It seems somewhat contradictory, but the more technologically savvy buyers become (and the less time they spend visiting stores or talking to services providers on the phone) the more they want a personal, emotionally gratifying experience with businesses.
I start this column by admitting that I just don't know what the right policy recommendation is for state leaders concerning this pandemic. That is a change from the early days of January through April, when we knew much less about the disease. Uncertainty is an input to decisions, and so ma…
With holiday shopping moving full steam ahead as we approach Thanksgiving, nearly 60% of shoppers say a gift card is at the top of their Christmas wish list, according to the National Retail Federation. Not only are they convenient and save time but this year — with the pandemic — gift cards…
Fort Wayne’s Ruth’s Chris Steak House is offering Thanksgiving take-away meals.
It’s such a perfect little story to illustrate this awful, awful year of the pandemic, cities overtaken by anarchy and an election from hell.
Last month, I highlighted strategies for getting the most out of your Facebook Business Page.
Pharmaceuticals manufacturer Pfizer announced very encouraging results on a potential vaccine for the coronavirus Nov. 9, raising the possibility that distribution could begin in late 2020 or early 2021. Investors welcomed the news, with the S&P 500 jumping 1.2% on the day, even with a s…
President-elect Joe Biden has selected his COVID-19 Task Force. It is peopled by medical, scientific and health practitioners and administrators. Unencumbered by disbelief and gross incompetence, they can provide the best approach at this stage of the pandemic.
Now that America is once again singing “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow,” it’s appropriate to think about how we think. Typically, we think about people as people, which is all well and good. Sometimes we should think about people as they live in households.
I’m taking a break from brooding over the latest COVID-19 surge and cursing the chaos of the presidential race so I can properly mourn the passing of longtime “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek.
The Fort Wayne Home Builders Association’s (HBA) November Learning Table will be an informative session covering the best practices for data backup and cybersecurity for businesses.
Predictions are hard, especially about the future. Yogi Berra said that. (Unless he didn’t. Yogi also said, “I never said most of the things I said,” so we really don’t know.)
As I write this, it is mere days from the presidential election, so my anxiety level is near an all-time high. I know you must be feeling it, too, but by the time many of you read this, the choice will have been made, so your dread will have started to fade a little or begun ratcheting up ev…
Billy and wife Billie visited over the weekend. “Well, go ahead, tell him,” Billie declaimed as she slid into a rocking chair, glass of iced tea in hand. “I’m tired of explaining what he couldn’t be bothered to learn, bull-headed creature that he is.”
If you were hoping that this was going to be the year of government action to lower prescription drug prices, I’m here to say that is not going to happen — even though the House of Representatives passed far-reaching legislation almost a year ago that would allow Medicare to begin negotiatin…
It is election season, and voters are right to consider issues of taxes and spending. Of course, fiscal policy isn’t the only consideration of electoral decisions. Still, fiscal policy matters, and we should be honest with ourselves about the effects of contrasting policies. I begin with a f…
Last week in this space we found the number of jobs in Indiana declined by 91,100 between March and August 2020. This decline was attributed to the pandemic. Now let’s look at the output and income effects experienced by Hoosiers.
I know what you’re up to, all you early voters. But I have to say I don’t think it’s going to work out the way you hope.
Women-led and owned businesses have a new option to pursue innovation and growth. The NIIC EmPWR Program is launching an Innovation Mindset Mastermind, which will guide business owners and entrepreneurs through an innovation capacity growth process. This differs from typical masterminds, whi…
Social media is everywhere (particularly in an election year). And because virtually all job applicants have access to social media on their phone or personal computer, this means virtually every job applicant has created a social media footprint. This social media content can be very insigh…
How bad was the job loss in the United States depends on your starting and ending points. If we take March 2020 as the last “normal” or pre-COVID month, with August as our latest data point, then national job losses just exceeded ten million.
I keep pretty good track of changes in the Indiana Code, but I came across one recently that I had missed. As of last year, city police and firefighters no longer have to live inside their county or a bordering county. Now, they can live in a non-bordering county up to 50 miles from city limits.
MUNCIE — After more than 13 years of leading significant growth and success for First Merchants, President and CEO Michael C. Rechin is retiring effective Dec. 31. Rechin will remain on the First Merchants Board of Directors and will serve as an advisor to First Merchants going forward.
Putting a vice president into the Oval Office is like putting a new Supreme Court justice on the bench. You might think you know what you’re getting, but people who are given such power have an alarming tendency to do whatever they want to.
While the legislators are home telling their constituents just how wonderful they have been recently, the east entry to the Statehouse is closed for repairs. Thus I was surprised when I heard the rasp of a familiar voice coming from the back of the statue of Gov. Oliver Morton.
Given the seemingly constant changes to Facebook, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s really important. Social media managers can get so caught up in day-to-day challenges that big-picture strategic issues aren’t always at the forefront. If you’re at risk for this social media myopia, here’s a…
Calm down! It’s been like this for a very long time and it won’t get better because you just discovered you don’t like it.
The city of Fort Wayne closed a $25 million low-interest loan through the Indiana Finance Authority’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Program to finance improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment systems.
I’m thinking of doing something different in the gubernatorial election. Some will say I would be wasting my vote.
It’s hard to decide who “won” the debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden on Sept. 29 because a large portion of the night involved verbal jabs and clarifying positions while the other was talking.
Indiana women starting and growing new technology companies are invited to apply through Oct. 9 for the Launch Women Business Builders program, an initiative of the WEOC Women’s Business Center at the NIIC.
Five Lakes Coffee will fill the void left by Tim Hortons at 8939 Lima Road, Fort Wayne.
Even at the most well-run companies, workplace complaints are inevitable. In fact, few topics generate more questions for employment lawyers. And while every complaint must be addressed independently, responding with a consistent protocol is the best way to protect your company. Here are the…
How much money flows across Indiana county lines each year? According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2018, the in-flow of earnings to Indiana counties from places both within and outside the state was $74 billion or 36% of the earnings received by Hoosier residents. Does that re…
Complacent, entitled establishment’s hair on fire, Part 1:
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Bragg Alot Sweets & Drinks set an Oct. 10 opening date.
Whether you’re a startup business owner or have been operating an existing business for years, there are always skills to sharpen and new things to learn.
I’ll confess. Last week, I walked the line between growth and contentment. Alright. I’m for economic development. My vision of economic development involves non-economic improvements.
Indiana recently announced a partnership with 180 Skills (www.180skills.com) to open up an online library that aims to improve the workforce skills of up to 100,000 Hoosier workers. This service will be free of charge through the Rapid Recovery For a Better Future (www.in.gov/gwc/files/2020_…
I have wholeheartedly embraced the Kindle experience. It’s been years since I read an actual bound-between-two-covers, ink-on-paper book.
Hoosiers are, unfortunately, used to politicians who say one thing here and then become someone quite different out of town. They leave their three-piece suits in the condo when they visit home, donning jeans and plaid shirts while chatting with the common folk from the cabs of their shiny pickups.
Last month, I shared the findings from the Edison Research and Triton Digital 2020 Infinite Dial study.
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