Saturday, September 29, 2012

Your Elevator Company and Some Common Misconceptions

Even if you own a building, you probably don't spend a lot of your day thinking about your elevator company, the lift itself, or anything you may believe about it that might not be true. It's one of those amazing tools we use on a regular basis without ever taking the time to realize just how miraculous it is. Make no mistake about it: our lives would be a lot different without this invention, which saw its first primitive designs as far back as 236 B.C. Today's lifts, of course, are a lot different than those in the days of Archimedes. Here are some common misconceptions about this machinery.
One rope breaks, and you're done for.
A lot of people mistakenly believe a single cable is suspending them when they get into the lift. If your elevator company installed a car suspended by a single cable, you probably need to find new people to work in your building. Today's machinery is quite a bit safer than that tidbit would have you think. There are several steel cables on every car, with each one completely capable of holding the cable by itself. The suspense thriller trope of a car in free fall is nearly impossible with today's systems.
An overloaded car is in imminent danger.
While this is perhaps true, your chances of being on a moving overloaded car are very slim. This is because there are sensors in the car that will go off if there is too much weight on the car. It simply won't move. There may be an alarm of some sort, which will continue to buzz until enough people get out of the car that it can safely transport the other passengers. If you don't have this safety feature on your system, you may want to talk to your elevator company about having it installed.
You could step into an empty shaft.
This is another one that can be blamed on the movies, which has invented all kinds of dangers that people think are legitimate. This one isn't. As your elevator company can demonstrate, the car itself is what controls whether or not the outside doors open. It is the car arriving safely at the precise point of landing that the hall door gets engaged and can then open. If it isn't there, the hallway doors have no reason to open. If the hall doors were indeed triggered by the people pressing the button while waiting for the car, then perhaps the suspenseful Dr. Drake Ramoray-for Friends fans-could occur in real life. But they aren't.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Unique and Different Composite Deck Railing Ideas

When a professional starts talking about composite deck railing, you probably can't wait to see the completed product. Whether you are restoring something that has grown old over time or you are adding something completely different, the idea of looking out a back window and seeing a walkway into the outdoors is appealing. So when you start thinking about design ideas and how you want the final results to look, consider going with something a little more interesting.
Different Equipment
Customers can get composite deck railing in a variety of different styles and looks. Consider trying something that adds a little something extra to your backyard. The balusters can be straight and plain or you can add a little curve to dress up the space. Look for square balusters or round balusters along with different connecting pieces. You can customize your composite deck railing so that it fits with your home. If you plan on creating stairs or a porch in different areas, don't be afraid to use one style in the front of the home and another in the back.
Make An Area Separate from the Home
You have seen composite deck railing along a porch connected to the house, but have you considered setting up something special that is not attached to the house? Some people use the materials to create the outline of a gazebo or a pool. It adds something a little extra and you will love the final results. If you have a small area of water or even a little ravine, you can use the materials to build a decorative bridge.
Add An Extra Function
Many people love to spend time out on the back patio but it isn't easy when the sun goes down. Lighting is never easy outside and can often be costly. Check with a professional to see if any lights can be added to the composite deck railing. Every few columns, you can add a light fixture. Professionals will be able to handle the wiring. You can also choose to go with a something solar.
It can be easy to just go with something plain and basic. It requires less work on your part and may cost less than some of the other options. However, remember that your patio is an investment in your home. You don't want to come out and redo the work every few years. You want to choose something that is going to last a long time and add a real aesthetic element to your outdoor space.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

The Spy Who Loves You

If "knowledge is power", as Sir Francis Bacon asserted, then it would be self-sabotage for any hotel, serious about customer service and client return rates, to overlook the effectiveness of employing the services of a highly trained hotel mystery shopping team. Knowledge based client relationships are the surest way to ensure happy clients - and a happy client is a return client. Successful hotels know this and invest wisely in keeping their precious punters pleased and returning time and time again.
An informed, client-literate organisation successfully delights their specific demographic; ensuring a brand/client loyally that is absolute gold, a virtual life insurance for the establishment. Below are three irrefutable reasons for using undercover hotel testers - ignored at your business' peril!
1. Loss prevention
Knowledge gleaned from the feedback of a hotel mystery shopping report is an invaluable tool for minimising status and fiscal losses. Losses are incurred on many levels when a client's first impression is lacking. Firstly, there are the marketing expenses, then the cost of advertising that may have got the business through the door, and is then lost in an instant when a customer is met with sub-standard service. An establishment's reputation is informed by lasting first impressions, be they positive or negative.
Theft is another legacy of the inattentive staff member. A lack of attentiveness and promptness boosts the chances of pilfering; the undesirable client is not a fan of the attentive staffer. Business losses are also incurred when product knowledge is lacking, products displayed incorrectly, or up-selling opportunities overlooked.
2. Positive Customer perspectives
A positive and accurate customer perspective is obviously gold for your business. This outcome is achieved through comprehensive staff training and the micro management of all areas of your establishment. It is pertinent to remember that it can't be fixed if it's not known to be broken - so knowing where to focus a company's energy is the first step in rectifying any lacking areas in the organisation. To know where a company's focus needs to be is ascertained by the results of a professional audit.
Investing in a hotel mystery shopping service can define your establishment's strengths and weaknesses and can also be tailored to incorporate an appraisal of your competitors. To 'know thy competition' and to know thyself better than anyone else is wise counsel indeed.
Being wise to the service tactics, product offerings, policies and procedures of your competitors helps you to proactively compare and contrast your establishment and to inform profitable, entrepreneurial directions.
3. Unbiased Third Party Feedback
Hotel mystery shopping audit results eclipse the satisfaction survey or brand audit in reliability and usability. The professional feedback can be structured to focus on a particular issue that may be identified within your organisation. The fact is that the service provides unbiased and insightful information, the depth and breadth of which surpasses traditional market research or surveys. Customer information and feedback collated into a useable format, suited to on-going, in-house monitoring is a gift that keeps on giving.
Quality performance and quality standards are the cornerstone of a successful accommodation establishment that boasts a loyal clientele and a superb global reputation. Do your business a favour and let hotel mystery shopping work for you.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

The Importance Of IT Recruiters and IT Recruitment

If your business needs to build your IT team, then consider partnering with a good IT Recruiter. Recruiters can save you time and money and reduce risk by managing the whole process from advertising through to contract negotiation. With their network, database and skills they are well placed to use their expertise to solve your headaches, but what should you be looking for when choosing them?
Ideally they would come from an IT background, can speak the language and understand your IT needs. They will be able to understand what you need, and why you need it. The right person should also be trained and competent with selection techniques and have strong interviewing skills so that they are able to choose only the best candidates. Their experience combined with good selection skills enables them to ask the right questions and to understand the answers so that they can provide you with sufficient information to make your selection decision.
It is for this purpose that most companies decide to outsource their IT services. This has been the case since most of them want someone who fully understands IT and its impact in any given work setting.
The best ones should have a good handle on the industry and be able to provide flexible solutions whether you want full time, part-time or contract personnel. Considering the broad topics of IT and the always growing trends in the market of technology, it is also important to find people who are well trained and who have the knowledge to cope with the changing trends.
You need to employ someone who will reduce your business risks. One that can ask the right questions, dig deep into the details and who will conduct professional reference checking so that you have the best chance of making the right selection decision.
With the ongoing IT skills crisis across the country it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to source good IT workers. Your IT guy has their database and their networks, and the knowledge of how to track down the best candidates so that your organization can achieve its goals and ambitions.
So, if you need a good IT Recruiter that has both the technical know-how and the selection skills, one that understands your industry and who can genuinely add value to the resourcing process then come and talk to Top People USA. We provide potential employees, not just resumes.