Exercise Equipment as Sexy as You Are – or Want to be

From a design standpoint, fitness equipment has had … well … issues. From your grandmother’s olive green exercise bike, to the latest “As Seen on TV” practical gizmo collapsible for easy storage, but still a potential eyesore.

Treadmills and stair climbers have been among the most “design challenged.” Unless you live on a spaceship, a device devoted to facilitating repetitive motion for human beings is going to clash with the drapes and most stylish individuals.

But as homeowners become more “design conscious,” manufacturers are focusing on well designed fitness equipment that is sleeker,more space efficient and pleasing to the eye. I mean it figures if you are shaping your body on a shapely machine it’s got to give you a little extra feeling of confidence. Light and sleek, is the idea. Here’s an example of a stair-stepper with style, the 1190ST Stepper from Diamondback.

And the M3 indoor cycle by Keiser will give you images of climbing the Pyrenees or speeding down the Champs Élysées wearing the yellow jersey. The cylindrical, style and neutral look should blend with any décor. So, fitness equipment is on its own shape up program to be as sexy as you are.

Manna Distribution Services’ Privacy Policy

Manna respects your privacy. Across our business, around the world, we will only collect, store and use your personal information for defined purposes. We use your information to support and enhance our relationship with you, for example, to process your service request, provide service and support, and share service and company news and offerings with you. We do not sell your personal information. We only share your personal data outside the Manna family of companies with your consent, as required by law or to protect Manna, its customers, or the public, or with companies that help Manna fulfill its obligations with you, and then only with partners who share Manna’s commitment to protecting your privacy and data. At any time you may contact Manna with any privacy questions or concerns you may have. You also may ask at any time to see the data you have given us and request correction or deletion. We strive to ensure a high level of security and confidentiality.

Privacy and Data Security

At Manna Distribution Services, your right to privacy and data security is a primary concern. That’s why, when you visit Manna, we help you maintain control over your personal data on the Internet. Below are the guidelines we use for protecting the information you provide us during a visit to our Internet site Manna or when you use our online supply chain visibility tools such as Clarity™.

Visit www.nclnet.org/technology/essentials to learn more about how to protect your privacy on the Internet through a consumer education campaign called Online E-ssentials, developed by the National Consumers League.

Manna’s Privacy statement discloses the privacy guidelines for the entire Manna Web site. The guidelines at this site are applicable only to this Web site.

Drop the Beat: More Companies Turn to Drop Shipping

In our up tempo world of changing consumer preferences and increased manufacturing productivity, it has become common place for retailers to carry less stock inventory, freeing up precious space for showroom and not storage.   What this means for consumers is having a larger volume to choose from, and getting their choice of speakers, for example, drop shipped from a distribution center or straight from the manufacturer.  

In the case of online retailers it may mean not having any physical location to house the product or even taking possession of the product at all.  Drop shipping simply means that retailers pass along order and shipping information directly to wholesalers or manufacturer who in turn deliver the product.  There is mutual benefit: retailers can offer more competitive pricing, with less overhead to worry about, consumers get greater choice of products and places to purchase.  Drop shipping marries the benefits of retail shopping with low prices that result from low overhead.  

Of course, drop shipping is no panacea.  Consumers and electronics retailers alike should keep the following in mind as they consider the impact of drop shipping on the  buying experience, including:

Automatic Data Management:   Consumers need to have more details not less when it comes to shipping.  Including information like anticipated ship dates, arrival dates, and tracking numbers are critical to setting customer expectations.  Automated systems that send shipping details with the order during the purchase process are helpful in managing consumer expectations for deliver. 

Item-Specific Fulfillment: When customers order multiple items, they are not asking for multiple shipping dates.  Why penalize your most prolific customers with the biggest shipping hassle? Use a smart technology that coordinates shipments of multiple items. 

Multiple Resource Management: This is a behind-the-scenes necessity to make life easier for retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers.  The issue is coordinating shipping on the front end so consumers are not dealing with separate orders from different facilities where their purchased items are located.  They only want accurate delivery date estimates.  If your products are coming from multiple locations, you want a solution that can make them work as a seamless whole and the answers delivered to the shipping screen of the online retailer’s site for the consumer.

How to Get Surrounded by Sound

Let’s face it. Some companies use the term surround sound a bit too loosely. Wiki defines surround sound as follows:

“Surround sound, using multichannel audio, encompasses a range of techniques for enriching (expanding and deepening) the sound reproduction quality, of an audio source, with additional audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. The three-dimensional (3D) sphere of human hearing can be virtually achieved with audio channels above and below the listener.”

Whoa. That’s quite a bit more elaborate than the ol’ “toss a random speaker in the corner behind the couch” routine. Fortunately, investing in the right equipment will provide lasting entertainment, and even improve the resale value of your home.

But how do you invest in the right equipment, and how is it installed? Here’s an oldie but goodie checklist for those looking to get the most out of their surround sound investment. Some highlights:

1. Set aside space in your home for your surround sound home theater. The last thing you want is to buy a system that is incompatible with your room.

2. Select a surround-sound receiver. A lot of consumers overlook this step. It’s just a black box, right? Wrong. A cheap receiver can make even the most high-end speakers sound cheap.

3. Purchase surround sound speakers. It seems obvious, but it can be tempting to shave a few dollars by stopping at the front and mid-channel speakers. That defeats the purpose. The rear speakers offer the most bang for the buck. Make sure your package includes them.

Interview With an Installations Expert

The process of selecting a surround sound system can be daunting. Get even one component wrong, and you have made a major investment in an inferior sound experience. With that in mind, we turn to Mike Bibelheimer, a Bose specialist for Clearsound Productions to answer some of our most pressing questions.

What sort of things should customers consider before buying a sound or theater system for their home?

“The first thing customers should consider is which rooms they want to have speakers in now and in the future. Think also about whether you would prefer floor/shelf standing speaker or wall/ceiling mounted speakers, and whether you want to use a universal remote.

Then consider logistics. Is there an electrical outlet below where you want the TV mounted? Do you have attic space above or an unfinished area below the room where you can easily running wires?”
 
What are the benefits of professional installation?

“A professional installer will provide you with insights to speaker and TV positioning that you may not have thought of. With the right installer there will be no options that are overlooked. For example, the installer may recommend an InfraRed eye, so your cabinet doors can be closed while you control the equipment inside.

You will also rest assured that the installation is done right. Your TV will hang securely on the wall, and the access holes and openings for wire routes are correctly sealed.”

Is it better to buy most of your equipment at once, or does it make more sense to build one or two items at a time?

“Consider the following. Pre-wiring or purchasing an amplifier is like pouring the foundation of a house. Once it is done you can only build on that foundation. It can make sense to build one or two items at a time, but you should first determine how you want to expand in the future, and how you want to control the system.”

In this economy, what is the best way to achieve an excellent sound and theater experience on a reasonable budget?

“Consider what is called a Simulated Surround Sound System, such as a sound bar or Bose® 3-2-1 System. A simulated surround system will only have 1-3 speakers in the front of the room. They dramatically improve your TV sound with bass and full digital sound without the cost of pre-wire or multiple speakers. When the time comes to upgrade to full surround sound you can move this system to another TV, so it makes a good starting point for the uninitiated.”

If you had one piece of advice for customers, what would it be?

“Many people feel overwhelmed and uncertain on which TV or sound system to choose. If this is true for you, ask us for an in-home consultation. You will receive experienced advice, useful information, and new ideas that are specific to your home. It is difficult to tell a consumer which TV or sound system will fit in their home without first seeing it and understanding the situation. Too often, a purchase is made which is too complex or cannot be modified or expanded down the road in an effective way.”

Thanks Mike. Readers should also feel free to share their experiences in the comments below.

Cook like a Pro by Using What the Pros Use

Ever find a recipe online, follow it to a ‘T’, slave away for hours, and wind up with something that looks like your grandma’s casserole? What gives? Well, once you’ve ruled out user-error, you might take a look at your cooking appliances.

See, the test kitchens used to forge and perfect new recipes are using gas ranges that provide optimal control over cooking conditions, and therefore reap consistent results.

Don’t fret, however. Thanks to the miracle of a competitive market there are a variety of ways to have the commercial experience in your own home. Viking Ranges, for example, offers a complete line of commercial products, including this bad boy. And, of course, you’ll want proper ventilation, so your home doesn’t smell like a commercial kitchen.

If you already have the best equipment out there, and your you’re still churning out culinary atrocities, here are many handy tips from e-cookbooks.net. For example:

When buying a turkey – go for one in the 12-16 pound range. The little ones get blotchy (ew!), and the big ones can give you worms (double ew!)

After grilling – Cool leftovers as quickly as possible. Bacteria multiplies quickly between 45 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

To remove stains from cookware – Boil 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 1 cup of water for ten minutes. Before using the pan again, season it with salad oil.