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]]>1. What is your profession and what drew you to this career?
A: I am a businessperson, author, educator, and mentor to others in business. I lead The Spencer Company, which is a firm that I founded in 1988, with services in technology, marketing, intellectual property development, and brand protection. I’d like to mirror the sentiments of fellow author Dan Brown by saying that I’m happily confused and a work in progress. I recall Steven Spielberg saying that he didn’t have a master plan in life and that he liked to go with the flow. That’s me. I react to what comes. I treasure every moment in my life. It’s a wonderful journey and helping people really touches my heart. I am a serial optimist and if I want to accomplish something, I do it. As a result, I have adapted to the dramatic changes in technology and how people interact online to stay competitive in business. I do not resist change, I embrace it when it comes. I also love to give back. In 1993, I co-founded Dreams to Reality Foundation. We’re helping people in need with a substantial focus on youth education. It’s important work and when technology made it possible, we began fundraising for this great cause online. Where we used to have bake sales, we now run online auctions. eBay and PayPal make this important fundraising easy.
2. What makes you the authority on the QuickStudy guides you have written?
A: I’m a student first and expert second. I am absorbing information every day. I crave that greater understanding of things. I’m always asking questions and reading about things, that includes the topics I write about. Business Payment Processing and eBay: Selling Your Stuff are really memoirs of what I’ve learned over the years. I love the abbreviated format. They are truly free of fluff and are very concise. The format demands the focus. I worked for eBay from 2001 to 2008 and during that time, I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and then-CEO Meg Whitman. Both very wonderful leaders educated me in ways I cannot describe. They inspired me. I shared two meals with Mrs. Whitman and she bought items from me on eBay. It was surreal. I’ve had the benefit of opening my doors in 1988, and selling on eBay since 1999. I feel that I am uniquely positioned to educate people on payments and online retail because I am in this every day. I live it. I’ve seen almost every imaginable outcome of such a vast array of business events and moments. I learned this all the hard way, by doing it. I celebrate higher education. I never trivialize that. I got my hands in business at an early age. I dove in and never looked back. I have practical experience.
3. Finish this sentence:
After using the QuickStudy guide Business Payment Processing the reader will sidestep many pitfalls, including the potential for losing money to scams and fraud; while discovering the many ways to get paid (and to pay others) in business. Expand horizons through a greater understanding of the payments landscape, increase sales, and profits, by using as many practical payment methods that are out there. Cut costs by knowing how fees work, and improve the customer experience.
After using the QuickStudy guide eBay: Selling Your Stuff the reader will learn my inspiration and passion for online selling. It’s about eBay, and it’s also about managing an online business with professionalism and grace…while seeking a profit. I always put the customer experience out front. Succeeding in a sea of competition requires amazing customer service. I do not drive my prices to the floor, I raise my service to the sky.
5. Is there any advice you’d like to give our readers who have their own small/online business?
A: I am always afraid of failure. It completely scares me. All the time. Anyone in business who isn’t afraid, I’d be worried for them. It requires hard work, patience, and being willing to step outside your comfort zone. I do that every day. Experience has mellowed me out. Kathy Ireland tells us if we aren’t failing, we aren’t trying. I really believe in the power of positive thinking. I used to doubt a lot. I was horribly skeptical in the past. Today, I’m not foolish, I do make careful decisions…I’m not likely to doubt people the way I did in the early days of my business career. Warren Buffett says to take a job that you love. That applies to being an entrepreneur too. Every business idea has the potential to make money. If you’re chasing fads, you’re bound to fail. If you’re chasing a passion, you can’t fail because you’ll love every minute of it. You’ll jump out of bed in the morning.
About the author:
Christopher Matthew Spencer is a business person, author, educator, and mentor. Christopher Matthew worked from 2001 to 2008 as an eBay University instructor and eBay evangelist.
He is the president of The Spencer Company, sits on the board of Dreams to Reality Foundation, is an international business consultant for kathy ireland® Worldwide, and is a LinkedIn Learning author.
He was early to embrace the Internet culture. Like many, he saw it as an information highway that could be applied innovatively. Christopher Matthew’s focus on entrepreneurs and everyday Internet users derive from his “roll up your sleeves, hardworking mindset” that has led him to his own achievements.
Christopher Matthew mentors and educates on a wide variety of essential topics, including nonprofits, sales, retail, payments, as well as real estate and rental properties.
Christopher Matthew’s philosophy encompasses life-long learning and he loves sharing his expertise with those who desire it, just as he did many years ago. He has consulted to many notable Fortune 1000 companies.
His mission is education through demonstration. Christopher Matthew attributes his success to happiness and the pursuit of all things he finds fun in life.
Christopher Matthew Spencer has written three QuickStudy guides for BarCharts; Ebay: Selling Your Stuff, Business Payment Processing, and SalesForce.
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]]>The post 3 Tips for Better Grades appeared first on QuickStudy.
]]>1. QuickStudy Laminated Study Guides
QuickStudy laminated study guides feature an easy-to-use format. They incorporates color-coded sections for easy reference along with full-color illustrations, charts, and graphs. With over 550 titles of QuickStudy guides currently available, there’s something for everyone and every subject.
Better yet, they also come with a better grade guarantee. If you’re not 100% satisfied with your QuickStudy guide you can return it for a full refund. Find out more at www.quickstudypromise.com.
2. QuickStudy Notebooks
The college-ruled, spiral-bound notebooks are the perfect study companion and in-class resource. Take notes for class and find answers in a snap. QuickStudy content is featured on the front cover, back cover, and dividing insert page. Using space usually wasted in other notebooks, QuickStudy notebooks cover the most important information in your algebra, English, chemistry, and Spanish classes.
3. QuickStudy Folders
A two-pocket folder that includes a built-in study guide makes these folders the most valuable product of its kind. Featuring clear, concise QuickStudy content on the front and back covers and inside pockets, these folders are useful for studying, homework, and in-class answers. Available for algebra, English, chemistry, and Spanish.
BarCharts has been in the business of helping people learn more efficiently and study more effectively for over 20 years. In addition to study guides, notebooks, and folders, we also offer flash cards, books, posters, and free-standing easels. Find the product that’s right for you and learn quick and learn smart. Learn more at www.quickstudy.com
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]]>The post Discover the 6 Keys to College Success appeared first on QuickStudy.
]]>1. In the Classroom
• Read the syllabus – it will include your professor’s office hours, the best way to contact them, the testing schedule, and other pertinent information you need for class. Always pay attention to how your professor structures the class because each professor is different than the next.
• Take Notes!
It may seem like a no-brainer, but taking notes is one of the best ways to get good grades. Clear, concise notes are more effective than long, complicated notes. Even better, get the QuickStudy Notebook that combines a notebook and study guide in one – your ultimate study essentials.
• Be a good listener
During lectures sit near the front of the class to avoid distractions, and if there is something you don’t understand, ASK! There are probably other students in the class with the same question who are too shy to raise their hand. Be fearless – raise your hand and clear up any confusion you may have.
• Make sure your professor knows your name.
Putting a face with a name will be a big help, especially if your grade is borderline.
2. Study Strategies
STUDY! This may be a case of stating the obvious, but you would be surprised how many students don’t bother.
• Do not study for more than 2 hours at a time
• Use the 30-3-2 Schedule
– Study for 30 minutes
– Take a three-minute break; let the break be a time to think about other things.
– Upon returning, take an extra two minutes to mentally review what you have just read and do a quick preview of what is coming up next.
3. Plan
Get a calendar or planner and write down the due dates of papers, exams, midterms, and any other important dates.
• Review the planner every week, it will help to ensure you stay on top of your course load.
4. Taking Exams
• Learn the exam format: e.g. objective (true/false or multiple choice) or subjective (essay) – these can be found on the syllabus or at the exam review.
• Review course outline, notes, and study materials, like QuickStudy study guides.
• Review previous tests; you may receive these during the exam review or check at with your professor for past examples.
5. Dorm Room Do’s and Don’ts
• Resident Assistants are a valuable resource; be sure to maintain open communication with your RA.
• Clean up after yourself: Avoid roommate problems and bug infestation.
• Lock your doors – even when you are in your room! You’re better safe than sorry.
• Get involved in residence life. Many activities are held on campus for student residents like BBQs, trivia nights, coffee discussions, charity drives, and fun parties. No matter what your interests are there is sure to be something to get involved in.
• If your school allows cooking in the dorm: Check to see which appliances are permitted for dorm use.
6. Registration & Advisement
• Avoid long lines and high frustration levels; use telephone or computer registration whenever possible.
• Select classes based on your own academic capabilities; for example, if science is not your forte, don’t take biology and chemistry in the same semester.
• Visit your advisor on a regular basis to make sure you are on track with your academic program, courses, etc.
• Pay attention to Deadlines! If you miss one, it could cost you – not just money but grades as well.
This is your time to figure out who you are, what’s important to you as an individual, and develop your interpersonal skills. The more you pay attention and get involved the better your college years will be. If you want even more tips on college success, download our free Keys to College Success guide.
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]]>The dictionary definition for custom is “made to order” and we exactly do that! You can (1) choose any of our titles with your logo and contact information, (2) use our design team to create a guide in our format using your own specific information, or (3) provide your press-ready files and we will print and laminate your title. Regardless of the option you choose, you will be receiving the highest quality training tool on the market.
Want your logo on our Excel or Word guides? Do you have additional information on how you would like to include it from our other guides? Pick and choose what works for your company from our content and we will easily put it together for you!
We take your content, condense it, and then design the road map to help your employees get the information they need using our proven format.
Ways to use QuickStudy® in your company:
Since we have been in the business for over 20 years, we know printing and laminating and what works right for you. We can work with your organization to get the best pricing possible, and make sure that you receive the highest quality on all finished pieces.
The post Custom Products appeared first on QuickStudy.
]]>Our QuickStudy® Easel offers a hands-free alternative to the traditional QuickStudy® guide. Keeping in mind the busy students and professionals—we’ve incorporated some of our best-selling guides in to an easy-to-use free-standing easel format. These easels offer more facts per page than a book and can be conveniently used as a flip chart, wherever you need a quick reminder of the topic you’re learning.
More facts per page than a book!
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]]>
Sports Leagues
Scouts
School Clubs
PTA
“When I started looking for fundraisers, I wanted something different, something that would feed the mind and not the belly. QuickStudy® guides from BarCharts did this wonderfully. After selling for two months, our core group of four boys has sold over $800 worth of guides, and as word of mouth spreads, the orders keep coming in. I’m one of those parents that hated taking the box of candy bars to work; I felt that I was doing the work for my boy, that his involvement was minimized—not with QuickStudy®. I would recommend this fundraiser for any scout, school, or club.”
—Barry P.
| Step 1. | Call 1-800-226-7799, extension 3023, or email Marnee Nichols at [email protected] to register your group. |
| Step 2. | Customize your group’s page with copy and images. |
| Step 3. | Invite everyone to order from your online page. Use Facebook and get the word out. |
| Step 4. | At the end of your fundraiser, BarCharts will give you 40%-50% of all sales generated through your page based on your volume of sales. |
| Step 1. | Call 1-800-226-7799, extension 3023, or email Marnee Nichols at [email protected] to register your group. |
| Step 2. | Order your QuickStudy® fundraising kits, which include folder, catalog, sample, and order takers. |
| Step 3. | Have your students begin selling. They can collect money now or upon delivery. |
| Step 4. | Submit your orders. They will be grouped by student and you make 40%-50% profit! |
We also offer the ability to personalize or customize any title with your group’s name and contact information. Fill out the form below and start selling QuickStudy® for your fundraiser today!
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]]>QuickStudy® is the most valuable tool in the market to help students not only get better grades, but graduate and succeed in the real world. We take information from textbook and condense it down to contain only the most pertinent points to study. Covering over 500 subjects, we offer the most complete set of notes to capture and hold students’ interest with colorful boxes, bold headings, graphic examples, diagrams, illustrations, and much more. Incorporate QuickStudy® today with the course textbook and classroom notes and you have a winning combination!
Our laminated study guides clearly and concisely cover the most valuable information on more than 450 different subjects. Authored by the experts and packed with the most up-to-date information, QuickStudy® guides are a teacher’s best source for boosting students’ grades. Our guides are organized with full-color headings and color-coded sections to find information with ease. They also feature colorful charts, tables, diagrams, and other learning aids to engage students and make learning fun. Combined with class notes and the textbook, they make studying easier and shorten the learning curve.
We are not kidding when we say our guides are jam-packed. We condense over 24–30 pages of key information to just 4 or 6 laminated pages. Each guide contains over 6,000 words of key facts—without the fluff. With their slim and portable size, it’s easy to fit multiple subjects into any folder or backpack. Plus, they’re also hole-punched to fit neatly inside a 3 ring binder!
Add QuickStudy® into the equation and watch your students’ scores improve significantly!
Our common core standards study guides for Mathematics and English are your problem-solving resource. Each study guide in the series features real-world problems and examples, illustrations, and tables to help students retain information—all wrapped up in sturdy lamination. By implementing your lesson plan and using our guides to back it up, your students will connect with CCSS in no time!
Available this May, we have a new series of reference guides to help teachers with planning. Our Common Core Laminated Standards are designed to help teachers understand where to strengthen their curriculum, not only to comply with the CCSS, but also to strengthen students’ knowledge and boost their grades. Outlined with bold headings and color-coded boxes to help teachers find information quickly, our guides offer tips on how to read the standards and also include real-world examples. Click on the tabs below to see what we have to offer and make your classroom a success!
The Common Core State Standards are a set of expectations and skills that students need to master in order to succeed in college. BarCharts’ Mathematics and English Common Core State Standards series aligns with those specific standards to help guide students through their classes. Each guide in the series features real-world problems and examples, illustrations, and tables to help students retain information. The Common Core State Standards guides focus on the critical areas of the curriculum so that students can develop fluency and understanding.
The Laminated Common Core Standards series is a must-have for any teacher transitioning to the Common Core State Standards or one who needs a straightforward guide with a section-by-section syllabus. What makes these guides so beneficial is that they follow the structure of the common core strand designations, they feature color-coded boxes and highlighted areas to make information search easy, and the sturdy lamination can handle spills or wear and tear. Your transition to CCSS will be seamless when you partner Laminated Common Core Standards with the students’ common core state standards quick guide!
QuickStudy® laminated study guides are an exceptional learning tool that clearly communicates what students need to know to excel in a subject. QuickStudy® guides act as a road map for the course, clearly showing students how the subject’s parts fit together. Use it in the classroom and as a homework tool to shorten the learning curve and boost test scores. With over 50 million guides in print, QuickStudy® has been helping students get better grades since 1991. Listed below are just a few of the many titles we offer to help K-12 students get on track and get better grades!
QuickStudy® laminated study guides are one of the most powerful study tools on the market helping college students and cover the most clear and concise information on over 500 subjects. An important tool to aid in the studying process, these study guides allow students to find the important facts, equations, and definitions quickly to study more efficiently. Use QuickStudy® in conjunction with textbooks, lectures, and lecture notes and get exceptional results! Listed below are a handful of the hundreds of guides we offer for higher education.
Our popular line of literature and language arts titles makes learning a breeze. They cover everything from sentence construction and punctuation to classic Shakespeare plays and literature. Each subject area is explained in great detail using various examples, hints, definitions and more to illustrate significant points. Excelling in literature and language arts has never been so easy!
We all know that 1 + 1 = 2; furthermore, we all know that our QuickStudy® line of mathematics study guides + students = great success in the classroom! Each comprehensive guide focus on a specific aspect of math—from addition and subtraction to advanced calculus equations—and includes in-depth hints and tips, as well as key example problems. Whichever guide you use, it all “adds” up to improved knowledge and better grades!
Classes like biology, organic chemistry, and physics can be demanding and difficult. Our popular science laminated study guides make a difference for students wanting to excel in their classwork. Crammed full of the latest information, each guide walks students through the learning process with full-color charts, tables, diagrams, and other learning aids. Use QuickStudy® and your class will never be confused by a biology term or a chemical equation again!
Former President Obama’s action to create a higher standard of proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and math brings great promise of a stronger future for education and country. BarCharts offers several titles not only to help prepare students seeking a future in STEM education, but to increase engagement, interest, and achievement in the STEM fields. Our QuickStudy® guides are also a valuable curriculum tool. They work as a compliment to textbooks in order to engage students’ interests and provide a quick reference outline of the most pertinent points of each subject. Structured with bold headings, colorful images and graphs, and highlighted examples, QuickStudy® guides make topics easier to understand while increasing student interest and boosting test scores. Browse below what we have to offer and make QuickStudy® a part of your lesson plan today!
We know reading and writing can be frustrating for students. That’s why we created our English Common Core series. Make sure your students master the skills needed to graduate to college and succeed in the real world. With offerings from first to twelfth grade, these guides focus on critical areas of the curriculum so that students can develop fluency and understanding.
We also offer non common core grade specific titles. Download our order form for more information.
BarCharts understands that a student’s knowledge of history and society is necessary to better prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. Our comprehensive study guides are packed with up-to-date information and written in easy-to-read outline format for easy access to specific names, dates, and more. Browse through this selection of our most popular options or click on the link below to see all the titles we offer to make learning social studies a snap!
Learning a foreign language can be difficult without the right study aids to assist you, and that’s where BarCharts enters the picture. Our comprehensive language guides—which tackle Spanish, French, German, and others—contain numerous phrases and words under different topics, creating a better understanding of how each language works. These guides are an invaluable tool for students learning any language.
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]]>We live in a time-starved age in which everyone is looking for instant information without having to search multiple places to find it. We want just the facts—the important stuff without the fluff. That’s why QuickStudy® laminated reference guides have been so successful for over 20 years now. QuickStudy® is a system that communicates information in the right way so that people can understand it. And best of all—they’re laminated! Who doesn’t like things laminated?
Our guides are packed with organized information, helping readers understand the topics more efficiently. We condense 24–30 pages of key information into just 4 or 6 laminated pages. Each guide contains over 6,000 words of key facts—without the fluff. With their slim and portable size, they beat those huge computer manuals sitting on the shelf!
“When the new Office applications came out I wasn’t sure how all of my employees would get up-to-speed with the new software. That’s when I found out about your QuickStudy® Microsoft office guides. All the new features are right there for them to reference and now we won’t have the cost of a training seminar. It couldn’t be any easier. Thank you.”
—D. Preston
“I use a variety of your guides for quick references throughout the day. In this field, you cannot remember all the commands, or shortcuts, and having a well-organized quick-reference is a must.”
—Vince, UPMC Health Systems
“I have used your QuickStudy® guides first as a student in preparation for a career and then later in my professional career as a refresher, or a quick summary of something new I wanted to learn. I find them very helpful and quite often they answer questions I didn’t know I had.”
—Valencia Breckenridge, Director of Development at Pioneer Clubs
“When training to use Word, it is sometimes difficult for the trainees to understand the meaning of each button. QuickStudy® products are written with easy-to-understand definitions.”
—K. Callaway, Training Supervisor
The dictionary definition of custom is “made to order.” We do exactly that! You can (1) choose any of our titles with your logo and contact information, (2) use our design team to create a guide in our format using your own specific information, or (3) provide your press-ready files and we will print and laminate your title. Regardless of the option you choose, you will be receiving the highest quality training tool on the market.
Want your logo on our Excel or Word guides? Do you have additional information you would like to include from our other guides? Pick and choose what works for your company from our content and we will easily put it together for you!
We take your content, condense it, and then design the road map to help your employees get the information they are looking for, using our proven format.
Ways to use QuickStudy® in your company:
Since we have been in the business for over 20 years now, we know printing and laminating. We can work with your organization to get the best pricing possible, making sure that you receive the highest quality on all finished pieces.
The post Corporate appeared first on QuickStudy.
]]>Simply put, we strive to be the premier publisher of quick-reference study materials. By assisting knowledge-seekers in accomplishing their educational and professional
goals, we have earned customer recognition the world over for our continuing
progression of product relevance, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
BarCharts was conceived in early 1991 while Bobbie Ford, sitting at her kitchen table, was studying constitutional law for the bar exam, and penciled a flow chart summarizing the pertinent points. She made copies and her law school friends loved them. Her husband, John Ford, saw opportunity. At first, BarCharts was a modest business that created and sold guides dealing with torts and criminal law. Today, we not only produce over 500 QuickStudy® laminated quick-reference guides, but also offer a range of products that include flash cards, posters, and books. Our products are available in over 15,000 retail locations, as well as online in digital format from industry-leading digital distributors in the publishing marketplace.
BarCharts, Inc. is founded by the husband-and-wife team of John and Bobbie Ford in Boca Raton, Florida.
BarCharts expands product offerings to include not only law titles but undergraduate-level titles as well.
With the expanded title mix comes increased distribution—no longer just law school bookstores but now all kinds of bookstores.
A year of exciting firsts for BarCharts:
BarCharts has its first international presence with sales in Canada.
With the hiring of the first academic sales rep group, the company calls on college and trade bookstores and QuickStudy® explodes into the academic world.
Inc. magazine names BarCharts one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the U.S. The company is also acknowledged by Ernst & Young in its entrepreneur’s consumer product category.
Expanding its corporate product line, BarCharts reaches beyond its laminated guides and creates the multimedia product QuickTrain™—computer tutorials that train individuals to use 300 software applications.
With the release of QuickStudy® flash cards, BarCharts begins producing non-laminated academic products, too.
BarCharts next develops and produces a line of Nifty Knowledge Fold-Outs™—a combination of information and personalized greeting card, because “knowledge is a gift”.
With its ever-expanding offering of new academic products, BarCharts releases its first QuickStudy® Booklets (eight titles) and the QuickStudy® Atlas of Human Anatomy (incorporating 15 body systems in a single, full-color volume).
With the release of QuickStudy® Wall Maps (The World and The United States), BarCharts continues its tradition of exceeding customers’ expectations.
Release of seven new flash card titles, including a beautiful set of anatomy cards, further broadens BarCharts’ academic line.
Ten additional “Fundamentals” titles geared toward grades 5 through 8 brings the series to 14 titles in math, English, and science, with future releases in history, reading, and Spanish offered in spring 2010.
BarCharts releases 80 titles, making 2010 the year BarCharts releases more titles than ever before!
BarCharts turns 20! While some companies are pulling back in this economy, BarCharts is moving forward, full steam ahead, releasing over 70 titles.
BarCharts continues to expand its QuickStudy® digital offerings with over 75 new titles and adds more digital distributors.
Some of the company’s digital partners include:
BarCharts’ best-selling line of medical products continues to grow!
The post ABOUT US appeared first on QuickStudy.
]]>Retailers are the backbone of our business, as evidenced by the 15,000 retail locations offering our products. At BarCharts, we consider each of these 15,000 customers as partners in our quest to educate the world in quick, easy, and accessible formats—without the fluff!
Benefits we offer to our retailers include:
“We will continue to carry QuickStudy® guides for the life of our business. Great product, excellent customer service, customers love them, kids love them; guaranteed to sell.”
—Car Wash Store Manager in Laguna Hills, CA
“QuickStudy® products have been the sweet spot this year! I have doubled and tripled sales this year from students who need help and from students who want to ace the course!”
—Trade Bookstore Manager in Denver, CO
“My customers love your medical titles. They purchase 3 or 4 at a time and they comment on the great price and high quality!”
—Medical Uniform Store Manager in Philadelphia, PA
“We have had the QuickStudy® display in our store less than a year now, and we have sold more than $1,600 worth of product. I was really surprised how well they sell. The display takes very little square footage and it goes great by the register.”
—Hardware Store Manager in Anacortes, WA
“The price is very reasonable. The total overall dollar sales, great profit margin, and limited space to merchandise all resulted in a nice contribution to our overall sales.”
—University Bookstore Manager in Washington, DC
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