Image: istockphoto

Consumer confidence has taken a hit in recent months because of stagnant wages and growing unemployment, two factors that have raised worries that consumers will cut back spending in the coming months.

Analysts also worry that consumers will grow reliant on government programs, holding onto their money when no such programs are available.

These figures have caused analysts to predict that consumers will spend less aggressively going into the holiday season, which may prove to be disastrous for retailers that rely on strong holiday sales to get through the rest of the year. However, inflation did not rise as much as expected, which is a relief to policymakers.

Post from: EveryJoe

Consumer Spending Fell in September

Image: Flickr

Sony just posted its fourth-consecutive quarterly loss on Friday, a fact that is troublesome on its own. However, the brighter outlook on the global economy and cost-cutting measures have allowed Sony to trim its loss forecast for the year in hopes that the situation will continue to improve.

Panasonic also raised its annual forecast, a move that may show that Japanese consumer electronics makers have reached the depths of the recession and are on their way to recovery. While demand for televisions and other electronics had disappeared at the height of the global economic crisis, Panasonic’s optimism gives hope to the rest of the consumer electronics industry.

Post from: EveryJoe

Consumer Electronics Makers Recovering

The company did increase oil production by 11 percent. The average sale price was $62 per barrel — definitely better than last quarter but still far below the $103 per barrel during the same period in 2008.

Image: Flickr

“We continued to experience weak margins on the sale of gasoline and other refined products,” said Chairman and CEO Dave OReilly. “Weak demand and plentiful supply affected all our major markets.”

The exploration and production division saw profits fall 41 percent to $3.6 billion. The refining business saw earrings drop more dramatically — 89 percent to $194 million. In addition, the company said foreign exchange charges of $81 million for the quarter made it considerably more expensive to operate overseas.

The results weren’t unexpected. Chevron and other oil and gas companies did not expect results to compare to the go-go oil market of the summer of 2008.

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Chevron 3Q Profit Down 51 Percent

Rebit.com is one player in the PC backup market. Recently, this startup named Paul Guerin as its CEO. Guerin has worked for a number of major corporations including Lotus, IBM and GTSI. He has also worked for a few startups including Jabber, Torrent Systems and Digital Archaeology.

Said Guerin, who steps into his role immediately: “Rebit’s product line is impressive and innovative, and the company’s employees are highly experienced industry professionals and leaders. I am thrilled to be joining this exemplary team and taking the next steps toward growing the company from the strong foundation that Lew Frauenfelder built.”

Reviewers say that Rebit.com offers an extremely simple solution that provides continuous backup without any configuration, scheduling or setup. Its scope of what it backs up is also highly regarded.

What are you doing to backup your PC?(Image: Flickr)

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PC Backup Startup Names New CEO

You can also stop by and visit me at one of my other blogs. Mostly I blog about parties and entertaining, with a little kid’s stuff thrown in for fun. So, if you like parties or kids (and who doesn’t like kids!) stop by The Kid’s Birthday Fun Review, The Home and Garden Cafe, She Knows Parties, or Play Library and say hi when you get bored.

I’m also planning on writing a little about business (especially online businesses) at Lens Author, because I think I’m going to miss writing about business when I’m done here.

I’ve enjoyed sharing with all of you the last couple months. I’ve learned that I can pull quite a bit of information about small businesses out of my brain, I didn’t even know I had quite so much tucked away in there.

Thanks for the fun ride!

Image (c) L Gerlach

Post from: EveryJoe

Goodbye From Small Business

Image: SXC.hu

Managing a successful support team takes a project manager who is willing to not only work on developing their team but also developing themselves. Below are a list of areas where a project manager should either currently excel in or are developing in as part of their skillset. This list is based on the acronym “L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P”:

• Listening.
• Encouraging.
• Adapting.
• Delegating.
• Energizing.
• Realistic.
• Shaping.
• Helping.
• Integrity.
• Principled.

As you review these 10 skills that a project team leader should possess, keep in mind that if you don’t possess a skill, you can learn it, refine it and then incorporate it into your skill set. It all about teamwork and team building as you manage your project team. So also look for some of these skills in your team members as a way to continue building a firm foundation for your team.

Post from: EveryJoe

How To Manage Your Support Team

1. One of the biggest advantages is working in your slippers if you want to. When you’re not meeting with clients or customers you can hang out in comfortable clothes and your slippers if you want to. I do always try to get dressed for the day when I get up in the morning. I think that sets the tone for the day. When I’m up and dressed I’m ready to get to work.
2. You can set your own hours. Setting your own hours is usually a benefit, as long as you make sure you set aside some time for work. Don’t just blow it off because you have flexibility. You’ve got to put the hours in if you want to build your business.
3. You can decorate your office or work space however you want to. If you want to go all out for Christmas, there’s no one stopping you. If you want photos on your desk, or a coffee warmer, it’s all up to you.
4. You don’t have to pay for a separate work space. If you set up an office or a storefront it’s an additional monthly cost to your business.
5. You’ll save big on commuting costs. With gas prices up you can save big dollars each month on gas, wear and tear on your car, and insurance by driving fewer miles and working from home.

If you run your small business from home, what is your favorite advantage?

Home office image (c) L Gerlach

Post from: EveryJoe

5 Advantages Running a Small Biz From Home

Seasonal businesses do have their draw backs, one of the biggest drawbacks is cash flow. It can be hard not to spend when you have cash in hand, but you do have to budget for the off months. There may still be rent to pay, and other fixed costs that you’ll have to have cash for when there is little or no cash coming in the door.

That’s not to say that you can’t make a wonderful business out of something seasonal. There’s definitely money to be made there. You just need to be extra careful to set up your business plan and your budget to include some down time.

Some examples of seasonal business ideas include:

• Lawn care and landscaping
• Christmas, or Halloween shops
• Tax Accounting
• Fresh produce stands
• Ice cream stands

There are many more out there, and many more potential seasonal businesses no one has thought of yet. If you’re thinking about starting a small business, there may be a seasonal market out there looking for what you have to offer, if you’re willing to work really hard for a few months out of the year.

Image sxc.hu

Post from: EveryJoe

Seasonal Small Business Ideas

Are you someone who’s got a great idea for a small business? Maybe you’ve thoght of  a new product, or a new way of doing things, or cutting edge technology? Will you be able to get it off the ground, or will it be just an idea in your head?

How can you get your dream business from ideas to reality?

• If you can’t finance your business yourself you will need to develop a workable business plan to present to possible investors.
• Stay motivated and positive to help you power through the hurdles that will be thrown at you.
• There are many small business resources to help you through the business learning curve.
• Stick with it, and don’t give up.

Do you have any advice to share with someone trying to take it from idea to small business?

Post from: EveryJoe

Small Business False Starts

Beginning this week, Newsday, the Long Island newspaper New York city commuters choose as a last resort for something to read on the way to work in the event their train station newsstand doesn’t have the NYTimes, the NYPost or a three-month-old copy of Tiger Beat, announced it is moving to a pay-for-content web model.

A spokesman for the paper described the new model, which will attempt to charge five dollars a week ($260/year?!) to customers who aren’t subscribed to the Optimum Online cable system or the newspaper, as a “pioneering Web model.”

The “pioneering” web model is modeled after another famous pioneering venture, the Donner Party, which ended in catastrophe and human cannibalism as the group of early settlers starved to death due to poor planning and an over-ambitious agenda.

Contrary to most prior evidence and common sense, Newsday is excited about what they are calling a “hyper-local” approach to news.

It’s why your local Pennysaver paper is such a media force.

Who is going to pay $260/year for hyper-local news about Long Island?

What the hell is “hyper-local” news anyway? I really don’t care about a story that the trains ran late again yesterday or that a cultural group has formed to help preserve one of the world’s top three most annoying accents.

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Hyper-local. Hyper-boring.

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Image: Zuma Press

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Post from: EveryJoe

Newsday Creates ‘Pioneering Web Model’