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Samuel Martin Profile and Articles
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1). 'Shifts' to Help You in Times Good or Bad
Six months ago, the economy was roaring. Stock prices were going up, interest rates were staying low, unemployment was down. A few months later, those indicators all were going in opposite directions. Now, it's hard to tell from day to day where we stand.
I'm optimistic that the current situation is a short-term one, and that long-term prospects are for growth and good times.
2). 'Stop the Stupid Stuff' In Your Business
We are living in a world of change. Shift happens! Competition comes from all over the world, which means that many American businesses are in trouble.
Many decisions are being made that are contrary to both good business sense and building customer loyalty.
Most organizations' marketing is usually an exercise in figuring out what to do to get current or potential customers to spend more dollars with them.
3). 3 Million Items and Counting, Bidville Becomes Big Business
Since their introduction, online auction sites have been making e-history as some of the most popular destinations on the Internet. From designer-label clothing to grandma's jewelry to cars and even houses, anything and everything imaginable can be auctioned off online.
People who place items for sale on auction sites are attracted to the prospect of building a business from home with no morning traffic jams and little required capital to start.
4). 401(k) Participants Turn to Pros For Help Managing Their Money
You're a computer engineer, or a nurse, or a graphic designer. Just keeping current in your own specialty is an effort. So what happens to your 401(k) retirement plan while you're off doing what you do?
Does it just languish, forgotten, in some dusty corner of your mind? Are you, among millions of others, crossing your fingers and hoping your portfolio will provide?
Thanks to changes in the industry, investors now can get more help managing their 401(k) accounts.
5). A New Beginning for Coal
This is the 21st century. Why are we burning little black rocks to charge our laptops and cell phones?
Because after years of mine shutdowns and declining prices, the coal industry is making a prosperous return.
In the early 1900s, coal was the nation's major fuel source, supplying almost 90 percent of its energy needs, according to the Department of Energy.
6). Adventures for Rent
Are you bored with the humdrum? Rusty with routine? What you need is an adventure.
If you've been dreaming of a getaway or want to join the other 98 million adults in the U.S. who have taken adventure vacations in the last five years, it
doesn't have to cost you the price of a motorcycle.
Now you can rent a Harley-Davidson motorcycle alone or as part of a custom adventure vacation package.
7). Advertisers Embrace 'Rich Media' Format
From ads that dance or sing to MTV-like commercials, online advertisers are now using a new type of technology called "rich media" to attract consumers.
U.S. Internet advertising revenue will have reached about $12 billion last year, up $3 billion from 2004. Of this, advertisers spent about $1 billion on rich media, up from $800 million in 2003, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau.
8). Alternative Investors Eye Private Companies
Q: Entrex has brought public market standards and disciplines to the private market. I understand the value of this to the alternative investment community, but what is the value to me as the owner of a private company?
- Craig Rutkai, business owner, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
A: It's the question I get more than any other. To answer, let's start with what Entrex is.
9). AMC, University of Colorado Cancer Centers Merge
The AMC Cancer Research Center has merged with the University of Colorado Cancer Center, a step designed to help both organizations in their efforts to fight the disease.
The AMC, a nonprofit research institute located in Lakewood, Colo., will continue as an independent foundation devoted to financial support for research in cancer causation, prevention and control at the University of Colorado.
10). Angel Investors Bring Big Ideas to Reality
If you're an emerging company with the next great product, sometimes you need an angel on your side.
A study by the University of New Hampshire's Center for Venture Research showed that "angel investors" - high-net-worth individuals willing to invest in entrepreneurial companies at an early stage - shelled out more than $18 billion into early-stage companies last year alone, compared to $304 million by venture capitalists.
11). Aromatherapy: Sweet Smells For Success
Your company is having a meeting with potential clients and you want to make sure everything is all set for their office visit. You've brought in donuts and coffee, and the conference room is looking good. However, you still think something may be missing to ensure the sale goes through the way you want it.
Enter the essence of aromatherapy. Essential oils have been used since ancient Egyptian times to enhance their surroundings and promote healing.
12). Award-Winning Web Sites Place Visitors First
What does it take to have an award-winning Web site? According to the Web Marketing Association, it takes a combination of qualities.
Since 1997, the Web Marketing Association's Web-
Award Competition has set the standard of excellence for Web site development.
Here are the seven criteria on which Web sites are judged in the annual competition.
* Design.
13). Being Competitive in a GM
The challenges of today's global marketplace are forcing companies to look at doing things differently in order to get that extra edge over their competition.
According to Makino, a global provider of advanced machining technology, companies doing things the same way they have been doing them for the last 10 to 15 years are probably in a "recurring uniform trap," or "RUT," while the global market is passing them by.
14). Beverage Company Sponsors Teen Games
As part of an effort to contribute to the community that has added to its success, Fire Mountain Beverage Co. recently sponsored this year's L.A. Watts Summer Games, the largest high school athletic competition in the nation.
"Our goal here is to support elite high school athletes by giving back to the same markets that support our sales," said Anthony Miller, chief executive officer of Fire Mountain Beverage.
15). Biotech Careers Heating Up
Biotechnology has been around for centuries. From farming to food production and storage, biotechnology has touched our lives in numerous helpful ways.
As baby boomers age, there has been an increased demand for new medical procedures and equipment. As a result, biomedical engineering, a field that combines medicine with engineering and biology, is expected to grow in the next decade and beyond.
16). Boating Industry Launches Marketing Campaign
For the first time in U.S. boating history, marine products manufacturers will spend millions of dollars promoting the benefits of recreational boating and boat ownership.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association's "Grow Boating" campaign and $12 million marketing blitz includes national advertising buys, direct mail and other initiatives that the industry hopes will connect with potential boaters whose free time is growing more fractionalized.
17). Boomers Drive Elevator Sales
As land becomes increasingly scarce and expensive, more people are staying in their homes after retirement and modifying those homes to accommodate them as they age. As a result, residential elevator manufacturers are seeing a steady rise in sales.
"Our business has increased over 200 percent the last two years and 80 percent of that growth now comes from the baby boomer generation," said Jim Quinly, general manager of the residential elevator division at ThyssenKrupp Access, maker of the Lev residential elevator.
18). Building Confidence in Your Retirement Future
In the next 10 years, the first wave of America's 76 million baby boomers will be retiring. Since today's retirees are generally healthier and more active than their parents, they are looking forward to living longer and spending more time playing with grandchildren, pursuing hobbies or even trying new careers.
Investors enter retirement with more confidence if they have a thoughtful retirement strategy.
19). Buy Your First House Before You Can Afford It
Purchasing a home is most likely the biggest and often the best investment that you will ever make. Why not make that investment now?
If you are saving up with the goal of getting your dream home within the next two to five years, the following ideas could help you buy your house sooner than you planned.
* Buy from a motivated seller. A motivated seller is someone who has a house he or she wants to get rid of quickly.
20). Buyers Not on Vacation In Sizzling Resort Market
The phenomenal real estate boom of the past several years has not been confined to sales of primary residences alone. Sales of second homes also have ratcheted up dramatically as vacationers and investors look to snap up these properties amid the lure of low mortgage rates and rapidly increasing home values.
According to a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors, 2.
21). Chairman Believes God Belongs in the Boardroom
Howard Jonas, founder and chairman of IDT Corp., was 14 years old when he started selling hot dogs on a street corner in the Bronx. Today, he runs a multibillion dollar telecommunications company that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. What is the secret of his success?
The answer, he says, is in his religious commitment and the title of his most recent book, "I'm Not the Boss, I Just Work Here.
22). Clutter out, Color in: Make Your Office Work for You
Is your workspace working for you? Research shows that your environment makes an impact on your mood. So it may be time to give your space at the office a makeover to liven up things at work.
"Now you can change your office decor as often as you change the ink in your printer," says Anna Griffin, designer of the Anna Griffin Inc. line of desk accessories.
23). Coal Helps America Through Power and Jobs
You may not realize it, but the coal industry plays a large part in the U.S. economy.
One major way coal affects the economy is through electricity. The majority of America's electricity comes from coal. So when coal prices are low, like they are right now, electricity is cheaper and the lower prices spur economic growth.
Electricity is a crucial part of American life.
24). Coal Makes a Comeback
"You load thirteen tons and what do you get?" An abundant, clean, affordable source of power in the United States.
The United States is returning to coal to generate electricity. Long-dormant mines are being reopened to gather coal, which generates most of the electricity in the country. Why is coal once again such an important resource?
* Abundance of supply and demand.
25). Coal Reduces Reliance On Foreign Oil
Recently, the price of a barrel of oil rose to $40, the most expensive price in American history. With the rise in oil prices and constant instability in the Middle East, the United States seems headed for an energy crisis.
But there is an abundant, low-cost energy source located throughout the country. That energy source is coal.
After years of mine shutdowns, there is a renewed interest in coal in the United States.
26). Company Brings Hope to African Entrepreneurs
News reports often tell of the struggle to lift Africans out of poverty. One entrepreneur is doing her part to bring hope to that continent through a business endeavor that is now bringing its products to the world market.
The desire to help others is what originally led South African Elmare Lombard to leave her successful psychological practice after 15 years to start a natural aromatherapy line.
27). Company CEO Holds Drawing for His Salary
RX Processing Corp.'s CEO Peter Fiorillo is serious about supporting the passage of the Dorgan-Snowe bill that is currently trying to make its way through Congress. He is so serious that he has implemented a campaign that allows citizens to enter into a lottery to win his first year's salary: 500,000 shares of company stock.
The shares have a market value of around $100,000.
28). Company Helps Families With Home Ownership
As the stock market remains bearish and portfolios continue to make only minor gains, the demand for homes has never been higher.
It is with this economic trend that more people are opting to invest in one of the most enduring forms of equity: real estate.
Nevertheless, according to the 2000 census, there are more than 35 million families who rent.
29). Company Helps You Brighten a Soldier's Day
It is a time-honored tradition to send care packages to soldiers overseas. But with increased security concerns and reams of red tape to go through, sending a package to military personnel can be a daunting task.
However, one company is doing its best to make it easy for any American to send care packages year-round to help boost the morale of thousands of U.
30). Competition Between Online Brokers
There's much to learn about the online brokerage industry. Unfortunately, many investors learn this the hard way.
With so many options available, choosing the right broker is as crucial as making the right investment.
For years, investors were accustomed to paying $9.95 or higher per trade based on their account equity or trade activity. However, those days have come to an end.
31). Computer Program Enables Investors to Analyze Property
The flourishing real estate market has resulted in a significant increase in first-time real estate investors. With limited experience in real estate, it can be a risky move to buy property without knowing for certain what the return on the initial investment would be.
Thousands of investors have been using the Real Estate Acquisition Program, also called REAP, to assess the risks in their investments.
32). Consumers Bear Brunt Of Cold Winter
Even though Americans are feeling some relief at the gas pump from last fall's record prices, their checkbooks are still likely to take a hit this winter as natural gas and heating oil prices continue to soar.
In fact, the Energy Department predicts that those using natural gas to heat their homes can expect to see their monthly bills rise 48 percent from last year.
33). Cost-Reducing Tips for the Small-Business Owner
One of the keys to running a successful small business or home office is learning to control costs. Even the smallest expenses can quickly add up and cut into profits, leaving you with a business that won't move forward.
Many small-business owners know where their money comes from, but are not as clear on where it goes. This can have a significant impact on their businesses' cash flow.
34). Creatiing Liquidity for Private Company Shares
Q: In your last column, you discussed Entrex and its creation of a private investment marketplace with public market standards and disciplines. As an investor in several private companies in my community, can I sell my shares and cash out my gains?
- Keith Harris, Chicago.
A: Just imagine if investors had a vehicle for buying and selling shares in private companies-a type of entrepreneurial exchange.
35). Debunking Common Knowledge About IRAs
According to a recent "Retirement Trends" survey by Fidelity Investments, 96 percent of Americans saving for retirement don't know the current contribution limit for an individual retirement account, with some guessing as low as $1,000. The reality is that for tax year 2005, IRA contribution limits increase to $4,000 -- up from $3,000 in 2004.
When it comes to knowing the facts about retirement, misperceptions can lead to missed opportunities.
36). Delivering Fashion in Style
Do you ever wonder how fashion trends make it from the runway to real life?
Before clothes arrive on store shelves, every article must go through hundreds of steps and travel thousands of miles. This requires well-coordinated logistics for a fast-paced industry that's already on to the next trend.
"Shipping is the thread that ties our business together," says designer Tomer Gendler.
37). Desperately Seeking Diversity, Simplicity
If you think choosing the right investments is complicated, you're not alone. Investors looking for simplicity and portfolio diversification are driving demand for all-in-one investment options.
According to Strategic Insights, a market research firm serving the mutual fund industry, more than two-thirds of the $150 billion that investors added to mutual funds in 2004 landed in asset allocation products.
38). Downturn Forces College Students to Invest
Due to changes in the economy, more and more young adults are turning to investing in order to have enough money to care for their aging parents and be able to save for their own retirements as well.
Two such young adults are Kevin Amolsch and Stephanie Jorgensen of Denver, Colo., who found themselves working full-time at a bank, going to college and wondering about their futures.
39). E-Government in China Soon to Be a Reality
Without question, the world is a big place. However, with the constant development of information technology, the world seems to get smaller all the time.
One example is the work of China Expert Technology Inc. (OTC BB:CXTI.OB), a company that builds network infrastructure and provides e-government services for community and municipal governments in China and Hong Kong.
40). EagleRider Revolutionizes Motorcycle Travel
If you enjoy your independence when you travel or just want to try something different on your next vacation, consider a motorcycle tour.
EagleRider, a leading motorcycle rental company, is now paving the way for a revolution in the way enthusiasts travel. EagleRider's self-drive tours are beginning to generate a buzz within the industry as result of their dramatic growth since conception.
41). Editors Help Business People Do the 'Write' Thing
You've got spelling and grammar checkers on your laptop computer, so you're all set to crank out the perfect sales letter while you're on the road.
But Chandra Clarke and Terence Johnson of the online editing service Scribendi.com would urge you to not hit the "print" button just yet. Those spelling and grammar checkers can make mistakes, and even one typo could not only ruin the impact of your letter but reflect poorly on you and your company.
42). Entrepreneurial Icon Sponsors Prepaid MasterCard
If there ever was a living, breathing version of the American Dream, it would be Farrah Gray.
A self-made millionaire by age 14, Gray is now an internationally known and respected entrepreneur and business leader who addresses more than half a million people per year on topics such as leadership, personal development, diversity, business development and financial management.
43). Father Knows Best: The Story of an Inventor
They say necessity is the mother of invention. In at least one notable case, it served as motivation for a resourceful father as well.
After the birth of his first child in 2000, inventor and entrepreneur Mark Rosenzweig was inspired to find a better way to clean up the inevitable messes of parenthood. His quest led to the introduction of some of the most innovative devices in the home-cleaning industry and the building of Shark Euro-Pro, a $350 million company.
44). Financial Education Can Pay Dividends for Youth
According to statistics from the National Council on Economic Education, only seven states require high school students to take a personal finance course while eight others require courses with personal finance content.
This was from a 2004 survey that also showed only nine states test personal finance knowledge. These numbers are beginning to change as the state of Missouri joins the fray and will require one-half unit of credit in personal finance instruction for graduation in 2010.
45). Firm Guides Parents Through College Savings Plans
According to a survey conducted by the New York-based College Board, college tuition costs are rising faster than the pace of inflation. Between 1993 and 2003, for example, the average cost of tuition and fees for four years rose 47 percent at public colleges and 42 percent at private institutions.
Thus, parents should start saving for college as soon as possible, says Stuart Ritter, a certified financial planner at T.
46). Five Money-Saving Travel Tips for Small Businesses
Saving money is a priority for any business, especially a small business.
Small businesses often need every break and discount they can get, and traveling can be one of the most costly areas for small businesses. Unfortunately, many of the best travel advantages only go to big businesses.
To help your business compete, here are a few tips to make your traveling expenses a little more palatable.
47). Five Ways to Make Your Organization Innovative
Creative ideas are what turn ordinary companies into market leaders. These companies see the end result first and then build a path to achieve those results.
A safety zone needs to be established. Often, failure is punished but success is not rewarded. We must remember that failure is the second cousin to success. We learn from our mistakes.
Creativity and innovation are key elements that propel businesses to the top.
48). For Troops, Goodie Bags Are a Hit Any Time of Year
"Gone but not forgotten," was a phrase often used during the Vietnam War to let soldiers who were prisoners there know that they were still remembered by their U.S. families.
Today, Deborah Crane, president and founder of Treats for Troops, has made it her company's mission to let the thousands of military men and women serving overseas know that they too are remembered back home.
49). Four Steps to Being 'King of the Economic Jungle'
To compete in today's economic jungle, you need to embrace change and respond to it better than your competitors. Those leaders who do so recognize the opportunity such an approach can bring.
Therefore, if you want to survive and prosper in today's marketplace, you need to anticipate your clients' needs and respond quickly and efficiently. If you don't, your competition will seize the new opportunity and leave you behind.
50). Fourth Quarter Machine Tool Depreciation
Accelerated depreciation in the fourth quarter of 2004 can provide significant tax shelter to many parts production job shops or tool and die shops, according to capitol equipment financing specialists at Makino, a global provider of advanced machining technology.
Operations that invest in new equipment technology and receive delivery before December 31, 2004, may see significant corporate and personal owner refunds in the spring of 2005.
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