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The first impression a potential or current customer receives of your business is made by the person who answers your phone. An essential area of training that is often overlooked is telephone skills. »

Truly one of the world's finest and most versatile blue cheeses, name-controlled Gorgonzola is named for a town in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy near Milan where it was first made, aged, and sold.  »

"Be safe!" warns one bagel manufacturer, "Always put lox on your bagels," they continue. Millions of deli customers heed this admonition regularly, but not for security's sake. Rather, it is to safeguard flavor and texture that millions of Americans turn to smoked salmon, or what they somewhat mistakenly call lox on a bagel with a schmear each morning.  »

As we move into spring, the white snow is subsiding, which leads us to the best season of all -- The White Sale Season. Those of you who follow my articles know that for me the most fascinating component of visual merchandising design and display is color.  »

It's been a tough year for pessimists. First, it was the jobless recovery -- but then the economy started creating jobs. Next it was worries about budget deficits sending long-term interest rates up -- but then interest rates fell. The last straw had to be the soaring trade deficits leading to a collapse of the dollar -- that was before the dollar began to rise. Now all that is left for the pessimists to hope for is a collapse in housing prices.  »

All training should positively impact a business¿s bottom line. Sometimes that impact comes through improved service or higher sales, but sometimes it is achieved through cost avoidance.  »

In recognition of The New York Merchandise Mart/Forty One Madison's steadfast presence as America's permanent showroom headquarters to the tableware industry, we have invited the mart's senior vice president, Carole Dixon, to share her insights on this ever-changing marketplace.  »