We Train Locksmiths!

As previously discussed, on your journey to become a emergency locksmith services provider training is not always required.  However, almost all successful locksmiths complete some type of professional training course that issues a certification or prepares them to become a certified locksmith.  If you are serious about your profession or want to establish your self as a specialist then we highly recommend you look into some type of formal training.

How Much Should You Pay for Locksmith Training?

Locksmith training costs vary based on what is included in the course.  We recommend you try to find a course that includes 4 major features:

1. Live Training or Training CD/DVD
2. Basic Locksmith Tools
3. Available Support Monday thru Friday
4. Locksmith Certification Exam

Assuming all of the above options are included you should be able to find a very high quality locksmith training course for online for $600 to $750 and at a facility for $750 to $1,000.  There are increased overhead and instructor fees that raise the cost of taking a training course in a physical classroom, but some people find the hands on experience well worth it.

Some training courses will include additional information which may increase the price.  It’s recommended that you start with a basic course in the event you are unhappy with the training.

Assuming all of the above options are included you should be able to find a very high quality locksmith training course for online for $600 to $750 and at a facility for $750 to $1,000. There are increased overhead and instructor fees that raise the cost of taking a training course in a physical classroom, but some people find the hands on experience well worth it.

Some training courses will include additional information which may increase the price. It’s recommended that you start with a basic course in the event you are unhappy with the training.
Other Benefits of Locksmith Training

With any business the ability to network with other people in your industry is a must in order to be successful. Whether you enroll in a training course online or at a physical institution you should make it a point to reach out to those trainers and discuss with them their experiences as a lost car key service provider. This type of information is invaluable.

While locksmith training may not be a requirement, it is definitely a resume booster. If you are ever intending to branch out to more competitive locksmithing specializations (i.e. institutional locksmithing) many clients and future employers will require formal training. They want to ensure they are making a good investment in an individual.

For more information on locksmith training checkout our locksmith training video series. This video series is not all inclusive, but it is a great start, especially if you’re just looking to find out more information about locksmithing.

COLEMAN COT

The COLEMAN COT is specially designed to provide comfortable sleeping accommodations indoors or outdoors. Use it to create additional sleeping space at home for guests, or take it camping in the great outdoors. This versatile queen cot can accommodate up to two adults. It inflates and deflates in just minutes thanks to the included 4D battery-powered pump. The Coleman Framed Airbed Cot allows you to enjoy elevated sleeping support. You can also separate the bed and the cot for double the sleeping space. For added convenience, two side tables with cup holders are built in so you can keep drinks and important personal items close by. This innovative Coleman cot features a steel frame that unfolds easily and is built to last. It also comes with a carrying bag for easy storage or transporting. 
Coleman Queen Framed Airbed Cot:

• This queen cot has a versatile design
• Can be used indoors or outdoors
• Airbed and cot offers elevated sleeping support
• Cot and airbed separate for double the sleeping space
• Durable steel frame unfolds easily
• Two side tables with cup holders keep drinks and personal items near
• Inflates and deflates easily with the included 4D battery pump
• Coleman cot with carrying bag for easy storage and transporting
• Use it to create extra sleeping space at home, or take it camping

Features

Not for use by children 3 years of age and younger, Maximum Height: 6 feet tall, Warranty: 1-year, Swift Lift performance pump for 35 percent faster inflation and with cord storage, Heavy-duty, strong steel frame that supports 600 pounds, Air Tight system that is factory-tested to be leak-free, Side tables with cup holders, Double high, 22-inch queen airbed cot, Dimensions: 78 x 59 x 22 inches, Included 4D pump for easy inflation and deflation, outdoors or indoors, Weight: 92.6 pounds, Sewn-in cover keeps airbed in place, Comfort Strong coil system for better support and all night comfort

A solar cell you can put in the wash

Scientists from RIKEN and the University of Tokyo have developed a new type of ultra-thin photovoltaic device, coated on both sides with stretchable and waterproof films, which can continue to provide electricity from sunlight even after being soaked in water or being stretched and compressed. The work, published in Nature Energy, could open the way to wearable solar cells, which will provide power to devices such as health monitors incorporated into clothing. One of the requirements of the Internet of Things -- referring to a world where devices of all sorts are connected to the Internet -- is the development of power sources for a host of devices, including devices that can be worn on the body.

According to Takao Someya, the leader of the research group, these could include sensors that record heartbeats and body temperature, for example, providing early warning of medical problems. In the past, attempts have been made to create photovoltaics that could be incorporated into textiles, but typically they lacked at least one of the important properties -- long-term stability in both air and water, energy efficiency, and robustness including resistance to deformation -- that are key to successful devices.

For the present work, the members of the research group developed extremely thin and flexible organic photovoltaic cells (for example: SUNJACK 20W PORTABLE SOLAR CHARGER ) based on a material called PNTz4T, which they had developed in earlier work. They deposited the device in an inverse architecture, which they had previously developed, onto a 1-um-thick parylene film. The ultra-thin device was then placed onto acrylic-based elastomer and the top side of the device was coated with an identical elastomer, giving it a coating on both sides to prevent water infiltration.. The elastomer, while allowing light to enter, prevented water and air from leaking into the cells, making them more long-lasting than previous experiments.

The researchers then subjected the device to a variety of tests, finding first that it had a strong energy efficiency of 7.9 percent, producing a current of 7.86 milliwatts per square centimeter, as the current density was 13.8 milliamperes per square centimeter at 0.57 volts, based on a simulated sunlight of 100 milliwatts per square centimeter. To test its resistance to water, they soaked it in water for two hours, and found that the efficiency decreased by just 5.4 percent. And to test the durability, they subjected it to compression, and found that after compressing by nearly half for twenty cycles while placing drops of water on it, it still had 80 percent of the original efficiency.

According to Kenjiro Fukuda of the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, "We were very gratified to find that our device has great environmental stability while simultaneously having a good efficiency and mechanical robustness. We very much hope that these washable, lightweight and stretchable organic photovoltaics will open a new avenue for use as a long-term power source system for wearable sensors and other devices."

GOAL ZERO GUIDE 10 PLUS

Introduction: These days it seems everything is going digital and even when we are on the water or hiking down a steam fishing we are never truly “unplugged,” as we rely on our smartphones, GPS or headlamps to keep us fishing and get us home safely. Goal Zero produces a variety of portable power devices and is a self-proclaimed leader in consumer solar power systems designed to power everything from your handheld devices to a complete mobile camp. One of their smaller and more affordable products is the GOAL ZERO GUIDE 10 PLUS which is a portable charging kit that can not only charge AA or AAA batteries but also support your small USB powered electronic devices on the go.

Impressions: All of Goal Zero’s products have a clean utilitarian design that also exhibits a rugged build quality. These products are designed to be employed in the harshest of environments and the company has been empowering people in third world countries since 2009 with a way to create sustainable power systems. Robert Workman, the company’s founder, originally thought of the idea to create solar powered systems back in 2007 when witnessing the first hand need for helping people out of poverty in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His revelation led to the design of his first solar power packs and two years later Goal Zero was officially launched as a business. Their mission: to empower people by putting reliable power in the hands of every human being, based on a mantra of Zero Apathy, Zero Boundaries, and Zero Regrets.

The company is very involved in many humanitarian undertakings and has been there helping people through some of the most challenging natural disasters in recent history. Examples include providing Goal Zero batteries and lights to locals after the Haiti 2010 earthquake, donating hundreds of lighting kits and solar panels to families in Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and giving out over half a million dollars in portable power, solar panels and lights to Americans living in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

The premise of most of the company’s systems is simple, use a solar panel or wall plug to collect power, and then utilizing a power pack device to store that power and ultimately plug it into your gear and power it. The Guide 10 Plus Recharger looks like a traditional battery recharger but there is no plug on the chassis. Instead the batteries are recharged via a special cable that plugs into the company’s portable solar panels or via a USB cable.

Real World Tests: We purchased two Guide 10 units direct from Tackle Warehouse, one as a standalone unit and another in what the company calls the Guide 10 Plus Adventure kit which comes with both the recharger and a Guide Zero Nomad 7 solar panel. To test the Guide 10 Plus Recharger we packed it with us on a range of activities ranging from long distance travel to fishing in the backcountry.

Operation: The Guide 10 is relatively compact at 2.5 x 4 inches in size and only .75 inch in width. It also feels solid but weighs .4lbs. when it is fully loaded up with batteries. This made it easy to stow the Guide 10 in a backpack but I found it is a little on the heavy side to stow in a jacket or vest pouch. Overall the unit does look and feel quite well built.

Legendary 'Bao Dai' Rolex Expected To Surpass $1.5 Million At Auction

Phillips auction house in association with Bacs & Russo will offer no fewer than seven rare used Rolex watches at its next auction in Geneva, to be held May 13 and 14 at the Hôtel La Réserve.

The sale is led by the iconic Rolex Reference 6062, “Bao Dai,” which the auction house says is among the “most valuable and desirable Rolexes” and the “most complicated and iconic Oyster-cased model” ever made by the Swiss watch manufacturer. In addition to its rarity, this particular model also has imperial provenance. It has a pre-sale estimate of more than $1.5 million.

This Rolex triple calendar with moonphase in yellow gold is one of three black dial models known to exist with diamond markers, the auction house said in a statement. Of the three, the Bao Dai, is the only one to feature diamond markers at the even hours.

3 Tips for New Contractors to Grow Their Business

Contracting can be a very profitable business. A good contractor can make a lot of money once they have established a solid customer base. However, establishing yourself takes lot of time and effort. You have to gain the trust of your customers and maintain high standards to be able to generate repeat customers and get new ones through word-of-mouth. Taking care of these basic steps is necessary, but not sufficient to succeed in the contracting business. Here are additional tips you can use to grow customer base and expand your business.

Market Yourself

In the age of the internet, you might think that business cards and flyers are a bit redundant. You won’t get a new customer from every single one you hand out so you do need to invest time in handing out large numbers, but you will see a healthy return. It is also a very cost effective solution as there are a lot of low-cost options online. It is best to hand out flyers during periods when people are most likely to be considering having work done. In the months leading up to Christmas, and at the beginning of Summer, are the best times. You could also try leaving business cards in DIY shops, or any other public place with a free noticeboard.

Potency of SEO Service in Modern Digital Marketing

day, the success of a website can directly translate to the success of the people and sometimes entire business behind it. The current swing dictates that websites and overall online marketing represent the best public reach available. This is because the internet is a place where people from all over the world, from all social ranks and background, can gather in one place. It is the perfect marketing opportunity for any business or website looking to gather a following.

These are the reasons why SEO has such a powerful impact for those that use it. Applying SEO strategies now is more beneficial than ever. But why deploy SEO strategies, to begin with? For those unconvinced of the benefits of SEO, or that would like some more information before looking into affordable SEO services, here are the benefits of this modern marketing approach:

1. Exposure

SEO works through altering the search engine result listings. Through quality SEO, a website can get on Google’s first page, which is a huge deal. The higher up the ladder the website is, the more have access to it.

This is based on the assumption that most people just look at the first page on Google for solutions, and only a very small amount go through the trouble of checking out the second page or what’s beyond. A healthy SEO plan can significantly boost a website’s exposure and introduce it to a lot more people.

2. Name familiarization

The difference between a normal website and a website that people know the name of or even bookmark is astounding. The latter enjoys the benefits of developing a fan base which comes with loyalty perks. The former however is not yet well enough known to develop its name as a recognizable symbol.

Popular websites are far easier to spread the word about because it’s just a matter of people letting others know how good the quality of the site’s services is. In the case in which the website is more obscure, people have a harder time promoting it, therefore, most times they don’t bother.

3. Reach

The internet is like a doorway in the sense that it opens up opportunities for marketing and also reaching the public. Public awareness is something that many strive to achieve, but it’s easier said than done. However, through SEO it is possible to exponentially increase a website’s popularity and thus indirectly its reach. The more popular a website is, the more people it has the opportunity of reaching and promoting its message.

Conclusion

SEO has turned from an innovative concept meant to boost website rankings to a “must have” operation written on the first page of the modern day’s website manager’s handbook. Proper SEO is able to achieve many things in the favor of a website or represented venture.