Biztips

News, information and expert advice on running a business
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RETAIL

Consumers prefer cash back to rewards points, but both boost sales

9/9/25
Rewards drive loyalty, shape behaviors, and deliver emotional benefits that influence how people shop and pay, according to a new study by Reach3 Insights, in collaboration with PayPal.
In fact, 81% of consumers say rewards impact their shopping and payment behavior.
"Rewards drive real behaviors, and when executed well, they can drive loyalty in a meaningful way," says Sean Campbell, senior vice president at Reach3 Insights.
Among the key findings:
● Cashback beats out reward points. 68% of study participants said they prefer cashback rewards for their simplicity and instant gratification, compared with 32% who prefer points.
● Rewards drive behavior and emotion. 81% make shopping choices based on rewards; 33% said that thinking about rewards gives them feelings of satisfaction and joy.
● Rewards influence loyalty. 63% say rewards make them feel more valued as a customer, and nearly half (49%) are more likely to recommend a brand because of its rewards program.
MANAGEMENT

Treat your staff right and you will never have to fire anyone, author says

8/30/25
TWO SIMPLE core beliefs underpin anyone's ability to lead, according to Mark Morgenfruh, author of Never Fire Anyone.
• In every situation teams desire to do great things and all they need are clear direction and knowing someone cares. When they fail, it's because there is a lack of trust and empathy in the leader and possibly the larger corporate culture.
• Lead uniquely. Lead like you never thought possible. Trust. Empathy. Love. Tough love to be sure. Transparency. Candor.
Morgenfruh is founder and president of GetHRready

MANAGEMENT

Emerging technologies are vital, but most businesses are not willing or ready to implement them

8/20/25
MOST BUSINESSES want to use new developments in AI but are not ready to do so, according to a new study. The report reveals a widening gap between business ambitions and IT readiness—raising concerns about wasted investments, stalled innovation, and growing cybersecurity risks.

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SMALL BUSINESS

How to find funding for your start-up

7/23/25
FINDING FUNDING for your startup may be more complicated than you think. Before you launch your business, it's critical to evaluate how much funding you'll need—and how you can realistically access it. Check out this advice from SCORE to help you on your way.

MANAGEMENT

Are you overlooking your best talent?


NEURODIVERGENT EMPLOYEES, such as those suffering from autism,  ADHD and dyslexia, make up nearly half of the creative industry’s workforce, but face increasing challenges that hinder their performance at work, according to a new study. Your business can benefit enormously from these people who are so often overlooked.

Note: Patience, a TV series now streaming on PBS, is a great illustration of the talent that neurodivergent people can bring to a company or organization.
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MANAGEMENT

Adopt these 10 hiring practices if you want to stay ahead in a competitive field

7/12/25
THE HIRING LANDSCAPE is evolving quickly. Companies that refuse to adapt will continue to fall behind if they don't make a change, says Jeremy Jenson, CEO of Encore Search Partners. He suggests 10 hiring practices businesses should adopt to stay ahead of competitors.
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MARKETING

The marketing crisis you didn't see coming

5/12/25
Traffic and visibility are vanishing for many businesses as traditional search strategies are breaking down, according to SOCi's 2025 Consumer Behavior Index. For marketers, this is a wake-up call: adapt to this fragmented reality now, or risk becoming invisible, irrelevant, or untrusted in the eyes of today's digitally fluent consumers.
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MANAGEMENT

Study finds employers are failing to support their supervisors

7/10/25
AMERICAN EMPLOYERS are failing to support frontline supervisors, a new study finds. As a result, the leadership vacuum is  growing. 
The study—developed by Express International in partnership with The Harris Poll—reveals a picture of increasing turnover, rising workplace toxicity and a shrinking pipeline of future leaders.

"Supervisors are saying, 'No more.' Future leaders are saying, 'No, thanks,'" says Bob Funk, Jr., CEO, President and Chairman of Express Employment International. "The result? A vicious cycle that decreases effectiveness, breeds toxicity and weakens the workplace. The companies that come to terms with the situation and start implementing solutions will be the ones that succeed in this reshaped economy."

Key findings include:
  • 55% of supervisors who left or plan to leave their roles cite a lack of fulfillment or advancement.
  • Only a third of hiring managers offer training on critical skills such as conflict resolution or providing feedback.
  • Nearly three in four Gen Z professionals say they'd rather develop individual expertise than manage people.
The white paper  also offers a roadmap for companies to reverse the trend, including:
  • Building real-world leadership training programs
  • Creating peer and mentorship networks
  • Investing in mental health and work-life balance
  • Recognizing leadership behaviors—not just outcomes
Download the full white paper to learn how your organization can close the leadership gap and build a stronger, more resilient workforce: ExpressPros.com/SupervisorsUS.
RETAIL

Warning: Price has become central to shoppers

6/18/25
SHOPPERS ARE SWITCHING to private label products as grocery prices continue to rise, according to a new national survey by RDSolutions. This finding underlines growing price sensitivity amid inflation and looming global tariffs.

The survey also finds that six out of 10 shoppers would switch stores if they perceived prices to be too high.

"These findings highlight just how central price has become to shopper loyalty—both to retailers and brands," says Lee Kallman, chief commercial officer at RDSolutions. "Economic headwinds like inflation and tariffs are accelerating changes in consumer behavior. Retailers and manufacturers who don't respond quickly risk losing share."

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ADVERTISING

Consumer pessimism causes dramatic changes in advertising campaigns

6/13/25

AS CONSUMER SENTIMENT drops rapidly, brands are tightening budgets and lower-funnel campaigns remain a lifeline for performance, according to findings in a new study by AdRoll. Tactics are shifting as TikTok’s ad prices rebound and Google pauses its privacy overhaul.

TikTok's CPMs began climbing in March and reached their 2025 high in April (just 6% below last year's levels) despite continued uncertainty around its U.S. presence. At the same time, Google has officially stepped back from its original plan to phase out third-party cookies, providing advertisers with short-term relief. However, experts caution against a renewed reliance on legacy targeting methods, as privacy-first alternatives continue to gain traction.

Google's AI-powered search is upending how consumers discover brands and how marketers reach them, the report says. The rollout of AI Mode, a new conversational search experience with ad placements in AI Overviews, marks a fundamental shift in search behavior. Early data shows that these AI-driven results have already reduced click-through rates on traditional listings by more than 30%, prompting brands to rethink their organic strategies and explore emerging ad formats.

"We're seeing a fundamental shift in how people discover and engage with content, says George Castrissiades, general manager of connected TV at AdRoll. "To stay competitive, marketers need to diversify beyond traditional channels and embrace cross-platform strategies that span the full funnel. Channels like connected TV are especially powerful in this environment. Research shows that when CTV is integrated with other tactics, it can drive an 11% lift in purchase intent."



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MANAGEMENT

Use AI in your business and your profits will grow, study reveals

6/12/25

COMPANIES ARE REALIZING a 136% spike in return on investment (ROI) from AI in financial technology. Savings exceed $1.36m for every $1m invested over a three-year period, according to a global survey.

Amid economic turbulence, fueled by tariffs and global trade disruptions, AI is being tied directly to enterprises' financial performance. 

The findings were revealed in Basware's AI to ROI report, conducted by independent research firm Financial Times Longitude 

The survey found that companies investing in AI are able to tackle more efficiently their biggest challenges—data accuracy, fraud detection, and process delays. Three out of four companies report that AI enables its employees to focus on strategic activities instead of repetitive manual work.

It's not solely about saving money but funding the ability to accelerate growth," says Jason Kurtz, CEO of Basware.

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MANAGEMENT

American business reputations with consumers are slipping over prices and value; steps you should take

5/22/25
Many companies are failing to fulfill consumer needs as inflation has shifted America's focus and priorities toward seeking value and spending more carefully. According to The Axios-Harris Poll 100 Rankings on Corporate Reputation this failure is the reason Trader Joe's ranked first—followed by other value-prioritizing brands like Toyota and Arizona Beverage Company—among the top 10 most reputable companies in the country this year.
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SMALL BUSINESS

Small businesses need to sell online to capture younger customers, study finds

5/15/25
TO CAPTURE CONSUMER SALES, small businesses need to sell online. Businesses with a brick-and-mortar store need to sell both online and in-person. That is the conclusion in a new survey of shopping habits in the latest GoDaddy Consumer Pulse* survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers polled in March.
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MARKETING

Study offers advice for business as consumer sentiment turns deeply negative

5/12/25
MORE THAN HALF of all Americans plan to cut non-essential purchases as tariffs take effect, according to new findings from Trade Winds, an ongoing research initiative designed to track consumer sentiment and behavior in real time. Many are already changing their spending behavior.  How you should react.
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MARKETING

Most consumers mark emails as spam at first glance—what you should do to build engagement

5/8/25
ALMOST ALL CONSUMERS check their emails daily, but eight in 10 mark messages as spam based solely on appearance, according to a new survey from ZeroBounce. For brands and marketers, this growing skepticism poses a major challenge. Even well-intended emails might  never be opened. We look at what you can do to to get your emails read.
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This book will make a great coffee-table book for your reception area

The 135 ads in Awesome Automobile Ads: 1930s Edition are a fascinating view of the cars of those days that any lover of cars will will appreciate. Can be read over and over again; there is always something new to discover in its pages.

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MANAGEMENT

A short course in how to choose a domain name

3/29/25
IN HONOR of the humble domain name turning 40 this month, a new survey by GoDaddy asked consumers to spill the tea on what they consider red and green flags when it comes to a business's domain name. Although different generations had varying opinions, they all agreed on two things: size and spelling matter.
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BIZADVICE

MORE EXPERT TIPS

Check out these earlier advice items from our archives
HOW TO SUCCEED IN RETAIL
SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS TIPS
TIPS ON MANAGING A BUSINESS
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