Category: Small Business
Ravenous for E-Grocery
April 11, 2021
We crave convenience. Consumers’ migration to e-commerce has made grocery the most exciting (& strategically significant) retail category, as: – Consumers desire time savings– Brands adapt to changing consumer tastes– Retailers seek omnichannel loyalty for a competitive edge Also, physical grocery stores have evolved to support omnichannel success with buy online pick up in store […]
Porter’s 5 Forces: Retail 2021
March 28, 2021
A strategy classic. Porter’s 5 Forces model helps to explain market influences as retail undergoes tremendous upheaval. To manage fierce competition, companies can boost their bargaining power if they: Differentiate their offerings Reflect in-demand consumer trends Invest in e-commerce for omnichannel agility Also, as tech-driven supply chains grow in power, companies are establishing strategic partnerships […]
COVID-19’s Retail Legacy
March 14, 2021
What. A. Year. Let’s look at COVID-19’s profound influence on global reatil over the past 12 months, including 5 mega-trends. OVERALL THEMES: 1. WOW!So much has changed in so little time. 2. STORES ARE RESILIENTBrick-and-mortar stores faced capacity constraints yet their appeal is inextinguishable. 3. TECH IS UNSTOPPABLEAutomating traditional retail processes has made the industry […]
Ladies Who Launch
March 7, 2021
Women make their mark in business. In time for International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate women-owned businesses — and their growing influence. Notable trends: – 82% of female business owners are Gen X or Boomers – Their top industries (health, beauty & fitness), are in-demand in retail right now – Diversity reigns, as half of these […]
2021 Retail Acquisitions
February 28, 2021
Retail companies go shopping … It’s barely March yet we’ve already seen intriguing retail acquisitions this year, as: – Amazon knows what Selz– Walmart’s Thunderstruck– ASOS wants its diverse assortment to be a HIIT. (I’ll show myself out.) TRENDS: – Health & wellness– Value & luxury tiers boom– Big retailers connect with small brands BIG […]
8 Lessons from 8 Years in Business
February 21, 2021
It’s party time! February marks 8 years since I launched by own business. As number of new businesses has soared 38% year-over-year in the U.S., it’s the perfect time to share some tips to help start-ups succeed. Patterns among these 8 lessons: 1. MIND-BODY CONNECTIONMovement fires up our neurons and can spark our most brilliant […]
1-Page Business Plan
February 20, 2021
As a start-up owner, you don’t have time to write a 100-page business plan that meticulously details every strategy and process you’ll use. On the other hand, you can’t afford to skip the step of writing down your intentions either. This high-level business plan helps you focus on the big picture and save time so […]
2021 Retail Strategy Trends
December 13, 2020
What does 2021 have in store? Reinvigorating retail and getting closer to consumers are macro strategic trends we’ll see in the new year, as retailers and brands: – Fuel sales and consumer excitement– Cut inefficiencies– Gain lucrative new strengths See related infographics on:– 2020 Retail Partnerships– 2020 Retail PEST Analysis– Social Commerce is the Future […]
Social Commerce is the Future of Retail
November 1, 2020
Last week’s announcement of the new partnership between TikTok and Shopify dazzled global retail markets. This partnership unites social media, video and e-commerce to make shopping more exciting and interactive. Already pervasive and popular in China, social commerce is taking off in North America by bringing the mall to popular social platforms during the pandemic. […]
Why Small is BIG in 2020
October 16, 2020
Big retailers think small. As the 2020 holiday sales season kicks off, leading retailers seek nimble small businesses to give consumers what they want. Their relationships are mutually-beneficial … To stay competitive and solvent in a pandemic, small suppliers need an online presence, which they can achieve through retailers’ robust e-commerce and logistics infrastructure. As […]
E-Commerce Gets Spicy!
June 15, 2020
Today’s announcement of Walmart’s strategic partnership with e-commerce superstar Shopify is shaking up online shopping. Yet Shopify also recently made headlines for its collaboration with the launch of Facebook Shops, a social commerce platform that merges social media and shopping. WHY NOW? Now is the *perfect* time for these alliances because: Many consumers remain homebound […]
The New Skill Set
May 8, 2020
What Businesses Want (in a Pandemic)… Today’s devastating news that the U.S. jobless rate hit its highest level since the Great Depression (and Canada hit its second-highest level) proves how profoundly and swiftly COVID-19 has hurt businesses and talent. As more people compete for jobs, global research suggests corporate demand for specific skills cuts across […]
Pandemic-Driven Pivots
April 28, 2020
Creativity conquers chaos: This year, agile companies have shown profound resilience by reinventing themselves in response to the coronavirus pandemic. From beer to fitness, many industries are filling consumption gaps with relevant solutions, including essential goods and technology. What other examples of responsiveness have you seen?
Save Time on Your Marketing in 2020
December 11, 2019
Delight your CEO (and make your competitors cry) by maximizing your marketing productivity in 2020. Create consumable content your audience craves by repurposing your existing detailed content. Keep it simple, save time and drive sales leads by working with what you’ve got.
B2B Marketing for Lead Generation
October 1, 2019
Content marketing trends to include in your 2019 and 2020 marketing strategies to sell to B2B buyers.
B2B Strategic Communications Plan
September 4, 2019
Match your message to your big picture.
Strategic Content
August 7, 2019
Before you start drafting the content your next marketing campaign, make sure your message resonates and gets results. This handy resource for B2B and B2C marketing campaigns will help you ensure your content aligns with your strategy.
Let’s get visual
June 3, 2019
On social media, be relatable
April 23, 2017
Write for people — not for Google. Add warmth, personality and emotion to your writing and keep it conversational.
B2B Marketing Musts
April 23, 2017
B2B content marketing can be riveting — even for relatively dull industries. Use these 3 tips to create content your audience actually wants to read (and share).