Monthly Archives: November 2015

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Michael Sawitz From Fast Start Studios

5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make When Selecting A Location (part 2 of 2)| Lydia Mehit

downloadA third mistake entrepreneurs make is falling in love with a particular location.  “That historic Victorian is great.  It will be the perfect frame for my antique clothing business.”

Looking at the space itself, what will it take to make the improvements you would need?  Does the building need repairs?  Is it up to code?  Is the existing lighting, heating and cooling sufficient or will you need electrical or plumbing work?  Is the ventilation adequate for your needs?  How much will it cost to ready the location for your business?

Money spent to prepare the property is money you won’t have to run your business.  Set a budget for yourself, before you start looking, and stick with it.  If the estimated improvements to the property exceed your budget, keep looking.

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Reports of people dressed as clowns raise concerns in Waukesha | Jsonline

CaptureReports of people dressed as clowns in Waukesha near Carroll University in recent weeks have left some uneasy.

Earlier this month, police got a report of person dressed as a clown in the area of E. Main St. and N. Hartwell Ave., which is near Carroll University. Officials confirmed the person was a 15-year-old boy who is developmentally delayed.

Waukesha Police Sgt. Jerry Habanek said the teen likes to watch the reactions people have when he’s dressed as a clown. Police have been in communication with the teen and his family.

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Isis mocked with rubber ducks as internet fights terror with humour | The Guardian

Members of Reddit group 4chan superimpose duck heads on to images of Isis fighters, setting off craze that has spread to Twitter and Facebook

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The 10 Commandments of Marketing from Seth Godin | Page19

Seth Godin is a household name around the world. His books—on everything from how ideas spread to the post-industrial revolution—have been translated into 35 languages. But you might first have heard of him on his blog, which you can find by simply typing “seth” into Google.

Let’s run that back: you can find Seth Godin’s blog just by typing “seth” into Google, meaning his, of the millions of pages out there, is the first thing to come up in one of the world’s most powerful search engines. Logical conclusion: this guy obviously knows a thing or two about marketing.

But why go with two when you can have 10?

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Tax Scams are Once Again on the Rise | Small Biz Trends

Tax scammers are again at work and your small businesses could be vulnerable just like other consumers. Authorities insist calls from scammers claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service are on the rise around the country.

Just in case you are not aware of this tax scam, it works on fear and intimidation by the criminals. They call their victims and leave a menacing message on voice mail stating you have a warrant for your arrest because of a tax violation. When you call the number to find out what it is all about, the ruse continues to play out until they talk you into sending them money.

Here’s what you need to protect your business and yourself.

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5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make When Selecting A Location (part 1 of 2) | Lydia Mehit

downloadLocation, location, location, that is the mantra that you always hear.  Your location is a critical part of your retail business success, so you must choose wisely.  But, how do you choose the right location?

One common mistake is to select the least expensive place available to keep overhead costs low.  Containing costs is important, but remember, no amount of advertising dollars will make up for a bad location.  If people can’t find your business, they can’t spend their money with you and this will be even more expensive for you in the end.  Think of it this way.  What you don’t spend on rent you will spend in advertising.
A second mistake is using a retail location for offices and storing inventory.  Retail space is expensive and the vast majority of the space should be used to display your merchandise, not house your bookkeeper.  Put your back office staff in a different, less expensive location.

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Not one Paris attacker has been identified as a Syrian refugee | Mashable

In the wake of the Paris attacks, politicians in the United States and Europe are claiming that the movement of refugees and migrants across Europe’s borders made it possible for Islamic State (ISIS) militants to infiltrate the continent.

In response, Europe is tightening its borders, and the refugee crisis has become an unlikely subject in next year’s U.S. election. So far, Donald Trump has questioned whether Syrian refugees seeking asylum in America were part of a “Trojan Horse” plot and Gov. Chris Christie has suggested that even 5-year-old Syrian orphans should be kept out of the U.S. There have also been calls to discriminate among refugees according to religion.

But while investigators are still unravelling the plot, one fact is clear at this point: Not one Paris attacker has been identified as a refugee.

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25 Inexpensive Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Co-Workers | Business News Daily

The holiday season is upon us, and that means it’s time to start preparing for the office holiday party. Maybe you’re just looking to spread a little holiday cheer, or maybe your office throws a big Secret Santa gift exchange every year — either way, shopping for your co-workers is not always easy.

If you’re not sure what to get your co-workers this year, don’t worry. Here are 25 fun, unique and totally work-appropriate gifts that your co-workers will love. And the best part? Every item on this list is $20 or less.

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Weekly Economic Update | LAEDC

v.19 n. 47 – Released November 19, 2015

This Week’s Headlines: