Use real-time data to personalize how you connect with customers throughout their journey Photo by Artem Podrez, Pixels In a recent report published by Harvard Business Review Analytical Services (HBRAS), 58% of global executives named customer experience (CX) their number one business priority. But at the current warp-speed of digital transformation, technology can end up eclipsing the delivery of more personalized and empathetic customer experiences. The way for businesses to excel in CX is not just to prioritize the digitization of touchpoints, but also through the practice of digital empathy, a gateway to gaining insights to make customer engagement personal. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Digital empathy is the ability to humanize customer behaviors, preferences, and aspirations through the connection between human-centered data, insights, and the meaningful customer engagement powered by those insights. Digital empathy is a critical piece to the CX puzzle often missing in the C-Suite as most executives are not their customers. But data and insights are the key to authentic, personal engagement. In truth, most executives are not their customers, which hinders empathy. Any executive decision made about investments that touch customers without empathy will risk relationships. And […]

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When Chris Bird , chairman of Dillard Cos., was younger, he aimed to be an astronaut. In fact, he majored in aerospace engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. After college, Bird’s plan was to go into the U.S. Marine Corps and study at flight school. But he failed the eye exam, so he scrapped that plan and went (eventually) into overhead doors. Bird bought Dillard Door & Security in 2002. The company traces its history to the 1940s. In the 1950s, Dillard got into making industrial doors and gates. The company even installed the gates at Graceland. After Bird entered the picture, he began to expand the business by acquiring other companies — Tri-State Glass Co., Trace Electric, Gulf Coast Shutter, Northwest Florida Overhead Door, Gateman of Tupelo, and Alumaglass. Dillard serves as the holding company. When we consider the whole of Bird’s career, the “dipping bird” comes to mind. It’s that little toy bird that continuously dips its head into water. The dipping bird is an example of thermodynamics, the relationship between heat, work, temperature, and energy. Bird’s work history spans everything from computers to insurance to investment. It’s Bird’s constant motion — dipping, dipping, dipping — […]

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With student use at an all-time high, Pequot Lakes High School is looking to update its weight room equipment. In addition to use by physical education classes, the weight room is open for students every morning before school, with typically 10-20 students in attendance. The weight room is also open after school and, depending on the season, there are between 25-80 students utilizing this space after school. We have recently started to open up the weight room on Saturday mornings to allow more access for students. During the summer, the Community Education summer strength training program typically serves over 150 students. The first update to this space would be to rename it from the weight room to the Fitness Center, as it incorporates more than strictly weight lifting. Not only is the Center used by physical education classes and student-athletes during their seasons, it is also used by students who may not be participating in any specific activity. The second piece to this is selling most of our existing equipment and updating it with equipment from Dynamic Fitness. The new equipment would give us a state-of-the-art performance and training center to better serve our students. The updated setup would […]

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Ultra Yield Solutions (UYS), a horticulture lighting distributor specializing in CEA, offers Zero Upfront Cost financing options for three LED lighting upgrades for California indoor growers where high electricity prices continue to rise while wholesale prices continue to fall. UYS has a solution. The UYS Zero Upfront Cost Program, customized for each CEA’s circumstances, allows growers to significantly reduce energy expenditures and improve yield without the challenges of upfront costs. Switching to LED lighting and controls results in savings that keep wholesale prices competitive and improve margins. Plus, upgrading to LED lighting makes CEA’s better neighbors as reduced electricity usage helps prevent brown-outs and reduces the facility’s carbon footprint. UYS’s unique approach offers CEA facilities the opportunity to compare grow lighting solutions from several manufacturers to ensure technology combinations that optimize high yield and reduced energy consumption. The UYS team includes expert lighting consultants that recommend ideal lighting for offices, warehouses, packing areas, and outdoor areas, in addition, to grow lights –ensuring full facility, and maximum energy savings. Qualified CEA facilities include those currently using high-pressure sodium (HPS), and fluorescent grow lights and ready to upgrade to state-of-the-art LED lighting and controls. A partial list of factors impacting qualification […]

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NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — SmarTech Analysis has published a new study, " 3D Printing Jewelry Markets 2023: Market Study and Forecast ." The comprehensive market study indicates that the market for 3D printed jewelry will reach $989M in 2031 compared with $489M this year, with a 10-year CAGR of 10% from 2021 to 2031. Continue Reading Total additive manufacturing luxury jewelry market revenue ($USD) – Source: SmarTech Analysis Despite well over a decade of additive adoption, the jewelry industry’s 3D printing landscape has been relatively concentrated on a small number of specialist providers. However, in recent years, several factors have reinvigorated the market and opened up avenues for growth, innovation and competition. The most intriguing development for the AM jewelry space is with the direct production of precious metal jewelry, with multiple vendors of metal binder jetting systems signaling their intent to provide comparatively low-cost precious metal printing, which will turn the historical high-cost direct jewelry market upside down and set the stage for direct metal jewelry production to go mainstream. For more information on the report, please visit: https://www.smartechanalysis.com/reports/3d-printing-jewelry-markets-2023-market-study-and-forecast/ About the Report This report focuses on the current and future state of the 3D printing […]

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Officials say there’s been a record new number of small businesses in the past few years. With multiple nationwide layoffs, this is expected to grow. AUSTIN, Texas — There’s been a record new number of small businesses nationwide in the past few years. With layoffs and shifts in the workplace, that number is expected to grow. Brett Sussman of American Express Business Blueprint said the "entreprenuerial boom" started in 2021. "In 2021, we saw over 5 million new small business applications, and that was up 50% from 2019," said Sussman. Sussman said the growth relates to two factors. The first is because during the pandemic, people had a chance to reset and understand what drives their passion, their values. "I think that really drove a lot of people to consider small business ownership. The second thing is with the technological advances, it’s never been easier to start a new small business. Now, also talk about in 2023, it’s also never been harder to maintain a small business," said Sussman. According to Sussman, in 2023, 50% of small business owners that American Express talked to were very excited that their revenue would grow and customers would come to them in-store […]

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This week has been one of the busiest times for pedicab drivers.(Arizona’s Family) PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) – Hundreds of millions of dollars are expected to be brought into the Valley economy thanks to the Super Bowl and WM Phoenix Open. With this, many local businesses are looking for a piece of the pie. This week has been one of the busiest times for pedicab drivers. Arizona’s family spoke with Tony Rivera, who’s been riding his pedicab throughout the Valley since 2014. He said his business has been preparing for this week months in advance, and they’ve ensured they had the equipment to fix tires and other issues that may pop up on a bike. The Super Bowl alone brings in tens of thousands of people to the area, and Rivera’s job is to navigate people through the cluster of traffic that come with the big game. This past week he said he’s been riding around for 8-14 hours a day transporting dozens of people. “I’ll clue you in on a little secret. We have electric assistance on our bikes; work smarter not harder. It makes it so much easier to get through an eight to ten hour day with […]

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Adidas flagship store entrance in New York City. Adidas announced early financial guidance for 2023 on Thursday. Adidas expects sales to drop by $1.28 billion in 2023 if it doesn’t sell leftover Yeezy inventory. But analysts say the German sportswear company’s issues run deeper than Yeezy. Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go. Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Adidas announced its financial guidance for 2023 earlier than anticipated on Thursday. The company’s guidance began on a bleak note with revenue for the year expected to drop after ending its Yeezy partnership. The company said it expects to see sales drop by €1.2 billion, or about $1.28 billion, and operating profit by €500 million, or about $537 million, if it does not sell its leftover Yeezy inventory. A strategic review of the business by Adidas will cost the company another €200 million. Against this background, Adidas […]

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Led by former Philips CMO Richard Wergan, Edelman Delta aims to define a company’s strategic positioning for multi-stakeholder audiences. LONDON — Edelman has unveiled a new brand strategy offering that aims to extend the firm’s proposition beyond communication into brand positioning and management consulting. Led by former Philips CMO Richard Wergan, Edelman Delta has brought together more than 20 people across brand strategy, management consulting, integrated marketing, design, employee engagement and sustainability. Other key figures include MD Jamie Kieffer, who previously led marketing at SteelSeries and Tomy, and COO Richard Sherrington, a former McKinsey exec. So far, the unit’s client list has included CenterPoint Energy, Gilead Sciences, Iron Mountain, Mazars, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Myriad Genetics, Unilever, Duly Health and Care, Quantix and Trimble. Edelman Delta operates from hubs in London, New York and Chicago, with plans to expand into Asia. Wergan joined as founder and CEO of Edelman Advisory in 2018 after a career in senior marketing roles for Philips, Barclays and Xerox. “We’re seeking to restore true brand strategy as a core driver of long-term business success,” he said. “Some brand consultancies take a short-term view of brand strategy moving on after the strategy is set, often leaving […]

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What would you do if you had nothing? If you were starting from scratch, with no money, no contacts and no clue which way to turn, what would be your next move? When you have hit rock bottom there is only one way to go from there. But getting out of a bad place takes more than just an intention. Broke to $200m: the three master traits that built a business empire Bedros Keuilian Entrepreneur Bedros Keuilian has experienced this shift first-hand. An immigrant from a communist country-turned-entrepreneur, Keuilian is founder and CEO of Fit Body Boot Camp, a franchise business that started in 2009 and now reportedly has over 600 locations ( from 355 in 2020 ), that has been included in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 500 fastest growing franchises in the world and three times on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing privately owned companies. Keuilian is now an investor and a coach, working with entrepreneurs, New York Times best-selling authors and thought-leaders to create highly profitable and industry dominating brands and businesses. Keuilian arrived in the United States of America at the age of six with nothing and has since built companies worth over $200million. He puts […]

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