There are many buttons that identify the funemployed.  They are unemployed, but they don’t care, because they have the funds to live and enjoy life.  They are usually single, under 35, no mortgage, no children, and want to enjoy their lives, whether by travelling, or by playing, golfing, skiing, whatever it takes to keep them busy having fun.

Many of the funemployed are previously corporate workers with high earnings.  Recently laid off during the recession, they have unemployment benefits, severance packages or savings that allow them to stay funemployed.   This phenomenon is happening all across North America and the globe.  In fact, there are over 10 million millionaires all across the globe.  People who do not have to work and have time to travel.

So, as an entrepreneur, do not ignore this group of target market.  Be sure to include them in your market research and marketing strategy.

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Vehicle signage is still one of the best marketing or advertising tool a business can have.  Just look at this car in the shape of a dog.  The owner of this car is in the pet grooming business.

This car tells me the following:

1.  That the owner is creative, innovative, fun and has a sense of humour.

2.  That the owner wants my business and is willing to take risk.

3.  That this owner has a positive attitude and is on his way to success.

An effective vehicle sign works as advertising 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  It provides a conversation topic and you can be sure people cannot stop talking about it.

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Edutainment refers to entertainment that has an education component.   There are many examples of edutainment businesses, which offer a competitive edge over businesses that offers either only entertainment or education.     An interesting example worth studying by entrepreneurs or business students  are the English villages being built around the world.    English villages are replica villages in foreign countries designed  as language education institutions and created with a  language immersion environment for students of English in their own country.

Above photo  – aerial view of an English Village in Korea.
In an effort to halt the flow of money out from Korea
by students studying English in foreign countries,
Korea now has several English villages offering English immersion in Korea.

Read more »

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Mimi did a presentation and she used this youtube video clip to emphasize the fast changing technology that we face today.

Did you know?
The average North American
will have 10-14 jobs by the time he/she reaches 38 years.
1 in 4 employees will have worked  for the same employer less than a year.
1 in 2 employees will have worked for the same employer less than 5 years.
1 in 8 couples met online
A student in a 4-year technical college will have half of what he learned become outdated by his third year of study.
In 1984, there were 1000 internet devices.
In 1992, there were 1,000,000 internet devices.
In 2008, there were 1,000,000,000 internet devices.
The amount of time it takes to reach an audience of 50 million.
Radio – 38 years
TV – 13 years
Internet – 4 years
Ipod – 3 years
Facebook – 2 years

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Last week, the Friendly Bank sent two of its representatives from the head office to our Institute to explain their lending system.

They made  a power point presentation about their lending policies, and the different products they have for entrepreneurs.  They are a friendly bank because they have a character-based lending policy (meaning that they will lend money based on the character of the applicant) as opposed to a asset-based lending policy (meaning that they will lend money only based on  hard asset as collateral).

They explained their ladder system of lending from a starter point of $5,000, to $35,000, $75,000 and so on.  Tips on how to repair one’s credit score,  how to establish a credit history, and why an entrepreneur must set up a line of credit account even prior to needing one; the difference between term loans, line of credit, bridge financing, mezannine financing, blended loan payments, fixed loan repayments…….

Both reps are young adults in their late 20’s, sharply dressed, and very well spoken.  They gave out their email addresses and asked that our students can email directly with any questions and they will not only answer them but also direct their loan  inquiries to the proper branches.  What a treat!

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My world is getting larger and larger everyday as I interact with students and teachers.  This weekend, I was invited to go to a Shoe Show at the Hilton Hotel by a student  in the shoe business.   This Shoe Show is an annual show where exhibitors (manufacturers,  factory agents, and importers/distributors) get to promote their products and take orders from the retailers.    This is the footwear buying event for the Spring 2010 season.  A biz-to-biz trade show, this is not open to the general public, however, as an intern, I am an invited guest and is able to visit the show.

Exhibitors include representatives from many shoe brands, most of which I don’t recognize.  A few of them that I do recognize are: Paris Hilton, Heidi Klum, Gisele Bundchen, Tommy Hillfiger, Birkenstock, Guess, Reebox, Lacoste, Helly Hansen, Dr. Scholl, Adidas, Guess, Tiffany, Timberland……

After a week of dealing with cash flows, financial statements, breakeven analysis, would you blame me for getting excited about going to a shoe show, I mean SHOE PARADISE?

So, I guess, the next question is:  did I get any samples?

Well, the samples that the shoe manufacturers give out is always only half of a pair.  What will I do with one left shoe and one right shoe that are dissimilar?

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