economy

Maybe Van Wilder had the right idea when he chose to stay in college for the better part of a decade.  Things don’t appear to be much better out here.  Regardless of your political stance or who you voted for, the research tells a consistent and dramatic story. 
 

It’s not quite David vs. Goliath but, nevertheless, we find ourselves revisiting this age old clash once again.

As the economy scratches and claws its way back, more than 70% of Americans think that small businesses are more likely to turn around the economy than the federal government.

Many economic experts claim that we have navigated through the worst of an economic recession - the likes of which we haven’t seen since 1929.  They could be right or they could be wrong.  Either way, it seemed safe to assume that, at some point, the economy in this country would rebound. 

Several market research firms have released studies claiming that consumers are ready to start spending again.  According to them, while the economy may still be struggling, things are headed in the right direction…which means expected increases in consumer spending.

These studies oversimplify the consumer mindset.

What is the Most Popular Small Biz Strategy for 2010?  

For small business owners, better understanding their competitors can help turn their focus in 2010 from surviving to thriving.  A new survey of small business owners from Brother and conducted by Wakefield Research reveals the inside track on how small business owners intend to tackle 2010.

The Pew Research Center recently released a national report on marriage, which included this nifty map of the 50 states.  Just roll your cursor over any state, and you’ll instantly see a snapshot of key statistics.  The stats include the percentage of couples who are currently married, as well as the percentage of adults who have been married three or more times.

The N.Y.

Back in the 1990s, the hard-rockin' band Bane released an album called It All Comes Down to This. But there wasn't a single track on that album about men's underwear. Maybe band members just hadn't heard.

Another Wakefield Snapshot

Wakefield recently conducted a survey on behalf of Bliss-Phillips on the subject of bikini-line shaving.  It found that 80 percent of women have tried it at least once. It turns out that bikini-line grooming is one of the most widely practiced beauty routines in America. Who knew?

Maybe some ideas are so good that the economic climate is irrelevant (like the Manzier) but kudos to anyone with the cojones to start a business in this economy.

But that's exactly what some brave souls have done. In the midst of one of the worst economies in national history, more than four in 10 Americans (42%) have considered starting their own business since the start of the downturn.