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Joan Verdon

CONTRIBUTOR

About Joan

Joan Verdon has been covering business and retail news for the past 25 years. She has covered trends in tech, manufacturing, real estate and retail, first for The Record of North Jersey and USA Today, and now for CO—. She is a senior contributor, retail, for Forbes.com. Her passion is reporting on how Americans buy and sell. She has covered the birth of billion-dollar companies and the evolution of 100-year-old brands. Previously, she has been an education, general assignment and investigative reporter for The Grand Rapids Press and Buffalo Courier-Express. She spent a year working on Capitol Hill as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow.

Latest—

How AI Can Help You on Small Business Saturday and Beyond
AI is dramatically changing how consumers shop, and how businesses sell. Here are key tools small businesses can use right now to save time and drive sales.
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START » STRATEGY

Boost Small Business Saturday Sales With Tips From Big Retailers
Big retailers spent a lot of time, money, data, and manpower creating their holiday game plans. Here are five of their 2025 strategies small businesses can use to their advantage.
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Vimeo Exec on Why Video Is Crucial for Businesses Large and Small in the New Age of AI
AI platforms are redefining how consumers search for products and information. SVP Zoe Black talked to CO— about how Vimeo can help businesses get discovered in a new era of search.
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How PayMore Is Reinventing Electronics Resale
The chain is enjoying explosive growth thanks to its ‘new age retail’ strategy, its founders told CO—.
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YouTube Exec on Giving Brands AI-Powered Tools to Reach Targeted Audiences and Drive Sales
YouTube, leveraging the artificial intelligence investments of parent company Google, is offering businesses new ways to reach consumers and easily create tailored ad content, says Head of Creative Partnerships Kevin Babcock.
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Wayfair CTO on AI’s Game-Changing Potential
The online furniture retailer is using AI to inspire customers and translate decorating ideas into actionable purchases.
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How Stitch Fix Is Optimizing Its Human Stylists in the Age of AI
The online apparel subscription service is spotlighting the benefits of human stylists while giving them powerful AI tools to help them do their jobs.
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How Small Businesses Can Leverage Amazon Prime Day (Even If They Don’t Sell on Amazon) All Summer Long
Small businesses can learn from Amazon and use the same strategies the e-commerce giant employs to drive sales even if they don't sell on Amazon.
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Vintage Furniture Marketplace Chairish Benefits From Trends and Tariff-Free Goods
The online marketplace for pre-owned furniture and home décor is well-positioned for growth, thanks to demand for vintage finds and sustainability, and access to tariff-free merchandise.
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The Profitability of Play: How Fun and Games for Adults Are Driving Growth for Brands
Businesses ranging from entertainment and hospitality to toys are leveraging the spending power of this key consumer group.
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