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In Amish Country, A Lesson in Niche Marketing
Founded in the early 1800s, Kidron, Ohio, is home to fewer than 1,000 residents. But the town, in the heart of Ohio’s Amish country (a community of about 40,000 people), is where you’ll find Lehman’s...
View ArticleValentine’s Niche: Say It With Beer and Beef Jerky?
Valentine’s Day sales don’t measure up to Christmas, but for some businesses, the holiday is still pretty sweet. On average, shoppers will spend about $126 each on loved ones this year, up 8.5 percent...
View ArticleWhat ‘Project Runway’ Can Teach You About Business
Entrepreneurs often start a business so they can work at what they love. But here’s the rub: Business success usually comes from a focus on pleasing the customer, not pursuing your own bliss. Two...
View ArticleSeven Ways Business Owners Can Beat the January Doldrums
Well, it’s after Christmas — and after the after-Christmas sales. For many businesses, especially in retail and ecommerce, January can be a dead month — even in a good economy. Employee morale may...
View ArticleHow One Business Is Expanding Beyond Its Local Market
When Darren Mahuron was young, there was only one thing he wanted to be for a living: an artist. The window opened one day when his employer needed a product photographer. He taught himself about...
View ArticleFree Market-Research Tools — A Sampler
Before Darlene Tenes, founder of CasaQ in San Jose, Calif., sinks a lot of money into new designs for Christmas ornaments, she sends sketches to retail and wholesale clients. They report back through...
View ArticleFive Affordable Consumer Research Tools
Before launching a new product or entering a new market, it’s always wise to gauge potential demand by getting feedback from your target audience. That usually means surveying large consumer opinion...
View ArticleWhat to Do When the Mailman Slows Your Business Down
If you thought snail mail was slow before, you haven’t seen anything yet. The revenue-strapped U.S. Postal Service announced yet another way to cut costs: shave the delivery time on first class mail....
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A New Way to Crowdsource Customer Feedback
Just because you’re a search engine optimization guru doesn’t mean you always know where or even how to find the answers you’re seeking. Ask Ben Wills, co-founder and CEO of Boulder, Colo.-based...
View Article12 Ways to (Legally) Spy on Your Competitors
Ever wonder what your competitors are up to? You should. They might be creating new products, planning to enter new markets — or maybe they’re floundering. If you knew, it could give you an edge....
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