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Avoid these 3 business mistakes during the holiday season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:59 GMT

A broken website. Sold-out items. Shipping delays. These conditions can be detrimental to small businesses during the holiday season, arguably the busiest time of year for retail sales.“We see some of our clients in one weekend — like over Black Friday, Cyber Monday — make more money that weekend than they do for the entire year. It’s a huge opportunity,” says Sharon Lee Thony, founder and CEO of SLT Consulting, a boutique digital marketing agency, and a Verizon Small Business Digital Ready instructor.Small-business owners may not be able to plan for every contingency, but identifying some of the more likely (and costly) possibilities, as well as having plans to prevent them, can help position businesses for success.Here are three of the most common mistakes small businesses make leading up to and during the holiday shopping season, and tips to avoid them.1.FAILING TO PLAN AHEADPlanning ahead is key to running a small business, but it’s even more important during the holiday season ...

Canadian Tire raises quarterly dividend, reports third-quarter loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:59 GMT

TORONTO — Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd. raised its quarterly dividend as it reported a loss in its latest quarter, weighed down by a one-time charge related to its deal to buy back the 20 per cent stake in Canadian Tire Financial Services that is owned by Scotiabank.The retailer says it will now pay a quarterly dividend of $1.75 per share, an increase of 2.5 cents per share.The increased payment to shareholders came as Canadian Tire reported a net loss attributable to shareholders of $66.4 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with a profit of $184.9 million, or $3.14 per diluted share a year earlier.The results included a $328-million charge related to the Scotiabank transaction, offset in part by a $131-million insurance recovery related to a fire at a distribution centre in March.On a normalized basis, Canadian Tire says it earned $2.96 per diluted share in its latest quarter, compared with $3.34 per diluted share a year earlier.Revenue was $4.25...

The UK’s interior minister accuses the country’s police of favoring pro-Palestinian protesters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:59 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s interior minister on Thursday accused the country’s largest police force of being more lenient toward pro-Palestinian demonstrators than other groups, deepening a political feud sparked by the Israel-Hamas war.In a highly unusual attack on the police, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said London’s Metropolitan Police force was ignoring lawbreaking by “pro-Palestinian mobs.” She described demonstrators calling for a cease-fire in Gaza as “hate marchers.”Pro-Palestinian protests have been held in London and other British cities every weekend since the war began more than a month ago. The government has criticized organizers for planning a march on Saturday because it is Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of World War I, when many in Britain pause to remember victims of war.The march is a day before the main Remembrance Sunday commemorations, when King Charles III, senior politicians, diplomats, military leaders and veterans are to attend a wreath-laying c...

Man injured after shooting outside strip club in South Loop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:59 GMT

CHICAGO — A 30-year-old man was injured in a shooting outside a strip club in the city's South Loop.The shooting happened around 4:12 a.m. Thursday outside Deja Vu Showgirls on the 700 block of South Clinton.According to police, the man was escorting another man out of the business when a black Tesla approached them. A male offender fired shots from inside the vehicle and continued driving southbound.The 30-year-old man was shot in the right knee and transported to Stroger Hospital in good condition. Charges filed against 2 accused of killing woman during attempted robbery in Worth No one is in custody. Area Three Detectives are investigating.Anyone with information is urged to call Chicago police.

Dolly Parton talks new HeartSong Lodge, Dollywood's future and going rock 'n' roll

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:59 GMT

The crowds gathered in the lobby hours in advance. The word was out, the one and only Dolly Parton was returning home to celebrate the opening of Dollywood's new HeartSong Lodge and Resort - the second hotel to open at the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee theme park.HeartSong Lodge sits on more than 28 acres of land and features 302 rooms. Many of the rooms feature balconies with seating areas, some facing the mountains while others looking out towards the resort's outdoor pool and seating area. The hotel is just nextdoor to DreamMore Resort and Spa, the first hotel at Dollywood. As Dolly cheerfully put it, "I'm a chain!"I was able to sit down with Dolly in a one-on-one interview. We discussed how she feels about the new resort, the strong attendance and growth of Dollywood and the hotels, what she's doing to make sure Dollywood maintains its family-first theming well into the future, all of the collaborations on her new rock and roll album, and I made one more effort to get her on a roller ...

Thursday Forecast: Temps in mid 50s with abundant sun

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Plenty of sunshine Thursday with breezy west winds and slightly warmer than average temperatures as highs reach the mid-50s.  Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Lows tonight will fall into the mid-30s under partly cloudy skie. Outlying areas will be colder. Friday Forecast: Mostly sunny and cooler with highs in the upper 40s.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Temperatures tumble as rain spreads out

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Grab the rain gear - it's cold front day!TimingHill Country: 6AM-9AMAustin-metro: 9AM-2PMEastern counties: 2PM-5PMImpactsWinds - Gusty north winds will follow the cold front, reaching speeds of 15-25 mph. Wind gusts could top 30 mph tonight into Friday morning.Gusty north winds follow today's cold frontTemperatures - Morning lows in the 60s and 70s are likely to be the warmest of the day, as temperatures fall to the 50s and 60s this afternoon.Temperatures nosedive behind today's cold frontShowers - Pockets of light rain and drizzle are expected to wet roads for the morning commute, but more meaningful showers are expected to develop late afternoon into tonight. No severe weather or major flooding concerns are anticipated.Friday into Veterans Day WeekendCooler than normal temperatures will continue tomorrow into the weekend (60s). Spotty showers will be possible each day, but no day looks like a washout. Our advice - keep the umbrella on standby but no need to comple...

5 things to know this Thursday, November 9

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:59 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- One more day until Friday! Happy Thursday! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, the messy wintery mix we saw overnight into this morning will soon fade. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The change in leadership in the Spa City comes after a year of tension between the mayor and public safety commissioner. On Wednesday NEWS10 heard from voters and a city council member who shared thoughts on the election results. Meanwhile, St. Peter’s Health Partners will host a public open house to gather more public input about the planned closure of the Burdett Birth Center on Thursday. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Thursday morning. 1. Voters react to Saratoga Springs election resultsThe change in leadership in the Spa City comes after a year of tension between the mayor and public safety commissioner. On Wednesday NEWS10 heard from voters and a city council member who share...

City aldermen considering open carry ban today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The city of St. Louis could take a big step on Thursday by moving to ban the open carrying of firearms in the city. This is the latest move by the St. Louis Board of Alderman to try and regulate the carrying of guns in the city. Board Bill 107 is up for perfection Thursday, meaning it will be debated and prepared for a potential final vote soon. The full board meeting is at City Hall at 10:00 a.m.Concerns about the open carrying of guns in the city came to the forefront after multiple people were shown in videos walking around downtown with their guns out in plain sight this past summer. Alderman Rasheen Aldridge is the bill's sponsor on Thursday. Board President Megan Green is co-sponsoring it. Results: November 7 Missouri Special Election The legislation would prohibit the open carrying of firearms in the city of St. Louis except for law officers and those required to openly carry a gun as part of their official duty. The bill would not apply to those who are carryin...

Woman killed in I-55 SB hit-and-run crash identified

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS - New details on a fatal hit-and-run crash Wednesday.Police identified the woman killed in a hit-and-run on Interstate 55 as 43-year-old Randii Smith. The crash happened a little after midnight Wednesday morning on the southbound lanes of the highway near Lindbergh Boulevard. Iced tea DNA unmasks alleged ‘thirsty burglar’ in O’Fallon Police are still searching for the driver in that crash. It's unclear why Smith was on the highway.FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.