MultiBriefs - Your source for industry specific News Briefs

6 steps to earning employees’ trust

Candice Gottlieb-Clark Business Management, Services & Risk Management

I am often asked how I get people to tell me things that they won’t share with their manager, boss, or human resources. Certainly, part of my success is that I’m simply an outsider. I present much less of a threat to an employee or staff member than internal players poking around and asking questions. Another reason may be an esoteric quality I bring that makes people feel safe. But beyond those intangibles, here are six tips for earning trust and getting complete and honest responses from your team.

Are consumers loyal to home-sharing services? Implications for hosts, room-sharing…

Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

"Competition promotes innovation." That’s what I believe in the business world. That statement is probably a true reflection of what is going on among hotels, Airbnb, and online travel agents (OTAs). Last week, for example, almost every hotelier was talking about Marriott getting into the short-term residential business. In fact, Marriott had expressed its interest in the home-sharing business back in May 2018. But now, the world’s largest hotel chain is finally ready to compete head-to-head with home-sharing giant Airbnb.

U.S. economy adds 263,000 jobs; unemployment rate drops to 3.6%

Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

The April jobs report shows that nonfarm payroll employment rose 263,000 versus 196,000 new hires in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. April’s 3.6% rate of unemployment was the lowest since December 1969. In April, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was 1.2 million versus 1.3 million in March, the BLS reported. "The unemployment rate fell for the ‘wrong’ reasons — more people leaving the labor force as opposed to getting a job," said Elise Gould, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.

Leadership styles and deciding between 2 justifiable options

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

We can use buzzwords to describe our leadership style and inject best practices into our routine to buttress said style. Yet, it is during the exceptions — challenging issues, difficult decisions, or other proverbial forks in the road — that the true nature of our leadership is tested and exposed. Here are a few ways deciding between two justifiable options can define our style in ways we may not realize.

Is customized pricing more effective than a national strategy?

Terri Williams Retail

Pricing can vary as much as opinions. Sometimes, companies sell identical goods at different prices in different parts of the country. But is this the best approach, or should retailers follow a national pricing strategy? And what factors should be considered when determining a pricing strategy? "In theory, it is always more profitable to implement price differentiation strategies if possible," according to Fei Gao, an assistant professor of operations and decision technologies at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

Infographic: How to craft the perfect Pinterest profile for your small…

Meredith Wood Marketing

Most small-business owners know that they need to have some form of social media presence to promote their brand but often miss an opportunity in neglecting Pinterest’s capabilities as a business booster. By leveraging this visual sharing platform, small-business owners can tap into the 55% of Pinterest users that come to the site specifically looking for products. Check out this infographic for tips on creating the perfect Pinterest profile for your small business.

Don’t ever resign with a ‘shove it’ quit

Hank Boyer Business Management, Services & Risk Management

In 1977, country music artist Johnny Paycheck recorded what many employees wanted desperately to tell their boss as they quit their jobs. "Take This Job and Shove It!" nearly won a CMA award for Song of the Year, and artists like the Dead Kennedys and David Alan Coe re-recorded it in the years to follow. Have you ever felt like leaving a job this way? Many people have. However, before you yield to the temptation, there are few things you ought to know.

Texas legislative update: Bill would create tax holiday for firearms, hunting…

John McAdams Recreation & Leisure

Though this is not an extremely busy session of the Texas Legislature in terms of legislation directly related to outdoor activities, there are still some noteworthy events coming out of Austin. Specifically, there are now two pieces of legislation to keep an eye on: Senate Bill 317 and Senate Bill 457. SB 317 passed the Texas Senate with overwhelming support by a vote of 31-0 on April 11. This is a particularly interesting piece of legislation that would create a state sales tax holiday on firearms and hunting supplies for one weekend each year.

Springfield, Missouri’s Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium is…

Dave G. Houser Recreation & Leisure

Here’s a multibillion-dollar American success story that began in the unlikely setting of a small-town liquor store. That’s where, in 1971, Johnny Morris launched his Bass Pro Shops hunting and fishing empire — selling bait and fishing tackle out of the back of his father’s Brown Derby booze shop in Springfield, Missouri. More than just an entrepreneurial retailer, Morris, now 71, is also one of America’s most renowned outdoorsmen, and his ultimate vision goes way beyond selling fishing rods, bass boats and shotguns. He is a powerful advocate in support of global environmentalism and conservation.

Fresh food purchases, delivery apps cause worry for traditional grocers

Bambi Majumdar Food & Beverage

E-commerce and Amazon have disrupted the grocery business, and the wave of changes has yet to die down. A recent report released by Wolfe Research says that pressure on grocers, especially conventional supermarkets, will intensify in the coming months. An interesting find from the report is that fresh food purchases are set to grow. But instead of benefiting grocers, it seems it will benefit e-tailers more.Y ounger consumers are making fresh-food purchases online or from mass merchandisers instead of traditional grocery brands. About 3 in 10 plan to decrease their packaged food purchases while 34% plan to purchase less frozen food.

Industries