Business Information

Having a supplier drop ship your products can be a very efficient way to save time and money. However, this does not come without other costs that may affect repeat sales.

The major factor you must consider after product quality and availability is to insure that the supplier ships your product in a timely manner. Sorry, 2-3 days is not good enough! Skip this and you will lose money and customers.

Consumers are still making the transition from buying in brick and mortar stores to purchasing products on the Internet. They are used to getting their products immediately and they expect much the same when they make a purchase on online.

If your supplier cannot ship your product at least the next day after payment or even the same day, they are doing you and your customer a disservice, and it will cost you many repeat sales.

Same or next day shipping is not that hard to do. In all my businesses from day one, I have always insisted that all orders be shipped the same or next day after payment.

Twenty years ago this was unheard of and businesses that embraced this strategy gained a very important strategic advantage over their competitors. Today, same and next day shipping is the norm for any successful company.

It’s all about the customer, making them happy, giving them more than they expect and treating them with respect. Treat your customers as you would like to be treated.

The best way to see if a shipper lives up to its written shipping policy is to place a order and have it sent to your address. Place the order as a regular customer would and observe the process carefully.

Most packages using any of the major carriers including the U.S. Postal Service will take a week to arrive after it has been shipped, unless the product is shipped priority mail which should be received anywhere in the U.S. in 1-3 days.

Also, be very aware of what the shipper is charging for shipping the product excluding the standard drop ship fee, if any.

When your package arrives weigh it and check the rate you were charged with the actual cost of the service used to ship the product. You will only be able to come up with a ball park figure as many large companies negotiate discounts with common carriers, especially UPS.

But if the actual cost you were charged matches the rate you found at the consumer level, then I would say its close enough. If it is much more, then you are being cheated and the drop shipper is padding his profits with the shipping charges.

The best approach to a situation like this is to just ask the shipper why they are charging more than the actual shipping costs. If the supplier is not charging a drop shipping fee than the additional costs may be acceptable, as some suppliers may need to recover the cost of packaging which can be considerable.

Do not confuse this with a handling fee used in association with retail purchases. When you have your products drop shipped, the standard drop ship fee (usually about $1.00 to $5.00) would be considered your handling fee.

Other than that, I would not deal with a supplier that pads the shipping cost. To me, it’s just unacceptable, and if the supplier needs to recover some costs it should be reflected in the drop shipping fee.

Are you looking for a Business you can start with low startup costs and a service and product that is in high demand?

You should have a look at fitting Hydrogen on Demand kits for cars and trucks.

Did you know that with very simple means any car owner can make a device that produces Hydrogen from Water as the engine runs and feeds it into the engine trough pipes. This results in a more complete combustion, which gets more power out of the regular fuel and produces much cleaner emissions.

This will usually cause a fuel saving in the range of 25 – 50%, depending on car and system fitted. Or in Mileage terms: 50 – 100% increased mileage.

With the fuel prices putting enormous strain on most drivers budget, many people will be willing to pay the cost of a few full tanks of Petrol or Diesel for a system that could save them that outlay many times over in just a year.

And, lets not forget commercial drivers or businesses for Taxis, Trucks, Delivery Vans, Buses or Farming and Earth Moving Equipment. The list could be made very long. I am sure you can think of a few more applications.

I will go into the Hydrogen part more in a moment, but first consider this:

You could start a business like this working from home or your car/van.
You can easily source all materials needed for this.
You can easily make the components, or have someone make them for you.
You can visit local businesses with a fleet and demonstrate your product.
Telephone and Internet Directories will be full of potential customers, you can mail.
Once you have installed a few systems, word of mouth will spread.

There is lots of potential in this field. Especially since many people struggle financially, Fuel prices are skyrocketing and there is an increased awareness of environmental issues.

Here are a few things to consider when looking at a business of Supplemental Hydrogen production in cars, trucks, etc.

The Green Issue

The fact is that car engines are designed to guzzle fuel. Much of it passes trough the engine without having burned properly. That is why the catalytic converter is there to clean up the dirty exhausts. If you start researching this issue, you will find that the Automakers are and have been in Bed with the Oil Business for a long time. Detroit has bought up a number of inventions that would have saved lots of fuel, and just shelved them. Like the 300 MPG (Miles Per Gallon) carburetor. Additives were put in petrol to clog up another kind of carburetor that proved too economic.

This system will however produce a markedly cleaner exhaust, and it could even be fitted to vehicles just to pass emission tests. The Hydrogen and Oxygen gas mix turns back into water after combustion, but the nature of the Hydrogen will make the regular fuel burn much cleaner and efficiently.

If you live in the US, there are tax deductions to be had for driving a car with cleaner burning fuel.

So on top of money savings, this system also provides environmental benefits.

Benefits for Car

A car fitted with a supplemental Hydrogen system will never need to be “De-carbonized”.
Because the carbon deposits in the engine will be burned away with the additional Hydrogen in the fuel mix. Many users report how the car starts running smoother and feels more responsive. With nearly all hydrocarbons in the fuel actually burning, there will be no deposits from unburned fuel.

Is it Safe?

Hydrogen can be potentially dangerous. But it is no more dangerous than Petrol or Diesel. In this case with Hydrogen on Demand I would say it is safer, as we are talking about a very small amount of gas in the Electrolyzer and the pipes. If installed properly and no flames or sparks are present when the system is opened, there is no risk. Hydrogen also dissipates quicker than fumes from ordinary fuels.

Where do I find the Technical Information?

There are some manuals available on the Internet as E-books. Some will download, but the most comprehensive has to be read on a Membership Site, it can be printed out however. At the end of this article will be a link to http://www.mileagebooster.co.uk that will give more information on this subject and present the pros and cons with the various manuals on offer. The manuals will have information about where to source the materials needed and how to build and fit the components. There are different systems, some more complicated than others. For a business I strongly recommend the simpler systems, as they will be easy to make and fit. If you have to spend days on a car, the cost of the installation starts to outweigh the savings.

A word of Advice

This is not a business where you will build a great empire. This technology is not exactly what the Oil business want to have around – and this is one of the most, if not the most powerful industry in the World. If you build a business of scale around this, they will most likely come after you. But if you operate locally, advertise locally or trough mailings – you will be flying under the radar. That does not mean you must be a One Man Band. If it goes well, by all means expand. But do not try to copy McDonalds or QuickFit. Not that there is anything illegal with these systems, but when big business fell threatened they will try to close you down.

If you don’t believe me type things like “water Car” “Free Energy” “Magnetic Motor” into Google or YouTube and you will see as you study the results that the Powers that Be does not want this kind of technology in use.

If this still sounds like something you could see yourself do, why not look into the matter a bit more. Or, for starters, you could make and fit a system in your own car – just to make sure for yourself that it actually works and that it isn’t that hard.

Network marketing is not the perfect business that will fit every business person’s personality or interests. It’s also not always 100% fail-safe. For every 10 that enters this business, nine will fail and only one will reap the rewards. Avoid becoming just a statistic and learn the top 6 reasons why some people fail in network marketing

The Expectations Are Unachievable

People who want to get rich quick should play the lottery or go into the jewelry business. They should not focus their efforts on network marketing. True, the network marketing business can be very rewarding but a get-rich-quick scheme it is not.

Anyone going into network marketing must be ready to put in some effort to grow it. It won’t grow on its own. Network marketing is just not a business for the lazy. People fail in network marketing because they don’t see it as a business they have to work on. They also have expectations that are too unrealistic even for the more experienced to attain.

They Fail To See It For The Opportunity

Some people fail in network marketing because they look at a $49.95 deal and treat it as a $49.95 business. The result? They get no more than what they expected because they view it as an expense – a rather cheap one at that.

Every network marketing business represents an opportunity for the business owner or network marketer. If they can’t see it for the business that it is, they will continue to treat it with little enthusiasm. It’s a potential that they miss out on simply because they had the wrong view.

They Try To Reinvent The Wheel

Network marketing is a wheel that has been invented and implemented a long time ago. Since network marketing involves only the replication of strategies, there really is no need to try to change anything.

This replication is critical to success. People fail in network marketing because their network cannot replicate the system that is already in place – the same system that worked just fine for the sponsors. The result is that downlines and new recruits become disenchanted and give up, since nothing they do seems to work.

They’re In It Only For The Money

There is nothing wrong with having money as a driving influence in network marketing. After all, that’s really the reason why people work or go into business anyway.

However, they forget that they have a business to run and that they should focus on showing potential customers and new recruits the advantages of their business so they can build it from the ground up. Network marketing is about building relationships and using those relationships to drive a business. Focus too much on the money and you’ll fail in bringing people in.

They Focus On The Wrong Aspects Of Business

Another reason why people fail in network marketing is because they use their resources on activities that do not improve their business at all. Administrative tasks, for example, can take up a lot of time. But in the bigger scheme of things, it won’t impact the business at all, especially not one that is already established.

They Fail To Network

This is probably one of the biggest mistakes anyone can make in network marketing. By failing to build a strong support system, they not only fail to bring in effective recruits, they also fail in establishing a solid foundation.

The lack of a good foundation is one of the reasons some people fail in network marketing. A networking business grows by spreading exponentially and without the right recruits, this is just plain impossible to achieve.

To learn more about network marketing and discover what most marketers will never know about using the Internet to create lifelong financial independence, follow the link in my resource box now.

The current chaos in financial markets has changed how merchant cash advances should be evaluated. The use of credit card factoring and credit card processing to obtain working capital financing has recently become a more viable commercial funding strategy. Although this approach for securing business cash advances has been available, businesses historically seemed to prefer using other financing sources to get needed funds. While there are still other small business cash options which should be considered, the practical reality is that the choices available have changed dramatically for most business owners.

Recent changes in most commercial finance programs have resulted in many businesses scrambling to locate new sources for working capital and commercial loans. What has changed to make business cash advances a more feasible option for small business financing? Here are four of the primary reasons for a changing environment where business loans are involved.

First, the availability of unsecured lines of credit has all but disappeared for most small businesses. This was a favored method of business financing for years and will be sorely missed by many.

Second, in the recent past many business owners have probably used home equity credit lines to obtain needed cash quickly and simply. Most banks have reduced or eliminated these home equity loans in response to a nationwide residential funding crisis during the past year or so.

Third, banks are increasingly insisting on more collateral for their working capital loans and other commercial loans. For many business owners, providing additional collateral is not a feasible alternative.

Fourth, a growing number of local and regional banks are exiting the commercial lending business. In some cases, the business lending focus has shifted to larger businesses with long-term ties to a bank. This has produced an immediate and negative impact on relatively new and small businesses which especially need more working capital help in a challenging economic environment.

The four significant business financing trends noted above have resulted in a practical need for most business owners to now look much more actively at business cash advance programs. With such financing, businesses can obtain working capital cash based upon their credit card processing activity during the past six to twelve months.

Are there problems or pitfalls with this approach to obtaining small business cash? There are definitely problems to avoid with this specialized version of working capital financing. In fact I have prepared a number of special reports on this specific issue.

One major pitfall of business cash advances is the presence of a growing number of seemingly predatory lenders. These lending groups typically have one or more distinguishing negative characteristics.

One of these negative attributes is the apparent urgency by the lender to change the credit card processor used by a business. While there will always be legitimate reasons to consider changing the credit card processing arrangement, it should never be the first priority in a business cash advance program. If there is a rush to do so by the lender, it is probably due to a misguided attempt to obtain processing fees even if they are unable to provide a working capital advance.

Another negative characteristic is misrepresentation about how quickly business cash advances will be provided. While legitimate funding can typically be obtained in a month or less, business owners should be skeptical of agents who suggest that financing is routinely available in a week or less.

How can these seemingly predatory commercial lenders be avoided? Perhaps the most pragmatic solution for avoiding entanglements with one of these questionable lending sources is to have a lengthy conversation with a prospective lender prior to taking any action. Certainly it is especially unwise for a business owner to submit an online working capital cash application without having such a detailed discussion.

With the current economic climate and the prospect of challenging times ahead as a small business you may be looking to answer the following questions:

· How are you going to bring in the business you are looking for?
· What other opportunities should you be seeking out?
· How can you keep your profile raised so you win over your competition?
· How should you spend your limited marketing budget?

You may already be out there promoting yourself and your business and at times wondering whether you are still getting the return you are looking for. One of your marketing activities may be business networking and this may be one expenditure that you are looking to cut, especially if the results are not instantaneous. However do ask yourself the following question:

‘Can you afford not to network?’

Well in short the answer is ‘no’ …now, more than ever, is the time to get out and about in front of people and here are some of the reasons why:

Less business needs more marketing

When business is hard to find unfortunately stopping marketing your business is not the answer, leave this to your competition – you have to market yourself more to get the business you are seeking.

Your profile in the business community

If you keep your profile raised even in quiet times, when the going gets good again you will be there to hit the ground running while your competitors wither away.

Networking is a relatively cost effective way of marketing your business

You can easily spend hundreds of pounds on a single newspaper ad which gleans little or no business…can you afford this? Or you can spend a few pounds developing quality relationships with a circle of business people who will help you achieve the contacts you are looking for.

Other business opportunities

If the current climate is affecting your business you may need to be creative about seizing other opportunities which will supplement your current income streams. Attending networking events are a great way to meet new people and discover new opportunities.

Support

When times are tight for your business it can be really beneficial to meet up with others who can provide you with a bit of moral support and often some great advice to help you through.

Top tips for networking your way through the recession

1. Carefully choose your networking activities to meet your needs – think about what you want to achieve from networking, who you want to network with and how best to achieve this.

2. Raise your profile within business networking circles further by getting actively involved – be proactive about making business presentations, and volunteer to help run or market the events.

3. Use your quiet times to:

· Get to know other businesses, what they do and how you can help them
· Investigate new opportunities and develop new ideas for your business
· Improve your own personal networking skills – hone your ‘elevator pitch’ (i.e. what you say you do when people ask you), your 60 seconds or your business presentations.

4. Take a look at who you can form strategic alliances with – teaming up with others may open up your markets and provide you with new openings.

Angels, or private investors, invest more money in more companies at an earlier stage than venture capitalists. They are the lifeblood for seed and start-up businesses. Why do they say no?

Angels Just Don’t Get It

Entrepreneurs who face rejection by angel investors often blame it on the angels: those investors cannot understand my wonderful technology, or the angels won’t bother to take the time to understand. Some of this is just a means to protect the entrepreneur’s tender ego, but it does point out how there can be critical gaps in communication: an entrepreneur thinks he’s doing a good job explaining the deal, but in fact he’s not getting through at all.

Angel Was The Wrong Audience

Angel investors invest smaller amounts of capital in earlier stage companies than venture capitalists do. They also take more of an interest in the day-to-day management of companies they invest in. Investors aren’t usually interested in investing in life style companies, ie., companies that provide a comfortable life style for the owner, but don’t have expansive growth opportunities. They want to see a company that can reach significant earnings in a short amount of time.

Lack of Preparation by Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are often guilty, in their eagerness to get started building their company, of seeking out angel investors before they are prepared to present their deal or carry on negotiations. Angel investors often have a great deal of business experience and can ask the kinds of probing, difficult questions that quickly puncture inflated projections or poorly thought out strategies.

ROI/Exit Strategy

Entrepreneurs emphasize bringing capital into the company; investors are quite reasonably interested in getting capital out of the company. Unless the entrepreneur can convince the investor that a lucrative exit is possible within a reasonable time frame, the deal is unlikely to get done.

Management Team

Angel investors invest in the management team of a company. Often there’s only the business plan, at best a prototype product, and no revenues. If the management team is weak or inexperienced, angels are reluctant to invest.

Deficiencies in the Presentation by Entrepreneurs

It is an unpleasant fact that entrepreneurs with good ideas can still miss out on obtaining funding because of poorly prepared business plans, executive summaries, and other presentation materials. A great business plan does not raise capital for a company (you need a great management team as well), but a poor plan sends a signal to investors that the founders may also be sloppy in the way they run the company.

The Concept or the Idea is Flawed

Some ideas have zero chance of getting funded, and that’s just the way it is.

Entrepreneur Was Not Able To “Sell” the Investment

Part of raising capital depends on simple sales skill, and if the founder of the company does not have that skill, he needs to develop it quickly or have someone with that skill assist him with the presentations to investors.

Subjective Factors

The decisions made by angel investors are not cut-and-dried based on analysis that leads to an easily obtained conclusion. Angels operate in an environment where the crystal ball can get extremely cloudy at times, and must rely on their instincts honed through many years of being on the firing line in their own companies.

How to Avoid Hearing ‘no’ from an Angel

1) Spend a lot of time discussing how the management team’s background will lead to growth and profitability for this venture

2) Do not skimp on the time and effort spent on developing and practicing the presentation to angels; Don’t ‘wing it’ with angels

3) Don’t assume everyone can pick up on technical jargon; keep the presentation in layman’s terms as much as possible

4) Test your business model out on experienced business people and obtain their feedback before seeking funding

5) Present alternative ways the investor can exit the deal, when and how.

It happens all too often: someone in your organization, browsing a trade magazine or industry portal sees an article on the growing trend of digital signage, or a case study on a competitor’s installation of a digital signage network. The piece goes on and on about how digital signage enhances the effect of marketing messages, assists in guiding desired behavior from clients, and has the ability to target different demographics based on time and location. In fact, the piece makes it sound like a digital signage network is the only thing keeping your company away from the success it truly deserves.

All of the above is completely true, and digital signage provides organizations like universities, hotels and retail centers with direct marketing benefits. However, when considering investment in digital signage it is important to take a step back from all of the potential benefits and make sure you can answer one simple question: what exactly is your organization trying to accomplish by making use of digital signage? If you cannot clearly identify the purpose of a digital signage network, if you don’t already have an idea of what content you would want to give to customers (or potential customers) if given the opportunity, then it will be impossible to achieve any level of success with the signage project.

Signage (whether digital or analog) has many uses outside of just delivering marketing messages: it can be used help consumers find their way, to give information on products and services offered, and even for video games and point of sale systems. If there is a primary need for this type of system in your organization then chances are you can safely begin to consider a digital signage system. However, if you are purely attracted to the added benefits of digital signage and are inventing primary needs that are not currently part of existing challenges, then chances are your digital signage project will not be a rewarding experience.

It is vitally important to the success of your signage project that you take the time at the outset to determine attainable goals which you want your signage system to fulfill. Getting input and signoff from key management in your organization will also help to create buy in, and to provide absolute direction on the project. Although digital signage companies are capable of great efficiency in the design, development and implementation processes, attempting to fulfill an unclear set of objectives which are constantly shifting will only create unnecessary expense and disappointment.

Although digital signage can fulfill very many marketing purposes in an efficient, attractive manner, it is very dangerous to get caught up in all of the benefits without being able to see the over-arching purposing of introducing this new marketing method to your company or organization. It always helpful to step back and reconsider the motives and goals behind your consideration of a digital signage implementation. Not only will this help to streamline the entire development and implementation process, it will also lead to more measurable results.

It is often necessary to quickly elevate maintenance personnel to overhead racks and shelving. This is vital to the smooth operations of any organization. The important thing to remember is that transporting workers must be done with the best assurance of safety in the process to avoid injuries, downtime, and possible liabilities. Forklift work platforms are an ideal tool you can use to accomplish both safe and speedy transportation and elevation of employees within your warehouse or plant. Simply by attaching one of these work platforms to the front of your forklift, create an entirely new form of vehicle that is intended for a specific, unique function and designed to fulfill that function with the highest level of human safety.

Fork truck work platforms are built with fork pockets in the back that allow them to be accessed by the tines of the forklift. Chains are then wrapped around the forks to provide the first level of securing the attachment. The second level of security comes in the form of a tine lock engaged to lock the work platform firmly in place.

Forklift work platforms have handrails on three sides that workers can grip and use to maintain their balance while the platform is being elevated or moved. Standard units include a checkered floor plate that is designed to provide foot traction for workers while the forklift is moving the platform forward. The fourth side of most units features a 60” high expanded metal backing, although in California, OSHA requirements mandate an 84” backing, which you can easily obtain from your Easy Rack account manager.

The standard capacity for the average forklift work platform is approximately 1,000 pounds—more than enough weight capacity to allow you to lift several employees at once and to move them forward without mishap. Further safety features such as lanyards with safety harnesses, a harness or hook to further secure the platform to the forklift, and an emergency stop button kit and web can be ordered with your unit. Fork truck work platforms can be ordered in either new models or used models. Used models feature the same capacity and safety features as new fork truck work platforms, but can save you as much as 40% off your purchase order.

If you are concerned about limited space your facility, or if you want to invest in a tool whose operation and storage is maximized for ergonomic convenience, invest in the space saving, super efficient fold down forklift work platform. This unit performs in exactly the same way as our standard models operate, and it offers the added benefit of compact storage. One person can easily assemble the unit for use and fold it down again when finished.

Doors on either side of the fold down forklift work platform can be opened easily and closed securely with a built in latch. The fold down fork truck work platform features 60’ high expanded metal handrails and back to ensure personnel safety, and the platform also includes a tine lock like the ones found in standard models. When workers are finished with the task at hand, one person can quickly fold the unit down and store it with minimal effort, lost time, and space.

The rationale behind hiring a trade show model is simple – nail the first impression by leveraging the old advertising maxim of sex selling. And for years the trade show model was a staple, pulling show-going crowds towards booths and hopefully towards products. Recently, though, trade show models, or as they are more commonly known “booth babes,” have been going the way of the caribou. Case-in-point, the 2008 SHOT Show, previously known for its pairing of guns and babes, was so lacking in trade show models that Field and Stream Magazine was forced to pad their annual review of models with pictures of men sporting unusually long beards, and causing many readers to question, why are exhibitors messing with a good thing?

In 2006, the Electronic Software Association (ESA), the trade group behind the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) issued a press release stating that for the first time, the dress code, typically flouted by models, would be enforced. And by “enforced” the ESA meant a warning followed by a $5000 fine. Common motives associated with this new rule enforcement stemmed from the reputation of the trade show (previously described by IGN’s David Adams as “ribald”), the fear that the ESA was marketing sexually-explicit content to children, and the fact that the video game industry was reaching sales parity with Hollywood. There is, of course, a common thread between these arguments: the product didn’t need the sex, instead it needed to be viewed as professional. For the ESA, the video game had matured beyond the quick, impulsive sell that sex grants, and was finally a legitimate part of living rooms around the world.

The ESA was telling exhibitors to do something every trade show exhibitor should be doing anyways, they should be considering their brand. Whether you are an entrepreneur, an executive, or merely an employee, trade shows are worked with the explicit intent of drawing quality attention to your brand. The trade show exhibitor is there to build excitement that should ultimately turn a booth visitor into a repeat customer. The booth is a means to forging a lasting relationship on a personal basis. Working a booth allows a company to press the flesh and promote with a passion that simply can’t be found in traditional advertising. So, why would a company risk potentially isolating half the attendees at a conference with a booth babe?

Half? Well, close to it. According to a survey conducted by AffiliateTip.com, 70% of the female respondents and 41% of the male respondents (56% overall) said that they were less likely to visit a booth that used a booth babe. Conversely, 29% of the overall respondents said that a booth babe caused a null opinion, and a mere 15% said that a booth babe would positively impact their opinion of a booth. Perusing blogs will lead to an even larger mountain of anecdotal evidence that suggests that not only are individuals less likely to visit your trade show displays if a booth babe is present, but they are actually more likely to form a negative opinion of your company to boot.

Of course, not all trade shows are following the trend presented by the ESA, yet booth babes seem to be disappearing just the same. The use of booth babes at YAPC (Yet Another Perl Convention) sparked a thread on the Use Perl official message board regarding whether or not booth babes should be used at other conference. The quote that seemed to sum the experience up was “that is so auto show.”

The debate surrounding the use of booth babes even leaves the trade show, with various media outlets debating about whether they should continue to feature photos of the “best” babes, often opening up the discussion to readers. Tom’s Hardware, a forum and media outlet focusing on technology posed the question to their readership and the first response cut to the heart of the issue – juxtaposing the ‘for’ being juvenile and mainstream against the ‘opposed’ being adult and technical. Tech Republic, also opened the question up to their readers, and gathered likewise responses. It seemed that even the media was turning their backs on booth babes.

There is, of course, one final theory on why exhibitors were shying away from trade show models. At the 2006 E3, Disney was there presenting the video game tie in for their Pixar animated feature “Cars.” There between near-life-size examples of the film’s star cars was, you guessed it, a trade show model. The model in question was decked out from head to toe in skintight black jumpsuit, complete with plunging neckline and a checkered-flag racking stripe running up her sides, and covering just enough to show that Disney could play by the new E3 rules. Perhaps the world at large saw Disney’s display as truly jumping the shark and everyone simply moved on.

Whichever theory you subscribe to – maintaining an professional image, fear of isolating potential clients, or merely staying one step ahead of Disney, the use of trade show models are certainly on the decline. And as John Davis, editorial director for Ziff Davis Media Game Group told ABC News, “Not having the booth babes isn’t going to make any difference.” Instead, of babes, the new trend seems to be presenting your products in a professional manner, with booth workers who go beyond gimmick or sex and instead have a passion for your brand and a knowledge base to match. Guess which one leads to more quality sales?

Aluminum dock boards are ramps that connect dock floors to the back floors of truck trailers and offer a safe, efficient method of loading and unloading trucks. They feature safety curbs on either side of the ramp that prevent pallet jacks and hand trucks from rolling off the sides. Aluminum dockboards provide a lightweight, yet sturdy bridge between dock and truck and are manufactured in full compliance with all OSHA regulations. They are a necessity for every shipping and receiving department.

The size of the dockboard you will need will depend on the height differential between trailer and dock floor and the width and axle capacity of your forklift, pallet rack, hand truck, or platform truck. To save yourself a step, simply call an Easy Rack specialist and provide this information over the phone. We will help you calculate the size of the aluminum dock board best suited to your needs.

Aluminum Dockboard with Welded Aluminum Curbs

These dock boards are engineered and built to maximize safety while handling heavy forklifts and loads. Locking legs prevent them from moving during loading and unloading operations. Welded aluminum safety curbs prevent accidental runoffs and provide visible driving lane. The locking legs are also uneven and allow the dockboard to sit canted while not in use. This also makes it easier for forklifts to pick it up. These dockboards are manufactured in compliance with OSHA. The bend measures 11° and 9″ from the edge, and the legs are 12″ from the edge.

Aluminum Dockboard with Steel Curbs

This dockboard is designed for maximum strength, safety, and portability. The deck is made of tough aluminum treadplate and features structural steel safety curbs with tapered ends. Beveled edges allow for smooth entry and exit, and the treadplate design ensures positive traction. Legs are 12” from the edge and are bolted to give the unit increased durability. Legs are also canted for fork truck portability.

Formed Aluminum Dock boards

The unique design of this unit features formed aluminum side curbs that combines the benefits of strength and lightweight portability. Treadplate design offers better traction, and side curbs are painted safety yellow. The formed aluminum dockboard features beveled entry and exit edges, with the usable width 7” less than the overall width. Aluminum legs are welded to the unit for OSHA compliance and lock in place while the unit is in use.

Aluminum Hand Truck Dock board

This dockboards is lightweight and can be carried and placed in position by one person. Overall plate thickness of the dockboard measures only 3/16”. The welded aluminum, diamond tread surface, and beveled edges provide safe and smooth entry and exit. The bend is designed to keep ramp edges flush with the surface of the dock and with the dock floor. Each unit is equipped with bolted, locking legs. In order to decrease the chance of roll off, full length aluminum curbs line the sides of the unit. The aluminum hand truck dockboard features an 800 weight capacity and is intended to be used with two wheel hand trucks.