services
Renegotiate with your vendors
Most businesses use at least one outside vendor, and some use more than one at a time. Generally, at one time or another, you may need to renegotiate a contract or service agreement. If done properly, renegotiation can be an easy process that will enable both parties to feel like they got a good deal. Full Article.
IPhones, iPads to Gain NFC Payment Features
The director of consulting firm Envisioneering Group recently said that Apple Inc. plans to introduce services on the iPhone and iPad computer that would allow it to get a piece of the market for goods and services and allow Apple to cut its own costs and those of retailers selling Apple products. Full article.
Breaking News: Rapides Children's Advocacy Center received $100,000 2010 Community Impact Award
The Central Louisiana Community Foundation selected Rapides Children's Advocacy Center as the recipient of its 2010 Community Impact Award. This is the first time the Community Impact Award has been given. The $100,000 award will help fund the purchase of a mobile unit to provide therapy and related services to sexually abused children across Central Louisiana. It will also fund the continuing staffing and operation of the vehicle. Full article.
Biz Tech Expo in Baton Rouge October 6 - 7
Business Report’s 28th annual BizTech Expo is set to for October 6-7 in the Baton Rouge River Center. More than 200 booths will be featured at the two-day event, offering the latest technology, products and services for business owners, executives and entrepreneurs. Cenla Advantage Partnership will have a representative at the event and will post information on new technology and products on cenla.org's website. More information.
Despite budget cuts Rapides Parish Library expands services
State budget cuts hit the Rapides Parish Library hard, but they are not closing the book on great services and now has more to offer than ever before, including online job searches, classes on Word or Excel and Internet navigation, etc. Library Director, Steve Rogge: "We're shifting our funding around to make sure that our highest priorities are still being met and the highest priority is our customers." Full article.
Choose the right products and services to offer
Have you thought about opportunity cost as it relates to the products and services you offer within your business? It takes a certain amount of resources (time, money, effort, etc.) to pursue a given product or service, and it is imperative for businesses to choose the products and services that are most likely to guarantee success. Full Article. Similar Article.
N.O. petrochemical company opens B.R. office
Audubon, a New Orleans-based company that provides project solutions for the petrochemical industry, recently opened a Baton Rouge office. The company has about eight employees at its Petroleum Drive offices, with hopes of expanding to about 20 staff members over the next few years. Audubon and its affiliates provide project management, engineering, design and staffing services. Full Article.
Are You Pushing In A Pull World?
Consumers have grown accustomed to "pulling" information on products and services from the Internet and various social media programs. The authors of a new book, The Power of Pull: How Small Moves, Smartly Made, Can Set Big Things in Motion, offer some practical advice about ways business owners can capitalize on this trend. Some of those practices include "reverse mentoring," a process where, instead of seasoned executives grooming young employees, the process works the other way. Another idea is to have employees who are versed in pull technologies such as social media, could mentor other employees not as familiar with those programs. Full Article.
Build a Stronger America – Join the Entrepreneurs’ Movement
The Kauffman Foundation is working to further understand the phenomenon of entrepreneurship, to advance entrepreneurship education and training efforts, to promote entrepreneurship-friendly policies, and to better facilitate the commercialization of new technologies by entrepreneurs and others. Kauffman Foundation CEO and President Carl Schramm recently told university graduates: "We need an army of the smartest, most passionate young people to try their hand at building a business–people who will take their heads and their hearts into the market, founding companies that will bring forth new products and services that will help humankind." Take the pledge View Video
Guide to Facebook changes
Facebook launched some fairly impressive new features and services. The biggest change will let any website you visit display a simple "like" button. The company will be able to read and interpret that content without asking users. The feature is opt-in by default, which means it is turned on automatically—and you have to specifically turn it off if you don't want these services to read your profile and customize their services for you. Full Article.
