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Local butchers seen as key to bolstering the food supply chain

Dec 15, 2021
The pandemic exposed weakness in the United States’ meat processing infrastructure. Now, there’s interest in boosting capacity at the local level.
Brian Schatz is production manager at Schmidt's Meat Market. Customers have been traveling greater distances to access Schmidt's butchering services has grown in recent years, he said.
Britta Greene

How some companies manage to profit from supply chain kinks

Dec 14, 2021
While businesses are not immune to the global logistics nightmare, those that primarily source domestically have an advantage.
The factory floor at the Thompson Creek Window Co. CEO Rick Wuest said being domestically sourced means reliability. “We seized the window of opportunity," he said.
Nancy Marshall-Genzer

Some small businesses see silver linings in the janky supply chain

Dec 8, 2021
Smaller companies are more nimble than big department stores, allowing them to take advantage of the situation.
The congested supply chain has a lot of businesses scrambling. In some cases, that’s opened up opportunities for smaller, more nimble operators to fill in the gaps.
Mario Tama via Getty Images

Small Business Saturday helps retailers who aren't caught in the supply chain

Nov 26, 2021
Smaller businesses that sell locally sourced goods, or provide services, don't always need faraway suppliers.
With some name-brand products delayed by supply chain issues, small retailers may see a boost this holiday shopping season. Above, Small Business Saturday signage in a New York City window.
Brian Ach/Getty Images for American Express

A new program aims to help small businesses recover

David Brancaccio speaks with Efrem Fesaha and Jasmine Star about the new BackTo.Biz program funded by Howard Schultz.
Small businesses have been required to pivot during the pandemic in order to survive. The BackTo.Biz program helps small business owners do just that.
LeoPatrizi via Getty Images

Small-business owners are struggling with their supply chains. But they're more optimistic.

Sep 14, 2021
The National Federation of Independent Business reports nearly half of small businesses surveyed raised prices in August.
Supply chain hiccups are translating into higher prices at small businesses, including some stores that sell eyewear.
Philippe Huguen/AFP via Getty Images

Loan forgiveness not coming easily for some PPP borrowers

Aug 31, 2021
So far, more than $27 billion worth of Paycheck Protection Program loans must be paid back.
President Joe Biden speaks about the American Rescue Plan and the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses in February.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

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Here's why we're seeing a rush to create new businesses

Aug 19, 2021
There were over 4 million applications for new businesses last year, according to the Census Bureau.
There was a boom in applications for new businesses last year, per the Census Bureau.
pixdeluxe via Getty Images

COVID closed Philadelphia's Poi Dog, but the sauces and recipes remain

Aug 12, 2021
Kiki Aranita closed her restaurant after the city shut down. A year later, she's still making Hawaiian food and building the brand.
Poi Dog, Kiki Aranita's former Hawaiian restaurant. She continues her career in food and  her efforts to build the Poi Dog brand.
Photo courtesy Kiki Aranita

Small business optimism shrinks as labor shortage, price hikes continue

Aug 10, 2021
Owners expect lower sales and worse business conditions in the coming months, reflected in the NFIB’s declining optimism index.
Though the economy is rebounding from the COVID-19 downdraft, small-business owners expect near-term business conditions to worsen.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images