Archive for April 2011
When most women are working hard to fit in with the men, there is one woman on Wall Street that is very unique. She is the the CEO and founder of Patriarch Partners, Lynn Tilton. She got started as a single mom in a man’s world. According to Forbes, her outlandish personality has not come [...]
Disabled Inventor Recreates The Neck Brace
Shane Peters has invented a unique neck brace that supports the neck, but it is flexible enough to allow the neck muscles to enjoy a full range of movement. Although it may not replace the traditional neck brace for many injuries, it helps people suffering from serious conditions that may have an effect on the [...]
Perfect Coffee Temperature: Coffee Joulies
Coffee is always more enjoyable if it’s the correct temperature. Too hot and it burns your mouth. Too cold and, well, it’s just cold mud in a mug. Coffee Joulies were invented to solve both problem. They look like large polished stainless steel coffee beans and are about the size of an ice cube. You [...]
With National Small Business Week approaching next month, the SBA is getting prepared to celebrate. From May 18th to 20th in Washington D.C., the SBA will be hosting a variety of events under the theme, “Empowering Entrepreneurs.” It will also mark the 58th anniversary for the SBA, and the 48th anniversary for the creation of [...]
Being a woman in the business world is not always easy. Everyone has a few obstacles to face when starting out, and Prairie Business has brought together some of the best advice from the women who have been there. How can it help you in your own business? Kari Newman Ness, CEO, Newman Signs Ness [...]
Today in Entrepreneurial History: April 8
1886 – At Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, GA, the first sale of Coca-Cola was made. 1893 – The first recorded college basketball game occurs in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. 1904 – Longacre Square in Midtown Manhattan is renamed Times Square after The New York Times. 1908 – Harvard University votes to establish the Harvard Business School. [...]
I may not be watching you in a literal sense, but there is a new camera that can. A Czech inventor named Zdenek Kalal has created a unique surveillance system that can track a person while they are on the move, reports Inventor Spot. Kalal’s Predator smart camera is programmed with a learning strategy that [...]
Book: Killing Giants: 10 Strategies to Topple the Goliath in Your Industry
Killing Giants: 10 Strategies to Topple the Goliath in Your Industry by Stephen Denny profiles more than 30 companies from around world that have taken on the giant in their industry and won. From Silicon Valley to the townships of South Africa, Denny explains, “It can be a blessing in disguise to be the little [...]
PetRelocation.com Moves Your Pet For You
You can’t deny that pets are big business. In 2010 Americans spent more than 10 billion dollars on little fury four-legged child-replacements. One company that is profiting from this trend is PetRelocation.com. They are a Autstin, Texas based pet relocation company. The company provides provides door-to-door pet transportation services for people relocating with their pets. [...]
Today in Entrepreneurial History: April 7
1788 – American Pioneers to the Northwest Territory arrive at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, establishing Marietta, Ohio as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory, and opening the westward expansion of the new country. 1827 – John Walker, an English chemist, sells the first [...]
Lock-A-Bye Your Bag From Thieves
Any woman who has worried about theft in a public place will appreciate the features outlined on a Lock-A-Bye handbag. From the locking zipper to the handle releasable handle that will allow you to hook your bag to anything, the chances of having important items stolen is greatly decreased. For anyone that wonders why a [...]
Turn Your House into a Billboard: Free Mortgage
Startup advertising firm Adzookie has latched on to a high-profile way to publicize itself: by turning homes into massive billboards. We’re looking for houses to paint. In fact, paint is an understatement. We’re looking for homes to turn into billboards. In exchange, we’ll pay your mortgage every month for as long as your house remains [...]
Who knew sports and cutting hair went together so well? Gordon Logan did. He is the founder of a fast-growing franchise called Sports Clips. According to ABJ Entreprenur, men are nothing like women at a salon. They don’t want to gossip. All they want is their hair cut so they can leave. At Sports Clips, [...]
When moms wanted to chat, they used to do it on the benches at a park. In the 21st century, they are now doing it around the web. Carlsbad Patch takes a look at just how big this trend has grown. Could the mom next door be the next Dooce? A Nielsen report in 2009 [...]
Designers, Engineers, And Problem Solvers Wanted
The James Dyson Award is once again trying to encourage the next generation of design engineers to be creative, challenged, and inventive. They are reaching out to university level industrial design and engineering students or graduates within 4 years of graduation. However, they must have studied in one of 18 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, [...]
Virgin Oceanic: Going to the Ocean Depths
Friend of the site, Sir Richard Branson, has launched a new Virgin company called Virgin Oceanic. When Sir Richard Branson Upon unveiling the Virgin Oceanic submarine, he noted that “More men have been to the moon than have been down further underwater than 20,000 feet.” To that end, he and an explorer pal will take [...]
Quirky: Your Inventions Weekly
For centuries, becoming an “inventor” has been a hard gig to crack. Complexities relating to financing, engineering, distribution, and legalities have stood in the way of brilliant people executing on their great ideas. Since launching in 2009, Quirky has rapidly changed the way the world thinks about product development. They bring two brand new consumer [...]
9 Year Old Database Wiz Launches Business
ABC News: Last month, nine-year-old Maggie Huang of Florence, Alabama, started her very own business. And it wasn’t a lemonade stand or cookie table set up outside her house, but a Web start-up called SmartMaggie.com. “It’s about business stuff and you can post problems on it,” she said. “[Visitors] can ask about a general business [...]
City Puts The Brakes On Falafel Truck
Suzy Salwa Phillips got her beginning in war-torn Lebanon. She spent a lot of time cooking in shelters and learning from her mom. When she moved to the United States in 1989, she used those skills to her advantage and began working in the restaurant industry. Already working two cooking jobs, Suzy has a dream. [...]
The Business of Aerial Photography
Aerial photography sounds like a wonderful way to spend the day. I’m envious of the pilot in this story: Sitting in the corner of Lodi Airport Cafe, pilot Ken Cantrell sips a coffee and glances over his shoulder as flights come and go from the commuter airport. With his jade-green eyes peering from underneath his [...]
Shirts That Flatter Any Figure
No matter what size or shape people are, they just want to look good. That is the premise behind Skinny Tees. Known as “The Diet You Wear,” her shirts will flatter any figure. According to West Bloomfield Patch, Linda Schlesinger’s clothes are becoming a staple in every woman’s closet. “I have a lot of fun [...]
Australian inventor, Pat Jones, was inspired one night after taking his “tinnie” out for a little fishing. Trying to bring his boat back to shore, he was fighting heavy winds and choppy water, but he made it back safely. It was the next morning when he took out the floor to clean it that he [...]
Whether you’re employed by a company or you’re employing yourself, retirement is something you must plan for. Forbes takes a look at three retirement plans that can be used to help you set up a fund for yourself or your employees. The 401(k) 401(k)s not only offer higher contribution limits than most other plan options, [...]
Today in Entrepreneurial History: April 6
1808 – John Jacob Astor incorporates the American Fur Company, that would eventually make him America’s first millionaire. 1869 – Celluloid is patented. 1926 – Varney Airlines makes its first commercial flight (Varney is the root company of United Airlines). 1957 – Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis buys the Hellenic National Airlines (TAE) and founds [...]
I’ve heard of businesses that sell beer making gear and even companies that sell wine making supplies, but a company that sells the stuff to make beer, wine and cheese? Now that’s brilliant! Look recently opened Hop-N-Grape on 15th Avenue in Longview, Washington, where he sells supplies for making beer and wine at home. Want [...]
Video: How to Turn Electronic Trash Into Treasure
Entrepreneurship Is A Family Affair
You may believe starting your own business will have no effect on the people closest to you, but it will. That is a lesson Laura Drewry learned quickly when she decided to buy an existing business reports The Globe and Mail. After the store reopened, Ms. Drewry’s husband, Ron, let her “just get on with [...]
Today in Entrepreneurial History: April 5
1621 – The Mayflower sets sail from Plymouth, Massachusetts on a return trip to Great Britain. 1923 – Firestone Tire and Rubber Company begins production of balloon-tires. 1937 – Allan R. Thieme born, American inventor of the Amigo power operated vehicle/scooter 1949 – Fireside Theater debuts on television. 1951 – Dean Kamen born, American inventor [...]
As any mom-entrepreneur can tell you, caring for a business and a family is hard work. As the founder of The In Style Diva and My Little Diva Accessories, Teana McDonald know this well. According to SunSentinel.com, Teana left the corporate world to start her own business, and have more time for her family in [...]
Potty training is not always an easy process. Just ask any parent. In those early stages, the lack of access to a toilet can result in plenty of accidents. Although a training potties are relatively small and portable, they are not convenient for on-the-go use. That is a problem Amanda Jenner soon discovered with her [...]
Sometimes it helps to stop and consider the progress of your growing business. After all, how far have you come from those startup days? Last year USA Today began chronicling the adventures of six entrepreneurs with one dream: to take an idea and create a viable business. Each business owner has seen his or her [...]
Another Side To Social Networking
People use social networks to keep contact with their family and friends, businesses use it to promote their products or services, and it has even been used by companies to determine the type of person a potential employee may be. According to Fox News, there is also a feel-good side to networking: finding lost children. [...]
Early Announcement: 100 Business Opportunities for Kids
I’m working on a ebook with 100 business opportunities for kids that will be out before summer. If you’d like to review an early copy of it, please enter your email address in form below. If you or your children have a business that you’d like to be featured in the book, shoot me an [...]
No comment, but wow!
SCBJ says that Mary Reading was turned on to recycling electronics by watching a tv show. She didn’t like what she saw. She was tuned into a special about how the U.S. was exporting much of its electronic waste to underdeveloped countries for disposal. “I didn’t like that,” the Lynnwood County native said. “I thought, [...]
When Jud Bowman first considered entrepreneurship, he had to ask his history teacher how to raise funding. Since then, he has found success helping others sell their phone apps, reports The Herald-Sun. Bowman is now the CEO and founder of the Durham-based technology company Appia that builds online storefronts where businesses can sell mobile phone [...]
Today in Entrepreneurial History: April 4
1850 – Los Angeles, California is incorporated as a city. 1873 – The Kennel Club is founded, the oldest and first official registry of purebred dogs in the world. 1969 – Dr. Denton Cooley implants the first temporary artificial heart. 1973 – The World Trade Center in New York is officially dedicated. 1975 – Microsoft [...]
Inventor Making Strides In Fitness
Not many people would consider strapping some exercise bands to their legs. However, Stacy Erwin believes he has created the perfect tool for exercise, reports The Kansas City Star. “It” is the Overland Park inventor’s $50, not-sold-in-stores, ready-for-prime-time weight-loss device, Fitness Stride. And though it looks like nothing more than two bungee cords held in [...]
21 Or Under And Running A Business
In the back room of the Blossom Shop, Hannah Rinn prepares a bouquet of flowers. Sarah Rinn is in the office handling paperwork. At first glass you might assume these women are too young to be employees, however they are co-owners in the flower business, reports Northwest Herald. “I loved my job, I loved working [...]
At Inventables: Wet Surface Ink
Inventables.com is the innovator’s hardware store. Whether you’re an inventor, artist or a tinkerer, you’re sure to find something useful at Inventables.com. This week’s featured product is Wet Surface Ink. The marker pictured is capable of writing on wet surfaces. It contains a liquid ink just like a typical marker, only it has a special [...]
Toronto Expo Launching For Canadian Mompreneurs
If you’re planning to be in or around Woodbridge, ON June 4th, there is a new mompreneur expo you should consider checking out. Organized by Patricia Curto and Ilona DiCaro, the Mompreneur Showcase gives mompreneurs an opportunity to show off their products and services, reports YorkRegion. Vaughan residents will get the first crack at reserving [...]
If there was ever a day to watch your back, today would be it. Pranks are everywhere, including your inbox. If you love the newest game systems that allow you to use your body as a controller, you will appreciate the new system from Google that will allow you to control Gmail using your body. [...]
If you thought it was difficult administering physical therapy to a human, you should try getting an animal to do the necessary exercises. Woodstock Independent has a story about one woman who is helping animals get back into shape. Mary Kay Dobbeck, a physical therapist who has been working at the Woodstock Veterinary Clinic for [...]
Niche Biz: Vintage Barn Lights
Who knew there was so much opportunity in barn lights? Bryan Scott did. He didn’t originally start out with the intention of starting a business. However, his hobby soon grew. It did so well that him and his wife quit their jobs to focus on the business full-time. With 30 employees, growth may drive them [...]
Weird Invention: Screw in Coffin
I just stumbled on this 2006 patent from inventor Donald Scruggs for a “Easy inter burial container.” The name in no way describes what this really is: a coffin that doesn’t need a hole dug in advance, because the entire coffin can be drilled into the ground vertically. Here’s the description from the patent: A [...]
Today in Entrepreneurial History: April 1
Happy April Fools’ Day 1826 – Samuel Morey patents the internal combustion engine. 1891 – The Wrigley Company is founded in Chicago, Illinois. 1976 – Apple Inc. is formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
