Without Internet Connectivity, Global Small Businesses Miss Out

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Digitalization opens new possibilities to connect, engage and share with others, to earn, learn and socialize, to find solutions that can reduce our climate impacts.

Without connectivity people miss out on access to education, jobs and social activities, while micro, small, and medium businesses lose their competitive edge. 

The B20 Digitalization Taskforce will focus its message to G20 leaders on universal connectivity, digital skills and the digitalization of businesses of all sizes. To accomplish these goals, networks need to be put in place at scale, fast and affordably.

Learn more on why we must drive universal connectivity and extend digital to global small businesses, without delay.

What Would a One-Party America Look Like?

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Paul Krugman has been an Opinion columnist since 2000 for The New York Times and is also a distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center. He won the 2008 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his work on international trade and economic geography.

Here's what he has to say about a one-party America.

Today in Global Small Business: How CSR and ESG Can Fuel a Strong Company Culture

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

• How corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) fueled strong company culture at Kyndryl.  Lessons to learn.
• Mistakes that can happen in the global marketplace.
• Quote of the week: “People like to know that the companies they interact with and buy from are companies that do good in the world.” – Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, CEO of Mayflower-Plymouth
• How investors feel about ESG initiatives.
• By prioritizing ESG today, SMEs can look forward to a successful future.
• Why you should care about ESG.

The Year's Last, Loveliest Smile

©2022 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Autumn ... the year's last, loveliest smile." – William Cullen Bryant

Globalization's Next Phase

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Globalization is not over. There may be retrenchment in some areas such as critical technologies and reshaping in others such as onshoring or regionalization.

But this new globalization is also a unique opportunity to rethink the current framework where we maintain the benefits garnered from an open flow of trade, people, information, and culture. It is a chance to reestablish the partnership between the private and public sectors to ensure we achieve the optimal balance between efficiency and risk mitigation, corporate profits, and income equality. And prioritize social concerns such as human rights, climate change, and workforce prerogatives.

Read the entire article about globalization's great reboot.

Companies Combating Climate Concerns Benefit With Additional Revenue Growth and Earnings

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The EY organization announced the release of the 2022 Sustainable Value Study, a survey of over 500 chief sustainability officers and equivalents representing companies worth more than US$1b around the world.

The survey finds companies taking decisive action to combat climate concerns are benefiting from unexpected financial value in areas like revenue growth and earnings, with 7 in 10 seeing financial benefits that exceed their expectations. 

Those companies taking the boldest steps are also seeing unexpectedly positive benefits in areas like staff retention, recruitment, brand perception and customer purchasing behavior.

Read more on how businesses are finding unexpected benefits from climate initiatives.

Figuring Out Financing on U.S. Exports

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Finally, a guide to help navigate all the options available for collecting money from customers overseas.  Yes!  

This particular edition spotlights commercial trade finance instruments as well as U.S. government export financing resources available through the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

Best part of the whole report?  The following:

Tips for Exporters

• Be mindful of emerging trends that could reduce the complexity, cost, and processing time of trade finance transactions.
• Inquire with your current trade finance provider about available or planned digital options that could enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
• Explore trade finance options, including consulting new fintech-based trade finance providers about both traditional instruments and innovative offerings.
• Be cautious of potential fraud and cyber security risks that may accompany new technologies and online trade finance platforms.

And there’s plenty more as outlined in the 17 chapters!  Access the Trade Finance Guide (PDF) here.

Yearning to Return to Immigrant Roots with a Global Company (wegginar®)

©2022 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global.  All rights reserved.

Are you yearning to return to your immigrant roots as you grow a global company?  Then join wegg® on Wednesday, November 2nd at 11AM CT to hear Dena Javaras's journey brought out by a friendly chat led by Moji Eagan, Senior Vice President, Bank of America.  Dena is President of LED Tranquility, Inc.

The wegginar® is powered by Associated Bank, Bluedog Design, FedEx and GlobalCare Clinical Trials, which makes it free of charge.

To learn more and to register, visit:  Yearning to Return to Immigrant Roots With a Global Company.

Today in Global Small Business: Boo! Happy Halloween!

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

• You can operate a scarily successful Halloween global small business!
• 30 Halloween costume memes.
• Quote of the week: “Halloween is not only about putting on a costume, but it's about finding the imagination and costume within ourselves." – Elvis Duran
• Halloween marketing ideas for your global small business.
• How to start a Halloween business out of the trunk of your car.
• Some top selling Halloween costumes around Nashville, Tennessee.

Where There Is No Imagination

©2022 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Where there is no imagination, there is no horror." – Arthur Conan Doyle

Boost Engagement At Your Meetings: A Little Less Conversation, a Little More Action

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Opening meetings with free-form questions that participants can answer on their phones or laptops can ignite people’s curiosity and boost engagement.

Do it Elvis style:  “A little less conversation, a little more action,” Elvis Presley sang in a 1968 hit.

Learn how to turn your meetings into jam sessions bursting with ideas and action oriented plans.

Calm Your Nerves By Listening To Classical Music (Video)

Do You Understand Our Planet?

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What is climate change?  How do we know climate change is real?  Why is climate change happening?  What are the effects of climate change?  What is being done to solve climate change?

I certainly want to know.  So should you.

Technology Fosters Globalization

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A conversation with Pol Antràs, the Robert G. Ory Professor of Economics at Harvard University.  He discusses the 8 questions below, international trade flows and what the evidence suggests about the world economy and the accompanying debate about whether an era of deglobalization may be at hand.

1. What is globalization?
2. Is the world entering an era of deglobalization?
3. Have we gone through deglobalizing phases in the past?
4. Are reshoring and near-shoring picking up momentum?
5. Is technology spurring or slowing globalization?
6. Supply chains faltered in the pandemic. Will companies hold larger inventories in the future?
7. How has globalization affected inequality across countries and within countries?
8. If trade is a net positive but still creates winners and losers, how can we compensate the losers?

Read the complete interview to appreciate that globalization remains a force despite pandemic and political strains.

Today in Global Small Business: Is Anyone Deglobalizing Trade?

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

• The age of globalization is ending, to be replaced by an era of localized business that will keep operations more sustainable and linked to national interest, says financial journalist Rana Foroohar, a CNN analyst and associate editor at the Financial Times.  The question that begs to be asked:  Is anyone deglobalizing trade?
• Quote of the week: “We should keep on going along the path of globalization.  Globalization is good... when trade stops, war comes." – Jack Ma
• The benefits of going LIVE on video for your business.
• How global small businesses grow faster in Covid time.
• Creating the right path for net zero.
• How global small businesses can outgrow the global supply chain phenomenon.

Autumn Is My Favorite Season

©2022 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Autumn is my favorite season." – Johnny Kelly

How Social Media Influencers Can Rock Your Global Business

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What a story!  And one that everyone can learn from.  White Claw's rapid (overnight) success was due, almost entirely, to a social media influencer.  White Claw is a hard seltzer.

"He [the influencer] came up with a slogan, 'ain't no laws when you're drinking Claws', and it took off from there," said [Chris] Taylor, a Hilton College associate professor. "The last thing a company wants is their alcoholic product associated with law breaking, but it started selling out everywhere."

As the story goes ... "The influencer, with millions of followers, flooded social airwaves with the slogan, even putting it on T-shirts. It created a fervor for a product that wasn't on the radar of the beverage industry at all. Demand went through the roof and soon White Claw was selling out everywhere."

Something to think about.  Taylor goes on to say, "But with the explosion of social media influencers, it's truly a worldwide trend that I believe is here to stay."

Read the entire article on how researchers discover a viral trend in global marketing.

The Rewards of Cross-Border Trade

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There are challenges to overcome in international business but there are also enormous rewards when you make progress.

The first thing you need to do is prioritize when expanding abroad.  For instance, focus on important issues like tax, customs, and the necessary infrastructure to deliver goods on time and keep customers happy. 

In this article, the authors look at why expansion is a good choice, and how automation can help you expand successfully.  They also offer a guide.

Only 3 Days Left to Register for the Biggest and Best Global Small Business Forum on the Planet

©2022 Global TradeSource, Ltd.  All rights reserved.

Don't miss the biggest and best 7th Annual Global Small Business Forum on the planet held virtually this Friday, October 21st from 8:00AM-11:30AM CT.  The theme is:  #rebootyourbusinessforglboalgrowth.  Register NOW!

Lead (Gold) sponsor is Associated Bank with support from Foley & Lardner.

Below is a listing of the speakers.  If you look at the graphic above with the circle, follow top left clockwise.  

• Steve Greenspon (top left), Chief Executive Officer, Honey-Can-Do International
• Michael Jones, Michael A. Jones, II., International Sales Division Leader, Avlon Industries, Inc. 
• Shital Daftari, Founder and CEO, Saris and Things & SNT Biotech 
• Tom Britz (lower right), President and CEO, Glacier Hops Ranch 

Additional speakers who are also award-winning exporters (look at graphic in the lower area):

• David Kniepkamp (bottom left), President and CEO, Smart Controls LLC (lower left)
• Amy Bosco, Director of Global Business Development, Beekley Medical (lower right)

Speakers will discuss how they are leveraging the lessons from the global pandemic, the war in Ukraine, high inflation, global supply chain challenges, and a rise in interest rates – all while still growing and focusing on the future of global business.  During panel discussions you will learn their best-kept secrets to driving results for a business.

Special guests include, but are not limited to:  Marc Schulman, President of The Eli's Cheesecake Company and Richard Paullin, Executive Director, International Trade Association of Greater Chicago.  We've also invited Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot.

Full lineup of speakers can be found here.

Added to our list of specialness, is e-vendor, Boomerang Carnets.  They've supported us before and we look forward to working with them again this year during our breakout rooms.  

We also have Il SBDC International Trade Center, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as a supporting organization this year.

Tickets run from $10 (student ticket), to $20 (general ticket), to $200 (ticket and one e-vendor table). 

Visit the website for more details and to register: https://globalsmallbusinessforum.com.  Network like crazy, learn what it takes to thrive in the global marketplace, and walk away with new insights to bring your business to new heights.

Note: The forum is also known for its fun raffle prizes at the end. Who knew by attending that you could potentially win a world famous Eli's Cheesecake, Tiffany's article or cool houseware item?  You must be present to win!  See you there.    

Build a Global Brand That Reaches a Wider Audience Via Ecommerce

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Alexis Jae's family has been in the jewelry business for more than 75 years. When she entered her family's occupation, she started her own business, Alexis Jae, by establishing an ecommerce website via Shopify, allowing her company to reach a much larger audience with its jewelry staples such as gold hoop earrings and statement necklaces.

Read the interview where she discusses what made her start an ecommerce website, how she decided on its appearance, and what steps she took to define her audience.