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The tricks online retailers use to promote impulse shopping

Gail Short Retail

For online retailers, the goal is not only to get customers to buy. It is getting them to buy more. Even on impulse. "Impulse shopping involves making unplanned purchases with little deliberation that’s typically associated with feelings of guilt or regret afterward," says Sarita Schoenebeck, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Michigan's School of Information. For many Americans, impulse shopping is pretty common, according to a recent survey by the research firm DAC. The survey shows that 88% of Americans admit to impulse buying, spending about $81 on average every time they shop.

Nearly 4 in 10 workers suffer from video call fatigue

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

One advantage of working from home is the absence of unproductive, time-consuming, in-person meetings. For a while, video conferences were rather interesting, and they gave workers a sense of connection with team members. But now, two different reports reveal that employees are growing weary of video communication as well. According to a Robert Half survey, 38% of respondents say they’ve experienced video call fatigue. The Owl Labs/Global Workplace Analytics State of Remote Work survey reveals that 44% don’t find it necessary to get dressed up for a video meeting, which is a good thing. However, 70% believe there should be a day each week without any meetings.

Committee meeting principles that achieve results

Ron Phipps and Bob Harris Association Management

Sometimes the best judge of leadership is the ability to run a meeting. Even though the bar is low, many leaders fall short. Members are known to quit volunteering if they attend a meeting that was poorly managed. There was no agenda, the chairman started late, or there was no significant outcome. Here are seven principles to support better meetings.

How to manage a negative employee

Amanda Kowalski Business Management, Services & Risk Management

You could give every employee in the office a bonus, an extra week off and a party to celebrate — but there would still be that one guy who would find a reason to complain. Almost every manager has run up against a negative employee at some point in their careers. Even the best employees can have an off day, but when someone on the team is consistently complaining, the manager needs to deal with the situation before it spreads, brings down the company morale or productivity, causes other employees to leave or damages relationships with clients. So, what do you do?

5 ways to keep your emotions in check while running a business

Scott Greenberg Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Running a business is intense. You’ve invested your own money or, more likely, borrowed money you have to pay back. It’s your signature on all the contracts. You're the last word on all big decisions. There's a correlation between your mental state and the state of your business. Your ability to manage your feelings is a huge determinant of how you’ll perform. Some people are naturally calm. Others, myself included, have to be more deliberate about it. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep your emotions in check. Here are five.

Real estate goes virtual with contactless viewings, signings, and property…

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Purchasing a home or renting an apartment can be a cumbersome process, exacerbated — and made less safe — by COVID-19. In-person showings and signings are difficult, if not impossible, to manage while maintaining social distancing guidelines. Syncing various schedules can also be a headache, especially for buyers and tenants with kids and inflexible jobs. And what about those last-minute questions that tend to pop up at 2 a.m.? However, some real estate and property management companies are making the homebuying, rental, and property management process a lot easier — and reducing the probability of contracting COVID-19 — through the use of a variety of virtual solutions.

Emergency savings accounts: A growing workplace benefit

Grace Ferguson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

In a 2020 survey, 34.2% of U.S. workers said it would be very difficult to meet their current financial obligations if their paycheck were delayed for one week, while 34.5% said it would be somewhat difficult. Further, 40% of U.S. households "say they would struggle to cover a $400 emergency expense like a medical bill or car repair," according to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). To pay for emergency expenses, some employees end up tapping into their 401(k) or their long-term savings accounts — which defeats the purpose of these accounts. Consequently, a growing number of employers are offering payroll-deduction emergency savings accounts (ESAs).

How concerning is it when contactless self-service pushes people out of…

Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

COVID-19 has accelerated a few foreseeable changes that the service industry expected for the future. For example, more consumers have wanted delivery service since the pandemic hit in March. Restaurants, hotels, airlines, retailers, and shopping malls have extended their current contactless self-service offerings through mobile apps, kiosks, facial recognition, and palm recognition technologies. To embrace the growing demand for delivery and contactless self-service, many fast-food chains also introduced new restaurant designs, featuring double- or triple-drive-thru lanes, conveyor belt delivery, and food lockers for pickup orders.

Visual breakthroughs in social media marketing to take advantage of in…

Lisa Mulcahy Marketing

As a digital/social media marketer, you know that innovation, especially in the time of a pandemic, can be a true asset when it comes to retaining your brand's customers and gaining new ones. Key elements you can use to ensure engagement across your platforms include exciting, fresh visual tools. From emerging technology to new angles in visual content design, there are a range of visual advertising enhancements that can help boost your brand's sales and sustain your profits throughout 2021. Here are five specific visual breakthrough areas you and your marketing team can use to best advantage.

2 essential reasons you can’t protect your stock portfolio from loss

Patrick Gleeson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

A recent internet ad showed a handsome, self-assured older white male relaxed in expensive surroundings wondering how he can be sure his stock portfolio is absolutely safe. We’ll call him “Mr. Winner.” The ad’s sponsor, a major investment firm, will presumably answer that question, no doubt by undertaking the management of Mr. Winner’s portfolio themselves. One problem: not even a prestigious investment management firm can protect Mr. Winner’s stock portfolio from loss, even substantial loss. No one can. Here’s why.

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