NEW YORK (MainStreet) -- What's happening in small business today?
1. Amazon to open stores? Oh boy. Consumers might consider this a dream come true, but for small businesses, the rumor that Amazon(AMZN_) is adopting a bricks-and-mortar model could be scary. The e-tailer is planning to open a physical presence in Seattle "with an eye toward building a national chain," according to Gawker.
The location is a test to see if physical stores could be profitable. Initially it will sell Amazon Kindles and accessories. Gawker says its not clear if the store will sell books.
Small merchants and independent bookstores beware. This is a story that is sure to develop.
One positive note: A physical presence "would accelerate the inevitable process of Amazon remitting sales tax to local governments," the article says.
2. How to be an authentically green business. Many companies like to portray themselves as being green, some using words such as "natural" and "pure" on their packaging with little substance to back it up. But the only thing that does is make consumers mistrustful of green messaging. To get through to customers, your environmental sustainability efforts need to feel "genuine, transparent and earnest," according to Small Business Trends.
The article offers four ways to improve your green authenticity by analyzing -- and communicating to your customers -- your company's usage data, trying not to overplay the green marketing, increasing your transparency in such things as green initiatives, but also communicating challenges you've had, such as missing a sustainability target or other hurdles.
3. Small-business election issues.With primary season in full swing, small businesses say the costs of health care reform, the payroll tax cut, access to capital and onerous regulation are top concerns.
Many small-business owners are tired of the excessive politics and little action to help them sustain and grow their businesses in difficult times. Some small-business owners may be willing to cross party lines for more business-friendly policies, a Crain's New York article suggested.
-- Written by Laurie Kulikowski in New York.
To contact Laurie Kulikowski, send an email to: Laurie.Kulikowski@thestreet.com.
To follow Laurie Kulikowski on Twitter, go to: http://twitter.com/#!/LKulikowski
1. Amazon to open stores? Oh boy. Consumers might consider this a dream come true, but for small businesses, the rumor that Amazon(AMZN_) is adopting a bricks-and-mortar model could be scary. The e-tailer is planning to open a physical presence in Seattle "with an eye toward building a national chain," according to Gawker.
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Small merchants and independent bookstores beware. This is a story that is sure to develop.
One positive note: A physical presence "would accelerate the inevitable process of Amazon remitting sales tax to local governments," the article says.
2. How to be an authentically green business. Many companies like to portray themselves as being green, some using words such as "natural" and "pure" on their packaging with little substance to back it up. But the only thing that does is make consumers mistrustful of green messaging. To get through to customers, your environmental sustainability efforts need to feel "genuine, transparent and earnest," according to Small Business Trends.
The article offers four ways to improve your green authenticity by analyzing -- and communicating to your customers -- your company's usage data, trying not to overplay the green marketing, increasing your transparency in such things as green initiatives, but also communicating challenges you've had, such as missing a sustainability target or other hurdles.
3. Small-business election issues.With primary season in full swing, small businesses say the costs of health care reform, the payroll tax cut, access to capital and onerous regulation are top concerns.
Many small-business owners are tired of the excessive politics and little action to help them sustain and grow their businesses in difficult times. Some small-business owners may be willing to cross party lines for more business-friendly policies, a Crain's New York article suggested.
-- Written by Laurie Kulikowski in New York.
To contact Laurie Kulikowski, send an email to: Laurie.Kulikowski@thestreet.com.
To follow Laurie Kulikowski on Twitter, go to: http://twitter.com/#!/LKulikowski
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