Get an edge on Cyber Monday

How do you win Cyber Monday? It may seem impossible when you're up against big-box retailers and their mega deals, but small businesses have the advantage when it comes to customer service. We dive into that, as well as an interview with Portland’s new small business liaison, who helps entrepreneurs with everything from unlocking capital to navigating permits.  

But first, check out how the new Netflix House in Philadelphia’s King of Prussia mall merges your favorite streaming shows with experiential retail.

Feels like home. Residential décor and vibes are trending in stores. 

Zip line, anyone? Malls bring in action attractions to lure customers.   

Holiday alert. The quiet ways stores are changing their return policies. 

Pink Friday. Using the Friday before Black Friday to draw shoppers.

Southern comfort: Four Birmingham, AL small business owners share advice.

Helping SMBs launch, unlock capital, navigate permits and thrive

Jon Bebe is a business liaison for the new Portland Office of Small Business, part of the city’s economic development agency. “We meet owners at all stages of business development. Some are pre-launch, some are in transition, some want to sell their business,” he says. “We have resources to help all of them, whether it's access to capital, lining up permits, finding mentors.” He says their biggest need by far is access to capital, followed by help with permitting and support through transitions like changing products, partners or locations.

Why this matters: When a city invests in developing its small businesses, it’s a win-win for locals and visitors. Bebe advises owners on more than funding, emphasizing education that fuels their big ideas. (Portland.gov)

Agility and the human touch: How to compete on Cyber Monday

For small businesses, going up against big-box retailers is daunting. But what they lack in budget, they make up for in creativity, agility and customer service. First, plan ahead for storage and fulfillment, extend your sale window and keep in touch with your local customers. Use AI to work smarter and offer bundles instead of discounts. Partner with other small businesses, leverage local influencers and focus on one signature product or service. Your best weapon is authenticity.

Why this matters: Holiday is an opportunity to show your customers who you are, why you started your business and what they mean to you. Being personal and relatable is also free. (Entrepreneur)

New report reveals how tariffs and rising costs have impacted small businesses.

Enabling electronic payments is an opportunity for small retailers this holiday.

How Hawaii’s local businesses are dealing with rising costs and minimum wage.

Taking it to the bank: What are the best payroll solutions for SMBs?

Denim on demand: Old Navy links with Door Dash for same-day delivery.

Dissecting data from NFIB’s Economic Trends Survey

For those who love getting into the data weeds, the NFIB (National Federation of Independent Businesses) launched a new podcast called Small Business by the Numbers and its first episode dives into the October results of its monthly Small Business Economic Trends survey. Surprisingly, over a quarter of respondents said labor quality was their top concern, with a third reporting jobs they could not fill and the majority of those hiring reported few to no qualified candidates. Co-hosts Holly Wade and Peter Hansen dissect why.

“We had a huge spike in the number of respondents saying that labor quality was their single most important issue...The service sector a bit, the transportation sector a bit, but the outlier was construction... We had a major shift in immigration policy that has contributed to the supply problem...and then we also have a huge influx in the construction and build out of data centers...Small construction business owners are going to be stuck in this situation for the foreseeable future." –Holly Wade, executive director, NFIB Research Center

Why this matters: While much has been made of hiring freezes, there are plenty of small businesses—mostly construction—who want to hire but can’t find quality applicants. Turns out policy changes and cloud services are the culprits. (NFIB)

New Bain & Company report reveals how AI is changing the customer journey

AI is rapidly changing how shoppers interact with retailers. Among well-known brands experiencing this shift, Walmart, Target, Etsy, Wayfair, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy and Macy’s have seen AI referrals increase in the last year. Third-party AI agents pose a conundrum for retailers: they can expand reach and reduce customer acquisition costs, but they can also cut retailers off from customer interaction and turn a brand into a commodity. Luckily, consumers still say they trust retailer-owned agents more than third-party chatbots. 

Why this matters: AI now accounts for up to a quarter of referral traffic for some retailers. Research shows that AI agents heavily weigh review counts and average ratings, so optimizing them is super important. (Bain & Company)

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The SKUpe is curated and written by Marcy Medina and edited by Bianca Prieto.