Category: Brandpoint Business & Finance

2023-05-23T09:31:00

(BPT) – Summer is the perfect time to travel as a family, and it’s never too early to think about your next trip. Between coordinating family activities with your work schedule, looking ahead to maximize hotel and flight deals, or researching the best excursions for the whole family, it’s always helpful to think ahead. As you plan your next family getaway, these tips will help ensure you—and your whole family—have the ultimate travel experience.

Pack Like a Pro

When traveling as a family, the necessities pile up quickly. Consider using packing cubes, doubling up children’s travel essentials into one bag, or vacuum sealing bags to help fit your things into a smaller carry-on. Be sure to check out airline baggage requirements ahead of time to ensure you don’t get hit with additional fees or costs when you get to the airport. For example, when flying Southwest^®, bags fly free^® (first and second checked bags, weight and size limits apply), so families have a little extra room for all their additional needs.

Leverage Credit Card Rewards and Benefits

Using a travel credit card is a great way to earn rewards on everyday spending throughout the year, as well as providing certain perks and benefits that can make future travel more convenient. If you choose the right credit card, you might even be able to optimize your travel from the second you leave home to when you touch back down from your trip, earning points all along the way.

Southwest Rapid Rewards™ Credit Cardmembers from Chase, for example, have access to opportunities to earn toward travel, like 2X points on Rapid Rewards^® hotel and car rental partners. If car rentals aren’t in your plans, Cardmembers also earn 2X points on local transit and commuting purchases, including rideshare. Either way, your transportation will earn you more Rapid Rewards points towards a future vacation.

Prepare and Plan Travels and Itineraries

Timing is everything when it comes to planning summer travel. Costs and availability can fluctuate regularly depending on your destination’s peak seasons, especially while everyone is trying to take advantage of summer break. Think about what you and your family love to do to determine your destination and timing in advance, easing the stress of last-minute scheduling.

On top of planning departures and travel itineraries, factoring in time to check-in to the flight and get to the airport on time is an important step, especially when adding family to the equation. To ease this stress, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus and Premier Credit Cards from Chase offer Cardmembers two EarlyBird Check-Ins^® per year, providing the convenience of automatic check-in 36 hours ahead of the flight. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Cardmembers can receive four Upgraded Boardings per year when available, resulting in a preferred boarding position and earlier access to store their carry-on luggage.

Between May 23 and June 26, 2023, new Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, Premier, and Priority Credit Cardmembers can earn 60,000 points plus a 30% promotional code to use towards future travel (based on base fares when applied before taxes and fees) after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening. The promotional code expires October 31, 2024. Offers like this can give you and the family a massive head start on booking your dream vacation.

We all deserve a little rest, relaxation, and time with our families. Although traveling with the whole family can seem daunting, using these tips can ease the burden and help you travel like a pro this upcoming summer season.

*Accounts subject to credit approval. Restrictions and limitations apply. Cards are issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms.

2023-05-08T08:01:00

(BPT) – Whether you’re graduating from high school or college, chances are you’re becoming more independent about handling your own money. While finances can be stressful, they don’t always have to be — which is why a new initiative from Secret Deodorant focuses on providing young women with access to free resources to help them kickstart their financial journey. Through this program, Secret has partnered with five highly renowned female finance experts to offer advice about increasing your financial know-how, posting financial literacy discussions on social media through #SecretMoneyMoves to explore the ins and outs of budgeting, negotiating your first salary, understanding your credit score and more.

“Managing your finances can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re becoming financially independent for the first time,” said Carmen Perez, Founder and CEO of the budgeting app MUCH. “But with access to the right tools, this milestone can be an empowering next step into adulthood.”

Here are some tips to help empower you on your journey to financial wellness.

It’s all about that budget

Better money management begins with one simple tactic: budgeting. Tracking exactly how much money is coming in (like your paycheck) and how much is going out (everything you’re spending) is essential to learning how to decrease debt and start saving.

“It’s important to know how much money you’re spending every month compared to your monthly paycheck,” shares Perez. “If you’re spending more than you’re bringing home every month, it’s time to make a change — or you could end up in debt.”

Take a good look at your expenses to see where you could cut back. Which of your costs are essential, like rent, utilities, groceries and debt repayment, and what can you trim (going out to eat, non-essential purchases)? Finding areas where you can cut down on expenses will help ensure that you don’t rely on credit cards — which can lead to more expenses when you have to pay the interest.

Some financial experts swear by the 50/30/20 rule: aiming for about 50% toward essential living expenses, 30% for flexible spending (entertainment) and 20% toward goals such as savings. If you’re seeing more than 30% going to entertainment, you may need to cut back.

Start an emergency fund

As soon as you’re sure you can keep up with necessary bills and expenses, it’s important to get in the savings habit, even if it’s a small amount each month. Consider setting up an automatic deposit of a few dollars from each paycheck into a separate savings account — then leave it alone.

If you do have an emergency later (like an unexpected car repair), you’ll be glad you have your emergency fund.

Pay down debt more actively

Another goal to work toward is paying down your debt as quickly as possible, to reduce the amount of interest you’re paying. Start by paying just a few more dollars than the required minimum payment each month.

There are two schools of thought on paying down debt: one is to identify the credit card or loan charging you the highest interest rate to pay down more aggressively first, which can save you the most money in the long run. Another is to pay toward the smallest debt you owe first, so you’ll have the satisfaction of seeing one debt completely paid off sooner — which can inspire you to keep going. Either approach will get you started on the road to better money habits, so pick one and stick to it.

Don’t be afraid to talk about money — and get help when needed

While many people are reluctant to talk about money with their friends or family, you can learn a lot from others if you’re willing to have an honest discussion. You may also be able to get help from them when you need it, whether in the form of a loan or just some timely advice to help you manage your money better.

“Talking about money may feel uncomfortable at first,” added Perez, “but it’s a great first step toward feeling more confident about handling your own finances.”

Learning how to successfully budget, manage debt and achieve your financial goals is within your grasp. Take control of your financial journey today and visit Secret.com/MoneyMoves to learn more about Secret’s financial empowerment initiative, financial experts and how to get access to free educational resources.

2023-05-02T05:01:00

(BPT) – More Americans are retiring earlier than previous generations. According to a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank, their odds of retiring before age 62 rose to roughly 50% in July 2021, partly due to the pandemic. For many, moving up their retirement seemed like the right choice kgiven the state of the labor market and economy, but many were not and are still not financially prepared to retire.

According to a 2022 retirement confidence survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, one in three workers are “not too” or “not at all” confident they will have enough money to live comfortably throughout their retirement. And for those surveyed who say they are confident, retiring “comfortably” only covers the basics like housing, transportation, health care, food and utilities.

Retirement can mean a lot of things, but most people envision it as a time after their working life to enjoy things they may not have had the time to do before. While this looks different from person to person, many look forward to traveling, visiting family and enjoying hobbies.

Are you confident you will be able to retire with your basic expenses covered and enjoy the post-work life you’ve imagined? Check these three things.

1. Define your goals

After decades spent working, the prospect of retirement can feel sudden, and some people may have difficulty envisioning what it will look like. When you picture your retirement, what do you see yourself doing? Traveling abroad and checking cities off your bucket list? Paying for your children’s or grandchildren’s weddings? Setting up a legacy fund for your loved ones?

If you don’t yet know what you want out of retirement, start thinking now. Without clear goals, you won’t know how much money it will take to reach them. Beyond your core living expenses, consider how you would like to spend your time during your “go-go” (the first 10 years of retirement), “slow-go” years (middle retirement), and beyond.

2. See where you stand

Now that you have defined your goals, it’s time to see how your savings, investments, retirement accounts and other assets can support your desired retirement lifestyle. An easy way to check your retirement readiness is to use an online platform like Prudential Stages for Retirement.

This digital tool will take the information you share about your current financial life and retirement goals to determine your personal “confidence score,” which indicates your retirement readiness. In a few steps, you will have a clearer picture of your retirement based on how you are saving and investing today.

3. Speak with an advisor

Once you have a clearer view of the big picture, you can meet with a financial advisor to help map out a step-by-step financial plan. If you do not have a financial advisor, you’re not alone.

Millions of Americans do not have a financial advisor. Some do not because they don’t know how to find someone they trust. Still others may feel an advisor is not for them, mistakenly thinking they need a certain level of wealth to engage a professional’s help. However, establishing a relationship with a financial advisor can help you confidently plan for a better retirement and even give you an edge.

According to the Warrington College of Business, industry data suggests that people who receive professional financial advice can add 1.5%-4% to their portfolio returns over time. Enlisting the help of a financial advisor can make planning for retirement easier and grow your wealth so you can achieve your retirement goals instead of having “just enough,” or even not enough.

Through Prudential Stages for Retirement, you can set up a meeting with a noncommission-based financial advisor who will recommend strategies and products that can help you reach your retirement goals. They will look at your retirement confidence score and establish a personalized plan to help you refine your goals and determine if you’re on track to afford your retirement. You do not have to be an existing Prudential customer; anyone can get started planning a more secure retirement. To learn more and get started, visit Prudential’s Retirement Calculator.

2023-05-01T07:01:00

(BPT) – What are the hottest must-haves of summer 2023? Look at social media and you’ll find influencers touting everything from luxury sunglasses to name-brand emotional support water bottles. These items may be great, but they also can come with a hefty price tag and long waitlists.

Because most people don’t have endless time and money, a new movement is gaining traction: de-influencing. Part of this is avoiding name brands and instead buying affordable dupes that have equal features. Yes, that means it’s now ultra cool to buy duplicates that are comparable to the original product and bask in the savings.

With the rise of the de-influencing trend, Reduce, a reusable drinkware company, is launching in Walmart stores nationwide at the perfect time. The Reduce Cold1 40oz straw tumbler is the ultimate dupe for more expensive, name-branded options. It keeps drinks cold for 40 hours, is cup-holder friendly, has an easy-to-grab handle, includes hydration tracking on the inside and is available for just $19.88.

Think this nice price means skimping on style? Not at all. With two new Walmart-exclusive prints — wave and sunset — as well as popular solid colors, you can choose a style that speaks to you and reflects your personality. Now, no matter what summer adventures await, you have a water bottle that performs and looks great.

Other de-influencing examples for saving and staying cool this summer:

Save by making your own pink drink

Everyone knows that light pink drink that, while delicious, can cost a lot for even a modest cup. Instead, grab a jug of Ocean Spray White Cranberry and coconut milk. You can make more than 40 ounces of your own tasty pink drink to enjoy in your new Cold1 40oz.

Reach for designer sunscreen alternatives

Sun protection is essential, especially when you’re spending time outdoors. Instead of dropping over $30 on designer sunscreen, consider options with rave online reviews that give you the same protection for less. An example: e.l.f.’s Suntouchable! Whoa Glow is half the cost of upscale brands.

Use an affordable, durable sports bottle

No need to spend $50 or more on a sports water bottle. Even the most hardcore outdoor adventurer will love Reduce’s affordable Hydrate Pro sports bottle with an easy-clean silicone straw. It comes in five summery colors and is available at Walmart for less than $20.

Get the look of luxury sunglasses for less

A cool pair of shades enhances your style and protects your peepers from the sun’s harsh rays. Instead of shelling out hundreds on luxury eyewear, you can protect your eyes and your wallet by looking for affordable brands, like Goodr sunglasses that are high-quality and stylish.

Opt for a glass tumbler to get your smoothie and boba fix

Enjoy your favorite summer sips in style with the new Aspen glass tumbler that features borosilicate thermo-shock glass with a vacuum-insulated stainless-steel cover and an extra-large straw perfect for protein shakes, green smoothies, boba tea or milkshakes. The Aspen tumbler keeps drinks cold for up to 12 hours, comes in five colors and is available at Walmart for less than $20.

Looking and feeling great this summer doesn’t mean forking out big money for big brands. Look for dupes like these with quality, function and style that cost much less. Get started at Walmart.com.

2023-05-01T10:01:00

(BPT) – Sponsored by Office Depot

More women than ever before are using their energy, passion and insights to create new business ventures. What they’ve learned along the way can provide valuable lessons for anyone dreaming of owning their own business or even those who are farther along on their entrepreneurial journeys.

For more than 35 years, Office Depot has offered innovative solutions and support to help business owners achieve success. In 2020, the company became the premier and founding sponsor of Selfmade, Brit + Co’s interactive virtual community and membership program geared towards connecting women with tools, resources, community and coaching to help them start, manage, and grow their own businesses. Through this collaboration, Office Depot has provided hundreds of female entrepreneurs with the opportunity to participate in the program for free via Office Depot OfficeMax-funded scholarships.

In honor of small business week, here are four tips from some of the dynamic small business owners who took part in the Selfmade program. For more stories, studies and strategies for success, visit Office Depot’s content hub, The Stepping Stone.

1. Home in on the big idea

How does someone know their business idea is good? Most importantly, it should address a problem that needs solving. That’s what led Domeanic Carter-Banks to her great idea. Waiting in a car dealership playroom with her three-year-old, who was diagnosed with non-verbal autism, she saw her daughter become frustrated and irritable.

“There were no appropriate sensory toys to hold her focus and attention,” said Carter-Banks. “I wished there was something I could leave behind to help other autistic children and their parents.”

Carter-Banks applied for an Office Depot OfficeMax scholarship to Selfmade to get feedback from others and hone in on her idea for a sensory toy company. After participating in live workshops with business coaches, one-on-one mentoring and group chats with other entrepreneurs like her, she started Masterpiece Kids Box, a curated subscription box for children with autism that encourages sensory and discovery play.

“My advice to busy moms with an idea is to do what you can in small leaps if you can’t make the big one yet,” said Carter-Banks.

2. Build a network and positive mindset

To help prepare for whatever comes next, it helps to learn from others who are on similar paths. “Being an entrepreneur can be a super lonely journey, so having other people there, especially other people who can understand the highs and the lows, is really helpful,” said Karly Hiser of Crann Organic, which sells 100% GOTS certified organic cotton kids’ clothes for the 9.6 million American kids who suffer from eczema, like Hiser’s son.

And every entrepreneur can feel a bit of doubt at some point, but letting it overcome them in a way that prevents them from moving forward can hinder their success. “It’s very easy to let your feelings and negative emotions get in the way,” said Hiser. “Starting off your day with a little bit of meditation, breathing, yoga, whatever it is, really helps to calm your nervous system so that you can approach your day with a really positive attitude.”

3. Stay organized to avoid burnout

Disorganization in the workplace can have many negative impacts like leading to lower-quality work, missed deadlines, wasted time on unproductive tasks and even burnout. Kinsey Egan-McGee is the founder of Claim Your Roots, a virtual hair care platform for women with textured hair, and she prioritizes organization to help stay productive.

“Whether it’s inside or outside of the business, I try to weigh the importance, immediacy, and level of detail something should be dealt with, so I don’t burn out. I have pretty extensive to-do lists that I have broken down by months and weeks. I’ve loved crossing things off my agenda since elementary school, but I also realized as an adult that it’s great to have a list of completed items that you can reference. You just have to be honest with yourself, whether a task has actually been completed or not,” McGee said.

“I make sure to record meetings … so I can be present and not fixated on taking notes. I also always write down questions/talking points to prepare for a meeting with someone,” said McGee.

4. Nurture creativity when the going gets tough

Being a business owner can be overwhelming. How can an entrepreneur feed the creative passion that inspired their dream? Stay open to new ideas — especially when external circumstances throw curve balls. Jenifer Shwartz owned a wholesale bakery when the pandemic hit. After losing sales from events, catering and restaurants, she had to think creatively and pivot fast.

“I thought, let’s start making Japanese cheesecake,” Shwartz recalled. She sold through food delivery services, then fell ill. She had to pause her business, so she freeze-dried the cake. “When I came back to work, I opened a bag of freeze-dried cheesecake, it literally had the same flavor as the fresh-baked cheesecake.”

Her next step was learning how to sell packaged products in stores for her new business, Freezcake. That’s when she saw an opportunity to apply for an Office Depot OfficeMax scholarship to Selfmade. Shwartz also turned to Office Depot for a new printer and laminator machine to help her run her business more smoothly.

Shwartz finds time to nurture her creativity every day. “I always thought that, as a pastry chef, I have to constantly be making new things,” said Shwartz. “But there’s so much creativity in the decision making and different parts of running a business.”

And as a mother of five, she finds ways to be creative at home with her kids as well. “We have lots of coloring, painting, clay. It’s a good way for me to get my creative juices out. I was an artist before I was a pastry chef. Now instead of clay, my medium is flour, sugar and butter!”

Small business giveaway — Lessons in Success

The path to success can get a little bumpy, but the lessons learned along the way can help entrepreneurs take the biggest steps forward. Small business owners can share some of the biggest lessons they’ve learned as a business owner and enter the Office Depot Lessons in Success Small Business Giveaway for a chance to win a $250 Office Depot OfficeMax card to help them achieve their business goals. Winners will be selected at random on or about 5/28/23. Complete the form to enter online at officedepot.com/giveaways.

Small business owners can find innovative products and solutions to help them be successful online at officedepot.com and at Office Depot and OfficeMax stores. They can also take advantage of exclusive benefits and everyday savings on products like furniture, paper and cleaning supplies through the Office Depot^® OfficeMax^® Business Select program. Now through June 3, a first-year Business Select membership is just $49.

2023-04-26T10:01:00

(BPT) – Liquidity is the “it” financial term of the moment as businesses brace for a potential slowdown. Without sufficient cash or the ability to borrow funds quickly, many companies could face tough business decisions and struggle to cover costs or seize growth opportunities.

Banks are now in a situation where they need to keep more cash on hand — which means tighter lending conditions than businesses have seen in some time. Companies needing working capital face additional scrutiny and limited options to access vital funding.

This scrutiny disproportionately impacts newer, smaller businesses that don’t meet traditional markers for bank-backed funding options. Even if a company can secure lending, climbing interest rates increase the bottom-line cost of those loans, deepening the cash flow crunch many businesses face today.

Traditional sources of capital aren’t keeping pace with today’s business needs

The Federal Reserve reports that only 53% of small employer businesses receive all the money they seek when they apply for a loan, line of credit or advance, and about 1 in 5 get nothing. Because the lending risk increases, banks often can’t lend to younger companies, even if they’re fundamentally healthy.

The options businesses typically turn to come with drawbacks that make obtaining funds out of reach for many businesses. Banks, online lenders and factoring come with red-tape challenges, higher costs, hidden fees or simply aren’t reliable sources of funding for the long term.

New options help businesses take control of their cash flow

A new generation of working capital solutions allow businesses of all sizes to access more capital without the need for risk-based underwriting. In many cases, this can be done without taking on debt, giving away equity or jeopardizing customer relations.

There’s an increasing trend of large enterprises working with banking and technology platforms to offer early payment programs for their supply chains. These programs allow businesses to offer a small discount on their approved invoices in exchange for early payment, making it a win-win solution without high costs or unfavorable terms.

The benefits of early payment programs and technology-driven working capital solutions make these excellent strategic choices for many businesses looking to diversify their funding sources:

• Faster cash flow. Lower costs. Early payment on discounted invoices without exorbitant fees and unreasonable restrictions means greater control and often lower costs by eliminating lending risks.
• More reasonable standards for lending. Loan programs that look at the whole health of a business, including growth and leadership — a critical element for small businesses that are succeeding but might be too young to qualify under existing rules — give more businesses access to funding.
• Rapid deployment of working capital. Funding should move at the speed of business. A partner that can deliver working capital quickly and reliably instead of taking multiple weeks to resolve is vital.
• More flexibility and control for small and medium-sized businesses. Because they are working with large companies, smaller suppliers often have less leverage when negotiating payment terms. A solution that offers smaller businesses the flexibility they need and the control they desire will create a healthier supply chain.
• Multiple solutions, one partner. A partner that brings multiple solutions to the table to fit a company’s unique business needs and the ebb and flow of its business is critical. Every business is unique, so “one-size-fits-all” solutions might not work.

One company on the cutting edge of working capital and supply chain financing is C2FO. C2FO is the world’s largest on-demand working capital platform, helping businesses tap into the large amounts of capital locked up in accounts receivable. The company powers the early payment programs used by some of the world’s largest enterprises and their supply chains, delivering over $275 billion in funding to supplier customers to date.

Maintaining liquidity and diversifying with a dependable cash-management strategy is essential for all businesses, especially for small businesses facing market fluctuations. To learn more about C2FO’s suite of working capital solutions, visit c2fo.com.

2023-04-26T07:01:00

(BPT) – Spring is here! As you enjoy the warmer weather, you may notice that your eyes begin to water or feel like they’re burning. Chances are you may have seasonal eye allergies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 30% of the general population suffers from allergic conjunctivitis, otherwise known as eye allergies. Symptoms can include red, watery, swollen or itchy eyes.

While you can’t stop seasonal allergies, there are ways you can handle these symptoms. Read on to see seven ways you can manage springtime eye allergies.

1. Beware of pollen

Pollen can irritate your eyes and set off other allergy symptoms. When the pollen count is high, stay indoors and shut all windows and doors. If you must leave home, change your clothing and shower to rinse pollen from your hair and body.

2. Deep clean places you spend the most time

During spring, pollen and other allergens can make their way into your home. Make sure you regularly deep clean spaces where you spend the most time in your home. A couple of times a week, make sure to vacuum or sweep and mop floors and wipe down counters, tables and other surfaces with a wet cloth.

3. Wash your hands regularly

As you go about your day, indoors and outdoors, your hands will naturally pick up allergens. Wash your hands regularly throughout the day to reduce your exposure to pollen and other allergens. Also, avoid touching your face or rubbing your eyes even after washing your hands.

4. Ensure you’re properly hydrated

Studies suggest that your body produces more histamine, the chemical responsible for allergy symptoms, when you’re dehydrated. Also, if you use decongestants to manage allergy symptoms, you’re also drying out your body. Make sure to carry a reusable water bottle with you throughout the day to encourage yourself to drink more water.

5. Wear your sunglasses

Wearing sunglasses outdoors can help reduce your allergy symptoms. By wearing sunglasses, you prevent pollen, other allergens and airborne particles from making direct contact with your eyes. When you go on a walk, garden or enjoy the outdoors this spring, wear a pair to reduce eye irritation.

6. Use artificial eye drops

No matter how careful you are, you may still experience eye allergy symptoms. When your eyes feel itchy or swollen, make sure to have a bottle of artificial eye drops on hand. There are many different types of eye drops. Some contain antihistamines, decongestants or a combination to help relieve itchy, watery eyes. Read product descriptions carefully to find the one to best manage your eye allergy symptoms.

7. Schedule your annual eye exam

If you suffer from seasonal eye allergies, this spring may be the perfect time for an eye exam. An eye doctor can help diagnose your eye allergy symptoms, prescribe medicated eye drops if needed and recommend other forms of care if needed.

Need help finding a local eye doctor? VSP vision insurance can help. VSP has the largest doctor network, so you can find a doctor quickly and schedule an eye exam this spring. Find an eye doctor near you and schedule your exam today.

If you don’t have vision insurance, you can enroll in a VSP individual vision plan anytime. There’s no need to wait for open enrollment or a waiting period. VSP members can save 20% on additional glasses or sunglasses, including lens enhancements, from a VSP network doctor within 12 months of their last exam. To learn more and find the best vision plan for you, visit VSPDirect.com.

2023-04-25T08:01:00

(BPT) – Tighten the purse strings. Balance the budget. Cut back. There are many ways to say it, but the current economy has millions of Americans doing the same thing: struggling to make ends meet. Wouldn’t it be nice to alleviate the financial pressure?

For some people, this means asking for help. Four in 10 people have asked their loved ones for money over the past year to deal with the rising cost of living, according to an Herbalife survey of 8,500 respondents across 10 countries, including 2,000 Americans. Results show respondents are relying on others for help with essentials, including groceries (40%) and their rent or mortgage (29%).

Asking for help is hard to do, but it’s certainly not reflective of people’s lack of effort. In fact, 56% of respondents currently have a side hustle or other form of supplemental income. Of those people with side hustles, 55% shared they started it solely to make ends meet, 40% to deal with the rising cost of living, 38% to be less reliant on a single source of income and 36% wanting to have a disposable income.

“In addition to providing an extra source of income, many side hustles are flexible, allowing people to work at their own schedule,” explained Ibi Montesino, Herbalife’s executive vice president of distributor and customer experience. “Our research shows that on average, most people say that they’d need to earn about $404 more per month to live comfortably.”

The research also shows that those with a side hustle commit an average of about eight and a half hours per week to that side hustle. But that time can vary: 28% dedicate 3–5 hours a week to their side hustle, while 24% devote 6–10 hours per week.

If you think a side hustle might be helpful for you, there are many options based on your interests, resources and availability. Some people care for kids or pets, while others may do house cleaning, landscaping or other handy work. These types of side hustles can help you save money, but it can be challenging when you’re solo and don’t have a support system.

Another option that some people find is a better fit is direct selling. This is when you are an authorized representative that sells products for a company, and the big benefit is that there is often training and a support system to help you succeed.

“The increased cost of living is causing people to search for supplemental income streams. Direct selling provides flexibility and a support system that positions you to reach your goals,” said Humbi Calleja, Herbalife’s vice president and general manager, North America.

If you’re interested in direct selling, it’s important to find an opportunity that works best for you. Montesino and Calleja recommend these simple tips to help people find the right network marketing company:

Pinpoint the ideal product or service: Finding a consumable product that sells consistently and needs replacement is a great option. Choose something you’re passionate about because you’re more likely to dedicate time and effort to it.

Learn about the company: Before deciding what company to move forward with, researching their background is a must. Typically, the longer the company has been in business, the more experience it has.

Determine start-up costs: Once you identify the right company for you, determine the cost of the start-up kit. It will contain everything you need to get started and run your business.

Study the compensation plan: This shows you how the company plans to incentivize and reward your hard work. It will also give you an idea of income expectations, income frequency and how long it will take to reach your goals.

Confirm marketing support: Aside from your start-up kit, having access to marketing support helps grow your business. For example, the company should help you identify the target market to understand your customers better and provide online marketing resources to help you launch effective promotions.

Research training opportunities: Ongoing training and opportunities to connect with people going through the same experience will help inspire you and enable you to run your business better.

Opportunity for growth: Ensure that the company has demonstrated continuous growth opportunities and is committed to helping you with resources and support as you strive to reach your goals.

No one can predict what the economy will do in the future, but you can take control of your finances by adding an extra income stream. Start by researching opportunities and choose the right one for you.

2023-04-20T23:45:00

(BPT) – For companies, it has become important to have a clear, distinctive brand identity that make it stand out among competitors and position the brand as iconic in the mind of consumers. Thanks to social media platforms, consumers — especially the younger generations — are constantly exposed to brands who have been struggling to make a positive impression and stay impactful, working to build a brand identity that will enable it to be loved by consumers from all walks of life.

So, how can brands do this? A great example of this is LG Electronics and its newly updated brand identity. This month, the company unveiled a new brand direction and outlined its visual identity, shedding light on its corporate value with a more dynamic and youthful look across all physical and digital customer touch points. For LG, the aim is to raise brand awareness, enabling the brand to be loved by customers across countries and generations and, ultimately, establish itself as an iconic brand.

Let’s look at key points that brands need to focus on to become a brand loved by all.

Being Unique, but Showing up with Unified Visuals and Messages

Consumers of today empathize with and respond well to authentic brands, especially those with values they agree with. This is why it is vital for a brand to be consistent and well-aligned, delivering a great consumer experience that makes good on its brand promise. LG prioritized brand alignment, outlining changes to its branding under new brand guidelines shared with all employees around the world. The new guidelines even reiterate the company’s core values of ‘Uncompromising Customer Experience,’ ‘Human-centered Innovation’ and ‘Warmth to Power a Smile,’ ensuring that the brand’s values are reflected in all its communications.

Creating a Memorable Brand Slogan

As much as a name and logo, a memorable slogan has the power to attract attention and differentiate a brand. This year, LG repackaged its brand slogan of Life’s Good — encompassing the message of how the company enables its customers to enjoy a quality life and indulge in precious moments via LG products, services and communication — in a new design inspired by the lines and shapes of the company’s products. This new brand asset will be widely distributed across all customer contact points, including product packaging.

Giving it a Spin by Adding Vitality in the Digital Space

With more and more customers engaging with a brand through online and mobile platforms, digital assets are a great opportunity for companies to win customers’ hearts. In the case of LG, the company brought its symbol to life to engage customers with a new level of expressiveness. Creating a face with the letters ‘L’ and ‘G’, LG’s brand symbol can perform eight unique motions, such as nodding, spinning and winking, enabling the company to greet customers with a friendly smile across digital platforms.

Establishing Brand Personality through Colors

Color isn’t just an aesthetic element but a great tool when it comes to branding. Associating a color with a brand can significantly build brand awareness. For LG, its main color has always been the unique and bold LG Red, representing the friendliness of the brand and emanating the strong impression of the company’s commitment to deliver the best. This year, the company has introduced the new Active Red, rejuvenating the brand with a young, energetic and modern image.

Not limited to this, the company also introduced a warm palette of grayscale colors to bring a touch of warmth to its communications. Utilizing these colors, LG also has developed various new gradients that utilize the company’s key colors to deliver depth, warmth and richness. The gradients also offer variety as they can be applied according to the unique characteristic of each product or service.

With a revamped brand strategy, LG can better communicate its value proposition and unique identity, which harmonically blends innovation and warmth.

To learn more about LG and its updated brand strategy, visit LGnewsroom.com.

2023-04-12T08:01:00

(BPT) – Farmers: there’s no doubt that you are the backbone of our nation. Hardworking, industrious and passionate, you’re the small business owners that put food on America’s tables. But that doesn’t mean you’ve got it easy — far from it. So, let’s talk about an often-neglected tool that can give you a major leg up — credit card rewards. That’s right, choosing the right rewards program can help you save money and improve your bottom line, like a bumper crop all year round.

So, how exactly can cashback rewards help you? Here’s how:

Lowering Operational Costs

For starters, you can use the cashback you earn from your credit card purchases to offset future expenses. That means you can save money on everyday things like fuel and equipment repairs and even on those big-ticket items like farm equipment upgrades.

Farmers can also use cashback rewards to purchase farm supplies such as fertilizers, seeds and other agricultural products. These expenses can quickly add up, but by using cashback programs, farmers can better adapt to year-over-year price changes of bulk-purchased goods. And if you’re frequently traveling for business (like to farmers’ markets), you can utilize cashback rewards to pay for your travel expenses, and some cards even offer fuel bonuses and vehicle insurance protection.

Making Upgrades

Speaking of upgrades, we all know that the latest and greatest equipment can make a huge difference in crop yield and client acquisition. But we also know that they can cost an arm and a leg. That’s where cashback rewards come in — they can help offset those costs and even allow you to purchase equipment entirely with reward points. Some cards even allow entire equipment purchases to be made with reward points, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Farmers can even use cashback rewards to invest in sustainability initiatives, such as renewable energy sources, water conservation or soil conservation projects. These initiatives can help reduce the environmental impact of farming while also providing long-term cost savings. And if you live in a state where environmental regulatory pressure is increasing, cashback could very well play a part in affording compliance.

Rewarding Employees

But cashback isn’t just for equipment and sustainability — you can even use your rewards to reward your hardworking farmhands! Imagine using your points to purchase gift cards or bonuses for your staff, boosting morale and showing them how much you appreciate their efforts. Well-earned credit card rewards can allow you to make a difference in the lives of your employees.

Building a Rainy-Day Fund

And let’s not forget about the importance of having a rainy-day fund in the agriculture business. With so much uncertainty, extra financial security can make all the difference. Cashback rewards can help you build up that rainy-day fund and prepare for anything that comes your way.

Ultimately, credit card rewards are a farmer’s fierce ally. They can help you save on operational costs, upgrade your equipment, invest in sustainability, reward your employees, and build a rainy-day fund. So, what are you waiting for? Start raking in those cashback rewards and watch your bottom line improve!