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How to improve productivity with fleet vehicle tracking

In the world of fleet management, telematics data and tracking has helped improve productivity and safety amongst fleet companies. With each vehicle being tracked through their GPS system, fleet managers can identify patterns and find new ways to make savings and increase efficiency in their company.

Fleet management vehicle tracking can really help a business improve productivity in a number of ways. it could also be worth looking into small fleet insurance cover.

Recording driver behaviour

Telematics data not only tracks where a driver is going through the GPS system, but also records the speed, braking, acceleration and other factors of driving. It monitors driver behaviour and then uploads all of the data to a central system.

With this data, fleet managers can come up with solutions to help improve driver behaviours such as driving at the speed limits. Not only that but businesses create driver scorecards to monitor performance and can use technology to create alerts to notify drivers when there are driving above the speed limit or driving in a way that impacts their safety.

All of this can help to identify patterns of driving per driver, create a safer workforce and help to reduce risks and accidents. Not only can this help to lower the cost of fuel, but also can help lower the cost of motor fleet insurance as you can show your insurance provider the details of driver behaviour.

Longer fleet vehicle lives

Tracking your fleet can help to understand which vehicles aren’t performing as effectively as they should or are in need of some maintenance at the garage darmowe spiny za rejestrację bez depozytu. It can help to identify mechanical issues such as breakdown, repairs and engine diagnostics, and also help to keep track of routine maintenance such as vehicle servicing or an MOT. By tracking your vehicle data you can ensure you have a healthier fleet with a longer lifespan of each vehicle.

By ensuring your fleet is healthy and well looked after, you can save money and enhance productivity because your vehicles will be performing better overall for a longer period of time. It can also help to spot any repairs early before any damage becomes irreparable or expensive. Saving the company a lot of expense and time wasted.

Streamlined operations

One of the best things about vehicle tracking is the collection of data which can enhance productivity. All data links back to one central hub, which means it’s easier to collate all data and analyse it. Comparisons can be made between vehicles, drivers and different routes taken.

When you have access to these data streams, you can monitor patterns and make improvements. These improvements can be anything from time management to maintenance or as mentioned previously, driver behaviour. Through analysing patterns and different scenarios, fleet managers can streamline their operations for a more efficient and productive team.

Staff management

Along with monitoring driver behaviour and saving money on fuel, tracking data can also help to manage and record start and finish times. This type of tracking can monitor how long staff members take breaks for and how much lost time could be avoided to increase productivity.

If staff are aware that their time schedules are being monitored, they are less likely to take longer breaks, arrive late or leave early from a shift. That way, you can make sure that all your labour costs are being utilised towards business productivity and not being wasted.

Optimise journeys

Tracking your fleet can help to optimise the best routes for your vehicles to go. It can help to split jobs out to get the most efficient routes, build smart routes to avoid traffic and map out routes for more deliveries within a certain timeframe.

Not only does this increase productivity but it saves the company a lot of unnecessary time and money. Tracking can help determine which routes are more congested and possibly help to find alternative ways. It can also help to communicate with customers and keep them in the loop so that they are aware when their package would be delivered.

GPS tracking and telematics have changed the operations of fleet management firms tenfold. It can really help them to understand their business and make improvements to help cut costs, maximise performance and build on profits.

Reduce Overall Insurance Costs

One of the biggest variable overheads that, as a fleet manger, you have control over is the cost of fleet insurance. Courier drivers, especially van couriers drivers, are under pressure to delivery multiple items in a fixed time period, which can increase the risk of accidents.

Telemetric devices, that gather driving data, can help identify driving habits that if left unchecked can lead to accidents. This information can be used proactively to provide additional driver training to reduce fleet accidents and thus overall insurance costs.

In summary, a significant reduction in fleet insurance costs can be achieved by using fleet management software in combination with telemetric devices. This valuable information can be used to take proactive actions to keep your fleet insurance from rising. The end result over time will be savings on your multi van insurance premiums and a company that benefits from lower van fleet insurance cost than its competitors.

Look Pure Term Insurance Premium Plan

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Overview:

The purchase of term insurance plan is a smart move on your part for more reasons than one. While you create a blueprint drawing a financial roadmap for the future, the pride of place certainly belongs to the protection of your family in your absence, which may always be a possibility in life’s uncertainties. It is wise to be ready for unforeseen realities of life, rather than put the lives of your loved ones into jeopardy on your demise, grappling with the loss of income and liquidating your liabilities. Leave alone fulfilling the future aspirations of your children and a decent lifestyle after that; the crisis is hard to tackle. It is term insurance plans that can obviate such eventualities. Therefore, the safety net for your family needs a meticulous study for the options open to you to enable you to choose the best possible term insurance plans available, rather than cut a sorry figure with an uninformed decision later.

The basics of term insurance plans:

You must know first that a life insurance policy is a contract entered into by you with the insurer to pay a death benefit equaling to the sum assured to your nominee in the event of your demise during the term of the policy to comply with the contract, you are required to pay mutually agreed upon premium at defined periods. Should you outlive the policy term; some plans like endowment and ULIP pay you maturity benefits in the form of sum assured plus bonuses. But term insurance plans are simpler, being an only pure protection plan that has a single payout paid to your nominee on your demise which is the sum assured. The simplicity of the plan translates into an offer of a very high sum assured instead of a nominal premium, which is the primary reason for its popularity.

Types of term insurance plans:

As understood, term insurance plans are pure risk plans offering an only death benefit, but there are two options involved. One is to receive the payout in a single lump-sum amount or stagger it in monthly instalments over some time. There are variations of best term insurance plans, where the addition of riders enhance the scope of your cover and add value to it. Of late, some insurance companies have extended the scope of term insurance plans by returning your premium on termination of the policy once the term is over. This is known as TROP (Term Insurance Return of Premium) in insurance parlance. While it appears attractive at first sight, on the flip side, you end up paying a higher premium for the TROP option.

Term Insurance Return of Premium (TROP):

On the face of it, the offer may look very attractive. But your premium goes up substantially, and on your survival, you receive the exact amount of premium you have paid during the policy term and not a single farthing as interest. So, for the higher amount over a period returned without any additions, the common notion is that there is no loss. Far from it, the quantum of premium you pay is not only inordinately high; the zero interest return in effect erodes the accumulated premium value heavily due to inflationary pressures. By blindly leaping into the purchase of TROP term insurance plans, are you not missing the woods for the trees? A rather sensible approach would be to consider purchasing an endowment for retirement with the differential amount for the same term period that would give you returns multiple times of the return of TROP, enabling you to make a handsome corpus for wealth creation. Is it not food for thought for other survival benefits to consider as worthwhile?

Reasons for high premiums in TROP:

The usual term insurance plans are designed to cater for death benefit only. Since there are no additional payouts, the sum assured offered is very high against the nominal premium. This is possible because of the simplicity of the plan, which is its USP. If the company has to pay TROP as survival benefit, the administrative costs go up and to make the plan viable; the company increases the premium by two to three times. A TROP plan involves payment of survival benefits comprising the sum of all premiums after appropriating applicable taxes, underwriting expenses and rider premiums. Coupled with this is the administrative and operational expenses, that compels the company to raise the level of premiums substantially high to make the plan work for them.  It makes sense to understand that every service comes at a cost. Should the company return the entire accumulated premiums to you; how will the company run the show? Therefore the expenses for maintenance are recovered from you in the form of higher premium to run the TROP plan.

Also Read: Top 5 Best Life Insurance Plans in India

The options before you:

When you go for term insurance plans, the basic motive is to protect your family in the event of your demise, for a cover that extends up to your retirement. Does it make sense not to consider your retirement plans? The term insurance plans are not the end of all of your financial planning but only an important cog in the wheel. The earlier you shed the wrong notion that insurance products are not tools of investment, but only a cover against uncertainties of life, the better it is. Some plans also help you build wealth in the long term that will take care of your life post-retirement when you will have no other income to sustain term insurance plans.

Bottom Line:

Prudence rather than emotion should determine the type of term insurance plans suitable for you. Considering all the possibilities, it is prudent to purchase traditional term insurance plans, based on your resources, liabilities and the type of lifestyle envisaged while protecting your family. The savings from not opting TROP will enable you to a judicious purchase of other plans that will help you live a life of peace and comfort post-retirement. After all, wisdom is the deciding factor that will help you choose the right plans that will provide you with a safety net covering all phases of your life. Certainly jumping into the TROP bandwagon is not truly the win-win situation that is widely projected.

Mattress Sizes 101: Understanding Singles, Doubles, Kings, Super Kings & More

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The right mattress can make all the difference between a stressful night spent more awake than asleep and a relaxing, peaceful night of deep, refreshing sleep.

One of the most important factors in any mattress is its size. By selecting a mattress that offers the right fit for you and your partner, you’ll find it easier to settle into a comfortable position for a full night of sleep.

Mattresses come in a variety of sizes, from well-known standards such as singles, doubles and kings to custom mattress sizes. Below, we’ve explained how the most popular mattress sizes in the UK work, as well as the biggest advantages and disadvantages of each size option. All the options can be explored further at this orange county california mattress store.

Single Mattresses

Twin mattresses are ideal for children and young adults. They’re also a good option for adults that sleep alone and don’t need a large bed to feel comfortable. UK standard single mattresses typically measure 2’6” to 3’0” in width (or 75 to 90cm) and approximately 6’2” in length (190cm).

The biggest advantage of a single mattress is its compact size. While a single mattress is long enough to provide a comfortable night’s sleep for most adults, this type of mattress’s thin width makes it ideal for fitting inside small bedrooms.

Double Mattresses

Ideal for couples and individuals who like a little extra space to stretch out while they sleep, a double mattress provides a comfortable surface for enjoying a night of refreshing sleep.

In the UK, double mattresses typically measure 4’0” to 4’6” in width (or 120 to 137cm) in width and 6’2” (190cm) in length. In Europe, double mattresses have slightly different measurements, with an average width of 120 to 140cm and a typical length of 200cm.

With about 50cm more width than a typical single mattress, a double mattress is a good choice if you sleep with your partner. Double mattresses are also a popular option for single sleepers, as they offer extra versatility (for example, if your partner wants to join you) and comfort.

King Mattresses

A king mattress offers extra width and slightly more length than a standard UK double mattress, making it a good option if you’re taller than the average or if you want to stylishly furnish a large bedroom.

In the UK, king mattresses measure 5’0” in width (or 150cm) and have a length of approximately 6’5” (200cm). This means that you and your partner have an extra 13 to 30cm to stretch out and enjoy compared to a conventional double mattress.

The biggest disadvantage of a king mattress is its footprint. While a king mattress can look great in a large master bedroom, beds of this size can make small bedrooms feel overly cramped and  crowded.

Super King Mattresses

With an extra foot of width compared to a conventional king mattress, super king mattresses are the ultimate in bedtime luxury. Thanks to their space, mattresses of this type are ideal if you like to stretch out while you sleep, or if you want to enjoy a five-star hotel experience at home.

In the UK, super king mattresses measure 6’0” in width (or 180cm) and 6’5” in length (200cm). A mattress of this type is best suited to an expansive master bedroom due to the massive amount of space that’s required.

Best Casinos in Macau

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Macau’s rise from nothing more than a small Portuguese territory to one of the world’s greatest gambling centres has been remarkable. No longer seen as just a Vegas rip-off, Macau has gone on to surpass the Sin City’s gambling income.

As seen in the infographic below created by casinosites.me.uk, the territory now boasts over 45 casinos with sizes and tourist attractions to rival Vegas. It even has its answer to the famous Vegas strip – the Cotai Strip. The city’s nightlife, rich history, and culture all add to its undeniable appeal.

Macau has some of the world’s most famous chefs. The food and entertainment shows are another major tourist attraction. With over 30 million yearly visitors, it has truly stepped out of Vegas’ shadow to have one of the world’s most rapid-growing and successful economies.

With over 45 new and shiny casinos to choose from, picking one from the crowd might be a difficult task, especially for the first-time visitors.

Let’s take a look at 3 of the very best casinos in Macau.

The Venetian

The Venetian Macau Resort Hotel is a 39-story hotel-casino on the Cotai Strip in Macau. The complex is modelled after its sister casino in Vegas – The Venetian Las Vegas. Spread over 10,500,000 square-foot, it is the largest casino in the world and the seventh largest building by floor area.

The casino has over 800 gaming tables and 3,400 slot machines. The Venice-themed casino is also famous for its near-perfect replica of Rialto Bridge in Italy. It has a large hotel with 3,000 guest rooms and over 30 restaurants, as well as four outdoor pools, and over 300 retail shops. The resort is one of the very best entertainment centres in the world and a gambler’s paradise.

Wynn Palace

Wynn Palace is Wynn Resorts’ second casino in the Macau Special Administrative Region following the opening of Wynn Macau. Located in the Cotai Strip area, the 28-story hotel is arguably Wynn resorts’ best casino establishment. The complex contains over 1,500 guest rooms, restaurants, and 420,000 square feet of gaming space.

Wynn Palace also has Macau’s biggest spa and some of the best architecture on the entire strip. Guests can also relax by any of the resort’s outdoor pools and there is a human-made lake on the outskirts of the complex as well. The 8-acre lake has a choreographed water display, music, and floral displays to entertain visitors all year round.

City of Dreams

City of Dreams is one of Macau’s major hotspots for the more serious gamblers looking to win big bucks. Located in Cotai, the resort is owned and managed by Melco Crown Entertainment.

The establishment is Melco’s second property in Macau and is located directly opposite The Venetian Macau. The casino pays homage to Chinese mythology and uniquely blends Chinese tradition with modern technology.

The resort has a 420,000 square feet gaming space which is one of the biggest in the city. City of Dreams is also a celebrity hotspot, and visitors can expect to run into a famous figure or two.

There are 450 gaming tables, 1,500 machines, over 20 restaurants, and one of the biggest bars in the city. City of Dreams is also home to The House of Dancing Waters – the world’s largest water show. Considered the most exclusive casino in Macau, City of Dreams is a paradise for both gambling and non-gambling tourists.

Conclusion

The continued rise of Macau’s booming economy has been sensational, and tourism is almost single-handedly responsible for it. The territory might be small, but the same cannot be said of its casinos.

Macau is home to some of the world’s biggest and most successful casino establishments, the kinds of which now rival those in Vegas. Any gambler visiting Macau should consider The Venetian, City of Dreams, or The Wynn Palace.

Top 10 Women to Follow in Finance

Have you heard of the “million dollar granny,” Ingeborg Mootz? She discovered her skill at forex trading at the tender age of 83! Today, at 93, she not only has millions in her account, but has also written a book about how she achieved financial success. If anything, she teaches us that it is never too late to learn a skill. More importantly, she teaches us that following successful traders can be an effective way to hone your own knowledge and skills.

In fact, women have broken all stereotypes in the financial world, becoming leading gurus on Twitter, followed by both beginner and veteran traders. Here’s a list of the top women to follow in finance on social media, who have gained this position by making strong in-roads into what had always been a strictly men’s club.

  1. Kathy Lien

The reason Kathy makes it to the #1 spot on our list in that she has been described often as a “fundamental guru.” So, if you are looking to stay updated with the latest market happenings and what impact they could have on your trades, she is the one to follow. Kathy is great at giving a rundown on the news and also offering trading tips that can prove very helpful.

Twitter handle: @kathyleinfx

  1. Kathryn Cicoletti

Popularly known as Ms. “Cheat Sheet,” Kathryn offers easy-to-understand videos on various financial and business-related topics. Of course, you would do well to stay prepared for her uncensored way of providing insights.

Twitter handle: @mscheatsheet

  1. Stephanie Flanders

Stephanie has 130k followers on Twitter and heads up Bloomberg’s Economics. This impressive woman was also former BBC Economics Editor and Chief Marketing Strategist for J.P Morgan Asset Management. A must follow.

Twitter handle: @MyStephanomics

  1. Kristin Bentz

If we had to give an award for breaking stereotypes, Kristin would win! This is one blonde that is a formidable financial brain, having been a Wall Street trader herself. She now regularly provides inputs through her blog and on Twitter on the latest developments in the financial markets. With almost 11K followers, she is beaten only by Kathy Lien in her social media following of traders.

Twitter handle: @TalendedBlonde

  1. Abigail Doolittle

This Doolittle has a way of talking to the markets that gives Dr. Doolittle stiff competition in his way with animals. If you want to know the latest developments in the S&P 500, 10-year treasure yields or any other event moving the financial markets, this is who you should follow. She also uploads inspirational quotes to get you going on rainy days.

Twitter handle: @The Chartress

  1. Cathy Curtis

Cathy is another formidable financial brain, a gifted financial advisor, RIA and CFP. What makes her stand apart is her advocacy for women traders, offering great tips for women investors wanting to make their way through this male-dominated arena.

Twitter handle: @cathycurtis

  1. Barbara Friedberg

We love Barbara for her straightforward tag line, “save, invest and build wealth.” That is what we believe in too. A portfolio manager and university finance instructor, Barbara is especially qualified to offer trading tips. She also provides links to valuable educational resources.

Twitter handle: @barbfriedberg

  1. Lydia Idem

With a primary focus on silver and currencies, Lydia has a track record of providing very prompt updates on fundamentals moving the markets. She has a talent for charting, which proves very helpful for traders.

Twitter handle: @faithmight

  1. Kiana Danial

Better known as Invest Diva, Kiana provides online investment education, especially for women. Newbies can learn a lot about the financial markets from Invest Diva’s inputs.

Twitter handle: @InvestDiva

  1. Stephanie Link

Looking for the latest news and analysis? Stephanie is the one to link to! She offers meaningful commentary on the financial markets, providing input on everything financial, from stocks to economic data.

Twitter handle: @Stephanie_Link

 

Of course, you don’t have to be a woman to take advantage of the valuable insights that these leading financial commentators have to offer. The key to success in the financial markets is to keep yourself updated, and constantly look to increase your knowledge and skills.

How to permanently reverse a receding hair line

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There is no denying how negatively hair loss can impact one’s life. The stigma pushed further by media, celebrities, and magazines is only adding fuel to fire. Given the emotional distress of baldness, men and women fervently rush to the internet to find a solution that would stop their hairline from further receding. An opportunity a capitalist society would not let go of, hence thousands of pages on the internet have emerged to promote products that claim to permanently solve the age-old issue of hair loss. The truth is, there is only one permanent solution to baldness and it is hair transplant.

Hair transplants

Hair transplantation is a surgical solution to hair loss that can either be minimally invasive scar-free (FUE) or inconvenient (FUT). The procedure restores hair in bald areas by relocating follicular units from areas of hair growth to areas of hair loss. Since, fortunately, the hairs in the back tend to be resistant to hair loss, upon relocation they do not loss their anti-balding properties, initiating hair growth in deserted areas.

Hair transplants are growing more popular among men for their successful results and, most importantly, convenience over alternative solutions.

Alternative solutions to hair transplants

There are currently strictly three effective anti-hair loss procedures aside from hair transplants

1- PRP therapy

PRP therapy is a recent treatment that has already growing popular. PRP is an abbreviation o platelet rich plasma. The concept of PRP therapy is to utilize growth factors found in our blood to reverse hair loss and even repair muscle damage. The treatments starts by withdrawing blood from the patient the standard way. Later, the blood sample is centrifuged and PRP is collected to later be injected into the scalp.

Growth factors will then consequently stimulate follicular units and aid their growth. The treatment is divided into monthly sessions and depending on the patients severity of hair loss, they may need anywhere from 1 to 8 sessions.

The treatment is repeated yearly to maintain hair growth. Since the person’s own cells are used, there is no side effects.

2- Minoxidil

Minoxidil is a hair loss treatment that comes in a form of a shampoo or lotion that should be applied twice daily. The mechanism by which Minoxidil operates to prevent hair loss, is not yet fully understood. The lotion or shampoo causes side effects such has increased body hair growth and scalp irritation. Generally, it is the concept of having to apply the product daily that people find hard to keep up with. Clearly the medication is high-maintenance as once its use is halted, hair loss is guaranteed to presume.

3- Finasteride

The medication comes in a form of a pill that functions as an inhibitor of the conversion testosterone to its hair loss initiating form, DHT. The medication should as well be taken daily to terminate the conversion process of testosterone to DHT. As may be clear by now, without consistency in consumption, the medication will not work as effectively. Moreover, finasteride causes side effects that include weight gain, breast tenderness, and depression.

Contact us

If you would like to know more about hair loss treatments, contact us for a free virtual consultation session with a medical specialist to address all your concerns.

5 Considerations for Developing a Patent Strategy

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When you are working on a patent, it is important to have a clear strategy and roadmap that everyone involved in your project can follow. When you are organized and goal-oriented, your strategy will go a lot smoother, and your chances of being issued a successful patent from the USPTO in a timely fashion will increase significantly. No matter if this is your first or your thousandth patent, everyone will agree that a strategy is foundational to a well-run project and a successful patent submission.

Take a look at these five steps that we suggest when you are developing a strategy.

Set Clear Goals

Without clear goals, your team will have a difficult time knowing if the work they are doing is aligning with your expectations and the required outcomes. Goals are the bedrock of a successful project, and when you are developing a patent strategy, these goals are no less important.

It is important to understand that you will likely need to set drastically different goals for each person involved in the process, depending on their specific role.

Determine Necessary Patents

If your concept is built off of the idea of a single patent, are you sure that you will only need that one patent? While you are working towards getting your patent developed, submitted, and approved, it is also a good time to start thinking about any other protections you may need to either file for, acquire, or pay royalties for.

If you determine that you need to acquire or license more patents in order to capitalize on your own invention, you will want to understand the financial requirements to expect, and how this will affect your long-term strategy for marketing and selling your product.

Develop a Monetization Plan

If you are going to be putting the work in to develop a new innovation, make sure that you have a plan for how you are going to monetize it. Developing an invention and then applying for the patent is not cheap; once you get your patent, be ready to start executing a strategy to monetize your innovation by production, licensing, or some other way to develop an income.

Patents are important tools for many reasons, but capitalizing on intellectual property is the main motivator behind most patents. If you have an invention but are unsure of your ability to run a business around it, speak with someone who is experienced in patent law in Orlando about your possibility of licensing your patent, or perhaps selling it to a larger company.

Understand Patent Law

Patent law is just as important, if not more important, than the patent development itself. Without a firm understanding of the laws that will support you once you receive your patent, you may find yourself at a serious disadvantage in the market. Speak with a patent lawyer in Orlando to discuss your plan, your options, and how you will be able to take advantage of your intellectual property once the USPTO grants you exclusivity.

Research the Market

Even if you are granted a patent for your intellectual property, it does not guarantee that you will be successful. You may ultimately find that the market does not need your innovation, or perhaps there is an easier or more appealing way to achieve the same result that is not covered by your patent.

When you understand the market that you are innovating for, you lessen your risk of spending both time and financial resources developing a patent that does not serve you in the end.

Ultimately, the keys to a patent strategy are organization, planning, and communication across your team and all of your stakeholders in the project. Without these, you may be able to achieve your ultimate goal, but following our guidelines will be a big help.

The ABC of car finance

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Car finance can be confusing and there are many things you should know before you apply! Around 4 in 5 cars in the UK are bought on finance and this number is set to increase. With so many people choosing to finance or lease their next car, should you join the car finance revolution? Refused Car Finance have put together everything you need to know about car finance, popular car finance jargon, car finance myths and also how to get car finance with different personal circumstances.

What is car finance?

The main idea of car finance is to spread the cost of owning a car into affordable payments each month. There are 3 main types of car finance agreements which includes personal loans, hire purchase (HP) and personal contract hire (PCP). A personal loan can be used for anything but it’s a great option for buying a car! Because the loan can be used for anything, the full amount you borrow can be used to purchase a car which you will be the legal owner of straightaway ice casino kod promocyjny bez depozytu. Choose how much you want to borrow and over what length of time and then make your repayments on time each month. Hire purchase is one of the most straight forward car finance agreements. Within a HP agreement, you agree to pay back your loan amount over a fixed period each month. However, you don’t own the car until you have made the final payment! Personal contract purchase is similar to hire purchase where you make your repayments each month over a fixed term but at the end of your agreement you have three options. You can hand the car back, pay the final balloon payment or part exchange the vehicle and use it towards a new PCP deal. Each one has different benefits and the one that’s right for you will depend on your personal circumstances and preference.

Understanding car finance jargon

As mentioned, car finance can be confusing but it doesn’t need to be! When finalising your car finance agreement, you don’t want to feel out of your depth when it comes to financial jargon. There are many words that come into a car finance agreement which you may not have heard before so it’s a good idea to do your research before you start applying! Here are some of the most popular phrases and what they actually mean:

Annual Percentage Rate (APR): The amount of interest you pay every year on a loan.

Balloon Payment: The balloon payment is the final payment of a personal contract purchase agreement which enables you to own the vehicle.

Equity: The difference between the value of the vehicle and the amount owed on the agreement.

Conditional Loan/Conditional Sale: A car finance agreement where you agree to buy the car at the beginning of the agreement and you automatically own the car at the end of the agreement once all your payments have been made.

Guarantor: A guarantor is a person who agrees to take over payments of an agreement if you are not able to pay back the amount borrowed.

Refinancing: When you already have a car finance deal but you want to review the contract to get a better deal.

Car finance myths

When car finance was first introduced, there was a lot of uncertainty and many myths relating to your deal. You may have already heard some of them so here are the most common car finance myths busted!

  1. You can only get car finance from a dealership. Many people have believed for years that you can only get car finance from a car dealership. There are many online car finance providers who will give you quotes for free and customers are encouraged to shop around for their car finance before even stepping foot in a dealership.
  2. You can’t get car finance with bad credit. We’ll come to this one further down in this article but in simple terms, you can apply for car finance with bad credit. Car finance is becoming more accessible for people with many different types of circumstances and there are many car finance providers who specialise in helping people get car finance with bad credit.
  3. You need a deposit. It can be hard to have a deposit saved up for your next car so that’s why many finance companies offer finance deals with little or no deposit options! Putting down a deposit can lower your monthly payments as you will have already paid off some of your loan but it’s not a necessity!
  4. You can’t pay off your loan earlier than agreed. In most car finance agreements, you are able to pay off your outstanding balance in full at any point in your agreement. You may however have to pay some early settlement charges so it’s best to check before you make a settlement payment.
  5. Car finance is guaranteed. This is probably one of the most common misconceptions. Car finance is becoming more accessible these days but it is never guaranteed. Advertising ‘guaranteed car finance’ goes against advertising standards as not everyone can get accepted for car finance. Finance providers and lenders have different criteria which needs to be met before they approve customers for car finance.

Car finance for different personal circumstances
As mentioned, car finance isn’t offered to everyone but there are many options available for different personal circumstances. When car finance was first introduced, the regulations were a lot stricter when it came to acceptance criteria. There are now options available for self-employed, car finance on benefits, bad credit car finance and even military car finance!

Self-employed car finance – Self-employed car finance can be hard as lenders tend to look for at least 3 months’ worth of bank statements to prove affordability and income. This can be hard if you get paid cash in hand and your work load can often vary. But not to worry! If you are paid in cash in hand it’s a good idea to deposit this into a UK bank account as soon as you get it so it makes your income easier to prove. You can even consider a joint application with a spouse or partner or apply for car finance with a guarantor.

Benefit car finance – Many car finance providers accept people who receive benefits. This can include applicants who receive income support, child tax credits, working tax credits, disability allowance, carers’ allowance and personal independent payment (PIP). When applying, you will be usually asked to provide a breakdown of benefits and usually provide proof of the benefits you receive.

Car finance with bad credit – As mentioned, car finance with bad credit is not impossible! If you know you have bad credit, you could work on improving your credit score before you start applying for car finance. As long as you are able to prove your affordability and your current situation, you should be off to a good start! A bad credit rating can be due to a number of factors such as defaults, bankruptcy, county court judgement and any missed payments in the past.

Military car finance – Car finance can be hard when you live in barracks, have a naval address or move around a lot. However, there are many lenders who accept military car finance.

Is in-house PR management dying out?

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There was a time when if there was a scandal within a business then a press release would be drawn up by its public relations department within the hour. In the modern world it does not seem to work in the same way. There are a number of different avenues available in which statements to the wider world can be made today, all of them seeming to be without the use of an in-house PR management department. Is this the way the PR world is now? How did it get that way?

Brand responsibility

Brands have always been involved with how they are portrayed by the media. Whether it is via press releases and statements or by carrying out an interview with someone who is influential within the media. It could be a high profile TV interview, or an interview with a prominent reporter. Such events were always carried out under the watchful eye of the internal PR department. Brands would see it as their own responsibility to control their brand reputation and an internal PR department was regarded as the best way to do so. It meant that costs and budget could be controlled by the brand itself as well as fostering more loyalty than an outside PR company would offer. Things have changed however, and the PR industry is staring into the abyss.

As the internet began to gain more influence on the world at large, the influence of internal PR departments began to wane. A blogger with a huge amount of reach could easily dismantle the work of a PR department. This meant that brands began to change tack and instead of trying to control how their brand was seen by the public, they instead tried to get influential people within their sphere on their side. Of course, if a brand has made an enemy of someone who has a large amount of influence then this can lead to false stories being widely believed. In this situation it is important to have someone like Reputation Defender on board who can protect your brand from malicious disinformation. They will make sure that anything that is false about your brand will be taken down before it has the opportunity to be widely viewed, which in turn will protect your brand reputation from any long-term lasting damage.

The social media generation

Part of the trouble that internal PR departments and PR firms in general, have struggled with, is the rise of social media influencers. Because they are able to get an opinion out to their followers within seconds of something happening, it is often difficult for your brand’s internal PR department to react quickly enough. If something goes viral then it will be spread around the world in a few hours. As the saying goes, a lie gets half of the way around the world before the truth even has its shoes on. A lot of brands have got rid of their PR departments because of that or have merged them with their burgeoning new social media departments.

While some brands have taken to social media very well and are able to use it to their advantage, not all brands are able to use it as effectively. In such situations some brands have taken to using noted influencers to carry out PR for them. When a social media influencer is able to speak directly to followers in a positive light about a brand it adds a level of authenticity to what is being said. A brand speaking about itself in glowing terms does not have as much impact as someone that people trust commenting about it. This is one of the newest forms of brand promotion that has arisen with the advent of social media.

Why PR is still important

While PR departments might be slowly dying out, PR itself is still important. A brand can lose half of its customer base or share value purely from the result of a negative impact on its reputation. Because of this it is vitally important to manage your brand reputation as well as you can. Whether this is via an active social media team or from using social influencers from within your sphere, there are a number of ways to make sure that your brand is seen in a positive light. So, while internal PR departments may be on their way out, managing PR itself is just as important now as it has ever been.

Why 2019 is the Perfect Time to Start a Rare Whisky Collection

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Whether they’re interested in stamps, football memorabilia or coins, around a third of Brits collect something for fun. Not only can this bring us great pleasure, but depending on what is being collected, there’s often profit to be had as well. From gold to art, certain items are likely to increase in value over time, and rare whisky is one particularly lucrative endeavour. Scotch has begun garnering significant attention in recent times, and is rapidly becoming one of the most profitable items to own.

Fine wine is traditionally thought of as the alcoholic drink to collect. However, there are significant differences involved when it comes to collecting the two types of alcohol. For example, as drinks brokers Justerini & Brooks note, “unlike wine, most whisky is purchased by the individual bottle and not the case”, and whilst wine ages in the bottle, whisky does not. The latter difference makes collecting whisky much less onerous than collecting wine, as wine needs to be stored a lot more carefully to ensure it ages properly. Considering that whisky can also be just as—if not more—profitable, now is the perfect time to start a rare whisky collection.

Growing demand for whisky across the world

Investing in whisky is a smart move due to growing global demand. China, in particular, has been noted for its rising interest in whisky, with regional sales of single malt whisky totalling £45.1 million in the first half of 2017. Whisky is now the third most favoured alcoholic drink in China, and sales are expected to increase by nearly 40% in total by 2022. It is not just China that’s experiencing an upswing in whisky consumption. Global sales of Scotch reached over £4.36bn in 2017, with the USA, France, Singapore, Germany, and Spain spending almost £2bn between them.

With this huge surge in whisky consumption across the world, starting your own whisky collection now could be a shrewd investment, especially if current trends continue. If you invest wisely and buy whisky which is expected to increase in value, you could stand to make some serious money in a few years’ time.

  1. The value of whisky keeps rising

The value of whisky has increased exponentially in recent times, so it would be wise to jump on the bandwagon as soon as possible to capitalise. Sales records are being broken on a regular basis, such as the £1.2 million bottle of The Macallan sold in November 2018. In the first half of 2018, the value of rare Scotch whisky sold at auction reached £16 million overall, marking a remarkable 46% rise in value from the previous year. The whisky market’s value has grown by a staggering 732% in just five years, and the volume of bottles sold has also risen by 563% in that period, soaring from 8,825 to 49,719.

Statistics have shown that rare whisky yields better returns than most other collectable items, including gold, oil, and fine wine. This has been borne out by the Rare Whisky financial exchange outperforming both the oil, gold and fine wine indexes in 2017. This lends further credence to the assertion that now is the perfect time to invest in whisky yourself, particularly since waiting too long might leave you priced out of starting a collection at all.

  1. It is easier than ever to invest in whisky

Whisky is not just increasingly profitable, but increasingly easy to invest in too. The world’s first ever whisky investment fund was launched last year. Unlike funds that facilitate investment in whisky companies like Jack Daniels and Jim Beam, the Single Malt fund lets investors put their money into a collection of rare and limited-edition whiskies.

Selling has become simpler too. Online auction sites enable whisky collectors to flog their bottles with just a few clicks. Take Irish Whiskey Auctions, which became the world’s first dedicated Irish whiskey auction site in September 2018. All bottles sold on the site were verified by the company before being listed, guaranteeing a simple and secure service where whisky enthusiasts can sell—and buy—bottles. Whisky Auctioneer, meanwhile made headlines in July 2018 when a bottle of Bowmore 1966 Samaroli Bouquet sold for a record-breaking £51,611.

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