Category: Brandpoint

2024-02-28T09:01:01

(BPT) – As a pet parent, you may often find yourself thinking about ways to enjoy spending quality time with your pets, while also ensuring that they’re enjoying their home even when you can’t be with them. Whether your household is a quiet sanctuary or a bustling hive of constant activity — or a little bit of both — it’s good to take steps to ensure that your feline family members are safe and comfortable.

Here are some tips to help you be proactive when it comes to caring for your cats and their health.

1. Understand litterbox habits

Your cat’s litter box habits can provide important insight into their overall wellness. However, inspecting a litter box is not a cheery chore. Fortunately, this is the golden age of pet tech, and keeping an eye on your cat’s litter box habits is now as simple as opening an app.

Solutions like the Petivity™ Smart Litter Box Monitor System help pet parents better understand their cat’s health by monitoring their litter box habits. Developed by a team of Purina behaviorists, veterinarians and data scientists, the system’s artificial intelligence is able to learn each cat’s unique litter box patterns and identify subtle changes that can potentially have big implications. Even small fluctuations in weight, frequency in litter box visits and the types of elimination can be early signs of a health concern that requires a veterinary diagnosis.

Like with all good smart tech, setup is simple. Monitors are placed under a litter box to track each cat’s data and habits. Then, if anything requires the owner’s attention, an alert is sent automatically to their phone. It’s a slick process and an easy way to better understand and monitor your cat’s litter box habits all year round.

2. Be aware of common cat toxins

Cats are curious creatures, and this unfortunately means that they can sometimes get into things that aren’t good for them. It’s a good idea to read up on common household items such as plants that could be poisonous to cats if ingested.

Some potential toxic temptations, like chocolate, are already well known. But there are also a variety of plants and flowers you should be aware of. For example, lilies, amaryllis and azaleas are popular flowers that are toxic to cats who can be tempted to chew on them. When possible, keep food and plants, plus medications or vitamins, up high or away where cats can’t reach them to avoid ingesting anything that may potentially harm them.

While the Petivity™ Smart Litter Box Monitor System can help provide meaningful insights about their well-being, you should always contact your veterinarian if you believe your cat may have eaten anything that could be toxic to them.

3. Keep an eye on your cat’s behavior

Another healthy step pet parents can take is to monitor stress. Whenever you’re hosting friends and family, consider creating a quiet room where cats can retreat away from guests. This gives them a safe space to use as needed so they can rest, relax and recharge.

Keep in mind that stress alone can potentially cause digestive issues for cats and can lead to changes in litter box habits and elimination patterns, both of which the Petivity™ Smart Litter Box Monitor System can help detect. If the duration and frequency of litter box visits change, it’s a solid sign that kitty could use some calm. In addition to quiet spaces, some love from their favorite human — you — is often welcome when cats feel anxious.

Share the gift of knowledge

Is there a cat lover in your life who could benefit from the opportunity to be proactive about their health? If so, you can let them know how smart tech like the Petivity™ Smart Litter Box Monitor System can monitor their cat’s litter box habits.

2024-02-28T10:35:43

(BPT) – Spring is just around the corner! As you make your list of spring cleaning chores, don’t forget to add lawn care to the to-do list.

“The key to a healthy, robust lawn is preparation. Don’t wait until the weather warms up! Early spring is a great time to revive and revitalize your lawn so you can enjoy it the rest of the year,” says Matthew Koch, Ph.D., director of biotechnology, genetics, lawn fertilizer, and grass seed at The ScottsMiracle-Gro Company.

To help fellow lawn-owners, Dr. Koch and Scotts, a leader in lawn care, offer the following three expert lawn care tips to grow lush and healthy natural turfgrass throughout the season and beyond.

1. Feed and seed

After a long, sleepy winter, your lawn needs some help waking up. Dr. Koch recommends feeding your lawn, so it knows it’s time to grow. Try a feed like Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action Built For Seeding. The formula prevents dandelion and crabgrass for up to 6 weeks without harming new grass, jumpstarts grass development, and feeds to protect against heat and drought.

Once your lawn is fed, it’s time to seed! Look for small areas of grass that aren’t growing and patch them with Scotts EZ Seed Patch & Repair Sun and Shade. The grass seed easily fills in bare spots on your lawn, even in tough conditions, including full sun, dense shade, high-traffic areas and on slopes. With a little TLC, your lawn will flourish in no time!

2. Prevent disease

As the spring months continue on, increased humidity and moisture create the perfect conditions for lawn disease to thrive. Look for brown or yellow patches, brown or black spots on the grass blades (leaf spots), white dust (powdery mildew) and red or pink webbing (red thread).

Even if you don’t see signs of disease, Dr. Koch emphasizes the importance of taking steps to prevent disease before it takes hold, and mid to late spring is the ideal time to take preventative measures. Scotts Turf Builder Healthy Plus Lawn Food is the first ever 2-in-1 fungicide and fertilizer that uses broad-spectrum and systemic fungicides to help prevent and control 27 types of lawn diseases. Best of all, the fertilizer helps your lawn grow thicker and greener by strengthening each blade of grass down to the roots.

3. Mow high

As your lawn comes in, don’t cut it too short. When the grass grows tall enough, begin mowing at the highest setting. Mowing high allows grass to grow strong roots and thick blades, providing shade that can prevent weed growth.

Early lawn care will set up your grass for success this spring and beyond. Follow these three simple tips, and your grass will flourish so you can enjoy the stunning landscape around your home ahead of summertime festivities.

2024-02-27T16:41:57

(BPT) – The world of online commerce has provided more options for businesses and consumers. For the automotive aftermarket industry, it has allowed retailers to source tires, parts, and services that would have been impossible — or at least incredibly difficult — to find in the past.

However, to find all the products and services needed to run their business, technicians must surf the web one platform at a time. Between remembering and inputting multiple logins, keeping track of order forms from multiple sources, and spending time browsing, retailers lose valuable time they could spend servicing customers.

At the end of the day, the automotive aftermarket industry needs to embrace innovation to boost sales, drive growth, and improve customer relations. One company has taken on the challenge and created a comprehensive digital marketplace that connects the industry and ultimately connects retailers to their consumers.

One platform for all

American Tire Distributors (ATD), one of the largest independent suppliers of tires to the replacement tire market, has created Radius, a digital hub that integrates tires, parts, services, and solutions into one connected experience. The platform is built on ATD’s customer-centric principles, taking the guesswork out of parts and service searching to focus on what really matters.

“This new digital marketplace, Radius, was designed to support our customers through every step of their journey,” said Stuart Schuette, President and CEO of ATD. “We heard firsthand about the challenges they face every day, and Radius is our solution to help make it easier for them to do their job.”

Radius’ suite of digital tools seamlessly integrates into business operations and offers a scalable and customizable experience, providing retailers big and small with what they need to serve their customers. By automating customer marketing and communications — including personalized messaging campaigns, appointment reminders, and customer reviews — retailers can focus on growing their businesses.

Free time for learning

Radius simplifies the day-to-day operations, allowing technicians more time to grow their knowledge and better serve their customers. Many industries, including the automotive market, are struggling to find quality staff.

According to Tire Business, between new auto tech positions created by industry growth and the need to replace existing positions, the industry needs more than 86,000 new technicians to meet demand. Even if a dealer can find technicians, it can be difficult to find time to properly onboard new team members, potentially having a negative impact on customer retention.

ATD designed Radius to make technician upskilling and retention easier. The online platform incorporates Spark for retail, an e-learning resource that shop owners, sales associates, and technicians can use to further their professional development. Integrated webinars, videos, and quizzes facilitate more streamlined onboarding and improve customer service skills. Not only does e-learning help new technicians skill up, but it also allows operators to keep their eyes on their trade.

Sustaining business and the planet

Waste has long been a pain point for the automotive industry. According to ATD, 235 million tires are produced every year and today, 17% of used tires are sent to landfills. While that is an improvement compared to previous decades, that number adds up.

Sustainability in business is more important than ever before. According to Harvard Business Review, sustainability promotes trust in brands, particularly among younger generations. In turn, trusted companies outperform others by up to 400%. Taking care to recycle products like tires isn’t just good for the planet. It’s also good for business.

Since 2022, ATD has helped retailers invest in sustainability by helping them recycle used tires. The process has been further simplified by Radius. The platform makes it easy to schedule pickup and recycle tires, which are delivered to recyclers to create new material down the line.

These are just a few ways Radius is connecting the industry while always keeping customers top of mind. To learn more about ATD and Radius, visit ATD.com/Radius.

2024-02-27T13:11:01

(BPT) – On Jan. 10, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved several exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest directly in Bitcoin, paving the way for “the largest debut month of any ETF in 30 years” when they opened for trading the very next day, according to Cointelegraph.com. Reuters reported that U.S.-listed bitcoin ETFs Grayscale, BlackRock and Fidelity led the field in heavy trading volumes of Bitcoin ETFs as soon as the market opened on Jan. 11.

This evidence of a surge of interest in Bitcoin, while many financial professionals still regard it as involving significant risk, shows no signs of slowing down, at least in the near future.

A platform that makes it easy to use cryptocurrency

If your business is interested in having the ability to use Bitcoin, you might think that doing so would be overly complicated.

But today, Bitcoin is becoming more usable, thanks to software-as-a-service (SaaS) style products like those from industry-leading Bitcoin-development platform Voltage. Voltage allows businesses to provide customers with a technological solution designed to make Bitcoin transactions seamless via the Lightning Network, which helps speed transaction times and decreases network congestion.

Voltage empowers engineering teams with Bitcoin-centric infrastructure that enables enterprise-grade experiences. By leveraging Voltage, your company will receive the fastest and most scalable Lightning Network solution that meets the highest security and privacy standards.

Upgraded features

Voltage has recently revamped several of its processes and services to meet all of its customers’ needs and requests. Top updates include features such as:

• Streamlined dashboard combines the ability to manage your node and view your data in one dashboard, making it more straightforward to see everything happening with your account.
• Team collaboration features allow you to add users to your team, granting them specific types of access.
• Simplified pricing options make it easier to pay only for those services you need and to scale and adapt your plan as your needs grow. The Voltage billing platform now conforms closer to a standard SaaS product, so all users can select a plan based on their usage and required features.

“Based on the recent upsurge in trading in Bitcoin ETFs alone, we anticipate a significant increase in network participants for Bitcoin on-chain and the Lightning Network in 2024,” said Voltage Founder and CEO Graham Krizek. “To meet this influx, we constantly strive to provide the best possible experience and rock-solid platform on the market today.”

Experiencing the next generation of building on Bitcoin via the Lightning Network is now easier than ever. Voltage is a one-stop shop for your organization’s Bitcoin payments, data, and analytics needs during rapid technological changes and market shifts. Learn how at Voltage.cloud.

2024-02-27T12:15:00

(BPT) – Financial independence is important to 67% of Americans, though nearly a quarter (24%) say they haven’t yet achieved it, according to new research from Empower, a leader in financial planning, investing, and advice.

The definition of “making it” financially varies among spenders and savers, though many equate it with resilience and independence: 44% of Americans say it’s synonymous with not needing to rely on anyone else for money, 39% say it’s career advancement and one quarter say it’s reaching a certain net worth.

To put a dollar value on it: $94,000 per year is the magic number average Americans feel they need to earn to achieve financial freedom, and 60% feel optimistic they can reach this money milestone.

Top signs you’ve financially “made it” in life:

• Being financially independent/not relying on anyone else for money – 44%
• Moving up in my career/getting promoted – 39%
• Having a job I love – 37%
• Making a certain amount of money – 25%
• Not having to work at all – 25%
• Being able to spend money without worrying – 22%
• Being able to pay my bills on time – 9%
• Buying luxury items I want – 7%
• Being able to retire comfortably – 7%
• Buying a home – 6%

Set clear financial goals

Despite having financial aspirations for the future, a majority of people (72%) admit they currently stress over their finances at least once per month and nearly 1 in 5 (17%) say they worry about money daily.

Getting on track doesn’t have a time limit, but it does require a honed focus. “No matter your age, financial independence starts with clarity,” underscores Keith Jones, senior financial professional with Empower. “Ask yourself what you want and why you want it. Establishing clear financial goals provides both direction and purpose, motivating you to work towards a more secure and satisfying financial future.”

The journey looks different for everyone

Over half (57%) of Americans say they still rely on their family and friends for financial support, especially for help paying their rent (62%), internet and streaming services (56%), and their phone bill (54%). Of those who don’t feel financially independent, 3 in 10 (31%) are optimistic they will be in the future, while 54% don’t think they’ll ever be able to pay their bills without help.

The majority (92%) of financially independent Americans say they only started to feel that way once they reached the age of 36.

Money talks are important

Among parents surveyed, many linked communicating about finances to achieving financial independence, with 57% saying they regret not having more money conversations with their children while they were growing up. In fact, 3 in 5 parents (60%) say if they could turn back the clock and do things differently, they would have made financial literacy a priority.

Although many believe their kids should be able to pay their own bills and expenses by age 23, 40% of parents with adult children aged 20 or older currently support them financially. More than half (53%) are dipping into their retirement savings to do so and 49% say they live with their children to help manage expenses.

Methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population Americans was commissioned by Empower and fielded by market research company OnePoll between December 11 and December 12, 2023.

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2024-02-27T07:01:00

(BPT) – Sponsored by Sanofi

Ariel (Lawrence) Sarpeh was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes right before her 16th birthday — a realization she describes as being both intimidating and clarifying. “At first, I thought ‘OK, I got this. It’s relatively straightforward and I am a good student. I just have to remember that my doctor told me to be mindful of my blood sugar and what I consume,’” Sarpeh explains of her early years living with type 1 diabetes. “It wasn’t until much later that the reality of type 1 diabetes really set in.”

Sarpeh had no family history of type 1 diabetes and no one in her circle of friends had it, either. So, like many, she turned to the internet for information — and for connection. However, as a Black woman, Sarpeh often struggled to connect with people who she could truly relate to and who could empathize with her experience. “I noticed there weren’t a lot of people of color being vocal about their journey with type 1 diabetes,” she notes. “Particularly as a Black woman, I’m part of a community where type 2 diabetes is very prevalent and better understood, but I struggled to see my own story being reflected.”

While type 1 diabetes is still the most common among White people under the age of 20, it is on the rise across many age and ethnic groups. In fact, the steepest increases in annual incidences of the disease among people under the age of 20 in the U.S. between 2002 and 2015 were among non-Hispanic Blacks (2.7%). Also compelling, non-Hispanic Black children under the age of 18 specifically were found to have higher instances of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis, compared to other cohorts. DKA is a serious, sometimes life-threatening complication that can have a severe and sudden onset.

While type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented, it can be detected early through autoantibody screenings — underscoring the importance of disease awareness to reduce the likelihood of serious, sometimes life-threatening complications at diagnosis. This was exactly the ethos behind Sarpeh’s blog and Instagram page “Just a Little Suga’” — and why she got involved in The 1 Pledge with Sanofi.

As Sarpeh mentions, “I knew I wanted to tell my story as a Black woman with type 1 diabetes and speak out about the importance of disease awareness. While I was fortunate to recognize my symptoms early, more must be done to reach Black and Brown communities that are often overlooked, especially when it comes to type 1 diabetes.”

Now is the time to work to increase the understanding of type 1 diabetes in minority populations by underscoring the importance of early screening for the disease. “Information is a tool of empowerment,” Sarpeh explains. “By spreading the word about type 1 diabetes screenings, we can help others gain early insight into their disease, allowing them time to better prepare and make well-informed choices about how to proceed.”

To learn more about how you and your family can get screened for type 1 diabetes, visit The1Pledge.com.

Sanofi does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment—information is provided for educational purposes only. Your doctor is the best source of health information. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about your health or treatment.

Ariel (Lawrence) Sarpeh is a paid spokesperson for Sanofi.

[Photo courtesy Alfred Sarpeh]

2024-02-26T08:33:00

(BPT) – The idea of giving your home a thorough cleaning each spring is very appealing, but can also be overwhelming. It may even seem impossible, given today’s busy lifestyles, active children — and especially pets. You may love your pets, but the fur and stains they leave behind make it even more challenging to keep your home as clean as you’d like.

To get you started, the experts at Libman Company, manufacturer of household cleaning products made in the U.S.A. since 1896, offer these helpful spring cleaning tips that can even conquer the messes your beloved pets may create.

1. Plan first

To avoid feeling overwhelmed, develop a plan that takes into account the time, energy and tools you need to get the job done.

Consider setting aside a weekend or two, so you’ll have plenty of time. Divide your home into zones, addressing the most frequently used areas of your home first, like the entryway, kitchen or bathrooms. Make sure to enlist help from your family!

Pro tip: For multi-story homes, have a set of cleaning supplies/equipment on each floor, saving you from lugging mops and brooms up and down stairs.

2. Use the best tools

Trying to clean with old, worn-out brooms or mops adds time and frustration to your task. Instead, make cleaning easier with tools expertly made for the job.

For example, Libman’s PetPlus Angle Broom with Dustpan is specially designed to tackle pet hair, dander, litter box dust and tracked-in dirt. The all-surface broom fibers remove over 99% of dust, dirt and hair in one sweep, with over 137,000 6-inch-long split-tip fibers that attract and hold pet hair. Together with the 12.5-inch wide dustpan with 1.5-inch built-in “teeth” to help remove hair, dirt and debris from broom fibers, this is the perfect combo to help you clean up after pets.

After sweeping, clean floors thoroughly with Libman’s Freedom Dual-Sided Microfiber Spray Mop. The dual-sided microfiber pad offers double the cleaning power, saving time and money. The removable and reusable microfiber pad is machine washable up to 50 times — reducing needless waste. The TripleGrip Microfiber absorbs and deep cleans, removing 99% of bacteria with only water. The mop’s 360-degree swivel neck lets you reach into the toughest and tightest corners, and you can use it on wood, laminate, tile, vinyl, stone and linoleum floors, choosing your own cleaning solution for the refillable tank. When done cleaning, simply remove the mop head and toss in the laundry.

For carpeted floors and upholstered furniture, use a vacuum cleaner designed for pet hair. Make sure to frequently empty the canister or change the bag, as fur quickly clogs up any vacuum, making it less effective.

3. Do a quick de-clutter

It’s easier to address chores like mopping and dusting after clearing away miscellaneous items. Walk through target areas with trash/recycling bags first, removing items that need to be discarded. Then use a box or basket to collect things that belong in other rooms. Kids can help with this task, looking for items that belong in their rooms. Before you know it, your surfaces will be clearer and ready for deep cleaning.

4. Start high

Start cleaning at the top — otherwise you could dislodge dust, pet hair and cobwebs to dirty your newly cleaned floors. For each room, tackle ceiling fans or light fixtures before walls or windows. Then clean horizontal surfaces like tables and shelves, saving floors for last.

Once you get to the floors, you’ll be ready to put your new Libman broom and mop to work to easily remove pet hair and other debris.

5. Set yourself up for success

To preserve your newly cleaned rooms and floors, consider adding high-quality mats for inside and outside entries, easy-to-access waste bins or recycling containers and/or a basket system for items that need relocating. Planning ahead will make next season’s cleaning that much easier!

Pro tip: Designate an area for regular pet brushing (or visit a groomer), especially during shedding seasons. This can reduce the fur ending up all over your house, and will keep your pets looking and feeling great.

With a solid plan and effective tools, spring cleaning can be a pleasure, and your whole family — including the four-legged members — will enjoy the results even more.

Visit Libman.com for more helpful products for cleaning your home.

2024-02-26T07:31:00

(BPT) – In 2020, Cassandra was making the most out of her full, busy life. At age 60, her active social calendar included spending plenty of time with friends and family, especially her three grown children. The last thing she expected was for all of this to be disrupted.

Thinking back, Cassandra remembers happily browsing a garage sale one weekend when she felt something on her back. “It was a very painful bump that felt like a spider bite,” she recalled. “After twenty-four hours, the bump had risen, and I was in a lot of pain.”

But it was no spider bite, and it only got worse. After two days when the pain became unbearable, she contacted her doctor.

The diagnosis? Cassandra had shingles.

What is shingles?

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a common disease, in fact, an estimated one million people develop shingles annually in the United States.[1]

After someone has had chickenpox, the virus stays dormant inside their body and can reactivate years later, causing shingles.[2] Shingles usually begins as a painful, blistering rash on one side of the face or body.[3] This debilitating disease has the potential to keep you from living your everyday life for several weeks.[4]

“Shingles is not just an ordinary rash,” explained pharmacist and GSK medical educator Dr. Leah Smith. “Because of the intense discomfort that can come with it, shingles can keep you from doing everyday activities like working and socializing. Having shingles can be an isolating and painful experience.”

Who may be impacted by shingles?

Adults 50 years and older are at an increased risk for shingles. In fact, 99% of adults 50 years and older already have the virus that causes shingles inside their body, and it can reactivate at any time, even though not everyone at risk will develop shingles.[5]

The immune system naturally declines with age, beginning around age 50, making people more susceptible to developing shingles as they get older.[6] According to a survey performed by GSK, 86% of people 50 years and older may think that shingles won’t impact them; however, that may not be the case.[7]

For Cassandra, despite feeling like a well-versed health advocate, she was still unaware of how her age increased her risk for shingles. “Awareness is the key factor here. So many people that I talked to, so many people that responded to my experience, said that they really weren’t aware of the impact that shingles can have,” she added.

Are there other potential effects shingles can have?

While shingles can be a painful experience that can disrupt a person’s life for multiple weeks at a time,[4] the disease can also lead to long-term, debilitating complications that can last for months or even years.[8]

“People may experience long-lasting pain called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) — the most common complication of shingles. Two years later and Cassandra is still feeling pain due to PHN,” Dr. Smith noted.

The pain from PHN can be debilitating, persistent, and may impact daily life.[9] “I still feel some long-lasting pain regularly, which sits right beneath the surface of my upper layer of skin, just lingering,” Cassandra added.

What can you do to help prevent shingles and thrive?

Cassandra, who started documenting and sharing her shingles experience since it began, advocates for people 50 and over to talk to their doctor or pharmacist about their risk for shingles, and about vaccination. “I want people to be aware of shingles and feel empowered to speak with their healthcare providers about their risk.”

Cassandra joined GSK’s THRIVE@50+ campaign, a national public health initiative to educate people about their risk of shingles due to natural aging of the immune system and the impact the disease can have on everyday life. “The manner in which I thrive from day to day is quite simple. On a daily basis, I wake and give ‘thanks’ sincerely for the opportunity to face, challenge, or create something in spite of my experience with shingles. I’m enjoying life at an age that is beyond 50 plus, and I know that there’s so much more out there for me,” Cassandra added.

This Shingles Awareness Week, from February 26-March 3, GSK is encouraging candid conversations about shingles and its associated risk to help empower adults 50 years and older to continue thriving.

“It’s important to understand your risk for shingles,” said Dr. Smith. “Talk to your doctor or pharmacist today about your shingles risk and about vaccination.”

To learn more about your risk for shingles, visit the THRIVE@50+ Facebook page.

Cassandra was compensated by GSK for her participation. This is one person’s experience; other people’s experience with shingles may be different.

[1] CDC. Shingles (Herpes Zoster). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/hcp/clinical-overview.html

[2] CDC About Shingles (Herpes Zoster). Cause and Transmission. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/transmission.html

[3] CDC. Shingles (Herpes Zoster). Signs & Symptoms Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/symptoms.html

[4] Infectious Diseases and Therapy. A Cross-Sectional Concept Elicitation Study to Understand the Impact of Herpes Zoster on Patients’ Health-Related Quality of Life. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34994924/

[5] CDC. About Shingles (Herpes Zoster). Available at https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/index.html

[6] CDC. Five Things You Should Know About Shingles. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/5-things-you-should-know.html

[7] Pollfish on behalf of GSK. Shingles Misconceptions Survey (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Portugal, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States). Data on file. 2023.

[8] CDC. About Shingles (Herpes Zoster). Complications of Shingles. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/complications.html

[9] European Journal of Neurology. Post-herpetic neuralgia case study: optimizing pain control. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0552.2004.00794.x