Archive for September 8th, 2011
Why Are Paperclips Protected By Law?
Did you know that if you live in the United States nearly every paperclip you’ve ever used has been manufactured domestically? Why? Do we make the best paperclips in the world? Not necessarily. According to the Wall Street Journal, paperclips are protected by a 127% tariff! The two main U.S. makers — ACCO and Officemate [...]
When to Say No Thanks to New Opportunities
A reader wrote: Hi Dane. I just posted up a new article that I thought might be of interest to you, given your site’s focus on new business opportunities. It highlights a few pitfalls that business owners commonly face when they start branching out. What kinds of opportunities should you turn down? Good question. The [...]
Niche Dating Site: French Farmers
NY Times: Patrick Maignan, a robust gray-haired farmer, lives alone on his farm, surrounded only by the freshly plowed wheat fields of this lonely corner of northern France. The New York Times The lack of love in the countryside is a serious topic. Far from tourist routes and cellphone coverage, he works seven days a [...]
The $700 Million Yogurt Company
Forbes: In a scant four years, Hamdi Ulukaya has built something that even Silicon Valley types should covet: a $700 million business that’s profitable, dominant and growing at a furious clip. Even more incredible: Ulukaya makes yogurt. Photo by Timothy Valentine.
$4.3 Million Prize for Making Insects into Food
The European Commission is offering a $4.32 million prize to the group that comes up with the best idea for developing insects as a popular food. The Commission is counting on cattle and other large animals being an increasingly untenable source of protein in decades to come, and hopes that some research group will be [...]
The Winipeg Free Press, a newspaper in Canada, is moving some of their employees out of the newsroom and out into the world. They’ve opened a cafe called the News Cafe that in addition to serving coffee, the cafe hosts events, but also offers the public an opportunity to interact with journalists and editors who [...]
Is this the doorbell of the future? Click the image for a larger version.
Pedal Portland: Bicycle Training
A new business called Pedal Portland in Portland, Oregon wants you to get that bicycle out of the garage and onto the road: Paulsen’s idea is to offer personal, one-on-one consultations designed to take the guess-work out of riding bikes. Whether you have a bike and just aren’t confident to start riding it around town [...]
Are you looking for a home inspections opportunity that does not involve a franchise? Pro Sight has the perfect affiliate opportunity for you. A typical home inspection franchise would cost you between $27,000 to $55,000 plus royalties. However, an affiliate membership will give you all the benefits at a reduced cost. If you have no [...]
One of the problems many new parents face is isolation. It can be lonely, especially when you have a new baby and a demanding schedule. That is something Amy Lundy knows a lot about, reports Gulf Coast Business Review. The former New Yorker started Small Fry Society, a program for moms with babies or infants [...]
Korean Women Are Jumping The Gender Gap, Too
We often mention successful American women who successfully cross the gender gap into the man’s world of business. What about women in other countries? Korea leads a traditional “man’s world,” and Lee Bok-hui has found a way across that gap and raise attention for her invention. Lee Bok-hui used to wonder what happened to all [...]
Business Owners Waiting For The Right Climate To Grow
President Obama’s job speech will be later today, and many business owners are apprehensive about what they will hear. A recent survey shows that entrepreneurs are ready to grow their businesses, but they are waiting for the right moment. Citibank’s latest small business survey, released Tuesday, found that 49% of small business owners are holding [...]
StartupChicks Home To Women In Business
Jennifer Bonnett spent more than 20 years in the information technology field and she noticed a sad trend, most tech startup events were filled with men. Often, she was the only woman in the room. So, she created a startup group for just women. A month after that February weekend two years ago, StartupChicks was [...]
