12/04/2012 by admin.

Why your business plan is important

Extracted from ‘Getting started in the hair extension business by Diane Shawe’

Every type of business owner needs a solid business plan. Whether you are opening a new hair extension studio or your business is already in full swing, you need a plan to organise yourself. I know it seems mind boggling, but there are several good online or CD packages provided by banks and advice centres to help you streamline your business plan.

There is no need to pay hundreds of pounds to have one written up, not in this trade anyway.

A business plan will help you to establish all of the components of your business. Without a good plan there will be no solid goals, no specific direction. You need to know where you are headed and have some expectations of the future. Referring to it and updating it is important to maintain growth.

When you write your business plan, write it as an outsider looking in. Remember that that your business manager at the bank might not be familiar with your business concept, but by reading your business plan they should have a fair understanding of what it is all about.

Profitability is very important

To be truly profitable, you need to consider every part of the business before commencing. Otherwise what started out as a great idea may end up a disaster. Deciding on your preferred clientèle is great for starters. Your location for the hair extension studio will have a lot to do with the choice of clientèle. So will the fit out of the hair extension studio.

The correct combination of management and employees is also important. This will be a decision connected with the choice of clientèle. The skills and experience of your staff is important when considering the expectations of the client. The range of services you provide, along with the products you use and sell, will have to measure up too.

You must think really hard about what prices to charge. You must do much more than cover costs, but you don’t want to price yourself out of the market.

You need to know how much capital is needed and how it will be used. If you need finance to start your business, it is crucial to have a business plan to present to the bank. The bigger the loan, the more detailed the financials will need to be.

If you are unsure about the financials, you can hire an accountant for this part of the plan. It is good to have an accountant right from the start. You will find that you will be making the odd phone call throughout the year anyway, so it is better to call someone who already knows a bit about your business.

A good business plan will include:

• business description
• marketing plan
• your CV
• development & goals
• financials

The following are examples of which areas to look at:

business description

• what service your business provides
• range of services you offer
• location of your business
• hours of operation

marketing plan

• your target market
• competitive strategies
• advertising
• promotions

personnel

• management
• type of staff you will need
• accounting
• legal
• qualifications, expertise

development & goals

• plans with completion dates
• product growth
• additional services
• business expansion

Financials

• cash flow forecast
• capital requirements
• earnings’ projections

To read more and find out about how to really get started in the hair extension business   Click for more information

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12/04/2012 by admin.

Managing difficult or tough conversation.

by Diane Shawe M.Ed IEBE

Unless you are on an island, it is not possible to avoid communicating with other people. Just stop for a moment, and think about how much time of your day you spend in conversation with other people? Whether in your car, in meetings, on the phone, by text message, e-mail or social media. Our days are frequently filled with short snippets of conversation and sometimes long exchanges.

Some people are better in conversation, while others prefer to write messages where they can take advantage of the delete key and work out the best wording. Have you taken some time to examine your approach? What are your results like; do you tend to have consistently peaceful conversations where people get heard and are listened to, or do they frequently de-compensate to a level of discussion that is argumentative or unpleasant or they just simply mis-interpret what you though you said or what they thought they heard?

Conversations can be a challenge, and we also have to be aware of the conversation going on inside our head at the same time. What if we say the wrong thing, or we are speaking carefully but our body language or voice is sending a very different message? How are we supposed to manage all that?

Fortunately, we can learn techniques to help prevent conversations from getting difficult and recognise what to do if they go off track. We can also learn how to get to the heart of a problem, move through a conversation, and keep it focused on the future instead of spinning in circles.

We can all benefit from a little education on dealing with difficult or tough conversations. Speaking and presentation coaches can help, but in the heat of the moment they aren’t perched on our shoulders whispering what we should be saying.

Our previous clients tell us that our courses are ideal for workplace training and development. They appreciate that our courses are up to date, relevant, and globally accredited. More than that, they are also excited to see that our courses are available in a format that they can use for e-Learning, either as the approach for the whole course or for a 1 day blended learning approach.

We have just released our Managing Difficult Conversations Training course. We believe that training courses need to be designed with busy people in mind. Our new training course include everything you need to help you, your staff or leaders hold challenging conversations!

From understanding the impact of body language and how your voice is projected, facial expressions, to formulating questions that get to the underlying problem. Our course provide information on many hands-on techniques and will also help you learn how to apply positive intent, how to use our process to plan a conversation, and how to implement and follow up on an action plan.

You can enrol on our course on line in our 4 week e-learning program, or you can opt for a 1 day intense learning experience workshops.

Director of Training | April 12, 2012 at 12:58 pm | Tags: better customer managment, business management, call centres, customer services, diane shawe, managing communication, training call centre staff, working with people | Categories: educational apps, online colleges, online courses, online universities, Proximity Marketing, retailers loyality, shopping apps, Smartphones, Town centres, training courses | URL: http://wp.me/p13xWA-3i

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18/02/2012 by admin.

Are you interested in finding out what a virtual teacher, trainer or life coaches teaching style would be? The impact on on-line education and the changes? Then this event could be for you.

The World of education has changed, and this has impacted on personal trainers, teachers and life coaches on how they source and deliver training.

Institutions of higher learning increasingly embrace on-line education, with 65.5 percent of chief academic officers now calling online education ‘critical’ to their institutions! long-term strategy, an opinion that’s risen more than 15% over eight years.

67% believe academic outcomes from online classes are equivalent to those in face-to-face learning, but still, one-third of academic leaders think online classes are inferior. We do not agree with this but we do understand that resistance to change can often impede new growth.

This conference will introduce the changing face of virtual education and how you can prepare and adapt yourself and business.

At this half day event you will understand more about the following:

Enhance your understanding of learning styles and trends for 2012
Reaction to Change, Early adopters and Diehards.
Learning Management Systems
Mobile legacy courses
Interactive content
Blogs and education
Digital publishing and learning
QR Codes and how it will benefit educators
Hosting Learning in the cloud
New Blended Learning in community, mobile, webinar and video
Augmented Reality related to mobile learning and diversity
Virtual Worlds multi learners simulations in 3D
Pocket Video Technology for informal learning
Social Media integrating across all devices to improve on-line collaboration
What is a Virtual Tutor/Trainer
Defining the growth of on-line Soft Skills Training
Benefits and Advantages for Virtual on-line Tutor/Trainers
Diminished environmental Constraints
The New On-line E-Learning Process
The Opportunity

We will also be looking to enrol virtual trainers for the launch of our global Life Long Learning facility, so register now to find out more and how you could become involved

Labels: online training, life coach, personal development, project management, teachers, trainers, Educators, online courses, heads of departments,educators,universities,colleges

Event Organizer: Diane Shawe M.Ed IEBE (CEO at Academy of Vocational and Professional Training Ltd)

Click to request more information.

Visit our Information page if you would like to find out how to qualify for a free course.

Online Ticketing for How to become a virtual trainer, educator or coach in 2012 powered by Eventbrite

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13/02/2012 by admin.

London, UK Diane Shawe 13 February 2012

Academy of Vocational and Professional Training Ltd.(AVPT), CEO Diane Shawe was named as VIP Member by Cambridge Who’s Who. This special distinction honours individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to achieving personal and professional success in the on-line e-learning industry.

As the chief executive officer of the Academy of Vocational and Professional Training Ltd., which provides on-line fast-track training courses, Ms. Shawe utilises her expertise in education and business administration to oversee individual, one-on-one, group and corporate blended training courses.

A survey by Ambient Insight Research has showed that the worldwide market for e-learning products was £20.5 billion in 2010 and is expected to rise to £31.9 billion by 2015

The market for e-learning just keeps growing and growing, according to research and sales figures.

With the recent launch of her ‘Get Qualified in Days not Years’ on-line blended learning website, students around the UK are excited because for the first time they can access real soft skills courses via there i-pad, smart phones, notepads and computer. Soft Skills courses have become even more important in the job market and with the growing competitiveness for jobs, every second counts say Diane.

Get qualified in days not years.

Whilst the courses are affordable to most, AVPT is increasingly concerned that the unemployed could miss out on the opportunity to access these courses. “As a consequence and commitment to meet our mission and core values, an enterprise arm of the company Academy Community E-learning Enterprise (ACEE) was brought into being at a meeting in late January 2012 when Oliver Rothschild, accepted the role of acting chairman along with other members such as Mrs Jill Pay (former sergeant at arms House of Commons), Brigadier Gael Kathleen Ramsey CBE, Julian Thomas Wilkins IP and Media law (acting secretary) Simon Race (senior Officer Royal Air Force) acting strategist and Neil Barnfather CEO of e-Hosting along with six other members.”

The main purpose of ACEE is to attract social funding so that it can award bursaries to applicants who would otherwise fall through the net.

www.expresstrainingcourses.co.uk for more information

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02/02/2012 by admin.

Individual online learning courses and even entire online degree programs are increasingly a part of the mainstream in higher education. 

Article by Diane Shawe M.Ed.  IEBE

Steadily-improving online delivery systems and an emphasis on globalisation have encouraged more and more higher education institutions to try to reach diverse learners around the world.  In light of the growing population of learners from various cultural backgrounds engaged in online education, there is an urgent need to understand how accreditation of an online e-learning provider can reach across all cultural dimensions.

Distance Education has been around for more than a decade now. The ever changing landscape of education through technological innovations has allowed distance education in necessitating strict quality control measures to comply with. Thus, accreditation plays a primary role in ensuring quality in Distance Education system. Accreditation is a process through which institutions offering higher education are analysed by internal and external peer review. 

Distance education is not a new phenomenon, and accreditors have been reviewing online courses for a long time now. Accreditation for these distance learning programs involve regional, national, and specialised bodies along with the governmental and public organisations that rely heavily on review of quality of these providers.

One such value has been to illustrate the necessity of accrediting distance education with respect to the rise in public and private education providers. Distance learning poses great challenges to the arena of accreditation mainly by transforming the traditional faculty into online faculty and diminishing the value of physical one on one interaction with students.

Distance learning represents a challenge to the accreditation agencies by modifying the meaning of “higher education institutions” by removing the brick and mortar lecture halls with web based chat rooms, and brick and mortar campuses institutes to a website. An academic provider is no longer restricted to the existence of a physical infrastructure, it can be found anywhere, anytime – all one needs is a computer or smartphone and access to internet.

Distance Education challenges the accreditation system by modifying the face of what we know as a college or a university degree. Electronic access not only encourages but also supports a more mobile form of a student behaviour through which students are enrolled in more than one institution at a time. The National Vocational Qualifications has taken a newer meaning and involves a richer blended learning of educational courses being taken by a student and delivered through multiple technological mediums.

What is Blended Learning?

Blended learning approach training is one that combines face-to-face instruction with online instruction and activities. A wide variety of methods can be used to interact with a blended learning course; technology such as mobile devices, computers, video conferencing, and other electronic media to name a few. The goal of blended learning is to provide a useful, practical way for learners and instructors to get and provide material in more ways than simple face-to-face interaction.

The online component of blended learning allows instructors and students to stay connected. Interact anytime, anywhere Distance Education and the ever changing role of education providers in this era are obviating the need for:

• Recognizing the characteristics of distance education provision be it a traditional classroom or online chat room;
• Altering guidelines for accreditation, strategies or principles to ensure quality within the distinguished model of distance education delivery; and
• Paying extensive consideration to the achievement of the students and outcomes in the electronic environment of distance education whereby structured classroom facilities are not available.

As Academy of Vocational and Professional Training roles out its interactive soft skill online e-learning express courses selecting a scalable global accreditation company has become increasingly important.

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29/01/2012 by admin.

Personal Branding 2 Day training course Have you given much thought about the impression you make? How much leeway do you have to express yourself at work, at home, and via your social media?

By Diane Shawe, M.Ed. IEBE

If you go to the hospital, they are dressed a certain way, the staff may even speak to each other in a certain way. If you stop at most petrol stations, the salesperson is probably dressed quite differently than your physician, and yet still in a way that reflects and supports the business. You go to these people in order to receive a service or a product, and you probably go to them specifically because they have left some kind of impression on you. We refer to this impression as their personal impact.

Have you given much thought about the impression that you make? How much leeway do you have to express yourself at work, at home, or even via the social media? While the impact you have can be derived from the way you present yourself (through how you behave and what you wear), we also have to look at ways that reflect your personality and individualism. Have you considered yourself to be a brand, and have your considered how you could strengthen your brand in work, business and socially?

When you plan to take a short holiday and ask your neighbor to watch your home for you, what is it that makes you ask that particular neighbor? Are they trustworthy? Friendly? Do they consistently conduct themselves in a way that leads you to think they are a good person? If so, you are feeling some of the impact of their personality.

They present themselves in a particular way, and unless you see some demonstration of inconsistency (which may lead you to question their credibility), to you their impact seems quite clear.

What kind of impact trail are you leaving behind, What impact do you want to make and leave with others?

For more information on personal impact and how to create your personal brand, visit us at www.expresstrainingcourses.co.uk

Just click HERE to tell us what information you would like us to send you.

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05/01/2012 by admin.

The World of education has changed, and this has impacted on personal trainers, teachers and life coaches on how they source and deliver training.

This conference will introduce the changing face of virtual education and how you can prepare and adapt yourself and business.

Click to book your place now

At this one day event you will learn how to:

• Enhance your understanding of learning styles & how to accommodate all learning styles online
• Understand the key principles of effective communication in a workshop setting
• Use a variety of training techniques to stimulate participation
• Develop a plan and prepare for an effective training session
• Understand the different levels of evaluation and when to use each
• Understand how and when to add fun and humor to your training session
• Identify advanced interventions for difficult situations
• Practice the skills needed for a team presentation online.

We will also be looking to enrol virtual trainers for the launch of our global Life Long Learning facility, so register now to find out more and how you could become involved.

for more information on our other training courses and to find out how you could get a free course,  click here

 Register for our forthcoming conference: other dates

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17/11/2011 by admin.

How to evaluate your business idea for 2012If you are considering setting up a business for 2012, then it is worth downloading my quick checklist which will help you evaluate your idea before you start throwing your money or other peoples money at the idea.

Often when you do a short quick evaluation on yourself and the idea you might come up against another idea or even a problem that you might need to solve prior to starting your new venture.  The same can be said for expanding your business, it’s not a good idea to try and work everything out in your head before committing your thoughts and ideas to paper.

Download my quck evaluation form, I am sure it will help.  You might want to take a look at our forthcoming short fast track courses designed to give you the edge in the job or business market.

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24/10/2011 by admin.

by Diane Shawe

Global life long learning

Have you spent the last 6 months or less sitting in front of the computer pounding away and sending CV after CV out?

Have you been studying websites that advise about the best top tips of presenting you CV, how to get noticed, how to stand out? but you still have not got a job?!

Do you find yourself becoming psychologically attached to your computer, veering off into your social media, looking at things that just take up your valuable and dare I say it, available time? Do you end up feeling very tired and unfulfilled after a few hours surfing?

Then you really need to keep reading this article..

When was the last time you excited anyone enough to call you for a quick telephone interview? Well as daunting as that last statement may sound, it is really possible but you have to start getting a new Emperors Cloak Quickly and one that fits you and makes you look attractive!

Surrounding us is daily news of the current global down turn. Fact! this slow down has affected countries all around the world. Basically if consumers don’t buy because they can’t afford it, then sellers don’t produce. This principle also applies to countries, regions and your local county. So do you really need a job?

I think once again the rose tinted glasses have been removed for many people. This is not to say that, not everyone deserves a well paying job and security, but the world seems to have shrunk. More people are competing for less and less golden nuggets and the cost of living is increasing month by month.

The truth is, the world has changed – and fast. Finding a job/career like our great grandparents (with security, pensions, etc) is truly going to be far a few between, especially as we are living longer and the manual roles have changed and given way to automation.

So you need to get that precious job or promotion fast and you need to upgrade your skills to set up a business or indeed improve your business. How would you normally attend to this? well most people would turn to mainstream learning such as adult education, college or university.

Getting qualified or exposing yourself to some practical training is the only way to inject a level of professionalism and even specialism into your CV so as to attract a potential employers eye or before you embark on a new sideline business. Starting a business is not for everyone, but even a small business on the side can be a great source of supplemental income.

Although these traditional learning methods are good and effective, they all have one thing in common and that is TIME. Having to wait to enroll and then for the term to start can take weeks, in some cases months because of over subscriptions. Loosing out on that valuable job opportunity is a short term option especially if you don’t have the advantage over many other applicants, but loosing out long term can be financially crippling!

There is however another option which is becoming more and more popular and that is intense short workshops and online e- study (distance learning), whereby you can start learning instantly and can get your qualifications quickly!

Workshops are practical, interactive and effective ways of learning and digesting information. Because you are already driven and motivated towards achieving that next job or career, the whole learning process will mean a lot more to you which will aid you to getting qualified quickly.

Express training allows you to build on your current skills to gain a more advanced level, quickly and cost-effectively, but you have to be prepared to invest in yourself. For every thousand pounds per annum you want to earn, it is suggested that the idea personal investment of £100 per £1,000 on educating and adding new skills to your whole portfolio will help move you closer towards your goal.

A new breed of online courses and intense workshops have sprung up to deliver highly prized courses and training in a matter of days. Not just packed with all you need to know, but accessible continuous learning on the move via your Smart Phone, notebooks, tablet or computer.

Courses designed to boost you and keep you at the top of your game. For more information visit Express Training Courses.

Diane has worked with a variety of celebrities, models, photographers, SME’s and Corporate businesses. Prior to forming her own business, Diane worked in Advertising and Marketing, Head of Vocational Training, Telecoms and IT, Business Development and Smartcard Loyality schemes. Founder of Need a Makeover and i-send.

Author of her latest book ‘How to Cyber Kiss your Business to Success by using Proximity Marketing’ has opened up new opportunities to encourage SME, Corporates and Smartphone users to promote their services in a cost effective way by using Bluetooth technology.

Diane has also published the first comprehensive ebook titled “What they don’t tell you about getting started in the hair extension business” Visit http://www.academy-of-vocational-and-professional-training.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Shawe

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03/09/2011 by admin.

Enrollment is now open and you can register by completing the attached application form or clicking on the workshop link below.

We have a series of 1 day hair extension workshops that you might be interested in. You can reserve your place for just £10.00. Just click here for more information. 

With regards to the techniques, please reveiw a couple of the popular courses and click to review some of the video testimonials. 

NEW! Hook and Latch Technique
The new Hook and Latch that is flat to the touch, No glues, threads or cornrow.  You client will love it and they can come back to you to retighten their extensions and use the same hair if it is in good condition.  Click to see video of Hook and Latch

Micro Ring Track

The micro ring track hair extension technique is Flat to the touch brilliant technique for that natural look. As you can see from the photo on the left is also very good for integrated into a client flat relaxed hair, giving a natural look without the bulk.  It is one of the only techniques suitable for really short hair.  Using cold bond and silicon micro rings, extensions can be applied very close to the scalp without any bulkiness.  This is also a nice technique for mature clients who want a little bit of volume without the head feeling heavy.  Also very useful for model with photo shoots.  Click to see video of client who had micro ring track technique

Lace Wig Technique

The introduction of the front lace and full lace wig techniques have swept the UK and more and more hair dressing stylists are looking to professional apply and remove this technique. Click to see lace wig client  Client Number two  Footballers Wife Testimonial

Integrated Weave  & Cornrow

The Integrated weave has become a very popular technique.  It is robust, does not damage clients hair.  You can see what a student and clients have said about this technique.  This technique also includes learning to cornrow professionally.

We  have a special offer at the moment:  Learn five techniques in 2 days.  This will help you to become a professional consultant and offer more techniques so you can complete different types of clients.  This offer is running at £850.00 and includes your kit.

The five techniques are:

1. Micro ring Track
2. Hook and Latch
3. Cornrow & Braiding
4. Integrated Weave
5. Professional clip - in

You will need to supply two models for day two who will have to contribute £60 towards their remy hair extension.  We also have a overnight travel for £120 if we come to you.

Learning five technique would increase the amount of clients you could work with who may have different hair problems.  We have trained over 450 girls who are all experiencing positive financial rewards along with the pleasure they bring to solving their clients problems.

To take advantage of this special offer please complete the attached application form and email it back to us as soon as possible. 

You can click here to see some of our clients portfolio  

Available now paperback book on ‘Getting started in the hair extension business’ £12.99 + £3.00 p&p Click on book to order your copy today. eBook £7.99

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