Speak Out

Empower Global Small Businesses' Presence Online

With support of global commerce company Shopify and the Louisiana Economic Development, Louisiana business owners will become more competitive during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged businesses across the nation to find new ways to connect with customers. Louisiana Economic Development (LED) partnered with e-commerce platforms to provide Louisiana small business owners with enhanced customer service and special resources to make setting up or expanding your e-commerce capabilities as easy as possible.

What's in store?  Plenty.  With the website noted below, Louisiana business owners gain access to a 14-day free trial with Shopify and enhanced one-on-one support.

More details can be found online by visiting the website: https://www.lasmallbizonline.com/

Will this opportunity be available to everyone at some point?  Sure looks like it already exists on Shopify's website (perhaps sans the enhanced one-on-one support).  Click on upper right hand corner – Start Free Trial.

SME10X and UPS Unveil Highlights from Joint SME E-commerce Survey

©iStock/dragana991

UPS intended to evaluate the current shipping behaviors among Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) businesses in the UAE and to gain perspective on their shipping and logistics needs in the near future.

SME10X covered a large sample of over 5,000 SMEs across identified sectors such as Manufacturing, Services and Trading, and has completed 1,153 surveys at the time of this report.

Read the report to gain useful insights for your business.

SEE SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS ->

Note:  Study conducted August – December, 2019 (pre-global pandemic)

Are You Ready to Risk Your Life to Go Back to Business as Usual?

©iStock/Rawpixel

Paul Krugman, a Distinguished Professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center and 2008 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences winner says that America is now engaged in a vast, dangerous experiment. "Although social distancing has limited the spread of the coronavirus, it is far from contained. Yet despite warnings from epidemiologists, much of the country is moving to open up for business as usual."

What, after all, is the economy’s purpose? If your answer is something like, “To generate incomes that let people buy things,” you’re getting it wrong — money isn’t the ultimate goal; it’s just a means to an end, namely, improving the quality of life.

Now, as Krugman puts it, to money matters.  Read the entire Opinion column here.

Today in Global Small Business: Unrest in America

©iStock/Julian J Rossig

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

• Tens of thousands of people took to the streets for a fifth night on Saturday to protest the death of George Floyd and other African Americans at the hands of the police, resulting in violent clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators while fires raged across the country. Tragic.  Heartbreaking.  Unnecessary. 
• George Floyd protests spread nationwide.
• Quote of the week:  “A riot is the language of the unheard.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
• George Floyd protests timeline (might require registration).
• George Floyd couldn't breathe.  Now all black America can't either.
• What George Floyd deserves.

30 Seconds of Calm (Video)

Reopening Business USA

©iStock/SbytovaMN

As America’s businesses look to reopen safely and keep employees and customers healthy and informed, employers are facing countless new questions and unprecedented new challenges.

As part of the Path Forward initiative through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, this Digital Resources Center provides the latest state guidelines, sector-specific guidance, small business advice, and other tools and resources to help employers and employees return to work safely and successfully.

How to MacGyver Your First Export

©2020 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

My [Laurel Delaney's] latest creation.  Feel free to read, learn, and share.

How to MacGyver Your First Export

FedEx Helps Global Small Businesses Stay Afloat During COVID-19 With a Grants Program

©iStock/Kirkikis

FedEx Corp. recently announced the launch of the company’s #SupportSmall Grants program, awarding grants and services to 200 business owners across the U.S. struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Each grantee will receive a $5,000 check as well as a $500 credit for FedEx Office® print and business services to help support their small business.

The #SupportSmall Grants program is open to U.S. based small businesses that have fewer than 50 employees and have been in business and selling for more than one year. Applicants must have less than $5 million in annual sales revenue in 2019 and have shipped in the last 12 months and/or plan to ship in the coming 12 months as part of their business.

Learn more and apply here.

Changing the Small Business Ecosystem to Support Global Entrepreneurs

©iStock/Sergil Tverdokhlibov

Updated daily, with real-world funding, resources, and support for small business owners adapting to the impacts of coronavirus. Hello Alice is a small business community helping owners launch and grow.

Learn more here.  This particular page show a commitment to Hispanic entrepreneurs.

About Alice:

Alice began with a conversation. Founders Carolyn Rodz and Elizabeth Gore were discussing the social and economic opportunity that women, minority, immigrant and veteran business owners offer to the world. Inclusivity and accessibility came up time and time again. So, both women made a commitment to do everything in their power to change the existing small business ecosystem to support these entrepreneurs.

Today in Global Small Business: Honoring Those Who Have Sacrificed For Us

©2020 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

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

• "Today we are putting flags on graves of our veterans who have given everything for our nation.  We bring the young people out on Memorial Day to be sure they really understand the sacrifice of war."
• Why we observe Memorial Day.
• Quote of the week: “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." – Mark Twain
• Memorial Day:  traditions and activities.
• The obstacles many face on observing Memorial Day 2020.
• Memorial Day 2020 is different this year but don't forget why we observe in the first place: to honor and mourn the military personnel who have lost their lives during service in the United States Armed Forces. 

Honor and Thank the Brave Men and Women Who Served This Country

©2020 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.