Fortunately, there’s a good chance that you can rank among the long-standing companies when you’re adequately prepared to overcome the financial difficulties in business at all times. However, before we move on to discuss how you can do it, it’s essential to review some of the basic problems that lead organizations to deal with financial issues in the first place.

6 Factors That Lead Businesses to Encounter Financial Challenges

1. Inconsistent Cash Flow – Most companies don’t have the proper know-how to manage their cash flow adequately. These shortcomings include balancing accounts receivable and accounts payable to maximize the cash-to-cash conversion cycle.
2. Insufficient Capital – Insufficient capital is mostly due to a lack of a secure budget plan. However, no matter the cause, this factor alone compels more than half of the businesses to shut down before they get to start operating properly.
3. Debt Accumulation – With inconsistent cash flow and insufficient capital, there’s very little chance a company can avoid going into major debts that might greatly impact the organization in the long run. Often times when in order to cover overhead such as payroll and rent, business owners will take on a lot of debt in the form of credit cards or small business loans.
4. Debt Accumulation – Not to mention, you can’t make money without a steady, if not a growing, customer base. Lack of effort in boosting your marketing tactics is a big cause of a lack of a customer base. Many times, not enough market research has gone into determining where your proper customer base is.
5. Debt Accumulation – Not to mention, you can’t make money without a steady, if not a growing, customer base. Lack of effort in boosting your marketing tactics is a big cause of a lack of a customer base. Many times, not enough market research has gone into determining where your proper customer base is.
6. Unforeseen Expenses – Lastly, understating or completely neglecting the unforeseen expenses when creating a company budget is one of the leading reasons businesses run off-track and shut down. While payroll and facility expenses seem pretty straightforward, unexpected repairs to equipment, professional services such as attorneys and accountants can throw your budget off track.

8 Steps for Overcoming the Financial Difficulties in Business

1. Identify the Underlying Problems – To overcome the financial difficulties that come with running a business, you must identify your problem areas first. The six points we discussed previously will help you establish precisely what needs to be targeted to get back in control and on track.
2. Restructure Your Business and Budget Plans – Once you detect the weakest link leading to reduced profits, you can begin restructuring your business plan accordingly. This task is usually delegated to the senior project managers who can eliminate the business vulnerability by focusing on the company’s strengths. The business plan needs to be structured department-wise so that each team can focus on improving the targeted area using their particular expertise while utilizing the dedicated budget proficiently.
3. Check Inflows and Construct Business Expenses Effectively – There’s no funding, capitalization, or insurance without consistent incoming cash flow. That’s why it is necessary to check your inflows and establish whether you’ve been accumulating unnoticed debts or stocking your inventory unnecessarily. Once you’re monitoring your inflows diligently, you can construct your expenses without creating havoc. Furthermore, you should never be scrambling for funds at the end of every other month. Instead, all your dues and payments should be scheduled and planned, which gives you the time to negotiate better deals with suppliers or find new ones. Moreover, it’s crucial to factor in the unforeseen expenses when creating your company budgets, so nothing gets you off-track.
4. Sell Unnecessary Assets – If your business’s financial situation worsens with time, you must consider selling your unnecessary assets to gain back some of the lost control. You might be surprised how many immediate expenses can be covered using the money you get by selling assets your company has stopped using, to begin with.
5. Boost Your Marketing Tactics – The main initiative of any business is to make hefty profits, and you can’t do that without a rising customer base. If you want to encourage your potential clients to buy your products or patronize your services, you have to come up with revenue-boosting marketing strategies. While this step might require you to spend money for advertising your business, the sales you’ll get due to this will be more than compensating.
6. Look for Investors – Finding professional investors who are willing to finance your business helps you in more than one way. You get steady money to overcome the financial difficulties in business, in addition to upscaling your services, investing in good marketing tactics, and even using the investor’s experienced advice to turn your business around.
7. Pay Off the Biggest Debt First – Many businesses make the mistake of paying off their small debts while waiting for a miracle breakthrough to cover the major dues. In reality, you should concentrate on clearing your biggest duets first, considering that the rising interest rates you have to give back on them can effectively put you out of business when left unattended for a long time.
8. Report Everything – Lastly, it’s crucial to report all your finances regularly, so you don’t have to deal with a sudden expense without warning. Plus, it’s essential to remember that even reporting your revenues incorrectly on the tax forms can put your business in jeopardy at times since improper deductions can result in huge interest charges, fines, and jail time. Not to mention, when all your accounts payable and accounts receivable are listed in one place, you can construct your business plan much more effectively, keeping the report as your reference point.

The Final Verdict

While financial difficulties in businesses are a reality you can’t avoid, you can always make effective plans to position your company for success without incurring major losses in the process. As long as you manage to tackle the issues that keep lowering your sales and restructure your budget plan accordingly, your business will continue to grow slowly but surely.

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So, what can you do when you can’t seem to agree on the insurance cost? That’s where you need help from a public adjuster to settle your insurance claims!

Differences Between an Insurance Adjuster and a Public Adjuster

In simple terms, insurance adjusters work on behalf of the insurance company. While they may have a lot of information about making claims and propose decent repair costs, they don’t work directly for the homeowners.

On the other hand, public adjusters perform the same actions of assessing the damages and writing up proposals for each repair and their costs. However, they work directly for the homeowners instead of the insurance company. However, considering that you need to employ public adjusters yourself, you also need to pay for their services. Granted, it doesn’t come out of your pocket since they only charge a small percentage of what you claim ultimately from the insurance company.

Simply put, the key difference between an insurance adjuster and a public adjuster is who they are employed by to perform the given tasks of making an insurance claim. If that’s the case, then the question arises – Why would someone hire a public adjuster and provide them with a percentage of their claims for the same job insurance adjusters do for free?

To put things into further context, let’s understand why relying upon your insurance adjuster can prove to be a questionable decision for you at times.

The Negative Aspect of Depending Upon Your Insurance Adjuster

The truth is that company adjusters work for the insurance business and not the homeowners themselves. It’s also true that your insurance company might want to save some dollars during the payout process when you’ve had a big loss. While some reputable firms discourage such behavior among their employees, you can’t be sure about your situation until it’s too late for you to reclaim your insurance.

Also, because the insurance adjusters work directly for the company, they also have to consider the insurance company’s needs before making an offer to the homeowners. Ultimately, the final deal you get isn’t usually what you should have originally received from the insurance company for covering the damages adequately. This is where you might understand why depending upon the insurance adjuster might not work in your favor as conveniently as you originally thought.

5 Reasons to Hire Public Adjusters

Working with a public adjuster can give you a notable edge when you find yourself in the process of making an insurance claim. Here are five reasons to hire them that would make the overall proceeding far more worthwhile for you despite their charges:

1. Extensive Knowledge and Professional Standards – Insurance policies can be quite complex to interpret when you’re not an expert yourself. While the insurance adjusters may go over the details briefly with you during the claim process, public adjusters are much more invested in your well-being. They make sure you know your options and rights, helping you understand the insurance policy in simple terms. You can expect nothing less than perfect professionalism from them, considering that they require extensive training to become a licensed adjuster. Not to mention that they use their proficient knowledge to negotiate on your behalf instead of the insurance company.
2. Save You Money When Making a Reclaim – When you aren’t satisfied with what your insurance adjuster puts down on the table, your only options are to employ a public adjuster or open an investigation with an attorney’s help. If you choose to go with the latter option, your attorney will likely have to hire a public adjuster to scrutinize your case. Ultimately, you’ll likely end up paying fees for both professionals. By taking the initiative and hiring a public adjuster yourself, you’ll save a considerable amount of your money while getting the best deal out of it.
3. Save Time – It comes under the public adjuster’s responsibilities to manage your claim entirely on your behalf. This means you wouldn’t need to deal with anything yourself since your adjuster will be the one processing the paperwork, answering the calls and emails, and communicating with your insurance carrier. This also resolves your claim much faster compared to when you’re handling the matters yourself.
4. Reveal the Missing Parts of the Claim – When making a big claim, like in the case of home fires or extensive flood damage, there can be many things that need fixing, which you can’t usually see on the surface. While an insurance adjuster might ignore those aspects when proposing a cost for the encountered damages, a reputable public adjuster will always add those repair jobs to the proposal for you. Because of their experience and determination to locate every possible damage, you can stop worrying whether the insurance money you’ll receive will be enough to cover the hidden repairs.
5. Strive for Highest Possible Settlements – Lastly, public adjusters make it their mission to land larger settlement claims for the homeowners. As bigger settlements also profit them ultimately, you can expect them to work the best on your case without you having to interfere or check up on them time and again.

Public adjusters are professionals who you can hire at any time during the claim process, just as long as you haven’t signed the final release. Since they are dedicated experts in the field, you can expect your insurance claim process to be completed in a professional and timely manner.

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Virtual Communication

While it may not be urgent at this time, increased technology use and virtual conferencing has become “the new normal” allowing businesses, coworkers and recruiters to collaborate from anywhere. As you’d expect, popular communication software companies have taken advantage of this climate, adding special features to accommodate people and businesses.

Outsourcing More

More distance means more opportunities for productivity. As a result, businesses have been capitalizing on their ability to outsource IT services, marketing, accounting and everything in between. Not only has this allowed businesses to safely social distance, but it has also enabled them to cut costs in many areas. Not to mention how many opportunities this has created for businesses that depend on being outsourced.

Virtual Services

There was a time (early 2020) where face-to-face or in-person was seen as imperative for many jobs. This number has since drastically decreased thanks to COVID-19. Employers and business owners saw in-person positions as advantageous for certain reasons, not giving remote options a second thought until they were out of options. In many cases, it turns out that not only are these positions possible but in some cases more productive with autonomy. Many positions in business, accounting, legal services and many more have made the transition with little sign of going back.

Rethinking Customer Service

This may come as a surprise to some, but customer service practices saw a shift following the COVID-19 pandemic. So many customer service procedures have shifted from in-person social media and chatbots. This has drastically helped businesses cut costs and save time.
Automating these processes has also created new jobs in the space, from coding to strategy and policy all in the name of safety and efficiency.

Diversifying Their Products and Services

As certain tasks and services found themselves in less demand, many businesses felt the need to diversify their services to compensate. As an example, the restaurant space now needs less wait staff and indoor space and more delivery services to accommodate social distancing regulations. To compensate for lack of certain demands, businesses looked to bolster and/or replace less desirable services for others. That way they could make up lost revenue while possibly capitalizing on newfound opportunities.

Important Takeaways

Any sticky situation, in any climate calls for change. The challenge is whether businesses are ready to make such changes, especially when they are as drastic as what was required during COVID-19. All in all, it looks like entrepreneurs and businesses alike now see the importance of being creative and dynamic because, in a blink of an eye, the world can be put on its head. So whether it’s a matter of regulating communications, outsourcing work, or diversifying your services, the ability to adjust is what will enable businesses to survive anything – and that’s what’s important.

The post 5 Ways Businesses Have Adapted to COVID-19 appeared first on Newton Search.

Starlight Theatre

Artistically named after its open-sky backdrop, Starlight Theatre is the place to be when you want to enjoy live music in a glamorous outdoor setting. The theatre is ideal for experiencing memorable musical and theatrical performances. The Theatre’s brick arches and tower lighting the sky during night performances are an aesthetic delight all on their own. Plus, it’s a bonus you would never see coming that the theatre is explicitly designed such that there is no bad seat in the house! No matter how close or far you get a place to enjoy the concert, you’ll still have an epic view of the stage from all angles. Simply put, Starlight Theatre is an iconic music venue that only a few other destinations could ever rival!

Knuckleheads Saloon

One thing makes Kansas City’s Knuckleheads Saloon stand apart – you can’t possibly find a more laid-back venue for music like it in the city. It welcomes millions of people from around the world every year! With one open-air stage and two indoor stages, it is nestled beside an atmospheric setting of railroad tracks and roadside atmosphere, this is one of the best music venues in Kansas City, one that you should visit if you like to move to classic pop tunes and hip-hop beats. Above all, Knuckleheads Saloon is one of the best live music joints to check out, especially if you favor locally loved establishments!

Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland

The backdrop for Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland can be best described as “enticingly fancy” and “royal-like.” No matter where your eyes land, you’ll find something that grabs your attention. Imagine giant crystal chandeliers, masterful displays of Baroque architecture, antique art, and gilded ceilings that ensure fantastic acoustics, and you’ve got yourself the perfect setting for enjoying a musical night that’s nothing less than luxurious. Plus, you know a place is worth visiting when there is a myriad of top local and international artists playing on its stage! Since this theatre is located at an ideal spot close to bars, hotels, and restaurants, you can always visit those destinations either before or after the show to have a great time.

The Phoenix Jazz Lounge

This historic lounge located in the historic Phoenix hotel was originally rumored to be a bordello in the 1880s, this establishment has been operating as a live music venue for decades. If you’re looking to have some drinks and grab scrumptious food while taking in the brassy, jazz rhythms, The Phoenix Jazz Lounge should be your go-to music venue! The live music starts playing every evening at six (except for Sundays), welcoming the house-favorite bands to jazz up the night with jam sessions and open mic events. If nothing else, you should not miss out on their chicken and waffles that further lure the visitors into falling in love with the cozy, local-friendly jazz club!

Steinway Kansas City

Steinway Kansas City, also known as the Steinway Piano Gallery of Kansas City, is one location you must visit when you want to indulge in classical music. While this may not be a concert venue or a jazz lounge, it’s still an establishment worth visiting if you love everything about pianos and the music played on them. SKC is the first and only exclusive Steinway-authorized showroom you’ll find in the city. The visitors can experience the brand’s rich legacy and commitment to the craft firsthand. Showcasing the complete product line of Steinway, Boston, and Essex pianos, you can expect nothing less than a world-class experience here, all set in a modernly styled environment. Whether you’re looking to purchase a piano, piano services, music education, or simply wanting to learn about the Steinway heritage, Steinway Kansas City welcomes everyone graciously at this haven for music lovers!

Green Lady Lounge

If there’s one thing you’ll find in abundance in Kansas City, it’s jazz joints. After all, considering that jazz clubs are staples of the music life in KC, you can’t expect anything less than that. However, if you’d rather only visit the top jazz bars that exemplify the perfect fusion of jazz and Kansas culture, you should head down to the Green Lady Lounge. This lounge features the top Kansas City jazz musicians. The Green Lady Lounge is known for its authentic “jazzy feel” with a main floor and basement setting with the same classy vibe and dim-lit backdrop, it also makes a great place for couples looking for the perfect, intimate date night settings, surrounded by soothing live music.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts might be the ultimate music venue for classical music and the performing arts enthusiast. It is home to the Kansas City Orchestra and Symphony, along with the KC Ballet. Their mission is to provide extraordinary and diverse performing arts experiences and they do this by showcasing the top performances from a variety of national and international talents. If you are a classical music lover, attending a performance at the Kauffman Center should be on your list of to-dos.
We hope you have the best time visiting these excellent music venues in Kansas City and get to experience all that these Kansas City music venues have to offer.

Wikimedia/Starlight Theatre

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Hardscapes can be defined as the “brick and mortar” aspect of landscape or built-in features. These things are the nonliving components. Hardscapes can serve as a practical aspect of your landscape design and include such things as, driveways, sidewalks, and walkways to get you from one place to the other within your landscape. Walls and fences can serve as a barrier between yards and are made from various materials such as stone, iron, or wood. Hardscapes can also serve as a more decorative feature with such things as, patios, decks, waterscapes, garden tresses, gazebos, and much more. These can be pivotal aspects of your landscape that make your design go for ordinary to amazing and make your yard stand out.

Softscapes consist of the living or used to be living components of your design. These include grass, shrubs, plants, trees, and ground cover. Ground cover such as mulch and pine straw and trees and plants are some of the most common types of softscapes. When considering your soft scape components you should take into consideration your geographical location’s climate, rainfall, and also the amount of sun and shade those areas in your design will receive. Some grasses, plants shrubs, and trees require more sun or shade, and placement in your design for these elements is crucial. Consider how much rainfall you receive and some plants and grasses require more or less water to thrive. All of these should be a consideration when designing your space.

Softscapes require maintenance which includes watering, trimming, planting and other tasks to ensure success. Softscapes are often purchased from local home improvement stores, nurseries, or tree farms and are planted, installed, and maintained by homeowners or landscape contractors.

Both hardscapes and softscapes are key elements to a beautiful outdoor space. There are a few differences between the two. Here are 5 key differences.

• Hardscapes are a more permanent solution to softscapes. Hardscapes generally require building or constructing each element with careful planning and execution. These elements are often a semi-permanent aspect or require substantial work to be removed or taken down. There is generally a higher cost involved with hardscape installation. These costs are for materials and labor. These features often require the help of professional landscape designers or installers to put together the final product. Keep in mind when designing these features that elements such as drainage or lack thereof can cause issues and should be planned out prior to building these elements.
• Softscapes tend to be a more changeable aspect over hardscape features. They often create a mood or feel for landscape design. This can be done by changing out different flowers, trees, or shrubs in order to update the look of your design. This can be as simple as changing out plants by updated colors from season to season or changing the layout or design of flower beds for an updated look.
• Softscapes require a higher level of maintenance than hardscapes. While hardscapes may require more labor and materials at the start of the project, the long term maintenance on them is minimal. Whereas, softscapes require continuous maintenance to continue to thrive and maintain their beauty. Regular watering, trimming, mowing, and various other upkeep tasks are required.
• Hardscapes are often the area in our outdoor space that people occupy whether it be a sitting or gathering area or a path or walkway to another area of your outside oasis. These items include decks, patios, and pools where people can gather and enjoy the outdoor space. Hardscapes also provides a way to organize the softscape areas of your yard with retaining walls and other hardscape features.
• Softscapes are often used to create a more visually appealing aspect to your landscape. This can be done with the use of colorful flowers and shrubs along with plants in various heights to create a dramatic feel. Plants, trees, and shrubs often provide a balance between what can often be a colder appearance of hardscapes.

While both hardscapes and softscapes work hand in hand in the design of your outdoor living space keep in mind when planning out your landscaping oasis you should consider both as key components to your design. Both are crucial parts of your dream landscape design.

The post The Differences In Hardscapes and Softscapes and Why Is It Important to Have Both appeared first on Newton Search.

Medical marijuana is nothing new. In fact, for thousands of years before Christ, the Chinese used cannabis tea to treat a wide range of illnesses and medical conditions. It is even said that Queen Victoria utilized CBD to quel what was then known as ‘female troubles’. During the mid-19th century, an Irish physician, Wiliam O’Shaughnessy, published his study on cannabis’ therapeutic applications. Sadly, his findings were considered so radical at the time, that prominent medical universities and practitioners refused to acknowledge him. Another century would pass before an American chemist, Roger Adam, isolated the cannabis compound, Cannabidiol or CBD.

Again, research on its therapeutic benefits was slow to evolve due to the stigma of its notorious sibling, marijuana. Money for research dried up. However, during the 1980s university work continued on the medically frail with very positive results. In one study, 300mg of CBD was injected daily to a small pool of epilepsy patient volunteers. The dosage proved to be highly effective in reducing or completely eliminating their seizures. However, the outcomes were not publicized, and further study was not subsidized.

Medical marijuana

However, behind the scenes, the benefits of marijuana increasingly gained ground and support for its legalization led to the passage of the landmark Proposition 215 in California, which legalized marijuana for medical purposes only. Other states followed including Maine, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Hawaii and Nevada, which incidentally, have thousands of fertile acres ideal for raising (medical) marijuana cash crops.

One of the long-time roadblocks to complete acceptance of CBD is the lack of substantial medical research available, and the public’s continued aversion to anything associated with an addictive drug. For most, cannabis is termed a ‘gateway drug’, in that by itself, it is not particularly harmful, but its use leads to experimentation and addiction to more powerful and dangerous drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and even prescription opioids. However, thanks to the rise of the internet and social media as a public forum, those who have benefitted from the use of medical marijuana and CBD are telling their stories. These range from epileptics for whom seizures are a thing of the past, to cancer patients whose pain has been alleviated, to those who claim that CBD has cured their cancer.

Due to this growing awareness and substantiated accounts by actual patients, the retail market for CBD has increased exponentially. As such the market is predicted to have a value of $22 billion in less than three years. Nearly every day one finds credible articles about a new ailment or condition, such as stress, anxiety, hypertension, wherein a need to be calm and relaxed proves beneficial to health and wellbeing. And for every case, CBD is cited as the vehicle in providing the solution, relief, or cure.

Today, CBD products are seen everywhere. At first they were available only in boutique outlets and stand alone pharmacies. Today big box stores and chain drug stores carry them. Less than a week ago, this author stopped in a Connecticut liquor store and found Gummy CBD products and other cannabis products displayed by the register. For the record, I refrained from buying them for my co-workers as souvenirs.

Recently there have been two more breakthroughs for those who are pro-CBD’s widespread use: The FDA approved a CBD-based oral solution, Epidolex. Available by prescription only, the drug is the first known to utilize the compound CBD in the treatment of epilepsy. In addition, the government has softened its stance on growing CBD which was legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill passed by both Houses in Washington, D.C.

There are countless forums debating the issue and countless more patients who claim that their medical conditions have been reduced, alleviated, or even cured by compounds from the same plant their grandparents smoked to get high. Whether seeing CBD in your local chain store or hearing someone’s account of its therapeutic benefits first hand, CBD is not going away anytime soon. And, as more medical research dollars are allocated for its research, Cannabidiol may yet receive the respect and widespread medical use it seems destined to achieve. Time will tell.

The post Cannabis Goes Mainstream: A Short History of CBD appeared first on Newton Search.

Legal Services/Law Firms

No matter what, there will always be a need for lawyers and paralegals across all practices. This is true for individuals and businesses seeking legal assistance, as statistically, they will at some point in their lives. We all know the value of a great lawyer, don’t we?

These are the practices we think are most valuable:

• Trusts and Estates
• Elder Law
• Criminal Law
• Personal Injury
• Intellectual Property
• Business Law
• Employment Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• Constitutional Law
• Family Law

Real Estate and Leasing

Following the housing crisis of 2008, the real estate market has shown us a new life. We’re seeing a large influx of rentals, with millennials disproportionately owning their homes. A constant and steady income is never a bad idea! With that said, homes are still going at a solid rate and economists expect homeownership in millennials to increase in years to come.

All in all, real estate offers stability within an industry that will never go away.

Digital Marketing Services

With more being done online (both via phones and full computers), business is inevitably following. Between increasing exposure on search engines, digital advertising, social media marketing, web design and development, public relations, and content creation, there is ample opportunity for selling useful and profitable services for businesses of all sizes and industries.

Doctors Offices

Like with law firms… everyone needs ones (only more so). We’re seeing more urgent care centers opening up, making accessibility easier for people. As with most business models, more accessibility leads to more opportunities. With generally high-profit margins, doctors’ offices are always solid options for entrepreneurs.

Cleaning Services

Regardless of the economy, cleaning services are an essential service for both commercial and residential properties. Despite misconceptions, the services aren’t particularly cheap, producing average rates of upwards of $35/hr.

Funeral Homes

People have always and will always die. As morbid as that sounds, it’s the truth, making funeral homes an industry that will boom consistency for as long as mankind exists. This is also part of the American culture… to give the dead a peaceful departure.

The obstacle is getting started… you’ll need a large house with an office, wide-open rooms for wakes and a large basement for prep work. Then the overhead of cremation, which most outsource. With all that considered, the average American funeral costs between $7000-10,000.

Landscaping and Gardening

Landscaping services can be unexpectedly profitable when their clientele is right. Residential homes, businesses, office blocks, golf courses, and so many areas can serve as gold mines for organized landscaping crews.

You’ll need a crew, trucks, and of course, equipment that should cost you around $25,000 to get started. After months of hard work, you can be in the black.

If you’re capable of motivating and managing crews of people, then you should be able to retain clients and generate large profits over time.

Dental Offices

Dentists are important and there’s a reason why there’s been a recent influx of them. Many Americans visit the dentist at least twice per year, so there’s plenty of business not even considering people that need actual work done.

Accounting Services

Having a trustworthy accounting service is imperative for businesses and even more so for those on the larger side. Their services are wide and with an average net profit nearing 20%, the project itself is somewhat of a no brainer. The trick is assembling a high-quality team. This, largely because of the high level of competition.

Personal Training and Fitness Instructors

Fitness is full of fun fads and trends and people will pay top dollar for proper guidance. Take CrossFit for example. The demand for personal trainers and fitness locations will never diminish and the variety of practices (CrossFit, weights, yoga boutiques, etc.) should explain just how valuable this industry is.

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Name: Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque
Date Established: 1908
Address: 1727 Brooklyn Ave, Kansas City

The legendary barbecue joint has hosted presidents and celebrities for one main reason, and that’s their reputation for slow-cooked succulent meats! The meats are cooked with hickory and/or oak and are combined with their secret sauces that give you the legend you see today. There are a few locations now, but we recommend going to the original first.

Name: Gates Bar-B-Q
Date Established: 1946
Address: 1325 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd, Kansas City

For unbelievable seasoned meats at family-style portions, your best stop is Gates. Many of their meats have their special sauces rubbed in for a consistent (to the bone) taste that you expect from the masters. The atmosphere is unique in the sense that you know its a famous place, but it gives you a comfortable home-like feeling.

Name: Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue
Date Established: 1974
Address: 101 West 22nd Street #300, Kansas City

There’s a lot of competition, but when it comes to a barbecue sandwich, we probably have to go with Fiorella’s. The burnt-end ribs are among one of the best things you can get in Kansas City and the brisket sandwiches are right up there as well. Like many older establishments, the rustic aesthetic at the Freight House will only improve your experience.

Name: Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
Date Established: 1996
Address: 3002 W 47th Ave Kansas City

Joe’s is a local favorite and is actually… a gas station. Obviously, it’s known more for its competition-level barbecue and now they ship this delicious food. Above all else, you must try the Z-Man, which is brisket, onion rings and their signature barbecue sauce on toasted buns.

Name: Scott’s Kitchen and Catering at Hangar 29
Date Established: 2009
Address: 11920 N Ambassador Drive, Kansas City

Located right off Highway 29, Scott’s Kitchen has become a tourist and a traveler’s destination for the past 10 years. They do a wide variety of cuisines from classic barbecue to burritos and even breakfast! While this might not be the typical “bucket list” spot, it’s become a staple and is a must-try!

Name: Q39
Date Established: 2014
Address: 1000 W 39th St, Kansas City

Acting as a perfect hybrid of classic barbecue and wood-fire grilling, Q39 captures the vintage taste of midwest grilling with a touch of modernism. It’s equipped with a full bar and drink specials with music to complete the trifecta of fun energy.

Name: Plowboys Barbecue
Date Established: 2001
Address: 1111 Main St. Suite 120 Kansas City

The home of grand grilling champions and many fun nights, Plowboys gives midwest barbecue a refreshing spin! They’re most known for their BBQ nachos, which is a long-time local favorite. We’re particularly fans of their ribs and moink, but your favorites are for you to decide.

Name: Char Bar
Date Established: 1995
Address: 4050 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City

Char Bar gives you the best of both worlds, great barbecue and an atmosphere to match… also a great beer selection! That’s three worlds! The atmosphere includes fun outdoor activities like cornhole which molds it into more of a hangout spot for an afternoon, rather than a quick dive. Quick tip: their burnt ends are insanely good!

Name: Kobi-Q
Date Established: 2018
Address: 1531 Grand Blvd, Kansas City

This is our dark horse. The Korean BBQ and sushi bar might be the odd man out on our list, but in terms of quality and excellence, it fits right in. While the ingredients might be unique, the flavor is something anyone can appreciate!

Name: Slap’s BBQ
Date Established: 2014
Address: 533 Central Ave, Kansas City

If you’re a fan of smokey, you’ll have to visit Slap’s! Their smokey and spicy foods are among some of the best around, ranging from classic to southern cuisine, and Mexican! Their custom sauces and spices are top of the game too, which they conveniently sell on the side.

Name: Hawg Jaw Que & Brew
Date Established: 2008
Address: 900 Swift St, North Kansas City

Hawg Jaw is home to some of the best BBQ, sandwiches and hot dogs you’ll find. They also have the best beer selection available, when it comes to craft beers. It’s a small, mellow establishment with an inviting atmosphere and food that will make you never want to leave.

The post The 11 Best Barbecue Spots In Kansas City appeared first on Newton Search.

Let’s Start With The Grill

There’s been a long (seemingly never-ending) debate as to which is the superior grill: gas or charcoal. We’re going to tell you the truth (and it might hurt some of you), but the answer is neither. Both types have it’s sets of pros and cons and each serves more specific purposes that can make the lives easier of the owners, depending on what they cook and how they do things.

The real question is choosing the right tool for the job. That’s where we come in!

Pros of Charcoal

• They Last Longer: Like most things, this is a double-edged sword. While gas grills tend to have more features, those very same bells and whistles tend to depreciate their lifespans while charcoal grills tend to live longer lives.
• The Food Tastes Better: This is obviously subject to opinion, but most will agree that the flavor result is superior with charcoal. It’s the main things that justify the cons listed below.
• The Smell of The Process: In my opinion, there’s no better feeling than cooking over a charcoal grill. The fumes just smell of summer and that’s something gas will never be able to replicate.

Cons of Charcoal

• Things Can Get Messy
• Cleaning and prepping a charcoal grill is typically dirtier, especially if you use old charcoal to save money. I expect to get dirty while prepping from the ash and coals and get cleaned up before its time to prep the food.
• Inferior Flame Management
• You can arrange the coals to fit what you’re trying to make, but it’s not the same as gas. You can simply turn the ignitor on/off and manage the flames with ease, while that is not possible on charcoal.

Pros of Gas

• The Entire Process Is Easier
• Everything from starting the flame, from cleaning the grill is simply more convenient. The grills tend to look nicer as well.
• Propane is Cheaper Than Charcoal
• Cost of fuel is cheaper for gas grills, which can save you a lot of money depending on how often you like to barbecue.
• Temperature is Easier to Control
• Back to flame management. Point, gas!

Cons of Gas

• Grills Are More Expensive
• While the fuel is cheaper, the models themselves tend to be more expensive. They also take more attention to maintain.

Preferred Brands for Gas & Charcoal

• Weber
• Char-Broil

Which Is Best For You?

The truth is, it depends on you!

Grilling Accessories

Here’s what we recommend:

• Spatula
• Tongs
• Basting Brush
• Scraper
• Thermometer

Party Activities!

While you’re cooking (and after the fact), you’re sure to have all kinds of things going on for a fun barbecue. More activities means more people can have fun.

Here are some favorites that can get anyone ready for a summer party:

• Bluetooth Speakers
• Cornhole
• Badminton
• Kanjam

The post How To Choose The Perfect Setup For Your Barbecue appeared first on Newton Search.

Until the U.S. economy dipped in 2008, physical retailers did not consider online commerce a threat. After all, the internet did not offer the security shoppers were thought to value most. Over time online transaction technology improved and detailed product descriptions, and facilitated returns processes overcame shoppers’ need to examine items before they make their buying decisions. The internet, the rise of mobile devices to access the web, better and more ways to shop, the convenience of online browsing proved to be more competition than brick and mortar retailers could handle. Over the decade from 2006-2016, J. C. Penney, Sears, Sears, Nordstrom, Macy’s and Kohl’s posted a combined loss of $75B in market share. And for the same 10-year span, how did Amazon fare? From under $20B it grow exponentially to almost $356B in market share.
So why, now, are so many eCommerce giants opening physical retail outlets? The costs associated with starting and running an online business are substantially cheaper than establishing a brick and mortar. There are no leases for one thing, nor salaries for salespeople. Warehousing and distribution channels are less costly as well. It is just smart business today to start a business online then transfer it to Main Street or to the mall.

Where Startups Go to Thrive

eCommerce is also way kinder to startups. Statistically, nine out of ten new brick and mortar businesses will falter within a year. However, there are thousands of examples of thriving enterprises that got their start on the net. One such example: two short years ago, few knew about Warby Parker, which makes affordable prescription eyewear. The now-established brand has stores in select markets in strip malls and on Main Streets. The firm now earns more per square foot than long-time household name brands such as Best Buy and is giving Lenscrafters a run for its market share. Yes, Warby-Parker got its start online. Need another example? Everyone needs a mattress, but until a few years ago in this highly competitive industry, no one would have considered buying one without trying it first. Enter Casper which joined this crowded field online, established itself as a luxury mattress brand, and is now making its presence known in select shopping malls throughout the country.

Okay, that scenario makes sense for new business. But what about these eCommerce giants? Amazon did not go all in. Not at first. It tested the waters by opening zilch cost to maintain kiosks in malls across the country. Most of these outlets succeeded leading to Amazon’s more ambitious foray into physical retail. What is their game plan, and what’s in it for them that they are stealing a page from brick and mortar’s playbook?

Turns out, to fully reap the benefits from all possible revenue streams, online giants have to reach stalwart brick and mortar shoppers. To partner with resellers at brick and mortars is just not as economical as setting up their own shops. For Google, Amazon, and most notably Apple (who still maintains profitable relationship with resellers) this model is fast becoming a well-worn and very profitable. Think how quick but impersonal it is to buy personal technology such as Apple’s latest iWatch, iPad, or iPhone without being able to hold it and run it through its paces? Should you go to a reseller such as a cell phone provider, however, that environment is one of hustle and hurry with profit, not service, as their goal. But go to an Apple Store, and these sleek beacons of the latest innovative gadgetry allow you to roam freely, examine any product you wish, and purchase or just ask questions of knowledgeable staffers.

So what are consumers and retailers alike learning from this new shopping experience? To begin, brick and mortar retail is not dying. Instead it is going through a major period of adjustment and readjustment. The business model is changing due to shifts in consumer buying habits. And impulse is fickle. That paradigm can and will change, but the concept of going into a store, seeing, touching, sampling, and selecting merchandise is not going to disappear any time soon. There may be fewer sales staff to assist, as is the case with big box stores such as Home Depot who have moved almost entirely to self service point of sale stations.

That said, one key function of the buying experience will never change: personalization. When consumers no longer feel that their needs are being fully served online, they will return to brick and mortars to regain that control over the sales process. When they do, they’ll be in for a surprise. In their absence, even big box retailers will be operating from smaller premises. From the seduction of no or low-inventory supply chains and distribution centers to semi-automated checkouts, the interactive aspect of online shopping has come home to roost for physical retailers. Perhaps a happy medium has been struck. Time will tell.

The post Why eCommerce Giants Like Amazon are Opening Brick and Mortars appeared first on Newton Search.