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 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

OCTOBER 29, 2010

.  The American Staffing Association reported that 2010 Q2 staffing industry revenues were up 33% versus Q2 2009.  Yes,     This revenue translated into the staffing industry employing 2.4   Yes, 2009 was not a good year.  million temporary workers per day in Q2.    We agree. 

2009 100

2009 2010 Skills UPS 100

Small Business Labs

JANUARY 11, 2018

According to the British recruiting firm Sterling , the consumer goods industry is: " having to contend with the battle of the interim employee; a growing trend of permanent employees deciding to ‘go interim’." They blame a combination of skilled labor shortages and the industry not being an attractive employer.

Skills 162

Skills 162

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 30, 2017

workforce in all industries since 2001. occupations into jobs that require high, medium or low digital skills and tracks the impacts of rapid change." According to Brookings, pretty much all industries have become more digital.  The good news is those with digital skills tend to be paid pretty well.

2002 175

2002 2001 2016 Skills 175

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 9, 2018

These firms provide clients access to industry experts, most of which are independent consultants.  The white paper points out highly skilled expert talent is in demand.   This echos what we found in our research looking at highly skilled and compensated independent workers. 

Retirement 195

Retirement 2011 Skills Networking 195

Small Business Labs

MARCH 6, 2018

There have been a number of recent articles pointing out that despite having to compete with several giant beer companies, the craft brewing industry has dramatically expanded over the past decade. We even featured the industry in a 2008 research report, The New Artisan Economy,  which we did with Intuit.

2008 174

2008 Equipment Goals Skills 174

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 9, 2017

An example of this is the continued growth of the multi-level marketing industry. According to their trade association, the Direct Sellers Industry Association (DSA), 5.3   On Point Radio , one of our favorite radio shows, recently covered the industry. But those that have these skills and attributes can be successful.

Skills 150

Skills Health Management 150

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

They serve a mix of industries, including retail, healthcare, insurance, travel & hospitality and others. One of their key selling points is the skill of their agents. And, of course, it’s another example of a firm using skilled independent workers. 

Retirement 150

Retirement Customer Service Travel Skills 150

Small Business Labs

JANUARY 29, 2019

Those seeking new skills : One of the more interesting findings of our gig economy studies is about 16% of online gig workers report doing this work to learn a new skill or expand their existing skills. Again, these sites let the user have complete control over their schedule and level of activity.

Skills 178

Skills Expenses AT&T Learning 178

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 7, 2019

 According to the Staffing Industry Analysts, the global staffing industry generated $490 billion in revenue in 2018.    This, coupled with Uber's brand recognition and technology skills, means they could easily be successful. .  So there's a lot of competition for Uber Works.

Temping 124

Temping 2018 Agencies Legal 124

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

Glocalization  refers to the integration of local differences in the cost and availability of skills to a standardized global structure that enables their use. Key quote: … by the beginning of the 21 st  century, ownership of large-scale infrastructures no longer determined business success in a growing number of industries.

2018 147

2018 Suppliers 2008 Collaborate 147

Small Business Labs

APRIL 21, 2014

  The business models used by small firms to compete with industry giants are often similar. They leverage specialized skills and knowledge, attack niche markets, provide high levels of service and use technology once only available to larger firms. Independent workers industry structure self-employment trends'

Legal 100

Legal Skills 100

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 11, 2018

.  Quartz's Perennials, not millennials, will trigger the next wave of talent retention efforts provides a good description of the trend towards later retirement: "Increased life expectancy across the industrialized world means that more people have more years of healthy life than ever before.

Retirement 156

Retirement Mentoring Policies AT&T 156

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 7, 2017

It's to increase their business flexibility and agility and access hard to find, highly skilled talent.  " As you can see from the list of titles, most of the freelancers employed by Nimbus are highly skilled specialists.  and in almost every industry.   This is not to say cost isn't a factor.

Collaborate 100

Collaborate Skills AT&T UPS 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 3, 2013

  Most industries start with companies that provide general purpose products. As these industries grow, specialty firms emerge targeted at specific niches.  The emergence of these niche oriented firms is a key indicator an industry is expanding and becoming successful.

Promotion 100

Promotion Skills Management UPS 100

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

This event was hosted by Intuit and attended by about 40 leading accounting profession practitioners, industry analysts and media. The think tank was designed to gather input and feedback from this group of industry experts on the major trends and shifts impacting the accounting profession. The group agreed outsourcing was a threat.

2011 100

2011 Skills Learning UPS 100

Small Business Labs

JULY 22, 2014

It shows how freelancers turn to their network to find work, collaborate on projects, meet new people and stay on top of their industry. This group listed "networking skills" as the 3rd most important attribute for freelancing success, just below professional expertise and personal attributes. 

Networking 100

Networking Interviewing Stress Skills 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 12, 2015

They're also looking enhanced social experience, networking, community support and help and opportunities to learn new skills. But like most of the rest of the commercial real estate industry, they have only recently figured out coworking is a trend and not a fad. They are looking for more than just a place to work.

Environment 100

Environment Networking Skills Learning 100

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.

Social Media 100

Social Media 2016 2014 2017 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 28, 2012

So it comes as no surprise to those following the food truck industry that Running a Food Truck for Dummies was recently released.  He's an expert on food trucks and the editor and founder of Mobile Cuisine , an online website covering the mobile food industry.  Kudos to Richard for covering this topic in-depth.

Social Media 100

Social Media Interviewing Skills Stress 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 17, 2012

Scale of some form is still a key competitive factor in most industries, which is why the Global Giants continue to grow. For people with the right talents and skills, the rewards of traditional employment are increasing. These firms need the talent scale traditional employment provides.

Elance 100

Elance Temping Forms AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 8, 2013

.   The use of cloud-based accounting systems such as Quickbooks Online is fundamentally changing how accounting firms interact with their clients - and fundamentally changing industry business models. Because of this, we suggest firms in all industries think about how cloud technologies are or may impact their business models.

Collaborate 100

Collaborate AT&T Skills Email 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 7, 2013

Even back then, it was already an important technology for industrial design and prototyping. Key quote: Some argue that the technology will revolutionize manufacturing, empowering entrepreneurs in fields from the automotive to medical industries. It's just a question of timing.

Medical 100

Medical AT&T Skills Management 100

Small Business Labs

JULY 1, 2013

The article focuses on temps working in low skill industrial or supply chain jobs.  These folks tend to be stuck in low skill positions with poor working conditions and limited protection against abusive and/or unsafe labor practices. They almost never get benefits and have little opportunity for advancement.

Temping 100

Temping Skills Stress Health 100

Small Business Labs

JANUARY 29, 2015

Corporations large and small are increasingly turning to independent workers to improve workforce agility and flexibility, provide specialized and/or hard to find skills and as a way to add competitive advantage. is starting to be be seen as a strategic resource.

Management 100

Management Agencies Policies Forms 100

Small Business Labs

MARCH 7, 2013

 Respondents cited "access to specialized skills or knowledge" as the greatest benefit of using freelancers.   We're also seeing spending time as a freelancer is becoming more common in a wide variety of industries.   Two other findings caught my eye: 1. Respondents

International 100

International Interviewing Skills 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 2, 2013

75% said they use freelancers because they need different skill sets at different times. The Staffing Industry Analyst blog has a nice summary of these announcements.  The study focused on mid-sized firms with 50 to 1000 employees. The key results are: Over 60% of the respondents plan to hire more freelancers next year.

Elance 100

Elance Skills Management 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 9, 2016

  The small business owners we interviewed also said they used coaches to improve their management and leadership skills, help them set and achieve goals and work through difficult business problems and decisions. There's also been little research on small business coaching.

Interviewing 100

Interviewing Confidence AT&T Learning 100

Small Business Labs

MARCH 27, 2012

Basically, individuals outsource tasks they don't have the time for, don't want to do, or don't have the skills to do to these firms and individuals. This has led to kid coaching across a wide range of activities (sports, academics, arts, music) becoming a booming industry.

Expenses 100

Expenses Salary 2007 2011 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 19, 2011

  Militarization following industrialization : A transient opportunity for defense contractors as China, India and other developing nations expand their defense spending. Increased consumption of oil, food, water and ores is a function of population growth but has been amplified by the industrialization of emerging economies.

2020 100

2020 Training Skills 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 26, 2010

.  The NY Times article As Private Tutoring Booms, Parents Look for Returns   suggests that spending on tutors continued to grow despite the recession and is a $5-$7 billion industry.    And while there are large firms involved in the personal service industry, it is mostly comprised of small businesses. . 

2010 100

2010 Retirement 2020 2011 100

Small Business Labs

JANUARY 14, 2014

Instead, Freedman believes 2nd stage of life career shifters should leverage and take advantage of the skills they built up over their lives. Adding a personal note, this is also the path I've taken in pursuing my post corporate America career as a researcher/industry analyst.   He calls this reintegration.

Retirement 100

Retirement Skills UPS 100

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 20, 2011

The intent of the reference is that Braddock should enter the plastics industry, a rapidly growing field with lots of opportunities.    There was a very clear consensus that there is a shortage of people with data and analytical skills  - and this shortage is going to get worse and last a long time. 

Skills 100

Skills UPS 100

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 16, 2014

These firms will be hurt as the energy industry cuts back due to lower prices.   The hugely successful programming camps – 8-10 week immersive courses that teach programming skills – show that even complex topics can be taught relatively quickly and in a just in time manner.     6.

2015 100

2015 Payroll Finance Skills 100

Small Business Labs

MAY 18, 2011

You may hire employees with little to no experience, but who exhibit good skills that can benefit your company. Your industry may change, new tools may become available, or you may just decide to change the way you do things in order to be more efficient or cost-effective.  They'll need to be trained from the ground up.

Training 100

Training AT&T Skills Phones 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 7, 2013

This includes largely small business owners, professionals, and skilled workers in traditional industries most targeted by regulatory shifts and higher taxes. The Yeomanry :  In neo-feudalist California, the biggest losers tend to be the old private sector middle class.

Expenses 100

Expenses Skills 100