Taylor Swift Break

Taylor Swift is widely considered the top contemporary singer and original songwriter dominating the music world right now. 

The Canada Booze Ban Is a Sore Point in Trade Talks

©iStock/Stockah

California Merlots, Kentucky bourbons and Tennessee whiskeys are collecting dust in Canada as alcohol becomes a high-profile hostage of trade tensions with the U.S.  What a mess.

After President Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods last year, Canada’s provincial leaders hit back. The majority of provinces exercised their power over the distribution and sale of alcohol to pull U.S.-made wine, spirits and beer from most store shelves and stopped placing new orders.

The stakes for U.S. alcohol producers are high.  Small businesses are especially vulnerable and caught in the crossfire.

Find out why.

From Immigrant to Old Navy Co-Founder: Jenny J. Ming Shares Her Story

©2026 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Join Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® for a conversation with Jenny J. Ming, Public Company Director, Former Rothy's CEO, and Old Navy Founding President on Wednesday, August 19 at 11 AM CT – LIVE.

To register and to learn more, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2026/07/01/from-immigrant-to-old-navy-co-founder-building-a-life-that-matters/.

Today in Global Small Business: Storms Battering the Midwest

©iStock/Nicola Patterson

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

• At least eight people have died from a storm system that has upended the Midwest and portions of the Mid-Atlantic over the past week, displacing people in several states and cutting power to hundreds of thousands of homes.
• Tropical storm Lala is sending drenching rain and winds across Hawaii.
• The flooding continued in Central Indiana Aug. 15 as water from days of rain continues to make its way downstream into Indianapolis.
• Quote of the week: “This is the moment when we must come together to save this planet. Let us resolve that we will not leave our children a world where the oceans rise and famine spreads and terrible storms devastate our lands." – Barack Obama
• Over 2,300 customers are without power in Franklin County (Columbus, OH) following another round of severe weather over the weekend.
• Why are the same [Chicago] suburbs being hit by tornadoes and storms? Meteorologist explains.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!    

I Adore Chicago

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"I adore Chicago.  It is the pulse of America." –  Sarah Bernhardt

Cross-Border Ambition Is Becoming Mainstream

©iStock/Yellow duck

Geographic expansion is now the clearest growth route for professional services firms.  But they are doing it more selectively, with tighter control of risk, talent and cash. That is why geographic expansion has become the leading model. It offers access to new clients, new talent pools and new revenue lines, without forcing a fundamental change in the business model.

And it's not a niche strategy.  Cross-border ambition is becoming mainstream.

Are We Being Kept In the Dark?

©iStock/Roman Tiraspolsky

The United States does not have a king. In a representative democracy, the people must have confidence in the health of their leader, and in the leader’s capacity to guide the nation. Are we being kept in the dark on President Trump's health?

This is a Guest Essay for the NY Times by Jonathan Reiner, who is the co-author of the book “Heart: An American Medical Odyssey” alongside Mr. Cheney and Liz Cheney. The book details the former vice president’s struggle with heart disease.  Dr. Reiner is also a professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University.

Is AI Leadership Drift Stalling Your Progress?

©iStock/wildpixel

Organizations often blame employees when AI adoption stalls, assuming resistance stems from fear or lack of skills. Research across 23 interviews and three leadership workshops in 11 European IT services firms points to a different obstacle: senior leaders. 

Executives often recognize privately that AI requires fundamental changes to pricing, staffing, and business models, yet abandon those positions during group discussions. The authors call this pattern “AI leadership drift,” where reassuring narratives replace difficult strategic decisions. 

To counter it, leaders should ground discussions in their own data rather than industry hype, study how comparable firms are responding to AI, tie every AI initiative to a strategic question with a review date, and assign someone responsibility for keeping uncomfortable issues on the leadership agenda.

Read the entire article here.

The Most Beautiful 12 Adagios in Rachmaninoff Style

Today in Global Small Business: Importers of Record Have Received More Than $100 billion From Tariff Refunds

©iStock/jaouad.K

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

• Importers of record have received more than $100 billion from tariff refunds (CBS News 24/7 – video).
• Warren presses U.S. companies to share billions in tariff refunds with customers.
• Trump administration pays back $100 billion in 'Liberation Day' tariffs to businesses.
• Quote of the week: “While tariffs are a tax on trade that businesses pay upfront, it's actually the consumer who ends up feeling it in their wallets." – inFlow
• Small businesses filed a pair of lawsuits in the US Court of International Trade accusing President Donald Trump and US officials of unlawfully using Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to replace earlier tariffs struck down by the US Supreme Court.
• In the old days, this would be considered criminal.  Now it will be looked upon as purely insane.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!    

Practicing Gratitude

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"I don't have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it's right in front of me if I'm paying attention and practicing gratitude." – Brene Brown

Are You Defaulting to Vague Positivity Instead of Honest Specificity?

©iStock/oatawa

Consider this: Find one place in your professional life – a team update, a newsletter, a public statement – where you’ve been relying on vague positivity instead of clear, candid detail. Rewrite it with specific, honest information. Then choose one concrete action you want your audience to be able to take afterward. That combination of clarity plus a next step is what creates trust that lasts when things get difficult.

Where is this coming from?  Find out here.

August 2026 Global Trade, Customs and Shipping Policy Update for Exporters

©iStock/thitivong

This website is designed as a quick-reference compliance resource for monthly planning. If your business trades across multiple markets, use it to coordinate procurement, pricing, logistics, customs brokerage, and customer communication in one place. 

The overview focuses on official measures that are effective or applicable in August 2026, while also flagging items that should not be mistaken for August-start rules.

Are You Chasing a Future That Isn't Actually Being Built?

©iStock/quantic69

Love this Opinion Guest Essay by Julie Averill, a former chief information officer of Lululemon. 

Averill says, "Companies these days are quick to stick “A.I.” in news releases, in earnings calls, in product names, in job postings and in titles at the top of their organizations. The real question is what strategy sits behind the abbreviation. A title costs nothing, but it doesn’t produce anything, either."

And she says that's a problem.  

When companies mistake an announcement for a strategy, they spend real money — and sometimes cut real jobs – chasing a future that isn’t actually being built. And in doing so, they’re persuading Americans to reject a powerful innovation that could do so much good for all of us.

Company leaders think A.I. is magic.  But Averill says the way out of this is not more hype. It’s honesty.

Read Averill's entire Opinion Guest Essay for the NY Times here.

wegg® showcase with Jacquie Cleary at Atlas (August, 2026)

©2026 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global.  All rights reserved.

The latest wegg® showcase interview (8/3/26) with Jacquie Cleary, Founder and CEO, Atlas, Making "What Ifs?" Possible for Her Clients and Employees.

Today in Global Small Business: Global Engagement At Schools

©iStock/Prostock-Studio

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

• Global entrepreneurship program (global engagement) – UC Santa Cruz
• Global entrepreneurship program – Gies College of Business
• Global entrepreneurship program – Penn GSE
• Quote of the week: “Entrepreneurship is neither a science nor an art. It is a practice.” – Peter Drucker
• Global entrepreneurship program – Babson Global
• Global entrepreneurship program – Stanford University

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!   

The Secret to Getting Ahead

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." – Mark Twain

Generative AI Could Boost Creativity, But Only For Some

©iStock/Volodymyr Kryshtal

The new data, in “How and For Whom Using Generative AI Affects Creativity: A Field Experiment,” was recently published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. For the study, the researchers conducted an experiment to find out exactly who is getting a creative boost from the technology and why. 

Some are getting it but there's a catch.

90% of U.S. Tariffs Are Paid For by Importers or Consumers

©iStock/Yau Ming Low

Robert Krol is an emeritus professor of economics at California State University, Northridge/InsideSources.

He writes, "Despite the president’s claim that foreign exporters are paying the tariffs, research shows that at least 90% of U.S. tariffs are paid for by importers or consumers. The tariff bill has tripled over the last year for these smaller businesses. This results in a tariff bill that is $25,000 higher per month for the average small- and medium-size business."

Here he talks more about the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the president's decision to not extend it, and the impact on small- and medium-size businesses. 

Success On Her Terms (SoHT) with Laura Neiman (8/11/26)

©2026 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

"Success On Her Terms" (SoHT) is a dynamic four-part series presented by Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® and in collaboration with Merrill Lynch's Baldwin Marcovici Group.  This is the 4th installment of a four-part series.

Loving this series? Even better news – Season 2, a brand-new 4-part series, launches this November. Want first access when registration opens?  Drop a note to me (main blog page to the right) and I'll make sure you're first to know.

SoHT is designed to spotlight high-potential, growth-stage women entrepreneurs who share their personal journeys and offer actionable insights on how to align purpose, people, and profit while building and scaling a business.

Join us for the virtual *4th session* – Ensuring Your Legacy Evolves With You – on Tuesday, August 11th at 11 AM CT with Laura Neiman, President and CEO of Neiman Brothers Company, Inc., a manufacturer, importer and distributor of food products.

Laura Neiman represents the third generation of her family who is dedicated to growing and continuing the 100+ year old business that manufactures, processes and distributes a full line of ingredients. She has been instrumental in driving the development and expansion into complementary categories as she has cultivated new opportunities in the ever-changing food industry.

What's in it for you?

📌 Walk away with one concrete takeaway: how to build a business – and a legacy – that keeps evolving instead of standing still.

To learn more and to register (free of charge) for Program 4 in this exciting series, visit:

https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/programs/success-on-her-terms/ 

It's a LIVE event and moderated by Alexandra Didac, CPWA®, CRPC™, CEPA®, whose wealth planning expertise will shape a conversation on what "legacy" really means for a growing business.

See you there!

It's Never Too Late to Change the Playbook For Your Image

©iStock/tupungato

Bernard Arnault has spent decades carefully cultivating the image of some of the world’s most sought after brands, from Louis Vuitton to Dior. Now the LVMH chief is changing tactics when it comes to his own. 

The billionaire published an acerbic open letter attacking one of France’s top newspapers on Sunday, taking aim at a six-part examination of his political connections, media ownership and the question of who will eventually succeed him at the top of his luxury empire. On Monday, the 77-year-old took to social-media platform X for the first time to amplify his uncharacteristic missive.

The new approach comes as Arnault has grown increasingly frustrated with how he and his family are being portrayed.  

Admirers credit Arnault with turning brands such as Louis Vuitton and Dior into global powerhouses and helping establish France as the dominant force in the luxury industry. As such, he has the right to exercise control over the use of his image and how he is portrayed.

Today in Global Small Business: Trump's Obsession With More and More Tariffs

©iStock/gguy44

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

• Tariffs are an obsession for President Trump, much as climate was for the Biden Administration. How else to explain his imposition of yet another round of border taxes three months before the November election despite their political unpopularity and economic harm?
• ChatGPT for small businesses.
• Latest tariff update(s) from Global-e.
• Quote of the week:  “The European Union questioned the new tariff, with its foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas calling it a “negative surprise” and rejecting the forced labor claims as unfounded."
• How people are really using AI in 2026 (HBR).
• What's going to happen with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement?

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!  

The Advent of Motorola and the Car Radio

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Intrigued by the idea of portable radios, Paul and Joseph [Galvin] soon gravitated toward finding a solution for an affordable radio mounted in the car itself. In June 1930, the brothers enlisted the help of inventors Elmer Wavering and William Lear to retrofit Paul’s Studebaker with a radio. 

During the project, Paul and Joseph decided to rename their business to Motorola: “motor” for motor vehicle, and “ola,” which was derived from the company Victrola, the preeminent phonograph manufacturer, to evoke the idea of music.

Where Does the Industry Get Its Talent?

dusanpetkovic 

Using data from 40,000 job boards and networking sites, Cole and colleagues from the Project on Impact Investing at HBS tracked the professional trajectories of almost 350,000 MBAs. They focused on graduates from the top 25 US business schools ranked by US News and World Report in 2024, narrowing the pool to 832 working in impact investing.

Find out who's hiring and where.

Top 9 Global Small Business Trends To Watch in 2026

©iStock/Phimprapha Kitalamphalsan

According to Upwork, the top 9 global small business trends in 2026 involve AI adoption and automation, e-commerce and omnichannel growth, hyperpersonalization, cybersecurity, social media marketing, sustainability, remote and hybrid work, subscription-based revenue models, and building flexible teams with freelancers.

Discover the highlights (details) of global small business trends in 2026.

SMBs Are Trapped in a Pressure Gap

©iStock/Giuseppe Ramos

Bookipi study finds that SMBs are feeling the squeeze from rising supplier costs, late payments, reduced demand, and fear of climbing prices.

Small businesses worldwide are facing a widening financial "pressure gap" due to global instability, according to a new global survey from Bookipi, a global platform offering a comprehensive suite of AI-powered business management tools tailored for small businesses (SMBs) and solopreneurs. 

Tariffs, inflation, geopolitical instability, and trade tensions are driving costs higher, making customers more cautious, delaying payments, and prompting small business owners to hesitate before raising prices to protect profits.

A New 50% Tariff On Canadian Imports Set to Begin In 30 Days

©iStock/Marc Bruxelle

Is this tariff really about the wildfire smoke drifting down from Canada? Your guess is as good as mine. We'll have to wait and see – punishment seems to be the modus operandi of the current US administration.

Trump cited Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a law that allows a president to tariff goods up to 50% without congressional approval when a country is believed to be discriminating against American goods.

Here's the key:  The law has never been applied this way.

The new import levies are a response to alleged discrimination against American motor vehicles, alcohol and dairy, an official said.

Today in Global Small Business: When AI Builds Itself

©iStock/Tzido

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

• When AI builds itself.
• AI for small business – by SBA.
• 10 ways small businesses can use AI to grow.
• Quote of the week:  “AI is a mirror, reflecting our intellect and our values." – Ravi Narayanan
• Small business and AI adoption.
• America’s enterprising spirit is booming after decades-long slump.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

Happiness Is ...

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Happiness is to hold flowers in both hands." – Japanese Proverb

Every Household Needs This: The Original Honey Hat™

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Love this product and the people behind it – Sarah Purdy and Laurie Aquilina – who are even more amazing.  The Original Honey Hat™ is a joy-inducing new kitchen gadget that catches honey bear and syrup bottle drips to help eliminate sticky messes for good. 

Check it out!

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!

Inflation Remains a Danger to the U.S. Economy

©iStock/Khanchit Khirisutchalual

Inflation remains a danger to the U.S. economy, so enjoy the good news when you can. That includes data released this week showing that both consumer and producer prices are flattening a bit.

Also encouraging is that the producer-price index released Wednesday (7/15/26) pointed in the right direction. Wholesale prices fell 0.3% month-on-month in June, firmly on a downward trend after a recent peak in April and again led by energy-price declines. Producer prices are often a harbinger of changes that eventually feed through to CPI. 

Read more here.

Tariffs and the Impact on Small Business, Manufacturing, and Supply Chains

©iStock/Andranik Hakobyan

What's the likelihood that small businesses will see tariff relief any time soon?  

Given the Trump Administration’s aggressive response to the Supreme Court’s decision, in which he promised to maintain or increase tariffs on importers of foreign goods using other sections of the Trade Act of 1974, it seems unlikely that material tariff relief for small businesses is coming soon.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

Tariffs Have Been Particularly Costly for Global Small Businesses

©iStock/PapaBear

Summary:  The Federal Reserve reports that small businesses were less likely to be able to avoid tariff costs during 2025 and are more pessimistic about employment and revenue in 2026. 

Small businesses were "particularly challenged by higher tariffs in 2025," reports the Federal Reserve of New York, drawing on last year's annual Small Business Credit Survey.

Most small businesses in the Federal Reserve survey said they responded to higher costs by increasing prices for consumers. Looking ahead, small business owners expressed "greater pessimism about generating employment and revenues in 2026" due to the tariffs.

Tariffs aren't saving American manufacturing or helping Main Street businesses. They are a burden, and the evidence shows that small employers are particularly vulnerable.

Today in Global Small Business: $4 Almond Butter In the U.S. Matters

©iStock/LindasPhotography

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

• How Aldi is taking on U.S. supermarkets with its $4 almond butter (requires subscription).
• Foreign policy hawk South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, dies at 71.
• Trump's verbal flubs are piling up.
• Quote of the week:  “Almond butter is an affordable and easy nutritional powerhouse,” explains Lee Cotton, R.D., author of A Nourishing Perspective.
• Driving global growth through the power of small business.
• AI presents a major opportunity for small businesses but support is needed.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

From the Journal of Gospel Music to The New York Times: Congrats to Bob Marovich!

©iStock/proksima

Congratulations to Bob M. Marovich, founder and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Gospel Music for writing such a magnificent article for the global edition of the New York Times, "CeCe Winans Revisits the Simple Power of Worship Music."

Best known for contemporary stylings of praise music that topped charts across genres, CeCe Winans put her new album of pared-down sacred music, 'The Hymns,' back atop the gospel charts.

Magnificent article and well worth a read.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!

The Dismal Reality Is That Trump's Border Taxes are Raising Costs and ...

©iStock/AndreyPopov

The dismal reality is that Trump's border taxes are raising costs and have failed to usher in a manufacturing renaissance.

There’s no question his tariffs are raising costs for U.S. manufacturers. At the same time, foreign retaliation has hurt America’s farmers and depressed purchases of agriculture equipment. A slowdown in trade has also dented demand for semi-trucks.

Plus, the uncertainty hanging over the extension of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is delaying some investments since businesses don’t know what the trade rules or tariffs will be in a few years – or even tomorrow with Trump. 

Americans are unhappy. 

When 65 Days Isn't Enough: The Shelf-Life Squeeze on Shipping

©iStock/knowlesgallery

Some problems J.M. Smucker is facing when it bit (read that as buying Hostess) into the golden, creamy Hostess Twinkie are bedeviling other food makers. Snacking slowed as people cut discretionary spending, and weight-loss drugs and the “Make America Healthy Again” movement gained traction. U.S. snack sales by units are down 4% in the past four years, according to data from market-research firm NIQ. Sales of sweet snacks, generally, have dropped 17%, the data showed. 

Why did Smucker's $5 billion bet on the Twinkie flop?

Was it because of the 65-day shelf life? A blink of an eye compared to the shelf life of many core Smucker products – fruit spreads, canned coffee and dog food – which can last for at least a year. Was it changing consumer habits?  Could execution have played into the problems?  

Find out here.

The World's Most Livable Cities 2026

©iStock/nantonov

The world seems to be changing at lightning speed, so it’s perhaps good to know that some things remain the same – at least when it comes to the most livable city.

Which country ranked No.1?  Find out here.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

U.S. Commercial Service User Fees Are Going Up Effective 7/22/26

©iStock/ImagePixel

The U.S. Commercial Service is updating its User Fee Schedule to better align fees with the cost and level of effort required to deliver services and to apply a consistent approach across programs.  The updated structure introduces a standardized pricing model across clients and incorporates services that were not previously reflected in the User Fee Schedule.

The Federal Register Notice (FRN) announced the proposed price increase changes on June 22, 2026. Clients (small business owners) can be directed to the following external page: https://www.trade.gov/user-fees-update. The updated schedule includes adjustments to certain standard service fees and the formal addition of several services now offered across various programs.

Since the fees will be tripling for small businesses beginning July 22, 2026, Friday, July 17th will be the last available date to confirm and pay for a service with the U.S. Commercial Service's current rate structure.

Clients (small business owners) would need to participate in introduction calls prior to July 17th with a overseas colleagues to assess and confirm which service best fits their objectives in the local market. 

In order to manage clients’ (small business owners') expectations, please note many overseas colleagues may already be on summer holiday and may not be available for those calls in time.  The sooner a service request and intro call can be made, the better.

Get on it!   Direct access to the User Fee Schedule.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

Today in Global Small Business: Entrepreneurship Is For Everyone, Even Later in Life

©iStock/Yaroslav Astakhov

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

• It is a myth that entrepreneurship is for the young. Later-in-life business owners are blurring the line between their working years and retirement.
• Smithsonian ponders what it means to be an American.
• AI isn't a substitute for human skills.  It's a multiplier.
• Quote of the week:  “I alone will decide when I'm retiring." – Jupp Heynckes
• From principles to practice: How McKinsey is helping Ownership Works scale employee ownership.
• Leading through uncertainty in the age of AI.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

Happy 250th America!

©iStock/undefined undefined

Let's celebrate America's birthday!

This July 4th Could Be the Hottest Ever In Parts of U.S.

©iStock/Sabine Hortebusch

This July Fourth could be the hottest on record for millions of Americans as a massive heat wave traps more than half of the United States under a heat dome through the holiday weekend.

Dangerously high temperatures ramped up Wednesday (7/1/26) from the Midwest to the East Coast, forecasters said. Between daily high temperatures and warm overnight lows – which won't be low enough to offer much relief – more than 300 records are expected to be set by Saturday, July 4, 2026.

Where Food Is Exported From and Where It Goes

©iStock/FabrikaCr

Our food systems have become incredibly globalized.  Which countries do we depend on for this wide range of foods?

See how and where food is traded across the world, by viewing this interactive visualization that shows the flow of different types of food from producer to consumer.

The authors provide a walkthrough on how to use the tool with using soybeans as an example.

Fascinating!

Celebrating 4th of July Fireworks (video)

The Small Businesses That Built America

©iStock/Delpixart

Let's welcome the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's year‑long series celebrating the entrepreneurs and enterprises that have shaped the nation’s economy over 250 years. 

From colonial‑era craftsmen to today’s tech innovators, U.S. small businesses have fueled growth, creativity, and community across every generation of American life.

Throughout the year, the CoC spotlights historic companies, iconic brands that started small, and the modern founders carrying that legacy forward. 

Join them as we all honor the small businesses that built America – and continue to build its future.

Today in Global Small Business: International Growth Is Being Driven By a New Breed of Business

©iStock/phonogphan5922

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

• International growth is being driven by a new breed of business: the emerging multinational.
• How the Shiga Bank is driving regional growth through global strategy, sustainability and SME support.
• How businesses can leverage Hong Kong’s advantages to expand overseas.
• Quote of the week:  “These guys have shut down the Straits of Hormuz.  This is what Iran is saying:  We will shut down the straits, no one can go through, no country in the world can go through unless we allow you to go through, and you have to pay us, but our ships can go through – meaning the Iranian ships – as much as they want.  That’s crazy.  Who would agree to that?" – Secretary of State Marco Rubio (5/5/26)
• Updates from the NY Times on the war in the Middle East.
• Iran asserts sole control of Hormuz, warns challenges will bring more violence.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

Chicago: The Most Beautiful Great City Left in the World

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Eventually, I think Chicago will be the most beautiful great city left in the world." – Frank Lloyd Wright, architect and Oak Park resident

How to Successfully Bring Overseas Brands into the U.S. Market With Top Expert Yvette Laugier

©2026 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

What's the trick to bringing products into the USA market?  Find out during Yvette Laugier's (LIVE) talk – wegginar® – on July 1st at 11 AM CT, "How To Successfully Bring Overseas Brands into the U.S. Market."  Here's a snippet of what she will discuss:

• Understand why the U.S. is not one market and how to identify the right entry point for your brand.
• Learn the five essential pillars every overseas brand must master before launching in the United States.
• Discover how pricing, packaging, and positioning must shift for U.S. consumers and retailers. 

About Yvette Laugier, Founder, YL Advisory

Yvette Laugier has been appointed as Vice President of North America for Dualit Ltd. She is a veteran of the housewares industry, having worked with well-known consumer brands. She opened the North American headquarters of a European manufacturer in 2013 as its Managing Director. and is well-versed in retail distribution across the U.S. and Canada, in both B2B and B2C channels.

She has served on the International Housewares Association’s Board of Directors and remains active with the IHA as a past Chairman. The association is a not-for-profit trade association, based in Rosemont, Illinois, dedicated to maximizing the success of the home products industry with a world class international trade show (The Inspired Home Show held annually in Chicago in March), global e-commerce and a myriad of business development tools for the trade.

She is also a member of IHA’s Government Affairs Committee, Exhibitor Trade Show Advisory Committee and Key Retailer Advisory Committee, and a regular participant in IHA’s regional CORE (Chief Officers Reaching Excellence) meetings across the country.

To learn more and to register free of charge for Yvette's talk, visit:  https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2026/06/12/how-to-successfully-bring-overseas-brands-into-the-u-s-market/

Global Economic Uncertainty: Unlocking SME Finance for Investment and Productivity

©iStock/ronniechua

While economies have demonstrated resilience over the past several years, economic uncertainty is weighing on the small businesses which are driving our economies. The cost of finance for SMEs remains high, despite recent decreases in SME interest rates, and banks continue to apply stringent lending terms and conditions to mitigate risk.  

Read the full report here that discusses questions such as:  how ongoing economic and policy uncertainty is affecting SME financing and investment decisions; what policy approaches and market-based solutions can help SMEs invest in productivity-enhancing assets; and, how we can strengthen uptake of digital solutions to enhance access to finance and boost SME productivity.