By Rob Basso on
5/16/2013 9:22 AM
Remember a few years ago when self-checkout first debuted? You don’t have to deal with a cashier, you see all the prices very clearly on a computer screen, you can make sure that pesky bag packer doesn’t squish your Wonderbread, and you can expedite the process. But not all stores are singing the praises of self-checkout. IKEA, for one, just killed self-checkout in US Stores last year. There were multiple security and inventory issues associated with the system which isn’t exactly conducive to a store that sells huge, heavy boxes of furniture...
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By Rob Basso on
5/14/2013 9:13 AM
We’ve all seen it happen; you go into a prospect and offer them an incredible savings against your big competitor, only to be cut off at the knees. What happened? It could be that your small business lacks big company swagger. Take a look at some of your key materials to see if it looks like your company can walk the walk...
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By Rob Basso on
5/9/2013 9:02 AM
Are you a small business owner confused by how the Affordable Care Act will affect your business? You aren’t alone. Most people haven’t read the enormous, several-thousand-page document, and according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation health tracking poll, 42 percent of Americans do not know that the Affordable Care Act has been passed into law...
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By Rob Basso on
5/7/2013 9:09 AM
Are you looking for innovative ways to increase your brand’s prominence? Here’s an interesting idea; tattoo your employees. Yes, I’m serious. A New York City-based brokerage, Rapid Realty, offers employees a 15% increase in commission if they get the company’s logo tattooed on their body. Epic fail?
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By Rob Basso on
5/2/2013 10:02 AM
In the business world today, there’s a lot of talk about brands. We should all be focused on maintaining a consistent image and reputation for our companies. But do we have to have an expansive (and expensive) team to do it? The answer is: not necessarily...
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By Rob Basso on
4/30/2013 9:28 AM
I know I’ve been using them as examples to make a point a lot lately, but it’s because it is one of the few truly human industries out there: hospitality. Yes, as small business owners our companies tend to be more human than their corporate robotic counterparts, but the hospitality industry is singularly focused on creature comfort. But still, hospitality is mostly about travel, and having a place to hang your hat when away from home. So how does a hotel, which caters to travelers, make a place for itself in the local community?
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By Rob Basso on
4/25/2013 9:15 AM
You are a small business owner. You have a great idea for a new product that will fill an emerging need within an industry. This could be the next big thing. You have so many years of successful experience with the same product in a different market,but the industry is so specialized that it requires breaking long-established personal and professional working relationships in order to gain market share...
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By Rob Basso on
4/23/2013 9:23 AM
If you haven’t started doing it yet, now is the time to do some email advertising. It can be a one-size fits all email or a more targeted, segmented approach, but either way you should get on it. If you have already begun email marketing but feel unsure if the results justify the resources spent, there are some things you can do to improve its impact...
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By Rob Basso on
4/18/2013 8:53 AM
Employee screenings are now standard procedure, even for many small businesses when considering new hires. For a retail company, that background check may include (completely unbeknownst to applicants) a search through an employee theft database. Sometimes the information found is just about suspected theft, and does not even involve criminal charges or convictions...
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By Rob Basso on
4/16/2013 9:32 AM
Customer service is one facet of business that can be easily overlooked. It’s easy to get caught up in the more technical or practical concerns of your business’ day to day operations. But in most businesses, providing top notch customer service should be the highest priority. This is especially true in hospitality related industries. For example, an airline is in the business of getting customers from point A to point B. But if you have to fly, chances are you are devoting hours to the process, besides the actual flight time...
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