Define Your Business Model Archives

Franchises Offer Start Up Discounts to Veterans

As a way to to honor those men and women who have served in the U.S. military, the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative, known as “VetFran,” was developed to help veterans of the armed forces transition...

byJack Burris

April 10, 2009

GoToBilling.com’s Mom Entrepreneur Offers Success Tips

On Tuesday, we talked to super Mom entrepreneur, Stacy Roderick. Stacy helped create the one-stop resource for paperless invoicing, marketing and electronic billing atGoToBilling, www.gotobilling.com.Today, Stacy shares more of her work-life balance success tips. What...

byMelanie Rembrandt

April 9, 2009

The New-New Store Front

Interesting article in this Sunday’s NYTimes about vanishing store fronts. …[Store fronts signs] are artifacts of consumer culture before commercial branding and environmental signage (as signs are now called) became so self-conscious — when sign...

byChristine Haskell

April 8, 2009

Why is now the time to jump in and buy a franchise?

Jeff Elgin of FranChoice answered host Jenna Lee’s questions on “Franchising in 2009” on Fox Business Morning C-Suite Sit-Down. His message: Despite the economy, people can still find great opportunities in franchising. Jeff Elgin of...

byJack Burris

April 7, 2009

Innovative Business Idea: Looking for one?

In this economy, people are selling everything. Ebay, Etsy and other such retail hubs are increasingly popular. But let’s step outside the overstuffed box of old sports cards, second hand coach bags, and retro 70s...

byChristine Haskell

April 7, 2009

GoToBilling.com’s Mom Entrepreneur Gives Tips

If you are a mother pursuing your small business dreams, check out this interview with Stacy Roderick of www.GoToBilling.com. Stacy manages to take care of her family, cook healthy meals, stay in shape, and help...

byMelanie Rembrandt

April 7, 2009

Innovative Idea: Back to those basic experiences

I had a moment (I can pinpoint it exactly) when roller coasters seemed to lose their luster for me. It was about 30 seconds after de boarding a Turkish Twister after having had about 6...

byChristine Haskell

April 1, 2009

Customer Love: No Love Like Free Love

FREE LOVE, or the art of giving away your stuff to consumers, is an enduring trend. Now, more than ever, FREE = GOODNESS. From airline tickets to Wikipedia, and from laundry detergent to music downloads...

byChristine Haskell

April 1, 2009

No Time For Social Media? Hire a Mom.

The rise of social media is undoubtedly one of the biggest changes to happen to marketing since the birth of the internet. According to a Universal McCann 2008 study, 272 million people are using social...

byHeather Schuck

March 30, 2009

Innovative Idea: Give Tours

I sign up for a lot of newsletters because I like to know what's going on, what people I used to work with are up to, and it helps spark the Idea Mill. I worked...

byChristine Haskell

March 26, 2009

Innovative Idea: Big Companies Get Creative, Are You?

William Sonoma and Pottery Barn are offering in store classes. Everyone gets the main need to do these: move product off the shelves. However, there is another reason why ideas like this are important. They...

byChristine Haskell

March 19, 2009

SXSW Marketing Ideas: 3 Tips on Market Research

We all think we have much bigger, deeper insight into our users than we actually do. If you think you understand your users you run the risk of overestimating what they want, you carry on...

byVerticalResponse

March 18, 2009

Show Customer Love: Be Eco Positive

Part of a series in showing customer love... Eco Positive| When companies move from merely neutralizing and offsetting their undesirable eco-effects to actually boosting the environment by going the extra mile. London-based Ecoigo, a ‘green’...

byChristine Haskell

March 17, 2009

Interactive Marketing Tips from SXSW

I’m attending the South by Southwest Conference in Austin, Texas this week. The show is known for its cult following for all things interactive, from business leaders to designers, gamers to artists, film makers and...

byVerticalResponse

March 16, 2009

Friendly Advice From George Will

3 Pieces of Life Advice from George Will on this week's Roundtable Don't play poker with a man named Slim. Don't buy a Rolex from a guy out of breath. Don't take advice from someone...

byChristine Haskell

March 16, 2009

Understanding and using social media

One of the hot topics in franchising (and marketing, in general) is social media, aka Web 2.0. During the franchise convention in San Diego last month I co-hosted a round table discussion titled, "Using the...

byJack Burris

March 12, 2009

Show Customer Love: Co Donate

In a previous post (Giving is the new taking), I asked the question: What are some ways you are being kinder to your customers? The terms social responsibility is often used synonomously with charity and volunteering with good...

byChristine Haskell

March 11, 2009

Espresso Shot Insight: More granny businesses

Grandmothers have many great qualities. This idea had a "Greatest Generation" ring to it: Capturing their ability to make the most of limited resources. With just that talent in mind, Oxfam recently recruited a team of...

byChristine Haskell

March 4, 2009

Esspresso Shot Insight: Get Creative With Your Services

Having a baby is great, but no one wants to share how hard and sweaty it is - and no woman wants to go hmoe looking like a hockey player after the big game. Hospitals...

byChristine Haskell

March 2, 2009

Giving is the new taking….

There are precious few examples of corporations ditching the greed and embracing generosity. President Obama's speah highlighted a CEO who distributed his bonus across his workers (past and present) - who does that??? (a true leader) And what...

byChristine Haskell

February 27, 2009