When one discusses packaging with a titan, don’t start in the middle of the story. Sure, consumer demand, environmental conscientiousness and the strong push to right size and minimize packaging are driving the industry. But … according to Jim (James) Downham, President and CEO of PAC Packaging Consortium, the non-profit organization that advocates for progressive … Read more →
Financial experts are ‘cautiously optimistic’ as we explore predictions and issues that will affect your business decisions Deloitte’s economic indicators for 2020 and the Royal Bank’s Economic and Financial Market report, reveal a cautiously optimistic economic outlook for 2020 that will set the stage for continued yet moderate growth. Both agree, however, that the Canadian … Read more →
The future of inkjet processing is sustainable. And, that’s extremely important in a mature business where market segments (newspapers and magazines) are declining and product quality and service differentiation (not price) are key success factors. For the past three years, a number of industry whitepapers published from competing manufacturers and graphic arts ‘think tanks’ confirmed … Read more →
Are you shifting to discount pricing to maintain revenue levels? Please STOP! That’s a tell-tale sign you may be in a saturated market space. In saturated markets, customers readily find more than sufficient replacement products to satisfy their needs. In a saturated market, experts advise that to achieve new growth, one must develop new products, … Read more →
Let’s set the record straight. Customers build brands by recognizing a product as the sole solution to an unmet need or unresolved problem. For customers to build a brand two criteria have to be met: the brand has to be trusted and the tone and the content of the advertising needs to resonate with the … Read more →
A crisis can be described an intense, immediate tension. It’s a critical event, which if not handled in an appropriate and timely manner, or is ignored, can turn into a business catastrophe. Let’s be clear – a crisis is different from an issue that needs to be managed. Issue management is about facilitating communication. It’s … Read more →
The ‘Johnny-on-the-Spot’ well-greased elevator spiel practiced to perfection and ready to be delivered to any person at any time is in dire need of a facelift. In today’s environment, when business owners are interested in how they can differentiate their product to increase their reach and profits, they resent being held hostage for a message … Read more →
Pierre Cléroux, VP of research and chief economist at BDC, believes that 2019 will see great opportunities to expand markets and diversify product lines. But there are two huge threats: labour shortages and technological advancements. Hugo Sarrazin, Senior Partner and co-author of the December McKinsey Quarterly 2018, predicts that the critical enabler of future success … Read more →
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. – Vince Lombardi, Former Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi got it only half right. Persistence, knowledge and willpower increase the odds that one will be successful. But, if one … Read more →
Operations must be aligned to create value from data and new technologies In 1992, Robert Kaplan and David Norton turned the business world on its head when they proposed the idea that financial health was an insufficient indicator of business success. Could there be more to measuring success than just solvency? Kaplan and Norton said … Read more →
Here’s how you can overcome the thief of good decisions Before you lift your head off the pillow in the morning and plant your feet on the floor, how many decisions have you made? Internet sources estimate that an adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. Cornell University researchers estimate that individuals make 226.7 … Read more →
The solution may be to change soft organizational factors Despite a healthy working capital and a quick ratio measure, what’s is it that’s flying below the radar and preventing your business from reaching its next revenue target? If it’s not money, what is it? It’s those soft organizational factors that, when bundled together, form the … Read more →