Vanity began to whisper to me that I was of some importance, and my beloved tutor warned me against its siren power."
--Rebecca Webb Lukens,
first female CEO of a U.S. industrial company
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| CVSN SmartBrief |
| August 14, 2007 |
Warehousing industry posted robust growth in 2006, report finds
The warehousing system looks healthy, according to a new report by Armstrong & Associates. Businesses spent nearly $33 billion on commercial warehousing in the U.S. last year, the report found. That figure is up 9.7% from 2005. DC Velocity (7/2007)
Clip makes seatbelts more comfortable
Long-haul truck drivers shouldn't be without seatbelts, but many complain that they sit uncomfortably or rub the neck. The Master Design Seatbelt Adjuster is a cost-effective and widely available plastic clip designed to allow drivers to better position their seatbelts, increasing the likelihood that they will wear them -- while decreasing the risk of incurring a costly "Click it or Ticket" violation. TruckingInfo (8/13)
Buyout craze may see slowdown
The heightened trend of buyouts of major American companies is likely to slow as the credit markets tighten, according to some observers. "There is a crisis of confidence in the credit markets that is ... letting a little helium out of the buyout balloon," said the director of the Center for Private Equity and Entrepreneurship. The Washington Post (8/12)
Build business by pulling instead of pushing
When it comes to boosting business, marketing coach Terry Brock advocates pulling instead of pushing, or drawing in business through persuasion and enticement, rather than pushiness and force. The key is finding a market that wants or is in need of something and then providing it, he says. American City Business Journals (8/6)
Five innovative places for advertising
In a market saturated with advertising, there are still a few opportunities for new advertising venues. Five venues to consider: airline tray tables; employee uniforms; golf cart hubcaps; attention-grabbing T-shirts; and municipal vehicles and buildings. Entrepreneur (7/2007)
Consumer-led technology makes headway in corporate environment
Companies are advised to bring consumer technologies into their business-to-business product set, as such technologies gain ground in corporate computing environments. Software vendors should stop thinking of consumer-led technology as an "unavoidable nuisance" and embrace the trend as a potential opportunity, according to market research firm Gartner. Selling Power (free registration) (7/25)
Keep employees motivated
Daily interactions play an important role in developing and keeping motivated employees, writes motivational guru Bob Nelson. He notes that managers should provide interesting work, information, involvement, independence and increased visibility and opportunity. "Beneath all of these techniques is a basic premise of trust and respect and having the best interests of your employees at heart," Nelson writes. American City Business Journals (7/30)
Separate money losers from those with a nose for profit
If you need to hand over your company's reins, you want to find a manager who will live up to your standards and maintain the profitability and success you've garnered. However, research suggests that 80% of people, regardless of their education, background or experience, will lose money when placed in a position of overseeing profit generation. Some tips for weeding out such candidates include investigating their initiative and value-adding capabilities; asking others who are familiar with them about the prospects' spending habits; and being cautious in accepting the ideas of grand thinkers, who have imaginative, but costly, ideas. Inc.com (7/1)
Business owners often assume they know best
Entrepreneur.com columnist Patty Vogan writes that she often assumes she knows what's right because she is the owner of the business, but she says she has learned through experience that entrepreneurs often need more help than they might initially expect. Entrepreneur (7/2007)
CVSN offers top-notch business program in Baltimore
The time has come to sign up for the CVSN Annual Business Forum. This year's forum will be held in Baltimore, Sept. 16 to 20. Be sure to check out the CVSN Web site for the latest on meeting highlights, speakers, registration forms and general forum information.
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--Rebecca Webb Lukens, |
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