The federal government shutdown that started Oct. 1 is just the latest in a host of challenges, along with tariffs, inflation and signs of economic weakness, that are bedeviling businesses as 2025 winds down. This makes smaller retailers — which lack the financial buffer most big chains have — especially vulnerable as the holidays approach. “Everyone loves shouting about shopping small or local, especially during the holiday season, but this year, small businesses are heading into their busiest period with a level of uncertainty they haven’t faced before,” said Jacob Bennett, co-founder and CEO of Crux Analytics, which works with small businesses and their banks. Summer ended sluggishly for the sector, according to the Fiserv Small Business Index for September, which leverages transaction data from more than 2 million U.S. small businesses across the country: Adjusted for inflation, retail sales dropped 1.4% year over year. Foot traffic is solid, but average basket size is down, according to Mike Spriggs, head of consumer insights at Fiserv. “That tells us the American consumer is still engaged — just price-aware and promotion-sensitive,” Spriggs said by email. Then there is the shutdown, which disrupted the loan program at the Small Business Administration — both access to new loans and management of existing ones. Among other consequences, this could disrupt inventory management, which has already been roiled by tariffs.

The United Parcel Service (UPS) revenue slipped in Q2, with its international segment mitigating the decrease. Part of that decrease came from reducing the volume of parcels UPS processes from Amazon. Director and CEO Carol Tome told investors on the carrier’s Q2 earnings call that its financial results “reflect the impact of a complex macro environment, driven by ever-evolving trade policies, as well as the significant actions we are taking to strengthen UPS’ competitive and financial positioning.” She cited data from consultancy firm McKinsey & Company that indicated consumer spending on discretionary categories, including restaurants and automobiles, outpaced growth in essential items for the first time in three years. Additionally, she said, manufacturing activity in the U.S. “remains soft.” In turn, those macroeconomic factors impacted market demand. “The overall U.S. economy demonstrated continued resilience, but our sector, specifically the U.S. small package market, was unfavorably impacted by U.S. consumer sentiment that was near historic lows,” Tome told investors.

When Debbie’s crisp and pickle sandwiches weren’t getting much love, she and her sons turned to Canva to give their small business a fresh look. Then, with a new logo, menus that stood out, and social posts people actually noticed, Debbie & Sons quickly went from pickle to prosperity. This charming story sits at the heart of our latest UK brand campaign, proving that good design can take ideas from ordinary to extraordinary. Launching our ‘Really, Really Good Design’ campaign is taking creativity beyond the screen and into everyday life – from a limited-edition sandwich collaboration to bold billboard takeovers – to celebrate the transformative power of design. Our new campaign takes a playful spin on a serious truth: great design can be the difference between a good idea and a thriving business. Britain is full of brilliant ideas, but many struggle to bring them to life visually. In a world where first impressions matter more than ever, good design has shifted from luxury to necessity. It’s the difference between a presentation that gets polite nods and one that gets genuine excitement, or a social post that gets scrolled past versus one that stops thumbs in their tracks.