Tag: best small business

Small businesses want a piece of Barbie’s world

NEW YORK, July 23 (Reuters) – It is Barbie’s world, and US small businesses hope their social-media marketing can help them cash in on it.

From Malibu makeovers to striped dog bandanas to hot pink cocktails, many small business owners have latched on to Barbie-inspired products to get more eyes on their websites and social media accounts ahead of Friday’s US release of “Barbie,” the film set to become a cultural sensation.

Mattel’s (MAT.O) iconic doll brand partnered with big companies including Inditex’s Zara, Airbnb and Google to launch licensed merchandise and products.

But as Mattel-licensed Barbie marketing and products

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Calls for extension of repayment deadline on pandemic small business loans

Approximately $49B went out to about 900,000 businesses through the program. Officials say 21% of the businesses have fully repaid as of May 31, 2023

Published July 11, 2023 • 3 minute read

A man walking past a small business.
Small businesses were hit hard as the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020. Photo by Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press/File

OTTAWA — The federal government needs to extend the deadline for small businesses to repay pandemic loans, the New Democrats and a national association representing small businesses said this week.

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No, startups are not facing a ‘mass extinction event’ | US small business

“Tthe Mass Extinction Event for startups is under way,” a partner for a well-known venture capital firm warned in a recent article in the Wall Street Journal. Capital from venture investors and bank loans is “scarce and expensive” and “venture-backed startups are running out of money and facing hard choices”.

The numbers support this: venture capital funding in the first quarter of 2023 was only at 40% of the level seen in the fourth quarter of 2021. But mass extinction?

Maybe for people starting up tech businesses based on a shaky premise and dubious cash flow projections that venture

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Protein Sparing Chai Ice Pops

It’s funny how there are many recipes that my family enjoys weekly but I have never written recipes for them. These protein sparing chai ice pops are one of them. My son Kai begs for these ice pops all the time!

They are so easy to make, we always have them in the freezer. I love that I have an easy protein-packed treat for my kids (and myself!) when hunger strikes!

HOW TO MAKE PROTEIN SPARING CHAI ICE POPS

To make Kai’s protein sparing chai ice pops, I used Equip vanilla Prime Protein powder!

It works great for making recipes

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NB premier defends provincial carbon legislation, says it protects small business

New Brunswick’s premier is pushing back against claims that a piece of provincial legislation, rather than federal rules, is to blame for higher gas prices.

The province implemented a law last year to allow the cost of Ottawa’s clean fuel regulations to be passed on to consumers.

Premier Blaine Higgs said without the change, small retailers in the region would have to absorb the added costs, which could impact their revenues and jeopardize their ability to stay in business.

Critics say the province has allowed refineries to pass along costs at a time when they have recorded major profit gains

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Local small businesses struggle with CEBA repayments

The average Alberta small business is still carrying $85,000 to $100,000 worth of pandemic-related debt, according to the CFIB

Published June 27, 2023 • Last updated June 27, 2023 • 3 minute read

Stephen Avenue
The reflection of the buildings along Stephen Avenue in downtown Calgary is reflected in rainwater on Friday, June 24, 2022. Gavin Young/Postmedia

A pandemic lifeline may now be dragging local businesses to their demise.

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The Niagara Independent

Colleen Slappendel (pictured, center) opened her Pelham hair salon at the height of the pandemic in October 2020. Despite the inherent challenges in starting a small business, plus the added pressures of recurrent lockdowns and restrictions, she and her business prevailed, and continues to grow. Photo credit: Rooted Hair Studio

2020 was undoubtedly one of the toughest years on record for small business owners. However, even a global pandemic couldn’t stop Colleen Slappendel from pursuing her dream of opening a hair salon in her home community of Fenwick.

“I had always wanted to stay in my hometown,” Slappendel, owner of

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Tri-Cities woman created a fake business to get $337,000 in COVID-relief money

A West Richland woman was sentenced to a year and three months in federal prison for fraud related to COVID-19 loans intended for small businesses struggling during the pandemic.

Jimia Rae Cain, 52, also had to pay back about $337,000 she received in two federal loans.

She had previously asked that she be allowed to not repay $265,000 of that under a loan forgiveness program.

“I can’t underestimate how serious these offenses are,” said Judge Mary K. Dimke, during a sentencing hearing Thursday in the Richland, Wash., courthouse.

The nation was in crisis during the pandemic and businesses were on

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