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By late last summer, it became clear that most companies would likely move to a hybrid working model , which combines increased levels of remote work with in-office work. The Washington Post's recent article T he hybrid office is here to stay. MORE
Accenture, a global consulting and services firm, predicts that social commerce will grow to $1.2 trillion in global revenue by 2025. Accenture defines social commerce as: "The integration of social experiences and ecommerce transactions in a single path to purchase, enabled by platforms." MORE
Influencer marketing has become a popular way for companies to promote their brands. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, brands are expected to spend $13.8 billion on influencer marketing programs in 2021. MORE
The recently released Global Survey on Freelancing covers data gleaned from over 1900 freelancers from across the globe. MORE
The pandemic-driven seismic shift to remote led to continued strong growth in the number of American digital nomads in 2021. The MBO Partners 2021 State of Independence research study found that 15.5 MORE
Good Morning America had an excellent segment on gig economy side hustles this morning (see the video below). It focused on women and side gigs, but they hit on the main reasons both men and women get side jobs - they provide a flexible way to supplement their income and earn money in response to a financial shock. We also liked the end of the segment when the announcers talked about the side gigs they've done. MORE
Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that the pandemic pushed about 3 million baby boomers to retire earlier than they would have otherwise. MORE
The urban air mobility (buzzword alert) company Joby made its public markets debut last week. As with many new public offerings, it was done via a SPAC. The company is developing a five-seat electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, pictured below in-flight (click to enlarge). MORE
Cabana rents custom-built Ford Transit vans that include beds, storage, bathrooms, and Internet access. Their tagline is "a hotel that travels with you" They're hoping to tap into the large and growing number of #Vanlifers. MORE
Welcome to the Creator Economy , a study from MBO Partners and Emergent Research, found that 7.1 million American independent workers (freelancers, self-employed, etc.) earn money by creating and monetizing online digital content. In addition to sizing the U.S. MORE
The Social Market Foundation is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank based in the U.K. MORE
The antiwork movement (also referred to as the post-work movement) is getting much attention these days. This attention has been spurred by the growth of Reddit's/antiwork forum , which has over 900,000 members - who are called "idlers" on Reddit. MORE
The Pew Research Center, a highly regarded non-profit, non-partisan D.C. think tank, recently released The State of Gig Work in 2021 report. MORE
Fortune's LinkedIn’s new Marketplaces will help freelancers find work covers a new online freelance talent marketplace being developed by LinkedIn. Like other online freelance talent marketplaces such as Fiverr and Upwork, Marketplaces will enable businesses to find, hire, and pay freelancers. MORE
The Wall Street Journal's Some People Worked From Home During Covid. These People Moved to a Tropical Island covers the growing number of Caribbean islands offering digital nomad visas and includes interviews with people taking advantage of these visas. MORE
May was yet another banner month for new business applications. As the U.S. Census chart below shows (click to enlarge), 500,219 business applications were filed in May. This was the second highest number of applications filed since this data was first collected in 2005. MORE
JungleScout provides a platform that helps small businesses find, launch, and sell products on Amazon. They recently released their 2021 State of the Amazon Seller Report. MORE
Edelman released their 2021 Trust Barometer , which is an annual global study on the level of trust citizens have in institutions. The Trust Barometer focuses on trust in governments, corporations, NGOs and the media and Edelman has conducted this study for two decades. MORE
Over the past 6 months new business applications have surged. As the U.S. Census chart below shows (click to enlarge), the surge is continuing with 492,000 applications filed in January. This us up 73% compared with last January. MORE
Forerunner Ventures' The universal holding pattern: a period of trial followed by an era of opportunity covers survey work they've done on the impact of the pandemic on consumers. One of their main findings is the desire for empowerment and independence has increased. MORE
In the early 2000s, about 60% of all new business applications were from businesses planning on having employees. The other 40% were from solopreneurs who did not plan to hire employees. MORE
CB Insights is a technology analyst firm covering emerging technologies and tech startups. They just released a creator economy market map , which is below (click to enlarge). MORE
According to the 2020 census, between 2010 and 2020 the white population in America declined by 5.1 million. And as the chart below (click to enlarge) nicely illustrates, all of America's population growth in the past decade came from people of color. MORE
The Verge's Road-Tripping With Amazon Nomads looks at people who travel across the country looking for merchandise they can sell for a profit on Amazon. MORE
Axios' Tech giants have all become creator companies covers the various ways digital creators can earn money on a variety of tech platforms, Their excellent summary chart is below (click to enlarge). The article also makes a good point about the diversity of digital creators. MORE
Apple recently announced AirTags , which they describe as: AirTag is a supereasy way to keep track of your stuff. Attach one to your keys, slip another in your backpack. MORE
Platform Professional's Platforms and Digital Nomads covers online platforms supporting digital nomads. Key quote: "Platforms may not have created the phenomenon of the digital nomad, but they are making it easier to become one." MORE
Fora is a new platform that provides full and part-time independent travel agents with the tools needed to run their travel business. They recently raised $5 million in seed funding. MORE
Bloomberg's The Comeback of the Bottom Half covers Federal Reserve data showing that the less-affluent 50% of Americans saw their net worth rise the fastest over the past decade. MORE
According to the American Enterprise Institute's (AEI) The age re-retirement: Retirees and the Gig Economy , 20% of retired Americans also work in the gig economy. The article lists the usual financial reasons for working in retirement. MORE
YOLO is an acronym for "you only live once", which was popularized by the rapper Drake a decade ago. We learned this interesting fact from the New York Times article Welcome to the YOLO Economy. MORE
American Express recently released its annual Global Travel Trends report. And not surprisingly, one of their trends was on digital nomads. Key quote from the report: " 54% of respondents (U.S.) MORE
After falling by 7% in 2020 due to the pandemic, the number of independent workers (freelancers, independent contractors, gig workers, etc.) rose to 51.1 million in 2021, an unprecedented 34% increase. This is the key finding from MBO Partners 2021 State of Independence research study. MORE
The Hollywood Reporter's New Studio City Townhouses Draw Digital Creators Thanks to Hybrid Zoning covers a new townhouse community designed for artists and creative professionals. Quite unusual in LA, the townhouses have live/work zoning approval. MORE
The venture capital firm Antler recently released The Ultimate Guide to the Creator Economy. The guide includes the map below (click to enlarge), which shows, by category, "the 220+ platforms that are empowering creators to make an income by doing what they love." MORE
Despite being widely attributed to Mark Twain, there's no evidence he said: "history doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes." " But it sure sounds like him. MORE
The World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Risk Report identifies the top risks faced by businesses and society over the next decade. MORE
The number of U.S. digital nomads grew from 7.3 million in 2019 to 10.9 million in 2020, a 49% increase. This data comes from COVID-19 and the Rise of the Digital Nomad , which is the report on the third year of an ongoing research series on digital nomads conducted by MBO Partners. MORE
The UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimates that 4.9 billion people are using the Internet in 2021 , which is about 63% of the world's population. MORE
Whatnot , which bills itself as the best marketplace for collectors and enthusiasts on the internet, recently raised a $20 million funding round led by A list VC Andreessen Horowitz. MORE
Small Business Labs
DECEMBER 9, 2021
The UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimates that 4.9 billion people are using the Internet in 2021 , which is about 63% of the world's population.
Small Business Labs
MAY 20, 2021
Forerunner Ventures' The universal holding pattern: a period of trial followed by an era of opportunity covers survey work they've done on the impact of the pandemic on consumers. One of their main findings is the desire for empowerment and independence has increased.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Small Business Labs
SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
After falling by 7% in 2020 due to the pandemic, the number of independent workers (freelancers, independent contractors, gig workers, etc.) rose to 51.1 million in 2021, an unprecedented 34% increase. This is the key finding from MBO Partners 2021 State of Independence research study.
Small Business Labs
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that the pandemic pushed about 3 million baby boomers to retire earlier than they would have otherwise.
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Small Business Labs
OCTOBER 28, 2021
The antiwork movement (also referred to as the post-work movement) is getting much attention these days. This attention has been spurred by the growth of Reddit's/antiwork forum , which has over 900,000 members - who are called "idlers" on Reddit.
Small Business Labs
JUNE 10, 2021
The venture capital firm Antler recently released The Ultimate Guide to the Creator Economy. The guide includes the map below (click to enlarge), which shows, by category, "the 220+ platforms that are empowering creators to make an income by doing what they love."
Small Business Labs
OCTOBER 5, 2021
The recently released Global Survey on Freelancing covers data gleaned from over 1900 freelancers from across the globe.
Small Business Labs
JULY 27, 2021
The Verge's Road-Tripping With Amazon Nomads looks at people who travel across the country looking for merchandise they can sell for a profit on Amazon.
Small Business Labs
SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
The pandemic-driven seismic shift to remote led to continued strong growth in the number of American digital nomads in 2021. The MBO Partners 2021 State of Independence research study found that 15.5
Small Business Labs
JANUARY 11, 2022
Accenture, a global consulting and services firm, predicts that social commerce will grow to $1.2 trillion in global revenue by 2025. Accenture defines social commerce as: "The integration of social experiences and ecommerce transactions in a single path to purchase, enabled by platforms."
Small Business Labs
JUNE 1, 2021
Influencer marketing has become a popular way for companies to promote their brands. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, brands are expected to spend $13.8 billion on influencer marketing programs in 2021.
Small Business Labs
AUGUST 9, 2021
According to the American Enterprise Institute's (AEI) The age re-retirement: Retirees and the Gig Economy , 20% of retired Americans also work in the gig economy. The article lists the usual financial reasons for working in retirement.
Small Business Labs
AUGUST 26, 2021
The Wall Street Journal's Some People Worked From Home During Covid. These People Moved to a Tropical Island covers the growing number of Caribbean islands offering digital nomad visas and includes interviews with people taking advantage of these visas.
Small Business Labs
JUNE 15, 2021
CB Insights is a technology analyst firm covering emerging technologies and tech startups. They just released a creator economy market map , which is below (click to enlarge).
Small Business Labs
AUGUST 30, 2021
According to the 2020 census, between 2010 and 2020 the white population in America declined by 5.1 million. And as the chart below (click to enlarge) nicely illustrates, all of America's population growth in the past decade came from people of color.
Small Business Labs
AUGUST 16, 2021
The urban air mobility (buzzword alert) company Joby made its public markets debut last week. As with many new public offerings, it was done via a SPAC. The company is developing a five-seat electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, pictured below in-flight (click to enlarge).
Small Business Labs
JUNE 29, 2021
Cabana rents custom-built Ford Transit vans that include beds, storage, bathrooms, and Internet access. Their tagline is "a hotel that travels with you" They're hoping to tap into the large and growing number of #Vanlifers.
Small Business Labs
DECEMBER 2, 2021
The Social Market Foundation is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank based in the U.K.
Small Business Labs
MAY 11, 2021
Despite being widely attributed to Mark Twain, there's no evidence he said: "history doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes." " But it sure sounds like him.
Small Business Labs
MAY 13, 2021
Axios' Tech giants have all become creator companies covers the various ways digital creators can earn money on a variety of tech platforms, Their excellent summary chart is below (click to enlarge). The article also makes a good point about the diversity of digital creators.
Small Business Labs
JUNE 8, 2021
Platform Professional's Platforms and Digital Nomads covers online platforms supporting digital nomads. Key quote: "Platforms may not have created the phenomenon of the digital nomad, but they are making it easier to become one."
Small Business Labs
OCTOBER 6, 2020
The number of U.S. digital nomads grew from 7.3 million in 2019 to 10.9 million in 2020, a 49% increase. This data comes from COVID-19 and the Rise of the Digital Nomad , which is the report on the third year of an ongoing research series on digital nomads conducted by MBO Partners.
Small Business Labs
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
Good Morning America had an excellent segment on gig economy side hustles this morning (see the video below). It focused on women and side gigs, but they hit on the main reasons both men and women get side jobs - they provide a flexible way to supplement their income and earn money in response to a financial shock. We also liked the end of the segment when the announcers talked about the side gigs they've done.
Small Business Labs
NOVEMBER 16, 2021
Welcome to the Creator Economy , a study from MBO Partners and Emergent Research, found that 7.1 million American independent workers (freelancers, self-employed, etc.) earn money by creating and monetizing online digital content. In addition to sizing the U.S.
Small Business Labs
NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Fora is a new platform that provides full and part-time independent travel agents with the tools needed to run their travel business. They recently raised $5 million in seed funding.
Small Business Labs
APRIL 20, 2021
By late last summer, it became clear that most companies would likely move to a hybrid working model , which combines increased levels of remote work with in-office work. The Washington Post's recent article T he hybrid office is here to stay.
Small Business Labs
JULY 7, 2021
May was yet another banner month for new business applications. As the U.S. Census chart below shows (click to enlarge), 500,219 business applications were filed in May. This was the second highest number of applications filed since this data was first collected in 2005.
Small Business Labs
FEBRUARY 9, 2021
In the early 2000s, about 60% of all new business applications were from businesses planning on having employees. The other 40% were from solopreneurs who did not plan to hire employees.
Small Business Labs
APRIL 26, 2021
Apple recently announced AirTags , which they describe as: AirTag is a supereasy way to keep track of your stuff. Attach one to your keys, slip another in your backpack.
Small Business Labs
APRIL 22, 2021
YOLO is an acronym for "you only live once", which was popularized by the rapper Drake a decade ago. We learned this interesting fact from the New York Times article Welcome to the YOLO Economy.
Small Business Labs
MARCH 2, 2021
Fortune's LinkedIn’s new Marketplaces will help freelancers find work covers a new online freelance talent marketplace being developed by LinkedIn. Like other online freelance talent marketplaces such as Fiverr and Upwork, Marketplaces will enable businesses to find, hire, and pay freelancers.
Small Business Labs
MARCH 15, 2021
American Express recently released its annual Global Travel Trends report. And not surprisingly, one of their trends was on digital nomads. Key quote from the report: " 54% of respondents (U.S.)
Small Business Labs
APRIL 13, 2021
Bloomberg's The Comeback of the Bottom Half covers Federal Reserve data showing that the less-affluent 50% of Americans saw their net worth rise the fastest over the past decade.
Small Business Labs
MARCH 16, 2021
Whatnot , which bills itself as the best marketplace for collectors and enthusiasts on the internet, recently raised a $20 million funding round led by A list VC Andreessen Horowitz.
Small Business Labs
APRIL 1, 2021
JungleScout provides a platform that helps small businesses find, launch, and sell products on Amazon. They recently released their 2021 State of the Amazon Seller Report.
Small Business Labs
FEBRUARY 12, 2021
Over the past 6 months new business applications have surged. As the U.S. Census chart below shows (click to enlarge), the surge is continuing with 492,000 applications filed in January. This us up 73% compared with last January.
Small Business Labs
JANUARY 26, 2021
The World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Risk Report identifies the top risks faced by businesses and society over the next decade.
Small Business Labs
JANUARY 14, 2021
Edelman released their 2021 Trust Barometer , which is an annual global study on the level of trust citizens have in institutions. The Trust Barometer focuses on trust in governments, corporations, NGOs and the media and Edelman has conducted this study for two decades.
Small Business Labs
AUGUST 2, 2021
The Hollywood Reporter's New Studio City Townhouses Draw Digital Creators Thanks to Hybrid Zoning covers a new townhouse community designed for artists and creative professionals. Quite unusual in LA, the townhouses have live/work zoning approval.
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