Small Business Labs

APRIL 25, 2017

  Also known as multi-level marketing, retail sales by direct selling companies increased from $28.6 This makes direct selling a relatively bright sector of the retail industry. Key quote: Active Arbonne reps earn, on average, about $674 a year, according to a compensation summary the company shared. This is up from 15.8

Purchasing 162

Purchasing 2010 AT&T UPS 162

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 11, 2018

The Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) recently released their U.S.   They define the human cloud as: " all manner of companies that facilitate direct, digitally-enabled work arrangements, from sourcing a worker through payment." Gig Economy - 2018 Edition report. They also found about 13.7

2018 157

2018 157

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 1, 2018

Key quote from the article: "Data on the real-world comings and goings of internet users — and, evidently, their dogs — is a highly sought-after commodity among technology companies." Somewhat related, Franchise Direct released their 2017 Pet Franchise Industry Report last December.    

2017 155

2017 2007 Expenses Learning 155

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 25, 2019

  The company is using the money to expand in the U.S. Insect farming is another example of the many changes happening in the food industry. Ynsect , a Paris-based producer of insect protein used in fish farming and pet food, recently raised $125 million.  and build the world's largest insect farm in Northern France.

Goals 128

Goals 128

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 1, 2016

As chart below (click to enlarge) shows, Google and Facebook have greater advertising revenues than any of the big, traditional media companies like CBS and Disney. What the chart doesn't show is Google and Facebook combined have greater advertising revenues than all of the traditional media companies combined. 

Facebook 100

Facebook Google AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 17, 2018

Two companies that connect artisan makers with retailers and customers announced large funding rounds last week. The company sources the designs and products from independent illustrators, textile designers, painters and other artists.  As the chart below shows, Etsy's stock is up 270% YTD and the company is worth $6.5

2008 216

2008 UPS 216

Small Business Labs

JULY 17, 2017

This goes back to the early days of the direct selling industry in the late 1950's and early 60's. At that time the industry specifically targeted women as the market and women as sellers. These views are now out of date, but most direct selling companies continue to target women. 

2016 150

2016 AT&T Stress Skills 150

Small Business Labs

JANUARY 21, 2021

The article chart below, which shows the 7 largest companies in the world by market capitalization, really jumped out at us.    The reason is small businesses and independent workers are important business partners for all 6 ecosystem companies.  See our Industry Structure section for more on this topic.  

Google 267

Google Facebook Management 267

Small Business Labs

APRIL 25, 2016

  But the ridesharing industry is not just stopping there. It's starting to have major impacts on adjacent industries.  Business travelers, the mainstay of the rental car industry, are also switching from rental cars to ridesharing. Auto companies are also starting to feel the impact of ride and car sharing. 

Travel 100

Travel Expenses AT&T UPS 100

Small Business Labs

APRIL 4, 2013

Paid Content has an interesting article on media becoming a barbell industry. We've looked at dozens of industries and all have this structure or are moving to it. The article is also positive about "ultra-small" media companies.  

100

100

Small Business Labs

JANUARY 7, 2016

These are good times for the temporary staffing industry. As the American Staffing Association chart below shows, the industry has been booming since the steep declines caused by the Great Recession.    2015 was another record setting year and pretty much everyone in the staffing industry is predicting good times ahead.

Temping 100

Temping Legal 2015 2012 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 3, 2014

There's an active debate going on in academia, think tanks and businesses around who is better positioned to win in the new economy, big companies or small companies. Larger companies are increasing their market share, so that most sectors of the economy are becoming more concentrated.

Environment 100

Environment UPS 100

Small Business Labs

MARCH 6, 2014

Deloitte University's Industrialized Crowdsourcing is one of the best, relatively short descriptions of crowdsourcing I've read. Companies can use the collective knowledge of the masses to help with tasks from data entry and coding to advanced analytics and product development. .

Skills 100

Skills 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 24, 2014

While the article focuses on the biotech space, we're seeing the same trend in almost every industry we study. Companies in all industries are increasingly using technology, automation, partnering, outsourcing and contingent workers instead of investing in fixed assets and traditional employees. 

Equipment 100

Equipment 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 22, 2016

The Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA)  recently released a study showing that nearly  30% of the U.S. Their clients are large corporations that employ contingent workers, staffing firms and tech companies that provide HR and/or contingent workforce related related products and services. workforce are gig workers.

2016 100

2016 Management 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 18, 2015

TrueBridge Capital Partners recently released a report on the State of the Venture Capital Industry. Despite the steady decline in the number of funds, the amount of money invested in startups and the number of companies receiving venture capital has consistently increased since the early 2000s. A couple of charts jumped out at me.

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2001 2014 2013 Management 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 25, 2015

The 3D printing industry is at an interesting point, with both good and bad news coming out on a regular basis. But even as it slumps a bit, there's still a lot enthusiasm around the 3D printing industry and no change in the view 3D will eventually fundamentally change how things are made.

UPS 100

UPS Google 100

Small Business Labs

MAY 9, 2012

According to the Kauffman Foundation, the VC industry is very broken. And He Is Us" is a damning analysis of Venture Capital as an asset class and the Venture Capital industry in general. The news here isn't that the VC industry is broken.   The Kauffman Foundation has long been a close friend of the VC industry.

Expenses 100

Expenses Collaborate Finance 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 9, 2015

. According to a recent survey by the employment consulting group Manpower , companies are facing a "crippling talent shortage" At the same time, many people report being unable to find work. In response to this problem a rapidly growing industry focused on providing skills training and job placement has emerged.

Training 100

Training Skills Interviewing AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 30, 2012

According to Staffing Industry Analysts , the online staffing industry is now about a $1billion dollar industry that's growing at "double-digit" rates.    The best known of the firms in this industry are probably oDesk and Elance.  Based on this, I don't think it's a big industry.

Elance 100

Elance Agencies Expenses Travel 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 6, 2012

We've noticed that a growing number of coworking facilities are starting to look and act like mini-industrial clusters. Industrial clusters are geographic concentrations of firms that broadly serve the same industry and have common needs for talent, technology and business infrastructure.

Suppliers 100

Suppliers Networking Skills Training 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 5, 2010

Industry clusters are place where there is a concentration of companies and services related to a particular industry.    The best know example is the tech industry cluster in Silicon Valley.     The best know example is the tech industry cluster in Silicon Valley.  

2010 100

2010 Retirement Restaurants 2020 100

Small Business Labs

MARCH 24, 2011

  First, the pet industry missed the Great Recession.    I can't think of many industries that had close to 20% revenue growth from 2007 to 2010.    For more on pet trends, see Pet Business Trends 2011 by the CEO of pet insurance company Embrace. . 

2007 100

2007 2011 2010 AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 31, 2020

Synthetic biology researchers and companies around the world are harnessing the power of nature to solve problems in medicine, manufacturing and agriculture." But a number of new bioengineering technologies and advances, and especially CRISPR , are enabling a wave of new synthetic biology products and companies. 

UPS 196

UPS 196

Small Business Labs

MAY 10, 2010

Blog powered by TypePad Member since 01/2005 « Increase in Unemployment Rate Good News | Main | 1 in 8 Consumers Forecasted to Cut or Eliminate Cable TV in 2010 » May 10, 2010 Disruption and the Analyst Industry I signed up for GigaOm Pro  recently.    It costs $79 a year to subscribe. . 

2010 100

2010 Retirement 2020 2005 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 30, 2010

Blog powered by TypePad Member since 01/2005 « Yahoo CEO on Local Content | Main | Non-Mortgage Debt and Working in Retirement » June 30, 2010 Wisconsin, Illinois Companies Feeling the Recovery The QPS Employment Group is a staffing and recruiting firm operating in Wisconsin and Illinois.  Kudos to QPS for their survey work. 

2010 100

2010 Retirement 2020 2005 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 23, 2010

» August 23, 2010 The Growth of Private Company Stock Exchanges Investing in venture-backed private companies used to be by invitation only.  But this has changed over the last few years as private company stock exchanges have emerged.    - Facebook has a value of about $25.5

2010 100

2010 Retirement 2020 Twitter 100

Small Business Labs

JANUARY 19, 2021

Poshmark CEO Chandra said the company is riding three trends: the acceleration of e-commerce; consumers embracing social selling; and the growing market for second-hand goods. He sees a huge opportunity, and one the company is only just beginning to tap.    The direct selling industry is also large , with about 6.8

Social Media 192

Social Media 2014 Clothes 2020 192

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 19, 2010

Blog powered by TypePad Member since 01/2005 « Education Driving the She-conomy | Main | Software "Super Vendors" and Barbell Industrial Structures » October 19, 2010 Large Companies Recovering - Small Businesses Still in Recession Large corporations are recovering from the recession and seeing sales increases. 

2010 100

2010 Retirement 2020 Finance 100

Small Business Labs

APRIL 11, 2019

So have big media companies like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. Most revenue estimates for the podcast industry continue to be small - ranging from $500 - $700 million in 2018. Most revenue estimates for the podcast industry continue to be small - ranging from $500 - $700 million in 2018.

2019 183

2019 2018 AT&T 183

Small Business Labs

JUNE 29, 2021

The RV Industry Assn.    See our prior post on Outdoorsy for more on the company. .  Key quote: "The snowballing demand for vans — and recreational vehicles in general — can be traced in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and the desire to stay safe while traveling.

2021 266

2021 Travel Collaborate 266

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

  The reasons companies fall off the S&P 500 list vary. Key quote from the report: There are a variety of reasons why companies drop off the list. They can be overtaken by a faster growing company and fall below the market cap size threshold (currently that cutoff is about $6 billion). None are European. 

2018 155

2018 2016 155

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

  According to the company, their clients include Deloitte, Nestle, Netflix, Nike, Four Seasons, and Task Rabbit, NASA, Porsche, PWC, and Pacific Life.    But 4 years later, coops haven't made a dent in the online talent marketplace industry.   They also (naturally) have a blockchain and cyber token angle. 

2016 205

2016 2014 2015 Interviewing 205

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 23, 2010

» August 23, 2010 The Growth of Private Company Stock Exchanges Investing in venture-backed private companies used to be by invitation only.  But this has changed over the last few years as private company stock exchanges have emerged.    - Facebook has a value of about $25.5

2010 100

2010 Retirement 2020 Twitter 100

Small Business Labs

MARCH 4, 2019

The major finding is 73% of the executives surveyed expect their industry will experience significant disruption over the next 3 years.    The study chart below (click to enlarge) summarizes the main sources of disruption by industry.  Not surprisingly, this includes the increased use of contingent labor.

2019 165

2019 165

Small Business Labs

JANUARY 27, 2020

Key quote from the musician's Change.org anti-AB5 petition : AB5 will have a devastating and catastrophic impact on independent musicians, their livelihoods and the music industry in general in California.   Again from the musicians' petition: "We are, frankly, terrified of AB5 as it applies to us.

Agencies 161

Agencies Policies UPS 161

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Crunchbase's How Seed Funding Has Exploded In The Past 10 Years reports that: Fewer than 3,200 companies received seed funding in the period between 2006 and 2010. The article points to the launch of Amazon Web Services in the mid-2000s, which made it cheaper and easier to start a software company, as a driver.  

2006 143

2006 2020 2011 2010 143