Quote of the week: "The freer the flow of world trade, the stronger the tides for economic progress and peace among nations. I've seen in my lifetime what happens when leaders forget these timeless principles. They seek to protect industries and jobs, but they end up doing the opposite." – President Ronald Reagan
International tax laws on e-commerce may change the industry and global trade — perhaps not for the better, resulting in higher consumer prices.
E-commerce has enjoyed such a meteoric rise over the past decade that ordering pretty much anything online and receiving it within a few days is now routine for consumers all over the world.
Retail e-commerce sales rose to $6.3 trillion in 2023, from $1.8 trillion in 2016, and are expected to grow to $8.1 trillion by 2026, with 4.5 billion users worldwide — or roughly half the population of the planet, according to data tracking site Statista. What’s more, by 2026, e-commerce is expected to make up 24% of all retail sales, up from 18.8% in 2021.
The economics of global e-commerce may soon be changing, however, possibly making goods more expensive and forcing small business owners to pay much closer attention to international trade laws.
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 transformation has already brought change and growth to the nation's economy and society, with technology, tourism, and sports gaining global attention.
Now Saudi Arabia has set its intentions on advanced manufacturing, and one company, Alat (Arabic for "machine"), is taking the lead to make the country a new global center for advanced and sustainable industry.
Learn how Saudi Arabia is becoming a hot spot for global technology manufacturing with sustainable practices in mind. Here's how.
This report, "Top Global Artificial Intelligence Markets," presents a brief overview of top Al global hubs outside the United States. Each country includes an Al ecosystem overview, government incentives and policies, education and research institutions, leading events, and industry
groups.
The initial markets for this report were selected based on global rankings, the highest number of Al companies concentrated
there, venture capital, and related research institutions.
Zimbabwe-based ZimTrade, a trade information portal, has developed an export program to empower female owned businesses with export knowledge and skills that will help at least 200 women entrepreneurs contribute to significant exports in the region.
Quote of the week: "Think about the race of artificial intelligence … think about the geopolitical tension and the threat of fragmentation we will have to deal with over the next years. The higher debt levels after the pandemic and the energy price hikes, which has shrunk our fiscal space to finance transformation, and given ... very little growth perspective of the global economy." – Germany’s Minister of Finance Christian Lindner, cited from a Davos meeting January, 2024
Entrepreneurs are among the most dynamic drivers of global economic growth, and women are laying claim to the role in greater numbers than ever. In the U.S., for example, research shows that women-owned businesses are growing at twice the rate of all others. Yet, according to the World Bank, women continue to face enormous obstacles, including powerful social constraints, limited time and a lack of training.
Questions addressed in the discussion hosted by The Milken Institute and moderated by Rick Smith, Co-Founder and Managing Director, CrossCut Ventures: How have today's most successful female entrepreneurs triumphed over the most challenging circumstances, and what still threatens to derail them? How can we continue to expand opportunities for women to truly level the playing field?
Since more than 95% of global consumers live outside of the U.S., reaching new customers transnationally can help you expand your business market, profits, and revenue.
Should you go global at the outset or wait until you and your team are in the ready state?
Here are five tips on how to scale from startup to global expansion.
The “sleep economy,” which includes everything from mattresses to wearable devices to supplements and more, is booming and is projected to reach a record high of $585 billion for 2024 – it's biggest year yet for the sleep industry.
How much would you pay for a good night’s sleep? For many people, the answer is “a lot.” Americans (and the rest of the world) are desperate for better sleep — and they’re spending more and more money to get it.
Find out where the trends are headed to get good rest. The sleep economy wakes up.
Built by industry experts and relied on by market-leading brands and manufacturers, Worldly provides your business with the insights needed for impact improvement, compliance, and disclosure.
Spot trends, learn about compliance, and find more sustainable materials.
There is always room for improvement. Know what you need to know.
"The earth together with its surrounding waters must in fact have such a shape as its shadow reveals, for it eclipses the moon with the arc of a perfect circle." – Nicolaus Copernicus
Bain & Company’s first annual Consumer Products Report, which hopes to assist the industry in formulating a new playbook for the months ahead. Bain surveyed more than 120 senior consumer products executives around the world on their experience in 2023 and their strategic priorities this year.
In this report, we [Bain] first examine how 2023 has left the industry at a crossroads, then explore the connection between profitable growth and positive stakeholder impact. We [Bain] conclude by looking ahead to the most pressing issues that will shape CPGs’ strategic agendas in 2024 and beyond.
In this appeal to Congress, more than 35 artists, activists, scholars and others call for funding for Ukraine. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the signatories.
Key statement:
"If Russia breaks through, this will be our fault. And then we will understand what we have lost."
They go on to say, "Time is short and new dangers can arrive very quickly. Together we call upon Congress to do the right thing – right now. Support Ukraine."
“We are completely convinced the consequences will be extraordinary and possibly as transformational as some of the major technological inventions of the past several hundred years: Think the printing press, the steam engine, electricity, computing and the Internet, among others,” the JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CEO wrote in the [annual shareholder] letter.
Dimon goes on to say, "Over time ... we anticipate that our use of AI has the potential to augment virtually every job, as well as impact our workforce composition. It may reduce certain job categories or roles, but it may create others as well.”
From Korn Ferry International to Russell Reynolds to DHR International, here's a list of the top global executive search firms that assist clients in acquiring leadership talent through outstanding research capabilities, through assessment technology, reference checking and access to a global talent pool.
No matter where you are located in the world, the pace of the job interview process can feel glacial now, especially compared to the hiring crisis of 2021.
Amid the labor shortage during the Great Resignation that left managers scrambling for talent, many employers made job offers via video interviews, sometimes even on an initial screening call.
Yet as the job market has tightened, companies can now afford to take their time. Not only are many leaving candidates on the hook, but the interview process is also becoming more drawn-out, especially further up the corporate hierarchy.
Metallurgy graduate Wang Chuanfu founded BYD in 1995. BYD is a small Chinese company focused on producing rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries more cheaply than Japanese competitors.
Nearly 30 years later, the Shenzhen-based firm has become the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicles (EVs), even surpassing American giant Tesla (TSLA) in global sales of pure-play electric cars in the last quarter of 2023.
But the two companies are still running neck and neck, with Tesla regaining its crown in the first quarter of 2024.
A major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck off Taiwan’s eastern coast Wednesday at 8 AM local time, according to the US Geological Survey, prompting tsunami warnings for the island and southern Japan.
The quake’s epicenter is located about 18 kilometers (11 miles) south of the city of Hualien. Tremors were felt across the island, including by CNN staff in Taipei.
Officials in Hualien county said that work and school were suspended following the earthquake. On social media, users posted images of tilted and half-collapsed buildings and landslides in the area. Authorities sent an alert to residents that they should seek cover nearby, crouch down and “stay calm.”
How do you run a sustainable global beauty brand? Abena Boamah-Acheampong, who is founder and CEO of Hanahana Beauty, provides the answer by sharing 7 lessons she learned in 7 years.
Abena is the founder of Hanahana Beauty, an ethically-conscious, Black-owned skincare brand recognized for its commitment to sustainability, ethical sourcing, and empowering women. Her journey into beauty and skincare was unconventional. She went from classroom to beauty headquarters.
Formerly a teacher, Abena has grown Hanahana organically from her kitchen onto the shelves of Ulta Beauty. Known for effective, clean body care products, Hanahana stands out by paying twice the standard price for shea butter from Katariga Women’s Shea Cooperative in Ghana. This commitment to creating consciously clean products has resonated with a global audience.
Beyond products, Hanahana fosters a vibrant community through wellness activations, education, and brand collaborations.
In this wegginar®, Abena will discuss:
How to prioritize your growth and your self-care
How no is better than nothing and the why behind it
How sustainable can be expensive but overcome
How to build a beauty brand business with intention
To learn more and to register free of charge for this inspiring and educational program, visit: https://bit.ly/3V7ybc9,
International Trade Administration trade resources.
Quote of the week: "I believe in removing barriers in international trade. Part of the reason is that this creates huge markets for all of our products." – Petro Poroshenko
The Global Small Business Blog (GSBB) was founded on July 20, 2004 by Laurel Delaney (pictured above) for the purpose of helping entrepreneurs and small businesses expand their businesses internationally. It is ranked No. 1 in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global. Learn more about Laureland visit her company GlobeTrade.com.
VIEW: 8th Annual Global Small Business Forum 10/20/23
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"Good to Great" best-selling author Jim Collins says, "Laurel Delaney writes in a tremendous spirit of service to entrepreneurial and small business leaders navigating the opportunities of globalization. Whether leading a fresh startup, a small business, or an entrepreneurial growth company seeking greatness, the question of whether―and how―to go global must be addressed. Delaney shows yet again her passionate dedication to serving her readers with deeply practical guidance.”
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