Excellence is Contagious, So is Mediocrity

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Mediocrity is contagious. We were reminded of this recently by our friend Hugh MacLeod, author, artist, entrepreneur, and daily must-read. Hugh was kind enough to let us re-post this reminder that every small business owner and manager should never forget.

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The standards you set for yourself, whether at work or in your friendships or when alone with your thoughts, can be felt by everyone around you. And expecting anything less than the best should be a warning sign.

Setting high standards is a push for excellence. It's the understanding that doing is about more than the result: it's about the process.

It shows that you value yourself, your team, and your community. You believe in the potential for greatness and you won't stop until it's done.

You need those high standards across the board. Because mediocre expectations are for mediocre people.

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VIA | gapingvoid.com “Avoiding Average” | Used with permission

What Should a Small Business Do Now That The Federal Overtime Rule Has Been Blocked?

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As we reported last week, a federal judge in Texas has blocked the Department of Labor's (DOL's) new federal overtime rule, which would have raised the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA's) salary threshold for exemption from overtime pay from $23,660 to $47,476. Whether one thinks the judge's action is correct or not, one thing is certain: Thousands of business owners across the country are confused because they had already taken steps to comply with the threshold exemption slated to begin two days from now (Thursday, December 1, 2016). (However, as we reported in September, almost half of small businesses weren't aware of the new regulations.)

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According to Lisa Nagele-Piazza of the Society for Human Resource Management, from a legal standpoint, until a final decision is reached, employers may follow the existing rule. However, as an employer-employee relationship issue, the most common answer one receives when asking the experts is this: “It depends.”

It depends on whether or not an employee has already received a raise or change in employee status that would make them eligible for (or, stated differently, “not exempt from”) overtime pay.

If you've done nothing in anticipation of the change, it's your lucky day: Continue doing nothing.

If you have done something, your choices are not as good: Once an employee believes more money will be coming into their pocket, it is a blow when they learn it's being removed. So it depends, ultimately, on management decisions rather than pure legal or business decisions.

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Here are some quick answers Lisa provides on the SHRM website. (The link at the bottom of this article provides more in-depth explanations.)

Q | Does a company have to do anything by the Dec. 1 deadline?

A | No.

Q | Is the judge's ruling the final step?

A | No. A preliminary injunction isn't permanent and will be reviewed by the court. However, the judge wouldn't have granted the preliminary injunction unless he thought the challenge had a substantial likelihood of succeeding.

Q | Can the Labor Department challenge the decision?

A | Yes. The department said in a statement that it is currently considering all of its legal options.

Q | Does this ruling apply to all employers nationwide?

A | Yes.

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What should a company do that has already either raised exempt employees' salaries to meet the new threshold or reclassified employees to nonexempt status?

Employers will likely want to leave decisions in place if they have already provided salary increases to employees in order to maintain their exempt status, according to Alfred Robinson Jr.,a former acting administrator of the DOL's Wage and Hour Division. It would be difficult to take that back. If there are exempt employees who were going to be reclassified to nonexempt, but haven't been reclassified yet, Robinson said employers may want to postpone those decisions and give the litigation a chance to play out. “This should be a welcome sign for employers, even if they've already made changes,” Robinson said. “They can at least hold off on further changes.”

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Also on SmallBusiness.com

Overtime Pay Rule Overturned: Federal Judge Rules in Favor of States, Business Groups | 2016

VIA | SHRM.Org The Overtime Rule Has Been Blocked. Now What?

In One Chart: Google Users Loved Small Business on Small Business Saturday

As we've already noted, Small Business Saturday was a stellar day for media coverage related to small business.

After posting that item, a SmallBusiness.com user sent us the one-week trendline graphic displayed above. It demonstrates people using Google on Saturday dramatically spiked up searches for the term “small business.”

(Source: Google Trends).

(Note: Google Trends measures the trajectory of a specific search term. Each data point is divided by the total searches of the geography and time range it represents, to compare relative popularity. Otherwise places with the most search volume would always be ranked highest. The resulting numbers are then scaled on a range of 0 to 100 based on a topic's proportion to all searches on all topics.)

Chloe Lattanzi's 'No Pain' is a Thought-Provoking Pleasure

This month, Chloe Lattanzi released No Pain, her much-anticipated debut album, and she proved that she has both a dazzling voice and some important things to sing about. I first heard a few of these songs back in 2007, when Chloe released a small selection of them on My Space. I had the great fortune of meeting Chloe back then, and she greeted me so warmly that I'll never forget it. The loveliness that Chloe exudes as a person is present in the music, and she worked with producer Jarrad Rogers to create what I hope will be the first of many collaborations to come.



The album opens on the title track "No Pain". Given Chloe's strong storytelling talents, the depth of her voice, and the writing on the wall between the lines the listener may imagine, one can hear evidence of the pain that inspired the music - and the utter joy of living to sing about it!



"Magic" does more than hint at Chloe's famous family. As the daughter of Olivia Newton-John and actor Matt Lattanzi, Chloe acted in shows with both as a child. Her parents met on the set of Xanadu, and "Magic" was the name of Olivia's big hit single from the movie musical. On Chloe's "Magic", she samples part of Olivia's song with a twist, and she adds her own lyrics and makes the tune her own.



With Bob Dylan recently receiving the Nobel Prize, we live in a time where songwriting is gaining the respect it has long-deserved, and Chloe's strength as a songwriter is clear in "Delicious". It seems to be the most intimate and confessional track with raw, compelling lyrics that are so courageously specific that they become universal.



"Lonely Nights" is a song that will make you wonder why Chloe took so long to release this music. It is apparent how talented she is. "Tastes Like You" Is also notable. Chloe has performed this song as a special guest at Olivia's concerts, and it is the most playful track. It is hard to listen to it without getting up and getting your groove on. "Sad City" is a tune that one can imagine may have been inspired by Chloe trying to make her way as a young girl with all eyes on her.



Chloe ends the album with "Wired", which is how I feel after the energizing, eclectic, and emotional journey that this collection of songs takes you on. My takeaway from this album? Chloe Lattanzi is an undeniable talent capable of masterful songwriting, and her splendid voice makes listening to the songs a pure pleasure. Although the album was created over a decade ago, the sound doesn't harken back to that time. These are songs for today. I have had "Delicious" and "Magic" on repeat, and I look forward to more music from Chloe.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Small Business Saturday Gained Coast-to-Coast Media Coverage | 2016

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Started in 2010, Small Business Saturday still has not yet gained the level of awareness of Black Friday or Cyber Monday. At least, not yet. The day continues to grow in popularity and recognition. Created by American Express, the day started out as an event to remind holiday shoppers to support their locally owned and operated small businesses - not just the big boxes and online mega-ecommerce websites. This year, more small businesses - even those who don't accept American Express - joined in the celebration. Across the nation, in cities and small towns from coast-to-coast, people were dropping by their favorite shops and markets.

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A few of the hundreds of news articles covering Small Business Saturday, 2016

Small Business Saturday overtaking holiday spending

Norwalk, Conn., was offering downtown visitors free parking on Saturday, and Stamford planned to host an extravaganza filled with free popcorn, gift card giveaways and a selfie station.

Chicago-based businesses celebrate Small Business Saturday

WLS-TV – After Black Friday comes Small Business Saturday, when locally owned businesses make a push for your holiday shopping dollars.

Oklahomans show support for Small Business Saturday



kfor.com – The Oklahoma community was able to help increase local tax revenue by shopping local on Small Business Saturday. It's a day co-owners of Deer Creek Boutique, Tami Owens and Brittany Thompson, look forward to every year.

Valley shoppers hit independent stores on Small Business Saturday

Las Vegas Review-Journal – Shoppers in the Las Vegas Valley this weekend joined the national Small Business Saturday celebration, an effort established in 2010 by American Express to encourage spending at independent retailers and restaurants during the holiday shopping rush.

Minneapolis shops see big turnout for Small Business Saturday

Minneapolis (WCCO) - While the big box stores offer huge sales for Black Friday, small businesses offer things you can't find in a box. Small businesses in South Minneapolis saw a big turnout for Small Business Saturday. Shoppers.

Small Business Saturday boosts local New York City companies

CBS Local – ‎NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Small Business Saturday celebrated local companies and the personal services they provide. “Coming into a small business, you don't get like in a big company where you're just one of the many”

Spokane celebrates Small Business Saturday

KXLY Spokane – Another year, another Black Friday craze. Now the Black Friday chaos is over, and communities across the country are focusing instead on Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday brings shoppers to Marquette

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – With yesterday being the biggest retail day of the year nationwide, attention turned to the local businesses Saturday. “It's something that businesses have been doing in recent years to follow Black Friday.”

Small Business Saturday shines spotlight on Orlando shops

Orlando Sentinel – In the post-Thanksgiving retail rush, local small businesses carved out their own day on Saturday, November 26, 2016.

Community Floods Clarksville For Small Business Saturday

NewsChannel5.com – Hundreds of people filed in and out of historic Downtown Clarksville in search of some deals to snag on Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday in Midtown

ABC10.com – ‎The association gave out gift cards to shoppers in the area Saturday to say thanks for helping out small businesses. Jim Relles, owner and operator of the 70 year old Relles Floral said, “We have a lot of specials today…”

Small Business Saturday, New Orleans style

WWLTV.com – ‎He finally achieved success this year, and was happy to help market small business Saturday. “Everyone, please shop local. You have to shop local, because we can keep the money in our economy instead of going out to the big box sores,” said Colton.

Small Business Saturday a hit for Downtown Alamogordo

Alamogordo Daily News – Businesses were grateful with the numerous residents who shopped on Small Business Saturday with merchants on New York Avenue in Alamogordo's Historic Downtown Saturday.

Nashville shops hold business crawls for Small Business Saturday

The Tennessean – ‎Local shops expect another boost in sales from this year's Small Business Saturday. The national retail event - wedged between Black Friday and Cyber Monday - aims to encourage spending at small, independent businesses.

La Crosse celebrates Small Business Saturday

WKBT – ‎Small Business Saturday is a national day to celebrate small businesses in the community. It's the counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which typically feature big box retail stores. The national event encourages holiday shoppers to support small businesses.

North Park, Little Italy Communities Celebrate Small Business Saturday

NBC 7 San Diego – ‎Communities in San Diego, including North Park and Little Italy, urged locals to shop small on Saturday and support tiny, independently-owned businesses. As Small Business Saturday began, many of the shops along 30th Street in North Park planned to participate…

Small Business Saturday a big day for Easton stores

EASTON, Pa. – The holiday shopping rush continued Saturday and small businesses across the country are in the spotlight. In recent years, the Saturday following Thanksgiving and Black Friday has been reserved to put the focus on supporting local …

Greensboro shoppers go local for Small Business Saturday

Greensboro News & Record – ‎The clothing boutique and nail salon was one of many businesses downtown preparing for an influx of customers on Small Business Saturday, a national event designed to drive holiday shopping to local, independently owned stores and restaurants.

Local Little Rock Business Appreciates Small Business Saturday

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – From Black Friday to Small Business Saturday, hundreds of people across the country flooded stores, celebrating small local companies. But spending money locally isn't limited to gift buying.

Local St. Louis communities celebrate Small Business Saturday

KMOV.com – ‎Communities around the St. Louis Metropolitan area celebrated Small Business Saturday; a tradition that's been going on for several years.

Small Business Saturday a big deal for Portland shops damaged in blast

PORTLAND, Ore. – Compared to Black Friday's big, bustling crowds, Small Business Saturday may seem subtle. Portland's shop owners say, don't be fooled.

Boise shoppers think local on Small Business Saturday

BOISE – The Saturday after Thanksgiving is becoming known as Small Business Saturday – an alternative to Black Friday, when big-box stores tend to take center stage. Rediscovered Books in downtown Boise was packed full of customers on Saturday.

Small Business Saturday attracts shoppers to downtown Lawrence

Lawrence Journal World – ‎The owners of those unique local shops were looking to greet a lot of hometown and destination shoppers for Small Business Saturday, said Sally Zogry, of Downtown Lawrence Inc. “Small Business Saturday is a big deal,” she said. “We promote it like crazy.”

Little Rock businesses celebrate Small Business Saturday with deals, scavenger hunt

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – Whether it's Black Friday or Giving Tuesday, the holiday season brings along labels for plenty of days.

Farmington retailers mark Small Business Saturday

Farmington Daily Times – Local residents Karla Montoya and Rebecca Brandt were sorting through custom lapel pins today at the Three Rivers Art Center, one of the downtown retailers participating in Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday is a national …

Small Business Saturday welcomes shoppers in Northeast Ohio

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – We've been through Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Now, it's time for Small Business Saturday. The annual shopping event, started by American Express in 2010, is always the Saturday after Thanksgiving. T

Shoppers Support Local in Little Falls on Small Business Saturday

LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. – It might have been a little rainy, but that didn't stop some shoppers from going out on Small Business Saturday. “Oh it's been great,” said David Guile, the owner of Showcase Antiques.

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Baker County Tourism (basecampbaker.com) via Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)

What is Small Business Saturday?

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Today (November 27, 2016) is Small Business Saturday, annually celebrated on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the U.S. The day is intended to encourage American shoppers to consider small retailers and merchants as they think of their holiday shopping. It comes as an answer to the Friday after the U.S. Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday of November) called Black Friday and the following Monday called Cyber Monday. Both of those days have come to be associated with discounts and promotions at large retail chains and e-commerce websites.

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Small Business Saturday is a promotional effort intended to encourage consumers to support local businesses that create jobs, boost local economies and preserve neighborhoods around the country. 

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A brief history of Small Business Saturday

Each year on the SmallBusiness.com WIKI, we have updated the progress of Small Business Saturday. Here is a timeline of some the ways the day has progressed over the few years.

2010 | Small Business Saturday was created and sponsored by American Express, who registered the URL SmallBusinessSaturday.com and registered the trademark for the term Small Business Saturday. The company also created a Facebook page supporting the event and promoted the event with national television advertising and a broad array of public relations activities. The event was inspired by the 3/50 Project that was created by Cinda Baxter, a small business advocate in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

As part of the 2010 promotion, the first 10,000 small business owners who signed up to participate received $100 worth of free Facebook advertising, and the first 200,000 American Express cardholders who pledged to use their credit cards on Nov. 27 to support small businesses received a $25 credit.

On the American Express website and Facebook page in 2010, credit was given also to the following co-sponsors and endorsers: American Express OPEN, The 3/50 Project, Business Matchmaking, Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, Count Me In, Destination DC, E Women Network, Facebook, Girls Inc., Greater Boston Conventional & Visitors Bureau, LA Inc., NAWBO, National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center, NYC & Co., NYC Department of Small Business Services, San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, SCORE, Women Impacting Public Policy, Women Presidents' Organization, Women's Leadership Exchange, Yelp.

2013 | Beginning in 2013, American Express began to use another trademarked advertising tag line, “Shop Small” in its Small Business Saturday promotions. The tag line enables the company to extend the marketing efforts surrounding Small Business Saturday into other parts of the year.

2014 | On the Small Business Saturday website in 2014, premiere sponsors were listed as FedEx, Four Square, Twitter and the U.S. Postal Service. A new promotional aspect of 2014 include an interactive map for participating businesses that accept American Express cards and a promotion that enabled American Express card holders to get three $10 credits (total, $30) for use at three small businesses that accept the American Express card.

2015 | American Express continued to support the promotion, but no other co-sponsors were listed on the website. In 2015, American Express also stopped providing the three $10 credits to card-holders. Also in 2015, American Express produced and ran TV and online commercials promoting Small Business Saturday featuring the Muppets.

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Directory and map of participating small businesses

While any small business can participate in Small Business Saturday, American Express has an interactive directory of small businesses that can be searched by location. A link to it can be found here. The map and other American Express promotions are available only to small businesses that accept the American Express card.

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137.4 Million Americans Plan on Shopping This Thanksgiving Weekend

Retailers were planning for the biggest shopping weekend of the year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

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59% | Percentage of Americans planning to shop during Thanksgiving weekend

“Black Friday remains one of the busiest shopping days of the year, with Americans planning to take advantage of aggressive in-store and digital promotions over the entire holiday weekend,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Retailers know consumers are spreading out their holiday budgets to shop throughout the season. While there's no doubt of the incredible promotions offered during the weekend, the holiday shopping season is long and consumers will look for and expect great deals down to the very last minute.”

“Millennials continue to drive the trend of hitting the stores – both on their feet and online – as soon as the turkey is finished,” Prosper Principal Analyst Pam Goodfellow said. “Whether they're hoping to find gifts for themselves or for the folks on their lists, they will do their research to find the best deals of the weekend and have allotted a large part of their holiday budget for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday spending.”

“For many millennials, every Thanksgiving weekend they can remember has involved hopping online to find the best deals,” Goodfellow said. “For this group, it's more than just a weekend of good deals, it's a holiday tradition.”

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While not included in the 137.4 million total for the Thanksgiving weekend, 36 percent of consumers say they plan to shop online on Cyber Monday, up from the 34 percent in 2015. 

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32 Small Business Quotations of Thankfulness and Gratitude

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In the U.S., today is Thanksgiving. It is a national holiday set-aside to express our thankfulness and gratitude for the blessings we've received. At SmallBusiness.com, one of the things we are most thankful for is you. We thank you for using the information on the site and greatly appreciate the wisdom you share with us, as well. To  celebrate today's holiday, we pulled together this list of inspirational, motivational and insightful quotations about gratitude and thankfulness. Happy Thanksgiving.

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1. “O Lord that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!”
   
   William Shakespeare
   
   Henry VI


2. Thankfulness is the tune of angels.
   
   Edmund Spenser (1895)


3. “Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.”
   
   Maya Angelou


4. “Thanks are justly due for things got without purchase.”
   
   Ovid


5. “That possession which we gain by the sword is not lasting; gratitude for benefits is eternal.”
   
   Quintus Curtius Rufus


6. “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
   
   William Arthur Ward


7. “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”
   
   G.K. Chesterton


8. “If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.”
   
   Robert Quillen


9. “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”
   
   Robert Brault


10. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”
    
    John F. Kennedy


11. “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”
    
    Charles Dickens


12. “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”
    
    Eckhart Tolle


13. “If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get.”
    
    Frank A. Clark


14. “If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.”
    
    Gerald Good


15. “Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves and spend without fear of bankruptcy.”
    
    Fred De Witt


16. “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”
    
    Epictetus


17. “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
    
    Albert Schweitzer


18. “The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.”
    
    William James


19. “Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.”
    
    Oprah Winfrey


20. “You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.”
    
    Ralph Waldo Emerson


21. “It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment.”
    
    Naomi Williams


22. “Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out.”
    
    John Wooden


23. “No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.”
    
    Alfred North Whitehead


24. “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”
    
    A.A. Milne


25. “Forget yesterday - it has already forgotten you. Don't sweat tomorrow - you haven't even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift - today.”
    
    Steve Maraboli


26. “We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count.”
    
    Neal A. Maxwell


27. “In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.”
    
    Dietrich Bonhoeffer


28. “The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you.”
    
    John E. Southard


29. “Gratitude also opens your eyes to the limitless potential of the universe, while dissatisfaction closes your eyes to it.”
    
    Stephen Richards


30. “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
    
    Epicurus


31. “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”
    
    Cicero


32. “When you are aware of all that has been given to you, it is hard not to be humbled and pleased to give back.”
    
    Anne Lamott
    
    

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Are You Ready for Small Business Saturday?

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Are you ready for Small Business Saturday, November 26, 2016. (In the UK, Small Business Saturday is Dec. 3. Or in the case of Portland, Ore., small businesses have banded together to extend Small Business Saturday into a weekend event called Little Boxes.)

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Small Business Saturday, a cure for the common Black Friday

Small Business Saturday is NOT just an early special sales promotion designed to generate foot traffic. It's an event that reminds customers, diners, and others that small and local shops know their customers' tastes and desires and expectations - throughout the holiday season. It's a day when shoppers are looking forward to the up-close-and-personal touch form of shopping .

Black Friday backlash?

There are indications that the big box retailer promotion, Black Friday, has become over-hyped, or at least customers seem less impressed with the deals. Last year, Black Friday sales fell 12% to $10.2 billion compared to a year before, according to ShopperTrak. The outdoor retailer REI has even built a promotional campaign around its decision to close its stores on the Friday after Thanksgiving so that its employees can spend the day outdoors.

However, Amazon seems the most intent on “killing Black Friday” by trying to turn it into a two-month long sale, observes Mashable.

Promotional materials

The longtime sponsor of Small Business Saturday, American Express, has promotional material here.

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Photo: American Express

Small Business Public Relations Tips From Big Business Pros

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One of the most challenging things for a small business to obtain is, with great irony, often described as being “free” - as in, “free publicity.” But such publicity can cost a lot of time and creativity and hard work. (Thus, the more enlightened marketer calls it “earned,” not free or paid.) Traditionally, the work of someone who helps raise the visibility of a business or product is a public relations expert. Big companies and their experts know that getting covered by the news media adds credibility, recognition and brand reinforcement to a business of any size. But I think that's especially true for a small business. These days, it is even harder to get covered by the news media. Why? There are fewer and fewer full-time reporters or producers working at traditional media companies. That's because there are fewer listeners, readers or watchers of those channels. (I blame those new-media online sources like SmallBusiness.com.)

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Some public relations tips from the experts

Recently, Anna Issac, writing for the Telegraph, asked several public relations experts for their tips to small businesses who hope to gain recognition in their targeted media (be it, hometown or the industry in which they work).

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“The reality is that you have about four lines to pique their interest, and if you spend that time not getting to the point of your story, you will have lost them…Don't force a story to tie in with a national or global event – it almost always sounds as if it has been.”

(Shauna McCarthy, Edelman)

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“Translating your drive, energy and confidence in a written press release can be hard. Keep it simple, refreshing and to the point. If you get this right, journalists will write and readers will engage with you and talk about you….Stay away from unrealistic clichés such as 'groundbreaking' or 'world's first'. Save them for the cure for cancer.”

(Jenny Tod, Marlin PR)

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“It also helps to begin your approach by following journalists on Twitter, to get a sense of what interests them, then start talking to them about it. And be persistent; building relationships with journalists can take months, or even years.”

(Zoe Amar, Zoe Amar Communications)

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For more tips, see: the Telegraph”PR tips for small businesses”

The On-Demand Economy Takes Flight (With Drones)

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DroneBase, a startup that delivers aerial data and video to business clients has announced a new on-demand model for drone owners and businesses in need of aerial footage called Pilot Program. The model will allow owners of drones manufactured by the China-based company DJI to find work nearby where they can fly 10-minute missions, upload the results and get paid if a DroneBase client wants to buy the info.

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“By connecting idle pilots with  businesses that need drone video, DroneBase can change flying an unmanned aerial vehicle from a hobby into work and equip businesses with aerial data without them having to own drones and build its business too,” according to Josh Constine of TechCrunch.

Currently, DroneBase is used by clients to track progress at their work sites, measure areas and resources, verify insurance claims on roofs, shoot aerial marketing footage of properties and more. Clients just input their needs and DroneBase dispatches a pilot with all the skills and hardware necessary to get the job done.

According to DroneBase CEO and co-founder Dan Burton, DroneBase is the world's first global-scale drone service and pilot network, actively flying in all 50 US states, over 30 countries. With the launch of Pilot Program, “DroneBase now has 1,000,000+ commercial activities our pilots can do with their drones,” says Burton. “Our mission is to provide air support for every business.”

According to Burton, standardizing the drones to DJI models, “removes hardware as a variable.” says Burton. DJI is also an investor in the company.

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Photos: DroneBase

Turkeys Who Literally Can't Even Right Now

It's a dicey time for turkeys.

Slicey and dicey.

Political uncertainty and upcoming holiday dinners have left many of them with the inability to even. No matter how hard they try, these turkeys simply can't even.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Gallup's Economic Confidence Index Surges After Election | 2016

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Gallup's U.S. Economic Confidence Index, an average of how Americans rate current economic conditions and whether they feel the economy is improving or getting worse, surged 13 points after last week's Presidential election.  Americans' confidence in the U.S. economy increased sharply, moving from a slightly negative evaluation (-10) to a slightly positive one (+3). Gallup's U.S. Economic Confidence Index had been consistently negative throughout the year leading up to the election. According to a Gallup report issued today (November 15, 2016), the increase in economic confidence mostly stems from Republicans' more positive views after Republican Donald Trump won the election. Gallup has previously noted that Americans view the economy through a political lens. Republicans have had a dismal view of the economy - especially of its future direction - during Democratic President Barack Obama's two terms.

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The election of Trump has transformed the way Republicans and Democrats view the economy, particularly in their assessments of whether it is getting better or worse.

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Republicans' Economic Outlook Improves Substantially

Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents Outlook on the Economy the Week Before the Election

16% | Percentage of Republicans saying the economy was getting better

81% | Percentage of Republicans saying the economy was getting worse

Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents Outlook on the Economy the Week After the Election

49% | Percentage of Republicans saying the economy was getting better

44% | Percentage of Republicans saying the economy was getting worse

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Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents Outlook on the Economy The Week Before the Election

61% | Percentage of Democrats saying the economy was getting better

35% | Percentage of Democrats saying the economy was getting worse

Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents Outlook on the Economy The Week After the Election

46% | Percentage of Democrats saying the economy was getting better

47% | Percentage of Democrats saying the economy was getting worse

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Gallup notes, however, “It's too early to say whether these are sustainable gains in confidence. But in the immediate future, Trump's victory has improved his party's confidence in the economy. Barring any major events, it is likely that Republicans will shift to a positive index score once the incoming president takes office, while Democrats' confidence will take a hit.”

 

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U.S. Small Retailers Expect Strong Holiday Sales Season | 2016

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“Small retailers” and “middle market retailers” are optimistic about holiday sales and predict growth for the fourth quarter and into 2017, according to the American Express Holiday Growth Pulse. (For the survey, “small retailers” refers to companies with fewer than 100 employees with at least $250,000 in sales. “Middle market” refers to retailers with $10 million to $1 billion in annual revenues.)

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Optimistic that stockings will be filled with goodies

59% | Percentage of small retailers who predict holiday sales will be stronger compared to last year

34% | 2016 holiday sales predict they will be roughly the same as last year

77% | Percentage of middle market retailers who plan to hire additional staff for the holidays

31% | Percentage of small retailers who plan to add staff for the holidays

Retailers feel the pressure to discount

Given the importance of the holiday season, small retailers are putting a great deal of effort into making sure they see strong results. Small retailers feel they will need to offer sales and promotions during the holiday sales season.

64% | Percentage of small retailers who expect to discount and use sales promotions

58% | Percentage of small retailers who expect to start offering holiday discounts the same time as last year

42% | Percentage of small retailers who expect to start offering holiday discounts earlier than last year

Retailers increasing social media use this holiday seasons

89% | Percentage of small retailers who will utilize social media this holiday season

81% | Of those using social media, the percentage using Facebook

ThinkStock

SmallBusiness.com Overview | How to Use Music Legally in Presentations and Video

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Music is often the special ingredient that establishes the level of quality in your marketing video, podcast, website or presentation. Unfortunately, the laws that determine how various types of copyrighted or licensed music can be used – and how much you need to pay for permission to use it – can be a confusing. This overview just scratches the surface. If you are a professional musician or want to re-sell music, you should seek legal advice from an expert in intellectual property and licensing rights.

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How do you want to use the music?

For presentations and podcasts, you most likely are going to use music that falls into one or two categories: Royalty Free and Creative Commons licensed. Sorry to add to the confusion, but music can at times be both royalty free and Creative Commons licensed. Fortunately, that shouldn't matter in the following explanation. (We will touch a third rarely-used category after describing these.)

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| Royalty Free music

The most confusing thing about the term “royalty-free” is this: It doesn't mean the music is free to use. The term “free” means that you pay only once for the right to use the music in your presentation. In the licensing world (including photography and artwork also), the term “royalty” typically refers to a recurring charge for usage. Royalty free music is very similar to stock photography. In most cases, you are not commissioning the music, you are looking for music that fits the mood or theme of your presentation, video or podcast.

(Note: If you are commissioning music from a friend, you should look at the Creative Commons licensing section below in order to find the license agreement you and the creator want to follow.)

Royalty free music sources

Royalty free organizations operate in ways similar to stock photography companies. Some charge a monthly fee or for a collection of tunes. In most cases, however, the license holder charges per tune.

Sources for free and royalty free music

YouTube Audio Library

If your video is intended for YouTube, you may want to check out the YouTube Audio Libary. Many major artists allow their music to be played with your video because they earn royalties from YouTube for those plays.

Purple Planet

Partners In Rhym

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| Creative Commons licensed

Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that was formed in the early days of the web to encourage open-source intellectual property licenses. Creative Commons licenses do not replace copyright but replace individual negotiations for specific rights between copyright owner (licensor) and licensee.

Sources for Creative Commons licensed music

Note: These are just a few sources. And remember, Creative Commons licensed music doesn't necessarily mean free. You must read the specific license the creator is using to make sure what conditions you must follow. (We've explained the various licenses here.) The benefit of Creative Commons has to do with the common licensing approach that makes it easy and free to impliment the types of rights the creator wants to cover his or her work.

CCMixer.com

FreeMusicArchive.com | Check out their license guide, a good description of how Creative Commons licensed music works.

Bandcamp

Jamendo

Magnatune

Simuze

BeatPick

CASH Music

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| Using commercially popular music

(Note: If your video is intended for YouTube, before reading the instructions below, refer to the YouTube Audio Library)

The revenues related to the music you hear on the radio, in movies, on TV and other media channels is typically managed by a “performance rights” organization. The two largest are BMI and ASCAP. They both have categories of licensing and royalties that cover usage on websites, podcasts, and presentations. However, these fees can be quite expensive and are recurring. You can get more information on their websites: BMI.com and ASCAP.com.

SmallBusiness.com Guide to Resources for Military Veterans | 2016

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In the U.S., today, Friday (November 11, 2016) is Veterans Day, a national holiday honoring those who have served in nation's armed services. Most banks and government services are close for the holiday. 

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At SmallBusiness.com, we use Veteran's Day as an opportunity to remind our users that we have many links to resources developed for veterans who own small businesses, or who want to start one.

We also link to resources for employers who want to hire veterans, recognizing the not only their service but the skills, discipline, and other attributes that vets developed while serving.

Bookmark and share the SmallBusiness.com Guide to Resources for Military Veterans

Photo: U.S. Navy

Gallup | Americans' Satisfaction Rate Rises in Traditional Pre-Election Bounce | 2016

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On this Election Day, November 8, 2016, the Gallup organization continued a tradition it started in 1979 by releasing the results of a survey of Americans, asking,  “Are you satisfied with the way things are going in the country?” As typical in the past four elections, the satisfaction rate jumped in the October preceding the election. In October, the answer was 28%. This month, the rate of satisfaction climbed nine percentage points, or 32%.

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 37% | Percentage of  Americans who say

they are satisfied with the way things are going in the country

Historical context

37% | Is also the highest satisfaction rate during President Obama's time in office

39% | The last time satisfaction was higher than 37% was in September 2005

Satisfaction up among all major political groups since October

 62% | Democrats who are satisfied

34% | Independents

14% | Republicans

 

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Change in Satisfaction With Way Things Are Going in the U.S. (by Political Party)

	Oct 5-9, 2016	Nov 1-6, 2016	Change
	%	%	pct. pts.
National adults	28	37	+9
Democrats	49	62	+13
Independents	24	34	+10
Republicans	8	14	+6
Source: Gallup

Gallup quote

“In each of the past four presidential election years, Gallup has measured increases in satisfaction from early October to right before the election. This included three-percentage-point gains in 2004 and 2012, a six-point gain in 2008 and a nine-point gain this year. Thus, something about the approaching election - either satisfaction with the democratic process or optimism about the prospect of their preferred candidate winning - may make Americans feel modestly better about the way things are going in the country.”

Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics.

You'll Only Understand This Video If You Have An Asian Grandma

If you're lucky enough to have an Asian grandma, you know there's nothing and no one more lovable.

Like any other grandmother, she'll feed you endlessly and always try to give you money no matter how many times you say no.

But your Asian grandma has an endearing quirkiness that can only be fully understood after you've refused her requests for you to step on her back (for a massage, of course) or watched her do her early morning stretches. (What, exactly, is she doing with her arms?)

In a video published Sunday, BuzzFeed introduces us to a smiling elderly Korean lady who absolutely loves her grandchildren ― and it's inspired in us a whole new appreciation for our own Asian grandmas.

Watch “Things Your Asian Grandma Does” above, then go ahead and give your grandma a call. You know she'd be thrilled!

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Red or Blue, It's Time We Flew Together

After a long and bruising campaign, there is one thing my friends and I can agree on: We're ready for this election to be over.

I was thinking of that when I looked out my window this past weekend and saw a blue jay and cardinal (red bird) close by one another. While I could not capture them in a photograph,  I found a similar one on Flickr by John Flannery who had generously licensed the image for usage via Creative Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.

The Family-Owned Corner Market May Become a New York City Endangered Small Business

Due to a growing operating expense and competition from online services and suburban chains, the number of family-owned corner markets and grocery stores in neighborhoods across New York City is stalling, according to a NYTimes.com real estate story by Ronda Kaysevvov.

Quote:

“The neighborhood grocery store - with its dim and narrow aisles full of provisions precariously stacked from floor to ceiling and the cashier who greets you and your dog by name - is a critical piece of a New York life. Supermarkets of suburban proportions, like Whole Foods, are making their mark on the city; Wegmans will open its first city store, in Brooklyn, in 2018.

“But while these stores have distinctive - and sometimes pricier - offerings like artisanal cheese and artichoke ravioli, they cannot replace the labyrinthine corner market, a linchpin for any neighborhood. It can keep a neighborhood manageable for new parents who need diapers now or seniors who cannot carry their groceries a long way.”

Many of the city's grocers, large and small, have struggled to survive. Some have succumbed to high rent, narrow profit margins and increased competition from upscale supermarkets, online grocers and drugstore chains that have expanded their wares to include grocery items.

Continue reading (…) | NYTimes.com

Photo: Seth Werkheiser via Flickr. (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Is Apple Bringing Back a Flip Phone? Not Likely

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While speculating on the future of Apple products by observing the tea leaves of the company's patent grants is not a part of the SmallBusiness.com beat, this news item was too fun to pass up.

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According to several rumor websites, Apple was recently granted their first patent covering a foldable (or bendable, flipable?) mobile device. Apple filed the patent under an engineer's name to avoid detection, according to Apple watchers.

There are many reasons that can explain the patent, including throwing off those who track Apple patents. However, some practical reasons could involve the development a wider range of iPhones that serve various marketplaces or the ability to use a panel for features that interact with Apple Watches and other devices. Who knows? There may be a two screened iPhone in the future.

While some are calling this a “flip phone,” it's not likely to be that hip or retro. But no matter what it is, we predict there will be people standing in line to buy one on the day they are released.

Eight (More) Tips for Remembering and Using Names

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Our posts on why we can't remember names and strategies for remembering them led several people to email us more tips. Here is a roundup of some more tips (many via Lifehacker.com by Philip Guo).

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Tip 1: Shout out the other person's name (but only in your head).

As soon as you hear the person's name-for example, “Joe”-start repeating it in your head loudly a few times. JOE, JOE, JOE. If you want to practice saying it out loud a few times, ask him about his name. “How do you spell JOE?” Note: After a couple of seconds, you should stop and introduce yourself or risk remembering the name of someone who will think you're very odd.

Tip 2: Let the other person talk about himself.

This is a good rule of thumb for lots of things. (We've explained it before.) People love to talk about themselves. Admit it. Letting the other person talk will help you remember their name and all sorts of tidbits that will come in handy later.

Tip 3: Help for remembering the international, unique or hard-to-pronounce name.

If you live in the U.S., you will meet many people with names like Jason or Julie. However, you will also meet people with unconventional, foreign-language, or, depending on your culture, hard-to-pronounce names. As these people are used to having people look at them with confusion, they won't be offended (we hope) with you saying something like, “Can you help me understand how to say your name phonetically?” (You can try to do the phonetic thing without asking for help, but few people are offended if you ask for ways to help you remember their names.) Ask, “Did I pronounce that correctly?”

Tip 4: DON'T make remarks about a person's name being hard to remember.

This isn't a memory tip. It's a “don't be a jerk” tip. “I have trouble remembering Asian names” is a perfect way to get the other person to quickly forget your name.

Tip 5: Don't use a nickname until the other person uses a nickname.

Unless the other person provides you with a nickname or alternative form of their name, don't use it. Don't even think about using it. Don't immediately start thinking Bob or Rob when they introduce themselves as Robert. Don't be that guy.

Tip 6: Use people's names in the conversation and especially when saying hello and goodbye.

People love hearing their own name. Using their name often helps you remember their name. A win-win tactic. Or, a Wynn-Wynn one, if that's their name.

Tip 7: Never call a person by the wrong name.

If you're not 100 percent certain that you've got someone's name correct, it's probably better not to address them by it. And don't try to cover by saying nicknames like “Hey, Dude, Guy, Friend, Buddy …” It's better to say nothing and ask someone else what you've forgotten.

Tip 8: Don't misspell someone's name in writing.

Heard of Google, Facebook, LinkedIn? Use them to look up the correct spelling of a person's name.

Illustration: From ThinkStock

Celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week | 2016

Each November before U.S. Veteran's Day (this year Veteran's Day is Friday, November 11, 2016), the Small Business Administration celebrates National Veterans Small Business Week.

• Click to learn more about National Veterans Small Business Week Events


• Click to visit the SmallBusiness.com Guide to Resources for Military Veterans


• Share your veteran's small business story on social media using the hashtag #MyVetBiz

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All 50 States' Regulations on Employee Time Off to Vote on Election Day | 2016

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Voting is one of the most important privileges and responsibilities of any citizen. In the U.S., laws and regulations related to voting are decided and overseen by each state. Some states require employers to provide time off to vote (scroll down to the bottom of this page for your state's policy). States also have various laws regarding early voting. 

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What states have early or mail-in voting?

This interactive map from Ballotpedia shows four various approaches to voting among the 50 states. Check with your local election agency for your specific early voting opportunities. Three states, Washington, Oregon and Colorado conduct their elections by providing every registered voter with a mail-in ballot. While they can drop off their ballot in a box on election day for free, any ballot that is postmarked on Nov. 8 will be counted.

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Here is your state's policy regarding employee time off on election day

The chart below provides information about each state's laws regarding voting day time-off for employees. (Laws may have changed, so please check with local election officials if in question about your requirements.)

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State	Time Off Required?	Exceptions?	Time Off Paid or Unpaid?	Advance Notice Required?	Proof of Voting Required?
Alabama	Yes. One hour.	If the hours of work of the employee commence at least two hours after the opening of the polls or end at least one hour prior to the closing of the polls.	Law does not specify, so probably unpaid.	Yes; "reasonable notice."	No.
Alaska	Yes, amount not specified	Not required if employee has two consecutive hours available while polls are open at beginning or end of shift	Paid	No	No
Arizona	Yes: worker must get three hours off between work and non-work time.	Not required if employee has three consecutive hours available while polls are open at beginning or end of shift	Paid	Yes: at least one day before the election	No
Arkansas	Yes: employer must schedule work hours so employee has time to vote		Unpaid	No	No
California	Yes: up to two hours at beginning or end of shift.		Yes (up to two hours)	Yes, 2 working days before election	No
Colorado	All mail in voting.

State	Time Off Required?	Exceptions?	Time Off Paid or Unpaid?	Advance Notice Required?	Proof of Voting Required?
Delaware	No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. Employee who has accrued vacation time and is not in a "critical need" position may serve as an election officer without reprisal by the employer.
Florida	No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But workers can't be disciplined or fired based on how they vote.
Georgia	Yes: as much as necessary, up to two hours		Paid	No	No
Hawaii	Yes, two consecutive hours. Employer cannot change employee's regular work schedule.	Not required if employee has two consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open.	Paid	No	Yes. Employee must show voter's receipt, or employer can deduct hours off from pay.
Illinois	Yes, two hours.		Unpaid	Yes, one day in advance for general or state election.	No

State	Time Off Required?	Exceptions?	Time Off Paid or Unpaid?	Advance Notice Required?	Proof of Voting Required?
Iowa	Yes, as much time as will add up to 3 hours, when combined with non-work time	Not required if employee has three consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open.	Paid	Yes, in writing prior to the election	No
Kansas	Yes, two hours or as much time as will add up to two hours, when combined with non-work time	Not required if employee has two consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open.	Paid	No	No
Kentucky	Yes, "reasonable time," but not less than four hours		Unpaid	Yes, one day	Employee who takes time off but does not vote is subject to disciplinary action
Louisiana	No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers of 20 or more employees can't interfere with their employees' "political activities or affiliations."
Maryland	Yes, two hours	Not required if employee has two consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open.	Paid	Yes	No

State	Time Off Required?	Exceptions?	Time Off Paid or Unpaid?	Advance Notice Required?	Proof of Voting Required?
Massachusetts	Yes, first two hours that polls are open		Unpaid	Employee must apply for leave of absence (no time specified).	No
Minnesota	May be absent during the morning of election day		Paid	No	No
Mississippi	No specific laws regarding time off to vote, an employer can't increase or decrease a worker's pay based on whom they vote for.
Missouri	Yes, three hours	Not required if employee has three consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open.	Paid, but employee must vote	Yes, "prior to the day of election"	Employee must actually vote to be paid.
Nebraska	Yes, as much time as will add up to two hours, when combined with non-work time	Not required if employee has two consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open.	Paid	Yes, prior to or on election day	No

State	Time Off Required?	Exceptions?	Time Off Paid or Unpaid?	Advance Notice Required?	Proof of Voting Required?
Nevada	If it is not practical to vote before or after work, employee may take time off based on distance from polling place	Not required if sufficient time during non-work hours available while polls are open.	Paid	Yes, prior to election day	No
New Jersey	No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers cannot influence or intimidate employees to vote for or against a particular candidate.
New Mexico	Yes, two hours	Not required if employee's workday begins more than 2 hours after polls open or ends more than 3 hours before polls close.	Paid	No	No
New York	Yes, as much time at beginning or end of shift as will give employee time to vote, when combined with non-work time	Not required if employee has four consecutive non-work hours available at beginning or end of shift while polls are open.	Paid, up to two hours	Yes, not more than 10 or less than 2 working days before the election.	No
North Carolina	No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers cannot discharge or threaten workers based on how they vote or don't vote.

State	Time Off Required?	Exceptions?	Time Off Paid or Unpaid?	Advance Notice Required?	Proof of Voting Required?
North Dakota	Employers encouraged to give employees time off to vote when regular work schedule conflicts with times polls are open		Unpaid	No	No
Ohio	Yes, "reasonable time"		Paid only for salaried employees	No	No
Oklahoma	Yes, two hours, unless employee lives so far from polling place that more time is needed.	Not required if employee's workday begins more than 3 hours after polls open or ends more than 3 hours before polls close.	Paid	Orally or in writing one day before the election	Yes
Oregon	All mail in voting.
Pennsylvania	No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers cannot threaten or intimidate employees to influence their political opinions or actions.

State	Time Off Required?	Exceptions?	Time Off Paid or Unpaid?	Advance Notice Required?	Proof of Voting Required?
Rhode Island	No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers cannot put information in pay envelopes or post information designed to influence employees' political actions.
South Carolina	No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employers cannot discharge a worker because of political opinions or the exercise of political rights and privileges.
South Dakota	Yes, two consecutive hours	Not required if employee has two consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open.	Paid	No	No
Tennessee	Yes, reasonable time up to three hours	Not required if employee's workday begins more than 3 hours after polls open or ends more than 3 hours before polls close.	Paid	Yes, before noon on Election Day	No
Texas	Employer may not refuse to allow employee to take time off, but no time limit specified	Not required if employee has two consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open.	Paid	No	No

State	Time Off Required?	Exceptions?	Time Off Paid or Unpaid?	Advance Notice Required?	Proof of Voting Required?
Utah	Yes: two hours at beginning or end of shift.	Not required if employee has at least three non-work hours available while polls are open.	Paid	Yes, before Election Day	No
Virginia	No laws require companies to give workers time off to vote. But employees working and commuting for 11 hours of the 13 hours polls are open may vote by absentee ballot.
Washington	All mail in voting.
West Virginia	Yes, up to three hours	Not required if employee has at least three non-work hours available while polls are open.	Paid (if employee votes)	Written request at least three days before election	Employee must actually vote to be paid.
Wisconsin	Yes: up to three consecutive hours.		Unpaid	Yes, before Election Day	No

State	Time Off Required?	Exceptions?	Time Off Paid or Unpaid?	Advance Notice Required?	Proof of Voting Required?
Wyoming	Yes: one hour, other than a meal break	Not required if employee has at least three consecutive non-work hours available while polls are open.	Paid (if employee votes)	No	Employee must actually vote to be paid.

SmallBusiness.com Guide to Halloween | 2016

Here are some treats we've prepared for you this Halloween weekend. If you are a retailer or restaurant owner or any type of small business that's open this pre-Halloween, have a productive, fun and safe time . And if you are a shopper this weekend, whenever possible #BuyLocal for your family or business  treats.

Halloween Costumes Employees of Most Small Businesses Should Avoid

It Will be a Sweet Halloween for Small and Local Candy Stores | 2016

Retail | American Halloween Spending Will Reach Historic Highs This Year | 2016

By the Numbers: Halloween is a Treat for Lots of U.S. Small Businesses | 2015

These Small Businesses Stay a Little Bit Spooky All Year Long

Healthy Halloween Treats For Your Office Party or Customer Promotion

Best Halloween Treats People Brought to Work Today

Small Business Job Titles We Love: House Haunter

QuickBooks Outlines Strategy to Become a Small Business “End-to-End” Financial Management Platform

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Helping small businesses get paid more quickly, boost their cash flow and save time organizing their finances is the goal of Intuit's QuickBooks Online, according to Sasan Goodarzi, executive vice president of Intuit's Small Business Group. Intuit today unveiled a broad range of enhancements to QuickBooks Online at its annual conference for 5,000 accountants and small business owners, QuickBooks Connect, in San Jose. This year, more than 500 developers are also attending the conference to review the enhancements being unveiled today and to receive information on how they can integrate their products into the QuickBooks Online platform.

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QuickBooks Online Enhancements

Below are some highlights of the new Quickbooks Online partnerships and new features announced today. We will be going in-depth on some of these in a later article. The features will be released at different times between now and the first quarter of 2017.

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Payments

Some of the new enhancements planned (or currently available) for Quicken Online designed to speed up payments include:

Apple Pay Integration

QuickBooks Online will be the first small business accounting solution to integrate Apple Pay, giving small business owners a fast, secure way of accepting payment from their customers. Customers will be able to view and pay an invoice with a single touch without having to spend time searching for their wallet and finding the right card. Every transaction on a customer's iPhone or iPad will require Touch ID – Apple's fingerprint identity sensor – authentication or passcode, helping small businesses avoid fraud and decrease chargebacks.

PayPal

Intuit and PayPal are expanding their existing partnership. A new feature will allow small businesses to send an invoice from QuickBooks Online and seamlessly accept payment from their customers through PayPal.

Smart Invoice

This new feature of QuickBooks tracks and notifies a small businesses about what's happening with their invoices every step of the way.

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Cash Flow

The current QuickBooks Financing platform allows small businesses to integrate QuickBooks data to demonstrate their credit worthiness, streamline the application process. It shortens the loan processing time significantly, from weeks to as little as one business day. To date, small businesses have secured more than $500 million in credit through QuickBooks Financing. More cash flow and financing features and partnerships include

A new QuickBooks financing platform

QuickBooks Financing gives small businesses the ability to use their QuickBooks data to apply for the full spectrum of credit offerings including, short and long term loans, lines of credit, invoice financing and Small Business Administration loans. In addition to AMEX Working Capital, Intuit is adding BlueVine's Flex Credit to the platform. Flex Credit is particularly well suited to new small businesses. To be eligible for financing, businesses only need to have been in business for six months and have minimum annual revenue of $60,000.

AMEX working capital

Small businesses that need a short-term loan to pay a vendor will benefit from a deep integration with AMEX Working Capital. It will provide short-term loans directly within QuickBooks Online. Small businesses will be able to access loans between $1,000 and $750,000 to pay vendors and get more time to even out cash flow. One single fee will be associated with each loan term, including 30-day, 0.5 percent; 60-day, 1.0 percent; 90-day, 1.5 percent. Each loan is tied to a specific receivable.

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Organization and Time Management

Eighty-one percent of small business owners say they are too busy with other tasks to take the steps to improve their money management. To make it easier for small businesses to seamlessly sync their data and understand their business performance, QuickBooks Online enhancements include:

Google and G Suite integration

Fifty percent of QuickBooks Online users also use Google Calendar. A new integration imports data seamlessly from Google into QuickBooks Online. The time that recorded in Google Calendar flows into QuickBooks. Small businesses can also now access QuickBooks Online through G Suite (formerly Google Apps for Work) and sign-in once using their Google credentials.

Auto expense feature

QuickBooks automatically balances the books by matching income and expenses with the correct category. QuickBooks categorizes over 70 percent of a small business' transactions, saving users time and making it easier to prepare for tax season.

Money insights at the click of a button

QuickBooks Online connects all of a small businesses' accounts in one place, automating the flow of data so that business owners have a simple, integrated view of how money flows in and out of their business.

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