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flutteragency · 4 months ago

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Is a Pharmacy App Like Walgreens on Your Mind? Discover the Features & Cost!

There has been a paradigm shift in the pharmacy industry with the impact of digital innovations and changing expectations of consumers, and a host of things have transformed. Most people want the convenience of ordering medicines, refilling prescriptions, and consulting with practitioners virtually. This has led to a huge demand for pharmacy apps with plenty of features that ease accessing healthcare services.

Walgreens’ pharmacy application is one such app that has established truly high standards for seamless prescription management, medication reminders, and expanded telehealth features. Partnering with a development firm will allow you to develop an app like Walgreens with a user-friendly, secure, and scalable app that employs the latest technology and strict regulatory compliance.

By 2028, the global pharmacy market is expected to reach $206 billion. The global stats state that 60% of consumers prefer mobile applications for managing their prescriptions. Walgreens, CVS, and other top players generate millions in revenue through their applications.

Flutter Agency offers pharmacy app development to empower businesses to create robust and intuitive applications that meet the needs of modern healthcare. Whether you are a startup or own a pharmacy chain, we ensure custom solutions that help you build a successful digital healthcare platform.

Why Develop a Pharmacy App Like Walgreens?

When you connect with our mobile application development agency for pharmacy apps like Walgreens development, they do look into the key features of the application to include in your app. Some of the key points our experts try to adapt are:

1. Convenience Drives Customer Loyalty

Most users prefer ordering medications, refilling prescriptions, and consulting doctors from the application, and Walgreens allows users to enjoy this from the comforts of their homes. Such applications eliminate long wait times and provide seamless access to healthcare services.

2. Enhancement in Business

The industry is evolving with applications that are packed that allow pharmacies, healthcare providers, and start-ups a one-stop solution to enter the markets. Our mobile app developers bring the most advanced technologies like AI-based suggestions, reminders of taking medications, and live tracking of orders and improve the user experience in so many other ways.

3. Sales and Customer Integration

To keep your growth on an uptick, we know that customer engagement with many sales strategies will make your business profitable. Enable customized push notifications for consumers that will keep them updated about the discounts, refill reminders, etc., to keep them engaged. Integration of a loyalty program is also something that will help you gain repeat trips from customers. Since the world is going cashless, it’s good to have online payment options and home delivery options to facilitate an easy buying process.

Here’s why your pharmacy store should go for digital transformation to take great strides ahead. To ensure your application contributes to your profits while incorporating certain interesting features.

Must-Have Features for a Walgreens-Like Pharmacy App

Flutter Agency is creating pharmacy apps with basic features to improve user experience, security, and access to health services. Some of the main functionalities that we integrate into the pharmacy app include:

1. User Profile and Authentication

As your e-pharmacy will be dealing with your private and likely sensitive details, a secured login should be offered either by email, number or through biometrics: fingerprint or Face ID. We ensure profile management with elements like storing medical history, prescriptions, and payment details.

2. Prescription Management

With the ease of uploading your paper prescriptions and integrations, we ensure that the application you are taking to the market allows sharing e-prescriptions over the encrypted channel. With auto-refill reminders, we make sure your audience never misses their medications and continues leading a healthy life.

3. Medication Search & Purchase

You can easily upload a user-friendly catalog that includes smart filters and drug information on the application without much hustle. We allow AI-powered recommendations that are based on user history, previous preferences, and medical history.

4. Online Consultation (Telehealth Integration)

Our mobile app development team allows patients to virtually visit doctors for consultations, revise prescriptions, and get approvals. We allow secure video calls and in-app chat for clear communication and better understanding.

5. Order Tracking & Notifications

With real-time order tracking of orders, users can check when they can get their medicines delivered. With instant push notifications for order confirmation, dispatch, and arrival updates. This helps you build a solution that keeps your users engaged with the application.

6. Loyalty and Rewards Programs

We understand how amazing exclusive discounts, cashback, and reward points may seem to your audience. With our technology-backed solutions, you can offer personalized offers on purchase history and user preferences.

Advanced Features to Elevate Your Pharmacy App

To ensure the solution we develop stands out in the competitive pharmacy app market, we integrate advanced features that can enhance user experience and drive business growth. Some of the best features that one would like to add are:

1. AI-Driven Drug Recommendations

Your users may not want to consult a health practitioner for a cold or cough. The solution can provide personalized medication suggestions based on the user’s medical history and preferences. With AI-driven alerts for drug reactions, reminders, and alternative options, we create a solution that is designed for modern-day users.

2. Chatbots for 24/7 Customer Support

With constant AI-powered assistance for prescription inquiries, order tracking, and FAQs, we make sure your customers don’t have to wait for hours before they get the right assistance. With generative AI chatbots, your app responds in a way that is best suited to meet user demands.

3. Integration with wearable devices.

We do know the use of wearable technology in the healthcare sector. We make sure that users can sync their smartwatches and fitness trackers to receive heart rate, blood pressure, and medication compliance reports.

4. Voice Search & Smart Assistants

With hands-free navigation, we perform medication searches and prescription refills using voice commands. It is quite good for the users who find it hard to operate the app. You can ask our developers to make your solutions compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri for full accessibility.

5. Data Analytics Insights

Managing and monitoring health is a necessity. The user can check their reports and other test results with a click. If you are a business owner, you can get real-time reports on sales, user behavior, and inventory. Thus, you can reduce human intervention in your work to ensure your customers never face any problems.

Cost of Developing a Pharmacy App Like Walgreens

The cost of developing any pharmacy app will depend on factors like design, features, security, integrations, etc. Here is how the mainstream breakdown of key cost drivers may look:

1. UI/UX Design

For any application to work well enough and bring good results, first and foremost, it has to have a simple interface that will allow user engagement and ease of interaction. A pharmacy application must have custom design elements and a user-friendly layout to reflect its purpose and services. The expert design work and intricacies in navigation may add to the development cost.

2. Core Features

If you need a pharmacy application with basic features like prescription management, user dashboard, order tracking, etc, the cost of development is quite low. If you want to integrate advanced features like AI-backed recommendations, telehealth integrations, and smart search facilities may add to the development expense of the pharmacy app.

At Flutter Agency, we help you decide the best features that meet your business purpose and vision to ensure the development happens within the financial constraints.

3. Security Compliance

To ensure the security and privacy of the data stored in your pharmacy application, we implement advanced secure data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and fraud prevention that adds to the time and cost of development.

4. Third-Party Integrations

Depending on your business needs, we’d have to integrate a few third-party APIs like payment gateway, e-prescription system, wearable device, etc. The licensing of these APIs can add to the extended cost of pharmacy app development.

5. App Platform

Native app development may offer uninterrupted and flawless performance but would cost more. With hybrid or cross-platform app development, you can save some buck, but it won’t be as seamless as the native apps.

The developers partnered with us can create scalable and budget-friendly pharmacy applications without taking a chance on quality, security, or compliance. We offer custom solutions that reflect your business objective and vision!

Monetization Strategies: How to Maximize ROI

If you want to enter the market with a pharmacy app like Walgreens, you need to understand it is about convenience and revenue amalgamated. To ensure you get the best out of your investment in your application, we share here some of the monetization strategies you may choose from:

1. Subscription-Based Models

You can let users have premium memberships with extended benefits like priority delivery, virtual doctor consultations, discounts, etc. You can always encourage your audience to subscribe with free trials and loyalty perks.

2. In-App Advertisements

Partner with top pharmaceutical brands to display targeted ads for medications, supplements, and healthcare products. This would help you earn some extra revenue and take these brands to your users.

3. E-commerce Revenue

With the app, you make a good profit selling medications, wellness products, supplements, and other health products. Include in your application some package deals, flash sales, and personalized recommendations to keep the app user engaged.

4. Affiliate Programs & Partnerships

Partnering with clinics, labs, and insurance providers to share their services can get you a good profit for referral commission. You can share links to lab test bookings, insurance plans, or further specialists with your users through the app, ensuring them you care.

Regulatory Compliance & Security Considerations

When working on an app like Walgreens, there are a few things that can’t be ignored. Data security and regulatory compliance hold the foundation of such applications as what you deal with is personal health information and other personal details. Some of the common compliances to stick to are:

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S. is designed to protect patient data.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ensures data privacy for European users.

PCI-DSS-compliant payment gateways ensure safe online transactions.

Use AI-powered fraud detection to prevent suspicious activities.

If you want to target a global market, you need to adhere to these compliances. Along with this, you’d need secure server services, the right encryption, and role-based access control to ensure user data is managed in a safe environment.

At Flutter Agency, we have experience and expertise in building pharmacy applications, and we understand the significance of implementing regulatory compliance and data security in pharmacy applications. We create solutions that abide by HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI-DSS standards to ensure data integrity, encrypted transactions, and user privacy.

Also Read: How to Make a Meditation Application Like Calm

Let’s Build Your Pharmacy App Today!

Convenience, accessibility, and digital healthcare solutions are among the leading reasons for the boom in demand for pharmacy apps like Walgreens. Companies with a focus on developing high-end, feature-rich pharmacy apps can find a flourishing market, with all the resurrection of client satisfaction and cash flows swelling up.

We exceed the standards in custom pharmacy app development by doing everything to satisfy HIPAA, GDPR, and various other regulations while integrating state-of-the-art tech for amplified functionalities. Be it a startup nurture or something like a 200-year-old pharmacy chain, our tailor-made solutions will always keep you ahead in this digital health revolution.

Is your pharmacy app concept ready for shake-up? Contact us today via a free consultation, and let’s get started with your next-gen pharmacy app!

#Pharmacy App Development #Healthcare App Solutions #Build App Like Walgreens #Flutter for Healthcare Apps #Custom Medical App Development #Pharmacy app development#Walgreens app features#Healthcare app development#Medication reminder app#AI in pharmacy apps

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mariacallous · 2 years ago

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It’s the summer tradition no one wants to partake in: Covid-19 cases are on the rise again. Hospitalizations from the virus ticked up in mid-July, increasing by 12 percent to just over 8,000 across the US for the week ending July 22. That’s nowhere near the pandemic peaks that overwhelmed health workers, but July brought the first weekly increases in hospitalizations since the US ended the federal Covid-19 public health emergency in May, just a week after the World Health Organization did the same with its global public health emergency.

The end of Covid-19 emergency status meant the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped tracking the virus as closely. But metrics show infections are still spreading. The pharmacy chain Walgreens reported a 42 percent positivity rate for tests during the last week of July, up from 29 percent in late June. And wastewater samples show concentrations of the virus moving upward across the country. Cases of Covid have also increased in Japan and the United Kingdom.

SARS-CoV-2 has spiked every summer since 2020. “There’s no reason that we wouldn’t see [a wave] this summer,” says Katelyn Jetelina, who writes the online health newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist. “We’re slowly but surely starting to see one summer wave and one winter wave.”

But experts have a hazier view of the building wave than in prior years. In the US, publication of hospitalization data comes a week behind the dates it captures. The CDC no longer tracks community levels of transmission. When the WHO emergency declaration was in effect, we saw more cross-government communication, but that’s less available now. “Our magnifying glass is a bit smudged compared to where we were a year ago,” says Josh Michaud, an associate director for global health policy at KFF, a nonprofit research group. “Many of the data points and indicators that we relied on in the past are no longer available to us.”

But there are still signs to watch. Wastewater testing, which can find traces of the virus expelled in feces, has shown a “sustained” increase in Covid-19 concentrations over several weeks, says Mariana Matus, CEO and cofounder of Biobot Analytics, a company that tracks Covid-19, Mpox, and opioids in US wastewater. The data from Biobot Analytics draws from about 600 wastewater data collection points and is valuable, Matus says, because it doesn’t exclude people who can’t afford testing or don’t report the results of at-home tests—and it can show the presence of Covid-19 in a community before large numbers of people get test results or are hospitalized.

But ensuring a bigger picture will require additional steps, such as expanding wastewater sampling. The decision to test wastewater largely relies on individual communities opting do their own testing. Matus imagines a more robust system that could help people make decisions based on pathogen concentrations in different regions, analogous to the Air Quality Index—data that could be easily displayed on something equivalent to a weather app. “We’re very excited about a vision and a future where people interact with wastewater data similar to how they interact with weather data, where it’s that pervasive in our society,” Matus says.

At this point, it’s too early to say there’s a massive wave of infections building—but the hospitalization data is enough to pique the attention of epidemiologists and public health experts. Although case and hospitalization numbers are still relatively low, the virus does kill hundreds of people in the US each week. And as of early 2023, it had left an estimated one in 10 survivors fighting long Covid, which can include persistent health issues like breathlessness and brain fog.

There could be a few reasons for the current uptick in cases, waning immunity among them. Just around 17 percent of the US population has received bivalent vaccines, which became widely available in the fall of 2022 and are meant to offer better protection against Omicron variants. With lower case numbers over the past few months and many people not receiving a booster shot in 2023, immunity from vaccinations and prior infections could be decreasing, making more people susceptible to the virus, says Sam Scarpino, director of AI and life sciences at the Institute for Experiential AI at Northeastern University.

Experts guessed that Covid-19 would become seasonal, peaking in the fall and winter like the flu and the common cold, but other factors have kept the virus around in warmer months. “It’s true that you have cyclical patterns for most of these respiratory diseases,” Scarpino says. “I don’t think it’s really well understood what drives those.”

There could be some particular factors at play this year. Much of the US is enduring a suffocating summer. Wildfire smoke from Canada has engulfed the East Coast and Midwest, and exposure to the particulate pollution that comes with the smoke may weaken the immune system. Those were the findings of a 2021 study: In 2020, parts of California, Oregon, and Washington that experienced wildfire smoke saw excess Covid-19 cases and deaths. Meanwhile, dangerously high temperatures are keeping people indoors in the southern part of the US, and as a respiratory virus, SARS-CoV-2 spreads most easily indoors. People also traveled at record rates during the summer’s early months, which meant more opportunities for Covid to spread. But it’s not yet clear whether one, all, or none of these factors may be driving infections.

Genomic sequencing from the CDC shows that, as of June, offshoots of the Omicron variant are responsible for all of Covid-19 cases in the US. “On one hand, this is a good sign,” says Jetelina. “We can hopefully predict where SARS-CoV-2 is going.” That’s helpful for formulating updated coronavirus vaccinations. But it’s not certain that the virus’s evolution will continue down this Omicron path. In May, experts estimated the possibility of a highly mutated variant of concern arising during the next two years at about 20 percent.

In June, the US Food and Drug Administration recommended the development of an updated Covid-19 shot, preferring a formula that would target the XBB.1.5 Omicron variant. The FDA may authorize such a shot by the end of the month. But it’s hard to know whether people will be eager to get a fifth or sixth vaccine—pandemic fatigue, distrust of public health officials, and an overall return to normal life left many unenthused about last year’s booster and contributed to the low uptake rates. And while the US government previously bought doses directly and helped distribute them for free, the distribution of vaccines is now expected to move to the private sector.

Officials are unlikely to roll out wide-ranging restrictions on masking and social distancing—and barring a threatening new subvariant or a massive peak in cases, people are unlikely to change their behaviors after living alongside the virus for more than three years. It’s too soon to know whether the latest Covid-19 cases are a blip or a big wave. But as the dog days of summer linger, Covid is hanging around too.

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techgeni · 2 months ago

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What Are the Best Loyalty Rewards Programs Available

When it comes to keeping customers happy and encouraging them to come back, loyalty rewards programs are one of the most effective tools for businesses. These programs are designed to reward customers for their repeat purchases, helping build long-term relationships. But with so many options out there, it can be tough to know which ones are actually worth joining.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the best loyalty rewards programs available today. These are the ones that offer great value, easy-to-understand rules, and real benefits for users.

1. Starbucks Rewards

If you’re a coffee lover, Starbucks Rewards is one of the most well-known loyalty programs out there. You earn Stars with every purchase, which can be redeemed for free drinks, food, or even merchandise.

Why it stands out:

Easy to earn rewards through daily purchases

Special offers, birthday rewards, and app-exclusive perks

Free coffee refills on certain drinks

2. Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

If you shop on Amazon regularly, this one is a no-brainer. Members earn up to 5% cashback on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, plus additional benefits on travel and dining.

Why it stands out:

No annual fee (if you're a Prime member)

Cashback is automatically added

Also includes travel and purchase protections

3. Sephora Beauty Insider

For beauty lovers, Sephora’s Beauty Insider program is a favorite. Members earn points on purchases which can be redeemed for deluxe samples, exclusive products, and experiences.

Why it stands out:

Tier-based system with increasing perks

Free birthday gifts

Early access to sales and events

4. Target Circle

Target's loyalty program is simple and useful for regular shoppers. You earn 1% back on purchases, get access to personalized deals, and receive birthday discounts.

Why it stands out:

No credit card needed

Combine with other coupons and offers

Weekly deals just for members

5. The North Face XPLR Pass

Outdoor lovers will enjoy this program. Members get early access to gear, field testing invites, and earn points on every purchase that can be used for discounts.

Why it stands out:

Unique experiences and community events

Gear testing opportunities

Points never expire

6. Walgreens myWalgreens

If you often shop for health and wellness items, this program offers real benefits. You earn points on purchases and get health tracking features through the app.

Why it stands out:

Personalized health goals

Earn rewards for healthy habits

Regular deals and digital coupons

7. Domino’s Piece of the Pie Rewards

For pizza lovers, this program is a tasty deal. With Domino’s Rewards, you earn 10 points for every order of $10 or more. Once you reach 60 points, you can redeem them for a free medium 2-topping pizza.

Why it stands out:

Fast to earn free food

Easy tracking through the app

Special promotions and bonus points

8. Marriott Bonvoy

If you travel often, Marriott Bonvoy is one of the top hotel rewards programs. You earn points for every stay, which can be used for free nights, upgrades, and even travel packages.

Why it stands out:

Access to 30+ hotel brands worldwide

Elite status offers room upgrades and late check-outs

Great for both business and personal travel

9. CVS ExtraCare

Another solid option for pharmacy and health shoppers is CVS ExtraCare. You earn 2% back in rewards and get access to exclusive deals and savings every week.

Why it stands out:

Personalized coupons based on your shopping habits

Extra savings with the ExtraCare Beauty Club

Stackable with manufacturer coupons and digital deals

10. Best Buy Rewards (My Best Buy)

For tech lovers, this program helps you earn points on electronics and get early access to deals and product launches. As your spending increases, you can move up to higher membership tiers with better benefits.

Why it stands out:

Free shipping on many items

Exclusive member-only discounts

Early access to sales like Black Friday

Tips to Make the Most of Loyalty Programs

Even the best loyalty rewards programs won’t help if you forget to use them. Here are a few simple tips to make sure you get the most value:

Download the brand's app: Many programs offer app-only deals and make it easier to track your rewards.

Stick to programs you actually use: Don’t spread yourself too thin by joining too many. Focus on 3–5 that match your lifestyle.

Use rewards before they expire: Some points or coupons have expiration dates, so don’t let them go to waste.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best loyalty rewards programs depends on your shopping habits. If you love coffee, Starbucks Rewards is great. If you're an online shopper, Amazon Prime Rewards is probably your best bet. For makeup fans, Sephora delivers excellent perks.

#LoyaltyRewards #CustomerLoyalty #RewardsPrograms #CustomerEngagement #ExclusivePerks #Discounts #ShoppingRewards #BrandLoyalty #LoyaltyPoints #RewardsBenefits

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yashvicmi01 · 2 years ago

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Global Retail Media Network Market Is Estimated To Witness High Growth Owing To the Rising Trend of Online Shopping

The global Retail Media Network Market is estimated to be valued at USD 18.82 Bn in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.39% over the forecast period 2023-2029, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.

A) Market Overview:

The Retail Media Network Market refers to the advertising services provided by retailers to brands on their digital platforms, such as websites and mobile apps. These networks enable brands to reach a large and targeted audience by placing advertisements in strategic locations within the retailer's digital ecosystem. This market offers various advantages, such as increased brand visibility, higher customer engagement, and measurable return on investment. With the growing trend of online shopping, retailers are leveraging their digital platforms to monetize their online presence through advertising, thus fueling the growth of the Retail Media Network Market.

B) Market Key Trends:

One key trend driving the growth of the Retail Media Network Market is the increasing adoption of programmatic advertising. Programmatic advertising allows brands to automate the process of buying and selling ad space, making it more efficient and cost-effective. With the help of algorithms and real-time bidding, brands can target their advertisements to specific audience segments, resulting in higher engagement and conversion rates. For example, Walmart's advertising platform, Walmart Media Group, uses programmatic advertising to deliver personalized ads to its customers based on their purchase history and online behavior.

C) Porter's Analysis:

- Threat of new entrants: The Retail Media Network Market is highly competitive, with established players already dominating the market. New entrants would face challenges in building strong relationships with retailers and brands, as well as competing against the existing networks.

- Bargaining power of buyers: Brands have a certain level of bargaining power as they can choose between multiple retail media networks to advertise their products. However, the effectiveness and reach of the network play a crucial role in their decision-making process.

- Bargaining power of suppliers: Retailers, as the suppliers of advertising space, hold the bargaining power in the market. They can negotiate favorable terms and pricing with the brands and exert control over the placement and visibility of advertisements.

- Threat of new substitutes: While there may be alternative advertising channels available, such as traditional media or social media platforms, the targeted and interactive nature of retail media networks provides unique advantages for brands.

- Competitive rivalry: The Retail Media Network Market is characterized by intense competition among key players, such as Walmart, Amazon, and Target. These players continuously strive to innovate and improve their offerings to attract brands and capture a larger share of the market.

D) Key Takeaways:

1. The global Retail Media Network Market is expected to witness high growth, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.39% over the forecast period. This growth is driven by the increasing trend of online shopping, which has led retailers to leverage their digital platforms for advertising.

2. In terms of regional analysis, North America is expected to dominate the market due to the presence of major retail players, such as Walmart, Amazon, and Costco. However, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region, fueled by the rising adoption of e-commerce and digital advertising in countries like China and India.

3. Key players operating in the global Retail Media Network Market include Walmart, Costco Wholesale Corporation, The Kroger Co., Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., TESCO PLC, Amazon.com, Inc., METRO, Home Depot Product Authority, LLC., Target Brands, Inc., Best Buy, Inter IKEA Systems B.V, Carrefour SA, and eBay Inc. These players are investing in advanced technologies and strategic partnerships to enhance their advertising platforms and maintain a competitive edge in the market.

In conclusion, the Retail Media Network Market is poised for significant growth, driven by the increasing trend of online shopping and the adoption of programmatic advertising. Retailers and brands are leveraging these networks to enhance their reach, visibility, and customer engagement, creating lucrative opportunities in this evolving market.

#Retail Media Network Market #Retail Media Network Market Analysis #Retail Media Network Market Overview #Information and Communication Technology #Coherent Market Insights

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kammartinez · 2 years ago

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Amanda Hoover

#covid-19 #medicine

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kamreadsandrecs · 2 years ago

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Amanda Hoover

#covid-19 #medicine

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funnyexel · 4 years ago

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Bruce Banner x Black Female Reader Pt.1

A/n: Happy Black History Month! This is my first story, I hope you enjoy it and I am still trying to work this app (I sound old lol). I’ll be updating the masterlist when I update the mini series. :) Masterlist Masterlist Mega List

Summary: You’re just a Black girl living in a remotely small town. When a specific person comes into the picture and you decide to help him. What’s the worst that could happen?

You woke up in the middle of the night. 'This is the third time...' You thought to yourself sighing. "What does a girl have to do for some sleep." You exclaim in a low tone, rubbing your forehead, putting on shoes and grabbing your keys.

You check the time on your phone as you lock the door to your apartment. 'Its 12:48. I'll have to be quick.' You nod to yourself and pick up your pace. In the streets of your mini city, nighttime was ghost hours.

You would see a select few every once in a while but in general there was no one out at night. You walk into the 24-hour Walgreens and look around the store for your desired items. Wearing pajamas and a bonnet, you wanted to hurry.

Even though no one is out, you still didn't wanna be recognized wearing such. Placing the sleeping pills on the counter, they quickly rung it up and you payed. Giving them a warm sleepy smile, you left. Ping! You take your phone out your pajama pocket and check it, feeling irritated.

Its been pinging since you stepped out the door. Gliding your eyes over the device, your eyebrow slightly jerks. 'Paranormal activity spotted in your area.' You roll your eyes with a curve manifesting on the corner of your lip. "Fat chance." You scoffed putting your phone back.

You ignored the program. In your down time you followed Paranormal activities as a joke and out of pure boredom. So you never really payed attention to it. Unless it was really important. While walking past a small gap between small buildings, laid a path to the small park into the forest.

Everytime, you pass it you glance, feeling an unusual sensation then move on. Today, felt no different than any other day of passing it but somehow it did. In a way... Stuck in a staring contest with nothing but trees, you flinch at the sudden rustling in the abyss.

Your mind finally traveling back to common sense. "I'm black. This always happens in those scary movies. Where's the white people to investigate when you need them?" You whisper to yourself, slowly but surely making your way away from the forest.

Crash! You look behind you and see concrete on the ground. "Nope! Not today!" You recite while taking a sharp right running away from the outbreak and the apartment. "What do I do? Can I call the police?" You say quietly, catching your breath.

With your back against a building you look over your shoulder to see more concrete and building residue on the ground. Your breathing spikes. Hearing heavy footsteps approach, you run down the alley way. Your footsteps echoing. The other footsteps behind you.

Reaching a dead end, you punch the wall and turn around to the green giant. Your breath hitches in your chest as you see him up close. 'H-hulk? What's an avenger doing in a crap town like this.' You thought, your eyes trailing to his.

His pupils begin to dilate as his hand steadily reaches towards you. Captivated by his movements you begin to reach for him too. Inches away from each others hand. He turns back into human and face plants onto the floor.

Bringing your hand back to your body as you stoop down to him. "um. are you okay?" You say looking around the alleyway. You roll your eyes and put his arm around your shoulder. Making sure no one followed, you go to your apartment and put the man on the couch.

You're panicking. 'Did camera's see me? Or him? What am I gonna do?' Thoughts and question overwhelming your mind. At his sudden groan, you turn to him. "you're bleeding..." You scatter to the bathroom, grabbing your first aid kit and rushing back to him.

You rapped some gauze then badges over it. Looking over his body, you noticed he has scars and scratches. You patched each and every cut you could find. Collapsing on a love seat next to your couch. You fall asleep. Worn out from the recent events.

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You shiver and turn over. Thud. Your hands cushioned your fall to the face. You groggily stand to your feet and yawn. 'He's still here.' You thought looking at him. You then look to your clock. "Crap! I'm late!" You jump over the love seat and run to your bathroom.

Taking a quick shower, brushing your teeth and lightly shaving. Leaving the bathroom, you go into your bedroom, put on your work clothes and fix your hair. Also, grabbing your work bag. On your way out the door. You remember him. "Shoot."

Your eyes dart to a piece of paper and pen. Thoroughly, you begin to write out a letter. Knock Knock. You groan and answer the door. "Hello Ma'am, there's been some damage last night. We're going around to make sure everyone's alright." You smile and nod to the police.

"Oh, yes. I heard some commotion last night but didn't think much of it." He returns the smile. "If you hear anything about what happened. Don't hesitate to call." You nod again as he leaves. Closing the door, you add a few more things to the letter.

Finally leaving the apartment, you hoped and prayed nothing bad happened while you are gone.

-------

At the sound of the closed door, he jolted up. 'Where am I?' He thought looking around her well decorated apartment. He spotted a note on the coffee table, reaching for it and reading it aloud.

Hello Avenger (sorry I don't know your name),

I found you on the ground in the middle of the night so I brought you to my home. I had to leave for work but I'll be back soon. My apartment is at your disposal. You did some property damage last night, so the police are looking for you. Please stay inside. Here's my number XXX-XXX-XXXX

Sincerely, Y/n

His face faintly softened. "Y/n" He repeated, liking how your name rolled off his tongue. He stood up and his pants fell down. Quickly picking up the enlarged pants. He saw a pair of pants and yet another note.

Hopefully this'll fit you.

He put the note aside and put on the pants. They fit him perfectly. He remembered the events of last night, wondering why hulk did what he did. He trusted a complete stranger and turned back to Banner. He couldn't rap his head around the entirety of it.

He didn't know what to do. If he should leave or stay. After Loki's attack on New York, he didn't want to stay with the Avengers knowing Hulk's temper. So he left without a word and ended up in a small town. He knew they would be looking for him.

Hulk doesn't trust anyone, not until today at least. 'This isn't making any sense.' He massaged his forehead. His attention momentarily focused on you and who you were. A stranger taking in an Avenger, one of the most destructive and short-tempered of them all.

Nothing was making any sense to him. He began to look around your apartment. His memory of you a bit unclear and blurry. He could only find group photos framed around the living room. He groaned. "Who is she?"

---------

"Y/n! Get off your lazy ass!" You mutter a cuss under your breath and get up. "Yes sir!" You fake smile and go out onto the floor. Straight posture, tray in hand and head held high. You serve plates and drinks to customers. You hated this job, you hated it so much!

They over worked all of the employees and choose favorites. 'If the pay wasn't so good. I'd be out this shithole.' You reminded yourself. At the moment, he was the last thing on your mind. You worried how he would be in your home.

But remembered he's a grown man and should be fine. Right? Finally the end of the day came. Chilling by your locker in the breakroom, you checked your phone. 'No missed calls?' You sigh and take your stuff out the locker. "I guess he didn't need anything then."

On your way out of the locker room. You get stopped. "Y/n, can I talk to you?" He pulls you aside. You shoot a suspicious look but go along with it. "Sure, what's the matter?" He takes a deep breath before speaking. "We're getting evaluated next week..." He trails off. You nod and hum.

"Therefore, I and everyone in this establishment needs you to fix your hair. And appearance." Your eyes become narrowed and brain ready with a comeback. 'He's your boss. He's your boss.' You fix your posture and speak.

"With all due respect, I don't see any problem with my hair nor appearance." You say trying your best to hold back the attitude. "It'll look bad for us, fix it or don't bother coming to work." He snarks and leaves. You never wanted to punch someone so much in your 27 years of life.

-------

Barely, fitting the key in the keyhole. You open the door furious. "Ugh! Don't bother coming to work! That asshole." You throw your keys to the side and drop your bag to the ground. Wanting to cope with your anger, you head to the kitchen and grab one of your many plates.

With all your might, you throw it to the ground. Smashing it into many small pieces. Ignoring the startled man on your couch, you go to your room and change. Walking out in pajamas and a stress ball in hand. You heavily sigh and plop yourself on the loveseat.

You trap him in solid eye contact. "Y/n?" He asks breaking the eye contact and looking at you but not staring, knowing it's impolite. "That's me." You weakly smile and throw your head back. You could feel his eyes still on you. Huffing you get off the loveseat.

"Here." You throw him the stress ball and head to the kitchen to clean up the plate. "I think you need this more than me." He says using the stress ball. "Oh really?" Pieces of glass being swept accompanies your answer.

Later that night you got to know each other a little more. You first started with the basics, Name, favorite color, things you like and other light hearted things. But the conversation was flowing unexpectedly easy, so things took a turn for more personal matters. Relationships, jobs, preferences, and story times. You were just so easy to talk to and same with him. It's as if you've known each other for years, as if you didn't just meet him. You've been talking for hours on end and it was getting late.

"Damn, it's late." You glance at the clock and back at him. He nods. "Don't you have work?" He asks recalling the conversation. "Yes, indeed I do." You lift yourself off the couch. "Do you need anything? Like a blanket or pillow or something?" You ask him.

He looks around on the couch. "This blanket is good but can I have a pillow?" You escape to your room and grab a pillow. "Thank god I wash my sheets weekly." You walk back to him and hand him the pillow. "Thank you." He smiles, you give a generous smile back.

"Goodnight." You then close your door. With your back pushing against it. You let out a happy relieved sigh. You didn't know what you were relieved about but you caught yourself smiling about it. About him...

#bruce banner #marvel #y/n #bruce #black y/n #black fanfiction #hulk #simp #bruce banner x y/n #bruce banner x reader #new writers society #shield #the avengers #avengers

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musingsofazumbamind · 6 years ago

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9 Tips for 9 Days Out: The Road to #zincon2019

Treat these 9 tips with a caveat of “if you want to”... these all have purpose for me but may not be the right “to do list” for you.

1. Do they know you’re leaving?

Tell or remind colleagues at work and your boss which days you will be gone

Call your bank and credit card companies, who may already know from your purchasing habits that you will be taking a trip but the clarity is important. You really did buy that costume including the bow and arrow set on the same day you bought a flight to Orlando.

Remind your significant other, children and dog that you will be going away for a few days and it’s important!

2. Fill a bunch of buckets now!

Give 200% in your classes, they are going to miss you while you are gone!

Remember and specifically pay into the Love Language of your significant other or most needy friend. Are they Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Quality Time, Physical Touch or Acts of Service?

Get in the pool with the kids! Do the fancy box braids now! Try the science experiment that came as a gift for Christmas. Treat the kids as a priority before you prepare for ZinCon, especially if you are a parent who “never does this”.

3. Consider your transportation.

Flight, train, bus all set?

Need an app to get around Orlando, like Lyft or Uber? Download it now.

Take a look at who is helping you get from the airport to the hotel. I suggest Mike or Patrizio, they also take you to a grocery store before the hotel, their contact information is in the files of the Official ZinCon Group on Facebook. (Did you already join the official Zincon Facebook group?!?!)

Take a look at who is dropping you at the airport and bringing you back home, sore and exhausted. Consider how you might remind them gently now that they are doing this, and think of how you will thank them when the time comes.

Will your transportation accommodate you buying food at a grocery store, or will you buy fresh items from the Walgreens across the street or the Publix about a mile away?

4. This week is the time to print!

Tickets or itinerary for flight

Confirmation for the hotel or other fun you will be having in Orlando

When the registration email comes, print your barcode and session handouts

Make a copy of your ID or passport for the front pocket of your checked luggage, just in case it gets lost

Pre-Convention or Post-Convention party tickets

5. Let’s talk about our health…

Refill necessary prescriptions

Bringing your c-pap machine to sleep (or other necessary medical devices)? Replace the tubes and face mask cover now.

Something aching? Call your doctor or nurse on call to ask questions. Questions over the phone are free!

Make necessary appointments, especially if you need to make them for medicine refills

6. Make THE LIST and start packing. You will need at least one, large, functional and wheeled piece of luggage.

With printed #zincon itinerary in hand, treat each segment of the day as a reminder of what you will need. Each session, masterclass, training or party will need:

A dry outfit meant for movement (I have 9 segments not including Fitness Concert and Theme Party, so I pack 9 outfits and buy 1 outfit at the Zumbawear store)

Socks (if I pack this way for my particular schedule I end up having 10 pairs)

Underwear (if I pack this way for my particular schedule I end up with 12)

Appropriate shoes (I pack 2 different fitness shoes for session, 1 functional sandal/between sessions shoe, 1 nice but comfortable pair of dressy sandals for the afterparty

Accessories (i.e. soca sessions ask you to bring a bandana or flag; #jamjunkies like bringing highlighters to the sessions; Theme Night will need all the layers and fun items for your costume)

A way to carry small items, especially at the Fitness Concert where backpacks are not permitted. I use a hip belt for running that fits along my waistline. Some folks have a wrist pouch for just their room key. Or yes, invest in a fanny pack that you only use 1 night a year!

Having the play-by-play of what those 4-5 days will include will give you a sense of space in your luggage. You may want to leave room to purchase those daily outfits or shoes at Convention, especially if your costume (including a wig or wings or crossbow that takes up space) can be thrown out or left in the room. I always leave space for the one outfit I will buy and wear at Convention.

I know folks who hand wash some of their belongings and drip dry them at night to make room in their luggage. Maybe ask your roommates if they mind you doing this as it takes up space.

Leave room for what you know you need to purchase. Things like:

Souvenirs for your people and/or pets

Clothing or items from the Zumbawear store. Not just for yourself-- some folks might send you on a specific mission to buy what comes out that week! You may want to check the outlet store for giveaway items for folks in your classes.

If you aren’t comfortable traveling with a certain something, just know it will cost at least 50% more in Florida. (I ALWAYS pack my sunscreen but some folks don’t like doing that for fear it might explode in flight. My favorite brand costs $24 in the hotel store, so it just makes sense to bring it for me.)

Many folks like ZJ Ria from Michigan and ZJ Court from Arizona pack each segment in its own gallon sized Ziploc bag and mark it with the day and session where it will be worn.

I always make my carry-on the “One Happy Day in Florida Bag”. It holds my small purse with a credit card, medicine, makeup, ID, a swimsuit, fitness shoes, socks, underwear, reading material and my phone and phone charger and I ALWAYS wear Zumbawear on the plane. It’s a conversation starter for sure! I feel like I could purchase, or have help from Home Office, for anything not packed in that bag.

7. Outside of your daily packing for Zincon itself, take a look at what you need to THRIVE. I pretend I’m living in my normal day for that.

Vitamins & meds

Water Bottle

Deodorant, light-smelling body spray, body wipes

Shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo

Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss

Hair brush, comb

Flat iron, bobby pins

Makeup

Sunscreen, hat if you want more coverage from the sun

Fiber, tums, ibuprofen

Functional shoes like running sneakers or athletic sandals for wearing between sessions

Shoe inserts or toe separators, whatever brace your ankle needs while you sleep (if you use them, definitely keep using them at Convention!)

Backpack (if you use the one we all get in our free swag, be sure to label it very specifically as yours--bandana on the loop, giant tassels, loud key chains)

One sweatshirt or light jacket -- the OCCC is the coldest building in all of Florida, especially when you’re sweaty!

Notebook & pen or some other organizational system like your ipad or a binder and markers

Pajamas

Something from home to help you sleep. Melatonin? Your diffuser? A pic of your family? A stuffed animal? A symbol of your faith for stillness and meditation? Every day will be exhausting in the best way, and although your body will say “SLEEP” your brain may still be racing.

Swimsuit

Sunglasses

Chargers and devices, I especially like wearing a Fitbit at Convention but I have actually forgotten the charging brick. The step counts are insane! Get ready!

One non-athletic outfit. At some point a sundress or a t-shirt and shorts will feel really nice!

*Note* If you are heading to a club at any point, maybe the pre- or post-convention party, consider non-athletic wear especially where you feel confident and comfortable. Many clubs will not allow you in if you are wearing Zumbawear.

8. Consider all your plug items or devices. Ask yourself the following questions:

If I LOVE to take pictures, which device will do that and does it have the space for 1,000 pictures? If not, start deleting and backing up as necessary.

Do I need batteries for what I’m bringing and do I have those batteries? Think of your white noise machine, your electric toothbrush, your portable hair crimper…

Is this something I need to THRIVE for only 4-5 days of a fitness convention?

Is a roommate already bringing something on this required list? Some roommates plan each “required” item--one friend brings the blender, one the K-cup coffee maker, one the mega box of K-cups and one the flat irons.

*Note* You can look online to see what your hotel includes. Some already have small coffee makers, hair dryers, a fridge, toiletries and irons.

9. And now, time to recover! Wait, what?

Convention is a whirlwind, a neon-filled Disney for the happiest and most passionate fitness instructors in the world. What will you need to start each day, end each night, with positive intentions?

Foam roller

Essential oils

Ice packs

Yoga mat

Emu oil, Biofreeze, Tiger Balm, Icy Hot or other topical creams

STRETCH now, especially your neck, and get it ready for looking upward at tall stages or getting “Apeshit” in the Beyonce session. Stretch each night at Zincon before bed and again in the morning if you can. There are also mindfulness or yoga opportunities in the mornings before sessions start--check your badge for the location.

ICE and be smart now, because whatever aches today will ache exponentially in Florida.

FINISH what’s hanging, like your Theme Night costume, the puzzle on your coffee table, the giant project for work or those haircuts for your kids. The less on that reality To Do List, the more open your brain will feel for Zincon.

REST and RESET now, as you can, because learning, loving, hugging, smiling, listening, moving and feeling all deplete your emotional and physical stores. But also, learning, loving, hugging, smiling, listening, moving and feeling will refill your quality of instruction and energy for the rest of the year. It’s absolutely worth it!!

See you soon, #zinmembers!!

#zincon #zincon2019 #zumba #zumbafitness #jamjunkies #zumbainstructor #zumbalove #zincommunity #zumbacommunity

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bornredheadedme-blog · 2 years ago

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Every time I look in the mirror, I see no color in my face, and I'm reminded that right now, I look as gray as I feel. Since early November of last year, when I caught a little cold, which turned into bronchitis, and I haven't had a moment's peace since then. I saw my doctor, who didn't seem too concerned, noted that I was not wheezing, but "crackling." He said this was more likely congestive heart failure. I reminded him that I have no history nor excess water build up anywhere of this. He ordered a chest x-ray which showed "nothing."

He prescribed doxycycline, which did absolutely nothing. My inhalers did nothing, and I was using them way too much and couldn't refill them quickly enough. One evening, I felt so short of breath that we went to the ER to get some relief. After chest x-ray and chest CT, the ER doc came in and actually asked me why I came in since there didn't appear to be anything wrong with me. I suggested that it was asthma, so they gave me a nebulizer treatment, and a script for an oral steroid for 5 days.

The steroids worked really well, but 2 days after I stopped, the symptoms came back with a vengence. We tried a vaporizer in hopes that maybe the dry air was causing the severe cough and wheeze. Didn't work, but this seemed to be just a continuation of my luck so far. I was still sick at Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, and messaging my doctor, sending him my test results at the ER, and still no answer.

My doctor did tell me that I needed a pulmonary function test and they ordered on at Kish which is the closest hospital to me. When I called to schedule, they told me that since there was "no rush" on the order, the first available appointment was 6 weeks in the future. So, I'm still stuck with no end in sight. I began to think about living the rest of my life like this, with no sleep (too much noisy from the wheezing) and too exhausted to do anything. It made me understand how quickly one can go from a stable thought process to suicidal ideation in a heartbeat.

I also found a pulmonologist near me and called to schedule an appointment, and the next available one was the end of May. Yet another month of this crap. I called my doctor to schedule an appointment for "follow-up and meds refill" and thankfully it was 4 days away.

He could hear me wheezing through the closed door. Again I suggested that it was asthma, and he agreed that everything pointed to that. He wanted the results from the function test, and I explained that since no rush was put on the order, the appointment was for the end of April. I suggested an inhaled steroid such as Advair. He agreed to order that.

When I went to Walgreens, I was informed that inhaled steroids were on backorder nationwide due to Covid. As I pondered that at home, I began looking at my insurance coverage, and discovered that Walgreens was out of network which was why they couldn't bill my tertiary insurance. So I transferred my scripts over to another pharmacy that was in network and waited to see if they could obtain the drug. They could but Walgreens showed that I had just filled the script a week ago. I did not. They called my insurance and were unable to get anything done until Walgreens fixed the problem. Walgreens denied they were the problem and I remained suffering in limbo, wheezing away.

I suffered another day until I was calm enough to call Walgreens, and I told the young lady who answered in the pharmacy about my problem. She repeated that their system indicated that they did not fill the prescription. I took a breath and as I let it out, she could clearly hear my wheeze, and told her that the app showed that they filled it on the 29th of March, and Humana agrees. Suddenly, the light went on and she said she would call their 3rd party biller and tell them to release it since it hadn't been filled after all. She called me back to tell me that they had agreed to fix the problem.

This leads me to wonder if Walgreens would have been paid for my medication regardless of the lack of delivery. I wonder if ethics should be questioned here.

The next morning, I went on my new pharmacy app and put in a refill request and it went through. I was finally able to pick up my Advair by 1:30. The wheezing is nearly gone after 3 days. It only took 5 months of asking for help to get to this place. I'm over the age of 65, and therefore expendable and not worthy of consideration.

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bafuncneteas1982-blog · 6 years ago

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Formulation on eye cream is like magic to me. The cheap formulas just don really work. Everything else, there are great affordable sunscreens now, like the Altruist one and even the high PPD bioderma ones are not too pricey.. OP broad umbrella like statement is simply wrong. I have personally designed several pump lotions without alcohol and have worked with hundreds of products in the past few years and they definitely do not all contain alcohol. Furthermore, alcohol is such a buzz word. I have anxiety that bothers me on a daily basis. I, for one, know the struggle of overthinking until you have a migraine. And the struggle of worrying until that is the only thing you can concentrate on and you can never get anything done. On the other extreme, I just returned to UW Milwaukee. Walk in the physics, chem, math, bio, and astronomy buildings, and you immediately find the opposite 성남출장안마 is true. 성남출장안마 Almost everyone in there is Middle Eastern or Asian, and those idependent schools do not put up with any bullshit. Some of us want to come here and enjoy photos nice places. Does that mean that no criticism should ever be given? No, of course not. Everyone seems to just be in huge fucking race to see who can be negative first and the most. This is another question that just leaves me absolutely confused. It seems like red pillers make things extremely complicated when they are in relationships, and it typically revolves around their desire to have sex significantly more than their partner. I get the feeling from red pillers that they are in a relationship solely for access to a woman. You're right it is anecdotal, but you can still extrapolate valuable information from those anecdotes. For example when someone says Walgreens hired them at $51/hr, we can pretty well assume that is the going rate for new hires in that particular district/area. Large retail companies don't randomly hire one new grad at $6/hr less than every one else just to be dicks. A non verbal exchange. Bet. I'll never forget. My engagement died out rapidly. The game follows the same trends every AAA game EA has released in recent years be it Anthem, Mass Effect Andromeda, Star Wars Battlefront 2, Battlefield V etc. They look amazing, they sounds amazing, the controls are fluid and adaptable but the core content is so uninspiring that what gets released doesn in any way keep me wanting to play. The Boscia Luminizing Black Mask contains alcohol and dyes Kopari Coconut Deodorant; fragrances is third. Origins Pore Purrifying Toner has alcohol denat. As its third ingredient. She invited him to dine with her. He refused. She called her younger son, and Liholiho's brother, Kauikeouli sat down and ate with her in front of the new king. This looks like a spot of alopecia. This is more likely related to an underlying infection/immune issue that has nothing to do with PCOS. Have you been around any sick people lately? Could also be a stress response. If you have a small, narrow face, longer hair can overwhelm it, and you're better off with a shorter cut to accentuate your features. But if you have a larger or rounder face, a super short cut will backfire on you. You can go somewhat short, though. Even in winter. Even if the curtains are closed.heyho10102 19 points submitted 3 days agoSo routine time. The first photo is from November 2017 and the second is from February 2019. 6 points submitted 1 month agoAlthough I know cronometer has a lot of fans around here I use MyFitnessPal specifically because it allows you to input recipes using the individual ingredients and then break it up from there. If I make soup I put in all the ingredients, figure out how much soup I have, usually by weighing it and then figure out how many servings I want it to be. With soup one serving usually ends up being one cup and the app breaks down the calories and macros for each serving.Edit: this works for everything.

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flutteragency · 4 months ago

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#Pharmacy app development #Healthcare app development #Prescription management app#Medication reminder app #AI in pharmacy apps #Prescription app development #Online medicine delivery app #Medical app features and cost #Digital healthcare solutions #Build pharmacy app like Walgreens

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techgeni · 7 months ago

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Loyalty Program for Retailers: 10 Winning Examples

In today’s competitive retail landscape, having a strong loyalty program is essential for building customer retention and encouraging repeat purchases. A well-designed retail loyalty program can help retailers foster meaningful relationships with their customers and boost overall sales. Below, we’ll explore 10 winning examples of retail loyalty programs that stand out for their innovation, simplicity, and effectiveness.

1. Starbucks Rewards

Starbucks Rewards is one of the most popular loyalty programs in the world. Customers earn points, called “Stars,” for every purchase. These Stars can be redeemed for free drinks, food, and exclusive offers. The app also keeps customers engaged with personalized deals and reminders.

Key takeaway: Focus on ease of use and personalized incentives to keep your customers coming back.

2. Sephora Beauty Insider

Sephora offers a tiered loyalty program that rewards customers based on their spending. Members can redeem points for exclusive products and experiences. The tiers—Insider, VIB, and Rouge—motivate customers to spend more to unlock better perks.

Key takeaway: Tiered programs create aspirational goals for customers while enhancing their loyalty.

3. Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime’s loyalty program stands out because it combines convenience with value. Members pay an annual fee to enjoy free shipping, exclusive discounts, and access to Prime Video and Music.

Key takeaway: Offering added value beyond purchases keeps customers engaged year-round.

4. Target Circle

Target Circle offers customers the chance to earn 1% back on every purchase. Members also get access to special discounts and birthday rewards. Its simple, no-cost enrollment makes it highly appealing.

Key takeaway: Simplicity and accessibility attract a broader audience.

5. Nike Membership

Nike’s loyalty program focuses on more than just discounts. Members gain access to exclusive products, personalized workout recommendations, and early releases. The brand creates a sense of community through its mobile app.

Key takeaway: Combine loyalty rewards with exclusive experiences to enhance customer engagement.

6. Walgreens Balance Rewards

Walgreens’ Balance Rewards program encourages healthier habits. Customers earn points not only for purchases but also for tracking their health goals, such as exercising or monitoring their weight.

Key takeaway: Innovative features that align with customers’ lifestyles can strengthen brand loyalty.

7. H&M Membership

H&M’s loyalty program offers exclusive discounts, free shipping, and early access to sales. Members also earn points for every purchase, which can be redeemed for future discounts.

Key takeaway: Rewarding both loyalty and engagement encourages consistent shopping.

8. Zappos VIP

Zappos VIP program rewards loyal customers with free expedited shipping and early access to sales. The program also emphasizes excellent customer service, ensuring a seamless shopping experience.

Key takeaway: Prioritize convenience and service in your loyalty strategy.

9. IKEA Family

IKEA Family is a free loyalty program offering discounts, exclusive deals, and free workshops. It also includes benefits like product insurance and member-only sales events.

Key takeaway: Highlight unique perks that reflect your brand’s identity to stand out.

10. The North Face XPLR Pass

The North Face rewards loyalty by offering points for purchases, attending events, and engaging with their app. Points can be redeemed for gear and exclusive experiences, such as outdoor adventures.

Key takeaway: Integrating your loyalty program with experiential rewards can create a deeper emotional connection with your customers.

Why Retail Loyalty Programs Work

Retail loyalty programs work because they:

Build long-term relationships with customers.

Encourage repeat purchases through rewards and incentives.

Provide valuable customer insights to retailers for personalized marketing.

How to Create an Effective Loyalty Program for Retailers

If these 10 winning examples of retail loyalty programs have inspired you, here are some actionable steps to design a program that resonates with your customers:

1. Understand Your Target Audience

Before creating a loyalty program, it’s crucial to understand your customers' preferences and shopping habits.

What products do they buy most often?

How frequently do they shop?

Are they motivated by discounts, exclusive perks, or experiences?

Tip: Conduct surveys or analyze purchase data to gather insights. This will help you tailor your loyalty program to your audience's needs.

2. Keep It Simple

A complicated program can deter participation. Make it easy for customers to understand:

How they earn rewards (e.g., points for purchases).

How to redeem rewards (e.g., discounts, freebies, or exclusive items).

The overall benefits they’ll receive by joining.

Example: Target Circle’s simple approach of earning 1% back is appealing to a wide audience.

3. Incorporate a Mobile App

Most successful loyalty programs, like Starbucks Rewards and Nike Membership, leverage mobile apps to enhance customer engagement. A mobile app can:

Track points and rewards in real time.

Send personalized offers and reminders.

Provide convenience for online and in-store shopping.

Tip: Ensure your app is user-friendly and adds value to the customer experience.

4. Offer Tiered Rewards

Tiered loyalty programs, like Sephora Beauty Insider, encourage customers to spend more to unlock higher levels of benefits. This creates a sense of aspiration and exclusivity.

For example, start with basic rewards for new members and offer premium perks for loyal customers.

Tiers can include benefits like free shipping, VIP access, or exclusive products.

5. Reward More Than Purchases

Modern loyalty programs often reward actions beyond spending, such as:

Writing product reviews.

Sharing purchases on social media.

Attending events or participating in challenges (like Walgreens’ health tracking rewards).

Tip: Adding non-purchase incentives can increase engagement and strengthen brand loyalty.

6. Make It Personalized

Customers love personalized experiences. Use customer data to offer tailored rewards, recommendations, and promotions. For instance:

Send birthday discounts.

Recommend products based on previous purchases.

Highlight rewards they’re close to unlocking.

Example: Starbucks Rewards uses data to provide personalized offers based on customers’ favorite drinks.

7. Promote Your Program

A great loyalty program won’t succeed if customers don’t know about it.

Advertise your program on your website, in-store, and via email campaigns.

Train your staff to explain the benefits to customers during checkout.

Use social media to highlight success stories or testimonials from loyal customers.

Measuring the Success of Your Loyalty Program

To ensure your program is effective, track key metrics like:

Enrollment rates – How many customers are signing up?

Redemption rates – Are customers using their rewards?

Customer retention – Are loyalty members shopping more frequently?

Average spend – Is the program encouraging larger purchases?

Regularly evaluate these metrics and make adjustments to improve your program.

Final Thoughts

A well-crafted loyalty program can be a game-changer for retailers. By studying the 10 winning examples of retail loyalty programs and following these steps, you can create a program that not only boosts sales but also builds stronger relationships with your customers.

Remember: Keep your program simple, rewarding, and aligned with your brand values. With the right strategy, your loyalty program can become a key driver of your retail success.

#RetailLoyaltyPrograms #CustomerRetention #BrandLoyalty #RewardsProgram #LoyaltyPoints #RetailMarketing #BusinessGrowth #PersonalizedShopping

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jenniferwingetusa · 3 years ago

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How to Add Cash to Cash App?

Now that your questions on where can I reload my cash app card have been answered let’s move further by explaining to you how you can add cash to your cash app.

You can add cash to Cash App by following this simple process:-

Visit a participating retail store

Ask the cashier to add cash into your Cash App

You will need to share the phone number you use to log into your Cash App.

Hand over the cash, plus a $4 reload fee

The cashier will complete the transaction

The funds should appear within 10 minutes.

Participating cash reload stores include: 7-Eleven, CVS, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Rite Aid, Target, Walgreens, and finally Walmart.

To add cash to your Cash App balance:-

Tap the Banking tab on your Cash App home screen

Press Add Cash

Choose an amount

Tap Add

Use Touch ID or enter your PIN to Confirm

How to add Cash to Cash App Card?

In this article on where can I reload my cash app card, we will now be discussing how to add cash to your cash app card, cash app load locations and cash app barcode to load money.

Open Cash App on your iPhone or Android.

Click on the “My Cash” tab located in the left-hand corner of the bottom of your home screen

On the “My Cash” page, tap on the “Add Cash” option.

Next, enter the amount of Cash you wanna add to your Cash Card.

After entering the precise amount of money to add to your Cash App, click on the add button. The cash app will ask for identity confirmation to complete the fund transfer. Use Touch ID or Enter your PIN Code or the password to confirm the transaction. After adding the money to your Cash App wallet, you can go back to your homepage.

Can You use a Cash App card at an ATM?

Cash Cards, like debit and credit cards, work at any ATM. You can withdraw cash from your Cash App account using an ATM but you can’t deposit cash.

The platform charges $2 for each ATM transaction, and in most cases, the machine will charge its fee on top of that, so the fees can build up quickly if you make a lot of withdrawals.

Even if you go to your local bank, you may still have to pay an ATM fee, as the Cash Card doesn’t belong to that bank.

Cash App users who have a qualifying direct deposit amount of $300 or more in their account within 31 days will be reimbursed for ATM fees for up to three ATM withdrawals per 31 days. The reimbursement only covers up to $7 in fees per withdrawal.

There are Certain Limitations to Reloading Your Cash Card

You now know where you can reload your cash app card, it isn’t that much of an issue for you anymore, but there are certain limitations to reloading your cash App card, which we will be discussing below.

Some Walmart, Walgreens, Target, and Dollar General locations offer Cash Card deposit services, but not all. In the app, you’ll find a tracker of nearby locations that offer deposits, and it can direct you using Google or Apple Maps.

It’s worth noting, however, that although the app may say a specific location provides the service, users on social media have claimed that this isn’t always accurate. So, to check, it may be best to call the location before going.

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flyawhey · 7 years ago

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1.) DietBet

DietBet is a pretty interesting way to keep on track of your weight loss goals and to reach out to your competitive side. So basically, the app and website allows you to join bets where you pay a small entry fee, and then you’ll compete against others in the bet who’re also wanting to win that money! In order to win the bet and get some money back, you’ll need to lose a certain percentage of weight in a specific amount of time (usually it’s just 1 month). If you win the game then you’ll split the pot with all the other winners. I have personal experience using Dietbet and it is legit. I’ve won $206 from it! DietBet is available for the Apple and Android

2.) StepBet

So this is from the same company that made DietBet but this focuses on the amount of steps you take. If you’re just wanting to walk more or just get more steps in your day, than this would definitely be for you. From the looks of everything it’s a lot like DietBet, where you’re in competition and you split the pot with the winners. StepBet is available for Apple and Android

3.) Healthy Wage

This is pretty similar to DietBet, with a few differences. Just like Dietbet, you get paid for winning weight loss challenges. But Healthy Wage focuses more on the user creating challenges with people who know each other such as challenging friends or a type of corporate challenge. While the same can be done with DietBet, Healthy Wage just puts more emphasis on personal challenges and usually there is a big payout.

You can join up to 10 challenges at a time, and you can create personal challenges that’ll keep you motivated. While DietBet challenges are usually a month (some do last longer), Healthy Wage challenges last longer and each month take a minimum of $30 out of your bank account.

Healthy Wage is available for Apple and for Android

4.) Charity Miles

So, you’re looking to workout, make a little money but not for yourself? Hey, that’s totally cool and there’s even an app for that! The app essentially donates money to a charity of your choice. The app uses your smartphone’s GPS, where it can easily track your movement and track your activity (from walking to cycling). The more you move, the more money your charity is gonna receive. Sounds a little sketchy doesn’t it? Well believe it or not but it’s completely legit! Charity Miles is available for Apple and for Android

5.) Walgreens Balance Rewards

As part of the Walgreens’ Balance Rewards for Healthy Choices program, by simply tracking your health and fitness efforts, you can earn Balance Reward Points. You build points which then can be redeemed with Redemption dollars. These redemption dollars can be deducted from your purchases at Walgreens, meaning you can save a lot of money on items there (I’ll be using mine to buy makeup). It was a little tricky for me to sign up at first. The website was a little disorganized All you need to do is sign up to the Walgreens website and download the app. What’s great about this program is the fact you can connect the app with a fitness tracker, like MyFitnessPal or even your Fitbit. Also, you can just log your activities in manually.

The more steps you take the more Balance Rewards points you will earn. You get 20 points per mile, and you can also get those points for tracking your weight, blood glucose levels, sleep schedule, blood pressure, and I’m sure there are a few other things too. One of the few cons of this App is the cap of 1000 points, so you can only earn up to $1 a month at maximum. The Walgreens app is available for both Apple and Android

6.) AchieveMint

AchieveMint is a website/app, where you gain points just by using the health apps and devices that you already use regularly (similar to Walgreens Balance Rewards). All you need to do is connect your Fitbit, or another app, to your AchieveMint account. You’ll earn points for tracking your weight, amount of sleep, your water intake, your caloric intake and how many steps you take. 10,000 points equal $10 dollars and they payout via Paypal. So, if you’re active and use your Fitbit pretty regularly, then you’re gonna love this app! I use this one and last month I got my first $10. It’s a nice way to make a little bit of cash but it doesn’t take a while to cash out that first $10 if you’re not super active every day. But those points do build up little by little.

If you decide to sign up through my referral you’ll get 100 points!

AchieveMint is available for Apple and Android

7.) Sweatcoin

This app hit in early January 2018 and popularity blew up for it. I also hopped on the hype train to reap the benefits of what this app could offer me. While Sweatcoins are supposedly a cryptocurrency of its own, I personally have my doubts on that. However, similar to some of the other apps I mentioned, you are racking up points (this being Sweatcoins) which then can be exchanged for cool stuff like an iPhone X, Delta Airlines gift card, a discount or free trial to some fitness related services and products. The app does offer a subscription service, so you can earn more than the $5 Sweatcoin daily cap it has. SweatCoin is currently available in the US, UK, and Ireland. But I used a VPN app to download it so you can try that out too.

Here’s my referral if you wanna sign up through me.

Sweatcoin is available for Apple and Android

8.) EarthMiles

So, this one is a little different but you’re still getting rewarded for working out. This UK starter company has a similar concept to all the other apps I’ve mentioned. You sync your apps and devices, bother your friends and followers to use your referral, then just wait until you have enough points (in this case Earth Miles) to treat yo self to something nice. This reminds me of SweatCoin to an extent because the rewards are similar. While you can’t redeem and iPhone X, you can redeem your Earth Miles for a free 1-month subscription to an online yoga class, get so much of a percentage off snacks and cool fitness items. If you’re feeling generous, use my code AMB96W3V , you’ll get 50 points and so will I! For now, this is available only available in the US and the UK.

EarthMiles is available for Apple and Android

Some Dishonorable Mentions

I wasn’t planning on writing about these four app. They received so many low ratings I figured I should mention them just so you would download at your own risk. A reoccurring complaint with all of them is the fact you can’t cash out and customer service is a joke. I personally wouldn’t waste my time if the 1 stars ratings outdo the fives.

1.) Runister

2.) Well Coin

3.) AtariFit

4.) Bounts

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load-cash-app-card-cvs · 4 years ago

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How To Load Money On Cash App Card?

It’s easier to share money nowadays thanks to peer-to-peer payment apps. Many apps or app features let you send or receive funds fast. They’re easy and quite convenient to use. If you’re looking for the best-paid apps for 2021, then Cash App should be on top of your list.

What Is A Cash App Card?

A Cash App card works like a debit card. It allows you to use the balance on your Cash App to pay for goods and services at stores that accept Visa and Mastercard cards. It’s the perfect option if you don’t want to use the funds in your bank account or credit card for your financial transactions because you’re tired of paying fees or avoiding identity theft problems.

How To Load Money On A Cash App Card?

It’s simple to add funds to your Cash App card.

Click on the “My Cash” tab on the bottom left corner of your screen

Select “Add Cash”

Key in the amount you want to add

Click “Add”

Enter your PIN or TouchID to confirm

The funds that you add to your card may come from your bank account, debit card, or credit card, depending on which one you linked to your Cash App.

If you linked multiple bank accounts, debit cards, or credit cards, you can choose the one where the funds will come from. After successfully adding the money, it’ll be added to your balance in the Cash App and the Cash App card.

How To Activate A Cash App Card?

There are two ways to activate your Cash App card. You can use the QR code that comes with your card or the CVV number located at the back.

To activate using a QR code:

Open the Cash App

Tap the Cash Card tab

Tap the Cash Card image

Select “Activate Cash Card”

Click OK.

To activate using the CVV:

Open the Cash App

Tap the Cash Card tab

Tap the Cash Card image

Choose Activate Cash App Card

Select Use CVV

Add the CVV code and expiration date of the Cash App card.

How Do You Link A Bank Account with A Debit Card To Your Cash App Card?

Open Cash App

Open the “My Cash” tab (building icon)

Click “Add a Bank”

Add the required debit card information.

Click the “Add Card” option located at the bottom right side screen.

How Do You Link A Bank Account WITHOUT A Debit Card To Your Cash App Card?

Open Cash App

Open the “My Cash” tab (building icon)

Click “Add a Bank”

Click the “No Card” option located at the bottom left side of the screen

Choose from the list of banks supported by Cash App.

Enter all the information required

Follow remaining instructions to link a bank account to Cash App

How Do You Add A Credit Card To Cash App?

Open Cash App

Click on “Banking”

Tap the “Add Credit Card” option

Enter credit card information

Click “Add Card”

Note: You can only add a credit card after you’ve successfully added a bank account.

Does Cash App Support Bitcoin?

Yes. You can add bitcoin to your Cash App account.

Open Cash App

Tap the “Banking” icon

Choose “Bitcoin”

Select “Deposit Bitcoin”

Share, scan, or copy your Cash App Bitcoin address with an external wallet

Key in your PIN or TouchID to confirm

You can deposit up to $10,000 worth of Bitcoin within 7 days.

Can You Add Money To Your Cash App Card Through Physical Retail Stores?

Can I load my Cash Card Card at Walgreens? Can I load my Cash Card at Dollar General? Yes, you can add funds to your Cash App card from physical stores. You can do that at 7-Eleven and Walmart stores, too. Just reach out to the cashier at the cash counter. They may charge a fee for this transaction.

Can You Dispute A Cash App Card Transaction?

If you notice an unauthorized transaction on your Cash Card or if you have problems with a recent transaction, you can file a dispute through the Cash App.

Launch Cash App

Go to the Activity tab

Choose transaction you want to dispute

Tap Need Help & Cash App Support

Select Dispute this Transaction

The Cash App team will conduct an investigation and file a dispute with the Visa or Mastercard network. The merchant will also review the transaction. You will be notified via email about the card network’s decision regarding your dispute. You’ll receive a refund if your dispute was valid. It can take 10 days to complete the whole process.

What If You Lose Your Cash App Card?

If you lose your Cash App card or card number, or if someone made an unauthorized money transfer from your card, you need to get in touch with Cash App’s customer service.

Open Cash App

Choose “Cash Card” tab

Tap “Cash Card” icon

Choose “Report Card Lost” or “Stolen”

Follow the instructions

Is It Safe To Use Cash App?

Since its launch in 2009, Cash App earned PCI Data Security Standard Level 1 compliance, which means it has met the standards of data security within the payment industry. All financial transactions within the app are encrypted. But you also have to do your part to keep it safe. Never share your PIN with anyone. Enable two-factor authentication and biometrics. Likewise, keep your transactions among people and entities you trust.

Are There Transaction Limits When Using The Cash App Card?

Yes. Non-verified accounts can send up to $250 per week and receive $1,000 per month. Meanwhile, verified accounts can send up to $2,500 per week and receive unlimited amounts. To verify your account, you have to provide information, such as your full name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. You can withdraw funds from your Cash App Card balance through ATMs, but there are limits, too. You can only withdraw a maximum of $310 per transaction and up to $1,000 per week.

What Are The Cash App Card Fees You Need To Know?

You can request a Cash App card for free. There’s no monthly maintenance fee, and it’s free to add cash to your card. There’s a $2 fee when you withdraw funds from your Cash App balance through a Visa ATM network or non-VISA ATM network.

You can avoid ATM fees if you set up paycheck direct deposits to your Cash App account. You will get a reimbursement for up to three ATM withdrawals for 31 days if you set up a paycheck direct deposit of at least $300 per month in your Cash App account. There’s maximum reimbursement of $7 per withdrawal or $21 for three ATM withdrawals for 31 days.

Standard money transfers to a bank account are free. The process takes one to three days to complete. Meanwhile, there’s a 1.5% fee if you opt for an instant transfer of funds from your Cash App to your linked debit card. Paying by credit card comes with a 3% fee while paying by bank account or debit card is free.

Can You Request A Secondary Cash App Card?

No. You can’t request an additional Cash App card for another person. If you allow someone else to use your Cash App card, you will be liable for the transactions, purchases, and fees incurred by the said person. Cash App will only consider a transaction as unauthorized after you notify their customer support about it.

Where Can You Get A Copy Of Your Transaction History For Cash App?

You can call @ cash app number if you want to know how much you have left on your Cash App card. You can also check online at https://cash.app/ or on the app for your available funds, along with your transaction history for 12 months.

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theravencroft · 4 years ago

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Survivalists and the Proletariat Apocalypse

This began life as a Metafilter post and has been cleaned up and lightly edited.

(To me there is a difference between prudence like having some canned goods and stapled and flashlights and whatnot and planning to survive the EMP burst with a dedicated SUV. There's prudence, as in preparing for a storm and bad local events, and then there's pretending you're going to be Immortan Joe and not one of the people begging for water).

I love making fun of preppers.

I think part of it is obviously the just world fallacy at work.

"When the hordes come for me, I will simply shoot them. But I'm just built different."

And some of it is fending off the fear of death and oblivion with telling yourself you are already prepared for every situation.

And there's a good chunk that's what I'll call the Libertarian Fallacy where every Libertarian assumes he will be the triumphant Captain of Industry and not one of the Voluntarily Indentured Servants carrying his palanque. It's like the old Bob The Angry Flower where the Captains of Industry get to Galt's Gulch and realize *somebody* forgot to invent the labor saving robots to do the dirty work like tilling the soil.

But part of it is when something doesn't happen for a while, people assume it didn't happen at all or at least not recently. It's the old "oh well if measles is so bad, what did they do before vaccines, huh?" Well, sometimes they just fucking died. Like it's not that long ago that even in very modern industrialized countries people had families of 8-12 kids and it wouldn't be all that surprising if maybe 6 or 7 made it to adulthood. Because they just died. Of stuff. Of Things. There was a Twitter that would tweet medieval death records and it was kind of funny because it's like "guy fell in a river and died." "Guy got hit on the head and died." "Guy got run over by a horse and died."

We're not really used to that anymore because of this invisible web of medical technology and public health and sanitation.

I obviously don't have a rigorous demographic breakdown of preppers but I suspect a lot of these guys aren't training for, say, the rigors of "No power tools at all," old school, walk behind the plow farming. Can you imagine the heart attacks and strokes? And even the pharmaceuticals a rich prepper can get don't compare to what a small town Walgreens has on hand for an ordinary Tuesday, not to mention the weird stuff they can order.

Oops, your precious kid to repopulate the planet has a rare birth defect. Used to be a 20 minute surgery, now you just die.

Got bitten by a snake? Ah, yes, I too remember antivenom. Would be great to have some of that now. But it turns out it wasn't profitable to produce so it was impossible to find even before total collapse. And even if we didn't have antivenom we could run fluids and machines to support your organs but we don't have that now, you just die.

Oh it turns out without mosquito control, mosquito born disease is a lot more common. And if you get the wrong one, you just die.

I mean how many totally well meaning people buy land in the country thinking they are going to run a little hobby farm and it is going to be so cool and they will have big colorful produce not like the crap you get in stores and then oops it turns out farming is hard work and it never ever ends and honestly a lot of times, you know, it takes a few crop seasons to really get anything going. And I know it's not really cool to admit, but a whole lot of modern farming is huge agribusiness companies with modern chemicals and whatnot for things like pests. Subsistence farming is hard, brutal labor where you barely make enough to survive until you screw up and die.

Yeah, yeah, organic, but lots of times farms fail and you just die.

Until relatively recently it was pretty common for entire regions and even countries to have massive famines because the crops failed and you Just Died.

Good thing we have modern distribution networks to get wheat from, I dunno, China when the Midwest crops fail because because there's no Army Corps of Engineers maintaining the levees anymore so a good chunk of the farm belt is underwater and never will be above ground again. Oh we don't have that anymore? What do we do?

Oh, we just die.

I mean, let's be real, most of these guys aren't picturing themselves as stocking up to spend the rest of their lives being an old timey sodbuster scraping out a living. They probably don't outright say it publicly (some do I'm sure), but the guns are so they don't have to do the manual labor. That's for the slaves/completely totally voluntarily indentured contract labor (depends how Libertarian they are).

They picture it more like, you know, because I was the one who was smart enough to get all these guns, then people will have to come to me, and THEY will do the work, and I will sit on the throne and have big ideas. It's being the Ideas Guy for the post apocalypse.

I would wager not many of these guys spend a lot of time studiously learning to spin and knit and weave or mastering growing flax or cotton or what have you to make cloth to turn into clothes. What do you think happens when your sicknasty BDUs that only True Operators wear rip from stem to stern? Goddamn clothes, nobody makes them to last anymore. Good thing there's a massive manufacturing and distribution network where child labor makes plenty of this in my size that wind up in my local Cabela's and...oh, I forgot, that doesn't exist anymore. Okay, let's see, we have 500,000 rounds of .223 and 55 years of MREs and...goddamn it Gary did you forget the go bag with all the clothes? Well how are we gonna survive? Winter is coming. How do we stay warm without clothes or blankets?

Oh, we just die.

That's not even getting into the monied classes. Do you think THEY are signing up for the manual labor. It is kind of funny imagining the billionaires emerging from their bunkers into the brave new world. Imagine Zucc swinging a scythe to reap grain or Bezos spending 8 hours a day bent over to pick cotton to eventually make clothes. Or the billionaire CFO and airport novelist teaming up to hand-dig the irrigation trench because we are getting low on stockpiled seeds and this is going to be it.

It's absurd. It's like the Hitchhiker's Guide ship entirely full of useless people.

The would-be Immortan Joe has a shot but how in the hell are you still going to be a billionaire when your money is a line in a bank database and "money" and "banks" and "databases" don't exist anymore. You're a computer programmer, dipshit, that requires electricity at the very least.

No, no, no. What they are picturing is, basically, the Proletariat Rapture. "I will retire to my comfortably appointed bunker where I will still get to be a big shot business guy and take meetings and be extremely important and all my guards with explosive collars to assure their loyalty will call me sir, and then something will happen and all the homeless and poor people I see on the streets of San Francisco and all the other poor people, the rabble, the useless, (include the races they don't like as appropriate), will be gone, preferably violently, with lots of suffering. And then me and my buddies will emerge, all 12 of us, all Big Shot Business Guys, will take our robot cars into San Francisco for Meetings and we finally, FINALLY won't have to risk soiling our $5000 hand made Italian dress shoes (new Chucks, in Zucc's case, man of the people) stepping in a pile of human shit. And everything will be exactly the same as it is now including a global electronic trade network and people thinking "apps" are life-changingly important, but even better, because the people I don't like are all dead, and we can finally settle in to the most important work of all, disrupting the convenience store industry by putting a little kiosk in the lobby of apartment building with some essentials, like a Bodega but see there's an app and it's automated."

That's not even getting into the lack of knowledge transfer!

We can't even get people to believe things like "okay so a lot of illness is caused by tiny things you can't see, and believe it or not the best treatment isn't thoughts and prayers or willpower or even bootstraps, it's covering your mouth and nose when you're sick or cough or sneeze and it's rubbing your hands together enthusiastically in clean running water with a mild detergent of some kind smeared on them" NOW!

By the shock collar thing isn't a joke. There's an article where the writer goes to one of these rich guy survivalist conference/seminar things and the conversation is pretty much literally...

"Okay so obviously we hire these mercenaries and private security and they've got the guns and we've got the money but, you know, how do we make sure they stay loyal"

"Well...you could try treating them really well and also including their families and taking care of them, so they have an incentive besides a paycheck, build actual loyalty."

*silence*

*hysterical laughter*

"Nice joke but seriously like I saw this movie where they had explosive collars and if they didn't like you or you turn against them or whatever, they blow your head off, does that actually exist yet?'

Say what you will about the robber barons of the 1920s but at least they realized some basics like "give back to the community a smidge so they don't remember they outnumber you" and "generally speaking our beloved capitalism requires other people to have at least a single wafer thin mint of money so the whole thing keeps going." These guys are like "okay but I could have all the money and also more capitalism enabling me to have even more money?"

Okay okay, work with me.

You are Reebok (some shoes they gave you, it said Reebok, that's your name) Smithandwesson (your gun, which you were issued at birth, as this is post apocalyptic Libertopia). You are a gate guard for the Republic of Cleveland, which is a thing, and isn't really a republic, but since you were born post-Event you don't have much of an understanding of what a Republic even is. But you have a job and that is okay because you have a weapon and a bunk in the barracks and you are basically fed and supplied. Maybe if you fantasize, you think about running one of the outer satrapys some day. But you are not a Founder. The idea of Moving Fast and Breaking Things seems odd, because things are hard to fix and replace.

You don't have an inkling or idea of what "shareholder value" is. You poor dumb son of a bitch. You will never earn incredible returns and work a 4 Hour Workweek and retire at 35 to give TED talks about ayahuasca and microdosing hallucinogens to crush code and design Wireframes for cutting edge AR devices to stream Burning Man and meet new angel investors.

You know some of these words, but they are words and the important ones are different for you.

Your job is actually kind of interesting. You don't really make the final decision about who gets to be a citizen or a concubine or a slave or even a fellow gate guard. You just kind of do a screening to see, you know, does this person seem more or less healthy and useful. Because even glorious Cleveland requires a certain trade of useful labor of some kind in exchange for the hassle of getting you clothes and food and shelter, all of which are in short supply.

Sometimes you vaguely wonder who Cleve was and why this is his Land, but not deeply, more daydreaming between people approaching, petitioners, traders, madmen, the occasional raid. It's interesting enough, every day is a little different, and it beats the poor wretches who toil in the field. You don't get to do deep evaluations but you kind of pride yourself on deciding who gets to enter. Really deciding who will be a future citizen or slave and who gets gently herded away or shot at or shot depending on a variety of factors. You're not a murderer exactly but killing is a casual decision, sometimes a matter of self defense, sometimes an act of compassion like putting down a mad animal.

Zucc or Jack Dorsey or Jeff Bezos have emerged from their bunkers tanned and rested and ready to deliver a ton of value to the post-apocalyptic shareholders, especially now that the idea of "national government" is gone. Free at last to disrupt, unhindered.

But...

There's not a Ted Talk in sight. You wonder whose job it was to maintain the ATM network. Jim Cramer isn't returning your calls. Actually, you can't get any calls. Nobody seems interested in having a breakout session. There are definitely NOT butts in seats at the office, much less meetings or presidential runs. Elon is unreachable. Weirdly, nobody seems to know how the whole Mars thing is going. Or what Mars is.

Over a period of time even the most promising 30 under 30 begins to break down and admit that okay, I cannot find a single sushi restaurant of any kind.

Nobody seems to offer you a kombucha.

There is plenty of raw water but there also seem to be a LOT of people dying of waterborne disease, which is odd, since this is the most pure and organic and unfiltered water possible, especially since toxins seem to be unknown. Nobody knows what they are anyway or that Gwyneth had a great way to shit them all out and get it over with.

Using acai, isn't that cool? It's a superfood.

Through time and necessity and plot device, Bezos or Zucc or Dorsey have arrived in front of you, reduced finally to asking for refuge or sustenance or food it doesn't have to be organic but it would be nice, you know.

There is an air of desperation about them but you know enough to put it down to hunger and theist and some loss of status perhaps. But you steer the conversation to the thing you really care about: what skills do they bring? How can they be of use?

They do seem to think they are extremely important but don't seem to be able to tell you what they actually do. You sort of get the idea of "thought leadership," But telling other people how to be in charge when you don't have a rifle, much less 300 mounted troops, seems odd. Why would they listen? They plead with you but you don't really get why it's important all voices be represented in the conversation about Star Wars, even those we find loathsome. You didn't even know the Stars were at War much less who they were fighting.

But it's kind of fascinating.

They don't quite sound completely gone but they do seem deeply convinced that they "deliver shareholders value" by optimizing bottom lines and making tough choices.

You snort.

Whether to try the "meat" on Wednesdays, now THAT is a tough choice.

While this is an interesting bit of novelty for a while, you soon grow bored.

Maybe you send them away.

One tells you he is the richest man in the world but seems to be offering you stock options but you can't figure out why you would want the chance to maybe buy some things at a reduced price and then sell them later at a high price if Previous Performance Indicates Future Results which it definitely DOES NOT wink wink.

Maybe you send them onward because they seem reasonably lucid despite being convinced they went to Space as a Real Astronaut, whatever that meant. Many "important" men found out their choice now was to shovel shit or starve. Most shoveled. Some starved.

But you always wonder if you were missing something. It was kind of weird how convinced they were that you should've heard of them or a book of...collected faces, apparently. To say nothing of the very odd man convinced getting a wide array of opinion on the gender of some manner of knight was of life or death importance. Knights were hard to find. And who is Jed I. anyway?

Oh, well, another day on the gate.

#survival #post apocalypse #libertarian #prepper

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