Nestled in Bad Axe, Michigan, the state’s quiet thumb-area (population of less than 3,000), local favorite Emma’s Coffee House is flourishing like a big city star. In the middle of a pandemic no less.

Open since September 2018, Untied was a rare breed of merchant pre-Covid: an independent men’s shop selling lesser-known brands and accessories, its aesthetic more sit-for-a-while than next-in-line. Today, post-lockdown, the store remains a rarity: welcoming familiar – and new – faces, enjoying more good days than bad, and an owner-operator optimistic despite the looming holiday season.

Social media is the most powerful marketing tool of our lifetime. It not only keeps people around the country and the globe connected, it’s also become a marketing machine. Brands everywhere can easily discover their target audience and reach them from the comfort of their own home and preferred platform.

Faye Klein has produced award-winning graphics that span nearly every area of advertising and promotion for over 30 years. And while titles are surely nice, she’s not one to sit back and relish in accolades. In fact, she can’t stop finding new inspiration and side hustles.

Weeks into the pandemic, with the entirety of the entertainment and sporting worlds quiet, a curiosity appeared in my morning paper: sports scores. With no games to report, the editors at some big city dailies engaged in a little history lesson, publishing results of games played on that day years ago. Sports fans are nostalgic, I suppose.

As a Corporate Retirement Director, the most common issue that I hear from my businesses is how to attract and retain the most skilled employees. Besides the obvious benefits such as health, dental, vision and life insurance, employees want more.

Bea Wolnerman, founder of Bea’s Squeeze and Bea’s Detroit could give lessons on a masterful business pivot.

Much like startups, traditional small businesses also need to be ROI-conscious when it comes to marketing. Small businesses tend to serve well-defined customer segments which means “pivoting” isn’t always an option.

Dayna created her business, DNA Wellness, with her husband Anthony to empower and encourage others with long-lasting wellness solutions. Think simple tips, engaging tutorials, and practical advice on 360-topics including emotional, physical, spiritual, and financial health.

2020 has brought many challenges, changes, and advances amidst the bustle, a new social media platform has blossomed that could change how we see and use marketing. You’re not going to want to miss out on this.

Uli Laczkovich sells wellness products and tea. Robyn Coden sells women’s apparel and accessories. Luke Janes sells new and used books. Three independent merchants in downtown Berkley, Michigan. One singular moment: a reopening of commercial enterprise following a global pandemic.

“Iteration is inevitable, and it is constant.” No, it wasn’t Steve Jobs or Bill Gates who uttered this phrase. It was Dawn Verbrigghe.

Cybercriminals are opportunistic by nature, altering their attack methods to compromise endpoints and access critical data. This is never truer than during times of change such as now with the overnight shift to a global remote workforce.

Working from home is isolating, but social media can be an outlet for the human connection we all crave. Turn quarantine into an opportunity by strengthening your customer relationships.