Small Business Labs

APRIL 24, 2017

Companies, entrepreneurs, and inventors can rent time on nearby equipment, be it CNC milling machines, water jets, or laser cutters—any of which can cost from $50,000 to $250,000 apiece to purchase.   Consumers are also avoiding fixed costs and long term commitments.   

Collaborate 150

Collaborate Equipment 2016 Purchasing 150

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 30, 2017

Key quote: many older workers are hitting the road as work campers — also called “workampers” — those who shed costly lifestyles, purchase RVs and travel the nation picking up seasonal jobs that typically offer hourly wages and few or no benefits. Two recent recessions have devastated personal savings.

Retirement 165

Retirement Lifestyle Travel Finance 165

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 17, 2019

Platforms Simplify the Ancillary Purchase Process. Designing Great User Experiences to Boost Adoption. Travelers Demand an End-to-End Experience. Winning the Price, Loyalty, and Experience Trifecta. Expanding the Sharing Economy. Bleisure Travel is the New Black. Rethinking Corporate Travel Expenses.

Travel 130

Travel 2020 Suppliers Collaborate 130

Small Business Labs

JULY 30, 2018

Ecovate , one of the leaders in mushroom biofab manufacturing, even has a store where G.I.Yers (grow it yourself) can purchase the materials needed to grow their own products as well as a range of already grown products. Mushroom biofabrication can be used to make all kinds of products, with an example being the table shown below.

Purchasing 133

Purchasing 133

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 2, 2017

As anyone who has put together furniture purchased from Ikea knows, it's not easy (see picture above). Making it easy and relatively inexpensive to hire someone to do this clearly is a good idea. But to do this, Ikea needs independent workers.

Purchasing 140

Purchasing International Learning 140

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 5, 2017

But it can also be like crowdfunding campaign in that in many cases the coins can be used to purchase a product or service from the issuing company. .  A coin or token sale can be much like an initial public stock offering (IPO). ICOs use the technology behind the digital currency Bitcoin to create the coins and verify transactions.

Purchasing 157

Purchasing AT&T Learning 157

Small Business Labs

APRIL 25, 2017

  According to the DSA the top motivations include: Being able to purchase products one likes at a discounted price (62%). The motivations for working in direct selling are similar to the motivations for working in the online on-demand economy (ODE) with the obvious exception of product discounts. 

Purchasing 162

Purchasing 2010 AT&T UPS 162

Small Business Labs

JUNE 6, 2017

It also leads to a resistance to large purchases of all kinds. It leads people to avoid long term or major commitments, both in their personal lives and as consumers. Examples include delayed and lower rates of marriage, having children and home ownership. All of these have major impacts on the economy.

2017 164

2017 Purchasing AT&T 164

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 7, 2018

That means the purchasing power of Americans went down during that period. .  Key quote from the article: while average hourly earnings are growing at an annual rate of 2.7%, the consumer price index for the 12 months that ended June 30 was up 2.9%.

2018 124

2018 2013 2017 Purchasing 124

Small Business Labs

MAY 17, 2018

  Many are driving  to help get through financial shocks , to earn money for a planned purchase and/or because they need the high degree of flexibility rideshare driving provides.  .  It's also important to note that many drivers aren't focused on maximizing their after-cost earnings per hour. 

Expenses 150

Expenses AT&T Purchasing Confidence 150

Small Business Labs

MARCH 26, 2012

.  They describe Reality Culture and Consumers as: "Scripted reality or celebrities living the dream - consumers are gripped, sharing views and being moved to change their purchasing behaviour." " I agree this happening, but reality shows having such a strong impact bothers me on multiple levels.

2012 100

2012 Purchasing Lifestyle UPS 100

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Nor am I surprised that 25% plan on purchasing a wearable device in the next year. .   Because of the my experience with my golf watch, I'm not at all surprised by Forrester's findings that 9% of North Americans already have a wearable device for tracking sports performance.   Web/Tech'

Purchasing 100

Purchasing 100

Small Business Labs

APRIL 4, 2017

  They're delaying or not opting for marriage and kids ,  they're renting instead of buying homes  and they're reducing or delaying large purchases of all kinds  and they're even choosing pets over children. .  Consumers are also avoiding fixed costs. 

Restaurants 178

Restaurants 2007 2008 Customer Service 178

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 20, 2015

The New York Times article Stores Suffer From a Shift of Behavior in Buyers  covers the growing consumer trend towards purchasing experiences over objects.

Social Media 100

Social Media Customer Service Purchasing Twitter 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 26, 2013

Gartner released their 2013 and 2014 computing device shipment forecast and it will come as no surprise to readers that mobility is driving computing device purchases.   As the Gartner chart below shows, traditional PC shipments forecast to be down are 10.6% The same trends hold true for 2014.

2014 100

2014 2013 Purchasing Phones 100

Small Business Labs

JANUARY 22, 2014

They're also increasingly browsing online and then going to stores to make purchases. ." The reason, of course, is growing online sales. But people aren't just buying online. " What make this data even more significant is ecommerce is still only about 6% of overall retail sales.

2013 100

2013 2012 2007 2011 100

Small Business Labs

JANUARY 24, 2017

  This data only reflects the the numbers for the self-employed and small business owners who purchased their insurance through an ACA marketplace. Treasury study that shows in 2014 1 in 5 ACA marketplace consumers was a small business owner or self-employed. 

2014 100

2014 2013 2016 Medical 100

Small Business Labs

MARCH 16, 2012

.  Key quote: The data showed that when marketers caught their audiences at the right place and at the right time with the right coupon, they were able to directly influence consumer behavior, increasing the likelihood of both store visits and purchases.  

Purchasing 100

Purchasing 100

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Reality culture and consumers : Scripted reality or celebrities living the dream - consumers are gripped, sharing views and being moved to change their purchasing behaviour. DIY life  - Consumers are revelling in their ability to track and control their health, identity, communication and buying habits.  But we don't.

2012 100

2012 Purchasing Health UPS 100

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 3, 2010

.  The key reasons sustainability is becoming a business necessity are: Customer demand:  Over 40% of consumers say they prefer purchasing products from eco-friendly companies.  Employee demand:  Employees are increasingly looking to their employers to improve sustainable business practices. 

Carbon Footprint 100

Carbon Footprint Purchasing Environment Management 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 9, 2011

." The main driver is the growing number of people who are comfortable making online purchases.  Of that group, 83% will make an Internet purchase in 2011.   According to the article, which sources eMarketer: 87.5% Internet users over age 14, or 178.5 million people, will browse or research products online this year.

Purchasing 100

Purchasing 2011 2010 UPS 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 19, 2013

BeGood is targeting the growing number of "conscious consumers" - people who want to know and minimize the environmental and social impact of their purchases. They are predominately an online retailer of ethical and sustainable fashion, but they also have a retail store (pictured below).

Clothes 100

Clothes Purchasing UPS 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 2, 2016

million to purchase six floors of the office condominium building in Chicago. First, it's going be a big space with Level Office expecting to have over 1,000 coworkers at this location.    Second, the article says Level Office paid $4.3 The article didn't mention build out costs, but they will likely be substantial. 

Purchasing 100

Purchasing AT&T Goals UPS 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 30, 2014

According to several recent articles the financial problems of millennials is leading to changing behaviors and purchase patterns as well as broader societal shifts.   For example, the New York Times article No Picket Fence: Younger Adults Opting to Rent focuses on the shift away from home ownership and towards renting by young adults.

2008 100

2008 2014 Retirement Health 100

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 27, 2012

  According to the report, the use of smartphones continues to rapidly expand and consumers are increasingly using their phones as part of their retail purchase process. .   One thing that really jumped out at me is the impact of smartphones on small business transparency.  Key data: Nearly 42 percent of all U.S.

2012 100

2012 2011 Purchasing Phones 100

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 17, 2015

Interestingly enough, one of my relatives recently purchased a house in Asheville, North Carolina. Apartment developers—even those building large rental complexes—could set aside a portion of their units as a kind of Airbnb rental pool to maximize revenue and market flexibility.

Retirement 100

Retirement Expenses Purchasing Email 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 17, 2012

  Also, 84% expect companies to know their purchase history. According to a recent Click Fox survey , most consumers are willing to trade personal information to companies in exchange for some sort of value.  Their survey said 71% would share their location information for giveaways/discounts or improved service.

Purchasing 100

Purchasing 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 23, 2010

  This growing group of consumers believes it is important to purchase products with social or environmental benefits.  .  They are a consumer marketing and branding firm focused on sustainability.    They been tracking a group they call "the conscious consumer" for several years. 

Purchasing 100

Purchasing Collaborate Learning 100

Small Business Labs

MARCH 4, 2011

By 2015, the purchase of tablets and other forms of media will all but replace the desktop.”" .  The post quotes Kip Cassino, EVP of Borrell: "Today, reported Cassino, 15 percent of online ad sales are going into mobile. By 2015 that will be 64 percent. The devices will change,” said Cassino.  

2015 100

2015 Purchasing Forms AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

MAY 2, 2011

Innovative bus companies like Megabus and Bolt Bus offer convenient service, comfortable seats with power outlets, WiFi access and super cheap fares purchased online. - the bus is now the fastest growing way to travel. The buses don't use a bus station, they pickup curbside at locations listed on their websites. 

Travel 100

Travel Policies Purchasing AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

MAY 22, 2013

The announcements that Google and Lockheed Martin have purchased quantum computers has led to a lot of recent coverage on the topic. Quantum computers are very, very fast. Instead of using the traditional approach of a string of 1's and 0's that are either turned on or off, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits.

Google 100

Google Expenses Purchasing Learning 100

Small Business Labs

JULY 7, 2011

  It uses the  discredited statistic that women control 83% of consumer purchases.  .  The article has an interesting "lies, damned lies and statistics" example.    That stat was made up years ago and became "common knowledge."   Intuit has a micro-site on the She-conomy. 

2024 100

2024 Purchasing Collaborate Environment 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 19, 2012

And of those, 44% expect to purchase an Android tablet, compared with 27% who will opt for an iPad. If .    The other interesting finding from the study is Android tablets are starting to overtake iPads.  If these intentions hold true, it will mark a shift from current ownership trends. " This is not surprising.

Purchasing 100

Purchasing AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 21, 2011

  You can also take a look at their marketplace to see and purchase printed products.  .  Shapeway users will be able to create their designs online and have them printed (manufactured) by Shapeways 3D printers in their new facility.    Shapeways has a nice video (at bottom of page) showing how 3D printing works. 

Purchasing 100

Purchasing 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 14, 2012

In the tech world  mobile commerce has a very clear definition - it's the use of a mobile computing device (mostly smartphones) to make a purchase.   But as we dive deeper into the world of food trucks, we're learning the trend towards mobile,  truck-based commerce is exploding.

Google 100

Google Equipment Purchasing Learning 100

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

" He points out that people who purchase energy supplies for companies in Asia pay up to six times as much for natural gas as their counterparts in Texas and Louisiana. .  Key quote: "We think lower natural gas prices are creating a structural economic advantage for the U.S.," manufacturers."

2020 100

2020 Purchasing Management UPS 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 18, 2010

    Locavores try to purchase as much food as possible from locally grown sources.  Fun article on lazy locavores in the WSJ.    We first wrote about this trend several years ago, and  last year we became one.    Locavores do this for a variety of reasons. 

2020 100

2020 Purchasing Skills Environment 100