How Retailers Can Improve Operations for Profits
Sources of customer data are often underutilized by many retailers, according to a study by A.T. Kearney. June 3, 2013 Many retailers could turn their operations into higher profits, if they do a better job of utilizing their customers’ data according to a study. That includes adequately learning insights by better engaging their employees [...]
[Read more...]You Can Drive Business Profit with a Mid-Year Operations Audit
Are your profits flat despite a bigger marketing budget? Here’s how you can regroup before Q4 with a mid-year operations audit. June 2, 2013 So, you’ve installed an elite marketing program, but you haven’t met Q1 and Q2 profit projections? Well, there’s one likely suspect – your internal operations. Find out where the problems [...]
[Read more...]Basics in Hiring a Consultant to Help You Improve Your Company
When hiring a consultant, here are some pointers to keep in mind. June 1, 2013 When you can’t solve a business problem, you probably need a consultant. Perhaps you don’t have the necessary experience to solve a problem and need to avoid a costly mistake. Or you’re busy time-wise and you might find it [...]
[Read more...]Are You Underperforming in Marketing / Sales? Evaluate Your Culture
If you’re not happy about your company’s revenue, it’s time to evaluate your culture. That’s the lesson from a study by Temple’s Fox School of Business. May 20, 2013 If you’re dissatisfied with your revenue, it’s time for an assessment of your culture’s operation. Why? Superior cultures drive business performance. Specifically, two key elements [...]
[Read more...]Best-Practice Lessons to Protect Your Supply Chain from Natural Disasters
As a manufacturer, you know the importance of protecting your supply chain for your company’s future. So you might be interested in an academic study — lessons from the earthquake that resulted in a tsunamis and nuclear catastrophe in Japan. The study’s three authors were able to provide the lessons after studying the recovery efforts [...]
[Read more...]Tips for Preventing Robberies and What to Do If You’re Hit
As a business owner, you don’t like to think about the frightening prospect of being robbed. You could lose money and merchandise. More importantly, you and your employees could be severely hurt or even killed. So it’s strongly advisable to do an analysis of your store’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Then take the [...]
[Read more...]Enterprise Software: Google-Microsoft Battle Turns White Hot
Google has blatantly thrown down the gauntlet. The enterprise-software war is raging as Google has declared war on Microsoft. Both tech giants want your business. That confirms my assumption after spotting a headline: “Google exec: We want to poach 90 percent of Microsoft’s enterprise users.” The December 2012 article was written by freelance reporter Krystal Peak [...]
[Read more...]For the Best Cash Flow, Manage Your Inventory Costs with 8 Tips
With proper inventory management, you can lower your expenses and increase your cash flow. For many businesses, that means taking a look at your inventory costs. When your products aren’t selling, obviously, it hurts. Products just lurking and collecting dust in your warehouse are costing you money. Your investment in such products declines in [...]
[Read more...]Government Warns Business in Ruling Against Costco on Social Media Policy
Many companies encourage their employees to promote their offerings and services on social media. But beware, it was bound to happen: The trend has caught the attention of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which can dictate your social media policy. The NLRB is concerned about your handbook policy and mostly what it forbids [...]
[Read more...]5 Data Recovery Planning Tips for Computer Failures
Just a generation ago, risk management was a lot less complicated. Many businesses didn’t have to worry about hardware or software failures. Everything was processed manually. But in this digital age, business is severely disrupted if your system crashes and you haven’t backed up your information. Imagine the ramifications if you lose your records [...]
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