personalised packaging

By JANE E. BRODYAPRIL 13, 2009Throughout my early childhood I was tucked into bed with a gentle admonition: "Good night, sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite." Not that my parents or I had ever seen a bed bug or known anyone bitten by one.But these days this old saying has resonance for many more people than in years past, including those who sleep in expensive homes and four-star hotels. Last month, a family living in a $3 million private house in Brooklyn discarded rooms' worth of furniture, the cushions carefully slashed and notes attached saying the pieces had bed bugs and were not safe to take.Had this been the case 40-odd years ago when I became a New York homeowner, I might battery have had a hard time furnishing my rooms; most were decorated with foundlings, including cushioned chairs. In those days, street scavengers like me had little reason to worry about bed bugs. But the bed bug problem has become so widespread in 21st- century America that T...

This question originally appeared on Quora . By Michael Forrest Jones , Beechmont Hotels Corporation Housekeeping. You may think your own home is nice and clean, but even if you're an obsessive-compulsive neat freak, hotels play it at an entirely different level. We have to. For example, do you change and launder your sheets every day? No? But you put fresh sheets on the bed if you're expecting house guests for a few days, on any bed intended for their use, right? And you supply them with fresh towels, not one you used yourself once already. And even then - well, when was the last time you steamed the carpet in your guestroom, or turned the mattress over? All copper hotels deal with are house guests. You might use one of your own towels at home once, and then be okay with saving it for another use the next time you take a shower: it is, after all, your towel . You can even use it over several days if you want. In a hotel, the next user of the towel in your room will ...

I recently went on a trip to China (specifically, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China's burgeoning tech center located just across the border from Hong Kong) where I got to see and experience some of the latest technological innovations being implemented in the world's second-largest economy. In many areas, China has leapt ahead of the U.S. and other Western countries, having taken advantage of its massive domestic user base to create new technologies, services and business models. While some of these models are replicable in the West, many are unique to the Chinese market, with some observers noting that there exist almost two different massive internets in the world -- korean one in the U.S. and one in China -- which has a host of implications for investors. Here are some of the top things I observed and learned on my trip: You often hear about how far ahead China is when it comes to digital/mobile payments and I can attest that that's true. Using physical money is rare, and ...

The age of battery electric vehicle (BEV) transit buses has arrived as early adopters have proved out the cost effectiveness of BEVs as they continue to expand their electric fleets. A case in point is Foothill Transit in Los Angeles County, one of the earliest transit operators to adopt BEVs, now committed to convert their entire fleet of 380 buses to battery electric power by year 2030. Foothill Transit has to date exclusively purchased buses manufactured by Proterra, which according to Proterra have the following lifetime operational savings compared to ICE bus options:(from Proterra website)The above graphic also serves to highlight the biggest remaining hurdle facing BEV adoption: the upfront premium of approximately $250,000 over the sticker price of CNG and Diesel buses. While it is often said this cost differential can be eliminated as the battery product cost continues to drop, this does not appear to be the only factor. A typical 40 ft transit bus with a range of 150 miles ...

Best Buy (BBY) is a hot destination for holiday shoppers looking to buy for family or friends who are into consumer electronics. But with all the available gadgets and accessories, how can you find just the right present? Well, Best Buy has come up with its choices for the top 20 "must-have" technology products. Among this healthy variety of items you should be able to find something for the tech-lovers you know. "This holiday, we're making it easier than ever for our customers by taking out the guesswork as they shop for friends, family, or even themselves," Mike Mohan, chief merchandising officer at Best Buy, said in a press release. "These products showcase the newest, most innovative trends and what's truly possible with technology." Your Holiday Financial Guide More Now's the ...

Best Buy (BBY) is a hot destination for holiday shoppers looking to buy for family or friends who are into consumer electronics. But with all the available gadgets and accessories, how can you find just the right present? Well, Best Buy has come up with its choices for the top 20 "must-have" technology products. Among this healthy variety of items you should be able to find something for the tech-lovers you know. "This holiday, we're making it easier than ever for our customers by taking out the guesswork as they shop for friends, family, or even themselves," Mike Mohan, chief merchandising officer at Best Buy, said in a press release. "These products showcase the newest, most innovative trends and what's truly possible with technology." Your Holiday Financial Guide More Now's the ...

House dust mite allergen exposure is a postulated risk factor for allergic sensitization, asthma development, and asthma morbidity; however, practical and effective methods to mitigate these allergens from low-income, urban home environments remain elusive. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of physical interventions to mitigate house dust mite allergens in this setting. Homes with high levels of house dust mite allergen (Der f 1 + Der p 1 [greater than or equal to] 10 [micro]g/g dust by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in the bed, bedroom carpet, and/or upholstered furniture were enrolled in the study. Carpets and upholstered furniture were subjected to a single treatment of either dry steam cleaning plus vacuuming (carpet only) or wireless intensive vacuuming alone. Bed interventions consisted of complete encasement of the mattress, box spring, and pillows plus either weekly professional or in-home laundering of nonencased bedding. Dust samp...

They used to be the preserve of frugal maiden aunts and draughty guesthouses, but no more. This winter, there's a new breed of electric blanket on the High Street that is high-tech, wonderfully cosy and not in the least bit embarrassing to own. From ones you can wear to the one that replaces your duvet, there's something for everyone. They could even help cut your heating bills because they can safely keep you toasty all night, meaning you can turn off the central heating. So, with temperatures set to dip to minus 10c in parts of the UK this weekend, CHARLOTTE KEMP tested ten of the best. Scroll down for video BEST FOR DAYTIME Relaxwell Luxury Heated Chocolate Throw, £39. 95, johnlewis. com Cost: Less than 1p to heat for three hours. Washable: Yes, on a 40c wool programme. You have to stretch it back to its original size when damp. No tumble dry. VERDICT: The electric blankets of cpap old were strictly for bedtime, but now you can get smaller blankets like this heated thro...