The demand for a convenience-based lifestyle is quickly emerging, and luxury exercise companies- such as a competitors Pelaton and Equinox- are rising to the occasion. An article recently published by FastCompany debriefs Equinox's plans to diverge into the world of at-home equipment and streaming classes. In the $14B market of on-demand home fitness, top competitors in the industry are looking to introduce their presence through expanding portfolios and products to meet the consumers every need.
Posted: 08/10/19 [ Read More... ]
[ Navigating the Cultural Minefield of E-Mail Salutations ]
Most of us work within a shared business culture where we understand the language cues. Those of us who work across cultures, however, experience the minefield of communicating with people in other countries using our own cultural shorthand. Surprisingly, this applies even to the simple act of signing off an e-mail.
A recent article in BBC News discussed the perils of signing an e-mail "regards" or "sincerely" when sending it to an acquaintance in another country. An American would find...
Posted: 05/14/19 [ Read More... ]
[ How to create connections at work in the age of isolation ]
If you are feeling isolated at work, even in the midst of a busy office, you are not alone. A recent survey of more than 2,000 managers and employees found that employees depend on technology to communicate with their colleagues. The methods are led by e-mail (45 percent) and followed by text messaging (15 percent) and instant messaging (12 percent).
Of those who cited e-mail, more than 40 percent said "they felt lonely always or often, were not engaged and had a high need...
Posted: 04/28/19 [ Read More... ]
[ Most Amazon Brands Are Duds Not Disrupters Study Finds ]
The explosion of Amazon.com's private-label products has prompted concern that Amazon could use its clout to promote these house brands at the expense of merchants selling similar products on the web store. But the fears may be overblown, according to a new study released by Marketplace Pulse. In the study, the research firm examined 23,000 products and the consumer behavior associated with those products. They found that shoppers "aren’t more inclined to buy Amazon brands...
Posted: 03/20/19 [ Read More... ]
[ US Startups Optimistic Business Conditions will Improve ]
In its recently released Startup Outlook Report, Silicon Valley Bank shared the results of its survey of 1,400 founders and executives of global startups. The survey found these entrepreneurs upbeat about their business prospects.
"The 2019 report series finds that despite economic and political uncertainty across the globe, startups are generally optimistic about their business opportunities, and they plan to raise capital and expand their workforces this year," concluded the report authors.
Among the survey respondents were over...
Posted: 02/28/19 [ Read More... ]
[ Daimler and BMW bet on Ride-Sharing Services as the Future ]
Daimler AG and BMW AG have forged an agreement into which they will pour more than 1 billion euros ($1.13 billion) into a car-sharing and ride-hailing businesses. They plan to take on established players like Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc.
Is Ride-Sharing the Future for the Auto Industry?
The new venture was first announced almost one year ago. It will combine Daimler’s Car2go and BMW’s DriveNow to create the world’s biggest car-sharing operator by users, according to BloombergNEF....Posted: 02/23/19 [ Read More... ]
[ Who Are the World’s Most Innovative Countries? ]
Bloomberg has released its seventh annual Innovation Index. It ranks 200 countries by analyzing a range of criteria using metrics like research and development spending, education scores, manufacturing capability and concentration of high-tech public companies.
"South Korea retained the global crown in the 2019 Bloomberg Innovation Index, though improvements by Germany in research and education brought Europe’s largest economy to near-parity in the annual ranking," Bloomberg wrote in a recent release. "The U.S. moved up to eighth place, a...
Posted: 01/31/19 [ Read More... ]
[ U.S. Objects as India E-Commerce Rules hit Amazon and Walmart ]
The United States government has expressed concern about India’s revised e-commerce regulations, pointing out to officials in New Delhi that the policy will hinder the Indian investment plans of Amazon and Walmart.
These new e-commerce investment rules kick in on Feb. 1, and they ban companies from selling products via firms in which they have an equity interest. The new rules also bar them from making deals with sellers to sell exclusively on their platforms. The policies may be targeting Walmart, which just...
Posted: 01/24/19 [ Read More... ]
[ Ten design practices to deliver business value ]
For those companies that get design right, the prizes are rich. The S&P 500 companies that invested most into design processes, capabilities, and leadership over the past decade, including design stalwarts such as Disney, Nike, and P&G, outperformed the rest of the index by 211 percent.
Design Thinking Approaches 50. Yet it is still Misunderstood.
McKinsey published a recent brief on design thinking as it nears its 50th birthday. It found that many companies still struggle to realize value from design. "While...Posted: 12/05/18 [ Read More... ]
[ Nike Opens Nike NYC House of Innovation ]
NIKE, Inc. opened its new Nike House of Innovation on November 15. Nike NYC, as it is called, is a 68,000 sq. ft., six-level, cross-category premium Nike store, with a 650 Fifth Ave. address. Nike NYC is "the pinnacle expression of modern retail, representing the best of Nike global product, experiences and sport innovation," according to their press release.
Powered by digital commerce data and inspired by Nike’s newest retail concept, Nike Live, the ground floor features the new Nike Speed...
Posted: 11/20/18 [ Read More... ]