Arminak-Associates Blog

In liking challenges as it comes

jeric — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:58:13 +0000

Today my friend asked me “do you like your job?” I told him “of course not!” That answer just came out so naturally…….. Then he asked me “so why are you still doing it?”
I told him “One thing for sure it’s not because of the pay…. I am still doing it because I can find myself successful on this job. Every day we are facing new challenges, new deadlines and new quality problems; we will have to solve them in timely manner to maintain customer’s satisfaction. To deal these issues with China factories is just like fighting a battle, sometimes people are hiding from you, sometimes we get insulted, and sometimes we even have to fight with our own people. Everyone has their point to protect themselves, and to win the battle, strong negotiation skills is not enough, we also need endless patience and must have the spirit of never giving up. For all the issues that I have solved, they make me feel successful and keep me motivated. This will be the reason why I am still doing this job. So if my friend asks me again if I like my job, my answer will be “I have begun to like it…”

Jay Huang – OP Dept.

Proper Attitude towards Good Service

jeric — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:31:20 +0000

A friend of mine in this business said, “A distributor lives
and dies by the level of service they offer”. I take this to heart.
It is absolutely true. In a previous blog I commented that people buy
from you because they like you and went on to describe relationships with
customers and building that trust. This all amounts to quality of
service. In this business, if the person or company you are buying from
makes it too much work or hassle for it to be worth it, then why bother?
A distributor’s job is to make things easy, get you what you need, by the time
you need it, and without hassle, then it’s a win win situation. Although
I am far from perfect, my goal is to always respond to customers with detailed
answers, meet the lead time they need on orders, respond to inquiries and
emails on the same day, send out samples on the same day, and follow up and
follow through and all inquiries. Good service is the key to bringing in
business!

Ben Cheng – OP Dept.

The Essence of Teamwork

jeric — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:24:58 +0000

Teamwork is defined as the following: cooperate or coordinated effort on the part of a group of persons acting together as a team or in the interests of a common cause. As the operations department who operates as the bridge in our company, our goal is to ensure that nothing gets in the way of our success. We have definitely been put to the test to see what our teamwork was really about for the last couple of months or so. Our manager was put on bed rest during her pregnancy around the end of last year. Now, this may not seem so much of a shock to anyone else reading this but she doesn’t just function as our operations manager, she involved in so much more than that. I want to say she’s almost like a general manager for our company. Therefore, it was definitely a shock and a test to how we would pull together as a team in her absence and pull together we did. Luckily, she’s a very well prepared person and trained as to what we would do if she were ever absent for a lengthier amount of time. When the time came to everyone quickly picked up their posts and we were all very cooperative with each other. There were no bickering amongst us and everyone upped their game. It was a lot of responsibility but we truly felt a sense of camaraderie and I really felt proud of our team. Also, there is no such thing as completely abandoning our work here. Although our manager wasn’t with us physically in the company, she helped to monitor us still from her home (ah! The conveniences of technology). I am happy to say that she’s had the baby since then, and a cute baby it is! : )
Shortly after this, we were hit with another blow. Two of our co-worker unfortunately had to leave our team. In addition to the fact that we already work overtime almost every day, we are now short two people and have to take up the workload. It’s quite overwhelming and can be stressful, but everyone is doing their best to help each other. Our goal now is to make sure that our customers don’t feel ANY impact. As a result, we’ve pulled in extra hours to ensure that this happens. I hope people can recognize and know that this is the type of people that are working in this company.

Tiffanie Liu – OP Dept.

March Madness 2012

jeric — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:20:42 +0000

March is all about March madness. Well, I am having a little March madness myself here at Arminak by getting the employee of the month award. I do believe hard work will pay off eventually. Difficult things or impossible things, you will just need to work harder and a little more patience? At Arminak, everything is about hard work and smart work. Customer are giving us difficult and impossible to complete project and launch date, we just need to work hard and find a way to help, solve the issue, and provide the best solution. By the end, you meet the customer requirements, meet the customer launch date, and see the product on the shelve, you will then feel like you are winning the national championship game. Now, I wish the next March madness will be so kindness to me again, do March right!

Kelvin Giang – OP Dept.

Start Up Companies

arali — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:00:30 +0000

Start-up companies require a tremendous amount of hand holding and education. They rely on us as account managers to help them realize and accomplish their dreams. They
rely on us as experts, to help lead and guide them in their path to success. There was never a book in the beauty business that can immediately pin point you to the correct contacts that will help the entrepreneur reach their goal in the most cost-effective and expeditious period of time. We as individuals, as representatives of A&A have graduated from experience, Schools of Hard Knocks–good and bad, and with this, we are able to guide our customers in the right direction. This is one of the most labor-intensive yet most fulfilling aspects about my job. There will always be an entrepreneur who recognizes a well-known brand and believes they can do the job, more efficiently, more efficaciously, more innovatively. This is where the hottest, newest most up-and-coming products can be born in the marketplace, and we are there at its inception all the way to its birth! To see a launch of a product that you’ve had your fingers on and viable input is one of the most fulfilling parts you can ever want in this business. So if you have an idea, a concept and you are ready to do, we will be there from start to finish, helping you in any way we can every step of the way. When it comes to “10” and I say push, “Do it!”

Leigh Ann, Sales Representative

Create Brand Awareness with the Right Cosmetic Packaging

arali — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:16:19 +0000

The cosmetics industry has now become a multi-billion dollar industry. If you enter any shop, you will be amazed at the varied range of cosmetics available in trendy packages adorning the shelves in the cosmetics section. From skin care to hair care, creams, perfumes, lotions, lipsticks to bath oils, there is a whole range to meet your beauty requirements. Making the best product is not enough, how attractively you package it is also important. Cosmetic packaging speaks volumes about the product inside.

Cosmetic manufacturers are waking upto the fact that attractive and effective packaging is a valuable strategy for marketing the product as it creates a familiarity between the consumer and the brand. There are so many cosmetic brands and products available to today that manufacturers need to come up with different marketing strategies to stay on top to enhance their market value and ROI. This also helps the manufacturers in creating an identity of their own in the flourishing cosmetics industry.

Brand Recall – The uniqueness of the product can be reflected in its packaging. It helps companies not only in building a distinctive identity of their own but also helps customers differentiate them from their competitors. These packaging’s are not designed for protection of the product alone but also for aesthetic beauty. By using unique and interesting colors, textures and materials, you can make your packaging creative and attractive so that it stand out and speaks for itself.

Product Awareness – Effective communication is important. A well-packaged product is not enough; it should have instructions in multiple languages and also carry details such as quantity, price, lot number, manufacturing and expiration dates, color, and ingredients, creating an awareness about the product that is being sold.

Protection- A well-packed cosmetic product, irrespective of whether it is lotion pump or a tube or air pump, should protect and preserve its contents from contamination. Customer is looking for products that can protect their skin and at the same time add beauty; hence, great care must be taken to protect the products during storage, transportation, and distribution. A good packaging can protect from the cosmetic from getting contaminated due to climatic effects, hazardous chemicals, infestation and so on.

Cosmetic packaging manufacturers are exploring other possibilities for reducing their carbon footprint as much as possible by adopting organic lifestyle in packaging. Companies today are making radical changes in cosmetic packaging and taking different approaches when it comes to adopting environmentally friendly products and focusing on eco-friendly options. The most preferred materials that are currently used for packaging organic cosmetics include glass, aluminum, paper, bamboo, and wood etc. These are recyclable, bio-degradable, and non-polluting.

These products will allow for consumers to recycle the bottles and containers upon full usage of the cosmetic product inside, to help alleviate the amount of cosmetic products being dumped in our landfills on an annual basis.
So you should be careful enough in choosing the right cosmetic packaging for your product depending on the usage as well as market trends.

If all enterprises involved with wholesale cosmetic packaging are careful enough in choosing the right cosmetic packaging for their product depending on usability and market trend, they can contribute to the greener planet. Thus, today cosmetic packaging is not just a container or box; it is more about effectiveness of brand and communication for successful merchandising.

They like me, they really like me.

arali — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:14:25 +0000

Someone once told me, “They don’t buy from you because of what your selling or how much it costs, they buy from you because they like you!” To be honest, I think that actually came from a movie instead. Regardless, it has some truth to it and as an account manager I can say I’ve experienced it.

In this line of work, people will buy from you if they trust you and like you. People want their orders to be delivered smoothly, on time, and without quality problems as much as they want to save money. By having a good relationship with your customers, they will also appreciate when you tell them the truth about the delays and what you’re doing to resolve the issues. Therefore, although I can’t always give my customers everything they want, I’ve found that as long as they know I’m doing everything I can and working for their best interest, I can be successful at my job.

- Ben

The Modern Day Foamers

arali — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:41:48 +0000

Foamers or foam bottles are very much in use in today’s world, both in the domestic as well as in the commercial sector. You can say that foam packaging is a high-end version of the conventional liquid dispenser packaging done using the latest technologies. The design and outlook is modified in order to suit the needs and appeal to the new age customers. Foamers or foam bottles are often used for hand-washing products in residences as well as hotels. It is especially used in winters to ward off viruses and bacteria generated ailments, for instance flu. At the same time, customers while looking out for a foam bottle would not only select the product depending on the utility but also the overall appearance, material used, color combination and whether it would be at par with their lifestyle standards.

Most consumers today are style and lifestyle conscious. They choose each domestic accessory right from the curtains to kitchen appliances with great precision. The same applies for foamers. Majority of then prefers an urban design, which would entail that the foamers are compactly built. Everyone today prefers sleek or small foamers than the huge ones that would not be difficult to accommodate and would not look out of place. Keeping this in mind, eminent companies in packaging solutions have introduced neatly designed and structured foam packaging bottles and pumps.

The modern day packaging solutions supplier offers foamer pumps that are specially designed with an over-cap feature that helps to prevent leakage of the fluid content, that might happen when not in use or during any shipment. All the products and product variants are available at a competitive price range that suits the marketers’ cost chart.

Domains catered by these packaging solution manufacturers and suppliers with their foamers include the following:-

Cosmetic packaging
Personal care packaging
Skin care packaging
Household & cleaning products packaging
Hair care packaging
Automotive packaging markets

Manufacturers of foamers take great care and precision in manufacturing and finally delivering them to the market. Right from the initial stage of product conception to the final production, every packaging problem that a customer might face is given attention to. For instance, a foamer with a tight nozzle can lead to leakage or improper function on applying force. Another example would be the color of the foamer and the material used. This might prevent a user from the seeing how much liquid content is left if the color is dark and the material opaque. Therefore, consumer complaints and feedback is of ultimate importance to these companies, so that they are able to provide innovative foamer bottles that suit the customer requirement, choice and demand.

It’s all about attitude

arali — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:04:34 +0000

There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative. Whenever I am encountered with a challenge at work, others may think it is mission impossible, but I don’t have the word “impossible” in my dictionary. I think it is difficult but I can make it happen. This is my attitude which makes solving any problems a more pleasant experience and keeps me going towards my goal. After all, I have to say excellence is not a skill, it is an attitude.

- Jay

The Benefits of Liquid Soap Dispensers

arali — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:18:01 +0000

Liquid dispensers are today widely used at home and in businesses whether offices or hotel and are available in a wide range of styles, colors, shapes and capacities. They are no longer a luxury item but have become a necessary part of our life. These liquid dispensers dispense the exact amount of liquid making it cost effective option.

Liquid soap dispensers help reduce the exchange of germs and bacteria between users that is spread by contact, a reason why people today prefer liquid soap over shared bar soap. This dispenser is perfect for use in bathrooms, kitchens, offices, schools, hospitals, hotels and restaurants.

With a variety of liquid dispensers available, thought should be given to what type of liquid dispenser to select. Selecting the best type depends on several factors like:

Capacity – is a prime concern, especially for business use. Choosing the size of dispenser depends on the number of people who will be using and the place where it will be used. This will ensure regulated supply of liquid and keeping maintenance time to a minimum.

Convenience - Refills and cleaning are quick and easy with liquid dispensers and they not only reduce mess but reduce waste as well which is ideal for use in businesses. At home using a liquid dispenser
prevents germ and there is less likelihood of spreading infections or illnesses among users.

Cost – Liquid dispensers are available online and in shops at wholesale discounted prices.

Variety – There is a huge variety of liquid dispensers to order from. Style, colors and shapes are plentiful to fit almost any décor at home or in an office or business setting. They can be wall mounted or push pump that releases a limited amount of soap available in different sizes.

Protection – Irrespective of whether it is lotion pump or liquid dispenser, it should protect and preserve its contents from contamination. A good packaging can protect its contents from getting contaminated due to climatic effects, hazardous chemicals, infestation and so on.

Eco Friendly Products – The most preferred materials that are currently used for making these dispensers include glass, aluminum, paper, bamboo, and wood etc. These are recyclable, bio-degradable, and non-polluting.

This is why many homes, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, business offices, gyms and doctor’s offices rely on using liquid dispensers in restrooms, kitchens, patient rooms and other common areas.