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PepsiCo said Tuesday that high prices and changing consumer tastes have weakened U.S. demand for its snacks and drinks but it’s confident it can turn that around in the coming year. The Purchase, New York-based company said its revenue fell slightly to $27.78 billion in the fourth quarter. That was short of Wall Street’s forecast of $27.89 billion, according to analysts polled by FactSet. U.S. demand flagged last year after two years of outsized, double-digit price increases. The average price of a 16-ounce bag of potato chips peaked at $6.68 in October 2023, according to government data. PepsiCo hit the brakes on prices, which rose 4% globally in 2024. The company focused on making its snacks more affordable, adding product promotions, more chips per bag and value packs. It also invested more heavily in its Chester’s and Santitas value brands, which saw strong revenue growth last year. In a conference call Tuesday, CEO Ramon Laguarta said those efforts are paying off and consumers have begun buying salty snacks again. Still, North American sales volumes for both Frito-Lay snacks and beverages fell 3% in the October-December period. PepsiCo is also closely watching a longer-term trend toward healthier snacking, Laguarta said. The company isn’t seeing much impact from the growing use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Wegovy, he said. But people are looking for smaller, portion-controlled snacks, healthier ingredients like whole grains and lower sodium and fat. “There’s a higher level of awareness in general of American consumers toward health and wellness,” he said. PepsiCo is well-positioned to meet that need with products like Pepsi Zero Sugar, SunChips and its Simply line of chips, which have no artificial colors or flavors, Laguarta said. And more healthy, “permissible” snacks are coming, he said. “We’re very confident that our North American business will accelerate this year,” Laguarta said. PepsiCo is also trying to amp up its away-from-home offerings, like its Doritos Locos Tacos collaboration with Taco Bell and its Tostitos Cantina food trucks. PepsiCo’s snack food and beverage volumes both climbed 1% globally in the fourth quarter, with strong growth in Africa and Asia. Net income rose 17% to $1.5 billion. Adjusted for one-time items, PepsiCo earned $1.96, or two cents better than analysts had forecast. PepsiCo expects organic revenue growth in the low single digits in 2025. Organic revenue is adjusted for foreign currency exchanges and the impact of product acquisitions or divestments. The company reported organic revenue growth of 2% in 2024. The company, which closed four U.S. bottling plants in October, also plans to continue a multi-year push to enhance productivity, including adding more automation in its plants and warehouses. PepsiCo shares fell 2% Tuesday. —Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Business Writer View the full article

Living in Los Angeles and paying $1,000 a month for rent seems like a fantasy for many cash-strapped tenants, or a rental figure from decades ago. But a new proposal from architecture and design firm Gensler and the Pew Charitable Trust underscores the idea that more affordable urban living can be found in old, vacant office buildings. The analysis, which was initiated and funded by Pew and nonprofit Arnold Ventures, looks at the potential of a new kind of building conversion in Houston and Los Angeles, two U.S cities where this type of conversion would currently be legal. The aim is to build a better version of single-room occupancy units, or SROs, that have private rooms, shared bathrooms, and partial kitchens. The low-cost, no-frills housing was prevalent during most of the 20th century as a kind of housing-of-last-resort. Once immensely common in cities, their reputation for seediness, deserved or not, led to zoning and policy shifts that made them functionally extinct. An estimated one million such units were closed in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Numerous studies have blamed their demise on the modern rise in homelessness. In recent years, as homelessness and affordability have become crises, there’s been a push to bring this concept back: since 2023, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii have all passed laws to re-legalize them. Los Angeles floor plan. [Image: Gensler/The Pew Charitable Trusts] “The U.S. is only about 50 years removed from having very little homelessness,” said Alex Horowitz, project director of the housing policy initiatives at Pew Charitable Trust and coauthor of the report. “As recently as the mid-’70s, there was very little homelessness nationally, and most evidence points to SROs as the primary driver.” Gensler’s vision would ring the outer layer of an office floor with small, studio-style rooms with microwaves and fridges, roughly the size of a modest hotel room. The plans call for 190-square-foot units in L.A., and up to 227-square-foot units in Houston, about half the size of a typical studio apartment. The center of each floor would contain shared living rooms, kitchen, and bathrooms. These layouts would be designed with private keycard entry by floor, and what designers call a more concerted focus on safety, privacy, and security. Los Angeles unit sample [Image: Gensler/The Pew Charitable Trusts] It offers a compelling blueprint for expanding the housing stock in a nation where office vacancy is above 20% in most cities—29% in LA and 32% in Houston—and homelessness nationwide just reached a record 770,000 people. Such conversions make sense for dozens of buildings, 88 in downtown Houston and 42 in L.A.’s central business district, according to the report. These upgrades can also be done with relatively little subsidized public funding, and could create low-cost units renting for roughly half the median rent in both cities: $700 in Houston and $1,000 in Los Angeles. The microunits could be built for $240,000 each in L.A., less than half what it costs to build a typical studio apartment. There’s currently a post-pandemic boom in office-to-residential conversations nationwide; new RentCafe research found 70,700 residential units will be created in 2025 alone by transforming offices left partially vacant and undervalued by remote work. Gensler has helped spearhead this push by developing an algorithm that can quickly figure out which offices made good conversion candidates. Houston floor plan [Image: Gensler/The Pew Charitable Trusts] That’s a huge jump in activity, since developers completed just 23,100 in 2022. But despite the boom, these conversions still represent a fraction of the units needed to bridge the housing shortage, and such conversions still remain expensive, complicated, and financially infeasible for many offices. Gensler’s new research found that this SRO-style conversion opens up new opportunities. Traditional office-to-residential conversions, which create individual units with their own kitchens and bathrooms, require extensive plumbing and infrastructure work. This new proposal concentrates new plumbing and piping in the middle of each floor. In addition, standard conversions mean long, stretched out apartments with few windows and natural light. The SRO option contains big windows in each of the small studios (although no natural light in the shared spaces). Research conducted by Gensler and Pew last fall found this type of layout cuts conversion construction costs by up to 35%. Locating the right building, which the authors did using CoStar data, was a challenge, since it needed the right-size floor area and infrastructure, but just a single conversion could add 800-plus units; buildings of 20-plus floors can fit up to 60 units on each level. “Depending on the estimates you look at, just a few percentage points of the office stock could work for traditional office-to-residential conversions,” said Gensler principal and economist Wes Le Blanc. “But there’s a much larger percentage of highly vacant office stock that works in this case, and makes those unlivable floor plates in play in a way they weren’t before.” Horowitz sees this type of housing filling a key gap in the market, giving single, working class renters, such as students, seniors, and immigrants, an option that won’t leave them cost-burdened. Approximately 40% of U.S. renter households consist of a single person, and these units could be perfect for people making $40,000 to $50,000 a year. This housing strategy also offers ancillary benefits for cities. In downtown Los Angeles, for example, an area boasting 280,000 jobs, just 1% to 2% of residents who live downtown also work there. Providing more housing opportunities in that neighborhood could help lessen long commutes. No developer has yet signed on to build such a project. Horowitz said he’s been getting positive responses from real estate groups, and Gensler and Pew presented these proposals to city officials in L.A. and Houston on January 31. They believe they can build momentum for conversions, and cheaper housing, soon. View the full article

In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, commanding attention during meetings or presentations is an increasingly complex challenge. Attendees are often preoccupied with emails, notifications, or social media, turning valuable discussions into background noise. To overcome the issue, presenters must intentionally foster engagement that goes beyond just delivering information. The importance of engagement Engagement is the bridge between delivering information and fostering collaboration. When people feel actively involved in a conversation or presentation, they are more likely to pay attention, retain information, and contribute meaningfully. Think about meetings where you’ve been fully invested. What made those moments different? Often, it comes down to feeling connected to the material and the speaker. Engagement is built upon four key ingredients that must play together to bring about the collaborative benefits mentioned above: ● Focus your message ● Relevance ● Empathy ● Be present So, how can we combine these ingredients and infuse engagement into our organizations and teams? The answer lies in fostering interactions that are low stakes, yet purposeful. In other words, play. Purposeful play: A key to engagement One of the most effective ways to break down barriers and foster meaningful, engaged communication is through purposeful play. Playfulness in professional environments might seem counterintuitive, but it can unlock creativity, encourage participation, and lower defenses. When people feel at ease, they are more open to new ideas and solutions, creating an atmosphere of trust and collaboration. Below, we delineate each of the four engagement building blocks and provide a playful activity that helps build the skill. Focus your message Start with clarity. Boiling down complex ideas into digestible key points helps to sustain audience focus. An effective exercise for sharpening your messaging is to condense a pitch or concept into shorter versions repeatedly. Activity: Long Story Short Begin with a one-minute explanation of a project or challenge. Then, condense that explanation to 30 seconds, 15 seconds, and finally a single sentence. This practice not only sharpens clarity but also highlights the essence of your message. Tailor communication for relevance Connecting with your audience involves understanding their needs and perspectives. Personalizing messages to resonate with different stakeholders fosters interest and investment. Activity: Sell a BLANK to a BLANK This playful exercise involves creating pitches for random products to random personas. For example, try selling a plunger to a police officer or a piano to a circus clown. This encourages empathy and creativity, helping you frame messages in a way that resonates with diverse audiences. Build empathy through storytelling Stories humanize communication. Sharing personal anecdotes or inviting participants to share theirs deepens connections and builds mutual understanding. Activity: Memory Lanes Using a random word as a prompt, participants share true, short stories inspired by the word. Each story connects to a new prompt word drawn from the previous narrative, fostering relatability and camaraderie. Be present in the moment Presence is about fully engaging with your surroundings and audience. Practicing mindfulness and tuning into the physical space and its details can ground you and enhance your delivery. Activity: I Love My Spot Explore your surroundings, identify three elements you appreciate, and articulate why you value them. This practice helps center your focus and reinforces your connection to the environment, preparing you to connect with your audience authentically. Harnessing engagement True engagement requires collaboration born out of connection with and comfort around others. Play can catalyze this connection and comfort. By prioritizing concision, relevance, empathy, and attentiveness, you can create interactions that resonate. These are not stand-alone techniques; they are interconnected tools that work together to enhance engagement. When these methods are integrated into communication practices, people will focus and pay attention. Even mundane exchanges are transformed into opportunities for significant impact. Whether you’re leading a team meeting, delivering a keynote, or facilitating a brainstorming session, small adjustments in how you engage can lead to major gains in understanding, remembering, and enjoying. Play is a powerful unlock for engaging communication. View the full article

A grassroots effort to track price gouging has emerged in the form of a Google Sheet that’s now circulating on social media. Community members have reported Zillow listings of rental properties with substantial price increases –upwards of thousands of dollars – just as 150,000 California residents found themselves displaced. View the full article

Troubled utility tells court hearing for emergency loan that restructuring costs could top £200mnView the full article

Desmond will be succeeding Pierre Naudé in leading the bank technology provider. View the full article

The idea of eating a pile of onions seems absolutely absurd—until you caramelize them and make them into soup. Suddenly, and your entire family is talking about an onion dinner with great reverence. You might think it’s the cheesy raft of bread floating on top that wins hearts, but students of umami know to credit the sweet, hearty, caramelized flavor from a mountain of slowly cooked sliced onions. Caramelizing onions is an annoying business, which is why I’d like to present you with a version that doesn’t demand helicopter babysitting. If you’ve ever successfully caramelized onions before, you know it takes at least 45 minutes to do it properly. In order to get silky-soft, deeply browned strands of onion in your average pot, you’ve got to cook them over low heat and stir them frequently to prevent burning. Knowing that you’re already signing up for a bit of a process regardless, why not make the technique less precarious with the mighty Dutch oven? French onion soup was made for the Dutch ovenThis method does take plenty of time to cook, but the weighty material of a Dutch oven allows for evenly distributed heat, allowing you to cook the onions slowly, without the dreaded hot spots that threaten scorched alliums. This method essentially braises them in their own buttery onion broth until they're extremely soft. The lid keeps the moisture in, so the flavors can fully blossom and the onions won't start browning too fast. Eight to 10 cups of sliced onions will cook down to less than half of this volume. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Dutch ovens have the added benefit of being enamel glazed. When fond (the bits of food that stick to the bottom of the pot and brown) occurs in a regular pot, you have to scrape it up pretty quickly so it doesn’t scorch. The glass finish of a Dutch oven doesn’t seem to burn fond as quickly, and the slick surface easily releases it whenever you get around to stirring. With this low-maintenance method, you can basically chill for the first 45 minutes. You'll then face roughly 15 minutes of intermittent action in the middle, before letting the soup simmer away for another 20 minutes. (All the while, you’ll be enjoying the most intoxicating aroma of caramelized onions and butter.) Caramelized onions before adding any beef broth. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann This soup is broth-y but full of soft, velvety onions, and rich in umami. Plus a slab of cheesy bread never hurt anyone. (Though they seem like small additions, I must insist on the herbs—they elevate the dish, and once you let them simmer for 15 minutes you’ll smell the difference.) Low and Slow French Onion Soup RecipeIngredients: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 8 to 10 cups sliced onions (use a variety or one type) 1 teaspoon salt A splash of sherry vinegar (about a tablespoon or so) A splash of dry red wine (about a tablespoon or so) 3 ½ cups of beef broth 6 sprigs of thyme 2 small bay leaves Slices of stale hearty bread for topping Semi-firm cheese for topping 1. Melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the onions and salt, and give it all a thorough toss. Cover the pot with its lid and let it simmer and cook the onions for about 15 minutes. 2. Remove the lid and stir the onions. They should be very soft and they’ll have released a lot of water. If it’s bubbling viciously, reduce the heat for a steady simmer. Let them continue to cook, uncovered, for another 30 to 45 minutes, but come around and give them a stir every 10 minutes or so to check on things. The buttery onion water will reduce during this time. 3. At the end of this cooking time you’ll notice a few brown bits develop and the onions will become more golden. This is when you need to be more present. Continue cooking the onions, but scrape and stir them every three to five minutes. They’ll begin to darken. Do this until you’re happy with the color of your onions. If they ever become too dry, you can add a splash of water to help deglaze the fond on the bottom of the pot. 3. Stir in the sherry vinegar and wine, then add the broth and herbs. Let this simmer together for 20 minutes on low heat. You can cover the pot, but crack the lid. 4. Meanwhile, top the bread slices with cheese. (Classically a gruyère is used but you can use Swiss, pecorino, provolone, or anything with a little bite.) Broil the sliced bread to melt the cheese. 5. Remove the herbs from the soup. If you have extra stale bread, chop it up and drop some into the bottom of each soup bowl. Spoon the soup into the bowls and shave some cheese over it. Then top each serving with a slab of cheesy bread. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I (a woman in my early 30s) work in a traditionally male environment, although there are a decent amount of women working there too. Recently my work has started focusing more on menopause support/awareness — there’s a menopause support group, “recognizing signs and symptoms” posters in the women’s toilets, etc. I think that’s great. My manager has been making comments about menopause that really, really bother me. Things like, “Well, I better write that down because as a woman of a certain age, if I don’t I’ll forget it” or “I must have forgotten to do that — it comes with the menopause,” and so on. She makes these comments in meetings with men and women present, and just in public around the office. I feel like she’s basically saying that she’s less able to do her job because she’s a woman. It gives license to men who hear it to make similar comments/assumptions about other women of her age group (who won’t all be experiencing the same issues she is), and I feel like I have to work harder to prove myself, too. I think that sort of comment should stay in the support group, and not be brought up so publicly. If it’s impacting her work, she might need to talk to her manager about it, but there’s no need to make the comments in meetings when she could just write whatever it is down and say nothing. Younger women in my workplace don’t blame their issues on their periods, they deal with it and move on. I’m not asking if I should say anything to her about this, I have absolutely no intention of doing so. I’m just wondering if I’m off the mark? I’ve obviously not experienced menopause, but I can imagine that it’s frustrating to suddenly struggle with something that you used to be fine with, and wanting to explain why. I wouldn’t normally think someone needed to keep a health issue secret at work unless they wanted to, but it’s the broadness of what she’s saying — “all menopausal women/women my age” — that bothers me so much. But then at the same time, I have male colleagues who’ve made similar “all men of my age” comments about being forgetful, and it’s not bothered me at all or made me look at other men as less able to do their jobs. So is it really fair of me to be holding her to a different standard because she’s a woman? You’re more bothered by your boss’s comments than by the men’s comments because hers come against a backdrop of women already being discriminated against at work and having to work harder to be taken seriously, as well as a long history of women being dismissed as overly controlled by their bodies. That changes the way it lands. It’s also true that age discrimination is a thing, and your male coworkers’ comments about themselves are landing against that backdrop … but I suspect that isn’t hitting you in the same way because, as a group, men have some built-in societal protections that women lack. It’s also true that people should be able to talk about what they’re experiencing, and in theory it’s a good thing for people to feel comfortable talking about challenges associated with health or aging or all sorts of other things. But realistically, we aren’t there yet; there is still stigma and bias associated with lots of health conditions (from ADHD to mental health and on and on) that often makes it safer not to share them at work. And it certainly doesn’t feel like we’re in a cultural moment where that’s about to get better. Part of the problem, too, is that your boss is talking about her experience with menopause as a universal experience for all women of a certain age. It’s like if you were both parenting young children and she kept writing off her forgetfulness as “I must have forgotten to do that — it comes with being a mom.” You’d rightly not appreciate how that reflected on fellow moms, who already face bias in the work world. So, no, I don’t think you’re off the mark in feeling uncomfortable with your boss’s comments. But I also think that’s very much about the culture we live in: it’s not that she’s doing something inherently wrong; it’s that we live in a sexist culture where women have to worry about this. View the full article

Education, technology, and software development websites have gotten a referral traffic boost from ChatGPT search – and ChatGPT sent more traffic to more than 30,000 unique domains by November. That’s according to new Semrush (disclosure: Search Engine Land is owned by Semrush) analysis of 80 million lines of global clickstream data from the second half of 2024. Search behavior changes. ChatGPT answered about 54% of queries with search turned off, with the remaining 46% of queries using search. The average ChatGPT prompt length was 23 words, with a high of 2,712 words. The average ChatGPT search length was much lower – just 4.2 words, with a high of 301 words. Search intent shift. In search, keywords have an intent – navigational, informational, commercial and transactional (though there are additional types of search intent). However, only 30% of ChatGPT prompts fell into any of these categories, the analysis found. That means 70% of the prompts are unique and rarely or never seen in classic search engines (e.g., Google, Microsoft Bing). ChatGPT vs. Google and Microsoft Bing. The types of sites getting more referral traffic from ChatGPT than Google include: OpenAI-related domains, tech, and AI-focused platforms. The types of sites getting more referral traffic from ChatGPT than Microsoft Bing include: Academic publishers and research, and education and technical resources. ChatGPT vs. Google users. Google had 6.5 billion unique worldwide visitors compared to ChatGPT’s 566 million in December. Semrush also compared audience demographics and found: ChatGPT users are younger and more male. ChatGPT wins with students; Google wins with full-time workers, homemakers and retirees. What Semrush is saying. According to the report’s author, Brenna Kelly: “For marketers and content creators, this data reveals an emerging reality: success in this new landscape requires a shift from traditional SEO metrics toward content that actively supports learning, problem-solving, and creative tasks. Why we care. SEO continues to evolve quickly. How people search and find answers is evolving. Making sure your brand’s content can be understood and cited by LLMs will only become more critical heading forward. Dig deeper. What is generative engine optimization (GEO)? The research. Investigating ChatGPT Search: Insights from 80 Million Clickstream Records View the full article

An inconsistent US is an unreliable partner — it’s that simpleView the full article

Art gallery, science exhibition and 21st century funhouse, Paradox Museum Miami takes guests on a tour through optical illusions and other enigmas geared for the age of Instagram. The 11,000 square-foot (1,000 square-meter) museum, housed in Miami’s trendy Wynwood arts and entertainment district, features more than 70 exhibits that challenge the imagination, executive director Samantha Impellizeri said. “It ebbs and flows between periods of highly tactile and interactive exhibit pieces and fully immersive photo opportunities where you yourself become the paradox and walk away with some really fun and unique social media content,” Impellizeri said. Paradox Museum has more than a dozen locations throughout North America, Europe and Asia. The Miami location, which opened in 2022, was the first in North America, followed by Las Vegas and New Jersey. “Each paradox is uniquely tied to its community,” Impellizeri said. “So as you walk throughout the experience, you’ll notice different themes and art installations that directly reflect not only Miami but the Wynwood community specifically.” Many of the exhibits at Paradox Museum harken back to old carnival funhouses, like the mirror maze, the spinning tunnel and the upside-down room. The difference is that Paradox Museum explains the math and science behind each illusion. “We’re a top field trip destination for pre-K all the way up through college students,” Impellizeri said. “We have a full curriculum of educational activities to do before, during and after the visit to expand upon that educational scope.” Like any museum, Paradox Museum plans to update its exhibits to keep visitors coming back. “We’re not going to be the same space in a year to three years from now,” Impellizeri said. “We’ll be engaging with new technology and layering additional discoveries on top of it.” Paradox Museum Miami introduced a new Zero Gravity Room this past fall. Guests step into a giant, slowly moving vertical wheel designed to look like the interior of a space station after placing their camera phones on a spinning mount. The spinning camera is synced to the spinning wheel, so the video appears to show the guests walking up the wall and ceiling, like something out of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Paradox Museum is part of a large trend of immersive art experiences opening all over the world this past decade. Examples include a company called Meow Wolf with several locations in the western United States, as well as an immersive Van Gogh exhibit that has been touring North America, Europe and Asia since 2017. Superblue Miami opened in 2021, featuring interactive and experiential art. “Immersive experiences around the world are increasing in popularity and popping up more and more,” Impellizeri said. “And it’s exciting to see that this trend of interactive and immersive experiences taking off that allows guests to become part of the art, part of the installation itself.” Visitors generally take 60 to 90 minutes to make through way through Paradox Museum. Tickets normally cost $26 for adults and teens and $20 for children. Facundo Ildarraz, 17, and his family came to Miami from Argentina to catch a cruise and had a few days to check out the city. Ildarraz said his mom found Paradox Museum online, and it turned out to be a great chance to take fun photos with his family. “I’ve been laughing since I went inside,” Ildarraz said. “It’s really amazing.” Dennis Speigel, head of a consulting company called International Theme Park Services, Inc., said immersive experiences are a natural progression of location-based entertainment, like go-cart tracks, laser tag, paint ball, indoor skydiving, escape rooms and trampoline parks. They are smaller scale attractions that take visitors a few hours to go through, rather than an all-day activity like visiting an amusement park. “It’s a lot of little things that we’ve had in the industry for years, heightened by our new technology, like augmented reality and virtual reality, to make the experience new and something people haven’t seen,” Speigel said. “It’s kind of an evolution, everything that’s old is new again.” —David Fischer, Associated Press View the full article

Do you have a missing 401(k)? It’s more common than you might think. One U.S. Labor Department study suggests that people will have worked a dozen jobs by their mid-40s, with most of those barely lasting a few years. While you have a few options for handling an old 401(k), some strategies are better than others. The wisest path forward is typically to consolidate your old 401(k) into another qualified retirement plan. But what if you can't locate your old 401(k)? Did you forget which company was managing your retirement account? A new federal database should make it easier to track down. Use this new government databaseThis new tool been years in the making, as a part of 2022's SECURE 2.0 Act. According to the Department of Labor, the Retirement Savings Lost and Found Database "serves as a centralized location to find lost or forgotten benefits and get information on how to obtain those funds." Here’s how to use it: Use Login.gov to verify your identity: Create a Login.gov account and complete the identity verification process. Visit Login.gov/help and review the Login.gov verification process steps for more information. Enter your Social Security number: Re-enter it to verify and click “Search.” View your results: The website will display a list of retirement plans linked to your Social Security number and provides contact information for the plan administrators. Contact the plan administrators: They will verify your identity and help determine any retirement benefits you may be entitled to collect. On the flip side, if you don't want your retirement plans findable in this database, you can opt out by using this online form. Opting out prevents anyone from accessing any data linked to your name and Social Security number. Alternate methods to track down an old 401(k)If you don't find what you need through the database, there are other methods to find a rogue 401(k). Identify previous employers that offered 401(k) plansMake a list of all your past jobs, especially ones where you worked full-time for over a year. Large companies are very likely to have sponsored a 401(k). Contact the HR department of each previous employerCall or email the HR rep and ask them to confirm if you had an active 401(k) plan while working there. If so, ask them to provide the account and contact details. Search the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement BenefitsThis database run by the U.S. Department of Labor lists workplaces that have lost contact with 401(k) holders. This should be your first stop search for your name and any previous employers. Try online 401(k) search toolsYou can also try any of these databases, like FreeErisa, to find lost accounts linked to your Social Security number. Look up old statements and paperworkDig through your email inbox and hard copy files for old enrollment paperwork, account statements, or tax documents showing 401(k) contributions. These often include account numbers and plan administrator contacts. Contact plan administrators directlyIf you find the name of the financial company that managed your old 401(k), get in touch to track down your account. Provide identifying details to access the account. Roll over the funds into a new accountOnce located, make arrangements to transfer the funds into a new IRA or your current employer's 401(k) to simplify management in the future. Finding your account was the hard part—from here it should be fairly easy to move your investments into the account of your choosing. Still, it’s worth talking to a financial advisor before moving your old 401(k) to make sure you understand any planning consequences that may arise. If you don’t have the option to rollover your old 401(k) into a new one, your next best choice is to let it be and let it continue to grow, rather than opting to cash out early and getting hit with a tax penalty. View the full article

Nintendo’s profits tumbled as sales of its Switch console lost momentum, prompting the Japanese video-game maker to lower its full-year forecasts. Kyoto-based Nintendo Co., which created the Super Mario franchise, reported Tuesday an April-December profit of 237 billion yen ($1.5 billion), down 42% from the same period the previous year. Nine-month sales dropped 31% to 956 billion yen ($6 billion), according to Nintendo, which did not break down quarterly results. The company now expects to rake in a 270-billion yen ($1.7 billion) profit for the fiscal year through March, down from the previous forecast for 300-billion yen ($1.9 billion). Sales of Nintendo machines for the nine-month period fell to 9.54 million units from 13.7 million last year. Nintendo now expects to sell 11 million Switch consoles for the full fiscal year, lower than its initial projection of 12.5 million. Game software sales in April-December declined to nearly 124 million from 164 million, although “Super Mario Party Jamboree,” remained popular, with 6.17 million units sold. The latest “Legend of Zelda” game software was also in demand, selling 3.4 million units globally after going on sale in September. Nintendo said, while demand has dwindled for the Switch, now in its eighth year after its debut, it was still being purchased by a significant number of people. The number of Switch players remains above 100 million, it said. Nintendo is banking on its successor, called Switch 2, which goes on sale later this year. Events where people can try it out are rolling out from April around the world. Nintendo also noted the opening of Super Nintendo World, an amusement facility, in May at Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida will help woo people to its content. Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@yurikageyama —Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer View the full article

Making a strong first impression on customers is essential for businesses aiming to differentiate themselves from the competition. Customized packaging solutions can assist businesses in reaching this objective. Consequently, it is no surprise that in recent years, the demand for custom packaging among small businesses has consistently increased. What is Custom Packaging? Unlike a one-size-fits-all packaging solution, custom packaging is uniquely tailored to a small business specific needs. The shape, size, materials, color, and style of the package are modified to reflect the business and to create a special buying experience. In addition to asking what custom packaging is, you should also ask what branding is in business because they go hand in hand in today’s eCommerce and shipping-centric business. How important is custom packaging? Growing competition means businesses have a harder time convincing prospects to buy from them. Custom packaging is an important tool to gain customer’s attention and elevate user experience. If done creatively, it can also help small business brands gain a sharp competitive edge. Custom Packaging for Small Businesses: Key Benefits With more businesses utilizing custom packaging to enhance their sales, is it time for you to consider this option as well? For small businesses, opting for custom retail packaging can create numerous opportunities. Let’s delve deeper into this topic. Excellent Customer Experience In many instances, the packaging of your product is the first glimpse customers get of your brand. With unique packaging, you can provide an excellent user experience from the get-go. If the many unboxing videos on social media are anything to go by, customers form an opinion and a bond with a business before they have even opened their package. This makes it useful to focus on customizing packaging to boost customer experience. And don’t forget to use the best shipping tape also, as this can improve the experience. Increased Brand Awareness with Customized Shipping Boxes A significant challenge for businesses today is standing out in a crowded market filled with similar products. Custom packaging can help overcome this obstacle by making a distinct impression. Custom packaging not only showcases the brand but also fosters a deeper connection with customers. Decreased Shipping Fees Choosing customized packaging makes good sense from a cost standpoint as well. By selecting this option, businesses can avoid using larger boxes they don’t need. This is a smart idea, especially because shipping companies charge for volume in addition to the weight of the package. So, make sure to look into the cheapest place to buy boxes to lower your overall cost. What Customizations Can Businesses Make to Their Packaging? Businesses have numerous avenues to explore when it comes to custom packaging. With options ranging from distinctive box designs to personalized sticker designs, the possibilities for customization are vast. Here are a few options to consider: Custom packaging options: There are numerous ways to customize boxes. You can adjust their shape, size, color, and material to align with your brand image. Customized stickers: A cost-effective way to customize packaging is to invest in tailor-made stickers. The advantage of customized stickers is they are water-resistant, which can be useful when shipping products. Customized rubber stamp: Another simple and inexpensive design option is to go for customized rubber stamps. The stamp can include the company logo or tagline to resonate with the customers. Customized packaging tape: Adhesive tapes help secure the boxes, but they can also be customized to reflect the brand. Customized bags: Customized bags can be helpful for businesses that produce sturdy products. How do I get Custom Packaging for my Product? Thanks to a host of business packaging solution providers, getting custom packaging for your business has become quite easy. There are many solution providers that specialize in customizing all elements of your packaging, including customized stickers, bags, and more. There are also some companies that let you design your packaging. They, in turn, take care of producing the elements for you. Let’s check out a few of them. Best Places to Order Custom Packaging: Brand the Inside and Outside of Your Product Boxes Packlane Packlane offers full customization and comes with a user-friendly 3D design tool. With Packlane, you will be able to choose from four types of custom boxes: mailer box, product box, shipping box, and econoflex shipping box. Another benefit of choosing this solution provider is they ship both in the U.S. and outside. UPrinting UPrinting is another option for end-to-end customized packaging solutions. They specialize in customizing a number of packaging elements such as stickers, labels, boxes, bags and pouches. UPrinting also has 24/7 customer service to address questions and concerns. Etsy Etsy offers a range of options for custom and handmade pieces for mailers and packages. Etsy is a good place to look for cost-effective options. Sticker Mule Sticker Mule specializes in custom stickers. Here, you can find a range of stickers, labels, and mailers. They offer free shipping and free online proofs all over the world. Pack Help Pack Help meets the needs of small businesses seeking affordable custom packaging solutions. They provide low minimum order quantities, quick turnaround times, and a user-friendly online editor. Paper Mart On Paper Mart, you can explore a variety of custom packaging options, including boxes, bags, mailers, and tape. Their easy-to-use online design studio allows you to create your own unique packaging. Plus, with same-day shipping, you can ensure timely delivery of your products. ShipBob ShipBob is a 3PL provider that combines its inventory management technology with nationwide in-house fulfillment. Unlike other solution providers, ShipBob doesn’t offer custom tapes and has size limitations on boxes. The Box Maker The Box Maker offers custom packaging solutions such as product labels and boxes tailored for small businesses. The company operates eight locations throughout Oregon, Washington, and Arkansas. Arka Arka offers custom-printed packaging for small businesses. Some of the products on offer include boxes, stickers, and tape. They have a simple process that involves choosing the products, dimensions, and quantity online. Businesses can offer their artwork to Arka and receive proof in just two days. Refine Packaging Refine Packaging provides free quotes, complimentary design assistance, low minimum order requirements, and outstanding customer service. The company also features live chat to provide immediate support for businesses. For large orders, Refine Packaging offers appealing discounts. The completed order is delivered within 8-10 business days. Packola Custom Boxes & Packaging: Design and Order Online | Packola Packola has a user-friendly interface that allows small businesses to design custom packaging in minutes. Its online design tool lets you create tailor-made mailer boxes, shipping boxes and product boxes. There are no minimum order quantities, and the site comes with live chat support. Brand in Color Customized Shipping Boxes for Everyone – brandINcolor Brand in Color offers mailer boxes, shipping boxes, and even pizza boxes for customization. The minimum order count is 25 boxes, and it offers fast shipping (3 days). The company provides examples of past work for inspiration. Custom Packaging Tips for Small Businesses Not all businesses are aware of how to start with custom packaging. Should they opt for a comprehensive set of customized solutions, or should they take a gradual approach with a few key elements, such as custom boxes and tailored packaging supplies? Here are some tips for small business owners considering this option: Focus on being functional: The packaging solution you choose should fit your purpose. That’s why it’s important to focus on being functional. For example, does the material of the box you’ve chosen adequately protect the product inside? It’s important to find the answer before making a business decision. Make it personal: The whole point of customized packaging is to help businesses add a personal touch to their branding. Think of ways to make the unboxing experience special for your customers. You can add a note or use packaging to offer discounts. Include samples: A simple way to make your packaging interesting and user-friendly is to add samples. This can be an effective promotional idea to please customers. Do your math: If you’re trying customized packaging for the first time, it’s important you do some calculations before deciding on one solution provider. Image: Depositphotos This article, "Brand Your Products with Custom Packaging" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Making a strong first impression on customers is essential for businesses aiming to differentiate themselves from the competition. Customized packaging solutions can assist businesses in reaching this objective. Consequently, it is no surprise that in recent years, the demand for custom packaging among small businesses has consistently increased. What is Custom Packaging? Unlike a one-size-fits-all packaging solution, custom packaging is uniquely tailored to a small business specific needs. The shape, size, materials, color, and style of the package are modified to reflect the business and to create a special buying experience. In addition to asking what custom packaging is, you should also ask what branding is in business because they go hand in hand in today’s eCommerce and shipping-centric business. How important is custom packaging? Growing competition means businesses have a harder time convincing prospects to buy from them. Custom packaging is an important tool to gain customer’s attention and elevate user experience. If done creatively, it can also help small business brands gain a sharp competitive edge. Custom Packaging for Small Businesses: Key Benefits With more businesses utilizing custom packaging to enhance their sales, is it time for you to consider this option as well? For small businesses, opting for custom retail packaging can create numerous opportunities. Let’s delve deeper into this topic. Excellent Customer Experience In many instances, the packaging of your product is the first glimpse customers get of your brand. With unique packaging, you can provide an excellent user experience from the get-go. If the many unboxing videos on social media are anything to go by, customers form an opinion and a bond with a business before they have even opened their package. This makes it useful to focus on customizing packaging to boost customer experience. And don’t forget to use the best shipping tape also, as this can improve the experience. Increased Brand Awareness with Customized Shipping Boxes A significant challenge for businesses today is standing out in a crowded market filled with similar products. Custom packaging can help overcome this obstacle by making a distinct impression. Custom packaging not only showcases the brand but also fosters a deeper connection with customers. Decreased Shipping Fees Choosing customized packaging makes good sense from a cost standpoint as well. By selecting this option, businesses can avoid using larger boxes they don’t need. This is a smart idea, especially because shipping companies charge for volume in addition to the weight of the package. So, make sure to look into the cheapest place to buy boxes to lower your overall cost. What Customizations Can Businesses Make to Their Packaging? Businesses have numerous avenues to explore when it comes to custom packaging. With options ranging from distinctive box designs to personalized sticker designs, the possibilities for customization are vast. Here are a few options to consider: Custom packaging options: There are numerous ways to customize boxes. You can adjust their shape, size, color, and material to align with your brand image. Customized stickers: A cost-effective way to customize packaging is to invest in tailor-made stickers. The advantage of customized stickers is they are water-resistant, which can be useful when shipping products. Customized rubber stamp: Another simple and inexpensive design option is to go for customized rubber stamps. The stamp can include the company logo or tagline to resonate with the customers. Customized packaging tape: Adhesive tapes help secure the boxes, but they can also be customized to reflect the brand. Customized bags: Customized bags can be helpful for businesses that produce sturdy products. How do I get Custom Packaging for my Product? Thanks to a host of business packaging solution providers, getting custom packaging for your business has become quite easy. There are many solution providers that specialize in customizing all elements of your packaging, including customized stickers, bags, and more. There are also some companies that let you design your packaging. They, in turn, take care of producing the elements for you. Let’s check out a few of them. Best Places to Order Custom Packaging: Brand the Inside and Outside of Your Product Boxes Packlane Packlane offers full customization and comes with a user-friendly 3D design tool. With Packlane, you will be able to choose from four types of custom boxes: mailer box, product box, shipping box, and econoflex shipping box. Another benefit of choosing this solution provider is they ship both in the U.S. and outside. UPrinting UPrinting is another option for end-to-end customized packaging solutions. They specialize in customizing a number of packaging elements such as stickers, labels, boxes, bags and pouches. UPrinting also has 24/7 customer service to address questions and concerns. Etsy Etsy offers a range of options for custom and handmade pieces for mailers and packages. Etsy is a good place to look for cost-effective options. Sticker Mule Sticker Mule specializes in custom stickers. Here, you can find a range of stickers, labels, and mailers. They offer free shipping and free online proofs all over the world. Pack Help Pack Help meets the needs of small businesses seeking affordable custom packaging solutions. They provide low minimum order quantities, quick turnaround times, and a user-friendly online editor. Paper Mart On Paper Mart, you can explore a variety of custom packaging options, including boxes, bags, mailers, and tape. Their easy-to-use online design studio allows you to create your own unique packaging. Plus, with same-day shipping, you can ensure timely delivery of your products. ShipBob ShipBob is a 3PL provider that combines its inventory management technology with nationwide in-house fulfillment. Unlike other solution providers, ShipBob doesn’t offer custom tapes and has size limitations on boxes. The Box Maker The Box Maker offers custom packaging solutions such as product labels and boxes tailored for small businesses. The company operates eight locations throughout Oregon, Washington, and Arkansas. Arka Arka offers custom-printed packaging for small businesses. Some of the products on offer include boxes, stickers, and tape. They have a simple process that involves choosing the products, dimensions, and quantity online. Businesses can offer their artwork to Arka and receive proof in just two days. Refine Packaging Refine Packaging provides free quotes, complimentary design assistance, low minimum order requirements, and outstanding customer service. The company also features live chat to provide immediate support for businesses. For large orders, Refine Packaging offers appealing discounts. The completed order is delivered within 8-10 business days. Packola Custom Boxes & Packaging: Design and Order Online | Packola Packola has a user-friendly interface that allows small businesses to design custom packaging in minutes. Its online design tool lets you create tailor-made mailer boxes, shipping boxes and product boxes. There are no minimum order quantities, and the site comes with live chat support. Brand in Color Customized Shipping Boxes for Everyone – brandINcolor Brand in Color offers mailer boxes, shipping boxes, and even pizza boxes for customization. The minimum order count is 25 boxes, and it offers fast shipping (3 days). The company provides examples of past work for inspiration. Custom Packaging Tips for Small Businesses Not all businesses are aware of how to start with custom packaging. Should they opt for a comprehensive set of customized solutions, or should they take a gradual approach with a few key elements, such as custom boxes and tailored packaging supplies? Here are some tips for small business owners considering this option: Focus on being functional: The packaging solution you choose should fit your purpose. That’s why it’s important to focus on being functional. For example, does the material of the box you’ve chosen adequately protect the product inside? It’s important to find the answer before making a business decision. Make it personal: The whole point of customized packaging is to help businesses add a personal touch to their branding. Think of ways to make the unboxing experience special for your customers. You can add a note or use packaging to offer discounts. Include samples: A simple way to make your packaging interesting and user-friendly is to add samples. This can be an effective promotional idea to please customers. Do your math: If you’re trying customized packaging for the first time, it’s important you do some calculations before deciding on one solution provider. Image: Depositphotos This article, "Brand Your Products with Custom Packaging" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Redefine how you hire and develop top accounting talent. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Go PRO for members-only access to more Liz Farr. View the full article

Redefine how you hire and develop top accounting talent. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Go PRO for members-only access to more Liz Farr. View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...View the full article

Apple Music and Spotify are the two most popular streaming services in the world; most of us already have our favorite. Fans get into endless debates about which service is better, and for many people, that boils down to two factors: pricing and recommendation algorithms. However, there are many other factors that settle the Apple Music vs. Spotify debate—you could be after better sound quality, sharing features, support for your preferred platforms, and many other things. But which service is superior? It depends on what you're looking for. Apple Music vs. Spotify: pricingIf you're on a really tight budget and just cannot afford to pay for a music streaming service, Spotify's ad-supported free tier allows you to listen without paying a dime. Apple Music offers a three-month free trial, but once that's done, you will have to pay. It's worth noting, though, that Apple Music does not have any ads. Spotify Premium has four plans, with Premium Individual at $11.99/month, Premium Duo (for two accounts) at $16.99/month, Premium Family at $19.99/month (up to six accounts), and Premium Student at $5.99/month (only for students). Apple Music costs the same as Spotify, without a "Duo" option: $5.99/month for the student plan, $10.99/month for an individual plan, and $16.99 for family. The student plan comes with free access to Apple TV+; Spotify's equivalent plan lets you access Hulu's ad-supported plans. If you're all in on the Apple ecosystem, you can get the Apple One bundle for a great discount. Apple One Individual costs $19.95/month for four services—Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and iCloud (50GB). The Apple One Family plan offers all of this with 200GB iCloud storage for $25.95/month for up to six people. The Premier plan includes all of the above for six people, plus Apple News and Apple Fitness, for $37.95/month. Both services have something to offer for seasoned deal hunters, but Apple Music's promotions generally let you get more for free (assuming you don't just stick to Spotify's ad-supported tier). There are plenty of discounts on Spotify Premium, with the best offer being a three-month free trial. But for example, while Apple Music's free trial usually caps out at three months, at the time of writing, new users can get six months of Apple Music for a one-time payment of $2.99. Apple Music offers better sound qualityIf you're after the best sound quality, then Apple Music is a better option than Spotify. Apple Music allows you to listen to lossless audio files at no extra charge. With the right kind of wired audio equipment, you'll be able to hear the difference in sound quality. Spotify doesn't allow you to play lossless audio files yet. To be clear, the sound quality in both services is quite good—most people will not feel like they're listening to inferior audio. Especially if you use a pair of cheap earbuds, there's no point in trying to pick one service over another based on sound quality. This matters only for those who have high-end audio gear rather than those with low quality or Bluetooth earbuds. However, Apple also offers lossless audio for certain AirPods when paired with an Apple Vision Pro headset, since that circumvents Bluetooth. The company says, "AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C Charging Case provide Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency when paired with an Apple Vision Pro." Apple Music has another advantage in Spatial Audio, which is a form of virtual surround sound and creates a more immersive listening experience. Both services have a vast music librarySpotify and Apple Music both have over 100 million songs at the ready. Most people will find everything they need on either service, but some niche artists or genres may be better represented on either of these services. For example, Apple Music has a whole app dedicated to classical music. Playlists and recommendationsMusic streaming services live and die by their recommendation algorithms. Although Spotify started out with a huge advantage in this area, Apple Music has been slowly catching up. At the moment, Spotify's algorithm is still better at recommending music, but Apple Music has lots of excellent human-curated playlists that may appeal more to some people. This is a highly subjective debate that swings one way or another based on the genres you prefer. That's why it's best to give both services a shot and see if the playlists are recommendations work for you. UI and app experienceApple Music's apps are great on Apple platforms, but they're mediocre on other devices. The service has a web player, an Android app, a Windows app, and is available on other platforms too, but its experience remains sub-par on most of those. In my experience, and that of other users, Apple Music can be slow, laggy, and prone to crashing when used outside of Apple's own devices. If you're someone who's locked into the Apple ecosystem, you'll be pleased with Apple Music, but if you're more of a cross-platform person, Spotify is the better option. Unique featuresApple Music and Spotify both also come with unique features that could help you gravitate towards either one. Apple Music Sing lets you view song lyrics in a karaoke-style UI and syncs them with the song that's currently playing. This makes it easy to follow lyrics, especially on a large-screen device such as an Apple TV. The experience is far more robust than Spotify's synced lyrics feature. Apple Music also offers a great accessibility feature—Music Haptics—on your iPhone. It uses the iPhone's Taptic Engine to create haptic vibrations for your songs, ranging from barely discernible to long reverberations, depending on the part of the song that's playing. It enhances the listening experience for everyone and in particular, helps people who face hearing-related challenges. On the other hand, Spotify Connect makes it a lot easier to control music playback on other devices. Spotify also supports collaborative playlists—a feature that's still in beta on Apple Music. For collaboration, Spotify Blend automatically curates a playlist based on your and your friends' tastes and Spotify Jam makes it really easy to create party playlists. Non-music featuresSpotify includes podcasts and audiobooks in its service, which has been a polarizing addition. Some people want their music app to have just that, while others don't mind listening to other forms of audio in Spotify. However, almost everyone is annoyed by the fact that Spotify plays ads in podcasts, even for premium subscribers. The service also offers a few hours of audiobook listening for free, but it charges an additional sum if you want more. Sharing and social mediaAs hard as Apple Music is trying to catch up, Spotify is the service with the better sharing and social media options. Its year-end roundup—Spotify Wrapped—is simple to post to social media, and you also have neat options to share any song to Instagram Stories. Apple Music Replay's sharing options are rather limited, but you can load the roundup in the Music app itself and also view monthly recaps of your top songs. While you can share song lyrics to Instagram via Apple Music, in general, Apple's social media game isn't as good as Spotify's. View the full article

Elon Musk is rapidly consolidating control over large swaths of the federal government with President Donald Trump’s blessing, sidelining career officials, gaining access to sensitive databases and dismantling a leading source of humanitarian assistance. The speed and scope of his work has been nothing short of stunning. In a little more than two weeks since Trump took office, the world’s richest man has created an alternative power structure inside the federal government for the purpose of cutting spending and pushing out employees. None of this is happening with congressional approval, inviting a constitutional clash over the limits of presidential authority. Trump says Musk is doing his bidding Musk has been named as a special government employee, which subjects him to less stringent rules on ethics and financial disclosures than other workers. Trump has given Musk office space in the White House complex where he oversees a team of people at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. The team has been dispersed throughout federal agencies to gather information and deliver edicts. Some of them were spotted on Monday at the Department of Education, which Trump has vowed to abolish. Republicans defend Musk as simply carrying out Trump’s slash-and-burn campaign promises. Trump made no secret of his desire to put Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind the electric automaker Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX, in charge of retooling the federal government. “Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. The Republican president also played downs concerns about Musk’s conflict of interests as he flexes his power over the bureaucracy even though his businesses face regulatory scrutiny and have federal contracts. “Where we think there’s a conflict or there’s a problem, we won’t let him go near it, but he has some very good ideas,” Trump said. Musk persists in spite of Democrats’ outrage Democrats, for their part, accused Musk of leading a coup from within the government by amassing unaccountable and illegal power. “We will do everything in our power in the Senate and the House to stop this outrage,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said. “And in the meantime, since we don’t have many Republican colleagues who want to help us, we are doing everything we can with our colleagues through the courts to make sure that we uphold the rule of law.” The apex of Musk’s work so far came on Monday at the Washington headquarters for the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, where yellow police tape blocked access to the lobby and hundreds of employees were locked out of computer systems. Musk said Trump had agreed to let him shutter the agency. “It’s not an apple with a worm in it, what we have is just a ball of worms,” Musk said of the world’s largest provider of humanitarian, development and security assistance. “You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair.” Federal workers are in unchartered territory Musk has also turned his attention to the General Services Administration, or GSA, which manages federal government buildings. An email sent last week from the Washington headquarters instructed regional managers to begin terminating leases on roughly 7,500 federal offices nationwide. The initiative is being led by Nicole Hollander, according to an agency employee who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters. Hollander describes herself on LinkedIn as an employee at X, Musk’s social media platform. “This has gone beyond the pale. This is out of control. This is not a normal situation,” said Keya Chatterjee, executive director of Free DC, a local advocacy organization. She participated in a protest on Monday outside the Office of Personnel Management, which is one of the lesser-known federal agencies key to Musk’s agenda. Musk’s work has unnerved federal employees who are being nudged toward the exits. On Sunday night, concerns swept through the workforce that they could be locked out of internal human resources system, denying them access to their own personnel files that showed pay history, length of service, and qualifications. Supervisors in some agencies encouraged employees to download their records, called an SF-50, to personal computers so that they could prove their employment history in the event of disputes. Musk’s penchant for dabbling Musk has been tinkering with things his entire life, learning to code as a child in South Africa and becoming rich with the online payment company PayPal. He bought the social media platform Twitter a little more than two years ago, renamed it X and slashed its workforce while turning it into his personal political megaphone. Now Musk is popping open the hood on the federal government like it’s one of his cars or rockets. “The Silicon Valley playbook to disrupt the status quo—by disregarding and disobeying rules that you don’t like—is in full effect here,” said Rob Lalka, an expert on entrepreneurship and innovation in business at Tulane University. One of the most significant steps was gaining access to the U.S. Treasury payment system, which is responsible for 1 billion payments per year totaling $5 trillion. It includes sensitive information involving bank accounts and Social Security payments. “No one outside of the staff doing the work ever asked to have access to the payment files,” said Richard Gregg, who spent four decades working for Treasury and oversaw the payment system as fiscal assistant secretary. It’s unclear what Musk wants to do with the payment system. He’s claimed that he could trim $1 trillion from the federal deficit “just by addressing waste, fraud and abuse.” “That’s the biggest data hack ever in the world,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, told reporters in Madison. “I am outraged about it.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent must revoke Musk’s access to the payment system. “We must halt this unlawful and dangerous power grab,” he said on Capitol Hill. A group representing retirees and union workers sued Bessent and the Treasury Department on Monday to get them to stop sharing personal and financial information with DOGE. Trump rewards Musk’s fealty Musk’s role is partially a reward for his work on behalf of Trump during the campaign. He spent roughly $250 million supporting Trump through America PAC, which included door-to-door canvassing and digital advertising. Although the PAC has not announced its next plans, Musk has suggested that he could endorse primary challenges to Republican lawmakers who defy Trump’s agenda. “The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like him,” Musk said in a conversation streamed live on X. “Frankly, I love the guy. He’s great.” Musk also described his work overhauling the federal government in existential terms, making it clear that he would push as hard and as far as he could. “If it’s not possible now, it will never be possible. This is our shot,” he said. “This is the best hand of cards we’re ever going to have. If we don’t take advantage of this best hand of cards, it’s never going to happen.” Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri, Scott Bauer, Tom Beaumont, Rick Gentilo, Joshua Goodman, Lisa Mascaro, Zeke Miller, Sarah Parvini and Byron Tau contributed reporting. —Chris Megerian, Associated Press View the full article

The discount retailer that plans to take over and operate hundreds of Big Lots stores is closer to deciding which locations it will save. Some 200 Big Lots leases have been designated to be transferred to Variety Wholesalers, the North Carolina-based owner of Roses and other discount chains, new court documents show. In a bankruptcy filing dated Monday, Big Lots said it will transfer the locations as part of its agreement with Gordon Brothers, the restructuring and investment firm that took control of the embattled retailer earlier this month. The list includes Big Lots locations across at least a dozen states, mostly in the South and Midwest regions. It’s unclear what Variety’s plans for the locations fully entail or if the stores will remain open continuously throughout the process. Concerned parties have until February 18 to object to the transfer of the leases. A spokesperson for Gordon Brothers confirmed with Fast Company that Variety intends to operate the leases as Big Lots stores, but said the list was not final and new locations could be added. Fast Company has also reached out to Variety Wholesalers. Variety had originally said it would take over between 200 to 400 Big Lots stores in an 11th-hour deal announced late last year that purportedly rescued the bankrupt brand from complete oblivion. Although Big Lots said the plan would potentially save thousands of jobs, workers have mostly been in the dark about which of the retailer’s more than 800 locations would be closing for good. The new list is likely to provide a modicum of closure for some employees who have been working under a lot of uncertainty for many weeks. The parties have asked a court to give them until April 7 to make the final determination. Gordon Brothers has since listed hundreds of Big Lots leases for sale to retailers that want to take over the spaces. This story is developing… View the full article

The discount retailer that plans to take over and operate hundreds of Big Lots stores is closer to deciding which locations it will save. Some 200 Big Lots leases have been designated to be transferred to Variety Wholesalers, the North Carolina-based owner of Roses and other discount chains, new court documents show. In a bankruptcy filing dated Monday, Big Lots said it will transfer the locations as part of its agreement with Gordon Brothers, the restructuring and investment firm that took control of the embattled retailer earlier this year. The list includes Big Lots locations across more than a dozen states, mostly in the South and Midwest regions. It’s unclear what Variety’s plans for the locations fully entail or if the stores will remain open continuously throughout the process. Concerned parties have until February 18 to object to the transfer of the leases. A spokesperson for Gordon Brothers confirmed with Fast Company that Variety intends to operate the leases as Big Lots stores, but said the list was not final and new locations could be added. Fast Company has also reached out to Variety Wholesalers. Variety had originally said it would take over between 200 to 400 Big Lots stores in an 11th-hour deal announced late last year that purportedly rescued the bankrupt brand from complete oblivion. Although Big Lots said the plan would potentially save thousands of jobs, workers have mostly been in the dark about which of the retailer’s more than 800 locations would be closing for good. The new list is likely to provide a modicum of closure for some employees who have been working under a lot of uncertainty for many weeks. States with Big Lots leases included on the list are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Mississippi, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The parties have asked a court to give them until April 7 to make the final determination. Gordon Brothers has since listed hundreds of Big Lots leases for sale to retailers that want to take over the spaces. Here’s the full list of locations: Alabama 1619 TOWN SQ SW CULLMAN, AL 5363 HWY 90 W STE C MOBILE, AL 603 US HWY 72 W ATHENS, AL 1820 6TH AVE SE DECATUR, AL 1100 HWY 78 W JASPER, AL 5510 MCFARLAND BLVD NORTHPORT, AL Florida 3401 13TH ST STE 100 SAINT CLOUD, FL 146 SE US HIGHWAY 19 CRYSTAL RIVER, FL 4901 PALM BEACH BLVD STE 230 FORT MYERS, FL 13970 N CLEVELAND AVE NORTH FORT MYERS, FL 843 W BLOOMINGDALE AVE BRANDON, FL 122 S NOVA RD ORMOND BEACH, FL 9119 MERRILL RD STE 50 JACKSONVILLE, FL 3048 E COLLEGE AVE RUSKIN, FL 6247 HIGHWAY 90 MILTON, FL 2384 COMMERCIAL WAY SPRING HILL, FL 4700 HIGHWAY 90 MARIANNA, FL 225 S TYNDALL PKWY CALLAWAY, FL Georgia 127 COMMERCE AVE LAGRANGE, GA 110 E NORTHSIDE DR VALDOSTA, GA 2305 E 1ST ST VIDALIA, GA 3791 S COBB DR SE STE G SMYRNA, GA 3111 HIGHWAY 278 NW COVINGTON, GA 1803 KNIGHT AVE STE A2 WAYCROSS, GA 260 MERCHANTS SQUARE DALLAS, GA 13 LESTER RD STE C STATESBORO, GA 323 HABERSHAM VILLAGE CIR CORNELIA, GA 4420 ALTAMA AVE STE C2 BRUNSWICK, GA 2932 CANTON RD STE 210 MARIETTA, GA 4125 HIGHWAY 20, STE A-2 BUFORD, GA 558 BATTLEFIELD PKWY FORT OGLETHORPE, GA Ohio 2837 WINCHESTER PIKE COLUMBUS, OH 498 CADIZ RD WINTERSVILLE, OH 9025 OHIO RIVER RD WHEELERSBURG, OH 1965 W STATE ST ALLIANCE, OH 3961 HOOVER RD GROVE CITY, OH 3946 W ALEXIS RD TOLEDO, OH 408 BLUEBELL DR NW NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH 12588 ROCKSIDE RD CLEVELAND, OH 7100 SOUTH AVE YOUNGSTOWN, OH 400 SILVER BRIDGE PLZ GALLIPOLIS, OH 1336 WHIPPLE AVE NW CANTON, OH 4331 MAHONING AVE NW WARREN, OH 8489 MARKET ST MENTOR, OH 1890 W MARKET ST suite #500 AKRON, OH 405 HOWE AVE. CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH 426 EAST WATERLOO RD AKRON, OH 6300 E LIVINGSTON AVE REYNOLDSBURG, OH 1800 E STATE ST FREMONT, OH 3640 WERK RD. CINCINNATI, OH 56104 NATIONAL RD BRIDGEPORT, OH 367 COUNTY RD 406 STE B SOUTH POINT, OH 825 CLEVELAND ST, ELYRIA, OH 10560 HARRISON AVE HARRISON, OH 110 S 7TH ST MARIETTA, OH 2050 E DOROTHY LN KETTERING, OH 1700 E MAIN ST LANCASTER, OH 241 W WOOSTER RD BARBERTON, OH Michigan 659 24TH ST PORT HURON, MI 5112 MILLER RD FLINT, MI 7651 23 MILE RD SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI 14333 EUREKA RD SOUTHGATE, MI 4157 E. COURT STREET BURTON, MI Mississippi 5778 HWY 80 E PEARL, MS 2605 W MAIN ST TUPELO, MS Indiana 195 S US HWY 231 JASPER, IN Kentucky 200 SYCAMORE ST STE 151 ELIZABETHTOWN, KY 472 EASTERN BYP RICHMOND, KY 86 APPALACHIAN PLZ SOUTH WILLIAMSON, KY 294 VILLAGE LN HAZARD, KY 1714 PERRYVILLE RD STE 400 DANVILLE, KY 1342 INDIAN MOUND DR MOUNT STERLING, KY 845 S MAIN ST LONDON, KY 400 CAMPBELLSVILLE BYP CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY 102 N 12TH ST MIDDLESBORO, KY Louisiana 755 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD METAIRIE, LA Pennsylvania 2611 ELLWOOD RD NEW CASTLE, PA 11628 PENN HILLS DR PITTSBURGH, PA 697 ALLEGHENY BLVD FRANKLIN, PA 1425 SCALP AVE STE 130 JOHNSTOWN, PA 750 OHIO RIVER BLVD ROCHESTER, PA 3437 SIMPSON FERRY RD CAMP HILL, PA 2444 PHILADELPHIA ST INDIANA, PA 467 W PENN AVE CLEONA, PA 820 WATER ST MEADVILLE, PA 2140 WHITE ST YORK, PA 2431 COLUMBIA BLVD BLOOMSBURG, PA 1010 ONEILL HWY DUNMORE, PA 1241 BLAKESLEE BOULEVARD DR E LEHIGHTON, PA 6041 STATE ROUTE 30 STE 20 GREENSBURG, PA 7405 WESTBRANCH HWY LEWISBURG, PA 1150 CARLISLE ST HANOVER, PA 156 EAGLES GLEN, PLZ STE 190 EAST STROUDSBURG, PA 5522 SHAFFER RD UNIT 7 DU BOIS, PA 500 LINCOLN HWY STE 4 FAIRLESS HILLS, PA 4717 MCKNIGHT RD PITTSBURGH, PA 866 SCRANTON CARBONDALE HWY EYNON, PA 389 N. READING RD. EPHRATA, PA North Carolina 1504 N BRIDGE ST ELKIN, NC 1811 S CHURCH ST BURLINGTON, NC 1328 CARTER ST, MOUNT AIRY, NC 4600 MAIN ST STE 1 SHALLOTTE, NC 526c US HIGHWAY 70 SW HICKORY, NC 100 WESTWOOD VILLAGE DR CLEMMONS, NC 838 WINSTON RD LEXINGTON, NC 1403 S POLLOCK ST SELMA, NC 2725 NORTHWEST BLVD NEWTON, NC 520 BERNE SQ NEW BERN, NC 1110 JULIAN R ALLSBROOK HWY ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC 3915 RAMSEY STREET FAYETTEVILLE, NC 376 WEST PLAZA DRIVE MOORESVILLE, NC 273 FRANKLIN PLAZA DR FRANKLIN, NC 1664 S MAIN ST STE B LAURINBURG, NC 280 CONCORD PKWY N CONCORD, NC 1176 RUSS AVE WAYNESVILLE, NC 1020 CROSSROADS DR STATESVILLE, NC 2531 EASTCHESTER DR HIGH POINT, NC 1432 E DIXIE DR ASHEBORO, NC 3718 BATTLEGROUND AVE GREENSBORO, NC 955 N WESLEYAN BLVD ROCKY MOUNT, NC 720 NC 24 27 BYP E ALBEMARLE, NC 609 GREENVILLE BLVD SE GREENVILLE, NC 685 S HUGHES BLVD ELIZABETH CITY, NC 1639 US HIGHWAY 74A BYP SPINDALE, NC 1371 N SANDHILLS BLVD ABERDEEN, NC 950 S CANNON BLVD STE A KANNAPOLIS, NC 2950 S. HORNER BLVD. SANFORD, NC 1700 RALEIGH RD PKWY W STE 104 WILSON, NC 1450 ANDREWS RD MURPHY, NC 2900 ARENDELL ST STE 19 MOREHEAD CITY, NC 630 LAKESTONE COMMONS AVE FUQUAY VARINA, NC 601 PARK ST BELMONT, NC 1110 WESTERN BLVD JACKSONVILLE, NC 1826 W US HWY 421 STE K WILKESBORO, NC 711 E. INNES ST. SALISBURY, NC 130 WEAVER BLVD WEAVERVILLE, NC 403 N GENERALS BLVD LINCOLNTON, NC 1677 WESTCHESTER DR HIGH POINT, NC 1251 BURKEMONT AVE MORGANTON, NC 2750C N ROBERTS AVE LUMBERTON, NC 12295 CAPITAL BLVD WAKE FOREST, NC 1728 E DIXON BLVD SHELBY, NC 4956 LONG BEACH RD SE, STE 8 SOUTHPORT, NC 1063 YADKINVILLE RD MOCKSVILLE, NC South Carolina 207 OCONEE SQUARE DR SENECA, SC 1000 N PINE ST SPARTANBURG, SC 1023A S PENDLETON ST EASLEY, SC 1370 S KINGS HWY MYRTLE BEACH, SC 339 BYPASS 72 NW GREENWOOD, SC 9221 TWO NOTCH RD STE 30 COLUMBIA, SC 710 HWY 17 S STE D NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC 1206 HIGHWAY 9 BYPASS W LANCASTER, SC 1641 CHURCH ST CONWAY, SC 3230 AUGUSTA RD WEST COLUMBIA, SC 2349 CHERRY RD STE 79 ROCK HILL, SC 431 SAINT JAMES AVE UNIT G GOOSE CREEK, SC 6169 ST. ANDREWS RD. COLUMBIA, SC 915 S ST STE A SIMPSONVILLE, SC 10150 DORCHESTER RD UNIT 227 SUMMERVILLE, SC 328 ROBERT SMALLS PKWY BEAUFORT, SC Tennessee 3110 E OAKLAND AVE JOHNSON CITY, TN 420 PARK BLVD ROGERSVILLE, TN 1301 S JAMES CAMPBELL BLVD COLUMBIA, TN 1041 S RIVERSIDE DR CLARKSVILLE, TN 840 25TH ST NW CLEVELAND, TN 4825 N BROADWAY ST KNOXVILLE, TN 2342 E ANDREW JOHNSON HWY MORRISTOWN, TN 220 DICKSON PLAZA DR DICKSON, TN 1475 E ANDREW JOHNSON HWY GREENEVILLE, TN 744 NASHVILLE PIKE GALLATIN, TN 201 FORKS OF THE RIVER PARKWAY SEVIERVILLE, TN 1262 NW BROAD ST MURFREESBORO, TN 1806 N JACKSON ST TULLAHOMA, TN Virginia 1090 MILLWOOD PIKE WINCHESTER, VA 1090 BYPASS RD VINTON, VA 4300 PORTSMOUTH BLVD CHESAPEAKE, VA 5260 OAKLAWN BLVD NORTH PRINCE GEORGE, VA 180 KENTS RIDGE RD RICHLANDS, VA 1851 E LITTLE CREEK RD NORFOLK, VA 2646 GREENSBORO RD MARTINSVILLE, VA 1971 S MILITARY HWY CHESAPEAKE, VA 4318 GEORGE WASHINGTON MEM HWY YORKTOWN, VA 2911 HERSHBERGER RD NW ROANOKE, VA 2660 WEIR PLACE CHESTER, VA 2715 W MAIN ST WAYNESBORO, VA 6610 MOORETOWN RD WILLIAMSBURG, VA 10001 HULL STREET RD NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA 2318 W MERCURY BLVD HAMPTON, VA 260 REMOUNT RD FRONT ROYAL, VA 10611 COURTHOUSE RD FREDERICKSBURG, VA West Virginia 1350 STAFFORD DR PRINCETON, WV 104 THOMPSON DR BRIDGEPORT, WV 110 EAGLE SCHOOL RD MARTINSBURG, WV 710 BEVERLY PIKE ELKINS, WV 291 MALL RD OAK HILL, WV 4522 ROBERT C BYRD DR BECKLEY, WV 118 HILLS PLZ CHARLESTON, WV This story is developing… View the full article

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Not long ago, much of the business world still ran on Rolodexes, fax machines and file cabinets. Today, most of those once indispensable tools have been rendered obsolete and replaced by modern technology that has redefined the way we work. This integration of technology into all facets of business operations is widely known as Digital Transformation (DX), and it’s happening across nearly every industry today. In fact, 74% of organizations now consider DX initiatives a top priority, with global spending projected to hit $3.9 trillion by 2027. While modern tech solutions offer significant benefits, the race to keep up with emerging trends can overwhelm decision-makers and lead to costly mistakes. But technology doesn’t have to be daunting. By asking the right questions of your team and vendors, you can identify, vet, and implement solutions that deliver real ROI for your business and customers. The following framework will guide you in developing a strategy to cut through the noise, mitigate risk, and empower your team to make technology investments that set you up for long-term success. So, whether you’re just starting, stuck in neutral, or somewhere in between, read on. The Wrong Solution Can Create New Problems This may sound elementary, but it’s critical to understand your problem before investing in a solution. For example, AI can drive efficiency by automating manual work, but it’s useless unless you know where to deploy it. So, audit how your team spends its time. Data is helpful here, but frontline team members can also provide invaluable anecdotal feedback on productivity bottlenecks that automation could solve. Plus, engaging your team early on builds the buy-in necessary for smooth implementation later. That audit might also reveal multiple issues, but that doesn’t mean you can or should try to solve them all at once. Instead, create a road map to help prioritize the most pressing challenges and then systematically work through others as time and resources allow. Once you’ve determined a problem, define the specific outcome you aim to achieve by implementing technology—like increasing role efficiency by 25 percent or decreasing cost per order by $1. Precision is key here, as vague objectives can lead to misguided investments in tools that fail to deliver results. Research Possible Solutions Now, you can start solutioning. Begin by reviewing potential vendor solutions and understanding their commonalities versus differentiation or even how industries outside your own address similar objectives. Though you work in fintech, you might be surprised by what you can learn about predictive analytics by studying how logistics service providers use data to lower shipping costs and improve efficiency or looking at how retail brands leverage AI to create hyper-personalized customer experiences. Keeping an open mind will always pay off. Make Data-Driven Decisions Next, conduct comprehensive due diligence on each potential solution. Go beyond the marketing materials—understand how the features apply to your specific problem, weigh costs against expected ROI, clarify what implementation support you’ll receive and consult team members who will use the tool. Arming yourself with all relevant data will help mitigate risk and drive buy-in across your organization. Product fit is just one part of the equation when investing in third-party technology. These solutions often address long-term opportunities, meaning you might work with a service provider for several years or more. If you sense any misalignment between your team and the service provider, trust your instincts and continue your search. Buying Versus Building You’ll also need to decide whether to buy off-the-shelf technology or develop a custom solution in-house. Enterprise-level organizations with extensive technology teams may have the resources to build in-house, while SMBs often find ready-made tools perfectly suitable and far more cost-effective. Regardless, factor in the total cost of these options, including employee onboarding, systems integration and tech support, as these expenses can add up quickly. Whether buying or building, most technology isn’t plug-and-play at scale. That’s why a detailed implementation and change management plan is essential. While making time for thorough employee training and troubleshooting may seem tedious, these steps are critical for achieving alignment and maximizing the solution’s impact, so don’t skip it. Continually Measure Success Once the initial implementation is complete, measure success against your goals. Ramp-up may take time, but if the solution doesn’t deliver results within six months, collaborate with your team and the service provider to identify issues and adjust course as needed. Tracking progress also helps maintain stakeholder support—providing updates on outcomes and celebrating milestones can keep the team engaged and help secure resources for further investment. Lastly, as your business evolves, don’t let this step slip by or stagnate your approach. Regularly revisiting and refining your review process as your needs change will ensure that a solution continues to deliver ongoing value over the long term or make clear when it’s time for something new. Investing in technology isn’t just about acquiring tools—it’s about solving problems that empower your team and deliver long-term results. If you’re new to this world, be patient with yourself and your team as you navigate the learning curve together. Mistakes are inevitable, but taking time to align solutions with clear objectives, evaluate vendors carefully and implement effectively will help mitigate potential risks and drive meaningful results for your team and business. View the full article

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