by Christina Lee on January 28th, 2009
Back in 2004, Randi-Sue Deckard seemed to have everything: a husband, two children, and a well-established career as a clinical scientist. But when introduced by a friend to bead weaving and stringing, Deckard realized what she had been missing.
Deckard soon knew that she wanted to make jewelry for a living. But little did she know that transitioning from one career to another would take two years, with many months in which she would not sell a thing.
Now, Deckard has it all: a husband, two children, and her own online jewelry retail and wholesale business, Designing-Diva. As she tells... Read more »
by Christina Lee on November 24th, 2008
For nearly 40 years, the Schurman family business in Cold Spring, Minn. consisted of just one retail location stocked with cakes, cookies, and other pastries.
But with its second-generation ownership came a wholesale line now bringing in more than half of its current business, in addition to Modern Baking’s 2004 “Bakery of the Year” title.
Founded in 1946, the Cold Spring Bakery began offering a wholesale line in the late 1980s. At the time, the economy seemed to favor small family-owned businesses, giving owners Dale and Lynn Schurman reason to plan an expansion.
Between adding more retail locations and a... Read more »
by Christina Lee on October 30th, 2008
Q: How does one become an apparel buyer for a retail store or company?
A: While they may shop for a living, apparel buyers do so under the scrutiny of perhaps an entire merchandising department, certainly for an entire consumer base. The fashion sense buyer positions require is not entirely inherent. In fact, many of them require a bachelor’s degree, with completion of business, economics or finance courses.
An aspiring buyer could even earn at the Fashion Institute of Technology a Bachelor of Science degree in fashion merchandising management. Required courses in buying and planning specialization include FM 322 (Fashion... Read more »
by Rebecca Button on September 29th, 2008
When it comes to business and the market, many Americans operate under the illusion that the same rules apply to imports from other countries as apply within America itself; namely, grow your business and realize the American dream.
However, all business owners, and particularly those who are importing, have to remember that while the aspirations of the individual are important (if not central in an oblique way) to the well being of the United States, they do not come before the well being of the nation as a whole.
The Pearl of the Orient
So why is this important in... Read more »
by Leeia Ladipoh on September 22nd, 2008
Unless you’ve been hiding under a non-carbon based rock for the last five years, you are probably aware that there is a massive environmental movement under way. This movement is centered around the dangers posed to the planet by global warming, as caused by the actions of human beings.
Governments, businesses, and individuals are all on the green train, but there is a new worry on the horizon: will people eventually tire of being told what to do in order to save the planet?
There is a curve when it comes to marketing of any product or idea. First, the... Read more »
by Leeia Ladipoh on September 12th, 2008
Without a doubt, the number one obstacle to running a successful online business is getting potential buyers to trust your website enough that they are willing to make a purchase.
Let’s be really honest; there are plenty of steps involved with the purchase and receipt of any online product from the release of a credit card number to final delivery – and potential customers will worry about every single one of these areas when it comes to making a purchase from a business they have not used in the past.
About Branding
There is a lot of competition in online... Read more »
by Leeia Ladipoh on September 3rd, 2008
I’m willing to bet that when you left home, working with members of your family was one of the very last things on your mind.
You were probably thankful just to get out and look forward to the special occasions where you could see each other for a limited amount of time, before the tension started to build (and of course, I write this from my own perspective; I know there are those of you who would happily live in a huge house with all your relatives forever. I am jealous).
Whether you couldn’t wait to leave or just wanted... Read more »
by Rebecca Button on December 12th, 2007
What do your visitors do when they reach your website?
According to the law of averages some of them will only stay for a few seconds before going elsewhere. Your job as a website owner is to reduce the percentage of potential customers you lose by as much as you can. The longer people stay on your site, the more chance there is of signing them up to your newsletter, or even selling them something.
The secret to doing this is to make your webpages interactive. Or more precisely your homepage, since this is what people will see first.
You... Read more »