New York SBDC Research Network

From Thomasnet According to Bicycling.com, the modern carbon-fiber bike is “a technological marvel” based on its superior strength over traditional metal bikes, at a fraction of the weight. So why isn’t everyone hopping on one of these top-notch bikes to pedal around town? Two reasons – the cost is insane and, say the experts at Bicycling.com, carbon-fiber can be a manufacturing nightmare. Typical problems mostly relate to quality control, in a production environment that requires lots of labor and precision, which is why the Silicon Valley startup Arevo intends to upend the process with 3D printing. The company has a prototype of the first 3D printed carbon-fiber bike, and Arevo hopes to propel the business into manufacturing ASAP. The intention is to partner with existing bike manufacturers and automate the production aspect using a robotic arm.

From FactFinder : NYC Department of City Planning’s Population Division is proud to announce the release of New York City Population FactFinder (NYC PFF), a major update of NYC Census FactFinder (CFF). The application has been developed at City Planning by its extraordinary Labs Team, and they are excited to finally share it with you! The latest iteration includes a host of improvements that the user base has requested, including: Intuitive design that allows you to easily define study areas Enhanced interactive map and expanded geographic options for creating custom study areas by combining census blocks, tracts, neighborhoods (NTAs), or Community Districts (PUMAs) Expanded profile content, including population density; and detailed languages, countries of birth, and disability status Indicators of reliability and statistical significance for all estimates, so you can be confident using the data Change over time and detailed comparisons of two areas Ability to save and share un

From FTC.gov The Federal Trade Commission has charged three individuals and nine businesses with bilking more than $125 million from thousands of consumers with a fraudulent business education program called MOBE (“My Online Business Education”). A federal court halted the scheme and froze the defendants’ assets at the FTC’s request. According to the FTC, the defendants behind this international operation target U.S. consumers—including service members, veterans, and older adults—through online ads, social media, direct mailers, and live events held throughout the country. This action follows the agency’s recent action against Digital Altitude, LLC, a competing business opportunity scheme that was also halted by court order. The FTC alleges that the defendants falsely claim that their business education program will enable people to start their own online businesses and earn substantial income. They claim to have a “proven” 21-step system for making substantial sums of money quick

From ThomasNet This week’s Thomas Index will be taking a look at sourcing activity for Precision Machining by users in the Thomas Network at Thomasnet.com. Precision Machining is a process in which a machine operator starts with a piece of material called a blank, which is typically metal and uses the machine for precise, controlled removal of materials to transform that blank into a finished product. Machining encompasses a number of different manufacturing processes such as milling, turning, drilling, and tapping. It’s high-tech stuff; computer numerical control, or “CNC” machining involves computer programming and electromechanical devices for ultra-precise positioning of machining tools, to create incredibly complex surfaces and intricate geometries.

From Monster.com : The hostile work environment checklist: How toxic is yours? Don't let dysfunction and drama reign. Workplace stress is hardly a phenomenon. Everyone has a bad day (or even month) at work now and then. Your client presentation didn’t go as well as planned; your boss didn’t fall head over heels for your proposal; you had to stay late to finish a project; your co-worker’s been having a series of too-loud sales calls. But there’s a big difference between aggravating incidents and a full-blown toxic work environment. What is a toxic work environment? A toxic work environment is one wherein dysfunction and drama reign, whether it’s the result of a narcissistic boss, vindictive co-workers, absence of order, et cetera. Basically, a hostile work environment “leaves you feeling like dirt,” says Robert Sutton, a Stanford University professor who studies organizational behavior and author of The A**hole Survival Guide. In addition to harming your morale, this kin

From eMarketer : Though some people prefer to enter the supermarket armed with a detailed grocery list, an attractive coupon can trigger impulse purchases, and encourage consumers to buy something they may have otherwise not. In fact, an Inmar survey of 1,000 US grocery shoppers in January 2018 found that nearly four in 10 respondents had bought more than they intended to because of a good deal. And almost as many bought from a brand they wouldn’t have otherwise purchased. As expected, consumers continue to rely on a combination of coupon types for savings. Fully 55% of those surveyed said they use both digital and paper coupons.

From Monster.com When it comes to stress, there’s probably no greater trigger than what happens at work. And while some jobs are more stressful than others, The American Institute of Stress says there are common pain points that many workers share. The biggest is workload (46%), followed by people issues (28%), work/life balance (20%) and finally, lack of job security (6%). As a manager, you can’t necessarily turn the office into a zen meditation garden, but there are things you can do to lower your team’s stress levels—and create a happier, more productive office. “It’s important that the team not be stressed,” says Joanne Vitali, a certified career coach in the Philadelphia area. “Stress releases cortisol, which takes energy away from the prefrontal cortex, making you less able to reason and respond well. You are, in a nutshell, way less productive.” So, should you be encouraging your employees to meditate? Maybe. But there are other things you can do that directly affect t

From MarketingProfs In a world where consumers are more likely to shell out for concert tickets than buy their favorite band's merchandise, there's no doubting the power of experiences. Consumers today want a brand they patronize to enrich their lives, not just fill their closets or decorate their walls. That's why brands were predicted to increase their spending for experiential marketing 11% in 2017—nearly double from just two years ago. That said, to deliver truly transformative experiences, brands must challenge the traditional take on events and tradeshow exhibits. We're entering a new generation of experiential marketing that considers cultural context, program timing, content development, and positioning within a brand's long-term business objectives. Using better insights to expand your experiential efforts, you can go beyond the places your brand normally advertises and activates.

From Thomasnet : Rolling off the couch in his office at Tesla Motors in Fremont California, which is where CEO Elon Musk admits to sleeping lately, the entrepreneur recently discussed some Model 3 production difficulties with CBS This Morning anchor, Gayle King. Just to recap, the Model 3 was rolled out last July with that now infamous “production hell” claim from Musk that accompanied a promise to produce 20,000 vehicles a month. First quarter projections have that figure closer to 3,300 Model 3s per month. Perhaps the most interesting part of the dialogue was that Musk agreed to over-doing the automation at the Fremont facility.

Obtained From:   US Census Bureau With only a few weeks left for your business to submit their census survey to the United States Census Bureau (USCB), the deadline is fast approaching. This year the USCB will be conducting the surveys online for the first in its history, which it hopes will streamline the process and make it easier for them to consolidate and itemize the data. Below is a brief list of just why  the economic census is important and what they use the information for: What is the Economic Census?  Every five years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts the Economic Census, the official measure of the Nation’s businesses and economy. Businesses, policymakers, governments and communities use Economic Census data for economic development, business decisions, and strategic planning. The Economic Census serves as the statistical benchmark for current economic activity such as the Gross Domestic Product and the Producer Price Index. It provides information on business

From eMarketer : This year, driven by display ads, mobile will account for 69.9% of all digital advertising. With a 33.9% share of total US ad spend, mobile will pass TV as the leading advertising medium in the world’s largest ad market—and we expect that share will grow to a whopping 47.9% by 2022. "Advertisers are pouring dollars into mobile due to growing mobile commerce activity. Conversions from mobile display ad placements have already surpassed those of desktop," said Corey McNair, forecasting analyst.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns (CBP) program has released its 2016 ZIP Code statistics. This is an addition to CBP's recent release of U.S., state, metropolitan area, county, and congressional district statistics. The ZIP Code data cover more than 7.7 million U.S business establishments. Employment and payroll data are available for all U.S. ZIP Codes with a business establishment. Data for the number of establishments by employment size are available for nearly 1,200 industries. CBP's ZIP Code statistics are obtained from Census Bureau reports and administrative records from other federal agencies. CBP defines employment as all full- and part-time employees who were on the payroll during the pay period that includes March 12. Statistics are presented in comma separated value (CSV) files for download and manipulation on the CBP website . CBP data can be accessed using multiple tools available via the Census Bureau website, including American FactFinder

From Bplans : Everyone’s talking about branding for a good reason: Your brand is the identity of your company. It’s what sets you apart from your competitors. Everything about it should evoke certain thoughts or feelings in your customers, compelling them to want to do business with you. Because your brand is your primary means of communicating what your company stands for, it extends far beyond just your logo or website. Branding is even more important now that people have increasingly more access to products and services from anywhere in the world. A standout brand is the best way to attract their attention, but first, you need to know exactly who your customers are and what appeals to them. You should view the process as an opportunity to get more deeply in touch with your customers’ perspectives and expectations in order to craft a brand identity that truly speaks to them. Research is the key to successful branding. Business Branding Guide

From Bank Rate : The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides the most comprehensive economic and health-related assistance for vets and their families. However, there are some limitations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a total of 3.8 million veterans had a service-connected disability rating as of 2014. Service-connected disabilities are wide-ranging, but consist of a disease or injury obtained during active military service. While not every individual faces the same problems after service, the top three economic challenges tend to be unemployment, poverty, and homelessness. Veterans with service-connected disabilities, who are in need of specific home modifications and medical treatment are among the most at risk of experiencing some kind of debt that can lead to bad credit. Government assistance for veterans There are various resources for veterans with debt. One example is called the VA Medical Care Hardship Program. In addition to receiving help with some co

From Small Business Administration ,Anita Campbell, Guest Blogger There are certain pages every website can’t be without. A small business’s site needs to give visitors what they are most likely to be looking for. If you’re getting a website together for your small business or reinventing an existing site, take a look at the five essential pages every small business website needs. We include three other recommended pages as well. Homepage Your homepage is the virtual lobby of your business, the first thing people notice when they visit the site. It’s therefore vital that your homepage presents your business in a professional and engaging light. Make a great first impression! As research from the Neilsen Norman Group highlights, you have less than 10 seconds to convey your value proposition. Get to the point about what your business is about. Keep words concise, punchy and compelling to hook visitors and get them to explore deeper into your site. About Us People (includi

From MarketingProfs : Enter for a chance to win..." I see that call to action—or something similar—all over. You do, too. Social media is certainly no exception. Contests, competitions, and sweepstakes are raging hot across the major networks as a go-to strategy for so many content marketers. Why? The answer is that we humans are wired to get involved in contests. We want to play, compete, and, of course, win. As a copywriter and marketing strategist, I've been probing what makes people tick for decades. I know a fair share about what engages people, but I'm no psychologist. So I did some research because I wanted to know why "contest marketing" is so compelling. I picked up these insights from Sander van der Linder PhD on Psychology Today: For most people, there is something inexplicably compelling about the nature of competition. "Competitiveness" is a biological trait that co-evolved with the basic need for survival.

From Outpost Blog : For someone who prefers knowing that I alone control the outcome of a project, trusting others to hold up their end wasn’t an easy thing to do. It felt so blind; maybe my teammates would do a good job, but maybe not. Maybe they wouldn’t do the work at all, and I’d be left to pick up the pieces. Sometimes I’d throw up my hands and just take on all the work; hey, at least then it’d get done, right? Other times, I’d delegate like crazy and cross my fingers. Still, the entire process always felt a bit hellish and not conducive to putting out great work. It’s an experience that probably rings true to many new entrepreneurs and small business owners. In the beginning, it was likely just you—you were the only one running your business, making key decisions, and doing the work. You did the whole “group project” on your own; while it may have meant a lot of late nights and gnashing of teeth, you could be confident that everything was being done to your standards, a

From MarketingProfs Webinars are truly a great marketing strategy for generating leads for your business. However, that's certainly not the only measure of their effectiveness. Webinars are an excellent platform to communicate and interact with your customers, and they can be your secret weapon for building great customer relationships. People attend a webinar because they believe the experience will be valuable to them. The value you provide through your webinars via actionable insights and takeaways that viewers won't find anywhere else will help you build great customer relationships. Here we'll look at how to build those relationships by using webinars to engage and train your audiences.

From eMarketer : Even without an established try-before-you-buy model, retailers’ generous free return policies have led to consumers purchasing multiple items with the intent to send some back. Retailers like Warby Parker and Amazon have popularized try-before-you-buy by letting consumers try on products at no upfront cost. The consumer is only charged for what they keep, and the remainder is returned. As a result, a February 2018 study from Brightpearl, conducted by OnePoll, found that over 40% of US and UK retailers have seen a spike in intentional returns compared with a year ago. What's more, some 70% of retailers believe the try-before-you-buy model leads to more returns. "[Try-before-you-buy] creates a tsunami of returns that could easily overwhelm retailers who do not have the processes or workflows in place to cope with that level of change," the study said. And this may be why many are hesitant to try it out.

From Thomasnet Industry is no stranger to change, and today, several monumental shifts — in business, technology, and even politics — are changing it once again. As a supplier, it's imperative for you to understand these shifts in order ensure your success today, and tomorrow. Our eBook, The State Of Industry In 2018, can help you keep ahead of the latest trends. It explores: Critical changes in the manufacturing workforce The most in-demand products and services in 2018 The role that politics is playing within industry And more! Download your free copy now.