#Retail as a steppingstone

[harmonyhealinghub]

The Indispensable Lessons I Learned from Working in Retail

Shaina Tranquilino

February 4, 2024

Transitioning from full-time retail work to a career as an educational assistant at a school was undoubtedly a significant change for me. However, even with my reduced hours in retail, I quickly realized that the valuable lessons learned during my years of working in customer service continue to shape and enhance my professional growth. In this blog post, I will delve into how my background in retail has proven to be an invaluable asset in my current role and beyond.

1. Effective Communication Skills:

One of the key takeaways from my retail experience is the ability to communicate effectively. Whether it's interacting with customers or collaborating with colleagues, strong communication skills are crucial. My time in retail taught me how to listen actively, empathize with others' concerns, and express myself clearly and concisely – all traits that have been invaluable when assisting students with their unique needs and facilitating effective teamwork among educators.

2. Adaptability and Resilience:

Working in retail often meant dealing with unpredictable situations and challenging customers. This environment forced me to learn how to adapt swiftly while maintaining composure under pressure. These skills have proved essential when faced with unexpected situations within the school setting, such as handling emergencies or adapting lesson plans on short notice. The resilience developed through countless encounters with demanding customers has helped me remain calm and focused during high-stress moments.

3. Customer Service Excellence:

Customer service lies at the heart of any successful business, including schools, where parents and students are our valued "customers." My previous retail experience ingrained in me the importance of providing exceptional service by going above and beyond expectations. This mindset now translates into ensuring that every interaction I have within the school community is characterized by attentiveness, understanding, and dedication.

4. Problem-solving Abilities:

Retail work constantly presents challenges that require creative problem-solving skills. From resolving conflicts between customers to finding alternative solutions when faced with product shortages, I honed my ability to think on my feet and find practical resolutions. These problem-solving skills are transferable to my role as an educational assistant and other areas of my life, where I encounter various obstacles daily, such as addressing behavioral issues or adapting teaching approaches to accommodate diverse learners.

5. Time Management:

One of the most valuable lessons from working in retail is understanding how vital efficient time management is. Balancing multiple responsibilities simultaneously while adhering to strict deadlines is a skill developed through years of organizing inventory, handling customer requests promptly, and managing shifts effectively. This proficiency has proven invaluable in juggling the demands of both my school job and part-time retail position without compromising quality or effectiveness in either.

While transitioning from full-time retail work to a career in education was a significant shift for me, it's clear that the experiences gained during my time in retail continue to shape and enhance my professional growth today. From effective communication skills to adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving abilities, the lessons learned have seamlessly integrated into my educational assistant role, providing me with a unique perspective and a well-rounded skill set. Embracing these learnings has not only enriched my interactions with students but also empowered me to excel in various aspects of life beyond the workplace.

#retail revelations #Customer service wisdom #Workplace learning #Shop floor insights #Retail life lessons #Customer interactions #Retail reality check #Professional growth #Customer service #Service industry #Retail reflections #Job experience #Customer connection #Adaptability in retail #Retail as a steppingstone #Retail challenges #Lessons from the sales floor #career development #Retail success tips #Workplace wisdom #Behind the counter #Retail reality #Every job has a purpose #Career insights #Service industry success #Approach customers #Teamwork in retail #Adaptable professionals #Life on the shop floor #Retail skills

[mercedesfortunic55]

Accounting Ser and AccountingserGroup has a long-standing reputation for providing top-notch accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll services since its establishment in 1976 by Alicia and Louis Vilchez. Through the years they added a team of experienced professionals, including Vicki Luna, Rita Avilez, and Alicia Baldenegro, all well versed in their field. The company received excellent referrals from auditors, state monitors and directors promoting the company and its services. The #referrals continued, not only for Not-For-Profit (#NonProfit) organizations but also for #ProfitOrientedBusinesses various industries: #retail, #stores #entertainment #events, #hospitality, #nightclubs , #restaurants #construction #realstate #decelopment #propertymanagement, #import_export

The company's expertise in federal and state financial reporting, complex accounting, complex budgets and allocations to remain in compliance with monitored allocations for government programs, state private donations and other fund raising events. Knowledge of the funding processes in monthly demands and other

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Louis Vilchez served as member of the board of directors at NCADD and United Way. Alicia Vilchez served in board of directors of CII and 1736 FCC all being non-profit organizations. Their participation in organizations and #community further underscores their dedication to providing high-quality service to their clients. #louvilchezmeyers #mrgaccess #accountingsergroup #accounting #bookkeeping #payroll #businessservices

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[bjerregaardfletcher68]

Typically the Five Best Reasons for Wedding Jewelry

People choose these prepaid cards when they ask how to shift money from PayPal to debit cards. Even the two investigators, who have their own own romantic subplot, are fun to look at, and some involving their seemingly less relevant conversations and relationships turn out to be able to be vital as compared to they first seem. I also claimed on getting the particular more expensive fake natural leather (pleather) seat masks, ?nternet site can clean off of the dog hair. Based on the rules associated with this bill, everyone who spends more than Rs 5 lakh on the wedding must give money 10% of that sum for the Wellbeing Fund which shall be established simply by the appropriate government to assist poor people and the below thankfully line families for that marriage of their daughters. Fortunately, we all surprisingly got some sort of sizable refund, which in turn will 90% move toward CC (other 10% is for upcoming travel expenditures for my brother's wedding next month). Her brother's tee shirt, jersey and boxer trousers, over her footie pajamas.

13. found out good sales in different clothing products for brother's two girls while I actually was in Cal king Falls. PNC Traditional bank is a good example. 16. Located an old huskavarna machine deep throughout closet and I remembered it has been in good form, however the foot petal choose to go bad. I did rundown plus pay the normal water bill that may be due just before I get back again, and am just recalled that we have not covered by insurance the 4 wheeler, therefore i will go down later right now to add that will to the insurance. Hubs has cleaned the truck in addition to I told him or her to vacuum typically the inside well because the dog usually voyages in the back and I will have got to ride with him, as My partner and i would not allow Hub's mom to trip inside the back, simply out of respect, let alone with this dog, who is usually a non- quit shedder. One associated with the most crucial things to remember if starting to make your wedding script is always to pick out just what parts are many important to you personally plus your partner and after that work around individuals areas until an individual have built out and about a whole script.

Right here I chastised Rhitter for no unexpected emergency fund for the girl car repairs plus I didn't have one main either. I feel sure I am going to get up here now that we are proceeding into busy time. 카지노사이트 추천 will need complete control and approval over your ceremony creation prior to every day, and Elaine is happy to be able to provide a rehearsal. 12. Picked way up steppingstones for pathways in yard through Facebook marketplace preserving $200 over retail. I used to be saving $100 every week in the 100 envelope test. The house is really a wreck as I really did nothing last week to help keep it clean up. Now to simply maintain the kids through finding them inside of the freezer. Food are high right now and will continue to go up. We will do most my normal issues. Once 카지노사이트 추천 learn how to properly fill a dishwasher, you will end up being amazed at the quantity of dishes that can easily be washed in one load. I got able to total two wedding outfit alterations yesterday and even I actually researched some videos upon Horse hair braid and one associated with them really helped. Your dress may be formal or casual, but remember to, no beach put on. You may always be married anywhere in the state of Florida.

County health treatment centers may also supply these services. Organic beef not like typically the price, but many of us are free to go get the particular gas in the free from danger country, this is a great thing the Ukrainians avoid have. 6. constantly looked for the most affordable place to be able to get gas. Nowadays is all regarding, laundry, straightening the particular house it is therefore clear when I settle and getting typically the ironing done, and so I have a thing to wear. I am going to mail them each three new outfits today. The wedding invitation wording is definitely what will hint guests into the fact that the wedding will be a new formal occasion. Wedding is the the majority of significant day intended for a person and has a whole lot of dreams plus desires regarding their own grand day. 3 or more. Saved anything some sort of day in my personal penny can. That doesn? t get long but can save you time and effort if you are successful. Both Sissie and Slug's (she was nice concerning it, as in no bruises that will show) both informed me I got making myself crazy plus I do this specific annually at this kind of time.

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[viteducation]

There are several job opportunities in the national and international market for Diploma of Hospitality Management Australia graduates

Is the idea of being in an office for nine to five years boring? On the contrary, do you like to travel and meet new people? If the answer is yes, Hotel Management Diploma Melbourne is definitely a great career option for you. The hospitality industry is one of the most challenging and interesting industries that offers a variety of career opportunities. He manages customer service and ensures that customers get the best experience of their lives. Tourism and hotel management are two important aspects of the hospitality industry. With the rapid globalization, this industry is developing rapidly these days.

It has become a prestigious career and it is the main reason why more and more students are completing their university studies in Diploma of Hospitality Management Australia courses. Under current market conditions, Australia is a profitable destination for any hotel and restaurant chain looking for growth. There are several job opportunities in the national and international market for hotel management graduates.

Some universities offer short-term certificate courses such as Australian Hospitality Diploma Safety Standards for Food and Sanitation, Hotel Administration Analysis of Food Quantity Production and Marketing and merchandising in the hospitality industry. In these courses, the emphasis is more on practical knowledge than on theoretical knowledge, which gives students a competitive edge over others. Students gain skills in food and beverage management, sales and marketing, hospitality, eco-hospitality, hotel information technology, and advanced business studies. Wine. After completing the Melbourne Hospitality Management Diploma, they can work as a food or drink server in any restaurant or bar.

you will find several universities and institutes that offer hotel management courses at bachelor and master levels. A degree in hospitality training in Australia can be used as a steppingstone to enter the hospitality industry. Students can also pursue a postgraduate degree in hospitality which trains them in various hospitality skills required for the job.

The key role of a hotel manager is to oversee the management responsibilities of a resort, hotel, or casino. This means ensuring that the required national regulations are met and, as a result, that customers are satisfied. A satisfied customer is more likely to return if they receive excellent service, which leads to customer loyalty.

Anyone who wants to get into the Diploma of Hospitality Management Melbourne must have a passion for tourism and provide a good experience for tourists. Due to the nature of the industry, hotel management incorporates concepts from similar disciplines such as business administration, retail, and product management and provides chain management. Career opportunities in the hospitality industry are excellent and with the right education almost any hobby is suitable.

It only takes four years or less, if you fast-track a bachelor’s degree, after which you’ll be eligible for higher-paying jobs. Catering law, labour relations, catering management, security, catering management, hotel management, facilities management, marketing and sales. Those who wish to advance to management, general manager, and district hotel manager positions can further their education by earning a master’s or doctoral degree.

Career opportunities in the hospitality industry are excellent and with the Diploma of Hospitality Management Australia education is suitable

The executive hospitality recruitment is done from those elite hospitality institutions only which has got its name imprinted over the world of Diploma of Hospitality Management Sydney course with a few of their students owning many of the business firms in this field. These institutes provide those talented people to the industry. The industry is growing at a sonic speed and the better quality and huge quantity of staffs are required in this field.

But the new recruits can only learn through the process of training on first hand. So the whole unit of the new executive hospitality recruitment are provide d the training under the guidance of one or two for those super specialty staffs who are in charge f the whole industry and looks after the various hospitality training programs that are present for the trainees. After the Hospitality Training in Sydney course is over, the person can join in the firm for the further development in the career or can join some another firm, though by paying off the charges for the training or can do Diploma of hospitality management Australia course.

A quick click will help you to enrol and complete this course in virtually no time at all. The responsible service of alcohol training course will help you to learn all about staff obligations, refusal of service, alcohol impact, and harm minimization techniques. You will be able to handle calm or agitated customers in the safest possible manner with these acquired skills.

for anyone learning Hospitality in the VIT is the responsible service of hospitality training that needs to be approved by the Office of Regulatory Services. This Course will anyway take up only three and a half hours of your time and successful completion will reward you with a nationally recognized statement of attainment that is valid for three years. This course is specific only to the VIT and a short refresher course after three years will allow you to continue rising in your chosen career.

A higher level of hospitality degree like Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Australia allows you to apply for leadership positions in the industry. You can work as a reception manager, restaurant manager, department manager, concierge or event manager. These are responsible positions, which usually work in a team.

Whether you specialize in lodging, meals and drinks or managing leisure activities, prepare for a formal education, such as a hospitality degree. In official training centres you will learn how it works behind the scenes. This includes monitoring and personnel management. Instructors help students improve skills such as team leadership, problem solving and decision making, and customer service management. They are also trained in management, marketing and sales. If you specialize in food and beverages, you will get to know the basics of gastronomy. With this knowledge you can work consistently and safely all these can be covered in Advanced Hospitality Management Australia course

Part of the Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Australia course training takes place in a practical work environment. It can be a restaurant, a hotel, a cafe or a club. This gives you the opportunity to gain practical experience in your area of expertise. A hospitality degree will also improve your job search prospects. Business leaders do not want to spend time or money training employees. They prefer to select trained employees who can contribute to their business when they join.

For getting more information visit here VIT – Victorian Institute of Technology

14/123 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

1300 17 17 55 (or) [email protected]

#Advanced Hospitality Management #Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Australia #Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Sydney #Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Melbourne #Diploma of Hospitality Management Australia #Diploma of Hospitality Management Sydney #Diploma of Hospitality Management Melbourne

[indovance]

It has never been more important to ensure that building codes address the net-zero challenge head-on.

The numbers are startling: the built environment accounts for 37% of the world’s energy-related carbon emissions, and the construction sector as a whole uses about 40% of the world’s resources annually. 

The UK government has amended the Building Regulations to move toward a Future Buildings Standard, including a requirement that all new residences must reduce their carbon footprint by 30%, and other buildings, such as workplaces and retail establishments, must reduce their carbon footprint by 27%. 

As we progress toward the introduction of the Future Homes and Building Standard in 2025, these updates go into effect in June 2022 and serve as a steppingstone to assist the construction industry in adapting to changing rules and low-carbon heating. 

Are You Ready for the New Part L Building Regulations Update?

Get More Insight Here- https://www.indovance.com/knowledge-center/new-part-l-building-regulations-update/

#Part L Building Regulations #Building Regulations #UK government #Building Standard #Indovance

[23927186]

On-Line Music Marketing

Introduction

This guide aims to identify and evaluate the main types of on-line music marketing, together with the resources and distribution tools associated with them, so that those artists who are trying to break into the music industry have the appropriate knowledge and skills as to what works best for them, from a strategic perspective and which also provides them with the greatest opportunity for artistic and / or commercial success.

On-line Music Marketing

To understand on-line music marketing, it is best to first understand what music marketing generally refers to. When defining Music Marketing, Lathrop (2003: 1) refers to it as “[m]aximizing the sales and exposure of music”, utilising “systematic approaches to following the money trail of commercial music – and doing it with as much skill and precision”. The notion of exposure is recognised moreover by Kusek, Leonhard & Lindsay (2005: 57), saying that “[m]usic marketing has always been, and will always be, about exposure and discovery. Without exposure, an artist's new music will not get heard, and without being discovered by new fans, an artist's career is at a standstill.”

In the modern music world, it is now pertinent to add to this concept of music marketing a dimension of on-line activity (use of internet connected external / internal technologies), and as Kusek, Leonhard & Lindsay(2005: 106) predicted “the opportunity to influence, and thus market to [audiences] lie squarely with the ability to reach them quickly, inexpensively, and of course virally, via peer groups and via the smart leveraging of social networks … traditional forms of marketing are going to fit right next to new forms of peer-to-peer digital marketing. Creating a buzz has always been essential in the promotion of music. Exposure begets discovery, which begets income … Smart Web sites, cell phones, and network savvy applications are where it is at in the future of music marketing to the digital kids.” Music Marketing resources cited here include websites and applications, both of which are methods in producing, as well as distributing content, with applications specifically being utilised in their most holistic experiential form with numerous social media platforms (some of which can only be accessed through applications and not an associated website).

Now that we have covered on-line music marketing resources, let’s discuss the various distribution tools used specifically in conjunction with them. Distribution tools simply refer to the means of using particular methods to get your product, whether that be yourself as an artist or whatever you intend on promoting (song, album, promo video, event, etc.), into your audience’s hands / ears. Previously analogue media (landline telephone, radio and music television) provided the best means to which music marketing was employed. These however have since been translated digitally, along with the introduction of newer means such as streaming and digital downloads. The commonality here being that these platforms act both as distribution and consumption tools. Though both analogue and digital medias are still used in conjunction with each other today, digital music marketing now provides greater marketing opportunities for both data analysis and identifying subsequent promotional opportunities and actions when planning for future strategies. “[N]ew technology and new marketing techniques … create new and exciting promotion tools. The majority of these new promotion tools use direct marketing techniques to create and maintain relationships with fans, fostering the loyalty that often comes with such relationships.” (Kusek, Leonhard & Lindsay, 2005: 67).

Above / Below the Line Music Marketing

This then feeds directly into another concept to consider, which is the “Above and Below the line” marketing theory. Above and below the line music marketing as concepts refer to how marketing strategies adapt to reach either large groups of people (Above), or to target only specific individuals (Below). Above the line marketing has been successfully employed in analogue medias as well as more recently in their digital equivalents also (as mentioned above). For your online use of above the line marketing, websites and social media are the building blocks to be used when promoting yourself as an identifiable brand, whether that be personal or in association with a working entity / collective, which in turn can open up opportunities and placements, to more greatly establish yourself as an artist and which brings you to the attention of a more targeted audience / demographic. This can therefore be viewed as broadcast marketing.

Conversely, “Below the line marketing” targets specific individuals through means of direct communications and therefore a means of narrowcasting. One key form of traditional below the line marketing, which has been transferred digitally, is the fan club / mailing list. As Kusek, Leonhard & Lindsay (2005: 67) note “[m]ailing lists keep fans updated on shows and events, while at the same time allowing for the band to get a better idea of the demographic of its fan base. Eminem and Prince have been able to fill almost half of the seats at large arenas with their fan clubs.” Additionally, donation led platforms such as Patreon, Kickstarter and GoFundMe, have allowed for audiences to support artists in exchange for personalised rewards. These are often designated in a cost led tiered system, where the more audiences pay / are charged, the greater the incentives will be. Such incentives could include items like autographs, personal recordings and exclusive merchandise (e.g., limited addition clothing, memorabilia, etc.). These can be seen as a hybrid of above and below marketing, combining the collective input with a uniquely issued trade-off on the part of the artist.

Micro, Meso and Macro

It is important to understand how the ideas discussed here make an impact on a micro (local / regional), meso (national) and macro (international / global) level. Macro and meso levels are thought about as appealing to more general audiences and are usually targeted after some time from initial beginnings (above the line). The Micro level is where artists will usually begin and therefore would initially expect greater benefits from below the line strategies to firstly establish brand identity, loyalty, quality, as well as building business relations and contacts. On a micro scale, artists would hopefully find themselves gaining exposure on local radio stations / podcasts and regional based publications found on their respective websites, etc. Moreover, these area scales should not just be seen as sequential steppingstones to get from one level to the next, but rather, if you acquire such reach, all three (Micro, Meso and Macro) should be constantly employed where possible. For instance, a homecoming “gig” / event by an artist who has since achieved “success” can provide local publications that first gave support and assistance to said artist returned gratitude by giving these organisations renewed publicity and exposure from the artist’s newly found high profile. This helps to further prolong a loyal local following / renowned for scene which thrives on for years, and which is highly beneficial to all.

4 / 7 Ps

I will now discuss the 4 / 7 Ps of music marketing, the first four being main factors when it comes to marketing, with an additional three that further flesh these out and make specificities about any given campaign. The first couple of these terms, which are Product and Promotion have previously been explored above.

Product refers to the three music industry sectors of recording, rights and live, where an artist’s work can be heard / employed. For the recorded sector, this refers to listening formats, whether it be analogue / digital or possibly a mixture of both. For live, these are remote performances that are congregated around and where potential audiences pay an admission fee to attend. More subtlety, rights ensure that authorized public performances of an artist’s music from events or establishments / authorized merchandise purchases through legitimate retailers / distributers are compensated for in the use of their credited track, performance, and any Intellectual Property that provides a source of revenue stream. Ultimately, this all refers to what you are selling

Promotion, as strategic marketing leader Simon Kingsnorth (2016: 11) states, “is what most people think of when they hear the word marketing … This is often the first time that people will have any relationship with your brand and sometimes, certainly in below-the-line marketing, this can be a personal relationship. As we all know, first impressions are very important so getting your promotion right is vital.”

Price refers to how you deliver the product and justify costs in such a way that people are prepared to willingly pay for it. If you have 100 fans who pay an average product cost for your merchandise (this could be anything including recordings, clothing and accessories), and if your production cost for each item is £10 and you have a sell on price of £15 (£5 more than it costs you to produce), then each individual item will make you a profit of £5 (total profit of £500). This profit margin is acceptable to the artist, but the sale price of £15 is also acceptable to the consumer because this is a reasonable and affordable price to pay for such pieces of favoured memorabilia. Conversely, you could tailor costs to how pricing structures fit in with whatever stage you are at as an artist (Micro, Meso, Macro), such mixed marketplace philosophy as demonstrated by artists like Llyod Cole, who makes use of multiple above (promotional announcements, teaser excerpts) and below (personalised recordings, signatured items) the line marketing strategies.

With regards to Place. Kingsnorth (2016: 11) notes that your online presence “must be easy to find — this relates back to SEO [Search Engine Optimization, see page 7], paid search and most other digital acquisition channels. Once someone arrives is it easy to navigate and find the information and products that they want?”

When considering People, an alternative one-word summary that best explains this aspect is “who”. For audiences, do they know “who” the act is stylistically / genre wise or “who” are the band members (associated archetypes including the quiet one, the funny one, the sporty one, etc.)? For artists, do they have the right types of people involved at every stage? Being able to distinctly identity yourself as a person and all the other appropriate personnel involved is a necessity to maintain a long-term sustainable career in the music industry.

The notion of Process makes use of the practices demonstrated in the production and distribution modes, adopted by artists and which involves audiences that can be viewed as the necessary steps as to how someone acquires a product or service. In reference to on-line music marketing, this “is related to consumers’ desire to be able to download and play music on any devices they have including their computers, home entertainment systems, and portable MP3 players (Burrows et al., 2003)” (Vaccaro and Cohn, 2004: 52).

Finally, Physical Evidence makes use of tactile objects and imagery features that are hallmarks to your brand / core values and which further symbolises quality offerings. As Vaccaro and Cohn (2004: 53) further point out in the online sphere, “consumers who purchase a song also receive a picture of the CD cover (Mossberg, 2003). It is recommended that legitimate on-line digital music distribution services do market research to find out what types of physical evidence, information, or services could be offered with the core product of music to provide added value to different consumer market segments and generate higher profits.”

SWOT / PESTEL

Making use of a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis, as well as a more detailed PESTL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal) analysis when considering marketing strategies will ensure that Production, Distribution and Consumption (PDC) concerns are fully considered and improves the likelihood of successful outcomes being achieved. As a result, processes can be readily applied for each platform used in a marketing campaign through different digital medias. Because of this, what you set out to achieve with a campaign and ultimately its success(es) will be dependent on the marketing metrics which you aim to target. Is it the most amount of engagement (listens, views, likes, replies, retweets, subscriptions, followers) with streaming / social media platforms as possible, or rather how much profit made and return on investment on those very same platforms? “While exposure and revenue generation are key considerations, it's important not to forget one of the prime benefits social media and streaming offers the music industry: data. Bands … can now head out into the world with proof of their popularity. Some bookers won't even say "yes" to a performance unless a certain number of likes have been reached”(Edmondson, 2013: 3).

Conclusion

To sum up, there are a number of conceptual terms and theories which need not only to be understood but which act as instinctive knowledge before committing oneself in a newfound venture as a musical artist. This ultimately revolves around the aforementioned Production, Distribution and Consumption (PDC) stages of the music industry, as well as more generally the technological, behavioural and economic factors that arise from you the artist and your audience. Ensuring that every aspect of this ever-expanding industry is covered in a reasonable, logical and corroborated manner, will most likely result in a successful marketing strategy, determined by your own definition of “success”, being achieved.

Bibliography

· EDMONDSON, J., 2013. How Social Media and Streaming Have Influenced the Music Industry [online]. Available from: https://musicalmillennials.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/edmondson-2013.pdf

· KINGSNORTH, S., 2016. Digital Marketing Strategy: An integrated approach to online marketing. Kogan Page Publishers. Available from: http://elibrary.gci.edu.np/bitstream/123456789/3389/1/Bt.bm.522Digital%20Marketing%20Strategy%20An%20Integrated%20Approach%20to%20Online%20Marketing%20by%20Simon%20Kingsnorth.pdf

· KUSEK, D., LEONHARD, G., & LINDSAY, S. G., 2005. The future of music: manifesto for the digital music revolution. [eBook]. Boston: Berklee Press. Available from: https://archive.org/details/futureofmusicman00kuse

· LATHROP, T., 2003. This Business of Music Marketing & Promotion. New York: Billboard Books.

· VACCARO, V.L. and COHN, D.Y., 2004. The evolution of business models and marketing strategies in the music industry. International journal on media management [online]. 6 (1-2), pp.46-58. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/14241277.2004.9669381

Image References

· HOUGHTON, B., 2013. The Evolution of Music Tech [online]. Available from: http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2013/06/the-evolution-of-music-tech-infographic.html

· JACKSON, P., 2019. Imagined and Real: Audiences of the Music Industry, MUS2004 Music and Media. [online via VLE] Edge Hill University. Available from: https://learningedge.edgehill.ac.uk/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_250853_1&content_id=_2901639_1

[publichealthmessage]

Bridgeport – We need to be better together (gain frame)

           On the surface, the Chicago neighborhood of Bridgeport may have an appearance of overall affluence, but there are many families in this neighborhood experiencing poverty, particularly food insecurity. About 36-55% of Bridgeport’s residents are at risk of food insecurity (Coffey, 2020). “It’s been a problem for many years. We know that Chicago has an issue that relates to racial segregation. People lack access to basic resources and one of those basic resources is retail food,” said Dr. Angela Odoms-Young, an associate professor in the department of kinesiology and nutrition in the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Applied Health Sciences (Coffey, 2020).

           In order to step into change for health equity and food insecurity, there needs to be community engagement and utilizing resources within the community. The more affluent residents in Bridgeport, specifically those who make more than $75,000 are best equip for this change. If they have the means to make their own neighborhood better holistically, they will benefit on their side as well. They are connected to their food insecure neighbors through a shared community. If the roles were reversed, they would be grateful if others did the same for them in their time of need.

           A great example of a call of action that is already within their community is the Benton House. Benton House is an independent non-profit organization providing social services for the Bridgeport community in the city of Chicago for over 100 years (Robinson, 2018). The Chicago Benton House would greatly appreciate food, money, or volunteering as a community. This organization can benefit from the Bridgeport affluent homeowners to act for the neighborhood by supporting this resource along with food pantry to help relieve food insecurity. This organization is a steppingstone to make Bridgeport a neighborhood that everyone who lives there can say is truly doing well.

References

Coffey, C. (2020, December 3). Race in Chicago: A Look at Chicago's Ongoing Food Insecurity Struggle. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/race-in-chicago-a-look-at-chicago-s-ongoing-food-insecurity-struggle/ar-BB1bzSK7.

Robinson, N. (2018, June). Forward Together: A Roadmap to Reduce Food Insecurity across the City of Chicago. Retrieved February 25, 2021, from        https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/wp/content/uploads/2018/06/CityRoadmap.pdf

#pubh340

[tastydregs]

‘AR cloud’ will drive the next generation of immersive experiences

Imagine: You’re walking down the street in an unfamiliar city and decide to stop for lunch. You put on your augmented reality (AR)-enabled glasses and look around you, and certain restaurants’ ratings and recent reviews appear overlaid on their storefronts. After you select a restaurant and sit down, you put the glasses on once again and a virtual menu appears on the table.

While this may seem futuristic, in reality it’s the next generation of computing. AR cloud technology enables the unification of the physical and digital world to create immersive experiences like the one just described. This technology uses a common interface to deliver persistent, collaborative and contextual digital content overlaid onto people, objects and locations. This provides users with information and services directly tied to every aspect of their physical surroundings.

Gartner predicts that by 2025, 15% of organizations with more than $1 billion in revenue will use AR cloud to monetize the physical world through new interactions and business models. While many opportunities for AR cloud are still years away, there are near-term actions that businesses can take to capitalize on this emerging technology.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the value proposition for enterprise AR solutions more urgent, particularly among frontline workers who are leveraging AR to make their job easier, faster, or safer. Many organizations that have already deployed AR solutions are expanding their deployments, and others that were previously unaware of AR, or had deprioritized it in favor of other emerging technologies, are refocusing on these initiatives.

To prepare for future AR cloud opportunities, technology leaders must focus on building out the features, functionality and ecosystem required to make these applications more valuable and scalable. While there are numerous, compelling use cases in the future, these will not come to fruition unless providers can show current use cases that demonstrate business value, accessibility and usability.

The future of AR cloud applications

One of the biggest hurdles to AR adoption is the lack of scalable, off-the-shelf solutions — despite these solutions being purpose-built for a narrowly scoped set of problems. AR cloud experiences will amplify these hurdles by many orders of magnitude, by the nature of needing scalability while being persistent, collaborative and ubiquitous.

While AR cloud tech is still far from mainstream, tech vendors are introducing a few early AR cloud experiences. Apple’s App Clips, for example, can be used as anchors for an AR cloud system, triggered by pointing the phone camera at Apple’s App Clip codes, QR codes, or an NFC tag. Another example is Google Lens, which provides a digitally interactive experience through the camera application that can be used for text language translation, visual search and identification of objects, identification of popular menu items, and more.

These examples show the potential for AR cloud, yet they are still relatively isolated experiences. In other words, although they are collaborative, they exist independently of each other and are not part of a comprehensive experience. As such, they provide some of the steppingstone functionalities to AR cloud, but we would not consider them true AR cloud experiences — yet. True AR cloud deployments will require an ecosystem of providers working together to deliver persistent, collaborative and scalable experiences.

Immersive experiences set the stage for AR cloud

The path to this fully scalable AR cloud world will be paved by semi-AR solutions. We see these in such sectors as entertainment, retail, education, and health, where they are being applied to both consumer and employee experiences. They remain limited for three key reasons:

Many of the technologies needed to enable immersive and interactive AR experiences, such as 5G, edge AI and IoT, are still maturing.

The current generation of AR devices falls short on usability. Most AR experiences are currently viewed with tablets and smartphones, which is untenable for hands-free, continuous use — a key value proposition for AR cloud. On the other hand, hands-free devices like head-mounted displays are inaccessible due to cost, style, and ergonomics.

The underlying infrastructure to enable persistent and collaborative experiences to anchor digital content to the physical world is nascent. Therefore, these experiences are purpose-built and exist in silos.

Now is the time to explore AR cloud

Business technology decision-makers must determine if and how to best make use of AR cloud technology. Will your organization monetize it? Will you use it to generate new business? Or will you use it to glean more value from existing digital and physical assets?

To put this decision into context, think back to the beginnings of the internet age, where many companies didn’t have a website. Businesses that were early adopters invested in this technology for many different reasons. Some did so as a competitive differentiator, some for thought-leadership, and some for “fear of missing out.” Yet, regardless of their initial reason for investing, the biggest benefit for early adopters is that they learned critical lessons on how to use this new medium of information and communication.

While the opportunities for investing in AR cloud can be exciting, they can also be daunting. How should AR cloud work? Who should it target? And how will it complement current technology investments? Nobody has figured out the answers to these questions yet, but those who are exploring AR cloud now will be much closer to an answer by the time it becomes more developed and pervasive.

Tuong Huy Nguyen is a Senior Research Principal Analyst on Gartner’s Emerging Technologies and Trends team, leading research on immersive technologies, computer vision, SLAM and human-machine interfaces.

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[jodybouchard9]

Backyard Bargains: 7 Dollar-Store Decor Items to Make Your Outdoor Space Sizzle

It’s no secret that “outdoor living” has become the phrase du jour for homeowners. Folks everywhere have engineered seamless transitions between inside and outside, adding durable furniture and cozy accessories to our patios and yards to make it truly feel like we’re living al fresco.

And while it’s possible to go all out on your outdoor decor, you don’t have to pour your entire savings account into making your space sing.

In fact, in many cases, you don’t even have to spend more than a buck. Yes—one dollar!

Just head to your neighborhood dollar store to give your outdoor space a seasonal reboot on the cheap. And as you cruise the aisles, keep one material in mind.

“Plastic, plastic, plastic! These sweet, cheap, reliable-for-the-season accessories are the name of the game at dollar stores,” gushes Mim King, a professional organizer and money manager.

Don’t expect this stuff to last for years, she warns, but you can count on hearing “Aw, how cute!” when your bring it all out this season. (Summer picks from the dollar store also make perfect children’s party favors or gifts for a hostess or housewarming party.)

So what are you waiting for? Hit up the dollar store today for these summer staples.

1. Yard accoutrements

Photo by Adrienne DeRosa

A surprising category where dollar stores shine? Outdoor decorations.

“You can pick up fun flags, banners, wind chimes, lawn stakes, and more for a warm weather look on the lawn or to use when entertaining,” reports Sarah Hollenbeck, a shopping and savings expert at Offers.com.

Poke around for other cute steals, including spinners, bird houses and feeders, lawn ornaments, and small statues.

2. Pool accessories

Candy-colored pool toys are great buys at the dollar store.

Hollenbeck touts floaties and other pool accessories as some of the best dollar-store finds.

“You’ll find these for a fraction of what they cost at the big-box home stores,” she notes.

Look for water wings, foam noodles, inner tubes, and beach balls, and be sure to stock up on replacements for the inevitable wear and tear from the kids. While you’re at it, pick up an outdoor basket that’s large enough to corral this gear poolside.

3. Whimsical lighting

Photo by Chelsea Construction Corporation

When else can you use twinkle lights shaped like pineapples or flamingos? Pick these up at the dollar store on the cheap, and string them along the edge of a porch or in the trees, suggests Julie Coraccio, the organizing genius at Reawaken Your Brilliance.

“I also saw some cool tulip solar lighting at a dollar store that would be fun along the path to your doorway,” she adds.

Jeanine Boiko, a real estate agent and blogger at Okio B Designs, likes to snatch up prayer candles and repurpose them.

“Make over these deals with free decals and Mod Podge, and then group them on a tray in the middle of your outdoor table,” she says.

4. Garden gear

You don’t have to dig deep in your wallet for this garden gear.

elenaleonova/iStock

Forget the big-box home improvement retailer—make the dollar store your destination for landscaping on a budget. Pick out some new pots and planters for your roses and herb garden, and then grab some plant hangers, garden fences, and steppingstones.

“You can turn your flower beds into an oasis without blowing your entire budget,” Hollenbeck says.

Boiko found faux galvanized buckets at her local store and plans to use them on her front porch.

“You can quickly pop a hole in the bottom and turn them into planters, or fill a Mason jar with flowers and put it inside,” she says.

5. Durable dishware sets

Don’t drop a fortune on outdoor dishes.

focalpix/iStock

Plastic tumblers and melamine dishes are a few summer items from dollar stores that’ll last more than one season. Reusing these plates and cups also reduces paper waste that comes from disposables.

Drew Henry of Design Dudes fell hard for a ceramic pineapple in the dollar section of his local Target store.

“I use it as an accessory on a serving tray where it looks fresh and fun when paired with some higher-end items,” he says.

And don’t forget about glass vases: Boiko fills her cylinders with pebbles and shells to match her beach theme.

6. Party supplies

Photo by Sandy Koepke

Wire baskets and metal bins are ideal for warm weather parties, and the dollar store is the place to pick these up on the cheap. Fill a few with ice, beer, and soft drinks; place them on the corner of the deck; and let guests serve themselves.

Bonus: Grab some seasonal paper napkins and themed koozies for ultimate party hosting points.

7. Simple summer linens

Bright linens

lucop/iStock

You might not consider the dollar store for sheets and other home linens, but it’s just the place for lighter fabrics and textiles in bright summer colors that you can use outside. Think: vibrant tablecloths, place settings, and even chair pads.

In just a few minutes—and with a dollar or three—you’ve given your outdoor space a sweet seasonal touch. Now get outside and enjoy.

The post Backyard Bargains: 7 Dollar-Store Decor Items to Make Your Outdoor Space Sizzle appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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[viteducation]

Great Employment Opportunities with Master of IT Melbourne Degree

It is approved that an exciting and incredibly fast-growing career area with multiple of opportunities opening daily. You can find the many Information Technology schools in Australia that will help students to attain new heights in their profession. Young people find working with a computer inspiring and follow a vocation related to the computers frequently these days. Institutes are striving to offer a Master of IT Melbourne programs to many of the aspiring students.

Certainly, computers play an integral role in our lives today; capturing a well-paying computer job can be a steppingstone to many good things in life. IT is a wide area related to management of the technology comprising diverse fields like processes, computer software, information systems, computer hardware, programming languages, and data constructs. Consequently, everything that relates to the data, information or visible knowledge in any illustrated system, or any multimedia distribution mechanisms are accepted as part and parcel of data Technology (IT).

One of the foremost vital outcomes of the progress of data technology is probably e- commerce over the online, a replacement means of conducting business. Although solely some years previous, it is getting to radically alter economic activities and the social atmosphere. Already, it affects such giant sectors as communications, finance and retail trade and should expand to areas like education and health services. It implies the seamless application of data and communication technology on the entire price chain of a business that is conducted electronically.

There are certain careers that you simply know will always be relevant and in high demand. Doing a Higher Education with Master of IT Melbourne degree could afford you such a career. The Bureau of Labour Statistics estimates amazing growth in employment opportunities for graduates of this degree program.

In an ideal world, many students would love to be able to attend university full-time and not have to deal with their familial, financial, and professional commitments. But within the world, many students are ready to attend a physical college due to one or a mixture of these issues.

It is the catch of education. The very issues that one is trying to solve by getting a college degree, is making it virtually possible for one to get the college degree in the first place.

But this is often where the Master of IT Melbourne course of study really shines. For one thing, a MITS Degree can be less costly than a degree from a traditional college. And once you attend an appropriately accredited college, your master’s degree is on par with a campus-based one.

Master's Master of IT Melbourne connection. This kind of flexibility makes it easier for you to juggle your family and work responsibilities.

As you do more research into the master’s in information systems course, you will quickly conclude that all your efforts into completing this program will be well worth it. The median salary earned by a holder of this degree is highly respectable.

Earlier, it was mentioned how attending an appropriately accredited college is important. In case you are called upon by a prospective employer defend your master’s degree, you can point out that your degree is accredited by the relevant associations. This is crucial because within the online distance learning degree world, there are unscrupulous schools which will outright lie around their accreditation status.

Learn with a Master of IT Melbourne Degree can Change Your Future

A Master of IT Melbourne degree can lead down the many different paths because of the wide variety of tasks it spans. This field focuses on anything that renders data, and this can be a lot of different things. Everything from simple hardware repairs to designing intricate computer programs. The field is basically limited only by the present technology of the time.

As it passes, more and more occupations will open, and even more people will be needed to master in this line of work. Any time you get on the computer, visit a website, or turn on your DVD player; you are experiencing the work of an individual who has obtained a Master of Information Technology degree.

A degree in information technology offers hands on training to give their students an improved learning experience and feel for the work required. Master of IT Melbourne courses tend to hunt a hands-on sort of education because it is the simplest way believed to find out within the complicated field of computer mechanics. IT courses that do not provide the hands-on training are generally online programs and are growing in popularity through the circuits. People are learning it is still possible to obtain a high-quality education without needing a traditional college setting.

Even if a career in the field is not wanted, Master of Information Technology courses will teach their students a plethora of skills that are great for at-home repairs. Using these IT courses can save any computer owner a good amount of cash in the long run-on costly maintenance and repairs. By participating within and graduating with a master’s degree in information technology, the individual can perform their own repairs reception within the comfort of their schedule and with the satisfaction of keeping their money.

Completing any of the several Master of Information Technology courses will provide them with excellent credentials for future employment opportunities. The technology industry is growing as more graduates holding an IT degree are required daily to complete a range of sector related tasks. By taking this course, a person puts himself one step ahead of his competitors, as well as one step ahead in the career of his choice.

For getting more information visit here VIT - Victorian Institute of Technology.

14/123 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

1300 17 17 55 (or) [email protected]

#Master of IT #Master of it Australia #master of it Melbourne #master of it Sydney

[deniscollins]

Another Casualty of the Coronavirus: Summer Internships

For millions of college students, internships can be a steppingstone to full-time work, a vital source of income and on-the-job experience that leads to future employment, have been upended by the pandemic, as jobs have been reduced or now done remotely. If you were responsible for your company’s annual internship program, what would you do: (1) rescind offers and cancel all summer internships, (2) redesign them to be done remotely, (3) defer internships to the fall or next year, (4) skip the internship and offer full-time job after 2021 graduation, or (5) something else, if so, what?

When she found out in mid-March that she had landed an internship with an education nonprofit in Washington, Lydia Burns, a senior at the University of Louisville, called her mother to celebrate. The whole world was falling apart, but here, finally, was good news.

“Mom, guess what?” she said. “Things are amazing!”

The euphoria lasted all of a week. As she worked on a paper the next Tuesday, Ms. Burns got an email from the nonprofit: The internship was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. She burst into tears.

“I feel like I had such a strong plan,” she said. “I knew what I was going to do — I had been working for it all of college. Now I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

For millions of college students, internships can be a steppingstone to full-time work, a vital source of income and even a graduation requirement.

But like so much else, summer internships have been upended by the pandemic, with a wide range of major companies, including tech firms like Yelp and entertainment behemoths like the Walt Disney Company, canceling programs and rescinding offers.

Students who had locked down internships as early as September are now jobless. Others who had hoped to experience an office setting for the first time are instead looking for work at fast-food restaurants. Many low-income undergraduates, already saddled with student loans, are concerned that a jobless summer could put them at a disadvantage in future application cycles, making it harder to find full-time work after graduation.

Some companies are continuing to pay interns to work from home, sending corporate laptops in the mail and holding get-to-know-you sessions over Zoom. But students fear that remote internships will not afford the networking opportunities that can make spending a summer in an office so valuable, especially for interns who have few professional contacts.

“You pick up a lot of subtle clues about how to behave in that profession, how to communicate like an engineer, how to work in teams like a nurse,” said Matthew Hora, an education professor at the University of Wisconsin who has studied internships. “Students are going to be missing that.”

Cassandra Dopp, a junior at the University of South Carolina, felt the effects of the pandemic earlier than most American college students: She was studying abroad in Rome when the coronavirus swept Italy.

Ms. Dopp, a business major, returned home in March and was set to work for Geico this summer at the company’s headquarters in Fredericksburg, Va. But as she sat in her childhood bedroom last month, Ms. Dopp got a call from a human-relations official at the company, who informed her the internship was canceled.

Many of her friends had already gotten similar calls. But Ms. Dopp has always prided herself on keeping organized and planning for the future. Now, she has no idea how she’ll stay occupied after final exams, let alone what she’ll do in July or August.

“I’d never put myself in this position to not have a plan for my summer and my future,” she said. “It was a big letdown. It’s disappointing.”

In a statement, Geico said its summer program rotates interns through multiple departments to expose them to different facets of the company. “Unfortunately,” the company said, “this experience was not possible in our current remote working environment.”

Many of the cancellations stem from those kinds of logistical challenges, or from cost-cutting at companies that are reeling from the economic damage of the pandemic. In other cases, students were hired to work at sports venues and political conventions, or help organize events that have been canceled.

Keri Johnson, a journalism student at Ohio University, landed what she described as a “dream” internship writing marketing material for the Nelsonville Music Festival in Ohio. Then the festival was canceled, along with many other cultural events, like South by Southwest.

Ms. Johnson has to intern for at least 200 hours to earn her journalism degree in the fall. With the festival canceled, she’s concerned she will have to push back her graduation, making it harder to find a job and putting financial strain on her family.

“Summer is the time I get to work as much as possible because I’m not in class,” Ms. Johnson said. “It’s kind of scary thinking about the fact that I won’t be able to work in the summer as much as I normally would.”

The cancellations have cut across virtually all industries, from media to technology to finance. But predictably, the industries that have suffered the most during the pandemic — travel, retailing, hospitality — have had especially large numbers of cancellations.

Connor Machon, a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, accepted an internship at American Airlines in late September, turning down several other offers. He got his first inkling that the program might be in jeopardy when a friend who was set to work at Southwest Airlines had an offer rescinded in March.

A few days later, he learned that his internship was also being cut. Over the next weeks, Mr. Machon kept busy applying for dozens of other positions and sending more than 100 networking emails. Ultimately, he secured an internship at a start-up in Austin, earning $15 an hour.

“At this point, I was really open to anything, as long as I was being paid,” he said.

Not all internships are canceled. A number of banks and technology firms have simply shortened their programs by a few weeks. Media organizations like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal gave some summer interns the option of deferring until the fall or next year.

Offering perhaps the sweetest arrangement is the New York law firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel, which announced in April that the incoming summer associates would not have to work but would still be paid and still receive full-time offers after their graduation in 2021. 

 Other companies have moved their internships entirely online. In early April, a recruiter at eBay, Cindy Loggins, presented a series of options to top executives, like shortening the program or holding it remotely.

Given all the uncertainty, a total cancellation was also a serious possibility. “You’d be silly not to consider that as an option,” Ms. Loggins said.

In the end, the company moved the internship online. But a remote program presents certain logistical difficulties, like combating “screen fatigue” and devising work schedules for interns who live in different time zones.

To address any problems, Ms. Loggins said, her team plans to conduct weekly check-ins with each of the interns, rather than the midpoint and end-of-program meetings eBay has held in the past. But some rites of passage will be impossible to replace.

“Perhaps I’m getting up to go somewhere and the intern says: ‘Hey, where are you going? Can we grab lunch?’” Ms. Loggins said. “That’s what we’re going to miss in this summer.”

Many students will also miss the chance to spend a couple of months in the real world, away from the cloistered environment of a college campus.

Irene Vázquez, a junior at Yale, is interning for a small publisher based in New York. Months ago, Ms. Vázquez had envisioned the summer as a test to “see if the whole East Coast tiny apartment thing was going to be viable down the road.” Instead, she’s going to spend the summer working remotely from her childhood home in Texas.

“I could be much worse off,” she said. “But it’s certainly not the experience I had planned.”

#Internships

[netmetic]

3 Steps to Becoming an Event-Driven Enterprise

If you’re like most IT technologists or leaders, you’re on a mission to make your systems more responsive, more real-time and more easily scalable. You’ve probably recognized that event-driven architecture is the best way to make that happen, but since you’re here I’m guessing you have questions: how to get started; how to overcome challenges you’ve run into; or how to put in place a surefire strategy for EDA success.

Over the last 20 years Solace has helped many of the world’s best businesses embrace event-driven architecture as part of their digital transformation initiatives – yes, since before either of those were hot terms. I’m proud to say I’ve been part of many of those successful transformations, and I’d like to introduce you to a high-level three-step strategy we’ve applied many times.

Setting the Stage: The Stagnation of Legacy Infrastructure

If your company is like most, the applications that power your business – many of which have been doing their thing for years or decades – run in diverse environments including on-premises datacenters, field offices, maybe even manufacturing floors and retail stores. The lack of compatibility and connectivity between these environments (commonly shorthanded as “siloed”) forces your applications to interact via tightly-coupled synchronous request/reply interactions, or individually customized batch-oriented ETL processes or even bespoke integration.

There are two ways this kind of information causes stagnation that hampers innovation and responsiveness throughout your business:

Rigid systems and complex interactions: The tight coupling of applications and bespoke integrations kill agility by making it hard to add new applications and runtime environments to your infrastructure, hard to modify processes to meet shifting business needs, and hard to dynamically scale systems up and down in response to demand.

Stale data and slow responses: The request/reply and batch-oriented exchange of data means when something happens, information about that event sits around waiting for a chron job or for somebody to ask for it before your business can react to it or factor it into business decisions. Trying to reduce that time lag or distribute the information to more systems typically results in unacceptable scaling challenges on your systems of record.

You know you need to upgrade your architecture to support real-time event-driven interactions in order to become agile and responsive and to take advantage of technologies like the cloud, IoT, microservices and whatever comes next, but replacing applications en masses isn’t an option due to cost, risk and time. So how do you do that?

3 Steps to Success: Becoming an Event-Driven Enterprise

At a high level, if your organization wants to become an event-driven enterprise, you need to:

Event-enable your existing systems so they can produce events, listen for and act on them

Modernize your platform to support streaming across environments

Alert & inform internal and external stakeholders including employees, customers and partners

Step 1: Event-Enable Your Existing Systems

The first step is to break down silos and liberate data by letting your applications publish events as they happen, and listen for and act on them.

To have the most business impact, you need to start with the right systems. Think about the “crown jewels” of your application stack – those at the core of your business that contain the information other systems across your ecosystem want access to, and that you’ve probably front-ended with increasingly overworked APIs. Your goal should be to liberate data by immediately exposing changes in these systems to any applications that want to know about them and are authorized to receive that information.

In capital markets, they realized a long time ago that distributing market data in real-time would dramatically increase order flow – and thus revenue – so you’re talking about market data distribution systems.

For credit card companies and payment processors, the crown jewels are those that manage transactions and customer information.

For manufacturers, it’s their (SAP) ERP.

In the airline business, it’s passenger, baggage & boarding systems.

In the retail sector, the crown jewel systems are those that manage inventory and point of sale.

You enable those systems first because they contain the data many other applications need or that your people can innovate with. How exactly do you do that though? Different kinds of systems require different approaches:

For your SAP systems of record, our partner ASAPIO provides technology that can extract events in real-time and stream them onto an event mesh.

You can give your existing middleware products the ability to send information to your event mesh using messaging bridges.

You can connect your mainframe applications to your event mesh using bridges into MQ, polling applications for changes once and publishing them to the event mesh, or using JDBC connectors or CDC software to gather changes from your application databases. In some cases, our clients modified their mainframe applications to publish to their event mesh as this was such critical information to expose broadly to the rest of their systems.

Some existing applications and ESBs can connect directly to your event mesh using Solace JCA, JMS or REST.

You can liberate data that’s currently only accessible via synchronous RESTful request/reply interactions by publishing it to your event mesh using PubSub+ in microgateway proxy mode.

The goal across the board is to get these events streaming in real-time between those legacy systems and your modern microservices, analytics and SaaS applications.

The first advantage of doing so is that it gets information streaming to existing consumers in real-time, which can enable more responsive customer service, faster resolution of problems and smarter decisions. The real power, however, is that you can now give as many systems or lines of business as you want access to the information, without ever worrying if or how doing so will affect the core systems or others accessing them. This can make a huge difference to your business as it fosters innovation by making it far easier to access this information.

Step 2: Modernize Your Platform

For a while, some thought hybrid cloud and multi-cloud architectures were a steppingstone to moving everything to the public cloud; most now believe hybrid and multi-cloud is actually an end state

As Santhosh Rao, Senior Director Analyst, said in March 2019 at the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo in Dubai:

Hybrid architectures will become the footprints that enable organizations to extend beyond their data centers and into cloud services across multiple platforms.”

That means you need a way to stream events across multiple simultaneously active runtime environments, and even be able to shift workloads between them depending on which offers the best performance, cost or availability at a given time.

With that in mind, the second step to becoming an event-driven enterprise is modernizing your application environment so you can take advantage of more dynamic cloud infrastructure, public, private or often both, to build more agile microservices. You want to integrate with SaaS applications that you don’t need to manage yourself, and take advantage of innovative platforms in public clouds to support machine learning, analytics and other functions. You probably have a strategy for that beyond your event-driven initiatives, but face a few key challenges:

How do you extend the flow of events from the systems you tapped in step 1 to your new cloud-based applications? And how do you connect the rest of your ecosystem, such as your factories, restaurants, elevators, vehicles, gas stations, and stores into this event-driven world?

How do application developers discover these events from your systems of record, your IoT devices or your field locations to build new applications? How do you govern and track which applications have access to what information? And how do you evolve your event definitions over time and communicate changes or assess the impact of change?

The first set of questions, about connectivity and distribution, are addressed with an event mesh – a system of interconnected event brokers, usually running in different environments, which distributes events produced in one part of your enterprise, such as your non-cloud systems of record, to applications running anywhere else. An event mesh routes real-time events in a lossless, secure, robust and performant manner, and does it dynamically without configuration – like a corporate Internet of events. An event mesh can also link IoT devices and extend to locations such as stores, restaurants and manufacturing sites.

The second set of questions boils down to the management of events. As mentioned above, you need a way for developers to find what events are being produced, what information they carry and how to access them. Your architects need to understand application interactions, choreography and information flow. Your data governance team needs to know what systems produce and consume what information. This is where an event portal comes in. An event portal provides a single source of truth to understand and evolve everything about your events – the schemas of the data they carry and their relationships with applications across your entire enterprise.

With an event mesh seamlessly distributing events between applications, devices and user interfaces across cloud, on-prem and IoT environments, and an event portal making it easy to collaboratively manage all of those events and event-driven applications, it’s time for step 3.

Step 3: Alert and Inform

Now that your architecture is real-time and event-driven, and you’ve liberated data from closed systems and silos, you can interact with partners, suppliers and customers in an event-driven manner by alerting them about events of interest, and ideally receiving events from them. By eliminating the need for batch-based ETL/FTP, and the load and lag of constant API polling by your partners, and event-driven interaction provides the benefits of more real-time responsiveness to extend beyond your IT systems.

Examples from our client base include:

Manufacturers that interact in real-time with suppliers to maintain a more accurate and up to date view of their supply chain.

Consumer packaged goods companies that immediately push updated catalogs to their distributors as changes are made to them.

Clients who provide dashboards of information to clients of theirs who now want to stream changes in real-time for their clients to more easily integrate into broader dashboards and analytics.

For use cases such as these, you want to asynchronously push events to third-party applications, ideally without needing to support software connectors or libraries. This is where open standards play an important role, and why Solace supports several options:

For low-rate event notifications, such as the catalog example above, a good option is to use REST with our webhook functionality. When an event is to be delivered, the Solace event mesh can simply issue an HTTP POST to your 3rd party web server or API gateway to notify them in a very simple interoperable manner.

For higher-rate streaming event delivery, MQTT and AMQP are great options that can be used to deliver events in such a way that consumers can use open source or vendor client libraries to consume them.

Conclusion

These three steps approximate the journey we’ve been on with many of our clients. The key, as with most transformation projects, is to start small but with an end architecture in mind, get some experience and wins, and then learn, adapt, and take the next step. I hope this is useful to you and wish you good luck in your journey to becoming an event-driven enterprise!

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Backyard Design Ideas for Hot Tubs or Swim Spas

Owning a hot tub or swim spa is a luxury all its own but designing your dream backyard to fit it is half the fun- or at least it should be. When it comes to getting your backyard hot tub-ready, don’t let stress overrule the final product. You deserve nothing less than a relaxing, peaceful, one of a kind, backyard oasis that you love.

What are some backyard design ideas for your hot tub or swim spa?

If you’re not sure exactly where to start when creating the perfect backyard for your hot tub or swim spa, try any one or a combination of these incredible design ideas.

Let the light in

One of the major selling points of most swim spas or hot tubs are their lights/ light show features. In your backyard, one way to compliment this feature is by adding even more lights. Use fiber-optics and other colorful displays for the best appearance yet. Not to mention, lighting is an inexpensive way to decorate.

Make it functional

Looking pretty is one thing, but if your new hot tub space isn’t functional for your lifestyle needs, then what’s the point? Function is a great way to start designing your new backyard, that way you don’t get too caught up in the way something looks, and you know you’ll get the most use out of how it works.

Simple serenity

There is nothing more relaxing than being one with nature; truly escaping the confinements of the indoors. Create your perfect backyard oasis by using outdoor elements that create simplicity and serenity. Boulders, a small waterfall, plants and other greenery, or perhaps even positioning your hot tub so that is has a view, are all ways to create serenity.

Centerstage

If you want your hot tub or swim spa to take centerstage and become the focal point of your backyard, doing so is easy. Large plants/planters, even a waterfall are easy ways to make even a small space intriguing. Make your hot tub the focal point but be sure to add all the drama it needs around it.

Welcome all

Chances are, you didn’t invest in a hot tub for you to enjoy all on your own (at least not all the time). There’s no doubt that a hot tub or swim spa is better enjoyed with company, so make sure your backyard is welcoming. Try adding a grill, fireplace, and of course tons of seating, all around the area near your hot tub. This is also easily accomplished by creating a cohesive deck that combines all the elements together.

No maintenance required

Your hot tub will already demand plenty of maintenance and care, so you might not want your backyard to require too much up-keep. In addition, the best part about your backyard should be the hot tub, so don’t sweat the small stuff. Simple things such as succulents and ground cover, pavers and steppingstones, don’t require very much effort to take care of, but still create an eloquent backyard space.

Once your backyard is ready, it’s time to pick the perfect hot tub or swim spa and Paradise Spas and Outdoor Living is a leading local hot tub and swim spa dealer that can help. Our retail superstore carries luxury brand swim spas and hot tubs offering the highest quality and features for every budget. Come and see a wide selection of models by Master Spas including Twilight Series hot tubs, Michael Phelps Signature Series swim spas, Healthy Living, H2X swim spas and more! Call us to learn more and make your backyard dreams come true!

The post Backyard Design Ideas for Hot Tubs or Swim Spas appeared first on Paradise Spas & Outdoors Living | Hot Tub Store, Swim Spas, Patio Furniture, and More!.

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Backyard Bargains: 7 Dollar-Store Decor Items to Make Your Outdoor Space Sizzle

It's no secret that “outdoor living” has become the phrase du jour for homeowners. Folks everywhere have engineered seamless transitions between inside and outside, adding durable furniture and cozy accessories to our patios and yards to make it truly feel like we're living al fresco.

And while it's possible to go all out on your outdoor decor, you don't have to pour your entire savings account into making your space sing.

In fact, in many cases, you don't even have to spend more than a buck. Yes-one dollar!

Just head to your neighborhood dollar store to give your outdoor space a seasonal reboot on the cheap. And as you cruise the aisles, keep one material in mind.

“Plastic, plastic, plastic! These sweet, cheap, reliable-for-the-season accessories are the name of the game at dollar stores,” gushes Mim King, a professional organizer and money manager.

Don't expect this stuff to last for years, she warns, but you can count on hearing “Aw, how cute!” when your bring it all out this season. (Summer picks from the dollar store also make perfect children's party favors or gifts for a hostess or housewarming party.)

So what are you waiting for? Hit up the dollar store today for these summer staples.

1. Yard accoutrements

Photo by Adrienne DeRosa

A surprising category where dollar stores shine? Outdoor decorations.

“You can pick up fun flags, banners, wind chimes, lawn stakes, and more for a warm weather look on the lawn or to use when entertaining,” reports Sarah Hollenbeck, a shopping and savings expert at Offers.com.

Poke around for other cute steals, including spinners, bird houses and feeders, lawn ornaments, and small statues.

2. Pool accessories

Candy-colored pool toys are great buys at the dollar store.

Hollenbeck touts floaties and other pool accessories as some of the best dollar-store finds.

“You'll find these for a fraction of what they cost at the big-box home stores,” she notes.

Look for water wings, foam noodles, inner tubes, and beach balls, and be sure to stock up on replacements for the inevitable wear and tear from the kids. While you're at it, pick up an outdoor basket that's large enough to corral this gear poolside.

3. Whimsical lighting

Photo by Chelsea Construction Corporation

When else can you use twinkle lights shaped like pineapples or flamingos? Pick these up at the dollar store on the cheap, and string them along the edge of a porch or in the trees, suggests Julie Coraccio, the organizing genius at Reawaken Your Brilliance.

“I also saw some cool tulip solar lighting at a dollar store that would be fun along the path to your doorway,” she adds.

Jeanine Boiko, a real estate agent and blogger at Okio B Designs, likes to snatch up prayer candles and repurpose them.

“Make over these deals with free decals and Mod Podge, and then group them on a tray in the middle of your outdoor table,” she says.

4. Garden gear

You don't have to dig deep in your wallet for this garden gear.

elenaleonova/iStock

Forget the big-box home improvement retailer-make the dollar store your destination for landscaping on a budget. Pick out some new pots and planters for your roses and herb garden, and then grab some plant hangers, garden fences, and steppingstones.

“You can turn your flower beds into an oasis without blowing your entire budget,” Hollenbeck says.

Boiko found faux galvanized buckets at her local store and plans to use them on her front porch.

“You can quickly pop a hole in the bottom and turn them into planters, or fill a Mason jar with flowers and put it inside,” she says.

5. Durable dishware sets

Don't drop a fortune on outdoor dishes.

focalpix/iStock

Plastic tumblers and melamine dishes are a few summer items from dollar stores that'll last more than one season. Reusing these plates and cups also reduces paper waste that comes from disposables.

Drew Henry of Design Dudes fell hard for a ceramic pineapple in the dollar section of his local Target store.

“I use it as an accessory on a serving tray where it looks fresh and fun when paired with some higher-end items,” he says.

And don't forget about glass vases: Boiko fills her cylinders with pebbles and shells to match her beach theme.

6. Party supplies

Photo by Sandy Koepke

Wire baskets and metal bins are ideal for warm weather parties, and the dollar store is the place to pick these up on the cheap. Fill a few with ice, beer, and soft drinks; place them on the corner of the deck; and let guests serve themselves.

Bonus: Grab some seasonal paper napkins and themed koozies for ultimate party hosting points.

7. Simple summer linens

Bright linens

lucop/iStock

You might not consider the dollar store for sheets and other home linens, but it's just the place for lighter fabrics and textiles in bright summer colors that you can use outside. Think: vibrant tablecloths, place settings, and even chair pads.

In just a few minutes-and with a dollar or three-you've given your outdoor space a sweet seasonal touch. Now get outside and enjoy.

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