From This Collection

The economy might be recovering, but burnout can linger

Jul 6, 2021
An online retailer shares her experience with pandemic burnout and how it's changed the way she thinks about her business.
"I'm not my business," says Patty Delgado, founder of Hija de tu Madre in Los Angeles. "I'm still a good person even if I have a bad sales day."
Courtesy Patty Delgado

A nearly 200-year-old sweet shop stood the test of time. How is it weathering the pandemic?

Jul 5, 2021
The Oldest Sweet Shop in the World has witnessed wars and other strife from its location in northern England.
“We stock many traditional sweets,” says Ben Howie, owner of the Oldest Sweet Shop in the World, located in Pateley Bridge, England.
Courtesy Elizabeth Hotson (BBC/Marketplace)

At this dim sum restaurant, challenges remain as customers return

Jul 2, 2021
Eateries returning to dine-in service may face staffing problems, higher costs and the need to transform their business models — again.
Golden Unicorn restaurant in New York’s Chinatown serves traditional dim sum. It's trying to adapt to changing conditions and higher costs.
Courtesy Darren Liu

Making gelato e-commerce friendly is like starting a new business

Jun 18, 2021
Uli Nasibova of Uli's Gelato in Los Angeles, sees her future online, but getting there could mean some trial and error.
"I spent the first six or seven months creating an e-commerce solution for shipping my gelato, and the economics of that already aged," says Uli Nasibova, owner of Uli's Gelato.
Nina Uemurasachi

How this music store owner is dealing with skyrocketing demand and a stalling supply chain

Jun 16, 2021
Demand for instruments hasn't slowed down during the pandemic, and the reopening of venues means even more business.
Consumer interest in guitars and other instruments has increased during the pandemic and the  reopening period.
Jemal Countess via Getty Images

Why one bike maker is struggling to meet pandemic demand

Jun 9, 2021
As supply chain shortages back up orders of parts and raw materials, bike manufacturers are struggling to keep up with surging demand.
"Compared to normal years, we were seeing two to three times more site traffic and purchases across the board," said Mehdi Farsi, co-founder of State Bicycle Co. in Phoenix.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

What one teen worker is looking for in a job this summer

Jun 4, 2021
Aneesha Edwards in Lexington, Kentucky, is spending her last summer before college working in retail, where customer traffic is steadier than food service.
Aneesha Edwards, a college student, also makes time to work at a pharmacy. With so many Americans quitting their jobs, she feels workers, in many cases, deserve better treatment.
Courtesy Aneesha Edwards

For public good, not for profit.

For this entrepreneur, the pandemic provided an opportunity to diversify children’s libraries

May 18, 2021
Faced with her child care centers closing down, Yobe Qiu turned to her passion project: writing children's books about Asian cultures.
"The books I published in the pandemic all focus on featuring Asian children, family, because the Asian community is extremely diverse," said Yobe Qiu, an entrepreneur in New York City.
Photo by John Moore/Getty Images

This northern Michigan retailer is banking on a summer with lots of foot traffic

May 14, 2021
Annie Lang Hartman, owner of Compass Paper Co., is preparing for a busy post-pandemic season.
Annie Lang Hartman's Compass Paper Co. shop. She says tourists have already come to the area, even though it's still early in the season.
Courtesy Annie Lang Hartman

Raising prices helped this greens farmer stay afloat

May 11, 2021
Scott Snair raised his prices before the pandemic shut down travel. When things got tough, that decision helped him stay in business.
Scott Snair purchased his Hawaii produce business in late 2019, shortly before travel dropped off and his restaurant clients stopped buying.
Courtesy Scott Snair