The Impact of Moving Your Business Online
The virtual world has helped people to connect across the globe in both personal and professional capacities. It has opened a door to unparalleled information sharing and brought the most remote reaches of the planet into homes and offices in the blink of an eye. So it’s no surprise that this virtually limitless communication tool holds incredible pull for businesses seeking to expand. And while operating in the online arena can definitely have a positive impact on just about every industry known to man, there may also be some unexpected drawbacks. Read more
The Benefits of Discounting
As a business owner, you might not think that giving discounts to clients and customers is in your best interest. After all, you’re in business to make money, not give it away! And yet, if you don’t at least consider the many benefits that can come with offering discounts, you’re doing yourself a real disservice. Certainly there are drawbacks, as well. For one thing you’ll earn less money, and most business owners can reasonably view that as a detriment. But discounting has the potential to earn you more in the long run providing you go about it in the right way. So here are just a few reasons why you might want to work it into your business plan. Read more
Bio-Rentals Make a Difference
Eco-friendly cars are slowly making inroads (no pun intended) into the hearts of modern drivers thanks to advances in technology, government incentives, and the widespread popularity of breathable air. But there are still an awful lot of cars on the road that rely solely on petroleum products for locomotion, which means every year our atmosphere becomes more polluted with the tons of carbon emissions that these vehicles produce. And while individuals are slowly changing their minds about the type of cars that appeal to them and the future they want to create for their kids, the process is bound to be slow going unless larger organizations jump on board. Luckily, broader efforts seem to be underway in cities around the world, with trials involving biodiesel buses and green alternatives for trucking popping up here and there. And car rental companies that are adding eco-friendly vehicles to their fleets are another good step.
Most rental organizations, including big names like Hertz and Avis, now offer green rental options for customers looking for alternatives to the gas-guzzling polluters of yesteryear. However, you’ll be hard pressed to find any of the big boys offering an electric car. Of course, the problem here is that customers unfamiliar with the area they are visiting (probably the majority of people renting cars) may have a tough time finding charging stations. So it’s not surprising that hybrids (both compacts and SUVs) are the best you can get from the big-name rental companies. It’s rather surprising that they’ve offered even that much, but apparently there is enough demand to motivate them to expand their lines, which is rather heartening in and of itself.
There are also some rental companies that have made efforts to be even greener. Bio-Beetle Eco Rental Cars in Maui, HI, for example, has made it their mission to be the greenest rental car company in the world. They aim to help travelers make better choices for themselves and the planet with every car they offer, and to that end, all of their cars get 35-50 miles per gallon thanks to alternative fuel (biodiesel) and hybrid engines. And they even go so far as to offer zero-emission electric cars, with the addition of the Nissan Leaf to their fleet (proving that it can be done)! Granted, they operate their business on an island, so even if there are only limited public charging stations available it is unlikely that the renter who plans ahead will run out of charge. But with more and more automakers competing in this arena, it won’t be long before charging stations become more widely available and electric vehicles can go greater distances (the Leaf, for example, now has a range of about 100 miles on a full charge).
The point is that there are rental car companies out there doing their part for a cleaner environment; and as more people support them, chances increase that the message will spread and larger companies will take the hint. Rental cars are only a small part of a much bigger problem plaguing our planet, but considering that the eco-friendly movement is beginning to take root in automobile adjacent industries, it may not be long before others (like the pollution-heavy shipping industry) follow suit.
The Hidden Costs of Hiring Consultants
For many companies, hiring consultants is a standard part of operations. In most cases, corporations (or even small businesses) can benefit from bringing in industry professionals that specialize in certain areas for short-term contract work. It saves them on the cost of hiring a highly-paid expert to a staff position, allows time to determine whether or not a full-time position within the company is warranted, and helps the business to meet targeted needs within a set period of time (often in the way of a business plan that the company can move forward on after the contract is complete) without the overhead of an additional ongoing salary to pay. So there are plenty of reasons why a business might want to hire a consultant here and there. Unfortunately, there can be hidden costs associated with bringing in outsiders to consult. Read more
Ethical Issues in Dental Care
As health care providers, dentists shoulder a heavy burden of responsibility to act in an ethical manner at all times. And
like any other health care professionals, they are often faced with ethical dilemmas. They may have to deal with such issues as rapidly changing technology (and decisions about whether the associated costs, training, and risks are worth the advanced care that can be offered via such equipment, software, and materials) and the difficulties that can result from third-party payment (as with health insurance). But perhaps that biggest source of ethical issues comes in the form of interactions with patients, and if you opt to practice dentistry of any stripe you will undoubtedly encounter ethical concerns when it comes to keeping patients safe and informed, and helping them to make educated decisions concerning their oral health. Read more
A Language Lesson for Big Business
The truly wonderful thing about a global economy is that companies can expand into other countries in order to increase their consumer base, improve local job markets, and bring together peoples, cultures, and communities through the expansion of business. Although the legalities and costs of such moves may be prohibitive in some cases, the potential for gains on both sides often makes it well worth the trouble. However, there is one other obstacle that must be overcome in order for businesses to succeed in the international market: the language barrier. And companies that refuse to address this fundamental communication issue may feel the sting of failure before long. Read more
FHA Helps People Buy Homes, Avoid Foreclosures
The Federal Housing Administration has been around since the 1930s, when it was formed in order to stop the tide of foreclosures brought on by the Great Depression and to help low-income Americans realize the dream of owning their own homes. But they offer a lot more than just low interest rates for homebuyers and the government backing that encourages banks to approve loans for otherwise risky homeowners. In fact, they do a lot to help economically depressed Americans pull themselves up, get into suitable homes, and find ways to stay there. In short, they are a godsend in our current economy. Here’s how they help people and why other countries should take a page from their playbook. Read more
The Onus to Know Ones Suppliers
One of the best things the internet has done for business is allowed the type of instant communication and information dissemination that makes running operations small or large, local or multinational, a breeze. Unfortunately, this speed of data transference has also grown to pose one of the biggest threats to business as consumers can now learn and spread negative information about a business just as easily. And with this development have come quite a few activist groups that make it their sole mission to inform the public about companies that are failing to do their part when it comes to running ethical operations, including every link in the supply chain. So if you think that your business won’t eventually come under scrutiny in this arena, think again. The age of information means that there are eyes and ears everywhere, and it’s only a matter of time before they turn on you and your business. Read more
Non-Profits and Payment Options
Businesses today are finding new and creative ways to use the growing pool of available technology in order to reduce their time, effort, and overhead so that they can earn more money. And non-profit organizations, although notoriously late to the game, are also jumping on the bandwagon in order to see more money going to the worthy causes they support.
But while there are certainly more options than ever for businesses of all types to connect with the consumer public in order to separate them from their hard-earned money, there may be ethical concerns about the ways in which funds are gathered. And while corporations might be willing to brave unhappy customers or even lawsuits concerning proper disclosure of billing practices, non-profit organizations generally try to steer clear of any whiff of indecent activity. Read more
The Detriments of Mining
It has long been recognized that mining is an industry that has a decided long-term impact on not only the ecosystem in which it occurs, but on the environment as a whole. And the scope and size of mining operations has increased at a rapid rate since the beginning of the industrial revolution. With the almost exponential growth of population over the past few centuries has come an increased reliance on the natural resources that lie beneath the Earth’s crust, and this has brought about a powerful industry that cares little for the damage it causes in pursuit of consumer dollars. This, in turn, has led to major detriments for both workers and the environment at large. Read more