SMALL BUSINESS

Small Business Advertising Plan to Realize Big Profits

2010-06-09T06:40:00.000-07:00

To have an effective small business advertising plan you need to put some thought into who wants to buy your product and why. You also need to ask yourself the right questions to have your plan take off.

Kick start your business by using the following strategies and see your profits soar. Whatever the new product or service is you want the buying public to know about, don't just advertise, think strategy. But plan it first.

Your Target Market

This is the end-user the buyer you are targeting. But who is he/she? How will he/she be using your product/service? Who will be buying the product? What age group, socio- economic group, professional or blue collar, man or woman? Why will they buy the product or service? Where will they buy it and why? Define your market. Find out what your end-users' interests are. What her needs are. What his priorities are and what type of lifestyle she leads. Single or married. Depending on your product, you have some idea already about the end-user and his/her needs.

Now create the advert/sales letter, flyer, or whichever means of advertising you want to use to address that end-user directly. Appeal to their interest, their hobby, their style if it is a fashion product. Speak directly to them. Remember the poster of Uncle Sam recruiting soldiers? The slogan was "We Want You", with a finger pointing right at you. That is direct. But it was effective.

Let them know what you can do for them and what you want them to do.

You want them to respond to your advertising but all you have done is attract their attention. Now what? Why should they buy or use your product service over another companies' product? Once you have their attention, you need to let them know what you can do for them in a way that portrays your service/product as "unbeatable": your product quality is guaranteed, your delivery time is extremely fast, your price offers more value, your product can not be found anywhere else, etc.

This is your edge over your competitors, and should cover about 50% of your advert/letter. Your satisfied customer file will back up your advertising claims. This is good practice for any small business that if a client is happy, ask them to put it in writing, in a letter, an email or video testimonial. This file of recommendations is gold and builds your company's reputation. Happy clients tell their friends, who will tell their friends...

Motivate the buyer to act

Put action statements into your advertising. First make them want the product, tell them why they must have the product, then tell them that it is only available for a limited time, or while inventory lasts or because it's your wife's birthday and this deal is gone tomorrow. Make them act.

Now tell them what response you want from them

Finalize your small business advertising plan in action by telling them how they can reach you, buy your product, and find out about your business. And make sure someone is manning the phones, or email, or fax machine. Do not leave this last bit unattended.

Marlene Dewitte makes it easy for small company entrepreneurs to generate far more buyers without using additional staff or marketing budget. To find out about more detailed small business marketing plus cash flow producing tasks stop by small business associations.

Increasing Your Edge - Tips For Small Business Competition

2009-09-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

Following article told us how important to know the strategy to win in small business competition, read more...

One main complaint against Wal-Mart is that it takes away business from small, locally owned stores, often called mom-and-pop shops. With superstores like Wal-Mart, Target, and even HEB Plus that sell everything from food to appliances to furniture, it can be hard for small businesses to stay afloat. Usually, the mega companies are able to have lower prices, which are appealing to consumers. Here's some advice to help small businesses to compete in the cutthroat business world.

For small companies, offering unique or specialized items or services is a great way to carve out a niche for yourself. The huge superstores tend to only sell generalized products that are meant to work for the majority-kind of a "one size fits most" mentality. If small companies can address a specific need of the people in the same area, they may be able to survive.

Another way for little stores to succeed is to advertise. You can pretty much expect every decently sized town to have at least a Wal-Mart or a Target, if not both. People only really need to ask for directions if they are unfamiliar with the area. With small businesses, town residents may not even know that they exist. They may be tucked away in a shopping center or on a side street, hidden from the majority of consumers. Therefore, small companies may want to devote more money to spreading information about themselves as compared to larger corporations. Then, once you build a sizable clientele base, you can rely on their word-of-mouth to bring in more business.

To help people find you and your products more readily, you should definitely devote some time and money into producing a website for your company. People can search for what they need, and you may have a specific item listed in your inventory that fits exactly what they are looking for. You may want to consider allowing people to order stuff online. Thus, not only the people who live near to your store, but also those who may live states away can benefit from your services-and you will be rewarded as well.

In order to step up your website competition, consider offering a live chat service on your website. This will present a personalized, helpful front-something that most large corporations do not offer. Small businesses tend to rely on the personalized service argument, and this is with good measure. However, it can occasionally be difficult to transmit this idea through the internet, and this is where live chat steps in.

For more information regarding live chat services and how they can help out your business, check out Ngage Live today.

Joseph Devine

Promote Your Small Business:Learn How To Promote Your Small Business Like A Fotrune 500 Company

2009-06-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

Their Is nothing more important to any business than generating a huge list of interested prospects in what you have to offer. Learn the secrets the large companies know but don't share with you and me. It's time you generate tons of hungry money in hand customers now! I am going to reveal one of the primary ways the great marketers build huge lists to keep their bank account over flowing. Today You won't need to hire a professional marketer because you'll know one of their buggest secrets.

It's not mastering Pay Per Click. It's Not spending ton's of money on banner ads and email campaigns or even fancy classified ads.

The greatest and quickest form of FREE Traffic is Article Marketing. Simply write an article and submit it to one of the larger article sites like articlesbase,ezine,and isnare to have that sites traffic check out your article. Write a compelling article giving them information to improve on that particular niche. Here is a tip the more you give the more likely they'll be to click on your link in the resource file.

Now that's just one way to generate leads off of an article. What if I told you, with that same article you could maximize on the traffic from the search engines. Optimize that article with some specific keywords and get it ranked. In just minutes the traffic you get to your site can start to get out of hand.

Would you like to know how I do it?...

Here is my free report on Article Marketing

And Here is My Just Finished report On My Blueprint For $8,198 In 90 Days

Small Business Startup Loans - How to get Funding for Your New Business

2009-06-25T17:49:00.000-07:00

Beginning a business is a big daydreamfor many people. To get ready to embark on your business however, takes time, groundwork, patience and hard work. The first thing you need to do is do some market reseach about the type of business you plan to start.. After this comes the most perplexingstep for most potential business owners - the source of funds.

There are several options for finding funds. Some people may have savings or family inheritances that may seem tempting to use.

Another place to consider for funding can be a small business startup loan. Funds can be accessible from from a wide array of lenders, including banks, the Small Business Administration, private institutions and the federal government.

The most practicalaspect about a grant, is that it is free money and does not have to be repaid. For example, there are some agencies that offer just small business grants for women.

Also, some places may have a unique offer for people that are looking for a small business startup loan or grant in particular areas.Furthermore, there can be agencies that practice exclusively for small business startup loans and/or grants for minorities or those wishing to start much-needed businesses.

You will {need to do your homework|want to be prepared with preparation about your type of business before applying for your grant, as the companies that will be responsible for approving your startup loan or grant will want to know that you have put thought and effort into your plans. Lots of excellent resources can be found on websites that can help you to build upa business plan.

To check if you can qualify for a small business startup loan, or even better, a grant that will not have to be repaid, visit this site and answer their few questions. They will pre-evaluate your situation and check to see if you are eligible and can even offer some instruction to budding entrepreneurs.

Once you have gotten your grant (you can get started with the link above), you are ready to start on your business.

Small Business Startup Loan and Grant Information - Click here!

Now Revealed! How to get Small Business Startup Loans

2009-06-25T17:47:00.000-07:00

Starting up a business is a big fantasyfor many people. To get ready to begin your business however, takes time, groundwork, patience and hard work. So, you have your idea ready and you have done your market research. After this comes the most involvedstep for most potential business owners - the source of funds.

This is not always smart, however, as it's not a good plan to squanderany backup funding you may have.

Another place to think about for funding can be a small business startup loan. Funds can be available from a wide array of lenders, which might include banks, the Small Business Administration, private institutions and the federal government.

However, an often forgotten source of funding in lieu a small business startup loan might be a federal grant for business owners. The most practicalaspect about a grant, is that it is free money and will never have to be repaid. A grant is much better than a small business startup loan because they can be very effortless to come by, especially for minorities. Consider this, there are some agencies that offer just small business grants for women.

You will {need to do your homework|want to be ready with information about your niche before applying for your grant, as the companies that will be responsible for approving your startup loan or grant will want to know that you have put thought and effort into your plans.

To check if you can qualify for a small business startup loan, or even better, a grant that will not have to be repaid, visit this site and answer their few questions.

After you have obtained your grant (you can get started with the link above), you are ready to start on your business. Having your own business can really be the most satisfying event of your life.

Small Business Startup Loan and Grant Information - Click here!

Small Business Tips for Going Green

2009-06-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

I am guessing by now you have probably heard the economy is not doing so hot. Except for the large bailout companies almost everyone is trying to keep their companies afloat. I admit I run a small printing business and I am doing everything to stay alive. This includes eliminating any unnecessary expenses. Recently I was fortunate enough to attend a seminar for small businesses in my situation. The colloquium revolved around simple cost cutting practices that will not have a negative affect on quality, morale, and the daily work routine. I found it very interesting that speaker suggested many green practices. Going green to me meant spending lots of green and that is just not in the budget. As I learned throughout the meeting and with follow up research. Green products and practices save money. In the following paragraphs I will point out just a few cost effective green strategies that I have applied to my own business.

The first and easiest way to save electricity is to shut down the computers at night. I always thought that computers should remain on at all times and screen savers use less energy when the computer is idle. I was terribly wrong. Screen savers use the same amount of electricity as the computer when it is being used. Therefore leaving your computer run throughout the night is an unnecessary practice. Just make sure all your work is saved and the computer and monitor are properly shut down. A desktop computer uses between 75-200 watts of electricity per hour and a monitor uses about 70 watts. It definitely adds up over time. This will also prolong the life of the computer.

My biggest inefficient blunder was leaving the lights on before I left for the night. The office cleaning staff typically comes around 10pm and shuts off all the lights before leaving. This left a good three hour period with the lights running and no one there. This habit was broken immediately. I also replaced the regular light bulbs with energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs. These energy saving light bulbs are more expensive but they use about 1/4 of the amount of energy a regular light bulb uses and last 10 times longer. The speaker also added that having someone run out for new light bulbs cost time and money.

If this was not pointed out to me I never would have thought that the bathroom is so costly. The average person makes 6 trips to the bathroom per day. Which means every time someone flushes a toilet or washes their hands they are spending company money. I know that sounds incredibly cheap but there are green water saving products that reduce the amount of water used. Products like low flow faucets or dual flush toilets save a great deal of water. These products once again have a larger price tag than the regular products but they do pay for themselves quickly. A dual flush toilet saves the average person 1000 gallons of water per year. Keep in mind the costs of water and sewage are constantly increasing.

Depending on the employer this last tip may not save the company money but can have a positive impact in the work place. This seems very cliche but carpooling really helps the environment and reduces the transportation costs for the employee. Well how does that affect companies bottom line? People have a tendency to converse while carpooling. For the most part they find common ground through work so they tend to discuss work related issues. This helps build company morale and may lead to, "off the clock," collaboration. People are also less likely to be late to work when carpooling.
Toilets can be a huge drain on a company's expenses. Try a water saving toilet like a dual flush toilet.

Area Men Face Drug Charges

2009-06-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office narcotics investigators and the U. S. Marshal’s Office combined efforts recently to serve outstanding warrants in Lincoln County. Officers arrested seven people on a total of 17 charges.
The following individuals were arrested:
* Emmanuel E. Baker, Jr., 20, of 4018 Highway 73, Iron Station was arrested on two counts each of felony possession of a controlled substance and sell and delivery of a controlled substance and one felony count of maintaining a dwelling or vehicle for a controlled substance. He was arrested on June 1, 2009 and released on an $18,000 secured bond.
* Reginald Duncan Anderson, Sr., 45, 6453 McIntosh Road, Stanley, was arrested on one felony count each of possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a controlled substance, and sell and deliver a controlled substance. He remains in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond.
* Randall Lamont Shipp, 38, 1874 St. James Church Road, Denver, was arrested on one felony count each of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, sell and delivery of a controlled substance and sell, deliver and possession a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a park. He was released on June 3, 2009 on a $25,000 secured bond.
* Silver Ellise Jones, 33, 6594 Denver Heights Circle, Denver, was charged with one felony count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture. She was released on June 3, 2009 on a $2,000 secured bond.
* James Quincey Reid, 33, 6594 Denver Heights Circle, Denver, was arrested on June 3, 2009 on one felony count of possession of a controlled substance. One felony count of sell and deliver a controlled substance, one felony count of maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, one felony count of possession with the intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance, and one felony count of kidnapping. He is also charged with one misdemeanor count each of assault inflicting serious injury, possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. He remains in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a $36,000 secured bond.
* Robert Gerald Ambrosio, Jr., 18, 7985 Lakeview Drive, Denver, was arrested on June 2, 2009 on a felony true bill of indictment. He remains in jail under a $10,000 secured bond.
* Ignacio Sylvestre Martinez, 28, 601 Shoal Road, Lincolnton, was arrested on June 1,2009 on one felony count each of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture and sell and delivery of a controlled substance. He remains in jail under a $15,000 secured bond.
Investigators are still looking for the following individuals:
* Richard Lavor Beatty (AKA: Boomer), 28, 1988 Saint James Church Road, Denver on a charge of possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine.
* Tabitha Lynn Hoyle, 28, Lawndale on a charge of possession of marijuana
* Kelly Gene Smith, 28, Lawndale on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of these individuals is asked to contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 704-732-9050 or call Crime Stoppers at 704-736-8909.

News At Norman

Cartoon Network stumbles into reality zone

2009-06-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

Like a dog with a bone, I cling to certain notions. The History Channel should be in the business of broadcasting programs about History and not "MonsterQuest" (8 p.m. and 9 p.m.). Otherwise, it should have the honesty and decency to change its name to the This-Has-Nothing-To-Do-With-History Channel.

Likewise, I think the Cartoon Network should be in the business of showing cartoons. Otherwise, we're on the road to nowhere.

My dedication to this proposition springs from something rather personal and formative. When I was a kid, my father worked in a factory for a company called American Can. They made cans. In America. Somewhere along the line, American Can became something called Primerica. What did they make? Money, I guess. Soon, they got out of the can business, and the factory where my father and 12,000 other people worked became (and remains) the biggest empty building in Jersey City, N.J., a city with more than its share of empty buildings.

Call me old-fashioned, but you should know what you're getting when you turn on something called the Cartoon Network. But now they're introducing live-action shows (the kind shown on every other network) -- something called "CN Real."

We begin with "The Othersiders" (8 p.m., Cartoon Network), a reality-adventure series about a group of kids who go to high school by day and explore the paranormal by night using fancy high-tech gear they have no reasonable way of affording. "Othersiders" is a carbon copy of "Ghost Hunters" (8 p.m. to midnight, Sci Fi) and a host of similar shows. The key difference is that the kids are very young, 13 to 16, and they speak in the energetic, irony-free nature of kids that age.

On "Survive This" (8:30 p.m., Cartoon Network), a gruff, gritty, macho mountain man takes a group of high-school kids and dumps them in the deep woods where they must learn to put aside their "drama" and adapt. Gee, where haven't we seen that before?

I'm certain that suits and marketing types sold Cartoon Network on this and told them that they would find a whole new audience. "CN Real" is clearly aimed at kids who want to watch kids their own age doing "real" or "real-ish" things, unlike the scripted antics on "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," a Disney show that, coincidentally, often follows the logic of a cartoon.

Let's hope the Cartoon Network leaves "reality" and returns to animation where it belongs. Otherwise, it may find a demographic but lose its soul.

-- A moving and unlikely tale of friendship, reflection, reconciliation and exile, the documentary "The Queen and I" (8 p.m., HBO2) offers a profile of the deposed Iranian Queen Farah by an Iranian filmmaker who, as a teenager, joined the revolution that overthrew the Shah's regime.

By Kevin McDonough
Kevin McDonough can be reached at kmcdonough@unitedmedia.com

Reviews: 'The Othersiders,' 'Brain Rush,' 'Destroy Build Destroy' and 'Survive This'

2009-06-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Cartoon Network premieres four new shows this week, none of them cartoons. These aren't the first CN shows to feature real people: There have been live-action "Ben 10" movies, based on the animated series, and the "Roger Rabbit"-style "Out of Jimmy's Head" in 2006. Indeed, the network's first real original production, "Space Ghost Coast to Coast," was cobbled together around interviews with living, breathing humans. (There is also a live-action "Scooby Doo" prequel slated for the fall.) And Adult Swim, CN's late-night alter ego, has the live-action "Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!" and "Saul of the Mole Men."

The new series are gathered together under the rubric CN Real, which is less a programming bloc than a sub-brand. (Two of the shows premiere tonight and two on Saturday.) As in the past, the current incursion of flesh and blood into the network's formerly fully 2-D Tooniverse has been met with dismay by (mostly adult) animation fans and CN purists -- I was about to write that it is a "hot topic of debate," but really there is no debate at all, just a collection of complementary assessments posted on various Internet message boards as to why this is a bad direction to take.

The point might be made that these shows -- by definition -- have not been created for that particular audience, but to serve younger, less particular CN viewers, and perhaps to steal a few new ones from Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. While any but the most juvenile cartoons are suitable for adults -- there is nothing guilty about the pleasure I get from "The Powerpuff Girls" -- most live-action teen shows are set up to mirror their audience.

Read entire review: Cartoon Network's new reality shows, kid style

-- Robert Lloyd

Bar Beat: Raising a glass to Phish

2009-06-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

It's midnight in downtown Asheville, and the Phish show has just let out, pouring thousands of happy phans into the streets.

Photo by Jason Sandford

Here they are, at the Rankin Vault: “They really know their audience,” one Phishhead says as the bartender pours a concoction of vodka, liqueurs and cranberry juice into a towering pint glass.

“I’m just in the mood for something that tastes good,” he says, taking the drink.

The place is mostly full; turntables are set up. The vault itself is reserved, with a crowd of guys watching a basketball game.

Here they are, on the streets: One, shirtless, displays two middle fingers against the night sky as he shouts “f**k the cops!” Sirens are a constant sound over the next hour, interlaced with the occasional pop of fireworks.

Also heard is the screaming of “I want a drink!”

They’re in the right city.

You may have recognized the breed, at least the out-of-town variety, though there are plenty of phans native to this fair metropolis. The water vendors did not stop with the concert, and they continue to hawk bottled water, even though free H2O is available in any number of the bars just a few feet away.

Some bring the bottled waters with them, setting them on top of the bar as they order beer en masse, that look of “Wowie—I’ve never been in this place before” glued to their faces.

The Flying Frog is packed. Ditto the Yacht Club. Those places not so full that they have to turn away new arrivals are still busy far past their norm. Whatever else the concert has brought, it’s put bustling business in many a downtown establishment.

Welcome to Asheville.

The phans’ exuberance is almost contagious. At the Thirsty Monk, an older man sporting a red shirt and a gnarled Mohawk exclaims to his friends: “That first song really set the tone. Those first eight minutes. That. Was. Perfect. Phish.”

For those needing a refuge from the frenetic crowd roaming the streets, the good news is that a cold beer and hot spiced Monk nuts are still as delicious as ever.

It is a night of surreal chaos. All along College Street the trashcans are packed high, Dasani bottles sharing the pile with the dead soldiers of Pabst Blue Ribbon. The noises of some last, late buskers still echo, and on Walnut Street, two be-dreadlocked guys play a game of Connect 4 on concrete steps.

The sidewalks are sticky, and beside one last packed-to-the-gills trashcan at the intersection with Haywood, there is a piece of excrement pounded flat by the tread of many feet. Hours later, the sound of the trash trucks can be heard as they make their way down the streets, emptying out the refuse of tonight’s raucous crowd.

By that time, phan and regular old bar patron both are united in the hangovers and memories they’ll nurse in the coming morning, while many a waiter, bartender and owner are counting their haul.

Good night, Asheville. by David Forbes

Ecuador Expedition Uncovers ‘E.T.-Like’ Salamander (Update1)

2009-06-17T18:54:00.000-07:00

June 16 (Bloomberg) -- An expedition to the pristine forests of Ecuador near the Peruvian border uncovered 12 new species, including a salamander that Conservation International said looked like E.T., the alien from the Steven Spielberg film.

The discoveries in the Nangaritza region of the Cordillera del Condor included what the researchers termed a “remarkably ugly bug-eyed salamander,” a red poison arrow frog and a frog smaller than a “pinky” fingernail. A lizard, a third frog and seven grasshoppers also were among the newly found creatures.

Leeanne Alonso, vice president of CI’s Rapid Assessment Program, said in an interview from Arlington, Virginia, late yesterday that the local people who requested the study hope to develop ecotourism in the region. The diversity of wildlife in the area may also provide health benefits to humans, she said.

“Frogs have a lot of chemicals in their skins and insects can be useful to make medicines and ointments,” Alonso said. “These species are all part of the ecosystem, playing a role in keeping it healthy, keeping water healthy and the climate.”

The findings by entomologists and herpetologists in the upper Nangaritza River basin that’s geologically isolated from other parts of the Andes also featured a glass frog, so-called for its translucent skin that shows internal organs, and two bird species endemic to the mountain range.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates there are 8 million to 14 million plants and animals in the world, of which only 1.8 million have been described by researchers.

Fungus-Free Harlequin Frogs

Another “rare” discovery was a population of harlequin frogs free of a fungus that has decimated amphibians elsewhere, Alonso said. The amphibian Chytrid fungus threatens to wipe out up to 30 percent of the world’s amphibian species, according to Conservation International.

Researchers say pollution, pathogens, invasive species and solar radiation are contributing to a dropoff in the amphibian population in addition to climate change.

Conservation International scientists said in March they discovered a jumping spider on an expedition in Papua New Guinea to help Barrick Gold Corp. decide how to develop its mines. A new snake and three unknown butterflies were discovered last year near Mount Mabu in northern Mozambique by a team led by Jonathan Timberlake, a botanist at London’s Kew Gardens.

The grasshoppers uncovered during CI’s expedition to Ecuador in April are “beautiful and covered in spines,” Alonso said. She was less complimentary about the salamander, which CI said looked like E.T. and she described as “ugly with a blunt face and a square nose.”

The two-week expedition was part of CI’s rapid-assessment program that is designed to get as much information about the species of an area so conservation recommendations can be made. The group will carry out further studies and formally press Ecuador’s government to protect the region, Alonso said.

New species of plants and ants may be uncovered once researchers have analyzed all the specimens recovered from the forest, she said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net.

Why The Internet Is A Good Place To Develop Small Business Ideas

2009-06-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Starting up your own business is quite a lucrative prospect; however you need to have small business ideas to go about it correctly. The good thing about small businesses is that they require very little capital and at the same time can have a world wide market owing to the internet. However before you start putting into practice any small business ideas that you have, it is advisable to gain more knowledge about what you are planning to do.

You can start by searching the net. An online business system can be an extremely lucrative proposition. You can sell your own physical products. Auction sites such as Yahoo! Auctions and eBay are hotspots for millions of shoppers around the world. You can sell your products here.

If you do not have any products to sell, you might want to promote others' products and earn commissions on this. Affiliate marketing is among the good small business ideas. In fact it will be even better if you choose to promote something that you are passionate about. This way you will be able to generate more content for your site. What basically happens in this kind of marketing is that if a customer is interested in the product that is being promoted by you, he or she will click on that link online. This link redirects them to the company's sales pages. If this actually leads to sales the company will track the sales made by you and pay you commissions. This makes it one of the most lucrative small business ideas and the best part is that you do not have to invest your own money.

Copywriters are always in great demand online. Hence if you learn the tricks of the trade, you could start your own copywriting venture and work as a freelance copywriter for different companies.

Small business ideas need research on your market's wants and needs. So you need to learn where to find the answers to the questions. You can start by looking up bulletin boards, forums, chat rooms and so on. You should participate in some of the discussion that takes place in order to gain more knowledge. You could even put up questions. However, do keep in mind that these sites themselves should not be used as selling grounds because that will not work.

A business plan makes for a successful business so do not forget to ignore this while you are drawing up your small business ideas. Do some goal and timeline setting and only then should you plan business strategies. It is a good idea to make a list of potential problems or draw backs that you might face once you are in the business. Knowing these problems before hand would mean that by the time they actually crop up, you will be well prepared to ward them off.

Translating small business ideas into a successful real venture does need a lot of hard work, patience and careful planning. But once it is up and running, you can reap the benefits.

Brian Armstrong makes it easy to learn the secrets of todays top business owners. To discover the "7 Essential Steps to Starting a Business" in his Free Online Course, visit this site now: Small Business Ideas

Beneficial Small Business Ideas

2009-06-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

Starting a small business can be frightening and requires plenty of careful planning. There are many small business ideas which can be beneficial as well as economical. The last thing a new entrepreneur or new business needs is to be found in a financial state due to unnecessary spending. When starting a small business, the key is to remember it is "small" and initially the intention should be to limit spending until a profit is made.

Beneficial small business ideas could include marketing strategies such as web site promotion. An Internet web site can be set up relatively inexpensively and can reach a limitless audience. Because the Internet provides worldwide access, people from anywhere can access a business web site. Using relevant keywords that will be picked up by search engines can take potential customers to a small business web site. Once there the individual should be able to read an interesting description of the product or service being promoted. Clear and concise content is best to use for a business web site.

Other small business ideas might entail email marketing. Again there's a need for a well-constructed written message. Choosing a headline or subtitle that is unique and catchy will get the recipient's attention and entice them to read on. If using email marketing as one of their small business ideas, the entrepreneur should probably ask other people to read the content, asking for objective opinions.

It is important to figure out the target audience when considering small business ideas. Spending unnecessary time and money advertising to people who are definitely not interested in the product or service is futile. An entrepreneur's time and money would be better spent trying to attract the targeted audience.

The Internet is a great resource for small business ideas. Thousands of people have great ideas for a business venture but require assistance getting the ball rolling. Fortunately there is plenty of help available for new and aspiring entrepreneurs. There are government web sites that contain valuable small business ideas. There are web sites designed by experienced business people to assist those interested in starting a small business. Using a popular search engine like Google or Yahoo can very quickly connect an individual to beneficial small business ideas. Browsing the many informative web pages available can equip people to begin their business or marketing plan using the suggested small business ideas. Making smart business marketing decisions early in the game can transform a small business into a thriving prosperous company.

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For info on business marketing and small business marketing checkout his website today.

Conquer the World With Small Business Ideas

2009-06-16T17:54:00.000-07:00

Every big or small business is based upon the foundation of fruitful, potential business ideas. And every take over and conglomeration is also based on some overpowering business ideas - from small ventures to something as big as the giant Microsoft buying another giant, Yahoo for a whopping $44.6 billion dollars. Yes, even the biggest of business decisions come from the business ideas taking birth from the human mind.

In this article we will discuss how to convert small business ideas into successful ventures. We will discuss the four pillars of a business that will uphold the projects and deliver satisfying results to your clients and in turn to you. The four pillars of a business are finance, human resource, non human resource (tools, equipments and devices) and marketing.

Hands down, finance is the most important requisite for any business to take birth and grow. It is money that brings human resource and it is money that buys tools and devices. Money is the most important when it comes to marketing and money is important to strengthen each pillar that supports your business.

Now, let us talk about human resource. Sure money can buy the best of manpower. But the will to work and the determination to succeed, is the human factor. A highly motivating team can be created once the path ahead is clear and the goals are spelled out to each of the team members. But they should be provided with adequate resources too so that they can attain the goal – this is where the business needs non human resources that includes hardware and software.

Last, but never the least - marketing – none of your business ideas can be successful unless you sell your products or services. And no product or service can not be sold, unless the consumers come to know about it. Here comes the need for marketing and promotion.

Author: Mike Joe is a connoisseur of travelling and entertainment. He loves journeying far and wide in the quest of experiencing different lifestyles and gathering information about the best places to eat, drink and stay in different countries and lands. Over here, Mike talks about business ideas.

How to Write an Small Business Ideas Article

2009-06-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

We are all in the know when it comes to the sheer power and efficacy of online marketing through article publication. I'd even say that article marketing is the most potent and cost-effective internet advertising tactic that has been conceptualized since the dawn of the digital world.

The fact minus the fluff, if you're operating an online Small Business Ideas venture, you have to use article marketing.

Nevertheless, one of the most asked questions I receive is this: how can I write an article?

This reveals that though most online businessmen realize that they have to use article marketing, not all of them are capable enough to write an internet-ready piece of informative work.

Therefore, I have prepared some easy-to-follow steps on how you can craft the most suitable article for internet marketing purposes.

1. Know the topic you want to discuss with your article.

2. Don't settle for a general topic. Break it down to a more specific subject that people will be interested in. Just to illustrate, don't settle for the broad subject of "dogs." Try to determine a sub-topic that will capture the interest of the market you will be targeting. As is often the case, this sub-topic refers to a specific demand, like "dog training" for dog owners who are experiencing difficulty when it comes to living with their unruly canine companions, or "dog grooming" for cleanliness-compulsive dog owners who can't live with the smell of their untidy canine friends. Try to determine a sub-topic that will win the imagination. This is critical. A lot of articles fail because they don't serve a more tangible matter.

3. Because the sub-topic should indicate a need, your article should share a solution. However, depending on the usage of your article, the answer you will discuss will vary. To illustrate, if you're going to use the article to market a Small Business Ideas, practice restraint on the answer you will share. Your aim, in such a case, is to provide the impression that you are an expert in the field, and entice your readers to consider what you have to offer. Keep this in mind throughout the writing process.

4. Create a title that is easy to understand and at the same time is exciting. Internet users will visit your article if they will be hooked by its title. If not, no one will get to read what you have prepared.

5. Remember that each article has 3 fundamental parts: the opening, the body, and the conclusion. The introduction will state to your audience what your article is all about. You can deliver a surprising fact, a gut-wrenching statistic, or a humorous anecdote to shake your readers into knowing that yes, the author is the a true expert in the field. The body will explore the message you wish to share, of course. And the conclusion will review the problem, the given solution, as well as interject some calls to action (i.e. click my link) if applicable.

6. What is the right length for articles of this nature? I'd say that 300 to 750 words would be perfect. This will allow you to get your Small Business Ideas message out.

Stephen Meyer is an experienced home based business owner who offers many Internet marketing opportunities that can help any one succeed. You can see his opportunities at his Small Business Ideas opportunity site. Also visit his Stay At Home Business blog for more business building information.

Small Business Ideas and Your Business Plan

2009-06-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

A business plan is an essential toll for building your small business ideas. Without it as your guide to success the future of your business is one of failure.

Your business plan needs to be a live document that is in constant development and is continually checked and updated, You must know if you are meeting your goals and if you do not continually check your business plan it can not work for you. Your business plan will allow you to make the needed changes to adjust to your small business growth or lack of growth.

The basic outline of a business plan is to detail the systems you will use and the task that are needed to accomplish your goals. By reviewing your business plan on a monthly basis at first you will be able to check your progress or lack of it. Once your business is up and running inn the direction you desire you may want to revise the time you review your plan. If your small business is progressing the way you planned and growth is steady checking your plan quarterly might be a good choice.

At first financial goals should be small. Although small they should be accomplished in the time frame you set. The initial small goals are as vital to your overall plan as the larger goals you have set for later dates. If your plan is working correctly in the early stages you will be able to determine if the complete business plan is achievable. Make sure that each goal is achieved as planned.

As in most aspects of life the best of plans can fail. You must ask yourself two questions. 1. Were you able to complete your goals in the time frame set. Were you able to achieve some of your goals but not all of them.

2. Were you able to use the systems you put in place and did they work as planned. Maybe some them performed as expected while others did not.

Look carefully at your answers and analyze them. You will have systems that worked correctly and performed as expected. Keep those and continue working with them. You will also have those systems that did not work as planned and did not meet your expected goals. Look at these systems and find why they did not work.

You need to know why they did not work, if the system was flawed, were there steps in the system you may have missed. In answering those questions you can adjust future plans to accommodate errors that may have been made or discard the system completed and replace it with a new one.

A good solid business plan will continually improve and adjust. By adjusting your business plan and making needed changes you will improve the effectiveness of you business plan and ensure future growth of your business.

A business plan can increase your confidence and help build any small business ideas you may have. It can be your silent partner that is there to help you grow your business to it's fullest potential.

Stephen Meyer is an experienced small business owner who has helped many people in starting their own profitable small businesses. To see his many ideas and opportunities please visit his Small Business Ideas website.

Regents clear path for new schools

2009-06-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

PROVIDENCE — Two local charter school initiatives were given the go-ahead by the state Department of Education on Thursday afternoon, paving the way for the schools to open in the fall of 2009 — assuming the needed funding is allocated.

On Thursday, the department’s Board of Regents voted 8-1 to approve the initiation of operations at both the Democracy Prep Blackstone Valley charter school and the Segue Institute for Learning, which will be housed in Cumberland and Central Falls, respectively.
The opening of both schools, however, will be contingent upon the availability of funding from the state, which was included in Gov. Don Carcieri’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. It was unclear, however, whether the Rhode Island General Assembly would approve the appropriation of this funding. When reached on Wednesday, Rep. Steven Costantino, chairman of the House Finance Committee, said he could not commit to the funding of the charter school initiatives, as Rhode Island’s fiscal future remains uncertain, and as he said, “there are other needs.”
“It’s still part of the budget process like everything else,” Costantino said. “It’s on the table.”
Colleen Callahan was the lone member of the Board of Regents to vote against approval for Segue. While discussing the Democracy Prep school — the first of Cumberland Mayor Daniel McKee’s proposed mayoral academies — she noted that her feelings on the matter had more to do with the state’s current fiscal woes than any across-the-board opposition of charter schools.
“I think it’s a good idea at a terrible fiscal time,” Callahan said. “My concern is that we’re approving (the proposals) at this time.”
Following the board’s meeting, reaction was strongly positive among proponents of both school projects. Angelo Garcia, executive director of the Central Falls-based community organization Channel One, said he was glad to see Segue garner approval, as he and others involved in his organization had played a major role in the school’s creation and plan on remaining involved once it gets off the ground.
“We’re just very excited that we have what we see as an opportunity to work even closer with the kids and families in the city,” Garcia said. “We do (realize) that this is not going to be a small task.”
Garcia said the facility would be the only charter school in the state exclusively for middle school-age students, beginning with sixty sixth-grade students in its first year. He said the school’s organizers hoped for it to grow to 240 students after three years — adding 60 per year — while also adding seventh and eighth graders over that period.
Segue would be exclusively for Central Falls students, and would seek to work cooperatively with the city’s school district, Garcia said. He noted that Central Falls Superintendent of Schools Frances Gallo was a “member in good standing” of the school’s board of directors, restricted from voting on some matters, but supportive of the new school just the same. Also making the initiative happen, he said, were numerous active community members.
“This is a school that started with a grassroots movement,” Garcia said. “We’re not looking to create a silo school. We’re looking to work with the current school district.”
In a statement issued on behalf of Rhode Island Mayoral Academies (RIMA), meanwhile, McKee praised the Board of Regents’ decision to approve the start of the first mayoral academy. The statement noted that the school’s organizers hoped to take in approximately 76 kindergartners in its first year from the communities it will serve: Cumberland, Central Falls, Lincoln and Pawtucket.
“This is a tremendous leap forward for education reform in Rhode Island,” said McKee, who is also the chairman of RIMA’s Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to begin the important work of closing the achievement gap and giving the students of Blackstone Valley, and our state, a high-quality education that will prepare them for college and beyond.”
McKee has been talking of a need to improve access to high-quality education locally and throughout the state, drawing praise from various charter school and education reform advocates, while being criticized by some in public education union circles for what they say is an effort to circumvent prevailing wage rules and other regulations. The mayoral academy would be overseen by a governing board, of which McKee would be a member.
RIMA’s chief executive officer, meanwhile, will be Michael Magee, who until recently has been serving as director of Cumberland’s Office of Children, Youth and Learning (OCYL), an educational arm of the town’s municipal government introduced by McKee. Jeremy Chiappetta, former assistant principal of Providence’s Oliver Hazard Perry Middle School, will be the founding head of the school.
“Jeremy is the kind of leader that our students in Central Falls, and throughout the state deserve,” Gallo was quoted as saying in a RIMA statement Thursday. “I have had the chance to directly supervise his work in Providence, and over the past two years I have closely followed his career. I am confident that we will be able to work together to do whatever it takes to prepare our young people for success in college and beyond.”
Both schools’ handlers said they planned on beginning the application and enrollment processes for their schools, with the RIMA statement noting that the application deadline would be Friday, June 26 with a drawing to be conducted on June 30 at 7 p.m. in the Blackstone River Theater on Broad Street in Cumberland. Garcia, meanwhile, said that volunteers were being sought to help get Segue ready to roll, as there was much work to be done. He said he hoped that Segue and other initiatives like it would give education in Rhode Island a shot in the arm.
“We want to up the ante,” Garcia said. “This is only the beginning. We haven’t even kicked off yet.”

Times Statehouse reporter Jim Baron contributed reporting to this story.

By VINAYA SAKSENA

Grade Expectations: Regents Success

2009-06-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

That Regents Success is the prep program of choice of high-school students and their parents is not surprising. Coordinated by Eddie Martin, an educator par excellence who established the program 18 years ago, Regents Success has helped thousands of high-school students throughout the Five Towns and Brooklyn prepare for and score high on the New York State Regents Exams.

So successful is this superb program that Mr. Martin begins receiving inquiries regarding registration for the courses offered as early as in November. At Regents Success, mediocre scores are never an option. Every one of the courses offered features six hours of intensive topic-by-topic review with an emphasis on key questions. Regents Success provides students with a comprehensive review of all topics, as well as test-taking strategies to help students maximize their scores.

To fully prepare students for each of the three New York State Regents examinations in mathematics, Regents Success offers six-hour prep courses in integrated algebra, geometry, and math B. The living environment, chemistry, earth science, and physics courses are outstanding in scope, as are those offered in global history, geography, U.S. history and geography, as well as English.

“Every one of our teachers is New York State licensed and certified,” Mr. Martin said. Each teacher is a consummate professional and is an expert in the subject and Regents examination material he or she teaches. Prior to teaching their respective courses, all of our teachers spend months of prep time familiarizing themselves with the details and intricacies of the most recent Regents exams. All of our teachers return year after year and each one is an integral part of the Regents Success team, working in tandem to maximize every student’s score. Two of the math Regents curricula have recently undergone drastic changes; our teachers have written the Regents exams and are eminently qualified to prepare our students for Regents success. In addition to teaching their respective topics and test sophistication skills, our teachers infuse their students with a sense of confidence and truly prepare them for Regents success.”

Regents Success prep courses are given at HAFTR High School and at their Brooklyn center at Yeshiva of Flatbush Elementary School. Advance registration is requested and advised; walk-ins are accepted. To register for Regents Success, please call Mr. Eddie Martin at 516-568-7996. Please see their ad on Page 34 for course dates.

By Rochelle Maruch Miller

Tests show many supplements have quality problems

2009-06-15T18:28:00.000-07:00

Lead in ginkgo pills. Arsenic in herbals. Bu 1/4gs in a baby's colic and teething syrup. Toxic metals and parasites are part of nature, and all of these have been found in "natural" products and dietary supplements in recent years.

Set aside the issue of whether vitamin and herbal supplements do any good.

Are they safe? Is what's on the label really what's in the bottle? Tests by researchers and private labs suggest the answer sometimes is no.

One quarter of supplements tested by an independent company over the past decade have had some sort of problem. Some contained contaminants. Others had contents that did not match label claims. Some had ingredients that exceeded safe limits. Some contained real drugs masquerading as natural supplements.

"We buy it just as the consumer buys it" from stores, said Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com. The company tests pills for makers that want its seal of approval, and publishes ratings for subscribers, much as Consumer Reports does with household goods.

Other tests, reported in scientific journals, found prenatal vitamins lacking claimed amounts of iodine, and supplements short on ginseng and hoodia -- an African plant sparking the latest diet craze.

"There's at least 10 times more hoodia sold in this country than made in the world, so people are not getting hoodia," said Dr. Mehmet Oz, a heart surgeon and frequent Oprah Winfrey guest who occasionally has touted the stuff.

Industry groups say that quality problems are the exception rather than the rule.

"I believe that the problem is narrow, that the well-established and reputable brands deserve their reputations," said Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ten years and $2.5 billion in research have found no cures from alternative medicine. Yet these mostly unproven treatments are now mainstream and used by more than a third of all Americans. This is the third in an Associated Press series examining their use and potential risks.

Source : The Starpress

An Ancient Remedy to Lower Cholesterol

2009-06-15T18:25:00.000-07:00

Red yeast rice -- it's been a staple of some Asian countries for more than a thousand years. When it’s used as food coloring, it gives peking duck its signature red glow. But when it’s used as an herbal medicine -- it lowers cholesterol.

Red yeast rice is produced when yeast grows on rice. A study released today followed a group of people who stopped taking statins because it left them with severe muscle pains. In the study, half of the participants took 1800 mg of red yeast rice supplements every day. After 12 weeks, those taking the supplements saw their LDL, or “bad cholesterol,” lower by 27 percent. Only 6 percent of those who did not get the supplements saw their LDL decrease.

Earlier research on heart attack patients showed those who took red yeast rice every day were 45 percent less likely to have another attack within five years.

However, the supplement doesn’t come without controversy. Whether it’s purchased as dried grains, ground powder or a pill from a health food store, it’s difficult to be certain exactly how much of the active ingredient your consuming or whether it’s been contaminated in any way. Therefore, patients are advised to consult their doctor.

For more on heart health, and how red yeast rice can help your heart, watch John McKenzie’s report on World News at 6:30pm ET.

Source : abc News

A Substitute for Those Who Can't Take Statins?

2009-06-15T18:23:00.000-07:00

A new study revives a running controversy about the purported cholesterol-lowering effects of the centuries-old natural product called red yeast rice.

Red yeast rice is produced when a yeast, Monascus purpureus, is grown on rice. It has been used in Asian countries for more than a thousand years as food and medicine. In the United States and Europe, it has been proposed as an alternative cholesterol-lowering treatment for people who cannot take statins because of severe side effects, mainly muscle wasting and weakness.

The new study, from physicians in Pennsylvania and reported in the June 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, found a significant cholesterol-lowering effect of a commercially available nonprescription red yeast rice product in a small group of such people.

The study included 62 people who stopped taking statins because of side effects. All of them followed a lifestyle change program, including education on nutrition, exercise and relaxation techniques. Half also took 1,800 milligrams twice a day of a red yeast rice product for 24 weeks, while the others took an inactive substance.

"In the group that took red yeast rice, the average drop in cholesterol was 43 points at 12 weeks," said Dr. Ram Y. Gordon, a cardiologist in private practice who was a member of the research group. "The drop in the placebo group was only 11 points. In the longer run, the drop was 35 versus 15 points. We think the difference narrowed because after 12 weeks we told people to keep on doing it, but maybe some stopped."

There are, however, complications related to the product. Red yeast rice is under a regulatory cloud at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because it contains a natural statin, lovastatin, sold as a prescription drug named Mevacor. The FDA moved against several red yeast rice products -- not the one used in the Pennsylvania study -- on the grounds that they were unlicensed pharmaceuticals, a move which was upheld after a court tussle.

The product used in the study does contain lovastatin, Gordon said, but not enough to explain the reduction seen in the trial. Trial participants took three 600-milligram vials of red yeast rice twice a day.

"Each vial had one milligram of lovastatin. So the total was six milligrams a day, which is really a tiny amount," Gordon said. "And lovastatin is one of the weaker statins. The cholesterol drop was much more than what you'd expect from that low dose of lovastatin."

Some statin-related side effects, such as muscle pain and liver problems, were reported in the study, by two people who took red yeast rice and one who took the inactive substance, but they were not severe, Gordon said.

The beneficial effect might be due to compounds related to lovastatin, one of whose many designations is monacolin K. There are "nine or 10" other monacolins in red yeast rice, "and our theory is that these other monacolins affect cholesterol production in the liver," Gordon said.

The hopeful aspect of the study is that "we may actually have found a product that may be useful for patients and clinicians to deal with this problem, statin myalgia [muscle pain]," he said.

But it was a small study, and "much more testing needs to be done in many more people for a longer time period," Gordon said. And taking red yeast rice "absolutely should not be done without a physician's consent, and because it contains a small amount of a statin, you should be tested for liver problems," he said.

There are potential perils in taking red yeast rice because the marketed products are essentially unregulated, as illustrated by the research group's experience after a similar study, which got similar results, that they did last year.

That study used a different unregulated red yeast rice product. After the study was completed, the manufacturer changed the product formula, eliminating the lovastatin content and substituting ordinary sugar, Gordon said.

"There is real potential here, but a lot of problems because of the sources of red yeast rice not being too reliable," Gordon noted.

But the major problem with the study is that it was too small to disclose the inevitable side effects that afflict a small percentage of the people who take statins such as lovastatin, said Dr. Paul S. Phillips, director of interventional cardiology at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, who wrote an accompanying editorial.

Phillips said he often prescribed statins to patients in his cardiology practice. But he also is head of a statin myalgia clinic that treats more than 600 people suffering from side effects of the drugs.

Because red yeast rice contains lovastatin, "it has potentially significant risks and no greater benefits than conventional medications, and I would not advise anyone to take it," Phillips said.

More information

A guide to red yeast rice is offered by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

(HealthDay News)Forbes.com

Alice Waters, Anthony Bourdain and Duff Goldman on organic food

2009-06-14T19:40:00.001-07:00

If it turns out that the winning contestant in the upcoming “The Next Food Network Star” happens to be a cook/chef who uses and promotes the gamut of organic foods---from meat to produce---the network’s organic food viewers will do a happy dance. Up until now, mention of “O” foods has been minimal.

However, one of their current stars, Ace of Cakes’ Duff Goldman, and former Food Network star Anthony Bourdain, recently squared off with Alice Waters, the original mover and shaker in the 70s organic food movement. She is, through and through, dedicated to organic foods.

Though Bourdain buys organic milk for his 2-year-old, as a chef, his priority is to deliver taste, not necessarily organically-grown foods. Goldman is on board with the idea of knowing where your food comes from.

The debate lasts about seven minutes. It’s interesting and healthy to watch three high-profile people involved in the field of food share their views on one of our most basic needs. (Warning: Some profanity is used by Bourdain and Goldman.)

It’s worthy of note that three of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s executive chefs---Chef Jack Shoop (Philadelphia medical facility), Chef Kenny Wagoner (Tulsa medical facility), and Chef Frank Caputo (suburban Phoenix medical facility) deliver organic foods that taste good to advanced and complex cancer patients at their facilities. All three gentlemen have shared their involvement with organic foods in this space.

Natalie Rotunda is a National Examiner. You can see Natalie's articles on Natalie's Home Page.

StarWatch: Alice Waters at Ford's Filling Station, MORE!

2009-06-14T19:39:00.001-07:00

And now, this week's celebrity sightings from LA's dining landscape. As always, you can submit your own items to the official StarWatch Tipline.

1) Ford's Filling Station: Before she headed up to Sacramento to plant an edible garden at the Capitol alongside Maria Shriver and company (hey, Guy Fieri was there too), Alice Waters was in town. Along with three guests, the Slow Food matron did dinner at Ford's Filling Station on Tuesday night. Per our spy, they had cauliflower flatbread, Kobe beef cheeks, and the red leaf salad. The connection, of course, is that chef/owner Ben Ford had previously worked at Chez Panisse for Lady Waters. [StarWatch Inbox]

2) Zucca Ristorante: Speaking of politics, Joe Biden was in town recently too, and one of his stops was lunch at Zucca, Joachim Splichal’s Italian joint downtown. Reportedly, lots of paparazzi were on hand too, snapping photos of the veep. [StarWatch Inbox]

3) The Grill on the Alley: Tyra Banks with a friend was spotted there for a late weekday lunch and later in the week, Dustin Hoffman popped in for "a quick nibble at the bar – in and out in 20 minutes." [StarWatch Inbox]

4) Villa Blanca: After an idol taping (not the finale), Simon Cowell dropped into Beverly Hills newbie Villa Blanca. Quoth a tipster: "Simon [was with] UK Billionaire Sir Philip Green and his wife as well as Villa Blanca owners Ken and Lisa Todd. They had dinner and were drinking an expensive bottle of Mouton Rothschild until late into the night." [StarWatch Inbox]

5) Morels: Fresh off his game one victory, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss was spotted dining with friends at Morels French Steakhouse and Bistro at the Grove. [StarWatch Inbox]

6) Amici: Vogue overlord Anna Wintour got all kinds of headlines at Tavern this week, but at nearby Amici Brentwood, there were C-listers like Kevin Bacon, Jim Belushi and Michael Keaton. So there's that. [StarWatch Inbox]

Alice Waters book signing at the National Museum of American History

2009-06-14T19:32:00.000-07:00

Acclaimed chef, author and sustainable foods advocate Alice Waters will do a book signing at the National Museum of American History on Saturday, June 13, from 1 to 4 p.m.

The event takes place in the Stars and Stripes Cafe on the museum's lower level.

Waters will be signing three books, which will also be available for purchase:

The Edible Schoolyard

Chez Panisse Cafe Cookbook

The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution

The book signing is held adjacent to the museum's Victory Garden, produced by Smithsonian Horticulture, and in conjunction with the display "Within These Walls...," depicting one family's efforts to "produce for victory" during World War II.

Robin Wedewer is an Examiner from Washington DC. You can see Robin's articles on Robin's Home Page.

Environmental Artist Enjoys Playing with Her Food

2009-06-14T19:31:00.000-07:00

When Stevie Famulari of North Dakota State University, Fargo, walks on the set to compete in a Food Network Challenge, the judges, producers, other competitors and even the camera guys know her as the wildcard or the firecracker. It isn't because of her expressive personality, the red streaks in her hair or her tattoo clad arms and legs. It is because of the wild food art that she creates for the show. When she enters a competition, there is no second or third place. It's win or lose. In an episode scheduled to air June 14 on the Food Network, her work lives up to the image.

"I'm O.K. with being called the wildcard," Famulari says. "The wildcard means it's all or nothing and that they don't know what to expect. I don't go out there and consciously make something that goes against the grain. It just happens and it doesn't bother me. They know I am not traditional and that is what makes me wild."

Famulari, a native New Yorker, is an environmental artist and a landscape architecture professor at NDSU. She loves to "play" with her food. Although she is not looking for stardom, she is no stranger to the set of a television show. She likes to use national television as a medium to display her artwork. As an educator, she prides herself on teaching students to think for themselves and to find a way to relate the course subject to their own work.

On June 14, Famulari will make her sixth appearance on the Food Network when it airs "Food Network Challenge: Mystery Client Cakes." She is required to design a cake for a client who is revealed only moments before the competition begins. The cake must feed 150 people and it must be at least three feet tall. The winner takes home $10,000.

Alexa Grodner, sculptor, caterer and friend, was Famulari's assistant for the show. "We decided to do a cake that explores the medium of sugar," Famulari said. "Sugar comes in powder. It comes in white or brown. It comes in cubes. You can melt sugar. You can powder sugar. You can do inverted sugar, which is when you make it into glass and lollipops."

In typical Famulari fashion, she throws a twist into the competition and builds an armature for the 200-pound cake. Famulari and Grodner turn the cake on its side so the layers are vertical like walls. Because of circumstances that took place during the final presentation of the cake, Famulari's piece was named Flambé. View the June 14 episode to see why Famulari became the first Food Network contestant ever to require a fire extinguisher.

Source: North Dakota State University