Carolyn April's Blog Posts

By Carolyn April / Jul 28, 2026

Channel Optimism Holds as Oil, Tariffs and War Keep Pressure On

Channel sentiment on the U.S. economy split further in Q2 2026, as "strong" views slipped to 36% while "neutral" climbed to 29%—a sign that ITSPs are returning to ambivalence rather than picking a side. Meanwhile, twelve-month outlook held its ground, with optimism steady at 48% for a third straight quarter, even as the economic picture beneath it shifted.

Wooden blocks with different expressions

By Carolyn April / Oct 6, 2025

Channel Economic Sentiment Shows Ups and Downs in September

Channel sentiment about the U.S. economy remained mostly conflicted in September, with some numbers up, some down. The volatility month over month is indicative of the unpredictability and uncertainty that has characterized the economy, tariff impact and much of the business landscape for the past year.

By Carolyn April / Sep 8, 2025

Channel Sentiment on the Economy/Tariffs Takes a Negative Turn

Positive sentiment has cooled for the first time since GTIA began tracking the channel’s opinions..

By Carolyn April / Aug 12, 2025

Channel Views on Economy Up in July, But Uncertainty Remains

The July GTIA Channel Economic Tracker reveals a continued positive sentiment about the economy by..

By Carolyn April / Jul 7, 2025

Channel Sentiment Rises in June, Tariff Pressures Still Loom

The June GTIA Channel Economic Tracker shows a notable improvement in economic sentiment by U.S...

Screen showing stock prices going up and down.

Tariffs: What They Mean for the Channel

If you weren’t entirely sure what a tariff was before this year, you most certainly are now...

Defining Your Channel Business: Services Lead the Way

Imagine you’re at a cocktail party, and a newly introduced guest at the high-top table you’re..

Focusing on areas that need improvement, not just what you do well, is critical to MSPs' success in business.

Business 101: The Boring Stuff that Channel Firms Shouldn't Ignore

I recently spoke with Bob Coppedge, an MSP owner, GTIA member and all-around good guy, who joined..

Strategy and Tactics: The Channel Looks Ahead to 2024

Most of 2023 has been a guessing game about the direction of the global economy. Will stubborn..

Customers want providers to have real-time insights into cyber threats encompassing ransomware, social engineering, malware releases and other attacks.

State of Cybersecurity 2024: Filling Skills Gap Should Be Priority for MSPs

Ten days. That’s how long the computer systems were down at MGM Resorts in Las Vegas recently after..

AI is a hot topic in the IT channel today. Find out more about the pros and cons of incorporating AI-powered technologies into your business.

AI and the IT Channel: Sorting Out the Opportunities

Full disclosure: I was tempted to tap ChatGPT to craft this blog article. I didn’t, as it turns..

M&A activity is a topic that most channel players, large and small, are touched by today and will continue to be in the future.

Buying and Selling: Is Channel M&A That Much of a Thing?

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) among channel companies—solution providers, resellers, IT..

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It's impossible to make everyone happy in today's market, however, vendors can smooth out relationships and up the partner experience by focusing on one key area: communications.

Partner Experience 101: Are You Easy to Do Business With?

Ah, the much-desired ease of doing business. Let’s call it the IT channel’s “forever issue” when it..