Dashboard
A daily roundup of small-business developments.
What’s affecting me, my clients and other small-business owners today.
The Economy
• The economy beat second-quarter estimates, growing at a 4 percent annual rate.
• Consumer confidence jumped in July.
• The debate about the Obama stimulus plan is over — at least among economists.
Retail
• Retail groups ask the credit card industry to begin using “tokenization” technology that would replace card numbers with an encrypted code.
• Michigan retailers are hoping a new mascot, dubbed Buy Nearby Guy, can help them compete with out-of-state, online sellers.
• Some retailers are using smartphone coupons to encourage spontaneous shopping.
Finance
• Banks are willing to lend to small businesses, but a survey indicates that small businesses are still reluctant to borrow.
• The chief executive behind Diapers.com has raised $55 million for an e-commerce venture.
Management
• General Mills is insisting that its suppliers take steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions as well as water use.
Employees
• Will the National Labor Relations Board’s McDonald’s ruling open the door to fast-food unions?
• Here are four signs that an employee is going to quit.
• Some employers are offering meditation as a perk to help employees relax.
• After a “staff implosion,” the owner of a vegan restaurant in California is trying to move forward.
Social Media
• LinkedIn revamps its user profiles to help you increase your business contacts.
• Here’s how to use Twitter analytics to find important data.
• Twitter’s stock surges after strong quarterly results.
Around the Country
• New York City doesn’t want used-car dealers to be able to sell cars that have been recalled with safety defects.
• Welcome to America’s new gold rush city: Williston, N.D.
• A business in California receives a $43,000 tip.
• A scammer claims to be the owner of an Indiana store and steals $4,700.
• An Oregon business is providing a kind of retirement home for farm animals.
Around the World
• New sanctions on Russia are aimed at its oil reserves.
Marketing
• Hoping to rebound, Malaysia Airlines weighs a name change.
• A former chief executive of Ogilvy & Mather discusses her thoughts on personal branding.
Washington
• A Senate bill proposes sweeping curbs on surveillance.
Ideas
• A company based in India has created smart shoes.
Opportunities
• Some 200 million people from China are expected to travel abroad each year by 2020.
Technology
• Apple refreshes the MacBook Pro and cuts prices.
• It turns out all you need to invade a friend’s apartment is an off switch for your conscience and an iPhone.
Gene Marks owns the Marks Group, a Bala Cynwyd, Pa., consulting firm that helps clients with customer relationship management. You can follow him on Twitter.