Journal

Through the Local program, West Elm is supporting independent designers—and building its own brand to boot.

Most independent designers would kill for a mass retailer to sell their work—unless it put them out of business. One of the harsh realities of partnering with large companies—which increasingly see independent design as a way to differentiate their wares from competitors’—is meeting demand. Making 100 of a particular item is not the same thing as making thousands; in many cases, a sudden large order from a retailer could throw the supply chain out of whack. Moreover, buying the materials and supplies to make an order often requires a large investment that can be financially burdensome.

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The campaign paid at least $3.8 million to Cambridge Analytica, whose technology promised to target voters based on personality traits.

The Ted Cruz campaign has quietly stopped using a new “behavioral” voter targeting technology from Cambridge Analytica, which has been called both “the new kid on the block” in campaign tech and Cruz’s “secret weapon,” according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

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It’s been long known that physical activity produces mental benefits, but are all exercises equal when it comes to brain boosts?

Recently the New York Times reported on a Finnish study published in the Journal of Physiology that found, as long thought, that physical exercise could have a positive impact on brain health. What made the Finnish study so interesting, however, was it found that the brain benefits varied depending on the type of exercise performed.

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Saying no might be more comfortable, but saying yes can lead you to discover new things. Here’s when to step out of your comfort zone.

Shonda Rhimes is known for being the creator and producer of the television shows Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, but within her family she was also known as the person who never said yes to anything. When her sister called her out on her knee-jerk reaction to say no to each and every invitation, Rhimes decided to commit to a year of saying yes to any unexpected offer that came her way.

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Becoming a good conversationalist requires having a certain set of skills in your communication toolbox.

Some people have the gift of gab, and can talk to anyone about anything. And some people struggle to make small talk. What separates the two isn’t knowing what to talk about; it’s polishing up your communication skills so you can keep a good conversation going.

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Of 33,000 workers globally, one in three said they don’t trust their employer. What gives?

One in three people don’t trust their employer. That’s according to the new Edelman “Trust Barometer”, a survey of 33,000 people in 28 countries about trust in the workplace.

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If you live anywhere near the coast, you might be the owner of some unexpected beachfront property.

By the end of the century, if greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked, Fenway Park, along with a huge chunk of the rest of Boston, could end up underwater. Miami Beach might be submerged. The same is true for parts of every coastal city, from Hong Kong to Mumbai.

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Favor, an on-demand delivery startup with 10,000 drivers, has an unusual policy: a minimum wage.

Like many “gig economy” companies, delivery services DoorDash and Postmates pay their drivers per delivery. If a driver logs into the app during a slow time, he won’t be paid until there’s a job available for him to complete. If it’s a slow day, and he waits 20 minutes between deliveries, he won’t be paid to wait for the next job.

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