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Can you recession-proof your job?
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWhether you believe that Big Macs or RV sales predict recessions, it seems at least that the continued talk of a recession is certainly on the horizon. Yet, with more of us gainfully employed and the job market so seeker-friendly, should we care? Yes; just like how it is easier to find a job when we already have one, it is easier to plan for a recession when we are not in one. Here are a few things to consider when trying to recession-proof your job.
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What does Target’s new in-store food brand mean for retail?
Bambi Majumdar RetailExperts say that retailers should be looking at the writing on the wall and go lean. It’s said that only the biggest guns like Costco and Walmart have the resources to weather the Amazon storm. So, Target's announcement that it is launching a new grocery brand, Good & Gather, came as a surprise. Confident projections that it will also be a multibillion-dollar brand by the end of 2020 raised eyebrows as well. Good & Gather is based on a better-for-you groceries model and includes over 2,000 items ranging from fresh salad mixes, organic snacks and frozen meals.
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7 ways new managers can shine
Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk Management"Psssttt…Can you keep a secret? I’ve just been made a manager and I haven’t a clue what to do!" This was exactly what went through my head over 20 years ago when I found myself suddenly in charge. My focus should have been on what I could do to shine from day one. But instead, I worried that it would only be a matter of time before my secret was out. It's no secret that those who find themselves tossed into management with little more than a hope and a prayer aren't ready to fully engage in all that is required of more experienced managers. But there is certainly something about you that indicated you were right for this job.
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The folly of ‘they’re going to buy from someone; it may as well…
Anne Rose RetailWhen I was first starting out in sales many years ago, I was advised to regard every person I encountered as a viable sales prospect. It was just a matter of me persuasively demonstrating the benefits of what I had to sell that would convert them from looking to buying. Don’t discount anyone was the wisdom; they’re going to buy something from someone, so let it be you. Terrible advice. First of all, not everyone who is looking is really going to buy! Some people, and I know quite a few, just enjoy window shopping. They have no intention of buying anything from anyone.
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How much do teachers spend annually on school supplies?
Julie Anne Wells EducationWhen children walk into the classroom on the first day of school, they are often met with colorful posters, ample writing utensils, and nametags emblazoned on their desks. But how often do we stop to consider how these personal touches and useful tools got to the classroom? According to a study published by the National Center of Education Statistics in 2018, 94% of American public-school teachers used their own money to pay for school supplies during the 2014-15 school year. They spent $480 on average that year, and they were not reimbursed.
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Doors on fridges debate heats up again in UK
Andrew Gaved Waste Management & EnvironmentalThe debate around whether to make it mandatory to have doors on all display refrigerators in the U.K. has been reignited by a combination of carbon targets and public pressure. While supermarkets in the U.K. have historically been resistant to adding doors to fridges because of fears that they will impact purchasing, the mounting pressure on the U.K. to reduce energy to meet long-term carbon targets has put the subject back on the agenda. However, many merchandisers cling to the belief that the addition of doors to their chiller cabinets will negatively affect the purchase of goods by presenting a "barrier" to browsing.
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How to use personalization as a family marketing tool
Lisa Mulcahy MarketingPersonalization is one of the biggest trends in online marketing right now, and that’s for good reason. The closer you can tailor your marketing approach to the specific needs of your audience, the bigger the bang you'll get for your advertising bucks — and the more ad revenue you'll attract. Is your brand family-friendly? If so, personalization is an incredibly effective way to boost sales and loyalty. Try these scientifically tested tips to give your clientele what they want in a powerful way.
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3 steps to new employee success
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementThe honeymoon period for new employees provides a prime time to set the stage for unlimited success. While some employers unfortunately also call this the introductory period and try to use it as an evaluation window within which to weed out new hires, we should look at it as a litmus test for our own success and a chance to invest in the success of an employee. Employees come in ready to make an impact, optimistic about the opportunity and eager to learn. Here are three steps to take to fan that flame of enthusiasm into a sustainable fire.
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Which industries will benefit most from the industrial internet of things?
Joseph Zulick Science & TechnologyA common statement among historians of the 1849 gold rush was that the people who were most likely to make the most money were the ones who made tools for the miners and not the actual miners themselves. As industries like transportation, manufacturing, technology, energy and healthcare pursue success with the industrial internet of things (IIoT), this colloquial wisdom stands true. IIoT equips these sectors with the information and data to operate their businesses more effectively.
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Compete on others’ weaknesses, not their strengths
Anne Rose MarketingWhen your niche is responsible for your success, why would your company abandon that winning strategy to compete against other companies' strengths? A chain of hardware stores that owes its success to its niche of providing personal customer service, advice, and DIY knowledge has recently considered competing against big online stores to deliver products in one day. Does that make sense to abandon your core competency and spend inordinate money to expand in an area that another has already locked up?
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