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The Advantages of Hybrid Sealants and Adhesives

The term hybrid has gained in popularity in recent years, largely thanks to the development of petrol/electric hybrid vehicles. But the idea isn’t just confined to cars. In fact, a hybrid can be any fusion of technology or techniques that’s used to create a more efficient or improved product.

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In the building sector it can be used to refer to materials that combine different qualities – for example, a roof sealant that combines the best qualities of silicone and polyurethane compounds. These innovative sealants and adhesives allow materials that might not normally work well together – such as glass and concrete – to be joined successfully.

Creating Hybrids

For manufacturers of adhesives and sealants, hybrid techniques allow them to create specific material characteristics that might not otherwise have been possible. Of course, this is not really new. For many years people have been experimenting with combining materials, and there are even many examples of hybrids in the natural world – things like teeth, which are made from a combination of materials, for example.

When creating a hybrid roof sealant, the makers can aim to introduce specific characteristics. These might be, for example, to make the sealant harder-wearing or to reduce odour, improve UV resistance or to remove hazardous substances from the composition.

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Advantages of Hybrids

In the construction industry the use of hybrid sealants and adhesives can deliver many different advantages. They can be made to resist high temperatures, for example, or to adhere without the need to apply a primer first. They can also be formulated to make life easier for the user by having a fast drying time or ensuring that they have a long shelf life before deteriorating.

There are advantages for the end user too. Hybrid sealants are greener because they can be made free from solvents, silicones and other hazardous chemicals. But they can also be made to combine characteristics such as the ease of application typically associated with silicones and the strong mechanical qualities of polyurethane. This means that there is strong demand for hybrid materials across the industry, and new ones are continually being developed and refined in order to meet the demand from the building industry for high-quality sealants and adhesives that offer top performance and optimum ease of use at an affordable price.

admin by — January 8, 2020 in General
Summer wedding ideas that are Great for 2020

With sunshine, good company and love, what’s better than a summer wedding? Here’s a little inspiration for a memorable day.

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Outdoor catering

Summer is perfect for al fresco dining, and the smell of delicious food is sure to tempt the crowd. Hire a local ice-cream provider to give your guests a fun way to cool down, a food van for casual dining, or a pop-up popcorn stand for a retro feel.

Make it atmospheric

Delicate white lights can be hung on trellises, between trees and draped over flowers and bushes to add a gentle sparkle. Go rustic with mason jars hung from trees, or even take lighting to the maximum effect by staging a magical nighttime wedding and making the evening one to truly cherish. A bicycle or wooden archway decorated with flowers and tea light lanterns can provide a vintage backdrop for Instagram-perfect photos.

Inspired fashions

Step away from typical gowns and go vintage chic. According to the Telegraph, 5 per cent of brides are opting for secondhand or vintage dresses for their big day. Go for brighter colours for bridesmaids to make a bold statement.

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Memorable venues

A backyard provides the perfect canvas from which to fully shape your wedding and the level of formality. Want something a little more extravagant? Consider saying your vows on a dock or overlooking glistening water on a pier, or make it a beautiful outdoor experience with a Hotel Wedding Venue in Gloucester with stunning grounds which you can view on sites including hatton-court.co.uk.
Liven up the activities

Create your own comfortable and cosy retreat for guests with an outdoor dance floor and lawn games, such as giant Jenga or a spot of mini golf. Picnic benches and hay bales for seating can provide a rustic touch for a bite to eat or a break from the festivities.

Practical gifting

A shoe swap basket, where uncomfortable heels can be ditched in favour of flip flops, or a basket of sunglasses are token gestures that are both novel and useful.

Go out with a bang

Fireworks, sky lanterns and sparklers are a way for your guests to help give you the perfect, glittering send-off. Swap the limousine for a vintage car or even a 4×4 for a more unique exit.

admin by — December 19, 2019 in Lifestyle
Make Your Website Stand Out with these Features

If you’re looking to develop a new business website, then you’ll be carefully considering the layout, structure, design, navigation and features. This planning phase is critical and often takes some time to get right. It is also well worth carrying out research into other sites, particularly when you have competitors with an excellent online presence. Take the time to establish what exactly is making their digital assets so strong. One of the biggest things to consider is your image and if you get this wrong it can be a catastrophe. If you use a Branding Agency through sites like Branding Agency Really Helpful Marketing

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Excellent Features for ‘Stickability’

All websites want to be ‘sticky’ for customers, meaning that they will stay on the site rather than immediately moving away elsewhere. Ideally, they will stay around long enough to carry out the intended action. This may be to sign up, register or even purchase. http://mashable.com/2012/02/09/website-must-haves/

The Essentials

Make sure you have clear and legible business information and a visible security accreditation that shows your website is safe. Excellent navigation is a must, as is a mobile-friendly and responsive website that can adjust to different digital devices. Customer self-service is an excellent feature, especially where the online account area is feature-rich and simple to use, and integration with social media and payment platforms are also welcomed.

If you’re looking for web designers some companies provide you with an expert team of developers who can give you specific advice about the features most valued by customers in your target market.

Hosting is also very important, as customers are rapidly turned off by a slow and unresponsive website, so invest in a good solution and consider disaster recovery too in case your digital assets are threatened in any way.

Thinking About Content

Consider content carefully as well, as most websites are ultimately content-driven, and the quality of content can be considered as a feature in itself. What will encourage your customers to come back for more? Do they want to read the latest news, opinion pieces from thought leaders, provocative copy or product updates? Do your research and invest in content production and updating, which you can share across your integrated social media channels for greater reach. Some sites go a step further and ask their customers, members or panellists to contribute content themselves. This can create a community feel and really encourage users to keep coming back for more. Remember that the key is to create genuine and sustained value via your website for the target audience.

Which Features Don’t You Need?

As any web developer will tell you, gimmicks such as music and Flash animations are unnecessary. A designer will tell you that stock images are also a no-no wherever possible. Today’s websites are largely clean and simple to use, with a lot of thought put into the navigation, structure and ease of a seamless customer journey. Keep the aesthetic pure, and use a template system wherever possible such as WordPress, as these are familiar to customers and easy to use. A good rule of thumb when considering features is to ask yourself whether or not they are essential, useful or nice to have, and then consider their usage accordingly.

What features do you value most in your favourite business websites?

admin by — December 2, 2019 in Technology
What Is the FIRE Movement Anyway?

A growing number of people are gaining an interest in something called the FIRE movement. What is this, and could this be of use to you?

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FIRE Defined

FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. According to Investopia, FIRE is a system involving a program of extreme savings and investments. This allows followers to retire earlier than traditional budgets and retirement plans allow.

Rise in Popularity

The FIRE movement first came about following the release of a book in 1992 entitled Your Money or Your Life. The book explored the comparison of expenses versus the time spent earning the money to pay for these expenses.

A growing number of people started to become fans of the so-called FIRE movement, and today there are countless books, blogs, and podcasts written on the topic. Many advocates claim they can retire at a younger age compared to the general population, with some well-known FIRE fans even retiring as young as 30.

However, FIRE supporters stress that following this movement isn’t necessarily about giving up work early. Many continue to enjoy a fulfilled career. Crucially, the goal of FIRE is to give the person options so that they could retire if they wanted to.

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How FIRE Works

In order to become financially independent and retire early according to the FIRE movement, experts claim you need to devote 70% of your income to savings. This is fairly extreme, and many people would need to be very disciplined in order to achieve this goal. Seeking financial assistance from experts such as www.intelliflo.com, who provide financial advisor software, would be one way to help you organize your savings more efficiently to yield maximum returns.

Supporters of FIRE argue that you need to save 70% of your annual income to the point where you’ve gained savings that are around 30 times your yearly expenses. At this point, you can then retire. However, you may need to adjust timescales according to interest rate fluctuations.

In order to maintain FIRE principles, followers must also only make meager withdrawals. This will involve cutting back on unnecessary expenses and living a fairly frugal existence. Typically, FIRE followers will make just 3-4% withdrawals from their annual savings. This again requires strict discipline, and you might need to consider your quality of life and current lifestyle to assess whether this rate is even achievable.

admin by — November 2, 2019 in Finance
A landlord’s guide to attracting the best tenants

Great tenants can help to look after your property and your bank balance, which is why it is important to make an effort to attract the best – and keep them. To do this, start by following these top tips.

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Look at the competition

Get online or talk to local agents and make sure that you are offering as good as, if not better than, the competition. Look at what tenants are getting for their money elsewhere and make sure that you are offering these features and benefits at a price that will attract the best tenants around.

Market your property

The best tenants have to know about the property you want to rent it, so get it out there. Make full use of the internet, social media, local publications, etc.

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Be ready for viewings

Make sure that you can be as flexible as possible to accommodate viewings and be ready to sell your property and the services you can offer, such as comprehensive inventories using property inventory software from providers such as https://inventorybase.co.uk.

Present well

Make sure your property is presented in the best possible way. Ensure it is clean and smell-free and that the garden is tidy and looks well-kept.

Appeal to a target market

Decide what sort of tenants you want and focus your efforts on attracting these; for example, if you are offering a professional let, make sure that you are advertising your property somewhere that the right sort of people will come across it.

Know your tenants

Get as much information as possible from prospective tenants and make sure that you check their references thoroughly. You may also need to consider your tenants’ right to rent and should always arrange for a credit check to be carried out.

Keep good tenants happy

Once you have found good tenants, try to keep them by ensuring they are happy. Carry out regular checks and keep on top of maintenance issues. Being proactive can often prevent problems from occurring and save you time and money in the long run.

Make sure that someone is available to respond to queries or issues promptly and always be willing to listen to what your tenants have to say. A good relationship can be the key to keeping great tenants in place.

admin by — November 1, 2019 in Home
Historic Holidays

If you love all things olde-worlde and dream of break-in accommodation that’s a little bit different then why not think about a heritage getaway? There are many places to stay in the UK that offer an experience steeped in history, as one thing the UK has, is tons of history.

Why not stay in a real Castle? Britain has been blessed with so many Castles and these are usually set in beautiful landscapes and are rammed full of history. Many Castles now offer accommodation including bed and breakfast. Others offer on-site accommodation that is self-catering so you can really be your own Lord or Lady for the duration of your stay. Some Castles that you can stay in are Hever Castle in Kent, Leeds Castle in Maidstone, Warwick Castle in Warwickshire, Bickleigh Castle in Devon and Ruthin Castle in Wales.

If lording it around is not really your style then why not try taking a step back in time with a break in a Glamping pod. For those of you that like your military history there is the stunning option of driving a tank.

For those of you that enjoy military history one of the most exciting things you can do is to go on Tank Driving Days where you can take out a classic British mechanized vehicle. Companies such as armourgeddon offer a day of action and a chance to experience first hand what it was like to drive one of these monsters.

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A more sedate option is Cottages, these are another option for a holiday full of heritage. There are so many different kinds from romantic retreats, fisherman’s cottages by the sea to large country cottages with hot tubs and even swimming pools. Some quirky cottages include Blue Seas in Cornwall where you can stay in a Victorian fort. Riverbank Cottage in Cumbria straddles an old packhorse bridge over the water. There are converted station houses, former bakehouses, old telephone exchanges, pump houses, and even old churches. The Old Church in Shropshire stands on the site of a much earlier Medieval chapel and contains many original features and also boasts a Jacuzzi spa bath!

There are also historic hotels around Britain that can offer heritage and stunning countryside views. Some are listed buildings and offer a relaxed, country Manor style break or you can find country house hotels that also offer sports and activities such as golf, fishing, and shooting. For a really Royal connection, the Rubens at the Palace in Central London is a historic hotel that sits on Buckingham Palace Road. It offers beautifully furnished rooms, a champagne bar, and two restaurants. You can even catch sight of the Royal horses if you’re lucky. If you don’t fancy London, then head to a more relaxed Pen-Y-Dyffryn on the Welsh borders for a Grade II listed country house with a 2 AA Rosette restaurant.

admin by — October 31, 2019 in Travel
Turning Up the Heat: Hot Glue Guns

Glue guns are mobile utensils that deliver hot melted adhesives.

Thermoplastics taking the shape of cylindrical sticks for use in glue guns were first introduced in the early to mid 20th century as an improvement on traditional water-based glues, which would ultimately weaken due to atmospheric humidity.

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Industrial adhesives were then later used in the shoe manufacturing process, although it soon came to be realized that their use was applicable in things involving numerous other materials, including cloths and woods.

For the Best Results

Holt-melt adhesives are vital in glue gun applications. Hot melts can vary, changing in size and form, and include resins, polymers, and various waxes. These melts are particularly useful due to their waterproofing and to their ability to deal with varying chemical environments.

Glue Guns in Action

The glue gun process is relatively straightforward. The thermoplastic sticks are pushed through the rear end of the device and then undergo a melting process taking anywhere between one and five minutes. However, when preheated, this process can often be quickened. In the cheaper and more accessible glue guns, the temperature of the thermoplastics is controlled by an in-device thermistor which limits the heat available. This then, in turn, allows the user to use the glue gun without running the risk of being burnt through excessive heating.

The glue is then forced through a conical tip which can absorb heat very quickly. As a result, many manufacturers include a proactive barrier that covers the tip which reduces the chances of burns occurring.

At the point of application, because the plastic is obviously a solid at room temperature, it solidifies quickly on expulsion from the gun.

Glue guns are particularly useful, due to their ease of use, informing airtight seals and you can find them in a variety of sizes.

For Your Consideration

It is vital you ensure you select the optimal glue for each and every application. For example, lower-temperature glue guns that melt at around 250 degrees are best used for delicate materials, including cloths and thin woods. Higher-temperature glue guns that can reach anywhere up to 400 degrees are more appropriate for use in projects involving harder materials such as wood. Glue guns with varying temperature levels are available for special projects where some versatility is required. You should also ensure that the items that you are using the hot glue on are appropriate to do so on. For example, you are much better off contacting a Boiler Repair Gloucester company such as hpr services ltd rather than using hot glue on a part of your heating system. But you may want to use it to reattach a broken oven or fridge handle.

admin by — October 24, 2019 in General
Social care provision in the NHS falls short

Measures announced by the government, to give councils access to a brand new support grant for adult social care, have been welcomed by many leaders within the health service, but they do not believe it will be enough to pull the healthcare sector out of the crisis.

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The care levy and a new grant.

Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, announced that councils can apply a 3% care levy over the next two years, as well as accessing a new grant, that will come from saving on the New Homes Bonus.

These new avenues of revenue are expected to inject approximately £900m into the struggling health sector, but Stephen Dalton, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation, has explained that this will do nothing to alleviate the immediate pressures that are currently being felt this winter.

Concerns raised by key health sector figures.

Dalton acknowledges that although these new announcements are very welcome and important, they, unfortunately, don’t go far enough in addressing the deeply rooted issues facing the NHS, and he has implored the government not to ignore the concerns raised by both local government and the NHS itself.

In some places, the NHS has fallen on their waiting times, response times and appointments and in some hospitals, they are even saying people are starving to death.  A big problem when staying in your own home or local care home can be heating.  Trying to keep the residents and patients warm can be difficult especially in winter.  Getting some Aluminium Radiators UK products from sites including apolloradiators.co.uk/designer-radiators.

The lack of adequate social care is putting more pressure on hospitals, with patients not able to be discharged even though they are ready to go home. Clinical trial services are being conducted every day to bring important new treatments to the market, only for hospitals to continue struggling because of inadequate social care provisions. Dalton is calling for an immediate review into social care’s sustainability, as well as for information on how the funding gap is going to be addressed.

Concerns raised by councils.

In its plans, the government has stated that councils will be able to raise around £208m next year and £444m in 2018/2019, by applying the social care precept. However, it has been highlighted that the councils most in need of additional funding won’t benefit as much, because many properties fall into lower taxation bands.

For a long time, it has been clear to see that consecutive governments have avoided facing the challenges presented by the health sector, and these new measures have served to emphasize the requirement for essential reforms that must ensure the sustainability of social care.

admin by — October 19, 2019 in Health
Desirable Dresses for summer

Stuffing your closet with different dress styles is a terrific decision this summer, as they can be worn in innumerable different ways. You’ll find countless multipurpose dress designs to pick from which can be good for use at practically all hours. A dress could be the ideal clothing to get dressed up in, or alternatively throw on as a casual outfit. Dresses offer comfort and glamour, a real heroine of one’s wardrobe. Listed here is a sample of the dress styles which should be showing up in your closet this summer.

Maxi Dresses

A girl can enjoy an excellent experience in a vibrant and vivid Maxi. They deliver a beautiful elegant outline and tend to be relaxing and airy in the warmth of the summer months. You can cover up from the sun’s rays without the fear of heating up too much. Perfect for just about all shapes and sizes, a summer Maxi dress works well with a wedge heel shoe or sandals, and an additional belt detailing to enhance the curve of the waist.

Bodycon Dresses

This design of dress happens to be increasingly popular with superstars lately and its attraction continues to show in clothes shop sales around the nation. Remaining on the trend-setting radar, the Bodycon dress is a naughty, flirtatious choice for ladies who want to show off, since its figure-hugging form leaves very little to the imagination. Slide on a pair of high heeled shoes or boots for an immediate glitzy night-on-the-town improvement, or combine with flatter shoes for ultimate daytime relief.

The Slip Dress

A slip dress is a light, alluring dress that also delivers terrific flexibility. Throw one on with flip-flops or sandals for a trip to the beach or combine with heels and statement jewelry for a night out on the town. Slip dresses look fabulous with a trendy coat when the heat drops. The slip is the perfect day to night outfit.

The Lace Dress

Lace says it all without really trying. Lace is definitely an elegant material that does not need a large amount of additional dressing up, bringing a distinctive elegant vibe to whatever occasion it is. Go with a short lace garment for a much more comfortable daytime function, while selecting for length together with sophistication for a nighttime celebration. Incorporate an attention-getting lip colour and stilettos to finish off the look and feel. You can find lace on a variety of dress styles including Skater Dresses and others available from ax paris.

The Short Mini

Summertime is definitely the best time of the year for exposing those suntanned legs, and this truly is where the mini dress comes into its own. Irrespective of whether you’re organizing a lady’s night-on-the-town or going to a trendy cocktail party, you can feel beautiful and sassy all at the same time by dressing in a mini. Mini dresses are an excellent option for smaller ladies who wish to deliver the effect of having much longer legs. Tall ladies should never need to stay away from the smaller dress, as it presents a tremendous opportunity to show off those attractive long legs. Shorter girls possess the chance to pair the mini dress with heels for a bit more additional height or flat-soled gladiator type sandals for the tallest of girl.

 

 

 

admin by — September 15, 2019 in Lifestyle
Rugby vs Football

This is a heated debate. Which one is better Rugby or Football? Although you can become a fan of both, one usually takes precedence over the other in terms of enthusiasm and fandom. Football is a bigger sport globally, able to bring a country to a close when a big game is played at the World Cup for example. However, for rugby fans – nothing beats the spirit and atmosphere of a rugby match. Here are some reasons why people choose rugby over footy:

1 – Fans

Rugby fans are great. Rarely, will you have heard of problems before, during, or after a rugby match? Footy fans have received some terrible press for their past mistakes and the matches can still be tense with the potential for violence even today. Rugby fans, however, all seem to get along well without the need for a large police presence or security measures. Home and opposition fans are usually not separated and subject each other only to good-hearted banter.

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2 –Respect Shown

This is reflected on the pitch between players and referees, as well as in the stands. Players usually listen respectfully to referees and do what they say, which is not something you can say from all soccer players!

3 – Players

You will not see diving, pretend injuries, acting or fakery in rugby. There is no time for that nonsense. Rugby players are more likely to pretend not to be hurt! If you want to improve your rugby skills, check out the great Rugby Drills videos available from https://www.sportplan.net/drills/Rugby/Passing/practiceIndex.jsp

4 – Kit

Nobody takes themselves too seriously, rugby kits have come in some very strange colours and designs before. Although it’s not as cool as some soccer players/world fashion models (Ronaldo, for example) – rugby players are more interested in the game than what their hair looks like!

5- International

Apart from the World Cup and the Euro, the importance of international matches in football has diminished. However, in rugby, they are the top achievement for players and fans. There is nothing like a big international rugby competition to unite a nation.

6 – The Tackles

Not too much needs to be said here. Tackles are amazing and much more impressive and fun to watch in rugby than they are in football.

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7 – Banter

Much of what is said, shouted, or sung in rugby is kind, humorous, and pleasant. This sport is not too serious, offering inclusiveness and a more civilized environment than football.

8 – Passion

When it comes to singing the national anthem or performing haka, no one is as excited as fans and rugby players. Footballers are known for barely moving their lips, not singing at all, or showing different enthusiasm in terms of the national anthem, but you can never say that about rugby.

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admin by — September 3, 2019 in Sport
How to make a white shirt exciting

It’s highly likely that you have a white shirt sitting in your wardrobe, quite possibly gathering dust. For many, white shirts seem a little too plain which leads them to be worn mainly for work. However, they can be worn stylishly in and out of the office. Here’s how.

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Play it cool

When the weather gets hot, it makes sense to wear lighter colors in an attempt to stay cool. This explains why sales of white shirts see an increase in the summer months. You don’t have to stick with the notion of a crisp, tailored shirt, instead look into linen shirts which will look fab with a pair of chino shorts and will ensure that you aren’t sweltering in the sun.

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Keep it neutral

The beauty of a white shirt is that it can look like a perfect match with almost any suit. Rather than playing it safe with the classic blue or black two-piece, why not look for a neutral suit which will compliment your white shirt beautifully and give you a classic, summer look which can be transferred to the office.

Cover up

If you’re off on holiday this year, or even just planning a trip to the beach, the white shirt should be essential. It’s the perfect way to cover up in the hot sun whilst still looking effortlessly cool. Throw a casual option to match your swimwear whilst you sun it up.

Do the denim

Every man should own at least one pair of good jeans. They can be dressed up or down and complement white shirts amazingly well. Men’s Farah shirts, such as the ones found here https://www.ejmenswear.com/men/farah/shirts are the perfect example of how a shirt can suit the occasion, and with white, you will be ready for anything.

It’s all in the detail

Whilst the material of your white shirt can change the entire feel of your ensemble, sometimes you need just a little more to make it feel special. From small logos to full-on colorful patterns, there are many ways that you can ensure that your white shirt won’t blend into the background. Look for the details when searching for your next shirt and you can guarantee that you find the perfect white shirt to match your mood and the season.

admin by — September 2, 2019 in Lifestyle
Opportunities Are coming from UberEats

First Uber took the capital by storm with its app-based taxi service, and now it intends to do the same with its new food delivery service, UberEats. This new food delivery service was launched in London on the 16th June 2016, and whilst critics claim it will need to be ‘compelling’ in order to win over customers and find a new demographic, many say that the benefits to food retailers and restaurateurs could be huge. So what are the opportunities for those in the food industry service when it comes to UberEats?

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UberEats: How It Works

UberEats offers users the chance to order directly from restaurant menus and has meals delivered to their home or office. Users can expect the food to be delivered in just over half an hour and can pay using their Uber account. Users can keep track of their delivery to with very clever technology a lot like Fleet Vehicle Tracking systems knowing exactly where their food is at any one time.  This kind of technology can be sourced from sites like https://www.vehicle-accessories.net/vehicle-tracking/fleet-tracking/.   UberEats now operates in a lot of destinations in the UK (it also already operates in Tokyo, Paris and New York).

The Opportunities

Unlike Amazon Fresh, a new service that delivers groceries, and Just Eat, a food delivery service that is associated with traditional ‘takeout’ cuisine such as Chinese, Indian, kebabs and pizza, UberEats is targeting another demographic altogether. Aiming to deliver from both chain outlets as well as independent, upscale and world-food restaurants, it will offer a slightly different service. The opportunity for many retailers is the existing market of Uber users – over two million in London alone. A trend towards convenience will hopefully prove profitable for many restaurants.

The food industry is always changing, although the demand for quality food remains the same. Whilst food manufacturers are finding ways to cut costs by buying used food processing machines. London restaurants such as Pho and Chilango are trailblazing their own path by partnering with UberEats.

The latest statistics from market research specialist IGD Shopper Vista reveal that shoppers are changing their attitudes to eating out. IGD has found that a 40% plan on cutting down on eating out – down from 46% in 2015.

Whether the UberEats service is a success remains to be seen, but it certainly will offer a new and exciting platform for city restaurants to promote their menu to an existing and profitable demographic.

admin by — August 25, 2019 in Food
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