Small Business Insider

by RIEVA LESONSKY –  The NRF (National Retail Federation) had good news for the nation’s retailers last week—they’ve already upped their 2021 retail forecast. The NRF now expects 2021 retail sales to grow between 10.5% and 13.5 %, reaching between $4.44 trillion-$4.56 trillion. In addition, non-store and online sales are expected to grow 18%-23%, ranging […]

by RAYMOND J. KEATING – Alignable, an online referral network for small businesses, provides regular polling on matters of importance to and about small business. And some results from the most recent survey are worth highlighting. While conditions are pointed in a far better direction than has been the case since the pandemic hit, Alignable […]

by RAYMOND J. KEATING –  The latest Small Business Pulse Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau provides an opportunity to take a look at how COVID-19’S impact on small businesses has changed over time. The small business take remains generally negative, but there have been improvements. Consider how the answers to the following question have […]

SMALL BUSINESS INSIDER By KAREN KERRIGAN- Memo from the White House, June 3: What We Urge You to Do to Protect Against the Threat of Ransomware According to an early January 2021 TIPPS survey, “Eight out of ten Americans are concerned about cyber attacks and cybercrimes in the U.S.  53% think the situation surrounding cyber-attacks […]

by RIEVA LESONSKY – Even though we were stuck at home for most of 2020, or perhaps because of it, Americans eagerly embraced transforming their spaces, according to consumer research giant The NPD Group. Last year consumers spent more money on their kitchens and baths (revenues were up 28%), overall home improvement revenues grew 22%, and paint sales […]

“For every large business facing a potential tax increase, there would be at least 105 small to mid-size businesses that would face higher taxes.” by RAYMOND KEATING- President Joe Biden has proposed a series of tax increases that will negatively affect entrepreneurs and small businesses. The White House appears to be working hard to counter […]

UPDATED on May 21 by KAREN KERRIGAN- A round up of ten great pieces of helpful content and tips to help your small business or startup compete and navigate all things digital. Gary Vaynerchuk: These three social platforms are a ‘requirement’ for small businesses to succeed “The VaynerMedia CEO says business owners who know how […]

By RIEVA LESONSKY – By now, it should be evident that social media is no longer “new” nor a passing fad. It is not something to try – it is something to do. Hootsuite, a leading social media management tool, calls social media a “primary lifeline by which businesses can connect with customers, drive sales, […]

BY BARBARA WELTMAN The federal government has told us that the more…and more quickly…people get COVID-19 vaccines, the faster the pandemic will disappear because of herd immunity. There are already favorable signs that the spread is slowing down. But employers may be wondering what they can or should do about their company policy and vaccines. There […]

Growth Without Barriers Podcast: Digital Edition Highlights In this week’s Growth Without Barriers Podcast – Digital Edition, SBE Council president & CEO Karen Kerrigan expands on the message in her latest Townhall Op-ed about how legislative efforts in Congress could undermine America’s tech ecosystem, and by extension cause great damage to small businesses and U.S. […]