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Gehad Hamdy: Supporting Egyptian Women from Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a serious problem in Egypt and has become increasingly pervasive in recent years. The country has one of the highest sexual harassment rates in the world, with nearly 99% of Egyptian women reporting experiencing some form of sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment often takes the form of verbal or physical harassment, including catcalling, unwanted touching, and even rape. It is often seen as a normal part of everyday life in Egypt, and many women feel powerless to do anything about it. Even if they report the harassment, they are often met with indifference or even denial from the authorities. Although the Egyptian government has taken steps to address the issue, much is still to be done. Many laws have been passed to protect women from sexual harassment, but they are rarely enforced. So, in 2020 Gehad Hamdy, a 27-year-old dentist, founded the Speak Up initiative against sexual harassment and gender-based violence in Egypt. Speak Up is the number one destination for the victims of gender-based violence in Egypt, looking for perpetrators’ exposure, psychological support, legal guidance, and solidarity. In 2022, BBC recognized Gehad as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in the world. She is also a winner of two Women SME Leaders 2022 awards, including The Change Maker and The Humanitarian. Additionally, she was a finalist for the Women Empowerment Award by Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum 2021 and the current finalist for the International Humanitarian Award by Women4Africa 2022.

Establishing Speak-Up

Since its foundation in 2020, the Speak Up movement has gained immense momentum. With its followers increasing each passing day, Speak Up has filled a much-needed gap for women in Egyptian society.

“Speak Up expanded widely and has been a direct cause of female-empowerment legislation issued by the Egyptian parliament. Also, we have initiated various campaigns against harassers and rapists, many of which resulted in their arrest and accountability,”– states Gehad.

Women from all backgrounds have found refuge in the Speak Up community for perpetrators’ exposure, legal guidance, and psychological support. Since the initiative’s inception, Gehad has witnessed an unbelievable rise in the number of women coming out and reporting their harassers, despite the threats made against every woman in Egypt who does so. After gaining unbelievable support from the majority of Egyptian celebrities, Speak Up also exposed many male public figures for promoting rape culture in their work and became widely feared by the harassers.

Bringing Perpetrators to Book

The most prominent example of Speak Up’s commitment to this cause is the famous campaign against a serial child rapist, Michael Fahmy. Gehad launched, managed, and mobilized all her resources for this campaign until the perpetrator was behind bars and tried for severe charges that eventually ended in a life sentence. Gehad was so devoted to the process of seeing these victims get justice that she had to quit her profession as a dentist in order to focus on the case.

“We also pushed for public figures to be canceled after promoting rape culture in their work, such as singer Saad Lamjarred who was accused of rape and whose shows in Egypt were canceled after a collaborative feminist campaign in which Speak Up played a big role,”– explains Gehad.

Gehad also spearheaded Speak Up’s viral campaign against the iconic Egyptian singer Amr Diab who took part in a Citroën advertisement that promoted non-consensual photographing of women. This viral campaign eventually resulted in the cancellation of the advertisement and an apology from the car manufacturer.

Bringing an Immense Societal Change

Under Gehad’s Leadership, Speak Up worked on more than 400 cases, bringing justice to victims. Through its vast network of connections, the organization has provided free legal and psychological assistance to more than 14,000 victims by connecting them to volunteering professionals.

Speak Up advocated for amendments to Egyptian law that criminalized Female Genital Mutilation, which the Egyptian House of Representatives adopted, and the law came into effect in march 2021. In response to its campaigns, Speak Up has collected over 15,000 sexual harassment testimonies and 20,000 testimonies of domestic violence, marital rape, bullying, virginity tests, female genital mutilation (FGM), violent obligation on religious rituals, and medical bias against women. Also, a viral campaign by Speak Up has ensured the provision of free sanitary pads in more than 80 schools and 11 cafes across Egypt.

Looking at the Future

In the future, Gehad will continue to advocate for creating a special unit at the ministry of interior trained to handle female blackmail and extortion. She also plans to scale the initiative to get higher reach in all governorates of Egypt with professionals addressing local issues in each Egyptian governorate and launch a professional blog to increase awareness on various topics related to sexual and reproductive health, legal issues regarding harassment, and general awareness.

Being the initiative’s founder, Gehad envisions Speak Up solidifying and officializing its role as the primary actor and channel of communication coordinating between the victims and the authorities.

“My vision for a better world is one free of gender-based violence in all its forms, where women and minorities are empowered to speak up for themselves and not be shamed by their societies,”– Gehad concludes.

Dr. Ani Atanasova: Harnessing New Technologies to Enhance Communication, Education, and Entertainment

As the CEO of Pixelhunters, a global leader in 3D content, Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality, Metaverse, and game development, Dr. Ani Atanasova is well-versed in animation, 3D design, anamorphic content, and user interaction. With a Ph.D. in Quantum and Optoelectronics, she has been involved in research, teaching, and various patented projects in the EU pertaining to lasers, laser amplifiers, laser applications, and magnetic field management. She is on the advisory boards of several universities in the UAE and is the UAE correspondent for the Young Business Leaders France and chairwoman of the UAE Chapter of the International Game Developers Association. Additionally, she has been a judge for the International Business Awards, Stevie Awards, and “A Design” Awards. Dr. Ani is also a frequent speaker at conferences focusing on technology, women’s leadership, AR/VR, innovation, game design, and gamification.

We recently got the chance to sit down with Dr. Ani to learn more about how she is leading Pixelhunters to exceed customer expectations by binding future technology to their accomplished artists’ visual imagination and knowledge.

Below are the highlights of the interview:

Q) Ani Atanasova, first of all, thanks for your time from the suitcase of your busy schedule. Enlighten us, as a businesswoman, what was your mission at the outset?

Dr. Ani) “Pixelhunters is not just a business for me, but my life.” It is a label of love, not just because am passionate about the work, but also, I run the business with my husband Iliya Atanasov.

I came from a science background before Pixelhunters. The reason for shifting to the creative field is actually my husband. We are 24 years together; for him creating digital art is a passion, he started in the CGI field as a hobby that he turned into a profession. Almost 14 years ago, he convinced me that we could have an exciting journey with Pixelhunters, and thus the story begins.

We merged our interests, and expertise to build Pixelhunters. A lot of people are curious about the name – we hunt pixels to create beautiful things.

I am a very tenacious person that doesn’t give up easily at obstacles; my mission was and still is to make Pixelhunters a recognizable brand that stands out with quality that brings value to our customers. In the beginning, I had to learn fast about the industry, but I was motivated to introduce science into the art, which we successfully did.

Q) Shine some light on Pixelhunters. What are its key services/products?

Dr. Ani) We create content in any format – 2D, 3D, films, games, combined with any latest technology available – AR, VR, motion captures, sensors, screens, holograms, and robots, empowered by Data and science to create digital experiences that matter.

Q) What is the change you are bringing with your brand today? Tell us about the clientele that can benefit from Pixelhunters.

Dr. Ani) We bring immersion to businesses and education. Our mission is to excite the audience’s interactions with brands, creating experiences that attract, educate, and entertain at the same time. We work for governments, large corporations, and SMEs.

Q) Please enlighten us on how did you build your team.

Dr. Ani) Teams are the essence of any business. Pixelhunters is a family-owned business. My husband is the CTO and the creative director. Our team is more than work colleagues – it is our family. We accept our team’s strengths and differences; we are trying to work in harmony while always enjoying the creative process. Most of our team members are many years with us. For our business, creative portfolios are essential, but they are something easy to build. We value most ethical skills and loyalty; this is what we reward in team growth.

Q) How did you deal with the challenge of acceptance? What were the other challenges you overcame?

Dr. Ani) My first challenge with Pixelhunters was related to conveying to the market who we are. We built a top team of recognized artists; we have been creating award-winning videos, but then you realize quality is not enough. Developing a business is building your reputation – everything is important – quality, leadership, production speed, understanding the values of the countries you work in, pricing, competition, customer service, flexibility doing changes, and working on last-minute projects. In the challenging economy nowadays, more stuff is added to this list. Business is not given; it must be earned. It is not guaranteed that if the company is old, it will sustain itself forever. We need to add value to it every single day.

Q) What has been the development path of Pixelhunters?

Dr. Ani) We started as an animation & VFX company; we became the first indie game developer in the UAE. We were within the first designing AR & VR starting with the early developer versions of these technologies; we experiment with every new tech on the market to see how to make more exciting digital journeys. We have developed a couple of VR & AR platforms related to education & training. We have done hundreds of experiential marketing projects, and lately, we have been very much involved in metaverses (for clients and with our metaverse platform). Creating immersions for every industry with proven engagement has always been paving our path to the future.

Q) How is your company synchronizing with the latest advancements in 3D designs & animation?

Dr. Ani) We must constantly learn and follow the trends and the latest innovations. Most of our team members are engineers, so R&D is the essence of our success. Improving the speed of production while increasing the quality is our top priority. We are proud that we often work on projects many others don’t dare to accept due to impossible deadlines.

Q) If you were to answer a young female executive’s question, ‘How can I be a good leader?’, what would you advise?

Dr. Ani) Most important is to know yourself well – your strengths and your weaknesses. Amplify your skills every day, and don’t be afraid to fail. Learning for life should be your motto, and keep going if you believe your actions are valuable for you, your team, and your customers. Success doesn’t come overnight. It needs persistence and hard work. Thus with time, all your weaknesses will turn into strengths.

Q) What is so exclusive about Pixelhunters that has brought so much success to the company? What business/people problems have it successfully solved?

Dr. Ani) Some people work to live, while we live to work. We love so much the creative process and seeing how our efforts turn into beautiful content and experiences. We do not perceive work as something we must do because it pays the bills. We accept every project as a challenge, and we always try to put ourselves into our client’s shoes, understand their pain points and align with their goals. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing our clients happy with the projects we did together and especially seeing our work in use for many years. Nowadays, there is so much content around us that sometimes it takes effort to focus. Must have outstanding quality, idea, something different, unseen before. Making the content interactive involves users in personalized experiences that they tend to memorize longer.

We are also well-known in the educational field, especially in game-based learning and gamification. The power of games is that they make people follow the rules voluntarily to achieve a game goal, so we use that as an advantage to make learning more fun, engaging, and lasting. We are leaders in multiplayer learning based on competition or collaboration to speed up studying, saving time and effort. We have our own game-based multiplayer platform, as well as our own metaverse, to experience learning and team interactions even better.

Q) What are your views on women’s entrepreneurship?

Dr. Ani) Women are less risk-takers, but women-led businesses are proven more sustainable in the long run. Women have more patience in achieving long-term goals, hearing often, and dealing with the “NO” word, and I believe this comes naturally from our motherhood.

I often speak worldwide about women entrepreneurs, women in technology, and women leaders, and I feel happy to witness and meet the growing number of great women professionals with successful businesses.

Q) Please highlight the achievements and accolades attained by the Company by far.

Dr. Ani) We have worked on several platforms that are worldwide innovations. For example, a VR platform for visualizing youth’s future; another is a unique hazard perception training and testing platform that evaluates driver’s performance to hazards in real-time; and the other is an AR-enabled multiplayer learning platform. We also created hundreds of game-based marketing & awareness tools, many immersive rooms & experiences, and we made a giant step into the metaverse last year for client projects and our own.

Dr. Nairouz Bader and Srini Pillay, M.D

“I Just Happen To Be A Woman” Effectiveness without Activism to Elevate Your Business Career

Being a woman in business can be a significant challenge. Extensive research shows that social biases exist against women getting a loan, getting paid, being a CEO, and a number of other benchmarks of progress and status in business. While there is a tremendous effort to seek gender equity and parity in business, most approaches emphasize identifying unconscious biases, seeking inclusion, or adopting an activist stance to advance the cause of women. While these all have distinct advantages, we believe that the issue of addressing gender bias must be more nuanced than this.

In this blog, we will address the psychological disadvantages of activism and an alternative approach to gender bias in the workplace. In so doing, we are not blatantly eschewing activism and inclusion. Instead, we are proposing that women take a more nuanced approach to advance their own agency and empowerment by considering the dilemmas in their actions

The other side of activism

Compromises individuality: Psychologically speaking, an activist identity is a collective one. It declares that one is part of an “ingroup”. On the surface, both of these ideas seem fine, except that they may obscure individual strengths and become self-defining.

Challenges of true inclusion: Also, activism sets up a polarized (us-them) framework that may slow down inclusion if it remains static. It may not suit some women to be seen as “women” in such an overt way that the recognition persistently excludes them. While the “us-them” mentality allows for confrontation and negotiation, it makes the genuine connection and loves more difficult

Extreme reactions and masochism: Research indicates that a feeling of “oneness” with a group makes people react more extremely. As a result, they engage in risk, self-sacrificing, and potentially life-threatening behavior. Self-representation as martyrdom is non-ideal in many instances. Rather than being courageous, it becomes unconscious self-sabotage.

Destructive anger: There are many prosocial forms of anger that are constructive. For instance, addressing injustices with anger may be an effective and authentic form of communicating. However, when people are angry, they are more likely to be perceived as unfriendly and incompetent. On many instances, anger is an ineffective instrument for persuasion. At a physiological level, destructive anger is associated with a greater risk of coronary heart disease too.

An alternative to activism

In order to manage the potential dangers of activism, we suggest that women incorporate the following ideas in their thinking.

The individual within the collective: When women are expressing their own views about injustice, it may help the listener to see the “group injustice” independent of the woman. For instance, it’s not fair for anyone of any gender doing the same work as anyone else to be paid less. Even if it were a man who was being paid less than the other men, it would not be fair. So, the issue that can be stressed is that the playing field should be levelled, rather than being trapped within a collective identity.

Also, it is relevant to include personal experience in a discussion. This is more likely to reach a listener. And shared collectives with a person (e.g. landscape identification) can be helpful to incorporate in the conversation too.

Form an “us-group”: Rather than asking the ingroup to include you as the “outgroup”, ask ,”What would it take for us to work together?” Sticking to that agenda sets up a proactive contemplation: What do I need to do to get promoted? What do I need to do to get paid more? Are these the same standards applied to everyone? Forming an in-group/out-group dialogue will just lead to more rejection pain.

Moderate and diversify your identifications: Look out for self-sabotage or self-destructive behaviors. Often, activism is traumatic to the activist, and this trauma may make it difficult to attend to one’s self. Caring about a purpose or mission starts with caring about yourself.

Keep anger constructive or seek other emotions: Rather than imposing an emotion on someone, ask them,
“What does it make sense to feel if you were in my position?” Moral anger can be helpful if it not threatening.
Otherwise, the other person will be in fight or flight mode.

BIO:- Rt. Dr. Nairouz Bader

Dr. Nairouz Bader, the CEO, and founder of Envision Partnership is a global career powerhouse with +20 years of market and business experience supporting management teams in corporations around the world through her leadership and board advisory consulting services.

She plays a major role in women empowerment projects, coaching female leadership in the META region. Among several initiatives, Dr. Nairouz is part of #Accelerate Her mentorship program, dedicated to developing female talents in #Fintech.

Her achievements were featured in an array of notable media gates and publications such as Arabiya, CNBC, Forbes, People Management, and Horasis.

Barbara Amerio: Helping Clients Sail Away to a World of Luxury and Adventure

Fernando Amerio founded the Permare Group in 1973 to provide marine services to the expanding Ligurian customers and the nearby Côte d’Azur. Later in the 1990s, the Permare Shipyard began producing boats under the brand name “Amer Yachts,” which would later become synonymous with quality and customization in the boats and ships segment. The Permare Group is a family business led by its founder Fernando Amerio and his children, Barbara and Rodolfo. In the last 40 years, the shipyard has created over 90 custom-built yachts for Italian and foreign customers. Amer Yachts have been exported to the United States, the Far East, the Middle East, and Arab countries. The shipyard also facilitates yearly training by partnering with several universities, including Bocconi, Istituto Marangoni, IED – European Institute of Design, and IAAD – Italian University of Design to stimulate growth, innovation, and research in design and, most importantly, educate upcoming designers about the significance of integrating environmental awareness into their designs. We recently got a chance to sit with Barbara Amerio, the SPP Ambassador of the Permare Group, to learn how the organization serves its clients with its luxury products.

Below are the highlights of the interview

Q) Please tell us about your professional journey.

Superyacht building is a fascinating work of creativity, innovation, and technology for a unique handmade good strong enough to survive decades at sea and under the sun. Italians are at the top of the industry, and our company is at the top of the list for semi-custom superyachts in composite and steel.

Q) Please tell us about Permare Company and how it is serving its clients.

They are exceptional, sophisticated, and talented businesswomen and men with previous experiences in yachting and with professional crews. Both want the best and agree with our theory to prefer a limited production for saving the high quality and the detailed finishes. This fact permits a plus value in case of reselling.

Q) How do you motivate creativity and innovation in the workspace while maintaining a healthy work environment?

With healthy competition, our shipyard incentivizes and invests in the human factor to grow our workers’ skills. It helps competent and specialized people become comfortable and ready to face new challenges and find unusual solutions and new ideas for Ameryacht’s product development and company strategy

Q) Please share the pandemic’s effect on the shipyard.

It was like an invisible war. We protected all the workers, giving assistance and free health insurance coverage just in case of covid illness for them and their families. We have worked for several months only remotely. Some activities have remained on for granting base services. Casually I have spent a few months living on board due to a home change, which has permitted me to discover the boat as a private and safe place. After the first covid wave, many people did the same thinking. Boat = freedom+ health place+ oxygen. This is the best explication for the new after covid boom in yachting, coming back to being close to nature and giving the right weight to actual values, like life, family, and a holistic vision, never seen the same in the past.

Q) What are the primary challenges of the industry? How are you tackling those?

Good question. In the past, profit was the primary factor used to assess a company’s performance, but now the focus has shifted in the opposite direction. Profit is viewed as a result of a company’s actions and ability to propose well-defined and targeted strategies toward stakeholders and shareholders. ESG goals serve as the roadmap for the future. Building a reputable image is crucial and cannot be purchased, as it can greatly impact a company’s ability to sell its products and services. Our clients adopt similar principles in their own companies, seeking to purchase ethical products with added value.

Q) What milestones and achievements are you most proud of today?

We are growing fast. We have obtained excellent multi-awarded results to be shared along 50 years of activity and more than 90 units sold and under construction. Thanks to our confident customers, we contribute to building their best time and holidays. We recognize that the time our customers spend with us is invaluable, and as a result, we hold a great responsibility to ensure their safety and sustainability while reducing consumption, emissions, water, and energy. We invest in various fields to bring innovation and collaborate closely with our suppliers to achieve this.

Q) What are your priorities for 2023 and beyond?

We are working on new projects and testing basalt fibers to create a new recyclable composite. We have nine semi-custom superyachts under construction, and we are actively pursuing several potential deals to expand the Amer community

Q) Give us a piece of advice that you would share with entrepreneurs just starting out.

To create a strong reputation is important to keep the word and create a smart team. Make your story a good example, and be part of the change by actions for a new sustainable world.

Top Productivity Secrets Of Successful Remote Teams

Remote work emerged as a savior for businesses amid the pandemic. But it continues to be popular after the virus is no longer a reason to worry. Many businesses have decided to run remote teams in the new normal. In fact, you will probably have a few members working out of the office because hybrid is the way to go for organizations. It is convenient and flexible for employees and saves money and space for employers. But productivity is one thing business owners stress about when people work from home. However, you can check these productivity secrets of successful remote teams and imbibe them to manage your workforce seamlessly.

Secret #1- Bring the right people on board

Running a successful business is about having the best talent with relevant skills and experience. But working remotely means you must check specific soft skills that make people capable of giving their best, regardless of the location. Typically, you should look for skills such as good communication, critical thinking, social awareness, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Also, remember to prioritize cultural fits while hiring.

Secret #2- Set achievable goals

Another secret that successful remote teams swear by is setting achievable goals for employees. While you may want to push them harder to give their best, it can be counterintuitive from a productivity perspective. The best approach is to set realistic goals that keep them motivated. You can also define actionable milestones and timelines to relieve the stress and boost the morale of your workers.

Secret #3- Empower your team

Nothing is more crucial than empowering your team if you want them to be productive while working from out of the office. Start with essential training to help them access business data and systems securely and efficiently. Providing the necessary Remote Work Tools is equally important, as people need them for collaboration, teamwork, and time management. Another measure to implement for remote productivity is having a support team to resolve day-to-day IT issues.

Secret #4- Win with communication

Successful remote teams never fall short of communication, even if all employees work from different locations. You can win the communication game by ensuring good connectivity, setting up robust systems for emails and messaging, and creating an actionable protocol. Think beyond communication for work, and host virtual meetings to foster team bonding. Ensure that all workers are on the same page at all times, no matter where they are.

Secret #5- Keep your employees motivated

Motivation is another success factor that sets successful remote teams apart. Motivated people tend to be more productive and loyal. Fortunately, keeping your employees motivated is easier than you imagine. Check-in often, listen to their problems, and ensure an optimal work-life balance for them by establishing boundaries. Recognize and appreciate good work with creative incentives such as paid days off, gift coupons, and thank-you emails.
Managing a remote team is less daunting than it sounds. You can do your bit to keep employees ahead of productivity goals and expectations. Follow these actionable tips to make the most of them.

How To Identify Skills Gap in Your Workplace

Your employees are the backbone of your company. Without them, you cannot scale to greater heights. However, there will always be a gap in your team’s skill sets that could increase your chance of failing to achieve your organizational goals. Therefore, it would be wise to prioritize bridging that gap. Here are a few tips on identifying skill gaps in your office.

Observe your employees first-hand

Sometimes, the numbers you see in analytics and reports don’t accurately reflect the real situation on the ground. One of the best and easiest ways to identify skills gap is through observations. You will discover common issues among co-workers if you hang around your team and look beyond the obvious.

Now is the best time to leave the confines of your office and mingle with the common folk to see how numerous factors come into play and how the skill gaps developed in the first place.

Assess your employees

Another simple yet effective way to pick out any skill gaps in your business is through assessments. You could give your team members a test or a simple quiz to see whether everyone is on the same page. However, the methods mentioned above might induce anxiety and risk being ineffective.

An excellent alternative would be to design role-playing activities that allow you to see how your employees would react in a certain situation. It would be wise to base your assessments on actual work scenarios your employees can relate to obtain an accurate picture of existing skill gaps.

Provide feedback and constructive criticism

Feedback is crucial to the personal growth and development of your employees. There is a new appraisal system called 360-degree reviews, where employees receive feedback and criticism from their peers.

Sometimes, the feedback could also come from clients and other third parties external to the company. It would be wise to invest in quality software such as 360 feedback software by Primalogik that is easy to use. Your feedback system should be strictly developmental and not aimed at putting anyone down.

Use KPIs

KPI is an acronym for Key Performance Indicators. As the name suggests, these parameters determine how much an employee contributes to your establishment. They also indicate how competent an employee is and can affect compensation, career progression, and retention. If your team members struggle at work, your KPIs will accurately reveal gaps and help you develop appropriate interventions to remedy the problem.

Benchmark top performers

In every organization, there are bound to be individuals that exceed expectations and perform exceptionally well to your satisfaction. An excellent way to identify gaps in your team’s skill set is to measure the performance of other employees against top performers you consider the best in your organization, also known as benchmarking. Your analysis will help you form a template to guide other employees on the soft skills they should possess at work.

Final remarks

Now that you have successfully identified all the gaps in your workplace, you can work towards developing interventions to address all the issues. It would also be wise to ensure all the information you gather is based on hard facts and credible skills gap analysis.

Tips To Simplify HR Management For Your Small Business

Small businesses often run with fewer employees on board, but it does not make HR management any less complicated. In fact, you may find it more challenging because of the absence of a proper HR department. However, leaving things to chance may lead to employee dissatisfaction, and It is the blunder Canadian business owners often make. You may even risk high turnover and low retention due to complacency. Fortunately, a little effort can help you achieve more with less and overcome the challenges of managing a team on a tight budget. Let us share a few actionable tips to simplify HR management for your small business.

Go back to basics

Going back to basics is the best way to simplify small business processes, and HR management is no exception. You can do it by revisiting your company values and goals in the first place. Besides considering these factors, decide on things you truly value in your employees and rework your hiring process accordingly. Getting the best cultural fit for your business brings efficiency into people management. Moreover, you will be in a far better place to maximize their productivity and loyalty.

Stay ahead of the employment laws

Employment laws are for all organizations, regardless of size and scale. They govern practices like hiring and firing, employee safety, and equal opportunities. No business can afford to overlook them because neglecting them can lead to penalties and legal issues. Staying ahead of the latest laws and regulations in your area keeps these problems at bay. Moreover, it helps you simplify the HR management process and keep your team on your side.

Automate repetitive processes

Automating repetitive processes is a surefire measure to cut the workload of your HR managers and give them more time to focus on business-critical tasks. SMBs can look for a Canadian HR software solution to automate areas such as performance management, onboarding, workflow optimization, and employee absence management. The best thing about these solutions is that they grow along with your company, so you can trust them to scale according to your needs.

Switch complicated reviews with catch-ups

Another simple tip to ease HR management for your small business is to switch complicated reviews with catch-ups. Long and complex performance reviews are daunting for employees and managers, so they can actually do more harm than good. You can imagine the pain of filling review forms during annual appraisals, while your employees resent being criticized and bombarded with loads of advice. Consider frequent catch-ups to provide real-time feedback and quick improvement suggestions. The system eliminates waste of time and prevents stress.

Avoid micromanaging and controlling your employees

You may want to keep a constant vigil on your employees to ensure the best performance. But micromanagement is the worst thing a manager can do as it causes anxiety and conflicts. Of course, you must provide goals, tasks, and deadlines to employees. But avoid hovering over them because people hate the approach. It also affects mutual trust and loyalty, which are vital for any business.

HR management for small teams can be tricky because you have fewer people in managerial roles. But you can follow these strategies to ensure simplicity for the best outcomes.

8 Ways for Retail to Attract More Customers

In today’s competitive retail market, designing a space that attracts and engages customers is more important than ever. A well-designed retail space can make the difference between customers merely browsing and making a purchase. Understanding your customer base and creating an environment that speaks to their needs and desires is at the heart of a successful retail design.

From storefront displays to product placement, lighting, and color schemes, every element plays a crucial role in creating an experience that resonates with shoppers. In this article, we’ll explore some of the critical strategies and techniques you can use to design a retail space that draws in customers and keeps them coming back. Whether you’re a small boutique or a large department store, the tips and insights we share can help you take your retail space to the next level and improve your bottom line.

Understanding Your Customer Base

Understanding your customer base is a critical first step in designing a retail space that attracts more customers. You need to understand who your customers are, what they want, and how they prefer to shop. This knowledge can help you create an environment that speaks to your customer’s needs and desires, making them more likely to visit your store and make a purchase.

One way to understand your customer base is by analyzing your sales data. Look at which products are selling well and which are not, as well as who is buying them. You can also use customer surveys, feedback forms, and focus groups to get insights into their preferences and needs.

Another consideration is demographics. Different age groups, genders, and cultural backgrounds have different expectations and shopping habits. For example, millennials tend to value experiences and authenticity, while older generations may prioritize convenience and familiarity.

Once you understand your customer base, you can tailor your retail space to their preferences. This can include everything from the products you stock to the layout of your store and even the music you play. Creating a shopping experience that resonates with your customers can increase customer loyalty and drive more sales.

Creating a Compelling Storefront

Creating a compelling storefront is essential to designing a retail space that attracts more customers. The storefront is the first impression potential customers have of your store, and it can significantly impact whether or not they decide to enter and explore your store.

One effective way to create a compelling storefront is to use eye-catching signage and graphics. This can involve using large, bold letters or images that convey your brand identity and messaging. Make sure your signage is easily read from a distance and stands out from other storefronts.

Another effective way to create a compelling storefront is to use window displays that showcase your products and develop a sense of intrigue and interest. Use props, lighting, and color to create an engaging and visually appealing display that draws customers in and encourages them to explore your store further.

In addition, consider using lighting to highlight your storefront and create a sense of warmth and welcome. Use spotlights or accent lighting to highlight key features of your storefront or window display, and use warm colors or lighting to create a sense of comfort and familiarity.

Finally, consider using outdoor seating or other features that create a sense of community and engagement. This can involve using outdoor seating or tables to create a welcoming atmosphere and encourage customers to spend more time in front of your store.

Maximizing Store Layout and Flow

Maximizing store layout and flow are essential to designing a retail space that attracts more customers. A well-planned store layout can help customers find what they are looking for quickly and easily, encourage them to explore your merchandise and keep them in your store longer.

One key consideration when designing your store layout is the traffic flow. You want to create a natural flow that leads customers from the entrance to the checkout, with a clear path to all store areas. Consider the placement of displays, shelves, and signage to help guide customers through your space.

Another important consideration is the use of focal points. Focal points can help draw customers’ attention to specific areas of your store and can be used to highlight products or promotions. For example, you might place a large display or sign near the entrance to promote a new product line.

Regarding product placement, consider which products you want to showcase and how to arrange them to create an attractive display. Consider grouping complementary products together or arranging items by color or size to create an aesthetically pleasing display that encourages customers to explore your merchandise.

Finally, ensure your store layout is flexible and adaptable. You may need to change your design to accommodate seasonal merchandise, promotions, or special events. By planning for flexibility from the outset, you can ensure that your retail space continues to attract customers and meet their changing needs.

Choosing Effective Lighting and Color Schemes

Choosing adequate lighting and color schemes is crucial in designing a retail space that attracts more customers. Proper lighting and color schemes can create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere, highlight your products, and enhance the shopping experience.

When it comes to lighting, consider your lights’ type, intensity, and placement. Bright, well-lit spaces can create a sense of energy and excitement, while softer, more ambient lighting can create a relaxing and calming atmosphere. Also, use accent lighting to highlight specific displays or products.

Color schemes can also be critical in creating an inviting retail space. Consider the emotions and associations that different colors evoke and how they align with your brand and the products you sell. For example, blue may create a calming and trustworthy environment, while red can create a sense of urgency and excitement. Consider color contrasts to make your displays and signage stand out.

Another consideration is natural lighting. If your store has windows or skylights, consider how natural light can enhance your store’s atmosphere and product displays. However, be mindful of the impact of direct sunlight on products, such as fading or discoloration.

Adequate lighting and color schemes can create a positive shopping experience that encourages customers to stay longer and buy more. By understanding the impact of lighting and color on your customers, you can create a retail space that attracts and retains customers.

Creating Eye-Catching Product Displays

Creating eye-catching product displays is vital to designing a retail space that attracts more customers. The right product displays can draw customers’ attention to specific products, showcase your merchandise in an aesthetically pleasing way, and encourage customers to make a purchase.

One effective strategy is to create a focal point or centerpiece. This can be a large display or a group of products you want to highlight. Use color, lighting, and signage to draw attention to your focal point and make it stand out.

Another effective strategy is to use product grouping. Grouping complementary products together can help customers visualize how they might use or wear them and increase the likelihood of making a purchase. Consider grouping products by color, theme, or use.

Regarding product placement, consider the height and arrangement of your displays. Use varying sizes to create visual interest and signage or labels to provide more product information. Refrain from overcrowding your displays, as this can create a cluttered and overwhelming shopping experience, especially if you sell clothes. To avoid such situations, it would be best to order high-quality wholesale metal hangers and arrange them frequently.

Regularly update your product displays to keep your store looking fresh and exciting. This can involve rotating products or displays, changing signage, or using seasonal or themed shows to showcase new products.

Creating eye-catching product displays can help you differentiate your merchandise and increase sales. Using visual cues to draw customers’ attention to specific products and create an inviting shopping experience, you can create a retail space that attracts and retains customers.

Utilizing Technology to Enhance the Customer Experience

Utilizing technology is an increasingly important aspect of designing a retail space that attracts more customers. Technology can enhance the overall customer experience, create a more personalized shopping experience, and streamline the checkout process.

One practical use of technology is to create interactive displays. These displays allow customers to explore your products more engagingly and interactively. For example, a clothing store might use virtual try-on technology to enable customers to see how different outfits look on a digital representation of themselves.

Another practical use of technology is to create a mobile-friendly shopping experience. This can involve creating a mobile app or mobile-optimized website that allows customers to shop your products and make purchases from their mobile devices. This can be especially helpful for customers who prefer to shop on the go or avoid waiting in long checkout lines.

In-store technology can also be used to enhance the checkout process. For example, self-checkout kiosks can help reduce wait times and give customers more control over their shopping experience. Additionally, using digital receipts can reduce waste and make it easier for customers to keep track of their purchases.

Finally, utilizing technology can help create a more personalized shopping experience. For example, customer data and analytics can help you create targeted marketing campaigns and recommend products tailored to each customer’s interests and preferences.

Ensuring a Comfortable and Inviting Store Environment

Ensuring a comfortable and inviting store environment is critical to designing a retail space that attracts more customers. A relaxed and inviting atmosphere can make customers feel at ease, encourage them to stay longer, and ultimately increase sales.

One crucial factor to consider is temperature and air quality. Ensure that your store is well-ventilated and the temperature is comfortable for customers. In addition, consider using air purifiers or dehumidifiers to create a cleaner and healthier environment.

Another important factor is sound. Background music can create a welcoming atmosphere but ensure the volume is not too loud or distracting. Consider using soundproofing materials to reduce outside noise and create a quieter and more relaxed environment.

In addition, consider the layout and design of your store. Use comfortable seating and create designated areas for customers to rest or try on products. Use decor and lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, and ensure that your store is clean and well-organized.

Finally, take into account the importance of customer service. Friendly and attentive staff can create a welcoming and inviting environment and make customers feel valued and appreciated.

Overall, ensuring a comfortable and inviting store environment is essential for attracting and retaining customers. By paying attention to factors such as temperature, air quality, sound, layout, and customer service, you can create a retail space that customers will want to return to again and again.

Enhancing the In-Store Shopping Experience

Enhancing the in-store shopping experience is a key aspect of designing a retail space that attracts more customers. By creating a positive and engaging shopping experience, you can encourage customers to spend more time in your store and increase the likelihood of making a purchase.

One effective way to enhance the in-store shopping experience is to offer interactive and engaging product displays. This can involve using digital displays or interactive kiosks that allow customers to learn more about your products and engage with them in new and exciting ways. For example, a beauty store might use interactive displays to let customers try on makeup virtually. In contrast, a toy store might use augmented reality to create interactive displays that allow customers to play with the toys.

Another effective way to enhance the in-store shopping experience is to offer personalized recommendations and assistance. This can involve customer data and analytics to make targeted product recommendations or staff to offer customized service and advice. This can help customers find the right products and create a more positive and engaging shopping experience.

In addition, consider offering in-store events and experiences. This can involve hosting workshops, classes, or other events that allow customers to engage with your products and learn more about your brand. This can create a sense of community and encourage customers to spend more time in your store.

Finally, consider using technology to streamline the checkout process. For example, you might offer mobile checkout or self-checkout kiosks to reduce wait times and give customers more control over their shopping experience.

Enhancing the in-store shopping experience is essential for attracting and retaining customers. By offering interactive and engaging displays, personalized recommendations, in-store events, and streamlined checkout processes, you can create a retail space that customers will want to return to again and again.

In conclusion, designing a retail space that attracts more customers requires careful attention to various factors. By understanding your customer base, maximizing store layout and flow, choosing adequate lighting and color schemes, creating eye-catching product displays, utilizing technology, and ensuring a comfortable and inviting store environment, you can create a positive and engaging shopping experience that encourages customers to spend more time in your store and increases the likelihood that they will make a purchase.

To be successful, constantly evaluate and adapt your retail space based on customer feedback and changing market trends. By staying up-to-date with the latest retail design strategies and technologies, you can create a retail space that stands out from the competition and keeps customers coming back for more.

Use cross posting apps to increase your sales

Cross-listing it’s the act of posting the very same product on different online marketplaces. With cross-listing software, the seller will save time, and resources, and have more time to focus on other activities, such as marketing strategies or engaging with customers. Cross-listing apps will offer the possibility of easily tracking products, gaining visibility across multiple platforms, saving time, and increasing the number of reviews. Overall, using a cross-listing app will help sellers to increase their chances of selling more items in less time

The advantages of cross-listing apps

Nowadays there are multiple online marketplaces, and each one of them has its own base of customers. It is really hard for sellers to be present in all of them, but using cross listing apps can help sellers to gain a presence on multiple platforms very rapidly.

Became a trustworthy seller

One of the benefits of cross-listing is that the products are seen on many different platforms, hence more potential buyers can see the product, and this will expand the chances of making a sale. With more visibility the brand can gain more credibility, naturally, the post has to be well-designed with a detailed description of the product. This way search engines can acknowledge the different listings.

With visibility, reviews became important, when buying online users usually check the reviews of different sellers before making a purchase. This is the only way buyers can know if the seller is trustworthy. Some of the platforms rate sellers and platform users, to make it easier for good sellers to stand out. These certifications are very important to gain credibility across different platforms.

The importance of the design of the post

One important step before cross-listing is preparing and setting the products in a clever way. There are a few factors to consider, and one of them it’s the title.

Many platforms suggest including the brand, model, size, and relevant information of the product in the title. Using keywords that are usually inquired about by users can be an advantage to appearing first on search engines.

Use good-quality pictures

When buying online, potential buyers don’t have the chance to hold or see the real product with their own eyes, the only contact they have with the item of their interest is through the images provided by the seller. Images have a huge impact on the decisions of buyers, this is why it is so important to include good quality images with the listings, this will help to capture the attention of the platform users. Each platform has its own image requirements, some of them are specific, such as a white background and high-resolution pictures. It’s important to be informed properly about these requirements to save time and increase the chances of being seen.

Some cross-listing apps will provide tools to better the images and make the best of the pictures of the items, some of the features are adding captions and filters to them.

How To Lead Your Software Startup To Success

Software development is a lucrative business domain because the demand for tech products is high. In fact, it is all set to grow in the era of digital transformation. But the startup struggles remain the same, even as you operate in a lucrative and high-demand domain. You may encounter money constraints, stiff competition, and evolving customer expectations. Tight deadlines and quality expectations make the challenge even more daunting. But the opportunities in the sector are alluring enough to push harder. Let us share a few valuable tips to lead your software startup to success.

Know your customers

This one is a no-brainer for all businesses, and software development startups are no exception. Knowing your customers gives you a head start with projects, as you can develop flawless products according to their expectations and budgets. You can also consider carving a niche to narrow competition and gain a reputation for expertise. For example, you can focus on small business projects in the early stages and later tap the enterprise niche. Likewise, you can specialize in industry-specific apps, such as e-commerce websites or finance software.

Build a dream team

Nothing matters more than building a dream team when it comes to establishing a successful startup. You must bring the best developers on board to develop high-quality products and deliver projects on time. But your money constraints can keep you from hiring people with the latest tech expertise. Consider starting with a small in-house team and outsourcing expertise to cover specific project requirements. It is a wise move, as you can build a formidable team without breaking the bank.

Look for high-value freebies

High-value freebies are another good way to lead your software startup to success. Free development tools can help your developers to achieve more with less because they can develop products within deadlines without compromising quality. Additionally, Free hosting like Heroku enables them to set up as many sites as possible. Fortunately, you can access such resources easily and lower your startup budget significantly.

Focus on delivering value

The software industry is competitive, making survival challenging for startups. But the easiest way to survive and thrive is by delivering value to your customers. Of course, you must match their expectations and budgets. But going the extra mile to dig deep into their pain points and suggest extra features for their apps makes you an ideal provider. The approach works far better than any marketing promotion because it fosters trust.

Use lean methodology

Another winning tip to spur your software startup is to use lean methodology for your projects. The best piece of advice is to integrate the agile mindset into your processes and practices from the outset. Agile methodologies make the most viable development processes as they embrace change and adapt quickly to the business strategy. It also ensures quality and shortens the time to market.

Software startups can make it big regardless of the competition and growth challenges, provided they get the best leadership. You can follow these tips to lead your business toward success.