Dashboard
A daily roundup of small-business developments.
What’s affecting me, my clients and other small-business owners today.
The Economy
- The United States dollar has emerged once again as the preferred currency for global investors.
- The Architecture Billings Index showed “continued strength” in August.
- This chart shows the distribution of income gains during periods of economic expansion.
Retail
- Expect retailers to open even earlier this Thanksgiving.
- Sixty-eight percent of retailers say they have no plans to improve their mobile commerce infrastructure heading into the holiday season.
Marketing
- Here’s how to improve your content marketing.
- And here’s why your business should consider the publishing platform Medium.
- And here’s how to protect your business name.
Companies
- HP announces its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- The great story of Manischewitz, a not-so-great wine-maker, includes stolen identity, price-fixing and a “Mad Men” cameo.
Finance
- Walmart is pushing further into financial services with a mobile checking service.
- A crowdfunded project that aims to put a red house on the moon is $248,000 short of its goal.
- Kabbage, a money-lending platform for small, online businesses, is turning to the consumer market.
- Sodexo, one of the world’s largest companies, vows to pump $1 billion into 5,000 local farms and other small businesses around the world.
Online
- Here’s why last week’s $25 billion public offering for Alibaba could boost small-business profits in the United States.
Opportunities
- The shale revolution is just getting started.
- Here is why fashion trucks are popping up all over America.
- Samsung Electronics has opened a call for entries for a contest that will give small-business owners a chance to win digital signage.
- Computer services tops the list of Sageworks’ study of the fastest-growing small-business sectors.
Internet Security
- Banks are seeing efforts to use credit and debit card information related to the latest breach at Home Depot.
- Jimmy John’s reports a data breach.
- A study shows that the most serious cyberattacks are coming from inside the United States.
Technology
- Amazon doubles down on the connected home.
- User gripes about the new iPhone are surfacing.
- DHL will begin testing drone deliveries.
- Facebook’s Wi-Fi drone is the size of a jumbo jet and could fly in 2015.
Around the Country
- Business owners in Fort Collins, Colo. are upset by a nearby transient park.
Around the World
- An important economic indicator in Germany falls, fueling recession fears.
- General Motors says its sales in China this year will top 3.1 million vehicles.
- Chinese firms are swooping into Israel and looking for tech investments.
Gene Marks owns the Marks Group, a Bala Cynwyd, Pa., consulting firm that helps clients with customer relationship management. You can follow him on Twitter.