by U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Start

    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.

    Good Company
  • Product Guides

    Let us help your business find the best tools and solutions to thrive and grow.

    Product Guides
Subscribe to our Newsletter Attend an Event About Us

Looking for your local chamber?

Chamber Finder

Interested in partnering with us?

Media Kit
CO- logo

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—
GOOD COMPANY » THE LEAP

Groupon Enhances Its Marketplace for Both Small Businesses and Consumers
The deals platform sees lots of opportunity in the $1 trillion-plus local economy.
READ
GOOD COMPANY » LAUNCH PAD

Top Trends Shaping the Post-Pandemic Consumer
Consumers today have more ways to shop, more money to spend and want stores to share their values.
READ
GOOD COMPANY » THE LEAP

Pinterest Adds Tools to Help Small Businesses Get Discovered
The visual search engine is looking to turn images on its platform into shoppable moments.
READ
GOOD COMPANY » LAUNCH PAD

Hospitality Industry Monetizes the Work-From-Anywhere Trend
Hotels and startups are expanding programs that cater to remote workers with office for a day, extended stay and work, learn and play options.
READ
GOOD COMPANY » THE LEAP

Footwear Brand Toms Rebrands and Finds Its Footing
The brand has ended its buy-a-pair, give-a-pair pledge and is looking to attract younger consumers with a new charitable model and a new shoe.
READ
GOOD COMPANY » LAUNCH PAD

Direct-to-Marketplace Selling: A Big Opportunity for Small Business
Amazon, Facebook, Google and other retail, social and search platforms are all seeking to grow by adding more small business vendors.
READ
GOOD COMPANY » LAUNCH PAD

Facebook Expands Small Business Solutions
The latest tools unveiled by the social media network focus on connection, communication and converting potential leads into customers.
READ
GOOD COMPANY » LAUNCH PAD

These 3 Innovative Brands Are Disrupting the Floral Industry
The pandemic caused demand for flowers to blossom. Here’s how three startups, and one legacy brand, are finding new ways to deliver.
READ
GOOD COMPANY » LAUNCH PAD

How Brands Are Using Customer Social Content to Drive Sales
Companies are learning their customers can be their best salespeople.
READ
GOOD COMPANY » LAUNCH PAD

Five Tech Trends That Are Reshaping Retail
Retailers are investing in artificial intelligence, augmented reality, robots and other innovations to keep up with a rapidly changing marketplace and consumer demands.
READ