| June 25, 2008 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Aging workers redefine retirement
While some older workers are putting retirement on the back burner by choice, others are continuing to work -- or returning to work -- for financial reasons. Either way, the trend of older, experienced employees remaining in the work force can be a boon to businesses that can enlist retirement-age workers to jump start their struggling businesses. Spartan Stores Inc., for example, sought out Craig Sturken, a retired industry executive, who helped steer Spartan out of a rough patch that included losses and layoffs and into smooth fiscal waters. MLive.com (Mich.)/Grand Rapids Press (free registration)
(6/21)
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- Mobile technologies allow travelers to leave home without the laptop
Business travelers increasingly are leaving their laptops at home as lightweight mobile technologies allow them to accomplish most of what they would normally do without having to lug a more cumbersome device. Flash drives and smartphones allow travelers to store all the documents they need, check e-mail and surf the Internet. USA TODAY
(6/19)
- Wellness is the new corporate buzzword
Wellness has become a corporate buzzword, with companies offering programs to help workers eat better, lose weight, exercise, assess disease risks and kick bad habits such as smoking. Businesses find that healthier workers lead to reduced health costs and fewer sick days and medical leaves, as well as promote a happier, more productive work environment. New York Post
(6/16)
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- Work backward to get there on time
Being habitually late can erode the trust of your employer, but one trick can help get you there on time. The trick involves working backward -- determining what time you need to stop working and start getting ready for an appointment. DaveKahle.com
(6/17)
| Small Business Manager | | |
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- Humor can aid advertising, soften debate
Humor works in advertising because people like other people who do not take themselves too seriously, says USA TODAY columnist Steve Strauss. Self-effacing humor "signals that you are confident, secure and easygoing," he says. USA TODAY
(6/23)
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- Carnival's largest cruise ship to focus on families
Carnival Cruise Lines' largest ship, the Carnival Dream, will launch seven-day cruises to the Caribbean late next year and will focus on families. "We are big on the family, and The Dream is all about the family," said Terry Thornton of Carnival Cruise Lines. "We are catering to the family because they're the ones taking the vacations in Central Florida. On the Dream, we'll have the biggest water park ever on one of our ships. We have an indoor-outdoor entertainment area, and we're expanding our day camps to cater to kids and teenagers." Florida Today (Melbourne)
(6/24)
- Dell extends XP sales deadline
Due to customer demand, Dell will sell PCs equipped with Windows XP and XP Professional a little bit longer. The company, which had said it would stop selling XP-loaded PCs on June 18, has extended the cutoff to Thursday, June 26, at 5:59 a.m. Central time. InfoWorld/Computerworld
(6/23)
| NAW Insider | | |
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Payment paradigm has shifted
From NAW and Solveras Inc. comes the first all-in-one invoicing, check imaging, ACH and credit card processing solution with your business in mind. Web-based, bank neutral with faster funding -- ParadigmSM delivers major savings to your bottom line. Get more information.
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Download key economic data to plan for growth
Download individual economic analysis reports that are most relevant to your business from the 19 major wholesale distribution sectors in the 2008 Wholesale Distribution Economic Reports. As we continue to weather this economic storm, these reports supply a wealth of benchmarking data, including revenue and employment growth trends, the number and size distribution of companies, gross margins, wages, and other operating statistics.
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Brand new: Make Your Operations Lean in Challenging Times
Becoming lean in distribution is more important than ever in today's challenging economic market. Applying lean concepts makes sense because becoming lean means becoming a more effective distributor. And becoming lean will lead to higher profitability. Lean Operations in Wholesale Distribution focuses on the lucrative operations area and discusses steps distributors must take to design and manage a lean culture.
| Weekly Poll | | |
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Do you travel on discount airlines?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | Yes -- I travel on them nearly exclusively. |
| Sometimes. I travel on whichever airline gets me where I need to go. |
| No -- I prefer a particular airline, which is not a discounted one. |
| I have not in the past, but I most likely will now as the prices increase. |
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | Never let the fear of striking out get in your way."
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| | Recent NAW SmartBrief Issues:
- Monday, June 23, 2008
- Friday, June 20, 2008
- Thursday, June 19, 2008
- Wednesday, June 18, 2008
- Monday, June 16, 2008
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
Contributing Editor: Nancy Melville | Robert Jones
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