The economy is tanking, folks are wondering how they’re going to make the mortgage payment this month, while still others are wondering how they’re going to feed the children this week. I don’t have to tell you how grim it is because all you have to do is walk down the street. There are no smiles on faces, only dazed eyes constantly roaming for answers. Except you. You just landed an account with two major realtors in your city for custom ceramics for them to place in houses for sale, because they saw your work in others’ sales plans and it sold houses for them.

Maybe your thing doesn’t involve a kiln or clay. Your specialty could be air fresheners you make yourself, which could possibly be marketed to small gas stations, automotive stores or even hospitals. If your thing is food that can be carried to construction sites, marinas or college campuses in town, then you have the makings of a small business. Perhaps your forte is knowledge. Your friends all come to you for advice or services, so why not construct a small business around it? Nothing is a better foul-economy-buster than targeting a market and then supplying it.

Sometimes identifying a market is no more difficult than sitting in Starbucks listening to the conversation around you. People do grumble over their coffee, don’t they? Listening to their wishes and what they’re lacking can be an eye-opener. Looking at the closed store-fronts in town and listening to passers-by on the sidewalk saying what business would be perfect for that particular store-front could net someone an idea for a small business. Many times the help-wanted ads in penny-saver type magazines or online list type sites can supply ideas for a market to target.

Many times ideas stay in people’s heads because they are afraid the ideas will be laughed at. Remember the realtors and the ceramics? If your thing is painting murals on dining room walls or the tray ceiling in the master bedroom, get out there and market yourself. Restaurants doing a re-fit would appreciate hearing from you. Is your talent math? How many after-school or day care centers are around you who might appreciate fun ways of helping the children learn? Making flash cards is old-school, but it’s still done. Why not construct a toy like a cell phone-type thing with cutesy graphics to teach them math?

Before you put your idea into production, a small survey would help boost that confidence. Social sites online can be used to get answers to a couple simple suggestions, in addition to going around to your targeted profession and asking some targeted questions. But questions are only the beginning. Get a pad and pencil to carry with you always to jot down ideas or target markets along with questions for both. Once armed with an idea and a market, the fun can begin with production, marketing, supplying a demand and customer relations. How about ceramic cars for auto insurance offices?

There are many people who want to start a small business, but most do not know where to start. There are businesses that have had huge success stories while others struggle to get their names out into the public. It can be intimidating when you think about how many people cannot pull off the success that others appear to do so seamlessly. However, there are some tips that small business owners can follow that will help get their names out there and increase their sales.

One of the first things that must be addressed is how you market your business. Everyone expects ads in the phone book or even on the Internet. As the number of these ads increase, so does the consumer’s tolerance of them. In other words, people will quickly read through it without a second thought or may even skip it altogether. Because of this, it is up to you to promote your business in a way that is not seen as often.

Using a unique advertisement method serves a number of purposes. First, it makes people sit up and take notice. It will be something they are not used to, so they will pay more attention to it. Second, the audience will remember your ad more because it stuck out from the rest. Even if you do not have the same number of services when compared to bigger businesses, you can get customers that use your services because of your ads. Your unique vision will let consumers know that you stand behind your product and are not afraid to do something new.

Another very effective way to get your services out to a wider audience is to offer a number of tiers for pricing. You can create a basic tier that has cheaper services for those that are looking for a good deal while offering a premium tier that can address those that need more attention. The tiered services allow you to market to two different audiences while being able to give them quality service. Remember that not all people are looking for a good deal while others simply want to get the job done.

Finally, there is one more method that you can use to help market your service. Look and see if there are any other small businesses that would like to partner with you and offer services together. This is a great way to help promote one another and you can also benefit if the other business is well-known. This strategy allows you to access the customers from a different, or similar, market so that they can get a sample of what you have to offer. Word of mouth is one of the strongest ways to advertise, and accessing a different audience can change your range for consumers.

In the end, how you market your business can make all the difference in the world. Make sure to take the time to create a unique marketing strategy that will impress your potential customers. You will be well rewarded for your efforts.

Summer is a season of warmth and fun, with bright sunny days by the pool that can only be topped by the warm nights spent around the campfire cooking s’mores and watching the fireflies dance. Who doesn’t love the smell of burgers cooking on the grill or the feel of cool water on their skin as they splash in the pool? Here is a list of ten necessities for the summer season.

1.) Flip Flops

The flip flop is definitely the official shoe of summer. Not only are they cool and light, they are also quite fashionable. They can be worn to the beach or paired with a short skirt for a breezy look.

2.) Picnic Basket Set
There is no better activity for a lazy summer afternoon than a picnic. This set contains everything you need for a family picnic, from plates and flatware to napkins.

3.) Sunscreen
While a bronzed glow is a trademark of summer, sunburned skin is no fun at all. Using sunscreen with a high SPF can protect your skin from damaging rays while you enjoy the summer sunshine.

4.) Swimsuits
You can’t enjoy going into the pool or a day at the beach without a great swimsuit to show off to your friends. Paired with shorts or a wrap, the right bathing suit can be worn for many of your summer activities besides swimming.

5.) BBQ Tool Sets
Nothing says summer like the smell of food cooking on the grill. Serve up a summer evening feast with this tool set for the grill.

6.) Beach Balls
This versatile toy can be used for a variety of activities for young and old. Take it to the beach, the park, or even the pool for hours of fun.

7.) Bubbles
Bubbles are one of the quintessential toys of summer. Amuse your children, excite your pets, or simply lay back in the summer sun to watch these bubbles float away into the blue sky.

8.) Kites
For those windy days at the beach, a kite is the perfect toy. Choosing a design like this colorful butterfly will stand out in the sky amongst all the other kites being flown.

9.) Mosquito Repellant
Unfortunately, not everything associated with summer is fun. When the sun goes down, the mosquitos come out to play. Save yourself the itchy bug bites and invest in a good mosquito repellant.

10.) Water Bottles
Warmer weather not only includes more activity, but also more opportunities to become accidentally dehydrated, Make sure to drink plenty of water by carrying a sturdy water bottle with you.

You have a lot to worry about when it comes to running your small business. On top of attracting customers and keeping employees paid, you also have to consider the company budget. Cutting back where you can is important, and office supplies should be a part of the list. The information below should get you on your way.

1. There is no law that states that you have to use only the most expensive supplies. It is unlikely that customers and investors will pull back if they find out that the pens on the office desks are not brand name. For this reason, it is perfectly fine to go with cheaper brands for your office supplies. Make sure, however, that the supplies work as they should. If they are so thin and brittle that they do not last more than a few days, then you will need to upgrade to something else.

2. Keeping the tip above in mind, you also are not bound to the idea of purchasing only brand new supplies. This does not work for everything – toiletries being one example – but it can be applied to furniture. If you are searching during the spring or summer, scour your local garage sales and see if you can find any office furniture among the dusty books and baby clothes. Ask any business associates if they have old office furniture they do not need anymore. Sooner or later you will come across something that works for you, and at a price that does not push the budget.

3. If you do not mind shopping online, this is another option for saving money on office supplies. Many online stores offer discounts that customers are quick to take advantage of. You may save a few dollars or just a few cents, but in the long run it can make a difference. You need to factor in shipping with the overall total, but if you buy a certain amount you may be able to get free shipping. Online stores are also good for finding rare or very specific office supplies that you need.

4. Try to make the office supplies you have in your arsenal last as long as possible. If you do not need to sharpen your pencil every two minutes, do not do it no matter how tempting it may be. The pencil sharpener could break, or the batteries will need to be replaced more often. Do not throw away pens and markers when they still have plenty of ink left. Use two sides of one piece of paper when you wish to print something. These are just a few things you can do to help your supplies last as long as possible.

Are you a teacher in a district that’s making huge budget cuts? Let DollarDays help with some of your expenses on school supplies. Imagine the possibilities of what $500 could do for your classroom!

Prize Details
Teachers enter to win a $500 shopping spree at DollarDays! We understand that teachers often have to spend their own money on supplies. Win this shopping spree and start your year off right!

Contest Instructions
Teachers enter to win between June 1st and June 15th. Then tell all of your friends to come back daily between June 16th and June 30th and vote! The teacher with the most votes on June 30th will win a $500 shopping spree at Dollar Days!

Enter the contest on Facebook, contest ends June 15th, so hurry and spread the word!

Many people look at rising food prices and feel that it’s impossible to eat a healthy whole-food diet on a budget. But switching to and maintaining a healthy diet can be cost-effective and even cheaper than a conventional diet if a few simple shopping habits are established.

Shop Around
Most local newspapers have a Sunday edition that includes weekly ads for local grocery stores, and many stores now have digital copies of their ads available online. Take advantage of whatever format is most convenient and look through each ad at the beginning of the week. Write down sales on items you need or that are frequently used in your home. Pay particular attention to sales on fresh fruits and vegetables, as these can be helpful starting points for your weekly dinner menu.

Cut (or Print) Coupons
In addition to ads, newspapers can be a source for money-saving coupons. Taking the time to look through these and cut out any that seem useful can help your budget a great deal. And as awareness of the benefits of healthy eating grows, so does the presence of coupons for things like grains, beans, and meat-free products.

It’s also possible to take advantage of coupons from a variety of online savings sites. Websites like Coupons.com and MamboSprouts.com allow you to browse through coupons for everything from organic pasta sauce to dairy-free “milks.” More healthy savings can be found at OrganicGroceryDeals.com, where users submit helpful information about shopping for organic foods, including current sales and discounts wholesale food.

Co-Ops & Farmer’s Markets
When you want a good selection of local foods or are looking for a source of specific products such as organic, non-GMO, vegan, or gluten-free, it’s time to seek out co-ops and farmer’s markets. Co-ops are member-owned operations that may have a retail presence or be strictly mail-order. Be sure to inquire on whether or not you need to be a member before buying from a co-op, and familiarize yourself with order deadlines of those that operate by mail. Many co-ops offer bulk discounts on items like grains, beans, and even everyday things like bread. If you’re willing to buy in quantity, you can save a great deal of money.

Farmer’s markets are the best place to find fresh produce from nearby farms. Doing this helps you save money in two ways. First, by buying what’s in season you choose from a variety of foods that are growing in abundance and are therefore readily available. Second, the produce at farmer’s markets travels a much shorter distance than what you find in grocery stores. Lower transportation costs means a lower price for you, the consumer.

Whether you’ve been wanting to eat healthier or are looking for ways to include more whole foods into your diet, it’s easy to fit your lifestyle to your budget. If you have other money-saving tips for people looking to improve their health, feel free to share them!

Many new entrepreneurs tend to believe that having a formal marketing plan may be excessive in the initial stages of their business. In some cases, this may be true but one thing that’s important to know before spending on advertising is the audience.

Forget a flashy website, t-shirt giveaways or expensive commercials for radio or TV. Find out who the potential customer is, where they are most likely to be found and what interests them and why. Then, find at least two methods as to how to reach them.

Do they read more than watch TV? How do they spend leisure time? What business competitor is currently servicing their needs and desires? What advantages does the new business have that’s sure to lure customers in? Are the potential customers impressed by visuals or gadgets? These are some of the questions a new business should ask before getting involved in any advertising campaign.

Everyday more people are doing things online such as paying household expenses, applying for work, attending school, playing video games or watching rented movies, shopping, getting advice on everything from appliances to relationships and the list goes on. These days, measures are taken so that payments are secure and customer data is kept confidential. Also, free or low-cost high-speed internet connections are accessible to just about everyone.

So there’s a good chance that the customer is online at some point on an average day. Once it’s discovered what their interests are, find what methods work best in order to reach them effectively. It is best to pick at least two to start and note alternative ways.

If a traditional press release has not been created, now is the best time to do so. Or update an old one with changes or make it more interesting. While there many companies or individuals that may write and distribute a press release as a business, an entrepreneur can do these themselves.

Press release templates as well as distribution outlets can be found online at little or no cost. Most local and national newspapers have press submission instructions on their websites. It’s important to read and understand every submission process as they can vary. Remember, this service is free to the business and not obligatory on the part of the medium.

When it comes to publishing, the local newspapers have a better guarantee than the larger national ones. The best way to ensure inclusion in a newspaper or periodical is to buy costly ad space. This works best when the business is profitable enough to seriously consider it as a return on investment instead of an expense.

A basic release is also a good way to have all company history and other information in one place. When networking online, which is free or low-cost, you may be asked to submit company data within a specified word count. So information taken from the press release can be written as 10, 25 or 100-word paragraphs that are ready to send to the media so business can get much-needed exposure.

There are a lot of articles on how to save money, stick to your budget and cut corners. When the economy is down, people tend to get down too – but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to learn how to live frugally and have fun at the same time. Changing your spending and learning how to be more frugal can be a challenge, but learning to cut down on your spending while still getting “the good things” for yourself and your family can actually be exciting!

Let’s start with the biggest challenge of all – the grocery bill. One way to save is to only shop once a month. By making out a 30-day menu for your family including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, you can make one big list and buy all of your big items on one day. The more times you go to the store, the more opportunities you have to become tempted to buy things you don’t really need. You can get some great tips on shopping, freezing and even cooking once-a-month at websites like http://onceamonthmom.com and http://simplemom.net/how-to-menu-plan.

Another great way to save on the grocery bill is to learn how to clip coupons and get great deals that combine sales and coupons. One of the best websites that will help you to live the frugal life is http://dealseekingmom.com. You can learn how to get free items, low-cost to no-cost magazine subscriptions, amazing deals on multiple items and much more. There’s nothing quite like the happy satisfaction of seeing your store receipt and finding out that you saved 40-50% or more off your bill!

Entertainment is always a concern when people begin to live a frugal lifestyle. When it costs over $40 for a family of 4 to go to the movies – sans popcorn or drinks – you know it’s time to look for alternatives. Netflix is a great source of low-cost entertainment. For under $10/month you can get unlimited movie rentals and access to movies online via your wireless Wii, Playstation or XBox 360 devices. Redbox is another great source of low-cost and sometimes free entertainment. By joining their website you can get a FREE movie rental once a month and enjoy $1/day movie rentals all month long. There are even websites such as http://www.insideredbox.com that give you FREE codes – for FREE!

Vacations are another place where we tend to over-spend and with summer just around the corner, it’s time to think of some alternative ideas. Planning a “staycation” is becoming a popular solution, with many people spending their vacation money in other ways to get more fun out of each dollar. Check out the “Best Staycation Ideas” at Better Homes & Gardens or go through the top “16 Ideas for an Exciting Staycation” at Yahoo’s Shine website.

Once you learn the ins and outs of frugal living, you’ll be able to spot even more ways to save – and that’s when the real fun begins!

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