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Retail, going, going online!



US Retail is now going e-Tail in a big way, displacing Technology and Telecom this year as the
biggest spender on e-marketing and advertising.

And why not? Forrester Research is predicting online retail sales to reach some $280 billion (a nice round figure) by 2015. That's some $125 billion more than the $176.2 billion posted in 2010, or a projected 60 per cent increase over five years.

Overall retail sales took a nose dive in 2008, bottoming in the 1st quarter of 2010. Then, the industry clawed back to a point earlier this year where sales volume could be pegged at 3 per cent above pre-recession figures.

But somewhere along the way, everyone who bravely took that beating turned around and saw that online retail was growing at double-digit pace despite the economic crisis, more likely, because of it.

Even if the volume of retail e-commerce remains a fraction 4 percent in 2009of US retail sales, industry studies are showing that a fair amount of consumer decision-making has shifted to the Internet.

Forrester said a third of users will do more research online this year to get the best prices, adding that half of all retail sales will be influenced by the Internet in this manner by 2014.

But more Britons, three in five, were found to have researched products online within the last three months. (European Commission, May 2010)

In tough times, there is much window shopping and bargain-hunting. And you just can't not be there, especially if you're a small retailer, when they're searching. According to the US Small Business Administration, small businesses accounted for 52.6 per cent of retail sales in 2003.

This has started a bandwagon drive to go online, as much a new frontier for traditional retailers as the West possibly was to 19th century Americans in search of land to farm and, later, for gold.

Meanwhile, CRR places online retail sales at £44 billion in the UK last year. IMRG CapGemini are expecting this to double in 10 years.

For small retailers and startups, its a chance to compete with the agility and speed afforded by the Internet for market share. In an industry this size, a tiny fraction won fair and square would be more than sufficient.

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The Importance of Fast Carpet Drying to Avoid Mold



mold removal Atlanta
When you are drying your carpet it is really easy to end up thinking that all is easy to do. However, the truth is that there are many things that you are not going to know about. That is why, when you contact a mold removal Atlanta firm to aid you with different tasks, you will see a different approach. Your carpet can become wet due to many possible events like water pipes breaking, floods, a malfunction of the sprinkler system and many others. No matter what happens, you will have to dry your carpet fast and properly so that you will not end up with mold.

Unfortunately a carpet has to be dry after getting flooded in a maximum of 48 hours. If not, mold will appear. A professional mold removal Atlanta company will use different techniques in order to quickly dry even the biggest carpets. The company might use suction machines in order to take out huge quantities of water and soaked carpets will always be separated from padding.

Different air moving machines can be used to make the air circulate and speed drying while industrial dehumidifying equipment is going to appear in the event that they are needed. The truth is that humidity is a huge problem as it will slow up drying while also harboring microbes. Sometimes people will believe that the carpet is dried when this is not at all true.
You might also want to consider steam cleaning and different odor killing techniques to help you operate easily. In addition, some companies will recommend that you treat your carpet with anti-microbial substances in order to prevent mold formation even more. What is important is the fact that you make everything possible to dry the carpets as fast as possible. If you manage to do this then all will be perfect.

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Lead Based Paint Inspections - Importance




lead based paint inspection
Lead Based Paints are toxic, and Lead Based Paint Inspections form the initial step towards the elimination of lead from the indoors of a commercial or residential building, with an intention to raise awareness about the hazards posed by lead in the indoors, especially in the form of paints. Lead paints are toxic to human beings, animals and the environment alike. Prolonged exposure to lead can lead to damage of cerebral and nervous system, stunted growth, impaired mental capacity, incapability to think logically, and damage to reproductive organs. Children are more prone to damage by lead than grown-ups, and hence Lead Based Paint Inspections is a necessary step before moving into a new house or office, or during buying a property, so that one can be sure about not buying problems associated with lead paints.

The amount of lead component permissible in paints is currently below .006 percent, where as 50% lead based paints were used in buildings constructed prior to the year 1978. The deterioration of old buildings can lead to release of lead components into the air, which puts the quality of indoor air to risk, which is why it is important to undergo Lead Based Paint Inspections. Lead Based Paint Inspections begin with paint sampling, wherein paint samples from the entire building are collected and the presence of lead and its extent is checked.

Lead Based Paint Inspections are followed by removal of lead based paints, which should be performed as per the EPA and CPSC guidelines so as to not to spread the lead dust and components into the environment, as any activity like sandblasting, scraping, using torches or guns would produce lead fumes, and only the qualified technicians from a certified Lead Based Paint Inspections service would be able to perform the removal process in a safe manner.

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Lead Abatement Process with a Lead paint Certified Company




lead paint abatement
The hazards of exposure to lead as a toxin are well known – repeated exposure to lead or inhalation of leas fibers can interfere with the development and functioning of almost of every body organ, leading to impaired hearing and speech, cerebral and nervous system failure, impaired growth, problematic behavior patterns and short term memory. Lead was used extensively in several industrial and construction applications like cement, metal components, paints etc, and though the usage of lead in paints and other construction objects was banned after 1978, there is likely possibility of presence of high levels of lead in your home or office building if it was constructed before 1978. One would face the risk of lead poisoning in such cases, and the risk would be greater if the building paint is in the state of deterioration or peeling. Lead paint abatement by a Lead paint certified company is essential in such case, as only a certified company would be able to conduct lead abatement in an experienced manner.

The removal of lead paints cannot be done by an individual under safe conditions, and the attempt itself might cause the onset of lead poisoning. Lead abatement can be performed only by following the mandatory norms laid out by industry standards, and only a Lead paint certified company can do a thorough job of lead abatement. The testing and removal process for lead should be as per the EPA guidelines, and the same applies for preparation of surfaces, testing, identification and removal processes. All the surfaces like floors, doorways, objects, windows etc. are sealed with a plastic sheet in order to ensure total containment of the lead particles. The lead paint and particles are removed with the help of a vacuum filter which runs on a HEPA filter. Contact the most reliable Lead paint certified company that specializes in lead paint abatement services for a thorough and well accomplished Lead paint abatement.

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Asbestos Testing - A Professional Approach Is The Best Approach













asbestos testing
It is virtually impossible to detect asbestos fibers in an asbestos infested environment on one’s own. This is because, asbestos fibers can be perceived with special testing technologies and tools which only the experts are trained to employ and use. Finding out is also not enough and the testing must further be completed in the laboratory for final confirmation. Further, EPA has strict rules and guidelines for Asbestos Testing and Abatement and laboratories which conduct such tests, do it only after adhering to those.
Asbestos testing reveals that the most predominantly found asbestos in FA houses are –
  • Chrysotile 
  • Amosite
  • Crocidolite

Asbestos has been identified as a major airborne health hazard and its inhalation and absorption in the human system has been directly related to the incidences of cancer and mesothelioma. The most pathetic part of asbestos hazard is that any individual who is exposed to asbestos particles may not show symptoms of illnesses even upto 30 years after exposure. And then when it comes up, it is usually too late to rectify the situation. Since 1989, EPA has banned the use of asbestos in an attempt to address the health risks associated with it, but structures built before that may well have asbestos and asbestos particles embedded in them.

An asbestos testing can reveal the occurrence of asbestos in areas like asbestos pipes, roofing/flooring materials, asbestos drywall, wire insulation, duct tape,  floor leveling composites etc.

When you call FA asbestos testing experts for an examination of asbestos fibers in the air, the professionals will visit the location, use special filters to draw out air samples and thereby send the samples for testing at an EPA certified asbestos testing lab. If the results are positive, the company can be consulted for removal of asbestos and remediation.