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North American cannabis industry set to undergo a period of consolidation…

Bambi Majumdar Retail

2018 saw myriad acquisitions in the cannabis industry, which slowed down somewhat last year. 2020 will likely be the year of consolidation. Investor euphoria from 2018 and early 2019 has led to current travails for both the emerging Canadian and U.S. marijuana industries. Some have likened this period to the internet boom of the early 2000s and the inevitable growing pains of a new industry. In Canada, legal retailers face a continued robust and lower-priced illegal cannabis market. The U.S., on the other hand, has suffered from oversupply and a lack of regulation, which have driven down prices.

A look at some of the most important content marketing trends for small…

Eliza Medley Marketing

Marketing is not just a component of your business, it is often the key to a steady flow of customers and sales. Every business that plans to grow is obliged to have marketing in one way or another. Otherwise, a more prudent competitor will prosper. Often, small- and medium-sized business owners ignore marketing, considering it to be an unnecessary additional cost. Henry Ford once said, "Stopping advertising to save money is like stopping your watch to save time."

The power of the career development discussion

Hank Boyer Business Management, Services & Risk Management

With overall employee disengagement levels over 60% and many millennial employees already looking for their next employer, career development discussions have become a critical tool in attracting, developing, focusing, and retaining talented people. Career development discussions are not new, though they have recently become a rising star among best practices across all employment sectors for retaining talented people. The biggest challenge is that most managers do not know where to start in having an effective career development discussion.

How your digital marketing team can beat the ‘zero click’ trend

Lisa Mulcahy Marketing

As a marketer, you want your website to be reached as easily and frequently as possible, but that can be quite the challenge these days. One culprit could be the emerging "zero click" trend. What is zero click? It happens when someone types a question or phrase into Google but finds the answer through search results alone, meaning there's no need to continue to click onto an actual website. Use the following smart strategies to optimize your website’s visibility and content. Then, you can powerfully counteract the impact of zero clicks on your profit margin.

State-run retirement plans are becoming more popular

Grace Ferguson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

A huge retirement savings shortfall is underway — and many are calling it a crisis. Consequently, some states are launching their own retirement savings programs for private businesses and workers. Some states have passed legislation which require employers to offer a qualified retirement plan — such as a 401(k) or SIMPLE IRA — either through the state-run program or the private market. A few other states have developed voluntary programs for private-sector businesses and workers.

Single-use plastic bans, taxes are on the rise around the world

Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & Environmental

On March 1, New York became the second U.S. state to ban plastic bags. The ban in California, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, has reduced disposable plastic bag usage by as much as 80%. In 2019, Canada did away with single-use plastics and eliminated other plastic pollution. More than 60 other nations are attempting to reduce single-use plastics through bans and taxes, according to the United Nations.

Survey: US workers want pay increases, salary transparency

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Workers want a fulfilling job, but let’s be clear: compensation is a key factor in attracting and retaining workers. Randstad's 2020 U.S. Compensation Insights survey reveals the importance of both compensation and transparency regarding pay. According to the survey, 74% percent of millennials expect a pay raise every year in order to stay at their companies, versus 62% of baby boomers and 66% overall. Additionally, 40% of employees say they've only ever received a raise if they've asked for one, but this number is higher among younger employees.

How company complaints can guide your organization’s growth

Candice Gottlieb-Clark Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Maybe it's human nature to complain. Don't we all have moments when we gripe or openly voice our frustration? And, if we're being honest, wouldn't we all agree that venting feels good? It's a release of stress, anxiety, frustration, fear, etc. The problem is we also view complaining as counterproductive to progress. Maybe it is. But have you ever considered that there is an upside to complaining? Consider this: When we complain, we are often viewing a situation from the lens of experience.

When the board wants help

Robert C. Harris Association Management

Not all board members have knowledge of governance. Some have the benefit of serving on prior boards. Others are novices. Seldom does a board say, "We need help." In theory, the directors all attended board orientation. It may be difficult to recognize if a board feels apprehensive about skills. Therefore, you can conduct a board evaluation to identify insecurities about governance. The board is used to evaluating the budget, and possibly the executive director, but what about their own performance?

Podcast: Taming your student loan debt after physical therapy school

Jarod Carter Sports & Fitness

Joseph Reinke got his start working in investments. During the run-up to the mortgage market meltdown, he noticed that most of the professionals in the field didn’t understand the basics. Consequently, they would take truly absurd risks. He also noticed a segmentation problem in the financial arena that makes it hard for average Americans to get the help they need in order to make good money-related decisions. This bleak situation inspired him to start FitBUX, a company that provides educational resources, tools, and personal coaching to help physical therapy graduates take control of their student loan debt.

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