beer flavored ice cream

i dont quite like the way this is set up its a little slow and boring but the idea is hilarious and there are some other crazy business ideas that worked on the cite too i thought this was interesting to hear about some crazy business ideas and motivating because it shows you that you should never think your idea is too crazy if your pationate about it because sometimes crazy works

http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoafYPav.html

slogan

i thought this was a fun list of slogans to help get your mind going to think of your own slogan plus some are pretty funny

http://www.outwestnewspaper.com/wacky.html

Bootstrapping (Bottom Up Approach)

I really liked this article. I've read some things by this author who also has his own venture fund. Lately though in the last few years he has been writting alot hoping to inspire/lead a new generation. I believe the top down approach he states is good for financial estimates. It might be good from then to look at the bottom up when building your timeline and milestones. The article is here http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2006/01/the_art_of_boot.html

Top workplaces!

Women Entrepreneurs

Tips on Starting a Small Biz!

Interesting flick....from Small Business School

http://search.smallbusinessschool.org/video.cfm?clip=962

Business Method patents

What are your views? Should a process be allowed to receive a patent or should the testing process used from a 1970's era decision still be used? http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/10/30/ap5629507.html

Mergers and Acquisitions

I thought I would share this article with everyone. Apparently GM is going to have cashflow problems and needs to do something. I also thought it was appropriate to share with everyone considering they are buying an existing business. It could be a joint venture or complete buyout. The deal is quite complicated but it shows how complicate purchasing or creating a joint venture can be, especially if you are trying to expand. Reminds me of rapid growth problems. The article is here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27457578/

Upcoming Importing laws

With our previous lessons looking into going global with a business I thought I'd look into some of the laws that are coming up.

Do you think we are repeating the past?

http://blogs.forbes.com/digitalrules/2008/10/its-1974-again.html

Do you think the U.S. is lossing its' competitiveness?

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2008/gb20081022_377709.htm

Disturbing E-commerce remark by author

Hello Everyone,


After reading about E-commerce some time ago. I was disturbed by a suggestion provided by the author to improve page hits. The author had suggested including certain words within your site within the meta tags. I had read a while ago that a recent court ruling had declared that using meta tags of trademarked items is illegal. Mainly that stating Nike in your meta tags is a violation of the Lanham act. You will be liable for damages. However the author of this law book has indicated that if you are selling the product it would be acceptable to utilize the trademark within your meta tag. So selling Nike shoes would be acceptable for you to include nike within your meta tag. There is a chance you still could be served with cease and desist orders. If your interested on modern interpretation of the law that's not boring and easy to read. One of the trademark books I find to be informative is:

http://www.amazon.com/Essentials-Trademarks-Unfair-Competition/dp/0471209414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1225069146&sr=8-1

Since I'm interested in entering the illustrator market I thought I'd look into some of the things related to it. Despite focusing on the art industry the article makes some good points about advertising.

Since we were just reading about the possibilities of running a business online I thought I'd share this article. here

Ebay

Here is a question and answer with Kevin Pursglove, a former spokesperson for Ebay. Interesting material. The link is below.



http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/2127.html

Cookie website

This is similar to the movie we saw before with cookie products. But this is an e-commerce store. THey sell their cookies online. Take a look.



http://www.monstersmallbusiness.com/ecommerce-marketing/success-terrysgourmetcookies.asp

The future of small business

http://sbinfocanada.about.com/b/2007/02/01/small-business-of-the-future-a-pretty-picture.htm

Very good info.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/strauss/2004-05-17-globalization_x.htm

Don't get taken for a ride.

The Right And Wrong Ways To Raise Money

http://www.forbes.com/soho/2008/09/04/dell-small-business-ent-fin-cx_dr_0904dileepraorightwrong.html

Hello hand shaker

Who knew a handshake could be so important?

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jun2005/sb20050628_5060_sb013.htm

How to Set up a Wellness Plan

http://guides.wsj.com/small-business/hiring-and-managing-employees/how-to-set-up-a-wellness-plan/?mod=rss_WSJBlog?mod=smallbusiness

5 Tips to consider for helping employees lead healthier lives. I'm glad it focuses on the payoff that employees will get from it, instead of the payoff that the business will get.

Looking for Cost Cuts in Lots of New Places

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122411037187438233.html

Creative ways that some small businesses have used to cut costs in a tough economy.

Example of a Joint Venture in the form of a business

Joint Ventures can exist as another entity and not a partnership. Here is an example of a joint venture for the sole purpose of exposing the Columbian brand of coffee to others. This reminds me of a farmer's co-operatives that have been gaining ground.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27226772/

Credit crunch for small businesses

The Credit Squeeze on Small Business

Famous without schooling

This article is pretty cool to read. It shows some famous people who didn't even go to college, yet they became successful. It was a little different so I decided to post it on here. The link is below.





http://blog.inc.com/global-business/2008/08/you_dont_have_to_be_lucky_to_b.html

Success not luck

This article has to do with success and not luck. I thought it kind of went well with our studies because unfortunately we hear too often about how it may just be pure luck that we succeed. The link is below.



http://blog.inc.com/global-business/2008/08/you_dont_have_to_be_lucky_to_b.html

I thought this was interesting!

Going Global

When going global it is important to consider what are the best places to start your business.

Foreign Foods

While we were reading about going global with businesses with in the United States I came across this article. Its a great example of how Moon Cakes have been adapted to appeal to our culture. link here

By-Product Pricing

While reading the text. I became interested in By-product pricing and remembered
terracycle. Terra Cycle was a company that uses waste boxes (misprints) and other byproducts to produce fertilizer. When I saw the Zoo Doo I immediately remembered Terra Cycle. Well here is another company with by-product pricing.

Business Markets for tough times

http://blogs.wsj.com/independentstreet/2008/10/13/winners-and-losers-where-does-your-small-business-stand/

Short article on which small businesses are most likely to see a decline and increase. Although I do have to say contrary to the article, I am a lessor of real estate and we are having a slow time right now.

WSJ Video link...Top Small Workplaces 2008

http://online.wsj.com/video/the-top-small-workplaces-winners/58F43593-43E2-4279-B003-45F4F8FF2E61.html

Don't Panic. Advertise

Don't Let Hard Times Derail Your Advertising
Even in a climate of fear, it's unwise to start knocking your rivals. And ads help reassure people it's business as normal

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/oct2008/sb2008107_423872.htm

Making you business stand out of the crowd.

Differentiating Your Business
7 tips for creating a unique selling proposition that helps cut through the competitive clutter to drive sales

http://www.entrepreneur.com/microsites/sprintbusinesseventscenter/article190942.html

hers a lil quiz to help you get organized

http://www.score.org/cgi/quiz.cgi?quiz=internet_small_business_taken_over_quiz

benifit from economic downturn

i found this article on another blog i there are also alot of other intresting reads there
http://goeasywriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/3-ways-small-business-owners-can-benefit-from-the-economic-downturn/

I'd like to work here...

Guerilla Marketing site

You need to sign up to view the full version of the articles on this site but from what I've read it looked like an interesting site.

Criticism

Fairly redundant for the most part but it never hurts to have a reminder.

Tactics

There are a lot of good ideas in here; especially if you don't have a lot of money to spend on advertising.

http://www.bootstrappingblog.com/50-guerrilla-marketing-tactics-you-should-be-using

Video...Guerilla Marketing Success stories

http://online.wsj.com/video/guerrilla-marketing-success-stories/08708485-5076-42D7-8D17-4F6CB00D561D.html

Bartering for Business...what do you think?

Ron Paul on Fox Sep. 24, 2008

Do you agree with Ron Paul? What are your thoughts about this interview?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB-OhTfplYE

How To Swing With Guerrilla Marketing

Don't have much cash to spend on advertising? A little creativity can make your message go a long way.

Can you think of some other tips that might help with advertising?


http://www.forbes.com/2006/06/08/cx_sr_0608askexpert_slide_3.html?thisSpeed=15000

Cool Advertising

This slideshow is actually really cool. It puts a twist on normal advertising. Definitely makes you look twice.





http://www.pronetadvertising.com/articles/creative-advertising-that-makes-you-look-twice.html

Guerilla Marketing

I liked this article because it related to what we just learned in chapter 9 about Guerilla Marketing plans. The link is below.





http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/guerillamarketing/article193306.html

Unconventional Role Model

Take a look at this story and the video. Talk about a skill, he pretty much shows you how well the basics can work.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26976442/

A Planner Plumbs for a Niche

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122274023246288991.html

I saw this and thought it was an interesting small business idea.

Five Survival Tips for Entrepreneurs

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122243729863478905.html

I thought this article had some good tips. They are kind of obvious, but people sometimes forget when things are stressfull in a bad economy.

How much?

i though this was real important to read about

http://tedcape.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/how-much-debt/

shoulda dones

http://selfmade.eliotdill.com/awesome-business-ideas-that-got-stolen-from-me/

check it out

Elevator Pitch

I thought this was a great example of an elevator pitch and what to prepare for.

Company's doing good

I was inspired again by this week's video. I was reading an article in relation to the death of Paul Newman and there was a lot of information about his company I didn't know. This article is just a tid bit. If all companies just did a little bit could you imagine the good we could do in the world.

http://www.newmansown.com/

This week's video assignment

This week's video assignment got me thinking about opening a business in an inner city neighborhood; so I did a search to see if there were any initiatives out there. I was surprised to find this one from this past March. It is great too see that the SBA is putting its resources to work where it is needed the most. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/small-business/2008/03/sba_launches_innercity_initiat.html

Money Crunch

Has anyone looked at the video clips at msnbc.com lately?

If you go and select a clip to bring up the pop up selection click business>small business.All the articles are talking about the cash squeeze. Its funny that they aren't talking about better ways to manage and control your cashflow. I thought everyone should look at the videos they are creating as news for small business. It's understandable but they have people who are growing too fast and never made any projections and are shocked the bank says no.

Take a look at this clip

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26973767#26973767