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How to thrive in a competitive market sector
Anne Rose RetailWhile certain retail sectors are struggling to cope in a competitive marketplace, Gold Country Ace Hardware in Cameron Park, California, has managed to thrive and surpass its regional hardware competitors, including the big-name/big-box stores and the local mom-and-pop shops. Robert Blum, vice president of Blum Enterprises, which owns Gold Country Ace Hardware, explains the management strategies that catapulted them to their success and being awarded Pinnacle status by Ace for "exemplary performance." "We have always tried to remain relevant to our local community," Blum explains.
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The one thing you can do to prevent your star employees from bolting
Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAnother company is about to lose a star employee. But they don't know this yet. You see, their star employee hired me a few months ago as his coach to help him better manage his relationship with his boss. We discussed his situation over a few sessions, and it became clear to me that his efforts to change his boss' way would fall on deaf ears. He said he wanted to see if he could make things work with his current employer. That was six weeks ago. He's now seen the light and is ready to move on.
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Dealing with negativity on social media — and in life
Mashaal Ryan Mental HealthcareNo one truly wants to deal with negativity. But that doesn't change the fact that negativity is everywhere, especially with social media connecting people more than ever before. When you see a negative comment, review, post, text message, email or any other type of communication, science tells us that it actually does damage our brain. The toxic energy that comes from others can create an adverse reaction in our consciousness. So, what do we do?
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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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SmileDirectClub under fire for flouting federal regulations
Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental HealthcareYou may have seen ads for SmileDirectClub, a direct-to-consumer business model that sells plastic aligners to members for straightening teeth. At first pass, it may seem like a good idea. Straighten your teeth without so much as one visit to the orthodontist? But not everyone is a fan. The American Dental Association recently sent a complaint letter to the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, citing concerns over aspects of SmileDirectClub’s marketing and direct-to-consumer sales of plastic teeth aligners.
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Infographic: The cost of downtime
Brian Wallace Science & TechnologyWhen the system stops, so does business. So, it is in your interest to resolve any problem as quickly as possible, and more than that, to prevent downtime in the first place. This is where infrastructure monitoring comes in. Every operating system is unique, and if you have a mixed IT infrastructure, you need a server monitoring service that caters to them all. There are several ways to look after your IT infrastructure. Learn more with this infographic.
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6 ways to improve your confidence during a presentation
Lisa Mulcahy CommunicationsA shaky voice...no projection...stuttering...you may have dealt with all these issues prior to a big presentation. A fear of public speaking, as you probably know, is an incredibly common issue even the most experienced businesspeople face. You might be unsure how to nip these problems in the bud if you're not used to speaking before groups, but you can. These strategies will stop public speaking jitters from becoming a long-term issue and give you a lot more confidence!
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Vanilla Ice is back with a brand-new invention
Jason Zimmerman Construction & Building MaterialsVanilla Ice built a legacy as an iconic hip-hop music artist. Now he’s building dreams. World-famous rapper, actor and TV reality show personality Robert Van Winkle — professionally known as Vanilla Ice — served as the opening keynote speaker Aug. 7 for the 2019 Sunbelt Builders Show™, hosted by the Texas Association of Builders, at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. Best known for his No. 1 hit song, "Ice Ice Baby," Vanilla Ice has become a successful real-estate entrepreneur and remodeling expert with more than 15 years of hands-on home improvement experience.
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Insider advice: How to improve your social media marketing
Emma Fitzpatrick MarketingPouring over the latest industry reports and third-party studies helps you discover new tips and tricks that can improve your social media marketing. But the most authoritative advice comes from the networks themselves. After all, those companies know every aspect of the algorithm and platform, which means their representatives can share undisputed insights. Without further ado, dive into the latest marketing tips that Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest have shared!
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Age discrimination harms everyone, but it’s hard to prove
Patrick Gleeson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementYou may think you have a realistic understanding of discrimination against older workers, but it's likely you underestimate how widespread age discrimination in employment actually is. For example, "front-facing" jobs in industries that involve in-person contact with customers often go to younger workers whose presence suggests that the company is forward-looking and innovative. Contrary to its reputation for liberal political and social ideas, Silicon Valley is another prominent offender. But it's less well-known that this kind of discrimination exists in nearly every industry in America.
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