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SHANGHAI – Shen Chenxian’s online store on business-to-customer website Taobao.com seems no different from others gaining popularity among millions of Internet-savvy shoppers in China.

What makes the store unique, and recently a winner of an industry award, is that Shen and some 20 customer service assistants of the store are all blind people.

Equipped with screen reader software, which can “translate” characters on the web into voice for blind or visually impaired users, the staffs are able to type and communicate with customers by using computers especially designed for the blind.

The founding members of the online store, named “Creating new World With Hearts,” are four visually impaired people led by Shen, who lost eyesight in 2003 due to glaucoma, an eye disease that leads to optic nerve damage.

“I felt I was discarded by the whole world when I became blind,” says Shen, who had majored in landscape designing at college but the disease smashed her dream of becoming a designer.

The young girl gradually came out of the shadows after she began to learn how to use computers specially designed for blind people.

“I was thrilled by the design of the computer and screen reader software and realized that I am not a useless person and I could do something,” Shen recalls.

She then persuaded three of her blind friends to join her and open the online store in 2009, selling various wares including clothes, shoes and watches.

The financial requirements for opening an online store are low, compared to the costs of establishing a high-street business. Correspondingly, the competition for business is extremely fierce.

Not until 39 days after the opening did the store clinch its first order, a hand-warming stove sold for only a few yuan.

“I couldn’t believe it was true when we received the first order, and I thought there would be more business if only we persisted,” says Gu Min, another co-founder.

Their business began making profit about half a year later.

Having acquired enough experience, the group then shifted their core focus from online sales to customer service outsourcing.

They have recruited and trained more than 20 blind or visually impaired people to join their group and undertake outsourcing customer service for six other online stores.

He Ruiyun is one of the customer service assistant who sits seven hours a day in front of the computer to answer questions of online buyers and deal with orders.

Aided by the software, the assistant could respond so quickly and fluently that few people would realize they are chatting with a blind person.

“Now I can handle several customer inquiries at the same time,” He says.

Yet they still face challenges, especially when a customer sends a picture over to inquire, as the software has no way to translate pictures into voices.

At such times, He has to seek help from her parents or from online friends via the instant messenger tool Tencent QQ.

Their efforts have gained them not only profit but also encouragement from business peers, as well as netizens both visually impaired and sighted.

Last month, the store was named “the online store with the most growth potential” on the Taobao.com platform.

An Internet user with the screen name “Ye Ru” said in a message posted on the online store’s webpage, “I’ve read news of you and your store. You are really amazing! Please keep on going!”

Another one, “Lalala122127,” said, “I got to know about your store through TV reports. I really adore you and I am in full support of you.”

Their online store has also caught the attention of the China Association of the Blind and the Shanghai Labor and Service Center for Disabled Persons (SLSCDP).

Zhao Weishi, deputy director of the SLSCDP, says their venture into online business is a new model and is an inspiration to other disabled people who are looking for self-employment opportunities.

And the group have a yet more ambitious plan, says Zhang Ping, their chief technical officer. With the help of experts from the Shanghai Association of the Disabled, they are preparing a training course to help more visually impaired people obtain the know-how of online business.

“We are planning to build a platform from which other disabled people can also benefit and acquire online employment skills,” Zhang says.

Security apps specialty of Scottsdale software developer

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Scottsdale software developer Joe Michels had spent his career working for large computer and technology companies. But when his last employer announced plans to outsource the work done by his division, the company man decided to become his own employer.

Since then, the founder of Software Ops LLC has hit a steady groove specializing in security apps for the iPhone, and most recently the iPad, since 2008.

“Security is a good niche. The market for iPhones has exploded so I’ve been able to maintain business because it has grown so fast,” Michels said.

Michels designed his first app, my Eyes Only, to protect personal information such as passwords, credit-card numbers and bank-account information that users typically want to have with them and access at any time. An encryption detail is what distinguished this first app and the ones that followed, he said.

“Encryption is the key to my apps. it adds a layer of complexity to everything,” Michels said.

Since its introduction through the iTunes App Store, my Eyes Only ranks in the top-50-selling business apps with more than 5,000 sales. He has since created apps that aim to provide the same security for contacts, photos and other information that could be hacked into. to date, more than 600,000 customers have downloaded Michels’ apps, according to Software Ops data.

Michels’ customer base includes young people, who love sharing their photos via social media yet want their album protected from prying strangers, to corporate presidents and CEOs who want to keep their business data and contact information secret. Beyond that, he knows very little about who is purchasing his apps.

“That’s one of the challenges of building apps. I don’t know the demographics of my customers. But that’s kind of the point of being in the security business, I don’t ask customers what they’re doing,” Michels said.

Four years ago, Michels was informed that his department in a large Valley software company would be eliminated and the work done in India. at this time, the iPhone was starting to take off and users began to rely on the device for much more than making phone calls or checking e-mail.

“Security was a need that I noticed. I was putting very important information in it. That became the baseline of what I needed to do,” Michels said.

In response, he built my Eyes Only and starting selling it. Within eight weeks, sales exceeded his expectations and it quickly made the iTunes App Store’s “What’s Hot” list.

He left the company before his position was terminated and Michels launched Software Ops.

Finding a balance in providing confidentiality that also allows users to share information is a key component of Michels’ work. Despite the stagnant economy, conditions in the mobile market are the opposite, which has been a reason Michels has found success.

“In the Depression, everyone had a radio no matter how little money they had. it was the technology of the time. now, the mobile device is the technology of the time,” he said.

Wisconsin-based entrepreneur Steve Michels has professionally collaborated with Michels, who is his cousin, since 2010 on business projects and ventures in which information security is a priority.

A combination of creative vision and business sense is what makes Joe Michels a good businessman to deal with, Steve said.

“I see programmers who think of an idea but don’t understand the business part of it,” he said. “Joe not only has the knowledge and expertise, but he understands what needs to be done behind it.”

How To Avoid Painful Mistakes with Outsourced SEO

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Every year, many thousands of online businesses gladly hand over the duties to various SEO companies who take care of things. there are many companies out there that offer SEO services, but choosing one that would deliver on its promises is what makes a big difference. you know there are unscrupulous people out there, so that should give you reason to pause and become prepared. you can’t really go out there and hire any SEO company on the first glance. if you want to hire the most optimum SEO company for your needs, then you must read this article.

A good SEO company will have past clients, so use the search engines and see where they are currently positioned.

This quick check will yield you a lot of information, and the nice thing is that you can do this with transparency. since they have testimonials on their site, they should have links in the signatures. and if not that, you can also look through the testimonials on their site or go through reviews their customers have posted on third party sites. The SEO company that you’re choosing should have a testimonials and references for you to look into. This is an essential part of your overall research, and you should be able to find other websites that have already worked with this company. but do not automatically ignore a company that is an upstart because they could be for real and at the right price. However, there are enough SEO service providers who do have experience and also testimonials, so you might want to stick with them. one other thing about a company that has tons of testimonials, they may do a lot of outsourcing themselves – this is very common.

Look for those SEO companies that are not lagging behind the technology curve in any way. but there is only so much a business can do when it comes to the sudden Google algorithm changes, but a pro SEO company will be able to react. Talk to the people in their testimonial boxes and see if the company can deliver. In addition to that, see what is spelled out on their business site. The successful clients will be listed on their sites, and you just have to see what they have and then proceed from that knowledge. there are many times when you have to be stubborn and vigilant about your business interests. so, you know how important this is that you know how to make the right choices with an SEO company. there are many sites that regularly outsource their SEO work successfully, but they don’t do it without doing their homework about the company. Most of the people and businesses out there are very honest, so that should give you confidence. how to make an iphone app

Network Outsource Receives International Recognition as a Top Managed Services Provider

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New Hyde Park, NY (PRWEB) March 01, 2012

Network Outsource is pleased to announce that it has been internationally recognized as one of the top managed services providers (MSPs). for the third consecutive year, Network Outsource has earned a place on nine Lives Media inc.’s annual MSPmentor Global 100, a distinguished list and research report identifying the world’s top 100 technology providers. this year’s MSPmentor Global 100 report includes MSPs from North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.

“We are very happy to be recognized by MSPmentor, an outstanding resource in our field,” said Adam Mahoney, president of Network Outsource. “This honor is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our employees, who continuously offer superior service and commitment to our clients. We are proud to be a leader in our industry and strive to improve and innovate on a daily basis.”

Ranked by MSPmentor as #55 in North America and #67 in the world, Network Outsource has been dedicated to providing technology solutions, support and guidance to private businesses, schools and nonprofits in New York City and on Long Island for more than 15 years.

“Nine Lives Media and MSPmentor congratulate Network Outsource for earning this distinguished honor,” said Amy Katz, president of nine Lives Media, a division of Penton Media. “As our expanded survey results reveal, the annual MSPmentor 100 survey attracts MSPs from across the globe. Qualifying for our MSPmentor 100 Global Edition list is a great accomplishment.”

The MSPmentor 100 report is based on data from MSPmentor’s global online survey, conducted from October to December 2011. The MSPmentor 100 report recognizes top managed services providers based on a range of metrics, including annual managed services revenue growth, revenue per employee, managed services offered and customer devices managed.

“MSPs on this year’s global 100 list lifted their annual recurring revenues 28 percent to $1.04 billion, an incredible showing considering the economic uncertainty all IT services providers faced,” said Joe Panettieri, editorial director of nine Lives Media. “Those MSPs are now managing 2.7 million desktop and mobile devices for customers, an incredible jump of 50 percent from 2010.”

Rockford Housing Authority to increase use of outsourcing

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ROCKFORD — the Rockford Housing Authority will outsource more work just a handful of months after privatizing management and maintenance at three of its public housing facilities.

East Lake Management Group of Chicago, which manages and maintains the Orton Keyes and Blackhawk Courts family housing developments, will oversee the day-to-day operation of RHA’s 302 scattered housing sites starting in early April.

“East Lake has been at the two family sites for about six months now, and we are very happy with their work there,” RHA Executive Director John Cressman said. “They’re doing a great job for us, and they’re saving us a lot of money that we are now able to spend on resident programs.

“we have fewer RHA employees doing maintenance and more doing social work and helping our residents turn their lives around.”

But Richard Berg of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents 36 RHA employees, says the union could have done more with less if given the chance.

“we can be more accountable than outsourcing. we can be more flexible, and we can save money,” Berg said. “There’s just a hard-core ideology toward privatization that has trickled into parts of our community.”

Because of wage and benefit concessions written into labor contracts last summer, members of AFSCME and the International Association of Machinists were able to secure the jobs of their members.

Both unions agreed to considerable wage concessions, and even after that, Berg said, several employees have been shuffled into different jobs or demoted with a reduction of wages, some as high as 40 percent, he said.

With the outsourcing of its scattered-site operations, the Housing Authority will be managing and maintaining less than half of its properties — one family site and several facilities for seniors and people with disabilities.

the authority is on target to save $700,000 this fiscal year because of its decisions to hire outside firms, Cressman said.

Outsourcing operations at scattered sites will allow the authority to increase the number of maintenance workers at other RHA sites, Cressman said, and improve the quality of work there.

IAM’s labor agreement expires in October. AFSCME has until March 2013. East Lake’s management fee is $30 a month per occupied unit. At capacity, the Housing Authority would pay East Lake about $9,000 a month for property management at the scattered sites.

East Lake is paid the same $30 a month per unit to manage Orton Keyes and Blackhawk Courts. Gorman & co. is paid $35 a month per unit.

Reach staff writer Corina Curry at or 815-987-1371.

Data About What Are The Reasons Of Outsourcing Your Articles?

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The vital challenge by having content generation is, after a while it will certainly come to be an energy siphoning task. On the other hand, somehow, you should do this either to establish your content for your private site or for different tasks like article advertising or perhaps blog posting. While you’re managing by having numerous additional duties like Social Networking, Analytics, or Online Video clip Marketing, you usually think many about outsourcing your article writing. yet you also realize that the vital problem by having outsourcing your write-ups is going to be the quality in many different levels. It might be the excellent associateded with the sentence structure, or not being able to grasp the circumstance of your products and services, or rather typically articles are not truly associateded with any sort of subject that you just ordered.

Even so, you likewise have to comprehend that there are some cases when you wo won’t require the very best excellent write-ups, since you can effortlessly simply go with second-rate outstanding write-ups. in addition, there are additionally times when you simply do not have the time to create write-ups, as you need to regulate more pressing matters like keyword research, some other aspects of link establishment, or above all servicing your customers.

So how can you decide when you must outsource? before you begin considering answers to this question, you literally have to find out where you can outsource your articles from. You might locate couple choices; one being overseas, and an additional being within America. The greatest element for making this decision is going to be the reduced charge of articles to be outsourced from overseas. even though this is the key reason, you rapidly study that the outstanding of bulk of the write-ups outsourced from overseas is simply not up to par. You could either have to enhance the grammar or attempt to revise the context so that it will definitely relay the information you are seeking to correspond the best way Americans will comprehend it. By any means, the reduced charge may not justify the quantity of time that you might have to spend over the articles, which might also result in costing you more.

Assuming that you have made a solid decision pertaining to the dilemma of outsource marketing your write-ups either within America or from overseas, following is the list of items that I take into account when I am making my decision on whether I ought to outsource my articles or not:

1. Marketing is the most essential topic for me. so if my write-ups need to be optimized, particularly in a specific method, I write my own write-ups. If marketing is actually not an issue then the articles might merely be outsourced.

2. If the subject matter is beyond my knowledge and also technically involved, then the articles will certainly most likely be outsourced to the appropriate folks with that unique experience.

3. when I do not have the time to create articles, and also thinking that the revenues I’ll be producing by doing a little something more productive will certainly validate the price of the articles.

You will definitely additionally should know that not everyone is cutout or inclined to write out write-ups. Perhaps you are an accountant and it perhaps the tax time, or you possibly a physician who would desire to construct his internet site with optimized content. To put it in different ways, there are many instances where you simply need to run your business and let a Search Engine Optimization professional manage your material establishment, as well as other things that are relevant to on-page along with off-page marketing of your website.

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Call for urgent change of approach at Port of Auckland

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Thursday, 23 February 2012, 9:41 am Press Release: Auckland Local Board Members

Local Board Members call for urgent change ofapproach at Ports of Auckland23 February2012

Thirty four Auckland Local Board members from twelvedifferent Boards* are jointly calling for urgent action toresolve the Ports of Auckland dispute ahead of a planned twoweek strike starting tomorrow, Friday February 24.

“We repeat our call for the one hundred percentAuckland Council owned Ports Company to urgently get backinto negotiations with the union for a new CollectiveAgreement. The strategic importance of resolving the disputeis overwhelming now, and it is time for Ports management tolisten and adopt a different approach”, say the Boardmembers.

“The chorus of voices calling for Portsof Auckland to take a more pragmatic approach is growingrapidly. a group of business leaders and major portstakeholders last week called for a new vision for the portand an end to labour casualisation proposals, and keyCouncil leaders have called for a return to good faithbargaining with a focus on productivity improvements with adirectly employed workforce”

“The message issimple. The Port company needs to back off from its extremeproposals to outsource or casualise the workforce. Theseproposals are a barrier to reaching a settlement, and theyrun counter to the vision of secure employment and stablecommunities that runs through many Local Board Plans, andthe draft Auckland Plan. Improved productivity should bedeveloped through a negotiated partnership approach with theworkforce, rather than by firing all existing staff andcontracting work out”

“The Maritime Union haspublicly stated that it will lift the planned strike actionif negotiations resume. We strongly urge Ports of Aucklandto publicly re-commit to negotiations without the threat ofout-sourcing. The approach taken to date is creatingunnecessary economic and legal risk for the city and theCouncil. That is unacceptable and it is incumbent on Portsof Auckland, as a company ultimately responsible to Counciland ratepayers in our communities, to re-assess theirapproach”, conclude the Boardmembers.

ENDS

Full list of LocalBoard Members issuing this statement:* please note thateach Board member issuing this statement does so in theirown right only, and not on behalf of their Board.

HelgaArlington, Albert-EdenJosephine Bartley,Maungakiekie-TamakiLeila Boyle, Maungakiekie-Tamak(Chair)Jesse Chalmbers, WaitemataShale Chambers,Waitemata (Chair)Caroline Conroy, PapakuraPippaCoom, WaitemataChristopher Dempsey, WaitemataGraemeEaste, Albert-EdenCarrol Elliot,Mangere-OtahuhuTunumafono Ava Fa’amoe,Otara-PapatoetoeJulie Fairey, PuketapapaCatherineFarmer, WhauGrant Gillon, KaipatakiJohn Gillon,KaipatakiMary Gush, Otara-PapatoetoePeter Haynes,Albert-Eden (Chair)Neil Henderson, WaitakereRangesRichard Hills, KaipatakiViv Keohane,KaipatakiChris Makoare, Maungakiekie-TamakiTraceyMartin, RodneyChristine O’Brien, Mangere-OtahuhuGregPresland, Waitakere RangesSimon Randall,Maungakiekie-TamakiTricia Reade, WaitemataDeniseRoche, WaihekeLeau Peter Skelton,Mangere-Otahuhu (Chair)Lydia Sosene,Mangere-OtahuhuRob Thomas, WaitemataAlan Verrall,Maungakiekie-TamakiMargi Watson, Albert-EdenMichaelWood, PuketapapaDenise Yates, Waitakere Ranges(Chair)

The Benefits of Outsourcing Printing Services

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Printing services run the gamut from digital printing, document scanning, and graphic design, to big color banners, signage, and more. It’s safe to say that most companies require printing services for marketing, promotion, and branding on a fairly regular basis. these companies generally require printing services on a day to day operational level as well.

Printing in house is not economically feasible for most businesses because of the equipment and expertise necessary to produce quality print collateral. for this reason, many businesses outsource printing services. an additional benefit of outsourced printing services is that it assists businesses working on green initiatives. Full-service printing companies should be compliant with regulations to use environmentally responsible materials and processes.

As each individual business may need various printing services, it would not be efficient to send out print jobs in a piece-meal fashion to numerous printing companies with limited capabilities. A better solution is to work with one individual printing company with expertise in myriad printing services, including construction documents, Cross Media Marketing, Web-to-Print, and big color printing services.

Outsourced printing services can protect the integrity of your company records. Businesses benefit from the organized expertise and confidentiality a qualified printing company brings to document scanning and archiving projects. Printing companies must satisfy regulations to do legal scanning or replication. when it’s time to digitalize company records, hiring a qualified, full-service printer brings accountability and experience to the task.

Here is an example to demonstrate the benefit of getting printing services in one place. If a museum is planning a gala event to honor a special exhibit, printing services they may require include, banners, signs, mailers, brochures, and graphic design. an entire marketing campaign will be developed to make this event a success.

Using printing services through one company, the museum can efficiently coordinate graphic design for the banners, signs, brochures, and other documents to brand the event. Variable data printing services can personalize and streamline invitations. The banners and signs for on site promotion as well as off site advertising can all be designed, manufactured, and installed through one source.

Imagine if each step of this campaign was handled by an individual printing company. Printing services from one company might look okay, but what if the ink colors or materials from a second printer on the project don’t match properly? Outsourcing to multiple printers would require tremendous micromanaging of this project for the print assets to coordinate and the marketing campaign to succeed. Clearly, businesses can benefit from the accountability and efficiency of full-service printing companies that can handle marketing and design initiatives from start to finish.

 

The Protect Our Jobs Campaign Works to Place Collective Bargaining Righs on a Michigan Ballot

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myFOXdetroit.com – A coalition that includes the United Auto Workers union has launched a statewide petition drive to ban ‘Right to Work’ in Michigan, but the proposed constitutional amendment would ban virtually any legislation that would interfere with collective bargaining rights. Governor Rick Snyder was hoping to keep the lid on the right to work issue to avoid a nasty battle between labor and business, but now with these groups launching a petition drive to ban right to work and protect all collective bargaining rights in the work place, the battle lines are drawn and who knows what the fallout will be. Organized labor contends there are over 80 bills pending in the legislature that would cut into employees rights and this amendment if adopted by the voters, would basically block all those laws.

In the Michigan House, where a battle over right to work and other collective bargaining issues is pending, a sponsor of right to work is thanking the labor movement for trying to place this issue on the ballot because he thinks voters will side with him and not labor The Coalition wants half a million petition signatures to put this on the November ballot for you to decide.

Press Release from Protect our Jobs:

LANSING – Working men and women from across Michigan gathered at the state Capitol today to formally launch the “Protect our Jobs” campaign. Grassroots volunteers started gathering signatures this morning to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot to protect collective bargaining rights, and strengthen the middle class. “Rebuilding our economy means working together to strengthen the middle class, so small businesses can grow and create more jobs,” said John Armelagos, a registered nurse from Ann Arbor. “Now more than ever, workers need the right to speak up to protect our wages, our benefits, and our voice – and that’s what this proposal is all about. Michigan workers helped create the middle class, and now we need to protect our collective bargaining rights to help rebuild our economy.” over the past year, Lansing politicians have moved one anti-worker measure after another, doing nothing to help put Michigan back to work. There are currently more than 80 bills pending in the Michigan Legislature that weaken protections for working people and dismantle collective bargaining rights. Just last week, the Legislature approved a bill (SB 971) that would ban collective bargaining rights for graduate student research employees, over the objections of the University of Michigan Board of Regents. “It’s clear Lansing politicians are making a political power grab and trying to silence the collective voice of our teachers, nurses, and firefighters,” said Karen Kuciel, a 5th grade teacher from Warren. “Collective bargaining rights give all workers a voice, and help protect your job, your wages and benefits, and your safety. without these protections, CEOs can arbitrarily fire workers, cut wages, pensions and health care benefits, and outsource jobs to countries like China and Mexico.” Citizens can learn more about the campaign and read the petition language by visiting

ProtectOurJobs.com