Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It always has been. I like how inclusive and inviting it is because it does not ‘belong’ to any one religion. Thanksgiving often brings out the best in people, it celebrates positivity, its traditions are uplifting, and it is so very American!

Yes, that’s right! We are in the middle of the 4th quarter of 2020, and most of us are more than ready to see this year in our rearview mirror. Nevertheless, we must stay the course and finish it strong!

It is interesting to see how the power is shifting from sellers to buyers, and how this changes marketing. We used to plan our shopping trips based on the stores’ opening hours, and seek professional services based on their schedules.

Well-run companies take the time to evaluate and plan - most do this once a year, some more frequently than that. It is a particularly good practice to take a step back periodically to assess where you are, set goals, and put plans in place to reach them.

Every now and then, I come across a business owner who tells me, “We don’t do any marketing!” or “We can’t afford marketing”. They are not necessarily proud of it, and most say they wished that were not the case. Upon further conversations and an occasional thorough Marketing Needs Assessment, it becomes clear that they do engage in marketing activities… they just did not think they were.

When circumstances and technology intersect, beautiful things can emerge. In the world of business, consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have been mitigated time and time again with smart technology solutions. One such solution is virtual trade shows.

Things have been moving very quickly over the past few months – We have all experienced it, in both our personal lives and professional endeavors.

Last month, I wrote about how necessary it is to adjust operations for all businesses that were allowed to remain open ‘during’ the COVID-19 pandemic.

These are unprecedented times, both in our personal lives and in terms of our businesses. We are all concerned and worried about our own health and that of our loved ones, and we are nervous about the future of our businesses.

Undoubtedly, like the rest of us, you have received dozens of COVID-19 related emails from your bank, credit card company, mortgage company, grocery store, your eye doctor, kids’ school, online retailers, and many more.