Holiday Shopping Tips: How to Get Around Delays and Shortages

Posted on November 23, 2021February 14, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

Instead of fighting the crowds, be creative and do things differently this year
By Penelope Wang, Octavio Blanco November 10, 2021

You’ve heard all the warnings. Shipping delays and supply chain glitches are going to make holiday shopping even more difficult this year.

Some of the biggest delays have been with large appliances, laptops, and some types of cars. But supply chain problems have led to spot shortages for a broad range of products.

Those concerns have prompted many shoppers to start their gift buying early. As a recent report by Bank of America (PDF) found, 65 percent of consumers had started preparing for the holidays by early October, with one-third having already purchased a seasonal gift.

That said, there are still products available for the holidays, especially if you’re flexible, and Black Friday deals have already begun. Check CR’s deal coverage, including bargains on top-rated laptops, mattresses, and ranges.

Even so, unless you started buying presents before Labor Day, you may feel like you’re already behind. But there’s no need to feel stressed. Fact is, there are plenty of options for gift-giving that don’t involve close monitoring of package tracking alerts.

Instead, consider supporting your local merchants, where you can find a wide variety of gift choices. You can also provide holiday cheer by making thoughtful online purchases, such as giving tickets or paying for services, rather than buying items that may get stuffed into a closet or tossed on a shelf.

“Purchasing local handcrafted items or the gift of an experience, such as a concert, can be more personal and more fun,” says Deborah Small, professor of marketing and psychology at Wharton Business School.

Here are some suggestions:

Go Local

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The future of climate change disclosures: 4 critical risk areas boards should address

Posted on November 22, 2021February 14, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

Brian McLoughlin, claims officer, Complex Management Liability Claims, Ironshore | Climate Change

In a 2020 study on climate outlook in business, 78 percent of leaders at the world’s top 500 companies reported that managing climate-related risks will be critical in keeping their jobs over the next five years. They know that climate change is a vital business issue — and it’s particularly urgent for companies in the U.S., where experts anticipate that mandatory climate disclosure requirements are on the horizon.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has considered climate change a risk area since 2010, and many companies already voluntarily disclose information. But in July 2021, Gary Gensler, chair of the SEC, spoke about his plan to submit a proposed rule for mandatory climate disclosures — and based on an outpouring of public messages, that proposal will likely pass. Mandatory disclosures should make it easier for buyers and investors to access consistent, comparable data about climate impact, and for companies to showcase their positive work. However, these new regulations can feel daunting for board members, particularly at companies with less experience in this area.

“In July 2021, Gary Gensler, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), spoke about his plan to submit a proposed rule for mandatory climate disclosures — and based on an outpouring of public messages, that proposal will likely pass.”

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Businesses Everywhere Are Looking for Help

Posted on November 19, 2021February 14, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

Here’s what you need to know and how to take advantage of all the job openings

by Sharon Waters, AARP, November 3, 2021 | Looking for help

Businesses Everywhere Are Looking for Help

En español

Now would seem like a great time to be looking for work. Job openings hit a record 10.9 million this summer — the highest figure since the Labor Department started tracking that number two decades ago. Is it time for you to return to work or maybe even look for a different job?

Kenneth Moore, 67, would say yes. The Chico, California, resident is an independent contractor with Amazon Flex, driving his 2018 Ford Fusion car to deliver packages whenever he wants to pick up a route from the online retailer. Moore says the part-time work — he puts in about 24 hours per week — is flexible and fun, and he’s lost 20 pounds since starting the gig in late June. Moore worked in heavy construction before retiring two years ago, but he found the pace of retirement was too slow, prompting him to take the Amazon position. “I like the idea of having something to do,” says Moore, adding that he didn’t want a job with set hours. “It’s like being your own boss.”

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Small projects, big risks: 6 challenges for small and midsize contractors in the COVID-19 era

Posted on November 18, 2021February 14, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

Michael Sheelen, bond manager of Small-Mid Contract, New York, Liberty Mutual Surety, Midsize Contractors

Small projects, big risks: 6 challenges for small and midsize contractors in the COVID-19 era

Contractors may assume that smaller projects equate to smaller problems — but that’s not always the case. Construction jobs of all sizes share many of the same logistical and legal risks — and those risks have become even more complex in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supply chain issues, labor shortages, and payment delays now define the construction landscape — and many small and midsize contractors don’t have the financial cushion to stay afloat if something goes awry. A series of tough jobs could lead to significant losses for contractors who are unprepared. Here are six risk areas that construction companies should address to position themselves for success in the current COVID-19 era.

1. Distribution issues

As contractors are aware, the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily shut down manufacturers and suppliers across the nation, leading to unprecedented distribution challenges.

As of July 2021, the cost of construction materials is up 20 percent, with a 3.2 percent increase just in the last month. For some common materials, like softwood lumber, prices have increased by more than 125 percent in the last year.

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Delayed claims reporting: the true cost to businesses and injured workers

Posted on November 8, 2021February 6, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

Get the details of our latest deep dive into workers comp with our Claims Reporting Lag Study report.

Business Insurance > Insights > Delayed claims reporting: the true cost to businesses and injured workers

Workplace injuries that go unreported can keep employees on the sidelines — uncertain about treatment and unclear on what to expect under their state’s WC system. When workplace incidents do happen, prompt claim reporting is a key factor to ensuring injured employees receive the necessary care to feel supported in a successful return — and minimizing business impact.

Businesses appreciate the value of speed. Consider these strategies to accelerate your injury reporting:

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4 Simple Steps to Fight Identity Fraud

Posted on November 5, 2021February 14, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

New AARP-sponsored report shows the most common ruses adopted by scammers

by Katherine Skiba, AARP, October 11, 2021

Identity fraud is easy money for criminals, but there are four steps you can take to protect yourself and your money:

Ignore requests for an urgent form of payment, such as using a gift card or making a wire transfer.
Protect your passwords and log-in information.
Do not communicate with strangers about confidential or sensitive financial matters.
Verify everything you’re told to determine if a supposed problem truly requires your attention.

The helpful tips are in a new, AARP-sponsored report by Javelin Strategy & Research, which estimates that identity fraud led to $56 billion in losses in 2020.

The report says older consumers are not more vulnerable to every kind of fraud, but notes that the stakes are high for adults age 50-plus because losses tend to be steeper for people who have accumulated a lifetime of wealth.

The report also:

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Fall Foliage and the Best Trees and Shrubs to Plant in Your Yard

Posted on October 28, 2021February 15, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

MARTHASTEWART.COM | GARDEN | Fall Foliage | By Lauren Wellbank July 07 | Homeowners Insurance

Buy these plants and do your fall leaf gazing at home this year.

Fall Foliage

If your fall fantasies involve sitting in your own yard, sipping a homemade pumpkin spice latte, and watching as the plants in your yard go from summer greens to autumnal shades of red and orange, then it’s time to start gardening. Here, we’re sharing a number of trees and shrubs that will give your yard a good dose of fall color come autumn.

Fall Foliage Reds and Purples

Maples, particularly Japanese maples, are the first plants many gardeners think of when it comes to spectacular fall color. The hue depends on variety; Velvet Viking™, for example, goes from being purple in summer to vibrant red in autumn. Other maples may turn shades of yellow, orange, and purple. Blueberries are often overlooked for their ornamental appeal, but many turn stunning shades of red and purple come fall. This makes them great plants for double-duty use. Meanwhile viburnums offer amazing fall color in addition to berries that attract birds. Sparkler® is an easy-care version of the North American native that turns a rich purple-red at the season’s end. Oakleaf hydrangeas, like Snow Queen, are another amazing North American native shrub that works well in partially shaded spots and are known for delivering purple-bronze foliage in fall. It is one of the relatively few shade plants for reliable fall color.

Fall Foliage in Blues, Orange, Greens, and Yellows

Fothergilla, or witch hazel, is a native shrub with blue-green leaves in summer and pumpkin orange leaves in fall. If you’re looking for another bright-hued plant, linderas, or spicebush, grows mainly as a shrub or small tree. A common or native species, Lindera benzoin, has brilliant yellow to orange fall color. The Asian spicebush, Lindera salicifolia, has bright orange fall color and the foliage stays on it longer throughout the winter. For year-long color, plant arborvitae—it offers a show in all seasons! Its new growth emerges a pleasing yellow shade before fading to green. Then, when temperatures drop in autumn, the foliage goes a glowing shade of golden orange that’s unlike anything else in the landscape.

When to Plant Them

Happily, you can plant your trees and shrubs almost anytime from spring to fall in most areas and still enjoy the changeover of color in the fall, according to Justin Hancock, Monrovia horticultural craftsman. “Spring planting gives you the advantage of bigger variety at the store; autumn lets you see the fall color for yourself before you bring your plant home.” Just beware, if your plants are stressed, struggling, or unhappy with where they’re growing, they are unlikely to produce as lively of a color palette come autumn.

Troubleshooting Issues

If your foliage isn’t turning the colors you had hoped, your soil may be to blame, says Adrienne R. Roethling, director of curation and mission delivery at Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden. She says that the ideal soil PH should be 6.2-6.5. If your PH is fine but you’re still having an issue, drought may be the problem. “If soils are dry, especially in summer and fall, some plants will just drop their leaves prematurely,” she explains.

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How using a surety guarantee can enhance your client’s liquidity

Posted on October 27, 2021February 15, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

What is a surety guarantee?

The surety is the guarantee of the debts of one party by another. A surety is an organization or person that assumes the responsibility of paying the debt in case the debtor policy defaults or is unable to make the payments. The party that guarantees the debt is referred to as the surety, or as the guarantor.

How do you get a surety guarantee?

When companies need a guarantee, they often turn to their bank. And whilst this may seem to be the simplest approach, decision-makers should understand the other options available to them—mainly purchasing surety from an insurance company. One key reason? To free up liquidity.

When companies obtain a guarantee from an insurance company, they don’t use up any of the limits under their bank lines, giving them additional credit to use in other ways to support their business. Often, insurance companies have better credit ratings than banks, a key factor when getting clients to accept guarantees. Two examples of guarantees that can free up cash include pension bonds and payment services regulation bonds.

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Staffing Shortages May Affect Your Next Trip

Posted on October 18, 2021February 15, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

Pack your patience as the travel industry struggles with staffing shortages.

by Bill Fink, AARP, October 13, 2021

Staff Shortages due to the pandemic.

Due to the tourism slowdown at the height of the pandemic, many airlines, hotels, restaurants, and attractions cut back operations, laid-off employees, or closed altogether. Now, as travel has begun to rebound, many of those businesses find themselves short of staff and resources. Travelers are feeling the pinch — both in the pocketbook and in the planning process — with lower inventory for accommodations (sometimes due to a shortage of housekeeping staff), longer wait times for services, limited opening hours at restaurants, and higher prices in many popular destinations.

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Restaurant Revitalization Fund, grant money could be on the way for small businesses

Posted on October 12, 2021January 23, 2025 by Shield Insurance Agency

By Andy Medici | The Playbook

This article first appeared in The Business Journals.

Small businesses could see more Restaurant Revitalization Fund money and other grants for hard-hit industries — but only after Congress finishes its work on a pair of infrastructure bills.

Right now, Congress is occupied trying to pass both a $1 trillion “hard infrastructure” bill with funding for roads and bridges, as well as another $3.5 trillion bill including tax credits for families with children through a process called reconciliation allowing just 50 votes in the Senate. That political wrangling is happening both between Democrats and Republicans and within the Democratic Party itself over how big the bill should be and how it should be passed.

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