Aldi discount food store announced a $3.4 billion investment into 2,500 new store locations by 2022. According to Supermarket News, this would make Aldi the third largest grocery chain in the U.S. (in store count). Walmart and Kroger are the largest chains in the U.S. currently. This announcement comes a few moths after announcing a $1.6 billion renovation and remodeling of 1,300 stores. “We pioneered a grocery model built around value, convenience, quality and selection and now ALDI is one of America’s favorite and fastest growing retailers,” Aldi CEO, Jason Hart, said in a news release. The expansion has the potential to serve 100 million customers every month and create 25,000 new jobs, according to Aldi representatives. Aldi is not the only discount store popping into the news lately. Lidl, Aldi’s German rival, implemented its first store in the U.S. this month. Lidl’s prices are an estimated 9% cheaper than Walmart’s low prices, 16% cheaper than Food Lion and about 3% cheaper than Aldi’s. Lidl has more than low prices. Their low prices coupled with an innovative supermarket experience, premium shopping and customer service create an enhanced supermarket environment. “The retailer seemed to steal certain aspects from various retailers, such as hints of Publix (employees were extremely friendly and even escorted the elderly around in wheelchairs), Costco (random sample stations, concrete floors, display cases on pallets and still in shipping packaging), and insert any specialty grocer name here (wood grain decor, vibrant signage, and a respectable bakery/ethnic/organic offering),” Jefferies analysts wrote. Photo Courtesy of Jefferies from https://medium.com/@inmarkmg/what-aldis-3-4-billion-investment-means-for-the-supermarket-industry-dfc40195886e?source=rss-fa2c7505dd42------2
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Amazon is becoming more than just an e-commerce platform. It already has a hand in just about any business you can think of — automobiles, fitness, apparel, electronics… But, if Amazon’s marketplace isn’t enough evidence, check out its recent purchase of Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. That isn’t even all Amazon is up to. Recently, Amazon has delved into small business lending. Their platform, Amazon Marketplace, was already a space to let small and medium sized companies sell their products throughout the globe. Now, they’re lending to those businesses. What is Amazon Lending? This year Amazon has issued more than $1 billion in small business loans. These loans range from $1,000 to $750,000. Amazon said many sellers have used this money to expand their inventory and discount items on Amazon Marketplace. More than 20,000 small businesses have received loans from Amazon. How can you get an Amazon Loan? Unfortunately, Amazon’s program is invitation only. But, they have issued loans to thousands of companies in the United States, U.K. and Japan. This innovative program may benefit many small businesses and, of course, Amazon, but it may also hinder banks and large retailers that are already struggling to keep up with Amazon Marketplace. The millennial generation is completely different than past generations. They want quick results and quick transactions. Amazon provides this ease with their online loan program. Many banks have yet to set up online loan applications. If they fail to update the way they do business, they can run into similar trouble that large retailers are experiencing because of e-commerce sites like Amazon. from from https://medium.com/@inmarkmg/amazon-is-lending-to-small-businesses-df754380a05b?source=rss-fa2c7505dd42------2 Businesses are recruiting talent through all social media platforms, even Snapchat. Why? A lot of businesses are looking for millennial employees, and Snapchat has one of the biggest millennial audiences. In fact, about 86 percent of working people in their first decade of employment use social media to search for job openings and potential employers. McDonald’s is capitalizing on this movement. The fast food industry that is known for their 35,000 store locations has started recruiting talent through Snapchat to fill 250,000 open positions. This large-scale recruitment strategy may be more beneficial than it sounds.
Other companies are doing it too. Space150, a digital shop, ran an intern application through Snapchat for two weeks. The company used geofilters to reach college students on 29 different campuses. The filters asked interested students to follow Space150’s account and apply to 10 internships in the agency’s multiple offices. The application required that interested users create a Snapchat story for one of the agency’s brands as if it were the year 2020.
How to do it.
from from https://medium.com/@inmarkmg/recruiting-on-snapchat-are-you-missing-out-df53c0e5728f?source=rss-fa2c7505dd42------2 No website means lost business. Over 2 billion people across the world use the internet, and 70 percent of them use it everyday. Still, some small businesses are failing to raise their sales with one simple fix: a website. Credibility: More people are using the internet than ever before. An average of over 3 billion searches are processed on google everyday. Of those searches, over 50 percent are shoppers. That means your market is searching for products and services online, and if you’re business doesn’t have a website, they won’t know about your business. A professionally designed website is as important as having one in the first place. It helps brand your company and create an improved reputation. Affordability: Companies will waste thousands of dollars marketing their business in out-of-date brochures and newspaper advertisements instead of investing their time in a professional website. Not a website guru? No problem. There are extremely affordable companies that will create one for you. One of your first impressions: Even if your first connection with a client is in person, that person will most likely look up your website as soon as you leave — whether you know it or not. If you don’t have a website, you have a high chance of losing that customer. Accessibility: Websites are open 24 hours a day. There’s no closing the store or locking doors. When you have a website, your costumers have access to your business from any location at any time. You’re giving your current and potential customers the ability to review your products, services and business at their own convenience. You can boast: When you’re relying on word of mouth to sell your company, you’re trusting that those words are positive. That isn’t always the truth. When you have a website, you’re your own advocate. That means boasting is a given, and it’s even recommended. Show yourself off and take pride in your work. Keep customers up to date: Websites are the perfect platform to keep your customers in the loop. You can use it as a blog, or to update your future and current customers about new products, offers, events or other content. On average, 139,344 new websites go live each day. Don’t miss out on one of the easiest ways to market and brand your company. from from https://medium.com/@inmarkmg/why-having-a-website-is-important-for-your-small-business-da39b5fc1ddb?source=rss-fa2c7505dd42------2 Amazon is becoming more than just an e-commerce platform. It already has a hand in just about any business you can think of — automobiles, fitness, apparel, electronics… But, if Amazon’s marketplace isn’t enough evidence, check out its recent purchase of Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. That isn’t even all Amazon is up to. Recently, Amazon has delved into small business lending. Their platform, Amazon Marketplace, was already a space to let small and medium sized companies sell their products throughout the globe. Now, they’re lending to those businesses. What is Amazon Lending? This year Amazon has issued more than $1 billion in small business loans. These loans range from $1,000 to $750,000. Amazon said many sellers have used this money to expand their inventory and discount items on Amazon Marketplace. More than 20,000 small businesses have received loans from Amazon. How can you get an Amazon Loan? Unfortunately, Amazon’s program is invitation only. But, they have issued loans to thousands of companies in the United States, U.K. and Japan. This innovative program may benefit many small businesses and, of course, Amazon, but it may also hinder banks and large retailers that are already struggling to keep up with Amazon Marketplace. The millennial generation is completely different than past generations. They want quick results and quick transactions. Amazon provides this ease with their online loan program. Many banks have yet to set up online loan applications. If they fail to update the way they do business, they can run into similar trouble that large retailers are experiencing because of e-commerce sites like Amazon. from from https://medium.com/@inmarkmg/amazon-is-lending-to-small-businesses-900927ae584d?source=rss-fa2c7505dd42------2 Businesses are recruiting talent through all social media platforms, even Snapchat. Why? A lot of businesses are looking for millennial employees, and Snapchat has one of the biggest millennial audiences. In fact, about 86 percent of working people in their first decade of employment use social media to search for job openings and potential employers. McDonald’s is capitalizing on this movement. The fast food industry that is known for their 35,000 store locations has started recruiting talent through Snapchat to fill 250,000 open positions. This large-scale recruitment strategy may be more beneficial than it sounds.
Other companies are doing it too. Space150, a digital shop, ran an intern application through Snapchat for two weeks. The company used geofilters to reach college students on 29 different campuses. The filters asked interested students to follow Space150’s account and apply to 10 internships in the agency’s multiple offices. The application required that interested users create a Snapchat story for one of the agency’s brands as if it were the year 2020.
How to do it.
from from https://medium.com/@inmarkmg/recruiting-on-snapchat-are-you-missing-out-ad9d45aa3940?source=rss-fa2c7505dd42------2 No website means lost business. Over 2 billion people across the world use the internet, and 70 percent of them use it everyday. Still, some small businesses are failing to raise their sales with one simple fix: a website. Credibility: More people are using the internet than ever before. An average of over 3 billion searches are processed on google everyday. Of those searches, over 50 percent are shoppers. That means your market is searching for products and services online, and if you’re business doesn’t have a website, they won’t know about your business. A professionally designed website is as important as having one in the first place. It helps brand your company and create an improved reputation. Affordability: Companies will waste thousands of dollars marketing their business in out-of-date brochures and newspaper advertisements instead of investing their time in a professional website. Not a website guru? No problem. There are extremely affordable companies that will create one for you. One of your first impressions: Even if your first connection with a client is in person, that person will most likely look up your website as soon as you leave — whether you know it or not. If you don’t have a website, you have a high chance of losing that customer. Accessibility: Websites are open 24 hours a day. There’s no closing the store or locking doors. When you have a website, your costumers have access to your business from any location at any time. You’re giving your current and potential customers the ability to review your products, services and business at their own convenience. You can boast: When you’re relying on word of mouth to sell your company, you’re trusting that those words are positive. That isn’t always the truth. When you have a website, you’re your own advocate. That means boasting is a given, and it’s even recommended. Show yourself off and take pride in your work. Keep customers up to date: Websites are the perfect platform to keep your customers in the loop. You can use it as a blog, or to update your future and current customers about new products, offers, events or other content. On average, 139,344 new websites go live each day. Don’t miss out on one of the easiest ways to market and brand your company. from from https://medium.com/@inmarkmg/why-having-a-website-is-important-for-your-small-business-ab5655859591?source=rss-fa2c7505dd42------2 Social responsibility is important for inMark Media Group. Let’s face it, many of us seek a higher purpose in life and giving our time to help others is a way we can all make a difference. When our CEO, Franco Cabral and COO, Marco Vitolo suggested an office volunteer event I jumped at the chance to coordinate. After some searching we decided on the Food Bank for Westchester in Elmsford, NY. As I was preparing this post I was surprised to learn that 1 in 6 people in America faces hunger according to dosomething.org. World of Hunger reports in 2015 an estimated 12.7 percent of US households suffer from food insecurity. The USDA defines “food security” as the lack of access, at times, to provide enough food for all household members. According to nokidhungry.org 48.8 million American (including children) live in households that lack the means to get enough nutritious food on a regular basis! According to Food Bank of Westchester in Westchester County, approximately 200,000 people are at risk of facing food insecurity with 33% of those children and 22% seniors!!! These stats were shocking to me! Food Bank for Westchester is a member of the Feeding America network whose mission is to feed America’s hungry through their network of food banks. For over 28 years, the Food Bank for Westchester has been leading the fight against hunger in Westchester County by supplying food to soup kitchens, pantries, group homes, daycares, shelters and other local programs. They acquire, warehouse and distribute to member agencies throughout Westchester County. Food Bank for Westchester has developed partnerships with local businesses through programs such as: Children’s Program
Mobile Programs
Fresh Produce Initiatives
On Tuesday, May 16th team inMark arrived at the Food Bank for Westchester’s distribution center at 9am. Warmly greeted by Volunteer Coordinator Jandery De La Cruz we were escorted to a room with 4 huge containers filled with donated shopping bags filled with non perishables, 2 large tables in the center of the room and about 4 smaller tables labeled by food type. Our task was to sort donated shopping bags (checking for expiration dates & quality — open or used food was immediately discarded), classify food by type and repack by category. We jumped right in picking stations and started to work. Wherever team inMark goes there are always two things: work and fun and this was no different. We joked & laughed and kept with our motto of Having FUN While Getting it DONE! After about 2 hours we successfully cleared out all of the containers and were led on a tour of the distribution center by Volunteer Services Manager Nancy Lyons. Nancy explained the history of the Food Bank for Westchester, its need to continue feeding the hungry and the impact and importance of volunteering. The distribution warehouses food collected from the many partners across the county. We saw huge piles of food. A freezer with perishables and trucks ready to head off to making deliveries. At the close of our visit we took a group shot and left with a sense of feeling good because we did good! Thank you to Food Bank for Westchester for allowing us to participate in your Volunteer Program. This experience was humbling for us. The opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to our community and to those less fortunate was one we will not forget. Thank you to inMark Media for allowing us to participate as a group and creating a culture of compassion at inMark Media. If you or your organization are looking to start volunteering, we at inMark recommend your local Food Bank. Visit Feed America for a location near you. from from https://medium.com/@inmarkmg/inmark-media-visits-food-bank-for-westchester-77119d5be7e5?source=rss-fa2c7505dd42------2 Want success? You’ll need to work. Luckily, there’s some pretty successful people who already learned the ins-and-outs of the economy — and they did it the hard way. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Creating a mentor/mentee relationship with successful business persons can help guide your business to achieve its goals. A mentor’s daily or weekly guidance will greatly improve your ability to manage your business. When reaching goals, mentors are key. They understand your company’s weaknesses and recognize when your company is strong enough to proceed with risky investments. Working with an advisor is the perfect route to gaining that same level of understanding and reaching your goals in a paced and innovative way. New York States’ Empire State Development, an umbrella organization for New York State Urban Development Corporation and the Department of Economic Development, runs New York Business Mentor program, a free resource for entrepreneurs. The program is the first large-scale, hands-on mentoring program for New York State. It’s designed to help small businesses and dedicated entrepreneurs increase their successes. Here’s how you can lead yourself and your business to a new level of success through the mentor program: Create a profile on New York’s Empire State Development’s website. Fill out your profile like you would on a social media site. Include a description of yourself, your business, and all short and long term goals you have. If you don’t have any, then it’s time to make some! Find business professionals who are in positons you think will be beneficial to your business. Reach out to the professionals you find and detail your interest in beginning a mentor experience. Begin the mentoring process. This step is up to you and your mentor. Talk on the phone, exchange messages, or meet in person. Get to know your mentor and make sure they get to know you. Set goals with your mentor and discuss how you wish to improve your business. The New York mentor program is conducted in partnership with Micro Mentor, an online mentoring platform that connects volunteer mentors with entrepreneurs. The program has linked hundreds of entrepreneurs with successful business persons. The relationships have led to successful navigation through businesses challenges for hundreds of businesses. from from https://medium.com/@inmarkmg/free-small-business-mentor-programny-f0c975c50c2b?source=rss-fa2c7505dd42------2 Supermarket shopping behavior has changed for the better and has created direct opportunities for effective, local advertising. Society is changing, and it’s changing quickly. Not just technologically, but socially too. As gender roles change in society, so do gender roles in the household — including grocery shopping. What used to be a primarily one-person job has turned into an entire family task. What does that mean for small businesses? More exposure to more of your target market more frequently. Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducted a study in 2016 that tracked the behaviors of supermarket shoppers. The institute has conducted studies for over four decades to understand and predict trends of supermarket shoppers. The results of the 2016 study showed a shift in consumer behavior from 2015. Households are sharing shopping responsibilities 3 in 5 households are engaging in some amount of co-shopping, according to FMI.This untraditional consumer trend presents an opportunity for local businesses. With no primary shopper in most households, supermarket advertisements are gaining more exposure. How? Two or more shoppers per household are seeing supermarket advertisements. That’s 200 to 300 percent more exposure than traditional single-shopper households. Benefits for your business? More local exposure for your supermarket advertisement. Shoppers want to eat at home 89 percent of supermarket shoppers believe that eating at home is healthier than eating at a restaurant. AKA, 9 out 10 shoppers are consistently visiting their local supermarkets for meal preparations. Benefits for your business? Consistent repetitive exposure to your supermarket advertisement. Co-shopping is a growing trend among Millennia’s Millennials are the future. They are the new market, the new trend setters, the consumer behavior setters. According to FMI, co-shopping trends in households with more than one adult are growing. In fact, 91 percent of multi-adult households with young Millennials (18 to 27) are sharing shopping. For families with no Millennials? They’re still co-shopping, but 11 percent less than millennial households. Benefits for your business? Millennia’s, who were basically born into technology, prefer supermarkets over shopping online, so why not advertise there? In fact, most shoppers still prefer brick-and-mortar shopping experiences Although technology continues to integrate itself into our everyday lives, it remains an unfavorable alternative to physically food shopping. Only about 5 percent of all supermarket shoppers use online-only retail services. The other 95 percent of supermarket shoppers consistently visit their local supermarkets for their food necessities. Benefits for your business? Targeting your local market, because the supermarket is where they are! Food shopping is nothing new and it’s not going to be anything old soon either. Trends in consumer behavior prove that food shopping is here to stay, and it’s the perfect place for small businesses to advertise their services. from from https://medium.com/@inmarkmg/why-supermarket-advertising-is-more-effective-than-ever-d0ddafee1753?source=rss-fa2c7505dd42------2 |