Making it in the Mid-Market

When I was scouring the Internet for inspiration for this editor’s note, I came across a quote from the infamous German author and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

“In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm… in the real world all rests on perseverance.”

Although I sincerely doubt he was referencing small business owners and employees in the consumer goods industry, to me, this quote seems to personify them perfectly. Year after year, the executives that we work with to pull together the Standout SMB section are some of the most interesting, passionate and determined people that we have encountered. They have to ensure that their oftentimes niche brands gain enough consumer loyalty to succeed in a market flooded with innovative ideas. Turn to Page 6 in this digital edition of CGT and you’ll see what I mean as you become acquainted with new (and sometimes not-so-new companies), like KOR Water, Nuestro Queso and K’NEX, that are carving out a place for themselves in a very competitive industry.

Also enclosed in this issue is CGT’s first-ever Data & Analytics Solutions Chart. As part of our Technology Solutions Guide series, this supplement features solution providers that support the collection, aggregation, storage, analysis, and integration of valuable data for various business units. Then turn to Page 22 and find out how Kimberly-Clark and Orly Shoes are putting Data & Insights strategies into action.

As always, we hope you find the information in this digital issue to be entertaining and informative. If there is company you’d like to see in a future issue, we’d love to hear about it: [email protected].