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How Do You Prefer to Holiday Shop?

GeekSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:15:25 -0800

While perusing the news, I noticed two seemingly conflicting stories right beside each other on the same site. The headlines: "Online Retail Thriving This Holiday Season" and "A Site to Help People Shop Online Attracts Investors."

The two articles aren't actually contradictory, the first is a welcome optimistic look at the future of e-commerce with Forrester Research reporting that most online retailers turned a profit in 2008 as business continues to grow. The second article profiles a new site called Milo, which allows you to enter your location and the name of a product you're looking for, and it delivers a list of nearby retail stores where you can find the item. Milo's business model operates on the "instant gratification" theory - you don't want to wait for an item you order, you want to find it right away.

I tend to prefer a mix of online and retail store shopping, depending on the item and what's convenient. What about you?

Productivity Advice From White House Deputy Chief of Staff

SavvySugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:53 -0800

There's no denying White House Deputy Chief of Staff Mona Sutphen is a busy woman. She works for Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, coordinating the president's public-policy priorities, a position that makes me tired just thinking about it. The multitasking maven shared some of her proven productivity secrets with this month's Self magazine.

On getting organized for the day:
It's a job that involves a lot of problem solving, so I schedule a quiet block each morning to deal with issues that crop up overnight. That way, I'm not letting minor crises take over my day.

On her "one-touch" rule:
When I open an email or pick up a phone message, I try to deal right then with any issue I need to resolve so I don't have to go back to the same piece of paper over and over again.

On "stressing selectively":
I have learned not to work myself up about things I have no control over. When I receive bad news, I calmly focus on managing what happens from there on out.

Do you use any of these tactics to stay productive and on the ball at your work?

Hillary Talks Sexism, Obama's Job Offer, and Mad Men to Vogue

TresSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:00:35 -0800

Hillary Clinton finally sat down for a long-overdue Vogue interview. She offended editor Anna Wintour during the primaries by turning down the fashion mag out fear of looking "too feminine." And though she won't be on the December cover, the article is as substantial and satisfying as a cover story.

From night swimming alone to her favorite shows (Mad Men!), we see a side of Madame Secretary that all the vetting in the world would not unearth. See some of what she had to say below.

On visiting countries as a high-ranking female: "You can go to some countries and there's not a woman in the room. They don't even make the effort to give me the token woman minister. . . . And in lots of African countries the honorific for women is 'Mama.' So I had lots of people say to me, 'Mama, what about this; Mama, what about that?'"

On President Obama's job offer: "I was stunned after the election when President Obama asked me to consider this. . . . I really was very unconvinced. I did not think it was the right thing to do. I didn't want to do it. I just really had a lot of doubts, and I kept suggesting other people: Well, how about this person! How about that person! This one would be really good! But then a friend of mine called me and basically said, 'How would you have felt if you'd been elected and you'd called him and asked him to do this?' And that really made a big impression on me. How do you say no? And so . . . I said yes. And here I am."

On Mad Men: "That's how it was! That's why the women's-liberation movement was so shocking. It was like news from outer space"

See what else she had to say after the jump.

Breaking News: Luella is No More

FabSugarUK — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:30:03 -0800

I unfortunately have to break some very sad news to you as one of London's best loved fashion labels, Luella, is no more. The announcement came today as WWD revealed that the long term investor Club 21 have walked away from the design house.

According to a statement, VSQ Limited who operated the Luella business have reluctantly “taken the decision not to invest further in its relationship with Luella Bartley Limited.” Bartley commented,

"This is a very disappointing situation for everyone involved with the brand…I very much appreciate the support that VSQ has given me, but it is upsetting not to be able to protect jobs in this difficult economic climate. We have a number of options open to us, and are considering these over the coming months.”

Just last year, Bartley scooped designer of the year at the British Fashion Awards and her designs have a strong celebrity following. You also voted Luella your number one designer of 2008. Let's hope that somebody can save the brand.

Justin, Jessica, and Nicole Share Jay-Z's Golden State of Mind

PopSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:18 -0800

Jay-Z brought out a star-studded crowd for his show in LA last night. Jamie Foxx checked out the show as news broke that he'll be bringing back his favorite '90s alter ego, and Justin Timberlake took a break from practicing his golf game to walk hand-in-hand with Jessica Biel. Nicole Richie had a busy weekend of red carpet events, but she kept going with Samantha Ronson by her side. The famous attendees were treated to a special cameo from Rihanna, who joined Jay for "Run This Town" before she debuted a single from her album - check out the video after the jump. Jay-Z has been touring North America after his big NYC Yankees show, but he and Beyonce are still thinking of making time for a new addition.

To see more of Jay-Z, Nicole, and Justin, and to see Rihanna take the stage, just read more.

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Robert Pattinson Shows Some Skin in Vanity Fair Italia

PopSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:46:34 -0800

Don't adjust your screens - that is the small of Robert Pattinson's back being prominently featured in the November issue of Vanity Fair Italia. It's the latest hot cover for the Twilight star, as he and Kristen Stewart make the rounds before New Moon hits theaters later this month. Rob had a busy week of promoting the film in Japan, and he's off now to LA for the big press weekend. Don't forget, we'll be there to cover all the news so let us know if you have any burning questions!

View 5 Photos ›

Starbucks Says No to Breakfast and Cannibalization

SavvySugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:46:00 -0800

Starbucks has been taking baby steps towards improving its business model and image, as proven with their recent $1 short brew testing and their latest announcement that they're getting rid of hot breakfast sandwiches. Truthfully, I never noticed they even offered breakfast sandwiches, but CEO Howard D. Schultz explained that they interfere with the smell of coffee. Well, at least I don't know what I'm missing. Anyone out there going to be enduring breakfast sandwich withdrawals? In other Starbucks news, they're reducing the number of US store openings this year from 1,600 to 1,175 stores. Mr. Schultz defended the decision when he said, “by reducing the number of openings, we expect to optimize our resources and potentially reduce cannibalization of our existing stores."

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Let's Just Call It Layoff Day 2009

SavvySugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:30:35 -0800

Monday was a doozy for economic news. In one fell swoop, several major global companies announced their plans to lay off thousands of workers. Collectively, the businesses plan to eliminate more than 65,000 jobs around the world. Economists are obviously worried about the pattern of layoffs, so now is as good of a time as any to plump up your emergency fund.

Caterpillar: 20,000 job cuts
Sprint Nextel: 8,000
Home Depot: 7,000
Pfizer / Wyeth merger: 8,000
General Motors: 2,000 cuts in Michigan and Ohio
Texas Instruments: 3,400
ING: 7,000
Philips: 6,000
Corus: 3,500

Source

On the Market: Zagat Survey

SavvySugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:59:49 -0800

I'm sure you've all seen the little burgundy stickers on restaurant doors, boasting businesses as Zagat rated. Tim and Nina Zagat founded the company in 1979, which got its start as a two-page typed list based on New York restaurant reviews from friends. It has broadened its critiquing wings to cover everything from Indian food to Thai massages, and they're sold worldwide in multiple languages. Can you guess how much this homegrown empire is worth? To find out just read more.

The company is valued at nearly $200 million and is up for bid - the New York Times lists Barry Diller’s IAC/InterActiveCorp (owner of Citysearch), Bruce Wasserstein’s company (publisher of New York magazine), and Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation as possible buyers. Zagat's business is primarily subscription based, so it will be interesting to see if the sale brings changes to its online tactics.

The Zagats obviously have brains for business. When they couldn't find a publisher for their restaurant guide in the early '80s, they published the guide themselves and stocked them on the shelves of any bookstore that didn't turn them away. Hard team work and persistence have definitely been a recipe for Zagat's success - not to mention a surprisingly comprehensive review process that sets them apart. Tim Zagat estimated they "probably have three to five people in every restaurant, at every meal, all year long."

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Goldman Sachs Tells Employees to Drink From the Tap

SavvySugar — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:03:00 -0700

Normally, something like cutting free canned soda and bottled water from the list of employee perks wouldn't be news, but when the company in question is reputably rich Goldman Sachs the headlines will surely follow. The drink bins that were scattered around the company's offices were pulled from the floor and have left the traders to fend for themselves. While a Goldman spokeswoman wouldn't comment, one insider said, "When business declines you have to cut somewhere and perks are a lot easier to cut than jobs."

While the free beverages were a privilege to begin with, I'm sure having to run out of the office whenever busy traders want a Coke takes away from production. On second thought, I'm sure their assistants will get sick of running to 7-11 every hour to satisfy the cravings. Why not just provide sodas at cost and ask employees to deposit $0.50 on an honor system and make everyone happy? Oh, and as far as I know, their health benefits still include coverage for sex changes.

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