King Arthur launches a new 100% regeneratively-grown flour blend | Fast Company

November 8, 2023November 7, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A new King Arthur Baking Company product is hitting the shelves: In a verdant green bag, the company is now selling a 100% Regeneratively-Grown Climate Blend—a first for the more than 230-year-old brand—meant to help restore soil health.

The whole wheat flour blend is a mix of grains developed by the Breadlab, a research lab at Washington State University that breeds varieties of wheat, barley, and rye that are healthier for both humans and the soil than commodity wheats. Those commodity wheats, grown for the industrial-scale market, have been bred primarily for durability and disease resistance, or with high yields in mind, at the expense of attributes like nutrients, flavors, and soil benefits.

8 Important Steps to Dissolving Your Business | AllBusiness.com

November 7, 2023November 6, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Entrepreneurs have faced more than their fair share of challenges these past few years, and 2022 has been no exception with inflation up and consumer spending down. Sadly, some business owners have decided to close their companies due to economic difficulties. Others may want to cease operations for other reasons, like retirement. Regardless of why someone chooses to close their business, it’s important for them to realize there’s more to the process than simply stopping selling products and services. There are additional requirements to legally end a business’s existence.

What a business owner must do depends on the type of business structure (e.g., sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, C Corporation), where the company is located, whether it has employees, and other factors. As you can imagine, there are both legal and financial considerations to address, so guidance from a reputable and reliable attorney, accountant, and tax advisor can help ensure all goes smoothly and no critical tasks get missed.

How to Use Data in Advertising | AllBusiness.com

November 7, 2023November 6, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Data plays an important role in making informed decisions about advertising and can provide you with valuable insights about your target audience. Here 12 industry professionals share how to use data to tailor your next advertising campaign to achieve maximum results.

12 ways to use data to improve your advertising results

1. Retargeting campaigns

“When search/demographics data is available, we like to use it for retargeting campaigns and targeted search-engine ads. One of our recent advertising campaigns, which targeted businesses looking for print designs, almost flopped. But a retargeting campaign fueled by data helped us recover our money and make a profit. Retargeting campaigns are popular in advertising, but they only work when you can make informed decisions using customer data.”

—Tom Golubovich, Ninja Transfers

Zoom Teams Up with Walmart Business to Offer Affordable Collaboration Tools for SMBs

November 6, 2023November 5, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Zoom and Walmart Business have joined hands to deliver robust communication and collaboration tools at discounted rates. This partnership is set to bring high-quality digital solutions within reach of SMBs, playing a vital role in their growth and ability to tackle challenges effectively.

As part of the new collaboration, Walmart Business+ customers can avail a remarkable 40% discount on the Zoom One Pro Annual plan. This positions Zoom as the exclusive Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) provider for Walmart Business+ clientele.

Dropbox Rolls Out Advanced Tools for Enhanced Knowledge Work | Small Biz Trends

November 6, 2023November 5, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Dropbox has announced a suite of new features and tools designed to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and support the next generation of knowledge work. This as remote work culture continues to evolve and the tools that drive it need to keep pace.

In the wake of the 2020 pandemic, the rise of remote work compelled many companies to adapt and innovate. Dropbox was no exception, transitioning to a Virtual First model to combine the best elements of remote and in-person working. Yet, despite these strides, challenges persist. A recent study sponsored by Dropbox revealed startling insights: a whopping 42% of participants claimed they could not sustain productive work for more than an hour due to distractions. This has led to the average knowledge worker losing over 500 hours each year, with a significant chunk of this time – 157 hours – wasted on non-productive messages from workplace chat apps.

5 Warning Signs You Need to Outsource Your HR | Business.com

November 3, 2023November 2, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Your company’s human resources (HR) chief is responsible for many critical aspects of your workforce. They’re tasked with finding, hiring, training and assessing the performance of your employees. Your HR team is also responsible for developing an appealing culture and ensuring the company complies with all labor and employment laws. They may also oversee payroll. If you have unionized employees, HR is the liaison between your company and the union. To say that HR carries responsibility for your company’s success is an understatement.

What is HR outsourcing?

HR outsourcing is exactly what it sounds like. It is handing off some or all of your HR functions to a third party. This can be an alternative to hiring an internal HR department or used in tandem with an in-house HR professional who handles some of your HR responsibilities.

Outsourced HR services depend on the contract between the company and the provider. The client service agreement often asks the contractor to handle payroll by managing all withholdings and taxes. The HR company may also be in charge of releasing all W-2s to worksite employees. You may also use the outsourced service to manage employee benefits or retirement plans.

The Benefits of Text Message Marketing | Business.com

November 3, 2023November 2, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Marketers continually look for ways to improve mobile engagement with customers. Several studies prove mobile is an effective platform for driving purchases. Keeping customers satisfied and happily engaged is something every brand and business wants to champion.

A growing number of mobile consumers prefer and appreciate the ease of access from a simple link in a text message. The simplicity and ubiquity of text messaging have enabled it to emerge as a differentiated business-to-consumer engagement channel. It offers several benefits to marketers looking to engage target shoppers on their mobile devices, ensuring their preferences and convenience are respected.

While many marketers are still playing catch-up with mobile engagement, several recent trends suggest convenience holds the key to deepening mobile engagement and responding to consumer expectations. Text messaging is one such proven approach and it’s a highly effective engagement strategy for mobile marketers.

Disney will soon own 100% of the streaming service Hulu | Digital Trends

November 2, 2023November 1, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

As part of a buyout move that’s been several months in the making, Disney will soon purchase Comcast’s 33% stake in Hulu, becoming the sole owner of the popular streaming service.

The Walt Disney Company, which already owns the other two-thirds of Hulu thanks to its 2019 purchase of 20th Century Fox, made an announcement today that updates the timeline for its acquisition. In the statement, Disney said it expects to pay Comcast Corp.’s NBC Universal approximately $8.61 billion. The purchase amount is to be based on an appraisal of Hulu’s value conducted on September 30, 2023.

Which Amazon Echo should you buy? | Digital Trends

November 2, 2023November 1, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

If you’re a fan of Alexa’s gentle tones and like using voice commands around your home — including setting up smart routines or enabling Alexa Guard for some extra safety while you’re away — then you may be thinking about getting an Amazon Echo smart speaker. Or maybe you want to give an Amazon Show to a family member or friend to make it easier to communicate with them. But what should you get?

There are quite a few Amazon Echo models available, with more arriving all the time, so we know it can be confusing to figure out the latest models and which may be the right pick for you. Don’t worry. Our guide is here to help with our picks for the best and newest Echos available, along with details on who they’re suited for.

Things to Keep in Mind Ahead of Chargeback Season | The Startup Magazine

November 1, 2023October 31, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The holidays approach and that means many businesses are going to enjoy a holiday sales bump. While chargebacks are a serious threat all year round, holiday sales often lead to an increase in chargebacks in December, January, and February. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate them, but proper preparation is a must.

Setup a Dispute Management Platform

If you haven’t set up a chargeback and dispute management platform, it’s crucial that you do so before the holidays. These platforms make it easier to deflect, track, and manage disputes when they arise. Your staff will likely be stretched thin during the holidays and the weeks after, so anything that can ease burdens can go a long way