November 27, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked trusted source proofread by University of Western Ontario The craft beer industry, once the darling of consumers and entrepreneurs alike, has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years. Closed taprooms, canceled festivals, and changing consumer habits have led many to declare the end of its golden era. But is the craft beer party truly over—and with it, the artisanal movement as a whole? A new study from Ivey Business School professor Andreas Schotter, published in the Journal of Business Venturing , suggests otherwise. The rise of craft beer For years, craft beer was the toast of the town, with a meteoric rise that rewrote the rules of the brewing industry. By 2019, it claimed an impressive 10.1% of beer consumption in Canada and 13.6% in the U.S., becoming a cultural phenomenon. The industry prided itself on tradition and individuality, a collective of small-scale brewers who stood as the scrappy David to Big Beer's Goliath. With their hands-on craftsmanship, endless creativity and uniquely collaborative spirit, craft brewers built an identity rooted in authenticity and community. Just as craft beer reached its zenith, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Sales plunged. Small breweries—the soul of the craft movement—were hit hardest. The once-vibrant spirit of collaboration unraveled as businesses fought to stay afloat. Driven to understand how disruptions shape craft ventures, Schotter and his U.S. colleagues conducted interviews with brewery stakeholders and analyzed industry data. What they discovered was unexpected: the craft sector isn't going stale. Instead, it's evolving, undergoing a profound transformation that could redefine the very meaning of "craft." The great craft shakeup Like industries across the globe, COVID-19 exposed critical vulnerabilities within the craft beer sector. Schotter said three that had long been brewing beneath the surface: David becomes Goliath: In the craft world, smallness was the hallmark of authenticity, with purists casting doubt on brands who had invested in larger operations. Yet, it was these small, independent companies that proved most vulnerable in crisis, while the bigger players' growth became a vital lifeline. "It leads us to the question: in today's craft landscape, does size erode authenticity? Or might it just be the key to survival?" asked Schotter. The comfort in the known: The industry's passion for novelty—a defining trait—suddenly gave way to a craving for consistency and familiarity throughout the pandemic. In uncertain times, consumers sought comfort in trusted brands and classic styles, challenging the industry's reliance on constant innovation. The collaboration myth: In crisis, the " rising tide lifts all boats" mentality that defined craft's early days has been put to the test. As resources became scarce, many businesses turned inward, focusing on self-preservation—raising uncomfortable questions about the limits of collaboration in a maturing industry. "These trends point to an industry—and a broader movement—that's growing up," Schotter said. "The idealism of craft's early days is giving way to a more nuanced, resilient approach to artisanal business ." To support craft enterprises in building resilience and adapting to this evolving landscape, Schotter outlined key recommendations: Embrace scale smartly: Growth doesn't have to mean selling out. Craft businesses need to find ways to scale that preserves their ethos while building resilience against future shocks. Redefine innovation: Innovation isn't just about the product, it's about the business model. Craft industries need to innovate in how they reach customers and deliver experiences, not just in what they produce. Reimagine collaboration: The spirit of collaboration isn't dead, but it needs reimagining. Strategic partnerships that go beyond feel-good gestures to create real value will define the next phase of craft industries. Reclaim real: As craft businesses grow, they need to find new ways to maintain the connection with consumers that made them special in the first place. This might mean leveraging technology to create personalized experiences or doubling down on local engagement even as distribution expands. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . Craft businesses need creativity As global markets regain stability, Schotter's team is noticing the stirrings of a craft revival, but it's far from business as usual. The pandemic's aftershocks, coupled with shifting consumer preferences, have flung the doors wide open to a new wave of players. With competition intensifying and the old playbook tossed aside, Schotter said the path ahead will be daunting for entrepreneurs in this space. He called on craft businesses to embrace creativity, striking a balance between artisanal passion and business savvy, authenticity and adaptability. "Be it in beer, furniture design or artisanal chocolates, for entrepreneurs the message is clear: the craft party isn't over, it's just moving to a bigger, more interesting venue," Schotter said. "The question is, are you ready to adapt and join the celebration?" More information: Daniel S. Andrews et al, Trouble brewing: Craft ventures during market disruption, Journal of Business Venturing (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusvent.2024.106433 Provided by University of Western Ontario
Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter had one of the great love stories and political partnerships in U.S. presidential history. The former president sometimes called his wife, who died Nov. 19. 2023, “Rosie,” which is a good way to remember how her name actually is pronounced. It is “ROSE-uh-lyn,” not, repeat NOT, “RAHZ-uh-lyn.” They were married more than 77 years but their relationship went back even further. Jimmy’s mother, “Miss Lillian,” delivered Eleanor Rosalynn Smith at the Smith home in Plains on Aug. 18, 1927. The nurse brought her eldest child back a few days later to visit, meaning the longest-married presidential couple met as preschooler and newborn. She became his trusted campaign aide and White House adviser, surprising Washington by sitting in on Cabinet meetings. Then they traveled the world together as co-founders of The Carter Center. Most of the nation saw the former president for the last time at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral. Jason Carter is now the chairman of The Carter Center’s board of governors. He said his grandparents “never changed who they were” even after reaching the White House and becoming global humanitarians. He says their four years in Washington were just one period of putting their values into action and that the center his grandparents founded in Atlanta is a lasting “extension of their belief in human rights as a fundamental global force.” Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter traveled the world advocating for democracy and fighting disease, but Jason Carter said they weren’t motivated by pity, or arrogance that a former American president had all the answers — they ventured to remote places because they could “recognize these people.” They too were from “a 600-person village” and understood that even the poorest people “have the power ... the ability ... the knowledge and the expertise to change their own community.” As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering Carter as a man steeped “in devotion to public service and peace.” The California Democrat said in a statement Sunday that Carter was committed to “honoring the spark of divinity within every person,” something she said manifested in “teaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.” Pelosi also said Carter led “perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted in a post on X the special contribution Carter made by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and through his work with the Carter Center. “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,” Starmer said. To commemorate Carter’s death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, “to honor the life and legacy” of the late former president. In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday,s” but added that the late former president “will never be far away -- buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.” Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.” The longest-lived American president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.” A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world. Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end." The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David." After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said.None