AABP EP Awards 728x90

Retail and Business

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NOTEBOOK – ONE GOOD READ: Research: Flexible work can dampen motivation

It seems that flexibility has largely been touted as the knight in shining armor for the corporate working world since the start of the pandemic – and many of us have benefited from that in …

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Mall owner: Turmoil swirling around Kohl’s won’t affect Merle Hay project

The building at Merle Hay Mall that housed the former Sears department store has been razed and grading of the site is completed. Construction of a new Kohl’s department store will begin soon. The current …

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Hy-Vee cutting up to 500 more corporate jobs

Axios Des Moines: Hy-Vee has told up to 500 additional employees that their corporate-level positions are being eliminated, and offered that they move to retail jobs instead. The West Des Moines-based grocery chain ran a full-page …

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Willis to buy Hummel’s Nissan

Willis Automotive has entered into an agreement to purchase Hummel’s Nissan, the automotive dealers announced this week. According to a news release, the addition of the Nissan lineup will enhance the Willis Automotive offerings in …

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NOTEBOOK – ONE GOOD READ: Can Schultz once again fix Starbucks?

I recently finished reading Howard Schultz’s book, “Pour your heart into it – How Starbucks built a company one cup at a time.” When the book was written, Schultz was Starbucks CEO and chairman of …

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Merle Hay Mall redevelopment ‘catalytic project’ that will transform Douglas Avenue, officials say

The map above shows the proposed layout of a redevelopment of Merle Hay Mall. Kohl’s department store will occupy the space designated for an “anchor tenant.” The rendering below shows what the former Younkers space …

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NOTEBOOK – ONE GOOD READ: Return to the office and its potential impact on a company’s DEI initiatives

Remote work vs. working in the office. It’s still a discussion many companies are struggling with as we enter year three of the pandemic. We’re also well into another year of companies striving to strengthen …

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Iowa Supreme Court rejects COVID-loss suit

Iowa’s highest court on Friday became the second state supreme court to weigh in on whether businesses can recover losses they suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic through insurance, Reuters reported. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that …

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Kirkwood addressing gas-price pains with 4-day workweek

Cedar Rapids Gazette: With gas prices still hovering around record levels, Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids is rolling out a pilot program this summer to close campus offices on Fridays. “Changes to summer hours are …

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BEST survey shows companies continuing expansion plans despite uncertainty with workforce, supply chain

Despite workforce challenges, many companies are moving forward with plans to expand or renovate their facilities, according to a survey of companies in 66 Iowa counties.

Results of the 2021 Business Expansion and Strategic Trends (BEST) …