Although we are just beginning to enjoy springtime weather, many businesses are already thinking ahead towards summer, especially retailers and restaurant owners. Summer can be a peak time for retailers and restaurant owners so many are making plans now for merchandise displays, menu additions, hiring additional help, and marketing and promotions. However, many businesses fail to take proactive steps to make their business safer before the rush of summer business, when there can be an increase in theft and vandalism.

During grade school and college, students are often asked to write research papers or essays on a specific topic or book, and it's usually clear to teachers who did their research and who didn't. Those who take the time to do thorough research typically earn better grades because they have more information and understand the topic better. These same school lessons can apply to us as consumers now, because taking the time to do our research can result in smarter purchases and better investments.

In our competitive economy, businesses need every advantage they can get in order to grow and thrive. An important first step towards achieving long-term company success is recruiting the best possible employees to work for you. However, attracting top tier talent can be difficult when qualified applicants have an abundance of positions and companies to choose from, as they do now.

Companies often rely on specialized equipment, tools, and other technology to perform their daily functions and complete services for customers. After a while, tools, equipment, and technology can get worn out and lose their effectiveness, or worse yet, lead to slowdowns and liability issues for companies. The focus of today's Aegis blog are the various benefits that could result from upgrading or replacing tools, specialized equipment, and business technology.

If you're a small business owner, you understand that there are many responsibilities and roles to juggle in order to keep your company afloat. You might be interviewing candidates for job openings, analyzing monthly financial reports, closing a big sale, communicating with vendors, and resolving client issues all in one day.

Having a successful business depends on having a strong, reliable workforce, but sometimes the workplace can become a hindrance to employee health. For example, if your restaurant or retail space is in an older building or one in need of maintenance, your employees could be getting sick at a higher rate than employees at cleaner or newer facilities. An increase in employee illness can quickly result in a drop in both productivity and profitability.

When it comes to commercial properties, few things add as much value and curb appeal as beautiful, healthy trees. They can provide abundant shade for the business and visitors while also reducing utility costs and excess noise on the property. However, it's important that trees never become a liability on your commercial property; otherwise your business could suffer financially. In today's Aegis blog post, we look at three ways trees could be a liability on your commercial property, and what can be done to mitigate those risks.

Over time, businesses might find themselves in need of more space, improved facilities, or additional tools, equipment, and furnishings. This might be due to having an older building, or because of rapid expansion and growth. Rather than try to find a new location, it might make more sense logistically and financially to simply upgrade the existing building and business assets. While upgrades can potentially save time and money, it could also mean an upgrade or addition to commercial insurance coverage.

Although businesses along the Gulf Coast region are happy to bid farewell to the 2018 hurricane season, this doesn't mean that severe weather can't impact businesses during the cold winter months as well. Companies can be negatively impacted by such winter weather as ice, snow, heavy rains, lightning, and gusty winds, even if the weather occurs elsewhere in the country. In today's Aegis blog post, we look at four ways winter weather can impact your business, and how commercial insurance coverage can protect against possible losses or damages.

When you start your own business, you will often pour out your blood, sweat, and tears trying to get it off the ground and make it a success. Once your business is established and doing well, you never want to see anything derail or diminish future growth. However, as a business owner, YOU could be the biggest roadblock to your company's future growth and success if you don't plan well for the future.