Blogs

Expectations for the future of the economy were for slower growth over the next six months due to uncertainty around the upcoming election, domestic policy, geopolitical conflict and inflation. As your local bank, we look forward to providing insight and helping decision makers manage their businesses with confidence. After conducting compelling research and interviews with subject matter experts, Financial Feed covers valuable insights on the economy, business strategies, and more. In it, you’ll discover: The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book breakdown of market conditions Expert commentary on...

Gone are the days when shoppers would buy a product based solely on appearance, practicality, or price. While these factors still matter, more and more are driven by purpose, with 82% of U.S. consumers preferring to support brands that reflect their personal values and beliefs. This embrace of ethical consumption means businesses need to be more transparent and proactive in their values, whether that’s their commitments to sustainability, sociopolitical stances, or ethical employment practices. Here’s how businesses can respond to the rise of consumption ethics — and, in the process, enjoy...

Given the rising concerns over inflation, dwindling personal savings, and perceived instability in the job market, recent surveys have found that consumers plan to reduce their spending on nonessential goods and services. This shift in consumer behavior necessitates that retailers reevaluate their stock to identify obsolete inventory — products that have lost market appeal and no longer contribute positively to revenue. If not addressed, excess inventory can tie up valuable working capital and hinder cash flow, impacting a business's ability to invest in more profitable product lines. Let’s...

By: Paul Dickson, Director of Research and Giri Krishnan, Senior Portfolio Manager Is the check engine light flickering? Economic data has become more mixed with signs of both growth and fragility. If the Fed wants to engineer a “soft-landing,” or perhaps even the elusive “no-landing” scenario we discussed last quarter, it will have to start cutting interest rates sooner rather than later. We look to the September Fed Meeting as the start of a series of rate cuts. The classic description of the Federal Reserve’s job (the Fed) is to know when to remove the punchbowl from the party. The...

Convenience and personalization are at the forefront of the modern shopping experience. With today's consumers seeking seamless interactions across all platforms, developing a robust omnichannel retail strategy has never been more important. From social media to retail brick-and-mortar storefronts, each touchpoint in an omnichannel shopping journey is a potential opportunity for improving service quality and boosting your return on investment (ROI). By streamlining how these channels integrate with one another, businesses can create a cohesive and engaging customer journey that not only meets...