Laura Obando

We all know that Halloween falls on October 31st every year. So why do we see decorations and other holiday-related merchandise in stores long before then? According to a professor of economics at Virginia Tech, this strategy allows retailers to attract the early-bird shoppers and capture a larger share of the holiday spending. Since a…

Each year, the third Wednesday in October is National Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day — and this year, that means the day to celebrate is October 18. This holiday is a chance to thank local chambers across the country for all they do to help businesses of all sizes. There are approximately 4,000…

Each time a customer interacts with your business is an opportunity to strengthen your brand and build a valuable relationship. Great customer service is essential in helping your business stand out from its competitors. Your company’s response when things go wrong is equally as important as providing an exceptional experience. Here’s how to effectively transform…

It’s the bane of small business transactions: the dreaded credit card processing fee. Reducing fees can improve your bottom line, but your strategy depends on transaction volume, industry, and customer base. Choose a credit card processor with a surcharge program. A payment card surcharge or checkout fee is when a business passes the credit card…

Business disruption costs your company money, resulting in lost revenues and extra expenses. The worst part is that potential threats can come anytime and anywhere. A natural disaster or sudden illness can leave your company without a leader, supplier, or office space. A business continuity plan (BCP) ensures your organization can function during a crisis.…

In early August, we talked about the advantages of AI in this column. Today, however, we’ll play contrarian. While there are many tasks that artificial intelligence can perform, some jobs are best left to humans. Experts are discovering new tasks that AI can perform every day. However, there’s limited value in using AI to take…

As college-aged employees head back to school, businesses face the challenge of filling gaps in their teams, especially for seasonal positions and internships. Here are some effective strategies for businesses to address staffing needs during this transition period. To figure out how many people you need on your team, assess what your business needs to…

Small to medium-sized businesses can make their operations more efficient by using AI tools for tasks they might not have the time or the resources for otherwise. AI can help small businesses do more in less time at a lower cost or for free — from automating expense management to producing a sales pitch to…