Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Originally published by GoDaddy’s Small Business Research Lab

New research from GoDaddy and UCLA Anderson Forecast finds that small business data can offer earlier, and in some cases stronger, signals of U.S. economic performance than traditional measures such as the stock market.
Full report here.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, GoDaddy’s Participation Index rose year-over-year, capturing renewed growth in digital small business activity nationally. Historically, increases in the index have been associated with stronger payroll employment growth and declines in unemployment within three to four quarters.

We’ve always known small businesses are the backbone of the economy. What’s new is evidence that small business formation, especially the rise of digital entrepreneurship, may also help anticipate where parts of the economy are headed.

The report, “What Small Businesses Tell Us About The Economy That Wall Street Can’t,” analyzes national data from 1990–2025 and incorporates real-time digital entrepreneurship data from GoDaddy. It finds that while stock market returns are statistically linked to economic outcomes, those relationships are relatively modest. By comparison, small business formation shows a stronger relationship with GDP growth, payroll employment, and unemployment — and often appears earlier in the data.

A one percent increase in small business births is associated with roughly:

• 0.18 percent higher GDP growth
• 0.16 percent higher payroll employment growth
• A 0.15 percentage point decline in unemployment

Importantly, increases in new business formation are associated with higher payroll employment roughly three quarters later and lower unemployment about four quarters later.

At the local level, GoDaddy’s entrepreneur data shows a strong correlation (0.84) with establishments employing fewer than five people. Often, the first moment an idea feels real is when someone gets online, secures a domain, and builds a website. That gives GoDaddy a unique lens into early-stage economic activity, and by sharing this data quarterly, we’re helping make that visibility accessible in a sometimes opaque or confusing economic environment.

Different indicators capture different parts of the economy. What this analysis shows is that early-stage small business activity captures dimensions of local economic change that equity markets alone cannot.
– William Yu, Economist at UCLA Anderson Forecast

The findings do not imply causation or serve as standalone forecasts. Rather, they show that stock market performance alone provides an incomplete picture of economic conditions, particularly when it comes to jobs and local opportunity.

This report is an important contribution to how we understand the real economy because it shines a spotlight on where Main Street employers and their employees live and work.

By pairing decades of macroeconomic data with GoDaddy’s real-time view of digital entrepreneurs, these data show what our local chamber of commerce partners see every day: small businesses are one of the most direct and timely signals of economic health in communities across America.

– Curtis Dubay, Chief Economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

This research reinforces why looking at, talking about, and supporting small businesses is not just nice — it’s economically smart and essential. Small businesses deserve to be central in economic conversations, not peripheral to them.

Introducing Small Street alongside Wall Street and Main Street offers a more complete lens for understanding how economic momentum is taking shape across communities.

As traditional economic indicators are often delayed or limited in scope, this research shows why small business activity, particularly digital-first entrepreneurship, deserves greater attention in economic analysis.

– Alexandra Rosen, Global Head and Economist, GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab

Download Report

In this follow-up to our last episode on AI in the tech industry, Host Angie Dickson, President of the Inogen Alliance and EVP of Antea Group USA, sits down with Karl Huntzicker, Global VP of Health and Safety at Salesforce, to look ahead at the future of AI in EHS.

Karl shares how the move from bots to agents marks the beginning of what he calls the “agentic era,” where digital tools are not just answering questions but taking action, conducting investigations, and helping EHS professionals focus where it matters most. The discussion highlights opportunities for augmentation, the evolving idea of a digital workforce, and the hope that AI will finally allow EHS leaders to achieve long-standing goals.

 

Listen now on:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

YouTube

 

Time Stamps

00:32 Bots vs. Agents – What’s the Difference?

04:00 From Incident Investigations to the Agentic Era

07:13 Augmenting EHS Teams Without Losing Focus on People

10:22 The Digital Workforce: Opportunities and Challenges

13:00 Becoming “Bionic” – Augmentation and Superpowers

14:13 Hopes for the Next Five Years in EHS

 

Guest Quotes

“I really want to look back in five years and say we built agents that made sense, that helped our employees, that provided care to our employees, and that moved the health and safety program forward.” – Karl 

In this follow-up to our last episode on AI in the tech industry, Host Angie Dickson, President of the Inogen Alliance and EVP of Antea Group USA, sits down with Karl Huntzicker, Global VP of Health and Safety at Salesforce, to look ahead at the future of AI in EHS.

Karl shares how the move from bots to agents marks the beginning of what he calls the “agentic era,” where digital tools are not just answering questions but taking action, conducting investigations, and helping EHS professionals focus where it matters most. The discussion highlights opportunities for augmentation, the evolving idea of a digital workforce, and the hope that AI will finally allow EHS leaders to achieve long-standing goals.

 

Listen now on:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

YouTube

 

Time Stamps

00:32 Bots vs. Agents – What’s the Difference?

04:00 From Incident Investigations to the Agentic Era

07:13 Augmenting EHS Teams Without Losing Focus on People

10:22 The Digital Workforce: Opportunities and Challenges

13:00 Becoming “Bionic” – Augmentation and Superpowers

14:13 Hopes for the Next Five Years in EHS

 

Guest Quotes

“I really want to look back in five years and say we built agents that made sense, that helped our employees, that provided care to our employees, and that moved the health and safety program forward.” – Karl 

In this follow-up to our last episode on AI in the tech industry, Host Angie Dickson, President of the Inogen Alliance and EVP of Antea Group USA, sits down with Karl Huntzicker, Global VP of Health and Safety at Salesforce, to look ahead at the future of AI in EHS.

Karl shares how the move from bots to agents marks the beginning of what he calls the “agentic era,” where digital tools are not just answering questions but taking action, conducting investigations, and helping EHS professionals focus where it matters most. The discussion highlights opportunities for augmentation, the evolving idea of a digital workforce, and the hope that AI will finally allow EHS leaders to achieve long-standing goals.

 

Listen now on:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

YouTube

 

Time Stamps

00:32 Bots vs. Agents – What’s the Difference?

04:00 From Incident Investigations to the Agentic Era

07:13 Augmenting EHS Teams Without Losing Focus on People

10:22 The Digital Workforce: Opportunities and Challenges

13:00 Becoming “Bionic” – Augmentation and Superpowers

14:13 Hopes for the Next Five Years in EHS

 

Guest Quotes

“I really want to look back in five years and say we built agents that made sense, that helped our employees, that provided care to our employees, and that moved the health and safety program forward.” – Karl 

CAMDEN, N.J., March 10, 2026 /3BL/ – Subaru of America, Inc. and Gifts for Good™ today announced the first-year results of their national customer appreciation gifting program, a key feature of Subaru’s Love-Encore™ vehicle delivery experience. Subaru customers who purchase a new vehicle and return to their participating retailer for a Subaru Love-Encore delivery receive a gift of their choice; each directly benefiting a nonprofit organization or social enterprise that supports people in need, animals, or the environment. The milestone marks a successful first year of transforming customer gratitude into tangible, measurable impact for people, communities, and the planet.

The program launched on March 1, 2025, as part of the complementary follow-up delivery experience, which invites new customers back to the retailer 14 to 45 days after purchase to meet with a dedicated expert who can answer any questions they have about their new Subaru. As Gifts for Good’s largest corporate partner, Subaru introduced values-driven gifts that allow customers to either choose a mission-aligned product or direct the gift’s value to charity. Each physical gift option is a quality, ethically sourced product that comes with a story card so customers can read about the impact the gift selection has made. Customers also have the option to make a difference by redeeming the gift value towards a charitable impact.

IMPACT AT A GLANCE (Year 1)

• 141,184 gifts redeemed (50% directed as charitable contribution gifts)
• 54,213 rides to treatment for cancer patients
• 594,188 hours (about 68 years) of care for rescue animals across America
• 13,669 U.S. students in need supplied with a year of school supplies
• Eight tons of e-waste potentially diverted from landfills
• 8,368 trees planted through reforestation projects
• 11,580 meals provided to people in the U.S. facing food insecurity
• 8,806 blankets provided to American children entering foster care

Jenise Steverding, Chief Impact Officer, Gifts for Good: “One of the best parts of our platform is that it empowers customers to choose a physical gift or give their gift value to charity. With half of all Subaru gift redemptions supporting charitable outcomes, the program clearly resonates—generating real and measurable impact.”

Tim Tagye, Vice President of Field and Distributor Operations, Subaru of America, Inc.: “Gifts for Good understands the intersection of upholding our brand values and our commitment to the customer experience. At Subaru, we look for partners who view impact and engagement as fundamentally linked, and the Gifts for Good platform meaningfully extends the Subaru experience beyond the showroom, creating a lasting impression throughout the ownership journey.”

Subaru customer gift selections supported mission-driven partners, including Best Friends Animal Society (animal welfare), Kids In Need Foundation (school supplies), and Comfort Cases (supporting children entering foster care).

Corey Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, Kids In Need Foundation: “Thanks to our valued partnership with Gifts for Good and their work with Subaru, essential resources are going directly into the hands of students and teachers who need them most. We’re proud to be part of this shared effort and the meaningful impact it’s making in classrooms and communities across the country.”

Subaru of America, Inc. and Gifts for Good™ have announced first-year results of their national customer appreciation gifting program, a key feature of Subaru’s Love-Encore™ vehicle delivery experience. As Gifts for Good’s largest corporate partner, Subaru introduced values-driven gifts that allow customers to either choose a mission-aligned product or direct the gift’s value to charity.

The gifting experience was designed to reflect what Subaru customers care about—giving back, ethical products, pets, and the outdoors—offering both mission-driven physical gifts and charitable options tied to real outcomes. In the first year, customers sent 34,075 thank-you notes to Subaru through the gifting platform, underscoring the program’s resonance with new owners.

To ensure every eligible customer can participate, Gifts for Good collaborated with Subaru’s IT team to develop a secure VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) – based eligibility validation method at the retailer upon completion of the Love-Encore visit, enabling participation even for customers without email addresses or internet access.

Many of the physical gifts for the Subaru program are picked and packed in partnership with Goodwill Southern California, supporting job creation and workforce training for individuals facing barriers to employment.

Laura Hertz, CEO, Gifts for Good: “Subaru customers have shown that when given the choice, they want their appreciation to do more. Achieving these kinds of outcomes in just the first year proves that a customer experience moment can also be a community impact moment—scaled nationally.”

To explore the Subaru Love-Encore gifting program and Subaru’s commitment to sustainable, ethical gift sourcing, visit: giftsforgood.com/subaru.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise®, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

About Gifts for Good

Gifts for Good is the leading impact-driven gifting technology company that helps businesses create meaningful corporate gifts that give back. Specializing in products made by nonprofit and social enterprise partners, Gifts for Good makes it easy for companies to integrate giving into employee gifts, client appreciation, and branded merchandise. Since 2017, Gifts for Good has partnered with brands such as Google, Microsoft, Zoom and KPMG, benefiting over 3 million people worldwide and contributing over $4.9 million to charity. The company envisions a world where every gift purchased gives back. Learn more at giftsforgood.com.

###

Diane Anton
Corporate Communications Manager
(856) 488-5093
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter
Corporate Communications Specialist
(856) 488-8668
aleiter@subaru.com

Judd Watts
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Gifts for Good
marketing@giftsforgood.com

CAMDEN, N.J., March 10, 2026 /3BL/ – Subaru of America, Inc. and Gifts for Good™ today announced the first-year results of their national customer appreciation gifting program, a key feature of Subaru’s Love-Encore™ vehicle delivery experience. Subaru customers who purchase a new vehicle and return to their participating retailer for a Subaru Love-Encore delivery receive a gift of their choice; each directly benefiting a nonprofit organization or social enterprise that supports people in need, animals, or the environment. The milestone marks a successful first year of transforming customer gratitude into tangible, measurable impact for people, communities, and the planet.

The program launched on March 1, 2025, as part of the complementary follow-up delivery experience, which invites new customers back to the retailer 14 to 45 days after purchase to meet with a dedicated expert who can answer any questions they have about their new Subaru. As Gifts for Good’s largest corporate partner, Subaru introduced values-driven gifts that allow customers to either choose a mission-aligned product or direct the gift’s value to charity. Each physical gift option is a quality, ethically sourced product that comes with a story card so customers can read about the impact the gift selection has made. Customers also have the option to make a difference by redeeming the gift value towards a charitable impact.

IMPACT AT A GLANCE (Year 1)

• 141,184 gifts redeemed (50% directed as charitable contribution gifts)
• 54,213 rides to treatment for cancer patients
• 594,188 hours (about 68 years) of care for rescue animals across America
• 13,669 U.S. students in need supplied with a year of school supplies
• Eight tons of e-waste potentially diverted from landfills
• 8,368 trees planted through reforestation projects
• 11,580 meals provided to people in the U.S. facing food insecurity
• 8,806 blankets provided to American children entering foster care

Jenise Steverding, Chief Impact Officer, Gifts for Good: “One of the best parts of our platform is that it empowers customers to choose a physical gift or give their gift value to charity. With half of all Subaru gift redemptions supporting charitable outcomes, the program clearly resonates—generating real and measurable impact.”

Tim Tagye, Vice President of Field and Distributor Operations, Subaru of America, Inc.: “Gifts for Good understands the intersection of upholding our brand values and our commitment to the customer experience. At Subaru, we look for partners who view impact and engagement as fundamentally linked, and the Gifts for Good platform meaningfully extends the Subaru experience beyond the showroom, creating a lasting impression throughout the ownership journey.”

Subaru customer gift selections supported mission-driven partners, including Best Friends Animal Society (animal welfare), Kids In Need Foundation (school supplies), and Comfort Cases (supporting children entering foster care).

Corey Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, Kids In Need Foundation: “Thanks to our valued partnership with Gifts for Good and their work with Subaru, essential resources are going directly into the hands of students and teachers who need them most. We’re proud to be part of this shared effort and the meaningful impact it’s making in classrooms and communities across the country.”

Subaru of America, Inc. and Gifts for Good™ have announced first-year results of their national customer appreciation gifting program, a key feature of Subaru’s Love-Encore™ vehicle delivery experience. As Gifts for Good’s largest corporate partner, Subaru introduced values-driven gifts that allow customers to either choose a mission-aligned product or direct the gift’s value to charity.

The gifting experience was designed to reflect what Subaru customers care about—giving back, ethical products, pets, and the outdoors—offering both mission-driven physical gifts and charitable options tied to real outcomes. In the first year, customers sent 34,075 thank-you notes to Subaru through the gifting platform, underscoring the program’s resonance with new owners.

To ensure every eligible customer can participate, Gifts for Good collaborated with Subaru’s IT team to develop a secure VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) – based eligibility validation method at the retailer upon completion of the Love-Encore visit, enabling participation even for customers without email addresses or internet access.

Many of the physical gifts for the Subaru program are picked and packed in partnership with Goodwill Southern California, supporting job creation and workforce training for individuals facing barriers to employment.

Laura Hertz, CEO, Gifts for Good: “Subaru customers have shown that when given the choice, they want their appreciation to do more. Achieving these kinds of outcomes in just the first year proves that a customer experience moment can also be a community impact moment—scaled nationally.”

To explore the Subaru Love-Encore gifting program and Subaru’s commitment to sustainable, ethical gift sourcing, visit: giftsforgood.com/subaru.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise®, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

About Gifts for Good

Gifts for Good is the leading impact-driven gifting technology company that helps businesses create meaningful corporate gifts that give back. Specializing in products made by nonprofit and social enterprise partners, Gifts for Good makes it easy for companies to integrate giving into employee gifts, client appreciation, and branded merchandise. Since 2017, Gifts for Good has partnered with brands such as Google, Microsoft, Zoom and KPMG, benefiting over 3 million people worldwide and contributing over $4.9 million to charity. The company envisions a world where every gift purchased gives back. Learn more at giftsforgood.com.

###

Diane Anton
Corporate Communications Manager
(856) 488-5093
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter
Corporate Communications Specialist
(856) 488-8668
aleiter@subaru.com

Judd Watts
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Gifts for Good
marketing@giftsforgood.com