Today in Global Small Business: How to Make Your Global Small Business More Sustainable

©iStock/Fahroni

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

• How to make your global small business more sustainable.
• According to Reuters, shoppers globally are expected to pay even more for branded food items in the coming year as packaged goods production expenses remain high.
• Nearly half of small business owners (47%) say the economy is in a recession already, with an almost equal percentage (48%) describing the economy as “poor.” That’s according to the CNBC|SurveyMonkey Small Business Survey for the first quarter of 2023.
• Quote of the week: "Sustainability has to be a way of life to be a way of business." – Anand Mahindra
• Silicon Valley tech giants in the years leading up to the pandemic collected gleaming office campuses around the world as trophies for what appeared to be boundless growth. Those days of blockbuster real estate expansions appear to be over for now, however, as job cuts and profitability concerns have companies pulling back on investments.
• Here are a few tips to help your business prepare for an international expansion.

Packaged Goods and Community Bar: Maria's in Bridgeport, Illinois

©2014 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

I had a delightful opportunity to visit a most charming and intimate little neighborhood place this past week:  Maria's in Bridgeport, Illinois.  Whoever would have thought that when you walk into what looks like a very small packaged goods storefront that in the backend is a little bar so cozy and nicely attended.  During my visit, I listened to a young gentleman, William Luck, serve as the DJ on gospel music for the evening.  What a wonderful job he did spinning music.  Oh I was right at home.

The beer and wine selection was phenomenal too.  Here's what some fans have said about Maria's through Google' reviews:

"The bar appears to be sort of dingy and expectations are lowered upon entering, but then the drink menu is handed over by an attractive and talented mixologist and suddenly the hype is real. The drinks were amazing."

"Maria's is a great city bar. No pretense, no judgment, a diverse crowd, and really great cocktails. They are widely known for their beers, but ordering a mixed drink is a treat. They have a wide selection of organic and small batch bottles and ..."

"A must visit in the Bridgeport neighborhood, it's one of the few "slashies" still around (liquor store in front, bar in the back). The craft beer list is pages long and they frequently host beer tastings. Their cocktails aren't to be missed ..."

You must give it a try sometime.  If it isn't already, Maria's is poised to become global with its visitors.  Go here for more information.  I'll be heading back there soon.