Archive for July, 2007
« Previous EntriesDrug Treatment
Tuesday, July 31st, 2007While I generally prefer to stick to business-related topics here, I feel the need to post about an important issue that more and more people are dealing with these days. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to help the social stigma of seeking help for drug problems. The “real” news has been tainted with all kinds of stories about Hollywood starlets who take drugs and party. Even though they condemn the behavior, they still make the lifestyle sound glamourous.
Unfortunately, they need to address the problem head-on and stop making it sound like it’s a good way to live. People need to know that it is a problem, and that it’s more admirable to seek adolescent drug treatment than to celebrate the problem. You can learn more at EchoMalibu.com. If you or someone you know if affected, check it out. If you have a pre-teen rapidly approaching that age, you should also take a look. It could affect anyone.
No More Boring Picnic Sets - French Bull
Tuesday, July 31st, 2007The average picnic gift set looks like something that you should only be allowed to use if you’re wearing khakis and tying your v-neck sweater around your neck. French Bull is fixing that problem, though.
In addition to all the great, bright houseware items that they sell, they’ve come up with this awesome kitchen set for those of us who don’t vote a straight Republican ticket, own big houses in the suburbs, or put away the whites after Labor Day.
If you’re interested in re-selling French Bull products, get in touch with them at:
French Bull
Phone: (212) 317-9646
Fax:(212) 317-8971
They’ll be happy to put you in touch with your area representative.
Looking for a Business Credit Card?
Tuesday, July 31st, 2007I’m constantly looking out for better credit cards and introductory offers. I don’t maintain a balance, but I love the fact that there are companies that are perfectly happy to let me work off their money while collecting benefits. I use several cards for business, and a couple for personal use, as I tend to hit the cash back limits fairly early in the year.
One of the great secrets of credit card use is that the best benefits are often on student cards. I guess they figure that the average student won’t spend much and will probably maintain a balance. While I wouldn’t advocate becoming a student for that purpose, I enjoy taking part-time classes and I’ve got a student Visa credit card with great benefits. Creditnet.com (the site I’ve linked to) actually offers a great way to compare benefits, so if you’re in the market for a new card, check them out.
Housewife, but Not Looking Desperate
Sunday, July 29th, 2007It can’t be easy to be a housewife in this day and age. Even as a working woman, I’ve gotten looks of scorn when I mention things like “cooking for my man”. It’s just not that cool anymore. To choose to sacrifice both pay and respect (from the outside world, anyway) to stay home and take care of your home and family has to be a tough decision. And they say feminism was about giving women choices…
Anyway, I’m going off on a tangent. I just noticed this great line of aprons from Kitsch’n Glam. They have all kinds of cute, retro-inspired styles for both adults and kids, so you can cater to sexy housewives (and husbands, since they have men’s styles, too!) or any women who want to look cute while they cook. I love this red and black one:
If you’re interested, contact Kitsch’n Glam at:
Kitsch*n Glam, Inc.
Phone: (818) 240-9793
Fax:(877) 865-9943
Promotional Items
Sunday, July 29th, 2007Even if you’ve never gone to a trade show, you shouldn’t automaticaly assume that promotional items and deal toys have no place in your business. Companies like GDN NYC can make outstanding customized products that can be used to show appreciation for employees or customers, or used for promotion of your business in new markets. Instead of bland promotional items that use only text, they can use your logo to create custom pieces that help customers build up a memory of your logo and business.
I’m curious to see how some of you have used promotional items in your businesses. Feel free to share any stories in the comments.
Yes, it’s Unofficially Kitchen Week
Sunday, July 29th, 2007I’ve been trying to source some kitchen products lately, so don’t be surprised if this week turns into Kitchen Week here at Business Broad. I’ve been sifting through dozens (possibly more like hundreds) of companies that sell kitchen-related items, and I’ll be posting highlights all week long.
If you’re looking for anything in particular, let me know here in the comments and I’ll keep an eye out as I continue browsing this week.
Does Your Business Need a Website?
Sunday, July 29th, 2007The other day I was talking to a very bright woman who owns a brick and mortar gift store. She does pretty much everything for her business - picking products, negotiating with vendors, general bookkeeping, and she even tends the register from time to time (When she’s not sweeping and dusting the showroom!). I wasn’t at all surprised when she said that she’d love to learn to make her own website. Since her shop is in a tourist-y area, she finds that a lot of people stop by once and don’t get a chance to actually return to the store. She wants to give them a way to do that - online.
Oddly enough, she had NO idea where to begin with the whole website thing. Maybe it’s just because I’ve put together so many, but to me it seems obvious. If you’re just getting started, you should seek out a shared web hosting provider and register a domain that suits your business.
In her case, I suggested Concentric, as they give you a free domain name with every hosting account, plus they offer a lot of small business-friendly services, like the ability to use OSCommerce at no additional charge. It’s great for a beginner to use a service that’s supported by the hosting company, because then you have a concerned party to turn to when you have questions. They also offer private registration, but that’s not something I would recommend in her situation. If you want people to enter their credit card information, you don’t want to give the impression that you’re trying to hide information.
So even though I didn’t go and actually help her set up the domain and hosting, I think she was off to a good start. After all, she’s an entrepreneur, and independence kind of comes with the territory.
Flip Clocks - Cash in on the Trend with Kikkerland
Saturday, July 28th, 2007If you’ve noticed that flip clocks have become increasingly popular, you’re not alone. Yes, there are projection clocks and LED clocks and cell phone clocks and a billion other clocks out there - but somehow, there’s just something comforting about seeing exactly where the numbers are coming from.
Clocks like this one are definitely making a comeback, and you can get in on the action thanks to Kikkerland. Kikkerland has a ton of cool and quirky items, including several different gear and flip clocks.
Get in touch with Kikkerland at:
Kikkerland Design Inc.
423-427 West 127th Street
New York, NY 10027
212-678-2250
sales (at) kikkerland (dot) com
The Value of a Good Consultant
Thursday, July 26th, 2007When I first got started in my own business, I thought I had things all figured out. I was making a profit almost immediately, business was growing steadily, and my offers were converting at a good rate. For a while, I was happy and left things as they were. Then, I got smart. I started to really probe my analytics software and figure out where people were leaving, which landing pages were converting, and what products were just a waste of my time. With a great statistics background, it was a breeze.
In the end, my profits went up about 20% for my efforts. Not bad, given the amount of effort I put it. Since my business is small, 20% isn’t huge, but it’s significant. And of course, as traffic grows, those changes will bring even more benefits. Now, imagine applying the same concept to more than just a few webpages for a small business. Imagine that kind of analysis applied to every area (or just problem areas) of an entire business. Think of the possibilities for improving weak areas and identifying opportunities in the areas of your strengths.
That’s what happens when you hire a good consultant or consulting firm. Companies like Contemporary can use their Business Objects Software & Services to help shed a little light on the things you may be dealing with on a day to day basis. Sometimes, you just need an outside perspective to see things more clearly. And of course, even if you are in a good position to analyze what’s going on, you may not have the time to do it. With a consulting firm, you can get the help you need and pause or discontinue the relationship when you’re done.
If you’re in the market for some assistance, and you’re a small to mid-sized business, definitely check out Business Objects Crystal Decisions. The folks over at Contemporary would be happy to talk to you about the possible applications for your growing business.
New York Gift Fair
Tuesday, July 24th, 2007If you’re at all familiar with gift and housewares purchasing, you’re probably well aware of the New York International Gift Fair. What you may not realize, though, is that the time is almost upon us. On August 11th and 12th, the show will open. Take a look here.
If you’re going, plan to spend at least 2-3 days at the show. There’s just no other way to do it. It’s expensive, but well worth the time and expense. Is anyone planning on attending?
Daydreams and Inspiration
Tuesday, July 24th, 2007There are some days when you just don’t want to work. No matter how passionate you may be, every job has it’s minor tasks and irritations that make you long for the next vacation. That’s when sites like Tahoe 360 come in awfully handy. Their guides for Lake Tahoe activities and Tahoe restaurants will definitely help you remember why you’re putting in the long hours. For me, it’s the dream of a nice lake vacation with my boyfriend. We’d rent a boat (it’s just too far to drive ours), get a house on the water, and enjoy the best restaurants the area has to offer.
The Tahoe 360 site is actually really well-organized by sections of the lake, but I don’t really know (or care) where we’d be. I just like looking for now. I’ll save the details for when we’re actually planning the next trip.
What’s your motivating fantasy vacation?
Bob’s Your Uncle - Wholesale Gifts & Novelties
Sunday, July 22nd, 2007Okay, quick show of hands - Who has an Uncle Bob? While I don’t, the words “Uncle Bob” make me think of a greasy guy with a beer gut, standing over a grill in the backyard behind a doublewide (no offense to the Uncle Bobs of the world). In reality, though, Bob’s Your Uncle is a great wholesale company that sells all kinds of housewares, novelties, and gift items.
While you can’t view a whole lot at the Bob’s Your Uncle site, you can view their preview, which includes this cute pig plate set:
View wholesale information or contact Bob’s Your Uncle at:
Bob’s Your Uncle
25 Channel Center Street, Unit 101
Boston MA 02210
Phone: (617) 670-3782
Fax:(617) 670-3789
Wholesale Audio Books for your Store
Sunday, July 22nd, 2007Whether you do gifts, books, or general merchandise, there’s a good chance that you could sell some kind of audio books along with your other products. Granted, you may need a more specific tie-in with some types of stores, but there’s always some way to make expand your product line in the audio book direction if you’re creative.
Blackstone Audio is a great place to start if you’re looking for audio books. They can even hook you up with the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows audio book:
If you’d like to get in touch with Blackstone Audio, contact them at:
Blackstone Audio
PO Box 969
Ashland, Oregon 97520
1-800-729-2665
sales (at) blackstoneaudio (dot) com
Femme Metale
Thursday, July 19th, 2007If you own a boutique or sell boutique-ish things online, you may very well be interested in the up and coming jewelry line, Femme Metale. I came across this article about their line, and I’m honestly surprised that I’d never heard of them before. They’ve got some really cute stuff, including this cute pirate ring:
They have a password-protected wholesale area on the site, so give them a call if you’re interested in adding Femme Metale pieces to your store:
Leslie Homan, Metal Maven
Femme Metale Inc.
2556 Avenida del Vista #201
Corona CA 92882, USA
metalmaven (at) femmemetale (dot) net
The Mazel Company - Closeout Distributor
Wednesday, July 18th, 2007The Mazel Company is one of those truly awesome closeout sites that you can never seem to find by just searching in Google. Go ahead and try it. You’ll get a few good results, but you’ll spend quite a bit of time just sifting out the garbage. Folks, if they’re charging you $7 for a cheap t-shirt, they’re not a closeout distributor. Unless the $7 t-shirt says “Michael Stars” or “Juicy Couture” on the tag…and even then, you have to worry that it’s fake.
Alright, rant over. The Mazel Company has tons of stuff in pretty much every category that a general merchandise store might have. Since they’re a closeout store, their merchandise changes constantly - but here’s a bit of what they have now:
Wizard of Oz Napkins at The Mazel Company - Just .15/pack
Scrapbook Case at The Mazel Company - Just $7.50 each
So - enjoy browsing The Mazel Company’s site, but remember to act fast if you see something you think you could make money on. Good closeouts rarely last.
Get in touch with The Mazel Company at:
The Mazel Company
31000 Aurora Road
Solon, OH 44139
Ph: 440-248-5200
Ph: 800-443-4789
Fax: 440-349-1931
Stainless Steel Fountain - Wholesale Outdoor Products
Tuesday, July 17th, 2007It can be tough to find a good wholesaler for outdoor products. A lot of the products you see in a place like Home Depot or Lowes all come from the same, enormous companies - companies that have little to no interest in doing business with someone who won’t be placing $10k+ orders. That’s why I was so thrilled to find Unique Arts. Take a look at these sweet stainless steel fountains:
I also loved their solar products (and they have a pretty good selection):
If you’d like to get in touch with Unique Arts, call them at:
Unique Arts
Madison WI 53713
Phone: (608) 271-7682
Toll Free: (800) 928-3738
Fax:(608) 274-4559
TV Products
Monday, July 16th, 2007Even if you’re not a fan of TV products, there’s no denying their popularity throughout the country. I’ll admit it, I use a clapper in my garage. I live in a rented home, so I can’t make a lot of crazy changes. When I pull into the garage, it’s dark and I hate to trip over stuff in storage just to find the switch. I got a clapper and my life has been just a little bit easier ever since. Apparently, there’s a Clapper Plus now, which I wasn’t aware of. In addition to clapping, you can use a small remote to get the same effect. That’s actually just a little classier than the clap (which was popularized in part by the Friday movies that showed a bunch of crazy ghetto people using the Clapper).
Browsing around the TV Products 4 Less site, I also came across the Mr. Beer kit. Now, while I have no desire to make my own beer, I do have a male cousin who would definitely enjoy something like this in his college apartment.
The point is - Don’t judge a product by your preconceived notions of what’s good and what’s bad. If a product can solve a problem, provide a perfect gift, or just make someone happy, it’s worth your attention. Check out TVProducts4Less, and you may find some great ideas.
What the Heck is a Nabaztag, and why would anyone want one?
Monday, July 16th, 2007Apparently, this is a Nabaztag:
It’s the latest strange, hot gadget, and it works with your wireless internet (which nearly everyone with any money at all has these days). The little guy can do a variety of things for you, including:
-Read the news (or any website)
-Alert you to new e-mails
-Sound effects
-Alert you to his moods
Basically, it’s something that no one NEEDS, but it would be easy enough to convince people that they need one. If you’re interested in carrying Nabaztag, it looks like you’ll have to use their contact form.
Shag Carpet Wine Gift Bag - Arcadia Home (Wholesale)
Tuesday, July 10th, 2007Every once in a while I see a product that I just fall in love with. The shag carpet-style wine gift bag is one of those items. Now, I have no need for such a bag - none whatsoever. A gift bag for something that will be consumed in no time at all is just a waste, in my opinion. All the same, I feel compelled to buy one of these:
To purchase these and other home-related (including Jewish and eco-friendly items) items at wholesale prices, contact Arcadia Home at:
Arcadia Home
121 Sterling Place, Suite 4C
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Tel: 212-366-1836
Fax: 917-591-4788
email: info (at) arcadiahomeinc (dot)com
Oddity Offers Their Resellers a Free Website
Friday, July 6th, 2007I don’t cover a whole lot of news on here, but I thought this would be of interest for those who have been holding back because for lack of a website. While eBay has always been a good resale market for the no-website crowd, Oddity is doing their best to pick up some new resellers by doing the setup work for them. They have offered a website for anyone willing to promote their line of candles and home decor items. The commission isn’t high (10%, less than many affiliate programs), but it’s enough to let you test the waters and decide if online retail is something you might be interested in doing on a larger scale. Oddity also has a drop ship program for people who already have a site. Under that system, each order is charged a $3.50 drop ship fee.
If you’re interested in learning more, just contact Oddity at:
Oddity, Inc.
200 E. Railroad Street
Pottsville, PA 17901
Fax: 570-622-8479
Credit: 570-628-3037
Email: customerservice (at) oddity (dot) biz
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