Food Is Our Common Ground

©2025 Photo by Laurel J, Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience." – James Beard 

Diversification is a Primary Global Supply Chain Strategy for Executives

©iStock/thitivong

Since 2018, many global manufacturers have been diversifying their supply chains beyond China. But this diversification has proven to be challenging due to dependencies on certain countries for manufacturing capabilities and critical resources, resulting in a rise in friendshoring and a move towards industrial policy, potentially escalating geopolitical tensions.

Learn how and why diversification is the primary supply chain strategy for global executives.

Firms Are Adapting to Rising Protectionism and Shifting Geopolitical Alliances

©iStock/solarseven

The fifth annual Trade in Transition 2025 study surveyed over 3,500 supply chain executives across the world. The findings reveal firms are being forced to adapt at speed to rising protectionism and shifting geopolitical alliances.

Research unveiled by Economist Impact and DP World at the World Economic Forum highlights this strategic pivot, driven by geopolitical uncertainty which is likely to grow with the ‘America first’ policies of the new administration in the United States.

Click here to view the study.  We are in a new era of globalization. 

Why Are Global Champagne Sales Flat?

©iStock/Polke

The number of bottles of Champagne shipped outside of France dropped nearly 10 percent for all of 2024, compared to the year before.  Meanwhile, bottles shipped inside France dropped 7 percent as well, according to Comite Champagne, a trade group representing the bubbly that's only produced in the Champagne region of France.

It's not just sales of the expensive stuff that's gone flat, alcohol sales are down across the board with the exception of ready-made, pre-mixed drinks.

Why is this?  Champagne is a true barometer of consumer mood.  This is not a time for celebration.  Enough said.

Why Gender Parity In Entrepreneurship Matters

©iStock/zamrznutitonovi

As Claudia Valladares, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Impact Hub Caracas says, gender parity in entrepreneurship is not just a moral imperative but a crucial driver of economic growth and innovation.

She goes on to say, that despite significant progress in promoting gender equality globally, women remain underrepresented in entrepreneurial ecosystems.

According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2024 by the World Economic Forum, closing gender gaps in economic participation and opportunity will take over 134 years if current trends persist. Bridging these gaps is essential to fostering inclusive economies.

Gender parity in entrepreneurship matters to unlock the untapped potential of women, half the world's population.

Today in Global Small Business: MLK Day and Inauguration Day 2025

©iStock/Tim Brown

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

• What to know about the federal holiday to honor Martin Luther King Jr.
• When is the last time Inauguration Day and MLK Day fell on the same day?
• Quote of the week: “We will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope." – Martin Luther King Jr, from his "I Have a Dream" speech, August 1963
• What's open and closed on MLK Day and DT Inauguration Day.
• What to expect as the new USA President is sworn in.
• Here's what to know about Donald Trump's inauguration.

This is Snow Laughing Matter

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"This is snow laughing matter.  My snowman is having a meltdown." – Love to Know 

We'll See Where Tipping the Scales Will Get Us

©iStock/Bet_Noire

According to NewsNation, there are five (5) pressing issues facing the new Trump administration:

1. Ceasefire negotiations
2. The economy
3. Border enforcement
4. Russia-Ukraine war
5. January 6 pardons

Trump has vowed to take swift action on various policies, but the five issues above appear to loom heaviest.  We'll see where tipping the scales will get us – on each issue.

Winding Down the Deadliest and Most Destructive Fighting Between Bitter Enemies

©iStock/Yuliia Bukovska

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, the United States and Qatar said Wednesday, January 15, 2025, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

Key detail:  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not confirm the deal, saying the final details were still being sorted out.

The Clock Is Ticking on TikTok

©iStock/Robert Way

As I [Laurel Delaney] wrote here, the clock is ticking on TikTok.  Will it stay or will it be banned in USA?

The Supreme Court could issue a ruling any day now (deadline 1/19/25), though it appears unlikely to deem the sale-or-ban law unconstitutional, even after President-elect Trump asked for time to resolve the matter.   

TikTok's fate is up in the air.

10 Ways to Avoid, Mitigate, or Delay the Cost of New Tariffs

©iStock/Muhammad Farhad

Here are 10 ways to avoid, mitigate, or delay the costs of new tariffs that President-elect Trump has promised for countries like China, Canada, and Mexico by Jeffrey Orenstein, Karla Cure, and Brian Hopkins, K&L Gates LLP, National Security and International Trade.

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

©iStock/Supatman

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.

Celebrate Nice Moments

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Life is too short not to celebrate nice moments!" – Jurgen Klopp 

Create a Space of Your Own to Thrive in the Global Arena

©iStock/crissy2tay

Small and medium-sized businesses can compete with multinational corporations in the global space by leveraging, rather than minimizing, their size. This very difference gives small and medium-sized businesses the exact edge they need toward creating a space of their own to thrive.

Take, for example, the meteoric rise of Crumbl Cookies, which can be attributed to its agility.

The company's unique approach involves rotating its menu weekly and creating excitement among customers through platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Its limited-time cookie options and social media presence have turned Crumbl Cookies into a viral sensation, with fans posting mouthwatering photos and videos, further amplifying brand awareness. If Crumbl Cookies only sold the same six cookie flavors at all times, as larger companies typically do, it would not have found such success.

Read the entire article, here, covering how small and medium-sized businesses can compete with multinationals in the global arena.

Bitcoin or Gold? What's Your Preference?

©iStock/bodnarchuk

Interest in “gold isn’t based off the supply and demand of jewelry,” billionaire investor Mark Cuban said last week during an interview with Wired. “People see it as an option in the event of the economy going down or something bad happening.”

Though bitcoin is among the newest forms of currency, he goes on to say that many investors treat it like one of the oldest: gold.

What's your preference?  Bitcoin or gold?  Read on to learn how bitcoin and gold can work as stores of value.

No More Third-Party Fact-Checking Organizations for Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg

©iStock/zimmytws

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced today, 1/7/25 that the social media company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, would stop working with third-party fact-checking organizations.  Repeating talking points long used by President-elect Donald Trump and his allies, in a video Zuckerberg said the company's content moderation approach resulted too often in "censorship".

Well we can kiss censorship goodbye folks.  Anything goes now.  We are prioritizing free speech - any speech.  

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.

Today in Global Small Business: Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2025 (wegginar® 1/8/25)

©Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

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

• Poise your global business for growth in 2025 by attending Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2025 wegginar® on 1/8/25 (free of charge and learn what's important as you navigate the new global landscape).  Register here.
• 2025:  A year of logistics volatility.
• Quote of the week: “One thing we have lost, that we had in the past, is a sense of progress, that things are getting better. There is a sense of volatility, but not of progress." – Daniel Kahneman
• Top 5 risks for 2025: U.S. uncertainty, global trade war, digital attacks.
• BRICS+ and the redefinition of global trade in 2025.
• Redefining global trade and economic growth in 2025. 

We Triple-Dog-Dare You

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

The statement "We triple-dog-dare you to find a better depiction of the holidays" appears to be a reference to the famous movie "A Christmas Story" and its iconic "triple dog dare" scene.

The author of "A Christmas Story," Jean Shepherd (along with Bob Clark and Leigh Brown), was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 26, 1921, but he grew up in Hammond, Indiana.

Photo credit:  @2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.  Taken in Indiana 1/3/25.

Tariffs: Burdening Even Tiny Businesses With Expensive, Arduous Compliance

©iStock/aprott

Mark Cuban has warned that Trump's plan to impose sweeping tariffs on US imports would burden even tiny businesses with expensive, arduous compliance.

"I think one major point the discussion of tariffs is missing is the time and cost to businesses, even the smallest single person company," the tech billionaire said in an X post on Monday.

He goes on to say, "It's a lot of work. It's a lot of bureaucracy. It almost always required hiring a broker to deal with all of it. And of course there is the ongoing record keeping that each business is responsible for."

Why (Global) Small Business Owners Are Optimistic about 2025

Happy 2025 from the Global Small Business Blog!

©iStock/Maksim Prasolenko

"Be bold, persevere, set achievable goals, and expand globally.  When small businesses thrive, the world thrives.  Happy New Year!" – Laurel J. Delaney, creator of the Global Small Business Blog

Auld Lang Syne by Mariah Carey (Goodbye 2024)

Today in Global Small Business: The New Year (2025) Edition

©iStock/LeMusique

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

• Boost your productivity in 2025.
• Poise your global business for growth in 2025 by attending Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2025 wegginar® on 1/8/25 (free of charge and learn what's important as you navigate the new global landscape).
• Quote of the week: “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." – Thomas Jefferson 
• Ways to make 2025 a year of positive change.
• Why you don't need to reinvent yourself in the new year (for young creatives).
• Make 2025 the year you go BIG!

Sparkle

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Sparkle is the secret ingredient for a magical New Year." – Unknown source

From a $4K Investment into a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

©iStock/Jonathan Ross

After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Cofounders Heather Aiu and Rachael Leinaʻala Soares launched Aloha Collection to produce Hawaii inspired waterproof bags with each contributing $2,000 of their own money.

The Kickstarter campaign helped them secure their first customers and distributors. Today, their company is a multimillion-dollar brand with retail stores in Hawaii, California, and at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Here’s how they turned that initial $4,000 investment into a business that lets them live a dream lifestyle. 

Great Minds Don't Think Alike

©iStock/GOCMEN

Adam Grant believes that great minds don’t think alike—they challenge each other to think differently. His weekly show explores new thoughts and new ways of thinking – from revealing hidden potential, to the future of creativity, to understanding the pendulum swing of global power.  Check it out here. 

Merry Christmas From the Global Global Small Business Blog

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2025 (wegginar® 1/8/25)

©2024 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Register now to listen to Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2025 LIVE on 1/8/25.  Free of charge thanks to wegg®'s generous sponsors:  FedEx, Associated Bank, Luxlined™, APCO, VISA, FLOMO, RBC Wealth Management and Global Care Clinical Trials.

Today in Global Small Business: The Holiday Edition

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

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

• Why churches should celebrate Christmas all year.
• Facts about Christmas.
• Quote of the week: “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” – Luke 2:10
• Christmas is magical.
• The need for joy and gratitude all year long.
• Christmas activities for that festive feeling in 2024.
• Merry Christmas and Happy 2025 to all!

Believe

©Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Christmas magic is silent. You don't hear it — you feel it, you know it, you believe it.” – A Charlie Brown Christmas

Serious Joy

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney photo.  All rights reserved.

A Knuckleball of Uncertainty in 2025

©iStock/justinkendra

Right now, the stock market is full of contradictions as investors navigate the final inning of what’s been a stellar year.  But things are getting weird.  Stocks are struggling.  Big tech's impressive gains explains the mixed messages.  The bond market joined the crazy party later.

Taken altogether, as Barron's says, the contradictions create a knuckleball of uncertainty in 2025.

Celebrating Successes and Happy Holidays at Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

To learn more about Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® and the team behind wegg®, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/about/board-of-directors-and-team/.  

The De Minimis Rule is a Cornerstone of Small Business Success Globally

©iStock/MTStock Studio

The de minimis rule is a cornerstone of small-business success globally. It allows goods valued under $800 to enter the U.S. with minimal customs paperwork, no need for a broker and streamlined processing.

For small businesses, this simplified process is a lifeline. It makes global trade possible and helps businesses manage their supply chains without excessive regulation and cost. The potential removal de minimis will hurt small businesses and ultimately hurt customers.

The questions also becomes how does the de minimus rule help the SHEIN's and TEMU's of the world?

Read on because there are pros and cons.

Today in Global Small Business: Global Supply Chain Trends to Watch in 2025

©iStock/urzine

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

• Global supply chain trends to watch in 2025.
• Tariff discussions in health care and life sciences industries stoke global supply chain concerns.
• Quote of the week: "What gets measured gets improved.” – Peter Drucker
• Suppliers adopt ‘power of two’ to combat global supply chain disruptions.
• Trump’s tariffs could spark price hikes, supply chain disruptions, experts say.
• Will AI reboot supply chains?

Turn Your Life Around

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.” Gerald Good

Global Trends in Government Innovation 2024 (Released 12/16/24)

©iStock/metamorworks

The report, Global Trends in Government Innovation 2024, analyzes nearly 800 case studies from 83 countries and identifies five critical trends in government innovation that are reshaping public services.

The report will be released December 16, 2024.  Check back here. Abstract available now here.

Boost Your Spirits: Oldies But Goodies Holiday Songs (Music Video)

Discover U.S. Trade By Product

©iStock/AmyLaughinghouse

Discover interactive dashboards and infographics providing data on U.S. goods trade at the national, state and metropolitan area levels.  In addition, see product-specific import and export trends and insights on U.S. by partner countries. 

Global Supply Chain Leader's Biggest Concerns in 2025

©iStock/aprott

Descartes Systems Group released findings from its 2024 Supply Chain Intelligence Report: Escalating Challenges for Global Supply Chain Leaders survey, which examined the most significant global trade challenges facing logistics and supply chain leaders today. The study showed that 48% of respondents identified rising tariffs and trade barriers as their top concern, closely followed by supply chain disruptions at 45% and geopolitical instability at 41%. 

Tariffs and trade barriers ranked as the priority issue regardless of company size.

Today in Global Small Business: What Do Most Extraordinary Global Business Leaders Have in Common?

©iStock/istocksdaily

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

• What do most extraordinary global business leaders have in common?
• Economic threats top global business leaders' risk concerns.
• Quote of the week: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." – Steve Jobs
• Mastering cross-border regulatory compliance in global business.
• Will Trump's dollar diplomacy roil global trade?
• Global trade update (December 2024) – UNCTAD.

The Christmas Tree Goes Up

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"The Christmas tree goes up on December 1.  I love it." – Richard E. Grant

[Photo by Laurel J. Delaney, taken on 12/6/24, downtown Chicago.]

Is Canada Throwing Mexico Under the Bus?

©iStock/AlexLMX

Trump recently threatened he would impose a blanket 25% tariff on both Canada and Mexico when he takes office in January unless they secured their shared borders with the US. 

That said, Canada is being accused of throwing Mexico under the bus amid a tariff threat ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's second term in the White House.

Canadian officials were quick to distance their country's border issues from those of Mexico, arguing that drug smuggling and unlawful crossings at the southern border were much higher, and that Mexico was serving as a "back door" in North America for Chinese investment.

Those remarks have not gone unnoticed in Mexico.

Are You Business Ready Globally?

©iStock/grajte

The World Bank Group's Business Ready (B-READY) 2024 report introduces a rich dataset that benchmarks the business environment in 50 economies.

B-READY provides a comprehensive data set and description of the factors that strengthen the private sector, not only by advancing the interests of individual firms but also by elevating the interests of workers, consumers, potential new enterprises, and the natural environment.

This 2024 report introduces a new analytical framework that benchmarks economies based on three pillars: Regulatory Framework, Public Services, and Operational Efficiency.

To learn more, visit here and to download the report, visit here.

Threats Galore by Trump

©iStock/PUGUN SJ

The new US Administration (Trump) has thrown out every imaginable threat to the world – from huge tariff increases, to enacting new trade barriers, to the latest BRICS (block of nine countries) tariffs.

I’ve [Laurel Delaney] curated 7 important updates for you.  Some are better than others.  Check them all out to stay ahead of the game.

AI For Impact with Anna Schiller, Director of Trilligent (wegginar® 12/4/24)

 

©2024 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Want to make a serious impact leveraging AI?  Then this wegginar® is for you. wegg's expert presenter Anna Schiller, Director of Trilligent specializes in client relationships, new business and strategic development across Europe. She will be presenting a wegginar on, "AI For Impact: Elevate Your Brand and Drive Growth," on Wednesday, December 4th at 11 AM CT (https://bit.ly/3Cge5VX).

Here's what she will cover + more:

🌏  Leverage AI to increase brand awareness

🌎  Get yourself talked about

🌍  Stay on top of trends in your industry

🌏  Don’t be afraid to experiment Prompt engineering tips

About Anna:

Anna Schiller is Director for Trilligent Germany, based in Berlin. She specializes in client relationships, new business and strategic development across Europe.

She previously worked for S&P Global in London doing political risk analysis for DACH and the UK as well as advising on tech regulation. At Meta, she worked on trust and safety including elections integrity and the implementation of anti-hate speech regulation, as well as working with public policy and comms.

Before this, she ran press and PR at the Goethe-Institut in London.

Anna holds a master’s in International Relations from King’s College London and a BA in Psychology and International Relations.

Bring your questions (wegg will conduct a LIVE Q&A at the end of the presentation) and prepare to learn what it takes to elevate your brand and drive growth.

To learn more and to register (free of charge) thanks to wegg sponsors noted below, visit: https://bit.ly/3Cge5VX.

Brought to you by Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® and powered by APCO, Associated Bank, FedEx, FLOMO/Nygala Corp., LuxLined™, RBC Wealth Management and VISA.

Today in Global Small Business: The Global Impact of Tariffs

©iStock/thitivong

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

• The global impact of Trump tariffs.
• Global supply chain connectivity remains high, according to a Chinese report.
• Quote of the week: “Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection.” – Mark Twain.
• Top concern of global supply chain leaders:  tariffs and trade barriers.
• Reshaping global supply chains, strategies for resilience.
• Graphic analysis of global supply chains.

You Are Magical

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"You are magical, just like a unicorn." – Author unknown

Why Is It Called Black Friday in the United States?

©iStock/Mervana

The holiday shopping season is about to be in full swing upon the arrival of Black Friday today, with big sales ahead of Christmas marking the busiest shopping time of the year.  The day's nickname has stuck, marking a shift from one holiday to the next.

Hoping to entice equivocating consumers, retailers already have spent weeks bombarding customers with ads and early offers. Still, whether visiting stores or clicking on countless emails promising huge savings, tens of millions of U.S. shoppers are expected to spend money on Black Friday itself this year.

Industry forecasts estimate that 183.4 million people will shop in U.S. stores and online between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, according to the National Retail Federation and consumer research firm Prosper Insights & Analytics. Of that number, 131.7 million are expected to shop on Black Friday.

What's your plan?

Grateful For Everything

©iStock/teddyandmia

"What if, today [Thanksgiving], we were grateful for everything?" – Charlie Brown

Here Come the Tariffs!

©iStock/Olivier Le Moal

From Wiley on November 26, 2024:

On November 25, 2024, President-Elect Trump made two posts to his Truth Social account in which he stated that on day one of his second Administration, he would impose additional tariffs of 10% on all products from China, and additional tariffs of 25% on all products from Canada and Mexico. The two posts can be found here (China) and here (Canada and Mexico).

More on Section 301 China Tariffs from ST&R.  And USTR announces the long-awaited Section 301 exclusion process for domestic manufacturing machinery with info provided by Amundsen Davis.

Lots to digest.  The uncertainty is insane.

Benefits of Internationalization for SMEs

©iStock/xu bing

One of the primary benefits of internationalization for SMEs is the access it provides to new markets. By expanding beyond domestic borders, you can tap into larger customer bases and diversify your revenue streams. You also challenge your own business to improve and excel in order to compete in this broader market", says Michiel Greeven, EVP Global Commercial at DHL Express. 

With DHL's latest white paper, they offer SMEs a practical, easy-to-use toolset to prepare for global expansion.  Check it out here.