Zen and the Art of Losing a Customer – Lessons from Avis Car Rental

Avis
Your front line employees who interface with customers regularly can make or break your business. These are the people in the call center providing help and answers to customers as well as calming them down when they call with complaints. They are also the ones working at front desk who direct customers properly and guide them through paper work, etc. When this employee is a manager with an authority the stakes are multiplied. At least with the employee the customer has hope to take the complaint to the manager, but when the buck stops at the manager and when the customer has lost all hopes of getting problem resolved you can be sure to lose him for life!

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3 Ways to Save Money When Doing Business Overseas

International Travel
International expansion is one way to grow business for many small business owners. After all, there is large untapped potential in countries such as India and China with their growing middle class population. These people are earning significant disposable income is are ready to use it on items imported from developed countries.

International expansion, however, comes with its own risks and stress. It is neither comfortable nor cheap to travel internationally – a necessity when you are trying to find partners, customers or vendors in those countries. You have to deal with significant expenses for airfare, hotels and other travel necessities. Dealing with jet lag and the unknown hassle of foreign countries adds to the headaches. The three tips provided below can to some extent alleviate your concerns about cost of international travel.

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Importance of Groundwork when Opening a New Business Outlet

Business
While the UK economy may have grown at a rate 0.7% during the second quarter of 2015, the level of sentiment that existed after the Conservatives landslide victory has dissipated somewhat. With a potential collapse in the Chinese economy and issues surrounding Britain’s future relationship with Europe, it is crucial that businesses remain vigilant and pay attention to even minute details if they are to succeed in 2015 and beyond.

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A Fresh Approach to Equipment Training to Manage Risk

Equipment Training
Any person who is required to use equipment at the workplace needs to receive an adequate level of training in order to comply with health and safety requirements.

There are several ways by which your business can approach your training needs to meet certain minimum standards. You can either take the view that the bare minimum to meet legislation will suffice, or hopefully, you will take a fresher approach to equipment training and seek to empower employees with the skills and knowledge that will help them to develop a greater level of competence.

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4 Reasons Why Executives Need to Use Social Media

Social Media
You probably already know that your business needs to be utilizing social media as a means of promotion and connecting with consumers, but you may not be aware of the benefits of having your own online company presence. As a high-level executive, you are often seen as a representation of your company. Taking that representation online is a way of enhancing your reach and adding a human face to the business. Here are some of the reasons executives should use social media.

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7 Must Have Hotel Amenities for Business Travellers

Business Travel
Business travel can be extremely exhausting, with little of the glamour that people associate it with. For many business people, the trip can be as short as an overnight sojourn, meaning your energy will be spent on transit and meetings, with no relaxation and sightseeing on the cards. As a result, finding accommodation that doubles as a retreat and provides you with everything you need to have a smooth business trip, becomes very important. Below you’ll discover seven of the features you should be keeping an eye out for when researching your next business trip accommodation.

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How Small Business Owners Can Guard against Class Action Lawsuits

Lawsuit
A class action lawsuit is a lawsuit that is filed by a certain group of people who have been injured or wronged as a result of company actions. Often they are filed by company employees, but they could also be filed by a third party. Because class action lawsuits can be so detrimental to a business, it is important for small business owners to understand how to best protect themselves from one. Even if the business wins the lawsuit, they can still prove cost heavy and result in damaged assets, finances and reputation. Many companies are putting risk management strategies in place in order to protect themselves against class action lawsuits as explained below.

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U.S. Rep. Buchanan Introduces “Support Our Start-ups” Act

Startup
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-FL, today announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation that would make it easier and less costly for an entrepreneur to start a new business.

Buchanan’s “Support our Start-Ups Act” (H.R. 2524) would quadruple the amount of start-up costs small business owners can deduct from their federal income taxes, raising it from $5,000 to $20,000.

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Recent Boom in Commercial Real Estate Market in U.S.

Real Estate
Commercial real estate prices are steadily rising, which reflects a robust U.S. economy. When commercial properties are in demand, it shows that businesses are flourishing and businesses have confidence in the economy. Commercial properties can be retail establishments, office complexes, medical facilities, schools, warehouses, or multifamily housing units, as long as they are income-generating properties. Here are some recent noteworthy transactions in commercial real estate market.

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Infographic: Why Corporate Culture Matters

Organizational Culture in word collage

Organizational Culture in word collage


Culture is such a soft term that many executives forget to pay attention to it. Instead they focus on financials, products, sales, marketing and other more “tangible” aspects of running the business. This could be a big mistake. Culture is a more important factor in a company’s success than you might think. It affects everything from product branding, to the hiring process and employee productivity, and everything in between. It should be introduced as a required MBA class due to the impact it can have on the success of business. As you work toward your online MBA degree and think about your next employment opportunity, consider corporate culture first. Look at the Infographic below to understand the impact culture have on the business:

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