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When starting out in business or taking over a small business one of the first tasks is to organize how the records will be kept and how this information will be handed over to the relevant people come tax time. Many times people opt straight for the common programs that seem to dominate the market these days but truth be told any number of these programs and applications are far too complex for small business.

What should be a relatively simple task can be turned into a real nightmare if the software you are using is not suitable for your business. When looking around for an Accounting Software package it is easy to get bamboozled by the many functions and features that many programs offer, but is this what your business needs and more importantly are these added features going to take almost a lifetime to study and understand?

When first starting out it is wise to go for a small accounting software package that you can easily understand and operate. In most cases these small accounting software packages can be scaled up as your business grows and there is no need to learn another language before starting out!

Many small business owners and sole operators report difficulty in finding the time to complete the necessary accounting and tax obligations as well as keeping up with their work load and are always looking for ways to save time. Why burden yourself with the extra worry of learning a complex accounting package for your business when there are small accounting software packages that are easily understood and have all the features that you need now and for many years to come.

Introduction

There are people who have some concerns about the impact of promotional balloons on the environment and safety issues of printed promotional items and around the effects of working with latex. However fear is often a derivative of ignorance so becoming knowledgeable enables people to make informed choices. Where there is understanding and information, the mind does not need to fill in the empty spaces with fearful conjecture and catastrophising.

The idea of balloon safety is not really about balloons so much as the materials from which they are made. The bulk of balloons are made from latex or natural rubber which is actually a very environmentally friendly product and has been around for decades. More recently foil balloons have been produced that are made from thin non-stretch fabric which is basically metalized plastic film which does not bio-degrade like latex. This type of balloon is invariably filled with helium so that it rises up and is secured with a ribbon so that it doesn’t float away.

So what is Latex?

Balloons have been around for many years and the latex from which modern balloons are made come from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree or as many people know it, the rubber tree. These trees which grow in tropical climes, such as South East Asia, do not need to be cut down to obtain the rubber. The mature trees are tapped regularly by making a Y cut in the bark and placing a small container at the bottom of the Y to collect the milky sap which oozes from the tree. This is the basic latex from which so many different|variable|diverse} goods are made. Latex is a highly sustainable product providing work and income for people in some of the poorest countries in the world.

The management and maintenance of the rubber plantations means there is no deforestation, which helps in the issue of global warming. The trees use carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into the atmosphere, which is the opposite process to industrial pollution which contributes to the substantial increase in greenhouse gases. So as a basic resource it is an environmentally friendly, regenerating product.

Uses of Natural Rubber latex (NRL)

Natural Rubber latex (NRL) is used in thousands of everyday items we take for granted in our modern lifestyle. A balloon is just one of many commercial products we recognise as obviously being made from rubber. Some of the more essential items made from NRL are car, lorry, plane and bus tyres which carry us and the essential consumer products we use daily, around the world. necessary items such as underwear elastic and elastic used in fashion day wear, shoe soles, carpets, rubber bands and erasers have been in use for many decades. More recent consumer necessities come in the form of buttons in calculators and remote controls.

Balloon Publicity

Balloons races or balloon releases are a way of generating publicity at major fund raising events. A message or company logo is printed onto the balloons and then released into the sky in large numbers. This is a spectacular sight when thousands of helium filled balloons of different colours rise up into the atmosphere all together.

Balloon gas is the component used to make balloons rise and become airborne.

Rubber balloons inflated with Helium normally only stay afloat for a few hours days if they are not punctured by birds, trees or other sharp objects that they might encounter. The reason is that helium atoms are smaller than the pores in the latex and so gradually seep through and the balloon deflates. To retain the buoyancy and increase the float time of a gas filled balloon the inside can be coated with a special polymer solution which reduces leakage.

Safety and Environmental Concerns

The concerns over the years from the general public have been about the effect of large numbers of balloons being released into the atmosphere. Naturally some people believe that massed balloons may be harmful to wild, farm and domestic animals and that on landing they may pose a serious hazard through ingestion or entanglement.

However all latex balloons are completely natural coming from the Hevea tree and they break down at about the same rate as oak leaves. Oxidation starts to occur within an hour of a balloon being inflated and during the process of decay, by natural exposure, nutrients are released into the soil. The oxidation is sometimes visible as a cloudy appearance when balloons are exposed to outdoor conditions, direct sunlight and heat. However research shows that latex balloons under varying conditions take about 6 months to decompose so they are even suitable for composting.

Reputable balloon companies should only use bio-degradable latex these days. For example, all balloons produced by B-loony, the UK’s largest manufacturer of printed promotional balloons, are made from bio-degradable latex.

It is estimated that 90/95% of balloons released rise to an altitude of approximately 5 miles at which height the cold will cause the balloon to become brittle and shatter in to miniscule pieces. Balloon remains are unlikely to cause harm on landing, even if ingested, as the latex and the dyes used in latex colouring are non-toxic and completely bio-degradable.

Regulations on Balloon Releases

The UK’s Balloon Trade Association NABAS, is very aware of its responsibilities to the environment and has circulated a Code of Conduct for balloon releases giving advice to ensure the protection of the environment. Only natural rubber latex may be used for balloon releases. Balloons must be hand tied and labels attached are required to be recycle-able paper. Plastic valves or wire should not be used.

Any Large balloon event of more than 5,000 balloons requires permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which has to be applied for in writing at least 28 days before the event. The CAA like to be informed also for balloon releases of up to 5,000 balloons.
Source: NABAS The Balloon Association and The European Balloon Council

Printed Balloons

Recently I was looking for a balloon which had a 90 printed on it because my grandmother is ninety this week and we are giving her a big celebratory party. However there were no balloons in the store where I was looking, that had any number above 60. Maybe the suppliers of printed balloons don’t think people over 60 want to be reminded of their age. I did think it would be a good idea to have a balloon which could have the number you want attached once it is inflated. They do it with some birthday cards where you buy a separate number and stick it onto the card of your choice.

For that special event helium balloons are the perfect decoration for the celebration.

There are a great number of possibilities for the use of helium and printed balloons. They can be used as a marketing tool to deliver a message about a company or event, or to highlight a product launch or marketing campaign. The logo or message is specially printed onto the balloons by the company supplying the service and they will also deliver the balloons to the customer. It is obviously more economical to order large quantities and for balloon releases or races this would not be a problem.

Health and Safety for People Working with Latex

People who work with Latex on a frequent basis have to be concerned about the long term effects of exposure to the material. Natural rubber latex is a plant product and as such contains proteins to which some individuals may become allergic. The proteins naturally present in latex may cause allergies either through direct contact with skin or by inhalation of a powder. Latex gloves may be powdered with cornstarch which attach to NRL allergens causing them to be airborne and possibly inhaled when the gloves are used. Those most at risk are health care workers who use latex gloves on a daily basis and those undergoing multiple surgical procedures.

Some people experience irritation to the skin on contact with NRL but it is not a true allergy but rather an irritant contact dermatitis. Sensitised people however may find they have an allergic reaction when in direct contact with balloons. Other individuals who may have an allergic reaction are people who already suffer with atopic allergic diseases such as hay fever, asthma and some irritant skin conditions or a history of certain food allergies of banana, avocado, kiwi and chestnuts.

If you are prone to any of the above conditions then it is probably not wise to work in a company producing items made from NRL. However cornstarch is not used as a de-tack powder in the manufacture of toy balloons. Instead they are lightly coated with an inorganic filler such as calcium carbonate diatomaceous earth and clays which do not bind to latex proteins. Natural Rubber Latex is a very cost effective material that is widely used throughout the world and for the majority of the population there is no form of clinical risk.

Source: Health & Safety Executive Guidelines 2008 (see www.hse.gov.uk/latex ) TARRC Rubber Consultants Report 2005

Another great low cost advertising give away are hand-held flags, or hand waivers as they are also known. These are very cost effective and will provide a colourful impact to your event. Because they are made of paper they are bio-degradable and can be made of recycled materials. It is easy to have messages printed on them and you can create your own scheme and effect.

Hand held flags are small rectangles of paper, which can be printed on one or both sides, and mounted on a plastic or biodegradable stick. These paper flags have become particularly popular over recent years because they are colourful, attractive, and can be purchased at unbelievably low prices. Paper flags are more often used today to advertise and promote fund raising projects, special occasions or sporting events. Youngsters particularly enjoy waving flags as part of the crowd during a special event.

Special effects can be created using hand waving flags by controlled choreographed actions on the part of the participants.

Obviously paper flags are a great way to get your promotional message across. They can be printed on one or both sides with the company logo and they can also be used as very economical promotional gifts.

Because paper flags are made from paper and the print area is flat and a set size, it is possible to choose almost any artwork you can think of to customise your event. The quality and finish of the flags is exceptionally high because they are digitally printed. The printing firm will probably have an impressive range of paper flags designs as samples because they usually hold back a few from each print run.

All samples will be from real events ranging from world promotions, product launches, sports teams events or fund raising campaigns and there will be no limit to the number that can be printed. Paper flags are a popular choice for other promotional events such as VIP visits, sales events and advertising. Many football fans carry paper flags with their club logos or colours to advertise their support for their favourite club whether it’s the Premier League, the World Championship, or a local cup final.

Foil Balloons

Foil balloons are very attractive with shiny reflective surfaces and can be printed with full colour pictures and patterns to a customer’s order. Foil balloons have the advantage of being lightweight, longer-lasting, with increased buoyancy. They are perfect for eye catching promotions, special celebrations and for product launches.

There are further environmental concerns about the safety of the foil balloon because they don’t biodegrade or shred like rubber balloons. However they are not allowed to be used in balloon releases or races, and need to be carefully disposed of after use. The most important property of metalized nylon or foil balloons is its ability to keep the helium gas from escaping for several weeks.

Balloons for Work

Latex balloons are an environmentally friendly product. Not only do they provide entertainment and recreational use bringing pleasure to thousands of children, they are valuable in a work setting for research, medicine, promotion and education.

Balloons are regularly used for meteorological work and in more recent years they are used in some medical procedures for a variety of conditions such as angioplasty, catheters for weight loss, and sinus procedures. Also balloons are a widely used teaching device to demonstrate Newton’s third law of physics and the functioning of a rocket. Once the balloon is inflated, the mouth of the balloon is released and the greater pressure of air inside, forces its way out so that the elasticity of the balloon contracts and the balloon is propelled forward making a rude noise. This is fundamentally how a rocket works.

Without balloons valuable services could not be performed and the public would be the losers in the long run. Professional quality balloons are made from 100% biodegradable latex.

Conclusion

The concerns about balloon safety primarily arise from the materials of which they are made. Although Latex is a natural substance and has been used for many years without harm, people who work in the arena of manufacture are exposed to some degree of risk and employers will conduct thorough risk assessments . Latex balloons are considered very safe and environmentally friendly, but problems will arise when a balloon is inflated using a plastic valve or with a ribbon attached which are not biodegradable.

There are a number of industry bodies which control and monitor balloon activities on a large scale and health and safety regulations in place for those working in industries manufacturing or using latex. The advantages of having and using latex products, certainly outweighs any perceived dangers of such an environmentally safe material.

Introduction

Central to the mythology of mirrors is Narcissus a Boeotian hero, who disliked those who loved him for his own natural beauty. He famously gazed into a pool of water and was so fascinated with the reflection, that he was unable to bring himself to leave the image. Not realising that the image he could see was of his own natural beauty, he couldn’t bring himself to leave the image, and he perished.

The concept of how the mirror works is quite simple. It stems simply from the reflective surface of still water and therefore nature plays its part. When you look down into a puddle or a dark pool of water, the smooth water reflects the light straight back into your eyes.

Mirrors work in exactly the same way, in that a mirror is made up of a coated glass surface which when a polished metal surface or metal film is applied behind the glass, light cannot shine through and so reflects the image back. Young children especially, are always fascinated when they look into a mirror for the first time and see their own reflection staring back at them. Anyone who has young children will remember the vision of their young daughter kissing their image on a mirror.My eight year old daughter loves sitting in front of her mirror applying her make up nearly as much as my fifteen year old daughter!

Where would we be today without mirrors? Mirrors are generally used for personal grooming or interior decoration and have evolved from a luxury item into a necessity. There is an enormous variety of mirror shapes and sizes and over the years, mirrors have gradually evolved to meet many different requirements. Today there is a large selection of mirrors , ranging from small mirrors to large mirrors, framed, unframed and includes bathroom mirrors, decorative mirrors, illuminated mirrors, LED mirrors, shaving mirrors, compact mirrors and demister mirrors.

Away from personal use, mirrors are also used as part of scientific apparatus such as cameras, lasers, telescopes and periscopes, to reflect light and used as tools in dentistry and medical care.

History of Mirrors

The history of mirrors as far as we can see dates back over 8,000 years. The earliest known mirrors were made from pieces of polished stone such as obsidian, a naturally occurring glass from cooled volcanic lava flows. In Anatolia in Turkey, examples of obsidian mirrors dated at around 6000 BC have been found. In south and central America, polished stone mirrors from around 2000 BC on wards have also been found. From around 3000 BC mirrors of polished copper are known to have been crafted in ancient Egypt.

The first metal coated glass mirrors are thought to have been made in the first century AD, in Sidon, known today as Lebanon. The Roman author Pliny makes reference to glass mirrors backed with gold leaf in his Naturalis Historia, one of the largest reference books to have survived from the Roman Empire, which focused on natural and man-made objects and was written in around 77 AD.

In the 10th Century Arabian Physicists, considered different types of mirrors, reflecting mirrors and parabolic mirrors and another discussed concave and convex mirrors in both cylindrical and spherical geometries. In undertaking various experiments with mirrors, finding the point on a convex mirror at which a ray of light coming from one point is reflected to another point was solved.

During the period of the 14th to 17th Centuries, across Europe a method of coating glass with a tin-mercury amalgam was perfected by manufacturers. Venice was recognised for its glass making expertise and soon became a centre of mirror production using this new technique. Glass mirrors from this period were extremely expensive luxuries.

The particular process of silvering to produce the first silvered-glass mirror is credited to German chemist Justus von Liebig in 1835. He developed a process to apply a thin layer of metallic silver onto glass through the chemical reduction of silver nitrate. The process was adapted for mass production and led to the greater availability of affordable mirrors.

The evolution of the mirror over the years is quite interesting, if like me you love mirrors! It has developed from a luxury item to an item which is now taken for granted in daily use. Today, walk into any DIY store to look at mirrors and the selection is vast, with many technology features now finding there way into mirrors, to give added simplicity, luxury and decoration. 

New features such as Illumination, LED lighting and demisters now provide a huge bathroom mirrors range to choose from.

How are Mirrors Made?

The manufacture of mirrors includes the application to a suitable material of a reflective coating. Glass is the most commonly used material, due to its ability to take a smooth finish and its rigidity. Glass is also more scratch resistant than many other materials. 

Early mirrors were made of solid metal, bronze or silver and they were far too expensive for most to be able to afford. Metal is also prone to corrosion and because of polished metal’s low emissivity, antique mirrors were less suitable for indoor use. With indoor lighting at the time supplied by candles or lanterns, the metal mirrors reflected a much darker picture. 

In modern times ‘float glass’ is used in the manufacture of mirrors, which is a flat ribbon of glass which is run out of a furnace and along the surface of a bath of molten tin. The temperature of both the glass and molten tin is controlled to enable both surfaces to be made perfectly flat. There are now three common types of mirrors: plain - which has a flat surface, and the two spherical types of mirrors: the convex and the concave. The concave and convex mirrors can be used in an entertaining way, when used at fairgrounds or amusement parks to distort peoples figures reflected in them through bloating, stretching and shrinking, the person or object in front of them.

In some applications, a mirror isn’t a mirror at all. For example, when used in public conveniences, especially in public or factory toilets, where for reasons of cost and the need for greater durability, a single polished metal sheet is often installed as a form of mirror.

Different Types of Mirror

Throughout the ages, mirrors have been employed as symbols of truth, deception and vanity. Mention a mirror and you instantly know that if you look into one, you will see your own reflection staring back at you. The image you see will resemble your own appearance. In optical principles, the reflections in mirrors do not totally match the objects in front of them. When looking into the mirror, trace the contour of the reflection of your head in a mirror. The reflection may correspond in proportion, but will generally be half in actual size.
With such a variety and huge range of mirrors now available, much has been made of the amount of money spent in purchasing mirrors especially by women, although in this day and age with an increase in men purchasing cosmetics, some men will also be vain enough to carry a mirror.

The vain Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs famously asked her special mirror, “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” Mirrors are synonymous with truth.
Mirrors are frequently used in interior decoration to create an illusion of space, and to decorate and amplify the apparent size of a room. They will be used around the home, the office, a pub, club or restaurant to good effect. They work particularly well in night clubs, reflecting the many images of light in the club or room to create a feeling of a much bigger space.

Infinity Mirrors provide an effect of never reaching an end, known as ‘infinity breaking’ and are particularly effective when used in a dark environment. I remember experiencing this phenomenon for the first time as a child in a large department store lift, where mirrors where on all sides of the elevator car. For those who are not good in lifts I should think this effect probably does nothing to calm them, perhaps that’s why you don’t see lifts like this anymore Or is it just because I’m getting old and that was a particular style popular in the 70’s!

My next favourite kind of mirror after the infinity mirror is the heated mirror, these mirrors have a heating element or what is called a demister pad mounted on the back. The reason a mirror steams up when you have a shower is because the surface temperature of the mirror is colder than the air temperature and causes the water vapour in the air to condense on the mirror. Some bright spark realised long ago that it if you heated the mirror this would avoid it steaming up, brilliant!

For many years heated mirrors have only featured in very expensive bathrooms usually costing thousands, and quality hotels have used heated mirrors as a neat differentiator from the increasingly popular budget hotels and motels. Of course it is not until you step out of the hotel shower and see yourself in the mirror that you realise it is there! Whilst at the back of your mind you realise this is one of the reasons why this room is more expensive than the other hotel across the street.

Last week I heard the BBC Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce state that the best shave you ever had will have been in a hotel, to which he attributed the benefit of the heated bathroom mirror as the main reason. I have to agree, and every time I stay in (nice) hotel I always have a really good look at the bathroom with a view to reproducing the best of its features in my own home.

If you already have a nice bathroom mirror but it is not heated, and wish you had bought one of the demister mirrors instead it’s possible to order just the demister pad component and upgrade your current mirror. Upgrading your mirror, who would have thought that was something we would be writing about 20 years ago!

In 1980, ska group The Beat had a UK top ten hit with ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’ and the bathroom is probably the location where we tend to study ourselves the most in mirrors. Many will say that it is not wise to look at yourself in the mirror first thing in the morning, but the bathroom is often the first port of call in the morning. Many bathrooms feature a main bathroom mirror positioned on a wall and a bathroom cabinet with mirror doors. Other than the “oh my god” do I really look like that expression, the uses of a mirror or mirrors in a bathroom will generally be to aid the application of make up, hair styling or shaving.

One of the major problems with bathroom mirrors is that after showering or bathing, the mirror is steamed up. A recent addition in the manufacture of heated mirrors is the inclusion of a demister pad which clears the mirror for use in mere seconds. Just think never having to again wait for the steam of the bathroom to disappear from the mirror, or having to open the window, before using the mirror to shave or apply make up. The bathroom mirror demister or steam free bathroom mirror is a great invention. Some manufacturers refer to these products as fog free bathroom mirrors and there is now a huge range available, again some with back lights, LED lighting and built in shaver sockets.

Demister mirrors and steam free bathroom mirrors are not the only recent developments on mirrors. As suggested above another reasonably new product is the back lit bathroom mirror. Illuminated mirrors maintain the features of a simple mirror, but will enhance any environment in which they are used with the addition of lighting. As with all mirrors, the range of illuminated mirrors is extensive, with a variety of sizes and shapes available. An Illuminated mirror with shaving socket can also be purchased.

Mirrors with back lit LED lights will enhance any bathroom or environment in which they are installed. Being of low energy consumption LED, or light emitting diode, are more environmentally friendly than traditional bulbs. They are designed to withstand the moisture of the bathroom environment. So water vapour mist will not cause a problem. As a real luxury mirror, illuminated bathroom mirrors and bathroom mirrors with LED lighting can also include a demister, to demist the mirror in just a few seconds and an on/off sensor to activate the lights as soon as motion is detected in front of the mirror. Now bathroom cabinets are also available with inbuilt back lights, and LED lighting for that special something different in your bathroom.

As a bathroom accessory the mirror should come high on the list, in fact can you really have a finished bathroom without a mirror? The enormous selection of styles, types, shapes and sizes means that there must be a mirror to match anyone’s budget. Although some of the latest technological versions such as illuminated, back lit and LED mirrors could be considered to be luxury items, some are not as expensive as you may have thought.

There are some terrific new features which you can find on an LED mirror such as the hand sensor on/off switch to automatically activate and deactivate the mirror light without having to touch it.

Mirrors, Superstition and Auspicious Energy Flow

I have always loved mirrors, probably why I have ended up in the mirrors business! When I was at school I did a project on them, this was before the internet was invented mind so I trawled through piles and piles of reference books in both the school and local library for months. These days of course it would only take half an hour on Google, kids these days don’t know how easy they’ve got it!

Once you get immersed in mirrors as I did all those years ago, or ‘mirros’ as I frequently misspelled it, and start researching them, you find that they play a major part in all aspects of life. Mirrors also feature in superstitions. One of the most commonly known superstitions is that someone who breaks a mirror will receive seven years bad luck. A popular belief for this superstition is that mirrors are a reflection of the soul and if a mirror is broken, then part of the soul is broken. Added to this, some believe that the soul regenerates every seven years in an unbroken condition, hence the seven years of bad luck. I bet you’ve always wondered what that was about so I’m glad to share that with you! Mirrors were often used in traditional witchcraft too as tools for performing spells from the belief that mirrors are said to be a reflection of the soul.

It is also said that the mirror does not lie. A mirror can show only the truth. It is a very bad omen indeed to see something in a mirror which should not be there, a technique regularly used in scary movies! Some cultures also have a custom that a newborn child should not look into a mirror until its first birthday because its soul is still developing.

In the southern United States, it used to be customary to cover the mirrors in a house where the wake of a deceased person was being held. If a mirror was left uncovered or exposed, people believed that the deceased person’s soul would become trapped in any uncovered mirror.

In the ancient art of Feng Shui mirror placement is considered very important. There is a lot of information available about this, and it is a subject that can’t be covered in a mere paragraph or two here. But Chi energy flow can be influenced by mirrors so where the energy needs to be diverted, mirrors can be used for this to great effect. Personally I don’t really follow these rules, although my mum has mirrors strategically placed all over her house to redirect negative energy! One of the principles I do follow though is to make sure I don’t have any mirrors pointing at my bed, or the kids beds, as this is said to reflect your dreams back onto you whilst you are sleeping, which is not a good thing if it’s a nightmare!

Conclusion

A mirror is defined as a coated glass surface for reflecting images. There is a huge range of mirrors for commercial use, and available in many shapes and sizes. The most commonly seen uses of mirrors are for personal grooming and interior decoration. As a race we are thoroughly addicted to mirrors. Who can honestly say that they can walk past a mirror without taking a look at themselves?

Over time, mirrors have evolved from a luxury item to an item of necessity and many especially women will always carry a mirror in their hand bags. However, today with technological advancements, some mirrors will be seen as a luxury, particularly those which include illumination, LED or demisting devices. As individuals we spend many hours of our life in a bathroom, so why not treat yourself to one of life’s little luxuries and indulge in a stylish bathroom mirror? After all, let’s be honest, who can really live without looking in a mirror every day?