Disney Store Redux: Retailers Must Use Their Imagination

On October 20, 2009

Disney Store Redux: Retailers Must Use Their Imagination

Walt Disney's multimedia plan to reinvent its retail stores is being driven by six words that can jump start a lagging economy: It is time to take risks. That is the rationale for Disney transforming its 340 retail stores into "Imagination Parks" where interactive entertainment, recreation and commerce create an experience more like its theme parks than shopping. "The world does not need another place to sell Disney merchandise -- this only works if  it's an experience," Jim Fielding, president of Walt Disney Stores Worldwide, told the NYT. The makeover blueprint, which is a whole lot more than redecorating, draws on all of Disney's corporate resources, including some past experimentation. It is reminiscent of the company's short-lived high-tech DisneyQuest indoor...
On October 20, 2009

What Are People Doing on Your Website – Jim Sterne (4:13)

In this short video interview, Internet marketing expert Jim Sterne discusses the very simple premise of Web analytics -- that if you can find out what interests people on your site, you can focus more energy, investment, and focus there in order to increase income. Companies that develop the ability to learn from their analytics can thrive; those that don't will gradually die.
On October 20, 2009

It’s All About Me!

All about me? Well it shouldn't be, not according to my latest video interview guest anyway. In this short video, filmed after his keynote address at Flying Solo LIVE! author and small business expert, Andrew Griffiths suggests that instead of continually looking inwards and being overly self-focused in our quest for answers, we need to look externally to master the necessary lessons of life. Andrew is one person who could be forgiven for being somewhat introspective. He grew up an orphan in Western Australia starting his first enterprise at the age of 7 - a newspaper round in the seedy red light area of Perth. Sometime later he moved into such activities as door to door encyclopaedia sales. Catch his...
On October 20, 2009

What’s Up with Apple’s Numbers?

Apple's numbers were very impressive, with significant hikes in net revenue, gross margin, and net profit measured year-over-year. Nothing to complain about there. Except, some things in the results just don't seem to add up.
On October 20, 2009

Small Business Health Reform Roundup

Several news items today on health reform and small business:

  • The Senate Small Business Committee this morning heard from small business stakeholders about what kind of health reform they want to see. You can watch the hearing and download testimony here.
  • Committee chair Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) makes the case on MSNBC for a national exchange. Landrieu, a moderate Dem, and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the ranking Republican of the small biz committee, are worth watching. Snowe, who voted for the Senate Finance bill in committee, is the Democrats' best chance to pass a bill with a fig leaf of bipartisanship.
  • The White House just put out a new report making the case that health reform will benefit small business.
  • Senate Democrats expect to hammer out most differences between the two Senate versions (Finance and HELP committees) this week. The details of any public option or employer mandate could be decided in the next few days.
  • Massachusetts mulls ways to keep premiums for small businesses in check after criticism that the state's mandates (which apply to companies with 11 or more full-time equivalents) are too burdensome.

Anything we missed? Let us know. And stay on top of government news with our new Small Business Policy Ticker.

On October 20, 2009

When Paulson Met Goldman: From Russia With Love

Still dubious that former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson showed favoritism toward Goldman Sachs, his former firm, during the financial crisis? Read on. In his new book, NYT reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin, here via Felix Salmon, recounts Paulson's June 2008 meeting in Moscow with members of Goldman's board of directors. Why Russia? Apparently because the investment bank officials happened to be in town to huddle with Mikhail Gorbachev, perhaps to book up on the finer points of perestroika. When Paulson learned that Goldman’s board would be in Moscow at the same time as him, he had [Treasury chief of staff] Jim Wilkinson organize a meeting with them. Nothing formal, purely social -- for old times’ sake. For fuck’s sake! Wilkinson thought....


On October 20, 2009

Pfizer Q3: Healthy Profit Masks Revenue Decline

This merger with Wyeth can't come soon enough for Pfizer. The company's revenues were down 3 percent to $11.6 billion in Q3 2009, although net income was $2.8 billion up 26 percent. That healthy profit growth masks the reality of Pfizer's business: Of all its drugs, only four saw growth.


On October 20, 2009

How to Get the Most From Google Tasks

Sometimes I feel like Google treats its task manager (a.k.a. Tasks) like the red-headed stepchild. That's slowly starting to change, as Tasks has not only graduated from Google Labs, but also gained integration with Gmail and Google Calendar. As of today, Google Tasks has its own iGoogle gadget. You can find out more in the following video: When you're done with that, check out this batch of Google Tasks power tips, which come courtesy of the Official Google Blog: When you have completed a task and no longer want it to appear on your list, click "Clear completed" in the actions menu. You can review your completed tasks later by clicking "View completed tasks." Clearing completed tasks is different from...
On October 20, 2009

Maximizing Microcelebrity: Ideas on turning popularity into profits

Terri Senft is credited with coining the term “micro-celebrity”, and as soon as you hear it, you probably have a decent idea what it means. It’s the result of using social media to gain a significant following on your outlets (Blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn,…), in hopes of maximizing your few moments of fame. [...]
Next Page
Previous Page