June 2024

Earlier this year, an old story about former Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata went viral, posthumously praising him for taking a 50% salary cut rather than laying off staff.

Why would a story from 2013 suddenly make headlines? Likely because it provided such a stark contrast to current trends in North America, where employee layoffs are reaching levels not seen since the dot-com crash of the early 2000s.

The tech sector is being hit particularly hard. According to NPR, 2023 was “a bloodbath for the tech industry, with more than 260,000 jobs vanishing.”

The cuts were blamed on a post-pandemic hiring binge and high inflation, which lowered consumer demand. Yet, the layoff trend continues into 2024. According to NPR, tech companies collectively laid off approximately 25,000 employees during the first four weeks of this year.

While some layoffs are inevitable due to basic economic cycles of recession and growth, they seem increasingly to be a method for CEOs to please shareholders by providing small, short-term bumps to a company’s bottom line.

I think it’s a short-sighted approach that reduces workers to data points and budget line items while ignoring the value of retaining employees over the long term, even when economic times are tough.

As Iwata said shortly after announcing his personal salary cut, “If we reduce the number of employees for better short-term financial results, employee morale will decrease. I sincerely doubt employees who fear that they may be laid off will be able to develop software titles that could impress people around the world.”

The reflexive instinct among many CEOs today seems to be a throwback to the Jack Welch brand of management of the 1980s. Welch, the CEO of General Electric from 1981 to 2001, was known for being relentless in his pursuit of profit and his preferred method for achieving it: firing employees. According to a profile in the New Yorker, “no single corporate executive in history has fired as many people as Jack Welch did.”

Related: This Job Hack to Escape Layoffs Is Gaining Popularity — But It’s Divisive: ‘It Altered My Brain Chemistry’

He pioneered the “ranking and yanking” method, in which he developed a grading scale for employees and fired the bottom 10% every year. His ruthless style was revered at the time. But his legacy is mixed, with much of his success attributed to financial chicanery.

While his management style eventually lost favor in the 2000s and 2010s, CEOs’ desire to prune workforces for short-term relief seems to be gaining new momentum.

But does it improve a company’s bottom line in the long run? Even small cuts can quickly change a company’s culture, causing employees to go into self-preservation mode and stifling innovation and creativity.

I know all too well how costly it can be to lose long-term, loyal staff due to extreme circumstances. Like countless other companies and not-for-profits, my charitable organization had no choice but to lay off staff in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made because I know the value employees at all levels can bring to an organization and the impact it would have on those employees’ lives.

And it’s a decision that rarely pays off in the long run. According to a report in Time, layoffs can often harm a company’s financial performance over time. They don’t consistently boost profits and can lead to lower employee engagement and customer service quality.

Conversely, while it doesn’t always show up on a balance sheet, there are so many benefits to fostering an environment where employees feel safe and valued and want to stay with a company in the long term.

The majority of my team has been with our organization for over ten years, with many in the 15- —to 20-year range, and I see the benefits of that dynamic every day. Employees who feel emotionally safe in their jobs provide a challenging function that is critical to decision-making and are loyal to their organization, something that can only be earned through mutual trust.

Related: I Turned My Layoff into a Learning Lesson and Became My Own CEO — Here Are the Lessons I Learned Along the Way

Empowered employees work harder because they are invested in long-term outcomes. They know that they will be around long enough to see their contributions come to fruition and are not just on a one or two-year stop before looking for their next job.

They are also comfortable taking risks and driving innovation. Too often, companies achieve a level of success and become complacent and risk-averse, which ultimately leads them on a path to failure. That’s why loyal and dedicated employees are so critical. They have the security to challenge leadership to continue innovating and driving impact or speak up when they see their leaders making potentially bad decisions.

A stable workforce also fosters better relationships with clients and suppliers, creating continuity and consumer confidence. A company constantly cutting and adding jobs cannot effectively maintain these relationships or conduct effective, long-term business planning.

Retaining an engaged workforce is particularly important in the era of “quiet quitting,” in which disengaged employees do the bare minimum level of work to keep themselves employed. This trend is not surprising given that so many employees are worried they could be cut at any moment. That insecurity can also fuel the tendency of employees to take on a side gig that will give them a softer landing if they are cut.

Related: TikTok Layoffs: ‘Large Percentage’ of Employees Laid Off

But don’t just take my word for it. Data shows that employee retention leads to higher productivity, reduced turnover and training costs, and employees who have higher morale and miss fewer work days, all of which are good for an organization’s bottom line.

Instead of constantly trimming workforces to create short-term bumps, business owners — large and small — should consider the benefits of investing in employees and nurturing a secure, stable workforce. Finding other ways to tighten budgets and keep your workforce intact is a decision you will never regret.

Growing a business takes consistent work and effort. For a lot of entrepreneurs, the only way to develop on a regular basis is to take to the road for meetings, sales, and more. Those costs can add up if you don’t take a careful approach to booking flights and hotels. To take advantage of a tool that works around the clock to find subscribers affordable flights, consider this limited-time deal.

You can get a lifetime subscription to the OneAir Elite Plan for only $79.97 (reg. $790) through 11:59 p.m. PT on June 26th. OneAir Elite members can save on a wide variety of flights. It includes discounts on economy, premium, first, and business class tickets.

Users can set a home airport and up to ten desired destination airports when setting up their OneAir Elite profiles. From there, OneAir’s AI-powered platform will work around the clock to find great rates, discount fares, mistake fares, and amazing flight deals geared toward what you’re looking for.

To make things easy, OneAir lets you search and book flights via the OneAir Mobile App, which is available for iOS and Android devices. This can save a lot of time when compared to other discount travel sites, which often redirect customers to other sites to complete bookings.

Discover why OneAir Elite inspires five-star reviews and reviews like Ashok’s, which reads, “I am so pleased with my decision to sign up with OneAir! “

Don’t miss this limited-time opportunity to get a lifetime subscription to the OneAir Elite Plan for only $79.97 (reg. $790), which only lasts through 11:59 p.m. PT on June 26th.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

There are many important things to consider when launching your own business or side hustle, and location is at the top of the list. Local and state laws can mean different taxes, zoning regulations and licensing requirements, so it pays to be strategic about your choice of state, city and even neighborhood, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Related: 5 Things Not to Do When You’re Running a Small Business

After all, some 20% of new businesses fail within the first two years of being open, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also found that 45% of businesses fail within the first five years. That number jumps to 65% after 10 years.

Capital on Tap, a company that offers a credit card and spending management platform for small business owners, analyzed BLS data to determine the percentage of startups that are still active after three years — and broke down the U.S. states with the highest and lowest chance of survival in three- and five-year time frames.

“There are over 30 million small businesses in the U.S., making up an enormous percentage of the economy, and as this number continues to grow, so will innovation and commercial drive,” says Damian Brychcy, chief executive officer at Capital on Tap. “This research should serve as a positive sign to entrepreneurs in the top ten states who are thinking about starting a business.”

^{Image Credit: John Coletti | Getty Images. Boston, Massachusetts.}

Qualities of business-friendly states

Before diving into the data, it’s important to consider what factors make a state attractive for new business owners. And it’s about more than just starting a business. The following factors can help keep small companies afloat and lead to ongoing success:

Taxes

Perhaps the most important factor of all, a business-friendly tax environment can keep costs down and put more money in your pockets. There are payroll, employment, income and corporate taxes to worry about, all of which can affect decisions around hiring and expansion. Some states also offer tax incentives for small businesses, which can remove expensive hurdles. Reviewing a self-employed tax schedule in your area can help.

Workforce

If you want to run a healthy, growing business, you’ll almost certainly be hiring employees. The best states for small businesses will have a plethora of available talent and a workforce with high levels of college education. Starting a business near a college or university can also attract interest from recent graduates. This is especially prominent in the technology industry.

Regulations

State policies regarding small businesses involve more than just taxes and deductions. Government programs can offer business owners grants and loans and incentivize investment from larger funders. Compliance is another factor. States can lower the costs of business by removing regulatory red tape, such as required government approvals or clearances.

Growth potential

You want to start your business somewhere it can thrive in both the short- and long-term. A number of factors can support this — for example, funding, investment in infrastructure and livability. A close proximity to sources of financing can help your company grow, as long as the area can support your workers and their families. States and cities with a low cost of living, good schools and solid infrastructure will not only attract talent but keep it.

Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes an influx of vacationers ready to explore new destinations. As the summer travel season begins, businesses operating within travel and hospitality must adopt robust strategies to manage the anticipated increase in transaction volumes and fraud risks. These strategies must also effectively manage disputes and chargebacks during a peak travel period that’s expected to break records.

Americans are still choosing to prioritize their vacations despite challenges like international unrest and rising prices. Projections from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) suggest we’ll see a record-breaking summer travel season in 2024, with officials anticipating the busiest travel season ever.

52% of consumers say they plan to travel as much in 2024 as last year, with another 40% saying they expect to travel even more. These prospective travelers already have significant budgets set aside for these trips.

Millennials and Gen Z are the driving forces behind this trend. People in this cohort tend to prioritize experiences over material goods and seek a healthy work-life balance to explore new places and cultures. They’re also heavily influenced by social media, where many influencers showcase travel as part of an aspirational lifestyle.

This surge in travel drives global business at every level of the economy, but it also creates a heightened sense of risk. For businesses, effectively managing fraud and chargeback risk year-round is crucial to navigating the travel space.

Let’s explore the best strategies and tactics for managing these threats, whether in-house, hybrid or outsourced, and why asking for help might be the most effective course of action this year.

Related: How a Bad Billing Descriptor Can Cost You

The challenges ahead

While a travel boom is fantastic for businesses and local economies, it poses significant challenges that underscore the necessity of comprehensive fraud and chargeback management. An exceptionally busy travel season can aggravate existing chargeback triggers already intrinsic to the travel space. We may see:

1. Increased Transaction Volume. The sheer volume of transactions during peak travel seasons makes managing and monitoring every transaction closely difficult. This increased volume can overwhelm internal systems, leading to errors and delays in handling disputes, contributing to more chargebacks.
2. Fraudulent Activities. Fraudsters take advantage of the busy season, knowing that the high transaction volumes can mask their activities. From fake travel deals to phishing emails, the types of fraud targeting travelers are diverse and sophisticated, increasing the likelihood of chargebacks from unauthorized transactions.
3. Overbooked Flights and Hotel Shortages. High demand can lead to overbooked flights and sold-out hotels. When travelers are bumped from flights or denied rooms, dissatisfaction spikes. So, too, does the number of chargebacks as customers dispute charges for services they didn’t receive.
4. Poor Customer Service. Understaffing is common during peak periods, resulting in longer wait times, unresolved complaints and poor service. Frustrated customers often turn to chargebacks to resolve their grievances when they feel neglected or mistreated.
5. Operational Strain. Handling a surge in transactions requires a well-prepared operational setup. Without it, companies might fail to process payments and refunds promptly, further aggravating customers and leading to more disputes and chargebacks.
6. Financial and Reputational Impact. Chargebacks result in financial losses due to refunds and fees. However, they also damage a company’s reputation with customers and hurt their relationships with financial institutions. High chargeback rates can result in higher processing fees and, in severe cases, the loss of merchant processing privileges.

Considering what’s at stake, you can see why it’s incredibly urgent to prioritize effective chargeback management. Aside from saving time and money, it can also help boost customer trust during the peak travel season.

Managing chargebacks: In-house, hybrid or outsourced?

Travel operators can adopt one of three chargeback management strategies to handle the increased demand and the potential challenges outlined above.

First, they can manage everything in-house. This involves maintaining a dedicated team to manage disputes, enhance customer support and refine fraud detection systems. While this approach offers direct control, it can be resource-intensive and requires constant updates and training to stay updated on new fraud tactics and regulatory changes.

A second option is to outsource everything. This allows travel companies to benefit from specialized expertise and advanced technologies without the burden of maintaining an in-house team. Third-party providers can offer scalable solutions, real-time fraud detection and comprehensive chargeback prevention strategies. However, it can also mean that merchants lack insight.

As a third option, merchants can try taking a more hybrid approach. Combining internal efforts with external support lets businesses leverage advanced technologies and knowledge from third-party providers while retaining some control over the process. This approach provides a balance between direct oversight and external expertise.

Related: How to Fight Fraud and Chargebacks Should Regulation Fail

Industry collaboration

As we gear up for a record-setting summer, it’s clear that improved industry collaboration could be the key to addressing fraud and chargebacks.

We could consider the transformative potential of open data and artificial intelligence (AI) within the tourism industry. Combining an open data strategy with AI can enhance decision-making processes, helping to personalize customer experiences and optimize operations.

By harnessing open data, businesses can gain valuable insights into traveler preferences and behaviors. This insight can be refined using AI to forecast trends and tailor services.

Related: Think You Can’t Win Against Chargebacks? Think Again.

Open data and AI will have a much more symbiotic relationship in the future. The kind of collective effort that open data demands will create a more secure environment for our customers and protect our businesses from the financial strain of chargebacks. These technologies promise to boost efficiency and innovation in tourism, help manage threats and enhance the overall travel experience.

Ultimately, travel operators need to be proactive. By adopting the right strategies and fostering collaboration across the industry, operators can thrive during this busy travel season and create a better experience for all travelers.

According to Steve Jobs, “Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.” It seems obvious that keeping things simple will help your business succeed. And yet, it’s surprisingly difficult to do it.

If simplicity is this challenging, you need to be intentional to make it happen. That’s why many successful companies actively prioritize it as a value. Ikea’s focus on simplicity comes across in its designs, catalog, store experience and more. One of Nike’s 11 management maxims is “simplify and go,” focusing teams on moving fast to adapt to new technologies and fashions.

I believe that simplicity is a driver for genius innovation. In fact, my journey as an entrepreneur began with an idea to simplify a complex and bureaucratic process. Today, the success of that idea has created new challenges. We serve millions of customers across over 100 countries, with many different needs — to meet them all, we’d need a ton of different features. So, we have to find the simplest ideas that will improve the experience for the largest number of users.

Related: Here’s Why You Should Embrace Simplicity as a Strategy (and 3 Ways to Do It)

Simplifying innovation is a recipe for success

Some people think that to be an entrepreneur, you have to bring groundbreaking technological innovation to the world. But actually, there’s a lot of room to innovate on top of new technologies, simplifying them and packaging them for specific use cases.

If you think of two of the technology giants of our times, Google and Apple, neither of them invented their core technologies. Apple wasn’t the first company to create a home computer or cellphone, Google wasn’t the first company to develop a search engine. They made existing innovations simpler and more user-friendly, and it was a recipe for success.

This is particularly relevant right now in the middle of a revolution fueled by generative AI. There are definitely huge opportunities in creating new AI-driven technologies, but there are even more opportunities in finding ways to package these technologies into user-friendly software for specific use cases.

To do this, first master the tech, and then put yourself in the shoes of your potential user. Try to understand what is really useful about the innovation and what barriers people might face when trying to use it.

The key is to find a way to simplify the technology, making it easier for your target users to understand and adopt it. Do this, and you’re onto a winner.

Work smarter by simplifying communication

Another part of any business where simplification is super important is communications and processes. As companies grow, it becomes harder to get people on the same page or ensure continuity between departments. Poor communication creates misunderstandings, which can lead to mistakes. The more people involved in a project, the more likely it is that workflows will become complicated. This all slows things down, wastes time and restricts your ability to make an impact on the business.

Let’s start with communication. Using a single, simple language across the company is crucial for people to be able to understand each other. For example, try to use less jargon and fewer three-letter acronyms, or make sure to explain them if you do. By creating organized archives of historical documents and plans, you help onboard new people and anyone can find important information fast when they need it.

Create a culture of transparency where different departments share their plans with each other. Create frameworks to facilitate this, like quarterly reviews or roadmap deployments. It’s not possible for employees to be actively involved in everything going on in the company, but by helping everyone take part passively, you’re making sure they’re on the same page and can facilitate ideas and collaborations across teams.

When you do have to communicate, encourage your teams to do it in the most straightforward way possible. By simplifying communication and making it easy to understand, discussions are more focused and decisions are made faster.

Related: The Key to Effectively Communicating Important Messages Is All About Simplicity

Put simplicity at the heart of your product

A simplification mindset can also be applied to product development. By making small incremental changes, sometimes with test groups of users, you can use the inspect and adapt methodology to understand their adoption, as well as any issues, and innovate further accordingly. Every so often, you can combine all these small changes into a large product update that you roll out for everyone.

For example: A company added a lot of extra value to its product with new features and releases. In theory, this was great for the users, but some found the UI overwhelming and new pricing options confusing. To use a metaphor, some people are happy to be given ingredients to make their own meal, but most would prefer the chef do the cooking so they can enjoy the final result.

Having understood this through their feedback, the company introduced a change to its UI that helped users get the end result they wanted, without having to work hard to achieve it themselves. By simplifying, the company maximized the impact of the value of all the new additions to the product.

Related: Keep It Simple: Why Simplicity Is Key To Making Your Brand Win

Richard Branson once said: “Any fool can make something complicated. It is hard to keep things simple.” Simplicity won’t come about by accident — you need to be intentional. You have to call it out and make it a focus for the whole company. You need to put it at the heart of everything. And when you succeed, the impact will be huge.

It’s a common nightmare — you’re walking through a busy hallway or giving a presentation only to look down and find yourself completely naked.

We’re inherently fearful of revealing too much about ourselves, and as an entrepreneur, this likely extends to your business as well.

But based on growing my own business from nothing to over $100 million in annual revenue, I can tell you less is not more when it comes to business transparency — more is more. Being open builds trust, and trust fosters customers and relationships in droves. The only exception is not giving away your trade secrets to competitors.

Here are three effective ways to build trust with clients and prospects by being more transparent (without leaving you feeling nightmarishly over-exposed).

Related: How Transparency In Business Leads to Customer Growth and Loyalty

1. Increase sales by 18% or more by increasing your Google reviews

Nearly everyone reads reviews before purchasing. One study found a whopping 93% of people read reviews before making a purchase, and on average, reviews produce an 18% uplift in sales. In today’s online landscape, people put almost as much weight on a Google review as they do on a personal recommendation.

The best way to increase your reviews is to simply ask! According to research, 70% of consumers will leave a review for a business when asked.

About four years ago, we had 486 reviews after servicing more than 90,000 clients. We started using Podium to send out texts or emails — based on customer preference — asking to leave a review on Google, the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot.

By May 2024, we’d accumulated 2,312 five-star reviews, an increase of 375%. Keep in mind that our account managers have been very diligent about sending review requests to clients and only ask the clients most likely to give positive responses.

Another good way to increase reviews is to automate postcards at the close of an order thanking someone for their business and encouraging them to leave a review. A physical mailer is likely more effective than an email — one study that surveyed 1,200 consumers found that 76% trusted direct mail the most as opposed to online methods.

You might be wondering, “What about the negative reviews?” You’re always going to have a handful of bad reviews, but people look at the ratio of good vs. bad. If you have far more five-star reviews than one-star reviews, they’ll disregard the negative ones and assume it’s not the norm.

2. Improve lead generation by 105% by sharing your clients’ success stories

Sharing real marketing results has always been a priority for my business, PostcardMania. We currently have 944 marketing case studies and 139 video case studies that document real people sharing campaign specifics that led to more leads, revenue and new customers for their businesses.

We share these case studies far and wide with prospects via email and postcards in the mail to increase trust. But more recently, we began incorporating these stories into video social media ads. During a recent earnings call by Meta, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said 50% of all people’s time on Facebook and Instagram is spent watching videos, so naturally, we went that direction to gain more eyes on our services.

We put our 139 video case studies — real business owners talking about their successful campaigns — to work for us on Facebook and Instagram.

As a result, our social media leads doubled. In 2022, our average number of social media leads per week was 174, and then in 2023, the average lead count increased to 356 a week! That’s a 105% increase.

Of course, our use of social media in this case is part of a larger multi-channel marketing strategy that ties direct mail and digital ads together, so I suggest a similar approach if you want to see the same results (we’ve actually packaged our successful approach into a single affordable marketing bundle called Everywhere Small Business due to high demand from our clients to replicate this method). Campaigns that uniquely combine print and digital advertising using hyper-targeted mailing lists and lookalike audiences have been proven to work time and time again, so I highly recommend them.

It doesn’t matter what industry you are in, your customers’ success stories can be compiled and incorporated into your marketing plan to grow your customer base.

Related: How Problem-Solving Case Studies Help You Market Your Business

3. Convert prospects faster by dropping the velvet rope and inviting them in

Being transparent online will help build a positive image of your brand and bring in more customers — but you can also take this one step further and let prospects visit your business and interact with your products or services in person. One report revealed that 79% of customers want brands to go above and beyond what they are required to reveal and give more information, with two-thirds of them saying they would switch brands for more in-depth data.

At PostcardMania, we welcome clients to visit us and take a tour of our in-house printing facility. We also have a marketing conference twice a year where clients can meet their marketing consultants face-to-face and learn more about our business behind the scenes. These clients often end up being some of our best and longest-lasting relationships! You can do the same by hosting an event and opening your doors to the public. It doesn’t have to be a conference — you can start small with something as simple as a night of snacks and entertainment.

Related: 3 Ways to Personalize Your Marketing for Higher Engagement

Free samples are also a great way to show customers exactly what they are getting before they make a commitment. This doesn’t always apply to every business, but you can try to find a way to allow prospects to interact with your product or service on a deeper, more physical level.

Incorporate any of these tactics, and you’ll show prospects the most authentic side of you and your business. Believe me when I say trading in your fears about being super transparent for bold authenticity will reap real rewards in long-term growth and customer loyalty.

As a DEI consultant running my own business, I know this work isn’t easy. I have to constantly weigh the risks and rewards of incorporating DEI into all levels of my organization — and how to do it well. However, the risks businesses are facing around DEI implementation are worth noting. Ever since the Supreme Court essentially ended race-based affirmative action in higher education in 2023, more companies and organizations have walked away from DEI, citing that it’s too “risky.”

The potential legal scrutiny that comes with DEI programming may be too much to bear. Companies in nearly all industries have had to alter their diversity policies to cover their legal bases. But at what cost? I would argue at the cost of fostering belonging, collaboration and the ability to create a workplace that celebrates diversity rather than hides from it.

We’re quickly approaching one of the most important Black holidays in the U.S., the day the enslaved people in Texas learned that slavery had been abolished and that they were finally free on June 19, 1865. I’m talking about Juneteenth.

Many companies have turned their backs on cultural holidays like Juneteenth out of fear of repercussions for celebrating or prioritizing diversity. Here’s how they can reapproach them with the risks and rewards in mind.

Related: DEI Initiatives Are Dissolving — Here’s How Managers Can Step Up and Reverse This Unsettling Trend

How to reapproach Juneteenth with risk in mind

Discovering one was finally free and no longer enslaved and then daring to take action on that discovery was both a revolutionary and scary thought back in 1865. Enslaved people at the time had only dreamed of the taste of freedom after hearing how fellow enslaved people in the South had migrated North to explore freedom in another part of the country.

Living as a full citizen in the United States at a time when dehumanization was all too common was a reward finally in reach. It was risky to exercise your freedom a s a newly freed person. Clearly, the risks were worth the rewards. Envisioning and working toward the rewards that come from celebrating diversity and engaging in DEI efforts despite the risks is what I would encourage companies to explore as well.

Make Juneteenth a cultural holiday that everyone can relate to

Companies can tie the holiday of Juneteenth to other scenarios and historic events when freedom was granted where it wasn’t before. Most American workers can relate to the ideal of freedom. Make the case that Juneteenth isn’t just a Black holiday but a story of freedom, liberation and the beginning of a certain group’s ability to exercise free will. Tying Juneteenth to larger themes not only covers the “risk” bucket — where you’re not only celebrating one group of people and their history — but it also invites others to emotionally connect with the universal value of individual freedom. This reframing invites inclusion and compassion into a holiday that would otherwise be seen as a “risk” to celebrate.

Related: The 6 Do’s and Don’ts for Engaging in Juneteenth Conversations

Make Juneteenth a learning opportunity for the company

Not everyone knows a ton about Juneteenth. They may have first heard of it in 2021 when President Biden declared Juneteenth a national holiday. Those who weren’t aware of the history may have seen Juneteenth as an additional day off, like the 4th of July. But it’s more than that. Make Juneteenth a learning opportunity for all. Without necessarily treating Black workers differently, HR, executives, managers and leaders can share the historical facts about Juneteenth so all workers can understand why it’s a national holiday worth celebrating. There is no risk in sharing historical facts, so employees are more informed about the holiday’s historical significance. The reward is a more informed and understanding workforce that can be grateful for how freedom for some means freedom for all and how that’s part of the fabric of American life — both inside and outside the workplace.

Related: How Inclusive Leaders Can Understand and Harness the Power in Juneteenth

Build a culture of appreciation and empowerment on Juneteenth

When people know better, they can do better. The hostile environment that has recently subverted DEI does nothing to build compassion, inclusion, or collaboration among workers and within the company. So, why not introduce Juneteenth education as a tool for appreciation? When people understand the challenges faced by those seeking freedom, they can look at their fellow Black coworkers not as victims of a cruel system of slavery but as descendants of those who rose up and fought for their freedom with resilience. Avoiding Juneteenth and all mention of it robs employees, Black or not, from garnering an appreciation for the moment we’re living in and from feeling grateful for the diverse workplace they enjoy. Before the 1950s, an integrated workforce was a pipe dream. Now, celebrating Juneteenth can be a day that highlights the power of resilience, integration, and freedom for all.

Final thoughts

There are risks and rewards with every aspect of business. However, the risk of neglecting to celebrate diversity, leaving differences and commonalities between workers as a secret not worth mentioning, or ignoring the historical significance of certain events in the states isn’t worth it. The reward of encouraging cultural awareness through discussing historical events that have cultural implications can create a more appreciative, collaborative, and empowering workplace — not diminish or harm it. Recommitting to DEI can be rewarding. The key is to find the middle ground between risk and reward and recommit to celebrating diversity.

Earlier this spring, Costco made a massive change to the packaging of a cult-favorite food product, and now longtime fans are noticing — and complaining — about the switch.

Costco sold an estimated 137 million rotisserie chickens in 2023 while still maintaining a price of $4.99, despite inflation and rising production costs. But the company began changing the packaging in March, from its signature hard shell container to a clear bag, a move that’s been slowly rolled out into more stories and causing a viral frenzy among loyal shoppers.

“Dear Costco,” one fan penned on X. “Your new rotisserie chicken bags and the chicken inside them is nowhere near what they used to be.”

Related: Costco’s New CFO Reveals Fate of $1.50 Hotdog-Soda Combo Amid ‘Media Speculation’ and Soaring Earnings

“New recession warning just dropped: Costco is going cheap on their rotisserie chicken container,” another said. “Brace yourselves.”

On Reddit, one user posted that the new bags had leaked upon transfer home, which opened the door to a slew of similar stories.

Chicken juice spilled all over the trunk of our car
byu/Bozerks inCostco

“I recently grabbed two chickens in the bag for the first time. Hated everything about it,” one person wrote on the thread. “The bags were slick with juice on the display (we had to wait for them, so it was from the staff just prepping them), so my hands were then covered in grease with no paper towels anywhere.”

“Talked to an employee about this. They are spilling in peoples’ carts and on the checkout counters all day long,” another alleged. “The employees all hate the new bags and there is hope that Costco will find a way to address the issue.”

Costco reportedly swapped the packaging in an attempt to cut back on plastic waste — the new bags will use 75% less plastic than the hard shell containers and save an estimated 17 million pounds for resin each year, per a sign viewed by Packaging Dive.

Costco did not immediately repsond to Entrepreneur’s request for comment.

The warehouse chain most recently reported its fiscal Q3 2024 earnings with net sales reaching $57.39 billion, a 9.1% increase in net sales from the same time last year.

CEO Ron Vachris credited the quarterly success to its Wagyu beef offerings, gold bars, and a $1,200 swingset that’s been flying off shelves.

Costco EVP and CFO Gary Millerchip also noted on the call that thanks to the company’s consistent success, there’s no plan as of now to change the cost of its famous $1.50 hot dog combo deal or increase membership rates.

Related: Costco May Stop Selling Books Year-Round. Here’s Why.

“We feel really good about membership renewal rates,” Millerchip said on the call. “We look at what’s happened in the marketplace over the last few years and when we were seeing high inflation and the risk and concern around recession … we’re still evaluating those considerations to determine what the right timing is and when we reach that point where we feel it is the right time, of course, we’ll be very open and direct and communicating that.”

Costco was up over 67% year over year as of Monday afternoon.

If you bought a Disney Dream Key pass from August 25 to October 25, 2021, you could receive part of a $9.5 million settlement.

Disney has settled a class action lawsuit filed in November 2021 in California district court over how it marketed its $1,400 Dream Key pass, a program that allows customers to pay a flat rate to go to Disneyland and California Adventures theme parks whenever they want throughout the year.

The settlement website shows that payments to qualified class members were sent either by check or through a digital payment on June 14.

Related: Parents With Young Children Are Taking on ‘Disney-Related’ Debt for Trips to Theme Parks, According to a New Report

Unless a class member excludes themselves from the settlement payout, they give up any right to sue Disney over the same claims in the lawsuit.

^{Disneyland. Photo by Barry King/WireImage}

According to the plaintiff, Jenale Nielsen, Disney advertised the Dream Key Pass as a way to enter Disneyland without any restrictions. When she bought the pass and tried to make a reservation, however, she found that Disney had blocked out many days, including all weekends in November 2021.

“Given that Disney had advertised and promised that there would be no ‘blockouts’ for Dream Key holders, Ms. Nielsen was surprised,” the filing stated.

Nielsen looked at Disney’s website and found that it still had passes available for sale on the days it had barred Dream Pass holders, so the blocks weren’t caused by tickets being sold out.

Related: A Fifth Walt Disney World Theme Park Could Be Coming Soon — Here’s What We Know

The filing called the Dream Key a “second class ticket” to Disney’s parks and said that Nielsen “was deceived by and relied upon” Disney’s “false and deceptive advertising.”

^{Locked Disneyland during the pandemic. Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images}

Disney denied all of Nielsen’s claims as well as any wrongdoing or liability.

Nielsen received $5,000 as part of the settlement and 100,000 others affected will receive around $67.41 from Disney.

Related: Disney World Concession Prices Have Gone Up 60% Over the Past Decade — Including Two Fan Favorite Sweet Treats That Have Skyrocketed in Price

For reference, a standard Disneyland theme park ticket starts at $96 to $194 per day.

Disney has now made changes to its Magic Key Pass advertising. The Dream Key is no longer available to purchase. In its place, the highest tier is now the Inspire Key, priced at $1,649 and labeled as subject to “applicable pass blockout dates.”

The Magic Key calendar at the time of writing had availability open for almost all days in July, August, and September for Inspire Key holders.

The allure of achieving financial independence without sacrificing personal freedom has never been more appealing. One empowering pathway to this goal is through mobile franchise business models. These models offer the freedom to manage a thriving business working part-time, giving you control over your time and resources.

Mobile franchising is a unique business model in which the franchisee has the freedom to operate their business from a mobile location, such as a van or a home office, rather than a fixed commercial space. This model is different from traditional franchising because it significantly reduces the burden and overhead costs associated with physical premises, such as rent, utilities, and maintenance. It also offers the flexibility to move your business to different locations, depending on the demand and market conditions.

Mobile franchise opportunities span a variety of industries, offering entrepreneurs the flexibility to choose a sector that aligns with their interests and skills. You may recognize some popular mobile franchise options across different fields.

Related: Considering franchise ownership? Get started now to find your personalized list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.

Are you STIC enough?

STIC stands for someone with the Skills, Trust, Incentive, and Capacity to oversee a business. Operating a mobile business requires passion and grit, and a STIC person must manage daily operations and decision-making. In other words, a successful mobile franchise business owner needs these qualities to thrive in this model.

Running a mobile-based franchise requires a combination of specific skills and qualities. These include a passion for the business, resilience in the face of challenges, a strong work ethic, excellent customer service skills, strategic business acumen, physical and mental stamina, and a commitment to ongoing learning. These qualities are crucial for building a sustainable business that can grow and adapt in a competitive market. Assess your skills and abilities to see if you have what it takes to succeed in a mobile franchise business.

A mobile franchise business owner should practice (and expect) resilience and adaptability, think creatively and strategically, prioritize excellent customer service, and commit to ongoing learning.

Related: Learn the Secrets of Running 20+ Businesses as a Side Hustle — Finding and Nurturing Your ‘STIC People’

Leading the pack

Among the leading mobile business models are food trucks and coffee carts that serve food and drinks at events, downtown business districts, or near college campuses. These models offer franchising opportunities that allow for mobility and direct customer interaction.

You may be familiar with mobile pet grooming services that offer the convenience of grooming services right at pet owners’ homes. This is particularly appealing to customers looking for a stress-free pet grooming experience.

Franchises specializing in car repair, maintenance, and cleaning services are relatively new to the mobile market and provide services directly at the customer’s location – a significant convenience for vehicle owners.

Any mobile franchise opportunity has unique benefits and challenges. However, they all share the common advantage of lower overhead costs and the flexibility of operating from various locations. This makes them attractive options for entrepreneurs looking to maximize their income with a business that suits their lifestyle.

Related: Find Out Which Brands Have Ranked on the Franchise 500 for Longest, Earning a Spot In our New ‘Hall of Fame’

Commercial cleaning

Commercial cleaning franchises exemplify the benefits of the mobile franchise model. These businesses can be managed from a home office or a vehicle, with cleaning teams dispatched to various sites. The demand for commercial cleaning services is never-ending and spans multiple sectors, including corporate offices, retail spaces, and medical facilities, ensuring a steady stream of potential clients.

There are several critical advantages to franchising with a commercial cleaning brand. First off, you create a stream of recurring revenue. Cleaning services are often performed regularly, creating predictable and consistent income. If you choose wisely, you will invest in an established company with built-in brand equity, which can be a significant advantage in marketing your services.

Related: Is Franchising Right For You? Ask Yourself These 9 Questions to Find Out.

Takeoff toward success

Starting a mobile franchise like a commercial cleaning business involves several steps. First, research franchising opportunities by considering key factors such as the brand’s reputation, the demand for its products or services, the initial investment required, and the level of ongoing support from the franchisor.

Next, secure the necessary funds, noting that many franchisors offer financing options or assistance. Complete the franchisor’s comprehensive training program, which covers everything from understanding the business model and services offered to operational procedures and marketing strategies. This training is designed to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to run a successful mobile franchise business. Then, utilize the franchisor’s tools and branding for local advertising to attract customers.

Finally, begin operations by scheduling jobs and managing your staff, ensuring efficiency in scheduling and route planning to maximize profits.

Related: One State’s Bipartisan Bill Will Change the Franchise Industry — And Boost Responsible Franchising

The beginning of something special

Mobile franchising offers a compelling business model for those looking to make a full-time income with part-time effort. Among many options, commercial cleaning franchises offer a low-barrier entry point into entrepreneurship with the potential for significant financial rewards, instilling a sense of optimism and prosperity for your future.

By leveraging the comprehensive support and proven systems provided by the franchisor, franchisees can confidently focus on growing their customer base and scaling their operations efficiently. This model supports financial success and allows for a flexible lifestyle that many aspiring entrepreneurs desire, giving you reassurance and confidence in your business journey.