Land of Opportunity

An article about a library that lends iPods with audio books got me to thinking. What are some possible business opportunities involving Apple iPods?

National iPod Rental Networks

There are least two markets for a national chain of iPod rental centers (more…)

Mad Vlogger Christian Brower offers a video clip of business marketing gone bad — very, very bad. In this clip an oriental restaurant attempts telemarketing. How Chris kept a straight face during the video I’ll never know.

If you’re looking for something different for your next marketing blog post, chinese restaurant telemarketing is it.

After you’ve watched the clip and had your laughs, ponder this: How could business harness the technology of video blogging.

I see useful vlogging applications for (more…)

A new database of small business grant awards to Arkansas small businesses is now available. The database lists small businesses awarded either a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant or a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant. Grant awards range from $42,750 to $750,000.

While a total of 24 SBIR/STTR small business grants were awarded in FY2003, the number of grants awarded in FY2004 (more…)

A legitimate business opportunity that I speak about lately is the eBay consignment store franchise. Dane at Business Opportunities blog pointed us to this survey of eBay auction consignment stores at AuctionBytes.com.

The timing is opportune as I am speaking this Tuesday evening in Clarksville to a group of 80 or more fellow Arkansans on how to start an Internet auction business. This seminar is a one time good deal as First Security Bank of Clarksville is paying for the program, so admission is FREE. Registration details are on the Arkansas SBDC’s Fort Smith training calendar. I suspect that like many of my programs, this will end up a standing room only affair before sunset.

The survey of eBay franchises and independent auction consignment stores has some interesting findings: (more…)

Dr. Jeffrey R. Cornwall at The Entrepreneurial Mind points out an article on professional organizers. The article by Mark Hendricks in the Wall Street Journal’s StartUp Journal describes the opportunity to start a small business as professional organizers for homes, businesses or both.

Mark writes, ” Entrepreneurs who start businesses as professional organizers report unusually high levels of satisfaction, and many say they earn more than they did as corporate employees.”

Mark quotes Barry Izsak, president of Arranging It All in Austin, Texas, as saying, “My life is so good. I never dreamed I’d be doing something that is so easy for me, and making so much money.”

Sure they make good money. The article states that most organizers charge between $45 to $55 an hour. One organizer charges between $85 to $100 per hour simply for organizing data on a hard disk drive! (more…)