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Home Office has expressed concerns that Prevent programme is under pressure due to wider gaps in public services View the full article

Every time you ask ChatGPT to draft an email, or prompt an AI assistant to help you decide which refrigerator to buy—somewhere, a data center hums to life to make it happen. These facilities, which can span the size of a small city, are the unglamorous physical infrastructure behind the AI revolution. They’re cavernous buildings packed with servers, cooled by industrial systems, drawing power at a scale that strains local electrical grids. What almost no one talks about is the human beings building them. To construct a single data center, developers source millions of tons of concrete, steel, copper, lithium, and critical metals from supply chains that stretch across dozens of countries. At the far end of those chains—in mines, smelters, and materials processing facilities—labor conditions are often opaque, and in some cases, deeply troubling. The industry has made notable progress on tracking its carbon footprint. It has made almost none on tracking whether the workers who made its buildings possible were free or enslaved. That gap was at the center of a pointed panel conversation last week at Grace Farms, the award-winning cultural and humanitarian center in New Canaan, Connecticut, where executives from Google and Bloomberg joined the leader of a prominent data center trade association to reckon with a simple, uncomfortable question: At a moment when the tech industry is building faster than it ever has, who is paying the human cost? Design for Freedom Grace Farms’ Design for Freedom initiative, launched in 2020 by CEO and founder Sharon Prince, is a global movement to eliminate forced and child labor from the building materials supply chain. Its annual summit convenes leaders from architecture, engineering, construction, tech, government, and real estate to advance what the organization describes as a movement toward a more humane built environment. This year, the data center industry was one of its most urgent focal points—and the people in the room to address it had real power to do something about it. Sharon Prince The numbers are staggering. There are currently around 5,000 data centers in the United States, with Germany, the U.K., and China following behind. Global data center capacity is projected to grow 14% annually, with approximately 100 gigawatts of new capacity coming online by 2030, effectively doubling the sector in just five years. The U.S. data center construction market alone is projected to reach $112 billion in that same timeframe, which equates to $1.2 trillion in real estate value creation. “The growth of data centers over the last three years is more than we’ve seen in the last 30,” said Miranda Gardiner, executive director of the I-Masons Climate Accord, a trade association focused on emissions reductions and sustainability in the data center sector. “To say that this is a problem and opportunity for all of us is maybe an understatement.” Nora RizzoDave WildmanMiranda GardinerNoah Goldstein The Power of the Purse The biggest technology companies are currently the largest and most active construction clients in the world. As a result, they have unusual—and largely untapped—power to mandate better practices across their supply chains. “When we come out collectively to say things as an industry, people tend to listen and they do change their behaviors,” said Noah Goldstein, Google’s sustainability lead for data center construction. He described using Google’s supplier code of conduct as a practical tool in meetings with contractors and senior construction leaders. He pulled up the environmental responsibility section on screen and pointed out that vendors have, by signing their contracts, already committed to reporting their emissions, training their own supply chains, and working to reduce their environmental footprint. “A lot of the CEOs that we’re meeting with have never seen this before,” he said. Goldstein called this a “soft stick.” And alongside sticks, there are carrots: Google has created a recognition program for its supply chain, awarding physical plaques— “$7 frames from Amazon,” Goldstein said—to construction teams for best deployment of low-carbon solutions or best reporting. The competitive effect has been significant. “The CEOs of those companies are incredibly competitive people. They want to win next year. They want to compete on sustainability, and they want to get that seven-dollar plaque on their wall.” The stakes of getting those contracts right are not abstract. The building materials that flow into a single data center—the steel, the copper wiring, the concrete, the lithium—pass through supply chains that span dozens of countries and touch millions of workers, many of them in places with weak labor protections and little recourse when conditions turn exploitative. Forced labor has been documented in the mining of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in brick kilns across South Asia, and in the production of construction materials across Southeast Asia. A contract clause requiring human rights reporting may seem far removed from a mine in Central Africa or a smelter in Malaysia—but when that clause is signed by a company spending billions of dollars on construction, it sends a signal down the entire chain about what will and won’t be tolerated. It’s an imperfect mechanism: It relies on supply chains being regularly audited and violators held to account. But it is one of the few tools we have to move towards more ethical labor. Dave Wildman, Bloomberg’s global head of data center workplace infrastructure and sustainability, offered a parallel perspective from Bloomberg, which he said was much smaller in scale than the tech giants, but nonetheless carries a recognizable name and the ability to amplify these conversations. He drew a direct comparison to where sustainability was two or three decades ago—when introducing environmental policy into a conversation with vendors yielded a few paragraphs on a page, if anything at all. “The same conversation is happening now, and it should be happening now,” he said. An Industry at an Inflection Point There was a sense throughout the panel that the data center industry is at a moment that resembles other industries’ past reckonings with sustainability. We’re in a window in which norms can be set before practices calcify, when competitive pressure can still be redirected toward better outcomes rather than a race to the bottom on cost. But unlike most industries facing this kind of reckoning, the data center sector has something unusual working in its favor: the sheer concentration of purchasing power among a handful of companies. When Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon all move in the same direction on a supply chain requirement, they don’t just change their own practices, they effectively reset the floor for the entire industry. Suppliers who want access to those contracts have to meet the bar. And because data center construction is currently the most active and well-funded construction market in the world, that bar has the potential to ripple outward into broader construction supply chains that touch far more than just tech infrastructure. The human stakes of getting that right are considerable. For workers at the far end of data center supply chains—in quarries, mines, and materials processing facilities across the Global South—the difference between a contract that requires supply chain transparency and one that doesn’t can be the difference between a job with basic protections and one without them. The panelists were clear-eyed that the work is still early. The forced labor and human rights piece of the data center supply chain remains largely uncharted territory, even for companies that have made significant strides on carbon. Industry-wide adoption of human rights due diligence, if it were to follow the same trajectory as carbon disclosure, could over time create accountability mechanisms that reach workers. It would not happen overnight, and contractual language alone is not sufficient—enforcement, verification, and worker-accessible grievance mechanisms would all need to follow. But the argument the panelists are making was that the scale of investment flowing into data center construction right now creates a rare opportunity: with enough contracts, enough collective voice, and enough willingness to use both, the industry might be able to write better rules before bad ones become the default. View the full article

Defence minister Israel Katz plans ‘security control’ of area stretching dozens of kilometres into neighbour’s territoryView the full article

Antonio Bustamante has kept a watercolor of labor leader César Chavez for more than 35 years, hanging it on the wall of his law office in Yuma, Arizona. As a young man, he was moved by Chavez and helped organize workers before joining his security team. Like many others, Bustamante must now wrestle with reconciling the man he adored with the allegations Chavez groomed and sexually abused women and young girls. “I’m trying to figure out how emotionally and intellectually I’ll be able to understand my perception of him as an extremely good man,” Bustamante said, his voice heavy with emotion, “compared to these things that are said he did.” Chavez built a national reputation organizing in the fields. With Dolores Huerta — also one of his victims — he co-founded the United Farm Workers union, led a hunger strike, a grape boycott with Filipino farmworkers, and eventually pressured growers to negotiate better wages and working conditions for Mexican American farmworkers. Nearly two weeks after a New York Times report detailing allegations of sexual abuse, communities and rights groups across the country are still figuring out how he should be remembered. His name and image have already been erased from monuments, streets and murals around the country. Reckoning with a legacy Bustamante said he learned of the allegations when an old friend called to tell him about the upcoming report. What flashed through his mind, he said, were the faces of others who had known and admired Chavez, and “how their eyes would be devastated.” “We were looked down upon by society, we were Mexicans,” Bustamante said, recalling the first time he saw Chavez speak outside the Arizona Capitol in 1972 as he launched a hunger strike. He “gave us worth, and for young people that was everything.” Now, some of Bustamante’s friends have taken down images of Chavez. In his community, Bustamante likened it to denouncing Catholicism and removing photos of the pope. One person does not make a movement For many, it’s an example of why movements should not be tied to a single leader. Teresa Romero, president of United Farm Workers, said the contradiction between the Chavez’s legacy and the allegations is unavoidable. “We have in one hand César Chavez, the man who committed horrible acts that we’re not going to justify,” Romero said. “On the other hand, we have César Chavez, the organizer who brought thousands and thousands of people together to be able to work for farm workers, and improve their lives and working conditions.” Unfortunately, both of those things came from the same person, Romero said. Sehila Mota Casper, executive director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation, said the farmworker movement was always driven by collective effort. “The rights and protections that came from it belongs to the people that built it,” she said. “It wasn’t just one individual.” That perspective, she said, offers a way to move forward: recognizing Chavez’s role without letting it overshadow the contributions of others, including Huerta, and the challenges they faced. Advocacy groups like the nonprofit Voto Latino took a similar stance, saying, “The women who organized, marched, and sacrificed alongside farmworkers carried this movement on their backs.” Dismantling a man, preserving history The allegations also prompted swift public action. Within days, statues were removed and celebrations cancelled or renamed, including events tied to the federal César Chavez Day on March 31. Political leaders from both parties have condemned the alleged abuse. Some Republicans, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, cited it as part of a broader criticism of Chavez’s progressive legacy. Abbot said Texas — a state with dozens of Confederate monuments — would no longer celebrate César Chavez Day, saying the allegations “undermine the narrative that elevated Chavez as a figure worthy of official state celebration.” At the same time, groups like the nonpartisan Latino Victory Project, which focuses on developing Hispanic political leadership, said this current moment should not distract from the still-ongoing civil rights battles. “Those legacies are unchanged,” said Paul Ortiz, a labor history professor at Cornell University and director of graduate studies for Latino Studies. “And those legacies are all about people power.” What seems inevitable, Bustamante said, is that there will always be an asterisk next to Chavez’s name. “Does that take away the greatness of what his accomplishments were, the meaning of them? No, it doesn’t,” he said. “But can we look past that to honor him? That’s the tough part.” —Fernanda Figueroa and Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press View the full article

Italy refuses US warplanes permission to refuel, adding to transatlantic divisions over conflictView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Lifehacker just launched a collection of tips and info about embracing retro technology, so I combed through Amazon's Big Spring Sale for the next best thing: retro-inspired technology. These prices are so low, you'll think it's 1998. These digital cameras look like they're from the distant pastIf you want a digital camera that makes a statement, check out the CHUZHAO Digital TLR Camera. It looks like a twin-lens reflex camera from the 1940s, when you shot from the waist. It doesn't use film, though: It's a 12MP digital camera in disguise. It's currently $33.99, down from 39.99. Styled after classic Kodak point-and-shoot cameras of the 1970s and 80s, the KODAK Mini Shot 3 Retro takes digital photos but will actually print out a 3X3 copy using 4PASS dye sublimation printing (the kind the brand was known for), complete with that shiny laminated layer. KODAK Mini Shot 3 Retro 3x3” Instant Digital Camera & Photo Printer $134.99 at Amazon $159.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal Get Deal $134.99 at Amazon $159.99 Save $25.00 These headphones have a retro look and feel but modern sound quality These Koss Porta Pro Limited Edition open-back headphones look like they time-traveled from 1984, because they basically did. The tech is way better than it was back then, but the design is exactly the same. So cool-looking. At $49.99, they're $10 off. These Skullcandy Aviator 900 over-ear Bluetooth headphones have the noise cancelling, spatial audio and 60 hour battery life you expect in 2026, but the triangular design and leopard print looks like something from the late 1970s. They're $199.99, down from $299.99 These players and speakers will fit any retro aesthetic This Marshall Acton III Bluetooth Speaker is a modern, high-quality speaker housed in a cabinet patterned after the famous Marshall Stack amplifier. Bonus: It's made of 70% recycled plastic and only vegan materials. Marshall Acton III Bluetooth Home Speaker - Loud Stereo Sound with Bass and Treble Controls | Plug-in Powered | 3.5 mm Aux Input - Midnight Blue $199.99 at Amazon $299.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $199.99 at Amazon $299.99 Save $100.00 This ODEJOI MP3 Player doesn't stream anything. You hook it up to your computer and put MP3 files on it, as God intended. It's perfect if you want to unplug from your phone but keep listening to music, and at $28.04, it's 15% off. If you want to go back further than MP3 players, check out this Syitren R300 Portable CD Player. Unlike old CD players, this one is Bluetooth compatible. It's currently $89.98, down from $119.99 Or maybe you're looking for a cassette-playing boombox. In that case, check out BackTrack Retro Cassette Boombox: It has a CD player, so you can make a mix tape for your crush; it also has an FM/AM radio, and Bluetooth and SD card slots. At $199.99, it's 29% off. If you're into vinyl, check out these turntablesThis Victrola Century 6-in-1 Music Center looks like it's straight from the Mad Men era, but it features VinylStream tech so you can beam your records to Bluetooth devices. It also has built-in speakers if you don't want Bluetooth anything. Victrola Century 6-in-1 Vinyl Record Player & Music Center – 3-Speed Turntable, CD & Cassette Player, VINYLSTREAM, Bluetooth & 3.5mm Aux, Record Player with Speakers, Mid Century Design (Walnut) $129.99 at Amazon $199.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Get Deal $129.99 at Amazon $199.99 Save $70.00 The Syitren Bluetooth Turntable combines a turntable, preamp, and speakers with Bluetooth. On sale for $199.49, down from $229.99. This Qlearsoul SoulBox S1 walnut turntable has detached stereo speakers, an S-shaped tonearm, and Bluetooth. It's 15% off at $212.48. These retro-style gaming controllers will take you back There are thousands of all-in-one emulators for sale on Amazon, but none of them are included in the Big Spring Sale. You can, however, still upgrade how you play those classic games with retro-style controllers. If you're emulating on your PC or phone, the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller is a great retro-feeling controller with modern "Hall Effect" tech so the sticks never drift. 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller for Switch & Windows PC, Switch Pro Controller with TMR Joysticks, Switchable Hall Effect/Tactile Triggers, Vibration and Motion Control, RGB Fire Ring, Black $53.19 at Amazon $69.99 Save $16.80 Get Deal Get Deal $53.19 at Amazon $69.99 Save $16.80 The 8Bitdo Arcade Stick for Switch and Windows is designed with the big buttons and sticks of the old arcade games. It's an sale for $76.45, down from $89.99. Our Best Editor-Vetted Amazon Big Spring Sale Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 128GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Gray) — $202.00 (List Price $249.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote — $34.99 (List Price $59.99) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $243.00 (List Price $399.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

A woman is facing backlash after allegedly calling ICE on construction workers who were finishing up a roofing job at her home in Cambridge, Maryland. In a video, recorded and livestreamed on Facebook by Bryan Polanco, a co-worker with permanent residency, from the roof of the property, federal agents can be seen waiting on the lawn for the workers. X account @LongTimeHistory, which posted a clip from the video, alleges the woman owed the workers $10,000. In the video, which now has millions of views, Polanco says: “We came to fix this lady’s house, and she’s the one who turned us in. Fixing up her house and still with hatred in her heart.” Polanco repeated this when speaking to Univision DC, saying that she had told him she had planned to report the workers. “What she did tell me, and I told one of the other guys, is that if immigrants come back again to finish the project, she’s always going to call ICE,” he told the outlet. The woman, who has been identified as Karen Trevino denies that she, or her father who owns the home and also appears in the video and can be heard saying that he is “pro-ICE,” had anything to do with reporting the workers. Trevino told The Baltimore Sun that she didn’t make the call and she’s worried for the safety of her family due to the backlash on social media. “They are accusing me of calling ICE when I didn’t,” she said. In a statement on Thursday, ICE said the raid was simply part of “targeted enforcement” in the area. “Of those arrested, several have final orders of removal — a felony — and one has been previously convicted of illegal reentry,” an ICE spokesperson told The Sun. “During the encounter, the aliens refused to comply with lawful orders, taunted officers and attempted to flee. The illegal aliens ultimately complied and were taken into custody.” While Trevino denies that she reported the workers, she’s earned the ire of social media. In multiple clips of the post which have been circulating across social media platforms, comments about “karma” catching up to Trevino are rampant, with some suggesting that she should probably leave the country. While not entirely clear what happened that led to the ICE raid at this particular home, ICE is relying on the public to report individuals they believe may be undocumented. A page on ICE’s website gives the public information on how to report someone they believe may not have legal status in the U.S. The page also features a phone number where reports can be made completely anonymously. According to ICE, the page averages around 15,000 calls each month. While it may be in a citizen’s right to call ICE on someone they suspect doesn’t have legal status, homeowners should be aware that calling authorities to avoid paying for services could be punishable by Maryland law, which states: “A person may not obtain, attempt to obtain, or conspire to obtain money, property, labor, services, or anything of value from another person with the person’s consent, if the consent is induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened … notification of law enforcement officials about another person’s undocumented or illegal immigration status.” View the full article

100-year-old stadium was bought by private equity-backed AC Milan and Inter Milan for about €200mn last year View the full article

As the Iran war intensifies, President Donald The President has prioritized efforts to calm the financial markets — trying to keep oil prices from exploding upward, stocks from cratering and interest rates from surging. When the markets have flashed danger, The President has been quick with a social media post or a remark to claim the war he launched last month could soon end. He’s publicly declared that the markets are doing better than he expected, even with the S&P 500 stock index declining over the past five weeks and the global oil benchmark up roughly 60%. “I thought oil prices were going to go up higher than they are now,” The President said at a Friday investor summit. “And I thought that we would see a bigger drop in stock. It hasn’t been that bad.” With the Iran war, the White House has largely refrained from messaging more aggressively to voters about the economic consequences — choosing instead to try to contain any damage in the financial markets, which have swung wildly on the prospects of ceasefire or escalation in what has become a high-stakes guessing game about The President’s next moves. The Republican president showed the extremes of his messaging Monday before the U.S. stock market opened, writing in a social media post that great progress had been achieved on peace talks with Iran while also threatening civilian infrastructure such as desalination plants if a deal wasn’t reached “shortly.” The White House sees the stock, energy and bond markets as a way to indirectly reach voters. The President has staked his economic agenda on cheap prices at the pump, robust gains in 401(k) accounts and cheaper mortgage rates. But that messaging appears to be wearing thin as the president’s various pronouncements have done little to change the reality that a large chunk of the world’s energy supplies is stranded by the conflict. Just 38% of U.S. adults approve of how he’s handling the economy and only 35% support him on Iran, according to a March survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The president has tried to dictate to markets instead of talking directly to Americans Gene Sperling, a top economic adviser in the Democratic Clinton, Obama and Biden administrations, said voters can make a direct connection between prices at the pump and The President’s choice to attack Iran. He said “simplistic jawboning” to the markets is insufficient for a public that is stuck paying the price as gasoline soars past $4 a gallon nationwide. “Most advisers would say the president has to speak directly to the American people and fully acknowledge the economic pain that his policy has so directly caused in a short amount of time and make the case for why the national security concerns justify it,” Sperling said. “Instead, you have a strategy of not recognizing or even dismissing people’s economic pain.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday called the oil price increases a “short-term fluctuation.” The President’s strategy of giving mixed messages has started to work against him, said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at the Yale University School of Management and co-author of the new book “The President’s Ten Commandments: Strategic Lessons from the The President Leadership Toolbox.” “The uncertainty is now soaring,” Sonnenfeld said. “As the messaging to calm markets with false reassurances is having diminishing credibility in financial markets, so, too, has The President diminished public confidence.” The President’s desire for flexibility on the war limits his ability to offer clarity The President has embraced having flexibility in how he chooses to conduct the war, even though this has muddled his stated objectives. During a Cabinet meeting Thursday, he said Iran was “begging” for a deal even as he threatened further military action — all the while maintaining that any economic damage to the U.S. would reverse itself. On Friday after the markets closed, he extended his deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the flow of oil, saying he would hold off on bombing Iran’s energy plants in the meantime. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” that Iran was letting some tankers through the Strait of Hormuz and that the “market is well supplied” because countries are releasing their strategic petroleum reserves and sanctions have been removed for Russian and Iranian oil already on tankers. “We are seeing more and more ships go through on a daily basis as individual countries cut deals with the Iranian regime for the time being,” Bessent said. “But over time, the U.S. is going to retake control of the straits, and there will be freedom of navigation, whether it is through U.S. escorts or a multinational escort.” Graham Steele, a Biden-era Treasury official, said The President’s messaging techniques “can work temporarily, but they have diminishing returns, over time,” if they’re detached from actual policies and results. “We saw a lot of the volatile market reactions initially, when he kept announcing these things and then walking them back,” Steele said. “The market reaction now is just a steady trend upward in prices,” he noted, adding that markets are “not responding to it in the same way anymore.” Confidence in the economy and The President is fading without clear results The University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment on Friday fell to a reading of 53.3 in March, its lowest level since December. Joanne Hsu, director of the surveys of consumers, pointed to the financial market volatility “in the wake of the Iran conflict” as reducing confidence in the economy for households with middle and higher incomes. Hsu noted that the survey indicated that people do not expect the higher energy costs and stock market declines to persist, but that could change if the war “becomes protracted or if higher energy prices pass through to overall inflation.” Gus Faucher, the chief economist at PNC Financial Services, stressed that low levels of consumer sentiment do not automatically signal a recession. But he said consumers would have to see lower gas prices, a steady stock market and decreased mortgage rates to feel better about the economy, which likely means a definitive resolution to the conflict rather than a series of pronouncements by The President. “The proof is in the pudding,” Faucher said. “People need to see some substantive improvements before they feel better about conditions.” Follow the AP’s coverage of the Iran war at https://apnews.com/hub/iran. —Josh Boak and Fatima Hussein, Associated Press View the full article

AllBirds Inc. was valued at $4 billion less than five years ago. Now, it will be sold for just $39 million. The shoe company on Monday announced a definitive agreement with American Exchange Group (AXNY), which involves selling all of its intellectual property, assets, and liabilities. Privately held AXNY owns a number of brands, including Aerosoles, Ed Hardy, and Jonathan Adler. “We are incredibly thankful to our teams for the work they have been doing to fuel our product engine, build awareness of Allbirds and deliver an engaging customer experience,” Allbirds CEO Joe Vernachio said in a statement. The sale has already been approved by Allbirds’ board of directors, but still requires the go ahead from the company’s common stockholders. Allbirds plans to file its request for stockholder approval by April 24, complete the transaction in the second quarter, and distribute a yet-to-be-determined amount of net proceeds to stockholders in the third quarter. Vernachio continued: “Over the past decade, Allbirds has evolved into a lifestyle footwear brand known for modern design, innovative materials and unparalleled comfort. This next chapter with AXNY builds on the foundational work already completed and sets up the brand to thrive in the years ahead.” What’s next for Allbirds on the Nasdaq? The company will no longer release its quarterly earnings press release or hold a related call on Tuesday, March 31. Instead, Allbirds will solely file its 2025 annual report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On Monday, shares of Allbirds (Nasdaq: BIRD) closed 6.29% down. Following the sale announcement, shares rose more than 20% in after-hours trading. In Tuesday’s premarket, shares of Allbirds were still up more than 17%. Allbirds stock cratered post-COVID, and never really recovered. In 2024, the company had to do a reverse stock split (1-for-20) in order to keep Nasdaq’s minimum bid price and avoid delisting. How did Allbirds fall so far? Allbirds was a phenomenon in 2021 when it made its $4 billion IPO. Founded in 2015, the company promised—and delivered—comfortable shoes for everyone. But, it also tried to expand into apparel, finding less success in that market. Allbirds has also faced the same problems that many apparel and retail brands face: reduced foot traffic and tighter purse strings. In 2023 cofounder Tim Brown stepped down as co-CEO. His partner Joey Zwillinger followed suit the following year. Vernachio took on the role of CEO after holding the position of COO since 2021. Store closures accompanied the change. In January, Allbirds announced that it would shutter almost all of its brick-and-mortar stores. Allbirds has recently been funding its operations, in part, through borrowings in its credit agreement. In 2025, the company had a net loss of $77.3 million and used $55.1 million in net cash for operating activities. At the end of the year, Allbirds had $26.7 million between its cash and cash equivalents, with $17.4 million outstanding in its credit agreement. In an SEC filing, the company said it “does not expect to continue its operations” once the sale is complete. View the full article

If you’re looking to boost sales, excelling in upselling and cross-selling techniques is crucial. These strategies not just increase average order value but additionally improve customer satisfaction. By employing methods like creative product bundling, personalized recommendations, and limited-time offers, you can better meet customer needs as you drive revenue. Comprehending how to segment your customer base and suggest complementary products can further refine your approach. Ready to explore these techniques in detail? Key Takeaways Utilize creative product bundling to increase average order values by combining popular items and offering discounts. Recommend complementary products during checkout to capitalize on buying intent and enhance average order value. Implement personalized recommendations based on customer purchase history to drive targeted upselling and cross-selling. Use clear comparison charts to highlight differences between standard and premium products, guiding customers toward higher-priced options. Run limited-time discount programs to create urgency and encourage customers to spend more, boosting overall sales. Employ Creative Product Bundling Techniques When you consider upselling and cross-selling, employing creative product bundling techniques can greatly improve your sales strategy. Product bundling combines complementary items into a single package, often at a discounted price, which can increase average order values by 25-30%. You can utilize upselling strategies like pure bundling, where products are only sold as a set, or mixed bundling, allowing customers to choose their combinations. Seasonal bundling can create urgency during peak shopping periods, driving sales effectively. Furthermore, offering discounts on bundled products boosts perceived value, making customers more likely to purchase bundles instead of individual items. Platforms like Amazon exemplify these effective upselling techniques. Finally, consider clearance bundling to target slow-moving inventory by pairing those items with popular products, helping you move stock while still providing attractive offers to customers. Leverage User-Generated Content Using user-generated content (UGC) can greatly improve your upselling and cross-selling strategies. By showcasing customer reviews, testimonials, and social media posts, you provide social proof that reassures potential buyers about the value of premium products or complementary items. For instance, when customers see real-life applications of products through UGC, it encourages them to contemplate additional purchases, enhancing how to upsell effectively. Incorporating UGC can lead to a remarkable 29% increase in engagement with product recommendations, as it connects directly with your audience’s experiences. This engagement is vital for implementing upselling cross-selling techniques, as it nurtures a sense of community and trust. Brands utilizing UGC have experienced a 20% sales increase, demonstrating its influence in enhancing customer loyalty. Overall, leveraging UGC not just boosts conversion rates but additionally creates an environment ripe for upselling examples and increased customer lifetime value. Segment Your Customer Base Segmenting your customer base is essential for effective upselling and cross-selling. Understand Shopping Goals Understanding shopping objectives is vital for effective upselling and cross-selling, and segmenting your customer base is a key strategy to achieve this. By categorizing customers based on demographics, purchase history, and behavior, you can create customized recommendations that align with their individual goals. This targeted approach not only improves the relevance of your offers but also boosts conversion rates. Utilizing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) data allows you to track preferences, enabling personalized strategies that can increase customer lifetime value by 20% to 40%. Research indicates that customized recommendations can lead to a 42% increase in revenue from both new and existing customers, highlighting the importance of recognizing and addressing distinct shopping objectives within your customer segments. Analyze Purchase History Analyzing purchase history is a crucial step in effectively segmenting your customer base. By reviewing past purchases, you can identify customer preferences, allowing for customized upselling and cross-selling recommendations that greatly boost conversion rates. Segmenting customers based on their purchase history has been shown to increase customer lifetime value by 20%-40%, as personalized offers resonate more with targeted groups. Utilizing analytics tools helps uncover patterns in buying behavior, informing product bundling strategies that improve average order value. Furthermore, leveraging this data enables you to send personalized follow-up emails suggesting complementary products, resulting in a 10-20% increase in repeat sales. In the end, effective segmentation improves customer satisfaction and loyalty by providing relevant shopping experiences that meet individual needs. Tailored Marketing Strategies Comprehending your customer base is key to implementing customized marketing strategies that improve upselling and cross-selling opportunities. Segmenting your customers based on demographics, purchase history, and behavior lets you create more relevant product recommendations. Research shows that personalized strategies can increase transaction rates six-fold, emphasizing the importance of segmentation for boosting sales. By utilizing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) data, you can identify distinct segments, allowing for targeted marketing campaigns. Offering personalized upsell and cross-sell options can raise your average order value by 10-30%, as customers are more inclined to respond to suggestions that resonate with them. Moreover, A/B testing different approaches within these segments helps refine your strategies, maximizing conversion rates and enhancing customer satisfaction effectively. Suggest Premium Products When you suggest premium products, it’s essential to highlight the differences between them and standard options, as this can clarify the added value for your customers. Using high-quality visuals and detailed descriptions helps them visualize the benefits, making it easier to see why an upgrade is worthwhile. Furthermore, enabling easy comparisons through charts can streamline the decision-making process, eventually leading to higher conversion rates. Highlight Product Differences Highlighting product differences is vital for effectively suggesting premium options to customers. By clearly outlining how premium products surpass standard offerings, you help customers recognize the value in upgrading. Here are three effective techniques to implement: Comparison Charts: Use side-by-side comparisons that showcase features and benefits, making distinctions clear and guiding customers toward premium choices. “Good, Better, Best” Strategy: Presenting products in tiers allows easy evaluation, often leading to a 30% increase in upsell conversions. Customer Testimonials: Highlight reviews that emphasize the superiority of premium options, as social proof can greatly boost consumer confidence and drive sales. Implementing these strategies can improve the upselling process and encourage customers to see the benefits of choosing premium products. Utilize High-Quality Visuals Utilizing high-quality visuals can greatly boost the effectiveness of upselling premium products. Studies show that professional images can increase conversion rates by 30%. Close-up images and lifestyle shots help customers visualize benefits, leading to a 24% higher success rate in upselling. Incorporating high-resolution images in comparison charts improves decision-making by clearly illustrating differences between premium and standard options. Additionally, brands using video content with high-quality visuals can increase engagement by up to 80%. Clear, appealing images can evoke emotional responses, increasing average order value by 25% during upselling. Visual Type Impact on Sales Key Benefit Professional Images +30% Conversion Rate Enhances perceived value Close-Up Shots +24% Upselling Success Improves product visualization Comparison Charts Aids Decision-Making Highlights product differences Video Content +80% Engagement Increases customer interaction Enable Easy Comparisons Offering clear and effective comparisons between standard and premium products can greatly improve your upselling strategy. By showcasing the differences in features and benefits, you empower customers to make informed choices. Here are three techniques to enable easy comparisons: Comparison Charts: Use visual charts on your product pages to outline key features side by side, helping customers see the value of premium options at a glance. High-Quality Images and Descriptions: Provide detailed images and descriptions for premium products, increasing perceived value and interest. Customer Reviews: Highlight testimonials particularly for premium offerings to build trust and confidence, encouraging more customers to contemplate the higher-priced alternatives. Implementing these techniques can greatly improve your upselling efforts and boost sales. Recommend Complementary Products Recommending complementary products is a potent strategy that can greatly improve the value of a customer’s primary purchase. By suggesting items that enrich the utility of what they’ve chosen, you can increase average order value by 25-30% and profits by 20%. Utilizing a “frequently bought together” approach on product pages encourages customers to reflect on additional purchases that complement their selections. Implementing third-party apps like Candy Rack can provide AI-driven recommendations, making it easier to offer relevant suggestions. Personalizing these recommendations based on a customer’s purchase history greatly boosts their appeal. Furthermore, highlighting complementary products during the checkout process can capitalize on the customer’s intent to buy, leading to higher conversion rates. This tactic not only increases sales but additionally improves customer satisfaction, as they feel they’re getting more value from their purchases. Run a Discount or Incentive Program Running a discount or incentive program can markedly boost your upselling efforts. By implementing structures like limited-time offers or loyalty rewards, you not only encourage customers to spend more but additionally improve their overall shopping experience. This approach not only increases average order value but also promotes customer retention, ultimately driving higher sales for your business. Incentive Program Benefits Incentive programs can greatly improve your sales strategy by creating compelling reasons for customers to make purchases. These programs not only encourage larger purchases but additionally boost customer loyalty. Here are three key benefits: Increased Average Order Value: Offering discounts on premium products can raise your average order value by up to 30%, as customers are more inclined to choose higher-value items. Improved Customer Engagement: Research shows that 70% of consumers are more likely to buy when offered a discount, making incentives an influential tool for driving sales. Urgency and Conversion Rates: Limited-time promotional discounts can create urgency, leading to a 200% increase in conversion rates during key sales events. Utilizing these strategies effectively can yield significant sales growth. Implementing Discount Structures When you implement a discount structure for upselling and cross-selling, you can greatly influence customer purchasing behavior and drive sales growth. Offering tiered discounts, like 10% off for purchases over $50 and 20% off for those over $100, motivates customers to add more items to their carts, increasing average order value. Limited-time promotions, such as flash sales, create urgency and can lead to substantial sales boosts, with some retailers seeing up to a 200% increase during these events. Furthermore, bundling products with discounts, like $10 off for complementary items, encourages larger purchases. Finally, incentive programs that reward customers for upselling and cross-selling efforts can improve retention, resulting in a 20% increase in repeat purchases. Track Sales and Send Related Offers via Mail Tracking sales and sending related offers via email is an effective strategy to improve customer engagement and drive additional revenue. By following up on customer purchases with personalized emails, you can increase the chances of additional sales by up to 20%. Here are three key techniques to implement: Segment Your Email List: Tailor your offers based on purchase history. This approach helps improve engagement rates and boosts conversion from your email campaigns. Automate Your Communication: Utilize tools and plugins to streamline the process of sending relevant upsell and cross-sell offers. Automation saves time and guarantees timely communication with customers. A/B Test Your Emails: Experiment with different subject lines and offers in your follow-up emails. This testing helps identify the most effective strategies for encouraging repeat purchases. Create Urgency With Limited-Time Offers Creating a sense of urgency with limited-time offers can greatly improve your upselling and cross-selling efforts. Implement countdown timers on your product pages, as studies show this can boost conversion rates by up to 200% during major sales events. Moreover, highlight these offers prominently at checkout to encourage immediate action, tapping into the fear of missing out (FOMO). Using real-time purchase notifications can likewise create urgency by showcasing popular items, prompting quicker buying decisions. Combine countdowns with stock counts to emphasize dwindling inventory, urging customers to act before products run out. Finally, promote time-limited discounts on upgrades or bundles, enhancing perceived value and encouraging customers to make purchases before the offer expires. Personalize Recommendations Based on Customer Behavior Customized recommendations based on customer behavior can greatly improve your sales strategy and boost the shopping experience. By analyzing browsing history and purchase patterns, you can customize product suggestions that resonate with your customers. This approach can increase conversions by up to 30%, while additionally raising customer lifetime value by 20-40%. Here are three effective strategies to personalize recommendations: Segment Your Customers: Utilize demographics and purchasing behaviors to create customized recommendations that meet specific needs and preferences. Strategic Placement: Display personalized suggestions on product pages and during checkout to maximize visibility and encourage additional purchases, potentially increasing average order value by 25-30%. Follow-Up Emails: Send targeted follow-up emails featuring recommendations based on previous purchases, which can lead to repeat purchases and notably higher open rates. Implementing these strategies can improve customer satisfaction and promote brand loyalty. Utilize AI-Driven Tools for Enhanced Recommendations As you look to improve your upselling and cross-selling strategies, leveraging AI-driven tools can be a transformative factor. These tools analyze customer behavior and purchase history to deliver personalized product recommendations, which can greatly improve conversion rates and customer satisfaction. By employing machine learning algorithms, AI recommendations provide real-time suggestions customized to individual preferences, increasing the relevance of your upselling and cross-selling efforts. Implementing these AI-driven strategies can lead to a 10-30% increase in average order value, as customers are more inclined to buy suggested complementary products. Retailers utilizing AI recommendation engines often see up to a 20% boost in sales, underscoring the effectiveness of personalized marketing. Additionally, AI tools can automate the product suggestion process, enabling you to scale your upselling and cross-selling initiatives efficiently while maintaining a high level of personalization. This approach guarantees you meet customer needs more effectively, eventually driving higher sales. Frequently Asked Questions What Strategies Can Be Used to Upsell and Cross-Sell? To effectively upsell and cross-sell, you can implement several strategies. First, consider product bundling, where complementary items are offered together at a discounted rate. Next, use personalized recommendations based on customer browsing history to improve relevance. Creating urgency with limited-time offers can greatly boost conversions. Incorporating social proof, like customer reviews, builds credibility, whereas strategic placements of upsell suggestions during the shopping process maximize visibility and effectiveness, increasing the likelihood of additional purchases. What Is the 10 3 1 Rule in Sales? The 10-3-1 rule in sales is a method designed to simplify customers’ decision-making. You start by presenting ten options, then narrow it down to three recommended choices, and finally guide the customer to select one product or service. This approach minimizes overwhelm, as research shows too many choices can lead to decision paralysis. What Is the 25% Rule of Thumb for Cross-Selling? The 25% Rule of Thumb for cross-selling suggests that businesses should encourage customers to buy additional items worth about 25% of their total purchase. This approach improves customer satisfaction by suggesting complementary products, thereby increasing the overall value of each transaction. By strategically positioning these recommendations during the shopping experience, retailers can effectively boost revenue. Following this rule can lead to increased profit margins and a more enjoyable shopping experience for customers. What Are the 5 P’s of Successful Selling? The 5 P’s of successful selling are Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and People. Product focuses on quality and features, ensuring it meets customer needs. Price involves setting competitive rates that reflect perceived value. Place addresses distribution channels, making products easily accessible. Promotion includes marketing tactics that communicate product benefits effectively. Finally, People highlight the importance of skilled sales personnel, who build relationships and trust, ultimately affecting customer decisions and enhancing sales performance. Conclusion Incorporating effective upselling and cross-selling techniques can greatly improve your sales strategy. By employing creative product bundling, leveraging user-generated content, and personalizing recommendations, you can engage customers more effectively. Furthermore, tracking sales and creating urgency through limited-time offers encourages further purchases. With proper staff training and the use of AI-driven tools, you’ll be well-equipped to boost your revenue. Implement these strategies consistently to see measurable advancements in your sales performance. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "10 Effective Techniques for Upselling and Cross-Selling to Boost Sales" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you’re looking to boost sales, excelling in upselling and cross-selling techniques is crucial. These strategies not just increase average order value but additionally improve customer satisfaction. By employing methods like creative product bundling, personalized recommendations, and limited-time offers, you can better meet customer needs as you drive revenue. Comprehending how to segment your customer base and suggest complementary products can further refine your approach. Ready to explore these techniques in detail? Key Takeaways Utilize creative product bundling to increase average order values by combining popular items and offering discounts. Recommend complementary products during checkout to capitalize on buying intent and enhance average order value. Implement personalized recommendations based on customer purchase history to drive targeted upselling and cross-selling. Use clear comparison charts to highlight differences between standard and premium products, guiding customers toward higher-priced options. Run limited-time discount programs to create urgency and encourage customers to spend more, boosting overall sales. Employ Creative Product Bundling Techniques When you consider upselling and cross-selling, employing creative product bundling techniques can greatly improve your sales strategy. Product bundling combines complementary items into a single package, often at a discounted price, which can increase average order values by 25-30%. You can utilize upselling strategies like pure bundling, where products are only sold as a set, or mixed bundling, allowing customers to choose their combinations. Seasonal bundling can create urgency during peak shopping periods, driving sales effectively. Furthermore, offering discounts on bundled products boosts perceived value, making customers more likely to purchase bundles instead of individual items. Platforms like Amazon exemplify these effective upselling techniques. Finally, consider clearance bundling to target slow-moving inventory by pairing those items with popular products, helping you move stock while still providing attractive offers to customers. Leverage User-Generated Content Using user-generated content (UGC) can greatly improve your upselling and cross-selling strategies. By showcasing customer reviews, testimonials, and social media posts, you provide social proof that reassures potential buyers about the value of premium products or complementary items. For instance, when customers see real-life applications of products through UGC, it encourages them to contemplate additional purchases, enhancing how to upsell effectively. Incorporating UGC can lead to a remarkable 29% increase in engagement with product recommendations, as it connects directly with your audience’s experiences. This engagement is vital for implementing upselling cross-selling techniques, as it nurtures a sense of community and trust. Brands utilizing UGC have experienced a 20% sales increase, demonstrating its influence in enhancing customer loyalty. Overall, leveraging UGC not just boosts conversion rates but additionally creates an environment ripe for upselling examples and increased customer lifetime value. Segment Your Customer Base Segmenting your customer base is essential for effective upselling and cross-selling. Understand Shopping Goals Understanding shopping objectives is vital for effective upselling and cross-selling, and segmenting your customer base is a key strategy to achieve this. By categorizing customers based on demographics, purchase history, and behavior, you can create customized recommendations that align with their individual goals. This targeted approach not only improves the relevance of your offers but also boosts conversion rates. Utilizing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) data allows you to track preferences, enabling personalized strategies that can increase customer lifetime value by 20% to 40%. Research indicates that customized recommendations can lead to a 42% increase in revenue from both new and existing customers, highlighting the importance of recognizing and addressing distinct shopping objectives within your customer segments. Analyze Purchase History Analyzing purchase history is a crucial step in effectively segmenting your customer base. By reviewing past purchases, you can identify customer preferences, allowing for customized upselling and cross-selling recommendations that greatly boost conversion rates. Segmenting customers based on their purchase history has been shown to increase customer lifetime value by 20%-40%, as personalized offers resonate more with targeted groups. Utilizing analytics tools helps uncover patterns in buying behavior, informing product bundling strategies that improve average order value. Furthermore, leveraging this data enables you to send personalized follow-up emails suggesting complementary products, resulting in a 10-20% increase in repeat sales. In the end, effective segmentation improves customer satisfaction and loyalty by providing relevant shopping experiences that meet individual needs. Tailored Marketing Strategies Comprehending your customer base is key to implementing customized marketing strategies that improve upselling and cross-selling opportunities. Segmenting your customers based on demographics, purchase history, and behavior lets you create more relevant product recommendations. Research shows that personalized strategies can increase transaction rates six-fold, emphasizing the importance of segmentation for boosting sales. By utilizing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) data, you can identify distinct segments, allowing for targeted marketing campaigns. Offering personalized upsell and cross-sell options can raise your average order value by 10-30%, as customers are more inclined to respond to suggestions that resonate with them. Moreover, A/B testing different approaches within these segments helps refine your strategies, maximizing conversion rates and enhancing customer satisfaction effectively. Suggest Premium Products When you suggest premium products, it’s essential to highlight the differences between them and standard options, as this can clarify the added value for your customers. Using high-quality visuals and detailed descriptions helps them visualize the benefits, making it easier to see why an upgrade is worthwhile. Furthermore, enabling easy comparisons through charts can streamline the decision-making process, eventually leading to higher conversion rates. Highlight Product Differences Highlighting product differences is vital for effectively suggesting premium options to customers. By clearly outlining how premium products surpass standard offerings, you help customers recognize the value in upgrading. Here are three effective techniques to implement: Comparison Charts: Use side-by-side comparisons that showcase features and benefits, making distinctions clear and guiding customers toward premium choices. “Good, Better, Best” Strategy: Presenting products in tiers allows easy evaluation, often leading to a 30% increase in upsell conversions. Customer Testimonials: Highlight reviews that emphasize the superiority of premium options, as social proof can greatly boost consumer confidence and drive sales. Implementing these strategies can improve the upselling process and encourage customers to see the benefits of choosing premium products. Utilize High-Quality Visuals Utilizing high-quality visuals can greatly boost the effectiveness of upselling premium products. Studies show that professional images can increase conversion rates by 30%. Close-up images and lifestyle shots help customers visualize benefits, leading to a 24% higher success rate in upselling. Incorporating high-resolution images in comparison charts improves decision-making by clearly illustrating differences between premium and standard options. Additionally, brands using video content with high-quality visuals can increase engagement by up to 80%. Clear, appealing images can evoke emotional responses, increasing average order value by 25% during upselling. Visual Type Impact on Sales Key Benefit Professional Images +30% Conversion Rate Enhances perceived value Close-Up Shots +24% Upselling Success Improves product visualization Comparison Charts Aids Decision-Making Highlights product differences Video Content +80% Engagement Increases customer interaction Enable Easy Comparisons Offering clear and effective comparisons between standard and premium products can greatly improve your upselling strategy. By showcasing the differences in features and benefits, you empower customers to make informed choices. Here are three techniques to enable easy comparisons: Comparison Charts: Use visual charts on your product pages to outline key features side by side, helping customers see the value of premium options at a glance. High-Quality Images and Descriptions: Provide detailed images and descriptions for premium products, increasing perceived value and interest. Customer Reviews: Highlight testimonials particularly for premium offerings to build trust and confidence, encouraging more customers to contemplate the higher-priced alternatives. Implementing these techniques can greatly improve your upselling efforts and boost sales. Recommend Complementary Products Recommending complementary products is a potent strategy that can greatly improve the value of a customer’s primary purchase. By suggesting items that enrich the utility of what they’ve chosen, you can increase average order value by 25-30% and profits by 20%. Utilizing a “frequently bought together” approach on product pages encourages customers to reflect on additional purchases that complement their selections. Implementing third-party apps like Candy Rack can provide AI-driven recommendations, making it easier to offer relevant suggestions. Personalizing these recommendations based on a customer’s purchase history greatly boosts their appeal. Furthermore, highlighting complementary products during the checkout process can capitalize on the customer’s intent to buy, leading to higher conversion rates. This tactic not only increases sales but additionally improves customer satisfaction, as they feel they’re getting more value from their purchases. Run a Discount or Incentive Program Running a discount or incentive program can markedly boost your upselling efforts. By implementing structures like limited-time offers or loyalty rewards, you not only encourage customers to spend more but additionally improve their overall shopping experience. This approach not only increases average order value but also promotes customer retention, ultimately driving higher sales for your business. Incentive Program Benefits Incentive programs can greatly improve your sales strategy by creating compelling reasons for customers to make purchases. These programs not only encourage larger purchases but additionally boost customer loyalty. Here are three key benefits: Increased Average Order Value: Offering discounts on premium products can raise your average order value by up to 30%, as customers are more inclined to choose higher-value items. Improved Customer Engagement: Research shows that 70% of consumers are more likely to buy when offered a discount, making incentives an influential tool for driving sales. Urgency and Conversion Rates: Limited-time promotional discounts can create urgency, leading to a 200% increase in conversion rates during key sales events. Utilizing these strategies effectively can yield significant sales growth. Implementing Discount Structures When you implement a discount structure for upselling and cross-selling, you can greatly influence customer purchasing behavior and drive sales growth. Offering tiered discounts, like 10% off for purchases over $50 and 20% off for those over $100, motivates customers to add more items to their carts, increasing average order value. Limited-time promotions, such as flash sales, create urgency and can lead to substantial sales boosts, with some retailers seeing up to a 200% increase during these events. Furthermore, bundling products with discounts, like $10 off for complementary items, encourages larger purchases. Finally, incentive programs that reward customers for upselling and cross-selling efforts can improve retention, resulting in a 20% increase in repeat purchases. Track Sales and Send Related Offers via Mail Tracking sales and sending related offers via email is an effective strategy to improve customer engagement and drive additional revenue. By following up on customer purchases with personalized emails, you can increase the chances of additional sales by up to 20%. Here are three key techniques to implement: Segment Your Email List: Tailor your offers based on purchase history. This approach helps improve engagement rates and boosts conversion from your email campaigns. Automate Your Communication: Utilize tools and plugins to streamline the process of sending relevant upsell and cross-sell offers. Automation saves time and guarantees timely communication with customers. A/B Test Your Emails: Experiment with different subject lines and offers in your follow-up emails. This testing helps identify the most effective strategies for encouraging repeat purchases. Create Urgency With Limited-Time Offers Creating a sense of urgency with limited-time offers can greatly improve your upselling and cross-selling efforts. Implement countdown timers on your product pages, as studies show this can boost conversion rates by up to 200% during major sales events. Moreover, highlight these offers prominently at checkout to encourage immediate action, tapping into the fear of missing out (FOMO). Using real-time purchase notifications can likewise create urgency by showcasing popular items, prompting quicker buying decisions. Combine countdowns with stock counts to emphasize dwindling inventory, urging customers to act before products run out. Finally, promote time-limited discounts on upgrades or bundles, enhancing perceived value and encouraging customers to make purchases before the offer expires. Personalize Recommendations Based on Customer Behavior Customized recommendations based on customer behavior can greatly improve your sales strategy and boost the shopping experience. By analyzing browsing history and purchase patterns, you can customize product suggestions that resonate with your customers. This approach can increase conversions by up to 30%, while additionally raising customer lifetime value by 20-40%. Here are three effective strategies to personalize recommendations: Segment Your Customers: Utilize demographics and purchasing behaviors to create customized recommendations that meet specific needs and preferences. Strategic Placement: Display personalized suggestions on product pages and during checkout to maximize visibility and encourage additional purchases, potentially increasing average order value by 25-30%. Follow-Up Emails: Send targeted follow-up emails featuring recommendations based on previous purchases, which can lead to repeat purchases and notably higher open rates. Implementing these strategies can improve customer satisfaction and promote brand loyalty. Utilize AI-Driven Tools for Enhanced Recommendations As you look to improve your upselling and cross-selling strategies, leveraging AI-driven tools can be a transformative factor. These tools analyze customer behavior and purchase history to deliver personalized product recommendations, which can greatly improve conversion rates and customer satisfaction. By employing machine learning algorithms, AI recommendations provide real-time suggestions customized to individual preferences, increasing the relevance of your upselling and cross-selling efforts. Implementing these AI-driven strategies can lead to a 10-30% increase in average order value, as customers are more inclined to buy suggested complementary products. Retailers utilizing AI recommendation engines often see up to a 20% boost in sales, underscoring the effectiveness of personalized marketing. Additionally, AI tools can automate the product suggestion process, enabling you to scale your upselling and cross-selling initiatives efficiently while maintaining a high level of personalization. This approach guarantees you meet customer needs more effectively, eventually driving higher sales. Frequently Asked Questions What Strategies Can Be Used to Upsell and Cross-Sell? To effectively upsell and cross-sell, you can implement several strategies. First, consider product bundling, where complementary items are offered together at a discounted rate. Next, use personalized recommendations based on customer browsing history to improve relevance. Creating urgency with limited-time offers can greatly boost conversions. Incorporating social proof, like customer reviews, builds credibility, whereas strategic placements of upsell suggestions during the shopping process maximize visibility and effectiveness, increasing the likelihood of additional purchases. What Is the 10 3 1 Rule in Sales? The 10-3-1 rule in sales is a method designed to simplify customers’ decision-making. You start by presenting ten options, then narrow it down to three recommended choices, and finally guide the customer to select one product or service. This approach minimizes overwhelm, as research shows too many choices can lead to decision paralysis. What Is the 25% Rule of Thumb for Cross-Selling? The 25% Rule of Thumb for cross-selling suggests that businesses should encourage customers to buy additional items worth about 25% of their total purchase. This approach improves customer satisfaction by suggesting complementary products, thereby increasing the overall value of each transaction. By strategically positioning these recommendations during the shopping experience, retailers can effectively boost revenue. Following this rule can lead to increased profit margins and a more enjoyable shopping experience for customers. What Are the 5 P’s of Successful Selling? The 5 P’s of successful selling are Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and People. Product focuses on quality and features, ensuring it meets customer needs. Price involves setting competitive rates that reflect perceived value. Place addresses distribution channels, making products easily accessible. Promotion includes marketing tactics that communicate product benefits effectively. Finally, People highlight the importance of skilled sales personnel, who build relationships and trust, ultimately affecting customer decisions and enhancing sales performance. Conclusion Incorporating effective upselling and cross-selling techniques can greatly improve your sales strategy. By employing creative product bundling, leveraging user-generated content, and personalizing recommendations, you can engage customers more effectively. Furthermore, tracking sales and creating urgency through limited-time offers encourages further purchases. With proper staff training and the use of AI-driven tools, you’ll be well-equipped to boost your revenue. Implement these strategies consistently to see measurable advancements in your sales performance. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "10 Effective Techniques for Upselling and Cross-Selling to Boost Sales" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

RAM, short for random access memory, is the high-speed, short-term storage that allows computer programs to quickly access the information they need—it's a crucial component of nearly every electronic device we rely on every single day. The price of RAM has risen steeply since last fall, but there may be a bit of a break on the horizon. What's going on with the RAM shortage?Demand for RAM is soaring, in large part thanks to AI. As The Verge reports, companies like Google, Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic are buying up memory for their data centers, leading to a severe shortage in availability from major memory suppliers for consumer products like laptops, smartphones, and gaming consoles. Meanwhile, other device makers have had to pay a lot more for storage, resulting in higher significantly costs to consumers and suspended or delayed orders on some items. Notably, the price of Sony's PlayStation 5 is jumping $100 on April 2, and the International Data Corporation (IDC) is forecasting a 13% drop in smartphone shipments this year due to the shortage, with smaller Android vendors expected to be hit hardest. AI contracts are highly lucrative for chip manufacturers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, who control 93% of the global RAM market. Both Samsung and SK Hynix began focusing on the production of high bandwidth memory specifically for these contracts, with some reporting suggesting that around 40% of global DRAM was devoted specifically to OpenAI's Stargate Project. Meanwhile, Micron announced it would end its consumer RAM production entirely in 2026. Are RAM prices going back down? As multiple outlets have noted, some RAM kits are down from their all-time highs, if only slightly: There are price drops of $30–$45 on memory that still costs $200–$400 compared to well under $100 less than a year ago. While the exact cause of the decline isn't known, there are a few factors that theoretically could be at play. One is Google's TurboQuant algorithm, which could reduce the memory demand for AI. Another is a series of shifts at OpenAI, which last week killed Sora, its AI video generation app, and earlier this month backed out of a data center expansion deal for the aforementioned Stargate Project. Consumers shouldn't get too excited just yet; analysts have predicted that the shortage could last through 2027 or longer. As for this latest shift, IDC's Francisco Jeronimo told The Telegraph that while it's too early to predict a sustained drop, the scaling back of AI contracts could alleviate memory prices for consumers down the line. View the full article

Streamlining the employee hiring process is essential for organizations aiming to improve their recruitment efficiency. By focusing on clear hiring needs and crafting effective job descriptions, you can attract the right candidates. Utilizing job boards and an applicant tracking system (ATS) likewise plays a significant role in managing applications. Furthermore, standardizing interviews and maintaining candidate communication can raise your employer brand. To understand how to implement these strategies effectively, let’s explore each step in detail. Key Takeaways Define clear hiring needs by collaborating with team leads to create precise job descriptions, highlighting must-have and nice-to-have qualifications. Utilize job boards and an ATS to automate recruitment tasks, improving efficiency and tracking key metrics like time to hire. Standardize interview processes with consistent questions and scorecards to ensure objective evaluation and streamline decision-making. Maintain a pool of qualified candidates for future openings, keeping in touch with strong candidates not selected to speed up future hiring. Enhance your employer brand by improving candidate experience and addressing concerns promptly post-interview to attract top talent. What Is a Streamlined Hiring Process? A streamlined hiring process is essential for organizations aiming to improve their recruitment efficiency. This approach removes bottlenecks and unnecessary steps, allowing you to hire faster and more effectively. By minimizing administrative tasks, your hiring team can concentrate on connecting with strong candidates, making the recruitment experience more engaging for everyone involved. Additionally, a streamlined hiring process guarantees consistency in candidate evaluation through standardized procedures, which promotes fairness and objectivity in hiring decisions. Aligning these decisions with your business needs directly impacts how well candidates contribute to your organization’s strategic goals. Implementing such a process can greatly reduce the time it takes to fill positions, enhancing overall productivity. When candidates experience a quicker, more organized hiring process, their overall experience improves, making them more likely to accept job offers and engage positively with your organization. Understanding the Steps of the Recruitment Process Grasping the steps of the recruitment process is vital for effectively attracting and selecting the right candidates. The steps to hire an employee begin with identifying job vacancies, ensuring you know what roles need filling. Next, create detailed job descriptions that outline responsibilities and required qualifications to attract suitable talent. After that, source candidates through various channels, then screen resumes to filter out unqualified applicants and highlight the best matches. Conducting interviews comes next, where you’ll assess candidates’ skills, experience, and cultural fit using targeted questions. Following the interviews, evaluate and select candidates based on your findings, comparing them against the job requirements. Finally, make an offer to the selected candidate, ensuring clarity and alignment with organizational goals throughout this systematic approach. By grasping these steps, you set a solid foundation for a successful hiring process. Define Clear Hiring Needs Identifying clear hiring needs is a vital step in streamlining the recruitment process. To define clear hiring needs, start by analyzing turnover trends and employee performance data. This helps you establish precise criteria for the roles that need filling. Engaging with team leads and stakeholders is likewise important; they can pinpoint the specific skills, experience, and qualities you’re looking for in candidates, ensuring alignment with your business goals. Utilizing job analysis techniques clarifies the responsibilities and expectations associated with each role, making sure candidates understand what’s required. Establishing a hierarchy of needs aids in distinguishing between must-have and nice-to-have qualifications, allowing for a broader applicant pool without sacrificing fundamental requirements. Finally, regularly review and update your hiring needs to respond to market changes and organizational growth. This practice improves recruitment effectiveness and keeps your hiring aligned with evolving business objectives. Write Effective Job Descriptions Writing effective job descriptions is essential for attracting the right candidates. You should clearly outline the role’s requirements and responsibilities, using straightforward language that avoids unnecessary jargon. Clear Job Requirements Crafting effective job descriptions is critical for attracting the right candidates to your organization. To hire employees successfully, make certain your job descriptions clearly outline the role, responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications. Structure them with sections on the company overview, role specifics, key responsibilities, core skills, baseline requirements, and desirable traits. Distinguishing between must-have and nice-to-have requirements encourages a broader range of applicants during the targeting of qualified candidates. Moreover, incorporating pay transparency helps set clear expectations, allowing candidates to self-select based on their fit. Lastly, review your job descriptions from a job seeker’s perspective to make them engaging and informative, ultimately enhancing the quality of applicants and improving your hiring process. Attractiveness for Candidates Attracting the right candidates starts with how you present job opportunities to potential applicants. To effectively write job descriptions that improve your chances of how to hire good staff, focus on these key elements: Clearly outline responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications so candidates know what’s expected. Distinguish between “must-have” and “nice-to-have” requirements to widen your applicant pool and promote diversity. Include pay transparency to help candidates align their expectations with your compensation structure. Use an engaging tone that reflects your company culture, making the role appealing to those who share your values. Choose the Correct Job Boards When you’re hiring, using the right job boards is essential for attracting the best candidates. Consider combining universal job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn with niche boards that cater to specific industries. This approach not just broadens your reach but likewise helps you target applicants who are a better fit for your organization. Universal Job Boards In today’s competitive job market, utilizing universal job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn can markedly improve your hiring process. These platforms offer broad visibility and access to a diverse candidate pool. To maximize your effectiveness in hiring employees, consider these steps: Complete all sections of your job postings to increase visibility. Properly categorize roles, such as Remote, Entry-Level, or Senior, to attract the right candidates. Monitor performance metrics on each board to adjust your strategies. Combine universal job boards with niche industry-specific boards for a thorough recruitment approach. Niche Job Boards Niche job boards serve as valuable platforms for employers looking to connect with candidates who possess specialized skills relevant to specific industries. When you’re figuring out how to hire effectively, these boards allow you to target a focused audience, increasing the chances of finding candidates who fit your job specifications and company culture. Many niche boards offer customized features, such as industry-specific search filters and community forums, enhancing the candidate experience. It’s crucial to complete all sections of your job postings, as detailed descriptions attract suitable candidates actively seeking roles in that field. Furthermore, monitoring performance on these boards helps evaluate their effectiveness, enabling you to adjust your recruitment strategies for ideal results. Utilize an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Utilizing an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can greatly improve your hiring process, as it automates various recruitment tasks, from managing job postings to facilitating candidate communication. Here’s how to hire staff more efficiently with an ATS: Streamline Resume Screening: Use keyword filtering to guarantee only the most qualified candidates are shortlisted. Enhance Collaboration: Allow your hiring team to share feedback and evaluate candidates in real-time from different locations. Track Key Metrics: Measure crucial hiring metrics like time to hire and source of hire, enabling data-driven decision-making. Improve Candidate Experience: Keep candidates informed with timely updates and feedback, enhancing your employer brand. Streamline the Interview Process Streamlining the interview process is essential for attracting and securing top talent in a competitive job market. To effectively manage hiring new employees, first assess the number of interview rounds needed based on the role’s complexity. Fewer rounds typically lead to higher candidate satisfaction and lower drop-off rates. Align your interview timeline with the urgency of the hiring need, aiming to complete the process within two to four weeks to prevent losing candidates to competitors. Standardizing interview questions and using scorecards for evaluation guarantees consistency and objectivity across candidates, improving your hiring decisions. Involve key interviewers in a focused structure to streamline decision-making, potentially cutting interview time by up to 30%. Finally, implement post-interview feedback mechanisms to address candidate concerns quickly, which improves their experience and can greatly boost your company’s employer brand. Consider Internal Referrals After refining the interview process, it’s important to reflect on leveraging internal referrals as a strategic hiring tool. Internal referrals can greatly expedite your hiring, with referred candidates often hired 55% faster than those from traditional methods. Here are four reasons to evaluate this approach: Higher acceptance rates: Candidates referred by current employees accept offers around 50% of the time, compared to just 30% for external candidates. Improved quality of hires: Referred candidates understand your company culture better, leading to lower turnover rates. Reduced recruiting costs: Internal referrals typically require less investment than extensive advertising. Nurturing a culture of mobility: Encouraging referrals motivates employees to contribute to your company’s growth by identifying talent from their networks. Keep Track of Runners-Up as Future Hires Even though many organizations focus solely on filling current vacancies, keeping track of runners-up can provide a strategic advantage for future hiring needs. By maintaining a pool of qualified candidates, you can reduce the time spent on sourcing new applicants when new positions arise. It’s crucial to retain contact information for strong candidates who weren’t selected; this nurtures ongoing relationships and encourages future engagement. Regular communication with these declined candidates helps maintain a positive candidate experience, keeping them interested in future opportunities. Utilizing platforms like LinkedIn allows you to stay connected, facilitating networking and prompting them to apply for roles that match their skills later on. Revisiting pre-screened candidates from previous hiring processes streamlines future recruitment efforts, as they’re already familiar with your organization and its culture. This approach guarantees you’ve got a ready-to-go list of potential hires when you’re ready to expand your team. Frequently Asked Questions How to Streamline the Hiring Process? To streamline the hiring process, start by defining your hiring needs based on turnover trends and employee performance. Implement pre-screening assessments to filter unqualified candidates quickly. Utilize an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to manage candidates efficiently and reduce administrative tasks. Standardize interviews with structured questions and scorecards for objective evaluations. Finally, maintain prompt communication with candidates to keep them engaged throughout the process, ensuring you attract top talent effectively. What Is the Step by Step Process for Hiring Employees? To hire employees effectively, start by planning your recruitment strategy and defining the required skills. Next, source candidates through job boards and social media, ensuring you attract a diverse applicant pool. Screen resumes for qualifications and conduct initial interviews to assess interest and fit. Once you identify the right candidate, make a formal job offer detailing salary and benefits. Finally, prepare for onboarding by organizing welcome materials and an integration schedule. What Are the 7 Steps of the Hiring Process? The seven steps of the hiring process begin with identifying the job vacancy, evaluating the need based on growth and turnover. Next, you create a detailed job description outlining responsibilities and qualifications. Then, you source candidates through various channels like job boards and referrals. After that, you screen resumes and applications, conduct interviews, evaluate feedback, and check references. Finally, you select candidates and extend job offers during onboarding new hires effectively. What Are the 5 Steps in the Hiring Process? The hiring process consists of five key steps. First, you plan and prepare by defining required skills and setting a timeline. Next, you source candidates through job descriptions, social media, and employee referrals. After that, you screen and shortlist applicants by reviewing resumes and conducting initial interviews. Then, you make a clear job offer that specifies title, salary, and benefits. Finally, you onboard the new hire to guarantee a smooth shift into the company. Conclusion To sum up, streamlining your hiring process is essential for attracting and retaining the right talent. By defining clear hiring needs, crafting effective job descriptions, and utilizing job boards and an ATS, you can improve your recruitment efficiency. Standardizing interviews and considering internal referrals further boost candidate evaluation. Moreover, keeping track of runners-up creates a talent pool for future openings. Implementing these strategies will not just promote a positive hiring experience but will also strengthen your employer brand over time. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "Streamline the Employee Hiring Process With This Step-By-Step Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Streamlining the employee hiring process is essential for organizations aiming to improve their recruitment efficiency. By focusing on clear hiring needs and crafting effective job descriptions, you can attract the right candidates. Utilizing job boards and an applicant tracking system (ATS) likewise plays a significant role in managing applications. Furthermore, standardizing interviews and maintaining candidate communication can raise your employer brand. To understand how to implement these strategies effectively, let’s explore each step in detail. Key Takeaways Define clear hiring needs by collaborating with team leads to create precise job descriptions, highlighting must-have and nice-to-have qualifications. Utilize job boards and an ATS to automate recruitment tasks, improving efficiency and tracking key metrics like time to hire. Standardize interview processes with consistent questions and scorecards to ensure objective evaluation and streamline decision-making. Maintain a pool of qualified candidates for future openings, keeping in touch with strong candidates not selected to speed up future hiring. Enhance your employer brand by improving candidate experience and addressing concerns promptly post-interview to attract top talent. What Is a Streamlined Hiring Process? A streamlined hiring process is essential for organizations aiming to improve their recruitment efficiency. This approach removes bottlenecks and unnecessary steps, allowing you to hire faster and more effectively. By minimizing administrative tasks, your hiring team can concentrate on connecting with strong candidates, making the recruitment experience more engaging for everyone involved. Additionally, a streamlined hiring process guarantees consistency in candidate evaluation through standardized procedures, which promotes fairness and objectivity in hiring decisions. Aligning these decisions with your business needs directly impacts how well candidates contribute to your organization’s strategic goals. Implementing such a process can greatly reduce the time it takes to fill positions, enhancing overall productivity. When candidates experience a quicker, more organized hiring process, their overall experience improves, making them more likely to accept job offers and engage positively with your organization. Understanding the Steps of the Recruitment Process Grasping the steps of the recruitment process is vital for effectively attracting and selecting the right candidates. The steps to hire an employee begin with identifying job vacancies, ensuring you know what roles need filling. Next, create detailed job descriptions that outline responsibilities and required qualifications to attract suitable talent. After that, source candidates through various channels, then screen resumes to filter out unqualified applicants and highlight the best matches. Conducting interviews comes next, where you’ll assess candidates’ skills, experience, and cultural fit using targeted questions. Following the interviews, evaluate and select candidates based on your findings, comparing them against the job requirements. Finally, make an offer to the selected candidate, ensuring clarity and alignment with organizational goals throughout this systematic approach. By grasping these steps, you set a solid foundation for a successful hiring process. Define Clear Hiring Needs Identifying clear hiring needs is a vital step in streamlining the recruitment process. To define clear hiring needs, start by analyzing turnover trends and employee performance data. This helps you establish precise criteria for the roles that need filling. Engaging with team leads and stakeholders is likewise important; they can pinpoint the specific skills, experience, and qualities you’re looking for in candidates, ensuring alignment with your business goals. Utilizing job analysis techniques clarifies the responsibilities and expectations associated with each role, making sure candidates understand what’s required. Establishing a hierarchy of needs aids in distinguishing between must-have and nice-to-have qualifications, allowing for a broader applicant pool without sacrificing fundamental requirements. Finally, regularly review and update your hiring needs to respond to market changes and organizational growth. This practice improves recruitment effectiveness and keeps your hiring aligned with evolving business objectives. Write Effective Job Descriptions Writing effective job descriptions is essential for attracting the right candidates. You should clearly outline the role’s requirements and responsibilities, using straightforward language that avoids unnecessary jargon. Clear Job Requirements Crafting effective job descriptions is critical for attracting the right candidates to your organization. To hire employees successfully, make certain your job descriptions clearly outline the role, responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications. Structure them with sections on the company overview, role specifics, key responsibilities, core skills, baseline requirements, and desirable traits. Distinguishing between must-have and nice-to-have requirements encourages a broader range of applicants during the targeting of qualified candidates. Moreover, incorporating pay transparency helps set clear expectations, allowing candidates to self-select based on their fit. Lastly, review your job descriptions from a job seeker’s perspective to make them engaging and informative, ultimately enhancing the quality of applicants and improving your hiring process. Attractiveness for Candidates Attracting the right candidates starts with how you present job opportunities to potential applicants. To effectively write job descriptions that improve your chances of how to hire good staff, focus on these key elements: Clearly outline responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications so candidates know what’s expected. Distinguish between “must-have” and “nice-to-have” requirements to widen your applicant pool and promote diversity. Include pay transparency to help candidates align their expectations with your compensation structure. Use an engaging tone that reflects your company culture, making the role appealing to those who share your values. Choose the Correct Job Boards When you’re hiring, using the right job boards is essential for attracting the best candidates. Consider combining universal job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn with niche boards that cater to specific industries. This approach not just broadens your reach but likewise helps you target applicants who are a better fit for your organization. Universal Job Boards In today’s competitive job market, utilizing universal job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn can markedly improve your hiring process. These platforms offer broad visibility and access to a diverse candidate pool. To maximize your effectiveness in hiring employees, consider these steps: Complete all sections of your job postings to increase visibility. Properly categorize roles, such as Remote, Entry-Level, or Senior, to attract the right candidates. Monitor performance metrics on each board to adjust your strategies. Combine universal job boards with niche industry-specific boards for a thorough recruitment approach. Niche Job Boards Niche job boards serve as valuable platforms for employers looking to connect with candidates who possess specialized skills relevant to specific industries. When you’re figuring out how to hire effectively, these boards allow you to target a focused audience, increasing the chances of finding candidates who fit your job specifications and company culture. Many niche boards offer customized features, such as industry-specific search filters and community forums, enhancing the candidate experience. It’s crucial to complete all sections of your job postings, as detailed descriptions attract suitable candidates actively seeking roles in that field. Furthermore, monitoring performance on these boards helps evaluate their effectiveness, enabling you to adjust your recruitment strategies for ideal results. Utilize an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Utilizing an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can greatly improve your hiring process, as it automates various recruitment tasks, from managing job postings to facilitating candidate communication. Here’s how to hire staff more efficiently with an ATS: Streamline Resume Screening: Use keyword filtering to guarantee only the most qualified candidates are shortlisted. Enhance Collaboration: Allow your hiring team to share feedback and evaluate candidates in real-time from different locations. Track Key Metrics: Measure crucial hiring metrics like time to hire and source of hire, enabling data-driven decision-making. Improve Candidate Experience: Keep candidates informed with timely updates and feedback, enhancing your employer brand. Streamline the Interview Process Streamlining the interview process is essential for attracting and securing top talent in a competitive job market. To effectively manage hiring new employees, first assess the number of interview rounds needed based on the role’s complexity. Fewer rounds typically lead to higher candidate satisfaction and lower drop-off rates. Align your interview timeline with the urgency of the hiring need, aiming to complete the process within two to four weeks to prevent losing candidates to competitors. Standardizing interview questions and using scorecards for evaluation guarantees consistency and objectivity across candidates, improving your hiring decisions. Involve key interviewers in a focused structure to streamline decision-making, potentially cutting interview time by up to 30%. Finally, implement post-interview feedback mechanisms to address candidate concerns quickly, which improves their experience and can greatly boost your company’s employer brand. Consider Internal Referrals After refining the interview process, it’s important to reflect on leveraging internal referrals as a strategic hiring tool. Internal referrals can greatly expedite your hiring, with referred candidates often hired 55% faster than those from traditional methods. Here are four reasons to evaluate this approach: Higher acceptance rates: Candidates referred by current employees accept offers around 50% of the time, compared to just 30% for external candidates. Improved quality of hires: Referred candidates understand your company culture better, leading to lower turnover rates. Reduced recruiting costs: Internal referrals typically require less investment than extensive advertising. Nurturing a culture of mobility: Encouraging referrals motivates employees to contribute to your company’s growth by identifying talent from their networks. Keep Track of Runners-Up as Future Hires Even though many organizations focus solely on filling current vacancies, keeping track of runners-up can provide a strategic advantage for future hiring needs. By maintaining a pool of qualified candidates, you can reduce the time spent on sourcing new applicants when new positions arise. It’s crucial to retain contact information for strong candidates who weren’t selected; this nurtures ongoing relationships and encourages future engagement. Regular communication with these declined candidates helps maintain a positive candidate experience, keeping them interested in future opportunities. Utilizing platforms like LinkedIn allows you to stay connected, facilitating networking and prompting them to apply for roles that match their skills later on. Revisiting pre-screened candidates from previous hiring processes streamlines future recruitment efforts, as they’re already familiar with your organization and its culture. This approach guarantees you’ve got a ready-to-go list of potential hires when you’re ready to expand your team. Frequently Asked Questions How to Streamline the Hiring Process? To streamline the hiring process, start by defining your hiring needs based on turnover trends and employee performance. Implement pre-screening assessments to filter unqualified candidates quickly. Utilize an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to manage candidates efficiently and reduce administrative tasks. Standardize interviews with structured questions and scorecards for objective evaluations. Finally, maintain prompt communication with candidates to keep them engaged throughout the process, ensuring you attract top talent effectively. What Is the Step by Step Process for Hiring Employees? To hire employees effectively, start by planning your recruitment strategy and defining the required skills. Next, source candidates through job boards and social media, ensuring you attract a diverse applicant pool. Screen resumes for qualifications and conduct initial interviews to assess interest and fit. Once you identify the right candidate, make a formal job offer detailing salary and benefits. Finally, prepare for onboarding by organizing welcome materials and an integration schedule. What Are the 7 Steps of the Hiring Process? The seven steps of the hiring process begin with identifying the job vacancy, evaluating the need based on growth and turnover. Next, you create a detailed job description outlining responsibilities and qualifications. Then, you source candidates through various channels like job boards and referrals. After that, you screen resumes and applications, conduct interviews, evaluate feedback, and check references. Finally, you select candidates and extend job offers during onboarding new hires effectively. What Are the 5 Steps in the Hiring Process? The hiring process consists of five key steps. First, you plan and prepare by defining required skills and setting a timeline. Next, you source candidates through job descriptions, social media, and employee referrals. After that, you screen and shortlist applicants by reviewing resumes and conducting initial interviews. Then, you make a clear job offer that specifies title, salary, and benefits. Finally, you onboard the new hire to guarantee a smooth shift into the company. Conclusion To sum up, streamlining your hiring process is essential for attracting and retaining the right talent. By defining clear hiring needs, crafting effective job descriptions, and utilizing job boards and an ATS, you can improve your recruitment efficiency. Standardizing interviews and considering internal referrals further boost candidate evaluation. Moreover, keeping track of runners-up creates a talent pool for future openings. Implementing these strategies will not just promote a positive hiring experience but will also strengthen your employer brand over time. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "Streamline the Employee Hiring Process With This Step-By-Step Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is wrapping up, and the Nothing Phone (3) has dropped to $599 (originally $799) for the 12GB RAM and 256GB model. According to price trackers, that's the lowest price the phone has reached so far. This is Nothing’s most ambitious phone yet (according to this PCMag review), and it shows in how it tries to compete directly with flagship devices while still doing its own thing. Nothing Phone (3) $599.00 at Amazon $799.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Get Deal $599.00 at Amazon $799.00 Save $200.00 The design, as noted in our own review of the Nothing (3), is what draws you in first. The transparent back is back again, now paired with a Glyph Matrix that uses 489 tiny LEDs to light up for calls, timers, and a few playful extras. It’s a neat idea, and you’ll probably play around with it at the start, but there’s a good chance it fades into the background once the novelty wears off. Beyond that, the phone feels well put together. It uses recycled aluminum, Gorilla Glass 7i, and has an IP68 rating, so it’s built to handle everyday spills and dust without much worry. It has a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen that looks sharp and gets bright enough for outdoor use, and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate that keeps everything smooth when you’re scrolling or watching videos. The cameras, too, feel more consistent than before, with natural-looking photos across all three lenses instead of overly processed shots. It also has a battery life that comfortably lasts a full day, and fast charging support means you can top it up quickly when needed. In everyday use, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 keeps things feeling smooth without much effort. Apps open quickly, switching between tasks is easy, and even heavier games like Genshin Impact run without noticeable slowdowns. That said, the major downside of the Nothing Phone (3) is that it skips many of the AI-heavy features competitors are pushing, so it may feel limited if you care about cutting-edge extras. Our Best Editor-Vetted Amazon Big Spring Sale Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 128GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Gray) — $202.00 (List Price $249.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote — $34.99 (List Price $59.99) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $243.00 (List Price $399.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

It’s finally happening. The Artemis II mission—returning humans to the lunar neighborhood for the first time in more than 50 years—is set to launch on April 1 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a two-hour window that opens at 6:24 p.m. (EDT), with additional launch opportunities through April 6. The first crewed Artemis mission will send NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day journey around the moon. Objectives include testing the Orion spacecraft’s life support systems in situ for the first time with people, gathering additional data on how spaceflight affects the human body, and laying the groundwork for future crewed Artemis missions. It may also offer views of the moon never before seen. This mission will break six major records: the first Black astronaut (Glover, as Orion’s first pilot), first woman (Koch), first non-American (Hansen, his maiden voyage to space), and oldest (Wiseman, aged 50) to visit the lunar arena, traveling the farthest from Earth (250,000 miles), and returning with the fastest re-entry speed (25,000 mph). NASA is streaming a series of prelaunch, launch, and in-flight mission events and briefings on NASA’s YouTube channel, NASA+, as well as its other social media platforms. The public can find a full list of activities here. Enthusiasts can register for the mission’s virtual guest program and receive curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or changes, and a NASA virtual guest passport stamp. Likewise, C-SPAN will offer Artemis programming on C-SPAN.org, its YouTube channel, radio station, and mobile app. Fun fact: The Zero Gravity Indicator—the plush toy flying with the astronauts to visually confirm when they’ve reached weightlessness—was designed by Lucas Ye, a second-grader from Northern California, chosen from 2,600 entries submitted in 50+ countries through the Moon Mascot: NASA Artemis II ZGI Design Challenge run by Freelancer on behalf of NASA. Beginning April 2, NASA will conduct daily updates from the Johnson Space Center in Houston and on the Artemis Blog, and the crew will engage in live conversations throughout the mission. To track Orion in space, visit: nasa.gov/trackartemis. New York-based folks still jonesing for more post-launch space theatrics can check out We Chose to Go to the Moon, an immersive experience recounting America’s Apollo moon race, on April 7 and 8, featuring Broadway stars and Neil Armstrong’s son and granddaughter. Here’s to smooth sailing after a turbulent couple of months. First, NASA scrubbed the initial February 6 launch to repair hydrogen leaks and helium flow issues in the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. In early March, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced a revamped schedule for subsequent Artemis missions to standardize the SLS configuration, push back the moon landing to Artemis IV in 2028, and align workforces with private contractors to enable more frequent launches. On March 20, the 322-foot SLS and Orion rolled back out to Launch Pad 39B. Now, let’s light this candle. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Spending $300 on a gaming monitor usually means picking a lane: You either go for resolution or speed and live with the compromise. The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCG tries to ease that trade-off. It’s currently down to $299 (originally $449) as part of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, which ends today, and this is the lowest it has dropped, according to price trackers. The idea is simple: use it as a sharp 4K display most of the time, then switch to a faster 1080p mode when you care more about responsiveness. ASUS ROG Strix Gaming Monitor $299.00 at Amazon $449.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $299.00 at Amazon $449.00 Save $150.00 In everyday use, the 4K mode is what you’ll spend most of your time on. Text looks clean, videos look detailed, and games have that extra clarity you notice right away on a 27-inch panel. Colors are well-balanced out of the box, and while the HDR support is basic, it does add a bit more brightness in highlights. The 1080p mode is more situational. On the desktop, it looks soft enough that you’ll want to switch back quickly. In games, though, it starts to make sense—the jump to 320Hz is noticeable if you play fast-paced shooters, and the lower input lag helps. It’s not something everyone needs, but if you switch between slower single-player games and competitive ones, it gives you flexibility without needing a second monitor. There are a few practical limitations to keep in mind. The USB-C port is there, but at 15W, it’s more of a convenience than a real charging solution. You also don’t get a USB hub, so it won’t replace a proper docking setup. The bigger problem is the dual-mode switching itself. Moving between 4K and 1080p takes a few seconds and forces the display to resync, which can get frustrating if you plan to switch often. Over time, that delay starts to break the flow and makes the feature feel less practical than it sounds. Our Best Editor-Vetted Amazon Big Spring Sale Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 128GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Gray) — $202.00 (List Price $249.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote — $34.99 (List Price $59.99) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $243.00 (List Price $399.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Here’s a familiar scenario: The product development team creates a hot new app. The client is excited to launch it, and the PR team is preparing the campaign for its release. And then this happens: The manager in charge of the project steals the spotlight and takes all the credit for the work. There’s no praise for the team, no celebration of everyone’s success, and no recognition of team members’ contributions. When that happens, it’s quite likely that team morale will take a nosedive. This behavior has frequently appeared in research as a bad-boss trait that leads to employee disengagement and even turnover. In a study I tracked a few years ago, “taking credit for employees’ work” was rated the worst managerial behavior by 63 percent of respondents and something they would consider worth quitting over. It’s worth considering: Can taking credit for employees’ work actually be an effective management tactic for advancement? Or might it hold leaders back and hinder their progress? A study highlighted in Forbes, which looked at 3,800 managers and assessed how effective they were when claiming credit, found that those who took credit for others’ work were seen as quite ineffective (13th percentile). In contrast, leaders who made a genuine effort to give credit to their team members were regarded as some of the most successful (85th percentile). Having trained numerous managers and executives in my leadership course, I see this harmful tendency to dominate the spotlight and claim all the credit as a reflection of individual performance. Managers with this mindset focus on personal recognition, caring primarily about their accomplishments and how they are perceived by superiors. Identify more servant leaders To stop the cycle of bad managers in our midst, we need to identify, develop, and promote more servant leaders—people naturally inclined to give their people credit for their contributions, shine a spotlight on them, and show them appreciation. In fact, Gallup research found that employees who regularly receive credit increase their productivity, achieve higher customer loyalty and satisfaction scores, and are more likely to stay with their organization. Great leaders with loyal followers don’t seek glory or validation; they recognize their own achievements. They highlight others’ successes, and then take a step back to celebrate these accomplishments, fostering greater confidence and trust among their followers. —Marcel Schwantes This article originally appeared on Fast Company’s sister website, Inc.com. Inc. is the voice of the American entrepreneur. We inspire, inform, and document the most fascinating people in business: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters that represent the most dynamic force in the American economy. View the full article

It has been a bruising 24 hours for investors in memory chip storage companies, including Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), Sandisk Corporation (Nasdaq: SNDK), Western Digital Corporation (Nasdaq: WDC), and Seagate Technology Holdings (Nasdaq: STX). Yesterday, all four leaders in the memory chip space ended the day significantly lower. Here’s what’s happening—and why some are questioning whether the RAM shortage that has driven these companies’ stock prices to new heights will soon come to an end. Memory chip stocks get pummeled—again Just a few weeks ago, the sky seemed to be the limit for memory chip makers. After all, the world is in the middle of a full-blown RAM shortage, which means memory chips are in high demand. This demand has caused the stock prices of four companies—Micron, Sandisk, Western Digital, and Seagate—to surge over the past six months, with performance that has been, simply put, eye-watering. For example, the least best-performing stock of the four companies is Seagate, but even its stock price has risen 53% in the past six months. Micron’s stock price has performed even better, rising 92%. Western Digital is up even more, rising 109% over the past six months. As for Sandisk, its stock performance over the same period has been phenomenal, up more than 410%. And keep in mind that those were the gains even after the memory chip makers’ stock prices began getting pummeled last week. Yesterday, that pummeling continued, with Micron shares dropping nearly 10% during the trading session, while Western Digital lost 8.6%, Sandisk lost 7%, and Seagate dropped 4.6%. With yesterday’s dips, all four major memory chip makers have seen massive stock price declines over the past five days, with Micron down more than 20%, Sandisk down 18.5%, Western Digital down almost 15%, and Seagate down more than 10%. The question is, why? What the AI boom gives, it can take away The AI boom of the past several years has led many of the world’s largest tech giants to spend hundreds of billions building massive data centers to run their AI systems. These data centers require servers that in turn require massive amounts of RAM to run the AI. The staggering RAM requirements for the AI boom have led to a memory chip shortage. And while that is bad for everyday retail customers like you and me, that shortage has been very good for the memory chip makers themselves. Their once-cheaper RAM technology now sells at a premium—and they have no shortage of deep-pocketed enterprise customers snapping up all the RAM they can make. But what the AI boom gives, it can take away. Last week, one of the world’s AI leaders, Google, announced it had developed a new technology called TurboQuant. As Fast Company previously reported, Google says the tech is “a compression algorithm that optimally addresses the challenge of memory overhead in vector quantization.” Without going into too much detail, the tech essentially means that AI giants like Google might soon be able to run compute-intensive AI tasks on computers that require up to six times less RAM than they do now. While this is great news for the AI giants, it’s horrible news for memory chip makers, as demand for their chips could drop by as much as 6x. Why did memory stocks get hit so hard yesterday? Importantly, Google’s TurboQuant news was released last week (RAM makers also took a beating when it was first announced), so why did memory chip stocks fall again yesterday? It’s always impossible to know the exact motivations for any large-scale selloff in the markets, but investors probably spent the weekend digesting the TurboQuant news. And when markets opened on Monday, enough investors thought it might be a good idea to start taking some profits on the four memory chip makers, which have seen such impressive gains in recent months. Such profit-taking can often trigger a snowball effect, resulting in significant falls in a stock in any given trading session. The only other thing likely to have affected memory chip stocks yesterday is the same event that has affected most other stocks over the past month: lingering uncertainty around the war in Iran. The markets have been generally down this month, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that we could be heading for our worst quarter in four years. What investors will be watching for in particular with memory chip stocks is whether the RAM shortage may indeed be coming to an end sooner than most expected. That answer will likely have the greatest influence on memory-chip stocks in the months ahead. View the full article

U.S. gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 on Tuesday as the Iran war pushed fuel prices to soar worldwide. According to motor club AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $4.02 — over a dollar more than before the war began. The last time U.S. drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The price is a national average, meaning drivers in some states have been paying well over $4 a gallon for a while now. Prices vary from state to state due to factors ranging from nearby supply to differing tax rates. Since the U.S. and Israel launched a joint war against Iran on Feb. 28, the cost of crude oil — the main ingredient in gasoline — has spiked and swung rapidly. That’s because the conflict has caused deep supply chain disruptions and cuts from major oil producers across the Middle East. Motorists around the world are also coping with higher gas prices due to the war. In Paris, for example, gas is at 2.34 euros per liter ($2.68), which is about $10.27 a gallon. Expensive gas could drag on the economy and drive up other prices Higher gas prices are impacting consumers and businesses as many households continue to face wider cost of living strains. And as drivers pay more to cover necessities like gas, many may be forced to cut their budgets in other places. More expensive fuel can also push up other spending, from utility bills to the price of many goods consumers buy each day. Consumer prices and the cost of living already have become flashpoints in this midterm election year, with Democrats especially hammering The President and Republicans as the GOP tries to hold majorities on Capitol Hill. A recent AP-NORC poll found that 45% of U.S. adults are “extremely” or “very” concerned about being able to afford gas in the next few months, up from 30% shortly after The President won the 2024 presidential election with promises to lower costs. In the immediate future, analysts point to groceries, which have to be restocked frequently and could also see price hikes as businesses’ transportation costs pile up. But hauling other cargo and packages has also been impacted. The United Postal Service, for example, is seeking a temporary 8% added charge on some of its popular products including Priority Mail. U.S. diesel prices — the fuel used for many freight and delivery trucks — is now going for an average of $5.45 a gallon, up from about $3.76 a gallon before the war began, per AAA. If the war drags on, it’s possible that those prices could tick up even higher. Most tanker movement in the key Strait of Hormuz, where roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil typically sails through, remains at a halt. That’s led to cuts from major producers in the region who have no way of getting their crude to market. Meanwhile, Iran, Israel and the U.S. have all struck oil and gas facilities, worsening supply concerns. Reserves open in an effort to cut prices In a search for some relief, the International Energy Agency pledged to release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency stockpiles of member nations. That includes the U.S., despite The President initially downplaying the need for reserve oil. The The President administration has also eased sanctions to free up some oil from Venezuela, and temporarily Russia. The White House also says it’s waiving maritime shipping requirements under a more than century-old law, known as the Jones Act, for 60 days. It’s not yet clear if those efforts will bring relief for consumers. A lot of factors contribute to gas prices. Refineries buy crude oil in advance, meaning some could be work with more expensive oil for a while, and it will take time for any new supply to trickle down to consumers. And while steep crude prices are a leading driver behind today’s surge, U.S. gas prices typically tick up a bit at this time of year. More drivers are hitting the road and trying to fuel up while they can, so there’s higher demand. Warming weather also brings a shift to summer blend fuel, which is more expensive to produce than winter blend. The US is an oil exporter, but it’s still affected by global prices The U.S., which is a net oil exporter, hasn’t seen as stark a shock as other parts of the world that rely more heavily on fuel imports from the Middle East, notably Asia. But that doesn’t mean America is immune to price spikes. Oil is a globally-traded commodity. And most of what the U.S. produces is light, sweet crude — but refineries on the East and West coasts are primarily designed to process heavier, sour product. As a result, the country also needs imports. Escalating geopolitical conflicts have disrupted oil flows and contributed to a surge in gas prices in the past. The U.S. average for regular gasoline climbed to its highest level of more than $5 a gallon in June 2022, nearly four months after the Ukraine war began and world leaders imposed sanctions against Russia, a leading oil producer. Prices at the pump later fell from that record. Before Tuesday, per AAA data, the national average had stayed below the $4 mark since mid-August of 2022. Associated Press journalists Angela Charlton and Bill Barrow contributed to this report. —Wyatte Grantham-Philips Associated Press View the full article

UK Liberal Democrats had called for royal trip to be cancelledView the full article

As marketing leaders, we don’t wake up thinking about algorithms. We wake up thinking about growth. For CMOs, the job has always been the same: drive real business impact, improve ROI, and prove—repeatedly—that marketing is a growth engine, not a cost center. Long before generative AI entered the conversation, marketing leaders were under pressure to connect activity to revenue, align tightly with sales, and make performance visible. The pressure to quantify value didn’t start with AI. It started when the business demanded proof. What has changed is the speed and precision with which we can now deliver that proof. AI ISN’T REINVENTING MARKETING. IT’S REWIRING DISCOVERY. There’s a growing narrative that AI is reinventing marketing from scratch. That’s not quite right. The fundamentals haven’t changed. Customers still want clarity, differentiation still matters, and trust still closes deals. What has changed—dramatically—is how buyers discover information. Artificial intelligence is accelerating marketing’s ability to connect actions to outcomes. Predictive models surface intent earlier. Personalization is finally scalable. Attribution is sharper and more defensible. In many ways, marketing’s contribution to growth has never been more measurable. At the same time, AI is quietly breaking the discovery model most marketing strategies were built on. Search engines, feeds, and clicks are no longer the primary gateways to information. Increasingly, buyers encounter brands through AI systems that summarize, synthesize, and recommend—often without ever sending them to a website. That creates a paradox for CMOs: just as we get better at measuring impact, the signals we’ve historically relied on—traffic, rankings, and engagement—are becoming less reliable indicators of influence. Many marketing tactics that dominated the last decade were designed for a discovery model that rewarded volume: more content, more keywords, more posts, more gates. Large language models don’t work that way. They reward clarity. They don’t favor noise. They surface authority, structure, and context. Content optimized for feeds and rankings often performs poorly in an AI-mediated environment, while rigorously built content performs better than ever. Once you accept that discovery has changed—but accountability has not—the leadership challenge becomes clear: CMOs must decide what no longer deserves attention. A “KEEP. DROP. SCALE.” FRAMEWORK FOR AI-FIRST GROWTH In an AI-first discovery world, the question isn’t “How do we do more?” It’s “What should we stop, what should we protect, and what should we scale—so our efforts compound instead of dilute?” A simple. “Keep. Drop. Scale.” matrix gives us CMOs a practical way to reallocate effort without disrupting momentum while modernizing content for AI-driven visibility and improving ROI and attribution—even as clicks decline. Keep: What signals authority What keeps showing up in AI-driven discovery is content that was built to last. CMOs should keep and protect: Deep expert content grounded in real data, not opinion. Clean structured content using consistent headings and schemas. Content clusters organized around real customer problems, not internal narratives. Structured content retains visibility in AI‑generated results even as traditional click‑through rates decline. AI doesn’t need flash. It needs a signal. Drop: What exists to feed the machine This is the hardest part—and the most freeing. It’s time to reduce or eliminate: Keyword-stuffed content that answers no real question. Social output optimized for cadence rather than insight. Gated assets that summarize information buyers can now get instantly from AI. If content exists primarily to game the system, AI will route around it. In an AI‑first discovery world, volume without substance becomes invisible. Scale: Explainability, provenance, and context This is where the biggest opportunity lies. Prioritize explainers over announcements. Make authorship, sources, and timestamps explicit. Provide context that connects facts to meaning. Create modular content that can be cited, summarized, and reused accurately. AI favors content that is easy to attribute, summarize, and trust. This can be a strategic advantage that improves buyer confidence and accelerates late‑stage conversations. WHY THIS MOMENT MATTERS FOR MARKETING LEADERS AI doesn’t replace marketing fundamentals. It exposes the weak ones. The marketers who win in this transition will not be the ones chasing every new tool or metric. They will be the ones who make deliberate choices about what to stop, preserve, and scale. A “Keep. Drop. Scale.” framework gives leaders: Air cover to say no to legacy work that no longer compounds. A clear narrative for teams navigating constant change. A credible way to report impact as discovery decouples from click.s In an AI‑first world, visibility isn’t about being everywhere. It’s about being understood, trusted, and surfaced when it matters. That’s not the end of marketing. It’s the next chapter. Felicity Carson is senior vice president and chief marketing officer at onsemi View the full article

After failing to stop multiple offshore wind projects from moving forward on the East Coast, the The President administration is trying a new tactic: paying companies not to build wind farms. Last week, the government announced that it would pay TotalEnergies approximately $1 billion to give up on building two planned offshore wind farms in the U.S. and to invest in oil, gas, and LNG production instead. But experts say that the federal government can’t legally spend taxpayer money this way. And Total was already planning to build new fossil fuel projects before striking the deal. In the past, when energy companies decided to give up offshore leases, they ate the loss. Other companies, for example, have given up offshore oil and gas leases in Alaska. “They may or may not have spent a lot of money on the lease, but they routinely will expire, and the companies are not going to ask for reimbursement because they’re not going to get it,” says David Hayes, a law professor at Stanford who worked on climate policy in the Biden administration. “That money has gone into the U.S. Treasury. The Interior Department can’t simply on its own say to the U.S. Treasury, ‘Please give that money back because the company decided it doesn’t want to proceed with the lease.’” The French company TotalEnergies bought two leases for planned wind farms in 2022: one off the coast of North Carolina, for more than $133 million, and one off the coast of New York for $795 million. Then The President took office, and started to attack wind farms. The president has a longstanding grudge against offshore wind; his allies in the fossil fuel industry also don’t want competition from large wind projects. Last year, the The President administration ordered five large offshore wind projects that were already under construction to stop work. The administration cited unspecified national security concerns, though all of the projects had already been thoroughly vetted by the military. The energy companies sued and each won in court. The government didn’t appeal the verdicts, in a sign that it knew it wouldn’t win. (Separately, the government is also now using military reviews to delay more routine approvals for wind farms on land.) Earlier this month, one of the offshore projects, Vineyard Wind, finished construction. Revolution Wind, another project, started delivering power. Last week, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind also started delivering power to the grid. When that project is fully complete, it will power around 660,000 homes; Dominion, the utility building it, says that it will save customers $3 billion on fuel costs over its first decade. Those companies lost millions because of the delays and had to battle to keep going. In TotalEnergies’ case, instead of struggling to begin new projects in the face of a hostile administration, the company decided to pull out. The CEO has said that he approached the administration to make the new deal. (Neither TotalEnergies nor the Department of the Interior responded to Fast Company‘s requests for comment.) But experts say the deal, as described, isn’t legally viable. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management “does not have the authority to give a so-called refund if an entity that is holding a lease wants to relinquish the lease,” says Elizabeth Klein, who led the agency under Biden and is now director of domestic policy programs at Penn Washington. BOM also doesn’t have the funds. Klein says that its annual budget is only around $200 million. “BOM is not sitting on a billion dollars,” she says. The administration may reportedly use the Judgment Fund to pay—but that fund is supposed to be used for settlements when the government has been sued and is likely to lose in court. In this case, Total never tried to start building the wind farms, the government never tried to stop it, and Total never sued. “The government hasn’t taken any action to cancel those leases,” says Klein. “There is no litigation. “In my view, it’s as if the government is saying, you know, we were about to break the law, and instead of breaking the law, we’re going to pay you the money out.” In a press release about the deal, the Department of the Interior cited the Rio Grande LNG plant that Total plans to expand in Texas as part of the new fossil fuel work that the federal government will reimburse “dollar for dollar.” But Total had already committed to that work. Even if it were legal to use, the money isn’t incentivizing anything new. Congress could object to the misuse of taxpayer money. “These are U.S. funds that are being inappropriately applied, without Congressional approval, for liability that does not exist,” says Hayes. The states that were supposed to get the power, New York and North Carolina, could also potentially sue, since residents there will lose out on clean power that could have helped lower energy bills. View the full article

Cost of oil likely to keep climbing until Strait of Hormuz reopens to shipping View the full article