March 2010
Monthly Archive
Fri 26 Mar 2010
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Do clever, memorable marketing campaigns increase sales? It’s an important question for you to answer in a time when every marketing dollar has to get results. Del Taco, a fast food chain specializing in Mexican dishes, had to grapple with this question recently. They announced that their commercials would no longer feature the character Dan. Dan was a Del Taco manager whose ideas for promoting the product usually ended up in disaster.
Recently Del Taco announced that they were changing their advertising focus. Instead of featuring Dan’s antics, Del Taco said their new campaign would focus on the great taste of their food.
Dan’s commercials were popular. They were funny. They were, in a word, clever. But were they effective? That’s tough to answer. Del Taco executives said that his character contributed to the brand. Did the Dan commercials increase sales? No one can say. What Del Taco does know is that it’s time for them to focus more attention on their food.
Clever advertising can be effective in building brand awareness. Clearly, people connected with the Dan character. But is that enough to get people to buy a product? Those of us with limited marketing budgets need to have a different goal than mere brand awareness. We must make sure our advertising does two things: connect with the consumer, and drive them to purchase our products.
How do we accomplish these 2 goals? Keep these truths in mind as you develop your next marketing plan.
1. There is one thing that is true of everyone in your target audience: they all have problems. If you can figure out the problems that plague your audience, you will make an instant connection. For example, a Del Taco radio commercial might target hungry men driving home from work. An effective opening line may say something like, “Worked hard? Hungry? Can’t wait ’til you get home? Del Taco’s half-pound combo burrito…” An ad like that shows that the company understands who their customers are, and what they need. That makes an instant connection.
2. Once you establish that you know what your target audience needs, show them how you can solve that problem. I know this sounds simple, but simple can be very effective in reaching people. The radio commercial might continue by describing the benefits of stopping at the nearest Del Taco: the fresh, hot, tasty food, the refreshing sodas, the cheap prices. It might even include the addresses of several local locations. The commercial positions the restaurant as the solution to the listeners’ hunger.
Is this formula too simple to work? Not at all! Many effective ads consist of nothing more than the announcement of a sale. “Maytag washers, 20 per cent off through Saturday.” This ad implicitly identifies a problem, namely that you need a washer. The solution? This store has Maytag washers, and at a great price, too.
Certainly, many marketing campaigns are more complex than that. Your target audience may have several problems that need to be addressed. There may be multiple layers of decision-makers, each with their own concerns. But if you keep in mind the problem/solution perspective, you can establish your company as the one who understands your audience, and can solve their problems. Establishing that reputation will enhance your bottom line faster than even the most clever marketing campaign.
Fri 19 Mar 2010
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Need a clothes dryer? Here are the basics.
Ducting
Buying a dryer which has the facility to duct the moisture extracted from your washing outside is best. If you have to position a dryer in a place where you can’t use the ducting facility, or you go for a dryer which can’t be ducted, you’ll need to make sure there’s lots of ventilation around it when the dryer’s on.
Drying Cycle
On manual dryers you set the length of tine you estimate the load will take to dry. If it’s still damp, you set it again for extra time, and perhaps sort and remove the things which are dry before you do that – shirts, for instance, will dry quicker than bath towels. Over drying can cause shrinkage and extra wear on your clothes.
Sensor dryers are basically designed to take the guess work out by stopping automatically when they sense the clothes are dry. This means you won’t use excess power, and should eliminate over drying. There are variations on this theme, and some makes and models are designed to overcome the problem of uneven drying mentioned above.
Temperature and Dryness Settings
From the basic two settings to the sophisticated multiple program options you’ll find them all out there. Think about your own personal requirements, and how many settings you’ll actually use.
Creasing
A great advantage of drying your clothes in a dryer is that, if you get to them quickly enough when the cycle finishes to remove and fold them up, you can really cut down on your ironing. If this appeals to you, look for features in a dryer to assist the process. A timer can be good to set so the load finishes when you want it to. Some models will rotate periodically when the drying cycle’s finished to prevent unnecessary creasing. And reverse drying can help to prevent your laundry from getting in a tangle. A buzzer that tells you when the cycle’s finished can be useful, too.
Practicalities
You’ll need to empty the fluff from the lint catcher every time you use a dryer, so make sure it’s easily accessible on any dryer you buy, so it’s not a hassle. Check out whether the dryers you’re considering will be easy to load and unload. Door sizes very – if you think a larger one will make life easier, look for that. Can you install the dryer at various heights? Adjustable feet that enable you to make the dryer sit alongside your washer at the same height, for instance, could be useful, or a wall mounting kit can minimise the bending you’ll need to do to operate it. The capacity of load the dryer can take is an important consideration too. Make sure it’s adequate for your needs, within your space limitations.
Wed 17 Mar 2010
Have you ever wanted to try cooking those fabulous recipes you see in your cookbooks or on the food network channels that seemed so delicious? Are you in a situation where you have to cook different dishes in a number of ways? Or do you just want to update your kitchen tools by buying something you’ll definitely love to use? Whatever the case, a Jenn-Air cartridge is what you need to bring those lovely dishes cooking just perfectly.
A basic cartridge allows you transform your burners to grills if a dish calls for it. And the best brand for that is Jenn-Air. With the Jenn Air cartridges, you can quickly change from cooking your deep-fried crispy chicken to grilling your fall-off-the-bone ribs in a quick snap. And with its feature of heating up quickly, you’ll never have to worry about waiting a long time for your food to be cooked. Some cartridges even come with an indicator that lets you know if the heat is suitable for the specific food you are cooking. Now, who wants to pass up a feature like that? You will never need a kitchen helper anymore with this indicator.
With Jenn Air cartridges, you are guaranteed that every single cartridge are made out of the best materials. Choose the traditional coil cartridge if you are looking for a cartridge that does not break the bank but still be durable enough to last any heavy-duty cooking. You can opt for the ceramic cartridge if you are the type of person who hates cleaning up after cooking and who also wants to update the look of their kitchen. You can even go for the Halogen Cartridges for the sleekest look that heat and cook your food in the fastest way.
If you are a person who likes to eat food as much as the next person but still wants to keep things healthy, then you will find that Jenn Air cartridges can work for you, too. At Jenn Air, every grill and griddle cartridges have a non-stick surface, which means you do not need too much oil – or maybe none at all – to cook the most delicious steaks. They even come with a lower drip tray that catches the extra oil, but still flavors your food delectably by making all those flavor and spices from the extra drippings to evaporate to the food to enhance the taste even more.
Jenn Air cartridges also allow you to choose from the style lines: the Designer Line that puts everything within your budget, or the Expressions Line that puts the beauty back in your kitchen. Whatever you need for your kitchen and for you recipes, Jenn Air is sure to have them all. Make cooking more fun with cartridges from Jenn Air.
Tue 16 Mar 2010
Any appliance is designed after taking into consideration the needs of users and the environment in which it is going to be used. Manufacturers of appliances conduct research on the usability of their models based on consumer feedback. They apply the results of such research in developing new models in which the loopholes present in earlier designs are plugged. As new models are launched, it is common for many consumers to replace their existing appliances, which might have become outdated. Used appliances don’t necessarily have to be discarded, as there is a significant demand for second hand appliances too. Used home appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, microwave ovens, dishwashers and washing machines are cheaper than new ones because of the depreciation factor.
Before buying a used home appliance, it is essential to check the extent of its usage and reconfirm that it is in working condition. It is always advisable to get a used appliance checked by a technician before purchase.
Some people prefer disposing off used home appliances when they do not get a good offer from buyers. In such situations, the discarded home appliance can be transported to a special factory, where the discarded appliance is split into parts and disposed off. This is usually done in accordance with environmental protection laws. Burning, burying or decontamination can dispose off harmful or poisonous parts. The parts, which are safe to be used, can be assembled as second hand appliances and returned to the market. A number of exporters, suppliers, manufacturers, factories and distributors engage in the business of dealing in used home appliances. In Japan, there is a law that ensures recycling of used home appliances because of the high cost of treating discarded ones to make them environmentally safe.
Used home appliances contain Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), leaded glass and other hazardous chemicals. It is generally recommended that the clutter in the form of useless second hand appliances should be discarded. Some people prefer to donate used home appliances to religious or social organizations.
Sat 13 Mar 2010
Induction cookware is the cookware of the future. These pots and pans are reactive to magnetic fields so that they will heat up from the electro magnetic field that is generated by the induction cooktop. This type of cooktop has been used in Europe for quite some time and is becoming very popular now in the US.
Many restaurants and home kitchens are turning toward this type of cooking technology because it is a more efficient form of cooking and can be extremely safe and can cost significantly less than the traditional electric or gas stoves or ovens. Also these cooking surfaces do not have heating elements to get burned on and they are easier to clean.
These kinds of cooking vessels need to be magnetic and have an absolutely flat bottom. Cookware for induction ranges are made from magnetic materials,iron being one of them to generate heat magnetically which transfers to the food. Some of your conventional pots and pans that you have right now might be able to be used on a induction cooktop.
If you have any cast iron cookware well your good to go. However you may have other cookware that can be used for this type of cooking and you can find out by just using a simple magnet.
Just take a magnet and place on the bottom of the pot or pan and if it sticks to the bottom then it will work with an induction cooktop. If the magnet does not stick to the pan, then the cookware simply is not suitable for induction cooking.
Non-induction cookware simply will not work on an induction stove or oven. Some of these cooking vessels would be made from aluminum, copper and glass just to name a few.
There are a number of manufacturers today offering what is called induction ready or induction compatible cookware. This cookware typically can be used on convention cooktops as well as induction type cooktops. Remember if your not sure if a piece of cookware is induction ready just perform the simple magnet test.
Fri 12 Mar 2010
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Maytag Articles No Comments
When choosing a washing machine, the consumer can become overwhelmed with the amount of choice out there. There are so many producers, which may leave your head spinning. Some of the features that have made choosing the perfect machine confusing are the combination of initial cost, efficiency, and cleaning ability. Maytag offers choices that will appeal to the consumer on any of these levels.
Some important things to consider are what features are important to you when looking for a washing machine? Do you have a large family? Then the cubic feet are going to be highly important. Do you wash delicates? If so, you will want a machine that has a reputation for washing delicates well. Do you prefer efficiency? Is space a factor? Do you have different types of laundry you wash? What colors appeal to you? What kind of connections do you have? These are all important questions to consider before you start your search.
Maytag’s Centenial Top Load Washer is the most economic version available initially. It features a wide opening lid and super size capacity. It is also made with commercial grade parts. You can pay a little more and get models that offer additional features, such as an additional rinse feature or two speed motors, as well as selecting extra options during the wash cycle. Some of the things to consider with a top loading machine with an agitator is that is uses the most water, can become unbalanced fairly easily, and because the clothes have to go around the agitator it can hold less laundry (expect about 12-16 pounds). On the plus side – it is much easier to add things to the laundry in the middle of the cycle.
The high efficiency top load models have no agitator, which increases efficiency and performance since the clothes are lifted and tumbled by discs in the machine. These machines spin at very high speeds, thus reducing drying time and energy consumption. Maytag’s Bravo Top Load Washer is the largest washer offered. It has a sensor that determines the appropriate spin speed based on the weight of the laundry. Maytag claims it uses half the water and energy of the conventional washing machine. The CEE Tier II rating also makes it one of the most efficient washing machines you can get in this industry. Over the life of the machine, it would be wise to consider energy efficiency when determining what to spend in initial cost. You may well earn that money back with a high efficiency machine that uses half the water.
Another popular model recently has been the front loader. Maytag’s version of this model is the Epic front loader. Front loaders are so popular in part because they can be stacked on the pedestals, providing a convenient place for storing detergents and other items. Maytag’s Epic Front Load machine tumbles the clothes, rather than agitating them, using up to 65% less water than the average top loader. Wow. That is a lot of water over time. This model also has controlled lockout, Sensi-Care wash, and automatic water level sensor, sensor controlled suds and built in heater in addition to all the other options. This turns laundry into a genuine art by being able to select all the additional features.
Over time, however, Maytag has consistently stood out as a top performer with their products. You can go to Consumer Reports and find out detailed information. Before going to the stores, carefully consider which of the features will be genuinely beneficial to you. Think about the long term, as a washing machine is an investment in the future of your wardrobe.
Thu 11 Mar 2010
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The microwave oven has become a part of the daily lifestyle. It has become one of the mainstays of every kitchen in the country today. No longer is the microwave just a luxury.
For people living a fast-paced life, it has become a godsend. There are many people today who look for more efficient cooking appliances that can help them save time in preparing their food. Today’s microwave oven has offered them that.
It has come a long way from its early origins. The early ovens once was only used to reheat or defrost food and make popcorn. With advanced technology, today’s models are now capable of other cooking options such as baking, roasting, grilling, and even toasting.
With its newfound versatility, it has even poised itself as a welcome replacement to such cooking appliances as the gas and electric cooking ranges. The microwave has become the favored cooking appliance for more and more people today.
But along with its gaining popularity, it has also become a cause of concern for some people. Many believe that microwave oven danger can pose a big deterrent for the use of such a versatile kitchen appliance. Some of the implied dangers come from the method that is used in cooking or heating the food.
The use of microwave energy as a cooking method has been a cause of concern for many consumers. Even its quick cooking time has made people think that it may not perform well in cooking. Many people think that the shorter cooking time can help increase the incidence of food borne illnesses.
They have been known to be used primarily for reheating leftover food. With its shortened time to heat up food, some believe that not all the bacteria can be killed and thus can result in unhealthy food.
Another danger that it is known for is its ability to superheat liquids. Superheated liquids reach temperatures that are above their normal boiling points without actually boiling. This can usually happen to liquids placed in a container with a smooth surface. When a superheated liquid is disturbed, it has a tendency to explode accidentally which can immediately cause burns to the handler.
Using tin and aluminum foil as well as other metal containers can produce sparks when placed inside. Many people are also concerned having their food exposed to microwave radiation. Some believe that the radiation can cause chemical reactions different from those that occur through conventional heating. This chemical reaction is said to help form carcinogens that in turn can cause cancer in humans.
When it comes to such danger, there is still much to be studied. Advancing technology has also made newer models that try to address such issues. Most of the said dangers still needs to be proven through more studies and may not be accurate. All in all, they are still safe to use. There is no need to throw out your microwave oven, at least not just yet.
Tue 9 Mar 2010
All food service operations need ice, and the simplest way to meet that need is to have an icemaking machine that freezes, “harvests,” and stores ice automatically. There are large, standalone machines that produce up to 3000 pounds of ice per day; medium-size, undercounter models that make up to 200 pounds per day; or small, countertop ice makers that deliver as little as 1 pound of ice per hour. You will sometimes see ice makers referred to as ice cubers. Before you buy an ice machine, you should not just determine how much ice you’ll need, but where you will need it. If there are several sites for ice consumption-garde manger area, bar, wait stations-you might be better off with several smaller machines in various locations instead of everyone hauling ice from a single, large unit.
We’ll talk in a moment about how to determine your ice needs. Ice-making machines are refrigeration units. The ice is made when a pump circulates water from a tank. The water runs trough tubing to a freezing assembly, which freezes it into a single sheet. The frozen sheet is then cruhed or forced through a screen to produce ice cubes. Different types of screens produce different sizes and shapes of cubes. After the ice is crushed or cubed, it is automatically dumped into a storage bin. When the bin fills to capacity, a sensor inside the machine shuts it down until there is room to make and store more ice. Because most of the ice maker’s parts come into direct contact with water, it is important that components be made of rustproof materials.
Ice maker capacity is determined by how many pounds of ice the unit can produce in a 24-hour period. However, any machine’s output (and the quality of the ice itself) will be affected by several factors: Incoming water temperature. The ideal is 50 degrees Fahrenheit; warmer water makes the machine work harder. Room temperature. The ideal is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If installed in an environment that has an ambient temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, consider getting a unit with a water-cooled condenser to compensate for hot, humid, or grease-laden air. Incoming water pressure. The minimum water pressure should be 20 pounds per square inch (psi); recommended pressure is between 45 and 55 psi.
Anything higher than 80 psi will cause malfunctions. Water quality. Hard water will cause the machine to work more slowly and almost always necessitates some kind of pretreatment before the water enters the machine. The fewer minerals and chemicals in the water, the more quickly and harder it will freeze, and the more slowly it will melt. Filtration is almost always a good idea. Read manufacturers’ output claims carefully and you’ll find they are often based on ideal conditions: incoming water temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit and ambient air temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Generally, a 10-degree increase in air temperature means daily ice output decreases by 10 percent.
Also examine the water and energy usage figures provided by the manufacturer. You’ll note that there is a wide range: from 15 to 27 gallons of water to produce 100 pounds of ice, using from 5 to 10 kilowatts of electricity. An additional source to check is the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), the national trade association that represents about 90 percent of manufacturers. Ironically, ARI data rates ice machine production capacities using more realistic conditions than the manufacturers’ sales literature-with incoming water temperature at 70 degrees Fahrenheit and ambient air at 90 degrees Fahrenheit. ARI also rates machines by how many kilowatthours and how much water they need to produce 100 pounds of ice. The group’s “CoolNet” Web site can be found at http://www.ari.org.
No matter where the ice maker is located, it needs a source of cold water and drainage. Particularly critical is a one-inch air gap between the ice maker’s drain line and the nearest floor drain. This is a necessary precaution to prevent a backflow of soiled water into the ice bin. Wherever you install the ice maker, proper plumbing will be mandated by your local health department. A recessed floor beneath the unit is also recommended. Along with nearby drainage, this ensures that spilled ice does not melt on the floor and cause accidents. One smart option is to install an inlet chiller along with your ice machine. About the size of a household fire extinguisher, it collects the water that would normally be discharged from the ice maker into the drain. Instead, the water recirculates first through a series of copper coils in a chamber that contains fresh water on its way into the ice maker.
The cold outgoing water chills the coils, which chill the fresh incoming water and allow it to freeze more quickly for faster ice production. The inlet chiller, which has no moving parts and uses no electricity, can save up to 30 percent on the electricity used to run the ice maker and boost its capacity by 50 percent. There is also a need for air circulation around the unit. An ice maker gives off warm air, like any refrigerator, and should be placed at least 4 inches from the wall to allow for ventilation. Those are just a few of the factors to consider in your “life cycle” calculation. Others are listed in the next “Foodservice Equipment” box.
Just as there are different machine capacities, there are also various sizes of storage bins. Most operators choose a combination ice maker and storage bin; by adding an extra 20 percent to the total capacity of each, you’ll (theoretically) never run out. Ergonomics experts add that bins with a depth of more than 16 or 18 inches are hard to reach for employees that must scoop from the bottom. Look for storage compartments with volume sensors, so production cuts off automatically when the bin is full. When ice tumbles out every time you open the bin, you’re just wasting it.
A final important consideration is the length of time it takes the machine to complete one ice-making cycle. Under normal conditions, the whole freezing-harvesting-ejection period should take no longer than 15 to 20 minutes for the finished cubes to hit the storage bin. Now that we’ve discussed the machine itself, what kinds of ice do you want it to make? There are many different cubed-ice options. Large cubes (full cubes) melt more slowly, so they’re good for banquet situations where glasses must be set out early. They may be awkward in some glasses and may give the appearance of a less-than-full drink.
Smaller, half cubes stock better into most glasses and are preferred in bar settings. Even smaller cubelets are suggested for soft drinks, because they fill the glass or cup so well (and therefore make your soft drink supply go further). Nugget ice is flaked ice that has been compacted into high-density, random-size chunks that melt slowly and are easier on blender blades than cubed ice. Nugget ice is a good choice for soft drinks and smoothies. Round shapes fit a glass better at its edges. Rectangular cubes stack better than round ones, leaving fewer voids in the glass. Your clientele, your glassware, and your type of service will determine the right shape for you.
Tue 2 Mar 2010
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Maytag Articles No Comments
The washing machines are very popular with consumers for the high value that they have in the busy life of modern society. Moreover, the machines have become accessible to all segments of society, regardless of economic status. They vary in size, models and features. Over time, changes in form and content of the washing machine accepted. Most innovative technologies could be effective qualitative changes in modern machinesincreasingly consumer-oriented.
For example, "Sixth Sense" is a state of the art technology based on some models of cars. The name itself indicates the characteristics of the technology. An element of common sense into the system a new dimension was added to the capabilities of the machine. Built-in sensors are available to measure the load, water temperature and rate of spin. The automatic controls are "common sense" rules of different inputs."Fuzzy Logic" is another technology that works in the same direction to make the machine fully automatic.
In conventional washing machines the user has about the load (of course within the allowable limits) to determine water temperature, spin speed, amount of detergent used, etc. And 'therefore need to monitor the operation of the machine, while. Variations of the above factors may occur due to human error and therefore have an excess of energy and materialsbe used. The new technology eliminates the human factor. Sensors and monitors, set the computer to have the various inputs needed, and then to avoid waste.
Energy saving is a remarkable achievement. Even the use of materials such as detergents, plasticizers, etc. can be minimized. In addition to the above, the water quality will be monitored. Hardness in water is detected by the monitor. It should be noted that the hardness of the water causes damage to machinery andClothes. The time required for washing and drying will be determined by the machine, the sixth, thanks to built-in sense. The sensors are equipped with some models to determine the quality of the detergent and to regulate the temperature of the size of the load of clothing. Another innovative technology is in the air today Refresh washing machines involved option, supply of fresh air in the heating system and the same thing. Washing and drying are donethrough the use of hot air and steam.
The technology of washing is in a way forward. Many innovative design and functionality are now available to make the product easier to use. Work continues on cleaning and modern washing machines. Dangers of heat and noise are completely eliminated. Legally energy labels on the level of energy efficiency is a feature that addresses the environmental concerns of today's world.
Those who are eligible for purchasethese devices is recommended that the changes that occur are studying the shape and characteristics of products. Internet is the best source to understand the changes and developments arising therefrom. All the leaders in the washing machine segment, a variety of innovative products. Samsung, Bosch, LG, Panasonic, Siemens and Whirlpool some of the biggest names in the global washing machine market. To be safe, consumers are advised to opt for the well-knownBranded products, which are supported by a guarantee infallible and after sales service.