From Invention to Innovation: Metal Forming and Machining in America

Most people don’t think too much about it. They just take for granted that we have things like buildings, automobiles, and tools. But, there was a time when metal forming, tool, and die manufacturing didn’t exist.

Metalworking

Pre-World War II

The history of metal forming and steel in America starts in the 19th century with the growth of pig iron. Britain went from 1.3 million tons in production in 1840 to 6.7 million tons in 1870. By 1913, there was 10.4 million tons being produced.

The U.S. started at a pitiful 0.32 tons, but by 1913 was producing 31.5 million – more than 3 times Britain.…

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6 Ways to Increase Customer Loyalty

For most businesses, winning new work is a top priority. But at t the same time, it’s important not to neglect one of your firm’s most valuable assets: your list of existing customers.

Customer loyalty

Depending on your industry, most sources say that acquiring new customers is 4-10 times more costly than retaining existing ones. What’s more, a loyal customer tends to be a valuable one, with figures showing that repeat customers spend 67% more than new ones.

Increasing customer loyalty is all about reminding those customers why they came to you in the first place. Loyal customers are more likely to recommend you to others and can also be a source of hints and tips on how to improve your product or service.…

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Management Tips that Will Help your Small Business Grow

Owning any business can be challenging. However, the difficulty level increases when you’re a small business owner just starting out. In the beginning, you don’t necessarily have the finances to pay different people to do all of the work that needs to be done. This means that you’re serving as the owner, the manager, the employee, the janitor, everything else, and quite possibly even the accountant (although that’s a terrible idea).

Management

These different positions shouldn’t be filled by one person. Sometimes you might think it necessary, especially during a startup, but if you want to have success, you need to learn early on that you can’t do everything.…

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7 Office Design Strategies to Boost Employee Morale

The biggest asset to your organization is your staff. They are the people that manage the processes, product development and service experience to keep your customers happy. The fact is, many people are doing the job for a paycheck. They want to have job satisfaction, but the thought of working for someone or having their freedom restricted causes discontent and even disengagement from the work that they are doing.

Happy employees in healthy office environment

Happy workers will usually rave on about their working environment, citing the way the office looks and feels, as well as the positivity that they receive from other workers. Boosting your employees’ morale will unlock productivity surpluses that will make your business more profitable.…

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5 Ways to help your Small Business Successfully Grow

As the owner of a small business, growth is at the forefront of your mind. Once you’ve established yourself as a local retailer and are making comfortable profits, the next step is growing your small business further.

Business growth

Here are 5 ways to help you grow your small business today:

1. Launch a new product

Although, ‘if it isn’t broke don’t fix it’ is a good business motto, a great way to try and grow your business is by launching a new product line. This doesn’t mean letting go of your original successful product but my launching a new line you’ll get the chance to attract new customers and create a buzz about your business again.…

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6 Low Cost Promotional Product Ideas for your Next Trade Show

Promotional products are a great way to forge a relationship with customers (existing and potential). At the same time they serve as a good giveaway that boosts recall value for businesses and brands. From low cost items to the costly and bizarre, promotional products can do wonders for your business.

TastyTrailers sticker

So, are you participating in a trade show and have some really great products to grab eyeballs at the event? Are you looking for that little something to give away as a freebie and stand out in the crowd? Let us take a look at what you can offer as promotional products:

1.

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4 Ways your Business Needs to be in Contact with Customers

As a business you want to do everything you can in order to stay in contact with your customers. Long gone are the days when the only ways you had to reach out to them, old or new, was through the phone or snail mail. Although many businesses still send catalogs and sales cards through the mail, the best ways to reach more people are more technological these days.

Florist contacts customer

On top of that, many people and businesses are trying to grow greener, which means mailing less catalogs and even supplying email receipts instead of printed ones. Green or not, you may be interested in making sure you are reaching out to your customers, past, present, and future ones, in every way possible.…

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6 Reasons Why Small Business Owners Should Also Consider Using Workflow Management Software

Small businesses don’t have the resources, expertise, and experience that can be compared to what larger companies have. However, this should not prevent them from considering the idea of investing in a workflow management system. The benefits are likely to be considerably greater than the investment, especially for those who are into manufacturing and retail or those that have higher likelihood for expansion.

Software for workflow management

If you are a small business owner, the following reasons should convince you to invest in workflow management software.

1. Guidance for Inexperienced Business Owners

Not many realize it but workflow management systems can actually be helpful in adopting processes or strategies that can improve business operation or create a dependable framework for operations.…

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5 Success Tips from Donald Trump

Whether or not you agree with Donald Trump’s political views, there’s no denying his success in the business world. He’s one of the richest and most success business tycoons in America. He’s the owner of several companies and organizations, a powerful spokesperson, and a genius when it comes to entrepreneurship.

Donald Trump

According to Forbes, Trump is worth $4.5 billion and makes $250 million every year from his multiple business dealings. Trump Tower in Chicago is the fourth tallest building in the United States, surpassing the Empire State Building – a symbol of his wealth and power.

With all that success, Trump is a man worth listening to.…

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5 Things Every Small Business Owner Should Know About Health Insurance

The modern health insurance market has faced countless changes in recent years. While some people found themselves with great coverage, other people found themselves steeped in insurance coverage nightmares. Small business owners found themselves increasingly confused over whether they needed to provide coverage or not and how to manage the financial nightmare.

Choices of business insurance

Included here are a few things every small business owner should know about health insurance.

Employee Count

New laws implemented under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) dictated that companies with 50 or more employees be providing health insurance. Unfortunately, 96% of businesses in the country have fewer than 50 employees, so what are they supposed to do?…

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