Recent Articles
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Take a ‘long’ look at your customer relationships
Fred Berns RetailWhat's it take to develop long-term customer relationships? How can you turn contacts into ongoing contracts? How can you convert current clients into continuing ones? Those are critical questions, considering that increasing your repeat business by 40 percent can help you double your income in a year.
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Kitchens that cook so you don’t have to
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesThe Consumer Electronics Show is still months away, but manufacturers are already rolling out the next generation of kitchen appliances. What they have to offer takes "smart" technology to a whole new level. The latest innovations go beyond appliances that can be controlled remotely; they utilize data processing to simplify food preparation as well.
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Understanding life seasons and critical incidents
Michael S. Haro, Ph.D. Mental HealthcareOur daily lives can be compared to the four seasons: fall, winter, spring and summer. October starts the fall season, which brings change from preceding months of hot, simmering weather. Fall is a beautiful time of the year with leaves changing colors, the cool briskness of the mornings, and the clear, colder nights. With all this beauty, we also experience early darkness and time change, indicators of dreariness brought on by overcast days, rain and early cold spells.
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Pricing for profit in warehousing
Ken Ackerman Distribution & WarehousingMany logistics firms experience both cost pressures and price pressure. Most logistics executives believe the primary function of logistics activity is reduction of costs. Given this environment, logistics service companies are naturally cautious about price increases.
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Form follows function: Association structure and strategy
Robert C. Harris Association Management"Form follows function" is a principle associated with architecture. The shape of a building or object should be based upon its intended function or purpose. In other words, the way something looks should be determined by its purpose. This idea can easily be applied to associations.
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Metals Thoughts: As good as it gets?
Brad Yates Natural ResourcesFriday's weak non-farm payrolls and even weaker August revision have effectively changed the prevailing paradigm for risk markets. Gold and (especially) silver have caught a bid, equity markets are having their longest winning streak of the year and yields are much lower all across the curve.
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Princess Juliana eyeing hub status and more international flights
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotivePrincess Juliana Airport on St. Maarten (SXM) is looking to bolster its position as a hub within the Caribbean. The airport wants to improve connectivity to neighboring islands through partners such as Winair and provide better connections to its international services.
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Surviving cold and flu season in your office: 4 ways to stay healthy
Cait Harrison Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementShorter days, changing leaves, football season and cooler weather can only mean one thing: Cold and flu season is coming. No matter how well you think you're protecting yourself this year, there's always more you can do to stave off sickness — especially if you work in an office in close quarters with others who may be contagious.
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Modifying risk behavior with change management
Dr. David Hillson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementHave you found it hard to get commitment to risk management from your project team, sponsor or other stakeholders? Project practitioners are naturally focused on delivery, and they prefer to think about their next deadline, instead of worrying about something that may never happen. Some project leaders resort to threatening their team into doing risk management ("Think what might happen if we don't do it!") or to bribing team members with promises ("Life will be so much easier if you succeed in managing your risks.").
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How much is your word worth in the business world?
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementImagine you were going out with someone for the first time. You took off early from work to go home and prepare for the night. At the time when you were about to leave the door, you received a text message from the date, telling you all of a sudden s/he happened to book another important meeting for the night and, as a result, s/he would be happy to go out with you next weekend. What would be your reaction?