The turkey has been picked apart, the wishbone wished upon, and the rounds of coffee are morphing into a Manhattan or two. With the family finally gathered after a tumultuous year, all seems well with the world. But then cousin Ed is nowhere to be found; same for your stepsister and her teens. They’ve all snuck out the side door, beckoned by the promise of amazing deals, along with throngs of rabid bargain hunters and store hours that would have been unimaginable a few years ago.
Stories by Mike McDougall

How Retail Brands Explain Staying Open (or Closed) on Thanksgiving
November 21st, 2016 by Mike McDougall
Labor Day Idea: Enhance Company & Employee Performance via Vacations
August 29th, 2016 by Mike McDougallIs paid time off (PTO) a relic of the past? Should PR leaders abandon the concept? That doesn’t seem to be the ideal solution, especially when the benefits of vacation are well established. A Diamond Resorts International survey conducted by Nielsen found 71% of people who take a yearly vacation are satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs. Just 46% who fail to take a yearly vacation are satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs.

4 Steps to Improve Your Team’s Measurement and Financial Skills
June 6th, 2016 by Mike McDougallDespite years of being asked for more concrete performance metrics, of complaining that “they just don’t understand” what we do, and of being given opportunities at every turn to make a change, we somehow believe that public relations is absolved from having to play by the same rules.
How PR Leaders Can Retain the Summer Spirit in the Workplace
August 30th, 2015 by MIKE MCDOUGALL, PRESIDENT, MCDOUGALL COMMUNICATIONSBefore throwing yourself headlong into a race to year’s end, commit to finding a few ways to keep a bit of that summer-like mindset in the mix.
6 Ways to Help Manage a Heavy Load
April 6th, 2015 by Mike McDougallIs your to-do list spiraling out of control? Try these six suggestions to tame the beast.
Tip Sheet: PR’s Crystal Ball: Embracing Predictive Analytics
September 10th, 2012 by Mike McDougallFor today’s PR professional, data-analytics skills must go hand-in-hand with non-linear creativity.
Tip Sheet: PR’s Crystal Ball: Embracing Predictive Analytics
September 10th, 2012 by Mike McDougallFor today’s PR professional, data-analytics skills must go hand-in-hand with non-linear creativity.
Management POV: Cultivate a Big Ideas Culture and Reward Success
July 2nd, 2012 by Mike McDougallThose in leadership positions have a responsibility to set the tone in their organizations by encouraging big ideas and celebrating when those ideas come to fruition.
Management POV: Cultivate a Big Ideas Culture and Reward Success
July 2nd, 2012 by Mike McDougallThose in leadership positions have a responsibility to set the tone in their organizations by encouraging big ideas and celebrating when those ideas come to fruition.
Tip Sheet: Pat PR Definitions No Help in Getting a CEO’s Ear
April 16th, 2012 by Mike McDougallFirst step in earning and keeping your place among senior leaders: Speak the language of your executive peers, not of your PR colleagues.