Costco Rocks and For a Good Reason

©iStock/jetcityimage

With all the recent news about tariffs, members can't help but wonder if they will see prices at Costco go up.

At the company's second-quarter earnings call in March, CEO Ron Vachris spoke to reassure investors and customers at the same time, even as he acknowledged that it's difficult to predict the impact of tariffs. 

"Our team remains agile and our goal will be to minimize the impact of related cost increases to our members," he said, adding that only around one-third of Costco products sold in the U.S. are imported from other countries, and less than half of those are items coming from China, Mexico, and Canada.

By the end of the year, Costco will have more than 900 locations worldwide.  Here is a list of the locations opening soon: 

• Stuart, FL, April 2025
• Ardeer, Australia, April 2025
• Minami Alps, Japan, April 2025
• Pyeongtaek, Korea, June 2025
• Malmo, Sweden, July 2025
• Midland, TX, July 2025

Global Small Businesses Are Feeling the Greatest Pain Right Now From Tariffs

©iStock/TatyanaGI

Bill Ackman wrote in a Sunday post on X that the U.S. risks fueling an “economic nuclear war” should the administration’s onslaught of tariffs proceed against dozens of countries.

Ackman, who runs the New York City-based hedge fund Pershing Square, suggested that President Trump consider a 90-day pause of the policy to allow time for negotiations, and he underscored how the country’s [global] small businesses “will experience much greater pain” compared with larger companies.

It's Not Candy Land, It's Game of Chicken

©iStock/ptasha

A day before Donald Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs are scheduled to kick in, the US president appears locked in a high-stakes game of chicken [or maybe Candy Land?], with the world's economy hanging in the balance.

Some nations labelled "worst offenders" are scrambling to make nice with the White House to end this game before it reaches a potentially devastating climax.  China, in contrast, is playing a different game, one of retaliation and resistance.

Meanwhile, Trump has pressed ahead, even as some allies – in Congress and on Wall Street – wonder if he's going too far.

Today in Global Small Business: SNL's Latest Episode Where Trump Provides an Update On His Recent Tariffs

©iStock/Ray Orton

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

• Oh, have some fun with SNL's latest episode where Trump provides an update on his recent tariffs.
• Trade.gov is still up and running.  Here's the part I like best:  Are you experiencing a trade barrier?  Go here.  Is there anyone who is NOT experiencing a trade barrier right now?
• EXIM is still up and running – doing its best to keep America strong.
• Quote of the week:  “There is one and only one social responsibility of business—to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits.” – Milton Friedman
• SBA's Office of International Trade is still up and running.
• Defiant Trump vows to stay the course as countries scramble over tariffs.

Winter Hibernation is Over

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Winter hibernation is over – let's catch up!" – common informal expression, not attributed to a specific person

Globalization is Not Dead But It's Evolving

©iStock/Wirestock

Get a glimpse of what NY Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman has to say in, "I Just Saw the Future.  It Was Not in America."

It would take years for American car companies to replace the global supply chains they depend on and make everything in America. Even Tesla has to import some parts.

With the new era of protectionism, consumers will pay more and have less choice.  Eliminating foreign competition, well, makes me [Laurel Delaney] think we will each be sewing our own Nike running shoes, if that's your brand. 

Globalization is not dead but it's evolving.

Be Who You Are on Your Way Out, Sadly Not Before

©iStock/farres tariq

The former Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, will likely deliver the deciding vote on a resolution to block a national emergency used to justify the new tariffs on Canadian imports.

Sen. Mitch McConnell privately indicated to Sen. Tim Kaine he would back the Virginia Democrat’s resolution to undo President Donald Trump’s Canada tariffs.

What does it mean?  We'll soon find out.  

The Decline of the Expert?

©iStock/Makhbubakhon Ismatova

Want to understand a medical diagnosis, learn how to export, challenge a legal contract, or make sense of an economic forecast? Traditionally, your only option was to trust a trained professional.  But now, AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and others are changing the game—offering clear, confident, and accessible answers to complex questions. 

This democratization of knowledge has tremendous potential.  But it could also be the decline of the expert?

Connect, Learn, Have Fun and Export!

©2025 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Join wegg's next wegginar® with award-winning exporter Joan Laureano, President of Nosotras Boutique Fashion Group tomorrow, Wednesday, April 2nd at 11 AM CT.  Free of charge thanks to wegg's sponsors.

To learn more and to register, visit:  My 10 Biggest Lessons in Exporting.

Today in Global Small Business: It's a Trump Rodeo Ride So Far

©iStock/Ultima_Gaina

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

• Most investors knew things could turn turbulent this year given U.S. President Donald Trump's return to power in the world's biggest economy and financial market, but few predicted the kind of a rodeo ride it has been so far.
• Bitcoin demand declines amid global trade wars.
• Quote of the week:  “American bull riding has been called 'the most dangerous eight seconds in sports.'" – general statement
• JP Morgan research:  U.S. tariffs and what the impact will be on global trade and the economy.
• Japan is upset.  An editorial on Trump's auto tariffs.
• Mexico is upset.  They will respond to Trump's tariffs with immediate measures.

Points to Heaven

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"The church is not the way to heaven; the church is the sign that points to heaven." – Adrian Rogers,

Prepare for Unexpected Shocks in the Global Marketplace

©iStock/Liubomyr Vorona

"Resist protectionism" and defend globalization.  That's what Premier Li Qiang recently told a gathering of global executives in Beijing.  He went on to say that China is prepared for “possible unexpected shocks."

CEOs including Apple’s Tim Cook, FedEx’s Raj Subramaniam and Pfizer’s Albert Bourla gathered in the Chinese capital over the weekend for a two-day forum that comes as US President Donald Trump has ratcheted up trade pressure on China in a bid to rebalance what he sees as an unfair relationship.

Premier Li Qiang said, “We have prepared for possible unexpected shocks, which, of course, mainly come from external sources. Where necessary, the Chinese government will introduce new policies to ensure the smooth operation of the Chinese economy.”

Trade uncertainties loom.

Recalculate Your Financials to See Where the New Global Realities Lie

iStock/Leonardo Penuela Bernal

Technically speaking, should the U.S. dollar be strong or weak relative to other currencies? It depends whose point of view you take. The fact that whatever position someone takes has pros and cons reveals the complexity of their positions.

Fast forward, not know which way the dollar will move, it will probably be prudent for U.S. companies to find U.S. sources for their supply chains, if feasible, or at least lessen dependence on foreign goods and services. 

Companies that use imported parts but also export will likely need to recalculate their financials to see where the new realities lie. Also, those relying on a strong U.S. dollar should re-examine their temporary advantage at the moment and consider whether it will still work with a weaker dollar.

Forward This To Someone Who Means the World To You (Video Song)

Bring It On: The Recipient of the Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership® 2025 is Diana Yousef

©2025 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global.  All rights reserved.

Read all about it here: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2025/03/24/diana-yousef-founder-and-ceo-changewater-labs-receives-the-2025-gail-adinamis-wegg-award-for-exemplary-global-leadership/

Today in Global Small Business: Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago 2025

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

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

• Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago, Illinois, Sunday, March, 23, 2025.
• Small businesses are running out of moves in Trump's trade wars.
• Quote of the week:  “The scariest thing about what President Trump is doing with his tariffs-for-all strategy, I believe, is that he has no clue what he is doing — or how the world economy operates, for that matter. He’s just making it all up as he goes along — and we are all along for the ride.” – Thomas L. Friedman, 2/18/25, NY Times Opinion
• How Trump's tariffs are impacting U.S. small businesses.
• This Canadian business survived 142 years, but maybe not Trump’s trade war.
• Scrambling to adapt, tariffs on imports impact global small businesses.

Coming of Spring

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"With the coming of spring, I am calm again."  Gustav Mahler

Happy Belated International Happiness Day

©iStock/yayayoyo

I [Laurel Delaney] had no idea there was such a thing as International Happiness Day.  Well we can use all the happiness we can get in our world right now.

Yesterday — March 20 — was in fact International Day of Happiness. Declared by the United Nations in 2013, this special day recognizes the importance of happiness as "a fundamental goal" in people's lives around the world.

It's never too late to be happy so celebrate your happiness today and every day thereafter.  I'm happy because we've reached more than 125,000 readers to this blog!  Hooray!  Happy!

The Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership® Ceremony 3/24/25

©Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Please JOIN Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global on Monday, March 24th at 10 AM CT as they honor the next recipient of the prestigious Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership® 2025.

To learn more and to register (complimentary), visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/about/the-gail-adinamis-wegg-award/

See you there!

Tariffs, Counter-Tariffs, and the Small Business Impact

©iStock/Bojan89

According to John Rizzo for the Rochester Business Journal, the end goal of implementing tariffs is to incentivize companies to relocate their manufacturing operations back to the United States, which would lead to job creation. Additionally, tariff revenue can offset tax cuts and be used as leverage to address issues such as illegal migration or drug trafficking.

While relocating operations to the U.S. could benefit small business owners and the overall U.S. economy, it takes time and a significant financial investment to make this transition.  [Laurel here ... most small business owners cannot afford this investment.]

As details continue to change rapidly, all you can do is monitor the situation, do the best you can do under the circumstances, and take action in a way that serves you and your customers best.

Build a Global Growth Strategy

©iStock/Liuzishan

Global growth holds immense promise for small businesses seeking a competitive advantage in today’s increasingly interconnected economy.  While understanding the intricacies of global expansion is an important first step, navigating this journey alone can be daunting. However, by working with industry leaders, companies (like GlobeTrade, wegg® and other resources) – regardless of scale – can expedite your global journey and access new markets swiftly and compliantly.

Here's a beginner's guide to global business expansion.

Today in Global Small Business: Top of the Morning To You on St. Patrick's Day 2025!

©2025 Laurel J, Delaney.  All rights reserved.

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

• Happy St. Patrick's Day 2025! 🍀💚
• Could the global shift cause car insurance prices to rise?
• Quote of the week:  “You make your own luck🍀.” – Ernest Hemingway
• Students on Embassy Day learn about global opportunities.
• Global trade set for growth despite U.S. policy shifts, reveals DHL Trade Atlas 2025.
• Readying your company’s supply chain in a time of tariff wars.

Ready for St. Patrick's Day in Chicago

Chicago is known for its vibrant St. Patrick's Day celebrations, including the iconic green river dyeing, which began in 1962, and the popular parade.  Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!  

Photos:  Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Keeping the U.S. Government Open

©iStock/Vadym Gannenko

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., says he will vote to keep the government open, signaling a path for Democrats to vote with Republicans to overcome a filibuster in the Senate and pass a six-month spending bill ahead of a Friday deadline.

"As bad as passing the CR is, allowing Donald Trump to take even more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option," Schumer said.

"You have to make these decisions based on what is best for not only your party but your country," Schumer told reporters.

Chill: Soft Rock Love Song Playlist From the 70s, 80s, and 90s

Chaos Hits the Economy

©iStock/shronosov

With each day, evidence is mounting across the corporate world that the eratic implementation of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs is translating into chaos hitting the economy.

The uncertainty brought by Trump's threats of tariffs and his shape-shifting trade policies is starting to have a chilling effect across many industries, businesses warn, as consumers pull back on everything from basic goods to travel.

The president's back-and-forth tariff moves against major trading partners have kept markets on edge, and prompted companies to warn they may have to raise prices, which could boost inflation and dent economic growth. 

Foodex Japan 2025: Businesses Beyond Borders

©2025 Secret Aardvark Trading Co.  All rights reserved.

As one of the world’s premier food and beverage trade shows, FoodEx Japan brings together global buyers, suppliers, and innovators shaping the future of food. For these local companies, the event presents a unique opportunity to showcase high-quality products, expand into international markets, and build partnerships that drive growth in the evolving food industry.

Check out some of the amazing businesses as they represent some of the best in the food industry on the global stage.  

In addition to Canadian companies, we are aware of another great USA company, Secret Aardvark Trading Company, who is exhibiting at Foodex 2025.

Today in Global Small Business: Find Out What's On the Agenda for SXSW 2025

©iStock/John Davis

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

• What's on the agenda for SXSW 2025?
• How to get ready for St. Patrick's Day. 
• Quote of the week:  "The complexity of the world in which we live exceeds our capacity to comprehend it." – George Soros
• Some regrets.
• Thank you SNL!
• Back and forth tariffs.

Women Belong Where Decisions Are Being Made

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Happy International Women's Day from Laurel J. Delaney.

5 Trailblazing Women Building Global Enterprises (wegginar® 3/10/25)

©2025 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Celebrating Women's History Month at Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global with a special wegginar® Monday, March 10, 2025 at 11 AM CT – "5 Trailblazing Women Building Global Enterprises."

Join us as we spark a conversation around what it takes to start, run and grow a global enterprise. I will be moderating an esteemed panel of 5 titan trailblazers:

1. Debra Dudley, Founder and President, Oscarware, Inc.
2. Coni Lefferts, Founder and President, Creative Packaging Solutions
3. Wendy Shen, President and CEO, FLOMO/Nygala Corp.
4. Susanne Evens, Founder and CEO, AAA Translation
5. Candice Tal, Founder and CEO, Infortal Worldwide.

The fearless five will discuss:

• 🌎  Factors to consider BEFORE you start an international business.
• 🌎  Challenges faced (including risks) when entering into new overseas markets.
• 🌎 The importance of pivoting when economic conditions lend itself to.
• 🌎 Advice for aspiring globalists.
• 🌎 How to ensure cultural sensitivity in translations.
• 🌎 How to trust international business partners.
• 🌎 Success, what it is and what it means for each.
• 🌎 +More!

We welcome you to join in the dialogue and come with your questions. We will have open mic time.

Can't wait to see you.  Be ready to learn golden nuggets from these (amazing) trailblazing women  business owners.

To learn more and to register free of charge, visit: https://bit.ly/4huOfwV

Hosted by Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  Sponsored by: Associated Bank, FedEx, APCO, LuxLined, SciAps Inc., FLOMO/Nygala Corp. and VISA.

Giving Students Real-World International Business Experience

©iStock/Tippapatt

The Knauss School of Business course International Management Consulting was designed with one specific goal in mind: give students real-world international business experience — right from home.

How? By working with San Diego-based businesses that are expanding into global markets. The course was uniquely created in response to the challenges of global mobility during the pandemic, and offers an immersive, hands-on experience with actual clients, company data and global industry statistics.

The Black Cloud: Tariffs

©iStock/howtogoto

After President Donald Trump made good on his threat to levy tariffs on Canada and Mexico, US stock whipsawed, paving the way for a global trade war as leaders of both trading partners threatened retaliation.

So I guess one would say it's time to buy the dips.  

According to CNN's Fear and Greed Index, “Extreme fear” was the sentiment driving markets on Tuesday (3/4/25) for the sixth day in a row. 

Tariffs Disrupt Trade

©iStock/wildpixel

Tariffs disrupt trade between countries by raising taxes on imported goods, and those new costs are often passed on to consumers through higher prices. Tariffs are considered by many economists a political cudgel — sometimes used in a trade war — and not an efficient framework for international trade.

Trump is set to go ahead with tariffs on America’s biggest trading partners on Tuesday, 3/4/25 imposing 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico. Trump on Monday also raised tariffs implemented on China from 10% to 20%.

As Warren Buffett would ask, "And then what?" 

Today in Global Small Business: Rebranding DEI

©iStock/wildpixel

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

• In the US, DEI is under attack. But under a different name, it might live on.  Let's hope so.  Further, the speed at which some large corporations have shed their DEI policies raises the question of how genuine their commitment to diversifying their workforces was in the first place [Laurel Delaney agrees].
• Trump's The State of Chaos address on Tuesday, March 5, 2025.  What will he say?  
• Quote of the week:  Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has said that he would cut "stupid" DEI costs even without Donald Trump. However, he has also reaffirmed the bank's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). 
• The White House is making clear it views President Donald Trump’s Friday Oval Office showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as an overwhelming failure that underscores Trump’s “America last” leadership, dispatching top officials and allies to muzzle Trump’s handling of the situation even as European leaders are expressing zero support for Ukraine and its leader.  That my fellow readers is fake news.  Here's the real messaging the White House crafted here.
• Goodbye Skype.
• How facilitating cross-border payments is helping build businesses and communities worldwide, while fostering a new generation of global small business owners.

Sunshine Is Delicious

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather." – John Ruskin

Tariff Crazy

©iStock/Vilin Visuals

Trump announced on February 27, 2025 that proposed tariffs on 25% on Canada and Mexico will be implemented on March 4 after a month-long postponement. The president said that these countries had not sufficiently reduced the flow of drugs across the border.

Additionally, Trump also said that China, which already faces 10% U.S. tariffs on its products, “will likewise be charged an additional 10% Tariff on that date.” 

Read more about what it is like to be tariff crazy and how it impacts the global economy, especially in the Asia-Pacific markets.

The 92-Year Old FDIC Is Still in Charge and Independent

©iStock/krblokhin

The 92-year old Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) is responsible for insuring consumer deposits against bank failures — and for preventing future bank crises.

Its employees closely monitor most of the United States' smaller banks — warning lenders if, for example, their debt levels are edging too high or if they're taking on too much risky business.

The end goal of these examinations is to catch any problems before they snowball into a bank failure — or a wider banking crisis. 

In the global markets, there is concern with Trump and Musk slashing agencies without much process, and firing people without first studying what their roles and responsibilities entail, could create long-term chaos for the U.S. economy.

The Impact of Tariffs, State by State

©iStock/Andreyuu

The tariffs are coming.  The tariffs are coming.  Run as fast as you can!  Not sure that will do any good.  According to President Donald Trump, the sweeping U.S. tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico are set to begin next week “will go forward” when a monthlong delay expires, Trump said Monday [2/24/25], and they will begin “on time, on schedule.”

That will affect each state differently. For some states, such as Montana and New Mexico, nearly all of their import and export exposure is to a single targeted country.  Energy — such as oil for Montana and Oklahoma, electronics for New Mexico, and auto parts such as EV batteries for Texas and California, where Tesla has a big presence — looms large in the trade battle. 

But the impact to local economies and consumer prices will range widely.

A Shared, Global Movement: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

©iStock/melitas

The conversation around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has never been more pressing, as organizations worldwide navigate complex landscapes shaped by local policies, cultural expectations, and evolving workplace demographics.  It is a shared, global movement.

To explore these challenges and opportunities, Seramount recently hosted a webinar titled “DEI Lessons from Around the World,” featuring insights from their partners at Inditex and Kellanova alongside their expanding Global Advisory Network. With expert voices from six countries—the UK, Canada, UAE, Ireland, Spain, and Germany—the webinar offers a nuanced look at how DEI is evolving worldwide.

You can access key takeaways from the conversation from around the world here.  Check out their diversity calendar 2025.

Today in Global Small Business: Pumpkin Export Season Is in Full Swing

©iStock/vitpho

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

• Who knew?  The South African pumpkin season is now in full swing at Q-Cape—a Netherlands-based company that has spent the last decade cultivating organic pumpkins and sweet potatoes in South Africa for the European market.
• How this small Australian player in a $600 million industry is changing hundreds of women's lives.
• Quote of the week: "I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion." – Henry David Thoreau
• "It's my second day here at the SBA," [Kelly] Loeffler [head of SBA] said. "I could not be more excited to be here. So, I thought I'd take a walk. And what I found is that exactly what's been said is true. About 90% of our employees are working from home. Well, that ends Monday with President Trump's order to return to work."
• China sees robust growth in loans to small, micro firms.
• Alabama exports total $26.8 bilion in 2024, reaching over 200 countries.

Strawberries Are Like Tomatoes

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Strawberries are like tomatoes for me; I just won't eat them year round. I'll happily wait for them to come into season, then I gorge like a brown bear eating salmon before hibernation." – Brad Leone

There Are No Shortcuts to Exporting Success

©iStock/K3

Three people – Sun Yongchao, 53, a trading company executive from China, Wang Ennian, 71, a corporate officer at a separate firm, and Wang's daughter Hana Kiriyama, 45 – were arrested for illegally exporting around 30 tons of wagyu beef from Japan to Hong Kong by falsely claiming it would be sent to Cambodia, local police said Thursday.

What is wagyu beef?

There are no shortcuts to exporting success.  Police believe the suspects were attempting to reduce export costs amid rising overseas demand.

Nominate an Exceptional Person for the Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership®

©2025 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

The Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership® honors and celebrates Gail Adinamis, who has been crucial to the growth and success of Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.

About the award

The annual award honors a wegg stakeholder who has gone out of her way to connect, create, contribute, and collaborate with wegg, and forge alliances that have proven helpful.  These are traits that define an exemplary global leader.

Successful entrepreneur Gail Adinamis was founder and CEO of GlobalCare Clinical Trials, LLC.  Established in 2010, GlobalCare Clinical Trials brings Phase I-IV clinical trials to patients, instead of the other way around.  Today, the company’s in-home and alternate-site nursing services can be found in more than 65 countries.  The company was acquired by LabCorp in July, 2020, further expanding it’s decentralized clinical trials capabilities globally.

True global leaders like Gail Adinamis and many others who will follow in her footsteps are defined not only by their worldly knowledge and connections, nor by the global opportunities they seize, but by how they contribute to the improvement and growth of others.

Nominations are now open! Please submit your nomination by February 21, 2025.

What's the Biggest Challenge for Your Business in 2025?

©iStock/PamSchodt

The DHL Customer Survey (1/8/25) indicates that 67% of U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expect positive growth, but survey shows split opinions about the impact of regulatory and policy changes in the new year. 

However, the survey also showed that businesses could face a rocky road to reach that goal, as they navigate a complex environment of regulatory/policy shifts and global market volatility.

What Does It Take to Thrive in an Uncertain World?

©iStock/VectorMine

The world is facing profound disruption. From technological advances like GenAI to social instability and climate change, businesses are navigating rapidly shifting megatrends that demand reinvention, resilience and bold action. So, how can companies thrive in such an uncertain world—and avoid being left behind? 

Tune in.