| Accidential Deposition Freelancer Posted: 20 May 2011 04:20 PM PDT 
When Terri Urbash left her job as a court reporter to start a family, she never expected to become a full-time entrepreneur. However, that is exactly what happened, reports CNN Money. “Instead of having more children, I kept getting more clients,” Urbash says, explaining how she stumbled into being the founder of the no. 16 company on this year’s Inner City 100 list of the fastest growing inner city businesses in the U.S. Between 2002 and 2005, as Urbash’s client list continued to expand, she handed off assignments to other freelance court reporters in Pittsburgh. Then, a large insurance company was looking to hire a deposition service. Urbash assumed it would go to a national competitor, but she applied for the contract anyway, and she got it. Network Deposition Services has soared since landing the client, expanding throughout Pennsylvania and now moving across the country. “Literally overnight, I realized I was going to have more depositions than I could handle,” Urbash says. “I knew I was going to have to get serious about it, and we’ve been growing since then.”
Photo by stepnout 
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| Niche: Metal Art Posted: 20 May 2011 12:00 PM PDT 
Many homes may decorate with a painting or a small statue. However, how many people can say they own a piece of metal art? Vladimir Gendelman is aware his product reaches a niche group of people. However, it seems his niche is growing. Although he once feared people would not purchase the cute scrap metal statues due their slightly high price, he soon discovered his market, reports The Detroit News. Some sales are to individuals, but a significant chunk of the business involves corporate sales. Because many of the H&K sculptures are suitable as office or desk art, and many pieces are functional — like wine bottle holders and business card racks — they’re popular as business gifts, the 36-year-old entrepreneur said. Many designs feature caricatures of various professions and occupations, and Metal Imagination will work with clients to develop custom sculptures on request. “A dental specialist might order little dentist sculptures as thank-you gifts for dentists who make referrals,” Gendelman explained. “Or a company might make them presents to employees, or sales people give them to their clients. One company bought 75 reindeer wine bottle holders as holiday gifts for employees.”
Photo from Metal Imagination 
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| Finding Your Connections For Success Posted: 20 May 2011 11:00 AM PDT 
Being noticed in a large market is not easy. Many good products are ignored in favor of those that managed to find the right strategy. Peter Kielland was an entrepreneur who had trouble getting people to notice his unique multi-bit drill attachment called the Scruzol. Then he caught the attention of Canadian Tire and it all changed, reports The Globe and Mail. It all started with a phone call to a reporter at Mr. Kielland's hometown newspaper. The Scruzol was featured, and the story was quickly syndicated across Canada. That coverage resulted in a call and an interview two days later from a local CBC-TV station, which was also picked up by NBC in the United States. "The Scruzol was definitely a unique product that included a lot of innovation; but the real reason I was able to pique the interest of the reporter was the deal with Canadian Tire," says Mr. Kielland, president and founder of Visionary Technology Inc. "Without the endorsement of a huge retailer, I'd be just one more inventor wannabe dreaming of getting on Dragon's Den." As a small-business owner, never underestimate the power of third party endorsements. You could have the most innovative product in your industry, but without customers or partners to validate your story, no one will take notice.
Photo from Canadian Tire 
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| Making Career Fit Around Family Posted: 20 May 2011 10:00 AM PDT 
Erica Diamond is a busy woman. She’s a mom, blogger, and speaker. Sometimes, the three roles combined can be a lot to handle. According to Global Saskatoon, her journey began in 1999. That is when she was 24 and started her own business. But then, in 2009, she was inspired to launch a blog, called "Women on the Fence". The Montrealer wanted to motivate women to make changes in their lives – changes that would help them find happiness. The hobby quickly took off – and became her full-time job. What she loves most is that blogging gives her the flexibility to spend more time with her kids. "When Andrew walks through the door at 4:30, I like to be there and unplug and be there for them," she said. But like many other moms, each day, is a constant juggle – driving the kids to school, picking them up from hockey, and managing professional obligations. "The toughest hours of my day are usually 4-7," she said. "That, for me, is the bewitching hour. It’s trying to get homework done, dinner ready, and get everyone organized." Diamond insists her secret to success is her strong support system – which includes great friends, family and a full-time nanny. "I couldn’t have done it all these years without her," she said.
Screenshot from Women on the Fence 
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| Idea Helps Kids With Leukemia Posted: 20 May 2011 07:20 AM PDT 
Sydney Pedersen recently came up with a simple idea that could help make chemotherapy less traumatic for young patients. Her idea was inspired by her own sister, reports South Washington County Bulletin. She remembers wondering one night if there was a way to make the treatment process easier for her sister, who had a "port" implanted in her chest. Doctors stuck needles through Paige's skin and into the port to test her blood and give her chemotherapy drugs. To do so, Paige always had to remove her shirt, which made the scary, painful process more upsetting So Sydney developed "The Port Shirt," which has a removable patch on the left side of the front of the shirt. The idea is to remove just the patch to access the port in the chest, "instead of taking off her shirt all the time," Sydney said. The invention caught people's attention. It was a top pick at her school and one of only 100 projects statewide to be featured at a Youth Invention Fair at the Mall of America.
Photo by Andres Rueda 
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