Small-business Advice: Save Energy, Save Money

Last year, the government's Cash for Clunkers program got plenty of attention for giving individuals financial incentives to trade in gas guzzlers in exchange for newer, more fuel-efficient replacements. Cash for Clunkers was then followed [...] in many parts of the country by other programs that promoted energy efficiency by giving rebates that encourag[ed] consumers to upgrade from … Continue reading Small-business Advice: Save Energy, Save Money

Small-business Expert Interview: Shel Horowitz

DollarDays Blog is pleased to share the expertise of Shel Horowitz, ethical/green-marketing expert. DollarDays Blog (DDB): Please describe your background and business expertise in a nutshell. Shel Horowitz: I founded my own business in 1981 with a total investment of $200, of which $12 went for initial marketing. I am still in that business, although it … Continue reading Small-business Expert Interview: Shel Horowitz

Small-business Advice: Getting Exposure Through Blogs

Sure, it would be fantastic if your small business was featured on "Good Morning America" or in the pages of People magazine. But let's be realistic—the odds of getting covered in such a mass-market publication are low simply because of the massive level of competition for scarce pages or airtime. "Good Morning America"'s producers need to attract the maximum number … Continue reading Small-business Advice: Getting Exposure Through Blogs

Frugal Living Tip: Affordable Nights on the Town

Merry Christmas! On this holiday, perhaps it's worth reflecting on the difference between being frugal and being a Scrooge. A frugal person avoids frivolous and wasteful spending. A frugal person loves value. A Scrooge lacks generosity. A Scrooge despises lighthearted fun. But a frugal person knows that it is possible to have fun and be kind … Continue reading Frugal Living Tip: Affordable Nights on the Town

The American Library Association, DollarDays Announcing a New Member Benefits Program

The American Library Association (ALA) and DollarDays are announcing a new member benefits program. Nationwide, thousands of libraries have found DollarDays a low-cost provider of many of the items they need to successfully run their libraries. ALA members now have the added benefit of free shipping and no minimum order on more than 55,000 wholesale … Continue reading The American Library Association, DollarDays Announcing a New Member Benefits Program

Small-business Expert Interview: Ray Silverstein, Author of “The Best Secrets of Great Small Businesses”

DollarDays Blog is pleased to present the business expertise of Ray Silverstein, author of The Best Secrets of Great Small Businesses. Silverstein has also written a new book called The Small Business Survival Guide: How to Survive (and Thrive) During Tough Times. Silverstein also founded PRO: President’s Resource Organization, a network of peer advisory boards for entrepreneurs. … Continue reading Small-business Expert Interview: Ray Silverstein, Author of “The Best Secrets of Great Small Businesses”

Small-business Advice: Tackling Tricky Hiring Issues

One of the best parts of building a company is hiring great people so that your business can benefit from their skills, their ideas and their enthusiasm. But as Merrin Muxlow has pointed out over at the Resource Nation blog, recruiting new employees involves a host of tricky legal and ethical issues, including background checks and employment law … Continue reading Small-business Advice: Tackling Tricky Hiring Issues

Frugal Living Tip: Would You Rather Pay the Bank or Pay Yourself?

There's nothing wrong with having nice things like a comfortable late-model car—as long as you can afford them. Of course, if you can't afford to purchase expensive products outright, a bank or lender will often lend you the money upfront and let you pay it back on an installment plan. Sounds generous—until you realize just … Continue reading Frugal Living Tip: Would You Rather Pay the Bank or Pay Yourself?