Business

Mobile web usage has been on the rise ever since smartphones and tablets became accessible and affordable, and for years now, consumers have been using their mobile devices to make purchases, to stay connected with friends, and to find out about the latest news stories. It's no surprise that a business's mobile web design -- or lack thereof -- is becoming increasingly indicative of the business's overall success. It's surprising, therefore, that so many businesses ignore the importance of a responsive and effective mobile web design; for consumers who are trying to find information about the business or make a purchase, it can be downright aggravating. For this reason, Google announced back in February 2015 that it would be releasing another algorithm update in April, and would be focusi...

Opportunities for cannabis businesses in the United States are slowly but surely expanding, and this week entrepreneurs received some help in Oregon. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission, which is in charge of administering business licenses to recreational marijuana businesses, has signed an agreement with NIC USA, Inc., for a new online application system for business licenses. The Kansas-based company provides solutions for online applications for commercial growers, processors, wholesalers and retailers. NIC USA's software will allow the state to begin accepting applications through the system by January 2016. Prospective and current business owners can use the system to apply for a new license or renew an existing one. They can also pay their license fees by credit card, pay cannab...

Back in 1971, the National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) founded the National Caries Program in an attempt to increase government regulation of the sugar industry and decrease the prevalence of dental decay caused by excessive sugar consumption. But a new PLOS Medicine report recently revealed that "Big Sugar" companies actually skewed federal research in order to keep sugary foods an important part of the American diet. TIME states that a team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) began uncovering the controversial data as they examined "sugar-industry documents" dating from 1959 to 1971 that influenced the creation of the National Caries Program. The research team was shocked to discover that, despite decades of scientific studies, the NIDR neglect...

It seems that some people are more afraid of the fashion police than of regular law enforcement. At the end of February, a thief stole 400 bottles of popular nail polish from the Nails and Spa 4U salon in Brooklyn, New York. As DNAinfo.com reports, the theft occurred sometime between February 22 and 23. The burglar broke a latch on the salon's rear window to enter, and made off with the merchandise, which was mostly a relatively new gel polish. "Tuesday we lost a lot of business," said Miriam Paredes, a salon employee. "We get a lot of people doing gels." As a result of the break-in, the salon was unable to open the next day. "I couldn't do anything. I couldn't open for the customers," another salon worker named Nirean told the New York Post. "They took the expensive polish,...

Although plenty of American consumers do a fair amount of online research before buying a car, the majority of consumers probably wouldn't think to turn to Google when actually making a vehicle purchase, so it may come as a surprise that an estimated $15 million cars are sold each year on websites like eBay and Cars.com. The obvious problem with these websites, which often provide a virtual marketplace for sellers without imposing many regulations, is that buyers end up purchasing cars without accurate history reports, cars with malfunctioning parts, or even cars that have been stolen. But a few different start-up businesses in California's Bay Area are out to change the way vehicle sellers and buyers interact online, and if they become successful, the online car selling trend may just pi...

Jared Padalecki, star of the CW's hit show Supernatural, has started a t-shirt campaign to support the non-profit organization To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), whose mission is to give hope and find help to those struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts. Initially, the project had a goal of selling 1,000 shirts, which bear his likeness and the words "Always Keep Fighting." However, it quickly surpassed its goal 23 times over, selling over 23,000 shirts. When asked about the overwhelming support, Padalecki told PEOPLE, "It's really hard to put into words. It's been amazing. Hopefully it's helping to destigmatize these issues, because it's all around us. It's ubiquitous, and people hide it. If somebody has cancer, they're not embarrassed to have cancer -...

Adobe wowed the crowd once again at their annual Digital Marketing Summit in Salt Lake City earlier this month. With 6,000 attendees, Adobe had to provide a disclaimer that not everything presented at the show would become commercially available. Even so, many attendees were excited about the possibilities that new Adobe technology represented. One of the most exciting demonstrations at the summit was bluetooth beacon technology, which would allow retailers to track customers in real time as they move through the store. Consumers would have to download an app and give consent to the tracking, then fill out information that would help the company analyze their purchasing activity. Retailers will be able to use the information to send shoppers notifications about sales and offers that perta...

For many business owners, choosing office signs and other advertisements can be a big decision. However, in Atascadero, CA, this choice may now be a little easier: signage costs in the city have been temporarily reduced in an attempt to clean up non-permitted signs throughout the area. For the last two years, the City Council of Atascadero has reportedly been receiving numerous complaints about temporary signs, such as sandwich boards, flags and banners. Finally, on Tuesday, February 24, the council unanimously approved short-term changes to its fee schedule, to encourage businesses to use official signs. Under the usual regulations, those looking to install a permanent sign must pay $450 for a building permit, as well as an additional $200 for a signage administrative use permit for sig...

Adam Hegge, a 31-year-old graphic designer, became tired of, in his words, "making money for someone else." So, a few years later Hegge quit his job designing signs in San Diego and opened his very own digital printing business. Sun Prairie, Washington local newspaper The Sun reports that Hegge, a 2007 University of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduate, opened Madison Graphics in 2012. The sole owner and employee of the company, Madison Graphics specializes in producing high-resolution graphics inside a mini-mall storefront in Fall River, near Olympia. Hegge single-handedly takes care of design, sales, marketing, and other business tasks from his home in Sun Prairie. "I've always been a fan of crazy, cool graphics," Hegge said. "So I thought I would put my own spin on them." Madison Graphics focuses...

Subaru cars have always been well-regarded for their longevity (among other things) and now, they are getting a prestigious affirmation. Consumer Affairs reports that the Subaru has been awarded the 2015 Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own Award for economy (non-luxury) cars. Granted by Kelley Blue Book (KBB), the leading automotive consumer report publication in the United States, the award goes out to new car brands which have the projected lowest cost of ownership during the first five years of ownership. The award is divided into two categories: brand cars and luxury brand cars. The luxury brand winner this year, Lincoln, is also projected to have the lowest cost of ownership through 2020. "New car shoppers usually pay a lot of attention to how much a car will cost upfront," said Da...