Understanding value chain

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin 92 million tons of clothes-related waste are discarded each year. To put that in perspective, that’s the equivalent of a garbage truck full of clothing being sent to a landfill every second. The good news is this excessive waste has driven innovation in ways that not only benefit our planet but that also provide a more transparent and personalized way for brands to communicate with consumers. And a few trailblazing companies are leading the charge. Using Digital IDs for Authenticated Resale Resale is huge and the industry is getting bigger fast. Insulated from supply chain bottlenecks and benefitting from an increased focus on sustainability, the resale market is growing 11 times faster than traditional retail and expected to hit $77 billion in the next five years. So, what is the next evolution in resale? Vanessa Barboni Hallik, the CEO of Another Tomorrow, believes it is important to offer resale … [Read more...] about Brands Are Now Communicating To Consumers About Sustainability Through QR Codes – Here’s How

By now, everyone has weighed in on the Goldman Sachs crisis. Pundits have pilloried the firm for enabling a toxic and destructive culture. Supporters such as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg have defended the darling of Wall Street, saying it remains a great institution. And the Goldman Sachs PR machine has simultaneously done everything possible to undermine whistle-blower Greg Smith's credibility while insisting his remarks don't reflect the values of the firm's 30,000 employees. Regardless of where the truth lies, companies must learn from the image and reputation damage that's been wreaked on Goldman. I've worked for countless organizations in, well, every conceivable industry and can assure you of two things: There are many Goldman-like cultures in fields that have nothing whatsoever to do with the world of high-powered finance. There are just as many cultures that espouse the best-in-breed ethos of such rock-star companies as Southwest Airlines, Starbucks, and … [Read more...] about Don’t Be Like Goldman Sachs: 5 Ways

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Inflation is becoming a problem. Whether it becomes a long-term structural one or dissipates after the pandemic, no one knows. As the old saw goes, economic forecasts make tarot cards appear respectable. Jack Dorsey recently predicted hyperinflation , an exponential decrease in the value of paper money akin to what happened in the Weimar Republic in the 1920s—or Zimbabwe in 2007 . For that to occur, monetary policy would have to ignore the problem, failing to raise rates as the data required. A Fed that lacks political independence could make this mistake, but it’s a low-probability outcome. Even double-digit inflation—in a throwback to the seventies—is unlikely, but possible. After all, economic conditions, like bellbottoms, go in and out of fashion. The most likely scenario is some prolonged elevation to inflation (in the mid-single digits) as labor shortages and supply-chain problems continue to pressure prices. No … [Read more...] about The Best Inflation Hedge You Already Own

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The lawn and garden market is projected to reach $26.3 billion by 2020, according to Allied Market Research. Gardening can lift your spirits and help make you feel peaceful and content. Yet, something good for you mentally isn't necessarily good for the environment. The non-organic chemicals in pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers can be toxic to the environment . Through her capital and deal flow pipeline for early-stage female tech founders, Vinetta Project, Vanessa Dawson started working with consumer packaged goods (CPG) corporations like P&G. Because smaller CPG brands are often better able to address millennial and generation Z consumer demands, established companies are accelerating investment in emerging brands. Farmers and researchers have been developing sustainable ingredients in pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Dawson saw using sustainable ingredients as an opportunity and launched … [Read more...] about How A Female Tech Founder Leveraged Her Skills In The Organic Biological Garden Market

- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 26): Industrial property developer AME Elite Consortium Bhd saw its net profit fall 9% to RM48.56 million for the financial year ended March 31, 2022 (FY22) from RM53.48 million in the previous year, on lower revenue. This resulted in lower earnings per share of 7.58 sen for FY22 compared with 8.35 sen for FY21. Revenue also came in lower at RM398.39 million in FY22, down 14% from RM460.61 million in FY21, due to lower revenue across most of its business segments of construction, property development and engineering. Nevertheless, the group declared an interim dividend of 2.5 sen per share for FY22, payable on July 7. It blamed the decrease in the property development revenue to lower stages of work completed and timing of income recognition, while the lower engineering services revenue was mainly due to most of the existing engineering projects being near completion, where the revenue recognition was lesser. For the fourth financial … [Read more...] about AME Elite ends FY22 on lower note, declares 2.5 sen dividend

- A + A (May 26): Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s quarterly revenue rose a better-than-expected 9%, reassuring investors trying to come to grips with the economic cost of sweeping lockdowns intended to eradicate Covid-19. But China’s e-commerce leader also refrained from offering its usual outlook for the year, underscoring the unpredictable impact of a Covid Zero policy that’s already cast the country’s supply chains into disarray and hammered consumer sentiment. Alibaba — a barometer for Chinese consumer sentiment because of its dominance of Asia’s largest retail arena — is grappling with intensifying competition and mounting economic uncertainty at home. This week, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang warned of dire consequences if officials didn’t move decisively to safeguard the economy. Alibaba will play its part in helping shore up the economy, Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang told analysts on a post-earnings conference call. The company’s own revenues had slid by a … [Read more...] about Alibaba’s sales beat estimates, eases fears of Covid’s economic fallout

Education is easy to make part of any business. That does not have to mean bringing in outside experts or sending employees away to expensive courses. Drawing on in-house resources can be just as rich. At Metal Mafia, we used to have sales seminars on a regular basis, at which different staffers would present on everything from the pros and cons of new products, to techniques for communicating better with customers. As we got busier, the seminars were scheduled less frequently, and finally, not scheduled at all. Two weeks ago, I asked my staff to tell me why a customer would want to spend money on a specific new product we now offer. I thought the answers could have been better, so I decided we all needed a refresher course in how to explain the value of our products in a meaningful way to our customers. I held an in-house tutorial this week, and the investment paid off. Here's what I think you'll find most useful. Let your staff know it's OK to ask questions. … [Read more...] about Help Your Employees Be Strategic Thinkers

Davos, Switzerland (CNN Business) When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke by video to a packed room at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he thanked the West for its solidarity against Russia. But he also issued a warning to political leaders and business executives: Don't lose your nerve. "I would only wish you not lose this feeling of unity," he said, calling again for maximum pressure on Moscow. Three months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leaders from Europe and the United States emphasize that they remain committed to sticking with unprecedented sanctions in an attempt to force President Vladimir Putin to pull its troops out. But as the cost of food and fuel jumps — fanning political protests and public discontent around the world, and increasing the risk of a recession — maintaining a consensus could prove increasingly challenging. "I am very worried about what a recession in Europe would do to European resolve … [Read more...] about The West united against Russia. Will its nerve hold as prices soar?

Today’s tight labor market, economic challenges, and customers’ ever-increasing expectations have changed the business landscape. To adapt, survive and have a chance to thrive, businesses must be increasingly agile. advertisement Companies need the people, processes and technology to support fast decision making, continued innovation and inevitable pivots. Let’s consider how your business can use process redesign, automation and people-first strategies to speed up workflows while delivering exceptional experiences for customers and employees alike. Customer service and personalization Customer service has become a business differentiator: a tool for building connections and reinforcing brand values. While this is more important than ever, it is also more complicated. Jeff Weiner, vice president, general manager at Conduent , a provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions that ignite efficiency, savings and revenue growth, explains that the … [Read more...] about How to build business momentum during challenging times

Hiring. It’s a huge problem for almost every small business owner. In today’s lean environment, you need high value contributors, not warm bodies. The good news is that you can get some very interesting, capable team members without actually having to hire them yourself. A variety of companies manage talent in finance, engineering, and public relations, providing top-notch talent on part-time arrangements. For the business owner, this provides much-needed flexibility. You don’t have to make commitments to potential employees when you don’t know what the next year or even the next quarter will look like. For the right workers, these arrangements allow unheard-of flexibility, challenge, and the ability to pursue other passions in life. The arrangement is strictly business-to-business, and the intensity of the engagements can be dialed up or down depending on the entrepreneur’s immediate needs. There are no 1099’s, no insurance issues, no hassle. If it isn’t working out, there … [Read more...] about How to Hire People You Can’t Afford