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ETIQUETTE

Corporate Etiquette/business Etiquette

INTRODUCTION:

“Your manners are always under examination, and by committees little suspected, awarding or denying you very high prizes when you least think of it”, Ralph Waldo Emerson.

When a person gets into employment for the first time he gets confused with the corporate culture and finds it very difficult to learn the corporate etiquette which is otherwise also known as business etiquette. There will be vast cultural gaps from the background from where the individual has come and that of the organization he enters. He finds it very difficult to get along with new cultures, customs, norms and rules. There would certainly be a gap. It takes certain time to get adjusted and adapted to the corporate culture and learn the etiquette.

Every one knows the meaning of etiquette. Etiquette is nothing but manners to be followed in a given cultural environment. Every culture has its own etiquette. But overall the etiquette is universal with certain characteristics and qualifications that run across all people like a common thread. Business etiquette is also an etiquette that has to be adopted in every business keeping ethics and integrity in view. It varies from culture to culture and from country to country and from industry to industry. All the differences are only superficial in nature with the commonalities of basic business etiquette being at the core level.

Etiquettes are of different types. It is desirable to focus on a few basic etiquettes which collectively constitute the corporate etiquette. They are Hand shake, Interview etiquette, Mobile etiquette, Telephone etiquette, Office etiquette, Dress code, Giving business card, Dining etiquette, Handling people, international business etiquette, Email etiquette, etc.,

HANDSHAKE:

When two men meet each other they shake their hands as a symbol and sign of meeting. There is a right manner in handshake. There has to be firm handshake that represents the confidence level of the persons. If a person presses down the palm of the other person and shakes his hand it indicates that the person is dominant in nature. On the other hand, if the person allows his own palm pressed downwards and lets the other person’s palm upwards it indicates the submissive style of the person. In the third scenario if both the persons keep their palms perpendicular to the ground and if both persons plays neutral neither being in the dominant level nor in the submissive level then it is the right method of handshake and it indicates win-win or assertive handshake. A person’s nature can be easily judged by the way he shakes his hand with others. It becomes the core part of any corporate culture.

INTERVIEW ETIQUETTE:

When going for an interview, the door is to be knocked, and after seeking the permission the person should enter the interview room. The person should greet the interview panel member like ‘Good morning Sir/Sirs’ depending upon the time of interview and wait for the permission to be seated. If there is a woman Interviewing Officer(IO) it is etiquette to greet her first followed by male members as it is part of the Indian culture to respect women.

After getting the permission to sit, the person should sit with straight posture at the back with his back touching the chair and without dragging the chair or dragging the feet. No attempts should be made either to lean forward or to lean too much backward or to sit in totally at an ease position. The person should sit straight and be alert by keeping both the legs together with both feet touching on the ground.

When the question is posed, the person should fully wait till the completion of the sentence by the IO and then reply. No attempts should be made to interrupt or interfere with the conversation of IO. After listening carefully the person should analyze, process with in his mind and then should reply appropriately with clear cut thoughts. In case if there are any differences of opinion, the same should be handled with tact and diplomacy. In case if there is a need to clarify anything, the same can be asked with a request to speak the same. After the completion of the interview, thank them and exit the room smartly without any unnecessary noise.

MOBILE ETIQUETTE:

Now days, mobiles have become both a boon and bane. Whenever there is an engagement or any hectic or important activities are going on, the mobile should be kept in a silent mode. It is not proper to talk over the phone when important discussion or meeting is in progress. After the completion of the meeting the calls can be attended as unattended calls are reflected in the handset. These days, marketing calls do come frequently and it disturbs the mood and also the precious time. These are known as unsolicited calls. The best thing is to cut short such calls by saying, ‘I will get back to you’ or ‘Can I call you back?’

TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE:

It is more or less like mobile etiquette only. The caller has to identify himself first, and then should confirm whether he is looking for the concerned person and then should start conversation. Even if you are interrupted, exercise patience to the caller and respond. Radiate energy and if it is not possible, at least exercise warmth so that the caller feels comfortable and convenient to communicate. Do not keep the caller on hold without asking ‘Say like, may I put you on a hold for a moment?’ and then put the caller on hold till you connect the right person or to give the correct information. Personalize the conversation to make it polite and presentable. If the concerned person is not there and if the caller provides the information to pass on, then note down on a paper or a note pad, sign and make it accessible and reachable to the concerned person. Small things make major differences in telephone etiquette. Ensure that your voice mail system is working properly and is not full of messages to prevent incoming calls.

OFFICE ETIQUETTE:

When you visit to somebody’s office, do no roam around as though it is your own office. When you are a stranger to a place maintain and behave like a visitor or as a guest not like a host. Do not disturb the receptionist with too many queries. When you are asked to work in your cubicle stick to that only and do not encroach into others’ cubicles.

You can call person by name at the corporate world but politely. There is no need to call ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’ frequently. The body language must be positive and assertive it should neither be aggressive nor submissive. While addressing a woman if it is not clear whether she is married or unmarried, you can use Ms as that can convey politely for both married and unmarried woman.

Personal space from person to person needs to be maintained properly. It is known as proxemics. You should not behave with unknown people by being too close by maintaining intimate distance as it creates discomfort for others.

DRESS CODE:

For men the shirt should be in light color with a tie. There should not be any cabbage socks. The socks need to be changed regularly. Avoid wearing white socks. The body can be applied with light perfume. It is essential to wear tie for formal meetings. A few companies have separate and specific dress code to its employees on specific days. There is a traditional formula for male attire. BBTTSS is the acronym for Boot and Belt which must be of the same color, Tie and Trouser should preferably match with each other and Shirt and Socks should match with each other. There is no hard and fast rule to accept this formula but it all depends on the situation and occasion. Ultimately the dress code should be pleasing, neat and clean and presentable.

Dress code for women is a very complicated one. It differs from region to region and from country to country based on their cultural background as well as their tastes and temperaments. They should not dress like a Christmas tree. There should not be any hanky panky costumes. Don’t decorate with excessive jewellery or ornaments. The dress should match as per the corporate culture and values of the organization. The clothes must be positive and presentable and not of tight fittings, no obscene clothes or revealing clothes etc.

BUSINESS CARD:

When business card is given, it must be taken with the right hand in India. It must be read with details like name, designation and other details and then it should be kept in a visiting card holder. Always give fresh cards and do not give the cards that look dirty or old or faded cards.

DINING ETIQUETTE:

• Wait for your host to ask you to sit or else sit after the host sits.

• Keep solids of the food on the left and the liquids on the right side.

• Keep the napkin folded towards you on your lap.

• If you have any food allergies tell the same in advance or to the server and if it is already served leave it on the plate.

• Don’t fill your plate with entire food at one go. Fill little by little as you consume.

• If you have any doubts regarding the starting of eating food or about the chronological order of eating food, observe your host closely and follow.

• At the time of eating, keep the knife across the top of your plate when you are eating, blade facing towards you.

• It is formal to leave some food on the plate at the end.

• If you are a slow eater and the host has completed eating food, you leave the food and catch up with the host.

• If the food is not good and if the host enquires how is the food, say politely, “Fine, thank you”.

• Once the meal is finished your silverware should be parallel to each other in the ten and four O clock position with handles at 4.00 and tops of the utensils at 10.00. The knife blade points towards you.

• The amount is usually paid by the host.

• Thank the host for your meal at the end.

HANDLING PEOPLE:

Every business person should learn basic etiquette to deal with people. Of course, there are number of written and unwritten rules and guidelines and when in doubt stick to the basic and follow.

• Build good relations with peers and subordinates.

• Never differentiate people based on designations and rank.

• Memorize the names of the people. If not, then correlate the name of the person with that of your previous acquaintances with in your mind for effective retention. Make a good practice of collecting the names of the people with their phone numbers, date of birth, family details. This will help you to build strong relations with them.

• Learn to appreciate people sincerely. If it is essential to criticize, do not attack the person rather attack his behavior as it takes the matter away from person-centric to problem-centric or behavior-centric.

• Never surprise your boss. Always keep him informed about the work related activities and try to be in the good books of your boss.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ETIQUETTE:

With the rapid growing technology the globe has become smaller. As a result, there are plenty of opportunities since the communication has become easier. Employers began thinking broadly and are trying to set up their ventures at the global level. Along with that the employees have opportunities to work with the people across the globe.

It is necessary to know the basics of international etiquette such as the multicultural issues, different time zones, different workings hours, holiday patterns, table manner etc., Mr. Laxmi Niwas Mittal the global steel czar has clearly mentioned about the significance and importance of multicultural issues so as to succeed in the international business.

EMAIL ETIQUETTE:

Paper correspondence is gradually losing its relevance. In every business there is growing significance attached to Email and it is necessary to dwell at length about email etiquette in this context.

The subject matter should be simple, specific, short and identify yourself. It should not be like compound sentences. The receiver should be in a position to identify its source and the objective behind it. In the ‘To’ address column put the main addressee and if the same is to be informed to other addresses you can add those emails in the ‘CC’ column. It is usually considered unethical to use the BCC column. If the mail is not to be known to the other addressees and in extreme cases you can use ‘BCC’.

Personalize the mail to create bonding with the reader. Dear Sir/Madam, followed by the name of the person with designation as it impresses the reader for the significance you have accorded to the designation and also for having made it personal.

Follow proper alignment and the margin on the left side. Write the contents in simple, straight and short manner. The contents must be concise, crisp and clear. Put across all the points. At the end, you may conclude with ‘Regards’, or ‘Best regards’, or ‘With regards’, or ‘Best wishes’ followed by your signature. Before sending check for grammar, syntax, sentence format, punctuation. Read and reread the email before hitting the ‘send’ button as it becomes an evidence for future records.

While replying to official mails do not check ‘Reply all’ button as the confidential information, if any, will be known to all. Never type the contents in capital letters as that indicates that you are shouting at others. And also avoid using lower case. As far as possible the business letter should not last more than a page as it is an official document. Do not visit pornographic sites as every company has an internal scanning system to check the same. And ultimately you will be in deep hot water. Try to use soft, polite and neutral words and avoid using unparliamentary language.

CONCLUSION:

Etiquette and business etiquette is essential to survive and succeed both at the personal and professional level. It has paramount significance and importance at the corporate world either to make or break the business deals. Therefore, it is mandatory to stick to the basics of all etiquettes to become a successful professional. To conclude, the business etiquette is essential from peon to principal and from employee to employer.

About the Author

(The author, Prof. M.S.Rao, is working as an Academic Guide in ICFAI University, India. He delivers ‘Guest Lectures’ upon request. He talks over radio and is a professional Writer and Trainer in soft skills, personality development, motivation, leadership and equity investments. He conducts training sessions to Corporates and Student community. Number of articles has been published in various global websites, magazines and journals. He has blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com He can be reached at email: profmsr7@yahoo.com, profmsr7@gmail.com).

H.No: 6-18-188, New NGO's Colony, Nizamabad-503002, INDIA

formal ties

Ties - Get Yourself the Right Tie At Ensign

“You are what you wear”—this quote means that our characters and personalities are reflected on the clothes that we wear. It is a shame, then, that when it comes to formal wears, men only have limited ways to be different so they can stand out. One of the few ways, a man can express himself is by using neckties.

Men’s ties are so powerful they can make a huge statement about the one who is wearing it. Bow ties that are out of place, for instance, can denote an unintentionally comic undertone, while oversized men’s ties can denote an oversized ego.

However, a man who makes sure that he puts on the best perfect silk tie at the right time and place, will emanate a lasting impression of style sophistication that is worth the look and attention.

Here are some tips you can follow to make sure you are getting it right with men’s ties:

Length

First and foremost the factor to consider is the length of the tie. Most retailers carry ties that are 55/56 inches. You will know that you have the correct length if the tie can reach the belt buckle, which is about 58 inches form the neck. Men who are taller may require a tie that is longer than the average length.

Texture

Aside from the length, the texture of a tie is very important. Make sure that the tie is made of high quality material like natural fibers, silk, cashmere or wool. Silk ties, however, do not go with some suit so make certain that the texture of your tie is in accordance with the texture of the suit you are wearing.

Pattern

Men also need to consider pattern when buying or wearing a tie. Make certain that the tie does not clash with your shirt’s pattern. Remember that the tie should complement and not compete with your overall clothing. For instance, if you want to go with a striped tie, do not make the mistake of wearing a similarly striped shirt or it will result in an optical illusion. Generally, men with angular faces are the ones who fit into striped ties, while men with face that are round look better in neat printed ties. In a formal setting, one should never consider wearing a novelty necktie.

Color

In general, blue formal ties look better in men. Blue neckties look good in blue or white shirts and blue or grey suits. When choosing the color of your tie, you also need to consider that the color of what you are wearing complement the color of your tie.

Handmade Ties

Because a handmade tie speaks of good quality, they tend to be expensive. Good handmade ties are expected to last for years and should always create a stylish aura for a formal suit. High quality handmade ties are created from several blocks of silk which gives the tie a more luxurious feel, allowing it to be attached securely.

Ensign is a Necktie manufacturer & wholesaler, specialising in custom made woven & printed ties for school, clubs & corporate bodies. They have continued their tradition of making high quality Australian made neckwear since 1934, and still in providing the finishing touch to the uniforms of recognised companies, teams, government and schools Australia wide.

Customised woven and printed neckties are designed and manufactured in house, and are hand finished in a traditional open end style, incorporating full tail to tip lining.

Ensign compliments its neckwear range with customised knitted, woven & printed scarves available in a wide range of finishes & sizes. Using modern print and dyeing methods for vibrant, crisp colours that compliment the look and feel of any uniform.

About the Author

I am 23 year old student on my last year of study at the University of Sydney (Sydney), majoring in Information technology.

picture 4th of july fireworks

Fireworks pictures - Photographing Fireworks in Your Backyard

This article details how to take pictures of the fireworks that take place in your backyard or your neighbor's. Let us point out right now, that in virtually every paragraph of this article, we will repeat cautions about the need for extreme safety around fireworks, and the need for adults to be responsible for all backyard firework displays.

The fireworks that are launched by professionals — who, by the way, are called pyrotechnicians — are classified as Display Fireworks, and are sometimes known as "Class B" fireworks. Chances are you'll never come too close to Display Fireworks, but you may well encounter Consumer Fireworks (also known as "Class C" fireworks). These are the fireworks you can purchase at roadside stands in many parts of the country.

Consumer Fireworks Are Readily Available

According to records compiled by the American Pyrotechnics Association, only 4 states (Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York) completely ban consumer fireworks. Of the other 46, 6 allow only sparklers or novelty items (Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, and Vermont). Bear in mind that within each state, local counties or cities may have more restrictive laws. We're not sure of the precise definitions of "novelties" or "safe and sane" fireworks. But we do know that no fireworks are "safe" unless they're used "sanely." We're certainly not advocating the use of fireworks that are not legal in your area.

Note: We also must point out that large explosive fireworks — so-called cherry bombs, M-80s and the like — have been outlawed by Federal Law for over thirty years. These are not fireworks. They are explosives and should not be used by individuals under any circumstances.

So, unless you're in one of the four states that completely ban consumer fireworks, and if you are going to enjoy a backyard fireworks show this 4th of July, and as long as the show is conducted by safety-conscious adults — you can take several different types of cool fireworks pictures.

Let's look at each.

Sparkler Art

Even the most restrictive states allow sparklers. These are usually thin metal rods coated with a combination of fuel, an oxidizer, and powdered metal — usually iron, steel, or aluminum — that creates the sparks, and a binder to hold all this stuff onto the rod. Sparklers produce a continuously burning trail of bright yellow or colored sparks. Since the burn time of a sparkler may be 30 seconds or more, this gives us the opportunity to do what photographers call "painting with light." This makes for some very cool fireworks pictures.

Painting with light is usually done with a flashlight or some other movable light source. In that case, unless it's pointed at the camera, the light source itself isn't usually visible; it is only used to illuminate the subject. With sparklers, the light source becomes part of the subject matter as well.

Before we get to our "How To" tips, let us interject a safety note — sparklers, while they are widely available, are among the leading causes of fireworks injuries. Perhaps that is in part because they are so widely available, that they lead the list. Typically, the danger to avoid is burns from a sparkler while it is sparkling, or from the super hot metal rod that remains after the sparkler has burned out. As Colin Bradley, the author of pyrouniverse so eloquently puts it: "I don't get why... anyone would hand their toddler a 1000-degree rod of burning hot metal in the first place. Think about it... Would you let your kid play with a stove? A clothes iron? A blowtorch? Of course not. As with any other consumer product, if someone uses it THE WRONG WAY, they'll get hurt."

Fireworks Pictures

Here are some photography tips for taking pictures of sparklers.

The camera was mounted on a tripod to keep it steady during a long exposure, and auto focus was turned off. The child is asked to stay in one place and the photographer focuses on the child before the sparkler is lit. An adult lights the sparkler, and kids, doing what they do best, start to experiment.

If the child just moves the sparkler around in front of his/her face, as in the photograph on the right, the result is not too interesting. We see the trails of the burning sparkler, but the child's face has been obliterated.

With a little direction, the child sweeps her arm to create an arc that fills more of the frame. The child is watching the sparkler, so while the sparkler illuminates her face, it is blurred because she moved her head. With more experimentation, you can create a wide variety of effects. For example, you can write your name, or another word using the sparkler as a pen. However, this requires some thought because if you just spell out your name, it will appear backwards to the camera.

How to overcome this? The hard way is to write your name in mirror form. The easier trick is to turn your back to the camera and write your name the regular way, but if you do that, make sure to hold the sparkler high over your head, so that your body does not block any of the letters.

As with all photographs of this sort, the key is experimentation and taking several photographs to see which ones work out.

Next add a second sparkler and ask the subject to twirl both. These pictures can be made using auto exposure. You can fine-tune the exposures and use manual settings if you prefer. As we've discussed, to make these fireworks pictures you need a tripod and someone to handle the sparkler.

For another great photo, the person that we see outlined by the sparkler is standing still. So they appear to be in sharp focus. The sparkler is being held by a third person who is standing behind the subject and who carefully outlines the torso. This was very precisely executed: the assistant moving the sparkler can't be seen at all. The illumination was made in a single pass, starting with the sparkler close to the ground, moving up to outline the figure and then back down the other leg to the ground. There was probably some additional burn time left on the sparker so the assistant held the sparkler close to the ground until it burned out. That would explain the very bright area we see between the subject's legs. During this entire period, the subject held their pose.

Again, safety is very important here. That's why the assistant stands behind the subject and keeps the burning sparkler well away from the subject's body. Remember, safety when taking fireworks pictures is paramount.

Photographs of Light Showers

Other types of consumer fireworks, such as those that make small pops, like bottle rockets, or slender backyard Roman Candles will probably not make interesting-looking photographs. But the type of fountain display that is fired on the ground can provide some excellent opportunities for making very interesting pictures.

Once again, these photographs can be taken using automatic exposure with the camera mounted on a tripod. Keep at least 8 to 10 feet away from the shower and use your zoom to fill the frame with the colorful eruptions.

If you like, you can use your camera's pop-up flash to toss a little light on the scene.

Firework photography is interesting to look at on its own, but they can also be used with the addition of type for party invitations, or combined with other images to make photo illustrations.

Once you collect some interesting looking images, what you can create is limited only by your imagination.

Enjoy the Fourth of July, and take some beautiful fireworks pictures. Have a safe and sane holiday.

And, let us close as we began, with safety uppermost. To help you celebrate safely this Fourth of July, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Council on Fireworks Safety offer the following safety tips:

Always read and follow label directions

Always have an adult present

Only buy from reliable fireworks sellers

Be sure to have water handy

Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks

Light only one at a time

Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks

Never give fireworks to small children

Store fireworks in a cool, dry place

Dispose of fireworks properly

Never throw fireworks at another person

Never carry fireworks in your pocket

Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

About the Author

Chuck DeLaney has been a professional photographer for over 30 years. Since 1998 he has been the director of the New York Institute of Photography, America's oldest and largest photography school. DeLaney has taught photography classes in colleges, community programs and institutional settings. In addition to teaching, he has written two books about photography and written hundreds of magazine and Web articles also.

born on the 4th of july

How to Choose a Name for a Baby Girl

After nine months, you get to finally hold your sweet little angel in your arms. The nurse looks at you and asks for the baby's name. You probably already started looking for that name that you will love and cherish for the rest of your life many months before the child was born. There are a lot of ways on how parents get to choose the name of their child.

-           Combining the names of the parent – Some would combine the first one or two syllables of the father and the mother to come up with a unique and meaningful name. Try combining the syllables or interchanging them (mother first, father second), and see if it is as sweet-sounding as your little girl.

-           Using a grandmother's name or a relative – For some traditional families, blood lines are considered and they adopt the name of the grandmother or a close relative and give it to their daughter as well.

-           Online search – There are websites dedicated to baby care, and articles range from baby care, to mother care, to raising a baby, and baby names. They also monitor trending of names per year or per location.

-           Significant day – For some, they name their daughters Mary, April, liberty, based on an important day in their life – such as when the wedding of the couple was or the exact birth date of the child falls on Mother Mary's special religious day. Other examples include a significant event during the month of April or the child was born or the couple got engaged on the 4th of July.

Many people will choose a name as long as it sounds cute and that is a good enough reason for most people. The length of the name should be considered as well. Longer names are sometimes harder to remember and more effort to pronounce over and over again through the years.

Certain people will feel the need to pick a unique name for their child. Movies, books, and other literature can be a good source for rare names. Sometimes people will combine names to come up with their own unique name for the child. However, for people that come up with their own names, it might be a good idea to ask a few other people what they think first.

Finally, a lot of people just go with popular names that they like. For the top 5 names for baby girls, here they are and what the names mean.

-           Madison – Good son; or as it is being used now in modern times, good daughter.

-           Abigail – Father's joy

-           Hannah – Gracious

-           Samantha – Listener

-           Sophia – Wisdom

What is important is that even if the name has of no any significant relationship in your life, the bearer of the name receives all the love and attention from their loving parents. The most popular and trendy girl's names will definitely change in time. Some former popular names will re-surface as well. The most important thing is to pick a name that you and your significant other will be happy with and one that the child can live with as well.

About the Author

Criss White writes on baby and wedding topics. Visit Bridal and Wedding Favors to look at some baptism favors or to check out some bath wedding favors.

usa made heating and cooling

Coolaro sail shades for sale in the USA: What makes them the best?

When you're looking for sail shades for sale in the USA, take a good look at the quality of the sail shade. You want the fabric of the sail shade to be able to breathe so the area underneath the sail shade remains cool. At the same time, you want the fabric to be strong and durable so it can withstand whatever temperature it is outside.

Coolaroo sail shades for sale are sturdy, cool the shaded area effectively and look great at the same time.

Coolaroo sail shades provide a 90% UV sun block for the shaded area. This provides an effectively shaded area, and an extra outdoor room for your home. You may need a shaded area or an outdoor room for your kids to play in summer, or somewhere for you and your family and friends to be able to sit down and enjoy the summer months, without being overcome by the heat and sun.

You can also use the sail shade to cool the inside of your home. If you place the sail shade near a window, or wall of your home, that gets a lot of direct sunlight, this can cool the inside of your home. During summer months, the sun and heat can get quite harsh by mid-morning. By placing a sail shade at the areas where the sun directly beats down, you can keep the sun from entering the windows of your home, or from beating directly against a wall of your home. This can help keep your home cooler for longer. This can also help you save money on air-conditioning units which can get expensive when they are turned on for a long time.

The reason why Coolaroo sail shades for sale can provide such effective relief from the sun is that they are made of commercial quality fabric. The seams and material of the fabric are thick and strong, so the sail shades won't fray, and wear well over time. These sail shades can retain their ability to block out the sun for many years. Coolaroo have a 10 year warranty against UV degradation. Coolaroo sail shades for sale wear well and can still look as new for many years.

Another advantage of Coolaroo sail shades for sale is that the fabric is woven which allows air to flow through them. What this means is that the temperature in the area underneath the sail shade is reduced by up to one third. This can create a cool shaded area which can provide some much needed relief from the summer sun and heat. With a sail shade, you will be able to sit outside on hot days, without getting sunburn or heat stroke.

About the Author

S Quinn: http://www.squidoo.com/sail-shades-for-sale

There are other features of Coolaroo sails shades for sale which makes them the best sail shades for sale, and you can read about them here http://www.squidoo.com/sail-shades-for-sale

If you want to buy Coolaroo sails shades, you can buy them here http://www.squidoo.com/sail-shades-for-sale