Love, Peace and Joy This Holiday Season

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Wishing you love, peace and joy this holiday season." – Laurel J. Delaney

Shipping Companies Expect the Global Crunch to Continue

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The shipping crisis is getting worse.  Here's what that means for holiday shopping.

More than 18 months into the pandemic, the disruption to global supply chains is getting worse, spurring shortages of consumer products and making it more expensive for companies to ship goods where they're needed.

Shipping companies expect the global crunch to continue. Unresolved snags, and the emergence of new problems including the Delta variant, mean shoppers are likely to face higher prices and fewer choices this holiday season.

Reflect, Rejoice and Renew This Holiday Season

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Close your eyes for a moment and envision what the “perfect holiday” would be for you.

We all have an idea of what the “ideal” holiday looks like. Just like a fairytale romance, this scene has been ingrained into our minds by thousands of similar Hollywood tropes, saying, “This is what the holidays should be. This is what a perfect holiday looks like.” In Hollywood, even the stressful holiday moments are part of the storyline—they always work out with a laugh and a happy ending.

Amidst all the wonderful festivities, there’s still an element of stress, and for many of us, the pressures of the holiday can become overwhelming, taking over our feelings of joy.

Find your moment of joy not just on a holiday but throughout the year.

Today in Global Small Business: May Your Holidays Be Merry and Bright

©2019 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

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

• Demystifying global selling during the holidays.
• Holidays promotions around the world.
• Quote of the week: “May the holiday season bring only happiness and joy to you and your loved ones.” – The Global Small Business Business blog team
• How to keep up and cash in on the holiday shopping spree that has gone global.
• Black Friday went global but not everyone's happy.
• Slowing global economy makes retailers more dependent on shoppers this holiday season.

Today in Global Small Business: What Does China's Trade Drop Mean?

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

• Are small business owners optimistic about the holiday season?
• What does the American Express-commissioned Economy of Shopping Small Report reveal?
• Why SMEs should go global for more opportunities.
• Is Cuba a lucrative opportunity or just another tough market to crack?
• What does China's trade drop mean?
• Digital payments are growing.  Do you know of a quick way to pay back a friend, anywhere?

Global Artistry in Delectable Dark, Milk and White Chocolates

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We promised to provide you with unique gift ideas during the holiday season, and this one, Norman Love, is made in the U.S.A.

Norman Love® blends a master’s appreciation of the sensuous with the art of the chef to create handcrafted chocolates ... exquisite, silky, rich chocolates ... reserved for those who expect nothing less than perfection. Norman Love Confections® has been satisfying connoisseurs of fine chocolates since 2001, when the chocolatier first introduced the masterpieces he produces at his facility in Fort Myers, Florida.

Today, Norman enjoys international recognition for the incomparable, handcrafted natural sweets with tastes and textures that arouse the senses.

Think about someone special in your life -- employee, partner, spouse, friend, colleague, client, vendor, etc. -- and whether they might be in the mood for a nice surprise from you.

Learn more here.

World Greetings

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One of the real joys of the holiday season is the opportunity to say thank you to all our readers and wish you the very best for the new year.

Our toast to you is this: Here's to taking your business global in 2008!