Monthly Archives: March 2024

Egg prices remain high during Easter holiday due to avian bird flu and inflation | Fast Company

Posted on March 29, 2024 by knjohn | Leave a comment

Egg prices are at near-historic highs in many parts of the world as the spring holidays approach, reflecting a market scrambled by disease, high demand, and growing costs for farmers.

It’s the second year in a row consumers have faced sticker shock ahead of Easter and Passover, both occasions in which eggs play prominent roles.

While global prices are lower than they were at this time last year, they remain elevated, said Nan-Dirk Mulder, a senior global specialist with Dutch financial firm RaboBank’s RaboResearch Food and Agribusiness division. Mulder doesn’t expect them to return to 2021 levels.

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Posted in News and Views

Tagged avian bird flu, Easter, Egg prices, inflation, Passover

MIT researchers propose a new way to measure climate change: outdoor days | Fast Company

Posted on March 29, 2024 by knjohn | Leave a comment

Minnesota officially just had its warmest winter on record. Some residents probably enjoyed the break from shoveling snow, but many Midwesterners found it ominous to comfortably jog outdoors in late January. It could turn out to be a fluke—just a particularly strong El Niño—or it could be a harbinger of things to come, particularly after the hottest global summer on record. Either way, a professor at MIT wants more people to start thinking about climate change in terms of how it will radically alter seasonality as we know it.

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Posted in News and Views

Tagged climate change, El Nino, MIT researchers

Why Taylor Swift Is the Business Role Model You’re Looking For | All Business

Posted on March 28, 2024 by knjohn | Leave a comment

Do you have a role model? Many business owners can point to someone they view as a role model, someone with attributes they admire, or who just inspires them.

As expected, many small business owners claim legendary entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Sara Blakely as role models. No surprises there. But entrepreneurs often prefer the road less traveled, so if you’re looking for a new or additional role model—let me suggest—Taylor Swift.

Yes, you read that right. Allow me to make the case that singer/songwriter Taylor Swift is not only an excellent entrepreneurial role model but also an accomplished entrepreneur.

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Posted in Tools and Information

Tagged Business Role Model, entrepreneurial role model, Taylor Swift

How to Become a B Corp in 5 Steps | All Business

Posted on March 28, 2024 by knjohn | Leave a comment

Would you like to be the best business in the world or be the best business for the world?

Look closely at the two options. The key differentiators are in italics. A company that wishes to be the best business in the world ultimately does not share the same outlook as the one that wants to be the best for the world. These latter companies use business as a force for good. They are known as B Corporations: purpose-driven corporations that create benefit for all stakeholders.

What’s a B Corporation?

Incorporating as a B Corporation means following a slightly different process than that of forming a limited liability company (LLC) or a general corporation.

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Posted in Tools and Information

Tagged B Corp, LLC, non-profit

Plumbing Shortage Crisis Means Great Opportunity | Small Biz Trends

Posted on March 27, 2024 by knjohn | Leave a comment

Young people are shunning plumbing as a career option. The number of plumbers retiring is outweighing the number of new plumbers. Research commissioned by bathroom fittings manufacturers, Lixil Americas, shows that the shortage of plumbers in the United States cost the economy around $33 billion in 2022. The report estimates that by 2027, the nation will be short of around 550,000 plumbers.

Enrollment at trade schools has fallen. The apprenticeship rate for young people wanting to be trained in skilled trade work like plumbing dropped by 49% in 2022 compared to 2020, according to data from the recruitment platform Handshake.

Plumbing shortages across the United States is having negative consequences on households and the economy, including driving up costs for plumbing services. Not being able to call on a professional plumber can also have negative implications on businesses, such as their ability to expand into new buildings. The shortfall of plumbers can also delay flood recovery efforts and building upgrades so that water systems are more efficient.

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Posted in News and Views

Tagged Apprenticeships, Plumbing Shortage Crisis, trade schools

Several Local Communities Launch New Small Business Grants This Spring | Small Biz Trends

Posted on March 27, 2024 by knjohn | Leave a comment

From reducing income disparities to improving busy commercial districts, small business grants can benefit communities in numerous ways. That’s why several cities, counties, and local organizations have recently launched their own funding programs. Read about several current opportunities and initiatives related to small business grants below.

East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program

Empire State Development recently launched the third funding round of its East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program. The program awards grants of between $5,000 and $50,000 to businesses in designated parts of East Buffalo, largely helping minority-owned establishments. Initially launched in response to the mass shooting at a Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue in 2022, the program includes a total of $3 million in funds and has already helped nearly 70 businesses, providing more than $800,000 over the previous two funding rounds. The program is currently accepting applications and will continue to do so through May 10.

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Posted in Tools and Information

Tagged Business Grants, improving busy commercial districts, local communities give business grants

Why Happy Employees Are Good for Business | business.com

Posted on March 26, 2024 by knjohn | Leave a comment

A happy and satisfied workforce is something all companies should strive for. Although it may be tempting to focus solely on business operations, such as increasing sales and attracting more customers, it’s essential to prioritize employee happiness. In this article, we explain why keeping your workforce happy is essential and how to do it effectively.

Why it’s important to keep employees happy

Besides being the right thing to do, keeping employees happy has several benefits for you and your team. Here are some of the primary advantages associated with a motivated workforce.

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Posted in Tools and Information

Tagged focus solely on business operations, Happy Employees, motivated workforce

Steps to Take if You’re Behind on Your Taxes | Business

Posted on March 26, 2024 by knjohn | Leave a comment

Tax season is a nearly universal source of stress for business owners. It’s especially fraught with anxiety if you have unpaid taxes. The longer your tax delinquency goes on, the more daunting the prospect of catching up becomes, especially as interest and penalties accumulate. You may feel your only option is hiding from the IRS since any form of contact would constitute an admission of guilt or remind the IRS to audit your business.

However, it’s in your best interest to remedy the situation as soon as possible, and you may be surprised to learn the process isn’t as difficult as you’d guess. You may not even be in that much trouble (and if you are, it’s crucial to address that). Learn the steps to take if you’re past due ― and the potential impact on your business.

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Posted in Tools and Information

Tagged Behind on Your Taxes, IRS, tax season, taxes

When is my phone getting Android 14? Here’s everything we know | Digital Trends

Posted on March 25, 2024 by knjohn | Leave a comment

Android 14 is out now, and as usual, the first to get it was Google’s own Pixel phone family. Not to be undone, Samsung pushed out its version of Android 14 — One UI 6 — after a relatively short beta period and has seemingly now completed its Android 14 rollout. Nothing, the new phone company on the block, has done the same. Now, we’re just waiting for more news from Motorola, who has become the stick in the mud holding everyone up.

If you’re rocking an Android phone that is still stuck on an old build, here’s everything we know about official Android 14 rollout plans for all major brands available in the U.S. market. We recommend using your device’s Find on page function to pinpoint your device on this list.

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Posted in Tools and Information

Tagged Android 14, Google’s Pixel, One UI 6

How to use iMessage on Windows | Digital Trends

Posted on March 25, 2024 by knjohn | Leave a comment

Apple’s iMessage isn’t as universal as some of the best messaging applications, but as a default app, it’s exceedingly popular, and could be considered one of the best Mac apps. It’s an Apple-exclusive app, however, so getting it working somewhere else isn’t easy. Fortunately, though, there are some tricks you can use to get iMessage working on Windows. Here’s how to do it.

How to use iMessage on Windows using Phone Link

You can connect your iPhone with Windows through the Phone Link app, giving you quick and easy access to iMessage from your PC. Keep in mind, iMessages sent on your iPhone before you set up Phone Link won’t sync to your PC. Only the messages you’ve sent using your PC after you linked your iPhone to Windows will show up. First messages from first-time senders also will not sync.

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Posted in Tools and Information

Tagged best messaging applications, iMessage on Windows, iPhone