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Producers of CBD-infused food should brace for new inspection routines

Bambi Majumdar Food & Beverage

Oklahoma recently became one of the first states to put additional inspectors in place for CBD and THC food products sold in the state. Health inspectors will randomly visit medical marijuana businesses to ensure they comply with the law. Though it is one of the hottest and fastest-growing industries, concepts in safety for food and drink products infused with CBD or THC are still vague. Oklahoma agencies aim to add another layer of protection for these products.

Can you really assess the value of a new customer?

Anne Rose Retail

It would be profitable to know in advance who is going to be a "good" and "loyal" customer — one who patronizes your services frequently, spends money on your products or services, and is always pleasant and courteous to deal with. You could provide that customer extra services, knowing that your investment would reap benefits in ensuring his even longer-term patronage. Oh, to know in advance. But here’s the problem in prejudging the long-term value of a customer: you could be dead wrong in your assumptions.

Is Amazon’s departure from restaurant delivery permanent?

Linchi Kwok Food & Beverage

Amazon Restaurants, a food delivery app like UberEats, will officially close on June 24. Amazon entered the restaurant delivery business in Seattle in 2015, but it has been struggling to compete with UberEats, Grubhub, Postmates, and DoorDash — the four dominant players in the market that control 93% of market share. While it may seem like a smart decision for Amazon to end its restaurant delivery service at this point, I do not believe the company wants to give up this business just yet. When the timing is "right" again, Amazon will very likely get back to the restaurant delivery service, possibly through integration with its fresh-food grocery delivery service.

Dental professionals support raising legal age for purchasing tobacco to…

Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental Healthcare

The American Dental Association (ADA) recently announced its support for a new bill that would raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. The ADA praised lawmakers for introducing Senate Bill 1541, the Tobacco-Free Youth Act. "Preventing oral cancer and other tobacco-related diseases has been a longstanding priority for the ADA," said ADA President Jeffrey M. Cole and Executive Director Kathleen T. O’Loughlin.

Labor, environment shape USMCA debate

Michelle R. Matisons Manufacturing

U.S.-Mexico relations currently revolve around two distinct discourses. One discourse emphasizes separation and punishment, as President Trump seeks support for his border wall while Mexico strengthens border control. The other discourse emphasizes economic cooperation and trade relations, which we witness as tariff threats fade and renewed talk of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) passing in Congress heats up.

Grooming women leaders in retail

Catherine Iste Retail

Retail is often a first and safe stop for women entering or returning to the workforce because there is normally a low barrier to entry, flexible hours and, in some cases, a discount or service benefit for employees in addition to salary. The problem is that advancement within the space can be challenging for a variety of reasons. Here are some ways to overcome those challenges and help more women grow into leaders.

Is your logo sending the right message?

Lisa Mulcahy Marketing

Your company probably created a logo years ago and kept it ever since, believing that familiarity breeds brand loyalty. That can indeed be true if a logo truly serves its products' purpose. But is your logo sending the right message about your brand's specific attributes and benefits? Does it target your audience as effectively as possible? If not, a tweak or complete redesign could be in order to boost your visibility and sales. How can you analyze your logo's messaging strengths and weaknesses? Use these science-based strategies.

How to recognize employees when summer Fridays aren’t practical

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Summer Fridays refer to the practice that employees get to leave early or work remotely on Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day. While this can be a fantastic benefit for office workers, it can be extremely impractical to implement outside of standard 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. offices and cost-prohibitive to offer to nonexempt employees. This does not mean our hands are tied as leaders when it comes to giving employees a break during the summer months. Here are some other options to consider when summer Fridays are not practical.

What is your employee value proposition?

Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Along with attracting the right talented people, holding onto them is one of the biggest challenges businesses face today. With unemployment at the lowest level in 50 years and employees with proven ability in high demand, promising workers a position and a modicum of job security is no longer enough to gain their loyalty. In today’s highly competitive environment, employers expect a lot from their staff. Now, employees are asking for more in return. And if they aren’t satisfied, they will look for better conditions and opportunities elsewhere.

US economy adds 75,000 jobs; unemployment rate stays at 3.6%

Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

The May jobs report shows that nonfarm payroll employment rose 75,000 following 263,000 new hires in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. May’s rate of unemployment stayed at 3.6%. Is May’s drop in job creation a sign of a slowing economy? "One month doesn’t make a trend," according to Heidi Shierholz, director of policy at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, hourly wages barely rose in May.

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