Required listening: Swing Out Sister’s ‘Shapes and Patterns’

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Seeing Swing Out Sister live last year was one of the shows I was most excited to get to see; I’ve enjoyed the musicianship and quality of the act for decades, and it was a wish that finally came true (the fact that it happened on my birthday made it even more fun for me). Continue reading →

Wendy’s training videos, back in the day

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Yesterday, a Gawker writer posted one of Wendy’s training videos as a big find.  I definitely have seen them passed around in the past (they’ve been on YouTube for a few years), and thought I had written about it on one of the old blogs, but can’t find anything.  For those who haven’t seen them, they’re pure gold. Continue reading →

J.C. Penney could learn from Circuit City

I have been watching with interest J.C. Penney’s attempts to reinvent itself.  It’s an amazing gamble, a vision that, if works, could bring some much-needed change to retail at a time where the Internet is continuing to drive business growth (such as a $1 billion Black Friday performance by e-tailers).

But J.C. Penney has been in the short term laying off tons of people as it begins its transformation.  Knowing people who work there, I am starting to wonder if the cuts were too deep.  Based on a new filing, J.C. Penney now believes it’s a risk as well. Continue reading →