POST CATEGORY : Economy & Environment

The Reasons Behind Sacramento’s Growing Population

In a recent report, which surveyed millennials living in the Bay Area regarding their future living preferences, nearly 75% stated they planned a move to Sacramento in the next five years.

Downtown Sacramento, California

California’s capital city has become a respite for the state’s younger generation as a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of other large metropolitan areas, and, more importantly, reduce their cost of living. Sacramento has tons to offer for its nearly 500,000 residents and occasional visitors both old and young, going above and beyond its small-town charm.

There are many things to do in Sacramento, including visiting the State Capitol, touring the California Railroad Museum, and exploring Old Sacramento.…

Continue reading →

Green Home Initiatives and Cutting Expenses: What to Know

One of the most popular recent trends in housing and real estate has been rise of energy-efficient homes. Home builders and buyers alike have started to consider implementing these “green initiatives” due to the environmental and financial benefits they hold.

Rooftop solar panel

Energy-efficient changes in the home have not only decreased the carbon footprint of the homes themselves, but also proven to save households a great deal of money on their monthly bills over the long run. As the popularity steadily increases, homeowners would be prudent to look into the ways these green homes save them money, and apply the most effective and efficient ideas for themselves.…

Continue reading →

Crossborder Ecommerce GMV Expected to Grow at 25 Percent Through 2020, per DHL

Online merchants positioned to sell internationally are poised to see considerable growth, according to a study just released by international express services provider DHL. Entitled “The 21st Century Spice Trade: A Guide to the Cross-Border E-Commerce Opportunity”, the report highlights significant growth opportunities for retailers and manufacturers with international ecommerce platforms.

Online shopping

Among the key findings of the report, cross-border ecommerce gross merchandise volume is expected to grow at the rate of 25 percent through 2020. This represents an increase from $300 billion in 2015 to $900 billion by 2020.

An expanding class of cross-border shoppers is driving this growth as they are increasingly being drawn to the ready attainability of products they can’t find on store shelves where they live.…

Continue reading →

How to Stand Out When Applying for a Job in Australia

Australia ranks high among the countries in the world when it comes to its resilience in the face of global crisis. Its beautiful natural landscapes, low pollution levels, low population, and eminent positions in quality-of-life rankings attract people overseas to come and make Australia their home. The country’s multicultural society also offers the kind of diversity that makes it easier for migrants to fit in.

Sydney, Australia busy street

But similar to many other countries in the world, finding a job in Australia can still be challenging for many individuals. Even with a low unemployment rate of 6% in 2015, Australia can sometimes be a difficult place for job-hunting because many applicants tend to lack the necessary occupational skills or because they are unable to produce evidence of applicable work experience.…

Continue reading →

A Quick Guide to Importing Goods into the United States

Whether you’re looking to leverage cheaper-made merchandise or diversify your product line, selling imported goods in the U.S. is a very lucrative business. Importing doesn’t necessarily mean you’re cannibalizing the economy. In fact, according to research from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, every $1 spent on an item that’s made in China puts 55 cents to U.S. businesses for marketing, sales, and related services.

Importing to the USA

If you are thinking of importing goods and selling it to the U.S. market, you’ll need to know more about the country of export as well as U.S. laws regarding importing. You also need to pick from among the reputable USA customs brokers.…

Continue reading →

Can London’s Small Businesses Weather the Storm of Business Rates Increases?

London’s small businesses are expected to receive special bail-out fund to help weather the storm of business rates increases, but is it enough?

London busy high street

On Monday 6th March, The London Evening Standard announced plans for special bail-out fund for the capital’s small businesses, which are set to be among the hardest hit in April’s business rates revaluation. “Traditional retailers and firms facing crippling increases of 50 per cent or more are expected to be favoured in funds totalling ‘hundreds of millions’ of pounds” the front-page article reported.

For London’s small businesses, the overdue 2017 rates revaluation threatens to increase business rates by an estimated £7.5 billion.…

Continue reading →

How Can SMEs Thrive During and After Brexit?

Brexit has been one of the most important news items of the past 12 months, and whether you were for or against leaving the EU when the vote was held, chances are that as a business owner you have some concerns about how it will affect you.

Brexit

There has always been a saying in business however that every crisis brings with it its own opportunities – so can you really stand to benefit from the current volatility caused by the Brexit situation?

1. Leaving the Single Market

It remains to be seen how leaving the single market will affect different industries, but since Theresa May announced that that was the intention Britain would be going with – rather than trying to negotiate a deal where Britain left the EU but remained in the market – the pound has rallied somewhat.…

Continue reading →

Expanding your Business: 3 Things to Consider

Many business owners hear the term expansion and assume that we are talking overseas, and yet expanding even within the same town carries many different duties with it. For a start, there is finding the right property and deciding what makes it a good space to expand to.

New office space

There are different factors which will affect what kind of property you might want to go into, such as its location and proximity to conveniences for staff. This makes the building seem more attractive to staff and can help with longevity.

Buy or rent

When it comes to finding industrial property, you will need to think hard about whether to buy or rent.…

Continue reading →

Starting-up in Singapore? Here are the Available Company Registration Options

The biggest incentive attracting people to Singapore is how easy it is to get the ball rolling, and remarkably, this is largely down to the larger authorities.

They maintain a positive attitude toward people wanting to start new companies and often give them a helping hand. It’s one of the most advantageous places on the globe to begin fresh as you can expand through networking with people in South East Asia.

So, let’s take a look at what options are available!

Private Limited Companies

Starting up a PLC is a very straightforward pick. It’s the clear cut way for small or medium-sized businesses to begin.…

Continue reading →

Could Mobile Phones Lead The Rise of The Cashless Economy in Africa?

The world is moving towards a global economy that deals less with paper and more digitalized data. Electronic payments have made substantial inroads among consumers in some developed countries, and many of these markets have been building the infrastructure for cashless transactions for a long time. However, even in the most cashless developed countries, such as the Netherlands, cash is still used in 40% of all consumer transactions.

Entrepreneur using smartphone

Trends in Africa

Africa is already leading the world in the use of mobile money, and its growth is accelerating with Internet penetration rising rapidly through mobile technology. In countries such as Kenya and Uganda, mobile-money accounts have become much more widespread than bank accounts.…

Continue reading →