December 2008 - Posts
I’ve been a blogger for a few years now and there are times I wonder what the heck I’m doing.
These moments occur when I read stupid, vitriolic, comments that add nothing to the conversation. In fact, some comments seem to send us all back to the dark ages.
When a comment is particularly bigoted or obscene, I have chosen to hit the delete button. But for the most part, I publish most every one of my readers’ comments because I don’t want to censor the discussion.
Today, however, I want to focus on the positive. I’ve decided to republish some of the best, most thoughtful comments in a blog post looking back at 2008.
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See how small businesses can save money by launching health initiatives in the workplace. Wheeler Interests in Virginia Beach, VA was named one of the country's fittest companies by Men's Fitness magazine. Owner Jon Wheeler gives employees free access to an on-site gym, pays for smoking cessation programs, and provides healthy lunches in the workplace. Employees are also entitled to blood pressure screenings and cholesterol checks. Wheeler Interests doesn't have sick or vacation days, and the company says it saves $10,000 a year on each employee.
Panelists:
--Vincent Ashton, Executive Director of HealthPass, a non-profit organization which helps small businesses obtain health care for employees.
--James Barood, Executive Director of the Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies Silberman College of Business at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
--Farnoosh Torabi, Senior Correspondent for investing web site TheStreet.com, and author of "You're So Money: Live Rich, Even When You're Not."
How To Succeed in Small Business: Sales Strategies in a Recession
Michael Port, author of "The Contrarian Effect: Why It Pays (Big) to Take Typical Sales Advice and Do the Opposite" provides some tips on how to boost your sales even in the worst economic periods.
Elevator Pitch
Phil Micali, founder of bWell-informed, an interactive and personalized on-line learning experience to help people understand their health insurance options better, is looking for capital to increase IT support and server capacity.
Can a venture capitalist run the Small Business Administration?
Barack Obama seems to think so.
Last week, Obama tapped Karen Gordon Mills, president of MMP Group, a private equity investment firm in Brunswick, Maine, to lead the SBA.
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Santa's Plan provides a helpful example of a business plan. Check out Santa's competitive advantages such as having low price points and elves willing to work for minimal pay. The site was created by the founders of Businessplanadvice.com.
1. Package deals
2. Soften return policies
3. Personalize your offerings
4. Build relationships with customers
5. Buyer incentive programs
Source: Allbusiness.com
Mickey Donatello, a co-owner of two restaurants in Wilmington, Del., has noticed a "bizarre" phenomenon -- the job candidates he's been interviewing recently are actually qualified.
"Up until about four months ago, whenever we interviewed people it was like you were just replacing one standard employee with the next, but never stepping up, especially with skilled labor, like sous chefs or chefs," said Donatello, who owns Lucky's Coffee Shop and the Corner Bistro. "But now we're seeing guys that are qualified, almost over-qualified."
This is the positive side to a pretty grim jobs picture. With so many companies scaling back, or shutting their doors, there is a growing pool of talented people who are looking for work.
And entrepreneurs like Donatello are benefiting.
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Small Business Economic Outlook for 2009
Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize winner for economics, professor at Princeton University, Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times, and author of "The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008," discusses the state of the economy and how it will affect small business owners in 2009.
Small biz: The next generation
When Marcia Ceppos inherited Tinsel Trading from her grandfather, she set out to change the way the classic Garment District trim shop was run. See how she revitalized her customer service, storefront, and collaborated with her customers to reinvent her busines and bring it into the 21st century.
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1. Microloans
2. Community Banks
3. Peer-to-peer lending sites
4. Special programs, such as for veteran-owned or monority-owned businesses
5. Network
Source: Nuwireinvestor.com
Savorthesuccess.com is a social networking site that connects female entrepreneurs. Members can take part in online discussions, networking events, and eductional seminars. Local chapters can be found all over the country.
Recently we decided to take the kids to the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan and we encountered parking hell.
I was circling the neighborhoods near the museum looking for someone who was pulling out of a primo spot, and my husband kept insisting I just pull into a parking lot. He had to go to the bathroom but I just couldn’t bring myself to drop $40 plus for a lot.
Turns out, a young entrepreneur’s recession-busting idea could have saved us all some grief.
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Small Biz Makeover
"Your Business" helps a small business owner who is suffering from the credit crunch. Unable to get a loan or any angel investments, Susan Knapp, founder of A Perfect Pear, a gourmet condiment company based in Napa Valley, is draining her retirement fund and has taken out a home equity loan to keep her business afloat. We'll follow special contributor Rieva Lesonsky, founder of the consulting firm SMB Connects, as she gives Susan advice and helps her get her business back on the right track. Susan will also take part in a panel discussion and get some more tips on how she can grow her business.
Panelists
Norm Brodsky, Inc. Magazine columnist and co-author of "The Knack: How Street-Smart Entrepreneurs Learn to Handle Whatever Comes Up."
Rieva Lesonsky, CEO of SMB Connects, a provider of information, data, decision support tools and research for and about America's small and midsize businesses.
How To: Laying Off Employees in a Recession
Larry Winget, workplace expert and author of "It's Called Work For a Reason!: Your Success Is Your Own Damn Fault," provides some tips on how to go about the difficult task of laying off staff during a recession.
Learning from the Pros
Magic Johnson, basketball great, successful entrepreneur, and author of "32 Ways to Be a Champion in Business," shares the secrets that have helped him build his business empire.
Elevator Pitch
Tami Cimperman, CEO of Foxyware, pitches her line of rhinestone embellished glassware and barware in the "Your Business" elevator. Tami is looking for capital to invest in product development, retail packaging, marketing, sales teams, and trade shows and advertising.
1. Employees work from home
2. Share your staff
3. Cash only
4. Cut back on travel when possible
5. Creative marketing tactics such as employee blogs
Source: Inc.com
Biz2Credit.com is a free resource that connects small business owners to potential lenders. Just plug in your company's information, and the site will provide you with a number of lenders that match your needs.
I'm going to confess to you all that I have a really bad back. I can throw it out at a moment's notice. Play boxing with my son, or taking a fork out of the dishwasher are all potential back land mines.
But for me the biggest back buster is high heel shoes. I know, women are insane for wearing stilettos, but I love the way nose-bleed shoes look. Alas, my back hates them.
So, it's little wonder that my interest was piqued when I got an e-mail from a source at entrepreneurial business school Babson College who told me a group of undergrad students has come up with a high-heeled shoe with a retractable heel.
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