Business Success Strategies

by Raymond J. Keating- As we all know, 2020 has been a brutal year in terms pandemic-related deaths, illnesses and economic devastation. That includes, no doubt, millions of closed small businesses. At the same time, a glimmer of hope for the future of our economy can be found in the data for Employer Identification Number […]

By Karen Kerrigan- Here’s this week’s roundup of excellent content, upcoming events and solid tips from the experts to help your startup or small business thrive in the COVID-19 economy. Trends in the Marketplace and Beyond Americans Starting Businesses at Record Pace, Small Business Trends.  “New figures from a study by LendingTree indicate the number of […]

by Karen Kerrigan- (Reprinted with permission from Alibaba’s Insights) If there is a silver lining to the pandemic, it is that the shocking disruption spawned by restrictions and shutdowns has given many SMEs a fresh perspective on how digital tools and platforms can help them identify new customers and market opportunities for survival and growth […]

by Barbara Weltman- For more than 25 years, I’m proud to say my tax book for small businesses has been the go-to-tax-guide for owners and their tax advisors. The J.K. Lasser’s Small Business Taxes 2021 edition for preparing 2020 returns as well as tax planning for 2021 has been updated to incorporate COVID-19-related and other new laws, court decisions, […]

by Rieva Lesonsky- Every year I eagerly await the “color-of-the-year” announcement from the PANTONE Color Institute. So, even though we talked about home furnishings and décor in last week’s TrendCast, I wanted to share the information with you. As I’ve mentioned over the years, the “color-of-the-year” is essential news for small business owners. PANTONE’s announcement is not just […]

Comfort fabrics, bold colors, and more storage are the top design trends in 2021 By Rieva Lesonsky- Last week we told you holiday shopping was off to a strong start, according to the NRF (National Retail Federation). Another prediction made by NRF president & CEO Matthew Shay was that due to so many people living under safer-at-home guidelines or working […]

by Karen Kerrigan- Watching and reporting on trends got a little tricky in 2020. Who knew at the conclusion of 2019 – or in the early months on 2020 – that a pandemic would dramatically disrupt the way we work, live, shop, eat and play? COVID-19 has accelerated several established trends, and of course launched […]

Over 100 million Americans shopped online on Black Friday (up 8% from 2019), Small Business Saturday saw a 17% increase, and for the entire holiday weekend online shopping was up 44%. By Rieva Lesonsky- Did you do some holiday shopping last weekend? Most of America did, according to statistics just released by the NRF (National Retail […]

By Karen Kerrigan- There’s been a boom in new business startups and side hustles, which is good news for the economy given the massive number of business closures resulting from the pandemic. In this week’s roundup of great content and resources, we found some solid tips and advice for new business owners and current entrepreneurs […]

Selling to consumers hunkering down at home this holiday season By Rieva Lesonsky- As the coronavirus ramps up across the country (and globally), it looks like the winter holidays will be particularly challenging for small businesses. But in her blog on the Mintel site, Marcia Mogelonsky, Ph. D., Mintel’s director of Insight, Food & Drink, says […]