by U.S. Chamber of Commerce
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    Everything that you need to know to start your own business. From business ideas to researching the competition.

    Start
  • Run

    Practical and real-world advice on how to run your business — from managing employees to keeping the books

    Run
  • Grow

    Our best expert advice on how to grow your business — from attracting new customers to keeping existing customers happy and having the capital to do it.

    Grow
  • Good Company

    Entrepreneurs and industry leaders share their best advice on how to take your company to the next level.

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  • Product Guides

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Mark Hamstra

CONTRIBUTOR

About Mark

Mark Hamstra is a freelance business writer with experience covering a range of topics and industries, including food and mass retailing, the restaurant industry, direct/mobile marketing, and technology. Before becoming a freelance business journalist, Mark spent 13 years with Supermarket News, most recently as content director, where he was involved in all areas of editorial planning and production for print and online. Earlier in his career he also worked as a reporter and editor for other business publications, including Financial Technology, Direct Marketing News, Nation’s Restaurant News and Drug Store News. \nAreas of expertise include:\n• Company financial performance\n• Technology deployments\n• Supply chain strategies\n• Product marketing, merchandising and procurement\n• Retail real estate, design and construction\n• Labor issues

Latest—

Fabletics President on Turning Online Shoppers Into Buyers
Social proof messaging boosts conversion rates for athleisure apparel brand, Ashley Kechter tells CO—.
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Salesforce, Intuit, and ADP Execs on AI-Powered Solutions Designed to Fuel SMB Growth in 2025
Streamlining everyday tasks using automated agents allows companies to focus on other areas of their business, executives told CO—.
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How Eco-Diaper Disruptor Kudos Landed Target as It Courts Millennial Parents
Founder and former Procter & Gamble Engineer Amrita Saigal discusses how the on-trend startup found the perfect partner to support its brick-and-mortar debut.
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How Retailers Are Tapping AI to Mitigate the High Cost of Product Returns
Technology is helping merchants cut costs by helping customers make more informed purchasing decisions, identifying “trusted buyers,” streamlining logistics, and minimizing fraud.
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Let's Get 'Phygital': Fitness Centers Boost Membership via On-Site Virtual Classes from Martial Arts to Barre
Remote-led sessions offer variety, flexibility, and community for health-and-wellness-conscious consumers.
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GOOD COMPANY » LAUNCH PAD

Experts Share Proven Ways to Fight Retail Theft This Holiday Season
Retailers may consider a range of tactics to deter shoplifting, from visible cameras to employee training to AI.
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Indie Game Companies Seek Growth Opportunities with Social Media Platform
Advances in technology and a consumer craving for heightened communal experiences drive innovation in multiplayer gaming for brands including Rune, Innersloth, and Loftia.
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Digital Shelf Labels Light Up Big and Small Retailers' Bottom Lines
Technology facilitates faster price changes and aids online order pickers for merchants ranging from mega-retailer Walmart to local Tennessee grocery Tate Family Foods.
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Mushrooms Emerge as Growth Opportunity Across the Grocery Landscape
Startups including Pan's, Meati, and Renude create products that tap into the fungi's healthy attributes amid consumer demand for plant-based food options.
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Demand for Restaurant-Style Meals at Home Drives Grocery Opportunities
Supermarkets are elevating their food offerings to replicate outside dining experiences, including via full-service, in-store restaurants, executives told CO—.
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