Top Story

• Parker Hannifin says weak global demand affected Q2 profit
  Parker Hannifin announced that its second-quarter profit reached $181 million, down 25% from the same period last year. The company said weak sales in Europe and other international markets took a toll. "We performed well in the second quarter considering continued economic weakness across all the regions we operate in," said Don Washkewicz, the company's CEO, chairman and president. The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) (1/18), The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)/The Associated Press (1/18)     

Industry Buzz

• Rooftop garden teems with native plants at Miami building
  The rooftop garden at the New World Center building in Miami features philodendrons, native grasses and small trees. Designed by landscape architect Raymond Jungles, the garden is an oasis in the city. Jungles also plans to add salvia and crickets. The Miami Herald (free registration) (1/20)     

• How to create a Japanese-inspired landscape
  You can get the look of a Japanese garden with just a few elements, according to Patricia Deridder, who created the three-acre Yume Japanese Gardens in Tucson, Ariz. Some plants that thrive in the desert can be used, along with rocks and water features. In this piece, Deridder also offers six tips to get the Japanese feel in a home landscape. Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) (1/20)     

• Column: Apply compost early to maximize benefits
  Vail Daily (Colo.) (1/20)     

Economic Indicators

• More data due this week on rebounding U.S. housing market
  Investors will get a further reading on the apparent rebound in the U.S. housing market, and by extension the economy, with figures due this week on December's sales of new and existing homes. Signs of further strength in the sector are considered crucial to the economy as other indicators, including business hiring and manufacturing, have been lackluster. MarketWatch (1/20)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by OPEI SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Snapper mowers coming to a Wal-Mart near you (American City Business Journals)

• Kubota unveils residential model of zero-turn riding mower (ApplianceMagazine.com)

• Federal appeals court stays EPA E15 decision, rejects rehearing (The Hill)

• Who buys more snowblowers? (The Wall Street Journal)

• OPEI to reconsider action on E15 ruling (GreenIndustryPros.com)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Inside & Out

• 4 components of a humble sales presentation
  It's important to show a little humility during the sales process, especially as you present a summary of your customer's business situation, writes Geoffrey James. "If you presented the summary with humility, the customer is usually pleased that you've taken the time to research and understand the real issues," he writes. This approach also allows you to uncover any potential errors in your analysis before you attempt to sell your solution, he notes. Inc. online (free registration)/Sales Source blog (1/15)     

• How to keep unexpected charges from cutting into your cash flow
  If you aren't careful, your business accounts might be drained by a number of unexpected charges, Joe Taylor Jr. writes. Credit card fees, subscriptions to various websites and communications charges can all make a dent in your cash flow. "Many phone and Internet service providers sign up new customers with promotional packages that expire after six months or a year. If your teaser rate has disappeared, request a new promotion or review competitive options," he recommends. Small Business Computing (1/16)     

Policy Update

• U.S. debt-ceiling deadline may be moved back 3 months
  Tensions over the U.S. debt ceiling eased as Republicans proposed a three-month extension, putting off a budgetary confrontation with Democrats and the White House. The proposal for a new mid-April deadline, which requires House approval, also includes no specified spending cuts. The Wall Street Journal (1/18)     

• Some small-business owners work to avoid reaching ACA threshold
  Some small-business owners say they will not hire more employees this year because they do not want to reach the 50-employee threshold at which the Affordable Care Act will require that they offer health insurance. Some are intentionally holding down growth or hiring part-time or contract workers instead of full-time staff. The Wall Street Journal (1/16)     

SmartQuote

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." --Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president