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AI tools, retail trends, & email marketing essentials
August 06, 2025
MIDNIGHT OIL
EDITION 316
RESOURCES & TIPS
Price stability + AI tools = smarter back-to-school shopping in 2025
Inflation and tariffs are prompting retailers like Target and Walmart to offer price freezes and leverage AI-powered personal shopping assistants to attract value-seeking back-to-school shoppers. Discover how these big retail trends can help your small business connect with cost-conscious consumers this shopping season.
Email marketing remains one of the most cost-effective strategies to increase sales, expand brand recognition, and build customer loyalty. Use this guide to plan, create, and measure email campaigns that deliver results and deepen customer connections.
How AI is changing hiring — and what small businesses should know
As AI becomes more prevalent in recruitment, small businesses face new challenges and concerns when evaluating candidates. Here’s how hiring managers are navigating a highly technical hiring landscape.
CO— EVENTS
[RSVP] How to turn a startup into a multi-million dollar business
August 14 | Noon ET
Join us on August 14 for a masterclass in building a multi-million dollar business with Gail Becker, founder of CAULIPOWER as she shares how she turned an allergy into an industry-disrupting business. Get an inside look at how she overcame industry barriers and rejection to build a multimillion-dollar healthy frozen foods company in under five years.
Secure Your Spot QUOTABLE MOMENT
“Just being a great company doesn’t necessarily make for a great story. When working on your pitch, think about the ‘extra oomph’ that you can offer. These ‘extras’ can make the difference between a story that actually gets airtime and one that remains unread in an inbox.”
— Alexis Donofrio, Senior Vice President of integrated public relations (PR) and marketing agency Prosek Partners, shares her expert advice on creating a PR program at any business.
BY THE NUMBERS
6
Retail foot traffic is up this year, compelling more and more businesses to return to physical stores. If you’re thinking of opening a brick-and-mortar shop, first check out these six considerations.
320M
The number of monthly active users on Meta’s Threads, which is steadily becoming a key platform for real-time conversations and brand engagement. Check out some examples of businesses using the social platform successfully.
62%
The percentage of fleets with under 50 vehicles that saw major gains with GPS tracking in 2025. Use this guide to cut costs and enhance fleet efficiency, finding the right solution for your business.
GRANTS & AWARDS
The Amika Rooted In Growth Grant and mentorship program, powered by Innovation Studio, offers four $50,000 grants to support underrepresented founders in the professional hair care space.Eligible businesses must be majority-owned (51% or more) by an underrepresented founder or team, operate in hair care, and sell or plan to sell through professional distribution channels. Apply by August 22.
The third round of the Skip $10,000 Summer Grant will award $10,000 each to eligible Skip Plus members, with over $1 million in total funding available this year. This grant supports U.S.-based entrepreneurs and small business owners aged 18 and older, regardless of business size or stage. Applications are limited, so early submissions are encouraged. Submit yours by August 27.
The Hey Helen Grant offers $5,000 in unrestricted funding to support women and nonbinary entrepreneurs building mission-driven, for-profit businesses in the U.S. One founder will be selected, with a second $1,000 grant potentially awarded if over 1,000 qualified applications are received. Apply by August 29.
Walmart Spark Good Local Grants. The Walmart Spark Good Local Grants program, provided by Walmart and Sam’s Club, offers grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 for organizations that address the unique needs of local communities. Applications are accepted quarterly, with the current round open through October 15.
More grant & program information can be found here.
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