Today in Global Small Business: Making Second-Hand Clothing the First Choice Worldwide

©iStock/Iryna Mylinska

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

• Making second-hand clothing the first choice worldwide.
• What is Nato and why is Finland joining?
• BRICS emerges as the world's largest GDP bloc, propelled by China's Rapid Expansion.
• Quote of the week: "I'm really interested in fashion but at the same time I find it quite competitive. Second-hand stuff leaves you more open to whatever your own personal style is rather than feeling dictated to by shops." – Sophie Ellis-Bextor
• Dollar General enters international market with first Mi Súper Dollar General store opening in Mexico.
• Research shows that Millennials will increase their online spending in 2023.

USA Holiday Shoppers Are Drawn by Store Discounts But Can They Afford It?

©iStock/Sorapop

Yesterday's Cyber Monday promised to become the largest online sales day in history. During the peak hour of 8 pm to 9 pm Pacific, shoppers could have spent $13 million per minute, according to Adobe Digital Insights, which tracks online spending.

U.S. shoppers are on track to spend more than $755 billion during the holiday shopping season in what's expected to be a new sales record despite the coronavirus recession.  But can they afford it?