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Added for You - Is there anything new under the sun? Here's how to find out if your bright idea is unique.
Invoice Factoring Companies: A Valuable Funding ResourceInvoice factoring companies can provide immediate, short-term funds for companies that are unable to obtain a traditional bank loan. Financing from traditional banks generally requires commercial borrowers to have two years in business and showing a profit. Banks tend to favor loans secured by tangible assets like machinery, inventory, equipment and real estate.Working with factoring companies, in contrast, are less restrictive. When you sell your invoices - often called factoring - you don’t incur any debt so there are no monthly payments. Plus, you can control your cash flow by determining how much to factor and when. Young, growing companies or those with tax liens - and even bankruptcy - can still qualify for an invoice factoring account. This makes factoring companies a viable source of funding for many businesses.How It WorksIn simple terms, here’s how invoice factoring works: Factoring companies purchase your accounts receivable or freight bills at a discounted rate and issue you a lump sum payment. Essentially, your company sells its accounts receivable or invoices at a lower value for quick cash, instead of waiting the usual 30 to 45 days for the invoices to be paid.After you deliver your product/service and generate an approved invoice, factoring companies can provide your money in as little as 24 hrs. In essence, working with a factoring company can help speed up your cash flow. The influx of cash can better enable you to meet your financial obligations. For example, you can use the money to increase your working capital, pay bills or taxes, pay up front for equipment or supplies, and even t -Your-Business-Stand-A-Class-Apart&id=607692">Retractable Banner Stands Makes Your Business Stand A Class Apart Is Traditional Publicity Dead?Best Way To Fit Images On Vinyl BannersWeb Designers - Photos No Longer A Concern!Home Business LeadsPostcard Printing - What is the Color of Your Postcard 101?Postcard Printing - Top 5 Reasons It's an In-Demand Marketing ToolAttention Marketing Managers - Do You Make This Mistake in Your PR - Marketing or Advertising?The Four Questions That Can Help You Focus Your AdvertisingUsing Auto Responders and Squeeze PagesDirect Advertising Or Modern Direct Response Marketing?Postcard Printing Details
Most Viewed EzineArticles in the Business:Advertising Category - European Store Fixtures
European store fixtures are sought by most store owners. It is found to be more advanced technologically than American fixtures. This is because Europeans combine innovative designs with the latest manufacturing techniques to create new products. Customers are therefore able to get store displays and fixtures in attractive and stylish designs.European store fixtures are available in varying qualities, capacities, and prices. It comes in attractive designs, pleasing colors, and striking shapes. The chances of damage or breakage are minimized in European fixtures. These fixtures are modular. This means that the fixtures can be installed or mounted on walls or other locations without any difficult procedures. Engineers and architects are not required for installation.One of the popular styles of European fixtures is the ladder model. The ladder system can be a single unit or a combinational unit with different types of fixtures together. The combinational unit can hold a variety of items.European store fixtures are made of different materials such as plastic, steel, metal, wood, glass, and co-polymer resins. The co-polymer resins used in store fixtures can be either certified or non-certified. Certified ones are tested in European laboratories to meet basic approved standards. Each European country has its own testing methods and the materials are classified accordingly. This classification is done on the basis of different fire safety components. Thus by fixing these fixtures safety and protection of the entire store is ensured, as certified resins release fumes and smokes within certain limits only.Some
However, moving too quickly to prototype stage and first disclosure can turn out to be costly for the inventor who doesn’t take the time to find out if his or her invention is already patented.
Yet, with over 3000 utility patents being issued each week in the United States, that can seem like a daunting if not downright impossible task.
So, what can the inventor do to get the information – and assurance – he needs to proceed with his work?
The first thing to do is conduct a preliminary search of patents at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Public Patent Search Room, which contains U.S. patents arranged according to the U.S. Patent Classification System of over 460 classes and over 136,000 subclasses. The Patent Search Room, located in Arlington, Virginia, is open to the public from 8 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Friday, except on federal holidays.
If you don’t live near Arlington, you don’t need to make travel reservations. Instead, you can access the searchable database containing patent information for all U.S. patents granted since 1976 and all patent application publications (first published in March 2001), on the USPTO web site at http://www.uspto.gov/go/pats.
Inventors can also perform a preliminary search of patents at one of the Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries (PTDLs) established throughout the United States. These libraries have copies of patents in microfilm and/or optical disc format arranged in numerical order. They have classification search tools, automated search aids, and photocopy facilities available to the public. For information on your nearest PTDL, you may visit the PTDL web site at http://www.uspto.gov/go/ptdl.
Another option is to use specialized software like Patent Hunter™, a program which is designed to simplify the search process and to allow you to conduct a more complete search. For information about Patent Hunter, go to www.patenthunter.com.
You can also have a patent attorney or agent conduct a complete search for you. If you do not yet know a patent attorney or agent and would like to retain one, there are several ways to do so.
If you are a member of an inventors’ organization, networking with other inventors to learn which attorneys in your area get rave reviews can be one of the easiest and most effective ways to find good counsel. And, if you don’t find using the Yellow Pages appealing, you might also want to contact your state the law association for a list of attorneys practicing IP law. Finally, if you choose to conduct an internet search, you will want to check out the USPTO listing of registered patent attorneys aand agents by going to http://www.uspto.gov/do/oed,.
Whatever method you use to verify that your invention is unique and hasn’t been patented, acting early in the invention process can save you significant time and money. Or, if you discover someone already holds the patent, reviewing their design may inspire your creativity and lead you to add some “bells and whistles” that takes the idea to the “next level” and allows you to secure a patent on a superior product.
© 2004. All rights reserved. Impact Coaching International™
You may copy or distribute this article free of charge as long as it is kept intact and sent in its entirety including copyright notice and full information about contacting the author, Rosemary Hauschild.
Rosemary Hauschild is a business coach serving creative individuals developing intellectual property. Impact Coaching International™ offers a year-long program showing creative individuals how to protect, promote and profit from their innovative ideas in less time and with more profits. This coaching program is delivered through quarterly workshops, teleconference calls, web casts, fax and email. Individual coaching services are also available. To learn more about how to protect and promote your intellectual property, you are invited to subscribe to the free e-zine, Creations Of The Mind™, by sending an email to impactcoaching@msn.com with the following phrase in the subject line of your e-mail: subscribe creations list. | |
Most Viewed EzineArticles in the Business:Advertising Category - Advertising On Talk Radio May Be Better Than Ads On Music Radio
Recently, I have noticed some of my radio habits when driving in my car. When I'm listening to music I tend to switch radio stations whenever a commercial comes on. When I’m listening to talk radio I tend to leave the dial as is whether I’m listening to a talk show or whether a commercial is playing.I've been thinking about why this is the case and if other radio listeners have the same tendencies as I do. Here is what I think: When I’m in the mood for music, I want to hear music; I don't want to listen to radio advertisements. When I listen to talk radio, I get immersed in the topic being discussed and my concentration is on that topic. A commercial break does not cause me to change the dial. So I end up hearing the ads.Not only do I hear the ads on talk radio, but I also remember them. A high majority of the ads I hear on talk radio are "talk" ads. That is, instead of the usual jingles, the ads normally involve someone talking. So they tend to "blend in" with the show. For example, a recurring ad that I hear is one by a man named Saul Korman that owns a clothing store named Korry's in Toronto. His ads are always different and it always involves him talking. He doesn’t just talk about his store but talks about other things like friends and vacations. It doesn't even sound like an advertisement. Like I said, his ads blend in with the show and you don’t even notice that they are ads.Can talk radio advertising work for you? Radio talk shows are targeted specifically towards an audience that share an interest for a particular topic (for example, sports, politics, relationships, current events) and advertising o
Another option is to use specialized software like Patent Hunter™, a program which is designed to simplify the search process and to allow you to conduct a more complete search. For information about Patent Hunter, go to www.patenthunter.com.
You can also have a patent attorney or agent conduct a complete search for you. If you do not yet know a patent attorney or agent and would like to retain one, there are several ways to do so.
If you are a member of an inventors’ organization, networking with other inventors to learn which attorneys in your area get rave reviews can be one of the easiest and most effective ways to find good counsel. And, if you don’t find using the Yellow Pages appealing, you might also want to contact your state the law association for a list of attorneys practicing IP law. Finally, if you choose to conduct an internet search, you will want to check out the USPTO listing of registered patent attorneys aand agents by going to http://www.uspto.gov/do/oed,.
Whatever method you use to verify that your invention is unique and hasn’t been patented, acting early in the invention process can save you significant time and money. Or, if you discover someone already holds the patent, reviewing their design may inspire your creativity and lead you to add some “bells and whistles” that takes the idea to the “next level” and allows you to secure a patent on a superior product.
© 2004. All rights reserved. Impact Coaching International™
You may copy or distribute this article free of charge as long as it is kept intact and sent in its entirety including copyright notice and full information about contacting the author, Rosemary Hauschild.
Rosemary Hauschild is a business coach serving creative individuals developing intellectual property. Impact Coaching International™ offers a year-long program showing creative individuals how to protect, promote and profit from their innovative ideas in less time and with more profits. This coaching program is delivered through quarterly workshops, teleconference calls, web casts, fax and email. Individual coaching services are also available. To learn more about how to protect and promote your intellectual property, you are invited to subscribe to the free e-zine, Creations Of The Mind™, by sending an email to impactcoaching@msn.com with the following phrase in the subject line of your e-mail: subscribe creations list. | |
Most Viewed EzineArticles in the Business:Advertising Category - Trade Show Booth Staff Training
Seasoned exhibitors know that one of the more important elements in making your trade show investment a success is proper training of the booth staff. In order to project a concise and consistent message at the show, everyone working the show needs to be able to "walk the talk". It's a good idea to have several short sessions with your booth staff before, during and after the show.Pre-show TrainingNo trade show exhibitor should hit the show floor without having done proper booth staff training. Improperly trained booth staff can reflect poorly on your company, and cut down dramatically on the leads you receive at a show. On the other hand, properly trained staff will draw people to your booth, give them information about your organization that is relevant to their needs, and leave the conversation with some type of follow-up or appointment.Top 5 Areas of Pre-Show Booth TrainingIn addition to complete knowledge of your products and services (that's a given), your booth training should include the top 5 areas that are imperative to cover prior to show opening:1. Rules of Engagement – It is a good idea to come up with a list of do's and don'ts for the show and review those with your booth staff. Items to include may be the minimum and maximum number of booth staff at one time (see Booth Staffing), rules about eating and drinking inside your booth, taking breaks, walking the show floor or moving outside of your booth for impromptu meetings, and so on.2. Professional Appearance – Your staff should be dressed appropriately for the show (e.g. business or
© 2004. All rights reserved. Impact Coaching International™
You may copy or distribute this article free of charge as long as it is kept intact and sent in its entirety including copyright notice and full information about contacting the author, Rosemary Hauschild.
Rosemary Hauschild is a business coach serving creative individuals developing intellectual property. Impact Coaching International™ offers a year-long program showing creative individuals how to protect, promote and profit from their innovative ideas in less time and with more profits. This coaching program is delivered through quarterly workshops, teleconference calls, web casts, fax and email. Individual coaching services are also available. To learn more about how to protect and promote your intellectual property, you are invited to subscribe to the free e-zine, Creations Of The Mind™, by sending an email to impactcoaching@msn.com with the following phrase in the subject line of your e-mail: subscribe creations list. | |
Most Viewed EzineArticles in the Business:Advertising Category - The Difference a Holistic Business Approach Makes
A holistic business approach is a relatively new concept that is increasingly being accepted by the business world. To be a business that uses holistic techniques, it means that the entire organization is considered in its processes and policies, as opposed to focusing only on its specific components. By using the holistic approach to running a business, you will make certain that your business is running at its full potential, as opposed to simply having strong areas and weak areas.Holistic approaches to business, such as the increasingly popular Six Sigma business strategy developed by Motorola, involve the consideration of the entire business situation instead of only a single time or portion of it.In order to implement such a process, many businesses choose to reach out to professionals for help, with consultants such as the Six Sigma Champions and Black Belts who will help different team members to see the organization in an entirely new light.This thinking isn’t simply “out of the box”, but instead it believes that it removes the box altogether. In this sense, holistic business strategies allow business people to develop entirely new mindsets and beliefs about their companies and their roles within them. Dramatic improvements are made to help to maximize the potential of the business, and then take full advantage of that potential.This type of business strategy is considered by many experts to be fundamental to achieving the successes that are desired. To reach the right goals, a proper foundation must be laid, and according to many, this foundation is a strong holistic business strategy.r-color: white; background-color: white;">
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