It’s pretty clear that emotion plays a role in marketing. Think about an ad that made an impact on you. Perhaps an ad for phone services, showing a bride calling her grandmother in Italy, brought tears to your eyes. They’re not selling telecom, they’re...
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Tariffs And Manufacturing
06
Dec2018
Tariffs, manufacturing and the economy: The overlap of these topics is the topic of a recent article in Supply Chain Management Review, titled All U.S. West Coast Ports Will Bear the Brunt of Tariffs. Cargo Spike on West Coast The opening paragraph offers good...
Read MoreMarketing By Text In The Manufacturing Arena
04
Dec2018
We’re seeing more text marketing on our phones, but it’s still a trickle compared to the flood of messages we get by email or social media channels. For that reason alone, it’s worth asking: How can text marketing help my manufacturing business? Lots of...
Read MoreEnergy Innovation in Manufacturing
03
Dec2018
The future of the manufacturing industry largely depends on manufacturers’ abilities to source, store and utilize energy. Between government strategies and advancements in technology, we won’t likely see an end to the dialogue over and prioritization of energy innovation. What is the consumer looking...
Read MoreHigh-Tech Automation In The Warehouse
16
Nov2018
Automation, AI (artificial intelligence), robots. The future of manufacturing will increasingly depend on these technologies which are today making themselves indispensible in warehouses around the globe. Thanks to advancements in big data and the internet of things—both topics we’ve often touched on here—these once-futuristic...
Read MoreValue Propositions in B2B
16
Nov2018
When marketing goods or services B2B (business to business), it’s crucial to avoid falling into the commodity trap. Basing your competitive position purely on pricing considerations is the first step in a race to the bottom in which no wins. Ask customers what they...
Read MoreMRO Consumables
15
Nov2018
MRO consumables often aren’t very glamorous, but they’re essential to plant operations. What Are MRO Consumables? MRO is defined as maintenance, repair and operations/operating supplies. What’s included in this category will vary from business to business. MROs can be grouped into a few categories...
Read MoreFinancial Disaster Recovery
15
Nov2018
Inspired by hurricane season, we talked about preparing for disaster recovery in early October, and we hinted at an equally important parallel process: preparing for financial disaster. Savvy business people don’t let a good economy give them a false sense of security. It’s not...
Read MoreAttracting and retaining talent in manufacturing is an ongoing concern. A variety of factors are conspiring. Baby boomers are retiring, market demand is strong, manufacturing work is not on the radar of the younger generation, and many workers just don’t have the skills which...
Read MoreWorking With Family
08
Oct2018
Ever dreamed about running a family business? Maybe you already do. Running a business together as a family can be a study in extremes. This article in the Columbia (Missouri) Business Times paints a glowing picture, profiling three happy family businesses. One mom reflects...
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