2018Issue1_Alabama_v2.indd

OUTSIDE THE BOX

PAW -sivitely Comfy IKEA, the iconic Swedish furniture and home goods chain that is a master at getting consumers to buy things they never knew they needed, is going barking mad. As if they weren’t already a one-stop shop, the retailer is filling another void with a line of furniture specifically designed for pets. The new collection called Lurvig, Swedish for

“hairy”, has everything from dog beds to couch covers cat tunnels and scratching posts. It’s now being introduced at stores in the U.S., Canada, France and Japan, and will be rolled out to other areas by March 2018.

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TV Dinners Frozen TV dinners became popular in the 1950s because they were convenient and let people sit down on time to watch their favorite TV shows. But with the rise of subscription video on demand (SVOD) services they can sit down and watch any time – and may even have more time to cook. About 64 percent of consumers now have at least one SVOD service compared with only 47 percent 3 years ago. Additionally, more adults are streaming shows on non-TV devices like laptops smartphones and iPads, indicating new opportunities for convenience-oriented on-the-go foods.

DISCOUNT DILEMMA

If you happen to be looking for a way to create disloyal customers, just take a cue from our ridiculously complex airline industry where the rift between “basic” and “standard” is widening. Delta, United and American sell discounted fares at $30 to $50 less than standard coach. The catch is you lose the ability to make advance seat assignments and get overhead bin space. To get basic economy, you know have to stay over a Saturday night. If you’re a frequent flier you have to pay more to get the same amenities you used to get for free. Time to revisit retail loyalty programs.

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Despite the Trump administration’s fascination with brawn jobs like coal miners, steel and factory workers, the most promising sector of the economy is in restaurants. Restaurant jobs are growing faster than health care, construction, ormanufacturing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most of the jobs are at sit-down restaurants. But fast-food eateries are the next largest employer in the category. MUSCLES Mussels VS.

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