Happy Hippo Bath - A Booming Business for Sale

If you've ever seen a hippo using bath salts, you may have had one too many. But even with blurred vision, it's clear that this unlikely combination makes Happy Hippo Bath Company a unique business for sale.Based in Sylvan Lake, the profitable manufacturing company specializes in natural based bath and beauty products with well-known product lines and brand names. But to understand why it's the perfect business for sale for ambitious entrepreneurs, you need to dig a bit deeper.Since starting a company from scratch can be a daunting task, many people seek out an existing business so they can build from a solid foundation. The problem is that with so many opportunities out there, how do you choose one with the greatest chance of success? While it's hard to find a sure thing, there are certain elements to look for in evaluating a business for sale, and Happy Hippo Bath Company has them all. No wonder it's so happy.Hunting for a HookOne of the most important things to ask yourself when considering a business for sale is "what's their hook? What makes them different from everybody else?" For Happy Hippo, it starts with their products.Launched in 2006, their natural Epsom salt-based items are all hand crafted with the finest ingredients, offering 12 tantalizing aromas. Combine that with a compelling price point of $2.50 versus $5-$7 for the competition, and it's not a surprise that they have the top selling bath bomb on the market. It's great for relieving stress and anxiety, and having such distinctive products makes for a stress-free buying decision with this business for sale.If that's not enough, the Happy Hippo Bath Company boasts an all-female staff with many working moms and flexible hours built around their kids' schedules. Not only does this make it easier to find workers - even at times of low unemployment - and make your staff happier and more productive, but it's a feel-good story that customers love. And if they feel good, you'll feel even better.


Primed for ProfitEven to the uninitiated, a business for sale that has low overhead is worth considering. Pair that with strong sales and you have a combination that's more compelling than... hippos and bath salts. It makes for a solid business model based on unique but affordable products, many around the $2 mark. As a result, they did over a million dollars in sales last year alone, wholesaling to top retailers across the country such as London Drugs, Sobey's and Value Drug Mart.And since Happy Hippo is a turnkey business for sale, you'll have everything you need to hit the ground running and pick up where they left off.Squarely in the SpotlightIf there was such a thing as marketing Olympics, getting celebrities to use your product would be a gold medal achievement. Happy Hippo has done just that, designing a series of jewelry and cosmetic bags that stars are over the moon about. Whether it's a Kardashian birthday, the Miss Teen USA pageant or the country music awards, the popular people are clamoring for them. For the lucky purchaser of the Happy Hippo Bath Company, that kind of attention means success is in the bag.There are few things more exciting than looking at a business for sale and realizing it's the one you were meant to own. The key is to learn the signs of a good business and know them when you see them. And the next time you see a hippo using bath salts, it might be the latest marketing gem from the Happy Hippo Bath Company. Then again, it might be time to call a cab.

The Pros and Cons of Offering Same Day Delivery Work

Those drivers keen to gain a competitive edge in the haulage industry would be well advised to offer same day delivery work as part of their service. Customers are certain to appreciate the convenience of being able to take possession of goods within hours of completing the ordering process. However, it is important to account for the same day delivery factors highlighted in this article if your business is to remain profitable.Staff OrganisationDrivers working on a self-employed basis will have to maintain high standards of organisation and motivation to offer a same day service. It may be necessary to adjust daily routes depending upon the urgency of client deliveries, and a certain degree of flexibility will also be required. However, large company owners will have a particular challenge regarding the organisation of same day services. Schedules must be created for individual drivers and it will also be important to find ways of maintaining employee productivity.Client DemandDrivers are advised to conduct some research to ascertain whether they can satisfy client demand for a same day service before offering it. There is likely to be some variability in the amount of storage capacity and urgency of deliveries made throughout the week. It may also be necessary to invest in larger vehicles or hire dedicated staff for particularly hectic periods, so small company owners may not be able to justify the expense required to incorporate same day delivery work as part of their service.


Standards Of EfficiencyDrivers will also need to consider the issue of efficiency when assessing the viability of same delivery work. If there's substantial demand it may be possible to group different customer items before leaving the depot. However, drivers who aren't able to generate significant interest may deem the option of same day delivery to be impractical. It may be worth specialising in a certain aspect of the courier trade or dedicating time to the marketing of the business.Worker ProductivityCompany owners who are keen to boost the levels of employee productivity should certainly consider offering same day delivery work services. Staff members generally work with more energy if they realise a certain number of deliveries have to be made before the end of the day. However, it is important to ensure that standards of professionalism do not drop when carrying out urgent tasks. Individual team members must be aware that they have a responsibility to carry out their task rapidly and safely.Item ManagementBusinesses that do not offer a same day service may need to manage a backlog of customer items - it may be necessary to store client goods in a warehouse, for example. However, businesses offering same day services will be able to ensure rapid item rotation and space maximisation in the professional premises as the majority of goods will be arranged for rapid transit each day.

Are Procurement Companies the Future of Business?

You may know, procurement, now often referred to as supply management is a process that involves purchasing goods and services, goods and services that are essential for the activity of the company. As simple as this definition may be, procurement is a very complex act, consisting of planning, preparation, demand processing, receipt and payment.The very first stage of procurement is purchase planning, followed by the determination of standards and development of specification. After that, and experienced procurement expert will research various national and international suppliers and make an informed selection. Next, a value analysis will be made, the price will be negotiated and finally, the purchase will be made. However, the procurement process doesn't stop there, because the final three stages are supplying the contract administration, doing the store and inventory control and doing disposals.The importance of the procurement process lies in the fact that it's a crucial part of any company's strategy, no matter if the business needs goods in order to create their own products or in order to resell them to their customers. The ability to obtain certain materials and/or services determines whether the company's operations will continue. From this point of view, the price negotiation stage of the procurement process is very important, because the price of the goods or services that are procured for the company must not exceed the price of the finished product, because that would mean that the company is counterproductive and will eventually go bankrupt.As we said before, procurement is a quite complex act and given the fact that we are in an era of fast product cycles, high competition on a global level and a greater risk of supply chain disruption, many businesses are starting to realize that they can't manage it on their own. That is why procurement companies are starting to gain more and more popularity in the business field.


Starting a collaboration with a procurement company means understanding that the procurement process (or supply management) can be used as an important competitive advantage, as long as it is being handled by experts. The fact is that purchasing accounts for more than half of the overall costs of a company in a lot of industries, meaning that making procurement mistakes means losing a lot of money.Working with a procurement company means cutting the costs of an entire department of your company, cutting back on the workload and in the same time bringing great leadership, experience, a new perspective and the ability to develop and provide effective supply chain solutions.By doing that, you will grow your reputation and keep long term collaborations with your customers, by offering them what they need, when they need it and at a great quality.As the demand for this kind of service grows, so does the offer. There are many companies you can choose from and they are fairly easy to find. You can simply do an online search with the type of procurement company you are looking for and your location. For example, you can search within your city for International Procurement Company and you will get all the results that you need.

Where To Find Auto Information

Almost everyone in the United States has something to do with automobiles. We ride in them, we own them, we know someone that owns one, or we may work on them. Not everyone knows as much about automobiles as they should. There are some auto enthusiasts that know a lot about one particular type of car, but may not know anything about another type of car. How do you go about gathering auto information on cars, trucks, and things of this nature?The number one place to find auto information on any type of car is to talk to people who know the information. You can talk to mechanics who work on the vehicles and learn everything there is to know about them. The mechanic knows what is good about the cars they work on, and what is bad about them. They know how to repair them, they know their value, and they know where you can find most of the accessories, and parts, you may need for them.There are several different magazines that are written on vehicles. Auto information on classic vehicles, specific types of vehicles, and general auto information is available in these magazines. You may need a dictionary of auto terminology when you first start to read the car blogs, and articles written in these magazines, but you can find out a lot of useful information from them.The internet will give you access to the web pages of the car manufacturers. There is plenty of useful auto information on these web pages. You can find out about the different features that are offered on the vehicles. You can find out about any recalls that may have been issued on the vehicles. You can find out about the changes that have been made to the vehicles through the years. You can even find dealers, and service technicians that are in your area from these web sites.


People who have an interest in something often write "blogs". Blogs are posted on the internet in several different places. Car blogs are usually written by people who love one particular type of car. The Mustang has many different web sites where people write what they know about the car, the history of the car, where to find classic versions of this car, where to buy accessories or parts to rebuild one of these cars, and even pictures of these cars. Auto enthusiasts are dedicated to getting the word out about the cars they love.Car shows are a great place to go see many different types of vehicles, and to learn information about the vehicles. The people who bring their cars to these shows are more than willing to talk with you and tell you all about their car, what they love about that type of car, and how you can get a car like theirs.The American love affair with automobiles is unlike any other infatuation. People are obsessed with vehicles, the way they look, the way they perform, and improving their performance.

What Are Steel Stockholders And How To Choose Them

But before we continue, it is indispensable to elaborate what steel stockholders really are. Steel stockholders in their true sense may turn out to be companies, organizations, or even individuals who are into the business of buying as well as of selling steel to other companies, organizations, or even individuals belonging to the categories of engineering, automobile and a number of others.The delivery of steel may be to a particular location or site, or it may be delivered right at the doorstep of the customer. There are a number of other services, which are often provided by such steel stockholders with steel profiling may be the most prominent one. Steel profiling refers to the services of cutting the steels into certain shapes and sizes, which are specifically determined, by the customers in order to meet most if not all of their requirements.The premium services, which are offered by some of such steel stockholders, also ensure that testing has been performed in order to maintain the quality of steel and provide the customers with a reliable and valuable product.It is of prime importance to mention here that provided that such a company acting as a steel stockholder receives an order that entails exporting the product, the entire responsibility of exporting as well as documentation lies solely with the specific company under discussion. There are a number of different steel products, which are being bought and sold by such steel stockholders. While mentioning all of them may be beyond the scope of this article, a few of the conspicuous products which must be accentuated here may include and are not confined to the following:

Universal beams which are also known as the universal columns

Equal or unequal angles

Bearing plates

Parallel flange which are also termed as the channels

Cold form circles, squares, or even rectangles

Hot finished circles, squares as well as rectangles



It may be of interest for you to know that some of the steel stockholders such as Steel and Site may also include a number of other services such as painting, shot blasting, drilling, cutting etc. You may be familiar with the fact that entire process by which steel is being manufactured is rather inconveniently time consuming, therefore, buying the products from such steel stockholders may turn out to be a commendable idea.However, since there is a huge variety of stock holders which are available in the market, it is of crucial importance that you do your homework and perform an extensive research into the stock holder and their business background and history before you end up choosing them for service.Not only do you have to ensure that the product that they are offering is of top quality, but it is to be ensured that have a license of legal operations in order to make sure that you won't have to go through the unnecessary complications at a later stage. Gaining information from their clients may also turn out to be of great help while choosing a steel stockholder. It is to be ensured that the company you are choosing always keeps customer's satisfaction as a priority.By following the aforementioned tips, you can almost take it for granted that you are investing your money into something worthwhile. This enables you to take a sigh of relief knowing that you are not destined to regret making the decision of choosing a particular steel stockholder.

Business Brokers: Who They Are And What They Do

Since business brokers operate under the radar, many people don't know who they are and what they do. If you are curious to know, business brokers are intermediaries who work with both buyers and sellers in order to facilitate the sale of small and medium size privately owned businesses.For you to be a business broker you need to have the right level of education. For example, you must have a business background. You must also have attained business brokerage training from a recognized professional body such as the American Business Brokers Association.Functions of business brokersThe brokers perform many duties such as:

Valuing a business

Marketing a business that needs to be sold. While they advertise the business, they maintain strict confidentiality. For example, they don't mention the exact business that is being sold. They also don't mention the owner of the business.

They introduce prospective buyers to the business

Facilitate meetings between buyers and sellers

Handle negotiations between the buyer and the seller after an offer has been made

Schedule and facilitate the closing of a transaction

Draft a confidential business review. The document is very important and is provided to prospects after they have signed a confidentiality agreement.



How brokers workThe professionals usually work with commissions. This means that they get a commission after selling a business. In most of the cases, the commission ranges from 8 to 12%. Most of the brokers charge a 10% commission; however, when the business being sold is small, the commission is usually higher.How to work with a business brokerThe first thing you need to do is to ensure that you hire the right broker. This calls for you to do a lot of research in order to identify a reputable one. Some of the things that you should look for when hiring include: experience, professionalism and specialization.Once you have found the right professional you should give him/her all the details that he/she needs to work. For example, if you are interested in buying a business, you should give the broker a list of all the types of businesses that you are interested in. You should also mention the amount of money that you are ready to invest.ConclusionFrom the above information, it's evident that business brokers have a role to play in the buying and selling of businesses. To ensure that you are on the same page with the broker, you should regularly communicate with him/her.

Benefits of Home Alarm Systems

We see the bad news far too often each week; break-ins that rob people of not only their possessions, but also their sense of security. In many cases, these incidents result in serious injuries or even worse. That's why home alarm systems are so critically important. Not only do they provide excellent protection, they are also extremely affordable. These are just some of the advantages of having one installed at your residence.Reduced Danger
You and your family will be at less of a risk for physical harm. If intruders should try to enter any time of the day or night, an alarm will sound and likely frighten them away. Recent studies indicate that residences that have home alarm systems are 300 percent less likely to experience a break-in. Also, if you are an older person living on your own, help will be dispatched much faster than dialing 911 - you won't even need to pick up the phone.According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, approximately 2.1 million burglaries occur in the United States each year, with 75 percent of them taking place on residential properties. These crimes result in an estimated $4.7 billion in annual losses, an average of $2,230 per offense. But these statistics only speak to monetary losses. In many instances, burglaries also lead to violence, accidents and other serious issues. By investing in security for your residence, you can help keep this extremely costly crime from happening to you.


Financial Benefits
Many insurance companies offer substantial incentives for people who purchase home alarm systems. In fact, you could see your homeowner's policy reduced by as much as 20 percent. You'll also have an additional selling point if you're planning to put your house on the market. More buyers are looking for properties that have security in place to keep their families and their possessions safe.Peace of Mind
This is perhaps the greatest benefit to having a security system installed. People who are victims of break-ins not only suffer property damage and physical harm, but emotional damage as well. In many cases, this type of damage can linger for years. Psychology Today published an article stating that most victims of invasions believe they will never again have the sense of security they had before the incident occurred.When you know your residence and family are protected, you will never have to worry when you are away from your residence. Advanced technology can allow you to watch your children arrive after school and make sure they get inside safely. If you're traveling, you can check on your house from anywhere in the world. If there should be an emergency while you are away, authorities will be promptly alerted to keep your loved ones safe from harm.Talk to a professional to learn more about how home alarm systems can keep you, your family and your possessions safer than ever before.

Women Hauliers - A New Resource for Haulage Companies

Hard-working, strong and capable men are what you'd usually picture when thinking of drivers working for haulage companies. Today's job market in the transport industry, however, is seeing more and more women enter its ranks.Why Women Are Moving InThe bottom line is simple: women are looking for jobs, and haulage companies are offering jobs. The recent recession made many jobs redundant and the transport industry suffered along with everyone else. Now that business is picking up, however, these same companies are finding that it isn't quite as easy to fill positions as it used to be. At the same time, more and more women are searching for employment opportunities; some are looking beyond traditionally feminine occupations and are starting to venture into lines of work that were once completely dominated by men.The field of transport itself is a relatively easy one to break into. Learning how to handle lorries and other heavy vehicles takes about two weeks focused training, while obtaining the necessary licenses can take another two to four weeks. One these steps are done, a new driver - male or female - is technically ready to take on their first haulage jobs. In short, women can get the job done just as effectively as men - although there are still two pretty contentious hurdles that some women may need to overcome.What Women Have to OfferTruth be told, the transport industry is one field where gender is not that much of an issue. Strength and dexterity are not a problem when it comes to handling the large vehicles some haulage companies use, so the physical differences between men and women become irrelevant.


The motivation to do a good job is just as strong in single mothers caring for their children, women looking to supplement the income of their partners, or men providing for their families. And women have just as much to offer the industry as men do - that is, the ability to transport heavy loads from point A to point B.AcceptanceOne hurdle that some women may need to overcome is the reluctance to be accepted into what has been traditionally perceived as a masculine job. (It must be stressed that not all men have a problem with this and it's an issue for the minority.) The physical and psychological toll of transporting goods over long distances can be intimidating at first, especially for women who may not want to be seen as "unfeminine". This reluctance, however, quickly becomes irrelevant with haulage companies that adopt healthy working hours and labour practices for their drivers. The job itself becomes less intimidating when one remembers that it basically involves taking extended road trips all over the country.The Big PictureGender offers no practical barrier when it comes to the transport industry, and women have great potential to handle a career in the field. Once more women themselves realize this plain and simple fact, the industry has the potential to be bolstered by a new workforce that it had previously been hesitant to tap in to.

Courier Driver Tips - How To Get More Business This Holiday Season

With the holiday season just around the corner, there are more opportunities than ever for the courier driver. The holidays mean stores, both online and bricks-and-mortar, need more items delivered to their clients; more people who need packages delivered to their loved ones; more businesses rushing documents to finish off the year properly - and countless other examples.For the savvy courier driver, there is no better time to build business. Below are a few ways to seek out opportunities during this busy time.Push the AdvertisingThere's a reason the amount of advertisements triple during the holiday season: they works. Perhaps it's the nip in the air, perhaps people's adrenalin levels are extra high from all the Christmas candy, or perhaps the festive music makes consumers more susceptible to suggestion; whatever the reason, the holiday season is the perfect time for the courier driver to promote their business beyond the usual, boring, everyday means. It's the perfect excuse for advertising methods that are loud, garish, and even corny! Give away calendars bearing the name of your business, dress up in a Santa costume, or even announce your deliveries with holiday jingles - this is your time to make a splash and be remembered. However, do make very sure these 'gimmicks' don't get in the way of your delivery schedule and professionalism. You can also appeal to your potential clients' more practical side by offering special discounts or bulk rates, or perhaps by offering discount coupons for services over the coming year.Widen Your NetworkA good businessperson knows that the more clients he or she has, the better. However, in the delivery industry, the kind of client and kind of delivery should also be considered. Over the holidays, speed and efficiency are key, so it is the perfect time to ask for referrals - not only for similar businesses, but also up and down the product chain. After all, clients who receive deliveries must also need to send others on. For example, a store receiving a bulk order for toys may very well need to have individual units delivered to specific addresses. In the same vein, the warehouse from which these toys originated may also require additional deliveries over the holidays.


Not allowing yourself to be limited and recognising non-traditional opportunities is also key to widening your client base. Joining an online network is another great way for a courier driver to find more clients. Being part of such a network has other advantages, too, including being available to a larger market, having access to logistical, financial, and emergency support, and maximising efficiency while lowering costs.Do A Good JobIn the delivery business, reputation is everything. All it takes is one lost package or one missed deadline for a courier driver to lose a client - which not only means lost earnings from that client, but also from potential referred clients. Because of the increased need for deliveries over the holiday season, you'll no doubt have the opportunity to serve many first-time clients. This is the perfect opportunity to turn those one-time deliveries into regular and repeat jobs.

Black Friday 2014

Black Friday is the Friday after thanksgiving and it's usually one of the major shopping days in the United States. The term "black Friday" was coined in the 1960s in order to mark the start of the Christmas shopping season. The day falls anywhere between November 23 and 29.Why the day became very popularSince many people were shopping during this time, retailers realized that they could draw big crowds by offering discounted prices on a number of items.Since that time, specific products are usually sold at discounted prices (of up to 70% off). The retailers usually put up items for sale on the morning of Thanksgiving or email their customers lists of items that will be on sale.How to get great black Friday dealsThere are many ways on how to get great black Friday deals:One of the most effective ways is by signing up for a number of reward plans offered by various stores. Through the plans, you will be able to earn some money while you shop. This is through points, gift certificates, coupons, and even gift cards that are usually given by store owners.You can get the reward plans from credit cards or for free. To get the plans for free you only need to sign up and swipe your membership card every time you need to make a purchase. When you shop, the rewards stack up and you can redeem them any time.


Another way of getting great deals is by following your favorite store on Facebook or twitter. This way you will be able to know when a great offer is taking place.Black Friday clothing predictions 2014Since I have been tracking online and in-store sales for over five years, I can be able to come up with this year's prognostication. My predictions are as follows:

The best sales will take up to 70% off. This is because this has been the trend for the last three years

The best coupons will take an extra 50% off and most of them will be stack with clearance

The average sale will take up to 53% off

The average coupon will take an extra 33% off

Some of the vendors to keep an eye on are: REI, Ralph Lauren, Levi's, Jos Bank, and back country.

The sale of clothing will start as early as Thanksgiving or Wednesday; therefore, you need to start shopping early in order to get the best deals.

You should avoid paying for shipping as there will be many stores offering free shipping.

Organizing Your Business Plans

For individuals who are interested in setting up their own business plans, it is important to plan ahead in order to establish your plans in an efficient and presentable way. There are many factors that go into successfully writing a business plan, but with a little bit of application, it can be easy.To begin writing your plan, think about what you would like for your company to deliver from the audience's perspective. How do you believe you will be able to meet their demands and what specialties would your business model entail? Planning this before any other aspect of your company can ensure that you have something that you can look back on, no matter where you plan on moving with your business. It can be an effectively cornerstone for you to expand your company around.After you have determined what your product will be and how you want to establish it, it is important for you to look into your target audience and how you can effectively grab their attention with your plan. This involves doing the necessary research on things such a demographics, and primary interests so that you can better cater your product towards them. Sometimes the research itself can be a vital part of your business plan and where you want to go with it.


Another important part to establishing your business plan is to always plan ahead for your competition. You will need to understand the field as intimately as you can in order to make the most of your potential business transactions in it. This involves taking a forward approach to understand the competition and seeing how you will be able to handle them in accordance to your products and services. Research your competitors, see what they have been doing that have made them successful, and plan ahead to make the most of your future business.Make sure that your plan is as concise as possible, with as many contingencies as you can manage in the event of any and all situations. You will want to have your bases covered no matter where you plan on proceeding, and taking the time to invest in a good plan that showcases the finer details will allow you to establish yourself as you need to. Remember to always think about the future as well, and see how you can proceed at a steady pace against your competition.

There Are Many Things to Think About When You Are Looking at Suspended Ceilings and Designs

Having a suspended ceiling in your office can have many advantages and can really help to make it look a lot better with minimum effort and without costing you a fortune in the process.If you have just moved into an office and it needs brightening up, one of the things you may have noticed is that the ceiling looks a bit worse for wear. Having a suspended ceiling can cover this up. This is because they hang under the existing ceiling, effectively hiding it.This is a good option to go for as it can give any office a more modern look. The tile and grid combinations can be suited to any office and can be customised to your tastes and to make sure it fits in with anything else that you may want to get done.Not only this but if you are looking to replace just the ceiling in your office, whether it is the original ceiling or a suspended one, then this is something that you can do as it would refresh the look of your whole office.Many offices have a suspended ceiling as a way of hiding any wiring that is needed for the equipment in their office. This is done because there is a gap between the original ceilings where the wires can be run. This therefore stops the unsightly look of wires around your office while at the same time promoting safety.It is also an advantage if you are looking to conceal any pipework as well due to the fact that it will not be seen. Also, the tiles in a dropped ceiling are easily removed so that any maintenance work on concealed items in the ceiling can be done quickly and easily.Before purchasing a suspended or dropped ceiling you need to consider what kind of working environment you have. Some may be loud whereas others will be quiet and you need to think what effect the acoustics will have on the rest of your workforce. These ceilings can help to minimise sound levels quite dramatically.


Another advantage of having this type of ceiling is for the lighting. One of the ways in which they can be customised is by having one of the tiles replaced with a light. This enables the light to be spread more evenly around the office while being able to get rid of the strip lighting which in some cases can be too bright for some people.In larger or more compact offices there may be a need for an air conditioning unit to be installed. This is convenient in a suspended ceiling as they can go anywhere and also, all of the wiring can be hidden for it in the space above.Due to safety regulations there may also be the need to have a sprinkler system installed in the event of a fire. The wiring can be hidden in the space above and this will provide peace of mind to employees in the event of an accident.If you speak to a company about having one of these ceilings installed, they will be able to talk you through all of the different options that you can consider. They will ask some questions about your office size, amount of employees and what you are looking for before suggesting what they think would work best for you.They will even be able to show you the many different ceiling designs that you could have. This can range from the material that the tiles are made from to their colour and shape. What you go for depends entirely on how you would want your office to look.