Spotlight Features

Online and offline, consumers are at a disadvantage when entering into a contract for services or the purchase of goods because, in most cases, a customer is not in a position to negotiate the terms of the item being purchased or the service being provided. Moreover, in the event of a dispute, the u...

Advertising slogans or taglines pushing sales are great for getting a customer's attention as they often tangle and hold them hostage for a second or two. Some taglines catch the user's attention, but most are simply confusing, causing them to "escape the trap" and run away. The combined yearly budg...

U.S. firms outsourcing software development and customer service work to firms overseas are largely doing so without regard to the environmental or labor records of those firms. This is a risky path for U.S. companies to follow, according to Trudy Heller of Executive Education for the Environment. "...

What does performance mean to your e-business? If you are like most e-business executives, you immediately think about high-level performance metrics such as revenue, costs and customer satisfaction, with varying degrees of emphasis depending on whether your e-business Web site is focused on serving...

Has this thought ever haunted you: "What if one of my big customers goes under?" And, have you ever felt out of control when having such worrisome thoughts? Well, you don't have to sit back and wait for something to happen. You can be proactive. There is a way by which you can protect yourself again...

As regular readers of this column know, I'm a big fan of the Apple Macintosh, but I'm much less of a fan of Apple Canada in general and their dealers in the Toronto area in particular. This morning (Tuesday, October 19) I needed an external power adapter for a 17-inch titanium -- since it doesn't ha...

It's time again for a medical check. As we approach 2005, it's best to know if your corporate identity image is healthy, slightly injured or on a life-support system. You have to know this, as only healthy images are fit to run the race, and potentially win. Injured corporate identities can surely s...

North American firms often take great pride in their environmental policies and performance, and justifiably so. Corporate demonstrations of environmental and social responsibility generate long-term marketing and branding advantages, which translate into competitive advantages. American consumers, ...

Have you ever dreamed about taking your company public -- the relative ease of raising capital, the ability to use your company's stock to buy other businesses, and the liquidity of your own shares so that you can "cash out" when you are ready? This all sounds good, and it is. But not every business...

Canadian call centers were recently estimated by U.S. law enforcement authorities to be doing US$100 million in illegal business annually in the U.S. In comparison, InternationalStaff.net estimates that South Asian call centers operating illegally are currently generating four to five times that amo...