⛽ AI, SMBs, & the Economy—Plus, Cheap Gas & Hot Dogs?
Welcome to the first edition of our AI for Small Business newsletter!
Our goal is to keep you informed about the latest AI trends and news that impact your business. This newsletter is an evolving project, and we’d love your input—let us know what topics matter most to you!
We’re seeing a few trends this month. First, large enterprises are adopting AI rapidly and it’s only a matter of time before that tech comes to the SMB world, with some companies beginning to target SMBs specifically (see Verizon’s AI customer service push below).
Second, we are seeing purpose-built agentic AI systems that act as business advisors, coaches, and productivity accelerators start to be deployed more widely. Yum! Brands, Walmart (and us!) think there’s value in an AI business assistant - obligatory plug for our MarketStreet Answers product.
Finally, the economic outlook remains pretty hazy given the tariffs, where even dollar stores that typically thrive during rough economic times are predicting a downturn. In good news, the cheap gas at Costco will be available for more hours in the day, so you can get your $1.50 hot dog while saving money at the pump.
🍽️ Restaurants & Hospitality: Is AI Worth the Hype?
🔗 Yum! Introduces AI-Driven Restaurant Tech
Yum! Brands (think Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut) just rolled out "Byte," an AI-powered system designed to improve customer experiences and make restaurant operations run smoother. If big brands are investing in AI, should smaller restaurants be looking at similar tools to stay competitive?
🔗 Five Big Questions to Ask Before Using AI
Before jumping on the AI bandwagon, it's worth asking: Will it really improve efficiency? How will it affect employees? This article outlines the critical questions restaurant owners should consider before investing in AI-driven tech.
📈 Marketing & Growth: What’s Actually Working?
Over on reddit, small business owners are sharing their insights and strategies on what truly defines growth beyond revenue and how to streamline content marketing without it becoming a time sink. Check out these discussions for practical tips and proven tactics.
🔗 How Do You Measure Business Growth?
Beyond revenue, what really shows that your business is growing? This Reddit thread is packed with real business owners sharing insights on tracking customer retention, operational efficiency, and overall business health.
🔗 Content Marketing: From Idea to Post
How do other small business owners create and post content without spending hours on it? This discussion covers different workflows, automation tools, and strategies for getting the most out of content marketing.
🤖 Agentic AIs in the World
We’re starting to see the first wave of AI agents reach production deployments, with Walmart rolling out an AI assistant for their merchants to increase their productivity. Meanwhile, Verizon has launched an Intercom-like agent to let SMB customers chat to them.
🔗 Walmart’s AI Assistant for Merchants
Walmart is giving its merchants an AI-powered assistant to help with inventory management, product selection, and decision-making. Could AI-powered assistants be useful for small retailers, too?
🔗 Verizon’s AI Push for SMBs
Verizon is rolling out AI solutions specifically for small and medium businesses, from automation to customer service tools. If a telecom giant is focusing on SMBs, it’s a sign that AI-powered business tools are becoming the norm.
🛍️ Retail: AI For Streamlining Operations and Customer Experiences
We’re seeing AI-powered checkouts become a thing, powered by companies like Mashgin, especially at convenience stores. Are you seeing these show up at your local Circle K, etc?
🔗 Wesco doubles number of stores using AI-powered checkout
On the other hand, we’re not really seeing much practical news about AI for Inventory Management. There’s no doubt that this is coming, but we haven’t seen any SMB deployments we’re excited about.
🔗 AI in Inventory Management: What’s Working?
💰 The Economy: What’s Keeping Us Up at Night?
🔗 Dollar General CEO Warns of Consumer Slowdown
Consumers are pulling back on spending, according to Dollar General’s CEO. If big retailers are feeling the pinch, small businesses might need to prepare for shifts in customer behavior.
🔗 Small Business Confidence in Canada Hits Record Low
Rising costs, economic uncertainty, and shifting consumer habits are making small business owners in Canada nervous about the future. It’s a reminder that economic pressures aren’t going away anytime soon, and that the pressure isn’t US only.
🔗 Costco Expands Gas Hours to Meet Demand
With fuel prices fluctuating, Costco is extending gas station hours to meet demand. If your business relies on transportation or deliveries, keeping an eye on fuel costs might be critical.
✨ How is AI showing up in your business?
The business landscape is changing fast—AI is becoming a bigger part of everyday operations, marketing strategies are evolving, and the economy is full of uncertainties. The big question is: How can you use these trends to your advantage?
How are you using AI in your business? We want to hear from you. Hit reply to this newsletter and let us know!