Motivating employees - the end of the mobile phone sales shark?

A great example to use when discussing the importance of financial incentives as a way of motivating employees to maximise revenues.  The Carphone Warehouse has decided to abandon the use of sales-related commissions for its store staff…

Q&A - What is commission and when should it be used in a pay package?

Commission is a payment made to employees based on the value of sales achieved. It can form all or (more often) part of a pay package.  Commission is, therefore, a form of “incentive pay” (see also profit-related pay, bonuses).

Q&A - What is repeat business and why is it important?

Getting a profitable customer to buy from a business for the first time is often difficult and expensive.  The key to a successful business is to persuade that customer to buy again, and again.  That is what is meant by repeat business.

How can the same product be cheaper to buy new than second-hand?

Here’s a pricing conundrum.  Which product is now sometimes available for a lower price if you buy brand new than if you buy the same product second-hand?

Viability of wind farms poses a “sources of finance” challenge

A relevant article in the Guardian today looks at the financial challenges facing the London Array - a huge proposed offshore wind farm.

Q&A - What is meant by repeat business and why is it important?

Repeat business is all about encouraging customers who buy for the first time to buy again and again!

Huge losses force Taylor Wimpey into drastic promotional activity

When shareholders approved the £5 billion merger of housebuilders Taylor Woodrow and George Wimpey, they probably didn’t expect that by the end of August 2008, the combined business would be worth less than £500 million.......

Counting the Cost of Workplace Sickness

An important report into workplace sickness is a goldmine for Business teachers looking for some great examples of issues in people management.

21p extra on the National Minimum Wage

Slowly, step-by-step, the National Minimum Wage is increasing.  The latest increase of 21p per hour represents a 3.8% increase on the previous rate of £5.52. The NMW was last increased in October 2007, just six onths ago.