Today in Global Small Business: Signs of Strength at Start of 2025

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

• U.S. Chamber says there are signs of strength at start of 2025.
• In the UK, sustainable "green practices" is top on the small business list for 2025.
• Quote of the week: “Don't follow trends, start trends.  Successful artists don't follow trends; they create them." – Frank Capra
• A bank thinks "tailoring your approach" should be top on your list for 2025.
• Detroit Regional Chamber recommends "offering quality customer service" in 2025. 
• From tariffs to Taylor Swift, here are some wildcards for not just 2025, but for the next 5 years.

Rieva Lesonsky: 7 Leaders Predict Small Business Trends for 2025

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How do you keep up in this fast-paced world? To help you stay ahead of the curve, my esteemed colleague, long-time small business journalist and small business advocate Rieva Lesonsky (https://smallbusinesscurrents.com/) tapped into the expertise of seasoned small business experts and leaders [I, Laurel Delaney, am lucky to be one of them] and created a series of articles to share the vital trends and actionable insights that will empower you to thrive in this ever-changing entrepreneurial world. 

I am also glad to see geopolitical risk and due diligence business expert Candice Tal, founder and CEO of Infortal Worldwide included.  No one knows risk intelligence business better than Candice.  That's why so many law firms and big financial institutions use her services.

Read the entire article here at Forbes (or at AllBusiness.com).  

To learn more about staying ahead of the curve on global trade trends, register for Laurel's free of charge Global Trade Trends Report 2025 wegginar® 1/8/25 at 11 AM CT.

How to Gain Visibility for Your Global Small Business

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In the past, you may have wondered what is the cheapest way to advertise, or even whether it’s possible to find free business advertising. That's what Sandeep Rathore for Small Business Trends pushes us to ponder.

He goes on to say:  "But smart questions go beyond cost alone, so we [Sandeep Rathore at Small Business Trends] have assembled a range of statistics for you to be effective. The authoritative advertising stats and facts below will guide your strategies to help get a good return on investment."

Discover advertising statistics you must know.

Small Businesses Around the World are Feeling Optimistic About the Future

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Covering small businesses in 110 countries, the Veem report, highlighting small business trends, found that companies spent the second quarter of 2019 building inventory and increasing both the number of orders and the dollar value of each order.

The average small business payments increased by 15% in the second quarter of 2019, according to the study, and the dollar value per order went to 6% in the second quarter. 

When it comes to trade, particularly with China:

However, small businesses continued to express concerns regarding trade negotiations with China, consistent with other studies reported on by Banking Exchange. More than three quarters of the small businesses polled showed concerns surrounding tariffs on Chinese products. However, this includes all 110 countries polled. It is not clear if American companies are particularly concerned. More than half of the small businesses said that that their businesses have already been impacted by tariffs. 

The findings in the report do show that the tariff talk, and the threat of a trade war are in fact effecting how businesses are looking to the future yet they are still optimistic about future growth and have a strong desire to expand.

Small Town Businesses Get a Global Presence

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According to the report (PDF) "Platform-Enabled Small Business Formation as a Counterweight Against Forces of Economic Concentration" from the eBay Policy Lab, online marketplaces give small businesses and entrepreneurs access to outside economies in these rural areas. This is driving growth in counties across the country which are not experiencing the same amount of expansion as in the coastal or more popular regions. -- Source:  Small Business Trends

We [eBay] have studied the patterns and growth of enterprises using the eBay Marketplace. Irrespective of where in the world we have looked, we have found micro and small businesses leveraging the online commerce platform model to engage in expansive commerce, often on a global scale. Across more than 50 countries we have studied so far, spanning the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe, technology is empowering small firms to build operations that serve consumers across an unprecedented number of countries.

Learn more about how eBay is giving small town businesses a global presence.

25 Ways to Get Noticed with your Small Business

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Gabrielle Pickard-White writes a good article for Small Business Trends on 25 types of marketing strategies for small businesses -- from creating a website, to writing a blog, to hosting a webinar -- and most of these can be taken global.  Read more ...

The New FedEx Global Trade Index Shows Revenue Growth For SMEs

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Small Business Trends reports:

A new FedEx (NYSE:FDX) survey has found 65 percent of small businesses trading internationally see revenue growth versus 46 percent of businesses that haven’t gone international yet.

What does this mean?  Going global is an easy and big growth avenue for small businesses.

Read more:  Small Businesses Trading Internationally See More Growth, Says FedEx Index

19 Benefits to Selling in International Markets

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With the Global Small Business Forum taking place today (10/23) in Chicago at the historic Navy Pier, it only seems fitting that Small Business Trends, one of our Major Partners on the event, would write a fantastic feature on "19 Tips to Take Your Small Business Global" by Annie Pilon.  We love that our headliner on the event, Marc Schulman, President of Eli's Cheesecake is quoted.

Are you looking to expand your business internationally?  These tips should help you get there faster.  A BIG thank you to Small Business Trends for supporting small businesses, including ours, that wish to take on the world with their businesses.

Make the World Your Business

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I've always felt you should make the world your business but in this case, Shawn Hessinger, Executive Editor for Small Business Trends, offers a different twist, "Making the World Your Business Playground." He talks about companies that are small in size but operate globally, how communicating via email alone doesn't cut it, how working cross-culturally poses a new set of challenges and how going global brings on challenges that are not so obvious.

A special thanks to Shawn for quoting us and for including our advisory board member Kati Suominen.

Take a STEP Up to International Trade

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As Small Business Trends reports:

The STEP (State Trade and Export Promotion Program) offered by the Small Business Administration aims to offer small businesses in the U.S. a way to reach a global market. And right now, supporters of the program are in position in Washington, D.C., to get the program renewed.

According to the Office of International Trade Resources, here's what the STEP grants will do for a small business owner, provided they utilize the offerings:

• support for small business participation in foreign trade missions and foreign market sales trips;
• subscription to services by the Department of Commerce;
• website translation fees;
• design of international marketing media;
• trade show exhibitions;
• participation in training workshops; and
• other export initiatives determined to be appropriate by the SBA.

Learn more: Supporters Urge Renewal of State Trade and Export Promotion Program

This is definitely a step in the right direction towards helping small businesses expand internationally!

Not Your Father's Exporting Business

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Oh how I love that line, "Not Your Father's Exporting Business," in Anita Campbell's phenomenal review on my new exporting book.  Anita is no ordinary blogger.  She is the founder of THE most popular small business blog on the planet:  Small Biz Trends.  She says this about Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably:

______________________________

"Not Your Father’s Exporting Business

When you think of an exporting business, what pops into your mind?  Perhaps it is a vision of heavy, old-style manufactured goods being piled on container ships to slowly sail to another country.

But as Exporting outlines, going global today may be about exporting software.  Or it may be a purely service-based exporting business, such as consulting or design services.  It may be about selling on eBay or some other e-commerce platform, and shipping crafts or artwork through the mail or a delivery company.

That’s one of the things I like about this book.  It breaks all stereotypes of traditional exporting, and examines the way entrepreneurs are doing business in today’s world."

______________________________

Anita ends her review with:

"If you intend to grow your business beyond the U.S. border, Exporting: The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably is a great place to start." - Anita Campbell, founder of Small Business Trends

Read the entire review:  An Exporting Business for the 21st Century

And a big personal public thank you to Anita!

Are You Playing in the $2.2 Trillion Export Market?

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My friend and respected colleague, Anita Campbell, who runs the wildly popular Small Business Trends, writes a great article for the OPEN Forum at American Express on the benefits to exporting.

More small businesses are exporting their goods and services. Don't miss out on this revenue-boosting opportunity.

Read the entire article:  The $2.2 Trillion Market You Could Be Missing Out On

Not sure on how to get started and play in the export market?  We've got you covered.  Go here.

Women Entrepreneurs Forge Global Partnerships

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Below is a great article by our friend and colleague Rieva Lesonsky who writes for Small Business Trends about how entrepreneurial women can forge global partnerships.

It is possible and profitable to expand globally. One of the best ways to do it is to find partners in other nations to work with. In June at the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) conference in Istanbul, I (Rieva) talked with several entrepreneurial women who are doing just that.

Read on ... How Entrepreneurial Women Can Forge Global Partnerships

Does Made In America Still Matter?

Good friend and colleague Rieva Lesonsky writes a wonderful article, "Why Made in America Still Matters," for Small Business Trends.

These days, “Made in America” isn’t as clear-cut as it used to be. Most Americans are aware that products branded with American labels may be made in overseas factories or assembled here with parts made overseas. Three-fourths of consumers say being manufactured in the U.S. is crucial for them to consider it “made in America.” 

What do you think?  With complex and vast global supply chains, do you think we can still find a pure made in America product?  We welcome comments!

Contrast the "Made in America" to "Not Made in China."

Photo courtesy:  ©2013 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.  "American flag in front of The Wrigley Building, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., 6/1/13"

The Tale of Cheescakes Exported Nearly On Open Account

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Our latest contribution for the American Express OPEN Forum via Small Business Trends.

Making Tough Decisions in the Global Marketplace
by Laurel Delaney

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

Thanks To You and Other Fans, We Made the Top 100 Small Business Influencer 2011 Champion List!

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I am thrilled (honored might be a better choice of words) to make the "Top 100 Small Business Influencer 2011 Champion List!"  Thank you so much.  And I am delighted to be in such good company with the other 99 very cool influencers.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Premiere Sponsor, Category Sponsors, Media Partners, nominators and judges for making this event possible -- especially Small Business Trends and smallbiztechnology.

Learn more about the program here.

What's Your Excuse For NOT Going Global?

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Too busy, too complicated, too expensive or too risky?  It's all of these excuses plus more on why companies don't expand their businesses internationally. 

My latest contribution ...

Top 10 Excuses For Not Going Global
American Express OPEN Forum via Small Business Trends

What's yours?

Five Must-Haves To Get Started In International Sales

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Here's my latest contribution for the American Express OPEN Forum via Small Business Trends:

5 Must-Haves That Make An International Sale Happen

No. 5 is my favorite.

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

How to Attract International Visitors to Your Local Business

©Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Once upon a time there was a woman business owner who claimed her little cupcake shop in Chicago was drying up.

She bakes cupcakes from scratch in every imaginable flavor and size from her small bakery ...

Find out how she can increase sales and profitability so her business doesn’t shrivel up and even take her business to a whole new level (global).

Read my latest contribution:  From Cupcakes to Moneycakes:  3 Ways To Increase Sales and Profitability published at the American Express OPEN Forum via Small Business Trends

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

Got a Customer Overseas Who Wants 25,000 Widgets?

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The perfect scenario for how to source, produce and finance an overseas export. My latest contribution for American Express OPEN Forum through Small Business Trends.

Got a customer overseas who has asked you to export 25,000 umbrellas?  Fantastic—here's how.

Questions? Email me.