By nearly anyone’s standards, 2020 was a doozy. The world struggled to manage a highly contagious virus, which has had seismic impacts on supply chains, industries, and individual businesses. There are few segments of the global economy that have been untouched by the issues created by COVID-19.

>> Related: A Look at the Top 25 Industry...

The red lights are blinking, the sirens are blaring, the signs that say “Danger Ahead” are flashing: Sales professionals of all stripes are in for a challenging 2021. Yes, 2020 was a rough one, but if you think next year is going to be smooth sailing, I have some unwelcome news for you.

So many businesses have struggled to stay afloat during the pandemic, in part because of mandates on capacity or other restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. But other industries have actually been thriving as a result of the pandemic. You might initially think about companies that make personal protective equipment,...

Here at Vertical IQ, we are passionate about helping our customers understand industry-specific cash flow and cash management issues. Cash flow is a concern for nearly every small to medium-sized business (SMB). Evening out payables and receivables, ensuring you have enough cash on hand, but not TOO much liquidity — it’s a balancing act...

Today, it is more critical than ever to have access to Industry Intelligence so that you can advise clients and add value. Why?

You know the big guys — Amazon, eBay, QVC, L.L. Bean — but there are a lot more players in the internet, TV, and mail-order retailer space who are gearing up for the holiday shopping season. In fact, the niche consists of 40,000 companies that generate $705 billion annually.

We may be in the lull before the storm. I really like to think optimistically, but looking at the cold hard facts, it seems like things are going better than they should be both for banks and their business banking clients.

2020 has been a year packed full of crazy, and this week’s elections are likely to serve up more chaos. I’m not much for conflict. I am certainly not going to dive into a passionate political discussion in a blog or even conversation this week. But I will likely reach out to friends, co-workers, and clients to touch base and let them...

Final results from phase two of the Census Bureau’s Small Business Pulse Survey were released last week, offering new first-hand perspectives on how the pandemic is impacting businesses. Participating businesses must be non-farm, single-location businesses and must have receipts greater than or equal to $1,000, and 500 employees or fewer.

Barlow Research Associates is probably the most well-known, and certainly the most accomplished, banking research company, especially with regard to gathering insights on how businesses view their banks.