At the end of this month, when FedEx and UPS begin charging delivery fees based on package dimensions, delivery costs for companies that use these carriers could increase up to 30%. Since the 1930s, most carriers calculated shipping rates based on a carton’s weight vs. the distance it was being shipped. But FedEx, UPS and … Read more
Did it seem as if there were fewer shoppers busting doors and crowding aisles over the Thanksgiving weekend, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season? That’s because there were — 11% fewer, according to data released by the National Retail Federation. Sales in both stores and only totaled $50.9 billion between Thanksgiving Day and … Read more
First, the good news: The US economy grew 3.9% in the third quarter — from July to September — according to a report issued last month by the US Commerce Department. That rapid growth rate comes on the heels of an even more astonishing 4.6% growth rate during Q2, from April to June. That rosy … Read more
Every business needs certain levels of insurance. Hopefully, you’ll never really need to use it, but it’s best to have it there just in case. Trying to figure out what kind of insurance you need can be quite the chore, so let’s make it a little easier for you. The Traditional Insurances A number of … Read more
The US Postal Service is projected to lose $5.5 billion during 2014, despite increasing operating revenues by more $569 million thanks to a January rate hike and the continued strong performance of its package handling group. But can the world’s oldest and most reliable postal service continue to operate at a loss, especially when fewer … Read more
One of the unintended side effects of the rapid growth of digital communications and affordable Internet-accessible devices is a rise in electronic waste, or eWaste. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, in the period between 1999 and 2009, the number of electronic devices sold in the US doubled from about 215 million to 438 … Read more
Longshoremen, stevedores and other dock workers at at West Coast ports have been working without a contract since June and while collective bargaining continues with dock owners, the two sides appear to be drifting further apart. Earlier this month, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) issued a statement claiming the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) … Read more
With the US economy finally shaking off the effects of the Great Recession, retailers, manufacturers and industry leaders are hoping today’s Black Friday sales will mark the beginning of the first blockbuster holiday shopping season since the mid-2000s. All signs are positive so far, according to the National Retail Federation. Holiday sales have grown by … Read more
Beginning at the end of next month, both UPS and FedEx will change the way they charge for most packaging. Rather than using the traditional weight-plus-distance formula that has been in use since the 1930s, both carriers will use dimensional pricing — or “dim pricing” — to calculate how much it will cost to ship … Read more
Smart phones, tablets, laptops and Bluetooth devices and other electronics are becoming a more commonplace sight in the workplace. But how can you determine which devices should be provided by employers and which private devices should be allowed in working environments? It’s a conversation that is being held in workplaces nationwide. There’s even a name … Read more
