Across the country, lawmakers are considering — and passing — strict new laws that dramatically limit how businesses can collect and use basic customer data. Intended to protect consumers’ privacy, these “data minimization” provisions seriously disrupt online advertising and marketing — making it much harder for small businesses to find customers, grow, and compete. How…
After years of working in the insurance industry as an analyst and product manager, Scott Lawrence realized many professionals dreaded one of the most minor parts of their job: getting a headshot. In 2015, he launched Headshots by Scott Lawrence with a simple goal: to make the headshot process fast, painless, and even fun for…
On September 30, the Connected Commerce Council (3C) sent a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom urging him to veto AB 566. While 3C supports sensible data privacy protections, this bill’s browser opt-out mandate would make affordable, data-driven advertising far less effective, raising costs and reducing opportunities for California’s small businesses. At a time of…
After watching their parents navigate the frustrating process of working with contractors, regulators, and suppliers to remove and replace underground tanks at their general store, brothers John and Matthew Stump saw an opportunity. In 2007, they launched Hill Top Contractors, a Roanoke, Va.-based business specializing in storage tank removal, installation, and environmental remediation. Hill Top…
WASHINGTON (Sept. 22, 2025) — Connected Commerce Council Executive Director Rob Retzlaff released the following statement ahead of the remedies phase of the United States v. Google LLC ad tech trial. Starting September 22, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema will hear remedy proposals from Google and the Department of Justice — including the DOJ’s radical…
WASHINGTON (Sept. 18, 2025) — Small-business leaders voiced serious concerns ahead of the pending remedies phase of the United States v. Google LLC ad tech trial. Starting September 22, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema will hear remedy proposals from Google and the Department of Justice — including the DOJ’s radical proposal to break up Google’s…
Melanie Bolin relocated from California to Kansas with her young family in 2004 — and though she soon settled into Midwestern life, she continued to miss the Pacific coast. She connected with fellow California transplant Lina Dickinson, and the two quickly bonded over their shared tastes and interests. In 2013, they launched MERSEA — a…
In 2013, husband-and-wife team Joel and Katy Waechter took over Joy Lane Farm in New Hampshire, inspired by Joel’s mom, who made goat milk soap as a hobby while Joel was growing up. The couple started small, selling their handcrafted soap at local farmers markets. As word of the all-natural cleansers’ gentle, restorative properties spread,…