COVID-19 has affected all walks of life over the last year, especially small businesses as they experienced unprecedented challenges and disruptions. And while there are still significant marketplace impacts due to the pandemic, there are also many emerging opportunities for healing and growth. These ten actionable insights will help you identify those key opportunities in… Read more
A barbed-wire fence strewn with signs reading “Keep out” once served as the dividing border between Stapleton and Aurora, Colorado. That fence came down with the arrival of the Stanley Marketplace project, a development that transformed an abandoned, 140,000-square-foot aviation building into a thriving marketplace of independently owned Colorado businesses. From handmade empanadas to a… Read more
When it comes to selling a luxury product, it’s important to create a relationship with the customer. What is their story? What is their motivation? You have to think about more than just the sale—start by getting to know them. Viviana Langhoff, owner of Adornment + Theory, a boutique jewelry shop in Chicago, created specific… Read more
The retail industry was facing pressure even before the start of the pandemic as consumers shifted their purchasing behavior to digital-facing platforms. This trend has caught on even more with COVID, and traditional brick-and-mortar retail stores’ margins have taken a big hit. The pandemic has instigated changes to the retail industry that will likely become… Read more
If you’re a small business owner, December usually brings two things: ample opportunity followed by chaos. Once Thanksgiving ends, you’re suddenly thrust right into the heart of gift-giving season. This can be a particularly chaotic time for retail shop owners, and while shopping malls won’t be as bustling this year, that doesn’t diminish the importance… Read more