Coachella, the music festival that occurred across two weekends this month, drew crowds of 125,000-plus attendees each day.

A report published by Billboard last week shows that most of the crowd, about 60%, used Coachella’s payment plan system to pay for their $600-and-up tickets. The plan allows attendees access to Coachella with an upfront cost of as little as $49.99.

Tickets started at $649 for the first weekend of Coachella from April 10 through 12 and $600 for the second weekend from April 17 through 19. People reported that tickets used to cost $429 per weekend in 2020. When Coachella started in 1999, tickets were $50.

Related: Jeff Bezos Was Caught on Video Dancing at Coachella, But It’s His ‘$12 Amazon Shirt’ That Has the Internet in Stitches

The festival first began offering the buy-now-pay-later option in 2009, and at the time, only 18% of attendees tapped into it, per People.

^{Coachella music festival 2025. Credit: Getty Images}

Coachella partnered with ticketing company AXS to offer the buy now, pay later payment plan, which enables the festival goer to pay off their ticket over three months. Coachella does not charge interest for the ticket purchase, but does require that those who opt for the payment plan pay a $41 fee for using the service, which amounts to about 8% of the ticket price. The average credit card interest rate, in comparison, is about 20%.

Most fans bought tickets to Coachella after the festival announced its musician lineup in November, revealing that Lady Gaga, Travis Scott, Green Day, Post Malone, and Benson Boone were headliners. Anyone who bought tickets before Jan. 25 and opted for the payment plan had the price of their ticket divided into three equal payments, with the final payment deducted from the attendee’s account in March, per Billboard.

If payments were more than 10 days late, the order was automatically cancelled and the fan given a credit for future festivals. The credit expires one year after being issued.

Related: Google’s Founders Once Interviewed Their CEO at Burning Man. Now the Desert Festival Is Struggling to Sell Tickets.

Coachella makes more than $115 million in ticket sales on average per year. Artists who perform at the festival can earn up to $5 million per weekend.

Big tech companies and small businesses face the same basic problems. They both need to understand their customers, manage costs and watch competitors. However, tech companies tackle these challenges with processes that most small businesses never implement.

I’ve spent years understanding both worlds, and I promise you: These five tech practices are worth stealing. They don’t require fancy software or a huge team. Just consistency.

Related: How Inefficient Processes Are Hurting Your Company

Understanding your customer persona and “jobs-to-be-done”

Tech companies and successful large corporations strive to understand their customers well. It’s much more nuanced than “we serve young professionals” or “the people in this neighborhood.”

Let’s take Starbucks as an example. They don’t just sell coffee to “coffee drinkers.” They have distinct customer personas: the rushed morning commuter who values speed above all, the remote worker camping out for hours (who probably should be paying rent, honestly) and the social meetup crowd treating the café as a gathering spot. Each persona drives different decisions on how their stores are set up and operated.

The key is understanding what job your customers are “hiring” you to do. Nobody buys a quarter-inch drill because they want a quarter-inch drill. They want a quarter-inch hole. Maybe they are first-time home-owners who are hanging shelves. Maybe they are woodworking hobbyists building a birdhouse. These are both different jobs to be done, an industry standard framework by Clayton M. Christensen.

It’s why Apple doesn’t sell “smartphones with good cameras.” They sell the ability to capture your child’s first steps in stunning clarity. The job to be done isn’t “own technology.” It’s “preserve memories.”

What job is your customer hiring you to do? Figure that out, and you’ll see opportunities your competitors miss entirely.

You’re leaking customers and don’t even know it

Product managers and tech companies obsess over retention. If your customers don’t come back, they probably don’t find your product valuable, and the company does not have product-market fit. Even if you acquire a lot of customers now, you will eventually lose them and churn through the market to oblivion.

You don’t need fancy systems for this. Just make a spreadsheet and start tracking. How many customers from last year still buy from you today? If that number makes you wince, you have a churn problem.

Your spreadsheet can track the purchase history of all customers. When do customers typically vanish? Three months in? After five purchases? Now, try to understand the reason behind it. Did they stop liking the product or service, find a cheaper alternative or just forget? If you email or call a couple of people to ask, you will have the answer.

Your existing customers believed in you enough to give you a shot. Understand their problems and make them loyal fans.

Related: 3 Pillars of Client Retention Every Brand Needs to Implement

Know your costs

Unit economics is the magic math that lets corporations grow large and become profitable. What does it cost the business for each thing sold? Small businesses often track overall expenses but forget to attribute them to individual products and services.

Let’s think about your neighborhood sandwich shop. If the supplying bakery raised its prices by 10%, what does it mean for each sandwich’s margins on the menu? Are they still profitable, and by how much?

Tracking costs in detail can be hard and tedious. It’s not just materials but also the labor costs, transaction fees, packaging and so on. However, not knowing detailed costs is a missed opportunity at best and dangerous at worst. You could be losing money on some items while others subsidize them. Or worse, your apparent “best seller” might be bleeding you dry while a humble side offering quietly delivers all your actual profits.

Create a spreadsheet today. List every product and service. Assign all costs and make sure to include everything. Update it when your costs change. I guarantee you’ll find surprises that will change what you sell or how much you sell it for.

Learn from your competition

Go down the street and try your competition. In a new city? Go to the store in the same business as you. Yes, actually pay for something. What works? What’s frustrating? How’s the service? How does it compare?

This introduces you to brand-new approaches to doing things. You can learn from what others are doing well and avoid their mistakes.

Maintain a shared document where your team can add insights regularly. Make this part of your culture, not an occasional panic response if sales dip.

Your personal board of directors

Silicon Valley startups assemble advisory boards featuring industry veterans, subject-matter experts and been-there-done-that entrepreneurs. Small business owners often try to figure out everything themselves, occasionally consulting with an accountant who’s juggling 200 other clients.

Your advisors shouldn’t just be friends who validate your ideas. You need people who will challenge your thinking, identify blind spots and connect you to opportunities. You need expertise you don’t have.

You don’t need to offer equity like tech companies. A lot of professionals will advise you for reasonable fees. Sometimes, retired or later-in-career veterans in the business will guide you just for the intellectual challenge of a new problem. Remember to formalize the relationship and talk to them regularly.

Related: How to Build an Advisory Board That Drives Startup Success

These practices all share one quality: They complement gut feelings with systematic processes. Your instincts still matter because you know your business intimately — but these systems catch what instincts miss.

As a small business owner, you’re already more nimble than large corporations. Add their systematic processes to your operation, and you’ll become truly dangerous.

“Many small business owners feel isolated,” says Bryan Miles. “That’s why we created O’nr — to be a safe harbor for them to connect with people going through struggles that only they can understand.”

O’nr (pronounced “owner”) is a non-profit platform that creates films, courses, and live events aimed at helping business owners thrive financially and personally. It was founded by Bryan and Shannon Miles, a married team who have built several businesses together, and know firsthand the extreme highs and gut-wrenching lows that come with this lifestyle.

Related: 70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

Their entrepreneurial journey began in 2010, when Bryan and Shannon left corporate life, cashed in their 401(k)s and founded BELAY, a remote team management company. It was a big risk — this was well before remote work became the norm we know today — but it came with a huge reward. After more than a decade of hard work, Bryan and Shannon had a nine-figure exit in 2021.

Their exit allowed them to concentrate on their other business, NoFo Brew Co., a craft beer and spirits brand with three locations in Georgia and operations in England and Ireland. And to explore a wide variety of opportunities, including investing in four soccer clubs via the Trivela Group: Walsall FC, Drogheda United FC, Silkeborg IF and Trivela FC Togo.

Having achieved an exit most entrepreneurs can only dream of, why did the couple decide to found a non-profit? Shannon told Entrepreneur, “When we sold BELAY, we gained some influence and power, and that gave us a decision to make: What do you do with that? Do you use it for your own consumption? Or do you want to give away that experience and help other people on their journey?”

Entrepreneur caught up with the couple in New York to get further insights into what they hope to offer entrepreneurs with O’nr, and to get their hard-earned advice for taking on risk, learning from mistakes, and the good things that can happen to you when you start to do good things for others.

Entrepreneur: You had an incredible exit from your business BELAY. So blunt question — why are you doing anything now? Why aren’t you on a beach?

Bryan Miles: We feel so fortunate to be in the position we are in. I just turned 50, and you start to think about legacy. What can we do that will leave a lasting positive impact on people?  We’ve been the recipients of amazing advice from mentors, and then get your own wisdom through gray hair like I have and you want to pay it forward.

Shannon Miles: We realized O’nr could be that legacy for us, a way to scale our mentoring. And since it is a nonprofit, it takes some of the pressure off of having to go out there and pitch it. We can focus on the mission.

Tell us more about the mission.

 BM: Every business is a snowflake, right? They are different. But we have seen in entrepreneurs’ journeys that there are a lot of commonalities. You start off as a hustler. You’re grinding it out. Hustle, hustle, hustle. And eventually, if you do the right things, you become an entrepreneur. And then you develop a team. And then you finally get to be the CEO. And then you have a leadership team, and you realize, I don’t need to run this business. I’m just the owner of it, and I can think about other ideas now. We’ve done all that in multiple businesses. But a lot of people get stuck at points along the way, and they don’t know what to do or who to talk to. We hear it all the time, “I’m uncomfortable talking to my family about payroll. My friends are great, but they don’t get it.” So that’s what this is about: a safe harbor for leaders to connect with other leaders who understand and can help during tough times.

Related: Starting a Business in 12 Steps

Things have obviously gone well for you. Would you say you had any tough times?

SM: Yes, a few. [Laughs] We met in college, when it was just so easy to get a credit card. And we had no financial literacy and graduated with about $80,000 of debt. And we were fighting all the time. Every financial decision resulted in an argument. And Bryan got laid off from his job, started to collect unemployment, and we were like, “Okay, God, obviously we’re not doing this right.” We attended a church that taught principles around finances and things like that. The idea was like, “If everything is God’s, that includes your money, too.” So we started tithing from Bryan’s unemployment check and my check as well. It was a small percentage, but it unlocked something in us. It stopped being about what we could consume. We started saving and then living on the rest. And then a year and a half we got out of all of that debt.

BM: We  figured out that principle of “give, save, live,” and that ultimately translated to us putting money in our investments that became our startup capital for BELAY. Another thing I had to learn the hard way is the importance of taking care of yourself physically. I was so stressed out at one point, I went to the hospital because I thought I was having a heart attack. I knew I had to course correct on what my health looked like. Why was I doing this business if the eventual payout was that I was just going to die? So we talk about that at O’nr a lot. What are you doing about your health? How are you respecting your body? How is your body going to fuel your future? How do you handle your stress?

Cashing in your 401(k)s to fund a startup isn’t exactly a safe bet. You seem pretty comfortable with risk.

BM: Well, I will first say that  it was a bonehead decision. I mean, it worked for us, but we don’t tell anybody to do that. But we talk about a different side of risk that doesn’t always get discussed. Before making the jump to start BELAY, I was working for a company that had a 40-year history. We built over 600 churches around the United States. I had what was perceived as a stable job, right? When I left, I made sure to do it on good terms, in case I needed to come back with my tail between my legs. And four or so years into BELAY, that company I left folded. I would have been out of a job if I stayed there.

SM: And at the company I left,  my former division was sold off — it ceased to exist. And those two things happened within nine months of each other. So I would tell someone who is on the fence about leaving a “secure” job to launch their own business that sometimes it’s a risk to stay where you are.

Related: Is Acquiring a Business Right For You?

Your soccer teams are doing well. You had this huge exit with BELAY. How are you judging success with O’nr?

BM:  Look, I don’t know that we could talk to a room full of doctors and be helpful, but we can talk to a business owner who’s struggling in Arkansas and figure out how to grow his business from half a million to a million. Helping someone identify what is holding them back is incredibly rewarding.

SM: When I hear a business owner say, “After working with you and learning from you, it’s changed the trajectory of my life,” I’m not being hyperbolic when I say it is the greatest joy I can imagine. These are hardworking people who care very much about their families and the people that they employ, but they just don’t often see a path forward where they can live a whole life and not die to their business. Giving them a vision beyond what they can see right now and serving as some sort of inspiration is for them — that’s it for me.

Small businesses are getting approved for manufacturing loans in greater numbers this year, according to data from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Its flagship program, the 7(a) business loan, offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to buy real estate, purchase machinery, and obtain furniture and supplies, and guarantees up to 85% of 7(a) loans of $150,000 or less, and up to 75% of loans above $150,000.

According to new data by the SBA, 74% more business owners were approved for 7(a) manufacturing loans in the first 90 days of President Donald Trump’s administration than during the first 90 days of former President Joe Biden’s administration in 2021.

From Jan. 20 to April 17, the SBA has approved more than 1,120 7(a) manufacturing loans totaling $677 million. During the same period in 2021, the SBA approved fewer than 650 7(a) loans, equivalent to $497 million in funds.

Related: More People Are Exploring Entrepreneurship Because of This Unexpected Reason

“Loan applications and approvals for small manufacturers are surging — a clear sign that American manufacturing is roaring back,” SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler stated in a press release.

The SBA launched its Made in America Manufacturing Initiative last month, which aims to cut $100 billion worth of regulations for manufacturers and create a pipeline of skilled workers to take on manufacturing jobs.

Related: ‘Strategy All Along’: President Donald Trump Pauses Most Tariffs for 90 Days — Except One. Here’s What We Know.

Trump is promoting Made in America manufacturing through a combination of tax cuts, deregulation, and trade policies, including tariffs of up to 145% on imports from China, and a blanket tariff of 10% for other countries until July. As of Wednesday, however, Trump has indicated that he would consider lowering China tariffs.

“As part of our tax cuts, we want to cut taxes on domestic production and all manufacturing,” Trump stated in remarks to Congress last month.

According to the SBA’s Office of Advocacy, about 98% of American manufacturers are deemed small businesses and collectively employ 4.8 million U.S. workers.

The SBA offers other small business loans besides the 7(a), including 504 loans of up to $5.5 million and microloans of up to $50,000.

Kevin O’Leary is ready for a TikTok to deal to get done.

On Instagram, the long-time “Shark Tank” investor posted a recent television interview (conducted in his signature pajama pants) and told his followers that the TikTok “clock is ticking.”

“We’re on our second 75-day extension,” O’Leary told Fox Business. “I speculate that there will not be a third.”

Related: President Donald Trump Extends TikTok Ban Deadline Again — Here’s What to Know

The deadline for a TikTok deal was April 5, but it was extended for 75 days a second time earlier this month. President Trump wrote on Truth Social the same day that his administration is “working very hard” on a deal to “save” the app.

In the interview, O’Leary added that he doubts any S&P 500 company would want to pay the penalty of $5,000 a user if a ban goes through, and added that any speculation of a possible lease deal was “shut down three weeks ago.” Meanwhile, the 75 days will be up in mid-June.

“Anyone who wants to buy this thing now faces rewriting the algorithm,” O’Leary said, adding that it is all up to President Xi Jinping of China and that he “hasn’t decided if he’s going to sell it or not.”

O’Leary has teamed up with billionaire former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt in “The People’s Bid” for TikTok. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has also joined the team.

AI startup Perplexity also submitted a bid to merge its business with TikTok’s U.S. division for more than $50 billion.

Amazon and Applovin also recently (separately) submitted bids.

Despite the red tape, O’Leary noted that he is “100% still interested” in buying the social media platform.

“Frank McCourt and I have been working on this for so long, we aren’t giving up,” O’Leary said.

Related: Amazon Just Submitted a Bid to Buy TikTok, as AppLovin and Other Tech Companies Make Offers Before the Looming Deadline

Most leaders believe they’re giving helpful feedback. But too often, what they think is constructive comes across as demoralizing, ineffective or outright damaging. The difference? The best leaders don’t just give feedback — they coach, communicate with care, and create an environment where employees feel seen, heard and valued.

Gallup and Workhuman research shows that employees who receive valuable feedback are five times more engaged and 57% less likely to experience burnout. Yet too many leaders fall into the trap of delivering feedback in a way that crushes morale instead of driving improvement.

The solution? Feedback needs to be an ongoing, trust-based conversation, not a one-time critique. It must be framed as coaching, not criticism, and delivered in a way that accounts for more than just words. Your tone, body language, facial expressions and energy play just as big a role as the message itself.

Here’s how to be more effective at giving feedback — step by step.

Related: Employee Feedback Is Only Effective If It’s Done Right. Here’s How to Make Sure It Lands.

Step 1: Shift your mindset — feedback is a gift, not a gotcha

Leaders often hesitate to give honest feedback for fear of being seen as negative. But avoiding feedback doesn’t create a culture of psychological safety; it creates a culture of guessing and stagnation. The best employees want to grow, and they need clear, constructive input to do so.

Key shift: Move from a criticism mindset to a coaching mindset. Think of your team as business athletes. Just as elite performers rely on coaches to refine their skills, employees need guidance, encouragement and practical ways to improve.

Ask yourself:

When you see feedback as an investment in someone’s success, it changes the way you show up.

Step 2: Presence and delivery matter more than you think

The most overlooked part of feedback? How you show up.

Your body language, vocal range, gaze and facial expressions all send a message before you say a word. To curate a warm and inviting atmosphere conducive to accepting constructive feedback, adopt an open posture, connect visually, show concern and care with facial expressions that are authentic and congruent to what you’re saying, and use a conversational tone and cadence. Otherwise, they may feel tension, judgment or discomfort instead.

You silently communicate to the world all day through your body language and presence. Be intentional about how you are perceived. Convey, instead of betray, your message.

Key shift: Feedback isn’t just about what you say but how you make people feel. You need to be fully present, engaged and emotionally attuned.

What to do:

• Make eye contact: Remove distractions and see the person in front of you; stay “on gaze!” Not in an intimidating way, but with warmth and attentiveness.

• Adopt an open posture: To signal partnership as opposed to power, face your employee with open arms and gestures that invite conversation, seated at the same level.

• Mind your facial expressions: Are you showing genuine curiosity and care or unintentionally conveying frustration?

• Be intentional with your vocal delivery: Vary your pitch and pace. Speak as you would in conversation. Too fast or too slow, too high-pitched or too low-pitched, and your message may be misunderstood.

Effective leaders don’t only plan what they’ll say; they are also intentional about their presence or how they “show up.”

Ask yourself:

• Is my nonverbal communication reinforcing my message, or undermining it?

• Am I making this a safe, productive space for the other person to engage?

Related: Your Words Only Tell a Fraction of the Story — Here’s Why Tone and Body Language Actually Matter More

Step 3: Start with strengths, not weaknesses

Too often, feedback begins with what’s wrong rather than what’s working. But neuroscience shows that people are more open to feedback when they feel seen, valued and capable.

Starting with acknowledgment sets a positive tone and reinforces that feedback is coming from a place of support. “I always like to start conversations by sharing how my team members’ strengths have had a positive effect on our business outcomes,” says Kristi Snyder, Chief People Officer at Enthuse Marketing Group. Framing the conversation around strengths helps both parties enter the discussion with a constructive, growth-oriented mindset.

Key shift: Flip the traditional feedback approach. Start with acknowledgment before diving into areas for improvement.

What to say:

By opening with a question, you create a loop of engagement rather than a top-down critique. Employees get to explain their thinking first, which makes them far more receptive to guidance.

Step 4: Ask more, tell less

Great leaders use feedback as an opportunity to understand before they correct. Instead of leading with here’s what you did wrong, try leading with curiosity.

Key shift: Replace statements with open-ended questions to uncover insights and encourage self-reflection.

What to ask:

• “What was your thought process behind this approach?”

• “What challenges did you run into?”

• “How do you think we could refine this?”

By letting employees talk first, you gather context, acknowledge their thinking and collaborate on solutions rather than dictate them. Approaching situations like this makes sure employees feel heard and increases buy-in.

A reminder: Acknowledgment is NOT agreement. Giving employees space to explain their reasoning allows leaders to correct misunderstandings while still respecting their perspective.

Step 5: Deliver feedback with directness and care

Feedback shouldn’t be sugarcoated, but it also shouldn’t feel like an attack. The secret? Balance directness with care.

Key shift: Avoid vague platitudes (“You did great”) and harsh bluntness (“This was bad”). Instead, use clear, actionable and supportive language.

What to say:

• Instead of “Your presentation was weak,” try: “I see the effort you put in. Let’s strengthen the data to make it even more compelling.”

• Instead of “You handled that customer situation poorly,” try: “I appreciate how you followed the process. Let’s explore ways to make it more adaptable.”

Related: How to Give Constructive Feedback That Actually Empowers Others

Step 6: Follow up and reinforce progress

The biggest mistake leaders make? Giving feedback once and never revisiting it. Without reinforcement, even the best feedback fades into the background.

Key shift: Feedback shouldn’t be a one-time event — it should be an ongoing dialogue.

What to do:

• Circle back in a week to see what’s changed.

• Recognize progress (even small wins) to reinforce learning.

• Keep feedback alive in regular conversations, not just performance reviews.

Great leaders don’t go it alone

The most remarkable leaders and elite performers lean on coaches to hone their skills. Many of the most effective leaders actively work with executive coaches to refine their ability to deliver impactful feedback. They recognize that feedback is an art — one that can be mastered with guidance, practice and expert insight.

Feedback is meant to bring people closer and move the organization forward, but it must be delivered expertly. Mastering feedback isn’t just about what you say — it’s about how you say it and how it makes people feel. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, investing in expert coaching can elevate your ability to guide, inspire and develop your team.

Feedback is your leadership superpower. Use it wisely.

More than 66% of U.S. entrepreneurs in 2025 use their personal funds to launch and grow their businesses, according to business banking specialist North One. That probably means expensive software subscriptions are out of reach. Fortunately, you can now run your business with a newly redesigned, affordable version of one of the most popular business suites in the world. Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows offers the top seven programs and is available for only $29.97 (reg. $229).

This MS Office offer includes lifetime licenses for the 2019 versions of Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher, and OneNote. It has improved cloud connectivity, and all the features you need, so you can get more done at work in much less time. MS Office 2019 has so much to offer in terms of functionality. Users can create, organize and revise emails, spreadsheets, documents, slideshows, databases and more.

Some of the new improvements included in this latest version of the 2019 Office suite include updated Outlook features that will help you manage emails and contacts, new analytic capability in Excel, new PowerPoint tools to help you create stunning presentations, enhanced inking in the entire suite of programs, and much more.

This is a one-time purchase for Windows that you can use on one Windows computer at home or at work, so you won’t need to worry about annual or monthly subscription fees. The licenses will be connected to the device on which you install it, rather than your Microsoft account.

As soon as your purchase is completed, your download links will be emailed to you instantly, and you will be able to access your software license keys immediately. Superior customer support is included at no extra cost. Future updates are included, and all languages are supported.

Get Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows while it’s available for only $29.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

As Earth Day kicks off, it’s a great reminder for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to rethink how to approach their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) practices when it comes to the tech they use. SMBs are the backbone of the global economy, making up approximately 90% of businesses worldwide and are responsible for 60-70% of global industrial emissions. That’s a huge environmental footprint, but it also means SMBs are uniquely positioned to drive real change.

With the global creation of e-waste projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030 and the demand for AI-powered computing on the rise, SMBs have a powerful opportunity — and responsibility — to lead in energy efficiency best practices, leveraging long-lasting, mindful materials and ethical sourcing. By making smarter, more energy-efficient decisions today, businesses of all sizes — especially SMBs — can help reduce e-waste, lessen their environmental impact and help build a more environmentally responsible, innovative digital future for generations to come.

Here’s how small businesses can start making a lasting impact — one smart decision at a time.

Related: 6 Ways to Profitably Integrate Eco-Friendly Practices into Your Business

Cut energy costs with AI — without sacrificing performance

SMBs often face hurdles like limited resources and the high upfront costs associated with more sustainable technologies. However, innovations are now helping level the playing field.

The rise of AI-powered computing can support broader ESG and sustainability ambitions through smarter energy use. For example, AI-enabled laptops today feature intelligent power optimization algorithms that dynamically adjust energy consumption based on workload, helping systems run more efficiently without drawing unnecessary power. Many SMBs are also exploring into AI to streamline operations — 89% are already using AI tools to automate tasks. This isn’t just about saving time, it’s about reducing energy and resource waste across workflows.

Beyond end-user devices, AI is driving greater efficiency across infrastructure. AI-powered enterprise solutions can help data centers manage workloads more intelligently and reduce energy use. And with the edge computing market expected to grow nearly 37% annually through 2030, there’s a growing emphasis on localized processing that limits energy-intensive data transfers. Meanwhile, improvements in liquid cooling, airflow design and modularity are extending device lifespans and supporting more circular approaches to IT. We’re also seeing more tech manufacturers incorporate plastic-free packaging and energy-efficient designs, aligning innovation with evolving sustainability goals.

By integrating AI into energy and infrastructure management, businesses have more tools to drive efficiency and help reduce waste.

Related: How AI Is Leveling the Playing Field For Small Businesses to Compete With Industry Giants

Advance circular economy practices

Sustainability isn’t just about how tech is used — it’s about how it’s made, used and reused. For SMBs, embracing circular economy practices can be one of the most impactful ways to improve resource efficiency, reduce both cost and environmental impact.

One of the most straightforward steps is investing in technology that incorporates recycled materials. Choosing laptops and desktops that include post-consumer content (PCC) plastics or recycled metals can help reduce reliance on virgin materials and supports more responsible sourcing practices. As of 2025, a growing number of Fortune 500 companies have made public commitments related to climate action. A World Economic Forum report cites that specifically, 78% of Fortune 500s have set climate-related targets, though only 12% have established objectives tied to biodiversity loss. This gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses — especially small and midsize ones — to lead by example. By choosing smarter technology solutions and services, SMBs can align with their broader sustainability goals while distinguishing themselves in a competitive market increasingly driven by conscious consumerism.

Beyond PCC plastics, some tech products now integrate ocean-bound plastics (OBP) — plastic waste collected from areas near coastlines and waterways where it is at risk of entering the ocean. By selecting devices and accessories that utilize OBP, SMBs can help address marine pollution while minimizing reliance on virgin plastic sources. Responsible sourcing and design choices like these are part of building more sustainable technology ecosystems.

Modular and repairable technology also plays a key role. Devices that are easier to upgrade or fix extend their usable life, helping reduce the need for early replacement. This is especially important because less than 12% of e-waste is currently recycled, while more than 85% is incinerated — often with environmental consequences. This waste stream makes durability and repairability more crucial than ever.

Finally, SMBs can also consider buy-back, refurbishment and device take-back programs to ensure tech stays in circulation longer. This approach not only can help reduce landfill waste but often unlock financial savings and potential incentives.

Related: 5 Trends Small Business Owners Need to Watch in 2025

A greener future starts with smarter choices

SMBs have a unique opportunity and influential role in shaping a more sustainable future. By embracing energy-efficient technologies, integrating artificial intelligence to optimize operations and adopting circular economy practices, SMBs can make strides towards significantly reducing their environmental footprint while simultaneously enhancing operational efficiency. These strategic choices not only contribute to global sustainability goals but also position SMBs competitively in a market increasingly driven by environmental consciousness.

This Earth Month, let’s reaffirm our commitment to being smarter, greener and more responsible when it comes to choosing our technology solutions — because the future of computing must be both responsible and innovative.

The next step starts today. How will your business lead the way?

Starbucks’ first 3D-printed coffee shop is opening in Brownsville, Texas, next week.

The 1,400-square-foot building shell has been 3D-printed, meaning that a massive 3D printer mechanically piped layer after layer of a concrete mixture to build the complete exterior structure. The location will only handle drive-thru and mobile orders and is set to open on April 28.

A Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing shows that the location cost nearly $1.2 million to build.

Starbucks told the Nation’s Restaurant News that it was creating the shop in partnership with PERI 3D Construction, a company that has completed 15 projects in the U.S. and Europe since its founding in 2015. Past projects include an apartment building in Lünen, Germany, constructed in 2023, and a home for Habitat for Humanity in Tempe, Arizona, created in 2021.

Texas is no stranger to 3D-printed projects. Construction company Icon is finishing the final properties of a 3D-printed community of homes in Georgetown, Texas. The 1,500 to 2,000 square foot homes range from $450,000 to $600,000. Icon has reportedly sold a quarter of the 100 homes in the community so far.

Starbucks’s entry into 3D-printed structures arrives as the company undergoes a turnaround plan. Since Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol took over the role in September 2024, Starbucks has implemented sweeping changes at its stores to turn around declining sales from cutting 30% of its menu in the U.S. by the end of the year and giving baristas strict time limits on how quickly orders should be fulfilled (in-store and drive-thru orders should be ready within four minutes).

Starting May 12, the coffeehouse is mandating a new, strict dress code for baristas at all stores consisting of khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms and a solid black shirt. Starbucks workers are also now required to add a personal touch to orders by writing down customer names with a Sharpie on cups.

Related: Starbucks’ New CEO Can Make Up to $113 Million His First Year

Starbucks reported in its most recent earnings, for the first quarter of 2025, that U.S. same-store sales declined for the fourth consecutive quarter, falling by 4%. Foot traffic to U.S. Starbucks stores fell by 8% during the quarter. Global net revenue was $9.4 billion, flat year-over-year.

“To be clear, these results have room for improvement, but I’m confident the disciplined investments we’re making in labor, marketing, technology, and stores this fiscal year will help stabilize the business and position Starbucks for future growth,” Niccol stated on the January earnings call.

Starbucks is set to report its second-quarter earnings after market close on Tuesday, April 29.

Related: Starbucks CEO Tells Corporate Employees to ‘Own Whether or Not This Place Grows’

Customer advocacy is emerging as one of the most powerful and underutilized growth drivers for businesses today. So what is “customer advocacy” and why does it matter? A simple definition is when customers actively promote your brand, product or service to others. It’s where you build a relationship with loyal customers and encourage them to share positive experiences. It matters because it builds trust, increases loyalty and repeat business, improves your reputation, gives you insights on how to keep improving and powers growth.

Traditional marketing is becoming less effective and customer expectations keep rising so companies that harness the power of advocacy are seeing higher conversion rates, increased loyalty and exponential revenue growth.

Why advocacy is the new competitive advantage

Recent research underscores the profound impact on business performance:

But statistics alone don’t tell the full story. The real power of advocacy is revealed through real-world business results.

Related: ‘How Can I Save People Money?’ Here’s How This Shop Owner Turns Customers Into Loyal Advocates.

Real-world impact: Turning advocacy into growth

At Feedback ASAP, we work with brands across industries to help them unlock the true power of advocacy. Each of the case studies that follow — from auto service, fashion retail and telco retail — is from current national clients operating in highly competitive markets. We survey their customers daily, and these case studies are based on results over the last 12 months. Each survey response averages around 40 words, so the volume of actionable feedback and verbatim comments is substantial.

Here are some real-world examples of how CX-driven advocacy is transforming businesses:

Australian car servicing client case study:

• The top 20% of stores generated 78% of their new customers from advocacy — referrals and reviews — compared to just 32% in the bottom 20% of stores.
• As a result, the top-performing stores achieved a 24% year-on-year higher sales growth.
• The difference? Stores that actively measured and improved customer experience saw a direct impact on their revenue growth.

Australian fashion retailer client case study:

• When all customer experience standards were met, NPS was at an impressive 99, meaning nearly every customer became an advocate.
• However, when just two CX standards were missed, NPS dropped 20% and Average Transaction Value (ATV) plummeted by 16%.
• This proves that consistency in customer experience is critical to driving advocacy and sales.

New Zealand telecommunications client case study:

• A leading telco brand leveraged CX advocacy strategies and achieved 18% growth in NPS in 12 months and 31% increase in add-on rates, demonstrating that advocacy isn’t just about reputation — it directly impacts revenue.

In short, businesses that focus on advocacy can achieve more growth with less effort by leveraging customers as active promoters rather than relying solely on traditional paid acquisition.

From passive feedback to proactive advocacy

Too many businesses treat customer experience (CX) as a measurement exercise rather than a growth strategy. Simply collecting NPS scores or customer feedback is no longer enough — companies must turn passive customers into vocal brand advocates by embedding advocacy into every touchpoint of the customer journey.

The brands that are excelling at advocacy today are those that:

• Identify and track their best advocates. Successful businesses proactively measure and engage with customers who are already promoting their brand.
• Leverage customer feedback to drive action. Feedback should lead to real, front-line improvements that inspire advocacy rather than just sitting in a report.
• Empower teams to deliver exceptional experiences. Employees who feel accountable for CX improvement create stronger customer relationships, which fuels advocacy.
• Integrate advocacy across departments. Advocacy isn’t just a marketing function — it should be a company-wide initiative spanning operations, customer service and HR.

Related: 3 Ways Founders Can Connect With Their Customers to Drive Sales

Winning on action: The future of CX is proactive

Fred Reichheld, creator of NPS, highlights in Winning on Purpose that the companies achieving the fastest growth aren’t those collecting the most feedback but those taking deliberate, strategic action based on customer-led improvements.

With over 25 years of experience in 74 countries, leading CX programs for Apple and McDonald’s, we’ve seen firsthand that the future of CX is about more than just measuring loyalty — it’s about engineering advocacy into the DNA of a business.

The new formula for CX growth

Winning brands are moving beyond traditional CX metrics to an end-to-end improvement system that integrates:

• Customer centricity and advocacy: Prioritizing customer success to create loyalty advocates.
• Accountability and motivation: Ensuring teams take ownership of CX-driven growth.
• Action practices and skill development: Empowering teams with real-world behaviors that drive engagement and revenue.
• Embedding best practices and consistency: Aligning operations, marketing and HR to eliminate guesswork and enable continuous improvement.

The evolution of CX: What’s next?

Several key trends are shaping the future of CX:

1. Hyper-personalization in CX: Brands are moving away from generic interactions and leveraging AI-driven insights to personalize customer interactions at scale.
2. Predictive CX analytics: Companies are using advanced analytics to anticipate customer needs before issues arise, shifting from reactive service to proactive engagement.
3. Seamless omnichannel experiences: Customers expect consistent, high-quality interactions across in-store, online and mobile platforms.
4. The integration of CX and employee experience (EX): Companies that invest in employee engagement see higher customer satisfaction, reinforcing that happy employees create happy customers.
5. The rise of CX-driven revenue models: More businesses are tying CX improvements directly to financial metrics, proving that advocacy and loyalty are key revenue drivers.

Related: Why Your Business Needs a Chief Customer Advocate

Final thoughts

CX is no longer about simply measuring satisfaction — it’s about building advocacy as a strategic asset. Companies that understand this shift and invest in advocacy-driven CX will see higher-value customers, more referrals and organic growth that outpaces competitors. The key to success? Acting on feedback, embedding advocacy into business operations and ensuring every team member is accountable for delivering remarkable customer experiences.

As companies shift their mindset from customer measurement to customer action, those who lead the charge in advocacy will set the new standard for growth in the experience economy.