Starting a business can be empowering, but marketing to a small group of customers and users can also be challenging. Megan O'Connor, CEO and Co-Founder and Clark, joins This Changes Things to discuss how she shined a light on an underserved market.
Clark is a virtual assistant tool for tutors and helps individuals add a little organization to their business. O'Connor said the most challenging part was actually reaching her potential customers. Since there was nothing like this on the market, a lot of tutors flew under the radar and had no centralized place for resources. O'Connor said her team would send snail mail to potential users, just to get the word out.
Plus, how can you take your gig economy job and turn it into a full-time gig? O'Connor talks about knowing the right time to scale your business. She also suggests starting small and focusing on one vertical at a time. As your company grows you will start to see where your resources are needed.
Walmart beat earnings estimates for the fourth quarter, and despite losses stemming from supply chain costs and COVID-19 employee sick leave, the big box chain was still able to fight inflation as costs rose across the board. What's next for Walmart and other retail giants as inflation continues to run hot?
Arun Sundaram, Senior Equity Analyst at CFRA Research, joins Closing Bell to discuss.
Bamboo-based toilet paper company Cloud Paper raised $5 million in a recent funding round. Its product is a bamboo-based alternative to traditional toilet paper made from trees, and its mission is to end the deforestation caused by traditional paper products. Cloud Paper says the raise will allow it to make significant investments in its supply chain, product development, and hiring. Ryan Fritsch, a co-founder of Cloud Paper, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Space tourism company World View plans to launch its first commercial flights in early 2024, with voyages to take off from iconic locations around the world like the Grand Canyon — but seemingly at a flexible price point. Dale Hipsh, president of tourism and exploration at World View, joined Cheddar to discuss what a trip to the stratosphere would look like with his company and its much less expensive take on space travel. "Our technology allows us to be more democratic, to offer more opportunities for people to experience near space, and that overview effect," he said. "So we're really thrilled to be bringing it to market."
