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Industry
News
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§ Fuel surcharges become the norm
Feeling the pain of
record high gas prices, more and more companies are passing along the costs
to consumers in the form of fuel surcharges. "We're going to be paying
higher costs across the board whether you pay it in the form of a surcharge
or you pay it in the form of higher prices," noted Noreen Perrotta, finance
editor at Consumer Reports. Still, consumer advocates point out there are
no laws regulating how fuel surcharges are calculated or implemented and no
way for customers to tell if the charges are fair. The Washington Post (6/24) 
§ 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)
§ Successfully branding private-label offerings
Distributors who
decide to venture into private labeling must have a clear branding
strategy. Evergreen Consulting's Brent Grover outlines what he believes to
be the keys to a successful strategy for building and managing a brand, as
well as possible pitfalls to avoid. Modern Distribution Management (6/25)
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Business
Strategy
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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)
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Sales
& Marketing Tips
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§ Offer your sales team ongoing guidance
Spending extra time
with new salespeople, offering direction and mentorship is a good
investment, says sales guru Dave Kahle, but even seasoned employees need
ongoing feedback and attention from you, he adds. DaveKahle.com (6/24)
§ 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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Management
Style
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§ Managers often don't spend enough time developing staff
Some companies
aren't any better at finding and recruiting the right talent than they were
10 years ago. A survey showed that while senior managers say talent
management is their first or second priority, 60% admit that they don't
spend enough time developing employees. Entrepreneur (7/2008)
§ Make employee recognition matter
Employee recognition
programs that don't offer any recognition for years at a time are likely to
cause dissension and high turnover. Workers should instead be rewarded with
an approach that promotes informal and formal recognition on a day-to-day
basis. Manage Smarter (6/19)
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Small
Business Operations
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§ Risks involved in buying a small business
Although buying a
small business may not be as risky as starting one's own, there are still a
number of hazards to consider. Those looking to buy small businesses should
consider demographic and political changes, owner's discretionary income,
proximity of competitors, sales taxes and existing reputation. Entrepreneur.com (6/18)
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Association
News
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§ AFTERMARKET2020: Is your business model ready for the
future?
Sign up now! Go to www.aftermarket2020.com
for meeting information, sign-up forms, transportation information and to
make your hotel reservations. The CVSN 2008 Annual Meeting will be at the
Omni Interlocken Resort, in Broomfield, Colo., from Sept. 21 to 24. See you
in September!
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SmartQuote
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The trouble with life isn't
that there is no answer, it's that there are so many answers."
--Ruth Benedict,
American
anthropologist
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