We Love a Good Story

What I find so cool about our annual Standout SMB issue is that we get to know small companies with big and unique success stories. They are often risk-oriented, innovative to the core and supported by enthusiastic consumer fan clubs.

Case in point: I run with a posse of 10 mommies. We meet often to push our identical double strollers in our identical Lululemon yoga pants while our kids nibble on identical organic snacks. We are a walking cliche. When one of us loves a new product, it’s only a matter of days before the rest of us try it. Last summer, one of the mommies showed up with a brand new drink: SparklingICE. “It’s new, and it’s delicious!,” she said. The rest of us added SparklingICE to our grocery lists.

As it turns out, Sparkling ICE isn’t new at all. I found that out when I received a Standout SMB nomination for TalkingRain, a small company with a great “comeback” story about a 20-year-old brand (SparklingICE) that was reinvigorated with new technology, design and marketing. The mommies loved this surprising backstory, and we think you will too. Turn to Page 6 to read about TalkingRain and 13 more small to midmarket success stories.

Next, check out our Data & Insights Best Practices section, wherein Hershey, PepsiCo, Unilever and K’NEX share details of the different ways they are using data to improve business performance.  

Also in this issue, CGT showcases new technology and services. Research indicates that IT spending is on the rise, so these new offerings may be worthy of investment, depending on your company’s needs.
 
As always, we love a good success story here at CGT. Feel free to share yours with us anytime.