Recent Articles
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Why are so many retailers closing up shop? It’s not what you think
Danielle Manley RetailTechnology and e-commerce have transformed retail in the past decade. Many see e-commerce as the future, and experts have wondered if the brick-and-mortar retail location is becoming a thing of the past. However, it may not boil down to a simple fight between e-commerce and physical locations. The key to success seems to be the ability to transform your business to accommodate the changing customer base in the long term.
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Downhill skiing is no time for head games
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Sports & FitnessSki season is in full swing, and so is the risk of serious head injury. However, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) reports that due to an ever-increasing use of helmets by skiers and snowboarders, the risk is decreasing. During last year's ski season, the rate of helmet use was at an all-time high, reaching 78 percent. This was up from the previous season's rate of 73 percent.
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Barcodes, QR codes or RFID tags? How companies select products
Dr. William Oliver Hedgepeth Distribution & WarehousingWhat happens with product information when a customer returns a product to the retail store or sends it into the reverse logistics supply chain of the online or face-to-face retail seller? A manufacturer of a product — such as a laptop computer or a new coffee maker — may have conducted their engineering analysis and later value analysis to make sure the laptop has been produced with the least expensive but reliable parts. But what about that information needed by the consumer on the product's use and safety?
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Selecting the RV that will work for you — Part 1
Howard Jaros Recreation & LeisureThere are many determinations to make when selecting an RV to purchase. That decision can be entirely different if the RV is being used for full-time RV living compared to just for occasional travel. What I want to address in this writing is to give you things to consider when starting your research for an RV you may be considering. It amazes me that 1.3 million Americans live in an RV full-time. The question is, did most of these folks make the right choice when they made their first RV purchase?
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Department of 1: The good, the bad and the ugly
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementMore than 95 percent of businesses have fewer than 100 employees. Within those companies, it is inevitable that many employees will wear many hats. We looked at the issue from the employee perspective last week and will focus on those of you who manage departments of one this week.
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The role of the middle manager
Betty Boyd Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementMiddle managers are the mainstay of an organization and are the glue that binds an organization together. However, middle managers are often overlooked when there are promotions within a company. So how can the middle manager be supportive, and still get ahead in this competitive environment? The middle manager has to be creative.
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Top 4 marketing lessons from Super Bowl 50
Emma Fitzpatrick MarketingA hefty price tag of $5 million for a 30-second ad during Super Bowl 50 did not stop businesses from buying their first Super Bowl ads. This year, there were more than 15 businesses who were first-time Super Bowl advertisers, the most newbies since the dot-com bubble in 2000. From the ads to the Super Bowl's marketing, read on to find out the biggest marketing lessons your business can learn from Super Bowl 50.
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Just an innocent photo or an inflated sense of ‘selfie’?
Julie Bernhard Mental HealthcareWhat on the surface may seem like a simple self-portrait might actually clue others in on your personal relationships, psychologists say. According to a recent study published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, posting too many "selfies" on social media might actually lead to issues with your romantic partner.
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Business buzzwords: When buzzwords are fuzz words
Paul Zukowski CommunicationsYou are about to use a popular business buzzword in your report when you realize you don’t really know what it means. Or where it comes from. So you begin to get nervous that someone might dare you to define the expression. When this happens, my best advice is to skip the fuzzy buzzword and say what you have to say in plain English. But if you are stubborn and like the way the buzzword sounds, here are some crib notes that might help you sound more plausible than your challenger.
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Should teacher pay be increased?
Bambi Majumdar EducationMany people agree that teacher pay should increase if we want to see an end to teacher shortages, and to attract and retain good teachers. There has been an ongoing debate about merit pay for the last few years, but progress has been minimal. Excellent teachers promise huge benefits for students and society, and if we want them to influence our children for the better, then we should compensate them well.