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Pivot! How to take your marketing in a new direction
Brie Ragland MarketingIn an iconic scene from the show "Friends," Ross has purchased a brand-new couch, but decides to deliver it to his apartment himself, instead of paying the outrageous delivery fee the store charges. As he waits for help from his friends, he sketches a plan for easy movement up his apartment's stairway. To the characters' chagrin, the couch doesn’t fit up the stairs the way Ross originally planned in his drawing. Thinking on his feet, Ross "pivots" to a new plan…and the hilarity ensues. So, how can you apply this strategy to your own company? Well, no executive wants to admit his/her marketing efforts are failing, but when the numbers tell a story so grim even Phoebe Buffay couldn't put a good spin on it, it's time to pivot.
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Some communities are putting the brakes on factory farming
Scott E. Rupp Food & BeverageWisconsin's Burnett County Board of Supervisors recently passed a one-year moratorium on large-scale farms with 1,000 or more animal units. The moratorium is inspired by plans from Cumberland LLC, which earlier this year announced plans to build a $20 million farm for up to 26,000 hogs in the town of Trade Lake. Don Taylor, Burnett County board chair, said a committee will examine potential impacts of large-scale farms, known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) or "factory farms." Burnett County represents a microcosm of farming practices throughout the United States.
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Cloud kitchens, virtual restaurants are the next big trends in food delivery
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageCo-working spaces have changed the way many people work, and now it's time for cloud kitchens to do the same for the food business. Statista reports that the online food delivery segment will have $107 billion in revenue in 2019. Some of the industry's rapid growth is attributed to the advent of cloud kitchens, which have helped businesses stay ahead of high rents and employee turnover. Another related concept that is making waves is the virtual restaurant. Also called Uber cooking by some due to its initiation by Uber Eats, these businesses take orders through online apps and prepare food exclusively for takeout, pickup, and delivery customers.
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Risky business: The trade war and American farmers
Seth Sandronsky Food & BeverageChinese authorities recently announced an end to U.S. agricultural imports following President Trump’s threat to hike tariffs by 10% on $300 billion on Chinese imports, effective Sept. 1. That is bad news for U.S. farmers. What follows is a look at what some industry groups and politicians are doing and saying in response to the situation. "This trade war with China needs to come to an end. It is doing a lot of damage now and we are concerned about the long term," said Gary Wertish, the elected president of the Minnesota Farmers Union.
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4 unique American cities to explore for your next vacation
Julie Anne Wells Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementAre you tired of the same old vacation plans to sit on the beach all day? Sometimes it’s more exciting to explore a new place and experience the local food and fun. But narrowing down which city to choose can be difficult. With a country as expansive and culturally diverse as America, there are lots of intriguing cities to explore. Here are four cities full of unique landmarks and attractions for you to add to your travel bucket list.
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Making the ‘Snap’ decision to double down on authenticity
Brie Ragland MarketingAuthentic. Transparent. Real. Those are three words we’re not really accustomed to seeing these days, what with fake news, secret backgrounds and hidden motives. Yet, for the savvy businessperson, these same three words could be the ace in the hole when it comes to successful marketing. In a world where everyone is hedging their bets and playing it safe until the odds are more promising, now is the time to double down on authenticity.
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US economy adds 164,000 new hires; unemployment rate stays at 3.7%
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIn July, U.S. payrolls added 164,000 workers versus job gains of 224,000 in June, as the unemployment rate stayed at 3.7%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were 6.1 million unemployed workers in July, close to the same number as June. The number of long-term unemployed persons decreased 248,000 in July from June. The employment-to-population ratio rate stayed nearly the same in July versus June, the BLS reported.
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How to role model good choices for your employees
Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementI am not advocating parenting your employees. But some of your employees may not have had the best role models in their life, so they have undeveloped critical judgment skills and poor decision-making with an inability to predict the consequences of their behavior. I worked with a young lady once who had barely been on the job for one week before asking for a day off to go shopping with her mother. That judgment is bad enough, but she confided to me that her mother had advised her to simply call in sick and not risk asking for the day off!
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Why Wisconsin’s recent survey of mussels is important
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalThe state of Wisconsin recently did something for the first time in four decades: Conducted a massive statewide survey of native mussels in an attempt to show the benefits of the water-cleaning clams on the state's waterways. Why does this survey matter? Several reasons. Mussels are considered one of the world’s most imperiled animals. 70% of the world’s mussel species are in decline. Mussels are considered "ecosystem engineers" because they modify the aquatic habitat, making it more suitable for themselves and other organisms. A single freshwater mussel can filter gallons of water a day, removing pollutants like mercury and other contaminants.
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By any other name: Beyond Meat grows beyond belief
Linda Popky Food & BeverageIn 2016, a Los Angeles-based company called Beyond Meat introduced the first plant-based burger to be sold in the meat section of a grocery store. Not only do these products look like a real hamburger, but they taste almost meat-like, too. The company’s revenue is expected to more than double this year, and the total market for plant-based, meat-like products is expected to shoot up to $5.2 billion by 2020. There's a lesson here for your business: Rather than continue to make incremental changes in a crowded or constricted category, try taking a leap forward with innovations so dramatic they change the category itself.
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