The coronavirus pandemic has hammered brick-and-mortar retailers hard. Giant retailers like TJX Companies had to shut down all their stores and their revenue fell by more than 50 percent in the first quarter. In fact, Coresight Research estimates that around 20,000 to 25,000 stores could close this year. To mitigate the rising losses and keep businesses afloat, many traditional … [More]
Pandemic, Inc.
This is a difficult time, that’s for sure, but it’s also a time of enormous opportunity. Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and self-employed professionals need to leverage these 8 trends to thrive in tomorrow’s economy! Pandemic, Inc. offers a strategic roadmap for businesses navigating the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. The book details eight accelerating … [More]
A Unifying Vision Helps Entrepreneurs Act with Less Fear and Hesitation
Millions of people have made the decision to be entrepreneurs, and millions more will follow. One thing that many of them have in common is preparing for the unknown. What nobody tells those who decide to become self-employed is, there are numerous things that will get in the way of their plan and there will be some people who second-guess what they are doing or simply walk … [More]
COVID-19 Unleashes a Time for Innovation
My business research focuses on a source of innovation that is often overlooked — the users of products themselves. Both people (like you and me) and companies use products that they buy from others in their daily activities. We might not know exactly how something is made, but we know how it is used. That is what is called user knowledge. Not surprisingly, users often come up … [More]
Strategies to Attract Customers Online during the COVID-19 Outbreak
Times are hard, especially with the new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Businesses are suffering as more and more communities go into quarantine. To survive as a business owner, one needs to find effective marketing strategies in the midst of the crisis brought about by this pandemic. One of the best ways to stay profitable is to make the businesses’ online presence known … [More]
The New Scottsdale Small Business Assistance Center Looks to Offer Guidance to Businesses in Need
Scottsdale’s Economic Development Department has launched a new initiative aimed at assisting Scottsdale small businesses. The Scottsdale Small Business Assistance Center (SSBAC) will serve as the City of Scottsdale’s virtual one stop shop for Scottsdale businesses looking for information on available business support programs and resources during the COVID-19 crisis. The … [More]
Coronavirus and the New American Economy
The face of the American economy is forever changed by this coronavirus pandemic. In three weeks’ time, we've witnessed financially viable companies go into rapid freefall by the millions, starting with employees and trickling rapidly. Small to mid-sized businesses are laying off in record numbers, and there is no clear end in sight. With the spread of COVID-19, people are … [More]
How Businesses can Pivot While Slowed or Closed during Difficult Times
With businesses across the U.S. having closed temporarily or reduced services due to the coronavirus pandemic, company leaders are trying to find ways to stay afloat until the crisis passes — and figure out how to move forward into an uncertain future. Kyle Bogan, D.D.S., a business consultant and speaker on workplace culture, says this unprecedented event has caused … [More]
There’s a New ‘Business as Usual’
In this third week of mass social distancing (with more than 225 million Americans ordered to stay at home), CEOs are beginning to ask not only how to survive the pandemic, but what they will be surviving into. Radical events bring radical change, and the American workplace — and quite possibly the American economy — is in the midst of its most significant disruptive and … [More]
Bunker Labs: Entrepreneurial Boost for Veterans
Bunker Labs is a national network of veteran entrepreneurs dedicated to helping new veteran, military spouse, and active duty military entrepreneurs start their own business. The nonprofit is committed to seeing that every entrepreneur in the veteran community has the network, tools and resources they need to start their own business. “Bunker Labs was started in 2014 by … [More]
Dos and Don’ts of Email Negotiating amid the COVID-19 Crisis
That’s not what I meant! The fact is, nobody likes to be misunderstood or have their words misconstrued, especially when another party wrongly applies sinister motives, casting their character in a negative light. And nowhere does this happen more frequently than via email or other modes of e-communication. Even during the best of times, email negotiation can be tough. But … [More]
From Research to Revenue
No research goes to market without time and money spent. Great ideas often die in a lab or workshop because the person behind them does not have the knowledge on how to bring the idea to market. While one may have the talent and skills to develop an idea, it’s crucial to have someone on the team who understands marketing, accounting, fundraising, et cetera, to bring the idea to … [More]
Startups in 2020 – How to Get an Idea Funded
Many of us think we have a “great idea,” but getting that idea to a point someone will write a check for is far more complex than many may think. To get funded, it’s important to look for three key elements: Is the idea scalable? Is the team behind it solid and capable to get it there? And is the market actually ready for it? The goal is to convince the potential funders that … [More]
Successfully Leverage Business Partnerships and Relationships
To launch, a business needs time and capital; but to genuinely scale, partnerships become equally as important. This has become a forced reality in a day when competition is now global, not just local. For business leaders, it means mastering and leveraging the resources outside the company as well as within. To lead successfully, knowing what is available, how to ask and how … [More]
Outsourcing in 2020
Skilled workers are needed to make a business run. In the past, hiring people was possible only if a business had enough capital to sustain new hires. Today, internet connectivity allows even small businesses to find the exact help for the tasks at hand while limiting the costs. Whether automated through AI or outsourced to remote workers, virtual assistants are powering a … [More]
Financial Considerations before Launching a Startup
Even seasoned entrepreneurs will tell you taking your startup from a pipe dream to an actualized business can be an overwhelming process — requiring a serious time and financial commitment. One might have the right idea. One might have the drive. One might even have the initial funding to get one’s startup off the ground. But what really sets an entrepreneur up for long-term … [More]
Before Disaster Strikes
Before Disaster Strikes Natural disasters can devastate communities and cause significant disruptions for local companies, particularly small and medium-sized businesses. As organizations look to minimize the business impacts of natural disasters, company leaders should consider preparing in advance to help their company weather the storm. Make a plan. Business leaders … [More]
