Category: Innovation Now

If you’re going to grow through the 2020s, you’ll need to innovate. December 5, 2019 4 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Presented by Customer service isn’t static. Phones replaced house calls. Email edged out phones. To keep existing customers and attract new ones, you need cutting-edge customer service. Consumers are four times as likely to buy from a competitor after a service issue than they are after a product one, according to research by Bain & Company. Still, customer-service overhauls aren’t cheap. Invest wisely by considering these five predicted trends that will shape customer service over the next five years. 1. Social media will become default channels. Just 13 percent of consumers over the age of 55 have used social media for customer-service purposes, a Microsoft study showed; on the other hand, 55 percent of those aged 18-34 have. As millennials and Gen Zers make up a larger and larger […]

December 5, 2019 5 min read This story originally appeared on Calendar Presented by Companies continue to tout the importance of work-life balance for their talent. They acknowledge that workers need rest and relaxation. However, wanting to create this balance and actually achieving it are two very different things. That’s because the process for striking this ideal balance with available time has proved elusive. However, Microsoft Japan may have finally discovered the formula for greater productivity and a work-life balance that works for their team. Their answer is the four-day workweek. The result of everyone working four days with three days off equates to a 40 percent increase in overall productivity, according to the company’s research. The idea that everyone in the company would take three days off may not seem like the pathway to higher productivity. After all, essentially shutting down operations for three days doesn’t sound like much can be achieved. […]

Work smarter, not harder with these products. December 4, 2019 5 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by When you’re trying to get your dream business off the ground, you’re juggling an enormous to-do list and a loaded schedule. When you’re running from meeting to meeting and checking things off your list, it helps to have everything you need to get the job done on hand. Getting caught in traffic without a car charger while your phone drains towards 1% shouldn’t be an additional stressor in your life. You’ve got enough going on. These products can help you stay on task no matter how busy you get. AUKEY Wireless Charger Image credit: Amazon The Qi-certified AUKEY […]

When it comes to effective digital marketing, the speed of technology, innovation and adoption presents unique challenges. December 3, 2019 5 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Presented by If you’re trying to introduce your law practice to a new level of online marketing, you may be feeling overwhelmed. A mere glance at the stats can scare you — the prospect of forking out up to $500 for a single click to your website isn’t appealing to everyone.  However, I have seen far too many lawyers who heavily invested in their organic performance — and successfully, for some time — only to see their entire online assets evaporate after another Google algorithm update. I recently had a conversation with Nicholas Wooldridge, a high-profile lawyer who has been generating a huge chunk of his business online. Related: Don’t Let Digital Marketing Mistakes Derail Your Business I asked him to share the secrets […]

Best Buy, Target, Amazon, and more are serving up more deals from Nespresso to Beats by Dr. Dre. December 2, 2019 3 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by Is Cyber Monday the new Black Friday? This year’s deals are further proof that it might officially be taking the reins as the best shopping day of the year. And since most of us are technically on the job today, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you to find the best deals out there. Shop by your favorite retailer or Control F to find your favorite brands. Quick reminder that Christmas and Hanukkah are only three weeks away, so maybe throw some gifts in your cart while […]

Jump on the savings ahead of time. December 1, 2019 5 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by Take this time with your family to learn what they all want for the giving season because come Cyber Monday, the deals are going to be flying like wild. If you already have an idea of what to get everyone on your list, however, you can get ahead of the madness now. We’ve rounded up some of the top deals on the web that are already on sale for Cyber Monday. Check them out. ECOVACS Deebot Robot Vacuum Cleaner & Canister Vacuum Station Image credit: Entrepreneur Store While you may think a vacuum cleaner does not a great […]

The weekend of saving isn’t over yet. November 30, 2019 4 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by You may have finally digested the turkey from Thanksgiving, but the Black Friday savings are still operating in full force. It’s great timing, however, because now you probably have the energy to put some time into your holiday shopping! Don’t worry, you don’t have to step away from the family for too long (unless you want to) because we’ve compiled some of the best Black Friday deals still available right here. 3-in-1 Wireless Power Bank for Apple Watch, iOS & AirPods Image credit: Entrepreneur Store If you get an Apple Watch charger, an iPhone charger, and an AirPods […]

November 29, 2019 3 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by Black Friday has impressive staying power as these deals hope to prove. While billions have already been spent and people are exhausted from spending the day shopping, here you are gracefully stepping in late to find the same deals. Now, that’s savvy consumerism. Check out the deals. TREBLAB Z2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones Image credit: Entrepreneur Store Wireless headphones will often run you over $100. Wireless headphones with active noise-cancellation built-in may cost double, which these ones normally do. However, you can save almost $200 off for Black Friday. Get the TREBLAB Z2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones for $63.19 (Was $259.00) with promo code “BFSAVE20” at checkout.   AquaSonic Black Series […]

We scoured the endless deals to bring you the best of the best electronics, kitchenware, and more. November 29, 2019 3 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by There’s no doubt Amazon is one of the top destinations for shopping Black Friday deals, but can we all agree it’s also a fairly painful shopping experience? And since holiday weekends should be for watching football and eating until you fall asleep, we’ve done the work to make the shopping part quick and painless.  Here are 50 of the best deals broken out by category: from TVs to robot vacuums to Instant Pots to finally getting a comfortable desk chair for your office. Now’s the time to shop, […]

Silicon Valley has seized on an ever-expanding market. November 29, 2019 3 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Presented by Silicon Valley seems to have itself a new “pet” project. But it’s not just any kind of project. It’s for an industry that’s projected to be worth $281 billion by 2023. The pet-related business has been gaining grounds, with sales exceeding $225 billion in North America alone in 2018. The market size among Gen Z and millenials is huge, and whether the economy is tough or not, owners have to take care of their furry friends. As with all other aspects of a savvy young consumer’s lifestyle, there’s an expectation of techie solutions to their pet-related problems. And frankly, since most pet owners are not afraid to spend, all technology had to do was to grant their wish. Hence, several revolutionary innovations are springing up in the pet-care industry. Here are three that […]

The best deals from Walmart, Target, Costco, and more. November 29, 2019 3 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by While online shopping has certainly made Black Friday less physically demanding, it hasn’t gotten any less stressful. With the entire world wide web at your fingertips, where does one even begin? Luckily, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you and compiled a handy cheat sheet for finding what you want, and finding it fast. From Apple Watches to laptops to noise-cancelling headphones, find the big brands listed here at the best prices of the year. Best Buy Image credit: Best Buy Best Buy’s Featured Black Friday Deals: Walmart Image credit: Walmart Walmart’s Featured Black Friday Deals: […]

Don’t miss out, grab these deals while they last. November 29, 2019 4 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by Black Friday is, of course, an imperfect holiday. However, by shopping online, you’re managing to avoid many of the inconveniences incurred by going to retail storefronts. Unfortunately, items are still finite, even online, and the incredible savings can’t last all day. These deals are so good, they’re flying off the (digital) shelves and inventory is running low. Jump on them while they last. Wilfa Precision Automatic Coffee Maker Image credit: Entrepreneur Store It’s probably best not to think about how much money you spend at coffee shops every year. If you’re a coffee connoisseur, though, what […]

November 28, 2019 4 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by It may be Thanksgiving, but there’s always a lull in the action, before or after the feast. If you’re spending a little time online, you might as well knock your Black Friday shopping out early. Thankfully, these deals are already discounted for Black Friday so you can save now and spend more time tomorrow with your family. Evertone™ Prosage Deep Tissue Massager Image credit: Entrepreneur Store When you need deep, targeted relief after a tough workout or long day on the job, this massager can help. With a deep tissue-penetrating nozzle, it helps stimulate blood flow at the source of your pain and break up […]

Three takeaways from sitting down with accessiBe CEO Shir Ekerling. November 27, 2019 4 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Presented by Most of us take Internet connectivity and accessibility for granted. As active members of the digital age (with an ever-growing number of people being born into it), the connected life has truly become a normal part of our every day. However, that is not necessarily the case for people with disabilities. As Brian Wang writes for Next Big Future, “Web design and other elements managed to build a wall between online platforms and those with disabilities, making them only half as likely to access technology and creating a significant data divide for more than 56 million people in the U.S. with a disability.” It’s an oversight that has neglected a powerful customer base by restricting its access to platforms due to limited navigation capabilities. Business owners carry a […]

Start the savings early. November 25, 2019 3 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by Cyber Monday is almost here, but you don’t have to wait to save! Sometimes, deals become available a little early so businesses can capitalize on the full weekend of sales. You just have to know where to look, and it turns out you found the right place. Each of these products is already on sale for Cyber Monday. PaMu Slide Bluetooth 5.0 In-Ear Headphones with Wireless Charger Image credit: Entrepreneur Store These sleek in-ear headphones are completely wireless, letting you listen to your music and take calls without having to worry about getting tangled up on your commute. With the included […]

Expert insights on taking personalization to the next level. November 25, 2019 4 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Presented by Michael Bower helps companies provide cool experiences to their customers on the web. As CEO of Sellry, an ecommerce solutions company, he combines creativity with the latest technology to propel brands into the future. Alongside clients, Sellry works to reimagine and design the future of ecommerce. What new technology do you think will greatly impact consumer-facing startups in the near future? AR is going to completely change many industries. We’ve seen applications where you can just point your phone at something and it’ll tell you about it. We’ve also seen smart mirrors. There’s even APIs where it’ll measure your body from a photograph with a degree of accuracy. A lot of these APIs are nearly real-time. Some of them can even look at multiple different subjects at […]

Save on Black Friday goodies without wasting time in lines. November 24, 2019 3 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by Black Friday is just around the corner and while it’s a great time to get your shopping done, nobody is excited to fight through throngs of people just to save some money. Fortunately, you don’t have to! We’ve rounded up some of the coolest gadgets around for people who want to keep making their home smarter and smarter. Check it out. ECOVACS DEEBOT 901 Robotic Vacuum-Cleaner Image credit: Entrepreneur Store This robot vacuum cleaner will make a great gift for the entire household. Set up scheduled cleanings, construct virtual boundaries, and ensure your public spaces […]

Everybody’s favorite consumer holiday is here. November 24, 2019 2 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by For decades, Americans have celebrated the day after Thanksgiving by going shopping. While people have been going shopping on the day after Thanksgiving far further back than you might think, the name “Black Friday” was first recorded in 1966 by Earl Apfelbaum, a dealer in rare stamps. He claimed that this was the name the Philadelphia Police Department dubbed the day after Thanksgiving Day because it symbolized the start of the Christmas shopping season and, thus, came with massive traffic jams and over-crowded sidewalks from dawn ’til dusk. For the Philly Police Department, Black Friday was a grim day, […]

Save on Black Friday goodies without wasting time in lines. November 23, 2019 3 min read Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Presented by Black Friday is a great time to get your holiday shopping done, but it virtually always comes with drawbacks. Long lines, crowded stores, deals that just aren’t as good as you were expecting. Right now, however, we’re offering you a solution to all of those problems. There are no lines for these online deals, and they’ve already been marked down for Black Friday so you can start checking items off your list. Check it out. TREBLAB Z2 Bluetooth 5.0 Noise-Cancelling Headphones Image credit: Entrepreneur Store Take advantage of this deal while it lasts! This Amazon […]

Ali Hynek, founder and CEO of Nena and Co., outlines building a handbag business that values her products’ quality and her employees’ quality of life. November 22, 2019 6 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Presented by “It’s more than just a bag” is embedded into the culture of Nena & Co., a Utah-based company that pays a fair wage to highly skilled artisans who produce high-quality niche handbags and accessories. Nena works in partnership with master weavers and craftsmen in Guatemala, Ghana, Mexico and Morocco. Weaving fabric thread by thread, then stitching hand-cut leather pieces on traditional sewing machines, they create beautiful one-of-a-kind and limited-edition products that are innovative in design and produced sustainably and responsibly.  This approach–part of a growing “slow-fashion” movement that emphasizes quality and fairness for both producers and consumers–helps to set Nena apart and is a major factor in its growth and […]