All the pomp and circumstance surrounding the inauguration of Barack Obama as U.S. President underscores a new flurry of business activity that shines like a small ray of hope in our dismal economy. The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported that numerous entrepreneurs and small business have rushed to capitalize on Obama’s rise to the presidency. […]
Author Archives: Gary Barzel
12 Small Business Trends to Watch Out for in 2009
Whether you’re the kind of person who likes to see the glass as half full or you prefer to see it as half empty, there is no denying that for most American small businesses the new year will bring a mixed bag of opportunity and adversity, hope and anxiety. There are many reasons for the […]
Top 10 Small Business Resolutions for 2009
I recently came across this article in the English Observer that put words to a new cultural and economic reality that is taking shape here in the U.S.: …The era of individualistic consumption that swept aside the Great Society of the 1960s has come to an end. For three decades, American culture has celebrated the […]
How to Win Over Your Customers in the New Year
If you are like most small business owners, then chances are your ’08 holiday sales were a bit lackluster. But don’t despair. By introducing a few changes in the way you operate your business, you can brighten your outlook for the new year. As a follow-up to my previous post on creative marketing techniques, here […]
How Small Business Owners Can Reduce the Stress of Laying-Off Workers
In the face of a glooming recession, much of the business world has adopted a hang on mentality when it comes to their employees. Rather then having to go through the process of loosing and later replacing productive, experienced workers, many companies are doing whatever they can to keep their workforces intact. Currently, the most […]
5 Creative Marketing Strategies That Work
With holiday sales slumping across the board and consumer confidence holding at all-time lows, some small businesses are finding creative ways to keep customers coming and buying. If you are looking for ways to revamp your marketing strategy without straining your budget here are five techniques that work. And as you can see from the […]
Soothing the Health Care Headache: 9 Ways to Reduce the Cost of Health Insurance
As our economy sputters along, the issue of health care has become a real headache. With the cost of health insurance on the rise amid a general push towards bootstrapping and business restructuring, businesses big and small are struggling to provide a decent plan for their employees, and those who have recently lost their jobs […]
Keeping Your Business Out of Debt
As I scan the media these days, I often come across the personal accounts of people who were drowning in debt yet were able to pull themselves out and make their way towards financial stability. Since these people tend to be representative of the “average Joe,” the display of resilience and discipline is particularly inspiring. […]
Top 30 Excuses for not Coming to Work
Want to take a mental health day but are having trouble coming up with a good excuse? I scoured the web in search of the best excuses for not coming to work, and here are my top 30 finds. If by the end of this list you still need more inspiration, check out this site. […]
Handle With Care: Managing Employees Who Must Wear Multiple Hats
It is common among small businesses that employees learn to become expert jugglers who must successfully manage numerous, often unrelated positions and responsibilities. And as the current economic downturn continues to hinder sales and cut into profit margins, this trend is only getting stronger. While combining positions may be a necessary step towards conserving capital and riding […]