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Coaching employee customer service is one of the most important parts of being a manager. Customer service is at the top of the list when it comes to running a business. Coaching your employees in this area will mean the difference between a thriving, vibrant business and a failing one. Regardless of who your employees are, they can be coached to be excellent customer service representatives. Here are some tips on how to coach your employees and get them ready for the retail wars.

The first and most important rule in coaching employee customer service is to walk the walk. You have to be the example from top to bottom, and you can not afford to make mistakes in customer service. This means that you have to do everything that you require of your employees, and then some. This high level of service will set the bar for your employees, and their coaching will be ineffective without it. Make certain that you are the example, and your employees will naturally want to aspire to your expertise.

Next, you have to coach your employees in a hands on manner.

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Kraft Foods may increase its bid for Cadbury to a level that is accepted by the UK chocolate-maker, BBC business editor Robert Peston has learned.

He says the US giant may raise its offer to between 840 pence and 850p per share, which at 850p would value Cadbury at £11.7bn.

Kraft launched its hostile takeover bid for Cadbury in December, having its previous offer of 761p rejected.

Shares in Cadbury ended Monday trading up 14 pence or 1.8% to 807.50p.

Kraft has a Tuesday deadline to make its second and final formal bid.

Each year, millions of small business owners attempt to prepare and file their own taxes. Although this can save money on professional tax preparation, it could cost business owners in the end. Mistakes in tax filing can cost the business owner money from lost deductions or even in tax penalties and interest from the IRS.

Here are six tax mistakes to avoid if you prepare your small business taxes along with your personal tax return.

1. Forgetting Charitable and Non-Profit Contributions

   Did your small business donate money, time, or materials to a charitable organization last year? Be sure you get full value for what you donated to a charitable or non-profit group that has a tax-exempt status with the IRS.

   • Money – All monetary donations can be deducted from your small business taxes. Keep receipts from the charitable organization.
   • Time – Did you offer services to a non-profit group? Your time can be deducted and calculated based upon your hourly fee rate. Aga

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So, you’ve been thinking about going to grad school, but feel the timing is bad because of the economy. While many of us are wisely putting off unnecessary expenses until the economic dust settles, putting off your graduate degree might not be such a wise idea. Right now might be the absolute best time to go back to school and pursue your advanced degree. Surprised? Well, consider these five reasons why you might want to go to grad school right now.

1. You’re not working anyway. If you’ve already been laid off, you might be feverishly searching for a job and not even thinking about going back to school. But, if you can get by on your unemployment and a part time job, you might be wise to go to school now. You can go to school full time, which will reduce the amount of time it takes to get your degree. And, by the time you finish your graduate degree, job opportunities will likely have increased and you’ll be even better qualified because of your master’s. You’ll open up a whole new level of positions that will be available with your new degree. 2. It’s cheaper right now. In an effort

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AUSTRALIA’S east coast port duopoly is set to lose its last bastion, with approval just days away for a third stevedore for Melbourne, the nation’s busiest container port.

Senior business sources expect an announcement this month by the Victorian Government of the redevelopment of Webb Dock for a new terminal.

Strong support within the Government for the Webb project follows market testing by port manager, the Port of Melbourne Corporation, which found strong interest from potential operators.

While competition to Asciano/Patrick and DP World’s P&O will be widely welcomed, the plan faces some hostility, with Asciano preparing for a legal stoush over its eviction from Webb Dock East, and warning of a resident backlash.

The company has a lease until 2017 for its vehicle and break-bulk storage operation at Webb Dock East berths 3, 4 and 5. That lease will have to broken if, as expected, the Government wants a new container port operational in 2013.

”Any decision to evict Patrick from this site prior to the end of our leases will significantly impact on both our operations and on our automotive, steel and break bulk customers,” said Asciano managing director Mark Rowsthorn.

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President Barack Obama has said Wall Street must repay $117bn (£72bn) to taxpayers and criticised banks for “massive profits and obscene bonuses”.

The tax is to recoup money US taxpayers are expected to lose from bailing out the banks during the financial crisis.

“My commitment is to recover every single dime the American people are owed,” the president said.

The move follows populist anger at banks, seen as being responsible for causing the recent economic crisis.

Average American

“My determination to achieve this goal is only heightened when I see reports of massive profits and obscene bonuses at the very firms who owe their continued existence to the American people,” the president said.

He said the aim was not to punish Wall Street firms but to stop abuses and excesses from happening again.

It’s one more thing dragging on the sector, but it’s spread over 10 years, so it’s not so consequential. Read more…

“I’m perfectly content renting for the foreseeable future,” says Patrick Doyle. That’s because he can rent for considerably less than the cost of owning a house in his neighbourhood. The savings, in turn, can be used to build up a portfolio of financial assets much quicker than otherwise.

“I pay $1,250 per month in rent, including my parking space,” continues Doyle, who authors the blog A Loonie Saved. “The monthly mortgage payment on a detached house in my area would be about $2,200. After you add in property tax, repairs, maintenance and utilities, the total monthly payment is at least $2,700. By renting, I can save and invest at least $1,450 per month.”

True, his current dwelling is not equivalent to the houses in the area. But his shelter needs are modest; his primary requirement is to be located in that area. Besides, he likes accumulating financial assets that could leave his net worth higher than if he owned a house.

Mike Ronquillo, one of the persons behind the Colourful Money blog, has crunched the numbers to show how it’s possible to end up with a higher net worth by renting.  “The rationale is that over the long term, stock returns are better than gains in housing prices. Espe

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