CIO vs. CTO :What’s the difference?

As you grow your business or pursue your digital transformation initiative, you’ll need to add a few more chairs to the leadership table to support your new needs.

Especially when it comes to technology it can be hard to know what you need — do you need a CIO? A CTO? A director of IT?

At the end of the day, you need someone who can leverage technology to support your business strategy. Whoever you hire should be able to think holistically about the business as well as specifically about the technical logistics of digital tools.

For most business leaders, thinking about technology, digital transformation, and IT in the correct way can be the biggest challenge. By explaining a few disciplines within the digital technology space, you can get a better idea of what to expect from your IT strategy.

CTO: Chief Technology Officer

Generally speaking, CTOs focus on more customer-facing technologies.

Their goal is to improve your product or offering, whether by improving the product itself or by improving the buying, ordering, and delivery experience around the product. Though customer-facing, these efforts must be connected and informed by the greater business strategy and competitive advantage.

The technology implemented by the CTO should support a specific competitive advantage.

For instance, when Domino’s pizza started its digital transformation in 2008, the bulk of its technology investments supported the convenience of ordering and delivery, because that’s the advantage Domino’s competes on.

It would have been a miss if Domino’s had focused its technology on making Michelin Star-quality pizzas, because Domino’s knew its customers weren’t buying Domino’s for quality.

Domino’s developed tools for engaging with customers digitally with its online order tracker, mobile app, and ordering integrations across new digital channels and platforms. Additionally, Domino’s built an internal GPS system for its delivery drivers. These tools fall squarely within the CTO realm.

CTOs have a very technical skillset. It’s common for a CTO to have a background in software development or engineering. Appropriately, CTOs are responsible for managing the developers, vendors, and engineers who build new customer-facing technologies and perform research and development. CTOs may consult several departments to learn more about the customer experience and how customers are interacting with the business and prodUct.

Success for CTOs lies in the top line. CTOs constantly think about how to tap into new markets or out-maneuver the competition to increase sales. They also track the performance of the internal development team, usually by how quickly they can build and implement a new feature.

CIO: Chief Information Officer

CIO focus on internal processes, including IT.

Anything that falls into the realm of managed IT is the responsibility of the CIO. This includes cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, reporting, automation, data storage, CRMs, ERPs, to name a few. At its core, the CIO’s job is to manage and optimize the tech infrastructure that the business needs to operate.

For example, Vudu Consulting an IT strategy and consulting firm based in Oklahoma City, helped a client in the oil and gas industry move from a weekly reporting interval to hourly interval. Access to real-time information helped Vudu’s client lower the cost of a barrel of oil from $36 to $6. This type of project would fall to a CIO role.

The CIO is also responsible for the business’s IT strategy, that is, how the business uses technology to empower each individual business unit from finance to legal to HR. The IT strategy provides a framework for measuring the performance of individual business units and the business as a whole.

Your CIO implements processes for managing your company’s data and gleaning actionable insights from that data that result in more streamlined processes and lower costs. Usually, these efforts alone are enough to achieve a digital transformation that revolutionizes a business.

CIOs may have a less technical skillset. A CIO may have a background in computer science or IT management, but they must be good project managers and good communicators in order to facilitate cohesion across several departments. The CIO looks at the big picture to prioritize IT initiatives and make sure all internal systems work together coherently. The CIO manages the different IT groups working to sustain your digital infrastructure.

Success for CIOs lies in the bottom line. The ultimate goal of a CIO is to maximize the ROI on its systematic investments. Their work can help increase the efficiency of the business’s workflow and give business unit leaders and C-suite executives better information with which to make decisions. They make it easier for team members at all levels to achieve maximum productivity.

Which one do you need for your digital transformation?

Whether you need a CTO or CIO depends on your digital transformation goals. One sure way to fail in your digital transformation initiative is to expect your IT team to do everything. If you don’t have a clear, concise business strategy in place, you may want to create one before making such an important hire.

If you do have a clear, concise business strategy, what problems do you expect your CIO or CTO to solve? What challenges does your business face? What does digital transformation mean for your business, specifically?

You probably need a CIO if:

You want to optimize your internal process, workflows, and infrastructure, or if your goal is to meet compliance requirements by your industry.
The value driver is access to data, automation, and reporting, then a CIO may be more helpful.

You probably need a CTO if:

You’re looking to enhance the customer experience by creating new digital products or offerings.
The value drivers in your company sit within the product you offer your customers and how you offer it to them, a CTO may align with your needs.

Of course, if your business has value drivers that fall in each camp, you may need both. The data and insights typically provided by a CIO may inform what type of products the CTO should create. When the CTO launches a new product, the CIO will help structure internal processes to support that new product.

If hiring two new C-suite-level executives is cost-prohibitive, you could consider using an IT Consultant to advise you on how to meet your immediate needs and discern how to prioritize in-house hiring.

Many companies combine these roles, even bestowing a combined title of CITO. It’s true that the line between customer-facing innovations and internal processes can be blurred, and your business model may allow one person to straddle both positions. However, you should be realistic in how much you expect one person to accomplish, and you should equip them with the budget, staffing, and trust they need to fulfill both roles successfully.

You may have noticed the proliferation of new technology roles in the business world — like Chief Digital Information Officer, Chief Security Officer, Chief Digital Technology Officer. As technology becomes more and more of a strategic necessity for businesses, the more splinter roles will appear to accommodate the widening scope of digital. At the same time, these leaders will more and more have to work laterally to support the business and IT strategies.

Alignment above all

At thE end of the day, you make a hiring decision to meet the needs of your business. No matter what role you end up hiring for, there are a few key qualities you should expect from a worthy candidate.

Your candidate should have a mind for business strategy beyond their niche, specialty, or department.
Your candidate should be a good communicator who works to understand other business units and can help assist with the change management process that comes with any digital transformation.
Your candidate should have the organizational and project management skills to scope and execute a project effectively.
Your candidate should have the acumen and professionalism to provide value at the leadership table.

Every part of your business uses technology to some extent. The age of break/fix IT management is over. Your CIO or CTO will either help or hinder your business — there is no in-between.

How To Find a Business Name That Works for Your Company

The name you give your business is vital to its success, but it is surprisingly difficult to come up with a good name just by brainstorming. If you’ve tried, you know it’s true. To give yourself a creative springboard for naming your business, you can use Namify’s free online business name generator to instantly see dozens, or hundreds, of high-quality name possibilities — all inspired by your own keywords and filters.

Your Business Name Can Make or Break You

How important are business names? They can make or break your business. Jeff Bezos originally planned to call his company “Cadabra.” After someone thought he was saying “Cadaver,” he switched to thinking he’d call the company “Relentless.” People told him that didn’t seem very friendly, so he ended up going through the dictionary till he got to “Amazon,” which sounded big and started with “A.” Good call!

A now-famous shoe company was known as Blue Ribbon Sports during its early years. When the time came to rename the business, the boss wanted “Dimension Six” — which the staff pointed out was “unspeakably bad.” Fortunately, an employee literally dreamed up a much better name the night before the deadline: “Nike,” the goddess of victory.

Google originally called itself “BackRub.” You’re probably grateful that you don’t have to “backrub it” every time you search online. On the other hand — and this is the point — Google might never have become the leading search engine if it hadn’t changed its unattractive business name.

Your Business Name Should Speak to Your Customers

When you use the Namify business name generator, you can easily browse through column after column of unique names that nobody at your company would have come up with in a million years, and which may instantly knock your current favorite candidates out of the field of consideration. This is the kind of power you want in your corner when you are trying to find the right name for your business to communicate to your ideal customers.

For a personalized list of business name possibilities, Namify’s business name generator lets you search using multiple keywords. This helps ensure that your target customer and your company name are in sync. You can also generate names using selected categories (such as fashion, green energy, or consulting) and filters (such as how many words and how many characters you want your business name to have).

Your Business Name Needs a Domain Name

The perfect business name isn’t perfect unless there’s a matching domain name. The suggestions presented to you by the Namify business name generator have already been prequalified as having domain names available.

The wide range of site extensions these days makes finding an appealing business name/domain name combo much more doable, enjoyable, and affordable than it used to be. Your business name URL can end in .store, .fun, .tech, or many other easy-to-remember extensions.

There are millions of business names already in use, but there are many more great ones waiting to be discovered. You can give yourself a serious headstart by letting Namify’s business name generator give you some suggestions.

Custom Supplement Advantage

For stores that would like to open up new markets in the health and fitness genre of products, there is the standard path of stocking and selling brand-name supplements and additives. However, because of the level of marketing and build-up in these products, the profit margins for retail sellers can be thin. That ends up requiring a retailer to spend a lot of energy, valuable shelf space, and bulk cost on product that barely breaks even and helps pay the rent. Instead, a far more viable alternative that gives access to many of the same supplement products and ingredients can be made via private label.

Financial Impact Differences

Custom supplement product lines essentially give retailers a direct path to supplements and ingredients that are just as viable for customers and provide the same health benefits as brand-label versions. However, for the retailer, the profit margin difference is considerable. Rather than having to pay for someone else’s overhead and marketing costs per bottle or container, the retailer is selling their brand with a direct supply from a custom supplement manufacturer.

Far More Market Efficiency Possible

Custom supplements are just as effective as the brand-name versions, with additional benefits of a wider range of product variations that retailers can access. Rather than being limited to just the product line produced by a brand name, private label supplements allow retailers to cater far more to their local customers and match cost to market far better. For example, a retailer may be in a location where the average customer is generally older. Supplements for joints, clarity, immunity, and bone density may be far more popular as a result. General brand names may have these products, or not, hit or miss. With private label supplements, the retailer can order exactly what their customers are asking for every time.

The beauty of flexibility possible with custom label supplements is made possible by suppliers who provide access to formulation engineering teams. Because of this possibility, retailers large and small can tailor their inventory to what works for their specific customer market versus an estimate of a regional one, which is oftentimes inaccurate. That includes both vitamin products, supplements, additives, mixtures, and enhancers. The wide range of what is possible allows retailers to provide the same advantage of multiple brand names all in one inventory and collection of products versus having to order from multiple suppliers and different pricing schemes.

No Operations are Too Small

Small businesses and start-ups benefit greatly from custom label production because the channel backs up the business with inventory access that is typically only available with larger operations working with larger middleman distributors who carry multiple brands. Instead, as mentioned above, startups and small businesses get the same selection from one source instead of getting lost in pricing schedules that eat away at thin profit margin. This is a critical difference for small businesses as so much of the profit earned per sale matters for cash flow and making overall breakeven targets to be able to grow further.

Even greater flexibility is possible with small runs. While not being available with larger brand names who push smaller orders to distributors who then add markups, small businesses and startups can take advantage of supplement trial runs that allow for considerable market testing and product viability for new mixes and variations specific to a given local market. This allows startups and small businesses to develop market niches for unique supplement products that would not be possible relying on regular brand supply lines.

There’s no question that private label supplement support is a big breakthrough in the health industry. The real question is how many new operations and savvy current ones will take advantage of the medium to broaden their market offerings, specifically those in demand from their local customer base.

CoolSculpting: How Much Fat Can You Lose?

CoolSculpting: How much fat can you lose? CoolSculpting is also known as cryolipolysis, is a fat-reduction procedure. It works by causing fat cells in certain places of the body to freeze. In the cosmetics sector, non-invasive treatments are becoming the new big thing. The ability to improve our appearances without undergoing surgery allows us to do so without disrupting our everyday lives or spending tens of thousands of dollars.

Going to plastic surgeons like Sadeghi CoolSculpting weight loss targets parts of the body where it is more difficult to eliminate fat through diet and exercise, similar to liposuction.

What is Coolsculpting?

CoolSculpting is a branded, FDA-approved method of cryolipolysis fat removal.

Frozen temperatures are used in CoolSculpting and other kinds of cryolipolysis to break down fat cells. Other cells are not damaged by cold in the same way as fat cells are, therefore there should be no harm to the skin or underlying tissue.

The practitioner vacuums the skin above the fatty tissue into an applicator that cools the fat cells during the operation. The cold numbs the region, and some people claim to sense a cooling sensation.

The average CoolSculpting session lasts around an hour. Because there is no injury to the skin or tissue, there is no recuperation period. Some patients experience pain at the CoolSculpting treatment site, comparable to what they may experience after a strenuous workout or a small muscle injury.

It may take 4–6 months for fat cells to exit the body after the operation. During that period, the fat area will shrink by an average of 20%.

How Effective Is CoolSculpting?

The success rate of CoolSculpting and other kinds of cryolipolysis is quite high. They are excellent in removing fat from specific parts of the body, and they have fewer adverse effects than other operations like liposuction.

Though this technique can remove fat from certain locations, it is not a miraculous cure, and patients should not expect full-fat removal. The operation will not work for everyone, and some people may have more severe adverse effects.

Other variables, such as lifestyle, may also play a role. While receiving CoolSculpting, a person who continues to eat an unhealthy diet and is inactive will see less fat removal.

Similarly, CoolSculpting is unable to tighten loose skin. After the treatment to remove the fat, a person may have extra skin if the skin has stretched around the fatty buildups.

What are the Benefits of CoolSculpting?

1. CoolSculpting is a non-invasive procedure

CoolSculpting is a non-invasive fat-loss procedure. There is no need for anesthesia, and there are no incisions. As a result, CoolSculpting is one of the most effective and cutting-edge methods of fat removal. You won’t have to deal with any outages or recovery time.

CoolSculpting works by sucking in the fatty bulges you wish to get rid of with an applicator. It gives that region a cold feeling, which kills fat cells. You will be able to resume your usual daily routine once your therapy is completed. Some folks even opt for CoolSculpting during their lunch hour.

2. Confidence Booster

A CoolSculpting procedure can improve the way you feel and look in your clothes. You’ll be happier if you feel good about yourself, and this will show in the way you carry yourself. You’ll carry a pleasant attitude wherever you go, and your personal life will improve.

Having more confidence has several advantages. Your mental health has a greater impact on your physical health than you may realize. Mental health is equally as vital as physical health, and accepting yourself as you are is the first step toward a happier, more optimistic mindset.

3. Safe and FDA-approved

The FDA has also approved CoolSculpting as a safe technique. The temperature of the cooling employed throughout the operation is exact and regulated. Prior to applying the applicator, a gel is used to shield the skin from cooling, preventing any skin or nerve damage.

Because no incisions or cuts are done, you won’t have to worry about the negative effects that come with surgery. This implies there will be no infections or other issues. This is a significant medical advantage since you are not endangering yourself in the future.

Thinking of having CoolSculpting done?

CoolSculpting can help you achieve your objectives of being healthier and more contoured. CoolSculpting is a fat-reduction treatment that should not be utilized in place of diet, exercise, or other weight-loss approaches. CoolSculpting produces natural-looking outcomes with no scarring. Patients are more likely to adopt healthy living practices after seeing their bodies in better form.

Report Fake THC Cartridges brand Online

The website Leafipedia.net is known for blogging about unlicensed and fake THC cartridge brands. They just announced a major upcoming upgrade for January that will allow their visitors to report into a database unlicensed THC cartridges, and also comment about them. At the moment their current reporting system isn’t the most user-friendly, but all of these changes in January 2022, with the possibility of before.

With THC cartridges skyrocketing in popularity over the past few years, more and more unlicensed, counterfeit cartridges are being produced. These counterfeit cartridges can have severe health ramifications and have been linked to sickness, and in some extreme cases, death. New and veteran smokers alike can fall prey to these counterfeits, with smokers in non-legal states being especially vulnerable. They are often very similar in packaging and hard to tell without close inspection, something that isn’t always an option when purchasing, especially in non-legal states.

It didn’t take long for the fake cart market to take off, as concentrates became increasingly popular, and more states chose to legalize marijuana. This left many people who want to legal buy THC cartridges in envy, as others from legal states enjoy high-quality options from reputable companies. With the lack of a legal distributor, the counterfeit market took advantage of the situation and began using well-known brands to market their inferior product. These cartridges are often much lower quality and carry some extreme health risks. These carts can be filled with harmful chemicals and additives, in an attempt to fabricate the look and taste of the original product.

Report Unlicensed THC Carts

Luckily, the people over at Leafipedia.net are developing a reporting system that allows users to easily report any unlicensed, counterfeit carts that they come across. Once a report is made, it will be added to the database where people can comment on. Before this, it was solely their staff reporting unlicensed THC oil carts such as Glo Carts, and fake Runtz carts.

Huge communities on reddit inspired Leafipedia

Smokers over at Reddit, the popular social media site, can often be found in threads asking about the legitimacy of their carts. There is even a board dedicated to spreading information about fake carts called r/fakecartridges, /cleancarts, where users discuss fake cartridges they have encountered. While information can often be found, it is hard to verify and search through the many posts to find the specific information that you are looking for. The smokers over at Reddit and all over the world will benefit from a detailed database of all the known counterfeit carts. With the report system that Leafipedia.net is developing you can find all the information about cart legitimacy in one place.

Leafipedia.net needs your help in adding to the list of illegitimate THC carts. Perhaps you or a friend have recently purchased some carts that you find questionable. Having a reliable database of fakes will deter people from falling victim to the same fraudulent and potentially dangerous THC vape carts. It always pays to be safe and sure, so when purchasing carts that don’t come directly from a licensed dispensary, you should always do what you can to verify the legitimacy of your cart.

A few notable cartridges that are very popular in the counterfeit markets that should be mentioned here are the Runtz brand and the Raw Garden brand carts. Many have probably come across these brands, as they are two of the most popular and recognizable brands to date, making them the perfect carts to counterfeit, as they are constantly in high demand. Keep an eye out for these brands in particular and be wary of anyone claiming their legitimacy. Leafipedia.net has detailed information on the differences and telltale signs of counterfeits from these brands and many more.

In a perfect world, there would be no counterfeit carts, and marijuana would be licensed and legal in all parts of the world, but until then help keep yourself and your fellow smokers safe by playing a part in the building of a database of known counterfeit THC carts. This ground effort is the first of its kind and is being led by the owners over at Leafipedia.net, who are dedicated to keeping your smoking experience safe and healthy. Visit their website to make a report, view the current listing of suspect fake THC carts, and stay informed. With THC carts becoming increasingly popular, the counterfeit market will likely remain active for the foreseeable future. Don’t put your health at risk smoking something that is unverified, and be sure to speak out on any carts you encounter that you find were suspect.

At the end of the day we all want a clean and safe smoking experience, and with your help, Leafipedia.net hopes to make that a reality.

Trust worthy Cannabis Seed Bank For Rare Strains

Buying marijuana seeds online without the stress

One of the most difficult things for cannabis growers is finding the right marijuana strain and seeds to get started. There are countless strains and retailers available that claim to have great marijuana seeds for you, but after you receive your shipment you discover that you’ve been duped. Because you can’t tell feminized seeds from physical appearances, it’s truly important to find a site that is reputable and willing to work with you. Seed-City is not only reputable and respectable, they have tons of cannabis seeds for sale and a great organized system in place to make the whole shopping experience easier for you.

With over 1,500 5 star reviews on Trustpilot, Seed-City is the obvious choice to get started on your pot-garden today. Other sites leave their customers wanting something better. If you are sick of trying and trying over and over again to find the right place to buy seeds that you can trust, come on over to Seed-City. The amazing volume and quality of Seed-City seeds are unbeatable and the prices are fantastic. If you are looking to find a seed bank that you can trust with a team that is willing to work with you to get you what you need, there is no better place to look than Seed-City.

Feminized seeds

There are a couple of different kinds of seeds available to purchase, but knowing exactly what you are getting is important. In the case of some feminized seeds, which will produce only female seeds from the strain. As female plants are the ones that produce the buds, feminized seeds are a great way to work with and grow plants to be harvested. Even if you’re looking to cross breed your own plants, these seeds will give you a good starting point to get your own garden started without the anxiety of finding the right femanized plant. With huge selections available across different strains, Seed-City has the variety for those looking to get started in growing plants. With some bulk items available, this would allow for a larger simple harvest of only a few strains of cannabis.

If you are looking to breed together your own plants or work on breeding at all, getting the non-feminized seeds will allow you to do that.

In the 420 seed bank, there are many kinds of feminized seeds to check out. Some of the most popular seeds from different areas are available in variety packs like the California variety pack which has White Runtz, Girl Scouts Cookies, and Wedding cake. There are always some deals to check out in this section as well as fantastic and competitive prices across the board. These feminized seeds are from award-winning and some of the most popular seeds around.

Auto Flowering vs regular.

Depending on your needs, some hybrids are available that flower on a timed schedule. These seeds, called auto-flowering, do not follow the natural light patterns to move from the vegetative state to the flowering state in the growing process. Although the buds produced by this type of plant are smaller, the harvest time is much easier to predict and allows for a more timely and consistent output. There are tons of different autoflowering seeds available in the seed banks at Seed-City. There are too many to describe, but taking a look at the banks themselves will show you a huge variety of seeds across different Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid breeds that you will be proud to plant and grow yourselves!

Don’t think that these come out to tiny little cannabis plants though. They tout an awesome variety of sizes of 12-23’’ and have both indoor and outdoor breeds available. Some highlights of the autoflowering breeds are Lemon Haze and Stupersonic. These seeds are available to purchase in small amounts or also in bulk to let you grow in the volume that you are ready to begin at. There is no need to be shy as their team has a quick response time and is available to answer your questions, reply to your comments, and help you check out in a quick and easy way.

Natural flowering, or regular, seeds produce a larger bud during the flowering stage and are awesome for when you are trying to get a natural bud. These classic favorites are available for a more natural bud. The best seeds are available from Super Skunk and Critical Kush, to Orange bud and Bubble Gum, the variety is available for you to find exactly what you need. These regular seeds are fantastic for new or experienced growers who want to get seeds that follow the natural light patterns of your area. These regular and natural seeds work for both indoor and outdoor growers and have some large buds that come through during the harvest time. Although you can’t know exactly when they will be ready to be harvested, you can know that these seeds have not been genetically altered and have only been bred with the best pot seeds available.

High Germinating Success Rate

There is a ton of positive reviews with customers reporting a high success rate with germinating cannabis seeds from Seed-City.com.

Seed-City Pot Seed Bank

Seed City is the place to find hard to find cannabis strains that you want to enjoy again through cultivation. With a huge source of amazing cannabis strain options from California and In Colorado, you will be able to find any pot seed that you are looking for. There is no need to blindly trust this site either, with over 1500 5-star ratings on Trustpilot, the customers who come to Seed-City can feel as though they can safely pick up the exact seeds that they want.

With a great team available for contact and a wide variety of deals and sales, Seed City can get you started no matter your price range. They are widely trusted in the online community and are always looking for feedback, questions, and comments to make their site better for everyone. With a quick response time, they are a great team looking to make sure that your online shopping experience is easy, quick, and lets you get your cannabis seeds in a comfortable environment.

Top 10 Best Dry Herb Grinders For Sale in 2021

The best way to fill up pre-rolled cones is with dry herbs that have gone through a grinder. Of all the accessories in a stoner’s tool kit, the dry herb grinder might be the most essential. Before grinders for cannabis, people had to meticulously pick their bud a part by hand, making their hands sticky and smelly. Now, users can simply load flower into their grinder, twist a few times, and have a nice pile of fluffy bud that’s ready to smoke.

These days, nearly everyone has access to a dry herb grinder. They are sold for cheap at gas stations, head shops, and even record stores. Dry Herb grinders have evolved over the years.

Cheap Grinders Vs Quality

These days, you can find a wide variety of grinders available to help you grind your dry herb efficiently. However, not all dry herb grinders are made equal. Sometimes you’ll find cheaply made grinders that break easily, get clogged, or simply don’t function efficiently. With the incredible innovations that have come within the last few years of grinder technology, there’s no excuse to settle for something that is cheaply thrown together.

If you’re in the market for a new dry herb grinder, this list will help you find the perfect grinder to fit your needs. Whether you want something standard and high-quality, or something with some extra features, you’ll be sure to find it here. These are the 10 best dry herb grinders for sale in 2021.

10. Grinder Card

If you’re looking for a dry herb grinder that is super discreet and supremely unique, King Palm’s Grinder Card will change the way you grind forever. Shaped like a credit card but made with stainless steel, this sharp card will grind your dry herb with precision and ease. After you’re done, you can store it in your wallet for ultimate discretion.

Featuring a complex golden labyrinth design and the King Palm logo displayed prominently at the top, King Palm’s Grinder Card is slim, sleek, and sturdy. Its durability, especially compared to other grinder cards on the market, will ensure that you won’t have to replace it any time soon. In addition to grinding, this card can be used to scoop your dry herb into a bowl or blunt. You can even slice joints with it.

This versatile tool comes with a cardholder to ensure that your credit cards don’t get residue on them. For ultimate convenience at such a low price, King Palm’s Grinder Card offers a simplified and effective grinding experience.

Price: $5.00

OG OTTO

There’s nothing more classic than rolling up a nice joint. However, the process of rolling has a learning curve. It can be time-consuming, and sometimes when you’re in a pinch, it can be a pain to sit down and actually do it. The OG Otto Grinder from Banana Bros simplifies this process with an electric grinder that grinds your dry herb, rolls a joint, and packs the dry herb into it automatically.

In a matter of seconds, you can transform a bud into a fully rolled joint with just the push of a button. The OG Otto dry herb Grinder can roll up to 30 joints per charge. This is AI-powered technology that will adjust pressure and speed automatically, guaranteeing a perfect role every time.

If you’re a person who loves joints but struggles with rolling them, the OG Otto Grinder is a godsend. Experience ultimate convenience and save time with a device that allows you to skip to the best part of a joint – smoking it.

Price: $149.99

8. Mamba Electric Grinders

Why are you still using manual hand grinders? Sure, they’re nostalgic, but we’re in the 21st century, and grinding technology has come a long way. If you want to cut your grinding time into fractions, the Mamba Electric Grinder will redefine the way you grind your dry herb.

The Mambe Electric Grinder is a fast, convenient one-handed operation. Simply fill your bud into the lower chamber and your dry herb will be ground into a fine, fluffy pile that is primed and ready to smoke. This is the next generation of grinders, and despite its incredible functionality and precision, it doesn’t cost a fortune. This is an electric grinder that is easy to use and won’t clog or jam.

Get the most out of your cannabis with a device that prioritizes consistency and precision. This powerful herb grinder has a rechargeable battery and is very durable, ensuring that this will be the last grinder you ever need to buy. Stop living in the past and invest in the future of dry herb grinding today!

Price: $36.99

7. Golden Gate Grinders

If you like the idea of owning a traditional herb grinder, then it’s worthwhile to invest in one that is high-quality. Stop buying cheap throwaway grinders at gas stations and grab the Golden Gate Grinder, the gold standard for manual grinders.

Made with industrial-strength aircraft aluminum, the Golden Gate Grinder is very durable, ensuring that it will last a long time. This dry herb grinder comes with 26 razor-sharp teeth to ensure that your dry herb won’t clump during the grinding process. Enjoy fluffy piles of dry herb perfect for rolling or packing into a bowl. This is a three-chamber grinder, with a spacious middle grinder that will hold all of your dry herb, while the bottom catches that potent kief that other grinders will waste.

The grinder is very compact, and with magnet-controlled chambers, you can ensure that your dry herb will stay intact when you’re traveling with your grinder. It also is odor-controlled, guaranteeing discretion when you’re in public with it. Invest in a high-quality grinder that’s built to last!

Price: $24.99

6 Diamond Grind 2021 Edition

Grind and store your cannabis with the 6 Diamond Ginder. The 2021 edition takes everything you love about Diamond Grinder and improves upon it. This four-piece grinder is made with professional-grade adonized aluminum, ensuring that it won’t suffer wear and tear over time.

Razor-sharp teeth will grind your cannabis with precision, helping you get the most out of your bud. Featuring a striking turquoise color, this grinder is absolutely beautiful and will last a lifetime.

With ample storage space and a kief catcher, you’ll be able to grind up the dry herb you want, and then easily store and transport the rest. The top of the grinder stays in place with a magnetic design, so you won’t have to worry about dry herb falling out when your grinder is in your backpack. The bottom chamber is a deep pollen dish that will store a large amount of kief.

Price: $32.95

OZCHIN Grinder 2.4

If you’re looking for a classic grinder, why not buy something with a little bit of visual flair? The OZCHIN Grinder 2.4 comes in a striking rose gold color, making it stand out from the pack. With intuitive grips and a sleek design, this grinder is a sight to behold. However, it offers more than pleasing aesthetics.

This is made from a very durable zinc alloy material. If you’re tired of grinders breaking and flaking all the time, invest in a grinder that will last longer with no wear and tear. The OZCHIN Grinder 2.4 comes with a magnetized lid to ensure that your dry herb stays where it belongs, safe inside your grinder.

With razor-sharp teeth and a smooth grinding experience, this is a high-functioning grinder that gets the job done with no hassle. With a 2.4 inch size, you can easily transport this grinder in your pocket, making it the perfect grinder for travel. Users can buy a premium one-year warranty, so if anything happens to your grinder, you won’t be left to your own devices.

Price: $11.99

Santa Cruz Hemp 4pc Shredder

Experience a revolution in grinding technology with the only grinder made with 100% biodegradable material. The Santa Cruz Hemp 4pc Shredder works exceptionally well, offering users a premium grind with their patented unique tooth design.

This unique tooth design provides users with a durable grinder that won’t suffer simple wear and tear. The Santa Cruz Hemp 4pc Shredder will change the way you look at grinder design. The grinder also comes with a hemp screen that is entirely unique Featuring sharp, circular holes that sift out the stems and seeds, you’ll be treated to unparalleled piles of fluffy dry herb. Coming in at a compact size, this grinder is perfect for travel.

This is a flagship product from Santa Cruz Shredder, one of the most exciting grinder brands available. If you’re tired of the same old grind and want to save money and save dry herb, this product will change your smoking experience forever.

Price: $19.95

3. King Palm XL Grinder

Are you someone who likes to smoke a lot of dry herb? Grab a grinder with the space to carry massive amounts of bud with the King Palm XL Grinder. Made with professional-grade aluminum, and coated in ceramic, this grinder is built to last. You won’t find flaking or metal shavings in your bud with this grinder. It’s extremely durable, eliminating the need to constantly replace it.

Deceptively simple, but extremely effective, this is a two-chamber grinder that will allow you to grind your cannabis effortlessly. It’s easy to use and will provide you with perfectly chunky dry herb.

Chunky dry herb is often preferable when rolling joints because they allow for better airflow and keep more of the trichomes intact. If you don’t want to lose potency, or simply wish that your dry herb could be on the chunkier side, the King Palm XL Grinder is perfect for you. Experience a sturdy and effective grinder that will help you get the most out of your dry herb today!

Price: $35.00

2. King Palm Aluminum Non-Stick Herb Grinder

Tired of having to go into your grinder after using it and pick out the remaining dry herb and kief? The King Palm Aluminum Non-Stick Herb Grinder will guarantee that your cannabis won’t get stuck to the teeth anymore! Made from non-stick aluminum, this sleek and durable grinder offers a hassle-free grinding experience.

Stop grinding your dry herb by hand and invest in an easy-to-use grinder that collects your dry herb in the bottom chamber with efficiency. This grinder also comes with a kief catcher. Over time, kief will build up in the bottom chamber, allowing you to save it up for a day where you really want a potent smoking session.

This is a very lightweight and compact herb grinder that’s perfect for traveling. Stop scraping your grinders for crumbs and invest in a non-stick design that allows you to get the most out of your dry herb.

Price: $30

1. King Palm Mars Grinder

Looking for a simple but effective grinder that will fit in your pocket and provide you with a smooth grind every time? The King Palm Mars Grinder is the perfect intersection of functionality and aesthetics. Fun, small, and durable, this metal grinder features a spaceman on top of it, with the words “Still Grindin’ on Mars” on the side

Users can choose between gold, green, blue, and red. The metal grinder comes with a cloth pouch for easy transportation and storage. It also comes with a scraper and a cleaning brush, all the tools you need to keep your dry herb grinder in tip-top shape. Blast off to mars with an efficient grinder that will guarantee your is dry herb shredded to a perfect consistency every time.

Price: $30

Glass Blunt Pipes For Smoking Weed

The Glass Blunt has changed the game of weed pipes. Papers, blunts, tobacco, nicotine, and any other unhealthy substance that is normally in the materials we use to roll up and smoke can now be forgotten about entirely. The glass blunt pipe has removed all that unnecessary junk and allowed the user to have a pure way to smoke and enjoy a high without anything else getting in the way.

The innovation for twisty glass blunts goes beyond just creating a modern way to smoke, and there has been major improvements made. This product was design with the entire whole community of 420 friendly folks in mind.

Why Glass blunts are the best weed pipes?

The team at Glassblunt.com has obviously created a more attractive way to smoke, but as stated above, the innovation and reason for their glass pipe goes beyond that.

Health:

The Health of those that choose to smoke has been the key factor in the creation of the glass pipe. The usual methods of smoking would be to roll up a joint or blunt from tobacco products or variants of such. In which case those unnecessary substances would always be the cost of the health of the individual that chooses to smoke.

No more toxic substances getting in the way of an individual smoking weed. No more giving up health and wellness in the name of smoking weed. The glass pipe has freed the casual smoker from the chains of unhealthy substances getting in the way of them getting high.

Efficiency and Waste Control:

Where blunts and pre-rolls lack is in their ability to minimize waste. Weed falls out in the process of rolling or during the process of smoking, and the team at Glassblunt.com has had enough of wasting herb. The glass pipe secures the weed and the spiral system they have put in place makes it impossible for that weed to go anywhere other than your lungs. One of the worst feelings while rolling is wasting weed in the process, and now they have completely eliminated that worry with the glass pipe.

Save Money:

Again the team of innovators that created this amazing piece of smoking equipment has put the needs and care of the user first. Where money is continuously spent on rolls, papers, and blunts there is no need for that after the one-time purchase of their glass pipe. If health wasn’t your biggest concern or wasting weed didn’t drive you mad then this reason alone should be enough to convince you that the glass pipe created by this team of innovators is a life-saver! Where you save money not buying blunts or papers, you can now spend on more weed to put in your glass pipe.

The best Glass Blunt Store has created a product with the user in mind. They took every problem, issue, health concern, and annoyance out of the whole experience of smoking by just creating a simple, but yet so precise tool for smoking. The glass blunt pipe sold on Glassblunt.com is the answer to all the unnecessary problems/issues of casual smoking.

Everything You Need To Know About Dielines In The Packaging Industry

Whenever you try to revamp your product packaging or simply start looking for packaging for new products, we are certain that you would hear the word dielines. Truth be told, it sounds like a technical term that is only understood by people who have spent years in the packaging industry. However, it’s a pretty convenient term to understand, and it’s important for streamlining custom packaging production. With this article, we are sharing everything you need to know about dielines in the packaging industry and while designing the custom packaging wholesale!

Dielines – What Are These?

The dielines play a great role in developing the standards and expectations related to packaging, and it’s done by packaging manufacturers and designers. Dielines basically serve as blueprints that ensure the designs have on-point layouts on the packaging. It is responsible for highlighting the folding lines and cuts of the packaging when it’s still in the flat form. It actually helps packaging designers design and visualizes the placement of art and images to meet the requirements of packaging.

When you look at the dielines, you will be able to see where and how the images and artwork will be printed and displayed. The dielines actually make it easier to see every side of the packaging, even in flat form. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that dielines are the ultimate packaging canvas. In particular, it can highlight the crease lines, cutting lines, bleed lines, safety zones, and fold lines, which can also guide the printers and die-cutting machines where the packaging has to be cut and folded.

Cut lines – these are the black lines that act as a roadmap for the die-cutting systems
Fold lines – these are the red lines that show where the packaging will be folded to create a box. In particular, it leaves out the confusion while constructing the packaging, and the outcome will be accurate
Bleed lines – these are the green lines that outline the excessive space, and it accounts for the excess area for the substrate movement during the designing and printing process. It basically eliminates the chances of imperfect edges in the printing
Glue tabs – these are green lines in criss-cross tabs which show where the glue has to be applied for creating and manufacturing the packaging
Safety lines – these are the green lines in dotted form and offer the margin that promises the essential artwork and design won’t be cut off while trimming the packaging

Why Are Dielines So Important?

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that dielines are the first pictures of the final packaging outcome and boxes. In simpler words, it delivers a primary template for printing and artwork. It actually plays an essential role in constructing the packaging and die-cutting process. It wouldn’t be wrong to call it a blueprint, ensuring that the printed boxes’ physical components, such as cut lines, placement of text, images, and logos. In addition, it includes the packaging measurements, fold lines, bleed lines, glue tabs, and creases.

When you properly follow the dielines, you will have a clear idea of how the packaging will end up looking when everything is assembled. The dielines are widely used for producing and manufacturing food packaging, brochures, beverage packaging, or simply another product packaging that needs customization. Keep in mind that having a proper idea about how the packaging will look like before you go ahead gives peace of mind. In addition, you will know that measurements, colors, artwork placement, and other designs are put in the right place.

On top of everything, you need to proofread the dieline because it helps identify possible errors in the dimensions, designs, artwork, and text which creates overall design view. It’s needless to say that dielines appear to be the easiest and quickest way of starting the custom packaging process, but they tend to be more complicated. This is because a lot of effort are put into designing, placement, and dimensions to create the desired packaging. Similarly, there will be too much artwork repositioning and editing before you can finally move to die-cutting.

As a brand, you need to go through the proofing levels of dielines before you put material into the die-cutting machine to deliver on-point results. Not to forget, you can request samples from the packaging manufacturer, so you can see what the packaging will look like before you place the order for mass production.

Creating The Dieline – What’s The Process?

In case you are collaborating or partnering with a packaging manufacturer, you won’t have to fret about the creation of dieline because they handle everything. This is because they use ArtiosCAD or Adobe Illustrator for designing the dieline. However, if you want to ensure that the deadlines are on-point for custom packaging, you need to provide packaging designs to the designers. That’s because providing initial information will help modify the packaging according to your needs. Not to forget, a professional packaging designer will always provide the final dieline to get your approval.

Requirements For A Dieline

When it comes down to the development of dieline, you need to make sure that you have created vector art on the computer system. This is because a computer system will help define and describe the lines with mathematic rules. In addition, while you are inputting the measurements and specifications, you need to be extremely cautious because it directly influences the dieline development. Thirdly, you could try creating the prototype on a hard copy before you finalize the packaging; it will surely help identify the errors before the packaging production is initiated.

The Die-Cutting Process

The die-cutting machines are used for cutting the packaging with the help of a die. The die is defined to be a special tool for cutting the shapes and materials with the help of a press. The dies can be customized according to the item that you want to create. However, you need to use the die-cutting machine properly, and it requires the development of dies. For those who don’t know, dies are the thin metal designed, and the outlines are raised from one side, so it can cut through the packaging material. Once the dieline is created, the die-cutting machine will pressurize the size and cut the packaging!

Two Years On, JD.com Continues to Provide Pandemic Relief with RMB 100 Million Donation to Hong Kong

The Lunar New Year brought with it for many the second anniversary of the moment life as we knew it was changed forever. It was two days before the holiday in 2020 that China was forced to lock down Wuhan – a city of 11 million people – following the detection of Covid-19, and even as case rates drop globally spikes caused by the subsequent variants continue to cause disruptions across the world.

Hong Kong has gone from a handful of Covid cases earlier this year to over 7,000 a day as the highly transmissible omicron variant has infiltrated the city’s tight border and quarantine defenses. The outbreak has seen the financial hub once again plunged into uncertainty as hospitals bear the burdens of mass testing and positive cases and supply chains endure new strains in the face of a potential lockdown.

As the city works tirelessly to fight the pandemic resurgence, JD.com has recently pledged to donate RMB 100 million yuan worth of anti-epidemic materials to medical works in Hong Kong. The e-commerce giant and technological innovator has been heavily involved in mitigating the effects of the coronavirus pandemic globally since it first began to take hold of the world in 2020, with its vast resources proving vital to the containment of the disease as well as aiding in the dissemination of pertinent information and minimizing the overall impact of the virus on peoples’ employment and livelihood.

JD.com is no stranger to the adverse effects a lockdown can have on a community and the businesses that serve it. The company was founded by Richard Liu in 1998, starting as a small temporary stall in a bazaar but quickly growing to become a chain of successful electronic stores across three major Chinese cities. However, in 2003 the SARS epidemic made its way through the country and Liu was forced to temporarily shutter all of his retail locations as people sheltered in place to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus. Seeking a way to continue generating revenues, Liu began posting his products for sale to bulletin boards on the internet and eventually made the decision to move his business entirely online as a result.

Arranging the donations through the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link, a frontline volunteer organization in the city, JD.com has said that it will stay in close contact with the aid agency and provide additional support if needed in its fight against the coronavirus. Less than a week after JD.com made the announcement its first cargo truck arrived in the city carrying nearly 15,000 protective suits with more boxes following quickly behind it. The first batch will contain over 6,000 boxes of PPEs in total, including sanitizer gel, masks and gloves all shipped from factories and warehouses across China and consolidated in Shenzhen.

This most recent donation is just one of many made by JD.com over the past two years as it has leveraged its logistical capabilities and technological advancements to fulfill its social responsibility and help to prevent and control the coronavirus outbreaks across China. In 2020 during the early days of the pandemic JD.com donated over 100 million masks and 60,000 units of medicine and medical supplies for distribution by the Hubei Charity Foundation, and donated an additional 80,000 masks to hospitals across the city of Wuhan which was at the epicenter of the outbreak at the time.

Outside of PPE materials, JD.com has also donated a number of other items to hospitals across China including 2,000 sets of feminine care products and nearly 630,000 adult diapers to hospitals. Additionally, it utilized its supply chain infrastructure to collaborate with international berry suppliers on the donation of 1,500 cases of blueberries and raspberries and 1,320 cases of apples to staff in hospitals across Wuhan. The tech company also donated five tons of pet food and 6,000 boxes of pet medicine for the homeless animals through the Wuhan Animal Protection Association.

In addition to donations, JD.com has also contributed in a number of other ways to fighting the advance of the coronavirus pandemic. JD Health, the company’s healthcare arm which is also currently the largest pharmaceutical retailer in China, has also worked to alleviate pressure from hospitals and physicians since early in the pandemic. In late January JD.com had already launched a free consultation platform with its retail app through which people experiencing coronavirus-related symptoms such as a cough or fever could speak directly with a physician at no charge, and by March had launched a standalone app that was expanded to include full telehealth services.

In light of the recent uptick in cases in Hong Kong, JD Health has continued this pattern and launched a free online consultation service for its residents’ users to have easy access to healthcare advice from telemedicine doctors and multimedia guidance on coronavirus infection prevention.

JD Technology has also been hard at work since the onset of the pandemic to put its technological capabilities to good use. It worked with a number of local governments including Wuhan and Beijing to integrate its smart assistant technology into the mayor’s office WeChat account. Through the account, citizens were able to text questions about coronavirus-related information and services, and through artificial intelligence receive answers accurately and with immediacy.

The company is known for its advancements in information technologies such as AI, and the bot’s capabilities such as understanding semantics and analyzing syntax were just a few of the ways it was able to get a quick and accurate understanding of users’ questions. In addition to answering questions, the AI also provides services such as fever clinic inquiry, epidemic self-screening, medical guidance, and even a way to check if a user’s recent mode of transportation such as a flight or train had a coronavirus patient on it.

During earlier days of the pandemic when lockdowns were more stringent, JD also made its cloud video conferencing service free to the public for both private individuals and enterprises while encouraging people to use the service rather than risk exposure by meeting in person. Students and teachers from areas that were locked down were also provided with a free online classroom service through which online learning could continue and disruptions minimized.

Now as Hong Kong reels with the increasing coronavirus case counts, JD.com has also leveraged their mobile services for the benefit of its citizens. By mobilizing inventories and setting up a special portal on its retail app, Hong Kong customers are able to conveniently shop for anti-epidemic materials and daily necessities and are offering discounts and free delivery service to further encourage social distancing.

Much of the world is weary over the continuing fight against the coronavirus pandemic, but it is thanks to companies like JD.com that provide donations and services for the good of the communities it serves that we continue to move forward. The mission statement of JD.com is that it will be “powered by technology for a more productive and sustainable world,” and over the past two years as Covid-19 has increasingly redefined what that world looks like, JD.com has continued to step up to that task.