Tablets and Retro Toys Top Google's Trending Gift Searches

Credit: Iravgustin/Shutterstock

If you want to know the gifts your customers will be clamoring for this holiday season, Google may have the answers.

Video games, tablets, retro toys and warm clothes are among the top trending items on Google Shopping this month, according to new research from Google.

The research shows that although video game consoles and tablets are the top gifts trending on Google Shopping, wearable technology, like the Fitbit, are also garnering attention this month.

Additionally, a few retro toys are piquing consumers' interest this season. The new movie "Ouija" is contributing to an increase in searches for Ouija boards, which are up 300 percent since October. In addition, queries for the "Barbie Dream House" and "My Little Pony" are also up from last month.

The analysis revealed that cold-weather apparel, such as hunting boots and Canada Goose jackets, is among the clothing items being searched for most on Google. Specifically, searches for the boots are up 46 percent since last month, while queries for the jackets are up 140 percent.

Shoppers are interested in other types of clothes, too: The research discovered that jogger pants are also in high demand, with searches up 39 percent from October.

If recent trends are any indication, businesses better be prepared for an influx of mobile shoppers this holiday season. There are 3.5 times more shopping searches on Google coming from smartphones than there were this time a year ago, and the search engine giant is currently sending more mobile traffic to retailers per week from Google Shopping than it did during the peak of last holiday season.

The research also shows just how much consumers are relying on their smartphones to read customer reviews, watch product demos and find other retailers with products in stock nearby when they're out shopping. Google discovered that the top spending days in 2013 for in-store sales were also the days when it saw the biggest spikes in shopping searches on mobile devices.

The research found that shoppers are eager to get started on their holiday shopping. The Google search analysis shows the top questions consumers are asking about Black Friday:

• What time do stores open on Black Friday?
• What time does Black Friday start?
• When does Black Friday end?
• What to buy on Black Friday?

The research was based on previous Google search data, the MasterCard SpendingPulse Report and Google Trends analysis.

Urban Holiday Puts Sparkle in NYC Windows

One of Urban Holiday's New York window displays

Most New Yorkers have seen Joe Cuozzo's work, even if they've never heard of him or his company, Urban Holiday LLC; they pass by it as they hustle to work, window shop or stroll through Times Square during the holiday season.

Although it's just two years old, Urban Holiday is the creative force behind some of the city's prominent holiday displays, from storefront windows and interiors to building facades. Clients include some of the nation's largest and best-known retailers, including Macy's, Burberry, Michael Kors, Target, Old Navy, The North Face and Nine West. This is work that goes largely under the radar until it's unveiled, but it contributes to New York's iconic image as one of the most festively decorated cities during the holidays.

The behind-the-scenes work is grueling and complex. It requires months of planning and design, materials sourced from all over the world, precise fabrication and, in some cases, sophisticated engineering. About 50 percent of the company's work takes place during the holiday season, managed by a staff of only six full-time employees, plus seasonal help. Most of the installation work is done in the overnight hours.

"I hardly see my children this time of year," said Cuozzo, founder and president of the Bronx-based company. "We work ridiculous hours. You wake up, and it's nighttime already. I'm making sure all the right people are on the job, that everything is there. It's just constant."

Cuozzo has spent more than 15 years in this niche industry. He was formerly the director of production for Holiday Image, a New Jersey-based company that also transforms city stores, windows and facades for big brands during the holiday season. Before that, he was a visual production manager for Macy's who helped coordinate holiday displays.

Joe Cuozzo's business, Urban Holiday, is responsible for many of New York's festive holiday windows.

For Cuozzo, the holiday season begins in the spring. Ideally, that's when Urban Holiday starts the planning process with retailers.

"We love to have a conversation starting in March, but that doesn't always happen," Cuozzo said. "If we're hitting July or August, we're getting late. Some of these programs take months."

Projects range from exterior lights that blanket the front of buildings to window displays featuring classic holiday scenes. The company has built multistory Christmas trees made entirely of lights and elaborate winter scenes in Times Square to promote the launch of blockbuster children's movies. A moderate exterior facade typically costs a retailer $150,000 to $300,000, Cuozzo said, and the average window display costs $20,000 to $40,000.

Although the months leading up to the holiday season are, by far, the busiest for Urban Holiday, it offers its services year-round. The company also has done Fourth of July and Mother's Day displays.

Sometimes, clients approach Urban Holiday with specific ideas about the design they want and an artist's rendering in hand, Cuozzo said. In many other cases, Urban Holiday handles all the design work.

"A lot of times, they'll come to us and say, 'We have no idea.' They'll say one word, like 'Christmas,'" he said. "Then, everyone sits down with the client. Production people, sales people, the creative team — everybody has design input."

Once the client has approved the design, the logistical challenges begin. There are tasks like figuring out how much garland will cover a certain amount of square footage. There's the job of ordering materials from overseas, which can take three or four months to ship, and making sure they arrive on time. There's coordination to be done with outside engineers, fabricators and installers.

"We pull a lot of parts together to make the whole," Cuozzo said.

The installation is the shortest part of the process, lasting between one and five nights on average, depending on the scale of the project.

Cuozzo credits his sales teams with establishing relationships with major retailers and winning their business. Urban Holiday's business tripled in its second year, he said. The visual world is small, Cuozzo said, but there's a lot of turnover, which means the sales team is constantly building and rebuilding relationships.

Like most business owners, Cuozzo is hoping for continued growth. But he wants to go about it strategically, controlling the pace.

"I don't want to grow too fast because that's counterproductive," Cuozzo said. "And I would imagine, in this business, there's a ceiling. There are only so many projects that you can do in a season."

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro: Is It Good for Business?

Yoga laptops get the name from their flexible hinge.Yoga laptops get the name from their flexible hinge. BUY Lenovo's Yoga 3 Pro >>> Credit: Lenovo

Lenovo's latest ultraportable laptop is a sleek, flexible work machine. In fact, it's thinner and lighter than Apple's 13-inch (33 centimeters) MacBook Air, making it one of the most portable laptop computers around. Plus, it packs a super-sharp display and a powerful processor, and it lives up to the Yoga name with a design that folds back so you can use the laptop like a tablet. But the device isn't perfect, as it has an unimpressive battery life and a hefty price tag. Check out a full review of the Yoga 3 Pro at our sister site Laptop Mag, or read on for a quick breakdown of the device's pros and cons for business.

Pros:

• Flexible design: Yoga laptops get the name from their flexible hinge, which lets you use the machine like a typical laptop computer for productivity, or fold the display back a full 180 degrees to use the device as a large tablet. You can also fold the screen back 90 degrees to prop it up in display mode, which is handy for business presentations.
• Portability: At just 0.5-inches (1.3 cm) thick and 2.6 lbs. (1.2 kilograms), the Yoga 3 Pro is incredibly thin and light, so it won't weigh you down on business trips, or on your daily commute. In comparison, the Yoga 2 Pro is 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) thick and weighs 3 lbs. (1.4 kg), while Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air measures 0.68 inches (1.7 cm) thick and weighs 2.9 lbs. (1.3 kg).
• Efficient processor: The Yoga 3 Pro is extremely snappy for a notebook this thin and light. It runs on Intel's new Core M processor, which provides good speed with a lot less energy and heat than an Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 chip. That helped Lenovo build a thinner, more compact laptop that's still very fast. Other hardware highlights include a brilliant high-res display, and compatibility with Lenovo's desktop dock.

Cons:

• Expensive: The Yoga 3 Pro is a premium notebook at a premium price. At a whopping $1,299, it's more expensive than competing machines like the MacBook Air 13 and Microsoft's Surface Pro 3.
• Lackluster battery: Lenovo's laptop also delivered lackluster battery life, running for a measly 6 hours and 8 minutes in our battery-life test. That's nearly 2 hours less than average among similar ultraportable laptops, and far below the long-lasting MacBook Air 13, which ran for an incredible 12 hours and 20 minutes.
• Finicky touchpad: The Yoga 3 Pro comes with a responsive, high-quality keyboard, but we noticed that the touchpad could stand to be a bit more responsive and accurate.

BUY Lenovo's Yoga 3 Pro >>>

12 Fun (and Affordable) Gifts for Your Business Clients

If you think it's hard to shop for your friends and family during the holidays, think again — shopping for the people you work with is even worse. Finding something that's both fun and professional is no easy feat. Add a budget to the mix and it's even more difficult.

But what's even harder than buying gifts for your co-workers? Finding the perfect holiday presents to say "thank you" to your favorite clients. When you're shopping for clients, it's even more important for your gifts to be thoughtful and unique.

To keep your best clients coming back in the new year, try sending them one of these cool holiday gifts. Each item is under $20 — so you don't have to break the bank in the process, either.

Postcarden ($12.50)

Credit: UncommonGoods.com

This incredibly unique gift starts out as a postcard and turns into a cute little garden diorama for your client to keep on his or her desk. How does it work? Just open the card, water the base, and sprinkle the included packet of seeds on top. Both the "Botanical Garden" and "City" designs are just $12.50. From UncommonGoods.com.

Valet tray ($9.99)

The perfect addition to your client's office décor, this "while you were out" note- designed valet tray is a great, inexpensive gift. And if you prefer to personalize things a little more, you can also get single initial mini valet trays for $15. At RedEnvelope.com.

Handstand phone stand ($4)

Propping up your phone has never looked so fun, and at just $4 this smartphone stand is a steal. It features a pixelated black-and-white hand design complete with suction cups for easy attachment and setup. At PerpetualKid.com.

Good luck bottle opener ($9)

What could be better than an inexpensive gift that's both unique and useful? This polished brass horseshoe bottle opener is classy and fun. Bonus: Your clients will think of you every time they enjoy a drink, too. At West Elm.

Chocolate gift set ($14)

When in doubt, food is always appreciated — especially when that food is fancy, gourmet chocolate. This 6-piece chocolate set is almost too beautiful to eat, but your clients will love indulging, anyway. At Maggie Louise Confections.

Electronic travel mug ($12.99)

The holiday season also means colder weather, so help your clients stay warm with this electronic travel mug. It plugs into cigarette lighters and USB ports, so your client can keep his or her beverages hot on the go. At ThinkGeek.com.

Coffee maybe spoon ($15.99)

Speaking of hot beverages, this hand-made, stamped coffee spoon is a great gift for the caffeine-obsessed client. A play on the hit song "Call Me Maybe," this "So Coffee Maybe" is one more way to brighten your client's morning. At Etsy.

Bath truffles ($18)

Spa trips are expensive, but these luxurious bath truffles are perfect for inexpensive, at-home pampering and relaxation. With ingredients like shea butter, goat's milk and lavender petals, your client is sure to love this gift. At Anthropologie.

Portable laptop stand ($16.95)

This laptop stand is so simple, but so handy. It's portable, so your client can take it back and forth from his or her home to the office without any issues, and works with laptops ranging from 13 inches to 17 inches that weigh less than 10 pounds. At TheGrommet.com.

Gourmet snack gift box ($19.95)

Want to send food but don't want to go the chocolate route? This snack-packed gift box is sure to please your client. It contains gourmet crackers, cheese, nuts, hickory-smoked sausage, honey-hot mustard and caramel popcorn. At Harry & David.

Coffee explorer set ($13)

This is the perfect gift for the adventurous coffee drinker. The set includes coffee samples from Ethiopia, Brazil, Colombia and Honduras. Each sample makes approximately 5 cups of coffee (20 cups total). At UncommonGoods.com.

Crossword puzzle mug ($11.50)

Multitasking — and procrastinating — has never been so easy. Combine the joy of coffee (or tea) with the fun of doing crossword puzzles, and you've got a great gift. This mug is erasable and comes with a pencil, and is dishwasher-safe. At Vat19.com.

Want Your Team's Trust? Earn It

Credit: Ammentorp Photography/Shutterstock

What's the most important thing a leader can have? A vision for the company? Previous leadership experience? The ability to delegate? Those qualities are important, but they won't get you anywhere if you don't have your team's trust.

"We won't follow leaders if we mistrust what they do," said Frank Sonnenberg, author of "Follow Your Conscience"(Amazon Digital Services, 2014). "Some people believe that because they're rich, powerful or famous, they deserve our trust and respect. Actually, nothing can be further from the truth. Trust and credibility must be earned."

Establishing yourself as a trustworthy, credible leader can't be done overnight, Sonnenberg said. It takes time, and isn't guaranteed by virtue of your position or authority. Building trust needs to begin with your actions.

"Great leaders motivate people with personal charisma, expertise, integrity and respect," Sonnenberg told Business News Daily. "For example, you might be very smart, but you don't give the appearance of being a know-it-all. You have high ethical values and are true to your beliefs. You give to others because you want to, not because you expect anything in return."

Sometimes, gaining your employees' trust can be a little more difficult. A previous boss may have left your team feeling cynical, or perhaps you made a poor decision in the past that negatively impacted employees. If this is the case, the first step to rebuilding your good standing is to acknowledge the issue.

"Although trust may take a long time to develop, it can be lost through a single action," Sonnenberg said. "Once lost, it can be very difficult to re-establish.The only way [to do this] is to begin the healing process by accepting responsibility for your actions and begin earning back trust again every day."

Most important, leaders must remain humble and remember that no matter how long they've been in an industry or how many leadership positions they've held, no one automatically commands respect.

"It doesn't matter whether you're young or old, rich or poor, work on the top floor or down in the basement — everyone earns trust and respect the same way," Sonnenberg said. "You can't require or demand it. You can't cut deals or take shortcuts. You can't buy respect or even put a price tag on it. Trust and credibility are priceless."