Fun, low-cost event ideas to draw customers in, from plant and music bingo to shop-local cards.

Consumers are turning to AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude for recommendations with a very different kind of search. And it raises an interesting question for every business owner: If a potential customer described exactly what you do and asked AI for a recommendation, would your business make the list?

Much like running a business, Odysseus’ journey home is rarely straightforward. Market shifts, rising costs, and unexpected challenges can make even the most confident business owner feel lost at sea. Fortunately, The Odyssey offers some timeless lessons for anyone navigating the unpredictable waters of business.

As summer hits its peak and the back-to-school buzz begins, this is the perfect time to refresh your marketing. It’s also a great time to connect with your customers in meaningful, fun, and creative ways. And you don’t have to be a retail shop to “sell summer” or “back-to-school.”

Your repeat customers are the foundation of a community. It’s more than a loyalty program or being “regulars”—it’s about creating a genuine connection. This sense of community keeps them choosing you, even when cheaper or more convenient options appear.

In the past, you probably posted a job, hired fast as fast as you could, and hoped for the best. But seasonal hiring doesn’t have to feel like a gamble. Done right, it can give you flexibility, protect your margins, and improve your customer experience. Done wrong, it creates more work than it solves.

Most small businesses rely on referrals and word-of-mouth to get new opportunities. Behind these businesses is a network of relationships that passes on opportunities through trust and loyalty, which are crucial for local economies and take time to build.

Every business is convinced they offer stellar service but if you can’t think of a company in your area that offers bad service, it might be you. It’s statistically impossible for every business to offer “the best” service. One is better than the other. We aren’t all 5-stars all the time.

Some days it feels hard to compete with the loss leaders big box stores employ, the operating hours they’re able to keep, the programs, their ad budget, their marketing…the list goes on. But small businesses do have an advantage box stores don’t and it’s one that’s rarely used.