Home Theatre and Projector | Cool Business Ideas

April 12, 2022April 9, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Last month, Epson made an impressive bid for home theaters with the launch of its most advanced laser projector to date, the Pro Cinema LS12000. Now the company has trickled down flagship technology into a cheaper 4K HDR model aimed at movie watchers and big-screen gamers.

“A 65-inch flat panel isn’t cutting it when it comes to achieving total immersion in today’s stunning movie and gaming experiences,” said Epson’s Rodrigo Catalan. “If you’re looking for a 4K HDR home theater and gaming experience that will exceed your expectations, the Epson Home Cinema LS11000 is one of the best Home Cinema projectors Epson has ever made.”

Three Ways to Show Appreciation for Your Employees | Getentrepreneurial.com

April 11, 2022April 9, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Customer reception is vital for business. It’s what keeps the workplace active and able to make changes. Companies can determine how customers feel about certain products and services by using perceptual mapping and other marketing techniques, but how can you show your employees how you feel about them? While customers are extremely important, so are the employees that keep the business running, so it’s good to show them that they are appreciated for everything they do. But how can you do so?

Start the Feeding Frenzy

If there’s one thing that will win people over, it’s food. Everybody eats, and everybody has their own personal preferences, but occasionally buying lunch for the team will work wonders around the office. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who would deny a free lunch. In fact, they’d likely be thrilled by your offer. You don’t have to do this every day, or even every week, but simply surprising your employees every once in a while will make them feel like you really care about them enough to do things you don’t have to—even if it’s as simple as getting them a sandwich.

Solo Stove Pi dual-fuel off-grid oven bakes pizzas anywhere | New Atlas

April 11, 2022April 9, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Solo Stove emerged as one of the true all-stars of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The company behind some of the world’s favorite smokeless fire pits has now expanded its outdoor kitchen offerings with a pizza oven. Rather than just the fire-top oven accessory some other brands offer, Solo Stove’s Pi is a standalone oven that can spit out red-hot pizzas using either wood or gas for fuel. And it can do so anywhere from a small backyard to the deep backcountry.

When the early 2020 days of the pandemic limited out-of-the-house excursions to the backyard, apartment terrace or local park, people naturally looked for products that would enhance the experience. And few things proved more comforting than a fire pit around which folks could socialize at a safe distance, especially a fire pit that sucks in its own smoke so as not to make anyone teary eyed or scratchy throated.

Etsy sellers explain why they’re going on strike | Mashable

April 8, 2022April 7, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Etsy’s reputation as the feel-good home of whimsical goods and small businesses is being put on blast — by Etsy sellers themselves.

On April 11, thousands of Etsy sellers, many of whom work full-time selling their merchandise on the site, plan to go on strike by putting their shops in “vacation mode” and not selling their goods for a week.

The shop owners are protesting a number of business changes Etsy has made over the past few years that sellers say have degraded the platform and made it harder for them to run their businesses and earn a profit. Most directly, the strike is in response to a bump in the fee Etsy charges sellers: On April 11, it goes from 5 percent to 6.5 percent — a 30 percent increase — as announced in February.

US consumer debt jumped by $40 billion in February | CNN

April 8, 2022April 7, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Americans got into a lot more debt in February as rampant inflation kept up the pressure, the Federal Reserve’s consumer credit report showed Thursday.

Debt levels jumped by nearly $42 billion to a total of almost $4.5 trillion. That’s an annual increase of 11.3%, seasonally adjusted, far outperforming economists’ expectations and setting a new high. In January, total credit had grown only 2.4%.

The Fed’s historical consumer credit data goes back to the early 1940s.

Revolving credit, which includes credit cards, jumped by 20.7% to about $1.1 trillion. The category increased by only 4% in the prior month.

9 Best Blankets to Help You Sleep Better Than a Baby | Life Hack

April 7, 2022April 6, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Having the best blankets in your bed is a luxury. After all, there’s nothing more satisfying than crawling to your bed after a long and tiring day and snuggling up to your favorite blanket.

If you are on the lookout for the best blankets, you’re on the right page.

Criteria for the Best Blankets

Shopping for a blanket is not an easy task. You have to put some effort into looking for the best one for you. But what do you look for in the best blanket?

New fashion, beauty, and food collaborations for spring 2022 | Fast Company

April 6, 2022April 5, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

This spring, if your face smells like donuts and your outfit comes from a farmers market stand? Congratulations, you’re bang on-trend. As fashion and beauty brands seek to engage new customers in a social media-driven, post-pandemic economy, partnerships and collaborations teams are increasingly turning to food—including iconic restaurant brands and flavorful experiences—to lure shoppers back to brick-and-mortar retail.

Last month, when British bakery chain Greggs debuted a collaboration with fast fashion retailer Primark in the UK, fans of pasties queued up for hours to score the logo-emblazoned loungewear. Not long after Coach announced its Zabar’s capsule collection—comprising bagel-printed luxury tees, sweaters, and totes—nearly every single item sold out online. And this week, two megabrands in the beauty and fashion space enter the fray with retail concepts and in-store activations themed around food.

Selling Your Product in Online Marketplaces | AllBusiness.com

April 6, 2022April 5, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Online marketplaces have taken off in recent years. Shoppers are flocking to sites like Amazon and Walmart.com for more selection, better pricing, and the ease and comfort of shopping from home. If you’re an entrepreneur, selling your products on online marketplaces can lead to incremental sales growth and will get your brand in front of millions of shoppers.

Who are the biggest online marketplaces?

First, let’s define some of the big players where you can sell your products. Here are the top online marketplaces in the United States based on monthly visitors:

Should You Get a Women-Owned Business Certification? | Small Business Trends

April 5, 2022April 3, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Female business owners have traditionally faced unique challenges when seeking funding and government contracts. To balance those disadvantages, there are now certain programs and contracting dollars that are reserved just for women-owned businesses. However, owning a business as a woman isn’t enough; there are specific certification requirements companies must meet to be eligible.

What is a Women-Owned Business Certification?

A women-owned small businesses certification is an official designation through the U.S. Small Business Administration. Companies that achieve this certification process are eligible for programs and contracts set aside for women-owned small businesses.