It's Never Too Late to Change the Playbook For Your Image

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Bernard Arnault has spent decades carefully cultivating the image of some of the world’s most sought after brands, from Louis Vuitton to Dior. Now the LVMH chief is changing tactics when it comes to his own. 

The billionaire published an acerbic open letter attacking one of France’s top newspapers on Sunday, taking aim at a six-part examination of his political connections, media ownership and the question of who will eventually succeed him at the top of his luxury empire. On Monday, the 77-year-old took to social-media platform X for the first time to amplify his uncharacteristic missive.

The new approach comes as Arnault has grown increasingly frustrated with how he and his family are being portrayed.  

Admirers credit Arnault with turning brands such as Louis Vuitton and Dior into global powerhouses and helping establish France as the dominant force in the luxury industry. As such, he has the right to exercise control over the use of his image and how he is portrayed.

Today in Global Small Business: Trump's Obsession With More and More Tariffs

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Tariffs are an obsession for President Trump, much as climate was for the Biden Administration. How else to explain his imposition of yet another round of border taxes three months before the November election despite their political unpopularity and economic harm?
• ChatGPT for small businesses.
• Latest tariff update(s) from Global-e.
• Quote of the week:  “The European Union questioned the new tariff, with its foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas calling it a “negative surprise” and rejecting the forced labor claims as unfounded."
• How people are really using AI in 2026 (HBR).
• What's going to happen with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement?

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!  

The Advent of Motorola and the Car Radio

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Intrigued by the idea of portable radios, Paul and Joseph [Galvin] soon gravitated toward finding a solution for an affordable radio mounted in the car itself. In June 1930, the brothers enlisted the help of inventors Elmer Wavering and William Lear to retrofit Paul’s Studebaker with a radio. 

During the project, Paul and Joseph decided to rename their business to Motorola: “motor” for motor vehicle, and “ola,” which was derived from the company Victrola, the preeminent phonograph manufacturer, to evoke the idea of music.

Where Does the Industry Get Its Talent?

dusanpetkovic 

Using data from 40,000 job boards and networking sites, Cole and colleagues from the Project on Impact Investing at HBS tracked the professional trajectories of almost 350,000 MBAs. They focused on graduates from the top 25 US business schools ranked by US News and World Report in 2024, narrowing the pool to 832 working in impact investing.

Find out who's hiring and where.

Top 9 Global Small Business Trends To Watch in 2026

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According to Upwork, the top 9 global small business trends in 2026 involve AI adoption and automation, e-commerce and omnichannel growth, hyperpersonalization, cybersecurity, social media marketing, sustainability, remote and hybrid work, subscription-based revenue models, and building flexible teams with freelancers.

Discover the highlights (details) of global small business trends in 2026.

SMBs Are Trapped in a Pressure Gap

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Bookipi study finds that SMBs are feeling the squeeze from rising supplier costs, late payments, reduced demand, and fear of climbing prices.

Small businesses worldwide are facing a widening financial "pressure gap" due to global instability, according to a new global survey from Bookipi, a global platform offering a comprehensive suite of AI-powered business management tools tailored for small businesses (SMBs) and solopreneurs. 

Tariffs, inflation, geopolitical instability, and trade tensions are driving costs higher, making customers more cautious, delaying payments, and prompting small business owners to hesitate before raising prices to protect profits.

A New 50% Tariff On Canadian Imports Set to Begin In 30 Days

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Is this tariff really about the wildfire smoke drifting down from Canada? Your guess is as good as mine. We'll have to wait and see – punishment seems to be the modus operandi of the current US administration.

Trump cited Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a law that allows a president to tariff goods up to 50% without congressional approval when a country is believed to be discriminating against American goods.

Here's the key:  The law has never been applied this way.

The new import levies are a response to alleged discrimination against American motor vehicles, alcohol and dairy, an official said.

Today in Global Small Business: When AI Builds Itself

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• When AI builds itself.
• AI for small business – by SBA.
• 10 ways small businesses can use AI to grow.
• Quote of the week:  “AI is a mirror, reflecting our intellect and our values." – Ravi Narayanan
• Small business and AI adoption.
• America’s enterprising spirit is booming after decades-long slump.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

Happiness Is ...

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Happiness is to hold flowers in both hands." – Japanese Proverb

Every Household Needs This: The Original Honey Hat™

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Love this product and the people behind it – Sarah Purdy and Laurie Aquilina – who are even more amazing.  The Original Honey Hat™ is a joy-inducing new kitchen gadget that catches honey bear and syrup bottle drips to help eliminate sticky messes for good. 

Check it out!

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!

Inflation Remains a Danger to the U.S. Economy

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Inflation remains a danger to the U.S. economy, so enjoy the good news when you can. That includes data released this week showing that both consumer and producer prices are flattening a bit.

Also encouraging is that the producer-price index released Wednesday (7/15/26) pointed in the right direction. Wholesale prices fell 0.3% month-on-month in June, firmly on a downward trend after a recent peak in April and again led by energy-price declines. Producer prices are often a harbinger of changes that eventually feed through to CPI. 

Read more here.

Tariffs and the Impact on Small Business, Manufacturing, and Supply Chains

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What's the likelihood that small businesses will see tariff relief any time soon?  

Given the Trump Administration’s aggressive response to the Supreme Court’s decision, in which he promised to maintain or increase tariffs on importers of foreign goods using other sections of the Trade Act of 1974, it seems unlikely that material tariff relief for small businesses is coming soon.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!