Category: Brandpoint Lifestyle

2018-03-05T17:00:00

(BPT) – They say heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Never has this been more true than the story of Stubby, a stray mutt who went on to become the first dog ever promoted to the rank of sergeant in the U.S. Army, and the subject of a new animated family feature, “Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero,” to hit theaters on April 13.

It’s a fascinating tale that starts shortly before World War I, so let’s begin.

From humble beginnings

Stubby’s path to the military began when he was adopted off the streets of New Haven, Connecticut, by Pfc. Robert Conroy, who was a member of the 102nd Infantry Regiment 26th “Yankee” Division training on the parade grounds of Yale University.

As Conroy’s charge, Stubby stayed with the Private and the dog quickly became recognized as the regiment’s mascot, accompanying them as they trained before being shipped to Europe.

At the time, of course, the U.S. Army did not have a formal training program for working dogs, but Stubby’s instincts made him an invaluable resource to Conroy and his companions.

Accompanying them to France, Stubby saw action during 17 different battles while fulfilling his primary duties of keeping the trenches free of vermin and helping U.S. Soldiers locate wounded allies on the battlefield. He even proved adept at detecting incoming chemical attacks, raising the alarm for both American and French Soldiers.

But Stubby’s most notable achievement was catching a German spy, a feat which earned him the honor of being the first dog to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant. To this day, Sgt. Stubby is recognized as the most decorated canine in the history of U.S. Armed Forces.

Headed home

When Sgt. Stubby and Conroy returned home after the war, Stubby led the Yankee Division’s victory parade and was named a lifetime member of the YMCA and American Legion. He received numerous medals, appeared in Vaudeville theaters, met three sitting U.S. presidents and visited hospitals to boost morale for fellow veterans.

Conroy went on to become an agent in the Bureau of Investigation, the precursor to the FBI, and attended law school at Georgetown University, bringing Sgt. Stubby to campus with him, of course.

While at Georgetown, Stubby performed tricks at pep rallies and football games, setting the standard for all Hoya mascots. Some people even credit Stubby as the creator of what is now known as the halftime show.

Stubby’s story was chronicled in several national publications, and when he passed away, the New York Times paid tribute to this historic canine with a three-column obituary. Today his remains are preserved by the Smithsonian Institution and are part of the “Price of Freedom” exhibit at the National Museum of American History.

Bringing Sgt. Stubby’s tale to a new generation

A visit to the Smithsonian is one way to learn more about Sgt. Stubby, but another is Fun Academy Motion Pictures’ debut feature film, sharing the “tail” of this four-legged military hero.

“Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero” is a family-friendly animated film retelling Stubby’s amazing journey from abandoned mutt to American hero. Starring Logan Lerman, Helena Bonham Carter and Gérard Depardieu and directed by Richard Lanni, this animated film offers a “dog’s-eye view” of history for the entire family.

“Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero” will open in approximately 3,000 theaters April 13 across the U.S. and Canada, coinciding with the year-long 100th commemoration of the U.S. role in the “War to End All Wars.”

You can learn more about the film at www.StubbyMovie.com. It’s a fascinating story and one that can be enjoyed by heroes of any shape or size … or species!

2018-03-21T07:01:30

(BPT) – America needs to address its food waste problem, and a good place to start is taking steps to teach our children to conserve food.

Right now, a staggering 40 percent of all food in the U.S. goes to waste when restaurants, supermarkets and consumers throw it away, costing our national economy $1 trillion in the last two decades and needlessly destroying 10 percent of the earth’s wilderness, according to Newsweek. For the average American family, that translates into $1,500 yearly in wasted food.

Fortunately, educational and awareness campaigns sponsored by food-related businesses and others are helping children understand the scope of the problem and suggesting pathways toward a less wasteful future.

Many businesses don’t realize the huge role they can play in encouraging less-wasteful habits in their communities says Etienne Veber, president of Field Trip Factory, a firm that helps design, schedule and promote interactive learning experiences that teach the importance of sustainable practices and habits across our communities.

One of their most successful programs leverages best practices around sustainability and food waste within a grocery store to challenge students and their families to do the same in their schools and homes. “The more we encourage sustainable habits at the family level, the faster we can together reduce the amount of food that’s needlessly tossed out in the U.S. each day and be good stewards of our communities and our planet,” notes Myeisha Gamino, director of corporate affairs & government relations for Ralphs grocery stores.

Some ways you could teach your own students, children or community members to help:

* Involve your entire family or class in a six-week project during which they’re challenged to reduce family food waste by 25 percent. Encourage them to suggest their own ideas for making that happen, establishing a reward for those who achieve their goal — maybe a trip to a favorite restaurant or recreation destination.

* Support the free elementary-level educational program “Speak Out. It’s YOUR Earth!” this April. The one-hour guided experience co-sponsored by supermarket chain Kroger Co. invites students into Ralphs grocery stores throughout southern California to learn about sustainability, conservation and ideas for reducing, reusing and recycling food in their daily lives. At the end of each in-store experience, students and adults are challenged to apply the main concepts learned into their own lives, whether at home or at school. The program is supplemented by pre- and post-event curricular materials.

* Involve children in planning a week’s worth of family meals, explaining the process of choosing entrees, side dishes and desserts, shopping and paying for ingredients, preparing food and storing leftovers. That helps them understand the money, time, transportation and effort involved so they’re less likely to take it for granted.

* Volunteer together at a local food bank or soup kitchen to give children a better appreciation for the relative ease of their daily meals. Families or groups might also tour a working farm, visit a landfill center, plant and harvest a vegetable garden and/or create and use a compost heap.

* Be mindful about not overloading children’s plates unless they ask for large portions. Similarly, don’t pack items in their daily lunches you know they won’t eat; instead aim for that golden mean of healthy foods they’ll actually consume, and coach them to bring home uneaten items. Note: They may take more ownership if they pack their own lunches.

* When children can’t eat their entire meals at home or in restaurants, save the leftovers in airtight containers for them to eat the next time they get hungry.

As a nation, we’re engaged in several habits that lead to expensive, unsustainable and environmentally harmful food waste. But the future can be brighter if we begin now to teach our children how to do a better job using our food resources in their daily lives.

This year the “Speak Out. It’s YOUR Earth!” program is expected to reach 60,000 students in southern California. Ninety-seven percent of participating educators plan to attend again, and the average ranking for the program has been 4.5 of 5 stars. To sign up your students or start a similar program in your community, contact The Field Trip Factory.

2017-12-13T10:25:00

(BPT) – If you’re a parent with a smartphone or tablet, it didn’t take long before your little one first reached for your shiny device. If only their fingers weren’t covered in slobber at the time, you may have been more willing to hand it over. The good news is that saliva is easy to wipe off! S’mores? Not so much.

To your surprise — and theirs — learning how to swipe and tap objects to make them move on the screen came quickly and naturally. Oftentimes the challenge soon becomes how to keep their hands off the device. It’s perfectly acceptable, even beneficial, for young children to have these interactions with technology … but only with appropriate parental guidance.

How young is too young?

Young children can strengthen their interactions with other family members, as well as improve their familiarity with sounds, words, language and the world around them, through the responsible use of technology. Most experts agree, however, that children under the age of 2 probably shouldn’t trade their rattles in for tablets. There are enough real-world interactions to keep them busy, and whether they play with blocks or pull the cat’s tail, these tangible experiences are important to their development. There will be plenty of time to show them Angry Birds when they’re a bit older, so allow them to develop their senses by exploring, touching things and even getting into a little mischief.

Once beyond the 24-month mark, you can begin introducing technology to your little tyke. Chances are he or she may already enjoy the privilege at preschool; many toddler day-care centers and preschools now incorporate technology, from computers to tablets, into their curriculum.

Kids’ access to digital media

Whether at school or at home, most youngsters interact with screens before they turn 5. According to a survey conducted by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, more than eight in 10 children from age 2 to 10 use digital media every week. In fact, two-thirds have tablets or e-readers. While the interactions are practically inevitable, significant parental and caregiver involvement can help steer them in the right direction, ensuring kids are exposed to content providing the best opportunities for learning.

Between laptop computers, desktop PCs, tablets, televisions and smartphones, there’s probably a screen in nearly every room of your home. Although these screens can and often do serve as virtual babysitters, games, apps and other content should be carefully selected, and screen time should be limited to an hour or less a day for toddlers.

Parental involvement

By using technology with your children, you’ll introduce them to the most beneficial content, while also bonding with them over an exciting, shared experience. Something as simple and fun as taking turns in a game or reading together on a tablet can also help ensure technology is being consumed in a responsible way that can educate and aid development.

While education is key, it doesn’t always have to be about learning your ABCs and 123s. Plenty of games and apps combine learning and entertainment experiences that are fun for kids. Checking the ESRB age and content rating information in console and online stores (like the Nintendo eShop, the PlayStation Store, the Xbox Store and Windows Store) is a great way to find appropriate games for kids of all ages. ESRB ratings are also assigned to mobile games and apps in the Google Play Store, complete with content descriptors and interactive elements when applicable.

As your little ones mature from toddlers to tweens, their use of technology as well as the technology itself will certainly evolve. The breadth of content they enjoy will greatly expand, highlighting the importance of parental involvement in managing and monitoring their time with tech. Regardless of where our smartphones and tablets take us, parental involvement and engagement is key to ensuring kids enjoy a healthy, responsible relationship with technology.

2018-02-23T12:27:03

(BPT) – Pull back the drapes, crack open the window and let in the warm, sun-soaked air. That’s right, spring is right around the corner and that means it’ll soon be time to chase away the grime and odors that have settled in over the long winter.

For many, spring cleaning is something of a tradition, a ritual. But things have changed. The days of dipping an old mop into a tin bucket filled with gray water belong to another era. In the age of smart cars and smartphones, cleaning has become smarter as well.

Here are a few smart innovations that will make your spring cleaning routine much more efficient and thorough.

1. Freshen up your style. A change in seasons is the perfect time to change up your wardrobe. Take advantage of this transitional period to purge items you haven’t worn in 12 months or more — be honest with yourself! When you’re free of unnecessary items, indulge in a trip to a specialty store offering storage and organization products to uncover new space-saving solutions. Unsure of what to get rid of? If a beloved item just needs a little love, run it through a steam-powered clothing care system like the LG Styler or delicates cycle in the LG TWINWash system — both certified by AAFA as asthma and allergy friendly(R) — to see if it’s salvageable.

2. Breathe easy. It’s easy to spend the lion’s share of your time trying to tackle the stains, dust and smudges in your home. However, one of the most important parts of your home to clean is the part you can’t see. We’re talking about air quality, of course. Opening windows and placing plants around your home is a good way to start, but if you really want to get serious, put an LG PuriCare Air Purifier to work. With sensors to monitor the air quality, this cutting-edge purifier is certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and is perfect for anyone who suffers from allergies.

3. Multitask like never before. By now, most of us are familiar with robot vacuums. Having one of these zoom around your home on cleaning days frees you up to do other things, saving you time and making manual vacuuming a thing of the past. Over the years, the technology has advanced so that nowadays these nifty cleaning assistants are quieter than ever before — some even come equipped with a camera to monitor your home while you’re away!

4. Use the power of light. The battle against germs is a year-round endeavor. This spring, instead of repeating the old routine of a rag and some harsh cleaner, which often can spread more germs than it kills, try a UV sanitizing wand. These simple devices use a powerful ultraviolet light to kill odor-causing bacteria and germs on hard surfaces. It’s the same technology used in many hospitals and is perfect for bathrooms, kitchens, even cleaning your kids’ toys.

5. Let your appliances do more work. Have you ever wondered whether your oven, dishwasher and refrigerator could be doing a little more to reach their full potential? If so, you probably have yet to use the new generation of smart appliances. LG’s line of SmartThinQ appliances are Wi-Fi enabled, allowing you to monitor dishwashing and laundry cycles, remotely clean the oven or even check the air quality at home from your phone or computer while you are out of the house.

Far from being a chore, spring cleaning is a celebration, a chance to chase away the stuffiness of winter and bring a fresh, revitalizing feeling into your house. With the help of new technology, it’s even easier to get a start on this season of growth and regeneration.

2018-01-24T10:04:00

(BPT) – What’s your favorite DIY project you’ve ever completed? Chances are the answer pops right into your mind, and even if you’ve completed hundreds of DIY projects over the years, you probably have some that truly stand out.

For those that weren’t at the top of your list, maybe the result wasn’t what you hoped for, the project wasn’t particularly rewarding or you’ve done it before.

The following five projects might be new to your list, but they are sure to improve your home and become your new favorite DIY achievement.

* Clean your water with a new filter system. Cut the costs and clutter of bottled water while being environmentally conscious with this project. Breach your current water line to solder in a new shut-off valve, drill a new faucet hole and attach this line to the filter and you’ll be enjoying filtered water in no time. U.S. landfills are already overflowing with more than 2 million tons of discarded water bottles. You can enjoy peace of mind knowing that you’re not adding to them.

* Breathe easier. Why stop at clean water in your home when you can also enjoy cleaner air? Renting an air scrubber can allow you to remove invisible — yet unhealthy — gases, particles and chemicals from your home’s air. Your local rental supply store will help you find the right air scrubber for your area to be sure you’re removing the pollutants that matter most.

* Update and refresh your ceilings. Popcorn is great at the movies. On your ceiling? Not so much. Spray your ceiling with warm water, and scrape away the popcorn itself with a drywall scraper. Collect these contents on a tarp and toss them. You’re then ready to patch any holes caused by overzealous scraping before priming and painting your brand-new ceiling.

* Give your furniture a facelift. If that upholstered furniture isn’t looking as sharp today as it once did, don’t settle for it or replace it. Rent an upholstery cleaner instead and give each piece of furniture a once-over. This simple project can dramatically improve the look of your most cherished pieces and save you considerable money over a costly replacement.

* Let there be light. If natural light is a problem in your home, it could be that your window treatments are to blame. Large drapes and curtains can give your home a dated look and rob your rooms of the light they need. Instead, lose these old window treatments and install vertical blinds or shutters. These new, lighter treatments will give you better control of the light and privacy in your home than their older counterparts.

Tackle your new project today

Five new projects. Which one speaks to you? There’s nothing stopping your progress, and each completed project benefits you, your family and your home.

To find rental locations near you that can supply you with the tools you need to complete your DIY projects, visit RentalHQ.com.

2018-01-10T11:01:00

(BPT) – The artificial intelligence that’s already taking the world by storm is ramping up even more in 2018, enabling a number of innovative new smart home tools that can make your life easier, more comfortable or just more fun.

Throughout the year, consumers worldwide are expected to spend $102 billion on hardware, services and installation related to smart home systems, an amount expected to ramp up to $157 billion by 2022. The number of connected things installed in smart cities by next year? Nearly 1.1 billion, predicts Statista. Increasingly, people will enjoy the convenience of being able to monitor and control their surroundings with a simple touch or a few words of direction. In fact, a 2017 study found 24 percent of consumers already own a voice-controlled device and another 20 percent plan to purchase one in the next year.

“Pretty much anything can be made smart these days,” notes Bernard Marr in Forbes. “For our homes, there are obvious smart products like TVs and less obvious ones, like yoga mats that track your Downward Dog. We can carry out a whole range of tasks on the move simply by touching a screen.”

Some of the hottest smart home products that have recently debuted:

* LG’s entire line of OLED TVs is now AI enabled. They also let you speak right into the remote control so with one word, you can check weather reports, search for content from over-the-air or streaming sources (including Netflix, Amazon, Hulu or YouTube), order items through Google or even control other IoT devices within your network. Even better, LG Electronics has invented a next-generation OLED TV that combines the most powerful A9 Intelligent Processor created with Atmos audio technology. The result? The LG SIGNATURE OLED TV W8 offers stunningly clear and detailed pictures, cinema-quality sound and ultra-fast response times.

* Seeking the smartest refrigerator on the market? The Wi-Fi-enabled LG ThinQ InstaView is the first to offer built-in Amazon Alexa that responds to your spoken directions by creating to-do lists and grocery lists, ordering the groceries themselves, controlling your refrigerator settings, playing the music of your choice and otherwise stepping up to make your life easier. A convenient touchscreen panel lets you instantaneously peruse the weather, recipes, shopping sites or the contents of your fridge — without losing energy by opening the door.

* Hands-free speakers with voice-activated assistants such as Google Home and Amazon Echo are helping tens of millions of people worldwide efficiently manage their lives by interacting on command with everything from home appliances to entertainment systems to information sources to online shopping venues.

* What’s for dinner? Recipe apps like SideChef and Innit already deliver fast and intelligent answers to that age-old question, giving everything needed to plan and prepare the next meal. Voice-controlled AI takes this to the next level. Innit is now connected to some models of smart ovens, and for SideChef that feature is coming online in 2018. What does that mean for home chefs? When they speak to the oven to start heating, it will already know those roasted veggies need 25 minutes in a 425-degree oven.

* In its latest version, the Bluetooth music headset that may already be a staple of your life allows you to access the Google Assistant by voice so you can instantly access a range of functions beyond just music. The LG TONE PLATINUM SE lets you request and receive notifications and answers to questions, send text or audio messages and more while you’re on the go.

Thanks to the continual evolution of technology, we can start the new year with fun new products aimed at making our lives more efficient, organized and enjoyable. And that pattern should only continue into the future.

“Already, many of us wake up in our ‘smart beds’ to a Bluetooth-connected alarm clock that communicates with our WiFi-enabled speakers,” notes marketing consultant A.J. Agrawal in Entrepreneur. “Soon, all our devices — microwaves, washing machines and even bird feeders — will be connected to the web. With geospatial data from all of our devices, tech-savvy companies will be able to optimize and automate systems, eradicating inefficiencies caused by human error.”

2018-01-03T11:01:00

(BPT) – Starting a business can be tough. Growing one can be even harder.

Dr. Nacondus Gamble knows this all too well. After her optometry practice, The South Eastern Eye Center, began to establish a reputation for great patient care, Dr. Gamble decided she was ready to expand. So she began looking for business financing to open another location in Georgia. That’s when she discovered that many lenders don’t share her commitment to high-quality service.

“I called a couple of places, but I just felt like they were taking advantage of me,” she said. “It was unnecessarily harsh.”

Dr. Gamble ended up borrowing through Funding Circle, an online platform focused exclusively on small business loans. Known for its speed, transparency and customer service, Funding Circle has helped more than 40,000 businesses around the world get financing, says co-founder and U.S. managing director Sam Hodges.

Today there are more options than ever before for businesses looking to grow. While some of these newer options can offer a significant leg up, others can actually end up doing more harm than good.

So how can you get the best deal on a business loan? It helps to watch out for these three common mistakes:

1. Not understanding the true cost of your loan

When shopping for a business loan, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by fast-talking salespeople, endless strings of acronyms and confusing terms. If it’s unclear how much you’ll really pay for financing, that’s a good sign you should walk away, Hodges cautions.

A good lender will always be willing to help you calculate the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and explain all the terms of your loan clearly. They’ll also help you understand what fees you can expect over the life of the loan — some lenders sneak in additional hidden fees, concealing them in fine print or confusing legalese, which can significantly inflate the cost.

2. Getting trapped in daily or weekly repayment cycles

Some types of business financing can seem like a godsend for a company in need of fast cash. These providers promise easy approval with quick access to funds. However, that speed can come at a steep price — in many cases, the provider takes a portion of your sales on a daily or weekly basis until the debt is repaid.

Term loans are often the better option, Hodges says. They allow businesses to borrow a set amount of money for a specific purpose, like hiring new staff or stocking up on inventory. The funds are then paid back over a set amount of time, with consistent monthly payments and no surprise fees.

3. Not knowing what you deserve

While many finance providers have your best interests at heart, the truth is that not all do. Some use irresponsible or misleading practices and take advantage of small business owners’ need for cash.

After seeing countless small businesses get stuck with credit products they couldn’t afford or understand, a coalition of small business advocates, lenders and online credit marketplaces came together to launch the Small Business Borrowers’ Bill of Rights. As the first-ever gold standard for responsible business lending, the Bill of Rights outlines the rights and safeguards that small businesses should expect from finance providers.

These include the right to transparent pricing and terms — ensuring business owners can see the cost and terms of any financing being offered in writing and in a form that is clear, complete and easy to compare with other options — and the right to non-abusive products that won’t trap you in an expensive cycle of re-borrowing. Before you take out any financing, check if your lender has signed on at ResponsibleBusinessLending.org.

Considering a loan for your business? You should know the five things business lenders typically care about when evaluating your application. To maximize your success, read more at www.Made2DoMore.com.

2017-12-22T06:01:00

(BPT) – A recent study by the Center for Retirement Research (CRR) at Boston College suggests an alarming state of awareness about retirement readiness: Of surveyed households, 33 percent realize they are not well prepared, 19 percent are not well prepared but don’t know it, and 24 percent are well prepared but don’t know it.

For the Americans at risk of not being able to maintain an adequate retirement lifestyle, it’s critical to take action. For the households that are well prepared and don’t know it, they risk sacrificing a comfortable retirement. Understanding the behaviors associated with good retirement planning, in turn, can help you get a better sense of where you stand. Consider the following behaviors, which are more likely to be modeled by those who are well prepared for retirement.

Asset accumulation

A high-level approach to ensuring adequate retirement assets is to save a minimum of 10 percent of your gross income each year. You may need to save even more depending on your asset accumulation goals and how many years you have left to save before retirement.

If you would rather have a dollar goal, multiply your annual income goal by 25 to arrive at the amount you should try to save. For example, if after considering Social Security and any pension payment, you want $30,000 more of annual income in retirement, you will need to save $750,000. Lower goals mean you need to withdraw at a faster rate and increase the risk you will deplete your assets too soon.

Budgeting

Not all budgets need to detail specific spending items. Rather, you can consider yourself working within a budget if you know that each year you are saving and not creating new debt (and paying off legacy debt for your education or home). If you want to squeeze out more savings, a line-by-line review of spending may well be fruitful.

Personal debt

Many of us are saddled with personal debt from college and graduate school. This debt has become so burdensome that the customary progression to home ownership has been delayed for many. The debt has also had a domino effect on the ability to save for retirement. Paying down personal debt should be job one. Other personal debt, such as for a car purchase, should be avoided, minimized or paid down as quickly as possible. Credit card debt, which carries high interest rates, should be avoided entirely. Remember, each dollar of debt limits your ability to save for the future.

Mortgage debt

It used to be commonly accepted that you pay off your mortgage before retirement, but more and more retirees are entering retirement with mortgage debt. The old rule remains the best approach, since any indebtedness in retirement will limit your ability to react and adjust to poor investment return on your assets.

Social Security

With traditional pension plans less commonly offered by employers, Social Security has become an even more important source of guaranteed lifetime retirement income. By waiting to age 70, you can increase the benefit payment significantly, which is also the base for annual Social Security cost-of-living increases for the rest of your life. That increased Social Security benefit may also increase the benefit that a surviving spouse will receive after you die. Unless you have a health care issue that could reduce your life expectancy and no spouse who might need a spousal benefit based on your earnings record, claiming Social Security early is the greatest retirement planning mistake made.

Health care

Health care is the single greatest cost in retirement, and various studies estimate the cost to be $250,000 or more for a healthy 65-year-old couple. The cost of health care will be even greater to the extent one retires before age 65 and Medicare eligibility. Moreover, health care costs can vary and may come sooner than expected. The best plan, then, is to work until at least age 65 and understand that health care is a unique challenge in retirement. To the extent possible, utilize Health Savings Accounts and bank any unused amounts annually to build up a tax-free health care fund for retirement.

Income planning

No later than 10 years before your planned retirement, you should be translating your retirement assets into an annual or monthly retirement income stream. Start with your Social Security and any pension plan payments as your income base, and then consider how much income your other assets can safely generate. Depending on this analysis, you may want to consider purchasing an annuity to make more of your retirement income guaranteed and avoid the twin risks of poor investment return and living longer than expected.

Consider also that many of your retirement assets have an embedded tax liability. You will need to look through your retirement assets to determine after-tax income, since your food, rent and cable bills are paid with after-tax money. Only by seeing your after-tax income can you decide if you have enough to live on.

Annual financial wellness check-ups

During your early working years, you are likely to be focused on debt reduction and asset accumulation. As you get closer to retirement, you will need to focus on the strategies associated with Social Security, health care and income generation. At all times you should annually revisit your goals and make adjustments, as needed, to how much and where you are saving, how much you are spending, how aggressively you are investing, and when your target retirement date is.

Modeling such behaviors will make it more likely you will be well prepared for retirement. By doing so you will also make it more likely that you are properly assessing the state of your retirement readiness and not over- or underestimating your financial health.

2018-02-09T14:46:00

(BPT) – Ninety-six percent of Americans are now shopping online, according to a recent study from CPC Strategy.

Building meaningful connections with local communities is one way to captivate today’s consumer, says Etienne Veber, president of Field Trip Factory, a firm that helps design, schedule and promote interactive learning experiences within retail environments.

“Technology provides greater convenience and lower prices,” Veber says, “but it is not a replacement for human interactions.”

The value of purpose

When companies express a sense of purpose to their customers, it has a profound effect on confidence in the brand. Eighty-five percent of companies with a strong sense of purpose say they are backed by their communities, because they are seen as “good and helpful corporate citizens,” according to a survey by Deloitte.

Of firms with a purpose, 89 percent say clients and customers trust the quality of their products and services — versus the 66 percent of firms that do not have this sense of purpose.

One example of an interactive program comes from food retailer Giant Eagle Inc., which developed a program that connects with local school children. “Be A Smart Shopper” helps young students and their families learn about making healthy food choices.

It has been a very effective way for Giant Eagle’s retail team members to uphold the company’s common purpose to improve people’s everyday lives and well-being in a community-centered way, and more than 600,000 families have been reached across Pennsylvania and Ohio. Educators say it supplements classroom curriculum and gets students engaged.

“Our Be A Smart Shopper program is an important part of how we fulfill our commitments to education and health and wellness,” says Giant Eagle CEO Laura Karet. “Through the program, our retail team members are able to meaningfully impact how the children in our communities think about the foods they eat, and encourage involvement from the children in family meal planning.”

Expressing purpose

A retailer can build trust and loyalty by expressing values in innovative ways:

Hosting in-store classes and events: Business leaders, store managers and longtime employees, with their industry knowledge, are community gurus. With that mindset, what better way to connect with the community than to open the doors for an on-site event? Businesses are offering things like hands-on demonstrations, seminars, consultations and even heading up an ongoing club to share knowledge and help people solve their most common problems.

Championing local causes: Company values and industry knowledge are being transformed into a community asset, and resources are being directed to solving problems in the community. Reaching out to local nonprofits, being a major sponsor to make a local event even bigger and better, or paying employees for their time to volunteer are all ways a business can build a meaningful community presence.

Working with a partner: Most businesses do not have the in-house expertise to organize, plan and publicize in-house events and initiatives, which is why some turn to a trusted partner for expertise in that field. For example, as Giant Eagle planned its Be A Smart Shopper Program, Field Trip Factory took the lead with the curriculum (with input from educators), and created the online tool that makes it easy for teachers to discover the program and sign up their class for an event.

Today’s retail climate is a challenging one, due to the rise in technology. To learn more about how businesses are engaging with customers and communities, visit fieldtripfactory.com.

2018-02-08T06:01:00

(BPT) – With mounting pressures and expectations, the high school years can feel overwhelming — for students and parents alike. Teens grapple with questions like: Which colleges should I apply to? What should I choose as a major? What do I really want to do with my life? What if I don’t have a clue?

As a parent you naturally want to give advice and steer them in the right direction, but you also know it’s a tricky balance. It’s their life, after all, as they’ll often remind you.

So how can you help? Encourage them to explore different interests, with no strings attached. Look for activities beyond the usual choices. Research extracurricular programs at your school, in your community, even overseas so they can see the breadth of what’s out there. Expose them to a range of possibilities and see what they pick.

Does your teen already have a clear focus? Look for innovative programs that allow them to dig even deeper in real-world settings. Or maybe your son or daughter is shy or stuck in a rut and needs a gentle nudge to try something new? It’s amazing how a change of scenery can inspire students and tap hidden talents. Over time they’ll gravitate toward one thing or another, and the journey will be rich with self-discovery.

From local to global, there are many valuable paths that help spark new interests while building self-knowledge, confidence and 21st century skills along the way.

Most high schools offer a range of extracurricular opportunities to get involved in a topic of interest or try out something new, from sports and theater to robotics and debate. Many offer programs with an international theme as well. After-school language clubs provide a chance to practice conversational skills in a relaxed environment while joining in cooking and other cultural activities. And bonding with other language enthusiasts inspires many to want to travel to experience different cultures first-hand! Larger high schools offer more languages, from French, Spanish and German to Mandarin, Arabic and Japanese, while teens with more limited offerings can often find regional programs a bus ride away.

Model UN is another valuable program that teaches students about the world around them, and builds confidence as well as leadership and communication skills. A new activity picked up on a whim may turn into a lifetime source of joy or even a career. If options are limited at school, branch out. Urge your teen to get involved in the local community, meet new people, and bond with others who share similar interests. They’ll see what’s out there in the bigger world while demonstrating to colleges and employers that they’re engaged beyond the standard classroom requirements.

When teens offer their time and talent to nonprofits and worthy causes, they gain more than just real-world experience for their college resumes. They gain maturity, perspective, practical skills and a greater appreciation for what they’ve got. Volunteering can be customized to one’s own interests, whether it means walking dogs at an animal shelter or building a website for an environmental group. Adventurous students can take it one step further by participating in service programs abroad. Whether working to raise social awareness, lending a hand with environmental and conservation project, or mentoring underprivileged youth, teens grow exponentially during a summer far away from their usual routine.

Studying abroad is not just for college. More and more high school students are making the leap overseas for summer programs or for a semester or gap year. As many students, parents and guidance counselors have discovered, this is an opportune time to develop valuable lifelong skills, learn a new language and discover career interests in a way that is not possible in an everyday classroom environment. Perhaps the ultimate opportunity for personal growth, studying abroad also expands communication skills and helps students understand different cultures and ways of living.