February 6, 2010
Winston-Dillard Area Chamber of Commerce will host their 32nd First Citizens’ Banquet Feb. 22 at the Winston Community Center at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $32.50 and Mike Winters will be Master of Ceremonies.
Interested? Call Sandy at 541-679-0219 or Tamara at 541-679-0366. Deadline for reservations is Feb. 12.
February 6, 2010
If you’re fortunate, the brainstorming sessions in which you have participate have been facilitated by someone who actually knows how to run one. If not, you’ve endured the misery that besets most contemporary decision-making sessions.
It is not just sloppily run brainstorming that is behind some of corporate America’s worst decisions, research is showing that brainstorming works best for moderately complex issues and poorly for very complex issues. In fact, psychologists have found a greater quantity and better outcomes from the same number of people working on the issue solo.
So, this article in Harvard Business Review suggests you consider the type of problem you face before rolling out the sticky pads and white board.
This post also gives me an excuse to use one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite books, A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold. Speaking a small flower that grows in poor soils he writes, “Only gravel ridges are poor enough to offer pasques full elbow room in the April sun. They endure snows, sleets, and bitter winds for the privilege of blooming alone.”
Bloom on,
Mark
February 5, 2010
I recently read a book so interesting I read it twice. What Makes You Tick, the Brain in Plain English, reveals the stunning advances in our knowledge of how the brain works. So I was particularly interested in this article in Harvard Business Review about how the 40 to mid 60 year-old brains arrive at solutions faster, have better judgment and inductive reasoning than they did when they were younger.
Author Barbara Strauch recognizes the loss of some short term memory and slower processing speeds but says the offset is better seeing possibilities and quicker problem resolution due to focus and trained neural pathways.
She is a deputy science editor and health and medical science editor at The New York Times and author of The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind (Viking), coming out in April.
February 5, 2010
Beating weak January 2009 numbers was anticipated but major retailers so strong gains over prior this January. This Wall Street Journal article adds that shopper bargain pricing remains key to moving the sales needle at retail. Thomson Reuters analysis of 29 major retailers found an average increase of 3.9% over year prior numbers and some retailers saw double digit gains.
February 4, 2010
Macy’s Chairman, President and CEO Terry Lundgren, who also serves as NRF’s Chairman, spoke on CNBC’s Squawk Box this morning about Macy’s January sales
more about "Retail’s BIG Blog | NRF Chairman Terr…", posted with vodpod
February 4, 2010
Radio advertising has suffered declines for three years, according to this Ad Age article. Third quarter revenues alone were reported down 21%, but major market stations say they are seeing signs of an upturn. Several analysts are projecting 2010 ad revenue growth of about 2%.
February 3, 2010
Umpqua Bank is in the process of raising $215 million from investors to pay off funds provided by the federal government under the TARP program, according to the Oregonian. Umpqua Bank President and CEO Ray Davis is quoted as saying he was proud the bank was selected to receive the funds but because many of the funds went to large banks there is “..tainting that went on.”
February 3, 2010
If you purchase web advertising by the click you may find the blog by Harvard Assistant Professor Ben Edelman instructive and useful. He recently published research into fraudulent online advertising practices and his academic research focuses on internet advertising and ecommerce.
I’ve published other items about click inflation and some research that revealed the lion’s share of clicks were provided by a small population of online consumers, but Edelman’s work takes the evolution of online advertising much further. One of Edelman’s titles may give you a sense of his work, “Securing Online Advertising: Rustlers and Sheriffs in teh New Wild West”.
February 3, 2010
(ROSEBURG, ORE) – To recover from the worst recession since the great depression, local business must embrace change. That’s the message that will be shared at the February 8th Membership Meeting of the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce by national marketing coach Mark Dennett.
“Most people think change is a short burst of disruption followed by long periods of stable operations,” explains Dennett. “But today there are no longer any rest periods; change is continuous and enormous.”
Pulling tips from his new book, POWERSHIFT MARKETING: 101 Ways to Shift Your Company into High Gear, Dennett will explore five ways local businesses can prosper by embracing change.
Dennett’s firm, the Dennett Consulting Group, provides training, marketing and research to clients throughout the Western U.S. Last year, Dennett’s firm conducted a feasibility study for the City of Roseburg on moving an air museum to Roseburg. In January Dennett published his first book which is now available online at: www.PowershiftMarketingBook.com. .
The Chamber meeting will be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds and is open to non-Chamber members. For more information on attending “Business New Year’s Resolution” contact the Roseburg Chamber (541-672-2648) or reserve space online at: http://www.roseburgareachamber.org/
February 1, 2010
A year ago the economy was flushing away our collective wealth. The downward spiral looked like it would continue, maybe forever. People tracked the eclipse of the stock market with a financial hypochondria that added velocity to the decline.
It is a year behind us and there are increasing signs, amidst the ongoing difficulties, that the economic world will survive. Major retailer and service sector businesses are ramping up for improved consumer spending. According to this Ad Age article, Walmart, Allstate, Hyundai, Merril-Lynch, Bank of America, Macy’s and many others are increasing product offerings and marketing budgets.
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