Latest news with #collections
New York Times
22-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- New York Times
Skittles the Chameleon and Lincoln: These Rooms Are Made Just for Them
Remember those vintage Tupperware containers or stuffed animals you have in storage? They could be the right ingredients to invigorate a bland space in your home. A thematic collection of objects, when repurposed as decorative elements, can add personality and pop. They also won't cost a dime. 'A collection is a great way to make a home feel personal,' said Rodman Primack, who co-founded the design gallery AGO Projects with Rudy Weissenberg. They have designed clients' homes around collections of American quilts, Iranian kilim rugs, antique wicker furniture and 1930s Russian roller-printed textiles. But childhood sports trophies or kitschy cookie jars could just as easily be the foundation of a room. 'Not everything needs to be expensive,' said Mr. Weissenberg, who wrote the book 'Love How You Live: Adventures in Interior Design,' published in 2024, with Mr. Primack. 'Most things in repetition look amazing.' In arranging your kids' artwork, or your antique toy trains or signed jerseys, take inspiration from these six homes that were professionally designed around offbeat or elaborate collections. Not Your Typical Home Office Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Finextra
15-07-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Billtrust unveils agentic AI-powered credit and collections platform
Billtrust, a B2B accounts receivable workflow and payment software market leader, today announced new innovations in its Collections solution, delivering a new standard for AR teams by unifying advanced automation, AI-driven insights, and seamless agentic AI workflows. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. These innovations empower finance teams to streamline collections, resolve disputes faster, and make smarter credit decisions—all from a single, intelligent platform. The release introduces powerful new AI capabilities, including Agentic Email, Cases (Dispute Management), Credit Review, and Collections Analytics. Together, these features eliminate manual inefficiencies, improve compliance, and drive superior financial outcomes. "We're delivering the future of collections—intelligent, automated, and customer-centric," said Sunil Rajasekar, Billtrust CEO. "With these new innovations, we continue to help organizations modernize their operations, reduce risk, and unlock new levels of performance and customer satisfaction." Agentic Email: AI-Powered Inbox Automation for Collections Agentic Email revolutionizes how collections teams manage email volume and complex workflows by leveraging AI for advanced task recognition and intelligent response generation. Purpose-built for accounts receivable, AI agents instantly recognize key tasks and bring all relevant data and documents to inform their response. Collectors can resolve emails 10x faster by slashing manual effort and eliminating the need to dig through lengthy email threads, ensuring customers receive timely communication and swift resolution. Cases: End-to-End Dispute Management, Fully Integrated Cases transforms dispute resolution from a fragmented, manual process into a streamlined, transparent workflow. Disputes raised through eInvoice Connect, its billing and payments portal, flow directly into the Collections platform, where they are automatically tracked, paused from dunning workflows, and managed in a centralized portal. This ensures full visibility, reduces errors, and accelerates resolution times, helping teams protect customer relationships while improving cash flow and compliance. Credit Review: Intelligent, Ongoing Credit Risk Management Credit Review brings credit and collections together in one intelligent workflow. Unlike traditional systems that only assess new credit applications, Billtrust enables ongoing credit monitoring and management. Teams can adjust limits, block or unblock customers, and launch new applications—all from a centralized dashboard. AI-powered triggers and scheduled reviews ensure timely interventions, reducing bad debt and supporting strategic growth. Collections Analytics: Real-Time Insights to Optimize Performance Collections Analytics empowers finance teams with real-time visibility into collections performance. With industry-standard KPIs like the Collections Effectiveness Index (CEI) and automated anomaly detection via Billtrust Autopilot, teams can proactively identify bottlenecks, benchmark performance, and mitigate risk. Custom dashboards and detailed reporting enable data-driven decision-making, helping organizations continuously improve collections strategies and outcomes.
BBC News
12-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Portsmouth council seeks funds for urgent museum upgrades
Museums in Portsmouth are to be cleared out and reorganised in an effort to help bring long-buried finds back into the public being presented to Portsmouth City Council have said the main collections store for Portsmouth museums, located at Hilsea, requires "urgent upgrades" and is currently unfit for 2018, the natural history collection had been without a curator for 30 years, leading to parts of the collection now being difficult to access and damaged by council, which runs the museums, say they will be recruiting for a new collections manager to lead the project, as well as new volunteers to help with basic cataloguing and conservation. Old cannons which can no longer be maintained may also be offloaded, according to council documents, and some cannons which have been lent out to other locations for decades may not be sought for return. Councillor Steve Pitt, leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: "At the heart of this plan is our commitment to making our collections as accessible as possible."To support this goal, we are exploring funding opportunities to upgrade our existing storage facility in Hilsea, ensuring it meets modern standards for accessibility and preservation."The council hopes to eventually create a new storage site at Lumps Fort, near canoe lake, on the seafront in Portsmouth. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Casting News: Queer Eye Alum to Host HGTV Series, Steve Howey Goes Off Campus and More
One Queer Eye guy already has his next gig lined up. Bobby Berk, a co-host on the soon-to-end Netflix reality series, will host a new HGTV series tentatively titled Junk or Jackpot? Per the official logline, the six-episode season will 'follow collectors as they discover the true monetary value of their massive and unusual collections.' But there's more: The enthusiasts featured have collections that are overwhelming their homes, and 'the collectors must decide whether they are willing to sell some of their items to pay for the much-needed renovation,' the synopsis continues. More from TVLine Annie Potts Joins Fox's Doc Martin Adaptation - What Does This Mean for Her Role on Georgie & Mandy? Virgin River Renewed for Season 8 at Netflix, Ahead of Season 7 Premiere King of the Hill Revival Trailer: Hank and Peggy Retire to a 'Changed' Texas, The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng Joins Cast - Watch 'Collecting is a personal pastime that brings joy and inspiration, but it's easy to get carried away which can negatively impact your living conditions,' Berk said via statement. 'I'm excited to help passionate people sift through their cherished items and give them reimagined spaces that will best honor what they hold dear.' John Cena (Peacemaker) executive-produces the series, which is slated to premiere in late 2025. 'The idea for Junk or Jackpot? was born out of a conversation I had with friends,' he added via statement. 'People often wonder if their collections are trash or treasure, and this show will help them find out.' In other recent casting news: * Steve Howey (Shameless, True Lies) will recur in Off Campus, Amazon MGM Studios' upcoming series adaptation of Elle Kennedy's romance novels. Per our sister site Deadline, he'll play Phil Graham, a hothead former hockey player and father of Briar University's star center Garrett Graham (played by Belmont Cameli, Saved by the Bell). * J.D. Pardo (High Potential, Mayans M.C.) has joined Netflix's Trinity as a series regular, Deadline reports. Pardo will play Tom Reyes, a lieutenant lommander in the United States Navy. * Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear), William Fichtner (Mom), Alfredo Castro (El Conde) and Jared Paul Abrahamson (The Penguin) will recur on Hulu's Onyx Collective real-estate drama pilot starring Edgar Ramirez (Dr. Death) and Jacob Scipio (Pieces of Her), Deadline reports. Colón-Zayas will play Rosie, a beloved community board head on the Lower East Side of New York. Fichtner will play Harry Dempsey, mentor to Scipio's Abe. Castro will play Jacobo Saladín, a self-made billionaire at risk of losing his real-estate empire. Abrahamson will play Angelo, a hustler who is a close friend of Abe's. * The Altruists, Netflix's upcoming limited series starring Anthony Boyle (Manhunt) as FTX cryptocurrency founder Sam Bankman-Fried and Julia Garner (Ozark) as Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison, has added several cast members. Per Deadline, Eugene Young (Veep), Madison Hu (The Brothers Sun), comedian Matt Rife, Karan Soni (Miracle Workers), newcomer Naomi Okada and Alex Lawther (Andor) will be series regulars. Paul Reiser (Mad About You), Robin Weigert (Big Little Lies), Maddie Hasson (The Recruit) and Marianna Phung (Y: The Last Man) will recur. Hit the comments with your thoughts on the castings above! Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
Entrepreneur
09-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
How to Deal With Slow-Paying Customers the Right Way
Respectful, consistent pressure can encourage hesitant customers to pay promptly, enabling your business to thrive. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. If your business invoices customers, you have likely faced cash flow challenges due to slow (or non) payment. Slow-paying customers are frustrating because they hinder your ability to meet expectations, replenish inventory and pay your team. Over 26 years running a cybersecurity business, my company has invoiced over $100 million in services and products. When I exited in 2022, we had achieved a 98.7% collection rate. The only unpaid invoices belonged to customers who went out of business before we could collect. This success was not due to software, charm or legal threats. It came from consistently following a structured collections process. Whether your invoices are $10 or $10 million, a disciplined approach is essential to ensuring continuous cash flow. Related: Late Payments Are Crippling Small Businesses. Use These Strategies to Collect Your Money Sooner. Payment pressure Effective collections hinge on the consistent and respectful application of pressure. This approach positions your company as financially credible and communicates clearly that non-payment has consequences. Banks and credit card companies employ similar techniques successfully. Demanding payment can be uncomfortable if customer relationships are close. It requires shifting interactions from social to transactional, which can be awkward for customers, especially if they are not directly responsible for payment. Thus, it is critical to keep collections and customer service separate. 1. Isolate collections responsibilities The first step in building a formal collections process is to assign a bookkeeper, controller, accountant or similar back-office staff to manage all collections tasks — issuing invoices, communicating payment details, and sending collection notices. Avoid having customer-facing employees perform these tasks, ensuring their focus remains on nurturing positive relationships. If customers express invoicing frustrations to customer-facing staff, direct these complaints to your dedicated collections person. Your team will appreciate this clear separation. Owners or founders should also distance themselves from collections, only intervening if legal action becomes necessary. Separating these duties presents your business as organized and robust. In contrast, having salespeople or founders begging for payments signals weakness, reducing customers' urgency to pay. 2. Clearly define payment terms Payment terms should be explicit in all customer agreements, including invoices, contracts, purchase orders and quotes. Simple, clear language is essential. Consult with a lawyer or finance professional to get this language correct. However, some key elements include: Payment terms: Specify the timeframe clearly, such as NET30, meaning payment due within 30 days. Businesses with tight margins might require immediate payment or prepayment. Consequences for non-payment: Clearly state potential penalties for late payments. For example: "Client shall pay all invoices within 30 days of receipt. Failure to pay, regardless of reason, may result in (a) late payment fees amounting to 2% of the outstanding balance, (b) cessation of ongoing work and (c) withholding of all outstanding services and deliverables until invoices are fully settled." Payment instructions: Detail precisely how and where payments should be made, including check recipient names. Related: 5 Surefire Ways to Get Clients to Pay on Time 3. Document your invoicing process The next step is to document and formalize your internal invoicing procedures. Some items to include: Roles: Clearly designate responsibilities for invoice generation, sending and collections. Initially, one person might handle these tasks, but duties can be separated as your business grows. Invoice day: Set a regular weekly or monthly invoice issuance date. Consistency helps avoid confusion. Pre-invoice deadlines: Define deadlines for internal data (like consultant hours or inventory usage) needed for invoicing. Clearly state the consequences for employees who fail to meet these deadlines. Invoice methods: Send invoices through multiple channels (email, physical mail, text), ensuring customers cannot easily claim they never received an invoice. Collections report: Regularly maintain a collections report detailing outstanding invoices and their aging status. As the owner, review this report weekly with your finance team. 4. Implement an escalating pressure process The final step is to define and consistently follow a collections pressure process. This lays out how you will escalate the urgency and formality of communications with slow-paying customers. Here is a sample, five-step escalation process with associated communication tasks: Past due (1-15 days late): On day 15, send an email to politely inquire about payment status. Resend invoice with email. Late (16-30 days late) Weekly, send an email asking for payment details, including all outstanding invoices as well as an account statement showing the outstanding balance. On day 28, call the customer to inquire about payment. Delinquent (31-90 days) Twice per week, email the customer stating the account is delinquent. Send all outstanding invoices as well as an account statement with the phrase "ACCOUNT PAST DUE" prominently displayed on the statement. Each week, call the customer and demand payment. Require the customer to provide a check number, amount and the date the check will be sent. Account hold (90-120 days) Weekly email stating the customer's account is on hold, no further business is possible, and all services and licenses are suspended until payment in full on all outstanding balances is made. Resend all invoices and account statements. Display "ACCOUNT ON HOLD" on all statements and invoices. Weekly call to demand payment. Require payment details to release any work or licenses. On day 100, contact the service delivery manager. Inform the manager that the customer's account is on hold and no further work can be performed. Also, instruct the manager to suspend the customer's licenses in five days unless payment is received. Begin charging monthly late fees to the account. Litigation (beyond 120 days): Send final email warning. Set a final deadline 5-10 days out. Call and ask for payment, threaten legal action. After the deadline, transfer the account information to legal counsel for litigation. Contact the service delivery team to cancel the customer's accounts and licenses. Naturally, you will want to customize this escalation to reflect your internal operations and the communications methods used. Related: How to Talk to Customers in Default the Right Way Considerations on litigation While litigation is sometimes inevitable, it is best to avoid suing non-paying customers. Legal action often consumes more resources than it recovers. Instead, it might be better to dismiss the debt and discontinue service to chronic offenders. Litigation should be reserved only for severe cases. However, maintaining a structured collections process typically reduces the need for lawsuits and significantly improves your cash flow. Effective cash flow management is critical for business survival. Implementing a disciplined, formal collections process ensures prompt payments and financial stability, letting you focus on growth rather than chasing invoices.
