours if this high potential market has to be tapped deeper and deeper.

Professional Chinese translation has to be specific to the targeted area and the purpose which demands this service. For example, if the target market is Mainland China and /or Singapore, the type of written Chinese would be Simplified Chinese. Yet, Traditional Chinese would be the lingua franca for businesses operating within the Hi-tech industry and simplified Chinese preferred for companies in manufacturing sectors.

Translators from English to Chinese need to know much more than just the languages: a good translation company will offer translators who are cognizant with the kind of profession that the translation is required for.

Minding businesses

There are many needs for professional translation that arise in the course of business.

Language and tone of translation has to suit each need. There is no such thing as a broad brush that you can paint Chinese with! Documents dealing with, patents, resumes, medical cases, educational certificates, brochures, insurance, visas… the list is endless when a country opens its doors to the rest of the world.

Add to this the nuances of the Chinese script where a stroke or a syllable can change the entire context or meaning. Work in the dominance of English as the language of business and trade. Take in the fact of the Chinese ethos being a little known and tentatively understood denominator and the care to be taken to keep niceties of language uppermost. The formula for success dictates that English be skilfully translated into Chinese minding text, script, language, tone and suitability.

This is why expert translation is needed. No automated or translation software can actually fit the bill in a language like Chinese. It’s good enough to order a plate of schezwan noodles and kung pao chicken, but not when your needs are professional and your aim is the sky.

China still burns exotic in many minds. But as the People’s Republic increasingly demolishes the “Great Wall” that had once surrounded its isolationist mindset, the layers of mystery are being peeled away. China is a prosperous and booming economy today. Make your presence felt in the Big Bang.

Translate your business strategies to success. Literally.

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Source by Shreya Gupta

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Why Rendering Is Important For Retail Design

June 29, 2022
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Intense competition in the retail industry drives increased levels of performance across the board, and a key impetus to success in this industry is the visual appeal and functionality of retail outlets. Detailed and attractive 3D rendered images, or computer-generated images (CGI), especially those created with the help of Building Information Modelling (BIM) can have a noticeable impact on clients, sales and marketing. Retail design drawings that achieve impressive photo-realistic views and effective 3D rendering services can help drive profits while saving costs.

To better understand how important rendering is to the retail industry, let’s look at what rendering is. In 3D graphic design, rendering is the process of adding shading, colour and lamination either to a 2D or 3D wireframe to produce lifelike digital images. Rendering enables the creation of images or animation that show the design traits of a proposed space. Both designers and clients benefit from rendered views. Though various techniques and software (Autodesk’s 3ds Max, VRay, SketchUp, Maya and Mental Ray being popular) can be used to create computer-generated renderings, the objective remains the same – improve presentations, support marketing and create design views for analysis. Clients can understand renders better than architectural drawings, and therefore, renders are generally more effective in communicating design intent. Accurate renders can effectively represent spatial constraints and possibilities and reach a wider audience as a result.

The use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in rendering creates greater accuracy in the rendered image. BIM models can specify the count of cabinet fixtures, lighting fixtures, countertops, legs, handles, grommets, drawer pulls, equipment mounts and other details. A large amount of detail is incorporated into a BIM model, which can be used to generate accurate and detailed rendered images, which show how various elements fit in a space in relation to each other. BIM models are especially useful for space analysis in large retail spaces, such as department stores or malls. Square footage and department-wise lists of fixtures and furniture in display areas, with corresponding dimensions, can be represented. This means that with the use of retail BIM modelling, a 3D view can be created that shows how potential objects interact. Retail space shown in 3D can also include paint, laminate and wall coverings, so that the 3D visualisation is a close representation of what the actual space may appear as.

Rendered images are important for retail companies in several ways. The benefits of 3D renderings include:

  • Realistic depiction of spaces
  • Allows executives to view and approve new sites
  • Ease and speed of creation
  • Useful for marketing and project approvals
  • Language barriers are minimised
  • Renders look uncluttered and attractive compared to 2D elevations

High-quality photorealistic renders are as good as photos Renders also provide flexibility, as elements can be altered quickly and easily. Some of the precise features of retail spaces that renders portray can predict the store experience. For example, a well-designed store entrance must create expectation and offer options. High quality renders help achieve this. Renders can show lighting, signage and displays. The retailer’s image can be communicated through the kind of flooring and shelving used. For example, glass shelves and fixtures can suggest elegance. Smart lighting can improve how merchandise is displayed, thus contributing to increased sales. Walls can be used to store and display messages, and windows can be used to display the type of merchandise and market the image of the store.

A useful application of rendered images is by showcasing store layouts. Clients can be shown the basic layout of a retail space through 3D visualisation so that they can opt for a layout that enables a specific path for their customers. Essential design pointers for an effective layout include the width of walkways – wide enough for shopping carts (if necessary) and also for people to walk through without colliding. There are three basic types of retail layouts, and they can all be communicated through renders: grid layout, racetrack layout and free form layout.

  • The grid layout involves parallel aisles with display items on shelves on both sides, often used for bakeries, display of fruits, vegetables, clothing, electrical and electronics goods.
  • The racetrack, or loop, layout involves one major aisle that circles around the retail space to guide customers on a prescribed route.
  • A free form layout arranges shelves, fixtures and aisles asymmetrically, used primarily in smaller stores, specialty stores or sections within larger department stores.

Approvals from the client for design can be significantly influenced by detailed and effective rendering. Rendering of retail space can show shelving to the benefit of each customer. Shelving and displays should be clutter-free and such that customers can easily locate items. The details of furniture in retail areas, such as cash counters, shelves, storage spaces, display counters and their placement are key factors that influence sales, and showing these details through rendering can be useful for client approvals.

Another key feature of retail space that influences sales is lighting. Light placement and rendering for lighting at different times of the day and night can influence display locations for merchandise, and 3D rendering can show the differences in effect that various types of lights and their reflections can have in the same space on the same merchandise.

Renders can also be used as planograms. Planograms are images/maps created by retailers to decide where to place merchandise for maximum benefit and take into account lighting and shelving. The space needs to be visually appealing to increase customer purchases. These planograms can be easily created, tested and altered in the virtual environment provided by rendering.

Approvals & Decision-making

The use of 3D rendering services can also be useful to obtain executive approvals for new sites and for decision-making purposes. Here’s why:

Competitive Edge

When the competition is fierce, a 3D visualisation of a project is almost as effective as a business card in that it represents and translates the uniqueness of the project. Presentation of work, past, ongoing and future, is a powerful tool. Rendering of high quality showcases design and enhances reputation.

High Quality Promotional Material

Promoting design intent is crucial for retail clients. Well-worked computer-generated images can represent interiors in greater clarity, influencing the decisions taken regarding placement and dimensions of furniture, flooring and wall finishes and coverings. Renders that promote branding can be included in brochures, pamphlets and other promotional material.

Multiple Views

Multiple views of the same space through renders can help show the complete picture and support decision-making.

Cost Effective

It costs much less to create a render than physical models, and since the renders are virtual they can be sent to a greater customer base.

Easy Changes

Customers frequently change their minds and rendered images can be quickly edited to suit customer requirements. The 3D renderings can be sent to the client for quick approvals and changes.

Focus on Key USPs

Renderings show accurate and realistic representations and can simultaneously highlight the key unique selling points of the merchandise.

With an array of advantages, photorealistic 3D rendered images can be a valuable asset for retail success. The use of BIM to create detailed rendered views of retail space featuring walls, lighting, furniture, shelving and layout options provides an extra edge in gaining approvals and in the fields of sales and marketing. Changes are easy to execute, and multiple views can be generated to enable more informed decision-making. Rendering, therefore, is of prime importance in the retail industry.

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Source by Kuldeep Bwail

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Flow And Kitchen Design

June 11, 2022
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Let’s take a look at some common flow plans for food preparation that you’ll discover inside the kitchen. The most basic, and most desirable, flow plan is the straight line, also known as the assembly-line flow. Materials move steadily from 1 procedure to another in a straight line. This type of style minimizes backtracking; it saves preparation time and confusion about what’s going out of the kitchen area and what’s coming back in.

The straight-line arrangement functions nicely for little installations because it can be placed against a wall and adapted to the cooks’ duties. Wherever there isn’t enough room to arrange food preparation in a straight line, a well-liked and efficient option is the parallel flow. There are four variations of the parallel style:

1. Back to back. Gear is arranged inside a long, central counter or island in two straight lines that run parallel to every other. Sometimes a four- or five-foot room divider or low wall is positioned between the two lines. It’s primarily a safety precaution, which keeps noise and clutter to a minimum and prevents liquids spilled on 1 side from spreading onto the other. Nevertheless, placement of a wall here also makes cleaning and sanitation a lot more hard. The back-to-back arrangement centralizes plumbing and utilities;

you may not need to install as many drains, sinks, or outlets, as both sides from the counter can share the same ones. A back-to-back arrangement in which the pass window is parallel to (and behind one of) the production places is sometimes recognized as a California-style kitchen. When the pass window is located perpendicular towards the production line, it might be referred to as a European-style kitchen area style. The benefit from the European style is that each cook on the line can see the progression of multiple dishes that make up 1 table’s order.

2. Face to face. In this kitchen area configuration, a central aisle separates two straight lines of gear on either side from the room. Sometimes the aisle is wide sufficient to add a straight line of worktables among the two rows of gear. This setup works well for high volume feeding facilities like schools and hospitals, but it doesn’t take benefit of single source utilities. Even though it’s a great layout for supervision of workers, it forces individuals to perform with their backs to one another, in effect, separating the cooking from the food from the rest from the distribution procedure. Therefore, it’s most likely not the best style for a restaurant.

3. L-shape. Wherever room isn’t sufficient for a straight-line or parallel arrangement, the L-shape kitchen design is nicely suited to access several groups of gear, and is adaptable for table service restaurants. It gives you the ability to place more equipment inside a smaller room. You’ll often find an L-shape design in dish washing areas, using the dish machine positioned at the center corner from the L.

4. U-shape. This arrangement is seldom used, but it’s ideal for a little room with one or two employees, such as a salad preparation or pantry area. An island bar, for example the ones in T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants, is an additional example of the U-shape at perform. There are also circular and square kitchen area designs, but their limited flow patterns make them impractical. Avoid wasted room if you can, by making your kitchen area rectangular, with its entrance on one of the longest walls to save steps.

The a lot more foodservice establishments you visit, the more you’ll realize that the back from the house is really a separate and distinct entity from the rest of the business, with its own peculiar difficulties and unique solutions.

Correct flow planning occasionally means breaking each kitchen area function down into a department, of sorts, after which deciding how those departments ought to interact with every other. They must also interact using the other, external departments from the facility: your dining room, bar, cashier, and so on. A great way to begin the design process-both for the overall company and for the kitchen-is to create a bubble diagram. Each region (or workstation) is represented being a circle, or “bubble,” drawn in pencil within the location you’ve decided may be the most logical for that function. If two different workstations will be sharing some equipment, you might let the sides of their circles intersect slightly, to indicate where the shared equipment might greatest be located.

The finished diagram will seem abstract, but the exercise permits you to visualize every perform center and think about its needs in relation to the other centers. You are able to also lay a kitchen out utilizing a diamond configuration, situating the cooking area at one point of the diamond form, and other crucial areas in relation to it at other points. Notice that this layout minimizes confusion (and accidents) with a separate kitchen entrance and exit. This allows the people who bus the tables to deliver soiled dishes towards the dishwashing area without having to walk via the entire kitchen to do so.

An alternative to drawing diagrams is to list every perform center and then list any other work middle that should be placed adjacent to it. Conversely, list any perform center that ought to not be next to it. For instance, it is most likely not a great idea to have the ice maker and ice storage bin adjacent to the frying and broiling center.

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Source by Franco Zinzi

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Art Graduate Survival 101 – What Support Can Art Students Look To?

January 17, 2022
View: 486

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The cuts to the art industry is one of the most short-sighted acts of vandalism in recent years. With prospects for graduates glooming, what support can art students look to?

Google search results can be terrifying. See also: uncertain career paths, wonky prospects, and a vague idea of what life after art school even is. After chalking-up years of arduously studying art, history, and a whole lot of Foucault, art students slip into a workforce that doesn’t always appreciate the curation of heterotopias, but would rather appreciate extra foam on their cappuccino. Occupying Starbucks, art student’s attitudes become as bitter as the coffee they’re hired to make.

The landscape that art graduates encounter isn’t one Theresa May would find strong or stable. It’s on shaky grounds, and not many institutions are facing the matter of art graduates. In 2016, only 69.1% of fine art graduates landed a job. Such jobs were mainly retail, catering, and a rather ominous ‘other’ category. This is as worrying as it is important. These statistics make a powerful and compelling case for the precarious situatedness of graduates. Is studying Herodotus something we should pay people to do? Currently, it’s a no. The cultural work graduates can offer is restricted, dismissed, and erased by non-art circles. The (mis)treatment of art graduates is a sign that something is wrong with how particular societies locate the arts.

Upcoming artists are crucial to keeping things fresh. Whilst we pay these practises a certain amount of lip-service and Instagram postage, clicks and shares won’t pay the rent. Art institutions are crucial in providing platforms and forums for the curation of new and promising artistic modes. But some of these can be arcane, leaving art studies struggling to exoterically explain their art. University faculties take refuge in niches. Whilst this enables students to navigate specificities, the outside world neglects this.

Art award schemes can provide graduates an opportunity beyond the white walls of university to express themselves. The variety and vitality of schemes, such as the BP Portrait Award, Frieze Artist Award, and the Sunny Art Prize, provide ways for upcoming artists to be recognised globally. When Art was listed top of Forbes’ 10 worst college majors across the pond, the need for healthy art exchanges is needed more than ever before.

Over 2,557 artists from across 80 countries applied for the BP Portrait Award in 2016. 53 artists were selected by the judging panel and saw their still life come to life in the National Portrait Gallery. So, when just 2% of artists who enter find their work selected and be in the running for £30,000, the program provides a critical platform for portraiture; an arguably dying medium. By divorcing strict figuration, the portraits range from tactile finger painting-esque pieces, to photorealist methods. Commissioned works come to form an exhibition that represents the diversity, creativity, and vision of contemporary portraiture. The competition carries the prestige capable of changing an emerging artist’s life.

Jettisoning the portrait, we encounter spatial arrangements that test the idea of the site in the Frieze Artist Award. The competition allows emerging artists to realise a major commission at Frieze London. The site-specific works are ambitious, often interrogating concepts of digital media, video, and sculpture and the methods in which these can find relief. Previous winners range from Yuri Pattison’s navigation of the self-as-data across networked data systems, Rachel Rose’s layering of communication and sensory perception, and Mélaine Metranga’s unhurried negotiation of emotional-economic exchanges in a series of videos and an on-site café-installation. Produced under the guidance of the Frieze Projects team, the Award sets a budget of up to £20,000.

The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition is one of the world’s largest open-submission showcase. The panoramic scope of the exhibition illustrates art’s pluriformity. Running since 1769, the Summer Exhibition is open to all artists and hangs within its palatial walls everything that is happening in the art scene. Both fresh and established artists can submit, and with £50,000 worth of prizes floating about, it’s a peak into the whimsical realm of contemporary art.

Held by the Sunny Art Centre, the Sunny Art Prize creates a transnational space for art from across the world to come together. The institution aims to showcase the plurality of fine art today, from 2-dimensional paintings to 3-dimensional sculptures. By crafting a worldy grammar through art, the competitions sees art from London, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Macau represented and articulated to a larger audience. Cash prizes are on offer (with up-to £3,000 for first prize) alongside a public solo exhibition at the Sunny Art Centre, and a one month residency along with a show at their partner galleries.

Visibility is key to art. It is a language not of stillness, but robust dialogue. It refuses to be silent. Art has been inflected with superficial associations, meaning that culture has become obfuscated. Art’s insights have been lost, so the sooner we find relief in art, the sooner we’ll view art graduates as more than future-baristas.

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Source by Josh Milton

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Window Display – A World Full of Opportunity

January 17, 2022
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Introduction-

Window display is retailer’s most controllable element in relation to image of the store and that the merchandise displayed must match the target consumers. Windows may communicate style, content, and price point. They can be seductive, exciting or based on emotional stimulus through stimulation, or evocation of all five senses. The best store windows can generate great excitement and are a talking point. They contribute to the shopping experience by entertaining pedestrians, while simultaneously communicating the products and services on offer.

For a retailer willing to exploit the full potential that a window gives, the image-building process can be exciting and have enormous potential. A fashion retailer, for instance, will often change a window weekly to show the latest items on offer. A glance into a shop’s window by a passerby establishes the time of the year and, very likely, a timely contemporary event. It might combine seasonal and festive points of the year such as Spring, Summer, New Year approaching, Diwali, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day etc. At other times the propping may be based on color schemes, materials or cultural themes.

Themes: Popular Trends-

A winning window display should have a theme. The theme should be the flavour of the season. Window display, covertly displays the image of the store i.e., whether a store provides cutting edge technology, or does it give great discount offer etc. Choosing the right theme for the window is often the most challenging part of the whole display design experience. Selecting a single theme for all the store windows and some interior display spaces can create a cohesive and inviting appearance. A few popular ideas for display merchandising are:

Seasonal themes – Appropriately timed spring gardening displays, summer beach displays, or winter holiday displays are all going to appeal to people strolling by the store window, since they are currently thinking about these things.

Colour themes – A variety of items in all shapes and sizes can create a wonderful display when they are all shades of the same color. This gives the business a chance to showcase many different products at the same time.

Odd holiday themes – Have fun with strange holidays, from celebrations of the pets to a day set aside for the sale shopping. With the hundreds of holidays that fill each year, there is sure to be at least one that is a perfect fit for the business.

What’s new – Show people the latest and greatest items the store is carrying right in the window. The display has to be done in a manner that generates a sense of interest in the people along with informing them about the store merchandise. A well thought-out display requires huge amount of pre- planning. One should take time to plan a display. One should consider what one wants to accomplish, chalk out a budget and determine a central theme. One can develop a display as a shadow box with all visual display tools, the merchandise and props placed in miniature inside it or one can sketch out the display on paper. The display should correctly place all materials and location of tables, windows, racks, mannequins considering their dimension to the window display. The lighting and the angle of the display should well thought off.

Elements of Effective Display-

An effective display should be a harmonious blend of following elements. The window display should be able to communicate the message in most subtle yet creative and effective manner.

1. Balance: the props inside the window display should be placed in asymmetrical balance rather than symmetrical balance as both sides of the display having similar weight tends to make the display look bulky and cluttered.

2. Size of Objects: when the props are placed inside the display then the placement of large and bulky items should be done first. Since placement of such items affects the balance of the display, any change or shifting of such items can lead to unbalanced display. Placing objects in different heights creates visual interest and keeps a person’s eyes moving around the display.

3. Colour: they help in setting mood and add feelings to the display. The first attraction is often created by the colour. Right selection of colour according to the theme can make the display look appropriate and trendy. Often the philosophy of the store is also reflected by the colour of the display. A retail store selling goods based on a philosophy of being inspired by the nature then the colour palette of the window display carry colours of the nature.

4. Focal Point: in order to look as complete whole the display should have a focal point. A point of main emphasis to which all other props leads to. For this to happen, the product and props/signage and background should come together.

5. Lighting: lighting plays an important role in creating an ambience with in the display. In creating theme often the background is muted by spread lights and the specific product that is the focal point are accentuated with focus lights. In lighting there different lights that are used for day time and night time. The angle of lighting, the softness of brightness of the lights, luminosity of the display should be taken care of. The lights should be placed in such a manner that they don’t create shadows, until such an effect is required.

6. Simplicity: in want to display more, people often make blunders with their display. The display should also act an instrument of interest and surprise. The products showcased in the display should hold the interest of the consumers’ to an extent that out of curiosity they are forced to enter the store and check out what else is there in the store. It is important to understand that less is more and one should know when to stop adding any more items.

Window Display Types –

According to the size of the shop, the location and the desire of the retailer the display windows can be of following types-

1. Flat windows: storefront glazing is projected as far forward as possible and built in a straight line, with an entrance door aligned or set back from this line. Such window types are most commonly found.

2. Arcade window: they extend from a store’s entrance set back between two windows, which allow a store with less front space to increase its windows space in which to show merchandise.

3. Angled windows: they look similar to flat display windows but are angled out. This is often done to remove monotony of flat windows and the add interest to shop by giving three way look of merchandise.

4. Corner windows: corner windows are specifically designed for those shops located on corner properties. They have two sides of window to display their merchandise.

According to Kemal Yildirima 2007, consumers seem to have a more positive perception of flat windows than arcade windows with respect to promotion, merchandise and fashion. Compared to females, males evaluated the store window more positively.

According to the service that a window requires they can be divided into-

1. Closed Windows: they are most often used in department stores. They resemble a room, which have three solid walls and an entry door. They are the ones which require a lot of planning in order to transform them into “showstoppers”. They often require lots of merchandise and props to fill them up. As these windows can only be seen from the front a lot of detailing is done beforehand.

2. Open Back Windows: These windows have no back wall, but may have side walls. Some retailers prefer them because they let in lots of natural light and they make the interior of the store visible from the outside. One has pay to attention from to all angles when dressing this type of window as they can be seen from all sides, both inside and outside the store. Customers also have access to this type of window (meaning they can walk up and touch the display), since it is not enclosed in a room.

Major Points for Retailers-

Form the moment the concept of store is conceived, the understanding for creating an effective window display should be acquired. Starting from the type of window display, the materials used in construction and the glass used should be assessed and placed for easy and secured display. Besides constructional part, creative aspect should be planned meticulously in advance to create a dazzling effect. However, there are also practical concerns to address. Before one begins, there are certain practical points that retailers should be keep in mind.

1. Grab their attention. First and foremost, a retail window display must be eye catching. It takes only a few seconds to walk past a store window. If the display doesn’t grab their attention, the sale is lost. The priority should be to divert the focus of the shopper to one’s store. The store windows should be such that it differentiates one’s window with that of competition next door and also across the street. The onlooker even if not interested to buy the product at that moment should carry the display in their minds. Such technique adds a recall factor to the store and often leads to purchases in future.

2. Work with your vendors. Many retailers neglect to contact their vendors for help on retail window displays. This should be avoided. In order to create a more honest and updated window display it is essential that the vendors are contacted and recent posters, banners and retail POP displays should be acquired and placed in store windows. The vendors too would be delighted to have a retail outlet which likes to display their recent products. This form of alliance not only keeps both sides happy but also decreases budget of the display.

3. Work with artists. Hiring an expert can be costly, especially when one is starting a showroom. In such a scenario one can hire a new talent which can provide local, cheaper and newer concepts of window display. For example, a new retail outlet selling traditional handicrafts, might hire a local artist to create large paintings of old-fashioned textile designs. Alternatively, art galleries can be approached to hire interesting pieces that can express the theme and one can build a compelling retail window display around it.

4. Social cause. A good deed deserves another, if one allows a part of the windows for use to local non-profit organizations that are promoting a good cause; often such a display attracts more attention as people desires to know about the cause that is being promoted. Such window displays used for community projects creates good will for the retailer.

5. Show your holiday spirit. There is no other attraction then to see a coming holiday season display. People often love to see new products that will be launched for the coming season. If the retailer uses such holidays, even obscure holidays, then they can cleverly promote one’s store with marketing messaging that tie with the holiday.

6. Think outside the window box. When consumer enters the store after seeing a good display, the store should too carry the same vibrancy. Cleverly placed displays, posters etc. often help consumers to reach the product they want inside the store. Different and innovative ways should be used in order to use the outside of the building in addition to or in conjunction with the window displays.

7. Use of lighting. Retail window displays should be well-lit day and night. Even after the store is closed, lighting up of one’s window displays strategically, can create marketing even while one is not in the store. Good daytime lighting is also important as it helps to avoid shadows that can limit the effectiveness of one’s window display. Different lighting techniques can be used where, specific products can be placed under spotlight and if the window design simply features one’s brand/image, rather than specific products, then balanced lighting can be used throughout.

8. Be a quick change artist. Stale window displays are quickly be tuned out by passers by. It’s a good idea to change your windows at least every month. Smart retailers put in place a window display plan for the year and then execute the plan. In that way, one knows when there will be a changing of windows, and one can prepare accordingly.

9. Keep windows clean. Nothing ruins a retail window display faster than a filthy window. The windows should be cleaned to maximize the effectiveness of one’s window displays.

Like any other aspect of retailing, creating an attractive display takes a little skill and lots of trial and error. One should keep working at designing eye-catching and innovative ways to make retail store profitable through visual merchandising. Once the window display is installed, one shouldn’t forget to keep rotating merchandise with fresh merchandise and replacing any items that have become soiled.

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Source by Swati Madhu Gupta

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Maximise Customers And Revenues With Coffee Shop Banners

January 17, 2022
View: 481

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It will be tough to find a modern restaurant or coffee shop that does not use banner displays in one form or another. Their ability to make any outlet look more attractive and professional is well known. Most restaurant and café owners have realised that their potential goes much beyond just looks and ambience.

They are very effective sales tools and can be used to attract customers, improve sales, and advertise new items. They are also useful in organizing the outlet and increasing customer comfort. Read on and discover some exciting ideas with coffee shop banners.

Banner stands are low cost solutions that can help with:

1: Attracting customers on the street and encouraging them to walk in.
2: Window displays and wall decor.
3: Organizing the outlet and seating areas with partitions. This is especially useful in outdoor seating areas.
4: Providing information inside the outlet, for example, the menu, store timings, new items or special offers.

Attracting Customers Into The Outlet

Banners can make your outlet visible to customers even from some distance on the street. Fairly large signs are visible even from a block away when placed at a height. Your logo or message on the Ex-Disc circular banner that moves with the wind will attract attention from a distance. Being a display that is designed for outdoor use, it will not be affected by the elements.

A strategically placed display stand on the pavement that displays your best selling menu items or specials will encourage passers-by to walk in and try something. The vertical A-Frame pop up banner is a good option for this purpose. It can be weighted down for stability and its two banners will allow you to display colourful graphics or messages to attract people coming from either direction.

Window And Wall Displays

A picture is worth a thousand words. Posters in shop windows and walls are great methods for advertising specials, providing information and displaying large pictures of menu items. The best option for this kind of display is the fabric poster.

Fabric posters can provide much better quality and durability than other options like PVC, card or paper. Posters printed using dye sublimation technique are much better in looks and quality than the ones printed by screen printing. Fabric posters come with many mounting options. They can be hung from the ceiling, wall-mounted or made to stand on the floor.

Barriers And Partitions For Seating Areas

Barriers are just the things you need for setting up seating areas:

• They help you utilise space much better and if done properly will maximise the number of customers that can be accommodated at a time.

• For the customers seated outside, they give some amount of protection from wind, noise and dust from the street.

• You can also use them to separate smoking and non-smoking areas.

• They give you a large display area to further promote your brand, for example, to announce the opening of new outlets, show new additions to the menu and advertise combo offers.

Combination fabric backdrops made from polyester can be used as barriers that will give the required protection from the elements. As stability is more important than portability in this case, a solid base plate is the best option. You can use them to display graphics on both sides or keep it plain and simple in the colour that you prefer. They are also easy to set up and you can change your seating arrangement quickly when required.

Using Coffee Shop Banners Inside For Providing Information And Advertising

Signs and banners inside the outlet help increase your sales. Here are some common ways in which signs and banners can be used within the outlet:

1: Welcoming customers.
2: Showing outlet timings.
3: Displaying your menu.
4: Displaying specials and offers.
5: Introducing new items.

Here are some display ideas for use within the coffee shop or restaurant:

• Cross base stand with telescopic pole and a set of graphics: This is easy to set up and the graphics can be changed in an instant. You can also adjust the height for different type of banners. They are also lightweight and portable. You can easily move them around or pack them up when they are not in use. Use them around the seating area, next to the cash counter or as a sign just inside the entrance.

• Tabletop banners: Use them on the counters to display the popular menu, specials, offers or signs. They are lightweight, take less than a minute to assemble and can be easily packed up when not in use.

Flexibility Is The Key

With banners, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. We are sure that there are many other applications that you can think of depending on the type of outlet that you run. We have only discussed some basic applications and ideas that are commonly used.

Irrespective of how you use it, always make sure that the coffee shop banners you buy are portable, sturdy, durable, reusable and provide excellent graphics with true to life details and colours. While cost is always an important factor, the best products are environment-friendly and come with excellent after sales service and support. They may not be the cheapest in the market, but are certainly cheaper in the long run.

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Source by Pete S Davies

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