Get ready for a new PR when you lace up the Ecco Women’s Sola Running Shoes. Climate control for your feet when you’re beating the pavement or racking up the electricity bill on the treadmill. Just what you would expect from a running shoe made by Ecco, lasting comfort and performance while not compromising the look. Theyre so versatile you can rock them at the gym or all day at work. The Ecco Women’s Sola Running Shoes offer a chic look combined with superior performance.
The Top 10 Spring Fashions…
Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered The Top 10 Spring Fashions… What to Celebrate & Avoid
As spring fashions flood into the stores, it gives us hope that warmer weather is on its way. While those of us in the colder climates are still a little way off from actually wearing the styles, it is fun to look and dream, and even while the snow is on the ground, shopping is in full swing. What’s great and what isn’t? Let’s find out:
Bewitched
Color: The colors of the season promise to be more inviting than what we saw last year. Instead of a sea of black, gray and yellow (although they are still lurking), they are promising that black is out (well, as out as it will ever be – which means it is still around but not featured as strongly as some seasons), and lighter brighter colors are in. Turquoise and teal are big (yay!) as is coral. Neutral tones (beige, champagne and cream) are everywhere. When it comes to neutrals you must be absolutely sure you find the one that works best for you, or you will completely disappear or look slightly ill. Think pastels are passé? Wishful thinking! They are just calling them “ice cream” shades instead of pastels. Whatever you call them, be careful. They do not look good on everyone. Above all, beware of khaki!
Patterns: What would spring be without floral patterns? I find that people either love them or hate them and this year they will be hard to avoid. You can choose soft, romantic florals or big, bold and bright flowers. If floral are not your cup of tea, then animal prints is the other perennial favorite (leopard and zebra reign — often in unnatural colors). Want to be on the cutting edge? Try this season’s “digital” print. Designers are now using their computers to digitally alter and add energy to their designs which gives them a futuristic feel. When it comes to prints and patterns, there is something for everyone – as it should be!
Ruffles: Ruffles are still hot and are on everything. Placement is what is key to keep them fresh and, yes, even edgy. Of course you will find them along the neckline and hem but a new addition is on your shoulders. Positioned properly and assuming they are a stiff ruffle, they add strength and structure to a sloped or narrow shoulder. Those of you with strong, square shoulders will probably want to avoid this look – for the rest of us, they are fabulous. And, adventurous fashionistas can wear them on their shoes…gorgeous!
Dresses. All hail the dress! I remember, not too long ago; when there was a 15-year drought during which you could not find a day dress to save your life, so please let the designers know that this trend is a keeper! What’s not to like about a dress? They take so much less work than trying to create a winning skirt and top combination, and you can toss one on with a great pair of shoes and your favorite jewelry and you’re done. Plus there are so many different styles, fabrics and colors out there that you would be hard pressed not to find at least one that works for you.
Draping and Ruching. Smooth, lightweight fabrics that are so prevalent in the warmer weather are notorious for drawing attention to every lump and bump. Yay – draping and ruching to the rescue! Strategically placed drapes of fabric and ruching (gathers of fabric) can magically camouflage those areas and make this a non-issue. This trend is a girl’s best friend!
Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize! Accessories have always been a wardrobe’s secret weapon and this season they are hotter than ever! Everything is big, bright, and there’s lots of it. Wear necklaces, bangle bracelets, earrings, scarves, and belts. Whether your overall theme is warrior princess, tribal, gothic theme, or simply bold and chunky (suited to the scale of your features, of course) the important part is that it makes a huge statement and expresses your personality.
Bothered
Socks with Sandals: Yes, believe it or not, this is a new trend. A bad one, that’s for sure (it’s on my top ten of fashion don’ts!) or else someone is playing a mean trick on us. Maybe it’s all just a bad dream…
Ripped and Torn Jeans: They call it cutting edge but unless you’re under 25 (and even then it’s questionable) save it for around the house. I will never understand the appeal in looking so sloppy?
Tapered Pants: Do we have to bring back everything from the 80′s? Want to make your hips (and feet) look gigantic? Wear pleated tapered pants. Done! Better yet, how about wearing red pleated tapered pants. Picture that…on second thought… don’t!
Bewildered
Underwear as Outwear: Unless you really know how to make this trend look elegant, skip it. It can very easily (and most often) look trashy.
Shoes: This is a mixed bag which is why it is showing up in the bewildered category. While there is every imaginable style to choose from (that’s good!), there are a few looks that are not my favorite. Those cage heels or gladiators heels as some call them just won’t go away. While they are still as unflattering as ever when worn with a dress, the good news is that they are making many of them in lighter neutrals so you can find one to match your skin tone. This helps to keep the shoe from making your legs look stubby and in some cases even elongates your legs (but don’t push it!!). They are great fun with pants – where you just get a hint of sexy shoes peeking out.
That said, I do love that light neutral ankle boots are in for the spring. I love boots and would wear them all year round if it didn’t get too hot (but it does). While I wouldn’t wear them with a skirt they will allow me to wear boots with pants during the transitional months. Yay!
High heeled clogs are in. They aren’t awful but again, not my favorite – they are just so clunky. It is also obvious that someone definitely has a desire to make women’s legs and ankles look thick and chunky. This is evidenced by the current trend of flat sandals with thick (or multiple) straps around your ankles. Dangerous! Unless you are absolutely sure you look good in them (i.e., you have long, thin legs and ankles), run right by this trend.
I have an idea…how about if someone wears all the bothered and bewildered styles together – picture that! Ripped (tapered) jeans worn with a sheer top so you can see your bra and socks with gladiator sandals. This would give anyone nightmares!
This season’s (bewitching) trends have potential. Remember to shop between now and the very beginning of June. After that (even if it hasn’t really gotten warm where you live) everything goes on sale and Fall inventory starts to trickle in. I don’t know about you but I’m looking forward to a delicious spring and summer!
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10 Tips To Avoid The Holiday Bulge -And Inner Thoughts About Them
Do you find it almost impossible to stay conscious and contentious about weight and nutrition during the holidays? Of course you do. More than half of all Americans are overweight. All American’s are in this together.
You can take heart from a new government study which shows most Americans gain about a pound over the holiday. You’re not alone. The study shows that during the holiday period, for the people in the study, two main things influenced the holiday weight gain: level of hunger and level of activity. Those who reported being less active or more hungry had the greatest weight gain.
If you can stay focused on dealing with just those two things, you’ll probably win.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of weight gain,” according to Dr. Samuel Klein. He is Director of the Center for Human Nutrition as Washington University in St. Louis, MO. “Preventing the increase in weight is a lot easier and better than actually gaining weight and then trying to get it off again.”
The answer is simple. Eat less and exercise more.
The good news is that most of the people overestimate how much they had gained. Fewer than 10% gain 5 pounds or over.
The bad news is that although the one pound gained seems like a small amount, that weight WAS NOT LOST during the rest of the year and those single pounds accumulate over the years and add up to obesity.
Here are some helpful hints and tips put together by skinny people to help you avoid the tiny little weight watching issues you face during this joyous season [along with the thoughts going through weight watcher Wanda's head as she listened to the skinny people happily chirping out their advice. NOTE: Wanda isn't her real name.]
1).”You SHOULD stay active, darling. The best thing for you to do is to stick to your regular schedule and routine.” [Routine? Wanda's family doesn't have no stinking routine in November and December. Wanda doesn't have no stinking time for her regular yoga classes, workouts at the gym, long dog walks, you ninny, because in addition to shopping, home decorating and cooking, Wanda has to take every one of the kids to EXTRA practices and activity for pageants, concerts and freaking fund raisers! Wanda's too ACTIVE to stay active, darling.]
2). “Don’t let yourself get hungry. Don’t arrive at the party starving. Be sure you eat your normal, healthy meals, especially breakfast. A protein rich breakfast “resets” the body and starts it off not hungry. Don’t starve yourself, thinking you can “save up” calories. Fill up before the big holiday feasts with healthy vegetable snacks.” [Normal? There ain't no stinking "normal" in November and December, and Wanda's not sure she ever has normal, healthy meals. She's got a life to run. Wanda doesn't't't know where YOU'RE having Thanksgiving, but Wanda's family's appetizer table has God's own Cheese Puffs and Ruffles with sour cream/onion dip, Brie on sourdough and 80 plates of cookies and bowls of peanut M&Ms on every available surface! There is nary a vegetable snack in sight.]
3) “How can you keep the pounds off at calorie rich parties? Stay away from the food! Literally … stay on the other side of the room from the buffet table or appetizers tray. [Wanda liked this one. She'll just go plant herself in the bathroom and lock the door. Maybe she can find a place under the pile of coats in the back bedroom. A nap sounds nice.]
4). “Wear clothes which are slightly tight and your favorites. You’ll think twice about the third helping if you can’t let your belt out a notch. Always remember there’s about 8 pounds between dress sizes.” [What skinny sadist came up with this bright idea? Wanda bets she's a size 2, and hides an eating disorder!]
5). “Portion size is the real secret. Keep salad portions large and all other portions extra small. When it comes to sweets, think quality, not availability. Just because the candy corn is there doesn’t mean you have to eat it. Don’t be afraid to cut off “just a bite” of a high calorie treat. Put the rest back on the serving tray. If you’re the hostess, pre-cut high calorie items into tiny portions to help your friends. Just a bite may be plenty to satisfy you. [Just a bite! Just a bite? Wanda's stressed to the max and darn it, Wanda DESERVES a candy treat ... and a WHOLE one. Heck, Wanda's double stressed, so she deserves ...]
6). “You don’t need to be stressed. Take Time for You. Get a massage or a nice facial. Sit down and slip your shoes off.” [Don't you know Wanda's facing a month and a half on shopping overdrive and the only place to sit down is at the mall's fast-food court? McDonald's doesn't have a massage spa. If Wanda slips her shoes off, she'll NEVER get them back on again, you fool.]
7). “Keep up your food diary … every day of the holiday … it will help you pinpoint your special weaknesses. Just one 150 calorie chocolate chip cookie each day will add up to an extra pound in only 3 weeks.” [Wanda can't even find her food diary in chaos house. And, she really needed the information on the cookies. Thank you very much. Wanda just ate three, and she doesn't need any food diary to pinpoint this little weakness.]
8). “Only eat things you really want and care about. So what if your neighbor brought okra au gratin everyone’s raving about? Use that space on your plate for a homemade roll, hot from the oven. Put real butter on it. Life is choices. Treat yourself to what you want and LEAVE THE REST IN THE SERVING DISH.”[Good advice. How thankful do you think Wanda'd be after a feast of Brussels sprouts and tofu salad while she's passing the yams, potatoes and gravy to Aunt Lucille? Wanda bets Lucille's glad she got granddad's wiry build instead of those wonderful wide childbearing hips from grandma's "peasant" stock!]
9). Drink water instead of alcohol which has empty calories and lowers will power. Avoid sugary sodas which throw your metabolism into pendulum swings. [You didn't mention eggnog. Eggnog is OK, then, right?]
10). “Don’t eat while you cook. Those little “tastes” can turn into 1000 calories before you’ve blinked.” [Wanda just spent 304 hours in the kitchen, cooking. She HAS to taste everything before she serves it, or they'll hate it and won't love her any more. And besides, cookie dough doesn't have any calories, does it?]
Well, that’s all 10 pieces of holiday advice. Here’s just one parting thought from Wanda.
Santa’s fat and everybody loves him! The baby Jesus is fat, too. The turkey is so fat it can hardly stand up! Nobody buys a skinny Christmas tree, do they? Get a grip. Get a life. Have a HAPPY holiday.
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Good Weather? Why Not Run?
The weather in the northern hemisphere is beginning to warm up and spring turns people’s minds to thoughts of fitness and sport. They look out their running shoes from the back of the wardrobe and get out on the road. After all, it’s easy to do, it doesn’t cost anything and you can’t go wrong, can you? However, spring is just the time when all of us, having got lazy and overweight over the winter, overdo things and suffer injuries. Physiotherapists all over the country brace themselves for the surge in strains and sprains which occur at this time of year as our unprepared bodies are put through stresses which are too much for them. The commonest injuries tend to be foot pains, back pain and knee pain.
Novice runners in particular will make the classic mistake of overdoing things in the early period of exercising, although this is not confined to novices. They do not get the feedback from their bodies until much later so they start off with running too hard and too far, trying to get to a state of fitness too quickly by progressing too fast within too short a time frame. We all have levels of tolerances for all of our bodily tissues, levels of stress they will cope with easily and not complain, but also beyond which we will have problems. If we overstep our tolerances for our height, weight, age, fitness or other factors we will suffer the consequences such as tendonitis, bursitis, joint strains, muscle tears, patello-femoral syndrome and iliotibial band syndrome. Even stress fractures can occur as the bones give way under the repetitive stresses.
A more measured approach to the starting period of training is necessary or to control one of the elements of the training such as the intensity, frequency or duration. Controlling one of these elements may allow training to restart or progress in fitness to be maintained. Non-professional runners may often let a small injury grumble on for too long before doing anything about it, allowing a small problem to become chronic and difficult to treat. If you get a new pain or ache then you should take it as a sign that something has been injured and you should pay attention to it. If you have taken normal steps with ice, treatments, activity modification and painkillers, then you should seek help if there is no improvement in ten days.
Novice runners might find a walking and running regime useful which I have used due to starting off running and getting back pain. Going for a ten minute run I thought was pretty safe but it gave me troublesome back pain for a week or even two. This put me right off the idea of running again so I left it until I felt better and I had another go at a ten minute run as before. It wasn’t much of a surprise that the whole process repeated itself and so I stopped running again for a few weeks.
I was recommended a walking and running regime as a way of getting in to training without pain and started off with a short period of each. After a few months I was able to train for pain free periods of up to forty minutes running. Such regimes start for example with one minute running and four minutes walking, gradually increasing the running minutes at the expense of the walking.
In winter many people use treadmills more often, leaving them open to risk of injury due to the cold and uneven nature of outside running areas. Excessive impacts while running are generated by hard surfaces such as concrete and should be avoided, with appropriate investment being made in good running shoes with enough cushioning to absorb impacts. Changing running shoes regularly is important as they lose their ability to absorb shocks and this may be particularly important if you are big and heavy.
Also if you are running flat on a treadmill more often in the winter then injury is perhaps more likely as you start to deal with the cold, the slipperiness and irregularity of outside terrain, all of which demand more flexibility yet make it more difficult to do this. The typical hard concrete pavement is not a suitable surface to run on as the impact is too hard as we pound along. Even though running is cheap it is not wise to skimp on expenditure for good running shoes, fitted professionally by a specialist in a running shop.
About the Author
Jonathan Blood Smyth, editor of the Physiotherapy Site, writes articles about Physiotherapists, physiotherapy, physiotherapists in Manchester, back pain, musculo-skeletal conditions, neck pain and injury management. Jonathan is a superintendant physiotherapist at an NHS hospital in the South-West of the UK.
People Call Me Emo At School?
Okay There was this incident in elem school where these wanna be emo kids cut them selves and then MY friends told on them and then they said that I told them to do it! OMG! Then People come up to me now and say Your Emo and they imitate cutting their wrists. I hate it. I am going knock someone’s lights out if they call me that again! People also call me emo because i wear eyeliner. its not even heavy eyeliner either! I wear regular shiny lip gloss. I wear white, pink, blue, gray, black, ETC. i wear Vans, Normal Running Shoes, and High Heeled Flip Flops. How can i get them to stop calling me that?
ONE MORE THING: My “So Called Friend” told me her and her other friend imitated me and put on like really heavy eyeliner and was pretending to act like me!!!! UGH!
im in 7th grade now.
incident happened in 5th grade
message me if u want the whole story
yeah that happened to me too…. but im in 6th grade now starting middle school…. so on the first day of school i was wearing a shirt with skulls on it but its purple and not bloody skulls or anything… something regular girls woulkd wear, and i painted my nails black, and weared some earrings with skulls and a gray heart. and I’M NOT EMO/GOTH/PUNK or anything to that effect. if anything im more tomboy!! yeah and so my friends kept calling me emo.they were like OMG JANESSA!! what happened!!! ahhh emo alert!! omg thats sooo annoying….. i didnt even look emo!! it was actually a preppy look!! how could i be emo if im wearing butterfly capris?!!?!?! its annoying best way is to if they call u emo again just say “and who are you to tell me that i’m emo?” ur in 7th so that means like ur more independent than u were in 5th….. so just stand up 4 urself or just ignore them. and of course ur not emo! so just talk back at them but dont get into a fight! maybe say… “ok first off im not emo k get that straight and ur nothing but a beep!! lol jk but instead of beep u can say something insulting…. but not TOOO insulting cause that means detention and stuff. just say “talk to the hand” lol and stuff and ur so called friend if they were really your friend they wouldnt have done wat they did. ihad a friend like that and it was horrible!!! and trust me… i know how emo looks!! i saw some 8th graders that look sooo emo!!! jeez some people must be blind if they cant see that i’m/u are not emo!! hope they stop saying that!!:)
This all-terrain running shoe has a long history of proven performance, featuring N-ergy® in the heel for advanced cushioning. With its rugged AT Tread® outsole and superior fit, the 813 is perfect for rough trails and unpredictable surfaces.
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Hitting the off-road for a run-through of the Rails-to-Trails byway, the Merrell CTR Cruise Running Shoes – Women’s allows you to flow with confidence through varied terrain with its durable neutral running foot cushioning. Designed with a gender specific semi-curved anatomical fit and T-cup slip resistant heel, this running shoe offers precise performance during the long haul. Supported with a G3-pHASe responsive heel cushioning the smooth riding CTR Cruise manages comfort with an Outlast® heat sock liner that returns foot warmth, while its sticky rubber rugged sole maintains your grip with Mother Earth from sunrise to sunset.
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Lanzarote One of the Big Three in Major Race
Athletes from Europe and the UK will once again congregate in the Canary Islands this spring for the 5th annual Las Tres Islas race.
The event, billed as a ‘quadrathalon’ is a somewhat eclectic twist on the traditional triathlon. It may be the first of its kind in the world. The fact that it is enjoying its fifth year of success indicates that the race has been well received by participants and spectators alike.
Two things that make this race unique:
First, it takes place over three of the seven islands in the Canaries: Lanzarote, La Graciosa and Fuerteventura.
The second distinguishing feature is the fourth element added to the traditional triathlon. The first leg begins with a 2 km swim from La Graciosa to the shores of Lanzarote. Next, participants swap swim suits for running shoes. Athletes must run a 2 km path uphill to the top of a mountain. Next comes a 72 km bike ride that winds through the picturesque mountainous terrain, including Timanfaya National Park. The final destination for the bicycle leg of the race is Playa Blanca.
Here the race diverts from tradition. Contestants pick up their “vehicles” of choice for another sea crossing. This one is 10 km long and will take racers to Fuertaventura. Contestants may choose any vessel for the crossing as long as it is completely wind and man-powered. Past races have seen contestants travel on catamarans, row boats, kayaks, wind surf boards and more.
Organizers are gearing up for the biggest race to date this year, despite last year’s challenges. The 2007 Las Tres Islas race saw a few weather-related issues.
In fact, the final leg of the 4th annual race was cancelled due to high winds, at times in excess of 45 knots. Disappointed but undaunted, participants braved the first three legs of the race to a breezy finish at Playa Blanca. Racers had to find another way to get to Fueteventura for the wrap-up barbecue and awards ceremony, which took place despite the inclement weather. It was here that seasoned triathlete Richard Hobson took the event with a time of 2:24:10, just over a minute ahead of second place racer Alberto Kremer.
The unique nature of this race with its uncustomary ending attracts both seasoned and amateur athletes alike. It seems that organizers and tourism proponents have hit upon a brilliant, albeit offbeat, way to lure tourists to the Canary Islands. Not only does the event boost tourism, it also exposes visitors to some of the lesser-visited islands in the Canaries.
Most of all, the race benefits Youths United. The organization’s aim is to ‘create partnerships with local communities, tourist boards and businesses through the implementation of innovative events.’
Youths United strives to support charities that promote social and economic development in needy countries. At the same time, events like Las Tres Islas also benefits local sponsors, businesses and donors. Las Tres Islas continues to grow in popularity, revealing a bright future for the organization and its mandate.
About the Author
More details about the Canary island of Lanzarote can be found at yourlanzarote.net with a range of accommodation and hotels in Lanzarote
My Great Dane has really REALLY bad seperation anxiety. She recently was voted off the island at the place that I rent, so she is living with my grandmother until my lease is up in March. Whenever I go to visit her she gets so excited that I can barely control her (doesn’t help she weighs more than me) and when I leave she howls and howls, and runs up and down the stairs for up to 4 hours (that was the longest granny has told me about). Is there something I can do to help her? It was pretty bad when I would leave her to go to work, but now with more and more time in between when I see her it is only getting worse. I can’t even put my shoes on to run to the car really quick w/out her crying. She stays in a crate when no one is home, and she eats all of the blankets I leave in there fore her. What can I do to help her anxiety??
Consult your veterinarian to get a correct diagnosis of separation anxiety. Your veterinarian will help you with treatment or refer you to an animal behaviorist who can prescribe effective drug therapies to alleviate your dog’s anxieties.
Practice leaving your dog alone for short periods of time. Pick up your keys and leave for 1 minute.
Gradually increase the amount of time you stay away. This will accustom your dog to your absence.
Avoid overly emotional good-byes and greetings. Instead, pat your dog on the head and offer a quick good-bye or hello.
Keep your dog confined in a safe area while you are away. Be sure to leave a bowl of water and plenty of chew toys.
Exercise your dog for an hour each day in places other than your yard or home. This helps your dog feel comfortable in other locations and lets her blow off steam.
Praise your dog often to build self-confidence, rather than punishing her for exhibiting frightened behaviors. Punishment only increases anxiety and makes the situation worse.
The first time you administer medication to control separation anxiety, stay with and watch your dog carefully in case she has an adverse reaction. Take her to the veterinarian if you witness odd behavior, as the dosage may need adjustment.
These are extremely helpful sites with more detailed information:
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Nike Men Shoes – The Shoe That Never Stops Running
Nike Men Shoes are quite a favorite in the sports industry. They are considered to be one of the most dependable ranges of footwear. Nike Men Shoes is usually associated with good quality. A high profile was created for the company and its shoes by getting big names from the sports industry to endorse them.
Nike Men Shoes have earned a good name in the footwear industry due to the attention they pay on quality. Nike is quite committed to detailing and is high on durability, style and comfort. You can be quite sure that you will not get a foot ache or blisters with these. And most of all you don’t have to worry about ruining them. Nike Men shoes are made to withstand the wear and tear of outdoor activities, and will not give in easily to getting spoilt by over exposure to the sun or by getting soaked in water. A specialized technology is used for their manufacture. Some of the latest range of Nike Men Shoes contains Lunarlite foam and Flywire that helps in reducing the weight of the shoes, and making you lighter and more agile on your feet. Nike is not only about creating simple and random footwear, but rather the shoes are made to steer according to sharp and rapid turns, to aid in jumping, to promote traction, and to help you run safely at a faster pace.
No matter what sports activity you are trying to participate in, you will find a range of Nike Men Shoes that is specifically designed for that particular sport. It can be said quite nonchalantly that your athletic performance will be enhanced to some degree by these shoes. Nike Men Shoes can be found in various types for different sports activities such as wrestling, volleyball, cycling, softball, football, baseball, skateboarding, badminton, golf, tennis, combat sports, basketball, auto racing, etc.
Nike Men Shoes come in a wide variety of colors and styles and make quite a fashion statement. People from all walks of life like to sport the Nike Men Shoes, from athletes to people like you and me. Any store that sells sports shoes will in all probability retail Nike Men Shoes. In fact, you could also do online shopping if you feel too lazy to go the market! But in this case, you need to know your exact shoe size so that you do not face any problem or discomfort later on.
In fact, you don’t have to wear these shoes only for sporting activities. If your work requires you to be on your feet for most part of the day, then these shoes are definitely meant for you. You could also wear them for leisure and recreational activities like hiking, trekking, or for running errands! You could wear it on a casual date to the cinema. They give you quite a cool look. The comfort levels associated with them will make you want to wear them all the time, unless of course you are sleeping!
About the Author
Jeff Johnson writing for A2zshoes.com, A2Z Shoes carry a large inventory of jordans shoes, including Nike Air Force 1, rare jordans, Air Jordans and new jordans. Plus, many other running and basketball kicks of Nike and Adidas for men, women and kids that can be purchased online at www.A2zshoes.com
Looking for Good Running or Jogging Shoes to get back in Shape?
I want to get back in shape because i kind of in the heavy side and also want to work out because i haven’t been eating healty so i wanted to Jog to get in shape and to get back and maintain good health. What is the BEST type of jogging shoes. My feet is wide and when i used nike Shox, my foot hurts. What brand or shoe ie perfect. i am looking for a light shoe as well? anybody know?
You need to go to a real shoe place and try on a few. They will look at your foot and make recommendations
A high mileage trainer for the runner who requires moderate stability with exceptional cushioning. On this shoe, a wide selection of premium technologies all work in sync to take your run to the next level. Whether you're running a quick warmup lap or your third marathon this year, the 1225 can take it; in fact, if you listen carefully, you just might hear it asking for more.
A high-mileage trainer for the runner who requires moderate stability with exceptional cushioning. On this shoe, a wide selection of premium technologies all work in sync to take your run to the next level. Whether you're running a quick warmup lap or your third marathon this year, the 1226 can take it; in fact, if you listen carefully, you just might hear it asking for more.
A high-mileage trainer for the runner who requires moderate stability with exceptional cushioning. On this shoe, a wide selection of premium technologies all work in sync to take your run to the next level. Whether you're running a quick warmup lap or your third marathon this year, the 1226 can take it; in fact, if you listen carefully, you just might hear it asking for more.
A high mileage trainer for the runner who requires moderate stability with exceptional cushioning. On this shoe, a wide selection of premium technologies all work in sync to take your run to the next level. Whether you're running a quick warmup lap or your third marathon this year, the 1226 can take it; in fact, if you listen carefully, you just might hear it asking for more.
A high mileage trainer for the runner who requires moderate stability with exceptional cushioning. On this shoe, a wide selection of premium technologies all work in sync to take your run to the next level. Whether you're running a quick warmup lap or your third marathon this year, the 1226 can take it; in fact, if you listen carefully, you just might hear it asking for more.
A high-mileage trainer for the runner who requires moderate stability with exceptional cushioning. On this shoe, a wide selection of premium technologies all work in sync to take your run to the next level. Whether you're running a quick warmup lap or your third marathon this year, the 1226 can take it; in fact, if you listen carefully, you just might hear it asking for more.
A high-mileage trainer for the runner who requires moderate stability with exceptional cushioning. On this shoe, a wide selection of premium technologies all work in sync to take your run to the next level. Whether you're running a quick warmup lap or your third marathon this year, the 1226 can take it; in fact, if you listen carefully, you just might hear it asking for more.
A high-mileage trainer for the runner who requires moderate stability with exceptional cushioning. On this shoe, a wide selection of premium technologies all work in sync to take your run to the next level. Whether you're running a quick warmup lap or your third marathon this year, the 1226 can take it; in fact, if you listen carefully, you just might hear it asking for more.
A high-mileage trainer for the runner who requires moderate stability with exceptional cushioning. On this shoe, a wide selection of premium technologies all work in sync to take your run to the next level. Whether you're running a quick warmup lap or your third marathon this year, the 1226 can take it; in fact, if you listen carefully, you just might hear it asking for more.
A high mileage trainer for the runner who requires moderate stability with exceptional cushioning. On this shoe, a wide selection of premium technologies all work in sync to take your run to the next level. Whether you're running a quick warmup lap or your third marathon this year, the 1225 can take it; in fact, if you listen carefully, you just might hear it asking for more.
A high mileage trainer for the runner who requires moderate stability with exceptional cushioning. On this shoe, a wide selection of premium technologies all work in sync to take your run to the next level. Whether you're running a quick warmup lap or your third marathon this year, the 1225 can take it; in fact, if you listen carefully, you just might hear it asking for more.
A high mileage trainer for the runner who requires moderate stability with exceptional cushioning. On this shoe, a wide selection of premium technologies all work in sync to take your run to the next level. Whether you're running a quick warmup lap or your third marathon this year, the 1225 can take it; in fact, if you listen carefully, you just might hear it asking for more.
Get ready for a new PR when you lace up the Ecco Women’s Sola Running Shoes. Climate control for your feet when you’re beating the pavement or racking up the electricity bill on the treadmill. Just what you would expect from a running shoe made by Ecco, lasting comfort and performance while not compromising the look. Theyre so versatile you can rock them at the gym or all day at work. The Ecco Women’s Sola Running Shoes offer a chic look combined with superior performance.
A Guide to Shopping in Milan
Shopping and Milan go hand in hand. After all, this northern Italian city is where the fashion world holds some of its most elite designer shows during four different periods every year. Anyone with even the most basic knowledge of fashion knows that Milan is hugely important in the industry. Its little surprise, then, that those who flock here with hopes of finding the best that shopping has to offer are never disappointed.
If you come to Milan to shop, one of your first stops should be its Brera neighborhood. This picturesque shopping area offers tourists the the opportunity to find unique treasures and items by little known – but up and coming – designers. Small boutiques along narrow streets are the norm here, and it is considered by many to be one of the most pleasant areas in Milan for strolling and shopping at a leisurely pace. Boasting the highest concentration of clothes stores in all of Europe, Corso Buenos Aires is another must see district if you come to Milan to shop. It is impossible to make much of a dent in the the many boutiques here; indeed, one could spend an entire afternoon and not hope to see even a fraction of the offerings. It is a real shoppers’ paradise in Milan, especially for those looking for marathon shopping experiences.
While Milan is world renowned for its high end fashion, there are still plenty of bargains to be had. Head over to Binda, near the lake, to get incredible deals on shirts, scarves and ties. Or if you seek bargains on some of Milan’s famed silk clothing, check out Frey. This outlet store is located on the western edge of the old section of town and is teeming with clothing and accessories deals. Sprinkled throughout and around Milan are its well regarded Coin stores. These department stores offer a fine selection of excellent quality clothing, accessories, handbags and jewelry. There are also great deals to be had on housewares on the basement level of most coin stores. If you come to northern Italy, you simply must check out this Milanese institution. No shopping trip to Milan could hope to be complete without a stop at its preeminent department store, La Rinascente. Here, shoppers can find absolutely anything imaginable when it comes to high end fashion and clothing. Make a day of it by enjoying one of its top floor restaurants; have a snack of a gourmet meal, then head back out for more shopping!
Those looking for outdoor markets in Milan truly have their work cut out for them. That’s because Milan is bursting at the seams with great options. If you’re looking for shoes, head to the Mercato di Via S. Marco on Monday and Thursday mornings. In addition to shoe stalls, shoppers can enjoy many fine foods and a premier selection of knitwear, including a selection by Valentino. Milan’s elite regard this market to be the best available, but its far from the only one. On Saturdays and Tuesdays from about 9am to 1pm, head to the huge Mercato Papiniano for amazing deals on designer duds. Those looking for antiques must head to the Mercatone dell’Antiquario on the last Sunday of the month. And to check out something a little different, try the Via Armorari on Sunday mornings to take in its stamp, coin and postcard collectors in action.
The dates for sales pricing in Milan are set by law, and run from mid-January to mid-July. If you must have the latest fashion fresh off the runway, come here between mid-February and mid-August. There are definite bargains to be had; the key is devoting ample time to your search. This is particularly true if you visit during one of its fashion weeks, when the city is swarmed with an influx of fashion industry elite. No matter when you visit, though, shopping in Milan is a truly unforgettable experience.
About the Author
Simon Jennings writes for Gawwk.com, a social network for the travel community. Gawwk includes a Milan Travel Guide.
Marshall Faulk signed San Diego State Aztecs 16×20 Photo Custom Framed Marshall Faulk had a stand-out career as a running back at San Diego State University. Faulk left San Diego State University with many of the school’s offensive records, amongst them 62 career touchdowns, which is the 8th most in NCAA history. Marshall Faulk hand autographed San Diego State Aztecs 16×20 Photo. White Mat and Black Color Framed as shown. Faulk Hologram and Certificate of Authenticity.
Get your name in the game! This is no ordinary CD- announcers call out your full name over 30 times as you lead the San Diego Padres to victory. Incredible sound effects and crowd noise will put goose bumps on your arm and a smile on your face. Officially licensed by the MLB. Note: Please spell difficult names as they sound in the ‘Phonetic Spelling’ box . Running time 12-15 minutes. Made in the USA.
Get your name in the game! This is no ordinary CD- announcers call out your full name over 30 times as you lead the San Diego Padres to victory. Incredible sound effects and crowd noise will put goose bumps on your arm and a smile on your face. Officially licensed by the MLB. Note: Please spell difficult names as they sound in the ‘Phonetic Spelling’ box . Running time 12-15 minutes. Made in the USA.
365-Day No Hassle Returns! San Diego Chargers Notebook – Your young fan can keep up with all their classes in fun Chargers style with this team-spirited notebook featuring durable spiral-binding and custom team graphics!
365-Day No Hassle Returns! San Diego Padres Notebook – Your young fan can keep up with all their classes in fun Padres style with this team-spirited notebook featuring durable spiral-binding and custom team graphics!
365-Day No Hassle Returns! San Diego Chargers Lil’ Teammates Running Back Figurine – Get your hands on the whole set of Lil’ Teammates and decorate your home, office or fan cave in team spirit! All teams come in both the quarterback and running back style and feature a rotating head.
365-Day No Hassle Returns! San Diego Chargers Folder – Your young fan can tote their Chargers pride around school all day long with this team folder featuring custom team artwork and enough space to keep all their important papers secure!
Get your name in the game! This is no ordinary CD- announcers call out your full name over 30 times as you lead the San Diego Padres to victory. Incredible sound effects and crowd noise will put goose bumps on your arm and a smile on your face. Officially licensed by the MLB. Note: Please spell difficult names as they sound in the ‘Phonetic Spelling’ box . Running time 12-15 minutes. Made in the USA.
Get your name in the game! This is no ordinary CD- announcers call out your full name over 30 times as you lead the San Diego Padres to victory. Incredible sound effects and crowd noise will put goose bumps on your arm and a smile on your face. Officially licensed by the MLB. Note: Please spell difficult names as they sound in the ‘Phonetic Spelling’ box . Running time 12-15 minutes. Made in the USA.
Dan Fouts signed San Diego Chargers 8×10 Photo Custom Framed Dan Fouts played for the San Diego Chargers from 1973 through 1987, and is famous for being one of the most prolific quarterbacks of the Super Bowl Era. Dan Fouts was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. He has hand signed this San Diego Chargers 8×10 Photo. Custom Black Mat and Wood Framed as shown. NSD Hologram and Certificate of Authenticity.
Earn extra points when you purchase this teddy bear dressed in an Officially Licensed NFL uniform for your favorite San Diego Chargers fan. Includes jersey, pants, helmet, white socks and athletic shoes.
Ladainian Tomlinson Custom Framed San Diego Chargers Autographed 8×10 Photograph Ladainian Tomlinson hand signed 8×10 custom framed photograph. To assure this items authenticity:
Lance Alworth San Diego Chargers NFL 8×10 Photograph Running Route There is no better way to commemorate your favorite player or team than this quality 8×10 Premium Photograph. Item comes in a 8×10 toploader sleeve, that will store and protect your favorite photograph. Rigid protection for photos, prevents creases and folds. Printed in the USA, Watermark (if shown) is not on the Finished Product.
365-Day No Hassle Returns! San Diego Chargers Composition Book – Gear up your young fan to hit the books in style with this composition book featuring custom team graphics on the front cover and 100 wide-ruled pages inside!
365-Day No Hassle Returns! San Diego Padres Team Folder – Your young fan can tote their Padres pride around school all day long with this team folder featuring custom team artwork and enough space to keep all their important papers secure!
San Diego Magazine brings you the cultural, aesthetic, political and civic issues, affairs and problems of San Diego County. Whether you’re planning on visiting San Diego or have lived in the city for 20 years, San Diego Magazine is the indispensable guide. Every issue of San Diego Magazine includes articles, criticism, photography, opinions and ideas about city planning, politics, art, literature, theatre, music, sports, architecture, fashion, travel and resorts, industry and education. Plus, regular columns in San Diego Magazine cover finance, the arts, dining and entertainment.
San Diego Lawn Aeration Experts Talk
Lawn problems
Lawn aeration constitutes two things, controlling lawn thatch and reducing soil compaction. Lawn thatch is a layer of dead organic tissue that deprives the lawn from much-needed oxygen. Soil compaction makes it difficult for grass to root and it disturbs positive rainwater irrigation, therefore it is meaningful to aerate the lawn. This is especially meaningful for highly trafficked lawns. If people walk or even run over a lawn, the pressure generates compaction in the soil. When aerating very dense soil, it will ease the process when the lawn is watered the night before aeration.
Types of aerator
There are two types of lawn aerators. There is the type that uses spikes to punch holes in the soil and there is the type that pulls out plugs of soil, also known as a core aerator due to the cores of soil removed. The latter is preferred if compaction is a problem, because while the spike punching lawn aerator only provides paths for air to contact the soil, the lawn aerator that pulls out soil also reduces compaction. For hobbyist lawn maintainers, there are also spiked shoes that can be used to aerate a lawn, these are much more affordable than larger lawn aerating machines. But these spikes, like the spike punching aerator, without doubt increase compaction by compressing the soil as the spike enters. This may be an acceptable result if aeration is the primary goal and compaction is not a problem.
Types of lawngrass
There are thousands of varieties of lawngrass, each adapted to specific conditions of precipitation, temperature, and sun/shade tolerance. Breeders are constantly creating new and improved varieties of the base list of lawngrass species. The two basic categories are cool season grasses and warm season grasses.
Cool season grasses start growth at 5 ?C, and grows at their fastest rate when temperatures are between 10-25 ?C (Huxley 1992), in climates that have relatively mild/cool summers, with two periods of fast growth in the spring and autumn. They retain their color well in extreme cold and normally grow very dense, carpetlike lawns with relatively little thatch.
Warm season grasses only start growth at temperatures above 10 ?C, and grow fastest when temperatures are between 25 ?C and 35 ?C, with one long growth period over the spring and summer (Huxley 1992). They most often go dormant in cooler months, turning shades of tan or brown. A few warm season grasses are quite drought tolerant, and can handle very high summer temperatures, although temperatures below -15 ?C can kill most warm season grasses.
In San Diego- Twice a year normally does the Job.
Special aeration twice a year can help to keep the grass looking as green as can be! The plugs that come out of the aeration machine most often dissolve within a then two weeks afterwards and your grass will be properly aerated by then. Aeration improves soil drainage and encourages worms, microfauna and microflora which require oxygen. All of this leads to a healthy and brilliant colored lawn. Call your lawn aeration company today or use us! We specialize in making sure your satisfied with the way your lawn looks and feels! A happy lawn is a happy customer!
The Avia AVI-Quest Running Shoe is for the athlete seeking the most intuitive running shoe. Features a mesh and synthetic upper and Avia’s first full foot Shear Cantilever System (SCS), which offers dynamic bio feedback to your foot during the running cycle. This provides enhanced cushioning with biomechanical guidance.
The Avia AVI-Stoltz will ensure you’re ready to tear up the trails no matter what the condition. Features a lightweight microfiber air mesh upper with a protective monofilament top layer and gusset tongue to keep out the grit. An antibacterial removable molded Ortholite insert keeps your feel cool and dry, while a dual density compression molded AVI-Lite EVA midsole and AVIA’s Cantilever System give you stability and cushioning. A exposed ESS forefoot protection shield and aggressive trail racing traction keep you going on the trail.
Get ready for a new PR when you lace up the Ecco Women’s Sola Running Shoes. Climate control for your feet when you’re beating the pavement or racking up the electricity bill on the treadmill. Just what you would expect from a running shoe made by Ecco, lasting comfort and performance while not compromising the look. Theyre so versatile you can rock them at the gym or all day at work. The Ecco Women’s Sola Running Shoes offer a chic look combined with superior performance.
Automatic identification and data capture
I want to introduct something about EC120 Stainless Steel Earrings. 316L stainless steel earrings in good quality and good price EC120 Stainless Steel Earrings mo (Redirected from AIDC) “AIDC” redirects here. For the Taiwanese company, see Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation. Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (March 2007) Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) refers to the methods of automatically identifying objects, collecting data about them, and entering that data directly into computer systems (i.e. without human involvement). Technologies typically considered as part of AIDC include bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), biometrics, magnetic stripes, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), smart cards, and voice recognition. AIDC is also commonly referred to as utomatic Identification, uto-ID, and “Automatic Data Capture.” AIDC is the process or means of obtaining external data, particularly through analysis of images, sounds or videos. To capture data, a transducer is employed which converts the actual image or a sound into a digital file. The file is then stored and at a later time it can be analyzed by a computer, or compared with other files in a database to verify identity or to provide authorization to enter a secured system. Capturing of data can be done in various ways; the best method depends on application. AIDC also refers to the methods of recognizing objects, getting information about them and entering that data or feeding it directly into computer systems without any human involvement. Automatic identification and data capture technologies include barcodes, RFID, OCR, magnetic stripes, smart cards and biometrics. In biometric security systems, capture is the acquisition of or the process of acquiring and identifying characteristics such as finger image, palm image, facial image, iris print or voice print which involves audio data and the rest all involves video data. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is relatively a new AIDC technology which was first developed in 1980. The technology acts as a base in automated data collection, identification and analysis systems worldwide. RFID has found its importance in a wide range of markets including livestock identification and Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) systems because of its capability to track moving objects. These automated wireless AIDC systems are effective in manufacturing environments where barcode labels could not survive.
The Internet of Things and the supply chain of the future Auto-ID initiative The idea is as simple as its application is difficult. If all cans, books, shoes or parts of cars are equipped with minuscule identifying devices, daily life on our planet will undergo a transformation. Things like running out of stock or wasted products will no longer exist as we will know exactly what is being consumed on the other side of the globe. Theft will be a thing of the past as we will know where a product is at all times. The global association Auto-ID Center was founded in 1999 and is made up of 100 of the largest companies in the world such as Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Gillette, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, UPS, companies working in the sector of technology such as SAP, Aliens, Sun as well as five academic research centers. These are based at the following Universities; MIT in the USA, Cambridge University in the UK, the University of Adelaide in Australia, Keio University in Japan and University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The Auto-ID Center suggests a concept of a future supply chain that is based on the Internet of objects, i.e. a global application of RFID. They try to harmonize technology, processes and organization. Research is focused on miniaturization (aiming for a size of 0.3 mm/chip), reduction in the price per single device (aiming at around $0.05 per unit), the development of innovative application such as payment without any physical contact (Sony/Philips), domotics (clothes equipped with radio tags and intelligent washing machines) and, last but not least, sporting events (timing at the Berlin marathon). See also Auto-ID Labs Device management Field Service Management Mobile Enterprise Mobile Asset Management Ubiquitous computing References ^ Waldner, Jean-Baptiste (2008). Nanocomputers and Swarm Intelligence. London: ISTE John Wiley & Sons. pp.205214. ISBN 1847040020. External links AIM Global AIDC UK Categories: Automatic identification and data capture | Encodings | Multimodal interaction | Human-computer interaction | Radio-frequency identification Hidden categories: Articles to be expanded since March 2007 | All articles to be expanded(and so on) To get More information , you can visit some products about Micro Fiber Suede, fiber glass fabric, . The EC120 Stainless Steel Earrings products should be show more here!
Superior comfort meets classic style in the official Air Force edition of this durable high-mileage trainer. As the newest edition to the legendary 990 series, the 993 features ABZORB SBS advanced cushioning in the forefoot for responsiveness you can feel for miles. The addition of ABZORB DTS in the heel plus a full length ABZORB insert will cushion each step to help you love running even more! Personalize this running shoe with a custom message to reflect who you are and where you're going.
Superior comfort meets classic style in the official Air Force edition of this durable high-mileage trainer. As the newest edition to the legendary 990 series, the 993 features ABZORB SBS advanced cushioning in the forefoot for responsiveness you can feel for miles. The addition of ABZORB DTS in the heel plus a full length ABZORB insert will cushion each step to help you love running even more! Personalize this running shoe with a custom message to reflect who you are and where you're going.
Get ready for a new PR when you lace up the Ecco Women’s Sola Running Shoes. Climate control for your feet when you’re beating the pavement or racking up the electricity bill on the treadmill. Just what you would expect from a running shoe made by Ecco, lasting comfort and performance while not compromising the look. Theyre so versatile you can rock them at the gym or all day at work. The Ecco Women’s Sola Running Shoes offer a chic look combined with superior performance.
The Champion Salesman
The Champion Salesperson, True Story
True story of Max Kumar, Managing Director.
Sales Coaching and Interview.
Max Kumar is 30 years old and he already has 15 years of experience with sales and marketing in places such as Dubai, Mumbai, Jamaica, United Kingdom and At Sea.
Can you get friendly with a stranger in less than 30 seconds?
Can you look at someone for the first time and figure out his or her credit card limit?
Have you sold one diamond ring for $30,000 US Dollars?
A man walks inside your store asking for a Rolex and wants to spend approx. $6,000 US Dollars and you end up selling him a watch for $15,000 US Dollars and the watch he has never heard of before in his entire life?
Have you sold a natural yellow fancy diamond bracelet worth $18,000 to a lady come on a cruise ship and walks in your store for the first time ever?
Exclusive Interview with Max Kumar…..
1) Please tell us about how you entered sales and marketing?
“I started my sales career in Mumbai, India where I first started selling Standard Chartered credit cards in the year 2001 and I worked for Impact Marketing, Direct Sales Agents for Standard Chartered Bank.”
2) Tell us about your first customer
“It was a job which involved cold calling and I was very nervous knowing that I will have to walk in someone’s office for the first time even though they had never seen me before and I am going there to sell them a credit card”.
3) How was the experience of walking in a stranger’s office?
“It was terrible, I was shivering and nervous and my Manager who was training me had to accompany me in his office. I was running out of words. That customer did not buy from me”.
4) What happened next?
“It was the first time I had to deal with failure and I was really finding it difficult to deal with but the positive outcome was I started thinking, what went wrong and then I started working on my sales and marketing strategies”.
5) Did you want to quit?
“I had a never say die attitude and I was always stubborn, I decided to learn everything about sales and marketing”.
6) Did you get any success from that job and experience of cold calling?
“Absolutely, within the next 6 months, I was one of their best salesman but not the best”.
7) Wow, what a transformation, how did you manage that?
“I watched everybody, how they use their sales pitch, involve the customer with themselves in a conversation, the art of convincing and closing the sale”.
8) How long did you work for them?
“Not very long, as I got an better offer from Andromedia Marketing, Direct Sales Agents for Citibank and this time I was selling Citibank credit cards”.
9) How was your experience with Andromedia Marketing?
“I was good but unfortunately I did not stay with them for a long time as I became a part of Esscom Marketing, Direct Sales Agents for ICICI Bank”.
10) Why did you keep changing your jobs?
“Good question, Mumbai is a big city but all agencies keep an eye on the field salesmen and each company tries to get the best salesman in their organisation for better results in more sales, I was a victim too”.
11) How long it took you to be spotted by these agencies?
“Three Years, By this time I was good at selling sand to the Arabs”.
12) What was the next phase in your career with sales and marketing?
“Most of my family is settled in the Middle East, but as an individual I wanted to explore the Western World such as United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada etc. I kept reading the newspaper, Mid-Day especially on a Wednesday where you would find thousands of classifieds and see the jobs available abroad. It is because of this newspaper I found a job in Ocho-Rios, Jamaica, West Indies. This was a high end jewellery store, House of Diamonds with a couple of stores very close to the cruise ship pier and they were looking for a Manager who had some experience in sales and marketing”.
13) Please tell us about your experience in Jamaica?
“I worked in Jamaica for three years from 5th Apr 2004 to 11th July 2007”. Since this was a high end jewellery store, I had a lot of difficulties for the first six months”. The biggest problem was the cultural difference between India and Jamaica, language, lifestyle and me not knowing anything about jewellery”.
14) How did you manage working in such difficult conditions?
“During the first six months, I was learning everything about diamonds, gemstones, watches, gold, carat weight, colour, cut etc. I read books about diamonds and gemstones which my boss gave me and I kept reading that book till late in the nights because our store was very close to the cruise ship pier and next day we would have passengers coming on a cruise ship”.
15) Tell us about your first customer in Jamaica?
“A lady walked in the store for the first time, from the cruise ship and I did not want to speak to her as I did not know what to say, my boss asked me to speak to her, she wanted an everyday watch and I was showing her some Skagen watches and she liked one but did not buy because the crystals were inside the glass and not on the outside and she left the store, this is where the story of the champion salesman begins. My boss asked me the reason of that lady not buying the watch. I said the crystals and he was actually listening to my conversation with that lady and he said you could have said, the company does not do crystals on the outside anymore as people complaining of them coming off and they end up losing the crystals, that was an eye opener”.
16) Tell us more about your experience in Jamaica?
“Well there were some other obstacles that I needed to overcome. One of them was the geographical knowledge about United States of America. I have never been there. In sales general knowledge always helps. Let me give you some examples, if someone says Illinois, I said Chicago. If someone says Maryland, I said Baltimore. If someone says Texas, I said Austin. If someone says Kentucky, I said fried chicken. I read and studied the Atlas to get some general idea about United States of America and was trying to familiarise myself with different states, towns, counties, their specialities and if someone said Mid-West, what they were referring to?”
17) What was the major difference between selling Jamaica & Mumbai?
“Fantastic question, when I was in Mumbai, the job involved cold calling that means the salesperson approaching the suspects and it was a process of converting those suspects into prospects. In Jamaica, it was the other way around. I was in the store behind the counters and the passengers from the cruise ship approached me. Sales is like cars, surprised, let me explain please. You need to change gears according to product, service, concept, customer and various situations”.
18) Very interesting, tell us more about Jamaica?
“The company hired four boys from Mumbai, I was one of them. There were local Jamaican girls working in the store and the bosses who were brothers were always on the sales floor. They were the best salespeople, I have ever seen in my life. What makes me say that, I have seen them sell jewellery worth $98,000 to someone who has never seen them before and in fact has landed for the first time in Jamaica. I learnt a lot from them”.
19) How was your career progressing in Jamaica?
“Well I worked in Jamaica for just over three years, the first year was the learning process, the second year I was confident and the third year, I was the best salesman in that shopping mall, Taj Mahal Plaza as there were another 14 jewellery stores in the same mall and the competition was fierce. The other store managers and owners knew that once I start speaking to a customer, I will close the sale”.
20) What made you a champion salesman?
“Desire to win, learn, perform and show my colleagues what I am capable of on the sales floor and as actions speak louder than words, I was always in action”.
21) Can you remember some sales that you made in Jamaica?
“Absolutely, here is one example. On a Saturday morning, a couple was wandering around the mall. There was no cruise ship on that particular day. This couple walks inside my shop and bought a pair of plain gold earrings worth $50.00 US Dollars. I asked for $55.00 and they were bargaining for $5.00 US Dollars. What happened next was History. I then started showing a bracelet to the same lady, she liked it and was resistant to buy it which was $7,000 US Dollars. The man asked the lady if she likes it. She said yes. Immediately I commented, I have never seen that bracelet look so good on anybody ever. He gave me his credit card. I was shocked and surprised. The man was a president of some big organisation in Madison, Wisconsin. Since they were coming from the beach, they were wearing beach wear. So you never know, who you talking to and I wanted to learn more about people’s appearances”.
22) Was there a time you were not comfortable selling in Jamaica?
“This is going to make you laugh, when I landed in Jamaica, we had only one line of Skagen watches from Denmark which range from $50.00 USD to $150.00 USD. But the owner wanted to get high end watches. In the next few months after visiting the Basel show in Switzerland, he acquired some new watch lines such as Bertolucci, Maurice Lacroix, Paul Picot, Elini, Perrellet, Chase-Durer, Wenger etc. When I was a kid, I use to take my Casio watch to the watch guy to repair it and these lines, the watches ranged from $250.00 USD to $35,000 USD.
We received the watches and displayed them in the counter and went home. We had an company accommodation where all four Managers lived in separate rooms. After we had dinner, we had a little conversation. What you must say to the customer to convince him to buy these expensive watches. I had no clue about watches and this time my boss gave the Swiss Watch Manual with almost 500 pages. What this book was about, the history of different watch companies, their manufacturing process and location, their models, numbers, brand ambassadors etc.
In the next few months I was the watch encyclopaedia. I was selling Maurice Lacroix as if there was no tomorrow and Roger Federer was the brand ambassador for Maurice Lacroix those days. I sold a Perrellet watch to someone who came in asking for a Rolex. I sold him Perellet and he had never heard of it before and this watch was 18kt gold and worth $15,000 US Dollars. The customer wanted to spend 6k and I end up making him spend 15k. He was the owner of a golf course in Boston, M.A”. I was gifted an Elini watch worth $1200 US Dollars by the company for being the best salesperson in the Caribbean for their line and I was also regarded as the best Maurice Lacroix salesman in the Caribbean”.
23) Give us a demo of a live watch sale please?
“Max Kumar asking me, “What watch are you wearing, Citizen. What a nice watch, I like the gold plating, the dome shaped crystal, it really sits nice on your wrist and does not turn around, it must be a very comfy watch and it actually suits your personality as shoes and watch say everything about a man and this one just matches your stature. One of the best features of this watch is that it is kinetic and does not need a battery”.
24) What did you enjoy selling diamonds or watches?
“To be honest, watches but I sold diamonds as well. My highest sale for one diamond ring is $30,000 US Dollars”.
25) Amazing, tell us about that sale please?
Again there was no cruise ship on this day, this couple had come from Royal Plantations resort in Jamaica and I knew only rich people can afford to stay there, so I started showing a very expensive diamond ring to this lady and she fell in love with it. I asked her to walk outside the shop and see the ring in the sunlight as diamond needs light to dazzle and sparkle. She said are you sure, I said absolutely, please go ahead. She went out with her man and came back after 20 seconds. I was waiting with my heart in my mouth but this was a risk I had to take. She came back and then I asked her to see the ring in the mirror. It just blinded her as it was a special diamond cut by Lazare Diamond company and it weighed approx. 2.10 cts and the colour and clarity was F, VS1.
One can buy a ring like that for approx. $15,000 US Dollars with it but will have a couple of carbon spots on the diamond which takes away the beauty and this one was absolutely flawless. The lady likes it, now it all comes down to the man because he is buying. I offered him a beer and he gladly accepted it. I always followed the basic rule, praise the lady and tease the man. I said she is a very beautiful lady. He smiled and asked how much is the ring, I said $33,000 US Dollars and honestly I was not expecting him to buy it. He gave me his Black American Express credit card and politely asked, can you make it 30k please? I said yes but was shivering as this was my highest sale and my boss helped me get over it”.
26) What happened after Jamaica?
“I decided to work at Sea for Harding Brothers Ltd, based in Bristol, on the cruise ship, Ocean Village 2. Here my highest sale was £5300.00 Pounds to an old couple. I know you want to know the whole story about this sale”.
“Well our weekly target was £21,000 Pounds and we had done only £15,000 Pounds in that particular week, my manager who was a girl from New Zealand comes to me and says, Max you need to do something and I said the shops are closed and it is 11.00 pm. What can I do? The shops were open from 5.00 pm to 11.00 pm and the doors were shut.
This couple wanted to see me. They had seen me earlier in the week and I was showing them a three stone diamond ring. They come after the doors were shut and we were closed. I opened the doors and sold them a ring. This man was old and he said I am going to die soon and I asked why what happened? He said it was because of asbestos. I felt very sorry for him and asked him how many children he had? He replied three daughters and as I was showing them a three stone diamond ring, I said one for each daughter. That is it. He bought the ring. Sometimes you have to associate sentiments with purchase and people buy jewellery to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, special occasions etc”.
27) How was the pressure of being a champion salesman?
“It was tough because every time I would speak to a customer, good results were expected and I needed to be consistent with my figures as I did $100,000 US Dollars every single month as we had an excel sheet with all the names and sales figures. I always wanted to lead. People at times said, Max can begin the conversation but not close the sale. I came up with a trick. My hobby was collecting police officers and firemen’s patches. I asked every customer to send me one patch from their town and in return I would give them a special price. This worked and in no time, I had one patch from every town of United States of America and I got a lot of sales”.
28) Can we start with some Sales Coaching now?
“Please go ahead, I will now show you the magic of a champion salesman”.
29) What are the different types of selling?
“That is easy, product, service and concept selling”.
30) Which is the most difficult?
“All three but in all honesty I have sold everything and my experience says it is concept selling because there is no product or service but plain dreams that you are selling such as Time Share”.
31) Who are the best three salesmen?
“Car Salesman, Property Salesman and Jewellery Salesman”.
32) What are the qualities of a good salesman?
“Very good question, smart, cunning, instant, one that can overcome obstacles with a smile, good with words, one that has good general knowledge, product knowledge and one that can maintain constant eye contact, one who can understand the customer needs, knows competition etc”.
33) Tell us how you in past overcame an obstacle?
“I was in Jamaica and was showing a ring to a lady and she asked if this diamond was blood free because it was during this time that the movie came out, Blood Diamond. I told her it was blood free because the movie had just come out and this diamond was found a year ago. Does not make a lot of sense but it did the trick and closed the sale for $5,000 US Dollars”.
34) Three important things for a good salesman?
“A-S-K, Attitude, Skill and Knowledge”.
35) Tell us how you determine in seconds about the customer?
“By looking at people and their appearance, it is just like a book”.
A) Clean Shaven, Suit needs very professional approach.
B) Not shaven, wearing shorts needs an casual approach.
C) Denim jeans, Rolex Watch, Clark Shoes definitely believes in Brands.
D) Big guy, tattoos, pierced is very careless and becomes friendly instantly.
36) Is there an formula to follow in Sales?
A) Meet and Greet
B) Introduction
C) Presentation
D) Short Stories
E) Close
F) Rehash
36) Any other ideas?
“Ask open and closed questions, such as would you like a beer or brandy? The person is forced to pick one of the two. That means the salesperson is in the Driver’s seat. These questions help the salesman determine which way the customer is heading towards. Also you need to make the customer talk and the salesperson should know what the customer wants to hear”.
37) What the customer wants to hear, please explain?
“There is a trick to break the ice and make the customer talk, you can simply break the ice by talking about profession, hobbies, culture, country, locations, sports, latest news and events etc. Hence a good salesperson needs to know what is going around in the world. For instance if the customer is from United States of America you will now talk about Barrack Obama or if the customer is from United Kingdom, Alan Sugar or X-Factor would be a good talk”.
38) How else can you determine about the customer?
“Very easy, expressions, looks and movements of the body.
A) Rubbing his chest means not comfortable and does not trust salesman.
B) Legs crossed, totally negative.
C) Nodding his neck to your statements, the customer is listening to you.
D) Sat backwards, feels that the salesperson is entering his/her personal area.
39) Can someone become a Champion Salesman?
“Absolutely, anyone can become a champion salesman provided he or she gets the right training”.
40) How can you help staff and employees or different organisations?
“I can give Sales Seminars for three hours and work with the sales staff. I can analyse immediately what they need to do and which areas they need to work and correct themselves. The Seminar would cost £500.00 GBP and I can visit any location in United Kingdom and after attending my seminar the sales team will triple their sales immediately. To make bookings in advance please e-mail me at Timesofbusiness@aol.com
Do you want to or train your staff and employees to become a champion salesman?
Courtesy:
Max Kumar.
Managing Director.
Max Business Solutions Ltd.
About the Author
Max Kumar
Managing Director.
Max Business Solutions Ltd.
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