Sometimes it’s easy to lament that “nothing’s working” with the agonizingly slow recovery for the SMBs down on Main Street. But the fact of the matter is that a lot of “things” are working, and I choose to focus on Cyber Monday as an example.
In past years I’ve broadcast to you live from the Amazon headquarters in Seattle on this day and mimicked what you can already read on popular financial sites like MarketWatch, or hear on the CNBC financial network. Today I have a different view.
Roof over my head
I want to tell you how I spent nearly $200 online today, Cyber Monday. Next week, I have Windows XP Migration workshops in Austin and Houston, Texas. I also plan to crash Dell World and blog away! So when my e-mail Inbox this morning had a Cyber Monday deal for up to 30 percent off at Red Roof Inn (and being a humble small business owner myself), I studied its offer. Bottom line is that I scored four nights hotel with WiFi and flat screen for just under two Benjamin Franklins!
The point is this, we’re right there with you in the journey of life and I have to admit, as I write this from 31,000 ft on a flight to my Chicago Windows XP workshop, I’m alright with Cyber Monday. The savings plus convenience are astonishing!
Avalara
Another “take” concerns the “back-end” for Cyber Monday. One of Main Street’s biggest friends against the big bad evil huge online retailers is Avalara. This Bainbridge Island-based technology company is at the forefront of providing necessary sales tax calculation software for online merchants. That puts the Big “A” on par with the locally owned Eagle Harbor Books. Everyone must pay taxes so that it levels the playing field so both the big and little guys have state-by-state sales tax exemptions. This rapidly growing company, rumored to be either a takeover target or a future darling IPO on Wall Street, is a good SMB citizen where I live. You can learn more at www.avalara.com (hint – it has many current job openings for those you looking for the next great thing).
