Small Business Trends

Welcome to our special Christmas eve small business roundup. We’ve chosen some stories reflecting the season you should be able to share and use to grow your business no matter what the season. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Policy

Santa gives lessons in entrepreneurship, taxes. If you ran a global manufacturing and distribution company specializing in childrens’ toys, how would complicated and expensive business regulations effect your operations? Would you be able to expand, add employees,  invest in new infrastructure while being uncertain of the future? Bankrupting America

Innovation

Christmas Decor shows business innovation. When building his lawn service business, Christmas Decor CEO Blake Smith decided he wanted a way to retain his employees during the winter months. His solution? A Holiday home decoration business for home owners too busy to hang lights themselves. Fox Business

Lifestyle

Online gifts for the small business owner. Our Holiday gift idea list comes in the form of online tools for the Internet entrepreneur. These are tools that cover just about every aspect of online business management. We hope you’ll find the perfect gift for you. Fill The Funnel

Trends

Christmas 2010 sees small business troubles, challenges. The Christmas season, bringing the potential for greater revenue in the case of some businesses, has not helped everyone. But while some businesses face trouble, let’s look on the bright side. Some will be presented with new opportunities and the chance to grow. MercuryNews.com

Marketing

In store coupon strategy boosts Holiday sales. During the Holiday shopping season when small businesses are hopefully already seeing a rise in retail sales, one simple strategy in particular can assist small business retail sales to an even greater extend. In store coupons will encourage visitors already in buying mode to purchase more merchandise from you this season. Guaranteed Profit

Using Foursquare to market for Christmas. Leave no stone unturned when marketing during the Christmas season. That includes new online marketing opportunities like Foursquare. Are you using all your marketing tools to best effect this Holiday season? Be prepared with a strategy that will boost your brand and strategy this Christmas. Catalyst Marketers

Finance

Small business retail sales. Back up but not yet where they were a few years ago. Small business owners say consumer spending is better than last year but still conservative. Small business owners who have survived the economic downturn have cause for celebration. Business remains tough in retail and other industries, but in this christmas season, there are signs of hope. CNBC

Industry

The small business of Christmas trees. More than simply a symbol of the season, Christmas trees, whether real or artificial, remain a huge retail industry as well. As large as it is, the Christmas tree industry still includes plenty of small retailers. Here is an info graphic that gives us a glimpse of the overall market at a glance. Intuit

Strategy

Why Christmas should be a great time for your small business. Last year, Brad Sugars, International Chairman of ACTION International, Australia’s leading sales and marketing business franchise, posted this inspirational article on why Christmas should be a great time to do so many things to improve your business. It’s just as appropriate this year and a great place to start your efforts to take your small business to the next level. Small Business Support Network

News

What’s impacting your small business this Christmas? In the UK, small businesses are struggling with a variety of issues connected to a recent cold snap. Small business groups have asked government officials for assistance in lightening some of the financial and other difficulties involved in dealing with the cold weather. BBC