The Biz: Feature Articles

Are you over them yet? I know it seems awfully early in the new year to be discussing things we’re sick of, but if you’re like me, you’ve already had enough of the “year’s best” lists. For everything from music and books to political gaffes and viral gifs, there’s someone somewhere choosing the winners and losers from the previous 365 days. And just when you think you’ve seen the last of them, the calendar rolls over to January 1st and out come the how-to lists, promising ways to make the next year amazing. Well, as the saying goes, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.

Worker B, a Minneapolis-based company, goes beyond just supplying quality organic skin products –– it also keeps its own bees. Quality ingredients form the foundation of Worker B’s success, since all of them are either organic or GMO-free. Worker B’s mission is simple: to help people with common skin problems. There is a large contingent of folks who cannot get relief for skin conditions from conventional treatments. Worker B is there for them with a natural skin line that contains no toxins, fillers or petrochemicals.

“Sound bites” are the news teasers of the airwaves. Lightening-speed information demands that we express ourselves in a snappy way much of the time. This new paradigm is what gives rise to slang, abbreviation (aka “text speak”) and sometimes, just plain poor English. While this may sound like the beginning of the end for our linguistic heritage, there is a ray of hope. Parents can teach their children the skills necessary to communicate succinctly and efficiently, in a style known as “talk less, say more”. Publishing house Little Snail Series encourages this type of heightened communication.

As a consultant with a focus in marketing, I have to admit I struggle with the topic of this article. Ultimately though, success comes to those companies who have of all of their business functions performing at optimal levels. With the advent of the Internet and social media, consumers are now much more savvy, and some are skeptical of marketers. That’s why I say, “You can’t hang your hat on marketing alone to drive growth.” The other functions — product development, finance and leadership — are equally important to the success of a business.