Browsing Tag
retail
20 posts
How Barcodes Show Your Product is Retail Ready
In the age of the smartphone, consumers carry a computer and virtual shopping cart in their pockets at all times. Never before has there been such an opportunity for retailers to connect artisans, specialty foods purveyors, niche clothing boutiques and other startup brands with specific shoppers around the world. While retailers can carry a wide...
Entrepreneurs Share Tips for Overcoming E-Commerce Product Launch Obstacles
With consumers spending more than ever online, it’s no wonder why so many entrepreneurs are joining e-commerce marketplaces in droves. Consumers around the world spent $900 billion at online retailers in 2020, according to report from the Mastercard Economics Institute. Up to 30% of that shift is expected to be permanent, too. This growth, regardless...
StartupNation’s HomeGrown Video Series Debuts with Modern Natural Baby
StartupNation's new video series, HomeGrown, will explore the small businesses that are at the heart of our communities and will look at the successes and challenges business owners have pushed through to get where they are. “Shop Small” is more than just a cute slogan in this real-life look at what small business owners face...
Try This on for Size: The Future of Retail is Social Commerce
In 2000, e-commerce primarily took place on individual websites. Today, it happens in marketplaces. In early 2020, Bank of America analyst Justin Post released an update on the latest e-commerce market share trends, and it indicates Amazon alone dominates the e-commerce market with 44% market share and growing. Tomorrow, however, companies want to drive sales...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: National Retail Federation Predicts Strong 2021 (Episode 221)
On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares exciting news from the National Retail Federation (NRF): retail sales are beginning to rebound, and the NRF predicts a strong acceleration of the U.S. economy in 2021. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn more about the National Retail Federation's predictions: Tune in to News/Talk...
5 Essential Steps for Launching a Successful Online Business in 2021
The pandemic has made life difficult in innumerable ways, but it has also presented business opportunities to savvy entrepreneurs. Company closures left spaces for startups to fill, and the unprecedented environment prompted the creation and development of specific markets. For example, IBM’s U.S. Retail Index estimates that the coronavirus and resulting social distancing measures have accelerated...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Blake’s Hard Cider is a Winning Formula (Episode 163)
On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares the story of a visionary entrepreneur in our region, Andrew Blake. Blake, a third-generation entrepreneur, came up with an idea to expand his family business by creating a product to sell at retail. The product is Blake's Hard Cider, and it's a winner. Tune in to this...
What Entrepreneurs Need to Know About the Future of the Retail Industry
Prior to the soaring demand for household goods, reduced workforces, store closures and other challenges faced by businesses around the globe today, brands and retailers were backed by a thriving economy. The spread of coronavirus has now placed an enormous strain on small businesses and the retail industry. While it is impossible to predict exactly...
11 Ways Retailers Can Combat Coronavirus Fears
Rita Mitchell, Certified Counselor at the USM Small Business Development Center’s College of Business and Economic Development, compiled a great list of 11 ways retailers can combat coronavirus fears, the closures, and the financial decline those fears are causing. Related: How to Support Local Merchants While Social Distancing Below are her suggestions: Have VISIBLE and...
Starting a Business in Outer Space (and Other Places to Pop-Up) [Radio]
On this episode of StartupNation Radio, your host, StartupNation founder and CEO, Jeff Sloan, is joined by two co-hosts, Norm Pappas and Mark Bennett. Together, they chat with two entrepreneurs making their startup dreams come true. Their first guest is Frank Bunger, CEO of Orion Span, a company building the world's first luxury space hotel....
Starting Up With Flexible Retail: Pop-Up Entrepreneurship [Radio]
This week's edition of StartupNation Radio features three pop-up shop connoisseurs, who offer the inside scoop to entrepreneurs looking to start small. Your host, StartupNation CEO and co-founder, Jeff Sloan, kicks off the conversation with John Hart and Valerie Byrnes of the city of Battle Creek's project, BC Cargo Pop-Up Shops Marketplace. The shipping containers...
5 Ways That a Kickstarter Campaign Can Launch You Into Retail
Seven months. That's how long it took from the day our Kickstarter campaign ended until we were delivering a purchase order to Toys R Us. And soon after came Bed Bath & Beyond, Hobby Lobby and Michaels, distributing our invention called Walkie Chalk, a standup sidewalk chalk holder that allows you to “Stand Up and...
6 Lessons You Wish You Knew Before Owning a Retail Store
Owning a retail store can be very rewarding, but it can also be a tricky business to balance if you’ve never run one before. Even for an experienced retailer, there is a delicate balance between being successful and falling short of your goals. There is a fine line between success and failure, so, before you swing...
What Does it Take for a Retail Startup to Tap Into a Global Economy?
Global trade isn’t a new concept, but today’s international commerce landscape has progressed a long way from the ancient times of trading spices and silk across the high seas. Internet and online marketplaces, such as Amazon, Etsy, Alibaba and many others, are blowing open doors for retailers to market and sell their products to customers...
The Benefits of UPC Barcodes for Your Small Business
UPC barcodes are often the most forgotten component of any product a retailer sells. But don’t be fooled, these seemingly insignificant numbers and zebra-like designs pack a powerful punch, one that small businesses can easily reap the benefits from. We see them all the time. They are practically on every item we purchase, and yet,...
3 Ways to Maximize the Customer Experience in the Digital Age
Constant improvement and innovation of the customer experience is critical in today’s increasingly competitive retail marketplace. Also apparent is the need to strike the proper balance between service and value to create invaluable customer loyalty. Today, the best decision retailers can make is to invest in a robust, digitally-supported customer experience that is centered around...
3 Things You Need to Know Before Starting an Independent Retail Store
If you’re looking to start your own independent retail store, there’s plenty you need to know in order to stand out from the crowds and make your venture a successful one. To do so, you’ll need to beat out big name retailers that might have decades of experience under their belt. Read on to find out...
Specialty Retail Entrepreneur Expo & Conference, You gotta go!
Want to start your specialty product business this year? Then you MUST attend the (SPREE) Specialty Retail Entrepreneur Expo & Conference. Be part of the world's largest event for the $12 billion specialty retail industry! No matter if you are a retailer, or prospective entrepreneur looking for the newest concepts, or interested in starting or...
Powerful Partnerships!
As a retail product expert, and working with the industry leaders in the field of placing products on retailer’s shelves (or on TV), I am honored to be partnering up with one of those industries experts - Jim DeBetta. Jim and I have decided to join forces to help budding entrepreneurs get the education and connections necessary...
1..2..3..Go Shopping!
EVERYONE! Please go do some shopping….. There is a bit of good news about shopping habits, amongst all the terrible news being reported about this horrific economy. Consumers are longing to go shopping, and retailers want to re-stock their shelves. However, both are afraid to “Just Do It”; make the first recovery move….. The fear...