The Bear Necessities of Business

The Bear Necessities of Business

Author: Maxine Clark

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2006-04-27

Total Pages: 346

ISBN-13: 0470040890

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Build-A-Bear Workshop® is one of the most successful retailing concepts in recent history. Starting with just one location in 1997, the company now operates more than 200 stores worldwide. Leading the way is Maxine Clark, the company's founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Bear. Clark is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading and most creative entrepreneurs. In The Bear Necessities of Business, she reveals how she built this amazing global business from the ground up, while arming you with the tools you need to start, run, and market your own company in today's tough competitive environment. While primarily drawing on real-life experiences from Build-A-Bear Workshop®, Clark also offers wisdom gained throughout her entire thirty-plus-year career, including lessons and examples from some of the other great companies that do so much right. Straightforward and accessible, The Bear Necessities of Business is divided into seven parts, each built around an essential element that will allow you to stand apart from the crowd. The short, accessible chapters show you everything you need to: Get your business started Become a great boss Connect with your customers Add value to the overall experience Effectively market your company Plan for future growth Give back to your customers, employees, and community Best of all, these principles can be applied to any industry and are proven to work whether your target audience is children, teenagers, baby boomers, seniors, or any age in-between. Whether you're looking to start a new business, improve an existing one, be a better manager, or hire the best employees, The Bear Necessities of Business contains the insights and information you need to succeed. Even if you work for some-one else and have no plans to strike out on your own, you'll still benefit from the advice found in this book. After all, the best employees—and those who consistently rise to the top—are those who think like entrepreneurs!


Bear Necessity

Bear Necessity

Author: James Gould-Bourn

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2020-08-04

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 1982128313

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A “refreshing,” (Kirkus Reviews) unpretentious, and uplifting story about a father and son reconnecting and finding happiness in the most unlikely circumstances—for fans of Nick Hornby and The Rosie Project. Danny’s life is falling apart. His eleven-year-old son, Will, hasn’t spoken since the death of his mother in a car crash a year earlier, and Danny has just been fired from his construction job. He’s behind on the rent and his nasty landlord is threatening to break his legs if he doesn’t pay soon. Danny needs money, and fast. After observing street performers in a local park, Danny spends his last few dollars on a tattered panda costume, impulsively deciding to become a dancing bear. While performing one day, Danny spots his son being taunted by a group of older boys. Danny chases them off, and Will opens up for the first time since his mom died, unaware that the man in the panda costume is his father. Afraid of disclosing his true identity, Danny comforts his son. But will Danny lose Will’s trust once he reveals who he is? And will he be able to dance his way out of despair? Filled with a delightful cast of characters, Bear Necessity is “a moving, sensitive story that is also very funny, and a perfect literary antidote to anxious, troubled times” (Shelf Awareness).


How Business Leaders Avoid Conflict (Collection)

How Business Leaders Avoid Conflict (Collection)

Author: Michael A. Roberto

Publisher: FT Press

Published: 2013-08-08

Total Pages: 470

ISBN-13: 0133577775

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Why Great Leaders Don't Take Yes for an Answer, Second Edition offers a powerful framework every leader can use to promote honest, constructive dissent and skepticism; test their assumptions; more thoroughly consider "best alternatives"; make better choices, and align organizations to act on their decisions. In this new edition, Roberto presents new cases from Google, Ford, Intuit, and others, plus expands coverage to more deeply illuminate his decision-making approach. Offering both positive and negative examples, he presents a well rounded view of how to determine when "yes" means "yes," when it doesn't, and what to do when it doesn't. Roberto explains why "good process entails the astute management of the social, political, and emotional aspects of decision making" -- in other words, why effective leaders are well served by carefully "deciding how to decide." ¿ Know What You Don’t Know: How Great Leaders Prevent Problems Before They Happen lays out the key skills and capabilities required to ensure that problems do not remain hidden in your organization. It explains how leaders can become effective problem finders, unearthing problems before they destroy an organization. The book explains how leaders can become an anthropologist, going out and observing how employees, customers, and suppliers actually behave. It then goes on to present how they can circumvent the gatekeepers, so they can go directly to the source to see and hear the raw data; hunt for patterns, including refining your individual and collective pattern recognition capability; "connect the dots" among issues that may initially seem unrelated, but in fact, have a great deal in common; give front-line employees training in a communication technique; encourage useful mistakes, including creating a "Red Pencil Award"; and watch the game film, where leaders reflect systematically on their own organization's conduct and performance, as well as on the behavior and performance of competitors.


Introduction to Management

Introduction to Management

Author: John R. Schermerhorn

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 643

ISBN-13: 0470646241

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Completely updated and revised, this eleventh edition arms managers with the business tools they’ll need to succeed. The text presents managerial concepts and theory related to the fundamentals of planning, leading, organising, and controlling with a strong emphasis on application. It offers new information on the changing nature of communication through technology. Focus is also placed on ethics to reflect the importance of this topic, especially with the current economic situation. This includes all new ethics boxes throughout the chapters. An updated discussion on the numerous legal law changes over the last few years is included as well. Managers will be able to think critically and make sound decisions using this text because the concepts are backed by many applications, exercises, and cases.


Exploring Management

Exploring Management

Author: John R. Schermerhorn

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2011-10-11

Total Pages: 597

ISBN-13: 0470878215

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The primary goal of this edition of Exploring Managementis to help build core management competencies for today's global and more complex workplace, including issues related to planning, organizing, leading, and controlling (POLC) - with more hands-on type materials such as cases, exercises, and application. Schermerhorn uses a conversational and interactive writing style to master concepts in a bite-size and fundamental approach. This text presents managerial concepts and theory in a straight-forward, interesting style with a strong emphasis on application. The discussion of theory is framed in a unique, engaging, and concise way. The goal is to promote critical thinking and ability to make sound business decisions using managerial theory. Concepts are explored and reinforced by most hands-on applications, exercises, cases, and the integration of technology. The text also focuses on the most important aspects of the POLC model, emphasizing skill-building.


Brand Management Strategies

Brand Management Strategies

Author: William D'Arienzo

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2016-09-22

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13: 1501306677

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As global economies grow and the cost of doing business increases, the brand is the pre-eminent business asset needed for success in global business development. Brand Management Strategies: Luxury and Mass Markets presents the brand experience on a market continuum from mass market to luxury, using diverse examples from Burberry to BMW, Coca-Cola to Chanel, and Starbucks to Starwood. Underpinned by the author's many years of practical experience as both a professor and brand consultant, this book details the proven steps necessary to develop, build, and sustain a successful brand strategy and business. Features - Filled with current examples from fashion brands such as Burberry, Coach, Banana Republic, and Target and non-fashion brands including Apple, Samsung, Hyundai, Porsche, Ritz Carlton Hotels and more - Brandstorming: Successes and Failures depict real world case studies of successful-and not so successful-branding strategies - Experiential learning tools include learning objectives, bolded key terms, and end of chapter Conversations discussion questions and Challenges projects and activities STUDIO Resources - Study smarter with self-quizzes featuring scored results and personalized study tips - Review concepts with flashcards of terms and definitions Teaching Resources - Instructor's Guide provides suggestions for planning the course and using the text in the classroom, supplemental assignments, and lecture notes - Test Bank includes sample test questions for each chapter - PowerPoint® presentations include full color images from the book and provide a framework for lecture and discussion PLEASE NOTE: Purchasing or renting this ISBN does not include access to the STUDIO resources that accompany this text. To receive free access to the STUDIO content with new copies of this book, please refer to the book + STUDIO access card bundle ISBN 9781501318436. STUDIO Instant Access can also be purchased or rented separately on BloomsburyFashionCentral.com.


Specialty Shop Retailing

Specialty Shop Retailing

Author: Carol L. Schroeder

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2007-06-04

Total Pages: 434

ISBN-13: 0470107413

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Unlike other books on retailing, Specialty Shop Retailingis aimed at the reader who has a dream of opening a store, but little background in this type of business. The book takes into account the fact that their motivation is often not primarily monetary, but rather the intangible benefits of creating your own business and working with people and products that you love. This new and improved 3rd edition includes material about selling on the Internet, including eBay storefronts; online marketing and customer service improvements; and changes in the retailing field, such as competing with big box retailers and the demise of the sales rep system.


Unlocking Creativity

Unlocking Creativity

Author: Michael A. Roberto

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2019-01-07

Total Pages: 213

ISBN-13: 111954579X

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Tear down the obstacles to creative innovation in your organization Unlocking Creativity is an exploration of the creative process and how organizations can clear the way for innovation. In many organizations, creative individuals face stubborn resistance to new ideas. Managers and executives oftentimes reject innovation and unconventional approaches due to misplaced allegiance to the status quo. Questioning established practices or challenging prevailing sentiments is frequently met with stiff resistance. In this climate of stifled creativity and inflexible adherence to conventional wisdom, potentially game-changing ideas are dismissed outright. Senior leaders claim to value creativity, yet often lack the knowledge to provide a creative framework. Unlocking Creativity offers effective methods and real-world examples of how the most successful organizations create cultures of innovation and experimentation. Best-selling author and scholar Michael Roberto presents a thorough investigation of organizational obstacles to creative thought. Highly relevant to the growth crises many enterprises face in today’s economic landscape, this book examines how to break barriers to spark creativity and foster new ideas. This insightful and informative work allows business executives, senior managers, and organization leaders to: Recognize the six organizational mindsets that impede creativity and innovation Learn how to tear down the barriers that obstruct the creative process Create an environment that allows talented people to thrive Encourage creative collaboration in teams throughout an organization Leaders do not have to conceive innovative ideas, but rather open the path for curious and creative employees within their organization. Unlocking Creativity: How to Solve Any Problem and Make the Best Decisions aids organizations in removing obstacles to the creative process and helps to form an atmosphere of imagination and innovation.


Capturing Loyalty

Capturing Loyalty

Author: John A. Larson

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2017-09-15

Total Pages: 282

ISBN-13:

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Written by two highly successful business coaches and management consultants, this book explains how to improve profitability by focusing on turning a business's already satisfied customers into highly satisfied customers by removing their sense of risk. The authors also provide a fail-safe method for identifying the risks inherent in your business. Every business owner or manager knows that creating satisfied customers is key to establishing customer loyalty and building a business. But many are applying the wrong strategy in trying to achieve customer loyalty: instead of focusing on consistent execution of the company's value proposition on a day-to-day basis, they waste their efforts constantly chasing after new customers or trying to address every complaint. Using research to demonstrate how striving to turn merely satisfied customers into highly satisfied customers significantly affects loyalty behaviors and in turn boosts profits, Capturing Loyalty lays out a new approach to a very old problem. Additionally, it presents a blueprint for identifying the perceived risks to consumers inherent in your business—many of which are not readily apparent to the casual or even invested observer—and explains how to minimize those risks. Authors Larson and McClellan explain why trying to ensure 100% customer satisfaction is not the path to achieving customer loyalty, and that the reality is that customer dissatisfaction is rarely the result of an error a business has made—two concepts that many initially find counterintuitive. You'll learn how to offer your company's products and services in a manner that creates highly satisfied customers, understand the true value and vast economic benefits of having highly satisfied customers, and see why highly satisfied customers are actually cheaper to serve than others. The book presents a clear and comprehensive plan for creating a loyalty initiative suitable to your business and cascading it through your entire organization, from the C-suite to the line employees.