Articles by Margaret Winfrey on ArticleSnatch.com

Why a Good Office Furniture Designer Needs to be One Step Ahead of You

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:46:28 -0500

In these modern times, an office furniture designer has more to think about than building desks and putting together chairs. Today's modern office space demands a great deal from the furniture it uses and in an increasing number of cases the furniture and design is custom-made to suit the particular office space required. Businesses are realizing that by saving a few dollars here and there they are only storing up even larger bills further down the line. One of the challenges facing furniture designers over the past two or three decades is the rapid way in which office space has changed. Primarily this has been as a direct result of changes in technology, with each new wave of technical development bringing in a raft of changes and new requirements to most offices. The offices of the mid to later part of last century were generally ones which included plenty of reasonably sturdy but functional desks, with paperwork comprising the majority of the office business. With computers becoming increasingly important in any modern office environment, this brought new challenges in terms of designing suitable furniture.** End Summary**

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You now understand more about the importance of a good office furniture designer. Visit Corporate Environments for more details of how a good designer can help improve the worth and profitability of your business.

Three Office Interiors Often Forgotten

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:38:30 -0500

Office interiors and the way in which offices are designed and decorated can make a huge impact on the work place. Whether your office area is one in which prospective clients and customers are likely to visit for meetings or tours, or simply an area where your employees will work, it is important to make sure that the area is clean, friendly and efficient in every way possible. Often it is the little extras which can be forgotten, overlooked or ignored which make a big difference. Choosing the physical layout and style of desks and chairs may be one thing, but often there are three areas of an office entirely overlooked, yet extremely important nonetheless. When considering the interior decoration and layout of an office, make sure that you do not overlook the importance and relevance of taking care with the floor, the walls and the ceiling. This might seem a rather obvious statement, and you may be forgiven for querying what part of an office might be left besides the walls, floor and ceiling.** End Summary**

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If you are looking for the ideal office design solution for your business, the check out Corporate Environments and improve your office efficiency while maintaining employee efficiency and business profits.

The Practical Benefits of Office Designer Furniture

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:24:55 -0500

You may be surprised at the level of style and sophistication in office designer furniture these days. Gone are the days of plain desks and functional chairs. Today there is a wealth of office furniture available that is able to combine practicality with appearance, and functionality with comfort. Perhaps the reason that office furniture has been lifted from the reasonably grim and stark offices of a few decades ago is that companies and businesses have realized that investing in better quality furniture they can create an office space which results in a much higher level of productivity and efficiency, not to mention the impression that customers and prospects get immediately they enter the office. A good-looking, efficient office can make the mind up of a potential customer not yet sure which supplier to opt for. To begin with, good quality office space with comfortable, attractive and practical furniture and furnishings is likely to boost staff morale, and this is a significant factor with any successful company.** End Summary**

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You now understand more about the importance of good office designer furniture. Visit Corporate Environments for more details of how office designer furniture can help maintain your profitability and keep your office staff at peak efficiency.

The Four Areas of Good Space Planning

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:34:18 -0500

Space planning today is a tremendous opportunity to get things right from all sorts of different perspectives, but it takes good planning and preparation to get everything to work smoothly and fluently together. If any one of the decisive factors are forgotten, ignored or considered less important, then the space can rapidly lose its efficient functionality and rather than contribute to profit, detract from it due to an increased maintenance cost. So what are the factors which should be taken into consideration when planning office space or reception areas within your business? The easiest way to consider these is to decide who is going to use the space, and what is needed by those who have a responsibility for it or involvement with it. Almost certainly one of the first groups of people to spring to mind will be those people who will work within the space themselves each day. The employees of the company have to be kept in mind when planning any part of a business, and the reception or office area is no different in this respect. All too frequently, this is not the case, with overall appeal and business image taking priority over functionality and practicality.** End Summary**

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You now understand how a good space planning can project your corporate branding and impress visitors. Visit Corporate Environments for more details of how space planning can combine equally the needs of your employees and customers to the advantage of your business.

The Four Areas of Architectural Interior Design

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:30:26 -0400

There are four elements which architectural interior design needs to take into consideration when reviewing the refurbishment, redevelopment or relocation of a business office area. These four areas are all equally important in terms of success and productivity, yet to be able to get all four elements working together in harmony can sometimes be a very real challenge. Failing to give any one of these four areas enough attention can wreak disaster further down the line, not to mention considerable expense. One of the biggest challenges in creating a new office space or reception area is to try to ensure that whilst plenty of people may be involved in the design and development, this doesn't result in different ideas conflicting or contrasting with each other in the final result. Having said that, if too few people are involved then it can easily become the case that the entire design is approached from one particular angle and this may not take into account other implications, needs or views.** End Summary**

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If you are seeking to enhance your exterior image, and provide an attractive and healthy workplace, visit Corporate Environments and improve your office efficiency while impressing your visitors without intimidating them.

Planning your Office Layout for Tomorrow's Business

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:40:52 -0400

Are you planning a new office layout? Perhaps setting up a new office area, or renovating or developing a new layout for an existing area? One of the things that it will be important to consider is the tendency for many office areas to develop organically. If you don't take into account the natural organic generation of an office space, then you could be looking at either an expensive renovation further down the line, or an office space which quickly starts to become less efficient and productive. In terms of what is meant by an organically developing office, most office spaces tend to develop over time. There could be a number of factors which are responsible for this development. Expanding the business and taking on more staff is an obvious reason why an office space might develop, and with extra staff inevitably comes the need for extra desk areas, chairs and so forth. Another reason why office areas tend to adapt and expand is through storage.** End Summary**

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You now understand more about the importance of a good office layout design. Visit Corporate Environments for more details of how a good layout can help improve the profitability of your business and morale of your staff.

Is Your Office Workstation a Hub Or a Hole?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:16:25 -0400

Since an office workstation will be the base for most employees to spend the majority of their day, it is of crucial importance to make sure that you have considered a whole range of factors in order to ensure their comfort and safety. There are often some areas to which a great deal of attention is given, but sadly there are often others which are entirely ignored or overlooked, and if this is the case then over the longer term it is highly probable that injuries, strains or simply a decline in productivity will occur. Yet there are relatively simple things which can be done to improve office workstation design, and the good news is that not all of the solutions cost money. In some cases it will be important to spend a little extra on order to reap a better level of productivity from your employees, but in some cases it is simply a case of considering all possible factors, and looking around at the influencing features of the office environment and deciding how best the office can be designed and compiled into a single cohesive solution.** End Summary**

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If you are looking for the ideal office workstation design solution for your business, the check out Corporate Environments and improve your office workstations while maintaining employee efficiency and business profits.

Increase Your Productivity with Good Office Planning

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:41:09 -0400

When it comes to office planning there's a great deal at stake, and it would certainly not be an exaggeration to suggest that the design of an office and its layout could make a significant impact on the success of the business. Since those who work within the offices once they have been finished will greatly affect the profitability and performance of the business, the office needs to be designed in a way which helps them to work to the best of their ability. Factors to consider do not just include how many desks you can squeeze into a building space, but must take into consideration other factors which can affect mood and performance. Certainly, the number of desks within an office space will make a big difference. If you try to squeeze too many desks into a room or building space then the workers will feel hemmed in and crowded. This can make them feel uncomfortable and stressed, reducing performance. It's also worth bearing in mind that in some cases the noise from a neighboring worker on the phone could disturb or interrupt another worker sitting next to them, reducing their ability to concentrate and work effectively.** End Summary**

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Good office planning is a professional skill, and you can get the best from your office plan by visiting Corporate Environments where you will find the best in modern office planning and ergonomics.

How Your Reception Office can Impress Today, and Still Impress Tomorrow

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:51:10 -0400

Your brand image is everything, and you want that to be backed up by a good first impression of the lay-out and apparent efficiency of your office. Not ostentatious to the point of being vulgar, and not so expensive-looking as to give the impression of profligacy. Potential customers like neither of these things. You must try to make sure that the physical impression you give represents the ideals and image which your company is trying to give: that it reflects your brand image. If your company is dynamic, positive, forward thinking and vibrant, then the decor and general surroundings need to show that vibrancy, and appear dynamic. How this is achieved will depend largely on the space that you have available for your reception office area, and in some cases this might be fairly small, limiting you in many ways. Having said that, large spaces can create just as many challenges, and can project a false image of your company as sacrificing space and resources to your reception area where it might be more profitably be expended elsewhere.** End Summary**

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You now understand how a good reception office layout design can project your corporate branding and the better of your environmental policies. Visit Corporate Environments for more details of how a good reception office layout can convey a positive and lasting first impression upon your visitors.

How Office Furniture Solutions Can Solve Employee Health Problems

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:16:57 -0400

A wide number of office furniture solutions are available to solve many of the common problems which can be experienced within a typical office environment. However, many of these problems are overlooked or ignored, or even accepted as simply part of the way things work. Yet in a modern twenty-first century office there should really be very few problems that could affect the productivity of the office and of the business. Often it is simply a case of realizing that the problems exist, whether they have been raised or ignored, and identifying ways in which they can be improved. All too often, it is the small, niggling little issues that can become deeply irritating, yet accepted, and that can cause a genuine decline in performance. If employees are uncomfortable or experience issues within the office environment then it is inevitable that over time they will develop bad habits to overcome the problems, or even suffer as a direct result. In any case, there will almost certainly be two distinct results, once of which is a general decline in efficiency and productivity, the other being a decline in health and welfare.** End Summary**

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If you are seeking to enhance your image to visitors and customers, and also provide an attractive and healthy workplace, visit Corporate Environments and improve your office efficiency while keeping your employees happy to work for you.

Why Atlanta IDD Therapy Is Effective in Back Pain Relief

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:26:15 -0400

In Atlanta IDD Therapy, otherwise known as Intervertebral Differential Dynamics Therapy, is used to effectively treat many forms of back pain. Back pain is one of the major causes of lost working hours in the world, and the second most common medical condition in the USA. If not treated in a timely manner many forms of back pain can cause permanent disability, and unfortunately it is one of those conditions that, while very common, is frequently treated inadequately. Lower back pain, also known as lumbar pain, is the most common form, generally due to the bending and twisting motions involved as well as the weight of the sacrum it has to hold. The next most common is cervical back pain in the 7 cervical vertebrae of the neck. These vertebrae are subject to the weight of the head also its twisting movements, and are almost as liable to give rise to problems as are the five lumbar vertebrae. The thoracic vertebrae in the middle of the these two cervical and lumbar regions are not subject to the same stresses and strains, and are of a different design to the others, with less resilient thinner discs.** End Summary**

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For more information on IDD Therapy in Atlanta and other Chiropractic Services, check out the Georgia Spinal Health & Wellness website at http://www.georgiaspinal.com

The Stages of Chiropractic Care

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:27:05 -0400

There are a number stages of chiropractic care that are followed in order to ensure that the patient receives the proper treatment sufficient to cure the problem, rather than simply deal with the symptoms or effect temporary relief. Chiropractics is a hands-on healthcare discipline, addressing biomechanical aspects of the musculoskeletal structure of the body and associated neurological problems. An example of the former would be a herniated vertebral disc, and of the latter would be a form of sciatica caused by that herniated disc pressing against a root sciatic nerve as it passes through the vertebrae on its way to the leg. Such conditions have been found to be more effectively treated by means of chiropractics than by surgery or other invasive or semi-invasive techniques. In fact IDD Therapy, for example, is reported to have an average 86% record of success in permanently resolving herniated and bulging disc conditions significantly higher than any other form of treatment. The stages involved in chiropractic care are: 1. The Examination The Doctor of Chiropractics will first examine you in order to ascertain the cause of your condition.** End Summary**

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eeking Chiropractic Care in Atlanta

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:41:47 -0400

When seeking chiropractic care in Atlanta, there are certain things you should keep your eyes open for. Chiropractic care is a profession, and Doctors of Chiropractic, sometimes simply referred to as chiropractors, believe in the body's inherent ability to heal itself with just a little help that avoids drugs, surgery or any other invasive technique. They are generally involved in the treatment of neurological and musculoskeletal problems such as spinal conditions and those involving pain, such as sciatica and back pain. Their treatment involves no surgery or medication, just manipulation that can be carried out manually or by machine. Some forms of Chiropractics can be harmful if not carried out correctly by trained chiropractors, and it is highly recommended that when seeking chiropractic care in Atlanta you make sure that your doctor is certified with the NACM (National Association of Chiropractic Medicine). Typical conditions with which you visit a chiropractor include joint pain, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica and neck and back pain among many other similar conditions. Frequently patients will have tried more traditional remedies such as surgery or pharmaceutical medication without achieving a lasting cure, and have decided to try chiropractics as a last resort.** End Summary**

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For more information on IDD Therapy in Atlanta and other Chiropractic Services, check out the Georgia Spinal Health & Wellness website at http://www.georgiaspinal.com

Medical Conditions Suitable for Chiropractic Treatment

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:27:33 -0400

There are several medical conditions that are suitable for chiropractic treatment, not just back pain and slipped or herniated discs. In fact, some, such as allergies, would not normally be associated with chiropractics, yet many conditions that involve neural pathways are treatable using chiropractic therapy. Here is a range of conditions that can be treated using non-invasive manipulative therapy. Neck and Back Pain The treatment of back pain, and other problems associated with the spine, is a classic application of chiropractics. Many spinal problems can be resolved using manipulative therapy much more effectively that by surgery. A classic case is that of the bulging or herniated disc in the lumbar or cervical vertebrae. Often referred to as a slipped disc, the disc has not slipped because it is firmly attached to the vertebrae, but has actually ruptured. A vertebral disc consists of a spongy shock-absorbent gel, the nucleus pulposus, surrounded by a tough annular sheath. Occasionally the gel will lose its strength, often through age or stresses on the spine, and rupture through the sheath creating a condition known as a herniated disc.** End Summary**

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For more information on IDD Therapy in Atlanta and other Chiropractic Services, check out the Georgia Spinal Health & Wellness website at http://www.georgiaspinal.com

Management of Chronic Pain using Atlanta Chiropractors

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:41:55 -0400

The management of chronic pain involves assessing the potential causes of the pain, and for Atlanta residents that could involve either a regular physician or an Atlanta chiropractor. There is a good choice of Doctors of Chiropractics throughout the state of Georgia, and living in the state capital, and Atlanta residents suffering from chronic pain should be able to find a chiropractor close to their own area of the city. Chronic pain differs from acute pain in that the latter is a signal to your brain that something is wrong, and has to be dealt with immediately in order to prevent further damage. A burn for example, or a fractured limb produces a form of pain that demands immediate attention. However, if the pain is long-lasting, and has lasted for six months, it no longer has the intended effect and becomes not just a nuisance, but can severely affect your quality of life. Conditions that can cause chronic pain include long-term illnesses such as cancer and gastric ulcers, and also nerve damage or ongoing nerve irritation.** End Summary**

About the Author:
For more information on IDD Therapy in Atlanta and other Chiropractic Services, check out the Georgia Spinal Health & Wellness website at http://www.georgiaspinal.com

IDD Therapy in Atlanta and Other Treatments for Back Pain

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:16:23 -0400

IDD Therapy in Atlanta is used predominantly for treating bulging and herniated discs in the lumbar and cervical regions of the spine. At one time known as slipped discs, the term is very misleading since the disc has not slipped, being firmly attached to the spine. The correct terms are either a herniated disc, where the disc has burst and the spongy gel inside protrudes from between the vertebrae, or the fibrous sheath of the disc has lost strength and the inside has bulged, though not actually been forced out of the disc. In either case, the result is very painful, particularly when pressure is applied to the spinal nerves. The function of the disc is to act as a shock absorber between vertebrae, and when this property is comprised then movement can be severely curtailed. The condition can also cause inflammation of the facet joints that connect the vertebrae in such a way as to allow you to bend backwards and forward. These are cartilage joints protected by lubricating synovial fluid, roughly like your knee joints, but much smaller of course. When inflamed, the synovial fluid can also cause pain and restrict your movement.** End Summary**

About the Author:
For more information on IDD Therapy in Atlanta and other Chiropractic Services, check out the Georgia Spinal Health & Wellness website at http://www.georgiaspinal.com

IDD Therapy in Atlanta and How it Works

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:07:33 -0400

IDD Therapy in Atlanta is a treatment designed to help people suffering from lower back and neck pain caused by deficiencies in the ability of the discs and facet joints to maintain a smooth pain-free movement of the vertebrae between each other. Each of the vertebrae in your back is separated from the next by means of two facet joints and a disc. The facet joints are lined by cartilage lubricated with synovial fluid, and this fluid can become inflamed and painful. The disc is like an annular ring filled with an aqueous gel, known as the nucleus pulposa, which absorbs the shock between the vertebrae. Under certain conditions this can rupture, causing what is known as a herniated disc, with leakage of the gel through the fibrous covering of the disc. Each of these conditions is very painful and can be alleviated by IDD, or Intervertebral Differential Dynamics Therapy as it is properly known. What this does is to prevent further disc rupture or leakage of the nucleus pulposa, but more importantly it helps the disc to repair itself.** End Summary**

About the Author:
For more information on IDD Therapy in Atlanta and other Chiropractic Services, check out the Georgia Spinal Health & Wellness website at http://www.georgiaspinal.com

How Does Atlanta IDD Therapy Relieve Back Pain

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:43:45 -0400

Atlanta IDD therapy, or Intervertebral Differential Dynamics Therapy, is a non-invasive chiropractic technique use to treat painful back conditions that arise from internal disc decompression. It was development as a means of treating lower back pain and has evolved into a general non-surgical method of treating a number of painful back conditions. A large number of studies have been carried out that have proved its effectiveness in doing so. Because of the design of your spine (more later) your thoracic vertebrae, the middle 12, have very thin discs, and are less susceptible to the damage of the first 7 cervical vertebrae that involve a lot of movement, and the last 5 (sometimes 6) lumbar vertebrae that have thick discs to help cushion the pressure of the sacrum and general heavy lifting. For that reason IDD is generally used only for pain involving cervical and lumbar regions of the spine. Spinal problems can cause not only pain at the site of the problem, but also pain in the arms and legs, weakness of muscles and also bladder and bowel problems created by a condition known as cauda equina syndrome which is a medical emergency brought on by herniated discs.** End Summary**

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Atlanta Pain Management Using Chiropractics

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:17:14 -0400

Assuming that the type of pain involved is suitable for it, Atlanta pain management can be achieved by using chiropractics. Although Georgia chiropractors in general are qualified to use the techniques available to them in the management of pain, for Atlanta in particular you also have a number of qualified Doctors of Chiropractics from which to choose. Many people believe that pain relief can only be achieved through medication or conventional treatment, and that chiropractics is more concerned with the muscles and bones of your body than with the nerves that cause the pain. However, they could not be more wrong. Nerves donï¿½"'""t cause pain: they simply relay the pain signals to the brain that then relay them back to where it perceives the pain to originate. The true cause of pain is the event that triggers the pain response to the brain. In Atlanta pain management can be achieved by chiropractics when that pain is initiated by an event such as nerve trapped by a herniated disc or a misaligned spine.** End Summary**

About the Author:
For more information on IDD Therapy in Atlanta and other Chiropractic Services, check out the Georgia Spinal Health & Wellness website at http://www.georgiaspinal.com

Atlanta IDD Therapy and Spine Anatomy

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:24:03 -0400

In Atlanta IDD Therapy is used to treat problems with the spine, specifically herniated or bulging discs: commonly erroneously referred to by some as slipped discs. A brief discussion of spinal anatomy will be used as an introduction to how Intervertebral Differential Dynamics can be applied to provide a permanent cure to these painful vertebral conditions.The spine consists of five regions: the cervical region, comprising the first seven vertebrae, the thoracic region comprising the next 12, the lumbar region that contains five vertebrae, but sometimes six in a few people, the sacrum that has five fused vertebrae, then finally the coccyx with three fused vertebrae. Disc problems are associated predominantly with the cervical and lumbar regions.Vertebral AnatomyVertebrae are complex structures that are designed to offer rigidity to the body but also a degree of flexibility, most of that coming from the cervical and lumbar regions. They also hold and protect the spinal cord: the thick nerve bundle that comes from the brain and distributes the nervous system throughout the body.** End Summary**

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Luxury Market Research---Popular Views of Conspicuous Consumptions Debunked in Survey of Luxury Cons

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Luxury is a very ambiguous word that is used very looselyÃ¢â¬Â, according to Ron Kurtz, President of The American Affluence Research Center (AARC), which has conducted a survey that provides a new view of the luxury market and how luxury consumers define luxury. In this survey, the affluent defined luxury by price point and brand for 37 products and services. Affluent Report the Most They Could Imagine Spending for 37 Products In AARCÃ¢â¬â¢s ground breaking research on the definition of luxury among the affluent, the respondents to the survey of the wealthiest 10% of US households were asked to specify the most they could imagine spending for 37 different products and services. They were also asked to name the brand they would most likely purchase for each of the items. The profile of the 552 affluent men and women in the national survey sample is: $304,000 average household income, $3.1 million average household net worth, and $1.2 million average value of their primary home. The average age is 55 while 86% are married and 60% are males. Conspicuous Consumers Only 10% of Affluent Market;** End Summary**

About the Author:
The American Affluence Research Center , led by AARC President Ron Kurtz, provides marketing research and mailing lists of affluent consumers to prominent companies targeting the affluent market, commonly referred to as The Luxury Market . AARC is an independent, private research organization dedicated to providing reliable marketing information about the values, lifestyles, attitudes,invest

Luxury Market Research---Popular Views of Conspicuous Consumptions Debunked in Survey of Luxury

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

For several years, luxury retail and marketing consultants have fed the media with anecdotal research about the luxury market as though the purchases of $700 Manolo Blahnik shoes, $1,000 Prada hand bags, and $250 True Religion jeans are common place among luxury consumers. But the affluent women in a survey of the wealthiest 10% of US households by The American Affluence Research Center (AARC) report they are more likely to spend less than $120 for nice shoes, less than $100 for a purse for every day, and less than $75 for a pair of womenÃ¢â¬â¢s jeans. Luxury is a very ambiguous word that is used very looselyÃ¢â¬Â, according to Ron Kurtz, President of AARC, who observed that the definition of luxury varies considerably by individual and by product, as clearly demonstrated by our survey. In this survey, the affluent defined luxury by price point and brand for 37 products and services". Affluent Report the Most They Could Imagine Spending for 37 Products In AARCÃ¢â¬â¢s ground breaking research on the definition of luxury among the wealthy, the survey respondents were asked to specify the most they could imagine spending for 37 different products and services.** End Summary**

Luxury Consumer Research---Affluent Market for Vacation Homes Looks Gloomy for Full Ownership

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The potential market for vacation homes, including full ownership and private residence and destination clubs, has declined substantially from 2007 levels, reflecting losses in net worth and a negative 12-month outlook for the economy and personal income among the wealthiest 10% of US households surveyed in March 2009 by The American Affluence Research Center. The American Affluence Research Center has studied this market every 2 years since 2005. The Spring 2009 Affluent Market Tracking Study #15 includes relevant comparisons to the 2007 survey results. Only 4.1% of the respondents indicated serious consideration of the acquisition of a wholly-owned second home during the next 12 months versus 9.8% in 2007. Intent to consider a time share or a private residence or destination club totals less than 1% and is essentially unchanged from 2007. About 6 in 10 of the affluent market indicate no familiarity with either the private residence or destination club concepts, despite the growth in the numbers, the marketing expenditures, and the media exposure of companies offering these concepts. This represents little or no change in the level of concept familiarity over the past two years.** End Summary**

Luxury Consumer Perspectives- Affluent Consumers Plan Less Home Remodeling in New Survey

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

A record low level of major home remodeling projects by affluent consumers is suggested by the most recent survey in a series of twice-yearly studies that began in Spring 2002. Negative attitudes about the current economy and the economic outlook for the next 12 months are contributing to plans for deferring major home remodeling projects by affluent consumers during the next year, according to the Affluent Market Tracking Study #15 conducted by the American Affluence Research Center. In the Spring 2009 survey of the wealthiest 10% of all U.S. households, only 10% of the affluent consumers reported plans for major home remodeling during the next 12 months. Equal to 1.1 million home remodeling projects, this is less than half the number in the Spring 2008 survey and a record low. The record high was 34% in the Spring 2005 survey. The incidence of home remodeling plans is highest among those under age 50 (14%), those with income above $200,000 (13%), and those with a net worth of $6 million or more (13%). The survey respondents indicated a negative 12 month outlook for business conditions and personal household income.** End Summary**

Luxury Market Research - Affluent Consumers Plan Less Spending on Major Home Appliances

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

A record low level of spending by affluent consumers for major home appliances is suggested by the most recent survey in a series of twice-yearly studies that began in Spring 2002. Negative attitudes about the current economy and the economic outlook for the next 12 months are contributing to plans for reducing major home appliance expenditures by affluent consumers during the next year, according to the Affluent Market Tracking Study #15 conducted by the American Affluence Research Center. In the Spring 2009 survey of the wealthiest 10% of all U.S. households, spending plans for major home appliances during the next 12 months, in comparison to their spending for such items during the past 12 months, are to be increased by 9% of the affluent consumers and to be reduced by 39% of the affluent. The remainder (52%) expects to spend the same for major home appliances during the next year as in the past year. The survey respondents indicated a negative 12 month outlook for business conditions and personal household income. They also reported declines in their net worth, as a result of substantial declines in the value of their home and their investments/savings during the past two years.** End Summary**