Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Making $2000 on eBay, selling Silver Jewelry

Apisith C.

Making money selling silver jewelry is simple. All you need is a computer with an

internet connection and some basic computer skills, and a suppplier that provides

you more than just jewelry.

You will be needing a supplier to caters to your specific needs. If you want to

succeed selling jewelry on ebay you need to have a large variety of items,

beautiful pictures, and new products consistently.

Since you would be starting a new business, it would not be easy for you to

purchase from suppliers with minimum orders, even a minimum order of $100 is too

high for newbies. Silver jewelry costs around $2 and above per piece; depending on

the design/make. A $100 minimum would end you up with 50 pieces; and what if the

items do not get sold? Most suppliers do guarantee their products, and will refund

you for incorrect merchandise. Is there any supplier that would allow you to

return products that are not sold within a certain period of time?

If your supplier provides pictures, it will save you a LOT of time, taking good

pictures of jewelry requires a good camera, the correct lighting, and a lot of

time.

Further more, if a supplier packages products individually; it would save you a lot

of time to package the products. You should be receiving a shipment with all the

products prepackged, in either plastic bags, or bubble wrap; so all you have to do

is sort them out, insert them into envelopes/boxes and mail them to your clients.

You can easily profit up to 200-300% of your buying cost, ie. buying a ring for

$3.00 and reselling it on ebay for $10. That is $7.00 profit, from just clicking

your mouse.

If you list 10 rings a day, it would be $70 In 30 days, for a total of 30 days,

that is $2100.00 ; minus 10% for ebay expenses and other costs; you would be left

with approximately $1900.00 This is only the minimum, by selling 10 rings / day.

You can list a lot more. There are other products too, such as earrings, bracelets,

pendants...and more. All of this; and more are profitable items.

A supplier that allows you to return items that are unsold, is your guarantee to

success. There is no real investment involved, if it does not work; just return the

items. However if it works, build on from there.

http://www.925silver4u.com

Mr. Apisith is founder/president of www.925silver4u.com, An excellent resource for home businesses looking to start a silver jewelry retail business.

Seven Valentine's Day Tips for Spouses in "Less-Than-Perfect" Marriages
Nancy J. Wasson, Ph.D.

Valentine's Day can be a depressing day when you're in an unhappy or shaky marriage. In every store or advertisement you see romantic cards, heart-shaped boxes of candy, or select jewelry for the special lover's day.

Restaurants publish their special menus in advance and give food items names such as "lover's delight chocolate dessert." Radio stations sponsor contests focused around the theme of Valentine's Day, and newspapers run pictures and stories about spouses with long marriages. Everywhere you turn, you are bombarded with pictures and stories of happy lovers.

What can you do to survive Valentine's Day when you are worried sick that your marriage is on the rocks? How do you deal with all the love hoopla when your spouse doesn't know if he or she really loves you or wants to stay married?

The following seven tips will help you to keep your perspective and sanity:

1. Be your own valentine this year and celebrate the wonderful person that you are. Make an appointment to have a massage or pedicure on Valentine's Day as a present to yourself. Or make plans with a friend to dine at a gourmet restaurant either on Valentine's Day or the day before. Buy yourself a new CD or book that you've been wanting. Leave work early, if possible, and do something fun such as going to a movie in the middle of the work afternoon.

2. Make a commitment to love yourself and to treat yourself with care and respect. Resolve to take good care of yourself by exercising, eating right, taking time to relax and see friends, and getting enough rest. Throw any martyr tendencies out the window and make your health and wellbeing a top priority. This is not being selfish. If you don't nurture yourself first, you won't be in any shape to give quality energy and time to your marriage.

3. Commit to being okay no matter what happens in your marriage. It's essential that you make yourself a promise that you'll have a quality life with or without your spouse. By showing respect for yourself and belief in your ability to thrive whether married or not, you'll be coming from a place of empowerment and strength. The attributes of personal strength and confidence attract others and engender respect, making you a more desirable partner.

4. Accept uncertainty and see it as an opportunity to flex your faith muscles, build resiliency, and develop the discipline to live in the present moment as much as possible. With practice, you can learn to curb your tendency to worry about the future and can expand more of your energy into making the most of the time you have now. Everyone has periods of time when everything is up in the air and how things will turn out is unknown. And as poet Walt Whitman reminds us, "The future is no more uncertain than the present."

5. Practice having fun, even when you're feeling miserable! Don't wait until your life is perfect to plan fun activities. Do something that you've wanted to do but have put off. You might have said to yourself, "One day I'm going to take piano lessons." Now is the time to get started. Make a list of things that you'd enjoy doing and pick one to put on your schedule. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to wait and see what happens in your marriage before you take steps to create a more satisfying life. The time to start enjoying life is now.

6. Expand your support circle. Stay in touch with your friends, even though your first impulse may be to withdraw when you're feeling blue. Look for ways to increase your contact with others such as taking a night class, going hiking with a local hiking group, or attending services at your church, synagogue, or mosque. Don't let fear of questions keep you at home. You can be discrete and give a response such as, "I can't get into it, but I appreciate your caring and concern so very much. Thank you."

7. Find your strong woman or strong man warrior
energy. Go rappelling, learn to scuba dive, ride in a hot air balloon, try para-sailing, plan a backpacking trip, go horseback riding, lift weights, explore river rafting, dance around a campfire, sing powerful songs, or sign up for a martial arts class. Do whatever empowers you and make you feel strong and energetic. Stretch out of your comfort zone and surprise yourself by doing something different. Then congratulate yourself for your spunk.

Tips adapted from the book Keep Your Marriage: What To Do When Your Spouse Says "I don't love you anymore!" by Nancy J. Wasson, Ph.D. and Lee Hefner. Available only at http://www.KeepYourMarriage.com.



Nancy J. Wasson, Ph.D., is co-author of Keep Your Marriage: What to Do When Your Spouse Says "I don't love you anymore!" Available only at http://www.Keep Your Marriage.com. Nancy can be contacted at Nancy@KeepYourMarriage.com.

Monday, August 01, 2005

How to buy the perfect engagement ring and save $1000s

Peter Vine

Buying a diamond engagement ring can be a risky business! For most of us an engagement ring is the third most expensive purchase we are likely to make, after our home and car. However I can guarantee you know much more about buying a house, or a car than you do about buying a diamond ring! This lack of knowledge opens up the opportunity for dishonest people to take advantage of you.

This generally takes the form of selling you a poor quality diamond ring for a higly inflated price.

How can you avoid the pitfalls?

There are some basic precautions you can take, which will significantly reduce the risk. Some of these include:

Get Educated - Research the subject of buying diamonds, in exactly the same way you would if you were buying a car. There is no substituted for this, and if you are willing to make the effort you can have more knowledge of the subject in 2 hours, than 95% of your fellow consumers.

Buy from a reputable source - Whether you decide to make your purchase online or at a Jewelry store, make sure you have some background on the store. Visit the store and ask the salesman questions to gauge his level of knowledge. I would suggest you avoid the Jewelry districts, simply because the competition is so fierce that it breeds questionable practices and half truths amongst the occupants.

Never buy a diamond without a certificate - Without a certificate you could quite easily buy a piece of glass set into an engagement ring setting and be non the wiser, but up to $5000 poorer. However a certificate alone does not guarantee a better deal, you need to be proficient in understanding exactly what it is telling you, and how each factor that is covered affects the price and quality of the ring.

Understand the 4 C's of diamonds - Most people know something about the 4 C's of diamond buying including, Cut, Clarity, Carat and Color. However very few people know how to each of the 4 factors interact to determine the price and quality of a diamond.

If you follow this advice you significantly reduce your chance of being fleeced by a dishonest salesman. Treat your purchase as a significant financial purchase. Set your budget up-front and do not go too much above or below the price you've set yourself. Try not to get to emotionally involved in the purchase and the outcome should be favorable.


Peter Vine is the author of "Diamond Ring Secrets" the first easy to read guide to buying the perfect diamond engagement ring. Get a free chapter from the book at:

http://www.diamond-ring-secrets.com

Buying Gold Jewelry Without Being Ripped-Off
Sam Serio

Buying gold jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of gold jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality gold jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.

Gold
The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, it's usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry
is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.

The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.

Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you don't see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.

Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark.

Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.

Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay.

Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate.



The Authors of the above Article, Sam and Tami Serio have been passionately involved with Jewelry and Gemstones for over fifteen-years. You are cordially invited to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com for a wealth of information about the fascinating world of Jewelry and Gemstones. Together they also shelter 20 abandoned and abused dogs & cats. A portion of their profits goes to the care and feeding of the animals.

Fashion purchases

Jacqueline Biles - New York Shopping Mall

New fashions in clothing are constantly changing, and everyone searches for a sale. A fashion statement is similar to the type of car you drive, and the type of business card you present to a client. It must be of quality and the appearance must express this at a glance.
Everyone requires quality in clothing, jewelry, cars or whatever they should decide to purchase. The problem is the ability to afford quality!
We at New York Shopping Mall are trying to solve this problem for all shoppers. We have created a online mall which offers cash back on purchases, and contains quality clothing,(polo, baby phat), jewelry(14k, sterling silver, and surgical steel) including body jewelry, perfume,(Giorgio, Jennifer Lopez), handbags,(gucci,prada),shoes,
department stores,(macys,target,walmart)
tools, and more. THE KEY TO SAVINGS IS SHOP FROM OUR SITE AND WE WILL GIVE YOU CASH BACK.
Happy Secure Shopping!!!
http://newyorkshoppingmall.weblodge.net



Retail owner

COLLECTING SHEET MUSIC
LAURA THYKESON OF ICE ORIGINALS

Why do people collect sheet music? There are several reasons
why. First and foremost, all of us have a favorite song. No
matter what walk of life you are from, you have at least one
song that brings back memories of days gone by. Whether the
memories are good or bad, the song has still become a part of
your history.

Many people collect sheet music, especially from the early
1900's, because of the beautiful artwork on the front covers.
There were many artists that worked for different music
publishing companies, and some of these artists also went on to
design for Walt Disney, and other very well known companies. If
you examine the cover of many of these old pieces of sheet
music, you will be able to find where the artist signed the
artwork. This always increases the value of the piece to a
collector. You will find names like Starmer, Pfeffer, Barbelle,
and the mysterious "Rosebud" signature, which is generally
thought to be the work of several different artists that worked
for Harry Rosenbaum. This mark usually consists of a rose shape
within a circle, with several different variations on the basic
symbol, because of the different artists involved.

The music of the late 1800's and very early 1900's are sometimes
collected for the style of printing on the covers. These
earliest pieces usually had very ornately lettered front covers,
using different fonts and line graphics that are highly sought
after by some areas of collectors. Not as beautiful to look at
as far as the later Art-Deco styles, but still beautiful in
their own way. Most were printed using only black ink on white
paper, because the color printing process had not been developed
well at the time.

Then you have the collectors that long for the "good old days",
when families would gather around the piano in the family room,
and sing the favorites of the time. Jazz and swing numbers, as
well as waltzes are quite popular, especially if they have a
photo of the artist that featured the song in a recording on the
front cover.

I collect sheet music for all the reasons I have just discussed.
The memories, the history of the writers and musicians, the
period of history the songs represent, and of course the artwork
on the covers are all an obsession with me!

We invite you to visit Laura's shop: Ice Originals -
Collectibles, Jewelry and Artistic Designs.
http://www.tias.com/stores/iceorig/

Laura Thykeson, of "Ice Originals II" ~ Collectibles, Jewelry and Artistic Designs" is an Artist and collector.Also a published poet,She works in oils, acrylics, enamels, ceramics, clay, makes jewelry, as well as colllecting.
Well known as a local artist, her work is now all across the US, thanks to wholesalers. She is totally self-taught. Her love of collecting stems from her artistic view of the world.

Loan Basics

Paul Heath

There is more than one type of loan. Depending upon your situation, you might find that what works in one circumstance does not work in another. This means that it is very important for you to educate yourself about different kinds of loans so that you are more prepared when you speak with a lending officer, or with a financial counselor. It is especially important that you understand what the different sorts of loans entail so that you are not pushed into making a wrong decision by a lender that is more interested in a percentage rather than your financial well being.

Understanding the difference between a secured loan and an unsecured loan.

At their very basic, loans come in two kinds: secured and unsecured. Whether you are looking into business loans or personal loans, they will either be secured or unsecured. Credit cards, which are basically consumer loans, are also denoted with these names. However, you will find that most credit cards are unsecured, unless they have a very high limit.

A secured personal loan is one that requires a form of collateral. Collateral is something of value that the lender can possess if you fail to meet your obligations. A home loan is a secured loan. If you default, then the lender can take your home to cover its costs. Auto loans and car title loans are other examples of this. It is also possible, for smaller loans, to offer valuable jewelry or electronic equipment as proof that you will pay back the money you borrow. However, it needs to be something that the lender feels it can use to recover its loss should you default. If you are seeking a bad credit loan, more than likely you will have to put forth some collateral. When you have less than favorable credit, you are immediately seen as a higher risk, and therefore must offer something to justify the risk the lender acquires in allowing you to borrow money.

Unsecured loans are the opposite. They require no collateral. As mentioned previously, credit cards are a form unsecured loans. Many banks offer small signature loans. These are usually loans of between $500 and $3,000. Most unsecured debt comes in smaller amounts. This is because if you stop making payments, the lender loses what you have been lent. They can turn you over to collections, and can call demanding payment, but, ultimately, if you have no money and cannot pay, the lender loses out. However, the cost to you is also great. Your credit is effectively destroyed, making it next to impossible for you to get a mortgage in the future. It can even hamper your chances of receiving approval for an auto loan or a credit card.

Any loans you take out, whether they are secured or unsecured, are reflected in your credit report. It is important to establish a pattern of responsibility fulfilling your obligations in full, and in a timely manner.

You may freely redistribute this article on your website providing no alterations are made to the text and the links remains intact.



This article is courtesy of http://www.4a-loan.co.uk
For loans & finance please visit us http://www.4a-loan.co.uk

Women's Guide: Fashion Trends For Summer 2005
Kenia Morales

If you are like me and many others the warm weather motivates you to do or try new things. It even inspires you to pay more attention to your overall appearance. But, before you go shopping I suggest you take a look at this list to see what is in style.

� Cropped pants - If you see pants that are too long to classify in the shorts category and too short to qualify as the regular long pants those are referred as cropped pants. They fit inches below the knee but, are placed above the ankle.

� Natural hair - Good news for ladies with curly or wavy hair. Curls are in; all you have to do is wash your hairs apply some gel or mousse and blow dry with a diffuser. For define curls utilize hair rollers.

� Color crazy- Bright colors are in for 2005. Some of the most common are kiwi, turquoise, coral, fuchsia, mango, yellow, aqua, melon, violet and many more- Do not ignore some of the regular pastel colors such as light pink. White should always be in your ward robe during the summer season.

� Knee length skirts- They come in all styles from pleated to form fitting.

� Cuffed pants- Many of the cuffed pants are also cropped.

� Tunics- They will not only give you a different look. You will also feel comfortable and cool.

� Prints, patterns and stripes, embroidered etc. are in this summer. So, do not be afraid to buy a blouse with floral print (any type of prints).

� About the fabric- Silk is definitely in style. Do not be surprise to see a lot of lace jewels, beads, rhinestones etc. on clothes.

� Accessorize- You will find anything from drop earrings to beaded and wooded jewelry. Other very popular accessories are brooches, variety of buckle belts, pendants, neck silk scarfs and many more. Just make sure that you do not over accessorize.

� Shoes- Comfort is also chic now. I have never seen such a variety of thong sandals. Mules, flip flops, flats, and moccasins are "a la mode" also. Wedges are good for the ladies that like to wear higher shoes; they are comfortable as long as you are able to sustain balance.

Kenia Morales is the publisher of online magazine http://kpatra.com "For Every Aspect of Today's Woman. Visit her site to find a variety of women related issues and topics" click here http://www.kpatra.com/keniascolumn.htm to find Kenia's little piece of heaven her inspirational column

Sunday, July 31, 2005

Animal Jewelry: a very different and beautiful form of adornment

Angela Davis

Animal jewelry is a wonderful way to express your love and appreciation for your pet animal. Not only is it an ideal gift to give to animal lovers, but it is also a rather unusual jewelry item which you can own yourself. Though animal jewelry in some form or another has been around since quite some time, it is only recently that the market for it has come of age. It is now available in almost every conceivable size, shape, form and texture for all age groups. Whether it is a sophisticated brooch for a woman, or tiger cufflinks for a man or a monkey necklace for a child, it can all be found and made to order if need be.

Animal jewelry is available in many different styles. Some popular motifs for designs include dolphins, cats, horses and dogs. Animal jewelry is such that it can be truly appreciated by an animal lover. It comes in a wide variety of price ranges. It can be something very reasonable and can also be quite expensive. Some kinds of animal jewelry are made of precious metals and decorated with precious and semi precious stones. Such expensive high end animal jewelry can be made from sterling silver or gold and can even have diamonds or rubies as settings. The kind of craftsmanship used the finish and over all look also makes a huge difference to the overall price of this kind of jewelry.

Animal jewelry is available in various specialty stores, jewelry stores, antique stores and boutiques. It can also be found in some kinds of departmental stores and also online. If you can afford it, you can even get animal jewelry made to order according to your specifications. Many kinds of animal jewelry is found in the shape of charms/totems and pendants. They are considered to be quite lucky and auspicious in certain cultures and regions and are worn as good luck charms. These charms and pendants can be produced to appear still, or even in motion.

Animal jewelry is not only beautiful, but it is also unique and a wonderful way to show your appreciation for animals. This type of jewlery in the form of rings is quite popular. Many animal lovers can choose to have their favorite animal on a ring of their choice. Other styles of animal jewelry include picture bracelets. These styles of picture bracelets have separate links that may either be circular or box shaped and can have a picture of an animal or an engraving of an animal on the inside. Designs may include wolfs, turtles, snakes, bear claws, otters, elks, and deers, among many others.

Animal jewelry is the perfect gift for the animal lover. Animal lovers can find beautiful necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, armlets, pendants, belt buckles, cufflinks and even body jewelry with animal themes like horses, dolphins, butterflies, geckos, elephants, frogs, ladybugs and much more.


Looking for information about Jewelry?
Go to: http://www.merryjewelry.com
'Merry Jewelry' is published by Angela Davis -
The Complete Jewelry Resource Directory
Check out more Jewelry articles at: http://www.merryjewelry.com/archive

http://shekeyw.mydollarshop.com
Sheryls Dollar Shop

Games, Books, Electronics, Videos,Home and Garden, Tools, Jewelry. Something for everyone. Great Prices. Its a Dollar Shop!

Trying to start a Dollar Shop. My name is Sheryl. Come see me soon. Great Offers!

Home Inventory Businesses Offer Huge Profit Potential!

Randy Wilson

Home inventory businesses are springing up everywhere these days. And they're great business opportunities you can work at either part-time or full-time and still make a great deal of money.

So what is a home inventory business? It's exactly what it says. It's where a person goes into a home or business and inventories all the valuable items for insurance purposes. In a home environment, they look at the art, furniture, jewelry, and other things that have value to person owning the home. In a business one, they look at equipment, supplies, etc. They record all these things and then set a dollar amount on what these things are worth.

A home inventory business helps homeowners, business owners, and insurance companies tremendously by providing this service. As an impartial professional who knows just how much that quilt your great-grandmother made or that European water purifying system you had installed at your business is truly worth, insurance companies know how to advise you on insuring your home or business.

Should something happen like a fire and you lose everything, the record provided by an inventory business provides everyone involved the information they need on payouts.

Now, you can't just open a home inventory business. Most states require you to obtain a license or certfication in order to operate a home inventory business. And even if they don't, insurance companies will. Since this is a fairly new field for independent contractors, state regulations are changing rapidly.

Before you start, you have to know what the regulations are for your state. A good place to start your research is with your state's Insurance Commissioner. That office can point you in the direction you need to go to obtain the proper certifications in order for you to proceed in pursuing your home inventory business opportunity.

Also, there are many courses available for you to take so that you can start one of the hot home inventory businesses. You can find them at your local colleges, community colleges, and online. There are also correspondence courses available. The courses are neither expensive nor difficult.

They simply inform you on what you should inventory and what the appropriate values are for certain items-and how much insurance companies will generally payout in the event something happens. Once you take your course, you can find business home inventory software that makes it simple to keep up with your client's possessions and their value.

And while you're looking into these things, you also need to be preparing a business plan for your home inventory business. There are many factors you need to take into consideration before you pay to take that class. Some of them are:


  • Will I be comfortable entering people's homes and businesses and going through their possessions?
  • Do I want to pursue this part-time or full-time?
  • Will this job improve the quality of my life?
  • Is this a job I will enjoy?
  • Am I willing to take classes if necessary?
  • What are my state's regulations?
  • Is my family supportive?
  • Do I have a tax plan?
  • Do I want to hire people for my home inventory business?
  • What's the best accounting plan for my business?
  • Do I have space in my home for an office?
  • Is there any equipment I have to purchase?
  • Do I need any financial assistance to get give my home business inventory start up a needed initial boost?
  • Is this a business I will want to be in for the long haul?
  • Will I want to grow this business?
  • If so, what sort of planning do I need to do to see that it does?
  • How will I market and advertise my home inventory business?


Once you have the answers to these questions, you'll be well on your way to having a successful home inventory business. Good luck!

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy is has dozens of home based business articles such as Mattress Cleaning Business and Nutrition Home Business.


Traditional Anniversary Gifts Year by Year for One Hundred Years
Elly Kendall

It's impossible to remember what gift is traditional for each anniversary. This article is perfect to print out or post on your website for easy reference,please keep my site links complete with this article. Plus gift ideas for each anniversary makes it easy, you'll never miss getting the perfect anniversary gift again.

The traditional gift for the first anniversary is paper. An addition of the newspaper from the year you were married, an old edition of a classic book like "Gone with the Wind", a postcard that's of a place meaningful to both of you, board games, plane tickets, football or baseball tickets, photo album filled with memories, write a love letter, drawing or pictures for your cabin, home or office or a gift voucher are all great ideas.

The second anniversary's traditional gift is cotton. New bed linen, attractive underwear or lingerie, cotton towels, a hammock, personalized T-shirt, cotton clothing or a cotton canvas shopping bag with your photo on the front.

Leather is the traditional gift for the third anniversary. Leather, boots, shoes, vest, skirt, pants, wallet, gloves, purse, belt, luggage or briefcase will do nicely. But how about something a bit more updated like leather cell phone case, leather framed photo or leather throw pillows?

Traditional gifts for the fourth anniversary are fruit or flowers. Of course having a fruit basket or flowers delivered to the home or office is appropriate. However, sharing a fresh fruit cocktail, floral bubble bath with floral scented candles set about and rose petals scattered across the bed sounds a lot more fun, exciting and romantic!

The traditional gift for the fifth anniversary is wood. This is a very good year for practical gifts like wooden deck furniture, frames or wooden utensils for the kitchen and new wood fencing. The romantic side of wood could include a weekend in a log cabin, camping in the woods, a walk in the woods, wooden plaques or signs engraved with words of love or an artistic wooden sculpture.

Iron is the traditional gift for the sixth anniversary. Golf clubs, iron sculptures, wrought iron furniture, iron skillets, a new iron or an Ironwood tree are good ideas. Don't forget the possibility of tools, hardware, a wrought iron bed or a set of weights.

Traditionally, wool or copper are gifts for the seventh anniversary. Gifts of woolen socks, scarves, blankets, hats, coats and copper kettles make very nice presents. A new wool suit, copper sculpture or copper fireside accessories are a bit more upscale.

The eighth anniversary's traditional gift is bronze. This is the year to make an impression with a bronze sculpture, antique bronze bell or a trip to a tropical beach with a bronzing lotion for the two of you.

Pottery is the traditional gift for the ninth anniversary. Planters, vases, bowls and coffee mugs fall into this group, so does joining a pottery class together!

Traditional gifts for the tenth anniversary are of tin or aluminum. Personalized license plate, tin of caviar, tin toy car, tin signs or plaques and vintage aluminum serving pieces are fun ideas.

The eleventh anniversary traditional gift is steel. Stainless steel cookware, watches and steel engraved key chains are great but a Calypso steel drum, steel ice bucket and cocktail shaker or modern steel sculpture are unique gift ideas.

Silk and linen are the proper traditional gifts for the twelfth anniversary. Silk lingerie, bed linens, linen table clothes, napkins, handkerchiefs and silk or linen clothing will surely be appreciated.

The thirteenth anniversary traditional gift is lace. Women buy that slinky, lacey lingerie for the men to enjoy! Okay, lace doilies, tablecloths and lacey curtains work too but they aren't near as much fun.

The fourteenth anniversary calls for the traditional gift of ivory. If you have the big bucks this year splurge on a piano or a trip to the Ivory Coast of Africa. The rest of us can enjoy ivory colored bed linen, scrimshawed ivory desk sets or key chains, ivory colored clothing or personalized ivory colored stationary.

Crystal is the gift for the fifteenth through the nineteenth anniversaries. Crystal vases, decanters, candlesticks and crystal faced watches are very traditional. Crystal chandelier earrings or a crystal chess set are more up to date. Billy Crystal movies are fun.

Twentieth through the twenty-fourth anniversaries traditional gift is china. Vintage china tea cups, bone china ornaments or a replacement piece for your own china are presents to consider along with a table for two at a Chinese restaurant or a trip to China.

Traditionally speaking, silver is the gift for the twenty-fifth through the twenty-ninth anniversaries. Silver dated ornament, a silver frame, a watch, silver cufflinks, silver pen and jewelry are appropriate gifts. Anything from Tiffany's silver collection or an anniversary wedding band would be grand.

The thirtieth through the thirty-fourth anniversaries traditional gift is pearls. Mother-of-pearl cufflinks, tie tack, frame and jewelry are wonderful gift ideas. Throw in an oyster dinner and you have an anniversary to remember.

Think tropical for the thirty-fifth through thirty-ninth anniversaries gift of corral. Snorkeling, scuba lessons, a trip to the Coral Reef or coral colored ties, cufflinks or clothing with a tropical flair.

Rubies are traditional gifts for the fortieth through forty-fourth anniversaries. A dozen ruby-red roses, ruby jewelry (maybe add a ruby into your wedding bands), ruby red clothing or lingerie and a bottle of vintage wine are lovely gift ideas.

Forty-fifth through forty-ninth anniversaries traditional gift is sapphire. Sapphire tie clip, cuff links, jewelry, sapphire-colored apparel and Bombay Sapphire gin could be considered.

Gold is for the fiftieth through fifty-fourth wedding anniversaries traditional gift. Without doubt gold jewelry or new wedding bands are in order. A gold themed party, golden oldie CD collection, gold watch, gold colored frames with a photo of the couple, gold clock or gold fabric accent pieces for their bedroom are good choices.

A fifty-fifth through fifty-ninth anniversaries traditional gift is emerald. A few ideas could include a trip to the Emerald Coast, emerald jewelry or cuff links and emerald colored night clothes.

The traditional gift for sixtieth through one hundredth wedding anniversaries are diamonds! For the inspirational couple making it through life together they certainly deserve all the diamonds they receive! To vary from year to year adding the stone from the couples' favorite year of marriage would be lovely such as diamond and ruby earrings. Bring on the diamond jewelry.

Tradition is wonderful and I hope this list helps in your anniversary gift choices. Many times these anniversary gifts end up as our family heirlooms of tomorrow.

Plesase keep the bio intact with this article.

Visit our web site for the complete article "Anniversary Gifts Year by Year for One Hundred Years". Shop for unique anniversary gifts at Log Cabin Fever Gifts & Decor.

Saturday, July 30, 2005

What is Dowsing?

Samantha Stevens

Dowsing is definitely an intuitive art and one of the oldest forms of divination in the world. Perhaps the oldest and most familiar image we have a dowser is what is called a field or map dowser. This person walks over a landscape using a Y shaped or forked stick (sometimes called a doodlebug) to locate subterranean sources of water, oil or even precious minerals. The stick vibrates, crosses or shakes when the substance is found. Some dowsers will use two sticks held in one hand, and when the sticks cross, it signifies that a subtle astral or geopathic force has located the natural resource. This kind of dowsing is also used to locate things such as buried treasure, lost persons, missing jewelry and stray golf balls!
However, the kind of dowsing we are concerned with in this article would be for the purposes of divination. To do this you need to purchase or make what is called a "bobber" or a "pendulum". This is simply a pointed object made of metal, crystal or wood that is attached to the end of a string or a rope. Crystals make excellent pendulums. To diagnose disease, use a rose quartz crystal. For general divination, a silver, lapis, wood or hematite pendulum works well. A pendulum can be anything that appeals to you, that is personal, feels like it conducts energy and can be hung from a chain or string. For instance, I have a little silver acorn charm that works perfectly as a pendulum. Some people use keys or talismans or charms such as a crucifix or ankh. Pendulums can be bought commercially online and in New Age or Occult Stores.
There are no strict rules around the practice of dowsing, however there are two methodologies behind the purpose of it.
The first methodology involves using the pendulum to answer a yes or no question. Some practitioners use a chart or a map, usually a square of paper with a circle drawn on it with the words YES or NO written at the four quarter points of the circle.
Sometimes, a direct answer can be written on the four points of the paper as well. For instance if the question is "Who does Bob love?" then you may have different options such as "Me", "His Wife", "His Child" or "Nobody" written on the four quarter points of the circle. The dowser holds the pendulum over the center of the circle concentrates and sees which answer the pendulum naturally sways towards.
There is also another direct method of getting a yes or no answer. Hold the pendulum straight between thumb and forefinger. Ask the question. If it sways to the right, the answer is YES. If it sways to the left, the answer is NO. If it goes in a clockwise circle, the answer is YES: a counterclockwise circle - NO.
Healers, to scan a body for disease, also use pendulums. The spinning in a counterclockwise circle is said to be an astral message that something is wrong with that part of a body. Also if the pendulum is just very active it can indicate an energy disturbance in a chakra or an imbalance of some kind. There is an old wives' tale too, that if a pendulum is held over the belly of a pregnant woman, it is a boy if it swings to the right or clockwise and a girl if it swings to the left or counterclockwise.
Before you start dowsing, you might want to say a little prayer, asking God or the powers that be for permission to dowse.
A Dowser's Prayer from Samantha:
Dear God (Or Higher Power) Please help me be centered and grounded so that I may become a clear channel of your divine grace, direction and wisdom. Protect me from all negative energies and influences while I open myself up to do they work and guide me to finding the right answers for all those who come to me for advice and help. Amen.

Samantha Steven's articles have been published in many high-standing
newspapers and she has published several books. If you wish to buy
Samantha's books about metaphysics click here
http://www.insomniacpress.com/author.php?id=110
You can meet Samantha Stevens at http://www.psychicrealm.com where she
works as a professional psychic. You can also read more of her articles at
http://www.newagenotebook.com

Spring Fashion Etiquette
Sher Matsen

Spring Fashion Etiquette

Spring can be a busy time - more events to attend, more outings to go to. So what's the right fashion etiquette for the occasion?

Get together in the near future?

A re-union? Try something in a festive jewel tone and be sure to finish your look with some fabulous shoes and hand bag and don't forget the jewelry. Add earrings and a necklace to finish your look.

A baptism - you're the godmother? Try a soft flowing skirt and a cap sleeve blouse. Or how about a nice light shift topped with a print jacket. You'll look stylish but you won't be over done. Pay attention to the shoes on your feet - classy but comfort is important because you'll be standing for a while. Add some light jewelry, a pair of baguette studs and a chain and you'll be ready.

A date for high tea? Although the formality of white gloves is gone it is still important to dress nicely. Do not wear jeans or a sloppy shirt. If the high tea is an informal meeting then pants with a nice light jacket is spring colors is appropriate. If high tea is to honor someone then step it up a notch with a nice light skirt and top, or a nice light dress with jacket. Some funky jewelry for the casual get together or more elegant jewelry for the more formal get together.

Cocktails? There are plenty of options for cocktails. A light weight dress in spring colors with short sleeves, dress it up a little with three quarter sleeves. Go for a fun print, v necklines are great, and don't forget the finishing touches with jewelry. Try some dangle or chandelier earrings. Add a tennis bracelet or bead necklace, some fun but sexy shoes and your set.

Wedding? Make certain you're not resembling the bride or taking away from her day by outdoing her. Contrary to popular belief black is an acceptable color for a wedding. Decide what you're wearing to the wedding based on the type of wedding - is it formal choose a formal dress. Semi casual - skirt and blazer. Beach wedding - something soft and flowing. Add appropriate jewelry, shoes, and handbag.

Office picnic? Relax and wear your casuals. Now don't show up in a pair of sweat pants unless it's going to be a day of baseball and sports. Don't show up wearing your anything inappropriate like shorts that are too short or a clingy top. Capri pants are great combined with a comfy tank or T. Add some fun jewelry, and comfy shoes and your good to go. Remember although this is a fun event it is still a work sponsored event so put your best foot forward.

Black Tie Gala? This season is filled with soft flowing feminine looks. So here's a perfect time to be a girl. Try an ankle length tiered dress with silky layers in a romantic print. Or perhaps a long flowing skirt accented with a fitted top and cashmere sweater. Add a pair of heels and a small matching bag. Don't forget to finish your look with your jewelry - soft colored stone dangle earrings and a teardrop pendant would be perfect!

Evening Out? Pick your favorite pants, skirt, or dress, add a bolero or cardigan over a tank or sleeveless blouse you'll be ready for your evening out. Make your bolero or cardigan your focal point. Add some understated jewelry and your ready to go.

Whether it's a day at the beach, a board room meeting, a cocktail party, or a formal event. Dress to impress, complete your look with jewelry and accessories such as shoes, hand bag, or belt. Make your fashion statement!


Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing estate jewely & costume jewelry for all occasions, as well as a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

Friday, July 29, 2005

The Pearl Necklace -- A Timeless Beauty

Sam Serio



It has been said that of all the pieces of jewelry in the world, a pearl necklace is the only thing that a woman should not be without. And that's no wonder, for a pearl necklace is the embodiment of classic sophistication and timeless elegance. It goes with a variety of outfits, from casual day wear to formal evening attire. And depending on the type of pearl and color, there are various pearl necklace styles suitable for the very young, those enjoying their golden years, and almost everyone else in the middle.

The price of a pearl necklace depends on the quality of its pearls. Saltwater pearls are generally more expensive than freshwater ones, which are cultured. The sheen and the thickness of the pearls' nacre also affect the price, as well as the size and roundness of the pearls themselves. Pearl necklaces of various colors are available on the market. Smaller pearls in light hues of blue or pink are usually more suitable for young children, while the creamier, ivory-toned pearls are preferred by older women. Jewelry pieces made from black pearls are very, very expensive, since these pearls are so rare.

According to Chinese folklore, pearls are the tears of a dragon. In Roman mythology, they are the tears of Venus. Jewelry designers, in their tireless efforts to do justice to the legendary beauty of these gems, have been adding their own twists to the pearl necklace. Aside from the classic strand, the pearls used in necklaces are sometimes set in gold, silver or platinum. Some designers also mix pearls with other gems to create a unique effect. Extra ornaments, such as charms or a brooch, can also be attached to a pearl necklace to give it a personalized flair.

Caring for a pearl necklace does not involve a lot of fuss. The most advisable thing to do is to wear it often, because if it's stored away for long periods of time, it will dry up and lose its sheen. The body's natural oils will keep the pearls looking lustrous and fresh. It's also important to avoid having the pearls come in contact with substances such as hair spray or body lotion, since these can also adversely affect the pearls' condition.

The popularity of the pearl necklace has never waned both among ordinary people and society's elite. The quintessential fashion plate, Jackie Kennedy, had a passion for pearls; so does actress Maria Berenson. Other celebrities often photographed wearing pearl necklaces are Michelle Pfeiffer, Sophia Loren, Jennifer Lopez and Paris Hilton. The versatility of pearls is such that fashion experts are even predicting an increase in the number of men who will start wearing pearl-accented dress accessories. For now, however, there is very little to surpass the elegance of the sight of a pearl necklace gracing the neckline of a woman, whether she's a celebrity or not.



For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.

Learn How To Be A Successful eBay Seller
Lewis Leake

Anyone can sell anything on eBay. Open an account, list your product, and wait for the bids to start coming in. While it is true that anyone can sell, to be successful, you need to know the inside secrets.

One woman made over $250,000 last year on items sold on eBay. She is just one out of thousands and thousands of people that make a ton of money just selling merchandise.

Are you ready to learn how to be an eBay seller? You will find it to be easy, fun, and exciting. Here are some of the things that you need to know to get started.

Just eBay

Although there are several other quality auction websites, eBay is by far the most popular and most successful. Although you could start using all the other sites, by spreading yourself out too thin you take the risk of getting things mixed up. In reality, it is better to use eBay and focus your attention and efforts on this one site. You will not be disappointed.

Look Around

Navigate through each section to familiarize yourself with all the different pages. You will find a site map and help tab, which are very useful tools. It will take a little time to get used to the site but start by looking. As you start selling, navigating will become much easier.

Terms & Conditions

You will run into all types of buyers that try to move past the terms and conditions provided by eBay. Know the Terms & Conditions inside and out and if you have problems, contact eBay immediately. A few examples of the insider secrets are listed below:

* Bid Shielding - Two buyers work together. One person bids high to protect a low bid place by the other person. Right before the auction closes, the high bidder cancels, meaning the low bidder gets your items for a huge bargain.

* Bid Shilling - This is where the seller actually uses a separate ID set up to inflate the number and price of the bid.

* Deadbeat Bidder - The deadbeat bidder bids on your auction and then simply fails to pay.

* Sniping - A "sniper" is a bidder that waits until there are only minutes or seconds left on an item and then quickly bids just a little higher to get the items. Although not against the T&C's, it is considered unprofessional and limits competing bidders from driving a high price.

Excluded Items

Although eBay accepts just about every type of item, there are a few exclusions such as explosions, corrosive material, etc. Before you go through the entire process of listing your items, make sure you are not listing something forbidden by checking out the do's and don'ts listed on eBay.

Competitor Analysis

Just like any other business, you need to know what your competitors are doing. This will help you make the best possible decision when it comes to your own auction. Before listing your items, do a search for the same type items to see what their descriptions looks like. Find different aspects from different sellers and use them to form one comprehensive site for yourself.

Community Boards

Pay attention to the community boards provided by eBay. They offer valuable information and helpful tips that can ultimately save you time and effort.

Category Guide

Use eBay's Category Guide, which is a helpful tool to ensure you place your auction items in the appropriate category.

When to List

The time of day you list your auction is important. The start time will be the same as the end time, which is why it is so important. If you want your auction to end at 10:00 p.m. on a Sunday night, you need to have the auction start at 10:00 p.m. For this reason, be sure to set the start time accordingly.

Do your Homework

In addition to researching what other people are selling similar items for, you need to conduct your own research outside of eBay as well to determine the going rate for your items. As an example, if you are selling artwork, jewelry, or collectibles, you need to state in your description the going price. Although you may or may not get that price from the buyer, it shows buyers that you have done your homework and will stand a little more firm in your price. It also tells buyers that they are getting quality for a good price.

When it comes to selling on eBay, the door of opportunity stands wide open. Opportunity is what you decide to make of it. As mentioned in the beginning, people literally buy and sell just about everything on eBay. For this reason, do not think that items you have would not be of interest to anyone because more than likely, they will be.


Lewis Leake is the webmaster of GrowNetProfits.com - subscribe to his GrowNetProfits Newsletter and get Work From Home Tools, Articles, Tips and Resources delivered to you twice a month. http://www.grownetprofits.com -- Also get access to his new Subscriber's Membership Site.

Raise Your Income!

Joy Gendusa

How often do you sit around and wonder how to make more money and get more people to buy more from your company? It's one of the most basic problems every company faces.

The answer is astonishingly simple. Too simple maybe. But I've seen it work over and over again with our customers in every line of business you can imagine.

You have to promote. Your income is governed by the size of your customer base and how often and effectively you communicate with those customers.

So raising your income is simply a matter of keeping in touch with your existing customer base, reminding them you are there, offering them goods or services they might be interested in, in such a way that they want to buy more and more often from you. And increasing the size of your customer base by finding and contacting potential customers and persuading them to buy your products or services and then adding them to your customer base and keeping in touch with them in the same way.

If you have a good service or product and you make sure you service your customers well, you cannot fail to raise your income.

How rapidly you raise your income depends on how rapidly you do these actions, how much you promote. Handling the quantity or volume of promotion is definitely the most obvious thing you can do on an immediate basis. Believe it or not, if you send out crappy, crappy promotion, your income will go up. You may not be happy with the Return on your Investment (ROI) for that marketing effort, but definitely it will raise your income. Once quantity is handled and you are sending out loads of promotion, you want to tweak it and raise the quality of your promotion. And here are some things you can do.

Use Offers to Improve Your Response.

One of the barriers to buying which you work hard to overcome is "no
hurry." Why buy it now when I can think about it for a few weeks, shop
around a little and get back to you, maybe? Familiar with that "I'm
interested. I'll get back to you." Or the card you have designed and
mailed out gets put in a drawer somewhere for possible follow up, maybe next year some time.

One way to deal with this is to reward those who buy now and penalize
those who don't. How? With some special offer and one that is attractive and one which has a time element attached to it. "Order your new lawnmower now and we'll give you a free edger. Offer good until the end
of May." (Or whatever, you get the idea). Obviously the offer must be
financially feasible for you so you'll have to do some number crunching
before you make the offer.

You can tie these special offers in to some particular event or season
(like jewelry for Valentine's Day or flowers or chocolates or just about
anything for Christmas) but you don't have to.

Special Offers help you maximize on your direct mail marketing and keep your customers ordering from you when you want them to. It's just one more way to be in control of your promotion.

You can control how much and how fast your company grows.



Joy Gendusa founded PostcardMania in 1998; her only assets a computer and a phone. In 2004 the company did close to $9 million in sales and employs over 60 persons. She attributes her explosive growth to her ability to choose incredible staff and her innate marketing savvy. Now she's sharing her marketing secrets with others. For more free marketing advice, visit her website at www.postcardmania.com.


How Valentine's Day Gifts Can Expose a Cheating Husband
Ruth Houston


If you have the nagging feeling that your husband may be
having an affair, this is the ideal time to confirm what you
suspect. The Valentine's Day gifts he gives or receives can
provide you with tangible proof of his infidelity.

If your husband has a lover he's certain to buy her a
Valentine's Day gift; whether he receives one in return or
not. This could prove to be his undoing. An observant
wife can find some solid evidence this time of year if she
knows what to look for and where to look.

A husband can sometimes get away with giving his wife a card
and a hastily purchased box of chocolates. But tradition
demands that on Valentine's Day, he gives his mistress a
special gift. No self-respecting man would try to impress
his girlfriend with a cheap token of his affection. If he
wants to remain in her good graces (and in her bed) he has
to buy her a decent gift.

It goes without saying that gifts cost money. Even if your
husband has been siphoning off small sums for several weeks
or months, you'll find evidence of his spending somewhere.
If he doesn't pay in cash he'll have to use his credit card.
But there's always a paper trail.

Have there been any suspicious withdrawals from your bank
accounts? Check the time period shortly before or after
Valentine's Day. Were there any unexplained ATM withdrawals
around this time?

Check your credit card statements for the month of February,
and the latter part of January too. Look for charges made
at jewelry stores, women's specialty stores, or boutiques,
florists, day spas, restaurants and the like. Scrutinize
any charges made on February 14th.

Check his wallet, his pockets, his backpack, his briefcase
for charge slips or store receipts. If you find evidence of
gift items you didn't personally receive, it should raise a
red flag in your mind. Since your husband didn't give these
gifts to you, who did he give them to?

Check various places in and around your home for hidden
gifts -- under the bed, in the back of a file cabinet or
dresser drawer, on the back of the closet floor, or on a
seldom used shelf.

Don't forget to search the car too. Look underneath the
seat, in the trunk, in the glove compartment and in the tire
well.

If you find a hidden gift, don't jump to conclusions unless
it's obvious the gift is not for you (too large, too small,
a color or style that he knows you wouldn't wear, or has
another woman's name attached).

If Valentine's Day passes and you haven't received the
hidden gift (but it's now gone), then it's obvious that he
gave it to someone else. Make it your business to find out
who.

Shortly before Valentine's Day, Carol found a box in her
husband's sock drawer containing a diamond and sapphire
ring. She said nothing because she didn't want to spoil
the surprise. But on Valentine's Day Jim gave Carol a dozen
long stem roses and a gift certificate for a day of
pampering at her favorite day spa. The next day Carol
searched high and low but the ring box could not be found.
She spent several sleepless nights trying to figure out what
had become of the ring. Three weeks later Carol dropped by
Jim's office to meet him for lunch. One of his co-workers
was wearing a ring similar to the one in the box. It didn't
take Carol long to find out Jim and this woman were having
an affair.

Laura found a gift box containing a sexy negligee in the
trunk of her husband's car. He tried to pass it off as a
gift he purchased for her but the gown was several sizes too
small. No amount of persuasion on his part could convince
Laura the salesclerk put the wrong size in the box by
mistake. Especially since she had already found other
telltale signs of a possible affair.

Be suspicious of any unusually expensive gifts your husband
receives this month. Especially if he claims he purchased
the items for himself, but can't produce a receipt.

Likewise, warning bells should sound if your husband
receives gifts of an extremely personal nature, in February
or at any other time. No woman other than yourself should
be giving your husband six pairs of silk boxer shorts --
unless it's his mother or his sister. (And even then, you
should check to make sure.)

Take notice if your husband is missing for several hours on
February 14th. Be wary if he invents excuses to come home
late, or to run an errand later on, on Valentine's night.
These could be additional telltale signs.

If you suspect your husband of cheating, Valentine's Day
gifts could provide the missing pieces of the infidelity
puzzle. Especially if there have been other telltale signs
in the previous weeks or months. It may be time to have a
serious talk with your husband. If he's cheating, you
don't want to be the last one to know. Find out what's
going on before it's too late.

© Ruth Houston 2004


Ruth Houston is the author of IS HE CHEATING ON YOU? -
829 TELLTALE SIGNS. For more information about the book or
about cheating men visit http://www.IsHeCheatingOnYou.com
To sign up for the free Infidelity Newsletter send an e-mail to
CheatingSigns@aol.com.

History of Earrings


In the Music industry, whenever most independent
musicians release a new recording today, a
certain aspect of their promotion entails their
distribution and giveaway of FREE samples of
their music on a separate promotional compact
disc. This serves as a 'teaser' in enticing
prospects to then go to record stores to buy the
full-length recording.

As 'writeable' promo discs can be purchased
inexpensively at stores such as Wal-Mart, after
which the music samples are copied from the
hard drive to the CD, or by using what is known as
a CD burner (high-speed duplicator), it should
come as no surprise that even the most financially
challenged musicians are now embracing this
invaluable and well proven promotional aspect for
bringing immediate attention to their music.

And, as this method has proven unanimously
beneficial in terms of ease of finance, promotion
and time, there is absolutely no reason that a
similar process cannot also work for your own
business, albeit, a few elements properly
customized (be sure your computer's compact
disc is a "writeable" type, and not simply a
"readable" one).

As such, I am providing a "from start to finish"
outline that you should find very effective, almost
immediately, whether you wish to reach out to your
prospects locally, regionally or nationally.

Hypothetically, let's say you are in the field of
Cosmetology, and own and operate a hair salon.
Though your industry has a ready-made market,
with women repeatedly visiting on a regular basis,
naturally, there is also a fair degree of competition
from other salons in your area as well.

And, as such, you've noticed that your business
sales and clients, have either begun to level off,
stagnate or, possibly, even diminish. What can
you quickly do to maintain and increase your
clientele and, accordingly, your salon's income?

1. Why not take all of the elements of your
business, such as your weekly specials,
information about your salon such as its history,
your web site address, email address, regular
prices, business hours, contact information, along
with the various products and services you offer,
then format them into attractive files and place
them on compact discs for distribution?

Your prospects are certain to be pleasantly
surprised with this new out-of-the-norm promotion
method and anxious to see what surprise awaits
them on the CD.

2. Next, consider all the businesses women might
patronize, such as women's shoe stores, women's
clothing stores, jewelry stores, supermarkets, mall
stores, cosmetic stores, etc. Your goal is to
consider businesses that are complementary to
your own services, yet, are not in competition in
any way.

3. Now, contact the store managers and/or owners,
informing them that you are a fellow local business
owner, and request to know if they will consider
handing out your CD of information to their
customers and/or clients who have computers and,
hopefully, have Internet service. You might even
request to enter into a barter agreement with these
businesses, whereby, you distribute their sales
information as well.

While all contacts you make might not be receptive
to this idea, undeniably, you will acquire more than
a few who will be interested, if for no other reason
than the opportunities to offer their customers a
little something extra and/or to get their own
business information into the hands of new
prospects (your customers) as well.

4. Also, be sure to not only consider distributing
your CDs hand-to-hand on your own, always
having them available on your person ready to
hand out, but also having them available at your
salon to give to your existing and new customers.

5. Another avenue, is to consider doing a local
or regional mail-out campaign. You could simply
contact prospects via telephone and attempt to
qualify them by simply asking if they own a computer
and, if so, that you would like to send them a CD of
info regarding your hair salon and its services.

6. If your budget allows, yet, another method is to
contact an area print publication that specifically
targets women and request if you can pay to have
your CD attached to one of their issues, or
included as an insert.

7. To backtrack for a moment, be sure that your
web site contains a form readily viewable on it so
that when prospects with online service access
your site, your form can readily capture their email
address, as well as their mailing address.

This is vital information that you need in order to
provide your customers with any updates to your
products, services, prices or any other changes
that might occur. And, speaking of the provision
of updates, you should also consider starting a
newsletter for this purpose as well if you have not
yet done so.

Again, you also want to be sure your CD contains
as much vital information for people who don't
have online access although, practically anyone
with a computer these days, also has access.

This aspect of promotion could serve to either
offset and eliminate any print, radio or television
advertisement costs you currently have, or serve
to complement them. Your overall production
costs (bulk rate price and time spent copying files)
on the compact disc will probably be between $.30
and $.40 per unit.

If you distribute, say, 1000 info CDs at a cost of
$400, and gain merely 10% (100) new customers,
I believe you will find that the $400 will be a very
wise and worthwhile investment, not to mention
that you can continue and/or repeat the process
as often as you wished.

And, if you happen to reside in a small rural area,
you could also experience great results by simply
distributing your CD information county-wide, or
regionally.

Again, this promotional analogy is applicable to,
virtually, any business. Further examples include:

1. Auto dealerships working with car parts
suppliers, or vice versa.

2. Lawn services working with lawn mower repair
shops, or vice versa.

3. How about photography services including their
CD of info in their yearly school/student packages?

4. Even in an agricultural community, feed stores
could include a CD of their info in farmers'
purchases.

5. Why not even go a couple of steps farther by
placing audio files or, perhaps, even video files on
the CD as well?

Your audio could include your voiceover giving a
welcome to the prospect at the beginning, and
also serve as a direction to the various business
elements on your disc. Likewise, your video could
integrate animated video for an even more
pleasing experience for your prospective client.

As I stated previously, virtually, everyone, in all
areas of your community has a computer and/or
the availability of online access through friends,
relatives, area schools, libraries, etc. And, the
creativity of any part of the promotional CD is
only limited by your imagination.

So, why not truly give some serious thought to
bringing the marketing and promotion of your
business into the 21st Century? At the very least,
your promotion via CD should certainly get you
noticed far above your area competition.


"Promoting Your Business on CD"
Kenny Love

In the Music industry, whenever most independent
musicians release a new recording today, a
certain aspect of their promotion entails their
distribution and giveaway of FREE samples of
their music on a separate promotional compact
disc. This serves as a 'teaser' in enticing
prospects to then go to record stores to buy the
full-length recording.

As 'writeable' promo discs can be purchased
inexpensively at stores such as Wal-Mart, after
which the music samples are copied from the
hard drive to the CD, or by using what is known as
a CD burner (high-speed duplicator), it should
come as no surprise that even the most financially
challenged musicians are now embracing this
invaluable and well proven promotional aspect for
bringing immediate attention to their music.

And, as this method has proven unanimously
beneficial in terms of ease of finance, promotion
and time, there is absolutely no reason that a
similar process cannot also work for your own
business, albeit, a few elements properly
customized (be sure your computer's compact
disc is a "writeable" type, and not simply a
"readable" one).

As such, I am providing a "from start to finish"
outline that you should find very effective, almost
immediately, whether you wish to reach out to your
prospects locally, regionally or nationally.

Hypothetically, let's say you are in the field of
Cosmetology, and own and operate a hair salon.
Though your industry has a ready-made market,
with women repeatedly visiting on a regular basis,
naturally, there is also a fair degree of competition
from other salons in your area as well.

And, as such, you've noticed that your business
sales and clients, have either begun to level off,
stagnate or, possibly, even diminish. What can
you quickly do to maintain and increase your
clientele and, accordingly, your salon's income?

1. Why not take all of the elements of your
business, such as your weekly specials,
information about your salon such as its history,
your web site address, email address, regular
prices, business hours, contact information, along
with the various products and services you offer,
then format them into attractive files and place
them on compact discs for distribution?

Your prospects are certain to be pleasantly
surprised with this new out-of-the-norm promotion
method and anxious to see what surprise awaits
them on the CD.

2. Next, consider all the businesses women might
patronize, such as women's shoe stores, women's
clothing stores, jewelry stores, supermarkets, mall
stores, cosmetic stores, etc. Your goal is to
consider businesses that are complementary to
your own services, yet, are not in competition in
any way.

3. Now, contact the store managers and/or owners,
informing them that you are a fellow local business
owner, and request to know if they will consider
handing out your CD of information to their
customers and/or clients who have computers and,
hopefully, have Internet service. You might even
request to enter into a barter agreement with these
businesses, whereby, you distribute their sales
information as well.

While all contacts you make might not be receptive
to this idea, undeniably, you will acquire more than
a few who will be interested, if for no other reason
than the opportunities to offer their customers a
little something extra and/or to get their own
business information into the hands of new
prospects (your customers) as well.

4. Also, be sure to not only consider distributing
your CDs hand-to-hand on your own, always
having them available on your person ready to
hand out, but also having them available at your
salon to give to your existing and new customers.

5. Another avenue, is to consider doing a local
or regional mail-out campaign. You could simply
contact prospects via telephone and attempt to
qualify them by simply asking if they own a computer
and, if so, that you would like to send them a CD of
info regarding your hair salon and its services.

6. If your budget allows, yet, another method is to
contact an area print publication that specifically
targets women and request if you can pay to have
your CD attached to one of their issues, or
included as an insert.

7. To backtrack for a moment, be sure that your
web site contains a form readily viewable on it so
that when prospects with online service access
your site, your form can readily capture their email
address, as well as their mailing address.

This is vital information that you need in order to
provide your customers with any updates to your
products, services, prices or any other changes
that might occur. And, speaking of the provision
of updates, you should also consider starting a
newsletter for this purpose as well if you have not
yet done so.

Again, you also want to be sure your CD contains
as much vital information for people who don't
have online access although, practically anyone
with a computer these days, also has access.

This aspect of promotion could serve to either
offset and eliminate any print, radio or television
advertisement costs you currently have, or serve
to complement them. Your overall production
costs (bulk rate price and time spent copying files)
on the compact disc will probably be between $.30
and $.40 per unit.

If you distribute, say, 1000 info CDs at a cost of
$400, and gain merely 10% (100) new customers,
I believe you will find that the $400 will be a very
wise and worthwhile investment, not to mention
that you can continue and/or repeat the process
as often as you wished.

And, if you happen to reside in a small rural area,
you could also experience great results by simply
distributing your CD information county-wide, or
regionally.

Again, this promotional analogy is applicable to,
virtually, any business. Further examples include:

1. Auto dealerships working with car parts
suppliers, or vice versa.

2. Lawn services working with lawn mower repair
shops, or vice versa.

3. How about photography services including their
CD of info in their yearly school/student packages?

4. Even in an agricultural community, feed stores
could include a CD of their info in farmers'
purchases.

5. Why not even go a couple of steps farther by
placing audio files or, perhaps, even video files on
the CD as well?

Your audio could include your voiceover giving a
welcome to the prospect at the beginning, and
also serve as a direction to the various business
elements on your disc. Likewise, your video could
integrate animated video for an even more
pleasing experience for your prospective client.

As I stated previously, virtually, everyone, in all
areas of your community has a computer and/or
the availability of online access through friends,
relatives, area schools, libraries, etc. And, the
creativity of any part of the promotional CD is
only limited by your imagination.

So, why not truly give some serious thought to
bringing the marketing and promotion of your
business into the 21st Century? At the very least,
your promotion via CD should certainly get you
noticed far above your area competition.



Kenny Love is a business marketer,
promoter and also authors inexpensive handbooks
on unique but highly-profitable businesses that
many people are unaware of, or simply overlook.
His web site is located at http://www.kennylove.net.

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Reward Your Customers


Pearls never go out of style � they are always a classy and traditional wardrobe accessory that will never disappoint you. But this year they are a �front and center� fashion statement! So with more people in the market for pearls now is a good time for some �pearl talk.�

The pearl has always been a rather prim and proper piece of jewelry � classic and seeped in tradition. Well things they are a changing! The pearl is has had a very glamorous make over! Yes, the classic strand still exists as it always will. But we warned we are seeing some vary daring looks from the pearl this season. Extra long lengths, tasseled multi strands, pearls with semi precious stone accents, pearls on gold or silver chains. The pearl has been transformed into a fun and fashionable accessory.

So if you�re going to be in the market for pearls this year here is what you should know.
� The glow or radiance of a pearl is the most important quality. Avoid pearls that are chalky or dull as they will be weak and may crack or peal.
� The surface of the pearl should be blemish free � no bumps or cracks. Inspect under a bright light. Baroque pearls are the exception to this rule � their charm is in their irregularities.
� Pearls are measured in millimeters. The larger the pearl the higher the cost. A 6 mm pearl is going to be much less than a 12 mm pearl
� The least expensive pearls are the freshwaters which mainly come from China. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Average size is around 7 mm
� The best way to care for your pearls is simply to wear them. The natural skin oils keep them moisturized. Do not put them on until you are done with your cosmetics. This includes hair, facial, and perfume. The residues from these products will ruin your pearls. Do not wear your pearls in the water � chlorinated and salt water will damage them. Polish with a soft cloth and never use jewelry cleaning products on your pearls.

Quality pearls are not cheap but they will last a lifetime. Freshwater pearls are becoming very affordable. Not all of us will be in the market for �Real Pearls� and lucky us there are plenty of options. Swarovski makes a crystal pearl that is of the finest quality and quite difficult to tell from a true pearl for a fraction of the cost and they are available in a variety of colors. There is an endless supply of imitation pearl or costume jewelry pearls on the market. These are offered in a wide variety of styles and colors. Great fun at affordable prices.

So you ask what�s �In Style� this season? Well I�m glad you asked!
� Pearl rings get the green flag � from low settings to monster large solitaire pearls, they are all the rave. A pearl ring can go from romantic and simple to sleek and stunning.
� The Bib Necklace makes a very dramatic statement. A broad necklace that tapers towards the back just like a baby�s bib [thus the name]. They range from extremely wide to as narrow as a ��. This style works great with a simple black dress or strapless neckline.
� The multi-strand necklace is ever so preppy. They range from 12� to 18� and pearls are usually small to medium. The object of these necklaces is for every pearl to be in perfect placement. Very versatile and fashionable.
� The opera length necklace simply never disappears from the fashion scene. They measure 36� or longer and they can be worn as a long single lean line, doubled up, tied in a knot, wherever the moment takes you. These long strands are terrific for dressing up a pair of jeans or semi casual look.
� The tassel necklace from the footloose and fancy free1920s has made a come back, and rightly so! Today tassels are often made from tiny seed pearls or irregular baroques. They range in length fro short at 16� to navel length at 36�. The tassel necklace swings and sways with your movement making it a must have for those night of dancing.
� This season for first time, we are seeing pearls mixed with colored gems such as amethyst, peridot, or topaz. They compliment each other nicely � pearls with their soft and subtle shades mixed with semi precious gems with their vibrant and bold color. Picture it � what a fashion statement!
� Pearls mixed with silver is also new this season. Long silver chain dangle earrings accented with pearls, or freshwater droplets set on silver.
� This season the pearl is all about the color. Pearls are available in many hues but this season the �hot spot� is �lavender� and the lavender family ranging from pale iris to plum.

If you already own a beautiful classic pearl necklace its very easy to transform it into something from this season. Try adding a group of charms or pendants, fastening a vintage brooch or clip[ on earring at the bottom. You could mix various lengths or sizes of pearls together or entwine a silver or gold chain. How about mixing your real pearls with your fake pearls? The options are as endless as your imagination.

Remember when you freshen your wardrobe for the spring, freshen your costume jewelry too and Make Your
Pearl Talk
Sher Matsen

Pearls never go out of style � they are always a classy and traditional wardrobe accessory that will never disappoint you. But this year they are a �front and center� fashion statement! So with more people in the market for pearls now is a good time for some �pearl talk.�

The pearl has always been a rather prim and proper piece of jewelry � classic and seeped in tradition. Well things they are a changing! The pearl is has had a very glamorous make over! Yes, the classic strand still exists as it always will. But we warned we are seeing some vary daring looks from the pearl this season. Extra long lengths, tasseled multi strands, pearls with semi precious stone accents, pearls on gold or silver chains. The pearl has been transformed into a fun and fashionable accessory.

So if you�re going to be in the market for pearls this year here is what you should know.
� The glow or radiance of a pearl is the most important quality. Avoid pearls that are chalky or dull as they will be weak and may crack or peal.
� The surface of the pearl should be blemish free � no bumps or cracks. Inspect under a bright light. Baroque pearls are the exception to this rule � their charm is in their irregularities.
� Pearls are measured in millimeters. The larger the pearl the higher the cost. A 6 mm pearl is going to be much less than a 12 mm pearl
� The least expensive pearls are the freshwaters which mainly come from China. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Average size is around 7 mm
� The best way to care for your pearls is simply to wear them. The natural skin oils keep them moisturized. Do not put them on until you are done with your cosmetics. This includes hair, facial, and perfume. The residues from these products will ruin your pearls. Do not wear your pearls in the water � chlorinated and salt water will damage them. Polish with a soft cloth and never use jewelry cleaning products on your pearls.

Quality pearls are not cheap but they will last a lifetime. Freshwater pearls are becoming very affordable. Not all of us will be in the market for �Real Pearls� and lucky us there are plenty of options. Swarovski makes a crystal pearl that is of the finest quality and quite difficult to tell from a true pearl for a fraction of the cost and they are available in a variety of colors. There is an endless supply of imitation pearl or costume jewelry pearls on the market. These are offered in a wide variety of styles and colors. Great fun at affordable prices.

So you ask what�s �In Style� this season? Well I�m glad you asked!
� Pearl rings get the green flag � from low settings to monster large solitaire pearls, they are all the rave. A pearl ring can go from romantic and simple to sleek and stunning.
� The Bib Necklace makes a very dramatic statement. A broad necklace that tapers towards the back just like a baby�s bib [thus the name]. They range from extremely wide to as narrow as a ��. This style works great with a simple black dress or strapless neckline.
� The multi-strand necklace is ever so preppy. They range from 12� to 18� and pearls are usually small to medium. The object of these necklaces is for every pearl to be in perfect placement. Very versatile and fashionable.
� The opera length necklace simply never disappears from the fashion scene. They measure 36� or longer and they can be worn as a long single lean line, doubled up, tied in a knot, wherever the moment takes you. These long strands are terrific for dressing up a pair of jeans or semi casual look.
� The tassel necklace from the footloose and fancy free1920s has made a come back, and rightly so! Today tassels are often made from tiny seed pearls or irregular baroques. They range in length fro short at 16� to navel length at 36�. The tassel necklace swings and sways with your movement making it a must have for those night of dancing.
� This season for first time, we are seeing pearls mixed with colored gems such as amethyst, peridot, or topaz. They compliment each other nicely � pearls with their soft and subtle shades mixed with semi precious gems with their vibrant and bold color. Picture it � what a fashion statement!
� Pearls mixed with silver is also new this season. Long silver chain dangle earrings accented with pearls, or freshwater droplets set on silver.
� This season the pearl is all about the color. Pearls are available in many hues but this season the �hot spot� is �lavender� and the lavender family ranging from pale iris to plum.

If you already own a beautiful classic pearl necklace its very easy to transform it into something from this season. Try adding a group of charms or pendants, fastening a vintage brooch or clip[ on earring at the bottom. You could mix various lengths or sizes of pearls together or entwine a silver or gold chain. How about mixing your real pearls with your fake pearls? The options are as endless as your imagination.

Remember when you freshen your wardrobe for the spring, freshen your costume jewelry too and Make Your

� Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.

About the author:
Sher has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at Estate Jewelry International.

Monday, July 04, 2005

Ninjasecretsrevealed.com

Ninjasecretsrevealed.com - Who Wants To Discover Ancient Secrets Of The Mysterious Ninja Clans Of Feudal Japan. And How To Become A Ninja Today?

Network Marketing For The 21st Century