Business

Small pets may be tiny, but the industry supporting them is anything but small. The global guinea pig cage market is currently valued at $455 million and projected to surge to $715 million by 2033, while rodent accessories overall are forecasted to double to $2.5 billion in the same timeframe. While millions of U.S. households own guinea pigs, rabbits and other small animals, species-specific data is limited. And, safe, high-quality habitats remain an overlooked gap in the broader pet economy.

Trade shows open doors of opportunity to growing businesses much more than months of cold calling can. They offer a concentrated environment to put your company out there, engage with potential customers and connect with industry peers. While it’s an exciting venture, first-time exhibitors often underestimate the preparation necessary and overestimate the walk-up interest of the crowd. This can make them miss out on simple opportunities that knowledgeable competitors readily seize. 

Before committing your time, budget and reputation to your first expo, here’s what you should know.

Choosing your company’s most beneficial data collection type can dramatically improve your marketing strategy. Client information can help your small business’s design and marketing team better understand your customers, which can boost growth and create more effective engagement. 

Finding a suitable service for your small business is extremely important. You must consider the pros and cons of first-, second- and third-party data collection to determine what’s best for your company.

Nearly every business with a physical location needs signage to guide customers and employees and comply with legal requirements. From restrooms to emergency exits, signs ensure people know where to go and how to respond in critical situations.

Agencies like OSHA and the ADA mandate specific signs to promote safety, accessibility and compliance. These regulations are the result of years of research and real-world experience, designed to protect people in emergencies and everyday scenarios. Signs make life easier by sharing valuable information, indicating accessible entrances or providing instructions during a power outage. Small business owners should prioritize signage to create a safe, welcoming environment for all.

Many entrepreneurs dream of expanding their reach, customer base and industry impact. However, the scaling journey is filled with financial complexities that, if overlooked, can quickly transform a growth opportunity into an unforeseen challenge. Discover signs that indicate if a company has the required fiscal resilience for successful and sustainable scaling.

You might have nailed your local delivery strategy, but taking the same approach to national or global markets can lead to serious headaches. What works for neighborhood drop-offs or regional partnerships does not always scale when you are shipping across borders, navigating customs or trying to meet international demand. It is essential to understand how distribution shifts as your reach grows.

Each level brings new logistics, compliance and customer expectations. Here are a few examples of how global distribution compares to nationwide strategies.

As a small or medium business owner, you are consistently asked to do more with less — less time, less budget and fewer hands on deck. Every decision can impact your bottom line and your bandwidth. One of the biggest choices you will face is building an in-house team or bringing in outside experts.

In-house teams give you closer collaboration and deep brand familiarity. However, outsourcing can offer flexibility, lower costs and quick access to specialized skills without a long-term commitment. Striking the right balance goes beyond cutting costs. It involves making wise decisions that help you grow without burning out.

The choice of an open plan versus a traditional, closed office is a hot topic of debate among business leaders, designers and employees. Both options come with distinct advantages and disadvantages that influence productivity, communication and well-being. As more workers return to full-time office work in the post-pandemic era, which layout is best suited to today’s diverse and dynamic workforce? 

Small-business owners have likely read about using a firewall for their websites, installing antivirus software on computers and insisting on strong passwords. However, the most serious security threats may not come from where you think they will. Sometimes, everyday risks pose the biggest danger. 

In addition to the massive technological changes with artificial intelligence (AI), criminals look for any slight advantage to gain access to data or your physical location. Here are some hidden areas you might not have considered before and how to secure them today.

Business professionals are familiar with greenwashing and social washing as ways corporations manipulate customers — whether intentionally or not — with misleading information. Since the advent of widespread artificial intelligence (AI), AI washing has become a trend. Uncover what this entails and how entities can avoid it to maintain customer loyalty.