| Parking With Your Tastebuds Posted: 03 May 2012 04:42 AM PDT 
Springwise: Brazilian company GrupoFourMidia is now including a variety of tastes and smells on parking tickets across the country. Having already experimented with unusual mediums for advertising – take its pizza boxes with sound for example – GrupoFourMidio observed that once drivers buy a parking ticket they often place it in their mouths while looking for a space. By infusing the tickets with an aroma or flavor related to the product advertised on the reverse, the scheme enables brands to immediately catch potential customers' attention and draw their eyes towards the printed advertisment on the ticket. A variety of tastes and smells can be captured and included on the tickets making the channel suitable for those involved in the food and beverage industry, as well as brands selling perfume or pleasant-smelling goods.
Would you buy a product by how it tastes on your parking ticket? Photo by Howard Young 
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| The Easy Shovel Posted: 02 May 2012 12:31 PM PDT 
This shovel attachment sounds like it has potential: The Easy Shovel is a cleaver attachment that will attach to any standard spade, shovel or gardening item. In 3 easy steps you can add this to your existing shovel, spare or fork and stop bending over and putting strain on your back. By using the easy shovel, you do not need to bend down to pick up the shovel, this will protect the base of the spine from injury and transfers the load of lifting across the shoulders, giving you greater power and control. This is especially important for those long, repetitive tasks that can lead to RSI (repetitive strain injury). Great for professionals who are working all day, doing the garden, working in the allotment, or moving the snow from your drive ways and paths. Contact them for distributor information. Of course, since I just moved 24,000 lbs. of pea gravel by hand, I have an affinity for gizmos that make shoveling easier. 
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| So Much for the Land of the Free Posted: 02 May 2012 11:44 AM PDT 
While the government says that its doing its working hard to create more jobs, in fact, in many places small business entrepreneurs are under attack by ridiculous new rules that stand a good chance of putting them out of business or sending them to jail. Here are two examples: Texas requires computer repair technicians to get a private investigator’s license, which could require a degree in criminal justice or three-year apprenticeship. Uncredentialed IT guys could face a $4,000 fine, one year in jail or a $10,000 civil penalty. Consumers who knowingly take their computers to unlicensed companies are subject to the same punishment. Since 2007, anyone in Texas who accesses nonpublic computer files to gather information is deemed by the state to have conducted an “investigation” — thus the requirement. So much for the lone star state. Things are even worse in the nation’s capital: In Washington, D.C., unlicensed tour guides can be punished for historical chitchat for up to 90 days in jail. Watch out! Uncle Sam or his statehouse cronies will put you out of business before you even start. Photo by Ljupco Smokovski/ShutterStock. 
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| The Kindle Has Transformed Publishing Posted: 02 May 2012 11:34 AM PDT 
Genevieve LaGreca: Without any middlemen or gatekeepers, with virtually no costs involved, and with self-marketing possible through social media and other Internet channels, electronic publishing is creating a robust market for new writers and books. For example, one novelist who was unable to find an agent or publisher has self-published two of her novels on Kindle. With her books priced at $2.99 and with a 70-percent royalty from Kindle, she earns approximately $2 per book. She is selling 55 books per day, or 20,000 books per year, which amounts to sales of $60,000 and royalties to her of $40,000. (As a simple comparison, without getting into the complexities of book contracts, this author might earn a royalty of approximately 10-percent from a traditional publisher, which would require her to achieve sales of $400,000 to earn as much money as she does self-publishing on Kindle.) Other authors are doing even better, including two self-published novelists who have become members of the Kindle Million Club in copies sold. These writers started with nothing—they were not among the favored few selected by agents and trade publishers, and they had no publicists or book tours—yet, thanks to electronic publishing, they are making a living, with some achieving stunning success. 
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| Artificial Meat is Here, And It’s Not What You Think Posted: 02 May 2012 11:31 AM PDT 
That filet mignon you ordered at the fancy steakhouse the other day? It wasn’t an expensive cut of meat. Terje took powder and dusted it liberally over the meat pieces. The coated stew meat then went into a circular tin to give it a nice, round filet mignon shape. He was also able to make a New York strip out of thin cuts of round steak. Adding water makes a soupy glaze, and an easier way to coat the meat. The final steps were to seal the meat in a vacuum bag, adding some pressure to the bond, and then it was off to the fridge to set overnight. Twenty-four hours later, the humble $4-a-pound stew meat now looks like a $25-a-pound prime filet. Does this inspire you to take something cheap, add a little science, and turn it into something expensive? Photo by Alias Studiot Oy/ShutterStock. 
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| Gold Rush on For Meteorites! Posted: 02 May 2012 11:12 AM PDT 
Speaking of gold rushes, we’re having our own in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California right now. No, it’s not about gold, even though this was the location of the original California gold rush of 1849. No, this one is about meteorites. Say what? Here’s a story about the mom who found a tablespoon sized meteorite that’s worth $20,000 in a local park! People from all over the world are in the tiny town of Lotus in El Dorado County looking for something that's out of this world, but leave it to a stay-at-home mom walking her dog to find a precious meteorite. The rock Brenda Salveson found is 17 grams, equal to just over a tablespoon of sugar. But when it comes in the form of an asteroid, its weight has no boundaries. "I was lucky, blessed, good karma," Brenda said. "It was sitting there at my toes like an Easter egg." An egg? More like a diamond in the rough. That gem from outer space was found at the Lotus park where Brenda, her kids and her collie come to nearly every day. "I had jumpy puppy in one hand and rock in another," she said. Meteorites landed in California's Gold Country several days ago, creating a modern day gold rush. "I've been out here my third day now," said Robert Clark of Grass Valley. "Found one piece, one gram." Gold is so 1840s out here. Meteorites are the new treasure. Photo by Mopic/ShutterStock. 
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| The 4 Key Elements of a Trade Show Display Posted: 02 May 2012 10:11 AM PDT 
The following is a guest post. Attending trade shows can significantly increase exposure for a company, no matter how large or small, but first you need to attract attention. If no one sees your exhibition, it is an exercise in futility. This is where the effective use of display and exhibition solutions by Display Wizard comes into effect. There are four key elements of a trade show display which should always be employed. -
Visually Appealing – Rather than trying to whip up a quick DIY sign, start preparing early in order to ensure the visual appeal of your trade show display. Graphics are always a plus because a picture truly is worth a thousand words. A company logo and a few well placed graphics can say more than 50 lines of text. Don't forget, a bit of bright color always catches the eye. -
Attention-Getting Headline – Keep this short and sweet. A few well chosen words meant to arouse the attention of passersby are all that is needed. Be careful not to add too much detail here because this is what you have staffed your booth to do – sell products or services. -
Brief Description/Summary – The only think a display is meant to do is to attract attention and perhaps give a brief summary or description of your company. For example, if it is a local restaurant exhibition you would certainly not list your entire menu. Instead, you might describe your cuisine or highlight an award winning chef or a best-selling dish. (This is a perfect place for graphics as well!) -
Company Contact Info & Web URL – Many times trade show attendees will stop by your exhibition in waves. For those times when your booth is inordinately busy, make sure your company's contact info and web URL are clearly visible. You would be surprised at just how many people make note of this information for future reference. Trade shows can increase exposure, which is what they are meant to do. This is perhaps the earliest form of networking known to businesses as can be attested to by worldwide Sunday markets which have been in existence for literally hundreds (if not thousands!) of years. A trade show can be likened to a Sunday market where vendors work the crowds to advertise their brick-and-mortar establishments. However, a trade show captures a much larger audience and why it is important to do your part in grabbing attention. A professionally crafted display sign for trade shows should always make use of these 4 key elements. Display Wizard is in the business of helping businesses capture major attention with professionally crafted display signs, flags, modular exhibition stands and banners. They also carry essential accessories such as display sign stands and portable exhibition furniture. Photo by pcruciatti/ShutterStock. 
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| Making A Business Out of Sports Banter Posted: 02 May 2012 09:27 AM PDT 
How does starting a business out of your love of talking about sports at the office sound? Yet that’s just what it’s become for Paula Ward, a self-appointed "sports interpreter" who’s swapped a career in human resources to launch Know The Game, a business dedicated to educating people about Australian sports. 
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| Videos: High Gold Prices Drive New Opportunities Posted: 02 May 2012 08:08 AM PDT With the price of gold so high, you’d be surprised at the changes it’s bringing to the search for gold. Below are two videos reports that demonstrate this. In the first, a company in South Africa is “mining” the waste material from decades of mining in South Africa. They’re pulling nearly 0.3 grams of gold per ton of waste material processed. That doesn’t seem like much, until you see the single dump site in the video that contains 140 million tons of waste material! In the second video, cocoa farmers in Columbia have turned from growing the raw material for cocaine to illegally panning for gold. And, of course, don’t forget about the little asteroid mining project we told you about last week. 
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| The Allure of Owning a Summer Camp Posted: 02 May 2012 07:46 AM PDT 
Do you dream of owning a summer camp? If not, why not? They sound like a great business to be in. A well-run camp can have profit margins in the 25 percent to 40 percent range and sell for 2 to 2 1/2 times’ annual revenue, says Daniel Zenkel, a camp consultant and broker in White Plains, N.Y. Camps can cost from $200,000 to $500,000 to set up and maintain, depending on the size and program, excluding buying or renting property. Existing camps start at around $1.2 million, Zenkel says. “We get calls all the time from people thinking about starting a camp. Either they’ve inherited property or they’ve inherited money and want to buy property for a camp.” But it’s not all lazy summer afternoons in the hammock for the camp owner. Camp directors are on the job pretty much 24/7, ensuring campers get fed, have fun, and stay out of trouble. Long-term concerns include state and local regulatory compliance, the ever-rising cost of business, property, and health insurance, and the hiring and management of seasonal employees who have to meet strict background checks. And, unfortunately there’s almost no possibility of finding a profitable camp for sale: Second-, third- and even fourth-generation ownership is not unusual for the privately owned, for-profit operations that make up 21 percent of the membership of the American Camp Association, says Peg Smith, chief executive officer. The remainder of the association’s 2,300 members are owned and operated by churches, schools, and other nonprofit entities; Smith estimates there are a total of 12,000 to 15,000 camps in the U.S. “So many camps have had a long tradition of family ownership,” she says. “So you see a lot of succession planning taking place” to keep camps in the family. You can find a list of summer camps for sale here and here. Photo by Condor 36/ShutterStock. 
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| Today in Entrepreneurial History: May 2 Posted: 02 May 2012 06:55 AM PDT |
| The Doughnut Shop That Closes Up Once They Sell Out Posted: 02 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT 
Springwise: Situated in the Windy City's River North neighborhood, The Doughnut Vault opens at 8:30 am each day from Tuesday through Friday and 9:30 am on Saturday mornings. Patrons are given good incentive to get there promptly, however, because the store closes its doors for the day as soon as the last doughnut is sold — often within an hour, PSFK reports. Some 600 pastries are reportedly sold by The Doughnut Vault each day.
A creative way to build demand? 
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| Hair Clippers With A Ferarri-Inspired Motor Posted: 02 May 2012 05:30 AM PDT 
Wired: So here we have the BaByliss Pro Volare clipper. Your $200 gets you a three-speed cordless haircutting device with an easy-grip rubberized back, a one-hour quick-charge time, a moving steel blade coated in diamond-like carbon, and a fixed steel blade coated in titanium. It is red. Its "Ferrari-inspired" electric motor runs for a claimed 70 minutes with a full charge and comes with an assortment of useful accessories — a charging stand, oil, a cleaning brush, a selection of comb attachments. A dial at the top of the clipper lets you adjust cutting depth from 0.8 to 2.0 millimeters in increments of 0.3 millimeters. The blade has a one-year warranty. The clipper itself is good for two. My test unit came in a gloss-black presentation box, one festooned with slogans like "success is built upon the performance of the engine and blade," and "finest professional clipper made." It also came covered in someone else's hair, the leftover snips of a previous reviewer. This was harmless, albeit slightly creepy. As a result, I did not try it on my own hair, though I did use it to cut the locks off a Barbie doll bought specifically for the purpose. When I was done, Barbie's head felt smooth as suede and she looked like a young Debbie Harry. I suppose that's what you'd call a success.
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| LingleOnline: Teaching Materials For English Teachers Posted: 02 May 2012 05:00 AM PDT 
The Sunday Business Post: LingleOnline lets teachers automatically create English language learning materials from current news sources. The application’s analysis engine allows teachers to analyse news articles to automatically identify grammar and vocabulary in context. Founded in August 2011, the Dublin-based company was set up by Ian Butler and employs four people. Originally the software was developed out of a research project between the NDRC and the Dublin Institute of Technology. “In teacher circles there are many conversations about what best practice is,” said CEO and founder Ian Butler. “One of the things that comes up consistently is the use of authentic materials.” LingleOnline uses current articles from real news publications. With over 200,000 articles the service aims to cover a diverse array of subjects from news stories from around the world. Sources include The New York Times, The Guardian, China Daily, The Irish Times, The Telegraph, and USA Today. The application uses live news sources and updates daily.
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