| Something Borrowed Vintage: Antique Rental Company Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:49 AM PDT 
Acorn-Online.com: Something Borrowed Vintage provides mismatched china, linens, flatware, and serving pieces at events ranging from weddings to afternoon teas and even pig roasts. During their pilgrimages in search of fine china, the two partners have accumulated "thousands" of pieces, ranging from "an 1890 bone china plate hand-painted with rosettes and tipped in gold leaf" to a vintage collection of Wedgwood, Lenox and Art Deco china, according to Ms. Kreter, a Wilton native. "It has been a painstaking effort," she said. Along with hand-painted plates, tea cups, sugar bowls and creamers, their collection also includes delicate two-handled consommé bowls and parfait dishes. The business is one of only a few of its kind in the country. "We've heard there's other vintage china rental companies in Los Angeles, Chicago and Texas," said Ms. Kreter.
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| Google Is At It Again: KikScore Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:37 AM PDT 
It is every entrepreneur’s dream. First you create a new startup with a lot of promise, then Google comes in and buys it from you. According to The Washington Post, that is exactly what happened to Rajeev Malik and his startup, KikScore. Founded in 2010, the three-man firm developed a digital report card for small businesses designed to demonstrate their trustworthiness to customers. The report gave the business a score based on a variety of characteristics, including where its Web site is registered, how long the business has been operating and whether it has a return policy. "For us, [the acquisition] is a realization that we put in the blood, sweat and tears to put this product together and Google can now take it to the next level," he said in an interview. But there isn't much rest for the eager entrepreneur. Malik, a lawyer by training, has another venture he plans to start in the coming weeks.
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| Baseball for the Blind: Beep Baseball Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:35 AM PDT The other day, I blogged about tennis for the visually impaired. Today’s sport for the blind is baseball: A team is composed of a minimum of six blind or visually impaired players and two to four sighted people: a pitcher, a catcher, and two defensive spotters. There is no second base. First and third bases are four-foot padded cylinders with speakers that buzz when activated. The batter does not know which one will be turned on. When the ball is hit, the runner must identify the buzzing base and run to it before a defensive player fields the ball. If the runner is safe, a run is scored. There is no running from one base to another… Playing defense is the most challenging aspect of beep ball. Generally teams will field three infielders and three outfielders. For defensive purposes the field is divided into six zones. Each team has two sighted spotters positioned in the outfield, one on either side of the field. When a ball is hit, a spotter will call out a number indicating the general zone toward which the ball is traveling. The players coordinate their defensive moves according to the number that is called. Spotters cannot pass on any further information. The players can verbally communicate with one another. Outs are earned by fielding the ball before the runner reaches the base. The fielder must have the ball in hand and off the ground to constitute possession. Defensive players pick up the beeping sphere and display it for the umpire's call. In the NBBA's history, there have been only four documented cases of a hit ball being caught in the air. Video from the 2011 Beep Baseball World Series below. 
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| How Not To Market Your Cleaning Service: Breaking And Entering Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:33 AM PDT 
She wasn’t robbing the place, just doing some unorthodox marketing: Westlake police now have a woman in custody they said is the “cleaning fairy” burglar. According to the Westlake Police Department, Elyria police officers stopped the 53-year-old woman Tuesday night. The so-called “cleaning fairy” burglar is currently in jail, but she has not yet been charged. Police said the woman dubbed a real-life “cleaning fairy” broke into a house last week and a left a bill for the housework she did. According to police, the woman entered the Dover Center Road residence while homeowner Mallory Bush slept, did some light cleaning and left a bill for $75 on a napkin before leaving. Unfortunately for the “cleaning fairy,” crime doesn’t pay. Photo by Regissercom/ShutterStock. 
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| Unsexy Biz: Hearing Aids Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:20 AM PDT 
I just received this email, and though we’ve linked to an article about them before, I’m a sucker for good stories: I’m a student intern at a new Philadelphia startup called EmbraceHearing. We’re changing a stagnant (and classically “unsexy” hearing aid market) with our unique approach to web-based purchasing and customer service. Unfortunately, as you may know, hearing aids are very expensive and a financial hardship for many who need but cannot purchase or replace them. We provide the opportunity for people to buy high-quality hearing aids from a well-regarded German manufacturer without excessive audiologist markups. Consumers can receive initial screening from a medical professional, purchase hearing aids from us online, and then receive follow-up care on a per-need basis from us or from an audiologist without costly bundled audiologist services. We believe your readers may be interested in a story that combines tech, entrepreneurship, and a fresh approach to an otherwise forgotten issue. 
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| Niche Biz: Daily Supplements for Dogs Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:01 AM PDT 
More than half of Americans take a daily supplement- so it makes sense the business of preventive medicine has expanded to cover all members of the family- even the dog! K9-GH is the first daily supplement for dogs designed to extend the quantity and quality of life! It is already receiving rave reviews from pet owners across the country. K9-GH works by kick starting growth hormone production in the pituitary gland, which is lost as humans and dogs age. The results are increased energy, joint improvement, increased muscle strength, loss in body fat, ability to heal faster, better digestion and breathing. Dr. Richard Marsh, a physician experienced in animal physiology began developing K9-GH in 1998 with the idea that hGH had proven anti-aging results for humans, why not for animals as well. With the help of Thomas Ali, years of work, formulas and tests, all natural K9-GH was released last year and the feedback has been nothing short of incredible. K9-GH also has a business opportunity: With STNPCO you are truly a “direct sales” to customer affiliate and will profit from each and every sale, and yes, including all re-order’s for the lifetime of your customer! So weather you are a Veterinarian, pet boutique, or simply an enterprising individual looking for income in today’s struggling economy, we welcome you to the STNPCO Business Opportunity Affiliate Program! 
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| Brainstorm A Great Business Name Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:00 AM PDT 
Entrepreneur: When it comes to brainstorming company names, often quantity matters more than quality — at least at the start of the process. Here are a few guidelines for generating a whole lot of quantity. Once you have at least a handful of solid contenders, you can decide on the quality. 1. Gather the right people and materials. 2. Loosen up. 3. Start generating. 4. Generate some more. 5. Share and build.
Photo by Mark Hunter 
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| Jogger’s New Best Friend: Flying Drone Posted: 07 Jun 2012 08:54 AM PDT Slate: Do you have trouble pacing yourself while running? You could download a speedometer app for your iPhone. Or if gee-whiz is more your speed, hold out for this drone, currently in the works. The idea is that the drone—known as Joggobot—would fly a little bit ahead of you so you can regulate your speed. There are two modes—a rigorous "coach" setting that challenges you to keep up, plus a more casual mode that takes its cue from your pace. Video below. 
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| Franchise Cops Spy on Franchisees Posted: 07 Jun 2012 08:51 AM PDT 
ABC News: A cop walks into a donut shop. Far from a fat-cop joke, that sentence could be the beginning of the end for a Dunkin’ Donuts shop owner who tried to swap out DD-brand munchkins for a cheaper alternative. “I used to be able to reach in and pull out a donut, and be able to smell and determine whether it was a Dunkin’ Donut,” Michael Mershimer, former head of loss prevention for Dunkin’ Donuts and Quiznos, told ABCNews.com. Dunkin’ Donuts didn’t just rely on Mershimer’s nose. It has a lab in Canton, Mass., where Dunkin’ investigates fraudulent pastries with the zeal of a forensics team. Donuts are weighed, measured, taken apart by experts in white lab coats. They are tasted, sniffed and mashed to see how they crumble. Across America’s thousands of franchise restaurants are more than 300,000 undercover food cops, pulling apart donuts, inspecting sub sandwiches, and checking burger patties for authenticity. The mystery shoppers are part of a loss prevention strategy that tries to ensure major brands – Quiznos, Baskin Robbins, Burger King – maintain consistency and don’t lose money to crafty franchise owners. Photo by Nikola Bilic/ShutterStock. 
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| Human Library: Borrowing People And Listening To Their Story Posted: 07 Jun 2012 08:36 AM PDT 
Worldcrunch: In the Human Library you can rent people who have been through difficult times – and they will tell you all about it. It's a way of debunking the stereotypes that have spread around Great Britain. They are each sitting at a round table and wearing yellow silk sashes with "book" written across. A dozen people have volunteered to become part of this human library set up in the London headquarters of an NGO called Crisis. They have all been through hard times. Some took drugs; others lived in the street or suffered from mental illnesses. They have put themselves at the public's disposal and can be "borrowed" for half an hour, enough time to learn a little about their experience. "I was agoraphobic," says Teresa, a shy redhead with green eyes. "At times, I couldn't leave the house for 12 weeks." Why is she participating in this project? "To show that there is a face behind the illness and to dispel the stereotypes about it, since its often perceived as a form of laziness." Other "books" include Mafruha, a Bangladeshi refugee and poet; Joirute, a Lithuanian with a handicapped daughter; or Rafeik, a homeless drug-addict. On the wall, a board sums up their life story and indicates who is "available" and who is "taken."
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| Holographic Elvis Coming Soon Posted: 07 Jun 2012 08:24 AM PDT 
Hollywood Reporter: Elvis Presley is still dead, but he’s making some comeback performances soon. Digital Domain Media Group, creator of the “holographic” Tupac Shakur at Coachella, has announced an exclusive deal with the Core Media Group to jointly produce a series of “virtual” Elvis likenesses for a range of entertainment projects. According to Digital Domain, a visual effects company that also has worked on such films as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Tron: Legacy and X-Men: First Class, the virtual Elvis will soon be seen in film, on television and in other venues. Concerts appear to be a clear possibility. Digital Domain says it will announce soon where audiences can expect to see the first virtual Elvis performances. 
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| Today in Entrepreneurial History: June 7 Posted: 07 Jun 2012 08:23 AM PDT |
