Two thirds of HR and Hiring Managers say they plan to offer holiday bonuses–and of the third who don’t, most plan to offer some other seasonal perks. No one wants to disappoint their employees, but when you’re a small business owner, it can be tricky to figure out an appropriate holiday offering that makes sense […]
Author Archive | Rikki
Tips for Making Shop Small Saturday a Success
Shop Small Saturday is coming up soon–November 28th, to be exact. Learn about the history here, and use these tips to make it a success for your business! Start Promoting Early SSS is fun, and it’s an event shoppers are more likely to feel good about than, say, all that Black Friday insanity. Get […]
TV That Teaches: Three Shows for Gleaning Small Business Savvy
Pitches and Marketing Perfector: Shark Tank Fans of Shark Tank fall into two categories: those who watch for the latest cool idea or gadget, and those who watch for the guilty pleasure of seeing pitches crash and burn. Both reasons can be super helpful for business owners. Seeing a neat app or product can offer […]
Shop Small Saturday: The Story of a Tradition
Shop Small Saturday is a holiday established to promote small businesses. First created by American Express in 2010, SSS is basically the more local-friendly counterweight to the infamous Black Friday (and more recent Cyber Monday). It occurs the weekend after Thanksgiving. Some other fun facts about SSS: Small Business Saturday v. SSS Small Business […]
The Big Six: Key Predictors of Worker Engagement, and How Small Businesses Can Use Them to Their Advantage
If you’re running a small business, the pressure is on to make sure every hire is a great one. You may not have the funds now to secure someone with tons of experience. Instead, a more effective strategy may well be to seek out an emerging professional with the potential and talent to grow with […]
Seven Musts for Managing Workplace Friendships
Workplace friendships can be fun, inspiring, and even boost productivity. But, they can also go awry, and potentially wreak havoc on your career and even emotional well-being. Try these tips to maintain healthy and successful workplace friendships. Go Slow Don’t dive in too fast to new friendships. The reality is that the office […]
Six Rules of Conduct for Working with Family
Working with family can have some great perks for you, your business, and even your brand. But it can also have its downsides. Family relationships can spoil a work environment and, worse, work can ruin family relationships. This is especially true in small business and startup situations, where you may be working in close […]
The Case for Card Systems
In today’s market, employers have an ever increasing number of time tracking solutions available. Facing so many choices, picking one can be daunting. Managers and business owners are left to decide what will work best for their business and budget. One option which remains popular is the card or badge swipe system, which allows employees […]
New Study Reveals Best and Worst States and Cities for Small Businesses
A recently released study sheds light on the best states for small business. Thumbtack, a marketplace that connects contract and freelance professionals with businesses across the U.S., ranked states based on feedback from more than 18,000 small business owners. Factors rated include local laws regulating small businesses, perceived “friendliness” of the area by business owners, […]
Tips for Effectively Managing High School Students
For many teens, seasonal summer jobs are a rite of passage. Somewhat rarer are teen job seekers who pursue jobs after school, either out of financial need, personal drive, or a desire to excel for college applications. While teenagers have a more limited schedule than the average professional, they are often extraordinarily motivated and highly trainable. […]