I'm looking to take my mom's side business of selling her oil paintings online, and wanted to get some feedback from other entrepreneurs.
Some background - my mom is a talented painter who has been selling her artwork locally for years through her personal Facebook and Instagram pages. She has separate accounts for her personal use and for showcasing her paintings, but all the posts/descriptions are currently in our local language. Customers can only get pricing information by directly messaging her - she does not publicly list prices for her paintings. After being contacted, she then coordinates payment and shipping the sold pieces.
While this approach has worked so far, I think we can streamline and potentially grow the business by launching an ecommerce website on a platform like Shopify. Some benefits I see are:
1) More professional online presence to showcase her artwork portfolio 2) Easier for customers to browse available paintings 3) Can expand beyond just our local market for sales 4) Translate/repost her existing social media content to English to reach wider audiences
However, I have a couple of concerns about making this transition:
1) Right now, there is a more personalized interaction when someone messages to purchase a painting. I'm worried publicly listing set prices on a website could make her art seem more commercialized and negatively impact the perceived value/exclusivity.
2) Expanding sales outside our home country could bring up some legal/regulatory hurdles around things like customs, taxes, insurance for shipping valuable items internationally etc.
I'd appreciate any advice from those who have gone through similar transitions, or insights into optimizing an ecommerce art business. Some specific questions:

• How can we maintain that personalized experience even with an online store?
• What potential challenges should we be aware of selling internationally?
• Prerequisites/marketing strategies for a successful art ecommerce business?
• Any better platforms than Shopify to consider?
• Tips for reposting/translating existing social media content to English?

Thanks in advance for your guidance! I'm happy to provide any other details about the business. My main goal is making this transition as smooth as possible for my mom while opening up more sales opportunities.
For context, I'm a senior software engineer (back-end focused) with a computer science degree, so I have some technical experience to draw from. However, launching an ecommerce business for artistic products is a new area for me. I'd greatly value any advice from those with relevant experience.

I haven’t had much success finding good listings of yard sales. The Facebook Ithaca yard sale group is mostly local spam. Where do you find out about sales?

Understanding the importance of marketing for your vending machine business

Marketing plays a crucial role in the success of any business, and the vending machine industry is no exception. Understanding the importance of marketing for your vending machine business is essential to attract more locations. Effective marketing strategies help create awareness about your business and its offerings, build credibility, and ultimately drive more customers to your vending machines. By implementing a well-planned marketing strategy, you can differentiate your business from competitors, establish a strong brand presence, and increase your chances of securing profitable locations. Investing time and resources into marketing efforts can yield significant returns for your vending machine business in terms of increased sales and long-term growth.

Identifying your target audience and their needs

Identifying your target audience and their needs is a crucial step in effectively marketing your vending machine business. By understanding who your potential customers are and what they are looking for, you can tailor your advertising strategies to attract their attention. For example, if you are targeting individuals interested in starting a saree business, you can highlight the benefits of vending machines for saree retailers. Additionally, you can emphasize the convenience and cost-effectiveness of using vending machines as a way to advertise their products. By addressing the specific needs and interests of your target audience, you can create compelling marketing campaigns that resonate with them and attract more locations for your vending machine business.

Setting clear marketing goals and objectives

Setting clear marketing goals and objectives is essential for boosting profits for startups. By defining specific targets and outlining a strategic plan, vending machine businesses can effectively attract more locations and increase their revenue. To achieve this, it is crucial to identify the target audience, understand their needs and preferences, and develop tailored marketing strategies that highlight the unique selling points of the business. Additionally, conducting market research and competitor analysis can provide valuable insights for positioning the vending machine business in the market and gaining a competitive edge. By setting clear marketing goals and objectives, vending machine businesses can optimize their marketing efforts and attract more customers, ultimately leading to increased profits and business growth.

Researching the Market

Analyzing the current vending machine market

Analyzing the current vending machine market is crucial for any business looking to expand its operations. By examining the trends and demands in the industry, businesses can gain valuable insights into the buying behavior of customers. This information can help businesses make informed decisions on where to invest and which locations to target. Understanding the current market also allows businesses to identify potential opportunities for growth and stay ahead of the competition. When it comes to attracting more locations, having a deep understanding of the current vending machine market is key.

Identifying trends and opportunities

In order to effectively market your vending machine business and attract more locations, it is crucial to identify trends and opportunities in the industry. By staying informed about the latest advancements and consumer preferences, you can position your business to meet the changing demands of the market. Conduct market research to understand the current trends in vending machine products and services, and identify any untapped opportunities that can give your business a competitive edge. Additionally, keep an eye on emerging technologies and innovative vending machine solutions that can enhance the customer experience and drive more foot traffic to your locations. By proactively identifying trends and opportunities, you can develop targeted marketing strategies that resonate with your target audience and attract more locations to partner with your business.

Researching competitor strategies

Researching competitor strategies is a crucial step in developing a successful marketing plan for your vending machine business. By studying what your competitors are doing, you can gain valuable insights into the market and identify areas where you can differentiate yourself. One effective strategy that has proven to be successful for many businesses, including nail businesses, is email marketing. Email marketing allows you to directly reach out to potential customers and promote your products or services. By implementing effective email marketing strategies for your nail business, you can attract more customers and increase your sales. Here are some highlights of email marketing strategies for nail businesses that can help you stand out from the competition:

Developing a Marketing Strategy

Defining your unique selling proposition

Defining your unique selling proposition is crucial in the competitive vending machine industry. It is important to clearly communicate the value your business offers to potential customers. One way to differentiate yourself is by providing convenient credit card payment solutions. This allows tailors and other customers to easily make purchases without the need for cash. By offering this service, you can attract more locations and increase customer satisfaction. Implementing credit card payment solutions for tailors will not only streamline the purchasing process but also position your vending machine business as a modern and customer-focused option in the market.

Creating a compelling brand identity

Creating a compelling brand identity is crucial for any business looking to attract more customers and stand out from the competition. In the vending machine industry, where competition is fierce, it becomes even more important to establish a strong and memorable brand. A well-crafted brand identity not only communicates the values and personality of your business but also helps build trust and credibility with potential locations. One key aspect of creating a compelling brand identity is through effective marketing strategies. By incorporating elements such as auto repair shop website design, you can create a visually appealing and user-friendly online presence that showcases your unique offerings and attracts more potential locations. A well-designed website can serve as a powerful tool to communicate your brand's message, highlight your key features, and provide valuable information to potential customers. With the right combination of design, content, and functionality, your auto repair shop website can become a magnet for attracting more locations.

Choosing the right marketing channels

When it comes to choosing the right marketing channels for your vending machine business, it is important to consider your target audience and the most effective ways to reach them. One effective marketing channel to consider is starting a sewing and embroidery business blog. By creating informative and engaging content related to sewing and embroidery, you can attract a niche audience that is interested in these topics. Additionally, you can highlight your vending machine business within the blog content, providing a seamless way to promote your products and services. Another marketing channel to explore is social media. Utilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to connect with potential customers and showcase the benefits of your vending machine business. By using targeted advertising and engaging with your audience, you can increase brand awareness and attract more locations for your vending machines.

Creating Engaging Content

Writing persuasive product descriptions

Writing persuasive product descriptions is a crucial aspect of marketing your vending machine business to attract more locations. Effective product descriptions have the power to captivate potential customers and convince them of the value and benefits of your offerings. By using persuasive language and highlighting unique features, you can create compelling descriptions that differentiate your products from competitors. Additionally, it is important to consider the target audience and tailor the descriptions to their specific needs and preferences. A well-crafted product description can generate interest, build trust, and ultimately drive more locations to choose your vending machines over others.

Producing high-quality visuals

Producing high-quality visuals is essential for effectively marketing your vending machine business. Visuals play a crucial role in capturing the attention of potential customers and conveying the value of your products. By investing in professional photography and graphic design, you can create visually appealing images that showcase your vending machines in the best possible light. Additionally, utilizing high-resolution images and eye-catching graphics in your marketing materials, such as brochures, websites, and social media posts, can help attract more locations for your business. When it comes to producing high-quality visuals, it is important to consider factors such as lighting, composition, and color scheme to ensure that your images are visually appealing and communicate your brand message effectively.

Leveraging social media for content promotion

Leveraging social media for content promotion is an essential strategy for any business, including the healthcare staffing business. In today's digital age, social media platforms provide a valuable opportunity to reach a wider audience and engage with potential clients. By creating compelling and informative content, healthcare staffing businesses can position themselves as industry leaders and attract more attention to their services. Additionally, social media platforms offer various advertising options, allowing businesses to target specific demographics and increase their visibility. With the right social media strategy in place, healthcare staffing businesses can effectively market their services and attract more clients.

Implementing Marketing Tactics

Running targeted online advertising campaigns

Running targeted online advertising campaigns is a crucial strategy for marketing your vending machine business and attracting more locations. By utilizing online platforms such as social media, search engines, and display advertising, you can effectively reach your target audience and generate awareness about your business. With targeted campaigns, you can tailor your messaging and advertisements to specific demographics, geographic locations, and interests, ensuring that your ads are seen by the right people at the right time. Additionally, online advertising allows for precise tracking and measurement of campaign performance, enabling you to optimize your strategies and maximize your return on investment. By incorporating targeted online advertising campaigns into your marketing efforts, you can significantly increase your chances of attracting more locations for your vending machine business.

Building strategic partnerships

Building strategic partnerships is crucial for the success of any business. By forming alliances with other companies, you can leverage their resources and expertise to expand your reach and attract more customers. In the context of the vending machine business, one strategic partnership that can be highly beneficial is with temporary nurses. Temporary nurses play a vital role in healthcare facilities, filling in for staff shortages and providing quality care to patients. By partnering with temporary nurse agencies, vending machine businesses can tap into the healthcare industry and target locations such as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. This collaboration can create a win-win situation, as healthcare facilities can provide convenient and healthy snack options to their staff and patients, while vending machine businesses can gain access to a steady stream of potential customers. To make this partnership even more effective, vending machine businesses can offer special discounts or customized vending options tailored to the needs of healthcare professionals and patients. By building strategic partnerships with temporary nurses, vending machine businesses can enhance their visibility, increase their customer base, and ultimately drive more revenue.

Utilizing email marketing for lead generation

Email marketing is a powerful tool for lead generation in the vending machine business. By utilizing email campaigns, businesses can effectively reach out to potential locations and establish meaningful connections. With a well-crafted email strategy, vending machine businesses can showcase the benefits of partnering with them, such as increased foot traffic and additional revenue streams. Furthermore, email marketing allows for personalized communication, enabling businesses to tailor their messages to the specific needs and interests of each potential location. By leveraging the reach and targeting capabilities of email marketing, vending machine businesses can attract more locations and expand their market presence with ease.

Measuring and Adjusting

Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs)

Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) is crucial for the success of any business. It allows entrepreneurs to measure and evaluate the performance of their vending machine business, identify areas of improvement, and make data-driven decisions. By tracking KPIs, entrepreneurs can monitor the number of locations their vending machines are placed in, the revenue generated from each location, and the return on investment (ROI) of their marketing efforts. This information enables them to optimize their marketing strategies, identify the most profitable locations, and allocate resources effectively. In addition to tracking KPIs, self-care practices for entrepreneurs are essential to maintain their well-being and productivity. Taking breaks, practicing mindfulness, and prioritizing self-care activities can help entrepreneurs manage stress, avoid burnout, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. By incorporating self-care practices into their routine, entrepreneurs can enhance their overall performance and ensure the long-term success of their vending machine business.

Analyzing marketing campaign results

Analyzing marketing campaign results is a crucial step in evaluating the effectiveness of your vending machine business's marketing efforts. By carefully examining the data and metrics gathered from your campaigns, you can gain valuable insights into the performance of different marketing channels, identify areas of improvement, and make informed decisions to optimize future campaigns. This analysis allows you to assess the return on investment (ROI) of your marketing activities, determine which strategies are generating the most leads and conversions, and allocate resources accordingly. With a systematic approach to analyzing marketing campaign results, you can refine your marketing strategies, target the right audience, and ultimately attract more locations for your vending machine business.

Making data-driven adjustments for better outcomes

In today's competitive business landscape, making data-driven adjustments is crucial for achieving better outcomes. By analyzing key metrics and trends, entrepreneurs can gain valuable insights into their vending machine business and make informed decisions. One important factor to consider is the kindness factor. Showing kindness to customers and employees can have a positive impact on the success of the business. By providing exceptional customer service and creating a supportive work environment, entrepreneurs can attract more locations and build strong relationships with their stakeholders. This not only enhances the reputation of the business but also fosters loyalty and trust among customers and employees. Implementing data-driven adjustments with a focus on kindness can lead to improved business performance and long-term success.

Conclusion

Recap of the importance of marketing for vending machine businesses

Marketing plays a crucial role in the success of vending machine businesses. It is essential for attracting more locations and increasing revenue. One important aspect of marketing for vending machine businesses is the effective rate sheet creation. A well-designed rate sheet can effectively communicate the pricing structure and benefits of partnering with the business. It allows potential locations to make informed decisions and understand the value proposition. By creating an effective rate sheet, vending machine businesses can showcase their competitive pricing, variety of products, and exceptional customer service. This not only helps in attracting more locations but also in building long-term partnerships with them.

Key takeaways for successful marketing strategies

To ensure successful marketing strategies for your vending machine business, it is crucial to keep in mind a few key takeaways. Firstly, understanding your target audience is essential. Conduct thorough market research to identify the needs and preferences of potential customers. Secondly, develop a compelling brand image that resonates with your target market. This includes creating a professional logo, designing attractive vending machine wraps, and maintaining a consistent brand message. Additionally, utilizing various marketing channels, such as social media platforms and local advertising, can help increase brand visibility and attract more locations. Lastly, monitoring and analyzing the effectiveness of your marketing efforts is vital. Regularly track metrics like customer engagement, sales conversion rates, and return on investment to make data-driven decisions and optimize your marketing strategies. By implementing these key takeaways, you can effectively market your vending machine business and attract more locations.

Encouragement to take action and implement the outlined steps

Encouragement to take action and implement the outlined steps.
In conclusion, starting a vending machine business can be a lucrative venture. With the right strategies and a solid plan, you can tap into a market that is constantly growing. If you want to learn more about how to start a vending machine business in 2023, check out our website. We provide step-by-step guides and valuable resources to help you get started. Don't miss out on this opportunity to create a successful business. Visit our website today and take the first step towards financial independence.

Understanding the importance of marketing for your vending machine business

Marketing plays a crucial role in the success of any business, and the vending machine industry is no exception. Understanding the importance of marketing for your vending machine business is essential to attract more locations. Effective marketing strategies help create awareness about your business and its offerings, build credibility, and ultimately drive more customers to your vending machines. By implementing a well-planned marketing strategy, you can differentiate your business from competitors, establish a strong brand presence, and increase your chances of securing profitable locations. Investing time and resources into marketing efforts can yield significant returns for your vending machine business in terms of increased sales and long-term growth.

Identifying your target audience and their needs

Identifying your target audience and their needs is a crucial step in effectively marketing your vending machine business. By understanding who your potential customers are and what they are looking for, you can tailor your advertising strategies to attract their attention. For example, if you are targeting individuals interested in starting a saree business, you can highlight the benefits of vending machines for saree retailers. Additionally, you can emphasize the convenience and cost-effectiveness of using vending machines as a way to advertise their products. By addressing the specific needs and interests of your target audience, you can create compelling marketing campaigns that resonate with them and attract more locations for your vending machine business.

Setting clear marketing goals and objectives

Setting clear marketing goals and objectives is essential for boosting profits for startups. By defining specific targets and outlining a strategic plan, vending machine businesses can effectively attract more locations and increase their revenue. To achieve this, it is crucial to identify the target audience, understand their needs and preferences, and develop tailored marketing strategies that highlight the unique selling points of the business. Additionally, conducting market research and competitor analysis can provide valuable insights for positioning the vending machine business in the market and gaining a competitive edge. By setting clear marketing goals and objectives, vending machine businesses can optimize their marketing efforts and attract more customers, ultimately leading to increased profits and business growth.

Researching the Market

Analyzing the current vending machine market

Analyzing the current vending machine market is crucial for any business looking to expand its operations. By examining the trends and demands in the industry, businesses can gain valuable insights into the buying behavior of customers. This information can help businesses make informed decisions on where to invest and which locations to target. Understanding the current market also allows businesses to identify potential opportunities for growth and stay ahead of the competition. When it comes to attracting more locations, having a deep understanding of the current vending machine market is key.

Identifying trends and opportunities

In order to effectively market your vending machine business and attract more locations, it is crucial to identify trends and opportunities in the industry. By staying informed about the latest advancements and consumer preferences, you can position your business to meet the changing demands of the market. Conduct market research to understand the current trends in vending machine products and services, and identify any untapped opportunities that can give your business a competitive edge. Additionally, keep an eye on emerging technologies and innovative vending machine solutions that can enhance the customer experience and drive more foot traffic to your locations. By proactively identifying trends and opportunities, you can develop targeted marketing strategies that resonate with your target audience and attract more locations to partner with your business.

Researching competitor strategies

Researching competitor strategies is a crucial step in developing a successful marketing plan for your vending machine business. By studying what your competitors are doing, you can gain valuable insights into the market and identify areas where you can differentiate yourself. One effective strategy that has proven to be successful for many businesses, including nail businesses, is email marketing. Email marketing allows you to directly reach out to potential customers and promote your products or services. By implementing effective email marketing strategies for your nail business, you can attract more customers and increase your sales. Here are some highlights of email marketing strategies for nail businesses that can help you stand out from the competition:

Developing a Marketing Strategy

Defining your unique selling proposition

Defining your unique selling proposition is crucial in the competitive vending machine industry. It is important to clearly communicate the value your business offers to potential customers. One way to differentiate yourself is by providing convenient credit card payment solutions. This allows tailors and other customers to easily make purchases without the need for cash. By offering this service, you can attract more locations and increase customer satisfaction. Implementing credit card payment solutions for tailors will not only streamline the purchasing process but also position your vending machine business as a modern and customer-focused option in the market.

Creating a compelling brand identity

Creating a compelling brand identity is crucial for any business looking to attract more customers and stand out from the competition. In the vending machine industry, where competition is fierce, it becomes even more important to establish a strong and memorable brand. A well-crafted brand identity not only communicates the values and personality of your business but also helps build trust and credibility with potential locations. One key aspect of creating a compelling brand identity is through effective marketing strategies. By incorporating elements such as auto repair shop website design, you can create a visually appealing and user-friendly online presence that showcases your unique offerings and attracts more potential locations. A well-designed website can serve as a powerful tool to communicate your brand's message, highlight your key features, and provide valuable information to potential customers. With the right combination of design, content, and functionality, your auto repair shop website can become a magnet for attracting more locations.

Choosing the right marketing channels

When it comes to choosing the right marketing channels for your vending machine business, it is important to consider your target audience and the most effective ways to reach them. One effective marketing channel to consider is starting a sewing and embroidery business blog. By creating informative and engaging content related to sewing and embroidery, you can attract a niche audience that is interested in these topics. Additionally, you can highlight your vending machine business within the blog content, providing a seamless way to promote your products and services. Another marketing channel to explore is social media. Utilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to connect with potential customers and showcase the benefits of your vending machine business. By using targeted advertising and engaging with your audience, you can increase brand awareness and attract more locations for your vending machines.

Creating Engaging Content

Writing persuasive product descriptions

Writing persuasive product descriptions is a crucial aspect of marketing your vending machine business to attract more locations. Effective product descriptions have the power to captivate potential customers and convince them of the value and benefits of your offerings. By using persuasive language and highlighting unique features, you can create compelling descriptions that differentiate your products from competitors. Additionally, it is important to consider the target audience and tailor the descriptions to their specific needs and preferences. A well-crafted product description can generate interest, build trust, and ultimately drive more locations to choose your vending machines over others.

Producing high-quality visuals

Producing high-quality visuals is essential for effectively marketing your vending machine business. Visuals play a crucial role in capturing the attention of potential customers and conveying the value of your products. By investing in professional photography and graphic design, you can create visually appealing images that showcase your vending machines in the best possible light. Additionally, utilizing high-resolution images and eye-catching graphics in your marketing materials, such as brochures, websites, and social media posts, can help attract more locations for your business. When it comes to producing high-quality visuals, it is important to consider factors such as lighting, composition, and color scheme to ensure that your images are visually appealing and communicate your brand message effectively.

Leveraging social media for content promotion

Leveraging social media for content promotion is an essential strategy for any business, including the healthcare staffing business. In today's digital age, social media platforms provide a valuable opportunity to reach a wider audience and engage with potential clients. By creating compelling and informative content, healthcare staffing businesses can position themselves as industry leaders and attract more attention to their services. Additionally, social media platforms offer various advertising options, allowing businesses to target specific demographics and increase their visibility. With the right social media strategy in place, healthcare staffing businesses can effectively market their services and attract more clients.

Implementing Marketing Tactics

Running targeted online advertising campaigns

Running targeted online advertising campaigns is a crucial strategy for marketing your vending machine business and attracting more locations. By utilizing online platforms such as social media, search engines, and display advertising, you can effectively reach your target audience and generate awareness about your business. With targeted campaigns, you can tailor your messaging and advertisements to specific demographics, geographic locations, and interests, ensuring that your ads are seen by the right people at the right time. Additionally, online advertising allows for precise tracking and measurement of campaign performance, enabling you to optimize your strategies and maximize your return on investment. By incorporating targeted online advertising campaigns into your marketing efforts, you can significantly increase your chances of attracting more locations for your vending machine business.

Building strategic partnerships

Building strategic partnerships is crucial for the success of any business. By forming alliances with other companies, you can leverage their resources and expertise to expand your reach and attract more customers. In the context of the vending machine business, one strategic partnership that can be highly beneficial is with temporary nurses. Temporary nurses play a vital role in healthcare facilities, filling in for staff shortages and providing quality care to patients. By partnering with temporary nurse agencies, vending machine businesses can tap into the healthcare industry and target locations such as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. This collaboration can create a win-win situation, as healthcare facilities can provide convenient and healthy snack options to their staff and patients, while vending machine businesses can gain access to a steady stream of potential customers. To make this partnership even more effective, vending machine businesses can offer special discounts or customized vending options tailored to the needs of healthcare professionals and patients. By building strategic partnerships with temporary nurses, vending machine businesses can enhance their visibility, increase their customer base, and ultimately drive more revenue.

Utilizing email marketing for lead generation

Email marketing is a powerful tool for lead generation in the vending machine business. By utilizing email campaigns, businesses can effectively reach out to potential locations and establish meaningful connections. With a well-crafted email strategy, vending machine businesses can showcase the benefits of partnering with them, such as increased foot traffic and additional revenue streams. Furthermore, email marketing allows for personalized communication, enabling businesses to tailor their messages to the specific needs and interests of each potential location. By leveraging the reach and targeting capabilities of email marketing, vending machine businesses can attract more locations and expand their market presence with ease.

Measuring and Adjusting

Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs)

Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) is crucial for the success of any business. It allows entrepreneurs to measure and evaluate the performance of their vending machine business, identify areas of improvement, and make data-driven decisions. By tracking KPIs, entrepreneurs can monitor the number of locations their vending machines are placed in, the revenue generated from each location, and the return on investment (ROI) of their marketing efforts. This information enables them to optimize their marketing strategies, identify the most profitable locations, and allocate resources effectively. In addition to tracking KPIs, self-care practices for entrepreneurs are essential to maintain their well-being and productivity. Taking breaks, practicing mindfulness, and prioritizing self-care activities can help entrepreneurs manage stress, avoid burnout, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. By incorporating self-care practices into their routine, entrepreneurs can enhance their overall performance and ensure the long-term success of their vending machine business.

Analyzing marketing campaign results

Analyzing marketing campaign results is a crucial step in evaluating the effectiveness of your vending machine business's marketing efforts. By carefully examining the data and metrics gathered from your campaigns, you can gain valuable insights into the performance of different marketing channels, identify areas of improvement, and make informed decisions to optimize future campaigns. This analysis allows you to assess the return on investment (ROI) of your marketing activities, determine which strategies are generating the most leads and conversions, and allocate resources accordingly. With a systematic approach to analyzing marketing campaign results, you can refine your marketing strategies, target the right audience, and ultimately attract more locations for your vending machine business.

Making data-driven adjustments for better outcomes

In today's competitive business landscape, making data-driven adjustments is crucial for achieving better outcomes. By analyzing key metrics and trends, entrepreneurs can gain valuable insights into their vending machine business and make informed decisions. One important factor to consider is the kindness factor. Showing kindness to customers and employees can have a positive impact on the success of the business. By providing exceptional customer service and creating a supportive work environment, entrepreneurs can attract more locations and build strong relationships with their stakeholders. This not only enhances the reputation of the business but also fosters loyalty and trust among customers and employees. Implementing data-driven adjustments with a focus on kindness can lead to improved business performance and long-term success.

Conclusion

Recap of the importance of marketing for vending machine businesses

Marketing plays a crucial role in the success of vending machine businesses. It is essential for attracting more locations and increasing revenue. One important aspect of marketing for vending machine businesses is the effective rate sheet creation. A well-designed rate sheet can effectively communicate the pricing structure and benefits of partnering with the business. It allows potential locations to make informed decisions and understand the value proposition. By creating an effective rate sheet, vending machine businesses can showcase their competitive pricing, variety of products, and exceptional customer service. This not only helps in attracting more locations but also in building long-term partnerships with them.

Key takeaways for successful marketing strategies

To ensure successful marketing strategies for your vending machine business, it is crucial to keep in mind a few key takeaways. Firstly, understanding your target audience is essential. Conduct thorough market research to identify the needs and preferences of potential customers. Secondly, develop a compelling brand image that resonates with your target market. This includes creating a professional logo, designing attractive vending machine wraps, and maintaining a consistent brand message. Additionally, utilizing various marketing channels, such as social media platforms and local advertising, can help increase brand visibility and attract more locations. Lastly, monitoring and analyzing the effectiveness of your marketing efforts is vital. Regularly track metrics like customer engagement, sales conversion rates, and return on investment to make data-driven decisions and optimize your marketing strategies. By implementing these key takeaways, you can effectively market your vending machine business and attract more locations.

Encouragement to take action and implement the outlined steps

Encouragement to take action and implement the outlined steps.
In conclusion, starting a vending machine business can be a lucrative venture. With the right strategies and a solid plan, you can tap into a market that is constantly growing. If you want to learn more about how to start a vending machine business in 2023, check out our website. We provide step-by-step guides and valuable resources to help you get started. Don't miss out on this opportunity to create a successful business. Visit our website today and take the first step towards financial independence.

PowerColor Red Devil 6950xt $325 local/ $350 shipped OBO https://imgur.com/a/cwM8YSa Sold for asking!
Previously posted, but buyer backed out. Have already packed up and ready to ship.
Bought used from Facebook marketplace. Previous owner used with a water cooler. When tested it worked, but is hot around 82c while running a Timespy benchmark and stress test, but the worst part was how loud it was. Needs repasted and new pads. Also the RGB on the card did not light up when I tested it. I didn't have time to teardown the card, so I'm selling it at lower price.
If interested please comment then PM, no chat

I (35F) was on my street and saw a girl (about 8) deliberately drop a kitten from shoulder height to the ground. The kitten had to brace itself to land safely. A man (I presumed dad) was watching and made no comment. I approached the kitten and noticed it was a bit thin. Instinct got the better of me and I took the kitten in. I posted on a local fb group about what I saw and asked if anyone knew the owner. Got the cat some food which it ate like it was famished. Didn't see anything on fb until the next morning when I found a flurry of messages.
First a female I'll call Milly, called and told me the whole story. The kitten was born under her bed. She moved out because of a breakdown in her relationship with her mum. She was sad to leave the cats, said there were about 9 in the home and 2 dogs, none of the animals were cared for properly and she asked me to keep the cat called Buddy. She said if I gave him back he'd disappear like the others eventually do.
Second female, I'll call her Annie. Messaged and begged me to return Buddy, confirmed she is Milly's sister. Agreed her younger sister was the one i saw with her step-dad and agreed her siblings needed to treat Buddy better. I offered to care for him and money to buy him but she insisted she was very attached to Buddy and would take better care of him, she also estimated 9 cats in their property and one likely pregnant.
While talking to Annie, her stepdad (we'll call him Gary) chimed in on the post I made on Facebook saying his younger daughter was just trying to "stop the cat following them" and she was crying all night because she was worried about her cat and I shouldn't have taken him and he's well fed.
I took the kitten to the vet who confirmed no microchip, his weight was OK but he had signs of worms so i got dewormer. Told Annie I'd return Buddy once he'd has his worming treatment and suggested chipping and neutering all the cats which she agreed she would look into.
Annie and I agreed a meet up point at which time step dad started sending angry messages from his workplace because I wasn't returning the cat yet and I was communicating with a child instead of him. Turns out Annie is 13! But WAY more mature than stepdad. He became threatening and I was home alone with a poorly toddler so I went to meet Annie. Sweet kid, took my advice on board and asked questions.
Told Gary cat was home, that from 10th June if Buddy isn't chipped someone can legally take him and claim him. I told him why I took Buddy and that if I'm concerned about an animal I'll check for a chip and act accordingly. I also told him Annie is a good kid and to neuter his cats! Then blocked him. Now Gary's teenage son is trying to intimidate me on my walk home.
TLDR; I kept a neighbours cat, even after finding out it belonged to them because I was worried he was being mistreated. Returned him after 24hrs but some of the family think I'm an asshole for taking him.

SOFITEL LEGEND The Grand Amsterdam – 4rth Night Free Promo

Posted on May 14, 2024 by Andrew Larder

SOFITEL LEGEND The Grand Amsterdam

Sofitel Legend the Grand Amsterdam stands out amongst 5-star luxury hotels in Amsterdam. Located in the heart of this city of bikes and quaint canals, not far from the imposing ornate elegance of the Royal Palace, the Sofitel Legend boldly combines the best of 21st century comfort with the enchanting history of the Dutch capital. It is home to the acclaimed Bridges restaurant, cocktail bar and garden terrace, to an award-winning luxury hotel spa, to magnificent banqueting facilities including the Council Chamber where Queen Beatrix married. Loyal staff of this venerable Amsterdam institution pride themselves on reinventing Dutch hospitality à la Française.
Welcome at Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam! Located between two historical canals in the heart of the city, The Grand boasts a rich history. From a 15th-century convent to royal lodgings to Dutch admiralty headquarters to the city hall of Amsterdam. The Grand offers five-star luxury in a unique ‘Amsterdam’ ambiance, furnished with French elegance and grandeur.
Experience exceptional gastronomic quality in the accessible atmosphere of restaurant Bridges and enjoy a delicious five-, six- or seven course Menu du Chef or discover the pure taste of the Mediterranean at Oriole Garden Bistro. The Garden Terrace can be found in the beautiful inner garden of The Grand and it is one of Amsterdam’s best kept secrets; an oasis of peace and tranquillity, situated in the heart of the city. Library ‘Or’ is the ideal place to indulge in The Grand Afternoon Tea. Are you a true whisky lover? Be surprised by the special Glenfiddich whiskies at our bar The Flying Dutchman.
The Grand boasts 19 meeting- and event facilities of which five are listed as historical monuments. Our Magnifique Meetings planners are dedicated to your event and will assist you down to the last detail to ensure an excellent service and a memorable experience.
The unwinding Sofitel SPA with heated indoor pool, sauna, hammam and fitness area is the perfect place to recharge after a busy day. Discover our wonderful spa menu and book your treatment until 21:00 hours.
Team The Grand would love to welcome you in the heart of Amsterdam and provide you with an unforgettable experience.

Promo

For the remainder of 2024 we run a 4th night free promo (on all room types) and remember that for any pre or post stay related to a Sea or River cruise from Amsterdam Cruise terminal we include a FREE transfer to or from the port.
This is an add amenity only available for the luxury agents.

SOFITEL LEGEND

We also have a short new corporate brand video of the 6 Sofitel Legend properties in the world which is also worth checking out:
At Sofitel Legend, we’re not merely hotels; we’re handpicked legends. Where service is an art, heritage buildings are our canvas, and local arts and culture are our inspiration.
Here, stories write themselves every day, and every corner exudes life, making each moment simply legendary.

SofitelFrenchZest #SofitelLegend

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Back in March, went to check my bimonthly bill. Ballooned to $400 more than even my highest bill ever. Backtracking, I realized a toilet I seldom use had its latch caught, I didn't actually know for how long, and that would likely be the source. The bill specifically covered the sewer cost being massive, tho general water use seemed inflated a bit as well. At first, that seemed like it, and I would just have to grit my teeth and bear my stupidity in not catching a running toilet that I *knew* could be a problem. Then I get to this month's bill, and it's slightly *worse* than the last one. Back when I was inspecting the first, I had multiple plumbers check the problem; no wackiness with the water meter, no erratic surges in pressure, no sign of leakage anywhere, no nothing. The water meter itself *has* highly changed, but it makes no sense with both my regular water use and now truncated use.
I've gotten my local utility to back off on late fees for this discrepancy, but I know it's only for the timebeing. What could be causing this problem? How do I even diagnose it? And if I determine it's not my fault, how do I prove it?

Clone house “drama” has been a source of intrigue for me for some time. This industry is so overly serious that I can’t help but get caught up in the nonsense. It all started back when someone “exposed” the connection between DUA and Alexandria Fragrances. Does it matter? Ultimately, no. But it was a fun ride reading through that saga.
Something about Montagne Parfums has had my spidey-sense tingling. There’s just enough odd stuff about them that I couldn’t help but do some digging. The “who are we” section of their site is incredibly vague. Basically, “we’ve been doing this a long time, trust me bro.” Ok, fine. Their super-duper exclusive Facebook group is just… bizarre. It’s the primary place they post product updates, stock updates, etc. Seems really odd to exclude a large portion of your customers. Weird. The unrelenting fangirling on Reddit? Hmmm. Any interviews with the owner? Nope. Any marketing pictures of the team? Nope. Folks, what is going on here? Any of these on their own is "whatever". As they start to add up it becomes really strange.
Let me start by saying after all of this digging I am no closer to understanding who these people are than when I started. In fact, I am even more confused than before. As a disclaimer: the information below is all public information easily found through Google searches. There is nothing behind paywalls and no accounts were “hacked”. All of this is self-submitted information.

1. Picture 1: Let’s start with LinkedIn. LinkedIn only shows two actual results for people who work or worked at Montagne Parfums.
2. Picture 2: One is a 23-year-old Chief Marketing Officer who is an Occupational Therapy student. lol, k.
3. Picture 3: The other is a 22-year-old Production Specialist who is… also an Occupational Therapy student. Hmmm. I am not going to post detailed personal information about them, but they are both located in Ozone Park, NY.
4. Pictures 4, 5, 6, & 7: At first, I thought these were AI created accounts or bot accounts, but it appears that they are real people. Pictures 4, 5, 6, & 7 show that they are both real people with an online presence.
5. Pictures 8 & 9: These further show they are real people and are college aged.
6. Pictures 10 & 11: This is a local economy report that mentions Montagne. They are specifically listed as a tenant of Greenpoint Manufacturing & Design Center in Ozone Park, NY.
7. Pictures 12 & 13: When clicking on Montagne it pulls up the GMDC website URL with a link to their tenant page. Their tenant page is listed as “Aroma Direct”, not Montagne. Interesting. http://www.aromadirectllc.com/ is a dead site now. Damn.
8. Picture 14: Ah, Aroma Direct has an IG account. No posts since 2021 though. So, who the hell is Aroma Direct, LLC?
9. Pictures 15 & 16: Another issue of the local economy report, this time from 2023 instead of the 2022 issue noted above. Once again GMDC is mentioned but this time Montagne isn’t listed. Instead, Aroma Direct is listed. Huh.
10. Pictures 17 & 18: Aroma Direct LLC filing with NY Department of State. Not terribly helpful. What is helpful is that this just proves that Aroma Direct and Montagne are the same company.
11. Picture 19: whois lookup for Montagne’s site showing even historical records are blocked for privacy. Same story for the Aroma Direct site. Maybe let’s check that address from the previous picture.
12. Picture 20: Yeah, I don’t think this is a real address.

Did I spend too much time on this? Uh-hundred-percent. Is this ridiculous? Oh, you bet. It’s just so baffling to me when there is a company and absolutely no insight into who they are. Because I know some folks like to dabble in false equivalence, this post in no way makes any statement about the quality of their fragrances. This is purely an attempt at understanding who we are buying products from. Unfortunately, they have done a hell of a job protecting their identity.

The message below is copy-pasta'd from Burrito Boarder's Facebook post.

Good morning Tallahassee,
Other than losing a family member, this is the hardest thing I have ever done so please bear with me. First, we hope you all are safe and secure following last week’s storms.
At BB we have always prided ourselves on operating with integrity and honesty. Right now, the honest truth is that we are finding a path forward to be elusive at best. This last season has been particularly rough for businesses on our side of town. Spending has been way down, the challenges that have arisen due to the rising homeless epidemic have increased and the financial burdens of the rising cost of goods, insurance, labor and utilities has been overwhelming.
The storm could not have come at a worse time for us and now we have to figure out what to do.
We set out twelve years ago to create a space filled with fun, fresh food and drinks with an atmosphere that is inclusive to all. We have built relationships with the colleges (special shout out to our friends at the FSU Campus Rec department, FSU Softball & of course the amazing Noles football team) and so many regular guests (Kurt, Ian, Doug, RC, & John S. just to name a few). We have teamed up with with some amazing entrepreneurs over the years (Tiffany, RJ the Creator & Anthony, You all rock!) and we have aligned our self with some great organizations over the years, many with the help and support of our good friend Brandy Vance. WE LOVE YOU ALL!
We are going to be closed over the next few days to try and figure out what the next step is and as soon as we have some idea what it is, we will let you all know.
David Turknett, Owner

I don't work at Burrito Boarder, but it's been my favorite place to eat since it opened in 2012. It certainly has its own charm and character as a unique Tallahassee restaurant. Dave and his crew have transformed that corner from a rundown service station to a colorful local attraction known for their food and game nights.
If you feel the same, please share your memories and support on the Facebook post.

tl;dr - The bike lanes are here to stay until at least 2026 when Council will receive a report on usage and issues (along with an interim report in 2025). The vote was 8-1 in favor of accepting that recommendation.
Hey everyone,
I've posted an update on the BikeBridge facebook group which I'd recommend joining if you're interested in cycling in Lethbridge, but I'll copy here for those not on Facebook. The council vote has just occurred and we are in the clear until the Summer of 2026 when this will be revisited! I want to thank everyone once again for coming out in person, writing letters, and of course, getting out on your bikes. If you want (way) more details - here are the notes I took, and I'll add my thoughts after:

• This was originally item 4.2.4 on the Agenda where it could be voted on without discussion - council pulled it from this section, asking for additional discussion.
• It became item 8.1.2 - Councilor Middleton-Hope opened with a question regarding the snow removal issues. Director of Infrastructure Services Sanchez said that even last winter they saw a dramatic decrease in calls for the last snowfall event as they adjusted their clearing policies, but adjustments will continue next winter and there will be 2 staff dedicated to the downtown to keep tabs on the situation
• Councilor Campbell expressed that there was a lively discussion which he would characterize as supportive, while some people expressed that they supported the idea, but had concerns around the design - he is supporting the motion because administration has heard those concerns and is continuing to act on them
• Councilor Dodic pushed back and said that a few dozen people over 2 meetings does not constitute overwhelming support, and the Lethbridge Herald poll (while also not reliable representation) had ~700 votes, with more than 75% opposing them
• He supports bike lanes like those along Scenic Drive that share space with pedestrians
• He doesn't believe there was meaningful consultation and said the cost for the 2 lanes was $2.9M, with only $1.2M covered by the federal government
• He said even with that money, besides 4th Avenue South these bike lanes don't go anywhere and so people will have to ride with traffic anyway and people will apparently only shop on 4th Ave and 7th Street because of the protected lanes
• Businesses expressed concern and social media came down on them, calling for boycotts (although some people pushed back on that, and he thanked them for doing so)
• He wants everyone to support businesses along the bike lanes so they don't suffer and is concerned for it
• He feels this vote is a done deal, but is symbolically voting against it
• The vote was called - it passed 8-1 (they didn't say, but I will assume Councilor Dodic was the vote against)

My thoughts here:

• I'm a bit confused by the bike lanes going nowhere comment - on 4th Ave these connect to the scenic drive multi-use path (which admittedly is just a sidewalk for a few blocks), and on 7th Street they connect with the bike boulevard - I certainly agree that connectivity city-wide is an issue (one that is solved with more bike paths, not fewer), but these paths connect about as well as any individual two paths could
• The comment about cyclists only shopping on 4th Ave and 7th St due to safety is strange as well - there is a big difference between a mostly safe route with a short ride (or even walking your bike a block or two) at the end, versus no protection at all
• While I've encountered a few individuals saying they wouldn't shop at a few local businesses, there's been nothing organized that I would consider a boycott - I can't read all social media all the time, but I have kept my ear to the ground on this issue, if that is happening someone please let me know
• I'll restate my position here - I don't support boycotting any businesses regardless of their position on the bike lanes, but I do think we should shop at them while being very vocal about liking the bike lanes - I think biking gets less attention because cyclists are in a good mood while motorists complain about parking, so business owners hear a lot more about parking

This was really long, my apologies. With any luck we've got a few years before we need to think about this again. So get out and enjoy downtown and enjoy biking in Lethbridge!

I remember being 12 and looking up unclaimed bodies around my area because I called my dad for 2 years straight and he never picked up.
My mother used to tell me that I’m worthless anytime I did something that she didn’t agree with. It could be over the stupidest things too. She was always deliberately cruel.
Like when my job promoted me to another store, and I was bragging to her about my accomplishments, she said “they’re just doing that to get rid of you. Nobody likes you”.
I’m turning 24 soon and it just sort of hit me that I could never be like either of them. It’s hard to be a good parent, but it’s not that hard to just be an ok one.
I want to reconnect with them so bad, because what am I doing that’s so bad that I don’t deserve parents?? I never argued with them as a kid/teenager. I never drank/smoke/ snuck out or talked back to them. I got excellent grades in school. But it’s like I got dealt a shitty hand.
I got a job at 16 and i was apparently deemed good enough to parent myself. My mom stopped grocery shopping so I had to spend my paycheck to buy groceries/food and then when I got home she would yell at me for hours because I didn’t “get the right food” and I must hate her because I didn’t buy the organic stuff she wanted. But I was only working part-time at a restaurant for $9 an hour and couldn’t afford it. She also gave me $600 a month bill that was also my responsibility with the rest of my paycheck.
Or when I graduated high school and needed to go college, she wouldn’t fill my Fafsa out (she did the same thing to my brother and he had to drop out and go to community college) and kept pushing it back. I had to get a 2nd job to pay my tuition, so I was going to school full-time, and then had a full-time and part-time job.
She figured out the days I got paid, and would drive me to a check cashing place and take most of my money. I couldn’t keep that life up of working 12+ hour days every day and flunked out of my college. I reenrolled in my local community college, but I was just so lost that I ended up quitting.
She brought a new house when I was in college that had a run-down in law suite. She told me if I fixed it I could live in there and pay rent and have some more privacy. I worked extra hours and got a 3rd job, found a plumber and electrician, and would spend hours every week to fix the place, and wouldn’t you know it as soon as I was done she sold the property and took all the profit. She did the same thing to a broken down car that she had, I paid $4k to take it to a mechanic and when we got it back, she “never said that” and still drives that car to this day.
When we were moving (again) i decided to just get an apartment with my boyfriend because I was getting sick and tired of being used. She found out and hid the leasing information that I got from a complex, and guilt tripped me by saying she wouldn’t be able to afford things on just her paycheck and would starve. So I quit looking, just for her to scream at me a week later that I was a useless burden and that I was the one financially abusing her.
So I packed my bags, slept on the dirty floor of my boyfriend’s parents trailer for 2 weeks, got a round of the stimulus checks, and moved out to our own apartment. When I went back to her place to pack the last of my stuff she was snatching things out of my hand, threw my boyfriend’s laptop and tried to choke him/throw him out.I pushed her away from him and she told the family that we both were hitting her, so they don’t talk to me anymore. She was also insulting him for his family bring poor, and making fun of his dead grandmother.
And as I’m getting older and my prefrontal cortex is developing I just don’t understand them. I can understand hurtful things being said in the moment, but to continually be like that means you are making a conscious effort to be a terrible person.
But I miss them so much. I want a mom to talk to about my day and complain about my co-workers with. I want to watch movies at her place again and eat junk food. But she doesn’t deserve it, and I feel like I do. I don’t know what to do.
I think the worst part is that I’m actually my mother’s favorite. She treated my brothers worse and when I complain about her, they’re quick to bring that up and dismiss my feelings.
There’s plenty of more terrible and down right weird things that she does not just to me.
Like she kicked my brother out when he was 15 and he went to one of my aunts for help, and she dragged him out of their house and told him to live on the streets and “never go to her family for help, because it’s her family not his” which 🤦🏿‍♀️
Or Like she used to beat me and my brothers with electric wires as a kid. Or recently, she was renting out one of our old homes and my partner and I moved in and we were paying MORE THAN market rent. And she forced us to move out after only 6 weeks because I said no to helping her on a side project because I was busy. But I “owed her” because she could’ve “charged me more”.
Which I should’ve known it would end this way honestly. But like omg let me catch a break.
My parents are divorced and my father lives in a different city. He only calls me when he needs something and honestly I have stopped answering.
I’m not sure what to do. Advice?
Edit: besides all the debt from moving 3x in one year because she kicked us out (and the student loans), I’m not doing too bad.
TL;DR: my parent’s are terrible, I still want a relationship with them.

Hey guys. We adopted a cute little cat, 7 months old, just a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, she somehow escaped from her very tight harness after a vet appointment and ran up a tree last friday. We tried to coax her down for like 6 hours until it got dark, so we continued to check on her throughout the night, so that hopefully someone could help us in the morning. Sometime between 3:00 and 5:00 AM though, she dissappeared.
We've left food and water out for her, and left a little bit of her litter by the window. I've left one of my sweaters outside so she can recognize my scent. We're going on consistent walks of the area with food and toys, and looking in every nook and cranny with a flashlight for her. We've put up posters, alerted neighbors, posted on facebook groups, and put her up on local lost pet websites. She is microchipped in our name, but she tore off her collar in the tree.
We're doing everything we can, but it's so discouraging. We wonder if she got hurt climbing down the tree and crawled off somewhere to die... :( We also are so worried that since we only had her for less than two weeks, she doesn't really recognize our house as home, and doesn't care to come back. We don't know her history before we got her, so we have no idea if she's comfortable as a stray. She's also very shy, and loves to hide, and there are more places to hide in our area than we could ever look. She lovvvvved neck scratches though, so maybe that would spur her to come back? I just can't see why she was so eager to escape when we gave her so much love, and it seemed like she loved us too. She was so comfy and happy here.
I guess my question is... Do you think there's any chance we find her, or she comes back, when we only had her for two weeks? And is there any more we can do?

Hey everyone,
I run a local entertainment business featuring 15 racing simulators where people can enjoy a fun evening with friends or organize team-building events.
We allocate a monthly budget of €2K to both Google and Facebook ads, but we've encountered a challenge with measuring the performance of our Facebook ads.
Here's the issue: Our Facebook ads seem to be driving significant traffic, but these visitors aren't directly converting through the ad link. Instead, they seem to be making reservations by searching us up on Google after planning with friends. As a result, these conversions are showing up as organic in Google Analytics, making it difficult to attribute them accurately to our Facebook campaigns.
Our Facebook ads are optimized for link clicks, but I feel like there must be a better way to measure and optimize for performance given our unique conversion path.
Any suggestions on how to tackle this problem effectively? I'm open to any insights or strategies that could help us better understand the impact of our Facebook ads and optimize our campaigns accordingly.
Thanks in advance for your help!

Kind of embarrassed to even put this out there, but I am genuinely confused about the process of therapy, diagnosis versus more formal, psychological, testing and evaluations, particularly related to developmental stuff like autism spectrum and ADHD, etc.
I understand that some of this might vary slightly according to where you practice and even from state to state. At the moment, I work at a small outpatient group practice and really only work with adults, so this issue doesn’t come up for me a lot in my work with clients, but I often encounter desperate parents in the community who are struggling to find resources for their kids. Recently someone posted in our local mom‘s Facebook group needing an ADHD assessment for their child, in order to get an official diagnosis and related resources. They were being quoted like 1200 - 1800 dollars to get this testing done, their insurance was out of network most places, and this was the out-of-pocket cost that they were quoted, not to mention wait times.
I guess I’m confused as to what is the difference between someone coming to outpatient therapy, and me giving a diagnosis of ADHD for our treatment together , versus getting formalized testing done for a “medical diagnosis “
There’s also so much I don’t understand about how this thing works out in the school setting and getting kids IEP needs met. I guess my understanding is that Masters level Clinicians have the ability to diagnose as it relates to what we’re working on in therapy? But our diagnosis doesn’t mean anything when it comes to kids services in school?
Is the diagnosis that we (Masters level clinician, LPC in Pennsylvania, ) come up with in treatment not real? ?
Not even really sure what kind of responses I’m looking for here just like genuinely confused and would like to understand this better because I feel like at this point in my career I should know more about how that works.

Hi all, I can’t make it to the show anymore :( so I’m selling 2 tickets to the late show in Philly. Table 204 seats 1 & 3. Both shows are sold out. Selling for the same price I paid. I’ve posted on my local Facebook page but no one has shown interest there.

DEM Voters Assistance: Go to your election board website and download your ballot in advance of going to the polls to see who is running and what questions are on your ballot. Annotate your voting plan on a cheat sheet or the ballot itself. You can bring in your “voting plan cheat sheet” or take a phone pic of it to the voting booth to refer to when you are completing your ballot.
For DEM primaries, pick your fav DEM candidate.
FOR ALL OTHER ELECTIONS: VOTE STRAIGHT PARTY DEM!!
For NON-PARTY/NON-PARTISON ELECTIONS, like School Boards, judges, etc., go to the following webpage and search on the candidates name to determine if they are (D) or (R).
ballotpedia.org
You may be able to search on the candidates name on social media to figure out if they are D or R. For instance, if you go to Facebook and search on "Cindy Sweet" Wisconsin School Board, you may find that "Cindy Sweet" is supported by "Dastardly Dan" Current GOP State Education Superintendent "Jerk".
If you need more help on researching candidates, search on the candidates name and location here:
https://www.ourcampaigns.com/
If you have "BALLOT QUESTIONS" to vote on (Build this or tax that, etc.), search your State or Local Chamber of Commerce or Local Builders websites, social media, or elected GOP Officials social media and see if they are supporting a “Yes” or “No” vote on the ballot question.
In general, DEMS frequently vote the opposite of how the Chamber and local Builders vote because these groups are GOP aligned.
RULE: THE GOP LOVES SOCIAL WELFARE WHEN IT BENEFITS THEM.
For instance, if the Chamber & Local Bulders support voting “Yes” for a new tax (to build something) paid for by middle class taxpayers to increase profits for GOP builders and out of state businesses, DEMS frequently (not always) Vote “NO”.
LASTLY, if you have any questions on how other DEMS are voting, call your local DEMOCRATIC Party Office and ask them how they are going to vote.
PLEASE SHARE/REPOST THIS VOTING ASSISTANCE GUIDE
ADMIN NOTE:
PLEASE DELETE THIS AS YOU DETERMINE NECESSARY, or
MOVE TO APPROPRIATE PLACE IT BELONGS,
MODIFY AS YOU DEEM NEEDED,
SHARE IT & REPOST IT AS NECESSARY
OP CREATED IT BASED ON HIS EXPERIENCE

Hey guys, it’s Will - owner of theMSQshop! I’m excited to invite you to the Anything But Ordinary Festival (ABOFest) - in collaboration with Sloss.Tech, where incredible national acts like Domani, Nickelus F, Gina Tollese, DJ New Era, & Chaz French meet talented local performers like The Mummy Cats. ABOFest is more than a festival—it’s a celebration of music, creativity, and community.
2 stages, 1 night. All genres.
We’re looking to create an experience where everyone can connect over great music and vibrant performances. We're also on the lookout for select vendors who share our vision and want to be part of something truly special.
We’d love to hear from you, whether you're interested in participating, have questions, or just want to chat more about what’s in store at ABOFest. Let's build something great together!
Looking forward to connecting with all of you and seeing you at ABOFest!
Join our event on Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1145287253174925.
For tickets: seetickets.us/abofest
Follow us on IG @theMSQshop

Hey guys, it’s Will - owner of theMSQshop! I’m excited to invite you to the Anything But Ordinary Festival (ABOFest) - in collaboration with Sloss.Tech, where incredible national acts like Domani, Nickelus F, Gina Tollese, DJ New Era, & Chaz French meet talented local performers like The Mummy Cats. ABOFest is more than a festival—it’s a celebration of music, creativity, and community.
2 stages, 1 night. All genres.
We’re looking to create an experience where everyone can connect over great music and vibrant performances. We're also on the lookout for select vendors who share our vision and want to be part of something truly special.
We’d love to hear from you, whether you're interested in participating, have questions, or just want to chat more about what’s in store at ABOFest. Let's build something great together!
Looking forward to connecting with all of you and seeing you at ABOFest!
Join our event on Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1145287253174925.
For tickets: seetickets.us/abofest
Follow us on IG @theMSQshop

I remember being 12 and looking up unclaimed bodies around my area because I called my dad for 2 years straight and he never picked up.
My mother used to tell me that I’m worthless anytime I did something that she didn’t agree with. It could be over the stupidest things too. She was always deliberately cruel.
Like when my job promoted me to another store, and I was bragging to her about my accomplishments, she said “they’re just doing that to get rid of you. Nobody likes you”.
I’m turning 24 soon and it just sort of hit me that I could never be like either of them. It’s hard to be a good parent, but it’s not that hard to just be an ok one.
I want to reconnect with them so bad, because what am I doing that’s so bad that I don’t deserve parents?? I never argued with them as a kid/teenager. I never drank/smoke/ snuck out or talked back to them. I got excellent grades in school. But it’s like I got dealt a shitty hand.
I got a job at 16 and i was apparently deemed good enough to parent myself. My mom stopped grocery shopping so I had to spend my paycheck to buy groceries/food and then when I got home she would yell at me for hours because I didn’t “get the right food” and I must hate her because I didn’t buy the organic stuff she wanted. But I was only working part-time at a restaurant for $9 an hour and couldn’t afford it. She also gave me $600 a month bill that was also my responsibility with the rest of my paycheck.
Or when I graduated high school and needed to go college, she wouldn’t fill my Fafsa out (she did the same thing to my brother and he had to drop out and go to community college) and kept pushing it back. I had to get a 2nd job to pay my tuition, so I was going to school full-time, and then had a full-time and part-time job.
She figured out the days I got paid, and would drive me to a check cashing place and take most of my money. I couldn’t keep that life up of working 12+ hour days every day and flunked out of my college. I reenrolled in my local community college, but I was just so lost that I ended up quitting.
She brought a new house when I was in college that had a run-down in law suite. She told me if I fixed it I could live in there and pay rent and have some more privacy. I worked extra hours and got a 3rd job, found a plumber and electrician, and would spend hours every week to fix the place, and wouldn’t you know it as soon as I was done she sold the property and took all the profit. She did the same thing to a broken down car that she had, I paid $4k to take it to a mechanic and when we got it back, she “never said that” and still drives that car to this day.
When we were moving (again) i decided to just get an apartment with my boyfriend because I was getting sick and tired of being used. She found out and hid the leasing information that I got from a complex, and guilt tripped me by saying she wouldn’t be able to afford things on just her paycheck and would starve. So I quit looking, just for her to scream at me a week later that I was a useless burden and that I was the one financially abusing her.
So I packed my bags, slept on the dirty floor of my boyfriend’s parents trailer for 2 weeks, got a round of the stimulus checks, and moved out to our own apartment. When I went back to her place to pack the last of my stuff she was snatching things out of my hand, threw my boyfriend’s laptop and tried to choke him/throw him out.I pushed her away from him and she told the family that we both were hitting her, so they don’t talk to me anymore. She was also insulting him for his family bring poor, and making fun of his dead grandmother.
And as I’m getting older and my prefrontal cortex is developing I just don’t understand them. I can understand hurtful things being said in the moment, but to continually be like that means you are making a conscious effort to be a terrible person.
But I miss them so much. I want a mom to talk to about my day and complain about my co-workers with. I want to watch movies at her place again and eat junk food. But she doesn’t deserve it, and I feel like I do. I don’t know what to do.
There’s plenty of more terrible and down right weird things that she does. Like she used to beat me and my brothers with electric wires as a kid. Or recently, she was renting out one of our old homes and my partner and I moved in and we were paying MORE THAN market rent. And she forced us to move out after only 6 weeks because I said no to helping her on a side project because I was busy. But I “owed her” because she could’ve “charged me more”.
Which I should’ve known it would end this way honestly.
My parents are divorced and my father lives in a different city. He only calls me when he needs something and honestly I have stopped answering.
I’m not sure what to do. Advice?