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How the Buy American Movement supports American Businesses

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How can you support American Small and Medium Businesses in the era of global supply chains? If you remember seeing “Made in America” tags at stores in the past, you might also remember that these tags never really worked very well.

So how do you go about supporting American businesses and products made in the USA? Enter the leaders in pioneering the Buy American Movement: BuyDirectUSA. With their directory of American-made products and manufacturers, you can be sure you’re buying from a company based in the United States.

Products made — and services rendered — overseas just aren’t held to the same quality control standards required of companies that provide products and services in the USA. Because of that fact, benefits from buying American products and services extend further than benefitting our country’s financial health and the health and wellness of American families.

American flag with American Made text plastered over it

The Origins of the Buy American Movement

The Buy American Movement predates social media, which means back in 1998, after the establishment of BuyDirectUSA.com, it was much more difficult to spread the word about American-made companies and products. Those at BuyDirect USA knew this meant it was even more essential to develop a directory of these companies based in the USA, but growing it wouldn’t be easy.

Finding American businesses with an actual web presence back in 1998 was difficult as the internet was still in its infancy, and many companies weren’t even on the internet yet. Before Facebook, Twitter–and even Myspace– promotions for the BuyDirectUSA directory relied solely on search results from Yahoo!, Ask Jeeves, Lycos, and a few other search engines that have become obsolete since the late nineties.

Truly the pioneers behind the “Buy American Movement,” BuyDirectUSA has watched the landscape of the internet change from only a few websites selling Made in USA to thousands of businesses who now have an online presence. Slowly but surely, this has started to spill into brick and mortar stores, finally carrying American-made products.

man wearing US flag riding a bike

What began over 22 years ago as a source to compile a list of websites that sold Made in the USA products has developed into a nationwide movement supported by consumers, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers from sea to shining sea.

If you have a product or business you would like to be promoted by BuyDirectUSA.com, please fill out a contact form, and someone from their marketing team will be in touch with you!

Service Company Spotlight: Rentacomputer.com

It’s been a rough year for service companies, so let’s discuss one that’s been providing services for American businesses and consumers for over 33 years: Rentacomputer.com. More than just a computer rental company, Rentacomputer.com supplies any technology you can think of — in any quantity — to any location in a timely and professional manner.

The technology rental providers work in over 1,500 cities worldwide, with the majority based in the United States of America. This company coordinates with hundreds of technicians who handle everything from speedy shipment to comprehensive on-site installation and tech support. They are an American one-stop-shop for B2B technology rentals!

Whether you own a small, medium, or a large business, Rentacomputer.com saves its clients time and money by delivering short-term technology rental products right to your trade show booth, office, or temporary location. Their experienced technicians even provide the setup, strike, and troubleshooting to help guarantee a successful rental.

Are you looking for Technology Rentals from an American service company? Look no further than Rentacomputer.com. Their friendly agents are available via phone (1-800-Rent-R-PC) or online to chat about your company’s technology needs. From laptops and tablets to desktops and high-end gaming computers, copiers, file servers, AV equipment, mobile hotspot rentals, and everything in between — Rentacomputer.com has all of the technology you need in one place.

How BuyDirectUSA Promotes your USA Brand

BuyDirectUSA specializes in promoting all things Made in the USA. That means no matter if you’re a small business owner, medium to large corporation, manufacturer, supplier, wholesaler, online store, or service provider, they can help you promote your American brand and business.

Buy Direct USA product & service categories

With a range of advertising sponsorship packages and custom options, BuyDirectUSA is sure to meet the marketing goals and budget range for your business.

If you’re a business that provides products or services in the USA, BuyDirectUSA can help you find effective ways to market and promote your business. Moreover, you’ll have access to customers who are looking for products Made in the USA.

With an advertising sponsorship with BuyDirectUSA, you’ll get lots of help building your brand and receiving the recognition your products or service deserve. They’ll also help you find new ways to increase your presence on social media.

Even if you’re looking for a business that needs a product manufactured in the USA, BuyDirectUSA is here to help. They’re always looking for companies that sell or manufacture quality products or services in the USA.

If you’d like more information about their advertising sponsorships, contact BuyDirectUSA.com today.

About the Author

Robert Beagle - Blog Author

Robert Beagle is a technology enthusiast, author, blogger, and social media expert. In addition to contributing to blog.smbnow.com, Robert has also provided articles for blog.rentacomputer.com, blog.rentourlaptops.com, applethis.com, applethat.com, blog.camerasecuritynow.com, smbnow.com, and various other technology, business, and event manager blogs. Robert has vast knowledge and experience in technology and product solutions for American businesses small and large.

How Visa Issues Can Impact Your SMB

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US Visa Issues under a magnifying glass

When news outlets talk about how US visa issues impact the marketplace, they’re really talking about how these disruptions affect large businesses and multinational corporations. But delays and problems with the issuance of visas disproportionately impact small- and mid-size businesses who often lack the resource of their larger competitors. If you are looking to bring international workers to your American company or frequently bring in foreign investors or partners, here are just a few of the roadblocks you may encounter as visa issues continue to plague American companies.

It’s all about timing

Even at the best of times, depending on the type of visa your visitor or international worker needs, the processing time for issuance of a visa is usually measured in weeks to months. Increased scrutiny of applications and tightening restrictions has led to growing wait times and a jump in the number of visa denials.

 

These delays can be costly for SMBs who are often working on tight deadlines or without long-term business plans. To avoid unnecessary delays in hiring or having to reschedule meetings with foreign players, begin planning well in advance of your target date. If you’re planning on hiring internationally, plan to start recruiting at least 18-24 months in advance of your target hire date; and don’t try to plan meetings with international attendees less than three to four months in advance.

What kind of visa do you need?

Another costly issue with visas is the often-confusing nature of the language that the State Department uses to determine the type of visa that a visitor or nonimmigrant worker needs. Recent changes to visa rules have led to some visa holders being denied entry to the US when using the same visa type with which they previously entered the country.

Generally, if you’re hosting a business meeting or talking to potential investors, your guests should be able to apply for and enter the country using a Business (B-1) visa, which covers activities like attending conferences and conventions, business meetings, and negotiating contracts.

International recruitment

It’s no surprise that Fortune 500 companies have a leg up on SMBs when it comes to international recruitment. Not only do these bigger players have greater brand recognition and reach, but they’re also much more familiar and better equipped to handle the visa process.

Many SMBs need highly-specialized employees and sometimes, these employees must be recruited internationally. The H-1B visa allows employers to sponsor non-immigrants for specialized, temporary employment in the US. These employees may work for up to six years in the US on an H-1B visa and the skills they bring can be invaluable for SMBs. However, the long processing times (up to one year), costs, and paperwork requirements can be so daunting that many SMBs aren’t capable of completing the process. Not to mention that their bigger competitors often unfairly take large chunks of the 85,000-person cap on H-1B visas.

Work Visa Application

Don’t let visa issues hold your business back

The US visa application and issuance process is a complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. Working with a quality employment specialist and seeking the advice of immigration and visa attorneys is highly recommended if your SMB is planning an international meeting or looking to recruit internationally. At the end of the day, planning, working with experts, and a lot of patience can help save your business from being negatively impacted by visa issues.

Are visa issues disrupting your upcoming event?  Instead of cancelling, consider remote attendance solutions with laptop rentals and other technology rentals through Rentacomputer.com.  Anything from remotely viewing the same presentation via Google Hangouts to virtually attending the event using VR headsets is now a very real possibility.  Don’t let your event be ruined because some of your attendees or speakers fall victim to the ever changing visa requirements.

Running an SMB can be a challenge. SMB Now provides tips, expert advice, and information about the services you need to help make running your business easier. Visit us often to stay up-to-date with SMB Now and follow us on social media. Join the discussion by commenting below.

Temporary Technology Rental Solutions For Your Small Business!

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When you own a small business, it can be difficult having the technology you want or need whenever you go to a trade show, conference, or convention. Hauling your own technology across the country can be a heavy burden and might end up costing you more than you can afford if something gets lost or broken. When it comes to situations like these, the best solution is going with a technology rental solution. Renting your technology allows you to have exactly what you need when and where you need it while also saving money in the process. Here are some of the different products and services you can expect when you rent technology from Rentacomputer.com.

Desktop Rentals

Desktop rentals allow you to rent everything from a brand new Windows 10 desktop to the latest iMac or Mac Pro from Apple. Looking for an All-in-One? No problem. Desktop rentals are perfect for when you need a significant amount of computing power in a stationary location. The best thing about a desktop rental from Rentacomputer.com is that your PC will be set up, tested, and working to maximum performance before you ever even need it thanks to local delivery and professional installation from a certified technician!

Laptop Rentals

Laptop rentals are the perfect solution if you need both computing power and mobility. Rentacomputer.com has a plethora of laptop rentals from Windows, MacBook Pros, and even MacBook Airs. The best thing about renting a laptop for your event is the fact that if you need certain specifications or a certain software installed on your laptop then Rentacomputer.com will handle it. Anything you need will be pre-installed on your device and ready for your use when you arrive at your event.

Tablet Rentals

Tablet rentals include Apple’s highly popular iPad models, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab models, Windows’ Surface tablets, and any other brand or model you could possibly want. Tablet rentals are perfect if you need to have team members at your event walking around while staying connected or if you need to set up stations for visitors to your booth to take surveys. Like desktop and laptop rentals, tablet rentals from Rentacomputer.com can be pre-loaded with specific software or even specific apps, like your company’s own app, relieving you of another thing to worry about.

Aside from attending events, conventions, trade shows, etc… some small business users also sometimes need temporary office solutions. However, you’re not going to go out and buy all the equipment you need for a temporary office, that doesn’t make any financial sense. They’re called temporary offices for a reason, you only need to use them for a specified amount of time. That is why companies, like Rentacomputer.com, offer temporary office solutions. Some of the most useful rentals that are offered for temporary offices include:

Copier Rentals

Rentacomputer.com offers multifarious standalone, all-in-one, and desktop copier rentals that can suit any and every need. Copier rentals are perfect for temporary offices when you need to have all the access that a normal office has in a temporary location. Another reason a lot of small business owners use copier rentals is for tax season. Tax season is one of the busiest times of the year for small business owners and one of the busiest times of the year for copier rentals.

Fax Machine Rentals

You might be asking yourself, “People still use fax machines?” That’s a valid question. Fax machines have gone out of style in normal, everyday settings thanks to things like email. However, there are still industries that need fax machines for certain situations. That is where fax machine rentals are the perfect solution. Let’s be honest, it is highly unlikely that the amount of time you will be using a fax machine will warrant the need to purchase one and have it on hand 24/7. If you need a fax machine then renting one for the exact amount of time you need it is the smartest choice.

Printer Rentals

A printer rental is another useful temporary office solution. Printer rentals are perfect if you have a big project that requires printing out a large amount of pages of information. Printer rentals from Rentacomputer.com come in a variety of styles including Deskjet, Inkjet, and multi-functional printers. Printer rentals are perfect not just for temporary office solutions but also for trade shows and events. When used at a trade show or event, printer rentals allow you to print out things on the spot to give to attendees and visitors to your booth.

Whether you’re attending a trade show, conference, or convention or you’re setting up a temporary office, technology rental solutions from Rentacomputer.com can really make a difference. Temporary needs require temporary solutions and nobody does it better than Rentacomputer.com. With service nationwide and local, professional technicians the service you get from Rentacomputer.com can’t be matched! If you need temporary technology for your small business then contact Rentacomputer.com today by visiting us online, calling us at 800-736-8772, texting us at 908-485-7368, emailing us at rentals@rentacomputer.com, or getting a direct quote from our website!

How sales can help finance in your small business

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Every once in a while many company finance teams evaluate the profitability of your customer base. One of the important criteria is a measure called days sales outstanding or DSO. The calculation measures how long it takes an invoice to be collected once the product is shipped or service is preformed. There are certain customers who gain some measure of infamy with the finance department credit analysts and A/R collectors. If the situation continues long enough, the finance department will ear mark this customer to be dropped. Because this can affect company market share, the marketing department and the sales team generally have adverse reactions to this measure. So how does a good owner or president/CEO resolve the issue?

A good way to assist the finance group is to get the support of the sales team. Give them laptops so that when they are on sales calls they may access the invoices for the customer. If there are any invoices over a certain delta, the sales team should be involved in helping to collect the delinquent invoices. If you business can not afford to buy laptops for the sales team you could consider renting them from a source like www.rentacomputer.com who can assist your business in their temporary needs.

If the sales team works in conjunction with the finance department, then there wont be any surprises when its time to review the customer list. Both departments will have a part of keeping the customer with in financial limits. On the other hand, by keeping the customer within proscribed limits, the sales department keeps its hard earned customer and market share. In this case both departments and the company as a whole wins, and if in the unfortunate event a customer does need to find a new source, then there is buyoff from everyone that this unfortunate measure must be taken.

Have sales and finance view each other as a team and your company’s DSO will drop, and that is a very, very good thing!

Looking for a GeoVison Security Camera System to help secure your small or medium business? Call www.CameraSecurityNow.com today at 877-422-1907 for a free phone consultation. Ask about the new Hybrid DVR/NVR surveillance solutions.

Graphic Design Systems For Small Businesses

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Small businesses tend to operate on a tight budget, so when the decision is made to rent or purchase new hardware, it isn’t made lightly. With choices between Macintosh, Windows, or Linux for software, and the choice between Apple or IBM or Dell or one of a dozen other manufacturers for hardware, there are a lot of factors that can make this sort of thing a difficult decision. Budgeting for new or even used hardware is a question of balancing the dollars against the pros and cons of each upgrade.

In the 80’s, Macs were the undeniable choice for any professional graphic designer or pre-press studio. Today, though, after decades of advances on both the Windows and Macintosh side of the fence, the operating systems are much closer in terms of capabilities, and will happily co-exist on the same network. Linux, while having the undeniably huge bonus of being free, has a glaring flaw in the fact that because millions of dollars weren’t invested in making it as good as it can be, it’s unreliable in many situations as the software of choice. Apple makes all the hardware and software for their Macs, which some would say is a good thing as it leads to better compatability, while Windows supporters will tell you that the benefit of the ability to run on any variety of PCs leads to more choice in your system specifications and better value for your money.

There are arguments between portable and desktop computers as well. The arguments for a portable laptop are obvious. Laptops can be taken to clients, are easily transportable between home and work, and take up a lot less space — meaning you don’t have to set aside an area for them. If portability isn’t a concern though, there’s really no reason at all to consider buying a laptop. The disadvantages are many, the foremost being cost. Desktops are just a better value at every end of the spectrum. Desktop machines can have much faster processors that would generate too much heat for a laptop, you can stuff more RAM in them, they offer faster and larger HDDs and the option to have more than one, and more powerful graphic cards. Let’s not forget the benefit of having a 23″ monitor when you’re working with graphics.

Each side of the fence has distinct advantages and disadvantages, but in the end it would seem that if cost is your primary concern, a Windows-based system is the way to go. If you have a little more leeway in your budget and you want a system guaranteed to perform with no hiccups, you might want to consider a Mac. Each person’s individual situation is going to influence their decision one way or another, so weigh your priorities and requirements, do a little research, and figure out what is best for you.

If you aren’t ready to commit yet still need a computer now to do your work, you could try a laptop rental or desktop computer rental and have a test drive. Computer rental websites will deliver your computer to your home or work, and the examples shown above both carry a full line of both Macintosh and Windows-based computers and laptops.