Archive for May 2006
Wired: All these companies grew up in the Internet age and were designed to take advantage of the networked world. But now the productive potential of millions of plugged-in enthusiasts is attracting the attention of old-line businesses, too. For the last decade or so, companies have been looking overseas, to India or China, for cheap [...]
Hard Part Follows After Wal-Mart Says Yes
Startup Journal: When he persuaded a Wal-Mart buyer to give his unusual pen a test run some 18 months ago, Colin Roche thought the hard part was over. Selling to the world’s largest retailer is, after all, the entrepreneurial Holy Grail: With 138 million weekly customers, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. dwarfs other bricks-and-mortar competitors. But far [...]
Do the Best Entrepreneurs Wear Jeans?
David Beisel: In the limited subset of entrepreneurs pitching an early-stage venture firm in the Boston area, it seems that there is an inverse relationship between how formally an entrepreneur is dressed during the pitch and how potentially exciting their endeavor. Of course, the correlation isn’t perfect, and correlation doesn’t imply causation, but it is [...]
Arizona Republic:Â Spoof. It rhymes with poof. And for Kris Kwan, the result was the same. He was the victim of a spoof e-mail that made $1,800 go poof. It all started when Kris tried to find a video camera on eBay. He’s an aspiring filmmaker who’s planning to shoot his first movie next month. [...]
auctionbytes:Â Global Sources Ltd. and HC International Inc. announced plans to form what it calls China’s largest B2B strategic alliance. HC International is a leading Chinese B2B ecommerce service provider, and Global Sources is a leading global provider of integrated B2B websites, magazines and trade shows. Together, they operate 72 industry-focused websites serving approximately 4 [...]
heise online:Â According to a report in the US daily New York Post, Microsoft is thinking hard about taking over the online auction eBay. The paper got its information from “several sources close to the negotiations.” Microsoft would then take over eBay and integrate it in its own MSN portal. Both Microsoft and eBay seem [...]
eBayer has dispute over automatic billing
indychannel: A woman who was embroiled in a billing dispute with auction giant eBay hopes her story will get people to think twice about giving companies direct access to their bank accounts.  Music is life for Lana Kuhn. She has a piano or organ in every room of her home. Among Kuhn’s collection are [...]
Infopia allows eBay sellers to expand their business
auctionbytes:Â Infopia has integrated its eBay management solution Marketplace Manager V 6.2 with Salesforce.com’s AppExchange. The beta release will allow eBay sellers to expand their Customer Relationship Management operations and offers Salesforce.com customers the ability to tap into the eBay marketplace from within their Salesforce implementation. Infopia is an eBay Developers Program member and an [...]
6 Steps to Being Your Own Boss
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: Got that entrepreneurial spirit? You aren’t alone. In fact, two out of three teen-agers who completed last year’s Junior Achievement “Interprise” Poll on Teens and Entrepreneurship said they hope to start their own business one day. But it takes more than a good idea and a desire to be your own boss [...]
This week’s Carnival of the Capitalists is up at Working Solo. My Open Wallet has the The Carnival of Personal Finance. The Carnival of Business is up at Debt Hater. Escape from Cuicle Nation has last week’s Carnival of Entrepreneurship.
Top Five Expenses Entrepreneurs Overpay For
Legal Zoom: In the constant battle to keep the bottom line high, sticking to a budget can be one of the biggest challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Even the smallest things, such as post office expenses and bank fees, can add up if not dealt with carefully. Below are five expenses that entrepreneurs find take the [...]
Is It Worth Your Time to Write a Business Book?
800-CEO-READ: A group of researchers from RainToday.com explored the question: Is it worth the blood, sweat and tears required to write a business book? They found that ultimately while writing a book is a long and strenuous process, if you have something worthwhile to say, it can have a tremendous positive impact on your business [...]
How to Build a Bulletproof Startup
Business 2.0: Got a great idea? There’s never been a better time to turn it into a great company. Here’s a 16-step guide to help you do it right. For entrepreneurs, now is the time Phase one: Establish a company Phase two: Prototype the product Phase three: Develop the beta product Phase four: Launch the [...]
Never Say Never to an Entrepreneur
Helaine Iris: It will never work,� Rick told Bill after seeing his unique body care product line. “How do you expect to be successful in the shadow of the other companies making similar products?� he asked. Janet gently inquired of her friend, “Jonathan, an electronic device, no bigger than a business card that stores 1000 [...]
Do you want to be able to put professional blogger on your resume? If so, contact me.
Why are eBay stores a best kept secret?
Joplin Globe: It’s not just an auction site any more. You can buy and sell with the traditional bidding format, but another option is the eBay store. This realm is one of the best kept secrets around — not because eBay is trying to keep it secret, but because buyers just aren’t familiar with the [...]
eBay President Bill Cobb on Yahoo – eBay Partnership
eBay: I’d like to share an important piece of news with our Community. eBay and Yahoo! have signed an agreement to work closer together in ways that will benefit both of our communities of users. I want to explain some of the details of this agreement and how they’ll benefit both buyers and sellers in [...]
DNA Money: eBay India, the Indian arm of auction site eBay.com, one of the most popular shopping websites, on Wednesday released some trends of its consumers. According to Ambareesh Murty, director – category management – eBay India, the most searched item by keyword on the site is ‘trains’, even though the company doesn’t sell any [...]
Yahoo and eBay Form Partnership
Seattle P.I.:Â Internet powerhouses Yahoo and eBay are joining forces in an alliance that appears aimed at thwarting the recent expansions of online search engine leader Google and Microsoft. Shares of both companies rose after the news. Under the multiyear partnership announced Thursday, the Silicon Valley companies will draw upon each other’s strengths in online [...]
States Getting Into VC Business
The Entrepreneurial Mind: In yet another example of socialized entrepreneurship, a majority of the states across the US (44 to be exact) report on their attempts to get into the VC business. While possibly well intentioned, this is bad policy. Studies have clearly shown that governmental efforts to guide investment have little long-term economic impact. [...]
Merger between eBay, Yahoo, Google or Microsoft?
 Blogging Stocks: Sure, it’s fun to speculate that Internet titans Google, eBay, Microsoft, or Yahoo! could merge in some way. And maybe eBay and Yahoo! is the most likely of any of the possible combinations, as this article posits. But I take all the talk about such mega-deals with a grain of salt. Here’s why: [...]
Are You Cut Out to Be a Consultant?
Startup Journal: Now’s a good time to jump into self-employment as an independent consultant — at least for some professions. In the continuing effort to comply with laws such as Sarbanes-Oxley and the health-privacy act known as HIPAA, companies increasingly turn to independent contractors. Plus, companies now see independent pros as a way to fill [...]
A Blueprint for Franchise Success
Looking for a franchise? This free 21 page self-help guide will help you understand and research the franchise opportunities available to you. via Franchise Business Opportunities.
Startup Journal: It’s not enough that a name be catchy, marketable and resonate with customers. It must also be available. Trademark disputes are a concern for start-ups today because of the proliferation of registered marks in recent years. Currently, there are some 1.3 million active trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, up [...]
American Idol Viewer Selling Votes On eBay
Reality TV Magazine: Who do you want to win American Idol? Do you have McPhever? Are you a card carrying member of the Soul Patrol? If you’re nervous about how close the American Idol vote was for the final three, then you might want to turn to eBay to give your favorite finalist the edge. [...]
Police Break Up eBay Stolen Bicycle Ring
(CBS 11 News) DALLAS A Dallas man is headed to prison after stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of sporting goods and selling them on eBay. Prosecutors say the man and a Dallas woman stole bikes and other goods across the country. Police finally caught up with them after pursuing them on eBay. Thieves [...]
eBay Sellers, Hot Young Singles, and Talented Wannabes Coming to ABC
about.com: ABC is going reality tv-crazy this summer. The network has announced five new reality shows! Here’s what we can look forward to: Buy It Now — Families put their prized possessions on Ebay to help finance their dreams. Here’s the cool part — viewers get to bid on these items after each episode. The [...]
cananda.com:Â An historic fort in northeastern New York state is being touted as a “developer’s dream” by its owners, who are trying to sell the American Civil War-era structure for millions of dollars on EBay.
p2pnet:Â Morpheus distributor StreamCast Networks wants a world-wide injunction on the sale and marketing of eBay’s Skype VoIP products, as well as billions of dollars in unspecified damages. With that in mind, it’s filed RICO (Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization) Act, anti-trust and other claims against eBay and 21 other defendants, who include Kazaa co-founders [...]
Business Opportunities Weblog In the Past
This blog has been actively publishing since late 2001. Here are some interesting posts from the past: One year ago: Camping Spot Savers,The Difference Between a Real Entrepreneur and a Good Professional Two years ago: Where to Advertise?, Delivery Men Interior Decorators Three years ago: It’s Your Money Or Your Time Four years ago: Candle [...]
Startup Reality Distortion: Others Did It, So Can You Too?
OnStartups: One of the pieces of advice I’ve given my youngest brother lately (who is still very early in his career) goes something like this: “Someone will win the lottery tomorrow, just not you. So get to work…� The rationale behind this big-brother advice is that it’s a mistake to look at some of the [...]
Entrepreneurs Should Lead Their Firms or Get the Hell Out of the Way!
Stephen C. Harper: Most entrepreneurs who encounter major problems tend to blame the surprises and setbacks on external factors such as increasing competition, government regulations, tight capital markets, unmotivated workers, and a litany of other factors. The bottom line is that the entrepreneur is the most important factor in determining an emerging venture’s success. So [...]
When It’s Time Leave the (Home) Office
Inc.: We’ve all heard the story — a regular guy works at a Wall Street firm studying market trends. He sees a trend that no one else has spotted and begins to daydream about starting his own business. He decides to take the leap. He packs up his stuff and quits his job. Later, the [...]
AuctionBytes:Â See Fusion Search Marketing Inc. has launched two new services, one for shoppers, and one targeted at eBay sellers. Find-Your-Item is a comparison-shopping engine allows shoppers to search over 15 million items by category, keyword or advanced search queries to find exactly what they are looking for online (http://www.find-your-item.com). Â Â The company also [...]
Inside Bay Area: Like many schemes that offer quick riches, buying and selling on eBay can be more challenging than many fortune hunters wish. You don’t merely input your password, et voil, you are trading the Taj Mahal. The process is onerous, especially for sellers. Some entrepreneurs have simplified this for people who are willing to [...]
Love Maine Lobster Claw Game Bizop
One of the greatest things about running this website is that it allows me to constantly be on the lookout for great new business opportunities. I discovered one recently in the Love Maine Lobster Claw Game business opportunity from Marine Ecological Habitats, Inc. The Love Maine Lobster Claw Game is like nothing you’ve ever seen, [...]
Mercedes-Benz And eBay Announce Marketing Partnership
emercerdesbenz:Â To kick things off this morning, Mercedes-Benz has announced that in an apparent effort to boost their credibility with internet users, the luxury automaker will be partnering with both eBay.de (eBay’s German website) as well as another eBay company, Mobile.de, to promote the recently updated Mercedes E-Class. Beginning today, both websites will feature special [...]
Interns Can Be Worth Their Low Price
Startup Journal: Internships typically are associated with big companies. But small businesses can reap some of the biggest benefits. Dawn Cherek, who owns a chain of hair salons in the Madison, Wis., area, was having trouble drawing student customers to her newest salon, just blocks from the University of Wisconsin campus. A friend suggested she [...]
NJ.com: “I was always afraid I’d blow up the computer,” Kelly says. Kelly sat in the front row in a room of about 32 other eBay learners during an eBay Day training session co-sponsored by the auction house and the United States Postal Service at the Phillipsburg Public Library. The postal workers putting on the [...]
CPU Review:Â Founded just 10 years ago, eBay is now a $3 billion company, and growing, serving more than 130 million registered users in 32 countries. However, eBay’s growth is slowing in the US, putting pressure on non-US Web sites to accelerate their growth. While it is believed that eBay is wisely betting on global [...]
Last Week in the Business Opportunities Weblog Network
The Business Opportunities Weblog Network is made up of eleven niche business blogs. Here’s a selection of popular posts from around the network: Tracking Phone Orders and Keywords Buying a Car on Ebay Is Your Business Franchiseable? Bioperformance Update and My Opinion An Interesting Use of Google Adsense & Craigslist Franchises for Mom Bioperformance Shut [...]
Last Week in the Business Opportunities Weblog Network
The Business Opportunities Weblog Network is made up of eleven niche business blogs. Here’s a selection of popular posts from around the network: Tracking Phone Orders and Keywords Buying a Car on Ebay Is Your Business Franchiseable? Bioperformance Update and My Opinion An Interesting Use of Google Adsense & Craigslist Franchises for Mom Bioperformance Shut [...]
Last Week in the Business Opportunities Weblog Network
The Business Opportunities Weblog Network is made up of eleven niche business blogs. Here’s a selection of popular posts from around the network: Tracking Phone Orders and Keywords Buying a Car on Ebay Is Your Business Franchiseable? Bioperformance Update and My Opinion An Interesting Use of Google Adsense & Craigslist Franchises for Mom Bioperformance Shut [...]
Mark Fletcher presentation at Startup SIG (tags: bloglines blog bootstrapping business entrepreneurship ideas internet marketing presentation smallbusiness startup success tips web2.0 bizopblog)
I Opened Charming Neighborhood Coffee Shop: It Destroyed My Life
Slate: You know that charming little cafe on New York’s Lower East Side that just closed after a mere six months in business—where coffee was served on silver trays with a glass of water and a little chocolate cookie? The one that, as you calmly and correctly observed, was doomed from its inception because it [...]
Tracking Phone Orders and Keywords
Shimon Sandler: Place a Phone icon and Promo code ( listing ID ) on the webpage. The phone icon is a nice visual and you can place the promo code right next to it. The promo code will identify the search engine and keyword. Each promo code can be dynamically generated. Then, require the call-center [...]
Q&A With American Inventor Judge Doug Hall
MSNBC: Entrepreneur.com: You’ve been inventing since you were 12 and have what is reported to be 15 to 18 inventions in the average American’s home. What qualities does an invention need to have to have in order to make it into the market and into people’s homes? Doug Hall: The first thing is the invention [...]
Stupid Penny: The United States government has finally admitted that it costs about 1.4 cents to make every cent it makes, which means by this time next year, the taxpayers will lose $45,000,000 just by making more stupidpennies! The whole point of stupidpenny.com is to get the penny abolished! We’re giving you a chance to [...]
The Venture Voice Startup Workshop
Greg Galant: Venture Voice has been illuminating entrepreneurship through the podcast for just short of a year. Now, at the Venture Voice Startup Workshop on June 26 in New York, you can interact with top entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to find out how to start and grow innovative businesses.
Last week, Mike Arrington reported that eBay has begun “selectively removing listings from sellers who point to their Rapleaf reputation profilesthat link to RapLeaf.” RapLeaf is one of Opinity’s partners, a company that wants to create a portable standard for reputation. Here’s a conversation between Bill Washburn and me that begins by discussing the relationship [...]
