Five Things To Know This Week:
1) Retail Outlook 2022
2) 2022 Global Talent Trends
3) 10 Top Side Hustles
4) The Best Office Chairs for Working from Home
5) Resource of the Week: America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
Happy Spring everyone! Now that we moved the clocks ahead one hour in the U.S., the weather is getting warmer, and the sun is setting later, it’s time to get outside, and recharge our minds, bodies, and spirits!
Clear out the obstacles in front of you and recommit yourself to the annual goals you made for 2022. It’s a GREAT day to have a great day!
Brian Moran
CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
Retail Outlook 2022
The National Retail Federation (NRF) just released its annual forecast, and 2022 promises to be another good one for retailers. The organization anticipates retail sales will rise between 6% to 8%, topping $4.86 trillion this year.
As consumers continue to shop online, e-commerce sales will do even better, increasing between 11% to 13% to between $1.17 trillion-$1.19 trillion. This includes non-store sales as well. NRF stats don’t include sales from automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants.
Read more about the State of Retail and the Consumer.
2022 Global Talent Trends
A new report from LinkedIn, “The Reinvention of Company Culture,” found key changes in what employees want from their jobs:
- When employees are satisfied with their company’s time and location flexibility, they are 2.1 times more likely to recommend working for the company.
- If employees are cared for at work, they are 3.7 times more likely to recommend working for the company.
- Candidates are 67% more engaged with companies that mention company culture in their social media posts.
Read more about The Reinvention of Company Culture.
10 Top Side Hustles
Sadly, Gusto reports that 33% of small business owners keep their companies afloat by also working side hustles. If you’re struggling financially right now, this could be a great solution for you.
Business Insider has compiled a helpful list of 10 top side gigs that, if you have the skills, can help you keep your business going until your get back on the right financial track.
Read more about 10 great side hustles.
The Best Office Chairs for Working from Home
There are many advantages to working from home, but being ergonomically smart is often not one of them. Even if you’ve been working at home for a while, there’s a good chance you’re working from the couch, your bed, or sitting on one of your kitchen or dining room chairs.
PC Mag advises you to “set up an ergonomic workspace that you can use without hurting your arms, back, or neck. That means you need a proper chair, ideally in front of a desk or table.”
To help you out, PC Mag compiled a detailed and useful list of the best office chairs for working from home—and they won’t necessarily break the bank.
Read more about the best ergonomic chairs for working from home.
Resource of the Week:
America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
There are nearly 1,000 local Small Business Development Centers available to provide no-cost business consulting and low-cost training to new and existing businesses.
The SBDCs are hosted by leading universities, colleges, state economic development agencies and private partners, and funded in part by the United States Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs can go to their local SBDCs for FREE face-to-face business consulting and at-cost training on a variety of topics. Learn more about how SBDCs are helping local businesses start, grow and thrive.
