Blueberries Around the Globe

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Trade and production of blueberries is expanding globally as product development boosts their profile in form and function. Hailed for their flavor, versatility, and health benefits, blueberry consumption has expanded beyond fresh, ranging from pureed to powdered forms. 

Global production and trade have seen the most dramatic growth between 2010 and 2019, driven ever higher by mounting consumer demand.

Read:  Blueberries Around the Globe – Past, Present, and Future (a report)

No Magic Solution

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The Plymouth candy company Maud Borup has been around for more than 100 years.  Christine Lantinen purchased the company in 2005, when it had $100,000 in sales.  Today, sales at the privately-held company are up to $45 million.

Besides a worker shortage, Maud Borup is experiencing – as many importers and exporters are – higher shipping costs.

In August 2020, the cost to ship a standard 40-foot shipping container was approximately $4,300, she said. One year later Lantinen said that figure exploded to $30,000. She predicts the costs of goods could be 35 to 40 percent higher a year from now, largely driven by the worker shortage.

The problem is there is no magic solution.

“The world supply chains were simply not built to handle a near shutdown by early COVID followed by the rapid restart and the robust consumer demand that followed,” said Chris O’Brien, chief commercial officer of Eden Prairie-based C.H. Robinson, a global logistics firm.

Read on to to appreciate that workforce shortages are unattainable for business owners.

Gen. Colin Powell: He Was An Optimist to the End

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Gen. Colin Powell is widely acknowledged by a grateful nation as distinguished and exemplary.  Indeed, for many years he has been recognized as one of the most admired Americans.

We [Roger B. Porter] last met in mid-July. He was characteristically cheerful, optimistic, engaging and positive. When asked how he was feeling he responded without hesitation: “Other than my multiple myeloma cancer and Parkinson’s disease, I feel fine.” Our discussion ranged widely, and his energy, quick mind and forward focus suggested that he did not expect an abbreviated future. He was an optimist to the end.

As Porter goes on to say, "For Powell people were as important as policies. For those of us privileged to work with him he inspired without hubris and did not allow the things that matter most to be at the mercy of the things that matter least."

Roger B. Porter is IBM Professor of Business and Government at Harvard University, and served as the assistant to the president for economic and domestic policy from 1989-93.

Note:  The flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on October 22, 2021. 

May Gen. Colin Powell R.I.P.

Everything Shortage

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Disruptions in global supply chains have generated the phrase "everything shortage."  But US imports are at record levels at some ports, and Americans are breaking shopping records, too.  Supply-chain professionals plan to alleviate the backlog container by container.

What's up?  

Yet claims that the country is running short on everything miss a key point. America has, in fact, imported an immense amount of stuff in the past eight months. And that's part of the reason we're in the midst of an epic supply-chain congestion.  

All of that means that the inventory to sales ratio isn't low because the US is short on stuff.  It's low because sales have gone completely nuts.

Read more about how Americans are running out of everything because Americans are buying so much stuff.

Build On Your Success

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Many global small businesses have such interesting origin stories—and sometimes the challenges and hurdles they face are equally unique. The 'Business Card Chronicles' series embraces that insight.

A new film from dentsuMB can count on American Express business cards for dough—and other forms of support to global small business owners—to ensure their fortunes continue to rise.

Read on to see how startups are keeping their dreams alive.

Today in Global Small Business: [Go] Easy On Me (Music Video)

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• [Go] Easy On Me – Adele's new release (video)
• Take My Breath – The Weeknd (video)
• Love Again – Dua Lipa (video)
• Quote of the week:  "Music is life itself." – Louis Armstrong
• Lost – Maroon 5 (video)
• Up – Cardi B (video)

Just Relax and Have Fun Doing What You Are Doing

©2021 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Relax.  Just relax and have fun doing what you're doing.  Don't worry so much about being results-oriented.  Just commit yourself to the moment." – John Goodman

A Global Wakeup Call to Social Media Influencers and Global Small Businesses

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Is it time to diversify away from Facebook products and any legacy social media app where you’re making money on content, or using it as a shingle to your business?

Last week’s Facebook blackout serves as yet another reminder. It doesn’t matter where you are. These things go down, if you’re reliant on them for revenue, it’s a day off without pay.

Learn about the Instagram blackout and more.

Think Ahead Before You Go Global

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Despite the challenges, plenty of firms sell overseas — and there are a ton of resources to help others follow suit.

Small businesses could be selling so much more internationally once they learn how to navigate the red tape of foreign regulations, tariffs and customs, as well as the complexity of collecting money.  Help is on the way.

International trade consultant Michael McCray says, “One of the biggest mistakes I see is when companies don’t think ahead.” he said. “Selling to foreign countries involves many different regulations and costs, and if you’re not prepared you can lose your shirt.”

Learn how to not lose your shirt when going global.

Today, Latino Artists Can Flourish Globally On Their Own

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In the late 1990s and early 2000s, artists like Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira ruled the pop charts.  But who was that so-called Latin Explosion actually for, and what were the business considerations behind it?

The great story about Ricky, for example, was that music executives decided to do this 'crossover' with him.  Crossover being:

"He was an artist that would sell out stadiums throughout South America and Mexico," says Leila Cobo, vice president at Billboard and author of Decoding Despacito: An Oral History of Latin Music. "But outside of the Spanish-speaking world, people really didn't know him."

Well that certainly changed thanks to streaming and technology.

Only 3 Days Left to Register for the 6th Annual Global Small Business Forum (Virtual)

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Only 3 days away from our 6th Annual Global Small Business Forum. Have you registered? The event takes place on Friday, October 15, 2021 from 8:00AM-11:30AM CT. 

Our theme this year is Reimagine Global Business: Organizing for the Next Normal.

With a virtual program anyone can participate from anywhere in the world provided they have an Internet connection. That said, we will have representation from all over the world:  New Zealand, Germany, Nigeria, France, Argentina, Uruguay – to name just a few of the countries where people have already registered from.

You will hear from:

1. Lori Novak, VP, Foreign Exchange, Associated Bank
2. Laurel Delaney, President, GlobeTrade.com and Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®
3. Marc Schulman, President, Eli's Cheesecake
4. Angie Kappel, VP, Foreign Exchange, Associated Bank
5. Richard Paullin, Executive Director, International Trade Association of Greater Chicago
6. Donald Lloyd, Senior VP, Foreign Exchange, Associated Bank
7. Alexander Lans, Founder and CEO, FOAL LLC
8. Karen Tinsley-Sroka, Founder and Creative Executive, My Scratch Offs
9. Ellington Ellis, Co-founder, Global Battery Solutions
10. Michelle Forrester, President, Beehive Botanicals
11. Flemming Poulsen, International Sales Manager, Bisco
12. Marshall Girtman, Domestic and International Sales Specialist, Special Mine Services

Speakers will share their experience reimagining global business and how they are preparing for the next normal. Discussions will cover dealing with cultural, regulatory and legal issues; sharing best practices; uncovering challenges and how they are resolved; wrestling with global supply chain issues; entering new overseas markets, finding new sources of supply, revealing lessons learned from the pandemic and more.

The program is brought to you by lead sponsor, Associated Bank, with assistance by supporting sponsor Foley & Lardner LLP.  Without their support, this program would not be possible.

You won't want to miss this – considered the Oscars for international trade.

Looking forward to your participation! To learn more and to register, visit: https://globalsmallbusinessforum.com

Note:  We have some fantastic raffle prizes that we save for the end of the program (fun)! Must be present to win.

 

Today in Global Small Business: How Christopher Columbus Became an Italian-American Icon

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• How Christopher Columbus became an Italian-American icon.
• Klasha raises $2.4 Million in seed funding to build technology for cross-border commerce in Africa.
• Mexico to require more documentation for shipments traversing the country.
• Quote of the week:  "Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World." – Christopher Columbus
• Major reform of the international tax system, which will ensure that Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) will be subject to a minimum 15% tax rate from 2023.
• Small businesses that rely on Facebook and Instagram question their loyalty after global outage.