How Dick's Sporting Goods thrived while others crashed - Wsimg.com
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February 2021 Volume 12, Issue 2
The Workplace Newsletter That’s Both Informative and Fun!
How Dick's Sporting Goods thrived while
others crashed
It's a common tale these days -- legacy department stores and famed
luxury retailers going belly-up. But Dick's Sporting Goods, the nation's
largest sporting goods retailer, has continued to thrive as it responds to the
changing economy and consumer needs, according to a report from MIT's I hope you enjoy this month’s
Sloan School of Management. newsletter!
How has Dick's managed to beat the odds for brick-and-mortar stores? Louis J. Costanzo
Customer responsiveness is key. A combination of in-store technology,
CEO
user-friendly e-commerce options, knowledgeable sales staff and a physical
experience for customers are the backbone of Dick's success. Customers can
test out equipment in the store with batting cages and putting greens, and
floor staff act as consultants to help customers figure out what they want.
Great love letters endure
Dick's also aggressively promotes its 'buy online, pick up in store' Love -- mysterious, forbidden, secret, new
strategy, which offers the convenience of online shopping while still love and old -- inspired some of the greatest
bringing people into physical locations, according to the Sloan report. letters ever written, notes so grand they are still
While few retailers have survived unscathed, Dick's technology treasured today.
investments and existing technology-friendly reputation have proved Longest-lasting love letter. Arguably the
immensely valuable. In the first weeks of the pandemic in spring 2020, the greatest love letter has been read for literally
retailer quickly rolled out curbside pickup options to soothe customer nerves thousands of years: The Song of Solomon, which
and sidestep store closures, according to CNBC. The company also cashed appears in the Old Testament of the Bible.
in on the home fitness and outdoor activity boom after the states forced Written in 600 BC to one of his 700 wives, King
gyms and health clubs to close, posting higher-than-expected earnings Solomon writes: "...thou hast ravished my heart
during the third quarter of 2020, according to MarketWatch. with one of thine eyes ... How much better is thy
In the final leg of the 2020 holiday season, Dick's partnered with delivery love than wine!"
service Instacart to offer same-day deliveries from more than 150 stores, Mystery love. Scholars still debate the
according to CNBC. The company plans to roll this service out to even identity of Ludwig van Beethoven's lover who,
more stores in 2021. in 1812, he famously calls his 'immortal (or
Still, Dick's is not without its naysayers. According to Yahoo News, eternal) beloved.' It was a love not to be: "Even
analysts from financial services firm Stephens believe that despite strong in bed my ideas yearn towards you, my Immortal
management and market position, rosy forecasts are a bit too optimistic. Beloved, here and there joyfully, then again
sadly, awaiting from Fate, whether it will listen
to us."
Comedian love. From bad-boy comedian
Good investment: dental care George Carlin to his wife Sally Wade:
"Sallyburger, if you took the number of sub-
If you visit your dentist on a regular basis, you are doing yourself a favor
atomic particles in the universe and multiplied
in four ways. First, you are saving your teeth so you can chew properly,
that number times itself that many times; and
which is an important factor in nutrition.
then added the total number of micro-seconds
Second, when you visit your dentist, he or she can check your gums.
since the beginning of time, times itself; and then
Periodontal disease can result in lost teeth and is a significant factor in heart
added 803 — you would still have only the
disease. Periodontal bacteria can lead to blood clots, increasing the risk for
tiniest fraction of a billion-billionth percent of
heart attack and stroke.
the amount of love I have for you. Love, your
People with diabetes should be particularly watchful for periodontal
candle partner, the romantic Mr. Carlin, your
disease. They are more prone to infection, and periodontal disease makes it
eternal flame."
more difficult to stabilize blood glucose levels.
Third, properly caring for your teeth results in big financial savings in
the future. Root canals, bridgework, dental implants, and dentures can cost
thousands of dollars.
Fourth, by properly caring for your teeth, you will ultimately save
yourself a lot of pain and inconvenience.
Free Cleaning Tips and Specials at www.MyWebsite.com
Do You Know... Thanks a Bunch!
... someone that could use our services? Perhaps a colleague, friend, family
member, or networking buddy? Lou, I will say that throughout these
Covid restricted months we could
always count on Keith showing up with
When a new client signs up for regular cleaning services at your his always upbeat attitude. His work
recommendation; you will receive $100! ethic is extraordinary, and attention to
detail is as well. We felt comforted that
when any of us entered the building we
If you would think of 3 or 4 people that could use our services, then don’t knew surfaces were clean and
hesitate to call them, and give them our name and phone number. Be sure to sanitized, and the workspaces safe.
have them mention your name when they call so we can send your $100 We are all lucky to have Keith in our
lives, and it is wonderful to see him
Bonus! honored for his success and hard work.
Kathy Brooks-Branch Vice President
Coldwell Banker
Thanks in advance for your help and we look forward to sending cash your
way!
Stimulus payments won't Heart-healthy roasted butternut squash with
increase tax red onion and tahini sauce
The second stimulus payment is not taxable income
and for Social Security recipients, taxes on benefits will This heart-healthy, vegetarian-friendly
also not increase. recipe, adapted from Jerusalem, by Yotam
The top-level tax for Social Security is 85 percent of Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi, features roasted
the total benefit. But not everyone is taxed that much. butternut squash, which is naturally rich in
People with few sources of income other than Social potassium to help regulate blood pressure.
Security aren't taxed on their benefits and may not even Butternut squash is also high in insoluble
have to file a tax return. fiber, which helps control blood sugar and
Tax on Social Security is calculated through base promote fullness. Tahini-based sauce, made
income. Base income is equal to the combination of 50
from sesame seeds, is rich in heart-healthy
percent of Social Security benefits, tax-exempt interest
income (from such things as municipal bonds) and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
adjusted gross income (not including the student loan Olive oil is used to roast the squash and
interest deduction.) contains omega-3 fatty acids to reduce
For single people with a base income of less than inflammation and improve cholesterol. The
$25,000, no Social Security benefits are taxed. If a single result is a sweet, flavorful, warm side dish,
person makes from $25,000 to $34,000, then 50 percent of perfect for a simple, healthy, filling meal.
their benefits are taxed. Za'atar spice is available in the international
For married people filing jointly, no benefits are taxed section of many grocery stores or Middle
if their base income is $32,000 or less. Joint filers are
Eastern specialty grocery stores.
taxed 50 percent on a base income of $32,000 to $44,000.
The 85 percent rate comes in if a single filer is more Ingredients
than $34,000 or a joint filer is more than $44,000. 1 large butternut squash, peeled and sliced (discard seeds and pulp)
Usually, any additional taxable income increases the 2 red onions, cut into wedges
adjusted gross income and that increases the base income. 3 tablespoons olive oil
So with enough additional income, Social Security 3 1/2 tablespoons light tahini paste
beneficiaries may move to a higher tax bracket. 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
However, since the COVID-19 payments are not
2 tablespoons water
taxable income, no part of the base income calculation will
rise. 1 small clove garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon za'atar spice
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped parsley (optional)
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit.
Toss squash and onion in a bowl with olive oil, 1 teaspoon sea salt and some
black pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, until the
vegetables have taken on some color and are fully cooked. The onions may cook
quicker and need to be removed earlier than the squash. Remove the sheet from the
oven and let cool.
For the sauce, whisk the tahini, lemon juice, water, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt
until you have a liquid the consistency of honey. Add more water or tahini, as
necessary.
To serve, spread the vegetables on a serving platter and drizzle with the tahini
sauce, followed by the za'atar and parsley.Trivia Teaser –
On the Ball
1. In the music video for her 2013 song
"Wrecking Ball," which singer is seen
swinging on a wrecking ball in the nude?
a-Fergie, b-Ariana Grande, c-Miley Cyrus,
d-Sia.
2. After a stellar college career at the
University of Wisconsin, running back
Montee Ball was a 2013 second round draft
pick by which NFL team? a-Chicago Bears,
b-Denver Broncos, c-New Orleans Saints,
d-New England Patriots.
3. Which NASA astronaut took a swing
at a golf ball while on the moon? a-Jim
Lovell, b-Neil Armstrong, c-Alan Shepard,
d-Pete Conrad.
4. In the movie "Dodgeball: A True
Underdog Story," who was the celebrity
guest judge detested by gym owner White
Goodman? a-Adam Lambert, b-Chuck
Norris, c-Bob Barker, d-Blake Shelton.
5. An official Wiffle ball is perforated
with how many holes? a-6, b-8, c-10.
6. What was the name of Tom Hanks's
volleyball companion in the movie "Cast
Away"? a-Urkel, b-Flanders, c-Kramer,
d-Wilson.
7. Dave Ball and Marc Almond made up
which duo that recorded the 1981 hit song
"Tainted Love"? a-Erasure, b-Soft Cell,
c-Pet Shop Boys, d-The Associates.
8. Which of the following refers to a
stage in cooking candy? a-Eight ball, b-Fly
The work from home pre-meeting pack ball, c-Melon ball, d-Soft ball.
9. Which tennis player was ejected from
Meeting prep has long included a packet sent ahead of time so the 2020 U.S. Open after he hit a ball in
attendees can get up to speed on agenda items and arrive ready to anger and inadvertently hit a line judge in
discuss. But a lot of businesses got a little more creative with meeting the throat? a-Novak Djokovic, b-Stan
prep in 2020 -- a trend that appears destined to continue. Wawrinka, c-Fabio Fognini, d-Stefanos
The customized pre-meeting pack is sent via snail mail a day or so Tsitsipas.
10. Which actress won a Best Actress
ahead of a long online meeting, Forbes reported, and can include a mix
Oscar for her performance in the 2001
of snacks, accessories, and stationery.
movie drama "Monster's Ball"? a-Madonna,
The packs are a nice real-world touch in a digitally dominated world. b-Halle Berry, c-Kate Winslet, d-Jennifer
Forbes adds that they can offer an opportunity to highlight local Connelly.
businesses as well. Goodwill and good partnerships are as important as
ever. Companies might even partner with sponsors to fill swag boxes for
employees.
Meeting packages can also provide a little morale boost with
personalized stickers and snacks. Packages might include a small "You
rock!" note or motivational quotations along with meeting munchies and
materials to review. One fun idea: Conversation paddles, which attendees
can hold up to express an opinion or reaction during a video call.Is your website mobile-friendly?
The year 2020 provided a high-intensity crash course in
online strategies for business owners, from social media
marketing to the ins and outs of ecommerce. And because the
trend is expected to stick around post-pandemic, you might
INFO@MAFSLLC.COM want to double-check this often-overlooked feature: Is your
www.MAFSLLC.com website mobile-friendly?
The website Statista reported that mobile devices account
for more than half of all global online traffic. So when a
mobile user lands on your website, what will they find?
About Our Company Websites look different on a phone or tablet than our
laptops and their responsiveness can vary as well. Here are
MAFS is a Commercial Janitorial and Floor some things to keep in mind when evaluating how effective
Care company. Since 2009 we have built a solid your site is for mobile users:
* Check how the layout appears. Headlines, images, the
reputation for quality and dependable service. font size of articles and sales pages -- in short, is your site
readable?
We offer commercial cleaning, Post * Responsiveness. Do the pages load quickly? Is your
Construction cleaning and Floor care services, sales cart easy to use and can a potential client or customer
checkout without hassle?
designed to fit the needs of the customer. Our * Is your layout cluttered or clean? A busy-looking
flexible cleaning schedules and cleaning website will be even harder to navigate on a mobile device.
* Make buttons easy to see and use.
programs are guaranteed to fit most budgets. If you want to know more, Google provides a testing tool
to check out how mobile friendly your site is. You can find it
at https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly.
Vehicles with top safety rating that
FREE Upholstery Cleaning with
eliminated bad headlighting Whole Office Carpet Cleaning
Ten models that have earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating $400 minimum purchase
have eliminated marginal headlight packages. These are: Audi A7,
Honda Accord, Hyundai Palisade, Mazda CX-30, Nissan Altima,
Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, Volvo S60, Volvo XC40 and Includes office chairs and upholstery covered
Volvo XC60. partitions (up to $100 value)
The Honda Odyssey (not evaluated for the top safety award in
2020) also earned the highest rating since it eliminated two Schedule by March 30th
inferior headlight choices.
These vehicles also passed the Institute's six crash tests to earn
advanced or superior ratings. Mid-Atlantic Facility Services, LLC
410-793-7172
MAFSLLC.com
Staff Members Making the News
Shelly and her team have been cleaning homes for the past five Take the Trivia Challenge and Win a
years and they’ve always done a great job for us. The team was $25 Gift Card to Applebee’s!
recently awarded highest achievement award for The first people who call our office with the
Service Excellence. Congratulations team! Keep up the good work! correct answer will be entered into the drawing!
All team members of have completed the
Annual Safety Training Certification. We’re very impressed with On what base income amount is a single person taxed
the scores and are confident about our staff’s performance. 50 percent on their Social Security?
a. $25,000 b. $32,000 c. $34,000 d. $44,000
Love is an irresistible desire to be desired irresistibly.
HINT: The answer is hidden somewhere in this newsletter.
~Robert FrostYou can also read
