Business Columns
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Gains in private sector union membership show a labor revival is possibleSep 01, 2024 5:45 am - On this Labor Day, unions in Illinois are organizing new industries and boosting job quality despite dealing with an economy in transition and persistent legal and politi...
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BBB tips for launching a successful customer loyalty programAug 25, 2024 5:29 am - Implementing a customer loyalty program can be a fantastic strategy to enhance customer retention and drive recurring revenue. In many instances, such programs can significantly boost your business’ bottom line, says Steve Bernas of the Better Business Bureau.
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Flourishing and marketing go hand in handAug 21, 2024 9:58 am - During a recent visit to The Research Triangle area of North Carolina I began thinking about the word “flourishing.” It’s a great word that conveys a sense of vitality an...
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O’Donnell: Bears’ focus groups spark ire and dismayAug 21, 2024 6:00 am - Jim O’Donnell: The recent focus groups on the Bears’ proposed lakefront stadium sparked ire and dismay among season ticket holders.
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Are you seeing more security in restaurants?Aug 20, 2024 1:45 pm - I’m seeing restaurants and bars move away from the traditional bouncer toward professional security. Why? It’s a question of not only guest safety, but also the survival of the business.
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The race to pass legislation next year already has begunAug 18, 2024 5:25 am - With all the lip service directed at the small business community, one would expect good, common-sense policies that support small businesses to sail through the Illinois legislature. That is not the case, however.
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Today’s employees are different — and not in a good wayAug 14, 2024 7:51 am - Hospitality is a tough industry, no question about it. But it’s being made tougher by a new breed of employees, more of whom are coming to us post-COVID with unrealistic expectations and a sense of entitlement — even if they have zero experience.
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Time for the Fed to cut interest ratesAug 11, 2024 6:02 am - While the Fed’s initial decision to hike interest rates was a policy intervention designed to slow inflation, a decision to keep rates high creates real headwinds for the housing market
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After ‘The Great Resignation,’ is ‘The Big Stay’ here to stay?Aug 07, 2024 9:56 am - For most employers, turnover is closer to pre-pandemic levels and finding a reasonable supply of applicants to fill most positions is less challenging. So now, a new trend, coined “The Big Stay” by labor economists, is sweeping the country.
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Trust pros to help cut red tape, build more suburban housingJul 31, 2024 9:24 am - As Cook County property taxes hit Aug. 1, businesses and residents inevitably will see tax hikes. These rising bills, along with burdensome government regulations, make I...