Author: Igor

  • How To Preserve Your Chevy Corvette

    Keep turning heads with your Chevy Corvette’s stunning paint job. Your stunning sports car deserves the very best in terms of care and protection, so find out how to preserve your vehicle today. Learn how to care for your car cover, how to choose an indoor car cover and where to go for affordable protective gear today.

    Wash, Wax and Dust

    Washing and waxing your vehicle is the foundation of car care. Dust, debris and other contaminants can quickly scratch and fade your paint. UV rays can also fade your paint. Wash your Corvette with premier car shampoo, microfiber towels and reliable car wax.

    These steps can be time consuming. That’s why it’s helpful to pick up a professional car duster. Dusters gently brush away dust and dirt in between washes. This offers a level of protection that isn’t as strenuous as a full wash and wax service. Dusting isn’t a substitute for a good wash and wax, but it can preserve your look in between waxing.

    Indoor Protection

    When your sports car is parked for the day, protect it with a cover. Chevy Corvette car covers are ideal at preserving your car while you’re not cruising around town. Choose an indoor cover that matches the quality and style of your Corvette. Look for a cover that has a 100% cotton interior that fits snug against your car.

    Pure cotton is soft and absorbent. It doesn’t scratch your car’s exterior paint when it’s pressed against it. A secure fit prevents it from flapping around. Even a high-quality car cover can scratch your Corvette if it isn’t properly secured. Look for other great features for indoor car covers like easy folding options and breathable materials. Convenient folding options help keep your garage neatly organized.

    An indoor cover may be more affordable and easier to store, but it isn’t a substitute for an outdoor cover. These covers are only designed for very mild moisture conditions, so they aren’t recommended for outdoor use. Don’t try to pick up a single cover for all situations but use the right cover for the right storage situation.

    Outdoor Solutions

    Your Corvette should have a dedicated garage stall. However, when you’re away from home or your garage is full of another vehicle or project, you need an outdoor solution. Search for an outdoor cover that is water resistant but still allows your sports car to breathe. This will prevent moisture buildup inside your cover.

    Outdoor covers should have at least two layers: an inner layer of cotton for scratch-free storage and an outer layer of durable material to protect against scratches and direct rainfall. Just like an indoor cover, your outdoor protection needs to fit securely against your car.

    Preserve Your Chevy Corvette Today

    After investing in a stunning Corvette, be sure you invest in a suitable car cover. Preserve your ride today with a custom outdoor car cover or indoor cover today. Explore the benefits of a high-quality, custom-fit cover today and protect your investment with an affordable cover. Don’t park your Corvette naked, but keep it covered whether it’s indoors or outside.

  • Starting an Online Business: As Easy as it Sounds?

    It is easy to look at the success of ecommerce even during COVID-19 and to decide that starting your own online store is an easy way to make money. While there is certainly the potential for success with ecommerce, it is also important to understand that it is fiercely competitive, hard to get your name out there and challenging to get people to take a chance on your store.

    Ecommerce Businesses on the Rise

    Banner printing specialists instantprint conducted research that revealed that nearly half a million new businesses were registered in 2020 and it was retail sales (online and mail-order houses) that were the most popular with 22,011 new registrations. The pandemic has led many to reflect on their livelihoods and explore new opportunities, plus many people will have been out of work or potentially looking to supplement their income.

    Changing Consumer Habits

    COVID-19 also changed people’s buying habits in 2020 with a huge increase in online shopping and bulk buying. People who previously did not shop online were forced to and many people starting buying items online that they previously bought in-store, so it seems that the market is in a strong position right now and ecommerce is expected to continue to flourish even with lockdown restrictions easing.

    Starting an Online Store

    Starting an online store is relatively straightforward, but finding success in a competitive industry like this is tough. As with any new business, there are a few steps that you need to take first such as market research, writing a business plan, securing funding and registering the business.

    Finding Success

    The key is to sell products that are currently trending and not too niche so that you can target a large group, such as health and fitness products or clothing. You also need to make sure that you choose a good platform for your ecommerce store and provide high-quality product details. 

    Attracting Customers

    In terms of attracting customers to your business, social media is key and can make it much easier to compete with more established online stores. You need to create a strong following by creating and sharing high-quality and useful content for your target customer, engaging with followers and keeping people updated with the store. You also need to make customer service a priority and make it easy for people to reach you whether this is live chat on the website, social media, email or phone. 

    It is understandable that people are looking to start their own online stores looking at the success of ecommerce. Setting up an online store can be straightforward enough, but success will not fall on your lap and you need to be willing to put the time, money and energy into getting your online store out there and to start attracting customers.

  • Menini Nicola

    Menini Nicola

    Menini Nicola is an industrial design studio founded in 2008 in Montevideo, Uruguay. The studio has made its own name in the country, offering design services and design licenses, and directly commercializing products from their portfolio in Uruguay.

    We talked to the founders of Menini Nicola, Agustín Menini and Carlo Nicola, about the beginnings of their studio, the design scene in Montevideo and their favourite places in the city.

    Read the interview after the photos.

    www.menini-nicola.com

    What made you start Menini Nicola?

    It was mainly our interest in turning our hobby into our full-time job.

    When we were university students, we realised that furniture design was one of the things we liked the most. We used to work in advertising, spending our free time meeting with a friend who makes furniture to work on concepts that we would later send to design contests. We got more involved and in 2008 we received 2 awards at Salão Design Movelsul in Brazil. During that trip between Montevideo and Porto Alegre, Menini Nicola was born.

    How is being a designer in Uruguay? Are your designs influenced by the country?

    Being a designer in Uruguay is not very common and we would even say it is a privilege. On the other hand, the industry is growing and the design community in the country is going through a good phase. We, Uruguayans, tend to say that there’s not much going on in the country but this seems to be changing.

    Nowadays, Uruguay has a Chamber of Design for graphic, textile, product, interior and landscape designers. We also have some government funding and there are weekly events dedicated to design. There are new brands emerging and the established labels are growing – it is a good moment for Uruguayan design.

    Regarding our influences, we’re still finding our limits and trying to discover our own identity. We work with local materials and manufacturers, designing solutions and coming up with ideas based on what’s available around us.

    What’s your favourite project/product you’ve worked on?

    One of our favourite projects was the design of the food area of the Mercado Agrícola de Montevideo (MAM). This market is one of the most iconic buildings in the city – it opened its doors in 1913 and was renovated in 2013. We were in charge of designing the furniture for the food area and other spaces in the building. The chair we designed was built under a series of requirements related to resistance, ergonomics, manufacturing costs and use of similar materials to the rest of the building.

    The conceptual side of the design was linked to the origins of the market. The chair represents a historic moment and draws inspiration from the industrial revolution, the Exposition Universelle of 1889 in Paris, the good economic moment Uruguay went through in the early 20th century and the Belle Époque’s influence in Montevideo.

    The chair wants to grab people’s attention, using a very formal language and becoming a representation of our times.

    We want to know more about Montevideo. What places shouldn’t we miss in the city? Could you recommend us other designers/artists based there?

    We would recommend going on a stroll on the promenade along the coast, visiting historic neighbourhoods such as Prado, spending the evening at MAM or enjoying the drum celebrations in Barrio Sur and Palermo. Montevideo is a city that should be visited on foot – despite being the capital of the country, it is a small city with lots of secrets.

    Montevideo is currently going through a very special moment with lots of things happening in the city. In the cultural scene, the Ballet del Sodre – with Julio Bocca as Art Director – is a very popular show which usually sells out one month before the opening. Street art is also becoming more important in the city and new galleries such as Kiosco and studio designs like Mundial and Atolon de Mororoa are emerging.

    There are also new initiatives popping up in the city such as el Club de la Cerveza (the Beer Club), where you can enjoy unique and secret dinners. The Ciudad Vieja (Old Town) is a great area for spending a day around, stopping for breakfast in Jacinto and visiting the antiques fair, having lunch at Mercado del Puerto and finishing with a snack at La Pasionaria, where you can visit the current exhibition and see work by local artists and designers.

    Collaboration is an important element in Montevideo’s creative scene. For example, Estampapas is a textile objects project founded by a graphic designer from Uruguay with a textile designer from Argentina. There’s also Sabandija, composed by another textile designer and a product designer and El Bosque de Robles.

    You need to come and discover the city during this moment of creativity growth.

  • How to Wear Bold Colours

    When it comes to fashion, many people shy away from bold colours and instead opt for darker shades and monochrome. While this certainly can look stylish, bold colours can be a great way to bring your wardrobe to life, turn heads and make your outfits more fun. The key is to understand how to wear these colours and what works well together – read on to find out more.

    Image via Unsplash

    The Colour Wheel

    The Colour Wheel is a brilliant device when it comes to fashion (or anything creative) yet it is something that many people are unaware of. The general rule of thumb with the colour wheel is that colours on the opposite side work well with what you have chosen and this can be a smart way to wear bold colours and prints without them clashing or looking odd. In addition to the opposite side of the wheel, you will also find that colours that are next to one another are visually appealing together, such as green and blue.

    Maintain the Same Tone

    Another smart way to wear bold colours is to ensure that the same colour tone is kept throughout. If you have an orange skirt, for example, then you should try to find orange heels that are the same tone – if it is a different shade of orange, you will lose balance and the outfit will look odd.

    One Colour

    Following this, another way that you can start to wear bold colours is simply to wear one colour from top to bottom. This can feel a little odd at first, but if you blend different materials and shades in then it can blend and give your look depth. In addition to clothing, do not shy away from adding the same colour accessories, such as a bold shoulder bag to add to your outfit.

    Statement Pieces

    If you are hesitant about jumping in with head to toe bold colours, then a good starting point is to simply have one bold piece of clothing that you wear in addition to your darker clothing, such as a powder blue shirt and black jeans.

    You should not shy away from wearing bold colours as it can look fantastic, bring your wardrobe to life and even change the way in which you feel. It can be intimidating at first, but when you know how to wear bold colours and what works well in combination then you can completely transform your wardrobe and improve your fashion sense greatly.

  • Top 5 Interior Trend Styles of 2020

    Our homes have so much potential for us to show off our personality. Whether you’re focused on the aesthetic, the practical, or perhaps a mixture of the two you’re bound to find a trend that will look right at home in your house. You can find out about the most popular interior designs, and how to implement them.

    Image via Unsplash

    Abstract

    This is one of the most fun styles you could try, as it really gives you a chance to get creative. Colours are your best friend with this style, and the bolder you go, the better. You can use it any element of the room: from your chair choice to wallpaper. Abstract makes for a stylish statement in any room. Don’t be afraid to experiment with it.

    Structured Simplicity

    Sitting on the other end of the design spectrum is structured simplicity. It evolved from the Nordic Retreat trend of 2019. It has the stripped-back style of minimalism while maintaining a cosy feel. Focus on warm neutrals and sustainable materials to bring this look to your home. 

    Grandmillennial 

    For those of you who want to mix nostalgia with now, the Grandmillenail interior trend is for you. You can opt for the vintage glamour of the past and pair it with the favoured simplicity of 2020. You’ll want to find matching patterns for your furnshings, but be careful not to overdo it – you want to find a balance between the eras.

    Soft Tropics

    Do you remember when pineapples were everywhere? This exotic style was everywhere on the High Street. Tropical is still trendy and make a striking statement. However, 2020 has seen it take a step back and walk in the direction of something slightly more subtle. Also expect to see florals making more of a comeback during the rest of this year.

    Japandi

    Scandi meets Japanese interior design for this 2020 trend. The fusion creates a calm and compelling space. You’ll want to aim for a mainly neutral palette with a couple of bold colour pops. Pick elegant furniture pieces, but keep them to a minimum so they make the most impact in the room. You want to create a tranquil, yet tasteful, place for you to relax in. 

    No matter what interior style you select for your home, it’s going to give a new lease of life to your space and well worth the effort you put into creating it. Which is your favourite 2020 interior design trend?