California Bulletin #68
EIDL Scams Are Back (and Getting Smarter)
#SPOTLIGHT
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đ The Daily Edge
Californiaâs Supplier Crunch Could Be Your Opening
Ports of LA and Long Beach are reporting a 26% dip in small container imports compared to May 2024. The reason? Major suppliers are skipping smaller vendors due to capacity constraints and port reshuffling.
This opens a rare short-term opportunity for local suppliers and B2B service providers to step in. If youâve got manufacturing, packaging, or even last-mile logistics capabilitiesânow is the time to start pitching.
đ Pro tip: Drop a âCalifornia fulfillment availableâ line into your cold emails and landing pages.
â ď¸ Alert
Mobile Payroll Compliance Rule Just Went Live
Starting today, all California employers must offer mobile access to payroll records, following the rollout of Labor Code Section 2751.
This means:
Employees must be able to access pay stubs and timesheets via mobile
You must keep at least 3 years of records digitally accessible
If you're using tools like QuickBooks or Gusto, check your mobile settings. For offline systems, this could require a third-party integration or app.
Deadline to implement: June 30, 2025, but fines start accruing for non-compliance now.
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đť Tech & IT Pulse
The âQuiet Quitâ of Californiaâs Dev Talent
Hereâs what no oneâs talking about:
While everyoneâs worried about hiring freezes, thereâs been a 15% jump in quiet resignations among developers in California since February, according to Linear and GitHub commit data.
Developers are silently bowing outâcontributing less code, missing sprints, and avoiding non-essential meetings.
What this means for you: If youâre running a lean dev team, nowâs the time to re-engage. Build incentives into projects or open short-term contributor roles with clear outcomes instead of vague long-term hires.
đ Todayâs Data Drop / Opportunity Signal
Retail Down, Local Subscriptions Up
Consumer retail spending in California fell by 4.1% YoY in April, led by dips in apparel and electronics. But local subscription services (from meal prep to kidsâ tutoring) are seeing a 9.3% increase in trials and first-month conversions.
What this signals:
People are being selective, not frugalâtheyâre still spending on things that feel hyper-relevant or locally useful.
Businesses offering niche subscriptionsâespecially health, education, or family-orientedâshould double down on landing pages and LTV offers this month.
Tactical note: Split-test an annual offer with a âlocal-firstâ positioningâitâs converting better than freemium right now.
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