Small Business Labs

AUGUST 2, 2016

The industry is growing and hybridizing so fast , we're having a hard time keeping up with it.    We recently released our 2016 coworking forecast and we are projecting continued rapid growth over the next 4 years, although at a slower rate than the industry's current dizzying pace.  Coworking is booming.

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Small Business Labs

MARCH 29, 2016

According to the Brewers Association , small and independent craft brewers continued to gain share on beer industry giants in 2015. We've long used the beer industry as an example of how industry structures are becoming more barbell like.    The beer industry is an extreme example.

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Small Business Labs

JANUARY 7, 2019

This, of course, is not new news to those who have been following industry research on the gig economy.    For example, we reported in 2014 on our research that showed the questions asked in government surveys led to an underreporting of gig work. We

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Small Business Labs

JANUARY 7, 2014

2014 may be the year it finally happens. Echoing the WSJ's optimism, Network World says the Internet of Things will see major gains in industrial and enterprise settings in 2014: The Internet of Things will continue to creep into consumers' homes in 2014, but the real growth in the next year is likely to be in the enterprise.

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Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 1, 2015

GE, the large industrial conglomerate, is re-positioning itself as a digital company. They've coined the term  "The industrial Internet" to describe their efforts and market. .  We agree The Industrial Internet/The Internet of Things is a huge opportunity. They're not the only ones thinking this way.

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Small Business Labs

JULY 16, 2014

CoinDesk, an online site that covers the Bitcoin industry, released their State of Bitcoin Q2 2014 report. It shows that despite setbacks and negative press, the Bitcoin industry continues its rapid expansion. The chart below (from CoinDesk's report) shows their summary of the key things that happened Bitcoin wise in Q2.

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Small Business Labs

JULY 9, 2014

The Staffing Industry Analysts  is reporting there are currently more than 145 online staffing platform businesses operating globally.   They also reported in 2013 the industry generated roughly $1.4-$1.6 billion in "gross spend"  This is the dollar value of work completed and paid for.

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Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

And as the excellent travel industry news site Skift points out, Airbnb's business travel transactions have doubled since 2014. Business Travelers  shows, Uber and ride sharing services are rapidly gaining share on more traditional transportation options.

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Small Business Labs

JUNE 15, 2015

According to Time's How Silicon Valley is Addressing the World's Food Crisis : the food industry and tech industry have started to intersect and companies like Google and Yahoo have major research projects related to the future of food. For example, Pepsi is using 3D printers to improve the potato chip.

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Small Business Labs

MAY 31, 2018

  We still consider a 2014 article called The Lean Years one of the best we've seen at capturing how economic uncertainty impacts both individual decision making and the overall economy.  Both also stress how various forms of economic uncertainty and instability are impacting individuals, families and society overall. 

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Small Business Labs

MAY 9, 2016

The continued exponential growth of global coworking spaces and members : Karsten's Foertsch's excellent presentation on the coworking industry  made it very clear our forecast at the 2014 GCUC that there would be 1 million coworking members by 2018 is woefully low. Coworking is truly global.

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Small Business Labs

JUNE 8, 2017

Founded in 2014, it already has 1200 employees and is growing very rapidly.  Food delivery is already a multi-billion dollar industry. Another good example is the organic meal kit delivery company Sun Basket.   And Europe's Delivery Hero has also recently filed to go public.

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Small Business Labs

JANUARY 6, 2015

claims 2014 was the year the job broke. By that they mean 2014 was the year we accepted a re-interpretation of the traditional job's fundamental bargain and "bought in to the push to get us to all work for ourselves rather than each other" Key quote: The job was once something we felt we could depend on.

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Small Business Labs

AUGUST 31, 2015

The Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) - a leading, global analyst firm focused on the use of contingent workers by businesses - recently released a report on the human cloud. SIA estimates the total revenue for the Human Cloud industry in 2014 to be between $8.9 - $11.1 It's only available to their members.

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Small Business Labs

JANUARY 22, 2015

Additionally, social media and networks can be used to discover workers with experience in niche industries and hard-to-find skills. In 2014, companies looking to find contractors that specialize in fields and industries or for specific projects or tasks are using freelance networks and online marketplaces more often.

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Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

  The Enterprise Irregulars site's Roundup of 3D Printing Market Forecasts And Estimates, 2014 provides an excellent look at the 3D printing industry, including the forecast chart below. But while mainstream consumer adoption is still 5 to 10 years away, business adoption of 3D printing is happening today.

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Small Business Labs

JANUARY 2, 2014

I can think of no better way to start 2014 than with a look at 2014 pet industry trends.  Multibrief's Pet Businesses Will Prosper: Industry trends for 2014 and beyond  provides such an outlook.   The pet industry is mostly made of small businesses.

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Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 21, 2010

The article suggests this industry consolation will lead to "architectural mediocrity" and less innovation. .    Industry analysts are upping their app revenue forecasts almost monthly.  A mobile app sales alone at over $18 billion in 2014.    A recent forecast has U.S.

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Small Business Labs

JANUARY 15, 2013

  The Solo Support Industry Grows Up : 2013 will see the continued growth of products and services designed to make it easier for solopreneurs and the self-employed to start and operate their businesses.   Economic  3.   

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Small Business Labs

JANUARY 11, 2022

The traditional direct selling industry (also known as multi-level marketing) has been around at least since the 1940s, with well-known brands such as Avon, Tupperware, and Mary Kay - all of which integrate social experiences of some form on the path to purchase. to find and sell to customers has substantially increased since 2014.

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Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 26, 2015

The Economist article  Pharaonic creations covers the growing multi-level marketing industry and the various legal battles around whether or not they are illegal pyramid schemes.  It's online form is often referred to as "social commerce"   Whatever you call it, it's a big industry.

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