You can have the best product, the most dedicated team, and a track record that speaks for itself — and still lose clients to a competitor who is simply more visible. More talked about. More featured.

Business magazines are one of the most powerful visibility tools available to entrepreneurs today. A single feature in the right publication can do more for your credibility than a year of social media posts, paid ads, or cold outreach combined.

In my experience placing business owners in publications across the US, the entrepreneurs who get featured are not always the most successful ones in their industry. They are the ones who understand which publications matter, what those publications look for, and how to position their story to get noticed.

This guide covers the best business magazines for entrepreneurs in 2026 and gives you a practical roadmap for getting featured in them.

Why Getting Featured in a Business Magazine Still Matters

Before diving into the list, it is worth understanding what a magazine feature actually does for your business in 2026.

It builds credibility that money cannot buy. Anyone can run an ad. Not everyone gets featured in a publication with editorial standards. When a business magazine chooses to feature your story, it signals to your market that an independent third party found your work worthy of attention.

It ranks on Google. A well-written feature about your business published on a high-authority magazine website can rank on the first page of Google when someone searches your name or company. That is permanent, compounding visibility that works 24 hours a day.

It creates a credibility asset you can use everywhere. Once you are featured, that logo goes on your website, your email signature, your LinkedIn profile, and your pitch deck. “As featured in…” is one of the most powerful trust signals in business.

It attracts the right clients. The readers of business magazines are business owners, decision makers, and executives — exactly the people most entrepreneurs are trying to reach.

The Best Business Magazines for Entrepreneurs in 2026

1. Forbes

Forbes is the most recognized business publication in the world and being featured carries enormous credibility weight. Forbes covers entrepreneurship, leadership, technology, finance, and business strategy across every industry.

Best for: Established entrepreneurs with a strong track record, unique business insights, or a compelling personal story.

How to get featured: Forbes has a contributor network where approved writers pitch stories. The best path for most entrepreneurs is to be quoted as an expert source in an existing article rather than pitching a feature directly. Building a relationship with a Forbes contributor in your industry is the most reliable route.

Difficulty: High — Forbes receives thousands of pitches and the bar for coverage is significant.

2. Entrepreneur Magazine

Entrepreneur is one of the most widely read publications for small business owners and founders. It covers startups, growth strategies, franchise opportunities, leadership, and business culture.

Best for: Small business owners, franchise operators, startup founders, and entrepreneurs at any stage of growth.

How to get featured: Entrepreneur actively looks for real business stories with lessons other entrepreneurs can apply. Pitching a story about a challenge you overcame, an unconventional strategy that worked, or a milestone worth noting are all strong angles.

Difficulty: Medium — more accessible than Forbes but still competitive.

3. Inc. Magazine

Inc. focuses on fast-growing companies and the entrepreneurs building them. It is known for lists like the Inc. 5000 — the definitive ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

Best for: High-growth businesses, tech startups, and entrepreneurs with strong revenue growth stories.

How to get featured: The Inc. 5000 application is the most direct path to Inc. coverage. Beyond that, Inc. writers actively seek sources and experts through platforms like HARO. Being consistently helpful as a source builds relationships that lead to features.

Difficulty: Medium to high — growth metrics matter significantly to Inc. editors.

4. Fast Company

Fast Company covers innovation, business, and the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship. It has a strong focus on companies doing things differently — disrupting industries, building purpose-driven businesses, or solving problems in unconventional ways.

Best for: Tech entrepreneurs, innovators, purpose-driven businesses, and founders with a unique approach to their industry.

How to get featured: Fast Company responds well to pitches that connect your business to a broader trend or cultural moment. The angle needs to be forward-looking — what does your business say about where the industry is going?

Difficulty: High — Fast Company is selective and trend-focused.

5. Bloomberg Businessweek

Bloomberg Businessweek is one of the most respected business publications in the world, with deep coverage of finance, economics, technology, and global business strategy.

Best for: Businesses with financial or economic angles, companies operating at scale, and entrepreneurs with insights on market trends.

How to get featured: Bloomberg is primarily journalist-driven — they find their stories rather than accepting pitches from entrepreneurs directly. Being visible as an expert in your field through other publications, HARO, and LinkedIn increases the chances of a Bloomberg journalist finding you.

Difficulty: Very high — primarily for established businesses with significant scale.

6. CEO Medium

CEO Medium is a digital business magazine dedicated specifically to entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders across the US. Unlike traditional publications that rely on journalists to find your story, CEO Medium works directly with business owners to craft and publish dedicated feature stories.

Best for: Entrepreneurs, small business owners, realtors, consultants, and founders at any stage who want guaranteed media coverage with a permanent, SEO-indexed article about their business.

How to get featured: CEO Medium offers feature placement packages. You get a dedicated article written and published about your business, permanent indexing on Google, and syndication to additional outlets depending on your package.

Difficulty: Accessible designed specifically for entrepreneurs who want coverage without the uncertainty of traditional pitching.

How to Get Featured in a Business Magazine: A Step-by-Step Approach

Step 1: Choose the Right Publication for Your Stage

Not every magazine is right for every business. Match your pitch to where you are:

• Early stage or local business: Start with regional business journals, industry trade publications, and digital magazines like CEO Medium where the barrier to entry is lower and the audience is targeted.
• Growth stage: Target Entrepreneur and Inc. where mid-sized business stories get regular coverage.
• Established business with scale: Go after Forbes, Fast Company, and Bloomberg Businessweek where the bar is high but the credibility payoff is enormous.

Step 2: Craft a Story, Not a Profile

Magazines do not publish profiles of businesses. They publish stories about people building businesses. The difference is critical.

A profile says: “Here is what our company does and how successful we are.”

A story says: “Here is a challenge we faced, how we approached it differently, what we learned, and what that means for other entrepreneurs in our space.”

Before you pitch any publication, identify the story angle — the conflict, the turning point, the lesson, the unexpected result. That is what editors are looking for.

Step 3: Research the Right Contact

Every major publication has editors and writers who cover specific beats. Pitching the wrong person is as bad as not pitching at all.

Spend 20 minutes on LinkedIn and the publication’s website identifying:

• Who covers your industry or business type
• What stories they have published recently
• What angles they seem to favor

Then personalize your pitch to that specific person and reference their recent work.

Step 4: Write a One-Paragraph Pitch

Your initial pitch should be one paragraph maximum. Include:

• Who you are and what your business does in one sentence
• The story angle in one sentence
• Why their readers would care in one sentence
• A soft ask — “Would you be open to hearing more?”

Do not send a full press release as your first contact. Send a pitch. If they are interested, they will ask for more.

Step 5: Follow Up Once

If you do not hear back within 7 days, send one follow-up email. Keep it short — one sentence reminding them of your pitch and asking if they had a chance to consider it.

If you still do not hear back, move on to the next contact. Persistence is good. Repeated follow-ups to the same person are not.

The Fastest Path to Getting Featured in 2026

If you want guaranteed coverage without the uncertainty of pitching editors who may never respond, working directly with a business publication is the most efficient path.

CEO Medium works with entrepreneurs and small business owners to publish dedicated feature stories that are permanently indexed on Google, written to tell your story the way it deserves to be told, and syndicated to additional outlets to maximize reach.

Once your feature is live, combining it with a press release distribution service can extend your reach even further.

Rather than spending months pitching editors with no guarantee of coverage, you get a published feature that builds your credibility from day one.

Final Thoughts

Business magazines remain one of the most powerful visibility tools available to entrepreneurs in 2026. A single feature in the right publication builds credibility, drives compounding traffic, and positions you as a recognized voice in your industry.

Start with publications that match your current stage. Build your story before you pitch. Personalize every outreach. Follow up once and move on.

And if you want to shortcut the process entirely, CEO Medium is here to make sure your story gets told.

Ready to get your business featured? CEO Medium publishes dedicated feature stories for entrepreneurs and business owners across the US.

The post The Best Business Magazines for Entrepreneurs in 2026 (And How to Get Featured in Them) appeared first on CEO Medium.

Getting your press release in front of the right journalists, editors, and media outlets is the part most business owners underestimate. You can write the most compelling press release in the world and still get zero coverage if it never reaches the right people.

That is where press release distribution services come in.

In my experience working with small business owners and entrepreneurs on media placements, the distribution method you choose makes as much difference as the press release itself. Send it the wrong way and it disappears into a void. Send it the right way and you wake up to coverage in publications you never even pitched.

I have seen businesses spend $1,500 on PR Newswire distribution and get zero pickup  and others get featured in 12 publications from a single well-placed direct pitch that cost nothing.

This guide breaks down the best press release distribution services available in 2026, what they cost, who they are best for, and what the alternatives are if you want better results for less money.

What Is a Press Release Distribution Service?

A press release distribution service takes your press release and sends it to a network of journalists, newsrooms, editors, and media databases on your behalf.

The basic promise is simple: instead of manually building a media list and pitching hundreds of journalists one by one, you pay a service to do the distribution for you at scale.

Some services distribute to thousands of outlets simultaneously. Others focus on specific industries or regions. Some offer SEO benefits by publishing your release on high-authority news sites. The quality, reach, and cost vary dramatically between providers.

The Best Press Release Distribution Services in 2026

1. PR Newswire – Best for Maximum Reach

PR Newswire is the largest and most established press release distribution service in the world. A single release distributed through PR Newswire can reach thousands of newsrooms, journalists, and media databases simultaneously.

Best for: Large announcements, funding rounds, public company news, product launches targeting national media.

Cost: Starts around $350 per release for regional distribution. National distribution runs $800 to $1,500+ depending on word count and add-ons.

Pros:

• Widest distribution network in the industry
• Strong SEO benefits from syndication on high-authority news sites
• Trusted by journalists as a credible source

Cons:

• Expensive for small business owners
• No guarantee of actual journalist pickup or coverage
• Releases often get lost in the volume of content distributed daily

2. Business Wire  – Best for Financial and Corporate News

Business Wire is owned by Berkshire Hathaway and is the preferred distribution service for corporate announcements, earnings releases, and financial news. It has deep relationships with financial media and wire services.

Best for: Financial announcements, investor relations, corporate news, regulated industries.

Cost: Similar to PR Newswire – starts around $400 for regional, $900+ for national.

Pros:

• Strong reach into financial and business media
• Trusted by Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Reuters
• Good compliance tools for regulated industries

Cons:

• Overkill for most small businesses
• High cost with no guaranteed coverage
• Interface is dated and not beginner-friendly

3. EIN Presswire – Best Budget Option for Basic Distribution

EIN Presswire offers one of the most affordable entry points into press release distribution. For small businesses that want basic distribution without spending hundreds of dollars per release, it is a reasonable starting point.

Best for: Small businesses, startups, local businesses doing their first press releases.

Cost: Starts at $99 per release. Annual plans available for frequent users.

Pros:

• Affordable compared to PR Newswire and Business Wire
• Distributes to Google News and industry-specific outlets
• Simple to use

Cons:

• Smaller distribution network than premium services
• Less credibility with top-tier journalists
• Limited SEO impact compared to higher-tier services

4. Globe Newswire – Best for Mid-Market Businesses

Globe Newswire sits between EIN Presswire and PR Newswire in terms of reach and cost. It is a solid option for mid-sized businesses that need broader distribution than budget services offer but cannot justify the cost of PR Newswire.

Best for: Mid-market companies, technology businesses, businesses targeting trade media.

Cost: Starts around $200 per release for basic distribution.

Pros:

• Good balance of cost and reach
• Strong in technology and financial sectors
• Distributes to AP, Reuters, and major financial databases

Cons:

• Less name recognition than PR Newswire or Business Wire
• Pickup rates vary significantly by industry

5. Prowly – Best for Building Your Own Media List

Prowly takes a different approach from traditional distribution services. Rather than blasting your release to a generic network, Prowly gives you tools to build your own targeted media list, manage journalist relationships, and distribute directly to contacts who actually cover your industry.

Best for: Businesses doing ongoing PR who want to build real journalist relationships over time.

Cost: Starts at $258 per month — a subscription model rather than per-release pricing.

Pros:

• Targeted outreach rather than mass distribution
• Built-in media database with journalist contact info
• PR analytics and tracking

Cons:

• Monthly subscription is expensive for occasional use
• Requires more effort than set-and-forget distribution services
• Better suited for businesses with dedicated PR resources

The Hard Truth About Press Release Distribution Services

Here is what most distribution services will not tell you upfront:

Distribution does not equal coverage.

You can spend $1,500 sending a press release through PR Newswire and get zero journalists writing about your business. Distribution services guarantee that your release gets sent — they do not guarantee that anyone reads it, cares about it, or publishes a story about it.

The reality is that journalists receive hundreds of press releases every day through these services. Most get skimmed and deleted within seconds. Unless your story is genuinely newsworthy and perfectly timed, mass distribution alone is unlikely to generate meaningful coverage.

This does not mean distribution services are useless. They serve a real purpose — particularly for SEO, since your release gets published on hundreds of news sites and creates backlinks to your website. But if your goal is actual media coverage and real stories written about your business, distribution alone is rarely enough.

What Actually Gets Results: A Smarter Approach

The businesses that consistently earn media coverage in 2026 use a combination of approaches rather than relying on any single service:

Targeted direct outreach to journalists who specifically cover their industry, combined with a well-crafted pitch tailored to each contact.

HARO responses to get quoted in articles journalists are already writing, which requires no pitch and no distribution fee.

Direct publication partnerships with business media outlets that feature entrepreneurs and business owners as part of their editorial model.

That last option is worth understanding in more detail. Rather than paying $500 to $1,500 to distribute a press release that may never get picked up, some business owners choose to work directly with publications like CEO Medium to get a dedicated feature story written and published about their business.

The difference is significant. A press release distributed through a wire service is one of thousands sent that day. A dedicated feature story published on CEO Medium is a permanent, SEO-indexed article specifically about your business – written to rank on Google and reach your target audience directly.

Press Release Distribution vs. Direct Feature Placement: A Comparison

Which Press Release Distribution Service Should You Choose?

Here is a simple decision framework based on your situation:

If you are a small business doing your first press release and want basic distribution without spending a lot: Start with EIN Presswire at $99. It gives you Google News distribution and a reasonable starting point without a major financial commitment.

If you are announcing something significant, a funding round, major partnership, or product launch targeting national media: PR Newswire or Business Wire give you the widest reach and the most credibility with top-tier journalists.

If you want ongoing PR capability and are committed to building real journalist relationships over time: Prowly gives you the tools to do that properly.

If you want guaranteed coverage with a permanent article indexed on Google that specifically tells your business story: Working directly with a business publication like CEO Medium is the most efficient path.

Final Thoughts

Press release distribution services are a legitimate tool in your media strategy but they work best as part of a broader approach rather than a standalone solution.

Use distribution to get your news out broadly and build SEO backlinks. Use targeted outreach and HARO to build real journalist relationships. And use direct publication partnerships to guarantee that your story gets told the way it deserves to be told.

The goal is not just to send a press release. The goal is to get your business in front of the right people, build credibility that compounds over time, and make it impossible for your target customers to miss you.

If you are ready to go beyond distribution and get a dedicated feature story published about your business, CEO Medium works with entrepreneurs and small business owners across the US to make that happen.

The post Press Release Distribution Services: The Best Options Compared in 2026 appeared first on CEO Medium.

They picture a Fortune 500 brand hiring a $10,000-a-month agency, sending press releases to hundreds of journalists, and landing features in major publications through sheer spending power.

That picture is outdated.

In my experience working with entrepreneurs and business owners on media placements, the ones who get covered consistently are not always the biggest or best-funded. They are the ones who understand how media works and position themselves accordingly.

This guide breaks down exactly how to get media coverage for your small business in 2026 – without an agency, without a massive budget, and without wasting months chasing journalists who will never respond.

Why Media Coverage Still Matters in 2026

Before diving into strategy, it is worth understanding why media coverage is worth pursuing in the first place.

A single feature in the right publication can do more for your business than months of paid advertising. Here is why:

It builds permanent credibility. A published article about your business lives on Google indefinitely. When a potential client searches your name, they find proof that a real publication thought your story was worth telling.

It drives compounding traffic. Unlike an ad that disappears the moment you stop paying, an article keeps sending readers to your website for years.

It creates a trust shortcut. Customers trust businesses that have been featured in media more than businesses that have not. Being featured in even one credible publication changes how people perceive you.

It opens doors. Media coverage leads to speaking invitations, partnership opportunities, podcast appearances, and more coverage. One feature often leads to five more.

The 5 Most Effective Ways to Get Media Coverage in 2026

1. Build a Targeted Media List

The biggest mistake small business owners make with PR is sending the same pitch to every journalist they can find. This approach wastes time and burns bridges.

Instead, build a targeted list of 20 to 30 journalists and editors who specifically cover your industry, your region, or your type of business story.

To find the right contacts:

• Search Google for recent articles about businesses like yours and note the journalist’s name
• Follow industry publications and identify their regular contributors
• Use LinkedIn to find editors at local business journals and trade publications
• Check the masthead of publications you want to be featured in

A targeted list of 25 journalists who actually cover your space will outperform a blasted list of 500 every single time.

2. Write a Newsworthy Pitch

Journalists do not cover businesses. They cover stories. Your pitch needs to answer one question immediately: why should their readers care about this right now?

A strong pitch has three elements:

A clear news hook. What is happening that makes this timely? A product launch, a milestone, a trend you are responding to, a problem you are solving.

A specific angle. Not “my business is growing” but “my business grew 300% by doing the opposite of what every expert recommended.”

A short ask. One paragraph. Tell them who you are, what the story is, and why their audience would care. Do not attach a press release to the first email. Just pitch the idea.

3. Use HARO and Similar Platforms

Help a Reporter Out (HARO) is a free service where journalists post requests for sources and experts to quote in their articles. You sign up, receive daily emails with journalist requests, and respond to the ones relevant to your business.

This is one of the fastest ways to get quoted in major publications as a small business owner. A single good HARO response can land you a mention in Forbes, Entrepreneur, or Inc. without ever sending a cold pitch.

Other platforms that work similarly:

• Qwoted — newer alternative to HARO with higher quality requests
• SourceBottle — good for lifestyle and consumer brands
• ProfNet — more suited to established experts and academics

Check HARO requests every morning and respond within the first two hours. Journalists work on tight deadlines and the first good response usually wins.

4. Leverage Local Media First

National coverage is the goal for many business owners but local media is often the fastest and most impactful starting point.

Local newspapers, regional business journals, local TV news, and community blogs are all actively looking for stories about businesses in their area. The competition for coverage is far lower and the relationships you build with local journalists often lead to national introductions over time.

Start by pitching your local business journal or newspaper. Frame your story around a local angle — job creation, community impact, a local problem you are solving. Once you have local coverage, use that as proof of credibility when pitching national outlets.

5. Get Featured in a Business Publication Directly

Rather than chasing journalists and hoping they pick up your story, you can work directly with business publications that feature entrepreneurs and business owners as part of their editorial model.

This approach gives you:

• Control over how your story is told
• A guaranteed published feature rather than a maybe
• A permanent, SEO-indexed article that ranks on Google
• Syndication to additional outlets depending on the publication

At CEO Medium, we work with entrepreneurs and small business owners to craft and publish dedicated feature stories that reach thousands of readers in their target market. Rather than spending months pitching journalists with no guarantee of coverage, you get a published feature that works for your business 24 hours a day.

What Makes a Business Story Worth Covering

Whether you are pitching a journalist or working with a publication directly, your story needs one of these elements to be worth covering:

Conflict or challenge. You faced a serious obstacle and overcame it. Readers connect with struggle and resilience more than smooth success stories.

Surprising data or results. You achieved something unusual — grew faster than expected, found a counterintuitive solution, reached a milestone that defies the norm.

A clear human angle. There is a real person behind the business with a real reason for building it. Personal motivation is one of the most compelling story elements in business journalism.

Timely relevance. Your story connects to something happening in the world right now — a trend, a shift in consumer behavior, a market change.

A local or community angle. You are creating jobs, solving a local problem, or building something that your community can be proud of.

If your story has at least one of these elements, it is worth pitching.

Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances of Getting Covered

Pitching too broadly. Sending the same generic pitch to 500 journalists signals that you have not done your homework. Personalize every pitch to the specific journalist and publication.

Making it about you, not the reader. Journalists write for their audience, not for your business. Every pitch needs to lead with why their readers will care, not why the story matters to you.

Following up too aggressively. One follow-up email after 5 to 7 days is acceptable. Multiple follow-ups within a week will get you blacklisted.

No visuals or assets. Make it easy for journalists to say yes. Have a high-quality headshot, company photos, and a one-page media kit ready to send the moment someone shows interest.

Giving up too soon. Most business owners pitch once or twice and quit when they do not hear back. Consistent, strategic outreach over months is how small businesses build real media presence.

Building a Long-Term Media Presence

Getting one feature is good. Building a media presence that consistently generates coverage is what actually moves the needle for your business.

To do that, think of PR as a habit rather than a one-time effort:

• Pitch at least 5 journalists or publications every month
• Respond to HARO requests every morning
• Publish content on your own platform that journalists can reference
• Build genuine relationships with 3 to 5 journalists in your space over time
• Document your business milestones so you always have something newsworthy to pitch

Over 12 months of consistent effort, a small business can build the kind of media presence that most people assume only large companies can achieve.

Final Thoughts

Media coverage is not reserved for big companies with big budgets. It is available to any business owner who understands how to tell a compelling story and gets it in front of the right people.

Start with a targeted media list. Write pitches that lead with the story, not the product. Use free tools like HARO to get quoted in major publications. Build local coverage first and use it as a springboard to national outlets.

And if you want to shortcut the process and get a guaranteed feature story published and indexed on Google, CEO Medium works directly with business owners to make that happen.

Your story is worth telling. The question is whether you are going to tell it or keep waiting for someone else to notice.

Ready to get your business featured? CEO Medium publishes dedicated feature stories for entrepreneurs and small business owners across the US. Get Featured Today or email info@ceomedium.com

The post How to Get Media Coverage for Your Small Business in 2026 appeared first on CEO Medium.

Beyond business, Brent Polischuk has also spent many years involved in competitive hockey as a player, coach, and operations volunteer. Those experiences, along with his community work, have helped shape a leadership style that values preparation, accountability, and steady performance over time. In this interview, he discusses the concepts of responsibility, the art of decision-making, and explores what it takes to run reliable systems behind the scenes.

Q: You manage a delivery business that requires attention to logistics, people, and finances. What does responsibility mean to you in that kind of role?

BRENT POLISCHUK: Responsibility starts with recognizing that other people rely on the work you do, even if they never see it directly. In a delivery operation, customers expect their shipments to arrive safely and on schedule. Drivers need clear routes and reliable vehicles. Vendors expect communication to be straightforward. All of that creates a chain of expectations.

My job is to make sure those pieces work together smoothly. That means planning routes carefully, maintaining the vehicles, and staying organized with scheduling and finances. A lot of the work happens before the day even begins. When preparation is done properly, most problems never reach the customer. That’s really the goal: to handle issues early so the service itself feels simple and reliable.

Q: Running a fleet of vehicles can involve many moving parts. How do you keep operations running efficiently day after day?

BRENT POLISCHUK: Consistency and attention to detail make the biggest difference. Every vehicle in the fleet has to be maintained, because small mechanical issues can turn into major delays if they’re ignored. I try to stay very hands-on with maintenance schedules so that downtime is minimized.

Route planning is another key piece. If drivers know where they’re going and the schedule is realistic, the day runs more smoothly. That also means listening to feedback from the people on the road. They often see things that can improve efficiency.

At the same time, I monitor costs closely. Fuel, maintenance, insurance, and equipment all affect the financial health of the business. When you track those numbers consistently, it becomes easier to make practical decisions that keep the operation sustainable.

Q: Your background includes many years in competitive hockey. How has that experience influenced the way you run a business?

BRENT POLISCHUK: Sports teach you discipline and structure. When you’re involved in competitive hockey, preparation becomes part of everyday life. Practices, game planning, and team roles all require organization. Those same habits carry over into business.

In both settings, teamwork is essential. When people understand their responsibilities and trust each other to do their part, performance improves. Communication is also very important. Whether it’s on a team or in a business operation, clear expectations help everyone stay focused.

Another lesson from sports is learning to stay calm under pressure. Games can change quickly, and reacting emotionally usually doesn’t help. The same thing applies in business. Unexpected situations come up, but if you stay composed and focus on solutions, you can usually work through them.

Q: Financial management is a large part of your work as an owner-operator. How do you approach that responsibility?

BRENT POLISCHUK: Financial oversight is something that needs regular attention. You can’t just review numbers once in a while and hope everything works out. I track expenses closely and try to understand where money is being spent and how those costs affect long-term planning.

For example, maintaining vehicles properly may seem expensive in the short term, but it usually prevents larger repairs later. The same idea applies to budgeting and cost control. If you stay disciplined and plan ahead, the business becomes more stable.

Financial awareness also helps with decision-making. When you know your numbers, you can evaluate opportunities more carefully and avoid taking unnecessary risks. Over time, that kind of steady financial management builds resilience.

Q: You’ve also taken on roles supporting hockey programs and events. What did those experiences teach you about leadership?

BRENT POLISCHUK: Leadership often involves supporting others rather than seeking attention. In sports environments, there are many people working behind the scenes to make things run smoothly. Everyone from coaches and evaluators to volunteers and coordinators. Their work allows athletes to focus on performing.

I’ve learned that leadership sometimes means noticing small problems early and solving them quietly. When systems work properly, people may not even realize the effort that went into organizing them. But that preparation makes a real difference.

I think respect is also important. Everyone involved in a project or team contributes something valuable. When people feel respected and supported, they usually perform better and take pride in their work.

Q: What advice would you give to people who want to build dependable operations in their own work or businesses?

BRENT POLISCHUK: Focus on preparation and consistency. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to move quickly, but strong systems are built step by step. Take the time to organize your processes, maintain your equipment, and understand your finances.

Also remember that trust is earned over time. When people see that you follow through on your commitments, they become more confident working with you. Reliability may not always attract attention, but it creates lasting relationships.

Finally, stay open to learning. Every challenge teaches you something about how to improve your systems. If you approach your work with patience and accountability, progress usually follows.

The post Victoria’s Brent Polischuk on Leadership, Logistics, and Financial Discipline appeared first on CEO Medium.

The British economy is still struggling to recover from the pandemic, according to the latest data. The economy is 0.5% smaller than it was before the pandemic, and experts say that the main reasons for this are the lingering effects of the pandemic and the tighter post-Brexit immigration rules.

The ongoing skills shortage is a major challenge for businesses, but it is also an opportunity for those who are proactive. Here are our top tips for businesses facing labor challenges in 2023.

UK industries with skills shortages

To begin, it is important to identify the industries in the UK that are most affected by the skills shortage. A recent study found that the country’s biggest shortfalls are in a variety of sectors, including:

• Transport and logistics: This sector is facing a shortage of skilled drivers, warehouse workers, and customs agents.
• Hospitality: This sector is facing a shortage of skilled chefs, waiters, and hotel staff.
• Manufacturing and construction: These sectors are facing a shortage of skilled engineers, carpenters, and electricians.

Invest in your workforce for long-term success

Recruiting top talent is a time-sensitive process, as there is only a limited pool of qualified candidates available. A recruitment agency can help you find the right people quickly and efficiently.

Recruitment agencies have wider referral networks as a third party, allowing them to identify candidates with the necessary work experience. They also focus on different industries, so you can locate an agency that meets your specific requirements.

Recruitment agencies can help you find new talent with the core skills to help your company reach its goals.

Invest in your workforce to boost your business
Often, the skills you need are already present in your workforce, but they may not be fully utilized. By upskilling your employees, you can give them the skills they need to take on new challenges and responsibilities.

Upskilling your workforce can be a great way to improve your business and the skills of your employees. By following these tips, you can make the upskilling process a success.

Organizations with more resources may even pay for their employees to enroll in external training programs offered by universities or colleges. This personalized investment in your workforce can build loyalty and even provide a valuable public relations opportunity.

Utilise Apprenticeship to train and upskill your workforce
Apprenticeships can be a long-term solution to skills shortages. They can help employers reach a wider talent pool and offer prospective employees a strong, high-quality alternative to the traditional university degree.

A multi-pronged approach to recruitment that includes building relationships with educational institutions can help businesses find top talent at the source.

Boost your marketing reach and visibility
A strong marketing strategy can make your company more attractive to prospective employees. This is because it can help to increase brand awareness and generate interest in your company. You can partner with local educational institutions, promote your job openings on social media and in the local press, and track your results to improve your marketing strategy and attract future employees.

Sources 

GDP – data tables – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)  

Immigration – Winckworth Sherwood LLP (wslaw.co.uk) 

UK employers struggle with worst labour shortage since 1997 | Business | The Guardian 

The post Overcoming Skills Gaps: A Guide for Businesses appeared first on CEO Medium.

Fauteux firmly believes in the responsibility of leaders to contribute to the preservation of our world. In his words, “I believe that everyone in a leadership position has the responsibility to ensure we are protecting nature and acting sustainably. Without it, little of what we do or achieve holds significance or meaning. After all, we have to ensure that we have a place where others following in our footsteps have the opportunity to achieve their own goals.”

Fauteux’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree earned in 1995 from Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada. He also pursued further education, completing a Management Certificate from the American Management Association of International in 1999 as well as an Indigenous Studies Certificate from the University of Alberta in 2017. 

In this capacity as Senior Director of P3 at EQUANS Services, he’s responsible for managing the strategic delivery operations of multiple P3 contracts in both Canada and the United States. His areas of oversight encompass transit, healthcare, transportation, and cultural infrastructure. 

What does your day-to-day generally look like given your position?

Contract, Vendor, and Client Management are the activities that take up most of my day.  Making sure we are delivering on our commitments and serving our clients in the best, most sustainable way we can.

What initially inspired you to get into the field you’re in?

Leadership has always been the thing that I’ve gravitated to normally and environmentalism and sustainability are things that mean a lot to me personally. So being able to lead and contribute in those important areas has been great.

What do you think makes a great leader?

I generally subscribe to servant leadership so listening is where everything starts.  As a generalist, I believe strongly in putting the right people in the right places and then making sure you can support success, help them grow, and clear barriers for them. I also believe strongly that what gets measured, gets done so I am a big proponent of having accountability systems in place to track success.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

The biggest misconception is that environmentalism and sustainability are only for environmentalists and that simply is not true. Everything we build, operate, occupy, use, etc. can be better more sustainable, and less harmful to the environment around us.  Keeping this in mind, ALL of us are responsible for this, not just the environmentalists.

What do you believe your future career is going to look like five years from now?

I imagine that I will be leading sustainably in whatever industry needs me. 

The post Our Interview With Brad Fauteux, senior director of P3 Management at EQUANS appeared first on CEO Medium.

Tell us about who you are and what you do?

I started as a freelance Graphic Designer and Illustrator after graduating from university with a degree in graphic communication. Fast forward a good few years and I’m now the Director of my own company, CoconuTacha! I specialize in creating uplifting, bright, and happy designs and sell these as art prints, greeting cards, notebooks, clothing, and more in my online shop www.coconutacha.com. I also create behind-the-scenes content over on my Instagram and YouTube channels which people seem to love – especially the foiling process that I often feature! I also started a Patreon channel last year which gives subscribers exclusive access to videos, tutorials, podcasts, and physical monthly goodie boxes full of CoconuTacha goodies – some available in the shop but some exclusive to my Patreons.

Tell us more about how you first created CoconuTacha?

CoconuTacha was born whilst I was studying at university as a way to fund my studies and earn a little extra cash on the side. My design style has changed over the years as I’ve improved and gained more clients, however, my ‘vibe’ has remained the same – always positive, bright, uplifting, and colorful! I struggled with anxiety during my late teens and early 20’s and so creating these lovely designs was a way of escapism and telling myself that everything would be okay – fast forward to the pandemic and 2020 and these designs appealed to hundreds of thousands more people experiencing similar feelings. Whilst the situation was/is horrible, it was reassuring to know that my illustrations and designs were helping make people feel a little less alone in their struggles. I also delved into organizing, creating new planners, notebooks, and to-do lists as the demand grew for work-from-home offices. I noticed that my audience had changed and I needed to meet their demands, and so stationary was at the top of my priorities. Of course, these had to be bright, colorful yet functional, and serve their purpose. Next was comfy clothing and a whole new project began…

We’d love to hear a bit more about the behind-the-scenes runnings of CoconuTacha, go into detail and tell us about how everything works:

As I am the creator of CoconuTacha, I’m very involved in my business and like to make sure that I have a ‘personal touch’ so that CoconuTacha never seems faceless. I like to know the person behind the brand and know who I’m buying off, so I try to do that as best as I can. When noticing the needs and wants of my clients were changing last year, I took a chance on a project that I’ve always wanted to try – clothing! I set up a Kickstarter and advertised it everywhere. It was fully funded and more so and I got to design my dream sweaters featuring 4 different designs. They are perfect to lounge around in (which a lot of us got to do last year!), staying comfy whilst also looking cute and colorful. They did so well that I decided to add 2 t-shirt designs to CoconuTacha’s collection this year!

What are the challenges you go through daily?

Oh, there are SO many! Today, for example, I’ve been trying to stay on top of finances; sorting my pension, my student finances, my tax savings, national insurance contributions, insurances, personal income, etc. the list goes on and on! I have hired an accountant to help me with everything financial which is a huge relief, but I still like to do my best and stay on top of everything so that I know what’s what. There are also other challenges such as Imposter Syndrome, which I think we all go through at some point. Sometimes it’s hard to push the creativity out there and feel worthy. But you just have to look back at how far you’ve come and silence that little voice in your head.

How do you manage your finances? Any fundings received?

I’m not sure whether I’m proud or ashamed, or perhaps feel a bit silly when I say that CoconuTacha was funded purely by myself and my hard work. I know now that there are grants available out there to start-ups, but I was very unaware of this at the time. I had a full-time job when I started CoconuTacha, which meant that I had a stable monthly income and a lovely safety net to fall back on. I also think I had the benefit of being young and naive when I decided to go completely full-time self-employed! It’s such a scary thing and I’m still learning that as time goes on. It never gets easier! It takes guts and good calculations, savings, and more to go from being employed to self-employed. As for managing my finances now, I use a Starling business account to keep track of all my expenses. I recently opened a Penfold pension account too – something that I only recently learned about and highly recommend if you are self-employed! As I mentioned previously, I hire an accountant to keep track of my monthly expenses, incomings, and outgoings. It makes things a thousand times easier for me and I can spend more time focussing on designing new products for CoconuTacha.

Tell us your future vision for CoconuTacha. How far do you want to take it? What is your dream about taking it to the next level?

Well, my first dream was to be able to do this full-time. I did that. My second dream was to be able to buy my first house and get a mortgage. That was so TOUGH! But I finally managed to do that recently. I guess my next goal is to just stay afloat for a while… but that sounds boring, haha! My ultimate dream is to have a studio space elsewhere, perhaps even a co-working space where I and my best creative buddies can all group together and work on our things simultaneously whilst bounding ideas back and forth. Sipping tea and coffee together, collaborating on big, creative projects, and creating the most amazing things. Right now, my studio is in a spare room in my house which I love! But I do see myself moving into something bigger elsewhere in the future. I also see CoconuTacha expanding its product ranges even more, especially within the clothing and accessories category!

What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?

Don’t let anything or anyone stop you from doing what you love, be true to yourself, and don’t shy away from putting yourself, your designs, brand, etc. out there! You have to start somewhere.

You can follow CoconuTacha on Instagram, YouTube, and Patreon here:

www.instagram.com/coconutacha

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6sALfhCrKdMjBijIINL8Nw

https://www.patreon.com/coconutacha

Company Name: CoconuTacha Ltd.

Email address: coconutacha@gmail.com

Website URL: www.coconutacha.com

The post Building an Illustration-Focused Business from Scratch appeared first on CEO Medium.

Evan honed in on his skills by working and investing in the hospitality space for over a decade. His career path has included previous ownership of Atwood Your Service Hospitality Group, the parent company of New York City restaurants Atwood, Kitchen & Bar Room (982 2nd Avenue) Shay & Ivy (39 W 24th Street), and Sir Henri Penthouse Rooftop & Lounge (37 W 24th Street). Additional past work included companies such as the Morgan’s Hotel Group, Paige Hospitality Group, The Lure Group, and Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer. Evan also oversaw a startup company, VenueTap, until 2014 when Joonbug acquired them.

Evans’ entrepreneurial spirit, including his keen ability to network and connect people, has also led him to find fulfillment in working with charitable organizations. In November 2019 he founded the 333charity, a foundation working in partnership with the UJA Federation to fund meals for the 36,000 Holocaust survivors living in New York, 40% of whom are living in poverty. He previously sat on the board for AC4C, a 501c-3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for other charities that provide research, care, treatment, and education for children with cancer. In 2017, recognizing his entrepreneurial spirit, Evan was invited to join Steve Madden’s Self Made Men campaign to inspire and support other like-minded entrepreneurs.

Tell us about who you are and what you do. 

My name is Evan Rosenberg. I am the founder of Powerhouse Prints, a company that produces high-end promotional products and branded merchandise at affordable rates for start-ups and large corporations. Along with running day-to-day operations, he oversees the sales team, client relationships, marketing initiatives, and product ideation.

Tell us how you created this brand and what was the sole idea behind it. 

In 2018-2019, I was consulting for multiple brands including various companies that provided branded promotional products.  When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, most of my clients were put on hold and I began working on 333charity, a non-profit organization I founded in 2019 to raise money for Holocaust survivors living in poverty.  While shopping around for affordable branded materials to ensure maximum proceeds went to supporting the charity’s mission, I was introduced to a multitude of people both domestically and internationally in the promotional and merchandising sector.  

After much research, I took it upon myself to find the best items to support the mission behind my non-profit.   On this journey, and after months of extensive research, Powerhouse Prints (PH Prints, LLC) was born.  I took this newfound knowledge and connected with some of the best sourcing partners, decorators, and industry veterans to establish trustworthy connections and build relationships with companies like The Empire State Building (Empire State Realty Trust), Tao Group, e11even, Starr Restaurant Group, FuckJerry/Jaja Tequila, The Chainsmokers, & more.  We now have a growing list of clients that includes over 100 brands.

Go in detail and tell us about how your brand works. You may keep this from the audience’s perspective. 

We create branded promotional products for our clients using our experience to execute on each of their initiatives. Powerhouse Prints does everything for custom product ideation through execution and delivery of the products.

What is your giveaway idea through this interview? Highlight something that may interest the readers on a one to one basis.

 We are helping brands gain exposure through creative ideas and high quality and affordable products.

Explain the challenges you went through while you were working on brand creation. What are the challenges you go through on an everyday basis? 

Challenges include/included finding the right team, managing expectations of customers and employees, winning the trust of customers over our competition, scaling up, and more.

How do you manage your finances through the services you offer. Any fundings etc received?

 I started the company by loaning it $10k to get off the ground with accounting/legal and start-up fees.  I was able to pay the load back within 3 weeks after becoming profitable. 

Tell us your future vision about the brand. How far do you want to take it? What is your dream about taking it to the next level? 

 The most important thing to me with the future of the business is ensuring that I continue to grow and find happiness through my work.  This means having the financial stability to support myself and my family, create and maintain meaningful relationships, and ultimately help other people through my work and experiences.

What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it? 

A business is an idea that is going to make someone’s life easier, the best one’s are often formed out of frustration.  2021 will bring a plethora of these ideas amidst the pandemic. Lean your inner circle in addition to other successful entrepreneurs to grow and become a great leader. Tony Hsieh may have said it best, “Imagine a greenhouse where at a typical company the CEO may be the strongest and tallest and most charismatic plant that all of the other plants try to become.  I think of myself more as being the architect of the greenhouse and all of the plants inside with flourish and thrive on their own”.  When forming a business, follow a sound philosophy that you believe in.  Find people who have experience in your industry and others that can bring in fresh ideas and shake things up; the pandemic has brought about a large pool of skilled talent due to the high unemployment rates.  Learn from your failures though don’t harp on them.  Most importantly, have a lot of fun at it. 

Get in touch with POWERHOUSE PRINTS on WWW.PHPRINTS.COM

instagram URL : www.instagram.com/phprintsllc

The post Get to Know an Entrepreneur who Pivoted During COVID to Help Brands Raise Awareness. Meet Evan Rosenberg appeared first on CEO Medium.

While communicating with him, we found him talking about his path-breaking journey. How he started alone and went on creating a cluster of hard-working people, that designed his brand!

Raunak shares in the fun-learning interview that he was always an inquisitive soul. With a passion for technology and a creative mind, his mission was ready when he was studying B. Tech third year. With a keen interest in imparting knowledge, Raunak started coaching his juniors. 

Soon, a team that connected well with similar vision and ideologies found its way. For the love of web developing, a career soon found him -freelance web developer. In between 2012-13, he started his freelancing career under the brand ‘Team Raunak’. 

The upcoming years witnessed his hard work, dedication, and techniques and in 2016, Vedas Technocrats made its way. Interpreting the Global needs, he put his baby steps in Digital Marketing world. 

2017 saw him gearing up for more challenges on the way as Raunak stood firm as a rising entrepreneur. Today, Vedas is a top-notch IT company offering a plethora of marketing and branding solutions.  

We went on asking a few more questions to learn more about Raunak’s future goals, ideologies, and career instincts. 

Let’s read what he has to answer to the audience!

What came into your mind while developing the brand?

The CEO of Vedas Technocrats says, “When I was developing myself into a brand, I contemplated stretching out help to India’s little brands and start-up firms to help them remain steadfast. It’s hard for them as they witness numerous challenges!”

Next, what is the plan in the years to come? Like what you wish to achieve in another 6 to 12 years?

Raunak tells us, “I always had a dream of assisting budding business ideas and projects, as they are the major players for economic growth. As an innovative thinker and growing businessman, I wish to offer my services to all small and medium brands walking in the path of expansion.”

He feels his ways of serving the Nation would be providing the best solutions for upcoming businesses. 

A word you feel like saying for budding entrepreneurs/ fresh brands embarking on a new journey?

Raunak Chatterjee answers with a humble approach, “I believe in three magic mantras and I will share it with all my friends trying to create their journey.”

He begins with the initial one, “I solely believe that hard work rewards like anything. Your struggles today will define your success tomorrow!”

He believes that all become something when a cluster of focused group works with combinedly. Your teamwork, co-ordination re-defines your brand,” he adds further.

Raunak adds patience in the third and the most vital success mantra, “Forbearance is powerful in growing a sapling to a tall and firm tree. Nothing happens just in a single hour; you will have to wait!”

As we come to the end of this interesting conversation, we find his views, opinions, and ideologies path-breaking for newcomers. If you too wish to find out more about this young Founder from the roots of Bengal, catch him up at our podcasts. Stay tuned!

The post An Exclusive Chit-chat with Raunak Chatterjee on His Journey to Success! appeared first on CEO Medium.

Rich is now helping others grow their brand through photography, business coaching, and helping people build a personal brand. He’s grown his social media accounts to over 130,000 followers on Instagram alone and knows how to leverage social media to get positive business results. Learn more about that at www.TheGentWay.com

Tell us something about yourself?

I truly enjoy creating and so every day I have the opportunity to feel excited about what I do. Whether it’s designing a new suit or curating accessories and ties for my monthly subscription — there are no dull moments. I’m also an avid reader and learner, so I spend each day consuming information that inspires me and helps me improve my business skills. Being a family man with two children keeps my schedule full. Thanks to a very supportive wife, which I am grateful to have, I can juggle it all.

What is your entrepreneur’s story? How did you come about building your business?

I started in my business like most people, trying to solve a problem. From 2009 to 2013 I was self-publishing books with some success, but I wanted more opportunities to grow my income. I was intrigued by e-commerce and started to research the possibilities of selling items I was passionate about. For me, that was men’s fashion. I have been in love with the art of dressing well and being a sartorialist since I was a teenager.

Everything began with my love of lapel pins or boutonnieres, but in 2013 they were priced far too high in my opinion. Being creative I set out to make my own by hand. After several revisions, I finally cracked the code and figured out how to make them. People noticed, wanted them, and asked to purchase them. I soon placed them for sale on Etsy and began to sell them at a rapid pace. I knew I was onto something and needed to brand my products. I started my website and began marketing the business, primarily through social media. I was one of the first brands to leverage what is now called influencer marketing.

What that means is I purposely gave away free products to stylish guys I sought out on Instagram. They would then wear and promote my products to their audience and the business began to take off.

What is your business model — how were you able to grow so fast?

The most popular option our business offers is the best value in menswear. Our monthly subscription club is $25 per month and ships to homes and offices around the country (1 necktie and 4 matching accessories). The reason why it’s so popular is the value and quality of products shipped, coupled with the fact that the items are color-coordinated, allowing the average non-stylish guy the opportunity to look extremely polished and dapper, just by opening the package and wearing the coordinated set that includes bracelets, socks, tie bars and more. This turns a bland suit into a very fashionable look!

We grew rather quickly based on word of mouth, which was fueled by our small army of social media influencers. For the first few years of the business, we didn’t do any paid advertising, just gifting products to people, including YouTube reviewers and mom bloggers. The product makes for a perfect gift!

Can you give me an overview of who you are, what is your educational or overall background? What are some of your achievements?

I received my Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and put that to use in the manufacturing sector in the Midwest. Before starting Harrison Blake Apparel I was working for a clothing manufacturer who created private labels and government-contracted clothing. I was serving as the Spreading and Cutting Table Supervisor for two shifts. I was responsible for the scheduling of the fabric being laid out on the 5, 120 foot long spreading tables and the cutting of the garments. I learned a great deal about fabrics, production and how garments were made, start to finish. I realized that with this knowledge, I could manufacture my products.

Since then I have a few accomplishments that bring me pride. I earned 5 Shades of Romance Awards for my writing in 2009 and in 2016 I was named one of the 100 Men of Color Award Recipients. Currently, I am n=most proud of being an inspiration to my children and mentoring them in the field of entrepreneurship.

What have you learned through your experiences as an entrepreneur that can be used by aspiring business individuals?

Over this journey, I have learned that the most important thing you can do to be successful is to gain a winning mindset. You have to find a way to be positive and resilient. Developing a business is more than just finding sales prospects, advertising and converting clients. Continue educating yourself and developing new skills is so essential.

Finding ways to meet like-minded people who understand the entrepreneurial life is also very helpful. It’s not for everyone and some people just won’t understand your drive. Of course, there are days when even you will feel down. So, know your “why” — meaning your purpose for being in business. Money can’t be the motivator. It has to be something deeper that resonates inside of you to keep pushing, even through the tough times.

What makes your business so unique and successful?

Harrison Blake Apparel is unique because we are the first monthly subscription to make the color of our curated items coordinating and we do not source products to include each month. All of our offerings are manufactured and created specifically for our brand.

In addition to that, we are more than just a monthly subscription. Customers can shop ala carte and select their items and as of 2019, you can even create your custom made-to-measure suit or dress shirt. Interested in a custom suit experience? Drop us a line at contact@harrisonblakeapparel.com

Lastly, we aim to educate and entertain the consumer through our Podcast, titled after my first non-fiction book, The Life of a Gentleman. Each episode I interview another successful business owner or content creator in the menswear space and we chat about actionable steps people can take to chase after their dreams. You can hear the podcast on iTunes.

What have you learned through your journey as an entrepreneur?

I have learned patience and humility. Face it, we will all make mistakes in business. That is part of the journey. Every product idea isn’t a grand slam. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. That’s when you g back to the drawing board and strategize your next winning move.

What skills and attributes make you as successful as you are?

I believe that I am successful because I am doing what I love to do. My greatest assets are a strong work ethic and the drive to leave a legacy. I am quite the introvert by nature, but the business has gotten me out of my shell and helped me become an amazing communicator. I love creating and solving problems, so when times get rough — I will figure a way to win. As I have transitioned into coaching others, I now get the chance to interact with so many different people and watch them have success. That inspires me! If you want to learn more drop me a line at rich@thegentway.com

Why is online business, marketing, etc important?

For me, it has been crucial to my business growth. Without social media and the online world, I wonder where the business would be. These days, everyone in business needs to realize that they are their brand. You must understand that social media is a skill and there are strategies that you can use to win big. Traditional advertising is dying and it’s time to realize that there are legitimate ways to get positive attention for yourself or your business. I am hoping some people reach out because I’d love to share some strategies that can help. My entire business is online. We are e-commerce only and have no plans for brick and mortar locations. Face it, Malls and shopping centers are closing all around us. The future is digital and online.

www.harrisonblakeapparel.com

The post Exclusive Interview with Rich Taylor on the Success of Harrison Blake Apparel and on Creating powerful luxury brands appeared first on CEO Medium.