Sears is an iconic department store having been in business for what seems like forever. Even a department store of this notoriety is not immune to the downturn in the economy. Sears Holdings Corporation is in the process of closing 100 to 120 Sears and K-Mart stores. The first 79 (41 Sears stores and 38 Kmart stores) of these stores have just been announced.  It is unclear at this point in time how many of their employees will be affected. Opening a business in this economy is an upward battle. The first year in business is always the most crucial [...]

As the new year approaches, business media sources are reporting on some of the new trends that may affect your small business and how you plan to provide products or services to a community. Some larger changes in global markets can affect local small businesses in many ways, and staying on top of the most current reports can help startups or small business leaders change with the times. A recent article in Fast Company sheds light on some of what businesses can expect in upcoming quarters.

Trends in Digital Delivery
One of the major changes reported for the overall business landscape in [...]

A docked Soviet nuclear submarine was engulfed in flame as a fire burned out of control. Firefighters rushed to put the fire out and after a long battle they finally succeeded. Crewmen were still inside as the fire raged on. According to reports there have been no leaks reported from the nuclear tipped warheads. Authorities have since launched an investigation into whether or not safety protocols were ignored. A poor credit score can be your fire to extinguish if you are seeking funding for your business.
Financing for a new enterprise is often determined, at least in part, to your credit [...]

Deadline: January 13, 2012 – Businesses damaged by Tropical Storm Lee can seek loans with as little as 2.5 per cent interest until January 13, 2012. If you are a victim of Tropical Storm Lee you can receive up to $200,000 to repair damaged property or find a new home and up to $40,000 to replace lost items and personal materials. Small businesses can qualify for up to $2 million in disaster relief funding with a 3 per cent interest rate. Terms for loans under this program can reach up to 30 years. The program is available for those in Fairfax and [...]

This year, the subject of bad management became a pop culture fixture. The summer movie Horrible Bosses displayed a variety of funny, twisted revenge fantasies and was a critical and financial hit. Now, The New York Times just revealed the biggest losers among CEOs. The article highlights financial performances, personal conduct and other problems.
What’s interesting about the “bad boss” concept is that it is all about perception. Do bad bosses know they are bad? I assume they think of themselves as doing whatever it takes to improve the company, rather than thinking “I’m a jerk.” Still, understanding how others see [...]

From China to the Philippines, it is evident that every company and country needs a leader. How that leader rules or runs the company will determine how the country or company grows and succeeds. As a small business owner, you are the leader everyone is looking at to make decisions and move the company forward. There are many ways to lead and several styles you can follow. However, understanding these four basic styles of leadership can help you lead your company and its employees into success.
Autocratic Leadership Style
Leadership of this kind means the manager makes all the decisions with little [...]

This is an amazing time to fail in business. Why? More people recognize how much can be learned from failures! Documentarian Morgan Spurlock created a new web series on business people who have tried and failed to get work going. The goal of the show is to encourage people in new business or life ventures. With all the negative news about the economy and businesses lately, the show should be informative and inspirational. Here are a few more signs that failure is not always a bad thing.
Failed CEOs are Experienced CEOs
According to Economic Times, CEOs and other workers who have [...]

Customer satisfaction for retailers can result in higher sales, more customer loyalty and increased word-of-mouth recommendations, according to Michigan-based customer-satisfaction survey analysts ForeSee Results.
This year’s ForeSee survey ranks 40 of the largest online retailers, including the bottom five: Gap.com, buy.com, Sony, Toys R Us, and at the very bottom, Overstock.com. Netflix was among the worst performers this holiday season as well.
That got me to thinking. Yes, customer satisfaction is important to every business. However, what impact does employee satisfaction have on the customer’s experience?
The Importance of Employee Satisfaction
A recent blog in Harvard Business Review (HBR)suggests that employee satisfaction actually equals [...]

Your small business lives and dies on your customer base and the money they spend with you. Without customers coming through your doors you simply don’t have a building. Marketing is what you do in order to sway public opinion to get them to come to you instead of the “other guy.”  It sounds easy enough, right? Unfortunately it is never that easy. There is a lot of planning involved. Preparing a marketing campaign is a great way for you to get an idea of what you want, what you need and what your goals are.
Set a Budget
People that say [...]

Researching all the federal government’s small business programs can be discouraging. Small businesses that seek support from the government often have to deal with unclear rules, runaround and other problems. Still, government grants, loans and other forms of aid are often worth the effort.
Recently, two major research programs were renewed. This is great news to small businesses that depend on research in the fields of technology. Check out the details on the programs and see which one is right for you. The changes to the programs mean more funding and opens things up to companies that have venture capital funding.
Small [...]