Dealing with difficult customers

August 1, 2024  |  Business, Tips and Techniques

Every business at some point is forced to deal with difficult customers. Perhaps they are unhappy with the level of service, the product or a member of your team. Or maybe their expectations are just unrealistic. Understanding how to navigate challenging interactions, however, can turn a negative si…
Read More
Recruiting positive employees

June 1, 2024  |  Business

As the recruiting manager for Made in the Shade Tent Rentals, I embody the first hurdle on the road to employment. If 100 people apply for one job, close to a quarter will make it to the first interview with me over the phone. Of that quarter, less than half will make it to an in-person interview. S…
Read More
What’s wrong with these kids?

June 1, 2024  |  Business

Man, I feel old when I start referring to the next generation of employees in the distribution world as “kids.” But let’s face facts—it has been over 25 years since I started working in the warehouse of my family distribution business. Things have changed. The way the job is done has changed…
Read More
Hacking through supply chains

June 1, 2024  |  Business

What we now call “hacking” has been around almost as long as humans have existed. Today’s version focuses on technology, but the behavior takes many forms that even go back to the story of the Trojan horse. Hacking is simply the act of exploiting a weakness to gain access to something, whether…
Read More
Improving customer retention and satisfaction

April 1, 2024  |  Business, Management

Of all the famous studies regarding child behavior, one usually rises to the top of the list when it comes to overall recognition by the public and effectiveness at determining the future success of a child: the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment. In the experiment, children were asked to decide betwee…
Read More
Code changes affect temporary structures

April 1, 2024  |  Business, Safety

Every three years the International Code Council (ICC) publishes a new set of International Codes. These include the International Building Code® (IBC®) and the International Fire Code® (IFC®). The latest edition year of the ICC codes is the 2024 set. Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) particip…
Read More
Insurance adviser auditions

December 1, 2023  |  Business

Organizations are navigating one of the toughest insurance markets that has been experienced in decades. Many companies are facing increased rates, retentions, restrictions in coverages and terms and reluctance from carriers to write their business with limited competition. Add on top of that the p…
Read More
Safety inspections

December 1, 2023  |  Business, Safety

This article provides guidance on conducting workplace safety inspections for safety officers and other workers who are assigned responsibility for safety but do so in addition to their regular assignments. Workplace inspections are an important tool for identifying hazards and resolving them. Set u…
Read More