How to fill the gaps in your general liability insurance
Historically, private business owners overestimate what their comprehensive general liability (CGL) policy covers, and therefore don’t buy the additional insurance they need. According to the Chubb 2013 Private Company Risk Survey, 44 percent of private companies have experienced at least one claim in directors and officers (D&O), employment practices, fiduciary liability, employee fraud, workplace violence […]
How to create a culture that promotes healthier, happier employees
Wellness in the workplace isn’t just implementing a program, it’s about establishing a culture of wellness that promotes healthier lifestyles, says Liz Howe, director of business development at Benefitdecisions, Inc. “It’s not something you try and then decide whether you maintain it. A good program requires a well thought out strategy and budget,” Howe says. Smart Business spoke with Howe about simple steps businesses can […]
Randall Kenneth Jones: Challenging the philosophy of color can show how black and white is creative, too
A black-and-white thinker is said to see only yes or no, right or wrong, good or evil — and nothing in between. Some suggest black-and-white thinkers view the world without emotion and practice only logical thought. Naysayers sing the praises of the various shades of gray — and the nuances that lie in between. Children […]
Healthy rewards: How Neil Grimmer brought innovation to children’s food with Plum Organics
Business became more personal for Neil Grimmer when his first daughter was born. After seven years working as a design leader at IDEO and coming up with health and wellness innovations for food products, he saw a need to take the same approach to make better baby food. “I starting taking that innovation methodology and […]
How to find alternative sources to finance your real estate venture
There are myriad programs available to commercial and industrial real estate users that provide low cost capital and incentives for new investment. In addition to conventional financing, there are nontraditional sources of financing, tax deferral and tax mitigation strategies that can stretch your equity dollar. Smart Business spoke with Bob Brehmer, CCIM, SIOR, principal at […]
Hannah Kain: To avoid risk in your global supply chain, consider these points
Supply chain events are increasingly showing up in business news, whether it’s regarding product shortages that cause customer dissatisfaction and lost opportunities for corporations, or breaches of laws or decency in the supply chain, such as the use of child labor or unsafe labor conditions that damage brand reputation. From an executive standpoint, risk management […]
Anne Wilson: Why engaging your employees in the community is a smart idea
In a market as competitive as the Bay Area, companies need an edge when recruiting top talent. Pay grades, flexible schedules and vacation time are critical bargaining chips, of course, but one area that is often overlooked is employee engagement opportunities. Research demonstrates that the new generation of employee is actually demanding social giving opportunities. […]
QuickPay takes parking your vehicle to the premium level
Barney Pell, CEO of QuickPay Corp., envisions a future in which parking facilities utilize tiered rate structures similar to ones the hotel and airline industries have established. “You used to buy an airline ticket and it was all one type of seat,” he says. “Now, there are different prices for everyone depending on when you […]
Jorge Titinger: Breaking through the noise and tapping into the value big data can provide
Not since the emergence of the cloud has information technology received more attention than the current buzz surrounding big data. As with cloud computing, it can sometimes be hard to decipher what big data really means. Former SGI chief scientist John Mashey originally popularized the phrase, using it to describe the relentlessly expanding boundaries of […]
Todd Goldstein: How to get, keep and grow clients from the beginning
Customers can make or break a business, no matter what stage or industry. One of the main downfalls of an unsuccessful business is not having the customer in mind when developing new products. Whether it’s focus groups, market research via landing pages or customer surveys — the list of ways to examine a customer/market fit […]