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GET CONNECTED TIPS
Nifty ideas you can use to build a better
business
Watch Consumer Spending
Could high gasoline prices put a ding in your small-business sales? Maybe. A recent survey by The Boston Consulting Group found that 76 percent of Americans believe gas prices will rise over the coming months, with 48 percent believing it’s possible gas will hit $5.50 a gallon. In fact, 77 percent of Americans say they’ve already had to cut back or change spending over the past year because of the cost of gas. That’s the bad news. The good news is that three-quarters of Americans express confidence in their ability to maintain their lifestyle. The reason for this confidence appears to be smart spending: 82 percent of Americans say they’re determined to find quality products at the lowest possible price when they need something new for themselves. The message to small businesses: Offer top-notch products at reasonable prices and create value for your customers.
No Smoking
Business travelers can no longer light up a smoke at hotels owned by Marriott International Inc. Beginning this month, all of the company’s hotels in the U.S. and Canada will be entirely non-smoking. The smoking ban covers more than 2,300 hotels and corporate apartments, including Marriott, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance.
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