Business Success Strategies

by Rieva Lesonsky –  The National Retail Federation (NRF) just released its holiday spending forecast—and the news is good for the nation’s retailers. Holiday spending will likely hit record levels from November 1 to December 31—growing between 3% and 4% to a total between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion. And online shopping (which is included […]

by Barbara Weltman – The employee retention credit (ERC), a credit created during COVID-19, ended on September 30, 2021 (December 31, 2021, for startups), but it’s still alive. How can that be? The reason: The deadline for submitting refund claims has not expired. Many employers claimed the credit, and a number of these are still […]

For more information, trends and reports about the metaverse, visit SBE Council’s METAVERSE BUSINESS ALLIANCE. by Raymond J. Keating – When it comes to transformative moments in industries, the creation of entirely new industries, or technological advancements within or across sectors, two things can pretty much be counted on. First, one or more entrepreneurs have driven […]

by Rieva Lesonsky –  Are you ready? A few weeks ago, we shared the advice of retail expert Bob Phibbs, who told retailers to get their holiday merchandise on the shelves now to capture a significant share of consumer spending. But that doesn’t mean shoppers won’t be cramming into your stores on the more traditional […]

by Rieva Lesonsky  –  As a consumer, are you upset that October just started and there’s Christmas merchandise in many retail stores? Do you think it’s too soon? According to Bob Phibbs, the author of one of my favorite retail newsletters, The Retail Doctor, it is not. In fact, he writes, if you’re a retailer, […]

by Raymond J. Keating – I’m fascinated with thoughts, advice and discussions about the metaverse and how it can or might help small businesses across industries. So, I had to click into an article titled “Should restaurants enter the metaverse?” at FastCasual.com. Good question, I thought. What might be the benefits? And what about costs […]

By Barbara Weltman –   Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that can be used to analyze data, create content, and handle various business tasks more efficiently than you and your employees could do. AI makes positive and negative headlines almost every day, from the rapid growth of ways AI can be used in […]

By Barbara Weltman – Today, anyone (including me) can figure out how to use ChatGPT (Open AI) to create content. It can produce blogs, marketing materials, video scripts, and more. This generative AI tool is free and can be helpful. But there are some serious issues to note. Here’s my take on how I’ve been […]

SMALL BUSINESS INSIDER Consumer expectations continue to develop, particularly in terms of more immersive, smooth and engaging digital experiences. These changes are driven and answered by technological advancements, including in such areas as artificial intelligence and the metaverse. A new analysis by McKinsey and Company points to the power of such developments for retail and […]

by Raymond J. Keating –  Like many other people, small business owners are trying to figure out what the metaverse is; what it might look like down the road; and therefore, how will it impact their businesses. Bain and Company just released a report – titled “Taking the Hyperbole Out of the Metaverse” – that […]