Month: July 2019

2019-07-09T11:29:00

(BPT) – While mid-summer typically sees a lull in retail sales, causing some small businesses to hang on anxiously, waiting for better days, many are looking forward to mid-July as a great time to boost their businesses. Small and medium-sized businesses selling in Amazon’s stores are gearing up for this year’s Prime Day — a two-day parade of epic deals on July 15 and 16 — when shoppers worldwide will flock to the online store for over a million amazing deals.

Prime members looking for incredible deals and who love supporting innovators, artisans and entrepreneurs can find hundreds of thousands of deals on unique, one-of-a-kind products from small and medium-sized businesses on Amazon Storefronts, Amazon Handmade, Amazon Launchpad and more. For an idea of the scale of Prime Day business, last year’s Prime Day sales for small and medium-sized businesses surpassed $1.5 billion. In general, more than half of the items sold on Amazon are from small and medium-sized businesses.

Small business seller Zachary Lewis of Integrity Bottles explains, “Prime Day creates a wave all the way to Christmas.” He plans to offer special deals on 20 products this Prime Day, including a Lightning Deal on 600 of his best-selling, uniquely etched crackle wine glasses. For the past three years he’s been selling through Amazon Handmade, and his sales have almost doubled year-over-year.

“Amazon Prime Day gives us the opportunity to quickly rank new and existing products. It also allows us to use advertising more cost effectively to spread the word about our company and products,” Lewis says.

Melissa Horvath of Sweet Water Decor would agree: “Prime Day is like Cyber Monday in July — it’s an amazing opportunity for businesses to get a nice boost in sales during the slow months of the year, when a lot of people are on vacation and enjoying summer. For us, sales tripled even when we offered no Prime deals, so we are excited to see what happens this year with almost our whole shop on sale!”

Horvath’s unique line of gift items will all be offered at a discount for Prime Day, with the best deals being on their candles and prints.

“We generally see a 500% increase in sales on Prime Day, and gaining a new customer base from that day is priceless,” says Nicole Pond, owner of MoonlightMakers. Their business, offering a line of T-shirts, towels and tote bags with humorous and heartfelt messages, will be “going all in with a ton of Prime Day deals,” Pond explains, offering 30% off two of their best-selling dishtowel products and more.

She highly recommends sellers make the most of Prime, explaining, “When we decided to sell on Prime, everything changed for us. We had to increase our staff because we had such a large boost in sales from the beginning, and it has been increasing ever since.” Pond says the extra boost in sales from Prime Day really keeps her business going year-round.

“Since Prime Day is the biggest day of the year on Amazon, I put everything in my shop on sale,” says Julie Pope of Sunlight Silver. “Some of my handmade hoop earrings will be featured on Prime Day, and more items will be on sale as part of the lead up to Prime Day as well, which had deals starting on July 1.”

Pope’s business saw a 455% increase in sales on Prime Day last year, followed by a daily average increase of 35% for the rest of the year. “Participating in Prime Day deals brings exposure to new customers who try out the product, tell their friends and then come back for more.”

2019-07-09T14:01:01

(BPT) – While research from The Shelton Group shows 90% of millennials choose to purchase from brands they trust for their social and environmental practices, carefully crafted marketing lingo and even bigger advertising budgets can make it difficult to know if their dollars are truly making a difference.

That’s why, for one company, educating consumers on the impact of their food choices is at the heart of what they do. Meet PRANA, a vegan and 100% organic snacking company founded by Marie-Josee Richer and Alon Farber that’s committed to putting the planet first. In 2017, to better understand its impact on the world, the company conducted an extensive life cycle analysis of their business and found something shocking. With the zero-waste lifestyle gaining a lot of traction, they found it is often what’s inside the bag that is most harmful to the planet. Their analysis revealed that although the company is organic and vegan, 81% of its impact was due to agriculture.

One of the biggest changes the company realized it had to make was in the sourcing of almonds from California, a major component in many of their snack products. Due to the state’s desert climate, agriculture requires a vast amount of artificial irrigation. Almonds grown in California use up to 8% of the water used for agriculture in the state — 53 billion cubic meters of water per year. In fact, it can take up to 12 liters of water to grow a single almond and agriculture utilizes 41% of the state’s available water, according to a 2018 report.

California sources much of its water from the already strained Colorado River, which led the company to make the challenging decision to source their almonds from Spain. According to Richer, almonds are native to the Mediterranean and have been growing in Spain longer than in California, relying primarily on rainfall. While on the surface one may think buying agricultural products from California would still be better for the environment due to the cost of transporting the goods from Europe to North America, the company quickly found that wasn’t the case.

“By switching to Spanish almonds, PRANA saved the equivalent of 715 Olympic pools of water within just one year,” Richer explained. They also found that, contrary to expectations, transporting almonds by sea from Spain to their Montreal location produced lower greenhouse gas emissions than transportation by truck from California.

So how can one really make a difference with their snack choices? Richer recommends considering the following before making purchase decisions.

Disposal cost: This can begin with evaluating the product’s packaging. How much waste is created unwrapping the item? For example, while it’s easy to get caught up on if packaging is recyclable or not, consumers can look deeper. While many assume that the majority of a snack’s impact comes from how it’s disposed of, PRANA’s analysis suggests that production and the number of materials used have a greater impact on the planet.

Limit food waste: In the United States, roughly 40% of our food is thrown out every year and the amount of waste produced is more than enough to feed the nearly one billion hungry people in the world. This waste ends up in landfills and eventually turns into a destructive greenhouse gas called methane. To help limit food waste, PRANA uses premium packaging that keeps products fresher, longer.

Look at labels: Numerous agencies certify companies on various facets of their business. Consumers should seek to support socially responsible brands with certifications like Non-GMO verified and certified organic or that are certified by the Ecocert third party. In addition, reading labels can help you verify snacks that are full of good nutrients, which are more sustainable than a snack of empty calories.

Benefit Corporations: This classification means a company has gone through a rigorous application process and analysis to demonstrate they are actively working toward reducing inequality, improving sustainability and using profits to make a positive impact on employees, the community and the environment. By purchasing from B-Corps, you are supporting businesses with these practices and encouraging other companies to do better.

Look for Fair Trade Certified products: The Fair Trade Certified seal represents thousands of products, improving millions of lives, while protecting land and waterways in 45 countries and counting, according to the group’s website. All of PRANA’s chocolate products in the U.S. are Fair Trade Certified, meaning they have gone through a lengthy process to earn this seal. It also means that the producers they work with adhere to strict labor, environmental and ethics standards that prohibit slavery and child labor and ensure cocoa growers receive a steady income.

“People think they have no power, but the power becomes tenfold when we all vote with our dollars,” said Richer. “With those small actions — being informed, reading labels, knowing where food comes from — you’re improving not just your health but the lives of growers, employees and the industry. Once you become a purchaser of a sustainable business, you become an agent of change, and can inspire others to follow suit. At PRANA we call that snacktivism.”

2019-07-09T09:01:00

(BPT) – With the summer season in full swing, entertaining heads outdoors, with leisurely BBQs and picnics forming the backdrop for gatherings of family and friends. Choosing a great wine to pair with the menu is a thoughtful touch, but white wines aren’t the only options during the warmer months. Even as temperatures rise, versatile red wine deserves a place on the table, and these quick tips can enhance your understanding and enjoyment of wines all summer long.

Here are a few tips about red wine:

Take a chill. Red wine should not be served warm.

One of the first things many people hear about wine is that white wines should be chilled, and red wines should be left at room temperature. However, the wine experts at CK Mondavi and Family explain that people typically over-chill white wines, while people usually serve red wines far too warm. Why does temperature matter? Serving wine at the right temperature allows all of the aromas and flavors to be enjoyed at their best.

Take white wines out of the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes, to bring the temperature to 49-55 degrees before serving. Red wines are at their best slightly cooler than room temperature, around 60-65 degrees. Place a bottle in the refrigerator or use a wine cooler to chill before serving, but not for too long. The bottle should not be cold, but cool to the touch. For BBQs and outdoor gatherings, nestle a bottle in an icy cooler for a few minutes before opening.

Once poured into a glass, any wine will warm up, so it’s always better to start serving at a cooler temperature to begin with.

Breathe. Red wines benefit from a little air.

Red wines typically benefit from some extended time to breathe or be exposed to air. This helps optimize its aromas and flavors. Swirling the wine a little in the glass is also a way to help release its aromas. Letting an open bottle sit for a few minutes will suffice for most wines. Pouring into a decanter not only looks fancy, but serves to further aerate wines, and will prevent pouring any sediment into a glass.

Sweeten up. Not all red wine is dry.

For a crowd-pleasing choice, choose a fruity wine. This season, CK Mondavi and Family is introducing a limited-time-offering of new Sunset Sweet Red Blend, a luscious, smooth wine that complements a wide variety of fare.

“We’re having fun with this new wine,” says Randy Herron, head winemaker. “It’s juicy and full-bodied, with flavors of strawberry and dark plum.”

Go bold. Red wines pair well with strong flavors.

When pairing wine with food, choose flavors that complement each other — think lighter wines with more delicate flavors, and bolder wines with stronger, spicier foods. For this reason, many red wines pair well with sharp or smoked cheeses, red meat — including cured, salty or smoked meats — and grilled vegetables.

That’s why red wine can be a great choice for your summer barbecue. Pairing a sweet wine like Sunset Sweet Red Blend with a tangy and spicy barbecue sauce can be a match made in heaven.

Even newcomers to wine will appreciate the mouthwatering flavors and exciting pairings you offer your guests at your barbecue or soiree. Plan your summer parties with a good red wine in mind, and you can’t go wrong.

2019-07-09T09:01:00

(BPT) – Moving to a college campus is an exciting experience for both students and parents. Whether you’re destined for the dorms or will be sharing a modest apartment with other students, you’ll need to pack strategically and move mindfully so you get just what you need to feel comfortable and be productive.

The moving experts at Penske Truck Rental offer 10 smart tips to help make college moves go smoothly:

1. Verify move-in dates

Colleges establish dates when students can move into on-campus housing. If you’ll be leasing an apartment off campus, agree with the landlord and any roommates on a date for your move. Once you know when you can move in, you can start preparing.

2. Use a checklist

When packing, use your college-provided checklist as a guide, and start setting aside the essential items needed to make your first term at school a success. College dorm rooms and apartments tend to be small, so avoid bringing unnecessary clothing, knickknacks or valuables and plan to revisit home to retrieve seasonal items later.

3. Ready tools

Gather cardboard boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, scissors, moving blankets and markers so they are ready for packing. Keep in one location for easy access.

4. Reserve a moving truck

Make sure you call at least two weeks ahead of your moving date to reserve a moving vehicle from Penske. A 12- to 16-foot truck is typically the ideal size to transport the contents of a dorm room or apartment, but these trucks book fast during the college moving season, so a reservation is recommended.

5. Label all boxes

Start packing several days ahead to reduce stress, saving daily-use items for the last 24 hours. Mark the outside of packed boxes with your name and descriptions so contents are unmistakable and will be easy to find even if mixed with other students’ belongings.

6. Keep necessities separate

Instead of inadvertently packing away important papers, identification, credit cards, medications, glasses or contacts and other important items, set aside a special bag you’ll keep in your car during your travels. Make sure to bring this bag with you or secure it in a locked space during any stops.

7. Pack the truck strategically

Position heavier items in the back of your vehicle before proceeding with lighter items. Not only does this allow you to fit smaller and lighter items into the remaining spaces, but that positioning helps to optimize the vehicle’s power so it drives better and you get more efficient gas mileage.

8. Drive safely

Driving a moving truck is different than driving a normal vehicle. Handling the extra size, height and weight requires that you avoid sharp turns, brake earlier before stopping and navigate around low branches and building overhangs.

9. Drive strategically

Depending on the length of your drive, you should consider pre-mapping your route, reviewing weather forecasts, avoiding rush hour and leaving yourself extra time for breaks, refueling and unloading.

10. Stay secure

Unfortunately, college students are a target for theft during the hectic moving process. Protect your belongings by parking only in well-lit and well-attended areas when you stop, and padlocking the back doors of your vehicle when it’s not in use.

Enjoy the excitement of moving to college without the stress when you follow these 10 simple tips. For more insight on making your move to campus smooth and easy, visit PenskeTruckRental.com.

2019-07-08T10:48:42

(BPT) – Successful entrepreneurs are always looking for new opportunities to expand their business and increase their revenue, with minimal time commitment, overhead and expenditure. For business owners looking to grow their bottom line, becoming a truck rental agent can provide a profitable opportunity.

What does it take to become a truck rental agent? First, a business would need a lot of ample space available for parking trucks. In addition, successful truck rental agents are active in their communities and understand the rental business in general. Having an active business and social network in the area makes it easier for new rental agents to spread the word about their service and what it can provide to individuals and organizations in the surrounding community. But ultimately, the genuine desire to provide a convenient, affordable truck rental service to local consumers is the most important asset.

“We make the process easy for those who are interested in joining the Penske team as a rental agent,” says Kevin Kleckner, Penske’s director of national consumer sales and programs. “If the business is the right fit, we take care of back-office support, perform regularly scheduled preventive maintenance on the trucks, and provide marketing materials and signage, leaving the business owner to focus on serving customers.”

In addition to the potential for an added year-round revenue stream, truck rental agents enjoy attractive commission rates (paid weekly), a minimal upfront investment and increased foot traffic to their existing business, along with unlimited profit potential.

“We have successful agents from all different business backgrounds. Car rental companies, RV rental companies and even party rental companies have all found success in adding Penske’s rental fleet to their business,” adds Kleckner.

With among the newest moving truck rental fleets in the industry, Penske Truck Rental provides do-it-yourself movers with clean, well-maintained and reliable rental vehicles. In addition, the company offers everything that consumers would need for a hassle-free move, from affordable moving and towing equipment to packing and moving supplies such as boxes, packing tape, mattress bags and furniture pads.

Interested in learning more about becoming a truck rental agent? Visit PenskeTruckRental.com or call 1-800-GO-PENSKE for more information.

2019-07-08T10:58:14

(BPT) – The food you purchased at the grocery store and cook for dinner tonight might have come from other locations around the world. Your clothes bought online might come from a manufacturing plant across the country. That package sitting outside in your entryway when you get home from work could have traveled coast-to-coast before arriving at your door.

Thanks to the trucking industry, you can purchase and use the things you want and need. In fact, the trucking industry is the lifeblood of the U.S. economy, with about 71 percent of all freight tonnage moved in the U.S. on trucks, according to the American Trucking Associations. As the industry saying goes: If you bought it — a truck probably brought it.

To move 10.5 billion tons of freight annually requires over 3.6 million heavy-duty Class 8 trucks and over 3.5 million truck drivers. It also takes almost 39 billion gallons of diesel fuel to move that freight, according to the association.

However, the trucking industry is changing with the times. With a forward-thinking mindset, transportation leaders and proactive companies are embracing the trend of using alternative-fuel vehicles such as electric vehicles in commercial transportation.

You probably have heard of electric cars for personal use, and maybe you even own one yourself. These types of vehicles are designed to use a battery instead of traditional fuels, which helps eliminate tailpipe emissions.

Larger commercial vehicles like trucks and buses may also benefit from this electric technology. The switch to electricity is slowly changing commercial transportation. In the future, you might receive your food, goods and packages — either directly or indirectly — by a commercial electric truck or van rather than diesel-powered or gasoline-fueled vehicles. While currently in limited availability, electric trucks are starting to take root in some of the larger trucking fleets.

Consider Penske Truck Leasing, for example, which operates and maintains a truck fleet of more than 319,000 vehicles in North America. The company recently announced it was adding small, medium and large electric trucks to its overall fleet mix. And, it is also building out commercial electric vehicle charging stations at select California locations.

Penske is an industry leader in the areas of operating and maintaining fleets of traditionally fueled vehicles as well as alternative-fueled vehicles, which includes natural gas, propane, electric and diesel-electric hybrids.

Early introductions from truck manufacturers and large fleets like Penske are helping to re-shape the future of commercial transportation. The goods you use today that are shipped via traditional diesel trucks may one day be shipped using alternative fuels such as electricity.

2019-07-08T07:01:00

(BPT) – July is National Blueberry Month! To celebrate summer and new Blueberry Cheerios, General Mills is sharing delicious ways people around the U.S. use blueberries in their favorite dishes. This map shows the most popular and unique blueberry recipes in every state in America.