Archive for December 2008
Modern Mommy Gear Has The Modern Mommy Covered
Who would know what a mom wants better than another mom? Robin Morris is the founder of Modern Mommy Gear, as well as the mom to a lovely little boy. So what does the modern mommy need? How about some eco-friendly products that span over the baby, household and pet categories? From a Vinylux® Stepped [...]
The Cloth Diapers Of Then Pale In Comparison To The Diapers Of Now
pjstar.com: First, block out everything you thought you knew about cloth diapers – the white cotton rectangles, the pins, the plastic rubber pants. If that sounds vaguely familiar, you’re showing your age. Another slightly younger generation is somewhat baffled. Diaper pins? Rubber pants? What are those? Pin it on Pampers. Once disposable diapers hit the [...]
Need A Ride Home? Zingo’s There For You
St. Petersburg Times: Zingo has a simple plan: turn a profit by keeping people from getting arrested for drunken driving. So far it’s working, despite the trying economy. The Atlanta company is a designated-driver business chain that gives tipsy customers a drive home in their own cars. It has grown from six franchises a year [...]
Entrepreneur: Here are 10 New Year’s resolutions and discussion topics–suggestions you can offer your staff to guide them toward a higher level of productivity: 1. I will work smarter. 2. I will increase my working network in and out of my immediate area and inside and outside my company. 3. I will find three things [...]
Loveland Connection: Author and entrepreneur Joel Comm has added a hint of hilarity to this holiday season and likely ensured many iPhone owners will no longer endure Silent Nights, thanks to his newest iPhone application. Comm announced via Twitter that his iPhone application — iFart Mobile — is the No. 1 paid application at the [...]
Trendwatching.com: Yup, it’s that time of the year again: time for endless predictions, most of which are rather dark and gloomy with economies around the world going downhill. Fortunately, there are still plenty of trends out there that are begging to be applied profitably, both now and long-term. 1. Nichetributes – Low cost practical tributes [...]
One Mom Uses Her Love For Crafts To Launch A Business
Many individuals have been able to earn, at minimum, a part-time income by selling their handmade creations through websites like Etsy. It has given both men and women the opportunity to take something they enjoy and turn it into a small business. It also gives some parents the opportunity to stay home with their children. [...]
Mom's Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This
Abbotsford Mission Times: Going from a conventional stay-at-home-mother who loved to bake to a successful business owner, Tracy Dueck is now a firm believer that ‘if you build it, they will come.’ Offering scrumptious cupcakes and other sweet and savoury delicacies, Dueck’s Tracycakes Bakery cupcake concept café is the only one of its kind in [...]
Mother And Son Team Up To Fill A Local Need
Ledger-Enquirer.com: Think it’s too much of a hassle to drive to the Kia plant for work? Naomi Cason and Ronald Henry have a solution. About a year ago, the mother-son pair established Bi-City Transportation, a shuttle service that provides round-trip services for Kia workers from Columbus to West Point. Henry said the business offers an [...]
Grad Scores With Invention Of Purring Toy
Athens Banner-Herald: When former Jefferson resident Vivian Hoard was working “24/7″ as a tax litigator for a large Atlanta law firm, she often came home at night to a sleeping family, but she always could rely on the family cat, Ludwig, to sit in her lap and purr contentedly. “When I’d come home at all [...]
Top Technology Breakthroughs Of 2008
Wired: The economy may be tanking, but innovation is alive and well. When it came to products, incremental improvements were the name of the game this year. Phones got faster (iPhone 3G anyone?), notebooks turned into netbooks and pocket cameras went from recording standard-definition video to HD. Here’s our countdown of what rocked our world [...]
Has eBay Hit The Wall Or Is Economy To Blame?
Search Engine Watch: Motley Fool has reported that holiday spending at eBay this year is lower than last year, despite the fact that one would expect them to be a good source of lower priced gifts in these hard economic times. Meanwhile Amazon has reported higher sales numbers over last year. Are people forgoing secondhand [...]
Inventor Creates Instantly Adjustable Eyeglasses
Gizmodo: British Inventor Josh Silver has developer a pair of eyeglasses that are instantly adjustable. They’ve got a liquid-filled sac in the middle—add more fluid to make the glasses stronger, deflate to weaken them. The no-optician-required glasses rely on the principle that the fatter a lens is, the more powerful it comes, so by pumping [...]
Who Will Become Greater Philadelphia's Fittest Mama?
The Open Press: One Fit Mama™ is excited to announce the arrival of its second annual ‘Fittest Mama Challenge’. Mothers in the Greater Philadelphia area will have the opportunity to participate in a 12-week intensive fitness and nutrition competition, get in the best shape of their lives, and compete against other Mommies for fantastic prizes [...]
Bellview Reporter.com: A new networking organization on the Eastside proves once again that women mean business. Eastside Women In Business, a networking community for professional like-minded women to promote and grow their business, exchange leads, share ideas, build relationships, explore opportunities and celebrate camaraderie, hosts monthly lunch networking meetings and mixers. The organization is based [...]
As 2008 Ends, It’s Time For Some Trash Talk
Rhonda Abrams, USA TODAY: It’s time, once again, for my annual December tradition. No, I don’t mean eating fruitcake or sending out chocolates (which I do every year). I’m talking about cleaning off my desk and files. So wear comfy clothes — jeans preferably. Go to the office. Play some lively music and start cleaning. [...]
Cop’s Invention Like Handcuffs For Socks
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: One of the great modern mysteries is one that plagues almost every household: the missing sock in the dryer. Some have given it a name: Missing Sock Syndrome. A relatively new product aims to prevent Missing Sock Syndrome. The Sock Cop, plastic clips that clip two socks together, was invented by Tampa, Fla., [...]
Five Ways To Succeed On The Web During A Recession
The Wall Street Journal: Last year, consumer Internet startups sprung up left and right, looking for U.S. traffic growth and relying on the robust growth of the advertising market to make money. We enter 2009 looking down the barrel of a recession. In this environment, I predict the following trends for consumer Internet companies: 1. [...]
Amazon Posts A Huge Holiday Season
MarketWatch: Amazon.com Inc. said that the 2008 holiday season “finished as its best ever.” It said it sold over 6.3 million items worldwide on its peak day, Dec. 15. The online retailer also said it had shipped more than 99% of orders in time to meet holiday deadlines. Amazon said top sellers in consumer electronics [...]
Question and Answer: Finding Clients In The Fashion Industry
Los Angeles Times: Question: My mom and I are setting up a small business providing patterns, samples and manufacturing services for the garment industry. What is the best way for us to find customers on a low budget? Answer: You should join Fashion Business Inc. (Fashionbizinc.org), a nonprofit organization that provides resources for Los Angeles [...]
Financial Post: An increasing number of Canadian mothers are taking up entrepreneurship, hoping to find a better work-life balance to raise their children, studies show. Known as mompreneurs, these women’s quests for the best way to combine parenting with a career is a decades old one. Through the 1980s and ’90s there was the career [...]
Mark Anderson’s Predictions For 2009
Fast Company: Mark Anderson, one of the tech industry’s favorite prognosticators, offered at least a glimmer of hopeful news at his annual “Predictions” dinner at the Waldorf Astoria. 1.) It will be a big year for applications that can play on big screens. We’ve already got our plasma TVs, he said. In 2009, we’ll spend [...]
HomeSchool CPA: Most of my small business clients operate micro businesses. What is a micro business? • Sole proprietorship (one owner) • No employees • Low or no start up costs • Frequently a service business with no inventory • Home based to keep costs low • Usually the first business a individual starts • [...]
Making A List And Checking It Twice: An End-Of-Year Checklist
Inc: In the current recession, it’s more important than ever to take stock of your business. As the year comes to an end, determine how the business is going, what you are doing that’s working and what you need to change. Employees are the number one asset of an organization and are critical for business [...]
The Wall Street Journal: What options you have at this point depend largely on the severity of your financial situation and how you’ve tried remedying the problem so far. Consult a professional, such as a financial consultant or a bankruptcy lawyer, who can help you evaluate possible strategies. It’s generally best to communicate with the [...]
Entrepreneur: Q: Do I need a tax ID number to sell items on eBay? A: Based on your question, I’m not sure if you already have access to wholesale items or if you need to know how to get a tax ID number in order to sell them at a higher price elsewhere. If you’re [...]
Better Entrepreneur: Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark?
Daily Dose: Batman and Ironman both saw some wild profits for their name this year, but nobody thinks to ask them for business advice. And it’s a damn shame. In fact, the actual men, Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark, are two of the world’s most famous business figureheads. I think we should consider them to [...]
Gift Ideas For The Entrepreneur
Rhonda Abrams – Gannett News Service: Looking for a gift for the entrepreneur or small business owner on your holiday list? Or making up your own wish list? This year — given the economy — the emphasis is on the practical and affordable, but also the fun and enjoyable. So I’ve come up with a [...]
Home Business Gives Mom The Time She Needs For Family
montgomeryadvertiser.com: As a mother of two young children, Kathy Coley-Adams was looking for a way to spend more time with her family. Working in the corporate world meant an 8-to-5 regimen that some times interfered with teach er conferences and after-school sporting events. The 1979 Jefferson Davis High School graduate want ed to be there [...]
Online Entrepreneur Spinning A Web
Memphis Commercial Appeal: This thing called technology. It’s bound to make P.J. Witherspoon dance. “It’s amazing. Technology is awesome,” she said. “I’m totally into technology.” Truth be told, Witherspoon is a webmaster. Her Web site is none other than webdancer.com. “As a matter of fact, we’re launching a new site in January,” she said, “because [...]
Farming Grows Into Home-Based Business For Marble Hill Couple
seMissourian.com: Returning to her roots is paying off for Barb Bailey, who lives on a farm near Marble Hill with husband, Anthony, and their children. Farm living has evolved into a home-based business for the couple. Bailey raises goats and her family drinks the milk and eats the yogurt and cheese she makes from the [...]
Product Safety Law Problem For Homecrafters
Digital Journal: Kiki Fluhr, who runs the All the Numbers Handmade homecraft business from her Quincy, Massachusetts home, warns that the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which becomes effective from February 10 next year, will turn micro-businesses like hers into illegal manufacturers of “hazardous substances’ overnight. This law includes hand-knitted, quilted and hand-sewn clothes, [...]
Entrepreneur: Q: Legally, can I sell cooked food from my house? A: You cannot sell prepared foods from your home without having the appropriate permits. In fact, some states prohibit the sale of home canned foods altogether. There are a host of health and safety issues (like, how clean IS your kitchen?) that are involved [...]
Identity Theft Labs Shares Some Advice On How YOU Can Protect Yourself
Although it is not strictly business related, identity theft is no stranger in the world. It is a problem that has hit a variety of people within all income levels. Unfortunately many people don’t realize what they should do until after it is too late. If you do the work, there are ways that you [...]
Mom And Pop Toymakers Fear New Testing Regulations
Media General: Mom and pop makers of toys and other products for children fear that costly new government regulations could put them out of business soon after Christmas. After recalls of millions of tainted toys from China over the last two years, Congress approved a new law this summer limiting the amount of lead and [...]
Eco-Friendly Moms Set Out To Become Queens Of Clean
The Washington Post: Newborn babies have a naturally sweet smell. However, some of the other smells they make are just plain stinky. And as new-mom Dana Rubinstein discovered while washing bottles in a sleepless stupor one late night, cleaning detergents may not be doing much to help. The next day she acted on her “a-ha” [...]
The American Dream: Not Just For Dreamers Anymore
The Vest Pocket Consultant: The reality is that few of the people I know in the internet business cashed out in a big way and far fewer went on to build another company that was as successful as their first one. And dotcom superstars such as Steve Case of AOL, Jerry Yang of Yahoo and [...]
Holiday Gifts for Small-Biz Owners
US News And World Report: With consumer spending in a rut, 2008 is not shaping up as a happy holiday season for many small-business owners. Still, there’s nothing like the right gift to take a businessperson’s mind off the recession. And at a time when every penny counts, why not pick a present that can [...]
Gizmodo: American Toy and Invention Co. is selling a kit that’ll let you build, implode, and rebuild a multi-story structure that looks strangely enough like the 5th Avenue Apple flagship retail space. I’m sure it teaches about the physics of demolition, but hey! Stuff’s blowing up! The inventor, going by the name Advanced Engineering, is [...]
Rhonda Abrams, USA TODAY: So here are some last-minute easy steps to take now to lower your taxes next April. Most of the following apply to those who run their businesses on a cash, rather than accrual, basis: 1. Size up your likely bottom line for 2008. Run a quick P&L — or profit and [...]
Entrepreneur: Q: Where would I begin to start bottling/marketing/selling an amazing salsa? A: You can start yourself and test the market. If you can prove you can get sales, the big companies will be interested in your product. You can always go to the “big boys,” but you also have the option of maintaining control [...]
Maiden America Offers The Best In Stay-Put Hair Clips For Young Girls
Any parent of a young girl can tell you what it’s like to go through hair clips and ties, all in an attempt to help pull the hair back or dress it up. In most cases, those cheap clips and ties end up lost because they just won’t stay in like they are supposed to. [...]
Maiden America Offers The Best In Stay-Put Hair Clips For Young Girls
Any parent of a young girl can tell you what it’s like to go through hair clips and ties, all in an attempt to help pull the hair back or dress it up. In most cases, those cheap clips and ties end up lost because they just won’t stay in like they are supposed to. [...]
A Microbiz Can Help With College Expenses
Janice-Campbell.com: I have enjoyed several microbusinesses throughout my life, and I believe they can be great learning experiences for teens. With the economy in its present disturbed state, I believe that a microbusiness can be helpful to any family. What is a Microbusiness? A microbusiness is a very small business that is created without a [...]
Mom Launches A Blog For Mompreneurs Who Want To Be Stellar Business Women, Moms
PR.com: Moms who run their own businesses can find themselves in a challenging position. On one hand, they are accomplished business women and on the other they are committed moms. Pursuing both of these demanding roles can often feel lonely and stressful. Other business women might not understand the commitment to being a good parent; [...]
Port St. Lucie Woman Has Made Her Business Dream A National Reality
TC Palm: It may seem like a tough time to start a business, but Port St. Lucie resident Tami Cimperman has taken Foxyware, her eight-month old rhinestone-embellished glassware company, from a dream to a nationally promoted reality. Last Sunday, the MSNBC show “Your Business” featured Cimperman during its regular Elevator Pitch segment. Cimperman pitched her [...]
Sell Or License Your Patents On Zyrist
Zyrist Blog: Zyrist launches a range of new services and solutions for both Innovator Companies and Individual Inventors to facilitate buying, selling, licensing of Patents across the globe. Not only can users list their patents for licensing but for a variety of reasons including exploring partnership opportunities, in search of service providers or simply to [...]
Entrepreneur Creates Keyboard For Blondes
KVUE.com: If you’ve ever had a blonde moment, listen to this. One of the hottest Internet gifts this holiday season is poking fun in the spirit of blondes. Americans have had a decades-long obsession with dumb blonde jokes. Now blondes are getting the last laugh. Natalia Wolfrom, a Russian immigrant armed with platinum hair and [...]
CNNMoney.com: Entrepreneur and venture capitalist Karen Mills has been chosen by President-elect Obama to head the Small Business Administration. Mills is currently president of MMP Group in Brunswick, Maine. She, with two other partners, founded Solera Capital, a New York-based venture capital firm. Her appointment will be subject to confirmation by the Senate. At a [...]
