Small Business Labs

MARCH 26, 2012

I guess Euromonitor decided better late than never and just released their Top 10 Consumer Trends for 2012.  Their top 10 are: City Living Reigns  Consumer Vigilantes Speak up! Emerging Market Shoppers. Green Thrift. Reality Culture and Consumers. Smartphone Universe. Tech Lifestyles Vs. Slow Living and the Best of Both.

2012 100

2012 Purchasing Lifestyle UPS 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 6, 2012

Today's New York Times has an editorial on the job woes of the class of 2012. It's covers much of the same ground we did in yesterday's post  on Gen Y and Seniors turning to independent work. percent.

2012 100

2012 2007 UPS 100

Small Business Labs

JULY 9, 2019

This us up from 19% in 2018 and just 12% in 2012. As the MBO Partners State of Independence study chart below shows (click to enlarge), in 2019 22% of Independent workers who work full-time as independent workers said they provided goods or services to customers outside the U.S. They also simplify and facilitate transactions and payments.

2018 250

2018 2019 2012 Collaborate 250

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 7, 2011

Accuweather released their winter weather forecast , which they say is going to be "another brutal one." " Look out Chicago , they're forecasting another bad winter for your part of the country.    Key quote: "In terms of both snow and cold, this winter is expected to be the worst in Chicago."

2012 100

2012 2011 UPS 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 15, 2019

In 2012, only about 800,000 exited, but in 2016 2.4 This resulted in the percentage of reluctants falling from 34% of full-time independent workers in 2012 to just 19% in 2019.  As the study chart below shows (click to enlarge), the number of new full-time independent workers/freelancers entrants has stayed steady at around 1.5

2016 140

2016 2012 2021 2019 140

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 20, 2020

agency revenue was almost 54% in 2018, up from about 33% in 2012.  .   For example, Accenture, PWC, Deloitte, and IBM are all on the list of the world's 10 biggest marketing agencies (they're 6th through 9th).      A key reason these firms are doing so well is digital's share of U.S.

Agencies 136

Agencies 2020 2018 2012 136

Small Business Labs

JULY 17, 2018

According to the 2018 MBO Partners State of Independence study , the use of online talent marketplaces by independent workers has substantially increased since 2012.   But online talent marketplaces have become important secondary and tertiary sources of work. Independent

2018 124

2018 2012 Networking Skills 124

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020

In the case of 3D printing, the breakout moment was supposed to be 2012, when a new generation of desktop 3D machines hit shelves. As the Crunchbase article 3D Printing Investment Going Vertical As Big Exit Looms points out, 3D printing has been around a long time and, so far, has not lived up to its hype. 

2017 161

2017 2012 UPS 161

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 14, 2021

As the study chart below (click to enlarge) from the MBO Partners 2021 State of Independence report shows, the two youngest generations - Gen Z (born 1997-2012) and Millennials (born 1980-1996) - make up the majority of independent workers (freelancers, self-employed, gig workers, etc.). 2021 is the first year when this is the case.  

2012 57

2012 2021 UPS 57

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 14, 2017

Wireless data consumption in North America has grown 9 fold since 2012. This comes as no great surprise, but the numbers are still impressive. The chart below illustrating this is from the Axios article  America's insatiable wireless appetite.

2016 160

2016 2012 160

Small Business Labs

JUNE 20, 2017

As the blue bars in the chart below show (click to enlarge), only 3% of independent workers reported using online talent marketplaces to find work in 2012. This has increased from just 4% in 2012 to 25% in 2017. By 2017 this grew to 20%.  This indicates that 2018 will again see an increase in the usage rate.

2017 118

2017 2012 2018 Networking 118

Small Business Labs

APRIL 5, 2018

We've long covered the food truck industry and in 2012 released what is still our favorite study,  Food Trucks Motor into the Mainstream, in partnership with Intuit. We think the key quote from the report is: “You can create your restaurant on wheels for $50,000 to $60,000.

2012 160

2012 Restaurants Goals AT&T 160

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 3, 2017

As the chart below (click to enlarge) shows, all three major minority groups have seen substantial growth since 2012. This growth is about 10 times faster than the 7.6% overall growth rate for U.S. small businesses during this period. The growth in minority owned businesses in part reflects the changing demographics of America.

2017 165

2017 2012 2007 165

Small Business Labs

JUNE 25, 2019

As the study chart below shows (click to enlarge), in 2012 only 3 percent of full-time independent workers reported having used an online marketplace to find work in the prior 12 months. In 2019, 24% said they had. Relatively few (8%) report using online talent marketplaces as their primary source of work. 

2019 132

2019 2012 Confidence Skills 132

Small Business Labs

JULY 5, 2018

million in 2012, according to Crunchbase research. Crunchbase's  Investors Unleash Millions Into Pet-Tech Startups covers the surge in pet industry venture funding over the past 5 years. Key quote: Funding in pet startups surged by 334 percent to $291.8 million compared to $67.2

2018 124

2018 2012 124

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 14, 2017

Having said that, we bought 40 Bitcoins in 2012 for $11 per coin and sold them about a year later for $122 a coin. So in many ways, Bitcoin is already the new gold.    We've long suggested small businesses stay away from Bitcoin and we continue to do so.

2012 195

2012 2009 Expenses UPS 195

Small Business Labs

JUNE 4, 2019

million in 1980 to 803,000 in 2012. Key quote: "Over the last few decades, sociologists and political scientists have found that American clubs of all stripes–from youth service clubs to bowling leagues–have experienced steep declines in their memberships. The Freemasons has lost 3.8 million members since the late 1950s.

2012 237

2012 Equipment Collaborate Learning 237

Small Business Labs

JUNE 12, 2013

Citi's projected global unit sales numbers are: Tablets: 237 million units in 2013 vs. 144 million in 2012.    Notebooks: 179 million units in 2013 vs. 201 million in 2012.    Desktops: 137 million units in 2013 vs. 148 million in 2012.    trends Web/Tech'

2013 100

2013 2012 UPS 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 14, 2013

percent in 2012 to 116 million, or about 37 percent of the total U.S. percent to just over 53 million in 2012, or about 17 percent of the total population. percent minority in 2012. . percent minority in 2012. population.  - The Hispanic population grew by 2.2 will likely be sometime between 2035 and 2040. 

2012 100

2012 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 17, 2017

In 2012 we included "Being Human" in our Top 10 Small Business Trends list. Inside Accenture’s experimental office space at The Dock. Hays’ Sandra Henke wants you to be your authentic self. In a robot revolution, embrace your humanity and curiosity about the future.   We got a lot of feedback on this trend.

2012 160

2012 160

Small Business Labs

JULY 12, 2018

As the study chart above shows, the percentage of full-time Reluctant Independents has fallen consistently since 2012 due to the improving economy creating opportunities for reluctants to return to traditional employment.  These are independent workers who would prefer a traditional job (cluster analysis is used to identify this group).

2018 154

2018 2017 2012 AT&T 154

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 21, 2018

These findings echo the findings of the MBO Partners State of Independence studies , which has been reporting on the strong differences between empowered independents - those with work autonomy and control - and reluctant independents - those that don't have work autonomy and control -  since 2012. 

2012 150

2012 AT&T 150

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

.   NVCA  also reported that the level of 2012 venture funding will likely substantially fall relative to 2011. According to the NVCA, the number of these rounds has fallen by almost one-third in 2012 versus 2011.   This cash crunch was one of our Top 10 Small Business Trends for 2012.

2012 100

2012 2011 2013 Retirement 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 31, 2013

In 2012 there were roughly 18 million bikes sold in the U.S.   But if you exclude kids bikes (which the industry defines as bikes with wheels smaller than 20 inches), 2012 U.S. .   Bikes outsold cars in the U.S. too, if you count kids bikes. million cars and light trucks. bike sales were about 13 million.

2012 100

2012 100

Small Business Labs

MAY 8, 2018

 The share of reluctant independents fell to 24% in 2017, down from 26% in 2016 and 34% in 2012. .  This is shown in the data on reluctants from the 2017 MBO Partners State of Independence study. So clearly reluctants are taking advantage of the strong job market to return to traditional employment.

2018 169

2018 2017 2010 2016 169

Small Business Labs

MAY 30, 2014

  But by 2012 only 42% of the students surveyed said they planned to have kids.   The 2012 cohort of students see a work world that is intensely competitive and time consuming. The key finding of the surveys is a sharp decline in the number of students planning on having kids.

2012 100

2012 Salary AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

Fully 36% of blacks ages 25 and older had never been married in 2012, up from 9% in 1960. For In 2012, 16% of whites and 26% of Hispanics had never been married. Key quote: This trend cuts across all major racial and ethnic groups but has been more pronounced among blacks.

2012 100

2012 UPS 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 23, 2015

In 2012 there were 23.5 This is how most independent workers and small businesses report business income for tax purposes. In 2013 there were a bit over 24 million sole proprietors reporting about $1.34 trillion in gross business receipts. million sole proprietors who reported $1.30 trillion in gross receipts. 

2003 100

2003 2013 Temping 2012 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 4, 2015

Census released the 2013 nonemployer business data. In 2013 there were 23.0 million businesses without paid employees in the U.S. This  This is an increase of 270,000, or 1.2%   Over the decade from 2003 to 2013 the number of nonemployer businesses increased by 4.4

2013 100

2013 2003 2012 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 25, 2013

 We wrote a follow-up article on this topic in 2012 after we learned high end nannies in New York and London could make more than $200,000 per year in total compensation. millionaires (those with a net worth more than $1 million excluding their primary residence)  grew for the 4th year in a row in 2012 to 9 million.

2012 100

2012 Salary Agencies 2007 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 9, 2012

According to Monash University's 2012 IPro Index , white collar independent professionals are both happy and productive. Alert readers will notice these numbers are very close to the results we found in the 2012 State of Independence study , which looked at independent workers in the U.S. 89% are proud of the work they do.

2012 100

2012 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 1, 2013

It's forecast to be up 6% over 2012. They do studies on consumer markets, including pet spending. They recently released their 2013 - 2014 U.S. Pet Market Outlook.  According to the report, the U.S. pet market will reach $62 billion in 2013, up 4.7% Medical and food spending are the biggest segments.

2013 100

2013 Medical 2012 2014 100

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

million in 2012.   Click here for the study 2012 report  and click here for the 2011 report. .   The study consisted of two national, statistically significant surveys as well as several focus groups and dozens of one-on-one interviews with independent workers.

Temping 100

Temping 2011 2012 Interviewing 100

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

As the study chart below shows (click to enlarge), in 2012, only 3 percent of full-time independent workers reported having used an online marketplace to find work or customers in the prior 12 months. Their use grew steadily from 2012 to 2020, then jumped substantially in 2021, increasing from 27% in 2020. In 2021, 40% said they had.

2012 28

2012 2021 2020 Skills 28

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 21, 2011

  We're looking forward to 2012 and are optimistic that the small business economy will continue to improve. We at Smallbizlabs hope 2011 was a good year for you, your family and your small business.  Happy Holidays to all.

Holidays 100

Holidays 2012 2011 100

Small Business Labs

MARCH 13, 2012

One of our Top 10 Small Business Trends for 2012 is Loyalty Meets Daily Deals, which we describe as: We think 2012 will see daily deals morph beyond shotgun-style attempts to bring in new business to more targeted methods and systems designed to attract, retain and reward loyal customers. The startup Womply is an example of this shift.

Credit Card 100

Credit Card 2012 Restaurants AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Back in 2012 we suggested "rental economy" was a more accurate descriptor. .  The article references the Harvard Business Review's  The Sharing Economy Isn’t About Sharing at All  which makes the point that the sharing economy is really about paying for access to an asset or service. 

Temping 100

Temping 2012 AT&T 100