Shopify

The power of small businesses cannot be overstated. Small business owners employ 56 million people in the US and bring in over $16 trillion in revenue. Far beyond that, small businesses are what define a small town. In an increasing world of uniformity, they make a place unique. Outside of their economic impact, small businesses are vital to our communities for social reasons. Our team looked at the impact small businesses are having on towns across the United States. ‘Third spaces’, a sociology term for social environments outside of home or work, are rapidly evaporating, but small businesses are changing that. They are creating places for people to gather, connect and engage with their community. And the one thing these small businesses have in common? Shopify. How has a small business changed or defined where you live? https://lnkd.in/ecZVFtpb

At just 16 with a modest $3,000 grant, Ameen Fadel launched Cedar Valley. What began with his mother’s homemade pita chips is now a thriving snack brand that produces 60,000 bags daily and is available in over 1,300 stores across Canada. Cedar Valley is a testament to youthful entrepreneurship, family support, and relentless focus.

Melanie Van Sistine dusted off her dormant Cricut machine and transformed it into Mel's Crafty Corner, a thriving nurse owned business empowering front line workers. Despite her initial lack of business knowledge, Melanie boldly ventured into entrepreneurship. Drawing on her nursing background, she wove her business together with empathy, emphasizing comfort and community. Today, Mel's Crafty Corner is more than just a store; it's a vibrant community that celebrates personal stories and victories, showcasing how creativity and resilience can turn challenges into meaningful impact.

For the first time ever, not only can merchants acquire new customers with Shop Campaigns, but they can also win back previous customers. Shop Campaigns' new audience targeting allows merchants to target lapsed shoppers with exclusive offers on their next purchase in the Shop app. Find new customers, win back the old, and only pay when it works. It’s a win-win-win.

No hardware. No problem. Tap to Pay on Android is here.  Now, more merchants using Shopify POS can make sales with just the phone in their hand. Accept secure, contactless payments from credit cards, smartwatches, and digital wallets anywhere in store or on the go. In-person payments are more flexible than ever: https://lnkd.in/gRKVxf7E

Entrepreneurs don’t always take the time to look back at all they've accomplished, but here’s a story worth pausing for. Frustrated by rampant single-use plastics, Katie Gamble envisioned sustainable alternatives to replace harmful kitchen wraps. She began experimenting with beeswax in her parents' basement, creating the first Nature Bee wraps. From a college project to a growing eco-brand, Nature Bee exemplifies how a single, well-nurtured idea can lead to substantial environmental and social impact.

This business blossomed from 80 to 1,200 orders a month. After 16 years in the mortgage industry, Sonja launched Partly Sunny Projects. Fueled by a deep-rooted love for plants and cherished childhood memories of lush gardens tended by her grandmother and mother, she ventured into the entrepreneurial world of selling plants. Although initially unfamiliar with the field, her passion guided each step. Sonja’s journey underscores that it’s never too late to pursue a passion and transform it into a thriving business. Her story is a true testament to the possibilities of change and new beginnings in entrepreneurship.

Black Friday is happening a little later this year. Not only does this mean fewer shopping days, it means fewer shipping days in the holiday selling season. One thing that hasn’t changed though: shoppers want savings, speed, and flexible shipping options. Forty one percent of shoppers say free shipping would boost their loyalty to a brand, and 38% agree that high shipping costs are one of the top three reasons to abandon a purchase. Here are three features Shopify merchants can use to optimize their shipping strategy.

The second-highest priority for Shopify merchants as they prepare for the next selling season? Channel expansion. With 55% of young buyers citing Instagram as their shopping channel of choice, brands with staying power recognize the importance of meeting customers where they are—whether that’s online, on their favorite social platforms, or in-person. Here’s how they’re doing it: 1️⃣ Connecting to new sales channels Shopify merchants can sync their existing product catalogs to top online marketplaces, like Target Plus and eBay, to reach new audiences. The same goes for social platforms, where merchants are using channels like TikTok Shop to sell directly in the app. 2️⃣ Selling internationally If there’s a viable market for a product overseas and a brand isn’t shipping cross-border, someone else will. When merchants leverage our international sales tools, shoppers are automatically redirected to a localized store experience based on their IP address, complete with translations, local currencies and payment methods, even region-specific content and pricing. 3️⃣ Dabbling in physical retail Sixty percent of consumers say they buy small items online but head in-store for larger purchases. Whether or not a permanent retail location is on the roadmap, merchants are dabbling by hosting pop-ups to build community and meet the growing demand for in-person experiences. 4️⃣ Tapping into the creator community Merchants cite influencer marketing as the second-highest priority marketing trend over the next year, and are looking to creator partnerships to build audience trust and increase reach. Shopify Collabs, our in-house influencer marketing tool, connects merchants with creators who can introduce their products to new, highly engaged audiences. Expanding to new channels not only increases reach with target audiences. It can also reduce friction for business owners and their customers. But don’t just take our word for it. Ask merchants, like BK Beauty and Uncle Studios, who scaled their brands with these strategies: https://lnkd.in/gHcwyv9Y

The numbers are in—women are leading the way in entrepreneurship: ⟶ More women than men—54% vs. 46%—run businesses on Shopify. ⟶ Between 2019 and 2023, women-owned businesses saw a 94% higher growth rate than male-owned businesses. ⟶ Women-owned businesses outpaced the growth of men-owned businesses by 253% in jobs created and 82% in revenue. Why are more women turning to entrepreneurship? Flexibility. More than half of women prospective business owners want a flexible work schedule, a sentiment shared by entrepreneurs Carrie Morey, Shawna Jacobs, and Cathryn Lavery who found balance between raising a family and a business. Check out their stories: https://lnkd.in/eHcFDkFx.