CrossCheck Blog

It was a time when Madonna was known for her stacks of jelly bracelets instead of young beaus and the bigger the hair, the closer to greatness. Blue eye shadow wasn’t a fashion faux pas and greed was good. It was the 80s, and in that heyday of blaming it on Rio and parents just not understanding, CrossCheck was born. Three decades later, we’re still going strong (unlike Wham!) but we’ve seen a lot of change. Some good, some… we’ll let you decide.

Do you feel like an intrepid explorer every time your feet hit the blacktop of your dealership lot? You should. Every single day is a chance to discover new worlds, and if you’re not making the most of it, guess what? There’s another explorer very close behind you. Don’t give him any room to steal your thunder. Today we reflect back on Christopher Columbus’ major moment in American history and learn a few lessons on how to apply it to making your own major moment.

Today, the rubber meets the road. And then it... bounces? United States Treasury Secretary Jack Lew put Congress and the rest of the country on high alert for bouncing. Bounced checks, that is, due to the country’s government shutdown warning that it will shortly “be unable to guarantee payments to any group.” In briefest terms, people who thought they would be receiving money have no idea whether or not they will be. Ready to have your own version of a mental shutdown about this? Don’t panic.

Ever wonder why that dealership down the road is killing it on its quota and you’re just eking along? It’s easy to cast blame – lackadaisical sales staff, inventory you missed out on at auction, a couple straight weekends of bad weather. While all of these may certainly contribute to low sales, they’re not the be-all or end-all. There are several reasons why auto dealers make sales, and none have to do with having the lowest prices.

Ready to make your millions running a car dealership? Don’t fall prey to the following possibilities. You could have the biggest inventory, the hottest specials, the hungriest salespeople, and the most prime location, and you’re still losing car sales. The question is not just why, but how. 10. Online review sites You know they’re out there, but no one really likes to talk about them. Yet if you’re not addressing online review sites and incorporating them into your marketing plan, you’re losing sales. Aggregators such as Yelp, Dealerrater, Edmunds, and CitySearch can make or break you. It’s unfortunate that it’s human instinct to only complain, but a quick check of these sites shows that when people do it, they do it loudly. Online review sites are a Wild West – there’s no moderation. You should, at a minimum, subscribe to site notifications so that when a review is posted – complimentary or negative – you can address it immediately.

On Sunday, September 29, 2013, the world said goodbye (no spoilers here!) to the White family, a snaky little guy named Pinkman, a nervous fluttery bird named Lydia, and an empire built on the back of something Blue, not borrowed. We’re talking about “Breaking Bad,” a phenomenon that had loyal viewers glued to their television sets, Hulus, and Netflix accounts for years. What does an AMC show about an ex-chemistry teacher turned kingpin have to do with your furniture business? Here are some lessons learned from the show.

You’re driving home at the end of the work day, trying to listen to an audio book or mood music to get you through the traffic. Take a moment to look at yourself. Are you hunched over the wheel? Are your shoulders up around your ears? Is your breathing heavy or labored? Guess what – it may not be your commute. It could be how you sit – in the office, not the car. Sitting is something we take for granted – butt, meet chair – but the way you sit can affect your mood, health, and even outlook every day. It’s even got a fancy name, ergonomics.

Think that thieves are targeting what’s sparkly and rare? Think again. Some of the hottest things flying illegitimately off the shelves are not exactly what you’d think of as cool. Don’t think that this puts you in the clear if your store sells the expensive or electronic stuff. Every retailer can benefit from some shoplifting reconnaissance, and your employees will benefit from these lookout trends.

Do you feel stressed, tired and alone as you helm the ship that passes by your small business office? Take heart - you're not the only one feeling office manager stress. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that in May 2012, more than a quarter million people held office manager positions. In businesses across the country, office managers wear many different hats. All that headgear shuffling can lead to dangerous health symptoms you should keep an eye out for.