Archive for July 2009
Tribute to Billy Mays: “Hi, Billy Mays Here”
In June, Billy Mays the television direct-response advertisement salesperson well known for his introduction, “Hi, Billy Mays here,” died from an apparent heart attack. Here’s a video tribute to him that includes his famous line and the openings of 30 of his TV commercials.
Products to amuse and inspire. Dress For Dinner Napkin. Dressing for dinner has never been so easy! Disposable Lighter Camcorder. Perfect for spying on smokers and pyromaniacs. Goldfish Trash Bags. The neighbors will be calling the ASPCA within minutes. Mix Stix. Be the percussion hero of your kitchen. Photos by perpetualkid/redferret/trendsnow.
Collapsable Milk Jug Makes Milk Last Longer
Fast Company: The James Dyson Awards, a sprawling event that garners thousands of entries from design students the world over, is a pretty phenomenal wellspring of ideas–the short list runs into the hundreds. Treehugger points us to one concept we hadn’t seen: A collapsible milk jug that makes the milk last longer. The designer–who has [...]
The New York Times: Few people can claim to have created an entire industry from scratch. But Greg Wittstock, who long ago labeled himself “The Pond Guy,” laid the foundation for the multi-million-dollar backyard water-feature industry in 1991 when he started Aquascape Designs, shortly after completing his sophomore year at Ohio State University. From back-breaking [...]
Coca-Cola’s Bringing Fizzy Milk To The Masses
Fast Company: For those of you who don’t like the taste of flat milk, Coca-Cola is coming to the rescue with Vio, a concoction made of skim milk mixed with sparkling water, fruit flavoring, and cane sugar. It sounds slightly nauseating, but Coke assures us that the milk won’t curdle in its aluminum bottle. Wonderful, [...]
Sell A $35,000 Watch In A Recession?
The Wall Street Journal: When a man in a Cartier watch stepped into the IWC Schaffhausen boutique in Beverly Hills recently, salesman Hua Huynh sprang into action. He led the customer to a case of Aquatimers, the Swiss brand’s line of self-winding dive watches. “What’s the damage?” asked the customer, pointing at one model. “The [...]
Inventor Seeks Market For Jackets
Times Daily: The technology has been tested and proved sound. John Locker says all he needs to make his cooling garment successful is for someone such as Oprah Winfrey to wear it around for a few days. Locker has experimented with the cooling technology for more than six years. He has made vests, jackets and [...]
Quirky – The Product Development Community With Smarts
Red Ferret: Quirky is a clever new community portal based around the idea of product development. Submit an idea, other members of the community vote on it and the winner product gets made in a factory and everything. The site promises to deliver a new product every few days, which is a pretty ambitious goal. [...]
Young Inventor Casting About For Ideas
The Miami Herald: Patrick Brown’s fledgling, home-based company Finovation Inc. makes a handful of simple, useful products for the niche market of offshore fishermen. His three innovations — the kite thong, the bait bridle and the “gimbalok” — are in about a dozen tackle shops between Melbourne and the Keys, with their popularity quickly growing [...]
Finding Grants to Make Your Biz Greener
Kiplinger: Wading through the morass of information on green business grant programs can be challenging, particularly for small businesses that don’t have the expertise or staff to manage grant writing. 1. Call your utility company and ask about the grants and rebates they offer. 2. Scour the web for grants, rebates and other incentive programs [...]
The Bar Code Is Taking a Leap Forward
The New York Times: Look closely at recent supermarket coupons, and you may see some new markings on them near the traditional bar code: sets of neat black bars stacked in two rows. The new symbols, called GS1 DataBars, can store more data than traditional bar codes, promising new ways for stores to monitor inventory [...]
Payment Platforms For Your Business
photo credit: bragadocchio Starting an online business can have many headaches and stresses as you have to take control of so many things such as inventory, customer service, payments, orders and more. You can remove at least one headache if you implement a simple and functional payment solution. There are a range of companies and [...]
Harry writes, “Can you suggest websites where I might contact people already in a dog walking/dog sitting business? I’m looking for hints & tips as to how to get started, upfront costs such as liability insurance, what to charge, how to advertise-any info I can get. My target market is Loudoun County, Va., about an [...]
Online Customer Reviews Are Important
photo credit: Carla216 In a recent article posted on Small Biz Technology it is suggested that online customer reviews are almost as important as the description of the product and the product pictures themselves, this i would have to agree with. Have you ever been shopping and saw a product with beautiful pictures, perfect descriptions but [...]
Work At Home United Helps Motivated Individuals Succeed In Direct Sales
For anyone with a limited budget that is hoping to start a side business, direct sales can be an inviting opportunity. Especially at a time like now when many people are facing steep unemployment rates and layoffs. Work At Home United is made up of a team of home-based business owners that work together towards [...]
photo credit: A Y U M i (Paestum mode on) Everyone wants to be better at writing in business, as this is a big part of how you connect with your clients and bring in new clients by grabbing their attention to your writing. But how do you go from an ok writer to [...]
The Stock Exchange in the Stripmall
Did you know that the third largest stock exchange in the US is in a strip mall outside Kansas City, Missouri between a Latte Land coffee shop and a Land of Paws pet boutique? I didn’t either. Newsweek has the story: Each trading day, as a bell atop the M&I Bank building next door chimes [...]
A Look At The Mom Behind KidCards
examiner.com: Examiner: What is your business all about? Melissa: KidCards Ltd. produces KidCards® Greeting Card Books; award-winning activity books that kids can use as an outline in creating one-of-a-king greeting cards! Each book is made up of cardstock pages that can be easily removed and folded into a greeting card. Currently, there are 2 All-occasion [...]
Reader Mailbag: Home or Brick & Mortar?
Pam writes, “I just would like to have some idea about the start up cost of a scrapbooking business that is not home based.” Well, you’ll need to rent a building, hopefully with a lot of foot traffic. You’ll also need to pay for local business licenses and permits. And I’m guessing you want to [...]
Jason Sadler has been selling the upper part of his wardrobe ever day of 2009 to companies that want him to wear a t-shirt with the logo on it. His pricing structure is very interesting though. He’s sold January 1st for $1 and is selling December 31st for $365. Every day in between goes for [...]
Do you wish that you could control your computer mouse with your feet? A new invention from Jeffrey Gelman would allow you to do just that. The FootMouse Touchpad is a one foot by one foot trackpad that you place under your desk and operate with your feet. Mr. Gelman is looking for angel investors [...]
San Jose Mercury News: For some time, Smiley Kai had been talking with two potential partners about opening a ukulele store — yes, a ukulele store — in San Jose’s Japantown. But last year, when the economy started tanking, the partners, worried about how such a venture would do in a recession, backed out. That [...]
Scunthorpe Telegraph: A 39-YEAR-old single mother from Scunthorpe will enter the Dragons’ Den for a TV grilling which could help her make her fortune. Sharon Wright will be seen by millions on the programme, which has entrepreneurs pitching for investment from some of Britain’s top business brains. Sharon came up with her MagnaMole cable threading [...]
Home-Based Bizs Can Have Pitfalls
Associated Press: For many of the people laid off during the recession, the next career move is a home-based business. It’s an ideal solution for many, but these new entrepreneurs need to be aware of some caveats in running a company from home. One is taxes. It’s much easier to claim a deduction for a [...]
Elders Dominate Among Entrepreneurs
American Public Media: Media buzz usually spotlights 20-something Ivy League grads who start the hottest new tech companies and social networks. But the average tech-company founder is 39 and entrepreneurs over 50 surpass the younger generation two-to-one. People like David House. He’s 60, and lives up a dirt road in Aurora, Ore., in a home [...]
Inventors Digest: Every inventor must realize that once an invention is used publicly or an attempt is made to sell it, a patent for said invention must be filed within one year or the rights will be lost. This is good news because it gives inventors a year to test market an invention before spending [...]
Entrepreneur.com: The headlines and market reports were foreboding. But Rami Weiss saw opportunity despite the gloomy economy. Weiss says he enjoyed low startup costs and quick profitability two years ago when launching Boomerater, a networking site where baby boomers can exchange advice on topics ranging from retirement savings to outings for grandkids. Elderly services and [...]
Mom's Finds Niche In Baby Care
Atlanta Metro News: Two metro Atlanta moms have figured out how to turn cranky babies into a thriving business. Laura Hunter and Jennifer Walker never thought of themselves as entrepreneurs until about five years ago, after a little advice from country crooner Kenny Rogers. Today they are published authors, Web site operators and sought-after consultants [...]
Mom's Gluten-Free Food Biz Grabs Community Attention
Greenville Online: Thumbs Up to Travelers Rest resident Rise Myers who is meeting a need for gluten-free baked goods through a business called Screamin’ Good. Myers started the business for all the right reasons: so she could provide good-tasting, gluten-free treats for her autistic son who also has celiac disease. After much trial and error, [...]
New Website Hopes To Tickle Your Sweet Tooth
Just one quick peek into Candy.com will leave you craving your favorite sweets. Whether it is a treat from your past or a present favorite, a quick search can easily turn into a shopping cart full of candy. For all of your newly discovered cravings you can thank Greg Balestrieri and Joe Melville. As third [...]
How Chef’n Cooks Up Clever Kitchen Tools
Fast Company: Lots of companies gab about design thinking, but Chef’n lives it–and it has proven just how fast a startup can rise on the power of a few brilliant ideas. Chef’n focuses on kitchen tools, which are ripe for redesign because of all the fiddly tasks involved. Like Oxo, one of its specialties has [...]
Springwise: Realizing that both existing and potential clients might appreciate a chat about a haircut before visiting their stylist, Plan B Salon in Cambridge, Massachusetts launched a new service offering 15-minute video consultations. Prior to their appointment, customers can get an idea of what their options are or how receptive the stylist is to their [...]
Style-Your-Garage.Com’s Photo Tarps
Springwise: On even the most tastefully appointed of houses, garage doors tend to be drab and monochrome eyesores, designed apparently without even the smallest nod to aesthetics. A German company aims to change all that, however, with large-scale posters that transform the doors through highly realistic 3D images. Style-your-garage.com‘s photo tarpaulins are available with a [...]
Auto Sales Bolster Overall Retail
Inc.: Although department store and restaurant sales continue to wilt, automotive and gasoline station purchases are enough to account for a slight uptick in overall monthly retail sales, census numbers show. In June, auto parts and vehicle sales climbed 2.3 and 2.6 percent, respectively, from the month before. Gas station sales rose 5 percent in [...]
Out To Lunch Brings New Meaning For Mom-Owned Business
News-Record.com: The production area of this textile manufacturing company is a swath of concrete and brick walls and red, blue, hot pink, black and yellow fabric. Until last year, the palette at Fuller Specialty was entirely monochromatic. Their product: mostly mesh sports jerseys and gym bags. Then Sue Catherine discovered the company on the Internet [...]
Legislation To Reauthorize The SBIR And STTR Programs
Inc.: Amid tumbling banks and bankrupt companies, small businesses may have cause for celebration. The Senate reauthorized the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. In the House, Congressman David Wu (D-OR) shepherded the bill through, with a resounding 386-41 vote. The bill will now head to [...]
Things Invented or Discovered by Accident
HowStuffWorks: We tend to hold inventors in high esteem, but often their discoveries were the result of an accident or twist of fate. This is true of many everyday items, including the following surprise inventions. 1. Play-Doh One smell most people remember from childhood is the odor of Play-Doh, the brightly-colored, nontoxic modeling clay. Play-Doh [...]
photo credit: wEnDaLicious Today many people are making the decision everyday to become their own boss, to venture out and become an entrepreneur. It makes a lot more sense these days to be in business for yourself rather than for someone else. Below are some recession proof industries that you may never have even thought [...]
AOL Small Business: Cuddle Party Runs events at which adults “explore communication, boundaries, and affection” by donning pajamas and getting physical. Ix-nay on the naughty stuff. Alibi Network In a perfect world, you wouldn’t have to lie to your wife/boss/parents about your whereabouts Friday night. In an imperfect world, these guys have your back. HappyBalls.com [...]
Understanding Customer Needs And Wants
photo credit: swanksalot To sell more, you need to know what your customer’s need and want. If you don’t, your company will never reach it’s potential – it’s the unfortunate truth. The million dollar question is then, “how do you know what your customer’s need and want?” Customers love to feel involved and important, taken [...]
BusinessWeek: Imagine a small girl holding a brand new toy for the first time. The colors and contours light up her eyes; her mental gears crank as she examines the product, figuring out its purpose. Then, she smiles as she happily joins the new, imaginary world from which the toy was originally born. Chris Heatherly, [...]
photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar Some of the best successful entrepreneurs are those that have encountered one or more of the below mentioned tips on being successful. And much to my surprise, these tips are not huge milestones, they are relatively small things that most people wouldn’t even think would make a difference. Screw Up! [...]
Weird Things People Sell for Cash
Wisebread: When the recession began to really hit home, there was plenty of chatter about selling your plasma, undergoing paid medical tests, and even cutting off your lovely locks for a profit. Here are some of the more off-the-wall commodities we found, and they are making some people a bit more comfortable these days. 1. [...]
How To Become More Attractive To Your Clients
photo credit: spisharam – Back and Catching up =) In business owners and managers are always looking for new and creative ways to be more appealing to their clients, their company look more attractive and looking for ways to “one up” the competition. Here are some tips on how to become more attractive to your [...]
CNNMoney: On Monday, we started a poll asking “In The Last Year, Have You Bartered For Products Or Services For Your Biz?” Of those readers responding, 67 percent said YES and 33 percent said NO to barter. Even in modern times, bartering remains a practical choice for small businesses. It’s a cash preservation tool, something [...]
Mom Creates Jewelry Line To Help Pay Bills
PR Web: Kahili Creations, a new line of handmade jewelry, has announced an e-commerce site featuring its latest collection, as announced today by Marcia Asuncion Ricchiuti, the line’s creative director and founder. To battle the high cost of living in Hawaii, former Web executive Marcia Asuncion Ricchiuti’s casual hobby of designing jewelry has grown into [...]
What Ice Cream Man? This Is The Mom & Daughter Ice Cream Team
wcco.com: Who doesn’t remember the ice cream man? It seems no matter what you were doing when the ice cream truck went by, you ran to go get money. A local mother got nostalgic. She and her daughter thought it would be a refreshing memory back to the suburbs. The familiar sounds of the ice [...]
Habits Of Successful Twitter Users
photo credit: respres Incorporate these traits, or habits, into your twittering and you’ll be sure to be a more popular Twitterer. For an all around better time Tweeting, be quick to follow users exhibiting these traits! Small Biz Bee suggests promoting other users more than you promote yourself on Twitter. By promoting people other than [...]
Entrepreneur Turns Trash Bins Into Pools
newsday: Some New Yorkers stuck in small apartments on a hot summer day have a new option: swimming in huge bins that once held trash. The idea for the unlikely urban club came from David Belt, president of Macro Sea, a Manhattan design firm. A contractor loaned him the three big metal bins and they [...]
Uncommon Traits Of A Successful Entrepreneur
photo credit: tofos59 We spend a lot of time talking about good traits that successful entrepreneurs have in common with each other, but were forgetting the not so common traits that also help entrepreneurs to become successful. I recently came across an article posted on Duct Tape Marketing that addresses these traits. Risk Averse – This [...]
