By David Deeds Special to the Star Tribune NOVEMBER 27, 2020 — 9:58PM Many times, business owners need to come face to face with their customers to see what is appealing to them.  Q: Why is it important to listen to consumers in the early days of a startup? A: Focusing on listening to consumers and narrating…

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BBB National Programs has teamed up with Craig Honick, ethnographer and the managing partner of Metro Tribal, to look closely at the consumer-business relationship to help companies understand how better business is being defined by its customers. Tune-in to learn all about the 5 Gestures of Trust. BBB Better Series: Five gestures of trust, evaluating…

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Don’t underestimate this group’s power as a vocal force for transparency and change. Over the past few years, household-name companies have experienced employee petitions, strikes, and walkouts over a range of issues, including strategic investments and partnerships, sexual harassment, immigration, and pay and benefits for contract workers. For companies accustomed to thinking about stakeholder engagement as an external-facing exercise, the…

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Stakeholders are critical to your organization…but who are they? We often hear about stakeholders, but there is some confusion about who, exactly, these people are. Stakeholders are those individuals and organizations that your company impacts. Stakeholders can be divided up into internal stakeholders and external stakeholders. Internal stakeholders Internal stakeholders are easier to identify than…

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Even a small business can have many stakeholders — people and organizations that have an interest in what the business does. A small car mechanic shop has owners, customers, and employers, but its neighbors are interested in site management and the larger community wants to be sure that oil and other waste is disposed of…

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Consumers help businesses remain strong, and businesses help the community remain vibrant as well.  Q: Should organizations use their profits for socially responsible causes? A: Your inquiry is aimed at the heart of understanding — and potentially upending — the ultimate purpose of business itself. First, consider what do you think is the purpose of…

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