Uploaded: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

By Lisa Wichmann

Courier companies boost services to trim delivery times

The courier industry has seen its share of change over the past several years. Perhaps most significant has been the gradual evolution of couriers into fully-integrated logistics providers.

Major players such as Purolator and FedEx are building on that foundation to further enhance supply chain visibility, manage border security issues, and adjust to changing economic conditions, such as the higher Canadian dollar.

Purolator, for instance, just launched a new global supply chain service to provide direct-to-store delivery for incoming container shipments. It was created in response to a dramatic increase in imports coming through Canada's west coast.

Download the PDF today and read the rest of the story.

Uploaded: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

By Lisa Wichmann

Nicola Raycraft says education is key for supply chain success

Those who are most successful in supply chain management seem to have one thing in common-a thirst for continuous learning and development. Nicola Raycraft is no exception. With years of experience as a purchaser and logistician, Raycraft has achieved the C.P.P. (Certified Professional Purchaser) designation, taken APICS courses, and is now working towards her MBA.

But in an added twist, Raycraft is also a teacher. She's an instructor at Fanshawe College (London, Ont.) of four courses: the principles of buying, inventory and operations, transportation and logistics, and quality- courses required for the C.P.P. It's her way of giving back to a profession that so far, has allowed her to enjoy a rich and rewarding career.

Download the PDF today and read the rest of the story.

Uploaded: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

By Ian Portsmouth

Why you should resist the urge to make three common cuts in reaction to recession.

To paraphrase a not-too-former liberal leader, it's not easy to set priorities when it comes to reducing expenses. But many firms give short shrift to the downside of common cost-cutting moves, and neglect the upside of sustaining that spending. Here are three recession-fighting strategies worth reconsidering:

Don't stop Donating

Across Canada, non-profits are feeling recession's pinch as consumers slash discretionary spending. If you feel the urge to rein in your firm's charitable activities, saving money or man-hours in the process, consider the benefits of corporate giving. Increasingly, Canadians are factoring the ethics of potential suppliers into their purchasing and employment decisions. And in one recent consumer survey, 68% of respondents said they would remain loyal to a brand through the recession if it supports a good cause-even if a lower-priced brand were available. Also, involving your staff in fundraising and volunteer efforts is a low-cost way to lift their spirits, build rapport and foster teamwork-which should be on every entrepreneur's to-do list.

Download the PDF today and read the rest of the story.

Uploaded: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

By Kara Aaserud

The south-asian tiger represents a significant opportunity for Canadian exporters. But for how much longer?

When journalists received a press release January 10 warning of another evening of gridlock on Toronto highways, they might have been nonplussed if not for the purported cause: an airport-bound motorcade led by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Conservative MPP Tim Hudak issued the satirical alert as part of a media campaign condemning the Liberal government's recent 12-day trade mission to India. Comprised of entrepreneurs, bureaucrats and Liberal politicians, the mission's 100-plus delegates not only talked business with their Indian counterparts, but also made numerous side trips to tourist destinations such as the Taj Mahal. Total cost to taxpayers, including a mini-mission to Pakistan: $2 million.

Download the PDF today and read the rest of the story.

Uploaded: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Great decisions do not happen by chance, writes Howard Guttman, a New Jersey-based management consultant, in Great Business Teams: Cracking the Code for Standout Performance. When faced with a business challenge or opportunity, it's important to have a strategy in place for decision-making. Guttman offers valuable advice to ensure you make choices that will drive your business forward and get you to your desired outcome faster.

Download the PDF today and read the rest of the story.

Uploaded: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

By Lisa Wichmann

Finding sustainable, healthier formulations and supplies

For years, green cleaning and facilities products have been saddled with a bad reputation. Buyers considered them too expensive and not as effective as traditional products. But today's offerings are entirely different, so it might be time to give them a second look.

According to Wood Wyant Inc., which bills itself as the largest distributor of these products in Canada, the misconceptions about the effectiveness and the cost of green cleaning are falling away. The company has noticed cleaning technology reaching new levels of performance with better chemical formulations and redesigned, highly efficient equipment, tools and processes.

"All these help reduce your environmental footprint while, at the same time, maintain a sustainable return on your investment. A safer working environment is the result and employees are protected from harsh cleaning chemicals and airborne allergens," the company reported in a recent press release. Wood Wyant held a symposium last month in Milton, Ont. called "Green Cleaning and the Benefits Beyond." Experts and stakeholders in the industry shared their views on the trends and best practices fuelling the eco facilities market.

Download the PDF today and read the rest of the story.

Uploaded: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

It's no secret that starting a business requires you to wear many hats-and to look good in all of them. But as your business grows, you must delegate some of those roles to your employees so that you can focus on vision and strategy. In other words, you have to work on the business rather than in the business.

Tearing yourself away from the day-to-day is never easy, but it's a lot easier when you apply some or all of the following management practices. They'll not only give you more of the time you crave for high-level planning, but also give your employees the context they require to operate more autonomously.

Download the PDF today and read the rest of the story.

Uploaded: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

By Chris Atchison

Recession poses many threats to your business. It pays to see them coming and to safeguard against those you can't.

James Hutton believes he's one of the lucky ones.

His company, Kitchener, Ont.-based Hutton Forest Products Inc., is well poised to weather the current economic storm. The distributor of wood products has a strong balance sheet, runs lean with a small staff and has been growing rapidly since its 2005 launch, logging profitable sales of nearly $20 million in 2007. He expects to match that performance this year.

Download the PDF today and read the rest of the story.