Special to The Tennessean I took a deep breath before I stepped on the scale. We were a month into the pandemic, and I was certain I wouldn’t like what I saw. Yep, it was bad news. Between my gym being closed and my newfound quarantine snacking hobby it had only taken me four short weeks to gain 10 pounds. At the rate I was going, I would easily double my weight by the time the pandemic ended if I wasn’t careful. My pre-pandemic exercise routine consisted of playing squash a few times a week and doing some light weight lifting every other day. Both activities were easy to commit to because they were fun. But now, with gyms closed and pandemic blues permeating through our house, staying in shape had suddenly become more difficult. My exercise activities that I had been doing for years were no more. And, there was no telling how long it would take before they would come back. Getting motivated to do anything but Zoom calls and Netflix felt out of reach. I had lost the “eye of the tiger” and I knew the longer I waited to find a new work-out activity the […]

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Special to the Globe-News Over the past few years, Black entrepreneurs in Amarillo have demonstrated both business resilience and a steadfast dedication to social change as they’ve launched and managed their businesses during one of the most tumultuous economies in recent memory. In fact, nearly nine in ten Black business owners say they are committed to driving social change through their business, according to research from Bank of America. Black entrepreneurs face unique challenges that can hinder their success. In Amarillo, organizations like the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce are working to support our region’s minority businesses, including the area’s thriving Black owned business community, offering business resources, professional development courses, and efforts to improve infrastructure in the North Amarillo area. As Black History Month celebrations come to a close, here are three tips consumers can use to continue celebrating and supporting Black-owned businesses year-round: Make it a priority to shop at Black-owned small businesses. The best and easiest way you can support local Black-owned businesses is with your dollars. Every small business owner relies on a steady stream of customers to make ends meet, innovate and grow, which ultimately fuels the economy as a whole. Familiarize yourself with Black […]

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TrueCare Ramona RN supervisor Rebecca Marr and physician assistant Rochelle Zangen accept the Nonprofit of the Year Award with Debbie Adelman, TrueCare’s director of philanthropy. CARLSBAD Ocean Pearl Spa reopens after remodel Ocean Pearl Spa in the Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa has reopened after undergoing an interior renovation and reworking of its treatments and services. They include a new partnership with Carlsbad-based brand Skin Authority to offer its sustainable skincare products. Spa treatments include body polishes, tailored massages and custom facials, such as the Eternal Youth Facial or the Ocean Exfoliation Body Treatment. The Therapeutic Deep Tissue Massage can be upgraded with CBD benefits. Spa interiors were also refreshed throughout its eight treatment rooms, relaxation areas and locker rooms. Ocean Pearl Spa is at 5480 Grand Pacific Drive. Call (760) 827-2700 or visit oceanpearlspa.com . CARMEL MOUNTAIN Ladies & Pups Market at brewery Second Chance Beer Company is celebrating Women’s History Month with its inaugural Ladies & Pups Market from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. The market will feature pop-up shops from woman-owned businesses such as Bold Bouquet, Borrego Babe Co., Eggy’s Pocket, No, You Sit! Treats, The Salty Eclectic and Wet Nose Pottery. Second Chance will be […]

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During uncertain economic times, business leaders need to focus on controlling costs and increasing efficiency . At the same time, executives are under increased pressure to grow revenue, reach new customers, and keep pace with competitors. Today, C-level decision-makers are turning to cloud technology to not only cut costs and increase efficiencies but also to add enhanced capabilities to grow revenues, engage more customers, and scale. I’d like to share my thinking on why cloud is so compelling in this context. Benefits of Cloud Solutions Cost savings: Cloud solutions can help companies save costs by reducing their IT infrastructure expenses. By moving to the cloud, companies can avoid the upfront costs of purchasing and maintaining hardware, software, and other infrastructure, and instead pay only for what they use on a subscription basis. This can be particularly helpful during an economic downturn when companies need to cut costs. Scalability: Cloud solutions are highly scalable, meaning that companies can quickly and easily scale their computing resources up or down to meet changing business demands. This can be especially important during an economic downturn, when companies may need to be more flexible to adjust to changing market conditions. Remote Work: The COVID-19 […]

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Inflation breaks hearts on Valentine’s Day with soaring chocolate prices 00:00 00:0002:40GO LIVE Facebook Twitter Email Embed SpeedNormal Autoplay Toblerone chocolate bars will soon no longer have their iconic Matterhorn mountain peak on their packaging, due to the brand’s U.S. owner moving some production outside of Switzerland, reports say. "Swiss newspaper Aargauer Zeitung reported that Mondelez International Inc., which produces the triangular treat, is changing the design of the mountain depicted on the cardboard wrapper so as not to violate the Swissness Act," Bloomberg states. The company reported announced the plans last year to move some of the triangular treat’s production to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava to cut costs. The packaging design is changing as well, to a "modernized and streamline mountain logo that aligns with the geometric and triangular aesthetic," a Mondelez spokesperson told the newspaper. VICTORIA’S SECRET TO BRING BACK FASHION SHOW AFTER 4-YEAR HIATUS Toblerone chocolate bars are seen in the shop in Sentilj, Slovenia on September 11, 2021. Their packaging will be getting an update so they will not violate the "Swissness Act" of 2017. Rather than reading "of Switzerland," the packaging will state "established in Switzerland." The changes are being credited to the […]

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A wine boutique several years in the making is finding its home in a Miami Valley community. The project will create jobs and provide another destination option. The business, named Austeria Wine Boutique, is a long-term vision husband and wife duo Andrew and Taylor Bowsher have had for years now. It all started with a love of wine and a culinary background for Andrew and evolved into a passion while he lived in California. He then introduced that passion to Taylor, which evolved into a dream to open their own shop. Located at 109 S. Ohio Ave in Sidney, Austeria will bring forth wines of character and complexity to the region. The 1,200-square-foot facility is currently being worked on by Freytag and Associates as the Architect, Suttles and Son and the General Contractor, and Ben Waters for Commercial Painting. The initial investment was around $300,000-$400,000. The company is named after the Italian word Osteria, which means a small family-run establishment featuring wine and simple food, merged with their son’s name – Austin. Austeria focuses on offering a selection of local, small-batch, and/or natural production wines by the tasting, glass, and bottle; coupled with a curated selection of charcuterie, cheeses, […]

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In 2009, Amy Porterfield was the director of content development at Anthony (Tony) Robbins Companies. Between the regular paychecks, paid vacations and promotions, she liked the job just fine. But when it gave her the chance to meet people building online businesses, she realized, “I want freedom,” she says. “I wanted to work when I wanted to work, where I wanted to work, how I wanted to work,” just like they were doing. Porterfield ended up quitting her job that year to found a social media business and eventually started creating online courses . In 2019, she launched the Digital Course Academy, which teaches users how to build an online course business itself. “I’ve helped over 50,000 students,” she says, and she’s generated tens of millions of dollars. She also started the Online Marketing Made Easy Podcast, which has been downloaded nearly 50 million times, according to her site . Porterfield, 46, and based in Nashville, Tennessee, recently released her first book, “ Two Weeks Notice : Find the Courage to Quit Your Job, Make More Money, Work Where You Want, and Change the World,” a guide for those working a 9-to-5 keen to start their own business. Here’s […]

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A California homebuilder is buying homes in the Arcadia Lite area of Phoenix, razing them and building new from the ground up. Aliso Veijo, California-based Thomas James Homes Inc. just closed on its first home last week. It just finished its second home at 4020 E. Turney Ave. in Phoenix, and is listing it for $2.08 million. For a glimpse into the 3,091-square-foot home, click through the gallery below: Tommy Beadle , co-founder and CEO of Thomas James Homes, said he opened a Phoenix division in late 2021 and now has a staff of 30. The company’s business model is to buy an old home in the best neighborhoods, raze it and build a new home in its place. The company focuses on Orange County, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Seattle, Denver and now Phoenix. "We are always looking for an opportunity to buy existing homes in each of those six markets," Beadle said. In its newest market of metro Phoenix, the homebuilder is focusing on the Arcadia Lite neighborhood, north central Phoenix, the Biltmore area and any of the areas surrounding Paradise Valley. "We focus our business wrapping around Piestawa Peak in key neighborhoods where consumers want to live, […]

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CHICAGO (WLS) — Consumer Protection Week begins Sunday, March 5, and the Better Business Bureau has some important information to help you avoid falling victim to scammers. The BBB and FTC will provide a free live webinar Wednesday, March 8 at 3 p.m., to inform consumers of their rights and educate the public about scams and ID theft prevention. The webinar, titled "Avoid the Top Business and Consumer Scams Occurring in Northern Illinois," is in partnership with the City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. You can register here . While scammers work year round, there are some key things to watch for during the spring and summer months. With spring break approaching, scammers are poised to offer fraudulent vacation rentals, third-party fake bookings, and travel sites designed to appeal to consumers looking for great getaway discounts. "Many consumers now are making their spring break travel plans and finalizing payments, some of which will fall directly into the hands of con artists," said Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau."Scammers often take advantage of consumer habits and capitalize on trending internet searches, enticing consumers with great deals to popular destinations or all-inclusive […]

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To be successful, a business needs to have a plan for revenue in the short term and profitability in the long. Early-stage founders might be tempted to come up with half a dozen ways the company could make money. Don’t fall into temptation: Five unproven solutions don’t make one actual solution. Having said that, sometimes there might be several business models that could lead to profitability. The Business Model Canvas approach, where every aspect of the business is condensed onto one slide, offers a holistic view into every aspect of your business. For a pitch deck, however, I think it’s worth narrowing it down to two things: customer acquisition and lifetime value. For acquisition, focus on where you find your customers, whether those acquisition channels are scalable, and what it costs to acquire a new customer, usually called customer acquisition cost, or CAC. On the lifetime value front, examine how much each customer is worth, from the moment they show up in your product until they stop using your product. Every dollar they spend along the way is an individual customer’s lifetime value. From there, you can break your customers into different segments: One customer category could be people […]

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