-
US economy adds 145,000 new hires; unemployment stays at 3.5%
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIn December, U.S. nonfarm payrolls grew by 145,000 after November's gain of 266,000, while the rate of unemployment remained at 3.5%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The total number of unemployed persons stayed at 5.8 million versus 6.3 million and a jobless rate of 3.9% a year ago. Meanwhile, hourly pay increases are tepid. "Year-over-year nominal wage growth was 2.9% — the lowest it's been in 18 months," according to Elise Gould, an economist with the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., in a statement.
-
F-Gas turns the screw again
Andrew Gaved Facilities & GroundsThis column has reported many times over the years on the progress of the F-Gas regulations, as the legislation seeks to achieve its ultimate goal of reducing refrigerant emissions in Europe. But 2020 marks a significant year for both the legislation and the industry that must comply with it. It is expected to change refrigerant buying habits as the once-ubiquitous R404A disappears from wholesalers' shelves. The F-Gas legislation, now in its second iteration, came into force in 2015 and has put the industry under pressure with its unique combination of restrictions.
-
The significant food trends of 2020 include vertical farms, periodic fasting
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageFood trends for 2020 will follow a green and sustainable pattern. A recent New York Times article stated that the cause of the year is our planet. In the midst of rising climate change, food insecurity, and consumers' worry about the environmental impact of foods, choices will matter. The focuses on vertical farming and earth-friendly ingredients and practices will increase as farmers try out regenerative techniques to control weeds, improve soil, and sequester carbon for improved soil health.
-
What’s trending this time of year? In a word, words
Bob Kowalski MarketingAs a new year starts, you’ve heard about plenty "of-the-years." They must be important. They get so much airtime and are shared ceaselessly on social media, a lot of times by the very brands that are being honored. Besides the newsmakers of the year, a few other off-the-beaten-path declarations make the media rounds. We apparently talk a lot, so much so that we have more than one Word of the Year. Or should that be "words" of the year? At least three dominant sources provide us the Word of the Year, but they don't agree on what it is. For one of them, the Word of the Year is actually "words."
-
3 winning strategies to hire for diversity of thought in your organization
Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementClients often tell me that they think hiring for diversity of thought is more important than demographic indicators. The problem is that some people use the term "diversity of thought" as a way of not seeking out more people of color and women from different backgrounds. I agree that diversity of thought is essential and, yes, everyone is different. However, if everyone looks the same you won’t get the diversity of experiences and perspectives that result in the kind of diversity of thought that gives rise to breakthrough products and services.
-
A new, blue year
Tory Barringer Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesIt's official: 2020 will be the year of blue — and no, that's not a political forecast. For more than 20 years, the Pantone Color Institute (PCI) has been the trendsetter for the hues to watch for in the coming year. Its selection for 2020 is Classic Blue (PANTONE 19-4052), which PCI Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman described in a release as a "boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky." Pantone isn't the only one calling for a blue year.
-
How to use digital twin technology to revolutionize your marketing approach
Lisa Mulcahy MarketingDigital twin technology can be an incredible boon to any online marketer. You may have heard of the term before, but you might not be sure what the technology entails or how you can use it to your marketing benefit. So, what exactly is a digital twin? It's essentially a near-real-time replica of an item or a person's online entity. This is data that can be applied to a digital product profile so you can monitor how your customers choose, use and accept (or reject) your product as you update or tweak it to better meet their needs. Here's what you need to know about the technology and how to utilize it.
-
Knowing when the ruts of life have hit
Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementYou start a new job. It's exciting to learn all the nuances of your responsibilities. Each day is a challenge. Stressful, sure, but nonetheless exciting to be stretched outside your comfort zone. At some point, the job becomes second nature — like driving a car. Frankly, it can get a little boring because you no longer have to think so hard. Next thing you know, that routine becomes your prison. How did you lose your initial excitement? Where did it go and why? Ruts are symptomatic that learning has stagnated.
-
Your brain on the holidays
Catherine Iste Mental HealthcareOne of my sisters recently noted she was about to complete a knitting class. In the midst of the hubbub of Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping and several birthday celebrations, she had committed to a multiple-session class to learn how to knit. While I assumed that would have increased her stress levels, instead she said it reduced them because it forced her to sit still each class, concentrate on something completely new to her and best of all, would result in the creation of several gifts. Research by a few professors at Harvard confirms her claims.
-
A look at food and beverage trends for 2020
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageA report released by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences shows some interesting trends as we step into 2020. This is a varied list of trends, including tea with alcohol, meal kits, online grocery, organic food, and drinkable collagen. Despite the first appearance of not being connected to each other, these trends perfectly represent the lifestyle we lead now. Some of these have been playing out for several years but will show stronger growth in 2020 and onwards.
All Retail Articles