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Every year, millions of Muslims take part in observing Ramadan: a spiritual month dedicated to cleansing the soul and spirit, hallmarked by the practice of fasting. This means that for 30 days, from sunrise to sunset, practitioners abstain from eating food and drinking water, only breaking their fast once the sun disappears in their respective geolocationa time that shifts up or down depending on the season. Yep, not even water. As someone who observes Ramadan, every year I am both amused and baffled by the awkwardness that surrounds the month in the workplace. Inquiries about what fasting entails are far and few, whether out of fear of disrespect, uncertainty, or just plain avoidance. This means not being able to understand the physical and mental tolls that your fellow colleagues who are fasting might be experiencing. @byefarzy Its inevitable ima forget happens every year #fyp #ramadan #muslim original sound – Farzy So, for the uninitiated, here are a few things about Ramadan that businesses can learn, as well as how they can support those observing, especially in these last few days. Lets start from the beginning Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic calendar. The ninth month in the lunar cycle, it revolves around fasting, spirituality, prayers, giving to charityall part of the five pillars of Islam. After 30 days of fasting, the month culminates in a celebrationa holiday called Eid-al-Fitr that is so filled with food and sweets, one would think youre making up for lost time! In a 2024 Mojo Supermarket report, the agency comments on how in spite of over 4 million practicing Muslims in America, the absence of Ramadan brand marketing is astonishing. In fact, Party City was the first mainstream party supply store to carry Ramadan decoronly seven years ago! You can imagine the utter disappointment folks felt upon learning that the store was going out of business. How could the United States, the Mecca (no pun intended) of capitalism, have missed the mark so badly? Weve got dollars burning in our pockets, begging to be spent. Throw us a bone herea paper lantern or plastic mugs shoddily printed with Ramadan Mubarak will suffice. How to make your work environment Ramadan-friendly Because your fasting colleagues are waking up an hour before sunrise for suhoor the period of time to eat and drink for the dayit often leads to a disruption in sleep cycles. Apart from general knowledge, the awareness that aspects of fasting can impact cognitive abilitiesfatigue, dehydration, inability focuscan enable teammates to cultivate a working environment that sets up them up to do their best work. Where possible, try to avoid scheduling late-afternoon meetings, a period in which low energy is often most visible. If youre a manager, allowing your direct reports to rearrange working hourssuch as starting the day earlier, or ending early and resuming after breaking fastis an excellent way to accommodate colleagues whose brains may be sluggish by late day, as well as giving them time to prepare for Iftar (time time to break fast.) If there is space in the office, curating an area for prayers, which usually take only minutes, is another thoughtful way to acknowledge the month. If your office is remote or hybrid, consider extending additional remote days for fasting colleagues. How some companies are recognizing Ramadan this year Some organizations are doing the most when it comes to inventing creative ways to honor their fasting colleagues and commemorate the montha particularly meaningful feat given the state of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the United States right now. Shaina Zafar, director, Next Gen at UTA, says the company has made a concerted effort to increase awareness around not only what Ramadan means symbolically and spiritually but also centered it around an ethos of community-building and cultural collaboration across interfaith communities. “Ramadan is a time for meaningful reflection and recentering for the billions of Muslims who observe,” says Zafar. “We see a fundamental re-imagination of our entire routines for these 30 days, and considering the impact this has on Muslims in the workplaceas they sometimes break their fast during work hoursit requires companies to intentionally engage with tangible resources and thoughtful support for employees observing Ramadan.” UTA hosted its second company Iftar in New York this year, according to Zafar, in addition to creating a Ramadan workplace inclusion guide. It also hosted a conversation on Muslim representation in the media, followed by Iftar in its Los Angeles office. At marketing company HubSpot, a challenge called Can you Last a Ramadan Fast was presented to employees. Its great to see HubSpot colleagues embracing cultural understanding through the global Ramadan fasting challenge,” says Naimun Siraj, a senior software engineer at HubSpot. “This gives an opportunity for employees to gain insight into an important part of Islam, and fosters genuine empathy and builds community through shared experience.” At Duolingo, Aliza Haider, director, immigration and global mobility, says the language-learning company is committed to nurturing an inclusive and supportive environment for “Duos” during Ramadan. We begin with reminders and best practices for our role managers, such as avoiding team lunches or food-related events during fasting periods,” says Haider. “This strategy promotes flexible working hours and cultivates a considerate physical environment. Our Workplace Team further supports our Duos by providing convenient meal boxes for pre-fast and post-fast times, allowing them to observe their traditions with ease and comfort.
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E-Commerce
Just a short drive outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, the quaint city of Kannapolis is seeing a rapid economic revival. The city, which was traditionally known for its textile mills, has recently transformed into a research hub in the for Southeast. And right in Kannapoliss city center, less than a ten minute walk from the Georgian-style city hall, sits Atrium Health Ballpark: the home of the Minor League Baseball team known as the Cannon Ballers. Over the last five years, the Cannon Ballers have played an increasingly vital role in Kannapolis’s revitalization. Throughout the course of a season, the teams total attendance is around 200,000 peoplea number much larger than Kannapoliss official population of 60,000. [Photo: Krista Jasso] Its a beautiful ballpark, and the community and small businesses love it, says Trevor Wilt, whos in charge of entertainment fan engagement for the Cannon Ballers. He adds that since there arent many large companies in Kannapolis, small mom-and-pops shops rely on baseball games to bring people downtown. It helps out the economic development around the entire downtown Kannapolis. Businesses are now thriving, and they cant wait for baseball season because they get more customers. [Photo: courtesy Kannapolis Cannon Ballers] A large factor of the Cannon Ballerss growing brand is their mascot: a mustachioed daredevil with a baseball head and a devilish grin. His name is Boomer, and he was chosen by thousands of voting fans in 2019 as part of a large revamp of the teams identity. In appearance, he resembles Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR legend and hometown hero for the small North Carolina town. Compared to the buttoned-up branding of most Major League Baseball teams, Boomer might seem a little odd. But in baseballs minor leagues, there are 119 other teams just like the Cannon Ballers. Team owners have the flexibility to be more creative with just about every aspect of their team: the name, the mascot, stadium traditions, and even the rules of the game. Mascots range from a bucktoothed lug nut in Lansing, Michigan to a smirking trio of nuts in Modesto, California. A recent spurt in creative freedom has ushered in an era of fun and surging sales in Minor League Baseball (MiLB). Last year, MiLB games around the country saw more 30 million fans in attendance; the highest number since COVID. This year, industry experts expect even more. Whats the MiLB? With teams stationed in small towns and cities, the minor leagues develop young prospects with the goal of them eventually playing for one of 30 MLB teams. Each MLB team has four MiLB-affiliate teams: players just starting out begin at the Single-A level, then they can move on to High-A, then Double-A. Finally, they can reach Triple-A, where they play at the highest minor league level before hopefully being called up to the major leagues, where their baseball skills will be broadcasted to millions of viewers across the country. The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers are the Single-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, which means the players on the team are currently at the lowest minor league level. Those players will work to one day reach the MLB for the White Sox (or potentially get traded to another team along the way). Oftentimes, MiLB teams are the only professional sports team that operates in a community. The Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes and Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats are the only professional sports clubs that exist in the states of New Mexico and New Hampshire, respectively. MiLB games cater to families looking for a fun day or night out, and owners lean into the casual nature of the league. We’re affordable and we’re accessible, says Peter Freund, the CEO and cofounder of Diamond Baseball Holdings, a group that currently owns over a third of MiLB-affiliate teams. Minor League Baseball is a night out that is really affordable, can feel really good, and can feel really local. I think that were a really critical piece for every city that we operate in. Minor League Baseball also acts as an incubator and testing lab for the MLB, says Freund. The pitch clock, which debuted in the MLB for the 2023 season, was first introduced in MiLB games seven years earlier. Freund adds that baseball park staples like bobblehead giveaways once started as an idea from minor league teams. Minor League Baseball owners historically have just been able to try things without controversy, he says. What works well trickles up, and its been really cool to see that happen. For the 120 teams across the country, the freedom to experiment means the freedom to create. That creativity and excitement is the fun of Minor League Baseball, Freund says. And it pays. [Photo: Christian Crocker/Spartanburgers] Mascots and Merch Because the average player moves throug all MiLB levels typically over the course of three to six years, teams cant build brands and sell tickets based on star power. Instead, they play into their home citys history and come up with hyper-local identities. The resulting team brands are nothing short of full-on wacky. In Alabama, the Montgomery Biscuitss team identity reflects the delicacy of a fluffy traditional southern biscuit. Rome, Georgia, hosts a MiLB team called the Rome Emperors, which is represented by an Emperor Penguin mascot wearing a traditional roman toga and laurel wreath. The name Cannon Ballers pays homage to Kannapoliss history of being home to Cannon Mills, the onetime largest towel manufacturer in the world. Wilt says that the old souls of the town appreciate the reference to Kannapoliss history; oftentimes game attendees will come up to him and tell him of their familys history with the town and Cannon Mills. [Photo: courtesy Spartanburgers] In South Carolina, the Hub City Spartanburgers are similarly drawing on its citys history to debut a fan-friendly brand. This team is a rebranding of North Carolinas Down East Wood Ducks, which was bought by Diamond Baseball Holdings in 2023. The Ducks moved locations to Spartanburg, South Carolina, and the team became the Spartanburgers just in time to begin operations for the 2025 season. The story of the Spartanburger name is simple enough, according to the teams General Manager, Tyson Jeffers, who hopes this MiLB team will put his city on the map. Someone from Texas says, Im a Texan. Someone from New York says, Im a New Yorker. And people from Spartanburg call themselves a Spartanburger, Jeffers says. Its truly a community name. But weve put a very minor league spin on it by introducing and leaning into the hamburger. Yes, the hamburger. To go alongside the Spartanburger name, the team will flaunt a bat-wielding, conductors hat-wearing hamburger mascot named Chuck. Chucks signature pose is running, tongue out, as if hes deep in concentration (or just really hungry). The striped conductors hat is a nod to Spartanburgs history as the transportation hub of the Southeasttrain lines would flow into Spartanburg and then disperse, says Jeffers. This piece of city history is also where the Hub City in the team name Hub City Spartanburgers comes from. And even though the Spartanburgers have yet to play a single game, that lip-licking burger is already bringing in cash. Jeffers says that the Spartanburgers have shipped merchandise to all 50 states and internationally to countries including Canada, Germany, and Spain. He adds that he sees people come to the Spartanburg ballpark every day just to buy merchandise. The Spartanburgerss merchandise ranges from hamburger t-shirts and cooking aprons to more traditional-looking baseball jerseys with only text and no mascot. Jeffers says that he wants to have fun while respecting the fact that not everyone wants to walk around wearing a giant hamburger. We’re really conscious in the development of our brand to make sure that we hit as many people as we could, while still having a lot of fun, Jeffers says. The merchandise has been really well received. Back in Kannapolis, Wilt says that the Cannon Ballerss fun, history-oriented brand similarly has led to soaring merchandise and ticket sales. The Cannon Ballers became the Cannon Ballers in 2019, rebranding from the Intimidators. The Intimidators were bottom of the totem pole for both merchandise and ticket sales, Wilt says. But after adopting the playful Cannon Ballers identity, Wilt says the team has been in the top 20 among all MiLB teams in merchandise sales for five years straight. [Photo: Krista Jasso] Be Prepared On April 15, when the Spartanburgers take their home field for the first time, the team will be bringing a new tradition with them: Theyll hand out wooden train whistles to attending fans in hopes that the stadium will squeal to life whenever something good happens. The Spartanburgers are the High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Jeffers says that the Rangerss front office is just as excited for this new tradition as the team in Spartanburg is, because the noise will prepare these young players for one day focusing in larger, louder stadiums. The Major Leagues see that these distractions that minor league teams are doing are helping to develop and benefit their players, Jeffers says. If you’re the away team in a facility like Yankee Stadium, imagine the things that the crowd is saying to you. Huge distraction. So for you to be prepared for that as a player can be really beneficial. [Photo: courtesy Kannapolis Cannon Ballers] The train whistles are one chapter in a long history of wacky traditions among MiLB teams. The Montgomery Biscuits shoot real biscuits into their crowds. Wilt of the Cannon Ballers has a tradition of going on the field every game and wearing a gold sequined bow tie. These games become intimate experiences, unique to each city a team operates in. Going to minor league games has become a pstime for families who either dont have access or the resources to get to a Major League Baseball gamewhich of course includes the newest, younger generation of baseball fans. One extra bonus for the players involved: They get to interact with and build the next generation of baseball fans. Jeffers says that unlike MLB teams, most minor league teams allow opportunities for young fans to interact face-to-face with players for an extended period of time. The kids get that opportunity to say hello to a player that they hope is going to be a superstar one day. And that’s a really special moment for that kid, Jeffers says. It’s also a special moment for that player: To recognize that this kid looks at them as this superstar already, even though theyre just at the beginning of the path to that.
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E-Commerce
Tamra Hensen has lived in Point Roberts, Washington, for 25 years, and for the majority of that time, she says it has been a wonderful place to live. At just 5 square miles and surrounded by water on three sides, Point Roberts offers easy access to beaches and hiking, and a small-town, relaxing-getaway feel. Its beautiful, she says. But the past two months have turned the once-bustling exclave into a ghost town. On its fourth side is the Canadian border; Point Roberts sits on the bottom of a Canadian peninsula, completely separated from the mainland U.S. Its entirely dependent on Canada for electricity, drinking water, tourism, and its overall economy, residents saybut since Point Roberts sits below the 49th parallel, the boundary line between Canada and the western U.S., it’s part of the states. Canadians have long flocked there to buy American goods, pick up packages, or vacation in beachside cottagesbut President Donald Trumps tariff war with Canada, as well as his incendiary comments about making the northern neighbor the 51st state, have upended that harmony. If U.S. relations with Canada continue to deteriorate, and Canadians continue to boycott American products and abstain from trips across the border, Point Roberts residents and business owners fear the worst: the death of their small, idyllic town. Point Roberts, Washington [Photo: Josef Hanus/Shutterstock] ‘This one could be a knockout’ Point Roberts businesses have already taken a hit since Trumps second term began. Hensen runs two of the towns three restaurants, the Saltwater Cafe and The Pier. Its spring break right now for Canadians, and I usually have a line out the door, she says. And I dont. She has run the café for nine years, and estimates the Saltwaters business is down 55% compared to what it usually is this time of year. Ali Hayton lives across the water in mainland Washington state, but she has owned the International Marketplace, Point Robertss only grocery store, since 1998. The store is 40,000 square feeta necessary size, she says, to accommodate the usual spring and summer tourism rush, which can mean 8,000 to 10,000 customers a week. (Only about 1,100 people live on Point Roberts year around.) But by mid-March, the usual start of Canadian spring break, her business was down more than 30%. She has already shifted from two deliveries a week to restock her shelves to one. To get to her store, U.S. trucks must drive through two border crossings. (Driving from the northernmost part of mainland Washington state to Point Roberts takes about 40 minutes; though there was once ferry service offered during COVID-19 lockdowns, currently there is no such option.) The drastic drop recalls the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when rules shutting international borders took away 80% of her customers overnight. All of Point Roberts suffered during lockdown; multiple restaurants and other businesses closed and the ones left standing never fully bounced back to pre-pandemic levels. Its like a one-two punch, Hayton says. We got back up after one but we were stumbling around. This one could be a knockout. Already, one business said it has to shut down because of the Trump administration’s actions. Point to Point Parcel, a packaging and shipping service, sent an email to customers this week, saying it would close permanently. Due to all of the government decisions and tariffs, we have been forced to close our doors on April 19, 2025, the email read. [P]lease know this wasnt a decision made lightly and this past month has been a greater struggle than all of Covid! The view from Lily Point, Point Roberts, Washington, looking across Boundary Bay with Vancouver, Burnaby, and the North Shore mountains in the distance [Photo: GarySandyWales/Getty Images] Point Roberts has long benefited Canadians, too Parcel services are one of the businesses that, before Trump, thrived on Point Robertss unique geography. As an American exclave attached to Canada, Point Roberts doesnt only benefit from Canadians visiting for its beaches or views; it also benefits those Canadians. They can buy American foods at Haytons supermarketThey love American dairy, like cheese and Tillamook ice cream, she saysand they can have items from the U.S. shipped to Point Roberts parcel services to avoid higher fees for shipping into Canada. Canadians have also benefited from lower real estate prices. Residents estimate about 70% to 75% of the homes on Point Roberts are owned by Canadians who use them for vacations. It was beachfront property for a third of what you could get in Canada, Hayton says. Zillow, for example, shows a Point Roberts three-bedroom home available for $700,000, but across the border, there’s almost nothing below $2 million. Now, those benefits are dwindling. In response to the Trump tariffs, Canada announced 25% tariffs on certain goods from the U.S. For Haytons customers, that means after they buy $100 worth of groceries, they get to the border crossing and are told to pay another $25. So they come back to the store and return all their groceries, she says. Would you want to pay 25% on your grocery bill every month? Along with groceries and medicines, Neil King, who runs a gift shop called Koras Corner, says there have even been reports of people stopped at the border and “facing tariffs on items like half-eaten burritos. The geographic oddities that once made Point Roberts so special are now hurting locals. Were the most unique spot in North America. Were the uniquest of the unique, says Brian Calder, a fourth-generation resident and a former presdent of the local Chamber of Commerce. Yet neither border agents or politicians give us a unique solution, he adds. (The Point to Point Parcel Post is owned by his niece, Beth Calder, who was born on Point Roberts.) An Uncertain Future Both Henson and Hayton note the stress they feel, as business owners, to support other members of their community; they each have employees counting on them for their paychecks. Calder, meanwhile, is the chair of the local Dollars for Scholars program, a nonprofit that raises scholarship funds for students so they can get an education. The majority of Point Roberts residents are seniorsit has a median age of 55.7 years oldbut there are still a handful of kids and young adults. To Calder, that scholarship program is one of the only chances young residents have to make something of themselves away from the peninsula, especially as Point Roberts now faces extreme uncertainty. Otherwise theyll be working at a parcel post or gas station the rest of their lives, because thats all weve got left, he says. Calder has taken up the rallying cry of Point Roberts amid President Trumps comments. Hes written letters to the British Columbia provincial premier and to Washington state legislators. He has tracked the decline in border crossings from Canada into the U.S. He has spoken to the media, and been a figure of support for locals like Hansen. He has really been my savior in all of this, she says, because hes getting the word out to the Canadians not to forget about us. ‘We have absolutely been abandoned’ That idea of being forgottenor deserted, especially by U.S. lawmakers.resonates with most Point Roberts residents and business owners. We absolutely have been abandoned, Calder says. And theres no thought to how to solve it, insulate us, mitigate it. If relations with Canada worsen, Calder fears the country will retaliate by cutting off water and electricity to Point Roberts. If they close that down as a reaction, as this momentum builds and this anger festers, then literally we’re in the dark and we’re thirsty, he says. Point Roberts also isnt totally alone. Though its in an especially unique situation, its struggles highlight issues every border town is facingand reveal the importance of maintaining alliances with neighbors like Canada. Allies and neighbors are essential for economic stability and community well-being, King says. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, nations thrive through cooperation and mutual support. Our longstanding positive relationship with Canada has been beneficial, and preserving it is crucial for both sides of the border. Point Roberts residents and business owners do understand why Canadians would boycott the U.S. or avoid trips across the border; they dont fault them. It’s not their job to fix our problem, because we are an American town, Hayton says. It is our administrationthey have taken away my ability to survive as an employer. Calder notes that its thanks to the goodwill and generosity of Canadians over the years that Point Roberts has survived so far. And some Canadians have still been trying to support Point Roberts, even amid the tensions. Hensen says she has had some Canadian customers come to her café to support her, which has given me hope. King says Canadians express apologies and sympathies but are hesitant to visit. Many are concerned because the Trump administration has begun detaining some European travelers; a Canadian entrepreneur even said she was arrested by ICE while trying to obtain a new visa. Its the unknownsof how things may worsen, what Trump will do next, and how Canadians will respondthat make things so difficult for Point Roberts. Its hard to believe its only been two months [since the Trump administration began] because of the impact its had . . . There are no winners, Calder says. God forbid another two months.
Category:
E-Commerce
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