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How to improve communication across departments
Indiana Lee Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementGood communication has always been an important aspect of a healthy, thriving business. And yet, with the coronavirus pandemic scattering countless employees, teams, and departments to the four winds, maintaining proper communication channels has never been more critical to success. As the ongoing situation continues, remote teams must work to improve their modes of communication.
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Why focusing on value-driven digital marketing could be the key to your…
Lisa Mulcahy MarketingAs a digital or social media marketer looking to appropriately guide your brand messaging through the pandemic, your most important job throughout this sensitive period is to strike the right tone. The solution: focus on value-driven content. What points are most important to focus on so you're truly speaking to your audience's needs? Put your team's full attention on the following five essential areas.
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Practical ways to reduce gender inequality in the workplace
D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementStudies still show that working women are paid about 80 cents for every dollar men are paid. These studies suggest that women are at a disadvantage when it comes to holding higher-paying jobs and that men are generally on more accelerated career paths. This article offers some practical suggestions for actions that human resources professionals can take in their companies to address and hopefully improve this gender inequality.
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Shifting conditions present challenges for designers
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesAt the beginning of the third quarter, as many states began to relax restrictions, business appeared to be picking up for interior designers in some sectors and regions of the country. With the recent resurgence in outbreaks of the coronavirus nationwide, however, activity has pulled back somewhat in recent weeks. In addition, delays in manufacturing and purchasing, along with a shortage of skilled tradespeople, have added to designers' challenges.
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Online retailers struggle to keep up
Terri Williams RetailCOVID-19 and a lack of foot traffic have forced many brick-and-mortar stores to file for bankruptcy or liquidation. Neiman Marcus, J.C. Penney, Pier 1 Imports, California Pizza Kitchen, Brooks Brothers, and Ascena Retail are just some of the most recent companies to close stores. Online shopping has exploded, but as a result of increased demand, many online retailers are struggling with sales and support.
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Marketing and sales alternatives as the COVID-19 crisis continues
Sheilamary Koch MarketingRecently, a couple of business owners contacted me with the issue of how to sell when they can't connect live with prospective customers as the COVID-19 crisis continues. Moving operations online is a good place to start. That's where people are buying. At the same time, there are businesses getting creative with niche, offline and hybrid options that work for their products and customers.
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Getting grounded: Implications for business
Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWe may all be ready to be done with the coronavirus, but the virus isn’t ready to be done with us. As a result, some of the short-term changes to how and where we work may turn out to be more longer-term than we ever expected. Not only do we need to maintain social distance and wear masks when out and about near others, but we also have to face the fact that for the most part, we’ve all been grounded. What do you need to do to be as effective as possible given these constraints?
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Study: A look at how consumers are making real-time purchase decisions…
Lisa Mulcahy MarketingAs a marketer, you understand that many factors go into the way families decide to purchase a product or not. Before COVID-19, consumers had ample opportunity to plan ahead for a large purchase. Now? Changing conditions regarding employment, lockdowns, and budgeting stringently means millions of consumers must make many buying decisions on a day-to-day basis. Fascinating new research can help you gain insights into purchasing behaviors during the pandemic.
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IMF predicts small business bankruptcies may triple as workers brace for…
Kevin Reynolds Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementCalifornia took some people by surprise recently when Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the largest rollback of reopenings in the country. Proceeded by Los Angeles moving to online schooling for a large portion of the fall semester and closely followed by individual counties leveling their own, stricter precautions, Newsom’s order was part of a slew of indicators that all said the same message: the coronavirus is not going away.
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5 ways the beauty space is staying exactly the same
Elizabeth Donat RetailIn a time of so much variability and unrest, it's crucial to look at the things that are staying the same. As spa and beauty industry professionals, we are adapting to many changes in our industry: spa shutdowns, changes to the retail environment, new sanitation regulations, supply shortages and corporate closures. However, in light of this, let's talk about the resilience of the beauty industry and the constants that will anchor our industry.
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