What’s the Best Country to Find a Loyal Wife and Meet the Best Foreign Mail Order Brides?

November 22, 2021

*THIS IS A SPONSORED CONTENT

If you’re one of those men who can’t make up their minds where to find a wife, you probably should broaden your area of search and make an effort of finding a wife overseas. Naturally, there are lots of countries on the globe, but what’s the best place to find a wife? Foreign women of some nationalities are considered better partners for life, so look through the list of the states and choose the best country to find a wife personally for you!

Top International Dating Sites to Find a Wife

SofiaDate – New Slavi mail order brides site with a huge members database
SakuraDate – excellent mail order bride site for quality Asian dating
La-Date – Leading dating destination for building serious relationships with Latin brides
BravoDate – Trusted dating platform with an amazing selection of Slavic women
TheLuckyDate – Premium online dating website and app to get a foreign date
EasternHoneys – Number-one online destination to look for Asian single girls
UkraineBride4you – Leading online service with gorgeous Ukrainian women
LatiDate – makes it easy to find mail order brides from Latin America
JollyRomance – Popular dating site with fabulous ladies from Eastern Europe
MeetSlavicGirls – Mail order bride website with Slavic region single women

10 Best Countries to Find a Wife

Women of many nationalities are considered good wives. Still, there are countries where the ratio of single girls is much higher, and many can imagine married life only with a foreigner. What country can meet your expectations at this point? There are several best countries to find a loyal wife and forget what it means to be a bachelor.

Thailand

Male/female ratio: 97 men to 100 women
Top dating site: SakuraDate.com
Marriage rate in the country: 4 marriages per 1000 inhabitants

Thailand is the best country to meet a woman for marriage since local girls go crazy about men who arrive from the continent. It’s not a secret that Thai girls are considered hot and sexy despite their outer naive look and modesty, but it’s a good quality for a wife who wants to keep a man beside her. However, this quality isn’t the only positive characteristic to appreciate in a Thailand wife. Men can expect that these girls won’t be afraid of household chores and the necessity to work. Their reserved and calm nature helps Thai women avoid scandals and cope with difficulties by supporting and inspiring men for new achievements. However, men should know that not all Thai girls dare to initiate conversations or confess love first, so it’s men who should take the lead in their relationship with them.

The Philippines

Male/female ratio: 101 men to 100 women
Top dating site: PhiliTalks.com
Marriage rate in the country: 3 marriages per 1000 inhabitants

Not many states can be called the best country for mail order brides, but the Philippines deserves this title for sure. They not only take the first place on the list of US fiances brought about from abroad but also become a member of the couple that has the smallest chances of ending up in divorce. What’s their key to success? Sweet appearance, submissive character, and fluency in English are only some of their benefits. Men also appreciate these girls for their diligence, absence of fear to work hard, and endless patience. The majority of Filipina mail order brides become faithful and reliable life partners ready to support and care for men.

China

Male/female ratio: 105 men to 100 women
Top dating site: EasternHoneys.com
Marriage rate in the country: 5 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants

China is undeniably a well-known choice if you want to find mail order brides from the Asian region. Many local women are searching for love overseas. For this, they usually turn to international dating sites to find potential husbands online. Chinese brides can make men feel valued, cherished, and well-cared. Raised in traditional, patriarchal families with numerous restrictions, these women do their best to ensure their men are happy in relationships.

Ukraine

Male/female ratio: 86 men to 100 women
Top dating site: UkrainianCharm.com
Marriage rate in the country: 6 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants

Ukraine remains a leader among most popular countries for wife searches regarding Slavic brides. Ukrainian mail order brides are a good example of open-minded, educated, and inventive wives who don’t mind relocating abroad in search of love. Fame about their beauty has spread all around the globe, but despite caring about their appearance and bodies, girls from Ukraine have enough time and energy to nurture their beloved and treat them to a tasty pastry. Other features that make Ukrainian mail order wives outstanding are their intellect, sense of humor, and curiosity. These women can be purchased for money since they admit to hugging and kissing a man only out of pure love!

❤ Meet Ukrainian Beauties Now ❤

Indonesia

Male/female ratio: 101 men to 100 women
Top dating site: SakuraDate.com
Marriage rate in the country: 6 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants

Indonesia deserves to be called the best country to marry a woman since it has been a source of excellent wives for many years. Local ladies are raised in families where men take charge, and girls are taught to follow traditional gender roles. No wonder they consider being happy in marriage their life goal and endeavor to preserve love in marriage for ages. They become caring, loyal, and obedient partners who can impress sex partners and can even help to maintain a family if it’s needed. Don’t get surprised if you see rather young Indonesian girls looking for marriage since it’s natural for this country!

Poland

Male/female ratio: 93 men to 100 women
Top dating site: SofiaDate
Marriage rate in the country: 4.4 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants

Looking for the best wives in the world, you can pay attention to Poland and be impressed by what a variety of women live there. Since the country unites many minorities, men can meet women with any appearance, skin tone, and other characteristics. If you meet a Polish girl, you’ll spot how creative, fun-loving, and unusual they’re. Moreover, you can see a huge difference between ladies from rural areas, where ladies are more modest, hard-working, and traditional, and urban areas, with more ambitious, self-confident, and educated girls.

What’s great about Polish women, compared to Russian brides, they’re wise and know when to keep silent and when to find words to support a partner. Undoubtedly, you’ll need to go the extra mile to attract such a queen as a Polish girl, but when you reach this summit, you’ll surely get a great family!

‌►Get Welcome Bonus To Meet Polish Women

Japan

Male/female ratio: 94 men to 100 women
Top dating site: TheLuckyDate.com
Marriage rate in the country: 4 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants

There are hardly any other best places to find a wife than Japan since this country has always been associated with geishas, and some women still follow their approach of seducing men. A unique Japanese style of life and historical aspects have made local women an example of obedience, care for others, and loyalty. Their best treasure is children and close people, so even in interracial marriages they follow these and other values traditional to Japanese society.

What else makes Japanese brides unique? A sweet look with pale skin, they have mesmerized at first glance, and this exotic beauty and youth remain with them for ages.

It’s important to mention that Japanese women are ambitious but lack initiative in relationships, so these are men who should conquer their hearts at early stages.

Brazil

Male/female ratio: 97 men to 100 women
Top dating site: LaDate.com
Marriage rate in the country: 6 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants

Brazil also can be called the best Latin country to find a wife due to an amazing selection of girls and the unforgettable experience men can have there. It’s almost impossible to resist the temptation of looking at girls’ hot dances, so men can only imagine how colorful life with these women is. Speaking of the character possessed by Brazilian wives, grooms should keep in mind what emotional and sensual these ladies are. Sometimes, they can even lose their temper for a while and may heap reproaches on their partners in this state, but you can only imagine how exciting the process of making peace with her is. A general impression about girls from Brazil is naturally positive, and men often fall in love with them, being caught by their beauty, traditional family values, and endless energy!

❤ Find Hot Latin Women Here ❤

Colombia

Male/female ratio: 96 men to 100 women
Top dating site: ColombiaLady.com
Marriage rate in the country: 4 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants

The best foreign wives also live in Colombia, a Latin American country where women crave foreign men’s attention. They have a special passion for white guys and seduce them not only with piercing gazes but also sexy outfits, lovely body curves, and hot dances. Despite the inner fire, these women become good spouses who prioritize family, remain true-hearted, and add cheerfulness to an everyday routine. Colombian brides know the secrets of making spouses successful and don’t postpone physical contact if they feel the fire burning inside. It often happens that men fall in love with these affectionate ladies at first glance, but don’t forget to learn your beloved better before you decide to marry her!

Romania

Male/female ratio: 87 men to 100 women
Top dating site: SofiaDate.com
Marriage rate in the country: 7 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants

Romania has been added to the best countries to find a wife not occasionally but because local women are bright representatives of desired European brides. If you’re looking for a classic marriage where a man takes the lead and his wife follows him, a Romanian wife can make your dream come true. Local women don’t invest millions in their appearance, but they still look charming and knock foreigners down with their friendliness and naturality. They’re mainly calm and hard-working, but some women may surprise Western men with incredible courage and confidence too. Don’t lose a chance to taste what Romanian women cook, and you’ll wish to stay by one of them forever!

➤ Start To Date Romanian Girls NOW

Who is a mail order wife?

The term “mail order bride” refers to a lady who uses online dating sites to find a serious relationship. She communicates with men from other countries on these international dating sites until they get to know each other well. If everything goes nice, the girl moves to her partner’s home country and they marry.

There is a lot of misunderstanding around mail order brides. Some men think they can order a mail order wife online, just like a thing. But in fact, the payment is done only for online and offline communication, not for “buying” a girl in the literal sense of the word.

No matter what, the mail order brides concept becomes increasingly popular today. After all, there are approximately 2.2 billion unmarried people in the world, and many look for love on the Internet today. Fortunately, there are many online dating services like SofiaDate where single men can meet a woman of another nationality.

How to find a foreign wife?

Many men wonder how to find a foreign girl for marriage. Well, online and offline dating are quite different in terms of organization. It requires serious consideration when you’re looking for a life partner who can become your children’s mother. That is why it’s crucial to be careful and selective in how you go about finding a wife overseas. So, explore the practical methods outlined below.

Tours to the best countries to meet a wife

How to get a foreign wife IRL? Well, men should choose the best country to find wife and plan a trip. Yet, traveling alone means dealing with things like buying plane tickets, finding a place to stay, getting around the city, etc. However, if you have money, you can make things easier by booking an all-inclusive romance tour that covers this stuff.

Mail order bride platforms and dating sites to buy a wife online

Buying a wife anywhere in the world is possible today. Searching for the perfect foreign bride on dating sites has become the usual way of dating. Men can join ordinary dating platforms or sign up specialized mail order bride websites like SofiaDate, dedicated to those looking for serious relationships with girls from abroad. These online dating sites offer a user-friendly environment that effectively breaks down geographical barriers, helping people separated by great distances to connect. Users also value these mail order sites for their unique features and the opportunity to choose the best woman to marry by country, help with organizing romance tours, and impressive success rates.

Top 5 international dating sites to find best foreign wives

There are many mail order bride services, but you surely deserve the best experience on the most visited and trusted dating site. This top includes mail order brides websites with Eastern European women, Asian ladies, girls from Latin America, and African women—just choose the nationality of the foreign bride you’re attracted to, and you’ll discover the most suitable mail order brides service respectively.

SofiaDate

User number: 2 M
Region: Eastern Europe
Top countries: Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova
Divorce rate: around 2.8%
Issued K-1 visas: around 2 K

SofiaDate is a fairly new international dating website that started in 2020, but it’s already earned a good reputation. The mail order brides service has lots of beautiful Slavic women. The dating site is not completely free. All the messaging tools are premium, meaning you have to buy credits to use them. The same goes for other premium features like sending gifts to mail order brides or using “Request Contact Information.” But new members get 20 free credits right after signing up. So, you can test the online dating site and try these services without spending money.

SakuraDate

User number: 70 K
Region: Asia
Top countries: China, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines
Divorce rate: around 1.2%
Issued K-1 visas: around 10 K

SakuraDate is a relatively new online dating site focused on Western men and Asian ladies looking for serious relationships and marriage worldwide. Still, it is already among the best online platforms. About 73,000 users visit the mail order bride website each month. To get started, you’ll need to register and complete your profile, which is a quick and easy process that won’t take much time. It’s important to note that the SakuraDate dating site isn’t entirely free. You can create an account without paying, but you’ll need to pay to chat with mail order brides. As for good things, you control your spending by buying credits instead of premium plans.

LaDate

User number: 200k
Region: Latin American countries
Top countries: Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Dominican Republic
Divorce rate: around 5%
Issued K-1 visas: around 2.5k

Ladate looks outstanding among different dating sites since it’s visited over 1.5 million times a month. You can try casual dating and meet Latin ladies there. This site’s main benefits are free registration, bonus credits that make it possible to try premium options, and offline dating requests that allow having real dates with women listed online.

TheLuckyDate

User number: 500k
Region: Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa
Top countries: Ethiopia, Ukraine,Nigeria, South Korea
Divorce rate: around 1.5%
Issued K-1 visas: around 1.7k

If you’re unsure whether your dream date is among western women, Asian girls, or other foreign women, TheLuckydate is a perfect choice. This site makes it possible to find a foreign date simply and adventurously. The site has a mobile app with several modes and many great features, including lists of favorites, texting with stickers and attachments, likes, and well-structured profiles. Searching for matches is also easy, thanks to the built-in engine with many filters.

BravoDate

User number: 250k
Region: Eastern Europe
Top countries: Ukraine,Poland, Belarus, Moldova
Divorce rate: around 7%
Issued K-1 visas: 2k

Don’t lose a chance to find a foreign date in one of the Slavic countries with JollyRomance. Over 50k active members use it weekly, so the selection of ladies is really impressive there. Members can complete a quick sign-up procedure, respond to several questions, and get a free account to interact with foreign men. Many users have verified their identities and added photos and videos to attract more potential suitors and finally build desired relationships.

EasternHoneys

User number: 200k
Region: Asian countries
Top countries: Thailand, Vietnam, China, the Philippines
Divorce rate: around 2%
Issued K-1 visas: over 7k

With a high consumer rating on popular review platforms, EasternHoneys is one of the most popular destinations for finding a foreign partner. It features detailed profiles, offers live video streams, and has a credit system that allows paying for premium features only when you plan to use them. The website is known for the most successful partnerships thanks to such features as contact and real meeting requests.

OrchidRomance

User number: 700k
Region: Asia
Top countries: the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan
Divorce rate: around 2%
Issued K-1 visas: around 3k

OrchidRomance is the best place to find a lady of Oriental origin. This platform is flooded with stunning Asian women and offers a wider functionality than other dating sites. It offers lots of free features, so you can join, use an advanced search, and make meeting requests with foreign girls paying nothing. Unfortunately, all communication tools are paid for, but you can first find a foreign date and only then buy credits to socialize with her.

What makes a perfect wife?

Looking for a wife every man wants to meet a lady to be an ideal foreign bride for him. It goes without saying that qualities, features, and values may differ for some people, but it’s possible to create a universal portrait of a woman who deserves the right to be called an example for western men.

What kind of lady is it? Probably, appearance matters a lot, but the core qualities are traditional family values, excellent housewife skills, and a desire to care about her near and dear. One of the most important aspects is sexual compatibility as well as an inborn maternal instinct. Other must have qualities for marriage are loyalty, understanding nature, and readiness to support in any situation.

If you think it’s impossible to find perfect wives with all these benefits, remember there are women who have combined lots of positive characteristics, so it’s enough to choose the best country to meet a wife of your dreams.

Why women want to marry foreigners now: 4 reasons

Men having serious intentions for international brides face several challenges on their way, and the choice of the best places to find a wife isn’t the only thing they’re interested in. Another question that worries them is the reasons that encourage girls to seek foreign grooms. Having conducted several surveys, we can now share 4 leading causes for ladies to look for an overseas husband.

Failures to build families with local men and feel true love for any of them: when a girl faces trouble finding a spouse and has to experience disappointment in relationships not once, she’ll try to change anything, and these might be potential partners too.
Hopes to move away and get a better quality of life: many girls have to work hard in their home cities and be content with the minimum, but foreign countries may open lots of opportunities for such women and let them devour another culture, develop, and grow as personalities too.
Attraction to men of different nationalities: every girl has her image of an ideal partner that could be created based on movies, famous personalities, or in any other way. No wonder they dream of finding a person who will remind this perfect image and seek grooms in the countries where men coincide with it the most accurately.
Being offended and made to marry men selected by parents for them: arranged marriages are still popular in some countries, and so is physical punishment from men’s side. None deserves such an attitude, so ladies wish to flee away from their homes and violence with a loving man met online.

All these reasons clarify why so many women prefer to substitute partners they used to have for foreigners and put much effort into making this wish come true. But where can men meet these devoted and marriage-oriented women? The list of countries to start with is provided below.

Which nationality is the best to marry?

Many men wonder what is the best country to find a wife. Actually, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer since every man has their idea of an ideal overseas wife. Still, there’s a general ranking, and some countries are seen as having better wives than others.

Slavic ladies. Looking for the best nationality to marry? Well, Ukraine, Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, and Belarus are often seen as the best to meet Eastern European women. They steal the hearts of men with their incredible looks, intelligence, and dedication to longstanding family traditions and values. Many men look for exactly these traits in a future wife.
Latin girls. They are the best foreign women to marry. Mail order wives from Latin America, like those from Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia, can be described as passionate wives looking for foreign husbands to start families with. Although they may not always be super obedient, they’ll definitely bring excitement and joy to any man’s life.
Asian women. Western men often find Asian brides from Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and other Asian countries the best foreign wives to marry because of their exotic looks, kindness, and family dedication. Moreover, these women are different from girls of other nationalities because they often take care, support, and remain loyal to their husbands, whatever happens.

Top countries with the most successful international marriages

Interracial marriages get more popular every year, and not only does the number of international marriages increases but also their success rate. It happens because males can meet their expectations towards future wives more accurately, and women appreciate the possibility of meeting a good partner more too.

Asian region

If you want to find the best woman to marry, it makes sense to pay attention to Asian girls. The most devoted and faithful wives live in Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Korea. Having such a bride, you can expect to be honored and respected by her. Many Oriental girls prefer to be gentle in relationships, so they won’t rack men’s brains and play on their nerves. It’s important for them to make partners happy in marriage, so many American men prefer such brides, which is proven by the number of K-1 visas issued for Asian ladies.

➤ Register on SakuraDate to find Asian bride

Eastern European region

Much research informs that the best foreign brides live in Eastern Europe since marriages with them are successful. Whether you marry a Ukrainian or Moldovan beauty, Russian or Polish girl, these ladies want to be happy in marriage and don’t spread their feelings to many men, so such families usually tend to be long-lasting and have a minimum of misunderstandings. If a man wants to have an intelligent, family-oriented, and ambitious woman beside him, he’ll be more likely to choose a girl from Ukraine. No wonder they make lots of Slavic fiances for American men.

➤ Try SofiaDate to find single women

Latin region

Hot Latinas make the best foreign women for American men and not only. Many Mexican and Colombian girls come to the US to study, work, and marry. It’s not a secret ladies from Latin America are characterized as hotheaded, emotional, and decisive, and their sensations might become a reason for quarrels. However, this inner heat is like a volcano that adds spice to a couple and makes such relationships memorable. Latin girls are very popular with Western men and make the top of the bride list by the number of fiance visas in particular.

➤ Meet Single Latin Women NOW

What are the best countries to find a loyal wife?

Loyalty is an integral part of trustworthy, long-lasting, and meaningful relationships, so men seek the best country to marry a woman who’s more faithful purposefully. It’s natural that international women have their benefits, but their origin, traditions, and upbringing also matter. How to understand that you’ve selected the best country for mail order brides search, and there are no better alternatives? Fortunately, matchmaking experts have done that for you, and a man should only decide which race is closer to him.

Both mail order bride marriage statistics and foreign grooms who have already attracted local women state that Ukraine is a paradise for a single man. Having a great shortage of decent suitors, Ukrainian ladies become mail order brides without any doubts, and Western men can’t remove their eyes from their charming appearance and slim fit bodies looking through their profiles. This country is a good bet to meet a creative, quick-witted, and confident woman.
The Philippines. Western men often choose the Philippines for meeting ladies for marriage from other countries. Thousands of Americans have already found their spouses in this Asian country, and their success in getting a faithful, family-oriented, and sexy international wife becomes an encouragement for others. Filipina girls are considered the most loyal wives in the world even though they enter marriages at quite a young age.
Colombian women have some hidden charm that can attract so many men. In Colombia, you’ll find many single ladies looking for love. They usually turn to mail order brides websites in search of that special connection. One of the best things is that Colombian girls don’t place strict rules on their men but also value their independence, even in a relationship or marriage.

Finding a wife from abroad: common things you should consider

Looking for a romantic relationship with a citizen of a foreign country has many pitfalls. Of course, everyone hopes they will easily order a wife abroad and be happy for the rest of their days. But we have analyzed the stories of those who have already found their love in other countries, and here are the most frequent points they have identified as challenges they have faced:

Risks of using unreliable mail order brides services. The Internet space opens up unlimited opportunities for dating and communication. Video chats have especially succeeded, where you can look into the eyes of the interlocutor, see sincere emotions, and feel a person. Yes, online dating can be surprisingly effective, but it also comes with certain risks, especially when using unreliable dating sites. So, you should be careful and attentive when choosing an international dating platform. On some mail order bride sites, scammers may try to use you and get all your money.
Understanding cultural differences. The approach to dating and relationships can vary greatly in different countries. You should understand that your future foreign bride may have different views on family life and the role of a man. It requires a willingness to adapt and respect for her culture. For example, Latin American women are known for their open disposition. Colombian women, as a rule, don’t hesitate to actively flirt. At the same time, long-term warm communication doesn’t always mean something special happens between you. Eastern European women adore compliments. Women in other parts of Europe can take the initiative themselves. But in Japan, girls expect the first step from a man. So, before being surprised by the assertive passion or, conversely, the restraint and shyness of a foreign girl, it is worth learning more about the peculiarities of her mentality.
Knowledge of the bride’s language. If you don’t know her language and your English is “very bad,” you may face many difficulties. But even in this case, it is too early to consider the mission of conquering international brides as a failure. Of course, it is easiest to establish contact in English. Standard expressions in it are familiar to people all over the world. And online translators will help with both online and live communication.

Conclusion

Does the best place to find a wife exist? If you start analyzing this question, you can conclude that it’s different for each person, so a man should decide what he wants and expects to get in the personality of his future wife before choosing the bride’s country. Only by doing so will this decision be made carefully and the chances of meeting an excellent spouse there will be twice or even thrice higher!

FAQ

What is a mail order bride?

A “mail order bride” is a term people use to describe a woman in her twenties to mid-thirties who signs up for a dating service to connect with a man from a different country. The “mail order” part comes from the old practice of these women putting their information in catalogs so that foreign men could learn more about her. Today, a typical “mail order bride” uses an online matchmaking service.

How many mail-order marriages end in divorce?

The divorce rates in mail order marriages, especially those with a courtship period of more than 4 months, are lower than the overall divorce rate. It happens because people find each other on special mail order brides services where they list everything they want to see in their future spouses. So, the matching is usually more successful.

Which country is the best for an American to find a wife?

It’s possible to name only one country if a groom explains what race of women appeals to him the most. However, if this information is unknown, it’s possible to seek partners in Ukraine, Colombia, or the Philippines to succeed.

Are mail order brides legal?

Yes, they are. Mail order bride services operate legally as online marriage agencies that provide matchmaking services to people and operate in accordance with the existing laws of the majority of the world’s countries.

What are the best countries to find a wife?

A full list of countries that suit the best for getting a wife is provided in the article, but if you need a small summary, start your search in Ukraine, Mexico, Vietnam, Thailand, Poland, Brazil, and many others.

Are there websites with women of the best nationalities to marry?

Undoubtedly, there are mail order bride websites that list ladies of a certain race or nationality too. However, you can sort out ladies of the desired nationality almost on every dating platform by applying location filters in the search feature.

How to find a foreign wife in the USA?

The best way to find a wife in the US is legit mail order bride websites. They list thousands of single women from all around the world and offer various features to meet, attract, and impress them without a necessity to leave the site.

Which nationality makes the best wives?

It depends on how a man imagines this ideal. Men attracted to emotional and energetic ladies would prefer Mexican or Colombian brides, while gentlemen who pay attention to Slavic beauties may choose Ukraine, Poland, or Belarus for this purpose. Asian women always make good wives, so you can choose any nationality to get a treasure.

What are the best sites to find foreign brides?

You can join TheLuckyDate to meet women of different nationalities. If you seek Latin brides, ColombiaLady is the best pick. Slavic girls can be found on SofiaDate or UkraineBrides4You, while Oriental wives are awaiting true feelings on SakuraDate.

Go to top

Find a Wholesaler for Your Retail Business

November 22, 2021

When starting a retail business you need to source products from external wholesale suppliers instead of having to make and manufacture them yourself. The wholesale marketplace these days is mostly done online, trying to make it easier for suppliers and buyers to successfully do business. If you’re new to this, we’re here to give you a few tips on finding a wholesaler for your retail business, how to choose one, and how to purchase items.

How to find wholesalers?

Wholesalers purchase goods from suppliers or manufacturers and then sell them to another business. The online wholesale marketplace is a unique community that offers a better way to source products. As a small business, you might have to work with more than one wholesale supplier, so here are a few tips on what to focus on to find the right one for you.

Understand distribution channels

Each industry is packed with unique distribution channels that vary by country, region, and product. To find the right and good wholesaler for your retail business, you might want to research your own industry’s distribution channels.

Online search

If you’re doing online searches, make sure to insert keywords from your products and niche to find the right wholesalers and distributors. Try out the product’s title, model numbers, and brand names. The more powerful wholesaler you find, the better would be to compare shops and get the feel of a normal industry price to receive the competitive quotes.

Check B2B marketplace

Nowadays, B2B online markets are available to help you purchase items at meager prices. Search for marketplaces that serve your country or the neighboring region, and know that there are industry-specific B2B marketplaces that serve a single country and global retailers populations. Some of the biggest marketplaces nowadays include Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, and many more.

Networking

Online forums can be great sources of free information as well as support from other people with experience in your market and industry. Subscribe to industry newsletters, develop a good LinkedIn profile, and take part in the chamber of commerce or small business networking groups to help you build your connections.

Trade shows

Among the best ways to develop and grow your business is through trade shows. These events are made for helping any retailer get connected with distributors and manufacturers. They allow retailers to meet and speak face-to-face with many wholesalers and manufacturers in one day, helping avoid difficulties or misinformation in communication as online meetings.

How to choose a wholesaler?

Taking good care of your business means making the right decisions when it comes to choosing wholesalers you want to work with. As they can become varied, it can be challenging to cooperate with some of them. If it’s your first time working with one, it can get confusing, and there are a couple of things you should remember when selecting a wholesaler for your business.

Whether you keep your business specific or you intend to sell various products, you need to select a wholesale supplier that distributes what you need. You also need to consider whether the merchandise you’re selling can bring money into your business. When selecting suppliers, make sure you get affordable pricing that allows you to reach your desired profit margins.

Always make sure that the wholesalers are reliable, and understand the products they’re selling. Another thing you should pay attention to is whether their customer service meets your requirements. Don’t forget to look for companies that have reliable customer service teams you can reach whenever you need to.

Purchasing items

Wholesalers are known as volume-based and their requirements of getting a large number of products to sell at a quick pace mean lower prices and more savings. Note that when the contact list of sellers starts to rise, finding successful reselling wholesale products becomes easier.

Make sure you purchase items fitting your needs, meaning you might want to stick to products you know well. If you want to find the right price and the right products you must look at more than one seller, and compare their prices.

Also, consider asking for discounts from sellers as sometimes you can find great products at discounted prices, and save money. Make sure you find an inexpensive way to get the items shipped to you, like trains and trucks. Also, don’t forget to view the return policy before setting an order.

In closing

Understanding the wholesale marketplace and knowing how to find suppliers is the first step toward a successful retail business. The right wholesaler should fit your needs, cost, and shipping requirements, but you must research to find the best option. Remember that the lessons you’ll learn along the way will help you navigate the retail industry efficiently and help your business grow.

Go to top

How Can Choosing the Right Employee Elevate Your Business?

November 22, 2021

With hiring new employees, some businesses are better at finding the right fit than others. It is essential to find job seekers who have the skill set required for the job and the right personality type. Not only does this keep your business running smoothly day-to-day, but it helps strengthen relationships within your company and improve operations. Even though recruiting may seem easy, it is a complex process. All candidates are required to undergo thorough screening before being accepted. If you want to hire the best talent for your organization, you should hire a recruiting company like Talentreachnw, which has established relationships with top-performing candidates as well as experience sourcing the perfect candidates for the unique needs of an organization.

It’s challenging to find and choose the right person for a job, but it’s not impossible. Personality tests are most commonly used by recruiters and human resource departments, but they can also be useful in hiring managers’ assessments of candidates and even in sales meetings with customers! These tests are not just a one-time exercise; you should do them as often as possible throughout your life so that you can always make the best choices at each point in time based on how you test. I have done several personality tests and the free personality test provided by PersonalityData stands out as the most reliable and realistic. There are several tips for selecting the right employee that can significantly enhance your business or any business you choose to model yours after.

There are some reasons why finding the right employees is essential:

1. Difference in Perspectives

The more diverse viewpoints you can get in your company, the better decisions you will make, and therefore it is crucial to find employees with different ways of thinking. Some may see a problem and offer a solution with another processor differently, which is beneficial to your business when looking for new ideas and different ways of doing things.

2. They Provide Additional Resources.

One of the best things a real estate company can do to help catapult itself to success is hiring an employee with real expertise or real personal connections. For example, if you have a realtor with experience in high-income neighborhoods and they know how to target those areas for leads, this could be a huge boon for you as a real estate company. Finding talents can be daunting, especially for real estate recruitment, but it is possible. Finding the right employee offers a lot of growth opportunities for the business.

3. Improved Employee Morale

When you find the right employee for your business, it will excite them to work with you. They’ll work hard to meet the goals that have been set for them, and they’ll enjoy doing it. Internal satisfaction comes when an individual is aware of their value in the workplace, and finding happy employees is one of the best ways to create more satisfied customers.

4. Businesses Become More Efficient

Employees that are happy to be employed don’t slack on the job. Instead, they work harder and more efficiently than employees unhappy with their place in the business environment. An increase in efficiency is an excellent way to cut costs while still maintaining or increasing revenue, which is why this type of employee is a boon to your business.

5. A Better Reputation

Employees who are passionate about their work will be more likely to conduct themselves professionally at all times, both on and off the job. If your company has a reputation for employing people who follow the rules and dress well, this may carry over to the customers who patronize your business. This can give you a better reputation in the community and contribute to an overall increase in your industry.

Also, creating quality opportunities for potential employees is a great way to attract applicants interested in working at your company. Career-focused job boards with postings about current employment opportunities will generate candidates who have already expressed interest in working with your firm.

6. Customers Will Be More Satisfied

When you select the right employee for your business, they can increase your customer satisfaction. This is because they will meet the needs of every customer in a way that best suits their situation. If customers are satisfied with the products or services they receive from your business, there’s a better chance that they will return and recommend you to others.

7. Decreased Turnover

Employee turnover can be a costly problem that affects a business’ bottom line. If your employees leave, the money you pay for recruiting, training, and orienting new workers isn’t helping your business stay afloat.

Morton Research found that individuals who report being more satisfied with their jobs are 31 percent less likely to leave in the next year. Companies that keep their employees happy see a 3 percent increase in productivity. Also, consider how much money you’re spending on training when employees leave; if you’re hiring someone already trained, you’re saving money.

8. Improved Company Culture

Finding the right employee for your business can also be beneficial to company culture. The wrong employees could negatively affect your office morale and change the dynamics of your team dynamic. Alternatively, hiring a solid cultural fit is always beneficial to optimizing productivity and better overall output and collaboration.

In October 2015, a study was published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology that found a strong connection between positive workplace culture and engagement. Although this study did not address recruitment specifically, it can be argued that having an engaged workforce will cause good hiring practices, naturally leading to a more positive company culture.

There are many components to a successful business, but none are as important as hiring the right employees. It’s part of what makes or breaks a company. A solid workforce can allow any business to expand and grow into something massive, while the wrong employees can help sink even the most promising start-ups.

Hiring is an unpredictable process because you never know what candidate will show up when they walk in. However, you can improve your chances of choosing the right employee for the job.

Go to top

Virtual Brainstorming for an Innovation Advantage for Hybrid and Remote Teams in the Future of Work

November 22, 2021

By Dr. Gleb Tsipursky

“Our software engineers and product designers need to go back to the office full-time. Otherwise, we’re going to lose our competitive advantage in innovation.” That’s what Saul, the Chief Product Officer of a 1,500-employee enterprise software company, said at the start of the company’s planning meeting on the post-vaccine return to office and the future of work.

He continued: “Doing brainstorming by videoconference doesn’t work nearly as well as in-person meetings. So letting them work virtually now that vaccines are available is a non-starter. I can guarantee that our competitors will overtake us quickly if we don’t return product people to full-time in-office work.” And then he sat back in his chair and crossed his arms, daring anyone to defy him.

Hired as the consultant to help the company figure out its return to office and permanent future of work arrangements, I was facilitating the meeting. It was my ninth such engagement. Over two-thirds featured leaders responsible for the company’s products expressing some version of this concern, although Saul was the most aggressive about it.

So what explains these struggles with innovation and what can be done about them? My experience of helping over a dozen organizations transition to a post-vaccine office return provides important insights for any leaders who want an innovation advantage in the future of work. Hybrid and even remote teams can gain a substantial innovation advantage if they don’t stick to office-based innovation processes. Instead, by adopting best practices for innovation in the return to the office and the future of work, hybrid and remote teams can outcompete in-person teams in innovation.

Returning to Office Full-Time Threatens Innovation

My response to Saul, as well as to those other leaders, started by determining a shared goal: to maximize innovation in the most efficient and effective manner. All the leaders overseeing products agreed with this overarching goal.

Then, I probed how these leaders tried to pursue innovation during the lockdowns. They all told me they tried to adapt their office-based approach of synchronous brainstorming to the new videoconference modality.

Therein lies the problem. None of them tried to research best practices on virtual innovation to adapt strategically to their new circumstances. Instead, they tried to impose their pre-existing office-based methods of innovation on virtual work. While understandable in the initial stages of the lockdowns, it might seem surprising that they would pursue this same office-based toolkit over the many months of the pandemic. Yet that’s exactly what happened.

Thus, these leaders have pushed for a full-time in-office schedule after vaccines grew widespread, despite the obvious dangers of doing so. After all, even prior to the surge associated with the Delta variant, extensive surveys of employee desires for post-vaccine future of work arrangements showed that 25% to 35% wanted remote work only. In turn, 50-65% wanted to return to office with a hybrid schedule of a day or two on campus. Only 15-25% desired to go back to Monday to Friday 9-5 schedules.

Those employee desires represent a definite mismatch to the demands of product leaders, the large majority of whom wanted to go back to the office full-time. The surveys, taken before the Delta surge, showed that 40-55% intended to find a new job if they did not get their desired working preferences.

Indeed, we know that many already resigned due to their employers trying to force them back to the office. Of course, the Delta variant will cause many more to quit, due to fears about breakthrough infections: recent data shows that waning vaccine immunity after 6 months results in vaccine efficacy falling to 39% against Delta.

It’s obvious that having a large portion of your workforce resign as part of the Great Resignation pushed by the coercive efforts to get them to return to the workplace is no way to maintain an innovation advantage. That’s why even before the Delta surge, Google backtracked from its intention to force all employees to return to campus and permitted full-time remote work to many in the face of mass employee resistance and resignations. Amazon did the same for similar reasons.

Numerous leaders fail to adopt innovation best practices for the future of work because of dangerous judgment errors called cognitive biases.

These trillion-dollar companies lost many billions through their self-defeating actions due to top employees leaving, serious hits to employee morale and engagement, and having to change the basics of their return to campus plans. If these top companies, with supposedly the best leadership and policies, can screw up their return-to-office plans so badly and hurt their innovation advantage, no wonder leaders of less-resourced smaller companies do so as well.

The Dangerous Judgment Errors Blocking Innovation Best Practices in the Future of Work

Numerous leaders fail to adopt innovation best practices for the future of work because of dangerous judgment errors called cognitive biases. These mental blindspots, which often lead to wishful thinking, result in poor strategic and financial decisions when evaluating options. They render leaders unable to resist following their gut and their personal preferences instead of relying on best practices on returning to the office.

One dangerous judgment error impeding innovation in the future of work is called functional fixedness. When we have a certain perception of appropriate practices, behaviors, and processes, we tend to ignore or even actively reject other appropriate practices, behaviors, and processes. Our mindset of these functions is fixed and unyielding, even if other practices, behaviors, and processes may offer a much better fit for a changed situation, and would be much more effective at solving our problems.

That’s why so many leaders failed to address strategically the problems associated with innovation due to the March 2020 lockdowns and the abrupt transition to telework. Perceiving this shift as a very brief emergency, they focused, naturally and appropriately, on accomplishing the necessary immediate tasks of the organization.

That’s fine for an emergency, a week or two. Yet COVID lasted for over a year. So they adapted their existing ways of interacting in “office culture” to remote work. They did not make the effort to figure out strategically what kind of culture and collaboration and communication methods would work best for innovation in the virtual world. That left them unprepared for the hybrid and remote future of work.

A second cognitive bias, which is related to functional fixedness, is called the not-invented-here syndrome. It’s self-explanatory: many leaders have an antipathy toward practices not invented within their organization. They reject external best practices as not fitting their particular culture, style, or needs, even when adopting such practices would be much better for their own stated goals. Ironically, leaders who decry how virtual work impedes innovation tend to stick to old-school, traditional practices of advancing innovation. They fail to adopt external and innovative best practices on innovation, even with extensive evidence showing their benefits.

Defeating cognitive biases to return to office successfully and thrive in the future of work requires the use of research-based best practices. It means a mainly hybrid model of one to two days in-office while permitting most employees to work remotely as needed. A substantial minority of employees should work full-time remotely if they are reliable and productive. That setup helps facilitate an easy way to shift to full-time work from home for all staff if need arises, such as during a variant surge, by creating a culture and systems and processes that facilitate remote work. This best-practice setup will translate to diverse benefits: optimization of innovation and collaboration, retention of top talent, and the creation of flexible company culture, systems, and processes.

Virtual Brainstorming for Hybrid and Remote Teams

Traditional Brainstorming

Brainstorming represents the traditional approach to intentional, non-serendipitous innovation. That involves groups of 4-8 people getting together in a room to come up with innovative ideas about a pre-selected topic.

At first, everyone shares their ideas, with no criticism permitted. Then, after group members run out of ideas, the ideas are edited to remove duplicates and obvious non-starters. Finally, the group discusses the remaining ideas, and decides on which to pursue.

Research in behavioral science reveals that participants in brainstorming enjoy these sessions and find it to be effective in generating ideas. That benefit in idea generation comes from two areas identified by scientists.

One involves idea synergy, meaning that ideas shared by one participant help trigger ideas in other participants. Experiments show that synergy benefits are especially high if participants are instructed to pay attention to the ideas of others and focus on being inspired by these ideas.

Another benefit comes from what scholars term social facilitation. That’s about the benefit of social support from working on a shared task. Participants feel motivated when they know they’re collaborating with their peers on the same goal.

Sadly, these benefits come with costs attached. One of the biggest problems is called production blocking.

Did you ever participate in a brainstorming session where you had what you felt to be a brilliant idea, but someone else was talking? And then the next person responded to that person, and they took the conversation in a different direction? By the time you had a chance to speak, the idea seemed not relevant, or too redundant, or maybe you even forgot the idea.

If you never had that happen, you’re likely extroverted and optimistic. Introverts have a lot of difficulty with production blocking. It’s harder for them to formulate ideas in an environment of team brainstorming. They generally think better in a quiet environment, by themselves or with one other person at most. And they have difficulty interrupting a stream of conversation, making it more likely for their idea to remain unstated.

Those with a more pessimistic than optimistic personality also struggle with brainstorming. Optimists tend to process verbally, spitballing half-baked ideas on the fly. That’s perfect for traditional brainstorming. By contrast, pessimists generally process internally. They feel the need to think through their ideas, to make sure they don’t have flaws. Although brainstorming explicitly permits flawed ideas, it’s just very hard for pessimists to overcome their personality, just like it’s hard for introverts to generate ideas in a noisy team setting.

Pessimists are also powerfully impacted by a second major problem for traditional brainstorming: evaluation apprehension. Many more pessimistic and/or lower status, junior group members feel worried about sharing their ideas openly, due to social anxiety about what their peers would think about these ideas. Moreover, despite instructions to share off-the-wall ideas, many people don’t want to be perceived as weird or out of line.

Finally, conflict-avoidant and/or politically savvy team members feel reluctant to share more controversial ideas that challenge existing practices and/or the territory associated with high-status team members, especially the team leader. These ideas are often the most innovative ideas, but they remain unsaid.

A related problem to evaluation apprehension is brainstorming groupthink. That refers to team members coalescing around the ideas of the most powerful people in the room. In the idea generation stage, groupthink involves lower-power team members focusing more on reinforcing and building on the ideas of the more powerful participants. In the idea evaluation stage, groupthink results in the ideas of the more powerful getting more preferential selection.

A final problem relates to group size. The more people you get in a traditional brainstorming session, the less ideas you get per person. Scholars attribute this loss of efficiency to a phenomenon called social loafing. The more people participate, the more tempting it is for each individual to not work quite as hard at generating ideas. They feel – rightfully so – that they can skate by with less effort and engagement. That’s why research finds that the most efficient size of traditional brainstorming groups for the maximum number of novel ideas per person is 2.

Leaders by definition are the centers of power in product brainstorming sessions: they can interrupt at any time without any problems and all groupthink coalesces around his ideas.

As a result of these problems, numerous studies show that traditional brainstorming is substantially worse for producing innovative ideas than alternative best practices. It’s a great fit for helping build team alignment and collaboration and helping group members feel good about their participation. But you shouldn’t fool yourself that using this technique will result in maximizing innovation. Thus, if you want to leverage innovation to gain or keep your competitive edge, traditional brainstorming is not the way to go.

Saul challenged me when I brought up these problems, saying he never experienced them. I pointed out that top leaders – like Saul – are rarely subject to these challenges.

Leaders tend to be extroverted and optimistic, as these personality traits facilitate leadership. Leaders by definition are the centers of power in product brainstorming sessions: they can interrupt at any time without any problems and all groupthink coalesces around his ideas. Because they own the outcomes of the brainstorming meeting and are thus strongly motivated, they don’t feel social loafing. It’s a classic case of bias blind spot, our tendency to not see our own mental blindspots.

I challenged Saul in return, suggesting to him that we run an anonymous survey of his staff to see if any of these problems exist. He took me up on my challenge. The survey revealed that his staff perceived production blocking and evaluation apprehension as serious problems that impede traditional brainstorming, and Saul was ready to listen to alternatives to traditional brainstorming at the next planning meeting. Fortunately, most other product leaders trust the credibility of peer-reviewed best practices and don’t require such extra efforts to get proof.

Virtual Brainstorming

Trying to do traditional brainstorming via videoconference is a poor substitute for the energizing presence of colleagues in a small conference room, thus weakening the benefits of social facilitation. It’s also subject to the same exact problems as traditional brainstorming. No wonder leaders responsible for innovation dislike it.

Instead of the losing proposition of videoconference brainstorming, leaders need to abandon their functional fixedness on synchronous team meetings for brainstorming. They need to adopt the best practice of asynchronous virtual brainstorming.

Step 1: Initial Idea Generation

All team members generate ideas by themselves and input them into a shared spreadsheet. You can do so via many software platforms: when I facilitate brainstorming meetings, I typically use a Google Form, which automatically produces a Google Spreadsheet with responses.

To tap social facilitation, the group can input ideas during a digital co-working meeting. You all get on a videoconference call for an hour, turn off your microphones but keep speakers on, with video optional (although preferable). If someone has a clarifying question, they can turn on their microphone and ask, but avoid brainstorming out loud. However, doing so is not necessary, especially if the team is geographically distributed such that time zone differences make coordination difficult.

Research has shown that to get the most number of novel ideas, all team members should be told to focus on generating as many novel ideas as possible, rather than the highest-quality ideas, and informed that this is the outcome on which they would be measured. Likewise, participants should be encouraged to consider contradictions between different and often-opposing goals in their innovative ideas, such as maximizing impact while minimizing costs. Science has found that this focus on opposing goals facilitates innovation.

The submissions should be anonymized to avoid evaluation apprehension. However, the team leader should be able to later track each person’s submissions for accountability, as such accountability helps maximize novel ideas.

Step 2: Idea Cleanup

The brainstorming meeting facilitator accesses the spreadsheet, removes duplicates and combines similar ideas, breaks ideas up into categories, and sends them out to all team members. As an alternative, a subgroup of or even all participants can access the Google Spreadsheet and work together asynchronously on this process. If you adopt the latter process, for the sake of anonymity, create throwaway Gmail accounts for collaborating on the spreadsheet.

Step 3: Idea Evaluation

After the ideas are cleaned up, all team members anonymously comment on and rate each of the ideas. Thus, in a 6-people groups, each idea should have 5 comments and ratings. The ratings should assess at least 3 categories, each on a scale of 1-10: the idea’s novelty, practicality, and usefulness. Additional ratings can depend on the specific context of the brainstorming topic.

Step 4: Revised Idea Generation

After commenting on and rating ideas, team members do another round of idea generation, either revising previous ideas based on feedback or sharing new ones inspired by seeing what others generated. In both cases, the process tapes the benefits of synergy through gaining the perspectives of other team members.

Step 5: Cleanup of Revised Ideas

The next step is to clean up and categorize the revised ideas. Use the same process as step 2.

Step 6: Evaluation of Revised Ideas

Following that, do another round of commenting and rating, this time on revised ideas, in parallel to step 3.

Step 7: Meet to Discuss Ideas

At this point, it’s helpful to have a synchronous meeting if possible to discuss the ideas. Anonymity at this point is unnecessary since there are clear ratings and comments on the ideas. Group participants decide on which ideas make the most sense to move forward immediately, which should be put in the medium-term plans, and which should be put on the back burner or even discarded. As part of doing so, they decide on the next steps for implementation, assigning responsibility to different participants for various tasks.

This kind of practical planning meeting is easy to have virtually for full-time virtual workers. Of course, it also works well to have steps 1-6 done virtually by hybrid teams, and do step 7 when they come to the office. However, it’s critical to avoid doing steps 1-6 in the office to avoid production blocking, evaluation apprehension, groupthink, and social loafing.

You can also attain the same outcome through an asynchronous exchange of messages rather than a meeting. Yet in my experience facilitating virtual brainstorming, having a meeting reduces miscommunication and confusion for more complex and controversial innovative ideas.

Does Virtual Brainstorming Work?

Virtual brainstorming appears to solve the biggest obstacles to traditional in-person brainstorming. Here’s the big question: does it work?

Behavioral economics and psychology research definitely demonstrates the superiority of digital brainstorming over in-person brainstorming. For example, a study comparing virtual and in-person groups found in-person groups felt better about their collaboration. However, the feeling proved deceptive: virtual brainstorming resulted in more ideas generated. While in-person brainstorming may feel more fun, it actually results in worse outcomes.

Another group of scholars researched group size. It found that the larger the group of participants, the more benefits to electronic brainstorming in terms of ideas generated. That’s because electronic brainstorming is not subject to social loafing. Each participant works by themselves and knows they’re accountable for the quantity of novel ideas, with novelty determined by ratings from group participants.

In fact, research finds that while the larger the in-person group, the fewer novel ideas per person, the opposite is the case for electronic brainstorming. That means with more people, you get a larger number of novel ideas per person. That’s likely because of synergy, with a greater total number of ideas inspiring participants to have more additional ideas.

A hidden benefit of virtual brainstorming comes after the initial brainstorming process is complete. While traditional brainstorming leaves a far-from-complete record of ideas, due to sparse notes and fuzzy memories, scholars found that the complete record of electronic brainstorming has a substantial benefit as a treasury of novel ideas. As a situation changes, ideas that seemed more practical and useful in the past may appear less so in the future, and vice versa. The group can thus always go back to past ideas and re-rank them accordingly.

My experience implementing it for clients reveals similar outcomes. At first, many participants – especially the more extroverted, high-status, and optimistic ones – complain about the “dry” nature of the process. They miss the fun and engagement of collaborative ideas flying around the table.

In contrast, more introverted participants take to the process pretty quickly, finding it a relief from the cognitive overload of a noisy environment where they can’t hear themselves think. So do more pessimistic and lower-status ones, relieved by not having to feel judged for their ideas and less worried about criticizing the ideas of others in the evaluation stage.

After two or three sessions, even the extroverts tend to come around. They acknowledge, even if sometimes grudgingly, that the process seems to produce more novel ideas than traditional in-person brainstorming. In fact, hybrid groups trained in this process, who have the option of doing steps 1-5 in-person, nearly always prefer to do virtual brainstorming for these initial steps, while doing step 6 in the office.

That approach creates the maximum number of novel ideas, gaining an innovation advantage. It also provided the optimal experience for most of the group members, balancing the preferences of introverts and extroverts, optimists and pessimists, lower-status and higher-status members. Team leaders who wisely prioritize focusing on integrating introverts, pessimists, and lower-status team members into the team – which is more difficult than extroverts, pessimists, and higher-status members – find virtual brainstorming especially beneficial.

“Okay, I give you the virtual brainstorming, that makes sense,” said Saul, less grudgingly than before, after I outlined the benefits of this practice over in-person brainstorming. “I’ll have to have my teams experiment with it and see how we can make it fit our needs.”

He was as good as his word and did some serious experimentation over the next couple of weeks until the third planning meeting. His staff felt surprised at how many innovative ideas they produced using this innovative methodology. It seems that their creative energies were waiting to be unleashed, and this methodology for intentional virtual brainstorming provided the outlet.

Conclusion

If you want to gain an innovation advantage in the future of work, you need to avoid the tendency to stick to pre-pandemic innovation methodology. Instead, you need to adopt research-based best practices for innovation in the return to the office and the future of work, such as virtual brainstorming. By doing so, your hybrid and remote teams will enable you to gain a true competitive advantage in innovation.

Go to top

About the Author

Dr. Gleb Tsipursky is an internationally-renowned thought leader in future-proofing and cognitive bias risk management. He serves as the CEO of the boutique future-proofing consultancy Disaster Avoidance Experts, which specializes in helping forward-looking leaders avoid dangerous threats and missed opportunities. A best-selling author, he wrote Never Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters (Career Press, 2019), The Blindspots Between Us: How to Overcome Unconscious Cognitive Bias and Build Better Relationships (New Harbinger, 2020), and Resilience: Adapt and Plan for the New Abnormal of the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic (Changemakers Books, 2020). His writing was translated into Chinese, Korean, German, Russian, Polish, and other languages. He was featured in over 550 articles and 450 interviews in prominent venues. These include Fortune, USA Today, Inc. Magazine, CBS News, Business Insider, Government Executive, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Time, Fast Company, and elsewhere. His expertise comes from over 20 years of consulting, coaching, and speaking and training for mid-size and large organizations ranging from Aflac to Xerox. It also comes from over 15 years in academia as a behavioral scientist, including 7 as a professor at Ohio State University. You can contact him at Gleb[at]DisasterAvoidanceExperts[dot]com, LinkedIn, Twitter @gleb_tsipursky, Instagram @dr_gleb_tsipursky, Medium @dr_gleb_tsipursky, and gain free access to his “Assessment on Dangerous Judgment Errors in the Workplace” and his “Wise Decision Maker Course” with 8 video-based modules.

Efficient Tips for Increasing Safety in the Workplace

November 22, 2021

No matter the area or the industry you operate in, safety in the workplace is likely one of your top priorities. Not only does it allow you to comply with any local laws and regulations regarding business operations, but it might also give you the opportunity to create a more efficient, streamlined, and ultimately more profitable company, as safe and secure employees are more likely to make a higher effort and become more productive members of the team. Making sure you complete relevant WHS officer training so you know your duties and obligations when it comes to workplace health and Safety and can implement changes when necessary. But what else can you do? Here are some effective ways you could increase safety in your workplace, for a healthier work environment:

Hire the best possible staff

Whenever you need to hire new employees, it’s always best to choose the most professional, competent, and experienced individuals. Even if this means you might have to compromise on higher salaries, hiring the best workers will allow you to maintain safety in the workplace, as qualifications and expertise often come with fewer accidents and injuries as well. Apart from being a great addition to your team, helping to improve efficiency and productivity, such experienced employees might also aid in improving workplace safety even further by offering advice and guidance to the rest of your staff.

Focus on proper training

When it comes to the employees who are already a part of your team, additional training seems to be quite an efficient way of increasing safety. Regardless of how experienced or skilled a worker is at their job, undergoing extensive training in all areas of their field is a great way to reduce the risk of injuries and accidents, particularly when working with heavy machinery or dangerous chemicals. Providing your employees with further training specifically focused on safety, such as classes and seminars, could be of great help for making their job safer and easier as well.

Maintain your equipment

In many European countries, for instance, regular maintenance of equipment and machinery is an important aspect of workplace safety that is often mandated by law, and for a very good reason. When they’re not checked, fixed, and maintained regularly, tools and machines can malfunction unexpectedly and put workers who use them at a direct health risk, as well as requiring plenty of time and resources for replacements. For that reason, regular upkeep of all of the workplace tools, machines, and other equipment should also be an integral part of your safety procedures.

Invest in the right workwear

While personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hardhats, goggles, and ear protection might be a common safety aspect in many work environments around the globe, Australians tend to take personal protection a step further. Here, employers often decide to invest in high-quality workwear from Australia that provides an additional layer of safety and defense for their employees. From jackets and vests to utility pants and overalls, including high-visibility equipment as well, proper clothing suitable for the workplace can decrease the risk of accidents and improve safety, which is why you might want to invest in it as well.

Post appropriate warning signs

In countries like the US, on the other hand, warning signs and labels have become quite a common occurrence in the workplace. And while employers here might primarily post them in an effort to avoid potential lawsuits, the truth is that any working environment could benefit from clear and visible warnings. As even the most skilled employees can be forgetful and careless at times, posting signs around the workplace that remind workers of risks and necessary safety regulations is a great way to prevent injuries, whether it’s a simple “wet floor” sign or a more serious “helmet area” sign.

Keep the space clean and safe

Trips and falls are among the most common workplace injuries each year, but they are also some of the easiest hazards to avoid. Simply by regularly cleaning and tidying up the space, ensuring walkways are clear and no direct dangers are ever in the way, you can instantly improve the safety and security of your employees while on the job. However, you should also aim to educate your workers and help them see the importance of a clean workplace, in an effort to encourage them to clean up after themselves as well.

Always make safety a priority

After all, safety in the workplace is your legal and moral obligation, as the superior responsible for the company. For that reason, safety begins with you. If you make it a point to regularly enforce safety rules and regulations, and always stand behind your decisions concerning safety, your employees will likely follow as well. In case you make it clear safety is always a priority, your workers will attempt to put safety first even in the more stressful and demanding periods, thus showing that a decisive leader could truly make or break any safety efforts a business makes.

Evidently, increasing safety in the workplace is a collective effort. As long as you prioritize protection, offer proper guidance and training, and make safety your number one goal, you can easily create a healthier and more secure environment for everyone involved.

Go to top

7 Customer Segmentation Techniques to Understand Customers Better

November 22, 2021

In the past, businesses viewed all of their customers to be similar and so sent the same marketing and sales pitches to the entire mass. Things have enormously changed today. With advanced technology facilitating highly-personalized connections with individual customers, bulk appeals have been discarded.

Businesses are now customizing their communications with each customer by segmenting them based on their demographics, online behavior, future needs, and more. This can help understand customers better, engage them, build better relationships with them, reinforce their brand loyalty, and advance the bottom line.

Here are 7 customer segmentation techniques to understand your customers better.

1. Purchasing Behavior-Based Segmentation

Different customers behave differently throughout their buying journey. Segmenting customers based on this can help businesses understand-

The way different customers proceed towards the buying decision.
The intricacy and complication of the buying process.
The customer’s role in the buying process.
Significant hindrances along the buying path.
Those behaviors that are the most and the least predictive of a customer’s decision to buy.

The patterns in the digital behavior of customers are analyzed to understand the above. When it comes to predictive analysis, it is done in two ways. The first one is using info about past purchases to predict future buying. The second is, using the customer’s behavior along the purchase path to predict the probability of buying.

2. Segmentation Based On Benefits Sought

Different customers look for different primary benefits while making a purchasing decision. Analyzing customer behavior while researching a product or service online can uncover valuable details into what benefits, values, features, issues, or use cases influence their buying decision.

When a customer emphasizes more on certain benefits over the rest, these are the primary factors that primarily drive his or her buying decision. For instance, here is the segmentation of consumers who purchase biscuits from specific brands for different purposes.

Crispiness
Flavor
Packaging
Price

Such segmentation can be done relevantly for any industry. Though two prospects may be similar with regards to their demographics and geography, their benefits and features sought may be different. So, based on this you need to tailor your messages to each one of them. This is where this segmentation helps.

3. Psychographic segmentation

Psychographics involve segmenting customers based on the customer’s qualitative or inner traits. These attributes aren’t obviously recognizable from the outside. So, these require deeper analysis of traits such as habits, lifestyle, values, opinions, hobbies, interests, activities, attitude, personality, social status, etc.

Defining customer persona in this manner will equip businesses to customize their marketing strategies to suit customer preferences. They can employ psychographic segmentation for brand personification. For instance, if you find that a specific group of customers keep buying the latest apparel, your sales team can keep sending them your recent arrivals.

4. Demographic segmentation

Demographic segmentation involves segmenting your consumers based on their demographic attributes like age, family size, salary, gender, education, marital status, religion, race, occupation, living status, political party status, etc. This is done based on the info your prospects and customers provide about themselves.

Understanding customers based on their demographic segments helps lower your marketing costs and resources. It also allows you to harness unreached potential consumers. Unlike other segmentation like behavioral, psychographic, benefits sought, etc. these are less invasive in terms of collecting consumer data.

5. Geographic segmentation

When your consumers come from different geographic locations, segmenting them on that basis helps. For, consumers from the same physical locations may have similar preferences. So, it is good to pair geographic segmentation along with behavioral segmentation.

Under geographic segmentation, you usually group consumers according to their country, state, city, town, district, zip code, economic status of the location, population density, regional climate, etc. Sometimes, this grouping can also be done on the basis of neighborhoods. For instance, if a firm deals with agricultural farm management, it would target consumers both in the city as well as its outskirts.

6. Customer stage segmentation

Not all of your customers are in the same stage of their buyer’s journey. Segmenting customers based on the stage they are in will help line up your communications and personalize experiences to increase conversion at each stage.

This also helps you identify those stages where customers aren’t moving forward. This paves way for recognizing the hindrances and areas for improvement. However, segmenting customers based on their journey stage isn’t easy. You can’t determine it based on one or two behavioral data points. You should leverage a customer’s behavioral data across all touchpoints and channels over time.

7. Customer loyalty based segmentation

A company’s most valuable assets are its most loyal customers. Retaining them is cheaper than acquiring new customers. Further, they have the highest lifetime value; and they are your best brand advocates. Segmenting customers based on their loyalty towards your brand helps you understand how you can maximize their value and gain more customers like them.

For this segmentation, you should harness customers’ behavioral data to identify your most loyal customers, the key factors and behaviors that led to their loyalty, the right customers for loyalty and advocate programs, and the ways to keep them happy.

You can keep them delighted with special privileges and treatments like exclusive reward programs. This will nurture and reinforce the customer relationship. This way, you’ll also gain other benefits such as providing positive feedback, testimonials, referrals, endorsements, references, participating in case studies, and spreading favorable word-of-mouth in their circle.

Wrapping up

Segmenting your customers based on different factors such as demographics, psychographics, geographics, customer behavior, customer loyalty, etc. helps your brand to understand them better. This way, you can line up your marketing communications and personalize experiences to increase conversions, improve loyalty, and heighten revenue. So, do not miss segmentation if you want to beat the competition.

Go to top

About the Author Shivani Goyal is a content writer at NotifyVisitors, which provides Segmentation that enables you to reach a customer or prospect more precisely based on their particular needs and wants.

Want To Gamble With Cryptocurrency? Here’s How To Get Started

November 20, 2021

In this day and age, cryptocurrency has become a global phenomenon. A cryptocurrency is a form of digital money that is fueled by blockchain technology. Since the introduction of the blockchain in 2009, this technology has been making waves in global finance and entertainment. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge into gambling with cryptocurrency and want to learn where to start, this post should provide you with all the necessary information.

How Do Cryptocurrencies Work?

A digital currency uses cryptography to secure transactions and control the creation of new coins (not in all cases, but most). They are decentralized forms of money that use cryptography for security, and lastly, they are not governed by any central bank. Cryptocurrencies differ in their functionality, with some being more similar to cash than others. There are numerous tokens available for purchase and use, from joke meme coins to those with real-world applications such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Most cryptocurrencies are open-source platforms where anyone can participate in the development process. Some cryptocurrencies offer more anonymity than others, while some offer unique features such as smart contracts and more.

Why Would You Use Them To Gamble?

There are several reasons why you might want to use this alternative form of money to gamble online. The main reasons are that they are more secure and allow you to gamble anonymously. Also, some crypto gambling sites offer lots of exciting bonuses when you use something like Bitcoin to gamble. How do these tokens provide advantages over conventional fiat currency when betting?

Enhanced Security

Most conventional websites request personal data from their consumers, such as credit and debit card information. These networks may pose a risk to your sensitive data. The site might get hacked, and your data could be stolen, for example. However, you only stand to lose what you have in your wallet with cryptocurrency.

Improved Anonymity

Cryptocurrency allows individual users to make anonymous transactions without sharing information about their identity. Individuals can use cryptocurrency if they want to remain anonymous while gambling online. Several factors may lead someone to want to stay anonymous when gambling online, including laws and locality, and a token such as Bitcoin can enable this.

In Some Cases, They Offer Exciting Bonuses

For these types of websites to attract more customers to bet using this money, they tend to offer a range of exciting bonuses that are only present for those depositing crypto.

What Are Your Options For Getting Started In Cryptocurrency Gambling?

Now that you have a general understanding of what these currencies are and the benefits they provide, you are probably wondering how you can begin. You will have to take a few extra steps compared to using fiat currency, but you will not have to repeat them once you complete them.

Sing Up To A Crypto Exchange

A cryptocurrency exchange is a marketplace where traders can exchange digital assets for other assets. You can do this by trading one digital asset with a different digital asset or exchanging a fiat currency with a cryptocurrency. You will need an account on one of the major platforms in order to trade your fiat money for crypto tokens.

Buy What You Can Use

It is essential that you find out which coins your chosen gambling website accepts before going on a spending spree. The most common are Bitcoin and Ethereum, but some websites are beginning to allow tokens like USDT and others pegged to the USD to reduce the effects of volatility.

Get A Wallet

Once you have traded for the crypto of choice, you will need a place to store and use it. While you can use it directly from the exchange where you perform the transaction, it is generally recommended as good practice to transfer it to a wallet, a software program used to send and receive digital currency.

How To Use It

Once you have completed the previous steps and safely stored them in your wallet, you can start gambling. You will need to select a gambling website that accepts crypto as a form of deposit and sign up in the same way as you would normally. As soon as you want to deposit, you will be presented with a QR code. In order to send money, you must open your wallet and scan the code to send the amount you desire.

Whatever your motives for gambling with cryptocurrency, this article will hopefully help you get started. Crypto is here to stay and becoming more critical each day, so it is best to get in early and learn as much as you can.

Go to top

How To Drive A Comeback For Your Cannabis Business In 2021

November 20, 2021

Cannabis is big in the US because of its legal status and the recent pandemic boom. Since the government listed it in essential services, the popularity of cannabis witnessed an uptick. Moreover, the consumer base grew exponentially during lockdowns as it emerged as a powerful wellness aid. But the industry needs to make a comeback in the new normal like any other industry. Even as the pandemic time was relatively less tough for this segment, there are better opportunities on the horizon. If you operate in this domain, you can take a few measures to capitalize on these opportunities. Here are some ways to drive a comeback for your business in 2021.

Grow your product range

Cannabis retail is rife with competition as the number of dispensaries in legal states witnesses an upward trend. If you want your business to stand apart, make sure you have the broadest product range. Consumers do not want to confine themselves to vapes and tinctures. They want to explore cannabis edibles, concentrates, and topical products. Stay a step ahead with your product offerings to win the attention of consumers and hold it for the long haul.

Consolidate your e-commerce presence

While e-commerce became a norm for cannabis sellers during the lockdowns, it is here to stay. The virus is still around, so consumers still prefer to stay at home and shop online. Keeping your sales flowing is about consolidating your e-commerce presence. Start by revamping your website to ensure it has the best look and UX. Go the extra mile with dependable delivery services. Adding a curbside pickup option to your services is a good idea.

Avoid inventory stockout

Good inventory management is the key to running your business seamlessly. Running out of stock means you will have to miss out on customers and revenues. It can even affect your reputation in the long run. Make sure you have a proper system to prevent stockouts and excesses. Automating your inventory with Parsl is an excellent option as it enables you to track and monitor stock levels at all times. It also helps you to streamline the surrounding operations.

Reduce operational costs

Making a successful comeback is also about cutting down your operational costs. Controlling them can get your profits on track. You cannot curb expenses like rent and utilities, but it is possible to manage others. For example, you can eliminate slow-moving inventory by automating it. You will end up freeing funds to invest in a lucrative product mix that yields higher margins.

Build long-term relationships

A business that has long-term relationships with customers can survive and thrive in the long run. Quality products and great services enable you to take customer loyalty a notch higher and retain them for good. Even better, these loyal customers spread the word and bring new customers to your business. They are definitely a significant element of your comeback plan.

You may have a profitable business right now, but following these measures can double up the profits. The struggling ones can rely on them for driving a comeback.

Go to top

How To Make Your Glasses Last Longer

November 20, 2021

It can be a challenge to find the perfect pair of trendy glasses since there are many factors to consider. Additionally, once you find a pair that fits comfortably and suits your style, you might not want to part with them. However, if you need to replace the lenses in your Spy Optic sunglasses, you can maintain the comfort and style of your favorite frames. While purchasing new glasses can be a hassle, simply swapping out Spy Optic replacement lenses can be a simple and cost-effective solution to keep your beloved frames.

However, due to improper care, you can prematurely damage your glasses. If you are wondering how to avoid that, we are here to help you out. Below is how you can make your glasses last longer.

Follow proper cleaning instructions

There are several sprays that you get in the market through which you can clean your lenses. However, you should not only depend upon them. The first step to cleaning your glasses includes rinsing them first. Rinsing is significant as it removes any dust or dirt particles from your frame as well as lenses.

After that, remember to never let your glasses air dry as the particles in the air can stick to their wet surface. You should wipe down your glass with a lint-free cloth instead. Following proper cleaning instructions will protect your glasses as well as your frames.

Also, while you are cleaning your glasses according to the proper procedure, make sure that you are doing it at least once every day. You should not leave the cleaning for when it is difficult to see from your glasses.

Use the right cloth

Along with the proper instructions, you also need to use the right cloth. It is recommended that you use a microfiber cloth that is 100% cotton to clean your glasses. Many people just wipe down their glasses with handkerchiefs and t-shirts; however, that is not right.

You should avoid tissues, paper towels, or napkins to wipe down your glasses. This is because these materials can leave small scratches on the surface of your glasses. Although you may not be able to see it, these materials are coarse. Along with the right cloth, make sure you are also using the right spray.

Another thing you need to keep in mind is cleaning your microfiber cloth regularly. If your microfiber cloth is not clean, it will end up further adding to the mess. So, make sure that you wash your microfiber cloth from time to time.

Proper storage

We all unintentionally leave our glasses at places where they are prone to damage. However, if you want your glasses to last longer, this habit needs to go. Proper storage is an essential criterion for your glasses to last longer.

Make sure you have your case with you all the time, so you can keep your glasses in the case whenever you are not wearing your glasses. In case you do not want to keep a case with you, you can go for microfiber pouches.

Many people end up keeping their glasses on their dashboard while driving. However, you should not keep your glasses open to the sun. So, whether you are taking a break from driving or storing your glasses, keep them away from the sun.

Clean often

A common misconception that people have is that you should only clean your glasses when they get dirty or smudged. However, it is recommended that you clean your glasses at least once a day as it keeps your lenses in the optimal space.

Also, wearing clean glasses will provide you with better vision. Consequently, there will be less strain on your eyes as you won’t have to focus through the smudges and dirt. Moreover, clean glasses prevent eye infections as you can clean the germs off your glasses.

Along with cleaning your glasses, make sure the case or microfiber pouch you are using for storing your glasses is also clean. Leaving your case dirty would only further damage your lenses and your frame.

Conclusion

That was all! Now you know how you can make your glasses last longer. Cleaning is an important step in preserving your lenses. No one likes to buy new glasses, so it is better you take care of the ones you have. Although the tips we have mentioned above will delay your replacement time, they won’t be able to avoid it. So, make sure you get new stylish glasses whenever you need to and take care of them all throughout their years of use.

Go to top

The Importance Of Strategies in Forex

November 20, 2021

Foreign Exchange is well-known to be the world’s largest financial market and is a popular marketplace for trading all of the world’s currencies. Over $4 trillion daily transactions are estimated over the FX trading market.

But trading in this domain without the implementation of suitable strategies may not lead you anywhere rather can push you toward incurring intolerable risks. People often look forward to the best forex robots that can help them win trades.

If you look at the history of success of any prominent trader, then you would find that they have implemented certain forex trading strategies that have worked out very well for them.

To understand the importance of these techniques, keep reading till the end.

So, what are these and how do they make a difference?

Basically, these are well-researched and analysed techniques that are utilised by a trader in order to determine whether it is preferred to buy or sell currency pairs at a specific time. Most of these techniques are developed according to the fundamentals involved, current news events or technical analysis.

These strategies are generally developed on the basis of trading signals which initiates the buying and selling decisions. The strategies can be readily found over the internet or can be generated by forex traders themselves.

The Essentials:

These techniques can be developed manually or automatically with the help of trading signals. In the manual generation of forex trade strategies, the trader uses a computer and picks up trading signals. These trade signals are interpreted to make the decision of whether to buy or sell.

Whereas, the automated system works on an advanced algorithm that helps in finding trade signals and automatically executes the trades. This comes in handy for keeping human emotions out of the way and making rational trading decisions.

It is recommended that traders should cautiously make the decision of buying off-the-shelf trading strategies due to the fact that it is challenging to authenticate their track record and the majority of successful trading systems are confidential.

How To Develop Such techniques?

Begin your forex trading strategy development journey with simple steps. In order to develop a successful trading strategy, here are the following steps that you can follow.

Choosing the market – Traders must pick which currency pairs they want to trade in and earn expertise at reading those particular currency pairs.
Establish sizing – The next step involves determining how much size each position shall be needed to control in relation to the level of risk taken for each distinct trade.
Entry points – Traders must set parameters for regulating the entry point of a currency pair.
Exit points – Traders must also set up rules that would guide them when it’s the correct time to exit from a long or short position and also when to get out from a losing position.
Tricks for trading – Lastly, traders must have set parameters for the ways to buy or sell currency pairs which prominently includes choosing suitable execution methods.

Traders can enhance their overall forex trading performance with the help of full-proof forex trade strategies.

The Right Time To Change Your Technique?

When traders stay within the set parameters, the forex trading strategy seems to work really well. However, one must keep a note that a certain strategy may not work every time since it isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of approach.

Therefore, the strategies that might have worked out really well today may not have any impact tomorrow. This is why traders need to understand that changing strategy is a smart move to keep on having profitable trade results. Below are some key considerations that you must take before changing strategies.

Keep an eye on market conditions as they tend to evolve frequently. With the changes in market conditions, you may need to adapt and change your strategy as well.
The risk vs reward ratio must be suitable if not then it is time to make a change in your strategies.
Understanding the strategies is important for them to work out well. If the trader doesn’t learn about the rules or any problem arises then the impact of the strategies executed is lost.

So, what are you waiting for? Keep in mind the enumerated things above and implement the more than important strategies to become a successful trader.

Go to top

1...794795796...1,130 Page 795 of 1,130

FOLLOW US!

EDITOR'S PICK OF THE WEEK

CFO's new mandate. CFO explaining the presentation

The Performance and Transformation Orchestrator: The CFO’s New Mandate in the Age of AI

Anglea 0

By Terence Tse CFOs are evolving into AI-driven transformation orchestrators, balancing finance, technology, and strategy while upskilling teams, managing risks, and driving measurable business value. A key insight from this year’s AI for CFOs event, organized...