Small Business Round-up – Week of April 8th

This week’s small business news review found that joy is important in the workplace, small business owners are looking to technology to combat potentially higher wages, Richard Branson says community building is the way to succeed in business, digital and paper make a winning combination, and the “pending” state of the crowdfunding industry.

• Crowdfunding Still Waits – A year after the JOBS Act, crowdfunding startups are still on hold. Regulations have been written but they sit idle in regulators’ mailboxes. “Everybody’s trying to give the impression that they’re ready to go” says one former SEC lawyer.
• Is There Joy At Your Business? – A recent study revealed that happiness is more than just material success. And faith is an important component to “having it all”. Business owners report feeling more strategic, relaxed, and agreeable on the weekends. A good time to make a deal, perhaps?
• Fighting the Wage Hike – Small business owners are concerned about higher wages in the wake of President Obama’s State of the Union pledge to raise the minimum wage. Some are looking at tablet technology to lower the impact of higher labor costs.
• Branson Believes in Community – Virgin Group founder Richard Branson has built successful businesses through ground-level marketing and local development. He says being active in the community can be an effective way to discover customer needs.
• Digital Greeting Cards on Paper? – An online invitation company responds to customer requests, forming an agreement with a 210 year-old printing company. The printer will produce cards and invitations designed through the popular Paperless Post website, the ones that customers say have “more meaning”.