Business to Blogs: the 411

Throughout this semester, we learned various strategies for success in the PR world. Combing what we have studied both in and outside of the classroom, I have come up with a condensed list of some of the ‘Best Practices’ for getting ahead in public relations.
- Stay current—by staying up to date on various materials, news, and human-interest topics, you will allow yourself to put your skills to the test. Learning does not stop in the classroom. Read books, magazines, blogs, etc. to immerse yourself in a whole new area of knowledge.
- Develop an aptitude for technology, fast! —Technological advances develop rather quickly; if you get too caught up on one craze, you will miss the newest fad. Always keep your eyes and ears open for the latest trends, and don’t be afraid to jump in.
- Seize the moment—embrace every opportunity to further your aspirations. From volunteer work to making copies, every networking occasion will both boost your resume and benefit your skill set. Remember, if you don’t take opportunity, someone else will.
- Separate emotions—don’t take things personally. If you make a mistake, fix it and move on. If you allow your emotions to get in the way, your work will suffer. Instead, learn from your mistakes and move forward.
- Presentation is everything—with one chance to make a first impression, you better give it your best. Do your research, ask good questions, and look the part. More importantly, have confidence in yourself. When it comes down to the wire, you ultimately write your own ticket. If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else? This is your chance to shine.

Can We Call It Stealing If We Pay the Asking Price?

On April 11, at around 9 a.m., cars flooded the Kangaroo Express gas station in Wilmington, NC to fill up on 35 cent/gallon gasoline. An employee entered .35 instead of $3.35 into the computer system. This human error cost the gas station over $1000 by the time the mix up was noticed. Customers crowded the pumps, taking advantage of the "cheapest gas in town" until 6 p.m., when the gas station realized the mistake.

Many bloggers are taking about this story; in today's economy, we know that it would be nearly impossible to pay a mere .35 for a gallon of gas. But hey, if you pay the asking price, why should you complain, right? Bloggers have commented on the ethics of this issue. What do you think? Can we call this stealing if pay the amount entered, but omit the fact that there may be a glitch in the system?

For more information, check out this link: http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080411/ARTICLE/669960132/0/FRONTPAGE

Whole Foods: Wholly On Board

How many plastic bags do you receive from the grocery on a given shopping trip? Are you aware of the fact that those bags are not biodegradable? So where do the millions upon millions of plastic grocery bags that Americans collect end up after we throw them in the trash? You guessed it….they don’t go anywhere. These plastic bags are aiding the destruction of our environment one bag at a time.

Whole Foods Market, the world’s leading natural and organic food supermarket, has acknowledged this environmental issue. Their motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet” encompasses the company’s task in providing customer and employee satisfaction, as well as environmental improvement.

Taking responsibility, Whole Foods Market has ceased to offer plastic grocery bags at checkout isles in its headquartered city of Austin, Texas. Whole Foods says this marks the company’s first step in its plan of banning plastic bags companywide by next year. Instead, the store offers paper bags made of 100 percent recycled material.

Whole Foods Market has made further progress in this bag reformation. Customers can find what the company calls “A Better Bag”, a reusable bag made from 80 percent recycled materials, available for 99 cents at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. Besides saving the environment, shoppers will have another incentive for using their own reusable bags at checkout: a refund of 10 cents per bag.


“Let’s face it, plastic bags fill landfills, harm our water systems and wildlife, and litter our roadsides and communities,” said Seth Stutzman, Whole Foods Market’s Southwest regional vice president. “We are discontinuing the use of these bags in support of our Core Value of ‘caring for our Communities and our Environment,’ which includes adopting wise environmental practices.”
Whole Foods Market has taken a big step in saving our environment. Will you?

For more information on Whole Foods Market a their strive towards corporate social responsibility, check out these links:
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com
http://www.csrwire.com/profile/1954.html
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2007/12/20/whole-foods-plans-nationwide-plastic-bag-ban/