As summer heads into the “dog days” — with prolonged high temperatures and unrelenting sun — businesses need to protect their workers. Heat illness can cause permanent injury to people and can put employers at risk of liability if they don’t take steps to prevent it. The key to preventing heat-related injuries can be reduced … Read more
Today more than ever, customers expect businesses to deliver their products directly to their door. And thanks to high-volume, rapid response online companies like Amazon, people want their packages sooner than ever. If your retail or wholesale business doesn’t currently do a lot of direct shipping to customers, that’s likely to change in the coming … Read more
While older generations like to mock Millennials for being over-protected, over-privileged, and unmotivated, the reality of time dictates that today’s newest generation is going to be tomorrow’s key demographic for businesses everywhere. Someday in the not-to-distant future, Millennials will run just about everything. So learning the latest generation’s buying preferences and online expectations will only … Read more
Consumers and retailers today both want their orders faster than ever before. Just a few years ago, 3 to 5 business days would be considered an acceptable delivery window for online orders. Today, the expectation is closer to 24 hours or less. Call it the “instant gratification” effect. Big companies like Amazon are in the process … Read more
Oftentimes, purchasing decisions are based on efficiency. On one level that makes sense. Most businesses are highly competitive, so anything you can do to reduce costs while improving efficiency can boost both the bottom line and your competitive edge. Yet sometimes it makes sense to spend money on things that can indirectly enhance your advantage. Planters … Read more
What’s in your trash can? The answer to that question can affect not only your business’s profitability but also its reputation. Today, most communities have some type of residential recycling program. Many towns and cities also work with businesses to recycle production waste, used packaging materials, and other environmentally friendly post-production materials. In the US, an … Read more
Every year between in the fall and winter, millions of people become sick in the US due to the flu. This year, the flu is particularly bad. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control recently announced every part of the continental US had “widespread” flu activity. Colds and the flu not only take their toll … Read more
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean outdoor operations stop. In fact, many operations are busier during the year’s coldest months than they are in the spring and summer. There are still orders to fill, supplies to be stored, inventory to be counted, and all the other responsibilities that are necessary for a successful business — including … Read more
So far, most places in the US have been spared from the heaviest snowfalls. But it’s just a matter of time before a whopper of a storm dumps many inches, or even feet, of snow on roads, sidewalks, and buildings. Heavy buildups of snow add additional weight to roofs and support beams. Too much can … Read more
Most warehouses, docks, and distribution centers are in the midst of their busiest time of the year right now. How successfully they deal with the challenges of the holiday rush often depends on how organized, clean, and efficient their operations are throughout the rest of the year. Neatness Counts During the holidays, most operations are … Read more
