XMWare

2024-04-03T14:19:00

(BPT) – With the days growing longer and warmer, securing a suitable camp for your child can feel like an impossible task. However, finding the perfect camp experience for your kid this summer doesn’t have to be daunting with these top 10 considerations.

1. Your child’s interests

As parents, you know your child best and can determine which camp experience makes the most sense. But remember to include your child in the process. Decisions about camp are family choices and should be a joint venture; they can help support a more successful camp experience.

2. Accredited camps

Always look for a day or overnight camp that is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). When a camp is accredited, it means they’ve gone through a thorough, voluntary process that supports the health and safety of all campers and staff. ACA collaborates with experts from national youth-serving organizations to guide the practices and policies at your child’s camp, reflecting the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation.

3. Your child’s needs

Are you looking for a program that supports your child’s personality and learning style? Does your camper have certain medical requirements, mental health considerations or dietary restrictions? Understanding the strengths in a camp’s focus or programming may help you make your choice. It’s also important to understand that most camps prohibit kids’ access to technology or the internet while at camp. Have an honest and open conversation with your child about this prior to registering.

4. Character development

Many camps are run with an intrinsic focus on character-building skills and traits that help kids grow up to be successful adults. Look for camps talking about this in their mission, staff training and program design. ACA’s recent National Impact Study found that camp experiences support social connectivity, creating communities where young people feel safe, heard and like they belong.

5. Staff training

When researching a camp, ask questions! What kind of training do counselors receive? What types of screening do they require? What is the counselor-to-camper ratio? What are the ages of staff members? The same qualities of trustworthiness and dependability sought by any employer are valued skills and experiences in camp staff.

6. Camp philosophy, policies and procedures

Each camp has its own method of constructing programs based on its philosophy. Does it complement your own parenting philosophy? Ask camp directors about their communication policies. How do they handle homesickness and other adjustment issues? How are behavior and disciplinary problems handled? What is the camp’s dress code?

7. Length and location

Location can be a major factor in choosing a camp. Do you want to attend a camp close to home or in another state? Similarly, think about the length of the camp session. Do you want a short session for your child, such as a few days or a week, or something longer, such as two weeks or a month?

8. Camp provisions

Are there certain amenities or features you’re looking for? Maybe your child is interested in waterfront activities or a ropes course, or maybe you’re searching for a more specialized camp such as a sport- or STEM-specific program. Consider activities, food, lodging and other offerings to decide the right fit for your child.

9. Recommendations

Talk to friends, neighbors, relatives or other parents; often, word of mouth and a recommendation from someone you trust is the best endorsement. Similarly, if your child is a first-time camper, consider planning for summer camp with other parents. Having a friend with them can help children adjust, quiet nerves and build confidence away from home.

10. Certified camp finder tools

If you’re still not sure where to begin, ACA’s Find-a-Camp tool is a free resource with the most extensive directory of summer and year-round camp programs. Filter your search by your exact wants and needs. You’ll also find resources for financial aid, camp scholarships and more.

Finding the right summer camp for your child doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Take the time to explore these game-changing strategies to find the perfect summer camp match for your child.

2024-04-02T10:29:00

(BPT) – For consumers, it’s the ‘experience’ that counts. According to PwC, 73 percent of all customers place experience near the top of their checklist when making purchasing decisions, following only price and product quality in order of importance.

LG, a company that strives to ensure that ‘Life’s Good’ for all, has prioritized the art of providing F.U.N. — first, unique and new — core values for customers.

To successfully deliver the types of experiences that customers desire, LG first had to make sure that all parts of the organization were aligned and properly equipped for the task at hand. In 2024, a new CX performance management system was applied to the entire executive organization structure — not just Korean executives at the company’s headquarters but global executives and employees in charge of sales, manufacturing and management — with a view to adding CX to other crucial measurements of overall business performance, such as sales and operating profit.

The data from the CX indicator is analyzed to assess the various teams involved and to instill a ‘customer-first’ mindset throughout the entire company. The definition of ‘customer’ in this equation is not limited to end-users, but includes business partners and relevant internal departments as well.

The company made meaningful changes by promoting various customer value innovation activities. However, it was identified that a process was needed to properly evaluate business performance as well as reward the achievement of increased levels of customer satisfaction.

Accordingly, starting from this year, all LG Electronics executives will be evaluated based on the level of customer satisfaction within the organizations under their purview, and also on whether or not they have achieved their allotted tasks. Customer satisfaction is graded based on LG’s in-house-developed measurement tool, which quantifies the satisfaction level of LG customers during each stage of the customer experience journey.

Now, each organization is charged with the mission of determining how it will go about innovating target customers’ experiences. In this way, each unit or team can give in-depth consideration to the important question of “What constitutes a differentiated experience from the customers’ perspective?” and then gauge whether or not a specific CX innovation can be realized.

For teams that don’t work directly with customers, CX tasks can include identifying the relevant customer groups, such as internal departments or suppliers, for a certain aspect or piece of organizational work, and generating appropriate and actionable innovation activities to drive meaningful results. LG strongly believes that customer value innovation is not just the domain of ‘management’ or select customer-facing teams. Rather, it takes a whole company working together to consistently create it, with each person adopting a ‘customer-first’ mindset and seeking to view all pertinent matters from the customer’s perspective.

This belief reflects LG CEO William Cho’s management philosophy, which states that the start and end of all innovation is the customer. Since taking charge of the company at the end of 2021, CEO Cho has continuously emphasized how accelerating customer experience innovation plays a critical role in improving customers’ lives. As a result of his astute direction, and as underscored by LG’s ‘Future Vision 2030’ document and recent brand reinvention, the company is actively expanding its CX innovation initiatives.

To boost the innovation of customer experience, the company has launched a company-wide project calling on all employees to meet with customers directly to hear their honest feedback and concerns in order to empathize with them. As a part of this internal project that focuses on LG’s commitment to advancing CX, executives partook in an on-site experience program designed to ensure the implementation of customer-centric management practices and policies. Last year alone, more than 280 LG executives from the Korean headquarters visited key offline sites to see firsthand a broad range of customer contact points and associated activities, including product purchase, phone consultation, rental, delivery and after-service care.

Many of these executives even visited Hi-Tele Service, an LG subsidiary that provides remote customer service. While there, the executives had the valuable opportunity to hear feedback direct from LG customers — giving them insight into how and where the CX might be further improved and refined.

On top of these activities, in order to hear from customers, LG hosted seminars where employees could share CX innovation cases as well as programs where they could directly listen to customers’ stories. And, to boost empathy for customers, the company is carrying out company-wide activities that enable employees to set their own customer and determine the value they can provide to these customers.

Customer value innovation is not just a task for management or teams that work directly with customers. It is the job of everyone at LG to make meaningful changes by rethinking and differentiating everything the company does from the customer’s perspective.

LG is committed to providing differentiated customer value. The company will continue to pursue a customer-centric way of working — one that is based on a detailed understanding of and empathy for its customers.

Not limited to HQ, our system of actively meeting, hearing and empathizing with customers is being put into place in LG offices around the world. In a dedicated series on LG Newsroom, we will introduce how various LG teams and subsidiaries are making changes to reinvent CX, so stay tuned.

By Kang Je-nam, director of Customer Value Innovation Division at LG Electronics

2024-04-02T11:01:00

(BPT) – Finances are consistently a top concern for many Americans, with “saving money” ranking among their primary common goals. This year, Americans are more concerned than ever due to the uncertainty created by high inflation, rising interest rates, lack of income growth and dwindling savings. According to investment research site YCharts, the U.S. personal savings rate for January 2024 was 3.8% vs. 19.3% in January 2021, a 15.5% drop in just three years.

Here are some interesting stats on the state of the U.S. economy:

• Per Gallup, 45% rate the American economy as poor; with 63% saying it is getting worse, not better
• 63% of respondents tell Gallup that high prices pose a severe or moderate financial hardship
• A 2023 survey conducted by Payroll.org highlighted that 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, a 6% increase from the previous year. In other words, more than three-quarters of Americans struggle to save or invest after paying for their monthly expenses
• Similarly, a 2023 Forbes Advisor survey revealed that nearly 70% of respondents either identified as living paycheck to paycheck (40%) or — even more concerning — reported that their income doesn’t even cover their standard expenses (29%)
• The Labor Department reported that in October of 2023 nearly 8.4 million people held multiple jobs — the highest level since July 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began
• According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, U.S. consumer credit card debt topped $1.1 trillion in the last quarter of 2023

The economy and job markets remain in a state of constant flux, which is causing many families to worry about their ability to pay an unexpected bill, continue to pay off student loans, mortgages or credit card debt, or save money for the future.

“Saving money is more than just putting spare change into a coffee can or simply ordering takeout less often,” said Sam Jarman, financial expert, Mercury Content Partner. “Sure, those things can add up over time, but people may find that their greatest savings can come from taking a look at the necessary expenses they pay for every month, such as insurance.”

Jarman recommends these four tips to help protect your finances:

1. Check your auto insurance coverages. There’s no reason to pay for more coverage than you need, but being underinsured can leave you exposed. “The cost of repairs after a collision has grown in recent years, both as a result of more crossovers and SUVs on the road, and more technologically advanced vehicles,” said Jarman. “Beyond paying for more expensive repairs if your insurance doesn’t cover it, if you’re underinsured, you may also be responsible for paying out of pocket for medical bills, which could potentially devastate savings for a down payment on a house, your child’s college tuition or a future vacation. It’s vitally important to make sure you have the right amount of auto insurance coverage to protect against unforeseen events.”

2. Know what your homeowners insurance covers. First and foremost, be sure to read your homeowners insurance policy so you’re clear about what it does and doesn’t cover. It’s a good idea to check in with your agent each year to ensure you have adequate coverage, especially if you’ve made renovations, own collectible or valuable items, or live in an area that’s prone to flooding or earthquakes, as standard homeowners insurance policies typically don’t cover these situations. Also, maintain a home inventory to make sure to have an accurate record of your belongings and property.

3. Be aware of potential gaps in coverage. A standard homeowners insurance policy often doesn’t cover mechanical failures to your home’s appliances, HVAC or other essential systems, nor does it cover a break to service lines on your property that supply your home with electricity, gas or sewer functions. In either of these scenarios, this means you would be responsible for writing a big check to a repair company or having to purchase a pricey replacement. However, adding home systems protection and service line protection endorsements can help provide coverage for costly repairs and replacements, saving you both money and peace of mind. Pennies spent now can save you dollars down the road.

4. Regularly shop for the best coverage and price. Insurance prices can vary significantly from company to company, so it’s a good idea to take a few minutes to see if you’re getting a good deal. Shop around at least once a year — making sure to look for the exact same coverage limits — to see if you can find a more affordable rate. Additionally, check what discounts your carrier may offer. You may qualify for a discount you didn’t know existed.

“Often, regional insurers like Mercury Insurance are more attuned to their policyholders’ needs and can offer better rates,” Jarman added. “For example, the California Department of Insurance found that Mercury auto insurance policyholders save an average of $1,008, which can go a long way in feeling more secure in your savings.”

The most effective way to make sure your finances are minimally impacted by insurance costs is to speak to an independent insurance agent. They can help make sure you have the proper amount and type of coverage to keep yourself, your family and property protected.

2024-04-02T10:01:00

(BPT) – As a parent, it’s normal to be focused on your baby getting enough of the nutrients their little bodies need to grow and thrive. Once babies are eating solid food, it’s the perfect time to start widening their palates by introducing a variety of healthy plant-based options.

Here are three tips from Plum Organics to help you choose foods that will start your baby on a good path toward adventurous flavors and textures for years to come.

1. Introduce bitter and savory flavors early

You may naturally want to choose sweet foods like fruit when you first start feeding your baby solid food, like mashed-up bananas and applesauce. However, it’s a better idea to get your child acclimated to a wider variety of flavors that represent more foods they will encounter as they grow early on, including savory and even bitter tastes. That way they will be more open to liking foods like vegetables and proteins, which are not sweet.

Some parents will opt for baby foods that combine fruits and vegetables to sneak veggies in, but fruits often mask the bitter flavor of vegetables, which defeats the purpose. Instead, try foods that introduce different flavors through vegetables only, so babies learn early that all foods are not — and don’t need to taste — sweet.

“Babies are born with an innate preference for sweet foods and an aversion to bitter foods,” said Whitney English, M.S., R.D. and co-founder of Plant-Based Juniors. “To foster a diverse palate and support adventurous eating, we need to train babies’ palates to enjoy bitter flavors by introducing them early and often!”

To help you get started, leading organic baby food brand, Plum Organics offers a Zucchini, Pea + Kale with Thyme pouch which is organic, non-GMO and contains no added sugars.

“Herbs and spices also contain bitter compounds, and it’s helpful to get babies acquainted with them early too,” added English. “Right from the start, you can add them to meals to create interesting and diverse flavors. The only spices you’ll want to avoid are those with heat, like chili powder or peppers.”

2. Focus on vitamin C to boost iron absorption

According to the Mayo Clinic, iron is a priority nutrient for children, as it aids their bodies in many important ways such as using oxygen and helping to make red blood cells, both of which are crucial for growing children. And unfortunately, many children do not get enough iron, which can lead to iron deficiency anemia.

“Iron is a critical nutrient for growth and development, which is why needs are high during pregnancy and early childhood to support rapid growth and the production of energy, red blood cells and brain cells,” said Alexandra Caspero, M.A., R.D. and co-founder of Plant-Based Juniors.

But because iron can be harder to absorb in the body, it’s important to include vitamin C in the diets of babies and young children, as that nutrient can better enhance iron absorption.

“Iron is found in two forms: heme and non-heme iron. Heme iron is found only in animal foods like meat, poultry and seafood. It’s much more easily absorbed than non-heme iron. Non-heme iron is found in both animal and plant foods such as legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds and leafy greens and is harder to absorb than heme iron,” explained Caspero. “Fortunately, pairing non-heme iron with a source of vitamin C can increase the absorption of non-heme iron by three to six times.”

For this reason, Caspero recommends serving infant-friendly sources of vitamin C alongside iron-rich meals. For example, many Plum Organics pouches include vitamin C-rich foods like broccoli, sweet potato, blueberries, mango and more.

3. Make it easy to feed your baby healthier food on-the-go

While it may seem challenging to feed your little one nutritious food when you’re running from one appointment or playdate to another, you can make it easier for yourself by picking up some Plum Organics pouches, which are veggie-packed and great for parents and caregivers to make feeding a breeze.

With a variety of flavors your baby is bound to love, you’ll be ready to offer a quick meal or snack whenever it’s needed, expanding your baby’s palate and providing the peace of mind that you’re feeding them well.

Learn more tips about feeding your baby or toddler at PlumOrganics.com.