Fastest Ways to Lose Customers

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It's common knowledge that in order to remain profitable and popular, companies need to put their customers first. The same concept can (and should) be applied toward employees. Companies need to treat their employees as if they're customers. Loyal employees are just as important to the future of the business as loyal customers are.

I found this infographic on Get Satisfaction's blog. In business to build customer communities for companies, they happen to know a thing or two about customer loyalty. Looking at this infographic, a lot of the information can be related to employees. For example, the number one reason why customers leave a company is due to the treatment they received. I believe the same can be said for why employees leave a company.

What do you all think? Should companies treat their employees like customers? What other ways can companies lose employees?

Merch Monday: Spruce up your Dinnerware

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Your food shouldn’t be the only hot item on your table. Patterned dinnerware is in this season. Companies are offering patterned sets and pieces with unique shapes to accommodate specific entertaining needs and suit a variety of personal tastes.

These sets are designed to add color and creativity to your kitchen table. Replace your mismatched and plain dinnerware with bold hues and striking patterns. With several color schemes, modern designs and unique shapes to choose from, updating your kitchen is as easy as setting the table.

To stay current with consumer trends, we've added an assortment of patterned sets to our award collection. The Nouveau set from Corelle® has classic paisley printing in contemporary black, gray and white. This ultra chic pattern is on trend with modern motifs in neutral color combinations. The Flo set from Corelle® features a versatile, contemporary, geometric design with broad appeal. The blue graphics cascade wonderfully across the wide-rim plate, giving it movement and style.

What's With The Carrot?

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The age-old carrot and stick idiom refers to the use of rewards to influence behavior.

The original metaphor referred to a boy sitting on a cart being pulled by a donkey. The boy held a long stick to which a carrot had been tied, and he dangled the carrot in front of the donkey, but just out of its reach. As the donkey moved forward to get the carrot, it pulled the cart forward.

Here at Hinda, we've adopted the carrot as part of our branding strategy. While today's workforce might not be motivated by a dangling carrot, the message is the same. We're motivated by rewards. The carrot is simply a representation of a desired reward - one that is earned after an achievement.

When rewarding your employees, we suggest merchandise instead of raw carrots. Do you have an incentive plan in place? Contact us if you're looking for a way to motivate those with an influence on your business.

Sustainable Business is Good Business

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Incentive Magazine recently published an article on the benefits of offering socially responsible products in incentive programs. In the article, they revealed that new generations are attracted to companies with strong reputations for environmental and community responsibility. Thus, by rewarding employees with socially responsible products (such as those produced by social enterprises), employees know they are helping other people.

In a sense, this type of recognition serves several purposes. It recognizes employees, supports social enterprises and sends a powerful message to the community at large.

The article featured the success of Helping Hand Rewards, an organization that connects social enterprises with corporations interested in purchasing corporate gifts and employee rewards that help give back to underserved groups and communities. Our President and CEO, Michael Arkes, is the founder of HHR.

In the past five years, the number of companies interested in offering social enterprise products has grown significantly. In 2009, only three companies had a broad assortment of HHR products in their awards offerings. In 2010, that number more than doubled, and in 2011 that number will again double.

Are you incorporating socially responsible products in your award assortment? As an employee, are you being offered socially responsible products in your award assortment?

Merch Monday: Emerging Toy Trends

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In February, leaders and innovators in the toy industry gathered in New York for the 2011 Toy Fair. This year, more than 10,000 buyers attended and surveyed more than 100,000 products – some of which had never been seen before.

After scouting the showroom floor for the latest and greatest, we came away with four emerging trends for the coming year. While many of these toys won’t be available until this fall, they’ve got us talking right now.

Smart Toys

These interactive toys are taking a cue from social media. Labeled as smart toys, they often communicate with social applications. One new example is the FIJIT Friend, an interactive robot for girls that recognizes and reacts to voice commands, music and embedded codes within external sound sources. Sure to be a big hit, they come in a variety of colors – each with their own personality. 

Active Toys

Not only intended to boost physical activity, but several toys showcased at this year’s Toy Fair were created to boost learning and creativity. These toys improve memory skills and camouflage learning. The LeapFrog®, although not new to the scene, is a frontrunner in this toy category. At this year’s show, LeapFrog announced the new LeapPad Explorer™,  a learning and entertainment tablet for kids.

Angry Birds

The popular mobile game has taken the toy industry by storm, as characters were featured on everything from lanyards to slippers at this year’s fair. There is a wide range of toys set to release later in the year, featuring both the birds and the pigs. Turning the game into reality, the Angry Birds Knock on Wood table-top board game allows users to catapult little birds across the room.

Licensing

The influx of several family-friendly Blockbusters has spawned a steady stream of licensed products. While big-name movies and television shows are generating large fan bases, consumers are vying for licensed merchandise. Thus, a demand for Batman, Harry Potter, Green Lantern and Monster High merchandise has increased, among others.

Are there any other trends that you're aware of? Post them in the comments section and we'll keep our eyes open!

Diversify Your Incentive Plan

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Any good financial advisor will tell you that diversifying your portfolio is the best way to maximize your return. The same can be said with employee incentives. Hiring managers and HR professionals need more than one way to recognize and reward employees for a job well done. In addition to base salary and insurance benefits, employees seek incentives and perks when choosing where their loyalties lie.

Jobacle.com recently published an article on their blog outlining the eight best employee incentive programs. They, like us, believe that a diversified approach is best to maintain and recruit top talent. Their list is featured below. (See article for detailed descriptions).

1. Flexible hours and/or telecommuting
2. Health and wellness programs
3. Points programs
4. Separate group and individual incentives
5. PTO, paid holidays and relaxation
6. Production-based bonuses
7. Social and networking events
8. Tuition reimbursement and learning opportunity

Employees are not all motivated by the same factors. Thus, by utilizing a diversified set of incentives, more employees are motivated. Do you agree? What would you add to this list? Would you remove any items?

Frames and Candles Help Make Rewards More Socially Responsible

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So how can a picture frame or candles make a rewards collection more socially responsible? It all comes down to where these to products come from.

The picture frame is a really unique way to dip your toe in the CSR water. Even though it's a rustic brown color, it's certainly a great example of a "green" product. The 4x6 inch frame is made from recycled bicycle chain. What's more remarkable about it is how it's made. The Bicycle Chain Frame is created by a social enterprise group out of India called Noah's Ark. Artisans working for Noah's Ark receive benefits such as training, education and medical treatment for artisans and for their families. Money made from frame sales goes back towards making the artisan communities more self-sufficient.

In the same way, Dreambean Candles also help those less fortunate more self sufficient. The Deeper Dreambean collection offers candles made from a high quality soy wax and fragrant oils. Poured into round, three-inch tins, the candles can be easily packed for a weekend getaway and has a burn time of around 45 hours. Made by Bright Endeavors, each candle sale goes to help support training, mentoring and eventual job placement for homeless or other at-risk women in the Chicago area.

 Sometimes the smallest things - like candles and picture frames - are the ones that make the biggest difference.

**Both Noah's Ark and Bright Endeavors are partners of Helping Hand Rewards. Learn more about Helping Hand Rewards' parteners by visiting www.helpinghandrewards.org