News and Trends

• Some states now trying to protect subprime borrowers
  States are now scrambling to pass laws to limit damage from subprime lending, but many state officials concede the provisions may be too late. Citing a slow response from the federal government to address the issue, about 12 states are considering legislation that would protect subprime borrowers and potentially stave off a future crisis like the one now rocking financial markets. "I should have watched this closer; all of us should have on the state level," said North Carolina Gov. Michael F. Easley. The New York Times (8/24)

• Hagemeyer shares lose ground on Q2 results
  Hagemeyer NV's stock took a hit earlier this month, falling 17.66% following the release of the company's Q2 financial results. The company noted that overall sales in the first half of the year rose but that underlying sales in North America declined. TED Magazine (8/22)

• Trade groups praise new international chemical agreement
  The U.S., Canada and Mexico recently reached a new agreement covering the regulation of chemicals. Three trade associations -- U.S. Soap and Detergent Association, Consumer Specialty Products Association, and the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association -- said the agreement will promote best practices and ensure regulatory coordination. Cleaning & Maintenance Management (8/22)

• U.K. sees heady growth in number of small businesses
  The number of small businesses operating in the U.K. has climbed by nearly 1 million since 1994, according to the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, providing jobs for an additional 1.5 million people. The Federation of Small Businesses said the report demonstrates the importance of small businesses to the economy. Financial Times (free content) (8/23)

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Best Practices

• IT executives wrestle with securing data on mobile devices
  Information technology executives are developing new software and strategies to secure mobile devices. Companies must consider cost, compliance with regulations and risk management when deciding on a strategy, experts say. "You have to balance how many locks, how many keys, how many hoops and how many doors you're going to jump through with how many people. The final decisions are based on your exposure and risk," said Webcor Builders CIO Gregg Davis. Baseline (free registration) (8/14)

• Approach bully bosses like a work project, experts say
  Nearly half of all workers have been targeted by bully bosses, according to a survey by the Employment Law Alliance. Employees should approach bully bosses like a work problem and become methodical about a strategy for dealing with them. Document even the smallest incidents illustrating the pattern of bullying behavior, and do not allow yourself to be isolated. CIO (8/2007)

Sales

• IT executives must develop new sales, marketing processes
  Many sales and marketing processes developed by IT vendors before 2000 are no longer effective in the current environment, this article says. Executives should create a sales and marketing taxonomy to help improve decision-making and optimize returns. Manage Smarter (8/22)

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by NAW SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Employee-owned Graybar remains family-friendly (St. Louis Commerce Magazine)

• DXP Enterprises to buy Precision Industries for $106M (Industrial Distribution)

• Parts supply company owner to be sentenced for defrauding Pentagon (Bloomberg)

• Sale price of HD Supply put back on the table, reports say (Modern Distribution Management)

• Illinois Tool Works to repurchase shares worth $3B (Chicago Tribune)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Small Business Manager

• U.K. to lift price controls on bank account charges for SMBs
  The U.K.'s Competition Commission has decided to lift price controls imposed on Britain's four largest banks on account charges for small and medium-sized businesses. Organizations have until Sept. 28 to respond to the decision. The Federation of Small Businesses said called the decision to lift the restrictions "very disappointing." The Guardian (London) (8/23)

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Executive Life

• Survey: Business travelers increasingly turn to economy hotels
  Economy hotel use among business travelers has increased 31% over the past four years as corporations move to control lodging costs, according to a new survey from Runzheimer International. The company reports that businesses are seeing savings by putting travelers in hotels that are less expensive, but don't sacrifice service. Travel Weekly (8/23)

• Survey: Nearly one-fifth of U.S. adults take aspirin regularly
  A government survey found that 43 million U.S. adults take aspirin either daily or almost every day to help protect against heart attacks and strokes. A majority of adults with diagnosed heart disease reported they take regular aspirin doses, the study also revealed. ScientificAmerican.com/Reuters (8/23)

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Weekly Poll

• Where do you usually stay when traveling for business?
  After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.

	High-end or luxury hotels
	Economy or budget hotels
	With a family member or friend
	Other
	I do not often travel for work

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SmartQuote

If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing on my shoulders." --Rose Elizabeth Bird, first female chief justice of the California Supreme Court