Trends
Latest news and trends in the small business economy
5 Ways to Prevent Smartphone “Showrooming”
Smartphones and price-comparison apps have given rise to “showrooming,” whereby shoppers browse products in a retail store, check prices via web-enabled mobile device, and then leave empty-handed to buy the …
4 Mobile Apps for Better Brainstorming
Innovate or perish. In any fast-changing industry, idea generation isn’t a luxury; it’s a survival skill. Done right, brainstorming sessions help get concepts flowing and bring team members together for …
14 Small-Business Ideas for the Sports Fan
Many successful small businesses start out as hobbies or recreational activities. Sports fans in particular can find ample ways to turn their passions into profitable ventures. Here are 14 sports-related …
Put the Heart Back into Your Business
Too many business owners lose sight of their original vision and the reasons they went into business, says Rasheed Ogunlaru (pictured), a U.K.-based business coach and author of the new …
5 Mobile Technology Trends to Watch
Smartphones are an almost ubiquitous, indispensable tool for small-business owners: Some 85 percent of you now use one to make decisions, run your operations, or conduct business on-the-go, according to …
8 Startup Ideas for Baby Boomers
Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 have a higher rate of entrepreneurial activity than those between the ages of 20 and 34, according to a study conducted by …
Fact Sheet: Understanding Intellectual Property
Did you know that your brand has monetary value? Beyond the actual company, Coca-Cola as a brand is worth nearly $72 billion. Names, secret formulas, and inventions are all examples …
Common Bond Shared by Small-Business Owners? How To Manage Growth
Managing cash flow. Keeping the lights on during a natural disaster. Maintaining the right level of staffing. Finding the right business partners. On the surface level, these seem like very …
5 Reasons Windows 8 Works for Small Business
You can hardly turn on your TV these days without seeing a commercial for Microsoft’s latest operating system. But for all its fancy features, Windows 8 is being criticized for …
Applying “The Laws of Subtraction”
As a small-business owner, you’re probably always thinking about what more you could do to improve your business, whether it’s adding new products, services, features, employees, or locations. But author …
What to Do If Your Vendors Are Impacted by a Disaster
Even if you are thousands of miles from the devastation on the East Coast, you may still find your small business affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Many vendors …
Preparing to Pitch Your New Invention
Entrepreneurs with inquisitive and lively minds often come up with ideas for inventions, but they don’t always know whether the concept is worth developing — or how to develop it. …
Is Your Small Business Prepared for a Disaster?
Floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy destroy everything in their paths, including businesses. Yet disaster recovery planning is something many small-business owners put off, opting to …
Retailer Closes Her Store to Go Mobile Instead
Renting a retail storefront requires a lot of overhead, which can cause small-business owners to struggle to stay afloat, particularly in a sluggish economy. Debbie Dejesus found a solution: Close …
5 Ways to Cut Clutter in Your Office
Papers piled high on a desktop, stacks of magazines crammed into a corner, disorganized drawers filled to the brim — this is the stuff of office clutter. It’s not only …
