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| Top Story |  |  |
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- Newer 2-stroke engines make lawn equipment greener
Two-stroke engines in outdoor power equipment have evolved to produce less emissions, writes Steve Maxwell. Two-stroke engines usually require oil and gasoline to be combined, leading to the production of exhaust. However, some manufacturers have figured out how to make them cleaner. Echo, for instance, uses an angled internal port and a "squish band" to curb emissions, Maxwell notes. Ottawa Citizen (Ontario)
(3/5)     
| Industry Buzz | | |
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- Stihl promotes manufacturing careers through annual summer camp
Power-tools maker Stihl is encouraging some students to consider careers in manufacturing. The company runs a four-day summer camp in Virginia Beach, Va., where campers create finished goods from raw materials. "We're staying in contact with them, because these young people could be our future workforce," said Simon Nance, Stihl's manager of learning and development and the camp's director. Workforce online
(3/5)
- Gates could reportedly be offered for sale or IPO
The owners of Gates Corp. are reportedly planning to sell the company or conduct a public stock offering, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Onex, one of two groups that acquired Gates in 2010, could be pursuing this dual-track strategy to ensure the success of its investment. Gates could be valued at about $5 billion in either case. The Wall Street Journal
(3/5)
| Economic Indicators | | |
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- Unemployed are finding jobs faster, data indicate
The median length of time for job searches was 16 weeks in January, compared with a peak of 25 weeks in June 2010, according to Labor Department data. Demand for recruiters and staffing agencies is expected to increase as the labor market tightens, BMO Capital Markets analyst Jeffrey Silber says. Bloomberg
(3/3)
- U.S. service industries show surprising strength
Momentum is evident in the latest reading on U.S. service industries, with the Institute for Supply Management's nonmanufacturing index rising unexpectedly to 56 last month from 55.2 in January. Resurgence in the housing market is cited as a big supporting factor, along with a gradually firming labor market. Bloomberg
(3/5)
| Inside & Out | | |
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- Increase your prices without losing customers
Don't be afraid to raise your prices, even if your competitors aren't raising theirs, writes Grant Cardone.
The key to implementing a successful price increase is to focus on the benefits you provide. Rather than attributing the price hike to external factors, increase the value of your offer. "I refuse to be the lowest-cost provider," Cardone writes. "I am committed to being the highest-value provider." Entrepreneur online
(3/1)
- Has your company culture caught a cold?
Every company's culture can falter, and it's up to leaders to become healers, writes Mike Figliuolo. Timely first aid can help put your culture back on track and prevent lazy or disgruntled workers from infecting others. "As a leader, it's on you to ensure only the purest essence of what you want your culture to be is passed along to future generations of leaders on your team," Figliuolo writes. ThoughtLeaders blog
(3/4)
| Policy Update | | |
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- Obama seeks budget-deal support from Republicans
Putting talks with GOP leaders on the back burner for a while, President Barack Obama is reaching out to rank-and-file Senate Republicans to build support for a budget deal with higher taxes to pay down U.S. debt. Obama told senators that he is willing to make changes in health care and retirement programs to get a budget compromise that includes higher taxes. The Washington Post
(3/5), Bloomberg
(3/6)
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