17/03/2010 by FeedCrazy.

We’re in tough economic times, there’s no getting around it. It’s rough out there. Just dog eat dog! However I stumbled on a plan the other day that just could help your small business.  I was remembering how when I was a pre-teen and my mom was single with me in my brothers and sisters.  This was in the Big Apple. The cold would push us into a department store during the holiday.  It might have been Macy’s, I’m not sure. There, right in the store would be this huge toy train layout. The store would always be packed with kids and their parents no matter what time it was.  Golly was it a huge track design!  The whole thing was huge as a swimming pool!  It was a complete universe onto itself.

And here’s the rub, even though my mom didn’t have any money and always came in with the goal of never spending a nickel, by the end of the day it seemed like we without fail ended up leaving with some little thing, even if it was just a hot pretzel from one the street venders.  So here’s the thought I had:

Use display g scale railroad trains to draw pedestrians in:

Toy stores have known this for a long time and hardware stores have found this a natural match since people can buy the materials and tools for model railroading all right there.  But I think other sorts of stores could really increase revenue by having a toy locomotive railroad, especially big g scale trains and tracks.  Any store with a outward facing window that looks onto a busy walk way like in a mall could easily draw parents and their kids in. You don’t really need to be a business that is in any way train related. A doctor’s hospital might just have a train display to keep the kids busy while they waited to see the doctor or for prescriptions. The display would give the business a considerable leg up over its competition. The model train babysitter would allow the happy parents to see to their own needs. The increased business would be well worth the expenses in terms of space, start up costs and maintenance. Any place by where families spend time could take advantage of these little lures. This is sure to make for an insurance plan against hard times.

G-Scale Model Railroad Designs could also help individuate businesses in the hospitality industry:

You know how you’ve been dreaming of making your cute little cottage into a B & B now that your children have all moved out.  Well what better way to help create a special unique experience than to add a g scale model railroad design to your B & B?  You could market your Bed-and-Breakfast as a locomotive Bed-and-Breakfast and you could have several trains. Customers would really be fascinated watching the trains snaking around them. You could top off your revenues by having train related trinkets and toys.  If you have a nearby tourist site that is western related you could create a tie-in to this site. Think of the American history tie-ins in your local area.

 It’s a hard world out there these days. Now’s the time to act aggressively and creatively to maximize your business not sit back and be tossed by the waves of change. A distinctive business theme is sure to help you succeed in these hard economic times.  I’ve only touched the surface. Imagine a miniature golf park where a g scale train winds through the entire course, going by ponds and across runways and where the players alter the train’s track by sinking holes…

Here is more information on G Scale Model Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

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01/02/2010 by FeedCrazy.

Bonsai

Watching bonsai develop and shaping them into beautiful sculptures is an absorbing and extremely rewarding hobby. Growing bonsai trees isn’t an expensive pastime with only a few specialist tools needed, but a fine bonsai can be more of a centrepiece in your home than many an expensive ornament. A bonsai is a living ornament.

Bonsai are container planted plants or trees that are grown to be miniatures of the natural sized counterpart. Bonsai are grown from nearly any perennial woody stemmed trees or shrubs that grow branches and can grow small through container confinement with the assistance from root and crown trimming.

Bonsai can be developed from seeds, from young shoots lifted from the countryside, (please observe any local laws in respect of taking wild plants or trees in your area), or can be ordered as ready planted bonsai trees. Obviously growing bonsai from seed is the slowest route, but you will have maximum control of how your bonsai tree will grow.

Bonsai trees are grown in bonsai pots that restrict the development of the roots but will also enhance the look of your bonsai tree. Specialist soil mixtures are available that provide the ideal conditions for your bonsai tree to develop.

Many methods are employed to shape and give unique character to your bonsai tree including trimming leaves, wiring branches, grafting on other plants, dwarfing and deadwood, (aging and adding character to the bark). Not many specialist tools are required to shape bonsai trees, and these are readily available for little cost. All that you require to get started can easily be purchased from a specialist bonsai nursery.

Bonsai trees can be had as indoor and outdoor varieties, and some bonsai are best if they are left outside during warmer summer months and then grown inside in the colder winter months.

For anyone that likes the idea, but would rather not get involved in growing bonsai, you can even purchase artificial bonsai trees.

If you are wondering if growing bonsai trees is right for you, I would say give it a try, bonsai are easy to grow and maintain, take a small amount of your time, each and every bonsai is unique, and who doesn’t admire a bonsai tree whenever they see one.

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