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Surefire Ways To Nurture Your Child’s Marketing Abilities

The core of your business’ success relies on its marketing. Teach your beloved ones the marketing skills that they needs to thrive throughout their lives!

Do so while you have the luxury of time.

WATCH COMMERCIALS AND OTHER ADS

Children do not have the capacity to carry a stable job nor do they have the ability to budget money. However, they can influence how you spend it. Savvy marketers know this! For instance, expensive products for kids are usually placed in lower rack to meet their eye level. Television marketers focus on producing more content for toys, candies, computers, and so on.

Commit at least once a week to introduce the potent effect of advertising to your suggestible children. Select some commercials or ads to ask the following questions:

a. WHO was the intended audience?
b. WHAT was the description of the product or service?
c. WHY was the ad placed during or between this show?
d. HOW did you feel about the commercial or ad?

KNOW DIFFERENCE FROM REALITY AND FANTASY

Aside from discussing the detailed content of the commercials and other ads, you must create a distinction between reality and make-belief. It is easy to be trapped into the advertiser’s magic, if you do not know what to watch out for. Tell your children that there is more to advertisements than what meets the eye.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Discuss the various types of commercials on radio, television, print, and online. Help your children label these said ads so that they become less susceptible to the marketers’ influence.

CREATE CATCHY SLOGANS AND TUNES

Your dedication has led your children to understand the effect of advertisements. To absorb the essential marketing abilities, allow them to make their own catchy slogans and jingles. These activities will help the potential entrepreneurs to use their resources to create significant marketing tools that will make a particular product rise above the pack.

Without valuable customers, even the best businesses will fail. Introducing this topic to your children can prepare them to attract loyal customers for their future businesses.

TRANSFORM THE OLD INTO THE NEW

As you may notice, existing brands are constantly thinking of ways to improve their products and to satisfy their loyal customers. The longstanding OREO boasts with a variety of unique flavors such as Banana Split and Birthday Cake.

Ask your child to apply this idea by putting his or her own spin into a popular product. This activity is a good way to maximize his or her own creativity as marketing heavily depends on innovation.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Telltale Signs That Your Colleague Secretly Dislikes You

While some people have no problem letting you know that they hate you, others may try to maintain their professionalism by hiding their unpleasant feelings.

Know some of the obvious and less-obvious indications of dislike by reading thru this list!

#1: HE OR SHE DOES NOT SMILE WHEN YOU ARE AROUND

As you pass by, the shinning smile on your colleague’s face dissolves instantaneously. The change in his or her disposition is not due to a hormonal mood swing or an occasional unpleasant day. It is deeper than that! Something is wrong as your colleague makes a conscious effort to not smile whenever you are in the room.

#2: HE OR SHE CANNOT LOOK YOU IN THE EYE

One of the most obvious signs that you co-worker dislikes you is when he or she cannot maintain eye contact. The eyes are the gateway to what is beneath your soul. People may be afraid to look you in the eye if they perceive that you have an ability to detect hostility.

#3: HE OR SHE DOES NOT INCLUDE YOU IN THE WORKPLACE HUMOR

Exchanging jokes and teasing are common in cemented workplace relationships. If the person who hates your guts is the leader of the workplace clique then, you may be constantly left out in the inner circle. They may not feel comfortable when you are around.

#4: HE OR SHE DOES NOT INVITE YOU TO SOCIAL EVENTS

Being excluded from the social guest list is one of the signs that your colleague does not want you around. “Sorry! We forgot to invite you.”, may be one of the lines that you constantly hear from that certain person.

#5: HE OR SHE DISPLAYS NEGATIVE BODY LANGUAGE

Communication is mostly made up of non-verbal cues. Uncover your co-worker’s genuine feelings toward you by observing his or her body language. Constant subtle eye rolls, lack of eye contact, and folded arms are just some of the red flags.

#6: HE OR SHE TAKES CREDIT FOR YOUR WORK

When a co-worker is determined to exclude you from all the important company discussions, it is clear that he or she does not want you to get involved. A more potent display of disdain is when a co-worker sabotages your role in the project by taking credit for your ideas.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Watch out for these!

Sources: 1 & 2

4 Things That Millennials Don’t Mind Paying For

Oh how exciting is the progressive generation of the Millennials! Scholars defined the beginning of Generation Y as 1977 – 1981 while its end as 2002 – 2008. As you welcome 2017 with open arms, you will be amazed to know that they have more buying power than any other surviving generations.

The Millennials’ spending patterns are certainly unique to them.

#1: SMARTPHONES

Due to the heavy emphasis on economy in the Lion City, it is normal for students to possess part-time jobs to boost their allowances. These part-time jobs serve as an additional revenue to finance entertainment, travel, and school needs.

When I was a student, I worked every weekend in a Pilates studio along the stretch of the crowded Orchard Road. The money that I earned was wasted on cosmetics, movie tickets, and clothing. Boosting my perceived social status was on the top priority. Saving money merely followed.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

I remembered exchanging conversations with a friend of mine who only took the job at Häagen-Dazs to purchase the Samsung handphone that he has been eyeing on. Like my friend, having a cool smartphone is a must for the younger generations. They just cannot function without their trusty gadgets! Furthermore, smartphones usually serve as a means of communicating with others. We all know how much Millennials love to dwell and share their lives on social media.

#2: COSMETICS

I can attest to the undeniable trend of young women embracing the wonders of cosmetics. In United States alone, the expected revenue for the beauty industry was expected to exceed US$62 billion (about S$89 billion). Personally, I adore treating my face as a canvas as with many Singaporean women.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Whenever I am out with my sisters or with my friends, a trip to the nearby Sephora is always a part of the “to-do list”. My sister (a certified member of the Generation Y) did not mind if she spent S$68 on Benefit’s limited collection called Dolly Darling. She knew how happy I would be if I saw my favorite Hoola Matte Bronzer and POREfessional Face Primer. My face sparkled with glee as I opened this precious holiday collection. . Do you enjoy makeup as much as I do?

#3: HEALTHY FOOD

I came from a family whose mindset valued essence of health and wellness. Some of my relatives are Licensed Doctors, Fitness Instructors, and other healthcare professionals. I try my hardest to make healthier choices due to my exposure to this kind of environment. Apart from myself, are other Millennials keen on changing their food regimen for the better? The answer is YES.

According to a Forbes article: “Millennials still prefer cheaper food, and want it to be convenient. But they are also more willing to pay for fresh and healthy food, and are willing to go to great lengths to find it.”

More than the previous generations, Millennials were more likely to seek organic food. Investing on organic produce that is GMO-free and freshly grown with fewer pesticides sounds like a good idea yet pricey idea. Do not get me wrong! If you know where to look, you can get affordable organic vegetables and fruits in local grocery stores or online shops.

#4: EXPRESS DELIVERY

Patience is not exactly a part of every Millennial’s vocabulary. It is the rise of the digital age. We all want things instantaneously and in our own terms. Sometimes, we act like raging children whose main mantra shouts: “I want it. I want it right now!” This behavior was supported by the Shop.org survey. It found that Millennials, compared to other generations, were more likely to pay extra for same-day delivery on their online purchases.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Are you an avid fan of express delivery? Search through your previous receipts to find out more about your spending habits.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

How Frugal People Can Save On Home Improvements

Many people dream of reinventing their nests to blissfully usher the New Year. Whether you intend to make DIY projects or something massive, you will need more money and consideration.

On that note, here are four tips to help you save as much of your hard earned cash as you possibly can:

WHY WALLPAPER MAY NOT DO THE TRICK

Owing to its unique geographical location near the equator, Singapore experiences a tropical climate characterized with high humidity and abundant rainfall. It is not advisable to decorate your walls with wallpaper as the distinct climate can make it discolored or curled up.

Bestowing your walls with wallpaper is not only expensive, but it can also face the risk of discontinuation of products. You will have to endure the sight of inconsistent patterns or the hefty cost of redoing your entire flat. Prevent this from happening by opting for painting instead.

PLAN YOUR BUDGET IN ADVANCE

Planning ahead can be a lifesaver! Just imagine a driver who ignored the steps of adjusting the side mirrors, locking the doors, and fastening the seat belt. Accidents occur everyday and you must not take the risk. It may seem rehearsed or limiting at first glance. But, you will reap its benefits soon after.

Know what renovations you desire to make. Getting a LED mirror might be more cost effective than buying a separate light to pair with your mirror. Prevent going beyond what you can realistically afford by researching the costs of the materials and labor. Shop around the physical and virtual stores if you have to! Lastly, add a cushion of at least 20% to your intended spending. Say you want to repaint your walls for S$2,000. Be prepared to spend about S$2,400 as additional costs may rise.

SHOP DURING SALES AND CLEARANCES

Frequent your local home improvement, hardware, and home decor stores as much as possible. Expect that your first couple of trips can be overwhelming. You may not find significant bargains right away! Do not give up just yet.

Take your time to review the prices of the materials or products that you intend to buy and compare these with the online retailers. For instance, Horme Hardware has an ongoing “Chinese New Year Promotion” until January 18, 2017. Shoppers will be rewarded with free delivery.

NEGOTIATE WITH THE CONTRACTORS

Before committing to a team of contractors, negotiate well to earn the best deal. Avoid partnering with contractors who offer insanely low prices for their services. You may end up hiring a different contractor to fix the flaws of your previous contractor. Follow your common sense! It may know when things are getting “too shady”.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Collect at least three quotations from reputable contractors in Singapore. Then, discuss about the probable discounts that can compete with the raging market.

Sources: 1 & 2

DBS/POSB customers can withdraw new and good-as-new notes in 22 community clubs across the island from 11 Jan

With Chinese New Year coming up in a couple of weeks time, it’s about time to get new and good-as-new notes to welcome the Lunar New Year.

From January 11 onwards, customers will be able to withdraw new and good-as-new notes at 41 POSB new notes pop-up ATMs located in 22 community clubs across the island, an increase from the 36 ATMs in 12 community clubs last year.

Customers will be able to use their DBS/POSB ATM card to withdraw new notes in sums of SGD 100 (SGD 2 x 50), SGD 300 (SGD 10 x 30) and SGD 500 (SGD 50 x 10), up to their individual card limit.

This year, DBS/POSB is also offering customers the option to reserve their new and good-as-new notes online. With just a few simple clicks, customers can choose from a flexible combination of denominations and select their preferred collection dates at all full-service branches. From 9 January onwards, customers can visit go.dbs.com/sg-cnynotes to reserve their new and good-as-new notes.

SMS Q for DBS/POSB full-service branches
Customers are also able to get their new and good-as-new notes at all full-service DBS/POSB branches from January 11 to 27. Special priority queuing will continue to be available for the elderly and those with special needs. Customers will be able to use the SMS ‘Q’ notification service option, where they can request for a queue number via SMS prior to visiting the branches and receive notifications on the number of customers ahead of them. Customers can find their nearest branch’s respective SMS number at www.dbs.com.sg/personal/deposits/bank-with-ease/sms-q

All images from DBS/POSB.

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