Are Small Businesses Plugged Into the Internet?

©iStock/Szepy

According to a landmark global survey commissioned by GoDaddy, most very small businesses aren't fully plugged into the Internet.  Why is that?  Could it be that the businesses are just too small for the Internet?

There are over 200 million small businesses in the world, but for many, making the leap to have their own website is challenging: survey respondents said they hadn't had the time, money or expertise to create a website.

These small businesses -- 59 percent of them -- claim that they don't have their own website.

Read more:  Very small businesses poised to go online for first time, with huge expectations

A Rare Glimpse of Steve Job's Vision, Aspirations and Managerial Approach

And the Winners of the Global Technology Competition Are ...

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Who's out there tackling problems in our world?  First, you must spot a gap and then fill an opportunity.  In this instance, Sir Richard Branson has crowned the winners of global technology competition, the Talent Unleashed Awards, at a high profile event in Sydney last week.

The Awards recognize disruptive entrepreneurs who utilize innovative technology solutions to improve communities, social problems and the environment.

Read more:  Game-changers:  Winners of global technology competition announced  Shortcut to winners here.

Today in Global Small Business: Are Grads Ready for Their Jobs Globally?

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

• What California's new 'Made in USA' legislation means.
• Whitebox launches a fully automated ecommerce solution which helps manufacturers and brands scale globally.
• Does the Bitcoin community need another wallet?  Find out.
• Are grads ready for their jobs globally?
• Globalization in a small Southern city.
• Up your global game by attending Forum held in Chicago on 10/23.

Explore Chicago's Rich History

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

How do you explore Chicago's rich history, famous architecture and amazing skyline?  Consider Shoreline Sightseeing.

Intuit Gets Lean in India

©iStock/Noppasin Wongchum

US accounting software company Intuit has retrenched at least 440 employees globally and the wave has hit Indian shores, too.

According to officials in the company's Bengaluru office, 35 employees including developers, sales and marketing staff were asked to leave last month. The employees were told in July that the company needs to get leaner and a reorganisation was on the anvil.

Read more:  Intuit Fires 440 Staff Globally, 35 in Bengaluru

Customers Love Roasting Coffee Beans On the Spot in Kyoto, Japan

©iStock/Frank Mirbach

% Arabica, a Kyoto, Japan based coffee shop, is the brainchild of Kenneth Shoji, a trading company boss who’s been investing heavily in specialty coffee.

In addition to owning a coffee farm, his company, Asiamix, is a distributor of high-end Slayer espresso machines and the sole exporter of the Japan-made Tornado King roaster. (The first branch of % Arabica opened in 2013 in Hong Kong, where Asiamix is headquartered.)

How does % Arabica have a steady stream of multinational customers?

While overseas visitors tend to discover % Arabica via the TripAdvisor website (where it’s currently ranked as the fourth-best “Restaurant in Kyoto”), Yamaguchi says that Japanese customers often come after word-of-mouth recommendations. Social-networking app Instagram is another major lure: Yamaguchi and his latte art have attracted more than 33,000 followers.

Read more:  Roasted-on-the-spot coffee from Kyoto is going global

Up Your Global Game

©2015 GSBB Media LLC

Global TradeSource, Ltd. invites startups, entrepreneurs and small business owners to learn the secrets to financial global success at a one-of-a-kind forum with the theme "Up Your Global Game" at the historic Navy Pier in downtown Chicago on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015.

The Global Small Business Forum will inspire attendees to get out of their own backyards and transition from local, regional or niche-market players into global titans. Event attendees will gain the knowledge and insights they need to market, sell and fulfill orders internationally by taking full advantage of the Internet and the opportunities it creates. Attendees will be able to boost their revenues by learning how to expand beyond borders.

For more information and to register, visit:  The Global Small Business Forum 2015 (http://www.globalsmallbusinessforum.com)

Is Global Uncertainty Taking Its Toll?

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Confidence in smaller firms is "cooling," with increasing caution among business prospects, while global economic uncertainty is taking its toll on Britain's manufacturers, according to new studies published by the Federation of Small Business (FSB).

Read more:  Small firms and manufacturers report dip in confidence

Today in Global Small Business: How to Take Advantage of Significant Duty Savings On Imports

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

• How do you predict the future?  These 8 tips might help.
• The Global Small Business Forum held in Chicago on 10/23/15.  Have you registered?
• Would you recognize DHL Global Forwarding as a top employer?
• How U.S. importers can take advantage of significant duty savings.
• Trend for female entrepreneurship is significantly up globally.
• The best supply chain and logistics blogs on the web (according to Freightos).

Happy Labor Day to all Americans who have contributed to the strength of our economy.

Mickey Mouse Sitting on the Sand

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

You never know what you will find on the beach.  In this case, Mickey Mouse is sitting on the sand in Rogers Park, Illinois (Pratt Beach), waiting for his/her owner to bring him safely and lovingly back home.

Listen In: Illinois Exporters Say It's a Struggle With No Export-Import Bank

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WBEZ morning shift on August 31, 2015 interviews Richard Paullin, Executive Director, International Trade Association of Greater Chicago on the impact for Chicago business owners concerning the lapse in the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

IL exporters say it's a struggle with no Export-Import Bank

Meanwhile, our Global Small Business Forum 2015 (registration OPEN) held in Chicago at Navy Pier on Friday, October 23rd, will help small business owners boost their exports and gather alternative methods for financing their sales.  Richard Paullin will be participating in the event.

In Pursuit of Development Opportunities Outside the United States

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Despite challenging economic conditions, a competitive environment and severe currency headwind, Rolling Meadows, Illinois-based Boston Scientific managed to post better-than-expected second-quarter 2015 results.  How is that?  They continue to strengthen their core businesses and invest in new technologies and global markets.

An important aspect of the company’s growth strategy is its pursuit of development opportunities outside the U.S. by expanding global presence, inclusive of the emerging markets. 

Read more:  Boston Scientific Expands Globally, Fights Currency Woes

Private Capital Access Project: Small Business Optimism on Upswing

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Dun & Bradstreet and Pepperdine University has released the Private Capital Access (PCA) results for Q3. In addition, Dun & Bradstreet will be at the upcoming WBDC 29th Annual Entrepreneurial Women’s Conference on Wednesday, September 2nd at McCormick Place West in Chicago moderating the morning breakout session focusing on access to capital issues for small businesses in addition to co-hosting the 1:1 Lender Matchmaking session.

To learn more about the WBDC Conference and D&B's morning breakout session, visit:
http://www.ewc29.org.

To learn more about D&B and Pepperdine University's Private Capital Markets Project, visit:
http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/about/people/faculty/appliedresearch/research/pcmsurvey/pca-index/

Read the press release:  Small Business Optimism Continues Along Three-Year Upswing, According to Dun & Bradstreet and Pepperdine Graziadio PCA Index

Disruptive Innovation in the Cargo Space

©iStock/Prasit Rodphan

Cargo shipments are coming into the Internet age and promise to reshape the transportation industry.  Find out how in the following article I authored for the About.com Import and Export site.

Shipping Global Cargo in the Internet Age

Today in Global Small Business: Private Air Travel Has Flown In Via Ubair

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

• How to connect a website to a payment processing network (options).
• How to avoid three mistakes when launching a website.
• Is it true?  Facebook has become the top social platform for e-commerce.
• An app that allows you to shop and pay using social media.
• You've heard of Uber, now there's ubair.com for private air travel.
• Coming soon ... pay easily on social media.

How to Be a Cloud Floating in the Blue!

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"How sweet to be a cloud
Floating in the blue!
Every little cloud
Always sings aloud.

How sweet to be a cloud
Floating in the blue!
It makes him very proud
To be a little cloud"

-- A Cloud:  A poem from the original Pooh Bear book by A.A. Milne

To Go Global, Improve Your Online Presence

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There is $50 billion in untapped business potential out there, which businesses could get a share of if they improved their online presence,” says Richard Flanigan, Google's head of small business marketing in Australia.

Small Business: Digital Growth, new PwC analysis commissioned by Google, found that this myth is preventing Australian small businesses from realizing their growth prospects and future economic gain. The research, which is powered by PwC’s innovative Geospatial Economic Model (GEM), discovered that embracing digital and mobile technology could help small businesses unlock an additional $49.2 billion of untapped economic potential over the next 10 years.

Learn more:  Google head of small business to speak with Darwin businesses at Skycity next week (9/3/15).

Global Small Businesses: Is It Tough Out There?

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The portion of small businesses reporting that the U.S. economy was improving fell to its lowest level in August since the government shutdown of 2013, according to a monthly survey of small firms by The Wall Street Journal and Vistage International Inc.

Only 42% of the 682 small companies surveyed by the two organizations said economic conditions were better than a year ago, down from 47% in July and a January peak of 67%.

But small-business owners’ waning optimism about the larger economy belies their outlook for their own operations. Fifty-seven percent of small firms surveyed expect their total number of employees to increase over the next 12 months, while 46% forecast growth in investment spending. 

Bob Gross, the owner of 25-year-old Gross Automation, a distributor of automation and controls in the Milwaukee area, said, "But it’s tough out there."

Read more ... Small-Business Owners' Confidence in Economy Wanes

SBA's STEP Program Supports Global Small Businesses

To help enter and compete in the global marketplace, small businesses across the country will have access to $17.4 million in funding. The Small Business Administration (SBA) will make 40 awards from the agency’s State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program to states and territories to support activities to increase exporting by small businesses.

Here's the listing of states that received funding in 2015 (note:  IL received $686,855 -- last year zero).

SBA’s STEP program ensures local resources are available to help small businesses tap global markets. By funding states and their export development partners, the SBA is delivering the tools and resources required for small businesses to launch their services and products abroad.

Learn more ... SBA Awards $17.4M to Small Business Global Trade

Chart screenshot courtesy:  Business Facilities

Related posts.

Ohio Grocery Store Offers Specialty Foods From Across the Globe

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Jungle Jim’s International Market is anything but traditional. The Ohio-based grocery store was opened by Jim Bonaminio as a vegetable and fruit market along Ohio 4.  It has morphed into Southwest Ohio’s most talked about grocery store with two locations -- the Fairfield store with 210,000 square feet of space and the Eastgate store with 228,000 square feet -- both offering specialty foods from across the globe.

It's a major destination.  Take a look:

More than 80,000 people come each week to shop with annual sales topping $90 million. They can choose among 150,000 different items including 1,400 different beers, 1,600 cheeses, an acre of produce and even a section devoted to jerky, Bonaminio said.

Think your local store can't be global?  Guess again.  Read more:  40 years later, Jungle Jim's remains a wild, fun place

Oh, and according to Bonaminio's wife, there is no retiring for her husband.  "He’s having too much fun.”

Today in Global Small Business: An Answer to the Big Language Problem

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

• How to turn global customers into true believers on your brand.
• Attend the world's biggest Global Small Business Forum gathering held at Navy Pier in Chicago on 10/23/15.
• How to keep global campaign costs under control.
• A year of global shipping routes mapped by GPS.
• To understand what's going on with China's turbulent currency markets, follow the bacon.
• How machine translation can answer the big language problem and aid in expanding a brand’s global and multilingual footprint.

How to Turn a Blank Wall Into an Artistic Treasure

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Richard Haas has turned dozens of blank walls across the U.S. into artistic treasures.  This photo represents one of them:  LaSalle Towers Apartments in Chicago, Illinois.

Registration is OPEN for the Global Small Business Forum Held in Downtown Chicago 10/23/15

Registration is OPEN for our Global Small Business Forum held at the historic Navy Pier in downtown Chicago on October 23, 2015. The Forum is for all entrepreneurs and small business owners – the makers, movers and shakers in our world – who want to export successfully and network with their peers.  This year's theme is:  "Up Your Global Game" (Twitter hashtag:  #upyourglobalgame).

For more information and to register, visit:  http://www.globalsmallbusinessforum.com

Hope to see you there!

Screenshot:  ©2015 GSBB Media LLC.  All rights reserved.

2016 Trends: Small Manufacturers Are Finding Global Success

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By avoiding such manufacturing pitfalls as overproduction and over processing, smaller manufacturing businesses are able to continuously meet sales goals.  Unlike larger manufacturers, small manufacturing businesses follow different trends when it comes to production.

In addition, U.S. manufacturing both large and small is responsible for 60 percent of exports in the country. That's nearly 12 percent of the United States Gross Domestic Product.

Read more:  Small manufacturing business trends 2016

Bringing Comfort To Patients Suffering From Bedsores on a Global Basis

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Victoria Langer is president and owner of Global Medical Foam, a business she started in 1994, working part-time out of her bedroom.

Global Medical Foam produces products that bring comfort to patients suffering from bedsores and pressure ulcers.  Langer started her business for personal reasons:  She made her first product for her late husband, whose thyroid cancer had metastasized to his spine.  When she couldn't get him comfortable, she made a product.

Now, the question is whether Langer's products can go global.

Read more:  Global Medical Foam's products help people

More Than 1.5 Million SMEs Use Facebook in India

©iStock/Stuart Jenner

There are 1.49 billion people on Facebook, which is half of the estimated three billion people who use the Internet worldwide.

According to Ritesh Mehta, Head of Economic Growth Initiatives for Facebook India, that's a compelling audience for a small business who is looking to find new customers, deepen relationships with existing customers and boost sales.

More than 1.5 million small businesses in India are already using Facebook Pages to take advantage of this community to grow their customer reach.

Read more at:  Small Business Boost:  Facebook increases investments in Indian SMEs

Today in Global Small Business: When Friends Go Global

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

• What's the next rule or big thing that might save or grow your global small business?
• How a Fort Worth entrepreneur is going global with handbags.
• The pressure when friends go global.
• Global e-commerce set to grow 25 percent in 2015.
• Why becoming a global e-commerce player will require universal payment methods like Bitcoin.
• Weakening Chinese currency could hurt Maryland exporters.

Have Contact With the Earth and Energies That Flow Through It

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"A walk barefoot on the beach or grass brings the feet into contact with the earth and energies that flow through it, and provides a revitalizing, energizing, and natural message." - Inge Dougans, Reflexology

Tools You Can Use to Manage Your Global Small Business

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Xero, a cloud accounting software provider, has established several new strategic partnerships, including with Dropbox, Adobe, Bigcommerce and Insightly, as it looks to offer improved business insights and simplify collaboration for small businesses and their accounting partners.

The intent is to give small businesses more choices than ever before about the tools they can use to manage all aspects of their business.

Read more:  Xero enhances market position with new global partnerships

Startup Firms Need to Think More Globally

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Bruce Andrews, deputy commerce secretary, kicks off Startup Global — an initiative designed to help more startup firms think globally — at a conference at Carnegie Mellon University (8/11/15).

Startup Global initiative was conceived as a way to connect entrepreneurs across the country with federal resources about which they might not otherwise be aware.

Andrews said the challenges facing women- and minority-owned small businesses are among the Commerce Department’s priorities.  That should get covered by the new nonprofit WEGG, especially on the global front.

Read more:  Startup Global continues quest to reach small businesses

Global Goals Matter to Businesses

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Here are four reasons why businesses everywhere -- from small start-ups to large multi-nationals - should join the effort to achieve our global development goals.

1. The global goals matter to business.
2. We need private sector engagement to help make progress.
3. This is not your grandfather's development sector.
4. It's the right thing to do.

Read more and find out how can you get involved in achieving your global goals:  4 Reasons Business Should Get Involved in the Global Development Goals

The Value Shift in SMB IT Priorities

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Market research firm Techaisle forecasts that global SMB IT spend is nearing US$600 billion in 2015 which is an average of US$700 per full-time employee and slightly over US$8K per SMB business. Corresponding US SMB IT spend will most likely be US$180 billion in 2015. Techaisle defines SMBs with 1-999 employees.

“The global SMB market has been the growth engine for the IT industry at large,” said report writer for Techaisle, Anurag Agrawal. “The reason is quite simply that SMBs account for over 80 percent of businesses in any country – developed or developing.  And over the last few years there has been an ongoing change in SMB IT priorities – Techaisle calls this the ‘Value Shift’."

Read more:  Global SMB IT spend heading towards $600 billion

Today in Global Small Business: The $400 Billion Cybercrime Problem

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

• How to avoid mishaps when shipping internationally.
• Why the rise of the modern, independent Asian woman.
• The advantages of direct exporting.
• Have you saved the date (10/23) to attend the world's best Global Small Business Forum?
• What does it mean if the Chinese middle class expects to reach one billion by 2030?
• What's the $400 billion threat to global business?

Life is Digital and Far Better at the Lake

Girl checking email at the lake in Rogers Park, Illinois at Pratt Pier.

Where Global Instead of Why Global?

©iStock/DarthArt

For any company wanting to compete successfully, it must think globally.

Yet while the “why global” is self-evident, the “where global” is a far more provocative question. When companies begin evaluating potential expansion cities, they must think in terms of specifics.

For example, an international airline would only consider English-speaking markets to locate its call center, even though it would benefit from reduced costs in other areas.

Read more:  Going Global the Right Way

3 Ways to Reduce Risk When Importing and Exporting

©iStock/Oko_SwanOmurphy

Poor compliance practices can expose a small business to delays, retroactive duty assessments and penalties, which can lead to customs audits where something as simple as a recordkeeping error could trigger a $10,000 fine.  That's a pretty harrowing thought for a small business owner, especially if it happens.

With preparation and planning, you can reduce your risk and make importing and exporting a source of bottom line savings and increased revenue.

Here are three ways to do it:  Reduce Risk When Exporting and Importing

Hat tip to Paul Dillon for letting us know about this article.

A Building With a Worldview Of Endangered Species

On August 1, 2015, the Empire State Building in New York was lit up with giant photos -- some 160 different shots of endangered species. People around the city stopped to gaze and take photos.  I thought this was due to the killing of Africa's famous lion Cecil, but it's not, although Cecil is featured.  It's to promote a new documentary, Racing Extinction.

See the stunning photos here.

UK Women Entrepreneurs in E-Commerce Are Outdoing All Other European Countries

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According to eBay, using government data, the number of UK female entrepreneurs in online retail has grown faster than the rate of male ecommerce entrepreneurs. The number of self-employed men in online retail only increased by 10% over the same period.  More and more women are setting up successful enterprises.

For example, the number of self-employed women in online retail in the United Kingdom has risen by 28% between 2009 and 2014.  Other big European nations: 17% in France, 5% in Italy and -2% in Germany.

Another study, conducted by Dell, found that the economic potential of women entrepreneurs in many countries is still strongly limited.

Read more:  Female entrepreneurs thrive in e-commerce

Today in Global Small Business: Borderless E-Commerce Techniques

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

• 12 Apps that add efficiency in global business.
• How export of primary products stifles Nigeria's manufacturing sector.
• 5 Trends to track to grow your global business.
• Why it pays to understand the proposed federal rules in the U.S. regarding overtime pay.
• Borderless e-commerce techniques allow you to connect with your customers worldwide.
• Is your business ready for global expansion?

If Your Cat Could Talk, Would He?

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"If cats could talk, they wouldn't." - Nan Porter

Got an App That Boosts Your Global Small Business?

©iStock/Ahmetemre

I put together this list of apps that I find adds efficiency and even enhances the way I conduct global small business.  I hope you find these useful too.  Have an app to share?  Send me an email (it's noted at the end of the article).  I'll feature your app in the next installment I write on great global business apps.

12 Apps that Add Efficiency in Global Business

Building Products to Help Small Businesses Easily Launch Online

©iStock/Jovy86

Since its was founded in 2012, Tictail has predominantly been focused on building products to help small business easily launch online. Tictail is a Swedish e-commerce startup -- think along the lines of less crafty than Etsy -- and has two aims.

The company wants to make it easier for new designers, independent brands, and emerging small businesses to have an easier way to set up shop online—and make it easier for the rest of us to shop for something trendy, new, and different, too.

According to research from eMarketer, e-commerce accounted for nearly 6 percent of all global retail sales in 2014, or more than $1.3 trillion. And those numbers are only expected to grow.  Ticktail wants to snatch and grab what they can of that market as fast as they can.

Read more:  Ticktail Wants to Be Your Global Marketplace By Going Local

Can You Win a Go Global Award?

©iStock/Thinglass

HP is shining a light on some of the country’s most dynamic, innovative and expanding SMBs, recognizing the achievements of those that have successfully entered the international export market and encouraging those looking to break into new territories.  Hence, the HP Go Global Awards.

The awards echo Go Global’s original principles – that small business owners should not shy away from international trade opportunities because of perceived language, currency, cultural and business barriers.

Categories are Breakthrough Exporter of the Year and Next Breakthrough Exporter of the Year.

Are you up to the task of going for it?  Apply here.  Questions?  Email here.  The deadline for submissions is 3:00 p.m. (not sure what time zone -- check) on Friday, July 31, 2015.

Original (6/25/15) post here.

And the Winners Are: Global Small Businesses!

©iStock/Adrian825

Mobile apps start with the people first and they improve the efficiency of everybody, everywhere, regardless of company size.  As David Barrett, founder and CEO of Expensify, states in Congress Can Help Put Mobile Apps in the Hands of Small Business:

Mobile apps have essentially leveled the playing field for small businesses, and have given them a fighting chance against larger companies that until now, would have blown them out of the water. 

He goes on to say, "Getting more and more small businesses to adopt these productivity tools to keep their business moving will lead to more efficiency, and ultimately greater economic development throughout the country and the world."

Read:  Congress Can Help Put Mobile Apps in the Hands of Small Business

Today in Global Small Business: Gender Roles Are Messing With E-Commerce Shipping in the Middle East

©iStock/Dangubic

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

• The requirement making container weight verification a condition for vessel loading will become legally binding on July 1, 2016 (guidelines here).
• Letting the crowd improve trade compliance.
• Who are the next big players in e-commerce?  Top PayPal global trade exec fills us in.
• In the Middle East, gender roles are messing with e-commerce shipping.
• Some of the key things no one tells you about exporting.
• The Global Small Business Blog wins another award for blogs to watch in 2015.

Castaways: Great Food, Ice Cold Drinks and A Terrific View of the Lake

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

There's the movie that Tom Hanks starred in called Cast Away and then there is Castaways North Avenue Beach Bar and Grill in Chicago, Illinois (pictured).  Castaways is a more fun bet.

According to Edelman EVP Marisa Puthoff, Small Biz is Big Business

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How do you reach and get a positive response from busy global small business owners?  I can speak from experience on what might be needed but Marisa Puthoff, EVP at Edelman, does a great job discussing what you should or shouldn't be doing when vying for the attention of the small business audience.

Here's a glimpse at one of her tips:

Leverage Influencers. SMB owners don’t think of themselves as small. They think of themselves as business owners. And they want what any business owner wants: Access to resources and tools to help them grow their business. Before you begin a campaign, first consider reaching SMB owners when and where they are already seeking information. 

Read more:  #SmallBiz is Big Business

In Kenya, They Know Obama

©iStock/graZnar

Barack Obama visited Kenya nearly 30 years ago and was blown away by the fact that an airport worker recognized his last name.  It was a revelation for the future president.  This week he returns to Kenya as president of the United States.

Air Force One will carry Obama to a country where children, roads and schools bear his name — and he's seen as a local son.

Read more here: Obama and Kenya:  1st Trip to Father's Homeland as President

Airbnb Launches Global Business Travel Program

©iStock/River North Photography

Starting 7/21/15, companies around the world can swiftly sign in to Airbnb, the world's leading community-driven hospitality company, and have access to a range of features to support business trips. The suite of tools provides visibility into employee travel itineraries booked through Airbnb, financial reporting data, and central billing to improve the business travel experience for travelers and travel managers.

The global launch of the Business Travel program comes on the heels of 700 percent growth that Airbnb's Business Travel program has experienced over the past year.

Read the entire article:  Airbnb Launches Global Product Suite for Business

The First 90 Days for Wenig at eBay

©iStock/Inbj

Today will mark Devin Wenig’s second official business day as CEO of a now PayPal-less eBay, beginning a new, challenging chapter for the 20 year-old flea market turned shopping mall.  Wenig had been with Thomson Reuters since 2011, after spending 18 years at the business news giant.

After accepting now former eBay CEO's John Donahoe’s offer four years ago and learning the ropes as a sort of understudy to Donahoe, Wenig is now his own boss.

In the next 88 days, Wenig needs to show investors that without PayPal, its core marketplace business is still thriving by providing value for both buyers and sellers.

Read the entire article:  For eBay, a new chapter begins

Today in Global Small Business: Why Going Global Is the Only Way for Successful Companies to Keep Growing

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

• Why going global is the only way for successful companies to keep growing (well worth a look).
• How a company in its 20th year of business is pushing to become an international brand.
• Why there is a major global shift in business schools worldwide towards responsible management education.
• Why you should scale your global business.
• How to position your company to take advantage of the vast global marketplace.
• eBay Inc. and PayPal part ways and what to expect when PayPal starts trading on Monday, July 20, 2015.