#creating a QR code for business

[makeaqrcode]

Effortless QR Code Creation: Customise with Logos, Colours, and Frames

QR codes have become an essential part of modern digital interaction, streamlining everything from marketing campaigns to personal engagements. With just a quick scan, users can access websites, make payments, or even download apps. But how do you create a QR code that stands out and aligns with your brand identity? The answer lies in effortless customisation, where you can add logos, choose colours, and design frames that suit your needs. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to enhance customer engagement or an individual wanting to share personal content stylishly, a free QR code generator makes the process seamless.

Understanding how to set up a QR code is simpler than ever, thanks to intuitive tools that guide you through the process. To make a QR Code, all you need is the relevant link or data, select your preferred customisation options, and generate your design. The best part is that many platforms offer to create QR code free service, ensuring accessibility without financial commitment. By taking advantage of these tools, businesses and individuals can craft visually appealing QR codes that maintain functionality while reflecting their unique brand aesthetics.

A QR code for business can be a game-changer, offering a bridge between physical and digital interactions. From product packaging to restaurant menus and marketing materials, these small but powerful graphics enhance accessibility and engagement. If you're wondering how to get a QR code for my business, the process is straightforward. Choose a free QR code generator that provides customisation features, input your URL or data, and adjust the design elements to match your brand. High-resolution downloads ensure crisp and professional-quality results, making them suitable for both online and print usage.

Creating a QR code for business not only boosts customer interaction but also adds a professional touch to promotional materials. When you create a QR code free of cost, you still get access to multiple customisation options, ensuring that your QR codes remain visually appealing and recognisable. Adding a logo, adjusting the colour scheme, and incorporating frames can make a significant difference in how users perceive and engage with your QR code. The ability to download in sharp, high resolution ensures that the final output is not just practical but also aesthetically aligned with your branding needs.

Beyond businesses, QR codes are also widely used for personal needs. Whether it’s for sharing contact details, event invitations, or social media profiles, the flexibility of QR codes makes them a versatile tool. By leveraging an easy-to-use free QR code generator, anyone can create a personalised QR code in just a few clicks. Customisation adds a unique touch, ensuring that even a simple QR code aligns with personal branding or themes.

High-resolution QR codes are vital for maintaining visual integrity across different platforms and media. Whether printed on a billboard or displayed on a smartphone screen, clarity and sharpness are essential. That’s why choosing a generator that allows high-resolution downloads is crucial. Businesses, in particular, benefit from this feature as they can integrate QR codes seamlessly into advertisements, brochures, and product packaging without compromising quality.

Custom QR codes not only look better but also offer enhanced brand recognition. When a QR code carries the company’s colours, logo, and design elements, it becomes instantly recognisable, increasing the likelihood of engagement. Whether you need a QR code for digital marketing, business networking, or customer service, making one that aligns with your visual identity is now effortless.

In a world where digital engagement is key, having a customisable and high-resolution QR code can significantly enhance accessibility and interaction. With easy-to-use generators, even those without technical expertise can create a QR code free of charge. Whether for business or personal use, taking advantage of advanced customisation features ensures that your QR codes not only function efficiently but also stand out visually. The days of plain black-and-white QR codes are long gone—now, effortless QR code creation allows for stylish, brand-specific designs that leave a lasting impression.

[curiousmind-world]

Introduction

In our fast-paced world, time is a precious commodity. Whether you’re a student, professional, or entrepreneur, finding ways to streamline your daily tasks can significantly boost productivity. Enter ChatGPT, an AI language model that can assist you in automating various aspects of your work. In this article, we’ll explore nine ChatGPT prompts that can revolutionize the way you tackle your busy schedule.

1. Calendar Management

ChatGPT prompts: “Schedule a meeting for next Tuesday at 2 PM.”

ChatGPT can interact with your calendar application, whether it’s Google Calendar, Outlook, or any other platform. By providing clear instructions, you can effortlessly set up appointments, reminders, and events. Imagine the time saved when ChatGPT handles your scheduling!

2. Email Drafting

ChatGPT prompts: “Compose an email to my team about the upcoming project deadline.”

ChatGPT can draft professional emails, complete with subject lines, body text, and even attachments. Simply describe the purpose of the email, and let ChatGPT do the rest. It’s like having a virtual assistant dedicated to your inbox.

3. Code Generation

ChatGPT prompts: “Write a Python function that calculates Fibonacci numbers.”

Whether you’re a programmer or a student, ChatGPT can generate code snippets for various programming languages. From simple functions to complex algorithms, ChatGPT can save you hours of coding time.

4. Content Summarisation

ChatGPT prompts: “Summarise this 10-page research paper on climate change.”

Reading lengthy documents can be daunting. ChatGPT can analyse and condense large texts into concise summaries, allowing you to grasp essential information quickly.

5. Social Media Posts

ChatGPT prompts: “Create a tweet announcing our new product launch.”

Crafting engaging social media content is essential for businesses. ChatGPT can generate catchy posts for platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram, ensuring your message reaches your audience effectively.

6. Language Translation

ChatGPT prompts: “Translate this paragraph from English to Spanish.”

Whether you’re communicating with international clients or learning a new language, ChatGPT can provide accurate translations. Say goodbye to language barriers!

7. Data Analysis

ChatGPT prompts: “Analyse this sales dataset and identify trends.”

ChatGPT can process data, create visualisations, and extract insights. Whether it’s sales figures, customer behavior, or market trends, ChatGPT can help you make informed decisions.

8. Creative Writing

ChatGPT prompts: “Write a short story about time travel.”

Beyond practical tasks, ChatGPT can unleash creativity. From poems to fictional narratives, ChatGPT can be your muse when inspiration strikes.

9. Personalised Recommendations

ChatGPT prompts: “Suggest a book based on my interests in science fiction.”

ChatGPT can recommend books, movies, restaurants, or travel destinations tailored to your preferences. It’s like having a knowledgeable friend who knows your tastes.

Conclusion: 

These nine ChatGPT prompts demonstrate its versatility. By integrating ChatGPT into your workflow, you can automate repetitive tasks, enhance communication, and free up valuable time. So, next time you’re swamped with work, turn to ChatGPT—it’s like having a digital assistant that works tirelessly to simplify your life.

In addition to ChatGPT, there are several other powerful AI tools designed to automate various tasks. Let’s explore some of them:

ACCELQ: A codeless AI-powered tool that seamlessly tests software across multiple channels (mobile, desktop, etc.). It offers continuous test automation and minimizes maintenance efforts1. You can find more information on their website.

Katalon: An AI tool for test automation that provides a complete solution for testing mobile applications and websites. It features a robust object repository, multi-language support, and efficient test results1. Check out Katalon’s website for details.

Selenium: An open-source AI tool for automating web and application testing. It’s commonly used for regression testing, functional testing, and performance testing1. You can explore more about Selenium on their official website.

Appium: Specifically designed for mobile app automation, Appium supports both Android and iOS platforms. It’s an excellent choice for mobile testing1.

Cypress: Known for its fast execution and real-time reloading, Cypress is an end-to-end testing framework for web applications. It provides a great developer experience1.

Parasoft: Offers comprehensive testing solutions, including static analysis, unit testing, and API testing. It’s widely used in the industry1.

Cucumber: A behavior-driven development (BDD) tool that allows collaboration between developers, testers, and non-technical stakeholders. It uses plain text specifications for test cases1.

TestNG: A testing framework inspired by JUnit and NUnit, TestNG supports parallel execution, data-driven testing, and test configuration flexibility1.

LambdaTest: A cloud-based cross-browser testing platform that allows you to test your web applications across various browsers and operating systems1.

Robot Framework: An open-source test automation framework that uses a keyword-driven approach. It’s highly extensible and supports both web and mobile testing1.

TestCraft: A codeless automation platform that integrates with popular tools like Selenium and Appium. It’s suitable for both manual and automated testing1.

Watir: A Ruby library for automating web browsers, Watir provides a simple and expressive syntax for testing web applications1.

Remember that each tool has its strengths and weaknesses, so choose the one that best fits your specific needs. Whether it’s testing, content creation, or workflow automation, these AI tools can significantly enhance your productivity and efficiency.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

“That Makes Me Smart”

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/12/04/its-not-a-lie/#its-a-premature-truth

The Biden administration disappointed, frustrated and enraged in so many ways, including abetting a genocide – but one consistent bright spot over the past four years was the unseen-for-generations frontal assault on corporate power and corporate corruption.

The three words that define this battle above all others are "unfair and deceptive" – words that appear in Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act and other legislation modeled on it, like USC40 Section 41712(a), which gives the Department of Transportation the power to ban "unfair and deceptive" practices as well:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/10/the-courage-to-govern/#whos-in-charge

When Congress created an agency to punish "unfair and deceptive" conduct, they were saying to the American people, "You have a right not to be cheated." While this may sound obvious, it's hardly how the world works.

To get a sense of how many ripoffs are part of our daily lives, let's take a little tour of the ways that the FTC and other agencies have used the "unfair and deceptive" standard to defend you over the past four years. Take Amazon Prime: Amazon executives emailed one another, openly admitting that in their user tests, the public was consistently fooled by Amazon's "get free shipping with Prime" dialog boxes, thinking they were signing up for free shipping and not understanding that they were actually signing up to send the company $140/year. They had tested other versions of the signup workflow that users were able to correctly interpret, but they decided to go with the confusing version because it made them more money:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/05/amazon-execs-may-be-personally-liable-for-tricking-users-into-prime-sign-ups/

Getting you signed up for Prime isn't just a matter of taking $140 out of your pocket once – because while Amazon has produced a greased slide that whisks you into a recurring Prime subscription, the process for canceling that recurring payment is more like a greased pole you must climb to escape the Prime pit. This is typical of many services, where signing up happens in a couple clicks, but canceling is a Kafkaesque nightmare. The FTC decided that this was an "unfair and deceptive" business practice and used its authority to create a "Click to Cancel" rule that says businesses have to make it as easy to cancel a recurring payment as it was to sign up for it:

https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/12/ftc_cancel_subscriptions/

Once businesses have you locked in, they also spy on you, ingesting masses of commercial surveillance data that you "consented" to by buying a car, or clicking to a website, or installing an app, or just physically existing in space. They use this to implement "surveillance pricing," raising prices based on their estimation of your desperation. Uber got caught doing this a decade ago, raising the price of taxi rides for users whose batteries were about to die, but these days, everyone's in on the game. For example, McDonald's has invested in a company that spies on your finances to determine when your payday is, and then raises the price of your usual breakfast sandwich by a dollar the day you get paid:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/05/your-price-named/#privacy-first-again

Everything about this is "unfair and deceptive" – from switching prices the second you click into the store to the sham of consent that consists of, say, picking up your tickets to a show and being ordered to download an app that comes with 20,000 words of terms and conditions that allows the company that sends you a QR code to spy on you for the rest of your life in any way they can and sell the data to anyone who'll buy it.

As bad as it is to be trapped in an abusive relationship as a shopper, it's a million times worse to be trapped as a worker. One in 18 American workers is under a noncompete "agreement" that makes it illegal for you to change jobs and work for someone else in the same industry. The vast majority of these workers are in low-waged food-service jobs. The primary use of the American noncompete is to stop the cashier at Wendy's from getting an extra $0.25/hour by taking a job at McDonald's.

Noncompetes are shrouded in a fog of easily dispelled bossly bullshit: claims that noncompetes raise wages (empirically, this is untrue), or that they enable "IP"-intensive industries to grow by protecting their trade secrets. This claim is such bullshit: you can tell by the fact that noncompetes are banned under California's state constitution and yet the most IP-intensive industries have attracted hundreds of billions – if not trillions – in investment capital even though none of their workforce can be bound under a noncompete. The FTC's order banning noncompetes for every worker in America simply brings the labor regime that created Silicon Valley and Hollywood to the rest of the country:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/26/hit-with-a-brick/#graceful-failure

Noncompetes aren't the only "unfair and deceptive" practice used against American workers. The past decade has seen the rise of private equity consolidation in several low-waged industries, like pet grooming. The new owners of every pet grooming salon within 20 miles of your house haven't just slashed workers' wages, they've also cooked up a scheme that lets them charge workers thousands of dollars if they quit these shitty jobs. This scheme is called a "training repayment agreement provision" (TRAP!): workers who are TRAPped at Petsmart are made to work doing menial jobs like sweeping up the floor for three to four weeks. Petsmart calls this "training," and values it at $5,500. If you quit your pet grooming job in the next two years, you legally owe PetSmart $5,500 to "repay" them for the training:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/04/its-a-trap/#a-little-on-the-nose

Workers are also subjected to "unfair and deceptive" bossware: "AI" tools sold to bosses that claim they can sort good workers from bad, but actually serve as random-number generators that penalize workers in arbitrary, life-destroying ways:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/26/hawtch-hawtch/#you-treasure-what-you-measure

Some of the most "unfair and deceptive" conduct we endure happens in shadowy corners of industry, where obscure middlemen help consolidated industries raise prices and pick your pocket. All the meat you buy in the grocery store comes from a cartel of processing and packing companies that all subscribe to the same "price consulting" services that tells them how to coordinate across-the-board price rises (tell me again how greedflation isn't a thing?):

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/04/dont-let-your-meat-loaf/#meaty-beaty-big-and-bouncy

It's not just food, it's all of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Take shelter: the highly consolidated landlord industry uses apps like Realpage to coordinate rental price hikes, turning the housing crisis into a housing emergency:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/07/24/gouging-the-all-seeing-eye/#i-spy

And of course, health is the most "unfair and deceptive" industry of all. Useless middlemen like "Pharmacy Benefit Managers" ("a spreadsheet with political power" -Matt Stoller) coordinate massive price-hikes in the drugs you need to stay alive, which is why Americans pay substantially more for medicine than anyone else in the world, even as the US government spends more than any other to fund pharma research, using public money:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/09/23/shield-of-boringness/#some-men-rob-you-with-a-fountain-pen

It's not just drugs: every piece of equipment – think hospital beds and nuclear medicine machines – as well as all the consumables – from bandages to saline – at your local hospital runs through a cartel of "Group Purchasing Organizations" that do for hospital equipment what PBMs do for medicine:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/09/27/lethal-dysfunction/#luxury-bones

For the past four years, we've lived in an America where a substantial portion of the administrative state went to war every day to stamp out unfair and deceptive practices. It's still happening: yesterday, the CFPB (which Musk has vowed to shut down) proposed a new rule that would ban the entire data brokerage industry, who nonconsensually harvest information about every American, and package it up into categories like "teenagers from red states seeking abortions" and "military service personnel with gambling habits" and "seniors with dementia" and sell this to marketers, stalkers, foreign governments and anyone else with a credit-card:

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-proposes-rule-to-stop-data-brokers-from-selling-sensitive-personal-data-to-scammers-stalkers-and-spies/

And on the same day, the FTC banned the location brokers who spy on your every movement and sell your past and present location, again, to marketers, stalkers, foreign governments and anyone with a credit card:

https://www.404media.co/ftc-bans-location-data-company-that-powers-the-surveillance-ecosystem/

These are tantalizing previews of a better life for every American, one in which the rule is, "play fair." That's not the world that Trump and his allies want to build. Their motto isn't "cheaters never prosper" – it's "caveat emptor," let the buyer beware.

Remember the 2016 debate where Clinton accused Trump of cheating on his taxes and he admitted to it, saying "That makes me smart?" Trumpism is the movement of "that makes me smart" life, where if you get scammed, that's your own damned fault. Sorry, loser, you lost.

Nowhere do you see this more than in cryptocurrencyland, so it's not a coincidence that tens – perhaps hundreds – in dark crypto money was flushed into the election, first to overpower Democratic primaries and kick out Dem legislators who'd used their power to fight the "unfair and deceptive" crowd:

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook-pm/2024/02/13/crypto-comes-for-katie-porter-00141261

And then to fight Dems across the board (even the Dems whose primary victories were funded by dark crypto money) and elect the GOP as the party of "caveat emptor"/"that makes me smart":

https://www.coindesk.com/news-analysis/2024/12/02/crypto-cash-fueled-53-members-of-the-next-u-s-congress

Crypto epitomizes the caveat emptor economy. By design, fraudulent crypto transactions can't be reversed. If you get suckered, that's canonically a you problem. And boy oh boy, do crypto users get suckered (including and especially those who buy Trump's shitcoins):

https://www.web3isgoinggreat.com/

And for crypto users who get ripped off because they've parked their "money" in an online wallet, there's no sympathy, just "not your keys, not your coins":

https://www.ledger.com/academy/not-your-keys-not-your-coins-why-it-matters

A cornerstone of the "unfair and deceptive" world is that only suckers – that is, outsiders, marks and little people – have to endure consequences when they get rooked. When insiders get ripped off, all principle is jettisoned. So it's not surprising that when crypto insiders got taken for millions the first time they created a DAO, they tore up all the rules of the crypto world and gave themselves the mulligan that none of the rest of us are entitled to in cryptoland:

https://blog.ethereum.org/2016/07/20/hard-fork-completed

Where you find crypto, you find Elon Musk, the guy who epitomizes caveat emptor thinking. This is a guy who has lied to drivers to get them to buy Teslas by promising "full self driving in one year," every year, since 2015:

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/autonomous-driving/timeline-of-tesla-self-driving-aspirations-a9686689375/

Musk told investors that he had a "prototype" autonomous robot that could replace their workers, then demoed a guy in a robot suit, pretending to be a robot:

https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-unveils-his-funniest-vaporware-yet-1847523016

Then Musk did it again, two years later, demoing a remote-control robot while lying and claiming that it was autonomous:

https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/14/tesla-optimus-bots-were-controlled-by-humans-during-the-we-robot-event

This is entirely typical of the AI sector, in which "AIs" are revealed, over and over, to be low-waged workers pretending to be robots, so much so that Indian tech industry insiders joke that "AI" stands for "Absent Indians":

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/29/pay-no-attention/#to-the-little-man-behind-the-curtain

Musk's view is that he's not a liar, merely a teller of premature truths. Autonomous cars and robots are just around the corner (just like the chatbots that can do your job, and not merely convince your boss to fire you while failing to do your job). He's not tricking you, he's just faking it until he makes it. It's not a scam, it's inspirational. Of course, if he's wrong and you are scammed, well, that's a you problem. Caveat emptor. That makes him smart.

Musk does this all the time. Take the Twitter blue tick, originally conceived of as a way to keep Twitter users from being scammed ("unfair and deceptive") by con artists pretending to be famous people. Musk's inaugural act at Twitter was to take away blue ticks from verified users and sell them to anyone who'd pay $8/month. Almost no one coughed up for this – the main exception being scammers, who used their purchased, unverified blue ticks to steal from Twitter users ("that makes me smart").

As Twitter hemorrhaged advertising revenue and Musk became increasingly desperate to materialize an army of $8/month paid subscribers, he pulled another scam: he nonconsensually applied blue ticks to prominent accounts, in a bid to trick normies into thinking that widely read people valued blue ticks so much they were paying for them out of their own pockets:

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-65365366

If you were tricked into buying a blue tick on this pretense, well, caveat emptor. Besides, it's not a lie, it's a premature truth. Someday all those widely read users with nonconsensual blue ticks will surely value them so highly that they do start to pay for them. And if they don't? Well, Musk got your $8: "that makes me smart."

Scammers will always tell you that they're not lying to you, merely telling premature truths. Sam Bankman-Fried's defenders will tell you that he didn't actually steal all those billions. He gambled them on a bet that (sorta-kinda) paid off. Eventually, he was able to make all his victims (sorta-kinda) whole, so it's not even a theft:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/08/business/ftx-bankruptcy-plan-repay-creditors/index.html

Likewise, Tether, a "stablecoin" that was unable to pass an audit for many years as it issued unbacked, unregulated securities while lying and saying that for every dollar they minted, they had a dollar in reserves. Tether now (maybe) has reserves to equal its outstanding coins, so obviously all those years where they made false claims, they weren't lying, merely telling a premature truth:

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/cryptocriticscorner/episodes/Tether-wins–Skeptics-lose-the-end-of-an-era-e2rhf5e

If Tether had failed a margin call during those years and you'd lost everything, well, caveat emptor. The Tether insiders were always insulated from that risk, and that's all that matters: "that makes me smart."

When I think about the next four years, this is how I frame it: the victory of "that makes me smart" over "fairness and truth."

For years, progressives have pointed out the right's hypocrisy, despite that fact that Americans have been conditioned to be so cynical that even the rankest hypocrisy doesn't register. But "caveat emptor?" That isn't just someone else's bad belief or low ethics: it's the way that your life is materially, significantly worsened. The Biden administration – divided between corporate Dems and the Warren/Sanders wing that went to war on "unfair and deceptive" – was ashamed and nearly silent on its groundbreaking work fighting for fairness and honesty. That was a titanic mistake.

Americans may not care about hypocrisy, but they really care about being stolen from. No one wants to be a sucker.

[reasonsforhope]

"Clothing tags, travel cards, hotel room key cards, parcel labels … a whole host of components in supply chains of everything from cars to clothes. What do they have in common? RFID tags.  

Every RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag contains a microchip and a tiny metal strip of an antenna. A cool 18bn of these are made – and disposed of – each year. And with demands for product traceability increasing, ironically in part because of concerns for the social and environmental health of the supply chain, that’s set to soar. 

And guess where most of these tags end up? Yup, landfill – adding to the burgeoning volumes of e-waste polluting our soils, rivers and skies. It’s a sorry tale, but it’s one in which two young graduates of Imperial College London and Royal College of Art are putting a great big green twist. Under the name of PulpaTronics, Chloe So and Barna Soma Biro reckon they’ve hit on a beguilingly simple sounding solution: make the tags out of paper. No plastic, no chips, no metal strips. Just paper, pure and … simple … ? Well, not quite, as we shall see. 

The apparent simplicity is achieved by some pretty cutting-edge technical innovation, aimed at stripping away both the metal antennae and the chips. If you can get rid of those, as Biro explains, you solve the e-waste problem at a stroke. But getting rid of things isn’t the typical approach to technical solutions, he adds. “I read a paper in Nature that set out how humans have a bias for solving problems through addition – by adding something new, rather than removing complexity, even if that’s the best approach.”   

And adding stuff to a world already stuffed, as it were, can create more problems than it solves. “So that became one of the guiding principles of PulpaTronics”, he says: stripping things down “to the bare minimum, where they are still functional, but have as low an environmental impact as possible”.  

...how did they achieve this magical simplification? The answer lies in lasers: these turn the paper into a conductive material, Biro explains, printing a pattern on the surface that can be ‘read’ by a scanner, rather like a QR code. It sounds like frontier technology, but it works, and PulpaTronics have patents pending to protect it. 

The resulting tag comes in two forms: in one, there is still a microchip, so that it can be read by existing scanners of the sort common within retailers, for example. The more advanced version does away with the chip altogether. This will need a different kind of scanner, currently in development, which PulpaTronics envisages issuing licences for others to manufacture. 

Crucially, the cost of both versions is significantly cheaper than existing RFID kit – making this a highly viable proposition. Then there are the carbon savings: up to 70% for the chipless version – so a no-brainer from a sustainability viewpoint too. All the same, industry interest was slow to start with but when PulpaTronics won a coveted Dezeen magazine award in late 2023, it snowballed, says So. Big brands such as UPS, DHL, Marks & Spencer and Decathlon came calling. “We were just bombarded.” Brands were fascinated by the innovation, she says, but even more by the price point, “because, like any business, they knew that green products can’t come with a premium”."

-via Positive.News, April 29, 2024

--

Note: I know it's still in the very early stages, but this is such a relief to see in the context of the environmental and human rights catastrophes associated with lithium mining and mining for rare earth metals, and the way that EVs and other green infrastructure are massively increasing the demand for those materials.

I'll take a future with paper-based, more humane alternatives for sure! Fingers crossed this keeps developing and develops well (and quickly).

[dirtbagwitch]

MAGIC FOR THE CITY DWELLER

CHAPTER ONE: WELCOME TO THE CONCRETE JUNGLE, WHERE MAGIC NEVER SLEEPS

magic isn’t just for the deep woods and moss-covered stones. it’s not limited to candlelit covens or ancient runes etched in a sacred grove. magic is where you are. in the humming neon signs, the flickering streetlamps, the rhythm of bus doors opening and closing, in the energy of walking amongst a crowd on a busy street.

urban magic is about finding the mystical in the mundane, harnessing the city’s restless energy, and using every graffiti tag, liminal space, cracked pavement, and forgotten coin as a tool for enchantment. the city is alive—a churning, breathing, chaotic organism—and if you listen closely, it’s whispering spells in the wind between skyscrapers.

this isn’t some high-brow, ceremonial magic doctrine. here, we work with sigils written on coffee shop napkins, metro card protection spells, and phone screens charged as scrying mirrors. this is magic for the streets, for the punks, for the witches in walk-ups and studio apartments, for the ones who find the divine in the hum of a dive bar at 3 AM.

WHAT MAKES URBAN MAGIC DIFFERENT?

the biggest shift between traditional and urban magic is the environment. instead of sacred groves, we have community gardens. instead of rivers, we have storm drains. instead of bonfires, we have neon lights and power grids pulsing with raw electricity.

but just because the setting is different doesn’t mean the magic is weaker. city magic is potent as hell, because it’s charged with movement, history, technology, and millions of lives overlapping in real-time.

ELEMENTS IN AN URBAN CONTEXT:

• earth → concrete, bricks, asphalt, parks and park dirt

• air → the wind between high-rises, the whispers of overheard conversations, the endless streams of information moving across the city

• fire → electricity, neon lights, the heat of a crowded bus, a match or lighter

• water → rain pooling in the streets, sewer systems, fountains in public squares, water dripping from rooftops

• spirit → the city itself, the collective energy of its people, the ghosts in old buildings, the echoes of everyone who’s walked these streets before you

this practice isn’t about forcing the old ways into a modern setting. it’s about adapting magic so that it fits your world, your reality, your city.

THEORY & FRAMEWORK: CHAOS MAGIC, QUEER MAGIC, AND CITY SPELLS

urban magic thrives on three key principles:

1. ADAPTATION – use what’s around you. city witches need to be resourceful as hell. your “wand” can be a pen, a drumstick, or a crowbar if that’s what speaks to you (though a crowbar is a little extreme). your “altar” can be a windowsill, a shoebox, or even temporary like the back of a bus seat where you traced a sigil in the condensation.

2. INGENUITY – urban magic is subtle, fast, and often disguised. your ritual circle might be drawn in spilled coffee, your sigils hidden in street art, your glamour spells worked through fashion choices and body language.

3. INTERACTION – the city is alive. talk to it. work with the spirits of your apartment building, the crows and raven and wandering city cats who see a lot, the graffiti messages that seem to answer your questions in cryptic scrawls, street names that feel like answers to questions. trust your gut, keep watch for the synchronicity

MAGICAL SYSTEMS THAT THRIVE IN THE CITY:

1. CHAOS MAGIC: THE DIY APPROACH TO WITCHCRAFT

urban magic truthfully falls under the umbrella of chaos magic.

chaos magic is sort of like punk rock spellwork. no rules except what works. it’s the belief that magic isn’t just about ancient texts and strict traditions—it’s about belief as a tool. hacking reality, using symbols, and experimenting with what actually gets results. if something stops working you chuck it and move on to something new.

• create sigils from street signs, corporate logos, and subway maps.

• use “reality hacking” spells—like placing intent in a QR code or whispering an incantation into a social media post before it goes viral.

• swap out outdated correspondences for modern tools—your phone can be your scrying mirror, your router a beacon for intention-setting.

chaos magic thrives in the city because cities are chaotic. they’re full of random encounters, glitches, synchronicities waiting to be tapped into.

2. QUEER MAGIC: BREAKING RULES, BENDING REALITY

witchcraft has always been the domain of outsiders, rebels, and the marginalized. queer magic embraces fluidity, resistance, and radical self-expression.

• use genderfluid deities, archetypes, and spirits in your workings.

• cast spells at drag shows, pride marches, and underground raves—because those are modern sacred spaces.

• turn self-love into a spell, defying the narratives that say queer people don’t deserve power, joy, or love.

urban queer magic is loud, unapologetic, and built on the bones of those who paved the way before.

TOOLS & MATERIALS: USING THE CITY AS YOUR SPELLBOOK

urban witches don’t need fancy supplies. we use:

• 📱 smart phones – scrying mirrors, digital sigil boards, enchanted playlists

• 🎫 metro cards & transit tickets – protection charms, travel blessings

• 🗝 keys – for unlocking opportunities, closing doors that need to stay shut

• 🖋 pens & sharpies – sigil-making, graffiti spellwork

• 🪙 spare change – prosperity charms, offerings to city spirits

• 🧾 receipts – paper magic, petition spells, glamour workings

if it exists in your daily life, it can be a tool.

EVERYDAY SPELLS & RITUALS

🔮 PROTECTION SPELLS FOR NAVIGATING CITY LIFE

• “doorway ward” – rub salt along your threshold, whispering “no harm may cross this line.”

• “metro shield” – imagine a glowing energy bubble around you before stepping onto public transit.

💰 PROSPERITY & SUCCESS SPELLS

• “lucky coin” – pick up a found coin, say “bring me fortune,” and carry it for a week.

• “resume enchantment” – anoint your job applications with cinnamon for luck before sending.

💡 HACKING REALITY WITH CHAOS MAGIC

• “digital sigils” – set a sigil as your phone wallpaper and charge it every time you unlock your screen.

• “parking spell” – whisper “open the way” as you search for a spot—watch as one appears.

🌀 COMMUNITY SPELLS & URBAN COLLECTIVE MAGIC

• “city-wide sigil work” – drop the same symbol in different places and see what manifests.

• “full moon offerings” – leave a quarter at a crossroads to honor the city’s spirits.

THE CITY IS YOUR ALTAR

this is your grimoire, your spellbook, your guide to turning the city into a magical playground. don’t just live in it—work with it, enchant it, let it enchant you back.

magic is everywhere, babes. you just have to know where to look.

[kimerawrt]

Dannymay 2025, meowing in ghost

1990s (AO3)

“Ugh!” Danny flopped face first into his bed while grumbling like a pissed off cat.

“Oh, come on dude! It's not that bad” Tucker tried to cheer up his friend.

“Give up Tucker, Danny is just like that because Lancer didn't let him write about the Hubble telescope” Sam droned in a very boring tone while claiming Danny’s chair as her own.

The three friends had decided to hang out in Danny’s room after school. They would have started to play video games but a last warning from Mr. Lancer about the date to hand over their essays, that was next class,made them remember the homework they didn't do because of being busy ghost hunting.

“But what will I write about?” Danny grumbled against his blankets, “what else was interesting in the 90s?”

“The Soviet Union fell” Sam was clear in what she would write. Already, she was looking for information on her phone.

“What do you mean what's interesting?! The boom of the internet dude! The best invention ever!” Tucker seemed very excited about that topic.

“Ugh…” Danny grumbled even louder. Mr. Lancer had not let him write about the space telescope because the half ghost had already done an essay in it before and he would only copy and paste his own work.

“Come one Danny, just look in the wonderful place that its the internet and find another thing that happened in the 90s” Tucker tried to make his friend move from his bed by poking his side.

“But the Hubble…” Danny whined. He was really disappointed at not being able to work on that topic and ramble about space.

“Find another thing” Sam deadpanned without mercy.

“Nooo…” Danny was not having a good time.

Not wanting to hear what his friends’ opinions on the paper were anymore, the half ghost transformed into his ghost form. Hoping that the randomness of his cat forms would bring him some kind of inspiration.

When the light receded, in the bed there was a white cat with a strange pattern of black squares in his back. Otherwise, it looked like a normal non-ghostly cat.

“I don’t think black and white things were an issue back there” Tucker said. His mind focused on when color television was invented.

“Wait, is that a QR code?” Sam asked after staring at the cat’s back for a minute.

“Danny, QRs did not exist in the 90s” Tucker said.

“Hisss” Danny was not happy with either his friends nor his form.

“Don't be a baby and stay still” Sam used her phone to see if there was anything useful in this random form.

Danny grumbled but stayed still. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing to have a QR code in his back. Maybe it would give him an idea for his essay. Maybe it would be something about space that he had overlooked. Unlikely, but stranger things had happened before.

“Huh… interesting” Sam mumbled while looking at her phone.

“Nya?” Danny turned around to see his friend. Hope filling his eyes.

“What is it?” Tucker was curious as well.

“It's a Russian blog about seafood” Sam said. She noticed that it was created the 1st of January of 1990, but didn’t comment on it.

Danny licked his lips. Now that he was thinking about it, he was hungry. He could eat a fish or two.

“That's interesting. Are you hungry dude? We could go get some fish sticks at the Nasty Burger and drown them in the Nasty Sauce. Maybe that way you will get an idea” Tucker proposed, not a solution, but a way to get one.

“Better than nothing” Sam shrugged and got up from the chair. She could go for a salad right now.

“Meow!” Danny nodded and jumped to Tucker’s shoulder.

“But you gotta be a human dude. I won't feed you fish like last time” Tucker warned his friend. He was not going to be called ‘cat weirdo' for a week again.

Danny just rolled his eyes while continuing to use the techno-geek as a transport method. He will change later. Maybe.

[neodymiumcuilz]

Hi can you help me share my now pinned post on my page🙏💝

HELP A FAMILY FROM GAZA

Hello everyone, I am calling for everyone to please visit @familgazaamal1 and share their posts, please share their campaign link. Please raise your voice for a family in need, any act of sharing is support and really helps out a campaign.

"hai ! my last post regarding shaima's family is losing traction again and donations r becoming stagnant . last time we and others raised 10k in total to reach the 13k goal . i wld like to request this again but in hopes that we can strive higher and consistently ! the goal is 30k and it is still very time sensitive . currently , in palestine , their specific area is unsafe as the idf once again disregards ceasefire . please donate and share their gfm around if you can so we can have more sources of funds directed towards their gfm . if u wld like , i have created a qr code that can be posted outside or around personal businesses ! pls share this and get this fund back on its fee" - @ym2164 on this family.

More information here

Your donations are going towards saving their life. What you may spend on a cup of coffee or something can really help a family out, if you have any means of transferring money (WHICH MOST OF YALL DO) you should be good to donate! THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH DONATIONS and they are in desperate need to get to saftey and away from the danger. Imagine the threat of death hanging over you constantly?

44% OF DONATION GOAL REACHED!!

[lunawings]

Brief Aikatsu FAQ

Although this is not an Aikatsu blog, for some reason I tend to get a lot of Aikatsu questions, so I'm going to pin this here!

I'm going to Japan. Where/How can I play Aikatsu?

All versions of the Aikatsu arcade game (Original/Stars/Friends/Parade/Planet) have been discontinued. However as of May 2024, there is an original Aikatsu machine and a Parade machine located at the Official Aikatsu Store in Akihabara and if you buy something at the store you can get a ticket to play one or the other. The machines themselves are free to play, however they are offline, meaning you cannot scan school IDs, create new characters, or get Aikatsu cards. Depending on how busy the store is, you might only get to play once, so I would suggest you go early and think about the song and character you might want to play!

Disclaimer: I've never been to the store myself, but I will update this post if I ever do go!

Where can I get Aikatsu QR codes? (For the 3DS games, etc.)

This website has an archive! The password is Aikatsu!Aikatsu!

Sometimes the password doesn't work on the first try. I don't know why, but try again!

[cursecuelebre]

Witch/Tarot PSA: DO NOT BUY COUNTERFEIT DECKS.

What is a counterfeit deck?

These are “decks” are illegal manufacture of actual real tarot decks that are not created by the actual publishing houses or the artist or author. These were copy pasted terribly on small cheap card stock in plastic folded boxes rather than the regular boxes that the publishing company would use. These cards will not sometimes credit the author or artist, do not use the copyrighted company which is illegal and it will not come with a guidebook but a QR code on the back.

Why are they bad?

Yes buying regular and legit decks can be expensive in my country US it’s about $30 if the deck is brand new. Not that expensive but if you can’t spare $30 save your money or wait till they go on sale. Tarot is a luxury not a necessity remember that. When one buy these decks their money will not go to the artist or author or even publishing company but a Chinese factory most likely a sweatshop that are treating their workers terribly. I’d rather pay full priced for an artist and authors hardwork that they deserve knowing they put their blood, sweat, and tears for. Also creating these inauthentic decks harms the environment as well.

Keep in mind publishing houses like Llewelyn or Us Game systems are not big, their not penguin books or Harper Collins these are small publishing companies that need to have a percentage of the sales.

Author Ciro Marchetti known for his Glided Tarot said that he doesn’t want to continue his art career for tarot because of this reason, of his deck being illegal pirated and sold for a very cheap price that isn’t worth it because the quality is terrible and unethical. It affects the artists and authors mostly because their work is being produced by companies that they won’t get rightfully paid for.

Also here’s one of the most messed up thing I discovered, I love my small metaphysical shops and my family likes to explore all kinds of shops in my state of Connecticut. But when I go into a shop and I see those counterfeit decks now unlike Temu where they sell them for less than $10 these owners would sell them for full price. This is a scam because people who are unaware just brought a pirated item thinking it’s legit and actually produced by an actual publishing company when it’s a cheaply made deck and the pictures are terrible quality very pixelated. I get angry when I see these decks and I’m taking my business somewhere else.

There have been cases where people are selling AI versions of tarot decks for instance, The Dark Wood Tarot by Sasha Graham (wonderful deck highly recommend) the art was stolen and reused for a AI tarot deck that used the same name and everything. Beware of that and I know that isn’t a common but AI tarot exists so be careful especially on sites like Etsy, Etsy has a lot of AI decks, do your research and message the seller if possible at times the seller will even put in the bio of what it is their selling if it’s made from AI.

How to Prevent It

Spread awareness, US game systems made an excellent statement on counterfeit decks and telling customers how to spot them. If you see counterfeit decks in your metaphysical shop you can confront them if you want I know confrontations can be difficult especially for small businesses but again it’s important to bring it up even asking politely, “I noticed you have counterfeit decks and selling for full price why is that?” But if not take your business elsewhere maybe leave a review warning others about them. But I find it hard to believe that a lot of these shop owners don’t know what their doing when selling these decks, unless they’re very irresponsible or just don’t care about ethics of business or even laws of their business.

Cues when you are checking a counterfeit deck?

Does it have the artist’s and author’s name sometimes the person is both author and artist.

Does it come with a guidebook when the normal deck usually does. Some of these illegal decks will remove “guidebook” from the title and have a small QR Code on the back of these decks that’s your NUMBER ONE CLUE when you spot these decks THEY DO NOT HAVE GUIDEBOOKS BUT QR CODES FOR THE SAID GUIDEBOOK. THEIR VERY SMALL COMPARE TO THE AUTHENTIC DECKS.

Do they put the Publishing Company’s name for copyright? For instance those annoying US Game systems borders usually will have their copyright (within good reason to not let the cards to be ripped off that’s why you don’t see many us game system tarot rip offs). To spot the copyright title it’s on the box usually on the back, it will be small but it will have ©️ then the publishing company’s name.

Do you know of the tarot deck is a mini? Sometimes authors and publishers will republish regular decks for minis. Be sure the deck says mini or look up to see if the publishing company republished a tarot mini compare the decks if they match.

[technifytechnologies]

Create Quick QR Code For Free | QR Ocean

Use QR Ocean to quickly and effortlessly create free QR codes. With a few clicks, you can create high-quality QR codes for business cards, WiFi, websites, and more. No registration is required; just enter your information, personalize the layout, and download right away. Perfect for personal usage, marketing, and companies. Start now to quickly and easily build your QR code.

[eiuseis]

📢 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐌 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒! 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐑 𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋! 📢

Hiii everyone! We are 4th year financial management students of Adamson University and we are currently conducting a study entitled "𝙁𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨' 𝘿𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙙𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚: 𝘼 𝙈𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞��𝙚" and we are looking for participants.🎨🖌️

To give you a brief background, we have noticed that the fandom community has been underrated in the business industry, and we wanted to give artists in the fandom community recognition for creating a business through your creativity!

We are currently looking for volunteer respondents who meet the following criteria:

✅ 18 years old or older

✅ Digital/Fandom Artists (if traditional, one that uses social media)

✅ Has crowdfunding experience (Patreon, Ko-Fi. BuyMeACoffee, etc.) or has experience selling commissions through social media

To participate, just click the link below or simply scan the QR code:

https://forms.gle/J249YpR9RHDkkwgD7

https://forms.gle/J249YpR9RHDkkwgD7

https://forms.gle/J249YpR9RHDkkwgD7

Your participation will be highly valuable in completing our study. Rest assured will be used explicitly for research purposes only and will remain confidential. Thank you for your time and support! ❤︎

For inquiries, email us:

erish.alyssa.gaviola@adamson.edu.ph

bernadine.flores@adamson.edu.ph

selena.garcia@adamson.edu.ph

alexandre.elizabeth.reyes@adamson.edu.ph

[joshinglis123]

How to Ensure Compliance with ZATCA Phase 2 Requirements

As Saudi Arabia pushes toward a more digitized and transparent tax system, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) continues to roll out significant reforms. One of the most transformative changes has been the implementation of the electronic invoicing system. While Phase 1 marked the beginning of this journey, ZATCA Phase 2 brings a deeper level of integration and regulatory expectations.

If you’re a VAT-registered business in the Kingdom, this guide will help you understand exactly what’s required in Phase 2 and how to stay compliant without unnecessary complications. From understanding core mandates to implementing the right technology and training your staff, we’ll break down everything you need to know.

What Is ZATCA Phase 2?

ZATCA Phase 2 is the second stage of Saudi Arabia’s e-invoicing initiative. While Phase 1, which began in December 2021, focused on the generation of electronic invoices in a standard format, Phase 2 introduces integration with ZATCA’s system through its FATOORA platform.

Under Phase 2, businesses are expected to:

Generate invoices in a predefined XML format

Digitally sign them with a ZATCA-issued cryptographic stamp

Integrate their invoicing systems with ZATCA to transmit and validate invoices in real-time

The primary goal of Phase 2 is to enhance the transparency of commercial transactions, streamline tax enforcement, and reduce instances of fraud.

Who Must Comply?

Phase 2 requirements apply to all VAT-registered businesses operating in Saudi Arabia. However, the implementation is being rolled out in waves. Businesses are notified by ZATCA of their required compliance deadlines, typically with at least six months' notice.

Even if your business hasn't been selected for immediate implementation, it's crucial to prepare ahead of time. Early planning ensures a smoother transition and helps avoid last-minute issues.

Key Requirements for Compliance

Here’s a breakdown of the main technical and operational requirements under Phase 2.

1. Electronic Invoicing Format

Invoices must now be generated in XML format that adheres to ZATCA's technical specifications. These specifications cover:

Mandatory fields (buyer/seller details, invoice items, tax breakdown, etc.)

Invoice types (standard tax invoice for B2B, simplified for B2C)

Structure and tags required in the XML file

2. Digital Signature

Every invoice must be digitally signed using a cryptographic stamp. This stamp must be issued and registered through ZATCA’s portal. The digital signature ensures authenticity and protects against tampering.

3. Integration with ZATCA’s System

You must integrate your e-invoicing software with the FATOORA platform to submit invoices in real-time for validation and clearance. For standard invoices, clearance must be obtained before sharing them with your customers.

4. QR Code and UUID

Simplified invoices must include a QR code to facilitate easy validation, while all invoices should carry a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) to ensure traceability.

5. Data Archiving

You must retain and archive your e-invoices in a secure digital format for at least six years, in accordance with Saudi tax law. These records must be accessible for audits or verification by ZATCA.

Step-by-Step Guide to Compliance

Meeting the requirements of ZATCA Phase 2 doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Follow these steps to ensure your business stays on track:

Step 1: Assess Your Current System

Evaluate whether your current accounting or invoicing solution can support XML invoice generation, digital signatures, and API integration. If not, consider:

Upgrading your system

Partnering with a ZATCA-certified solution provider

Using cloud-based software with built-in compliance features

Step 2: Understand Your Implementation Timeline

Once ZATCA notifies your business of its compliance date, mark it down and create a preparation plan. Typically, businesses receive at least six months’ notice.

During this time, you’ll need to:

Register with ZATCA’s e-invoicing platform

Complete cryptographic identity requests

Test your system integration

Step 3: Apply for Cryptographic Identity

To digitally sign your invoices, you'll need to register your system with ZATCA and obtain a cryptographic stamp identity. Your software provider or IT team should initiate this via ZATCA's portal.

Once registered, the digital certificate will allow your system to sign every outgoing invoice.

Step 4: Integrate with FATOORA

Using ZATCA’s provided API documentation, integrate your invoicing system with the FATOORA platform. This step enables real-time transmission and validation of e-invoices. Depending on your technical capacity, this may require support from a solution provider.

Make sure the system can:

Communicate securely over APIs

Handle rejected invoices

Log validation feedback

Step 5: Conduct Internal Testing

Use ZATCA’s sandbox environment to simulate invoice generation and transmission. This lets you identify and resolve:

Formatting issues

Signature errors

Connectivity problems

Testing ensures that when you go live, everything operates smoothly.

Step 6: Train Your Team

Compliance isn’t just about systems—it’s also about people. Train your finance, IT, and sales teams on how to:

Create compliant invoices

Troubleshoot validation errors

Understand QR codes and UUIDs

Respond to ZATCA notifications

Clear communication helps avoid user errors that could lead to non-compliance.

Step 7: Monitor and Improve

After implementation, continue to monitor your systems and processes. Track metrics like:

Invoice clearance success rates

Error logs

Feedback from ZATCA

This will help you make ongoing improvements and stay aligned with future regulatory updates.

Choosing the Right Solution Provider

If you don’t have in-house resources to build your own e-invoicing system, consider working with a ZATCA-approved provider. Look for partners that offer:

Pre-certified e-invoicing software

Full API integration with FATOORA

Support for cryptographic signatures

Real-time monitoring dashboards

Technical support and onboarding services

A reliable provider will save time, reduce costs, and minimize the risk of non-compliance.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with ZATCA Phase 2 can result in financial penalties, legal action, or suspension of business activities. Penalties may include:

Fines for missing or incorrect invoice details

Penalties for not transmitting invoices in real-time

Legal scrutiny during audits

Being proactive is the best way to avoid these consequences.

Final Thoughts

As Saudi Arabia advances toward a fully digital economy, ZATCA Phase 2 is a significant milestone. It promotes tax fairness, increases transparency, and helps modernize the way businesses operate.

While the technical requirements may seem complex at first, a step-by-step approach—combined with the right technology and training—can make compliance straightforward. Whether you're preparing now or waiting for your official notification, don’t delay. Start planning early, choose a reliable system, and make sure your entire team is ready.

With proper preparation, compliance isn’t just possible—it’s an opportunity to modernize your business and build lasting trust with your customers and the government.

[designsagar]

​In today's competitive market, innovative packaging plays a pivotal role in capturing consumer attention and enhancing brand identity. Creative box designs not only protect products but also serve as a powerful marketing tool, conveying a brand's story and values. ​

One effective approach is minimalistic elegance, where clean lines and subtle branding elements convey sophistication and modernity. For instance, sleek black packaging with minimalistic details can create a refined contemporary style. ​

Incorporating vibrant patterns inspired by cultural heritage can also make packaging stand out. Intricate motifs or traditional designs can instantly catch the eye and resonate with consumers. ​

Sustainable packaging is another growing trend, reflecting environmental responsibility. Utilizing eco-friendly materials like recycled cardboard or biodegradable options not only appeals to eco-conscious consumers but also demonstrates a brand's commitment to sustainability. ​

Furthermore, interactive packaging elements such as puzzles, hidden messages, or QR codes engage customers beyond the purchase, fostering a sense of playfulness and creating memorable experiences. ​

For businesses looking to elevate their product presentation, investing in creative box designs is essential. To explore a range of innovative packaging solutions, visit Design Sagar and discover how exceptional design can transform your brand's packaging experience.

[laanirouche]

2025 Homevalley Global Entrepreneurs Competition Q&A Session

The 2025 Homevalley Global Entrepreneurs Competition registration is in full swing! To address your inquiries, we’ve created this Q&A section, covering registration methods, competition details, awards, and the "Talent Scout Award" mechanism. We aim to resolve your doubts and empower every participant to compete with ease and pursue their dreams!

I. About Registration

1. After registration, how can I withdraw or modify my project information or BP if there are updates? Can I resubmit?

After registration, you will receive an official email confirmation. For changes to project details, please kindly contact the project liaison team via email.

2. What should I do after submitting the registration form? How will results and updates be notified?

After registration, you will receive an official email with your registration status and subsequent competition arrangements. Please check your inbox regularly.

3. Can I participate again if I joined last year but didn’t win?

Yes! Participants from last year who did not win awards are welcome to reapply.

4. Should I choose a competition zone based on my residence or study/work location?

Priority order: overseas residence > overseas study/work location.

5. Are there educational requirements for founders?

No! We welcome all innovators and entrepreneurs with bold dreams.

6. Can foreign entrepreneurs participate?

Yes! The competition is open to participants of all nationalities.

II. Competition Details

1. Where is the competition held? Are pitches online or offline? If online, which platform is used, and how are time zones managed?

Preliminary rounds may include both online and offline pitches. The organizing committee will notify participants based on proximity and convenience.

2. Is there travel support for offline pitches?

No travel subsidies for preliminary rounds. Projects advancing to the semifinals may qualify for a **1-6 month fully-funded Shanghai incubation camp** (including flights, accommodation, workspace, mentorship, and more).

3. Must the project pitch be delivered by the same applicant? Can a team member substitute?

The applicant must deliver the pitch, and the same person must participate in all rounds (preliminary, semifinal, final).

4. Are pitches conducted in Chinese or English?

Participants may use either Chinese or English.

5. Is pre-competition training provided?

Semifinalists may qualify for the Shanghai incubation camp, which includes training, mentorship, and pitch preparation support.

III. Awards & Prizes

1. Can I claim the prize if my project hasn’t been implemented yet?

Yes, competition prizes are awarded regardless of implementation status, but landing incentive (e.g., local support) requires project execution.

2. Can preliminary and semifinal prizes be combined?

No. Only the higher prize amount will be awarded.

3. How are USD prizes claimed? Is a corporate account required?

When the competition concludes, winners will be contacted for claim.

- Preliminary/semifinal USD prizes require a corporate account.

- For CNY payouts, USD prizes will be converted at the exchange rate of the transaction date.

- Final prizes are paid in CNY via corporate account. Unregistered projects may use a personal account.

IV. "Talent Scout Award" Mechanism

1. Must the Talent Scout be a company? Can individuals participate? Does this affect prize claim?

Individuals can also act as Talent Scouts. Claim remains unaffected.

2. How can Talent Scouts track their recommended projects’ progress and finalist status?

Dedicated staff will provide real-time updates on recommended projects.

3.How do I become a Talent Scout? What materials are needed?

Scan the Talent Scout registration QR code, fill in your details, and upload a business card. Our team will contact you and provide a unique referral code for tracking.

[bonktdigitalbusinesscards]

Paperless Business Cards

Paperless business cards are digital alternatives to traditional printed cards. They let you share your contact details using QR codes, apps, or online links. These cards are eco-friendly, easy to update, and reduce waste. You can share them instantly via email, text, or scanning. Many apps, like HiHello and Haystack, help create paperless cards. They are great for professionals who want a modern, hassle-free way to network without carrying physical cards.

[kline-blogger]

Vendor Pop-Up Shop Table Ideas

Vendor Pop-Up Shop Table Ideas

First impressions matter when selling at a pop-up shop! A well-designed vendor table attracts customers, showcases your products, and boosts sales. Whether you’re selling handmade goods, food, or boutique items, an eye-catching setup makes all the difference.

Key Elements of a Successful Vendor Table

Stylish Table Cover: Use a branded or aesthetic tablecloth to set the tone.

Clear Signage: Display your business name, pricing, and promotions with attractive signage.

Organized Layout: Arrange products at different heights using shelves, crates, or risers to create visual interest.

Engaging Decor: Add small touches like fairy lights, flowers, or themed decorations to enhance the customer experience.

Marketing Tips

Offer business cards, QR codes for online shopping, and interactive elements like product samples or giveaways.

Conclusion

A well-designed pop-up shop table can make your booth stand out and attract more customers. Invest in an organized, visually appealing display to maximize your sales potential!

Read More Here: Vendor Pop-Up Shop Table Ideas