BOSS Products has acquired the liquid deicing assets of Voigt Smith Innovation (VSI), a privately held manufacturer of liquid deicing equipment. VSI, based in n Le Center, Minn., manufactures liquid deicing equipment for snow and ice contractors offering both brine makers and applicators, as well as smart-connected technologies. VSI has grown in the liquid deicing market over the past several years through product innovation, education, and industry expertise. As part of the acquisition, the knowledgeable VSI staff will join the BOSS team. The terms of the mid-June deal were not disclosed. The addition of VSI products to the BOSS Snowplow portfolio positions the manufacturer, a division of Toro, to expand its offering to include liquid deicing equipment and complimentary support staff to advance customer opportunity in liquid deicing, said Jody Christy, vice president at Iron Mountain, Mich.’s BOSS Snowplow. “The combination of VSI and BOSS products is aligned with our strategic priorities, providing quality solutions, innovative advancements, and service to our customers,” Christy said. The snow professional’s focus on greater operational efficiencies and environmental stewardship has shifted interest into liquid deicing in recent years. The acquisition provides BOSS the expertise and credibility to meet contractor need, said VSI’s Jordan Smith. “We believe the reputation, strong network, and resources of BOSS as a leader in the snow and ice removal market will enable continued growth in the market,” he said.
Supreme Court Protects Small Businesses
During its 2021-22 term, the high court shielded small businesses from several harmful outcomes in major wins for Main Street.
While several recent U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings generated headlines and national discussion, other decisions handed down by the justices didn’t make national news, but were important in protecting small businesses, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
Small businesses had a successful term at the Supreme Court, said Karen Harned, Executive Director of NFIB’s Small Business Legal Center. The NFIB was the lead plaintiff in one case – NFIB v. OSHA – and filed amicus briefs in the other four.
“The courts are fundamentally the last line of defense for small businesses regarding government overreach, burdensome regulations, and costly mandates,” Harned said in a statement. “The cases decided this term will benefit small businesses across various industries.”
Here’s the NFIB’s breakdown on these five rulings and how they may impact your business.
NFIB v. OSHA
In January 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a historic opinion in the unprecedented vaccine mandate case where NFIB was the lead plaintiff. OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) vaccine mandate would have required businesses with 100 or more employees to mandate their employees either get vaccinated or wear masks and undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. For the first time in more than 50 years, the Supreme Court heard arguments on an emergency application for relief and issued a stay of the mandate. A few weeks later, OSHA announced that it was withdrawing the ETS vaccine mandate. The mandate would have impacted more than 80 million workers across America.
Boechler P.C. v. IRS
In April 2022, a unanimous Supreme Court stopped the Tax Court from refusing to hear a taxpayer’s challenge to an IRS assessment. The Supreme Court agreed with the amicus brief filed by NFIB in November 2021. The case focused on the time period during which individuals can file petitions with the Tax Court to review decisions and determinations from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). NFIB argued, and the Court agreed, that the 30-day deadline to file a petition in the Tax Court for review of an IRS collection assessment is not an ironclad deadline if injury from the IRS decision was discovered after the 30-day window. This means that the Tax Court should function like any other court and allow its judges the discretion to extend deadlines in certain cases. The Supreme Court’s ruling ensures that taxpayers and small business owners have ample time for their day in court.
Viking River Cruises v. Angie Moriana
In June 2022, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the Federal Arbitration Act’s (FAA) protection of individualized arbitration. The California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lowered the bar for plaintiff claims which led to the shakedown of California employers. This decision protected small businesses from frivolous lawsuits brought under PAGA and similar state laws and upheld the significance of bilateral arbitration agreements.
Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller
In April 2022, the Supreme Court held that individuals who were discriminated against cannot recover emotional distress damages for violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and other related statutes. The NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case seeking to limit employer liability and prevent emotional distress damages under these statutes.
West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency
In one of the last decisions of the term, the Supreme Court reined in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and limited its authority to address climate change without clear Congressional approval. In doing so, the Court reversed a lower court decision drastically expanding the EPA’s authority. The case concerned whether the Clean Air Act gives the EPA authority to enact carbon emission standards, which are near-impossible to meet on existing coal-fired fuel plants. The NFIB’s attorneys filed an amicus brief arguing that the EPA needed clear authorization from Congress before imposing costly and significant regulations on the energy sector, and the Court agreed that Congress provided no such authority in the Clean Air Act.
Getting The Message Out
MSU Student envisions “sweet deal” for generating snow and ice management business.
Snow and ice management professionals are always on the lookout for creative branding campaigns to draw in new business. This award-winning idea mixes up business with everyone’s sweet tooth.
Recent Minnesota State University graphic design graduate John Vincent created his “Sweet Deal” project in a guerrilla advertising class. Vincent’s concept envisions a combined marketing effort for a fledgling snow removal company and a local ice cream shop. He took best-in-show honors at the American Advertising Awards Northwest (Northwest ADDYs).
For the project, Vincent reportedly used his 3D printer to make ice cream spoons in the shape of tiny snow shovels. He also printed a small advertisement for a “sweet deal” at his assigned client’s snow and ice management business at the bottom of ice cream cups. .
“What makes this particular project strong is the wonderfully thought-out collaboration between two businesses,” said Meta Newhouse, graphic design professor in MSU’s School of Art. “Both businesses benefit from the conceptually clever ‘sweet deal.’
” Read the complete story first reported in MSU News.
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