Month: April 2017

Debt Conscious Tips To Grow Your Clothing Brand

The demise of American Apparel, for anyone dreaming of starting an independent clothing company, has felt a lot like a death knell for the industry. Over its 19-year history (it’s now been sold to a Canadian company), it came to define the laid-back cool style of so-called “hipsters” in the early 2000s. Its form-fitting clothes offered a youthful and simplistic style, and their shirts quickly became the canvas for screen prints around the US. The company began as a dorm room startup selling “made in America” shirts, but became something of a fashion icon before its CEO was finally ousted in 2015.

AmericaThe demise of American Apparel, for anyone dreaming of starting an independent clothing company, has felt a lot like a death knell for the industry. Over its 19-year history (it’s now been sold to a Canadian company), it came to define the laid-back cool style of so-called “hipsters” in the early 2000s. Its form-fitting clothes offered a youthful and simplistic style, and their shirts quickly became the canvas for screen prints around the US. Continue reading “Debt Conscious Tips To Grow Your Clothing Brand”

5 Easy Ways To Guarantee Emarketing Success

There’s a lot of trial and error when it comes to emarketing, and it definitely is something that rewards the patient and persistent. However, if you’re looking to jump-start an emarketing campaign and are short on resources, here’s a quick guide to get you on the right track from Day 1. While you’ll definitely want to save money where you can, also keep in mind that hodgepodging a few free or low-cost tools together can be extremely time-consuming, not to mention a headache. A few places to start include MailChimp, InfusionSoft, or ConvertKit, but the list is much longer than that.

infusionsoftThere’s a lot of trial and error when it comes to emarketing, and it definitely is something that rewards the patient and persistent. However, if you’re looking to jump-start an emarketing campaign and are short on resources, here’s a quick guide to get you on the right track from Day 1.

While you’ll definitely want to save money where you can, also keep in mind that hodgepodging a few free or low-cost tools together can be extremely time-consuming, not to mention a headache. Continue reading “5 Easy Ways To Guarantee Emarketing Success”

Give Customers The Personal Touch: How Your Retail Store Can Profit From Personalization

AllBusiness. comPost sponsored by Microsoft. Part 1 in a 3-part series. Today’s retail customers have access to nearly unlimited shopping options, from brick-and-mortar stores to e-commerce websites they can access with a tap on their smartphones.

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Post sponsored by Microsoft. Part 1 in a 3-part series. Continue reading “Give Customers The Personal Touch: How Your Retail Store Can Profit From Personalization”

5 Valuable Lessons All Entrepreneurs Can Learn From The Founder

AllBusiness. comWhile technology continues to change and evolve, we are constantly reminded that human nature remains the same. The Founder, the story of the man who took McDonald’s from a single obscure location and turned it into a household name, has the same themes as a modern-day tech startup: high hopes, best intentions, friction between the “engineers” and the business, betrayal, a power struggle, and ultimately the rewriting of history. For those who haven’t seen it, it chronicles the story of the Richard and Maurice McDonald, two brothers who engineered an unprecedented system to create fast, cheap, consistent, and “delicious” burgers.

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While technology continues to change and evolve, we are constantly reminded that human nature remains the same. The Founder, the story of the man who took McDonald’s from a single obscure location and turned it into a household name, has the same themes as a modern-day tech startup: high hopes, best intentions, friction between the “engineers” and the business, betrayal, a power struggle, and ultimately the rewriting of history. Continue reading “5 Valuable Lessons All Entrepreneurs Can Learn From The Founder”

Successful Business Networking: 6 Secrets To Deeper Connections

AllBusiness. comYou’ve joined a few industry groups, attended their conferences, and had drinks at the monthly after-hours mixers.  You’ve also mastered your elevator pitch and are dutifully sending LinkedIn invites and meeting people for coffee. You’ve even forwarded relevant articles and sent thoughtful thank-you notes.

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You’ve joined a few industry groups, attended their conferences, and had drinks at the monthly after-hours mixers. You’ve also mastered your elevator pitch and are dutifully sending LinkedIn invites and meeting people for coffee. Continue reading “Successful Business Networking: 6 Secrets To Deeper Connections”

How Brands Can Inject An Aura Of Luxury Into The Everyday Items They Sell

AllBusiness. comConsumer brands big and small share one common goal: Have customers fall in love with their products. This aim sounds straightforward enough, but for the many businesses that are focused on making life’s everyday utility items, having a consumer fall in love with what they’re producing is no simple feat. After all, they’re not selling products that people normally associate with enjoyment, like Ultra HD TVs or fine jewelry, but rather items that are necessities, such as thermostats and dishwasher soap.

allbusiness.comAllBusiness.com

Consumer brands big and small share one common goal: Have customers fall in love with their products.

This aim sounds straightforward enough, but for the many businesses that are focused on making life’s everyday utility items, having a consumer fall in love with what they’re producing is no simple feat. Continue reading “How Brands Can Inject An Aura Of Luxury Into The Everyday Items They Sell”

The 4 Biggest Reasons Why Your Company Needs An Official Social Media Policy

AllBusiness. comIf your company has a presence on social media (and it should), then you need to make sure you have a social media policy that keeps everyone accountable. If you don’t, social media will end up being more of a distraction than an aid. According to data from Pew Research Center, 69% of adults use some sort of social media.

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If your company has a presence on social media (and it should), then you need to make sure you have a social media policy that keeps everyone accountable. If you don’t, social media will end up being more of a distraction than an aid. Continue reading “The 4 Biggest Reasons Why Your Company Needs An Official Social Media Policy”

5 Reasons Why Sales Managers Must Learn To Recognize Personality Types

AllBusiness. comBuilding strategy around personality types has become a driving force for many of the most successful companies in the world. In fact, approximately 80% of Fortune 100 organizations use some kind of personality test to facilitate better teamwork in their organizations. As a sales manager, you may think these techniques only benefit those at the executive level or human resources professionals, but learning more about the unique personality types of your sales reps can help you take your team’s performance to a new level.

allbusiness.comAllBusiness.com

Building strategy around personality types has become a driving force for many of the most successful companies in the world. In fact, approximately 80% of Fortune 100 organizations use some kind of personality test to facilitate better teamwork in their organizations. Continue reading “5 Reasons Why Sales Managers Must Learn To Recognize Personality Types”

Can An Employer Ask About Your Age?

At both the federal and state level, anti-discrimination laws exist to prevent businesses from hiring or not hiring based on personal characteristics that are not relevant to an individual’s ability to do the job. Age is one of them. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) protects people who are age 40 and older from being treated unfavorably because of their age during the hiring process—and when employed. In 2016, 20,857 age discrimination charges were filed with the U.

ArkansasAt both the federal and state level, anti-discrimination laws exist to prevent businesses from hiring or not hiring based on personal characteristics that are not relevant to an individual’s ability to do the job. Age is one of them. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) protects people who are age 40 and older from being treated unfavorably because of their age during the hiring process—and when employed. Continue reading “Can An Employer Ask About Your Age?”