www.bbc.co.uk The road to a successful business can involve many twists and turns and for those entrepreneurs brave enough it can also include a terrifying walk up the stairs in to the Dragons’ Den. As it is the multi-millionaires own money they are asking for, only the businesses with the best ideas or inventions can [...]
www.bbc.co.uk The road to a successful business can involve many twists and turns and for those entrepreneurs brave enough it can also include a terrifying walk up the stairs in to the Dragons’ Den. As it is the multi-millionaires own money they are asking for, only the businesses with the best ideas or inventions can expect even the slightest chance of securing the cash and gaining a hugely influential new business partner. Hoping to succeed in the Den this week are father and son team Rob and Geoff Hill who have brought their ‘Ladderbox’ – a new device that fits to the top of a ladder and apparently eradicates the problem of having your hands full when you’re doing DIY at heights. Juliette Thomas hopes to brighten up the Den with her range of exquisite French furniture and Daniel Rodgers tries to increase the size of his company by securing investment in his size stretching line of children’s shoes. But will the Dragons prefer to form a relationship with Romi Parmar from Bedford who hopes to woo them with his 3G dating agency for mobile phones? 76-year-old Ian Mann has some brightly coloured labels to help prevent lost luggage and 22-year-old Sam Rose looks to impress with his mobile alcohol breath-testing service for corporate events. Guy Portelli looks to bring some culture into the Den with his collection of iconic celebrity sculptures, but will the Dragons prefer to give their money to Raymond Smith who is looking for 50000 pounds to launch his magic pizza device …
It’s Friday, people, and you know what that means—it’s time to get rowdy. And what better way to stir the blood up for a bit of mayhem than the newly released trailer for The Runaways, featuring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning in all their rock-tastic glory?
It’s Friday, people, and you know what that means—it’s time to get rowdy. And what better way to stir the blood up for a bit of mayhem than the newly released trailer for The Runaways, featuring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning in all their rock-tastic glory?
Dig into the head-banging, furniture-smashing, mullet-flaunting video goodness below:
Read more here:
The New ‘Runaways’ Trailer Is Here to Make You Want to Break Stuff (VIDEO)
There is no place like home. But if you are a business owner, your business location must always feel like home to your patrons. But is there such a way for you to achieve such image? A little painting job can do a little trick. You can also try window signs and other trendy print [...]
There is no place like home. But if you are a business owner, your business location must always feel like home to your patrons. But is there such a way for you to achieve such image? A little painting job can do a little trick. You can also try window signs and other trendy print ads on the side. Now that you are thinking this path, isn’t this a nice goal to achieve?
The steps that you must take in order to achieve such look will depend a lot of what type of services you are offering. You must suit the decision upon the available products at your store and the overall effect of how you do things. Changes can be done gradually. This way, you will not alienate your customers who are often at your store. Or you can have this done in a surprising manner and have a grand opening of the new homey look of your store.
So what are the factors that you should take into consideration if you want this aim to be achieved? Here are some tips that you can follow.
1. Start with the people. You must educate your staff on how you want your clients to be treated whenever they come into your store. If it is a homey feel that you want them to take in as a vibe upon entering your store, then everybody who is working for you must know how to make that happen.
This will also do them good because they will be able to practice their customer service skills. This must start with the greeting and must be followed with good assistance. Your staff must ask the client about what they want and for what specific reason are they going to use the product for. If the clients prefer to be left alone because they are just looking around, let them do so. But don’t forget to suggest approaching any of your employees whenever they want to ask something or there is something that catches their interests.
If you have a repeat customer, make sure that all the staff will show recognition with this person. This will matter a lot to that client. This will be more true if that client doesn’t have much time to look over your products. You can just recommend products and services to them according to their buying patterns.
2. The design of the store must suit the appeal that you want to project. You have to make use of newer elements such as window signs to add to the effect. Arranging the whole setup with a goal to make your clients feel comfortable when they are there will also help. Add furniture pieces if you must. But look at the overall look of the place. Do not exaggerate to the point that it will no longer be easy on the eyes.
3. Do follow ups on your clients who haven’t paid you a visit for a long time. Send thank you cards on holidays or special dates for your clients. Just like families or relatives whom you haven’t seen for quite a time, your customers will feel good if they know that you remembered them.
Make your customers feel at home in any way you can, whether you’ll use window signs or any other elements. This way, you will be assured that they will keep on coming back to avail what you have in store for them
Frequently Asked Window Questions How often should residential windows be replaced? Homeowners with windows over 25 years old should consider replacing them, both to gain the best energy efficiencies and to protect the “envelope” of the house. A home is an ideal candidate for a window replacement if its windows are sealed or painted [...]
Frequently Asked Window Questions
How often should residential windows be replaced?
Homeowners with windows over 25 years old should consider replacing them, both to gain the best energy efficiencies and to protect the “envelope” of the house. A home is an ideal candidate for a window replacement if its windows are sealed or painted shut, experiences ice buildup or a frosty glaze during the winter, gets fogged with condensation or has drafts that come through the windows.
Do replacement windows really pay for themselves or is that just a sales line?
It’s true, if you select high-quality, energy-efficient windows. Savings will vary, but expertly engineered and well-built windows lower home energy consumption. With vinyl-framed windows, maintenance is also virtually eliminated. No need to scrape and paint windows.
These energy and maintenance savings will allow you to recoup your window investment over time.
Will new windows eliminate condensation?
Actually, no. Condensation is moisture vapor suspended in the air, and that’s something no one can guarantee to eliminate. However, high-quality vinyl windows incorporating warm-edge technology glazing systems will help to reduce condensation because they’re much less thermally conductive than other window types. They can help keep the temperature of the window warmer—minimizing the hot and cold differences that turn moisture into condensation.
What makes a window or door energy efficient?
Numerous factors, including how the frame and sashes are engineered and built, the type of glass used (single-, double- or triple-pane), the weather-stripping, the type of low-emissivity coating on the glass and the presence of argon or krypton gas.
What is ENERGY STAR®—and what does it have to do with windows and doors?
ENERGY STAR is a U.S. government program—administered by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency with the cooperation of manufacturers—that’s designed to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels through the education of consumers. The program covers many different types of products. Windows and doors can only carry the ENERGY STAR label if they are tested by an independent laboratory through the NFRC program and meet specific, predetermined U-value ratings. By selecting ENERGY STAR products, you will reduce your energy costs and help make the environment cleaner.
What is the NFRC and what should I know about it?
NFRC stands for the National Fenestration Rating Council. It’s a program established by the U.S. Department of Energy to help consumers compare window products and options. Window manufacturers participating in the program are required to label every window to its specific thermal performance level. Customers are then ensured that the products they select meet the requirements for their application. Participation in the NFRC program is voluntary. Not all manufacturers participate because it requires outside third party inspection and extensive product testing.
What does Low E stand for?
Low E is a non-visible, microscopic layer of silver coating added to glass for greater energy efficiency and increased comfort. Low E stands for “low emissivity”, which is the action of reflecting light passing through glass. By reflecting part of the light spectrum (the part that transmits heat), we reduce a window’s U-Value and increase its R-Value.
What do U-values and R-values really mean?
U-Values represent the amount of heat that escapes through a wall, window, roof or other surface. The lower the U-Value, the more energy efficient a material is. R-Values are the direct opposite. These measure an object’s resistance to heat flow. The higher a material’s R-Value, the lower its U-Value, and the less energy it will lose. An R-Value depends on the number of layers of glass in a window, what type of gas is between those layers, and whether one or more of those layers of glazing have been treated with a Low E coating.
Can windows keep out UV radiation that fades carpeting, furniture, draperies and upholstery?
Using a low-emissivity glass in your new windows or doors will filter more than 50 percent of the damaging UV light. The absolute most effective glass for this purpose, however, is laminated insulating glass. It features a polyvinyl butyral inner layer and a low-emissivity coating that filters more than 99 percent of UV radiation that fades interior furnishings.
Can windows and doors reduce outside noise?
All windows and doors reduce noise to some degree. The best solution, however, is to use a laminated, insulating glass system in windows and doors. It provides as much as a 100 percent improvement in sound deadening over other glass types.
What are some common styles of windows on the market today?
Depending on region and personal style, single-hung, double hung, casement, awning, slide-by, bay and bow windows are the most frequently used. A number of other style windows are frequently employed as accent windows.
What is an awning window?
An awning window is hinged at the top and swings out at the bottom to open, operated by a cranking mechanism.
What is a bay window?
A bay window is a series of usually three windows assembled in a polygon shape that projects outward from the side of a house.
How does this differ from a bow window?
Bow windows are very similar to bays, in that they also project from the side of a house. However, they are usually
composed of a series of five window units assembled in an arc, rather than a polygon.
What is a casement window?
A casement window is a window unit hinged at the side that swings outward, operated by a cranking mechanism.
What is a gas-filled window?
Modern window technology permits an inert gas, usually argon, to be sealed between the panes of glass in a window instead of air. The gas is a far better insulator that just air, thus further increasing the thermal value of a window.
What is insulated glass?
Technically, there are two or more panes of glass separated by insulation at the edges and air in the center to provide greater thermal efficiency to a window.
How do I know what type of glazing is right for a window?
Different climates and styles of homes require different glazing options to maximize their energy efficiency. Some glazing options can also help reduce outdoor traffic noise from entering the home. Options range from single glazed glass, as in historic homes (minimal insulating value), up to R10, which features dual-sealed, triple-insulated glass with two Low E surfaces and two krypton/argon gas-filled insulated airspaces for maxi¬mum efficiency.
How do I decide between single-, double-, or triple-glazed windows?
Single-glazing is a single pane of glass and is best used in garages and tool sheds—buildings that don’t need to be extremely energy efficient. Double-glazed windows have two panes of glass with either air or a safe, colorless and odorless gas tightly sealed between the panes. When its glass is treated with Low E coating, the window can achieve a value of R5 at the center point of the glass. The most energy efficient window is a triple-glazed window. Gases are sealed between three panes of glass and Low E coatings are applied on two of the panes. This can bring the energy efficiency up to a value of R10 at the center point of the glass.
Does argon or krypton gas between glass panes really make a difference in energy efficiency?
For air to insulate well, it needs to be as still as possible because moving air carries energy. Both argon and krypton are heavier than air—so they’re less prone to convection or thermal movement. The bottom line is that heavier-than-air gases offer a higher level of insulation. Both argon and krypton are found naturally in the air you breathe and are completely harmless.
What are jambs?
Jambs are framing members used to support the window in the wall. Those framing members on the side are, logically enough, called side jambs. The framing member at the top is a head jamb. There are no jambs at the bottom. This framing member is referred to as a sill.
What are mullions?
Mullions are vertical members between window units. They are sometimes confused with mountings, which are secondary framing members that hold multiple panes of glass in the sash. Other parts of the sash include stiles (the outside vertical members) and rails (the top and bottom horizontal members).
How important is weather-stripping?
Very. Weather-stripping is important because it provides the barrier against air and water in windows and doors. It is the only element of operating windows or doors that make them reasonably air tight. High-quality weather-stripping that’s applied and compressed properly really does improve the insulating performance of windows.
What is an impact-resistant glass window?
Impact-resistant glass has strong laminated glass interlayers. When combined with an exceptionally strong win¬dow frame, this type of window provides homeowners with greater security and protection from storms, flying debris and even the occasional stray golf ball. When struck by something hard and forceful, like a tree branch or softball, the glass resists shattering. In the rare event that an object impacts the glass, the pane may shatter, but it remains held within the frame. This greatly reduces the risk of flying glass, water or debris penetrating into the home.
Who should have impact-resistant glass in their homes?
Homeowners living in coastal areas prone to strong winds and storms, or who live directly on a golf course or in an area where vigorous sports activities take place, should consider impact-resistant glass in their homes. Other homeowners might be interested in the sound reduction and security benefits which impact-resistant glass provides.
Designed to allow light and air in through solid walls, windows are a staple of any basic architecture. Most homes and businesses have windows for both practical purposes of light, as well as for aesthetic value. Windows can be made from a variety of material, including glass, plexi-glass, plastics, and more. How and Why [...]
Designed to allow light and air in through solid walls, windows are a staple of any basic architecture. Most homes and businesses have windows for both practical purposes of light, as well as for aesthetic value. Windows can be made from a variety of material, including glass, plexi-glass, plastics, and more.
How and Why Do Windows Allow Light In?
Daylight needs to be both allowed and controlled, and many windows are designed to allow for customization of the amount of light that goes through. Skylights and open windows allow for the radiance of the sun to get into the room, while sills and overhangs often prevent daylight from getting into the structure.
Commercial contractors often struggle with allowing ample daylight through the window. This is because many local and national governments have established minimum energy codes that contractors must meet. The preservation of energy is important to most established nations, and it is often much more difficult, and energy deficient, to maintain temperatures in rooms with large windows that allow a lot of light in.
How Do We Use Windows for Decor?
Whether or not most homeowners realize it, windows play a pivotal role in the overall decor and atmosphere of their home. Although even standard square windows can act as a design element, many windows are of a unique design and composition. When establishing the decor for a room, the room layout and the windows are a great place from which to start. Living room windows are often great decor elements if they are designed horizontally to allow ample light and to take up plenty of design space on an otherwise empty wall. In bedrooms, many people choose to place sitting areas and furniture near windows for reading, writing, and relaxing.
Why Did We Ever Start Designing Windows?
Warmth and safety were the two main reasons why windows were established on housing designs. Allowing the sun through the windows provided warmth in the home, while the window also provided a way to watch for potential attackers. Early on, windows were nothing more than holes cut out of the structure. Eventually, people began added an early shutter system that allowed the windows to be opened or closed to allow or prohibit light from getting in.
It was not uncommon to see paper windows in most lower class homes around the world until the dawn of the 17th century. Until that time, it was mostly nobility alone who had glass windows.
How are Windows Classified?
As previously mentioned, windows come in a variety of styles and designs. These include casement windows, which are cranked to open and close them. A user turns the crank to open the window, and turns it the other way back to close the window. Most casement windows also feature locks so that, once fully closed, the window can be secured against being opened from the outside. The hinges on these types of windows are designed to allow for easy operation of the crank handle.
Gliding windows are, as their name suggests, windows that glide along a horizontal system. The ease with which these open and close make them quite popular in residences. While gliding windows are popular for their functionality, other windows are popular for their design. These include bay windows, which feature angles at the wall and ceiling to provide an additional design element.
Other popular windows include sash windows, round top windows, polygon windows, and others.
What Color Are Windows?
Although most windows come in standard neutral colors like white and beige, more and more windows are featuring a wide spectrum of colors. These windows allow homeowners and business owners to design their rooms around the decor of the window. If, for instance, a bold room is desired, the window may be painted bright red or black. These allow the designer to then create the rest of the decor of the room around the color of the window. Whether you are seeking cool colors or hot passion in your decor, the windows that will complement your designs are available.
What Design Styles Are Available for Windows?
The style of the window largely depends on the architectural design of the structure. For instance, a modern, contemporary home or business would likely feature contemporary windows with straight lines, few or no panes, and clear class. Colonial homes, likewise, would feature many-paned sash windows. And grandiose homes might include windows with remarkable embellishments and lavish designs such as stained glass or unique shapes and colors.
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