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An Interview with Nathaniel Mell, Founder and CEO of Felt+Fat

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Nathaniel Mell

Nathaniel Mell is the founder and CEO of Felt+Fat, a ceramic design, and manufacturing studio serving both professional and at-home chefs. Nate Mell started the Philadelphia-based company in 2014 after graduating from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University and working at the world-renown Philadelphia Clay Studio.

Before his foray into ceramic design, Nate gained experience that included working in a variety of media, including glass, metal, wood, and mold-making. The opportunity to design a beautiful line of plates for Eli Kulp’s award-winning restaurant ‘High Street on Market’ oriented Mell towards exploring ceramic design in-depth. In doing so, he came up with the concept for a ceramic design studio catering to the Hospitality industry. The company name, Felt+Fat, came as a nod to the material explorations and theories of midcentury artist Joseph Beuys, one of Mell’s favorite artists.

Today, Nate Mell’s Felt and Fat has a track record of working with over 100 restaurants worldwide, producing more than 30,000 pieces annually, and being featured in the NY Times, the Forbes 30 under 30 list, and many other publications. Timeless design, ethical manufacturing, and intentionality toward relationships are the core values of the ever-growing team at Felt+Fat.

We recently got a chance to interview Nate.

Nate, Thank you for talking with us. What are the projects that you most enjoy working on?

I most enjoy working on custom projects, specifically for restaurants. Great chefs are artists and our mutual respect for craft and the collaborative energy involved in making a new shape or finish is really exciting. When my part is done I then get to see how they interact with the design, plating their food and presenting it in the context of the restaurant elevates it all to another level.

What was your biggest ‘a-ha’ moment?

This was early on. When I started this business I had been working in restaurants for nearly 8 years, supporting myself as an artist, and a chef asked if I could make him plates for a new restaurant. I said yes and initially took it on as a little gig to make a few dollars. Somewhere during the course of that project, I realized that the top restaurant in the world at the time (Noma) was using custom, hand-made tableware and that meant every aspiring chef in the world would be wanting to do the same now, we were on the crest of what could be a seachange in hospitality tableware. It was an exciting realization and what really prompted me to take this much more seriously.

What has been the most important part of your professional journey?

Understanding the importance of planning. I have never been much of a planner, very good at thinking on my feet and getting done what’s right in front of me, but over the years I’ve learned that sustainable growth happens when you pair that ability with solid, diligent planning and execution.

What are some of the risks that your company is currently facing?

We are currently looking at a lot of avenues for growth. Manufacturing means you are always walking that line of demand vs. supply. If you’re over-supplied that means you’re wasting money, if you’re undersupplied you disappoint customers. We have been growing quite a bit but are looking at rolling the dice on some big purchases that will help us up the supply side significantly, but the risk that the demand doesn’t pan out to justify the expense is always a scary thing.

What would you do with unlimited resources?

Create a top-of-the-line production facility with a best-in-class R&D studio bringing in young, world-class talent to create inventive and exciting new products.

When was the last time you totally lost yourself in doing something?

I routinely lose track of time while working on new designs, it’s easily one of the best parts of the job.

What do you do when you’re not at work?

My off time is spent with my wife and dog primarily. We go for hikes, cook great meals, mix cocktails and read aloud together or spend afternoons working on remodeling our small home (currently painting a new ceiling we put up last month).

You and your team at Felt+Fat are already making a positive impact with the “BadThings Happen in Philadelphia” product line. What more do you feel you can do to make a difference in your local community?

The BadThings line of products was a really fun experiment that allowed us to send money to causes we thought were worthwhile, we’ve often found things like that to do over the years but what I am most excited about moving forward is to be working with Baker Industries here in Philly. Baker finds work for hard-to-employ individuals; primarily the recently incarcerated. We’ve just recently hired our second employee through this program and are so happy to be providing jobs for individuals in our community who would have a hard time finding work otherwise. Not only do we get to help the community, but they have also been some of our best staff! It’s a win-win.

My name is Alex Williams. I am a journalism graduate, and a rookie blogger trying to find my luck. Blogs are the perfect opportunity for presenting yourself to wider audience, getting the chance to showcase my expertise and receiving recognition. I am a regular contributor at Bizzmark Blog.

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Landscape of Australian Call Centre: Opportunities and Innovations

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Australian call centres have played an instrumental part in shaping the evolving sphere of client support, equipping businesses with the infrastructure necessary to interact productively with their customer base. As globalisation and technological developments reshape customer expectations in dynamic ways, the function of call centres in Australia is adapting to rise above these tests. This article delves deeper into the unique aspects of an Australian call centre, bringing its innovations, benefits, and future tendencies to light.

The Distinctive Qualities of Australian Call Centres

1. Multilingual Capability and Cultural Variety

Australia’s multicultural society has led to a rich repository of linguistic talent within its call centres. Numerous agents master English and are fluent in additional languages like Mandarin, Spanish, and Hindi. This ability allows companies to cater to a diverse clientele, enhancing communication and service quality.

Furthermore, cultural diversity implies that agents can better grasp the nuances of diverse customer interactions, improving overall satisfaction. This cultural fluency fosters a connection between agents and customers, facilitating smoother interactions and constructing loyalty.

2. Focus on the Customer Experience

In recent years, Australian call centres have shifted their focus from merely resolving issues to crafting memorable customer experiences. This change is driven by the understanding that customer satisfaction directly impacts retention and brand allegiance. Call centres are now investing in customer relationship management (CRM) systems that give agents detailed insights into customer history and preferences.

Additionally, many call centres are adopting a proactive approach to client service. Rather than waiting for customers to reach out with problems, agents often engage customers to offer assistance, follow up on past interactions, and solicit feedback. This proactive approach resolves issues before they escalate and builds stronger relationships with customers.

Innovations Transforming the Call Centre Industry

1. Artificial Intelligence and Automation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising how Australian call centres function. Numerous facilities have incorporated chatbots and virtual assistants driven by AI to handle routine queries. This allows human agents to focus on more intricate issues, enhance overall productivity, and reduce wait times for consumers.

Moreover, AI can analyze customer interactions to identify patterns and anticipate future needs. This information-driven way of operating allows call centres to tailor their services and strategies to serve their clientele better.

2. Omnichannel Support

Today’s customers anticipate seamless support across various mediums, including telephone, email, social media, and live chat. Australian call centres have embraced an omnichannel method to meet these expectations. Call centres can provide a uniform experience regardless of how customers interact by integrating all communication channels.

This consolidation allows agents to access real-time consumer information from different mediums, facilitating more personalised and informed discussions. As a result, customers feel valued and understood, leading to higher satisfaction rates.

The Economic Impact of Australian Call Centres

Many call centres prioritise professional progress, providing ongoing training in communication, sales techniques, and customer support skills. This concentration on skills development helps employees advance their careers while enhancing the overall quality of service furnished to consumers.

The contact centre industry in Australia plays a significant role in job creation, employing thousands of individuals nationwide. This sector offers not only entry-level positions but also opportunities for career advancement through coaching and development programs.

2. Supporting Local Businesses

Call centres throughout Australia are crucial in empowering small and medium-sized enterprises to focus inward while providing top-notch service externally. Call centres shoulder frontline customer interactions, freeing local businesses to optimise core offerings without compromising the quality of care. This symbiotic relationship allows SMBs to benefit from call centre expertise while retaining their unique brand identity and the relationships most vital to it.

Future Industry Trends on the Horizon

1. Flexibility as the New Normal

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked remote capabilities, fundamentally changing call centre operations, and matching how companies and consumers now connect. Not only does telecommuting broaden opportunities for staff, but virtually-based solutions expand talent pools available to employers as hybrid models take hold. So long as customer satisfaction stays high, work can occur anywhere.

2. Sustainability and Ethics as Priority

As public sentiment prioritises sustainability and corporate responsibility, call centres are rising to meet these values through innovative solutions. Many integrate eco-friendly tech and processes to shrink footprints while promoting dignified, meaningful work. By demonstrating such alignment, call centres can strengthen reputations and attract a conscientious clientele focused on impact.

Conclusion: Continuous Evolution Ahead

Call centres deliver more than just support—they pioneer innovations that strengthen bonds. Devoted to diversity, emerging tech, and unforgettable experiences, these hubs are redefining industry benchmarks. Their future remains one of adaptive change and opportunity.

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Improve Productivity Levels By Incorporating Feng Shui Design Into Your Office

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All of us have “off days” when at work. Sometimes, we didn’t get enough sleep the night before or might be fighting a cold. Whatever it is, trying to keep motivated throughout the day can feel like a real struggle.

It might come as a surprise that these feelings might be less about you and more about the environment you’re trying to work in.

Designing a calming working space that supports a more productive attitude is essential for all business environments. Incorporating Feng Shui design principles can be a great way to achieve this.

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that works on the philosophy that your surroundings have an ongoing impact on your mood and ability to work productively. This is why you’ll often hear the term associated with calming settings like therapy offices, counseling centers, or yoga studios.

However, by applying various Feng Shui design concepts to your working space, you’ll be able to create a more inviting place to work that minimizes distractions and helps you accomplish your goals.

Get a Commanding View of Your Surroundings

When reviewing Feng Shui design principles, you’ll come across the “command position.” Referring to optimal office layouts, command positioning is all about situating your desk and chair in a location that increases focus and puts you in “control” of your surroundings.

Working in a more secure position has subconscious benefits that help lower your anxiety levels throughout the day. To achieve this, your ideal working position should be with your back toward a solid wall or barrier and your front facing the entryway. Sitting in this position creates feelings of stability and more awareness throughout the day.

If a visitor enters your working space, you’ll be less likely to be startled and distracted from what you’re doing. Mirrors can also be useful if you can’t position yourself against a wall or barrier. By placing mirrors strategically, you’ll increase your field of vision around your desk, which can help you achieve the same level of security.

Eliminate Office Clutter

No one likes to be surrounded by clutter when working, but it happens occasionally. However, in Feng Shui, clutter disrupts positive energy flow – known as “Chi.” If Chi cannot move freely in your workplace, it can put you on edge and make you unable to focus.

Eliminating office clutter isn’t difficult. You just need a good routine to manage it. Start by assessing your workspace and pinpointing problem areas. Consider what you “need” to complete your work and keep those items visible. Everything else should find its way into accessible storage areas.

Think about the balance between your workspace’s functional and aesthetic features. If your space is more decorative than serving a real purpose, it’s time to re-evaluate.

Use the Bagua to Guide Your Design Choices

Every design choice you make in your office can impact your productivity level. In Feng Shui, this is represented by the “Bagua” map.

Bagua divides spaces into distinctive zones. Each zone represents a different area of life, including career, health, knowledge, wealth, and prosperity. All zones have their own corresponding colors and natural elements that represent them.

For example, a water element in your office – like a small fountain or oceanic artwork – denotes an improved focus on your career. Incorporating more earthy tones represents grounding and a focus on taking in more knowledge.

Bagua maps are commonly used when designing modern buildings or working spaces. By understanding the significance of certain color choices and other design elements, the space can become much more functional and have a positive influence on overall productivity

Bring Nature Indoors

Natural elements deeply influence Chinese culture. So, it’s no surprise that Feng Shui design principles often refer to its importance. Bringing the restorative energy that being outdoors provides inside the office promotes more balance and improved well-being.

The first thing you should consider about your office space is lighting. Unfortunately, most artificial lighting is harsh on our eyes over time. Using as much natural light as possible is a better solution for an office environment. Think about positioning your work area near windows or underneath a skylight.

If your office has limited natural light sources, there are other options you can try. Switching your office lighting to LED bulbs with temperature control settings can also work. This will let you customize your lighting to match natural sunlight more closely.

Another way to bring nature indoors is with your decoration choices. Adding a plant or small fountain in your office helps purify the air and creates a more peaceful working environment. They also incorporate positive energy flow into the space, helping to improve your mood throughout the day.

Create the Right Ambiance

The ambiance your workspace has is another subconscious driver of how efficiently you accomplish your work. Poor aesthetics can make you feel out of place and bring your motivation levels down.

However, while creating a calming atmosphere is helpful in many cases, you want to avoid feeling too relaxed. You’ll also want a healthy amount of stimulation to balance more calming energies. You want to feel alert and engaged rather than drowsy or restless.

Besides color and lighting choices, consider incorporating natural scents using an oil diffuser. Different scents promote different feelings. Lavender, for example, promotes relaxation, while lemon, orange, and other citrus scents promote more focus and energy. If you’re in a home office, you could also use candles to provide softer natural light to your space – of course, not overdoing it to avoid fire safety issues.

Create a More Enjoyable Environment to Work

Creating a workspace that keeps you motivated is essential for performing the way you hope. By incorporating Feng Shui principles, you can make subtle yet impactful changes to your environment, resulting in increased productivity, improved mood, and more enjoyment in your work.

Author Bio:

Visionary and healthcare entrepreneur by passion, Licensed Psychologist by training, Dr. Hannah Yang loves creating new possibilities in the world of mental health and wellness. Dr. Yang established Balanced Awakening in 2015 as a niche psychotherapy practice for women. As Balanced Awakening flourishes in Chicago, and soon Miami, she also loves to tap into her passion for design and Feng Shui to create fabulous environments for herself, her team, and clients.

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The Importance Of User Experience Design In eCommerce

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The Importance Of User Experience Design In eCommerce

Okay, let’s talk shopping—or rather, let’s talk shopping, online style. In the digital playground, your eCommerce site is like the cool kid at the party: it needs to have the charm and ease to attract and keep the crowd happy. UX design in eCommerce isn’t just about slapping on a visually appealing template; it’s about crafting experiences that are so smooth and enjoyable that customers can’t help but dive into their wallets. From the moment they click on your site, right down to that satisfying purchase confirmation, every step needs to feel like it’s designed just for them.

So, how do you make your eCommerce site the place to be? Buckle up, because we’re about to spill some trade secrets that’ll keep users clicking ‘add to cart’ instead of heading for the hills.

1. Speed It Up

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We can all agree that waiting is frustrating. No one enjoys waiting, whether it’s for a webpage to load or for their morning coffee to brew. Speed becomes crucial in the realm of eCommerce, where there are many possibilities. A slow load time can turn off buyers before they’ve even had a chance to look at your merchandise. A one-second delay in website load time can reduce customer satisfaction by roughly sixteen percent, according to Google research.

That is important, particularly in an online environment where time is of the essence. Compressing pictures, optimizing your website’s code, and getting rid of extraneous components that could slow down loading times are all crucial ways to fight this. In addition to improving user experience, a quick website increases conversion rates and fosters trust, keeping your digital cash register ringing.

2. Keep It Simple

Have you ever walked into a store where everything is thrown together in heaps, and finding anything is like a treasure hunt (but without the fun part)? That’s the vibe of a cluttered website. Your eCommerce site needs to be the opposite of that hot mess. A clean layout with intuitive navigation isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about function. When users find what they need without a hitch, they’re more likely to stick around and shop.

Use bold headings, clear labels, and a foolproof search function. Drop the complex jargon and opt for simple, conversational language that guides them smoothly from homepage to checkout.

3. Leverage Interactive Elements

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Interaction isn’t just for social media. In the eCommerce world, it’s about making shopping a dynamic experience. Agencies like Cartizz for webshops can transform a mundane product page into an engaging, interactive showcase. Imagine letting your customers view products in 3D or customize their choices in real time.

It’s like letting them play around with your products virtually before they buy. This boosts the fun factor and gives them a better feel for what they’re getting, reducing doubts and possibly even returns. Plus, interactive elements keep customers on your site longer, which can lead to more sales. It’s a win-win.

4. Mobile First, Seriously

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It’s a mobile world—we’re just shopping in it. Ignoring the mobile version of your eCommerce site is essentially turning a blind eye to half your potential customers. Today’s shoppers expect the full retail therapy experience on their phones, not a condensed version of the desktop site. To stay competitive, it’s crucial that your site’s design is responsive, ensuring it looks sharp and functions smoothly across all devices.

Optimize for touch-friendly interfaces, quick-loading images, and streamlined navigation that simplifies browsing. Since mobile screens are smaller, it’s important to prioritize the essentials, making everything accessible with minimal effort. Clutter-free, intuitive mobile sites cater to the on-the-go lifestyle, encouraging impulse buys and repeat visits. Embracing a mobile-first approach not only meets customer expectations but also taps into the convenience that boosts sales and customer loyalty.

5. Get Personal

Personalization isn’t just about slapping a customer’s name on an email. It’s about curating a shopping experience that feels tailor-made. Use data analytics to understand and predict what your customers might like based on their past behavior and preferences. Offer recommendations that feel thoughtful, not random.

For instance, if someone buys a coffee machine, suggest the best coffee blends or complementary accessories like a grinder. This kind of attention to detail makes shopping not just convenient but delightful. Personalization shows customers you understand their needs and can lead to increased loyalty and sales—because a personal touch never goes out of style.

6. Optimize Your Checkout Process

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Cart abandonment is a major problem for eCommerce companies, and it may be avoided by streamlining the checkout process. With too many forms to complete or unclear payment options, no one likes a checkout that seems like a marathon. Make it quick and easy. Cut down on the processes required to finish a purchase. To serve a wide range of customers, provide a variety of payment options, such as the newest digital wallets.

To prevent surprises at the last stage, make sure the total cost, including shipping and taxes, is clear early on. Making the checkout procedure as simple as possible guarantees that nothing will stop a customer from finishing the transaction after they have made up their minds.

7. Include Everybody

Consider accessibility and make sure that individuals with disabilities can visit your eCommerce website. Your website becomes more accessible and reaches a larger audience by incorporating features like keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and alternative text for images.

Additionally, adhering to accessibility regulations is a smart idea since it can improve your SEO and open up a frequently untapped market. By putting accessibility first, you’re improving everyone’s experience and demonstrating that your company supports inclusion, which can greatly connect with consumers and increase brand loyalty.

Remember that an eCommerce site is more than just a collection of product pages and checkout carts. It’s a virtual experience that can evoke the same excitement and satisfaction as in-store shopping—if done right. By focusing on crafting an intuitive, engaging, and personal user journey, you ensure that your site isn’t just another tab to be closed. It becomes a destination. And in the competitive realm of digital commerce, making your site a destination is the golden ticket to not just surviving, but thriving. So take these tips, tailor them to your unique brand, and watch as your site transforms into a buzzing marketplace where customers feel right at home.

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