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...

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,...

The sweet smell of love is in the air…oh wait, no…that’s candy that I smell! The nation’s 1,700 candy manufacturers combine chocolate, sugar, and other raw ingredients to produce every imaginable variety of confection and chocolate-based product. And Valentine’s Day is one of their prime opportunities to shine.

December is the month when the nation’s 15,200 jewelry stores really shine! Indeed, winter holiday shoppers can make or break a jewelry store, which has highly seasonal sales in December and around Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Yet in recent years, jewelry stores have lost market share to a variety of channels, including department...

You’re pulling together a presentation for a new small to mid-size business (SMB) prospect. You have checked it again and again to be sure your i’s are dotted and your t’s are crossed. Your high school English teacher would be so proud! But perfect grammar likely won’t be enough to convince a prospect that you are the right fit for their...

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) was developed as the standard for use by the U.S. federal government’s statistical agencies, replacing the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system in 1997. Industry-specific NAICS codes are assigned to each business in the country, classifying them for the collection and...

It wasn’t so long ago that a business banker could get by based on their personality, some basic knowledge of the local economy, and maybe one or two unique bank product offerings. But those days are now in the rearview mirror as clients and prospects have come to expect more from their banker. This is why we decided to write our latest...

I truly enjoyed my job as a business banker. I relished the opportunity to meet new people and look for ways to grow their company while simplifying their financial life.

As the director of client success at Vertical IQ, I communicate with bankers on a daily basis, and in doing so, I gain valuable perspective on how our tool is (or isn’t) being used.