How America's most beloved small businesses are enduring

INC. THIS MORNING How America's most beloved small businesses are enduring Note: Kevin J. Ryan, staff writer at Inc., is stepping in for Cameron while he is away today.  Good morning, Small Business Week feels a bit subdued this year given the state of the world: Yelp reports that some 164,000 businesses closed between March 1 and August 31. One factor, aside from industry and sheer luck, that can help determine whether a business survives these turbulent times: customer loyalty. As part of Small Business Week in 2018, Inc. profiled 18 businesses that were staples of their neighborhoods--the kinds of places that neighborhood folks direct newcomers toward and that win “Best Of” awards in local publications. This year, we decided to check back in with those businesses. We’re happy to report all 18 are still in operation.  In some cases, those loyal customer bases helped keep them afloat. “What was really surprising was how many people purchased gift cards from us saying they wanted to do their part to help keep us going,” says Tim McKevlin, the second-generation owner of McKevlin's Surf Shop, a 55-year-old business in Folly Beach, South Carolina. Check out the full story for more insight into how some of America’s most beloved small businesses are surviving.  JOIN US: The next installment of Real Talk: Business Reboot will feature a conversation with billion-dollar dealmaker and serial entrepreneur Cindy Eckert. From industry disruption to selling her company, Sprout Pharmaceuticals, and then building it back, Eckert is well-versed on what it really takes to create and sustain successful business ventures. In this talk, she will offer tips and strategies for prioritizing your people in order to ensure a successful bottom line. September 22, 4:00 pm Eastern Time Reserve your free spot. HERE'S WHAT ELSE I'M READING TODAY: Meet the Feierabend, the Germans’ secret to getting work done remotely. --Inc. How to access a new $10 million grant program for black-owned small businesses. --Inc. Despite what many will tell you, the answer to the electric car conundrum isn’t Elon Musk. --The Wall Street Journal Here’s what you should do if one of your employees wants to have a discussion about their mental health. --Inc. Fintech companies are leading the charge to automate loan decisions--but algorithms create new possibilities for perpetuating biases. --The New York Times Warren Buffett says all the brainpower in the world won’t matter unless you have this skill. --Inc. --Kevin J. Ryan Staff Writer, Inc. How are we doing? Send us ideas and feedback for Inc. This Morning at calbertdeitch@inc.com or on Twitter. Click here to forward to a friend. This email was sent by: Mansueto Ventures 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor New York, NY, 10007, Unsubscribe • Update Profile • View in Browser • Privacy Policy