8 Self-Management Skills Essential for Professional Success
article by Shopify, August 13, 2025
When you become an entrepreneur, you also become your own boss. For many, this shift to personal responsibility and self-management can be challenging. Developing strong self-management skills equips you with the tools to forge a disciplined schedule, adopt a problem-solving approach, and build the confidence to work independently.
The difference between entrepreneurs who thrive and those who struggle often comes down to their ability to manage themselves effectively. Self-management encompasses emotional regulation, decision-making under pressure, and the discipline to stay focused on your goals when no one else is watching.
Read on to learn more about self-management, with insights from Shopify entrepreneurs on strategies for taking accountability and developing their self-management skills.
Read MoreCanadian Holiday 2025 Retail Outlook: Deals, AI, and Value-Driven Shoppers
article by Retail Insider, July 31, 2025
Canadian consumers are heading into the 2025 holiday season with tighter budgets, high expectations for deals, and growing reliance on artificial intelligence for personalized shopping experiences. According to Salesforce insights, Cyber Week will be the pivotal period for retailers to capture attention, while loyalty programs and targeted discounts will play critical roles in driving sales.
Retail Insider spoke with Caila Schwartz, Director of Consumer Strategy & Insights at Salesforce, to explore how Canadian shoppers are planning for the holiday season, what categories are likely to shine, and how AI is changing the way people discover and purchase products.
The global consumer has faced economic challenges in recent years, but Canadian shoppers appear more cautious than their international counterparts. “The Canadian consumer does not feel as much optimism in spite of these economic hardships as other regions,” Schwartz explained.
2025 Small Business Marketing Trends: Digital Strategies, Community Focus, and the Rise of AI
article by Retail Insider, July 28, 2025
New data from VistaPrint and Wix shows that small business owners in the retail space are doubling down on their digital marketing efforts, with an eye towards creating unique customer experiences.
The 2025 Small Business Marketing Guide, based on a survey of 1,000 SBOs and 1,000 consumers, reveals that 40% of small business retailers say an online presence has had the biggest impact on their business in the last 12 months and 63% are more comfortable connecting online rather than in person.
Key findings for this sector:
- Top digital marketing tactics include social media (58%), websites (48%) and online reviews (46%)
- The top three methods of building loyalty among customers include engaging customers via social media (58%), offering personalized discounts (53%) and sending personalized thank you cards (45%)
- Despite operating in a digital-first world, small business retailers still value traditional marketing tactics via business cards (53%), promotional products (35%) and attending events and tradeshows (33%)
Turn Browsers into Buyers in 3 Easy Steps
article by Heartland, July 24, 2025
Would you believe that changing a single button can lead to an extra $300 million in sales? It’s true — and it’s proof that the smallest tweaks in your checkout can have massive payoffs.
The truth is, customers don’t always abandon their carts because they don’t want to buy — they leave them because online retailers make it too hard. Long forms, extra clicks, slow logins — every step you add to the checkout process increases the chance your customers will drop off and buy elsewhere.
But a few, surprisingly simple steps can supercharge your conversion rates overnight.
In our recent webinar, Turn browsers into buyers: Expert tips on squeezing the most from your online checkout, Mark Hagan and Antoine Mas share actionable steps to help you boost your bottom line. With decades of experience in ecommerce payments at Global Payments, they break down common checkout pitfalls and highlight the small yet powerful tweaks you can make quickly.
Continue ReadingBack-to-School Shopper Journey 2025 | National Consumer Research Caddle + RCC
article by Retail Council of Canada, June 18, 2025
Caddle, in partnership with RCC, surveyed Canadians from coast to coast to better understand consumers’ shopping around the next Back to School season.
Key Findings
- Planning Begins Early-but Isn’t Always Thorough
Most parents start planning in late spring or early summer (67%), especially for younger kids. However, true planning drops as children age-high school parents are more likely to shop on the fly. - Promotions and Price Define the First Stop
Price is the #1 driver behind retailer choice. 89% of parents actively seek deals, and mass merchandisers remain the go-to starting point due to pricing and convenience. - Emotional States Influence Decision-Making
Parents who feel excited, stressed, or overwhelmed are more likely to rely on product reviews-and to change their minds based on them. These emotions are more common in early and mid-grades.