Deborah Sweeney: What you need to know when your company screws up
Few brands have forgotten about the waves created by the 2009 debut of “United Breaks Guitars.” The video was made by musician Dave Carroll who was upset about United Airlines breaking his guitar on a flight from Chicago to Omaha, Neb. When it went viral, it cost the airline countless customers. How many customers? The […]
Andrew Outcalt: A workforce that can wear many hats helps smooth out the ups and downs of business cycles
All businesses today have to weather the good times and bad times. How you approach managing up and down cycles has a direct impact on employee morale, productivity, retention and your bottom line. Employees are the heart of any vibrant, continuously improving organization. When sales and profits are down, they worry about job security and […]
Jerry Frantz: While the number of startups grows, the investment capital pool is lagging
The buzz about entrepreneurship continues to explode nationally — today, there are more than 1,200 incubators, 200 accelerators and 450 crowdfunding platforms available across the country to help young companies grow. Also in the mix are networking, training and support programs such as 1 Million Cups, Venture For America and Startup Weekend. Higher education is […]
How to capitalize on the need for speed with your business technology
Cloud technologies have transformed the playing field for small and midsize businesses, largely because of their flexibility. Organizations have the ability to quickly and painlessly ramp up their services when they need something more. “Using their Internet connection, they can harness the power — and reap the rewards — of applications traditionally available only to […]
How brands should be protected before advertising internationally
Global branding has become increasingly popular in the past few decades. Companies are more often seeking to expand overseas into tempting and lucrative developing markets. Furthermore, the Internet has given global branding a heightened importance as websites can be accessed from anywhere. This is why international trademarks have become a necessity for companies operating in […]
Searching for candidates in the age of social networking
If your organization is using social networking sites to search for potential job candidates, it is not alone. Social networking sites have become an increasingly popular recruitment and screening tool because of the ease and efficiency they allow for finding new talent. However, in the absence of an existing evidence-based model for using social networking […]
How to take your VoIP conversion at your own pace
Overhauling an office phone system is often a necessary part of growing, improving and updating an organization’s technology. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a common upgrade that offers a variety of options to fit a business’ needs, whether it has a small, medium or large employee base. Each VoIP system can be custom built […]
How GOJO has made sustainability a business imperative
GOJO Industries Inc. was one of five 2013 Summit of Sustainability Award (SOSA) winners, an award that recognizes companies for their sustainability efforts. The awards acknowledge organizations that are helping to fulfill the SOSA mission of introducing green best practices to Summit County’s business community, showing the value of the triple bottom line: People-Planet-Prosperity through […]
Joe Takash: Three keys to get you focused on the real issues holding back your business
Do these terms sound familiar? ■ Vision ■ Strategy ■ Quality ■ Mission ■ Commitment Come on, you can admit it. Aren’t there times when corporate-speak makes you nauseous? Don’t get me wrong; I live in the corporate world. It’s from there where my bread is buttered and bills are paid. Yet, those running the […]
How the ACA could change Ohio workers’ compensation
Although it appears the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was not intended to affect the workers’ compensation system, it may influence it. Ohio may be less likely to experience some of the hypothetical outcomes discussed for other states, but there is a correlation and potential impact. Smart Business spoke with David D. Kessler, medical director at […]