In today's times of economic uncertainty it's hard to believe that anything we do right now is going to accomplish anything more than basic survival. Most of us are paring back on our investments at the moment in an effort to have more cash in our pockets on a day to day basis and enough to provide us with a financial cushion if we find ourselves stuck in the unemployment line.
And yet it seems like every time we turn around there's someone else there urging us to sink our hard earned (and much hoarded) cash into yet another investment scheme. Whether it's an IRA, a 401K, real estate or your stock portfolio, the potential gain that may or may not come from investing in investments that may or may not survive the recession intact doesn't seem nearly as important as putting an extra 10% of your income into your savings account.
That 10% is important, make no mistake about it, but money was never meant to just sit and stagnate. Money was born to grow and replicate, and today's economic recession can't last forever. Despite the negative (and rather frantic) press it's been receiving, this recession is actually very much a part of the natural order of things in the business world. What goes up must come down, and then go up again. Today's investments are going to be tomorrow's goldmines, so even though it may pain you to part with that extra cash right now it's going to pay off in profits down the road.
Sometimes you have to take a chance on short term loss to enjoy a long term gain, which is one of the first things every businessman and woman should learn before stepping out into the bullpen. Don't be afraid to invest in today's market. As long as your portfolio can stand a few ups and downs the long term gains are going to more than make up for the short term loss.
Showing posts with label recession. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recession. Show all posts
Monday, June 8, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Don't Let the Recession Beat Your Fundraising!
Regardless of what anyone wants to say, even with an economic upturn being predicted in the near future our economy is still filled with doubt, peril-and an economic uncertainty that is leaving many nonprofit organizations' most dedicated donors clinging to their pocketbooks just a little tighter. Understandable, when one never knows what dip and turn in the economy will set fortune on her ear THIS time; however, since fundraising efforts have to continue, here are some great tips to help non-profit organizations continue to pull in the funds they so desperately need to keep their organizations going:
1) Learn more about your donors. If you're able to answer their questions they're going to be able and willing to do more to further your cause.
2) When planning special events, keep the economy in mind. Fundraising dinners at $1000 a plate are almost guaranteed to be a social faux pas! Instead, feel out your target market (as you would any consumer) and include your donors and volunteers in the planning process.
3) Encourage regular giving rather than a one time donation. It's amazing how much more comfortable most middle class donors are with the prospect of donating $20-30 a month to your cause rather than cutting a $360 check on the spot-and you're guaranteed a more reliable income.
4) Make sure you have your numbers and a thorough explanation of where their money is going to go before you even approach your donors. In these uncertain times the scandals that have plagued non-profit organizations in recent years are going to rise up to haunt you. Most people aren't going to be willing to give if they don't know where their money's going but when presented with a clear, dollar-to-dollar chart showing exactly how their donation will be used are more than willing to be a part.
1) Learn more about your donors. If you're able to answer their questions they're going to be able and willing to do more to further your cause.
2) When planning special events, keep the economy in mind. Fundraising dinners at $1000 a plate are almost guaranteed to be a social faux pas! Instead, feel out your target market (as you would any consumer) and include your donors and volunteers in the planning process.
3) Encourage regular giving rather than a one time donation. It's amazing how much more comfortable most middle class donors are with the prospect of donating $20-30 a month to your cause rather than cutting a $360 check on the spot-and you're guaranteed a more reliable income.
4) Make sure you have your numbers and a thorough explanation of where their money is going to go before you even approach your donors. In these uncertain times the scandals that have plagued non-profit organizations in recent years are going to rise up to haunt you. Most people aren't going to be willing to give if they don't know where their money's going but when presented with a clear, dollar-to-dollar chart showing exactly how their donation will be used are more than willing to be a part.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
How Recession is Actually Helping Small Businesses
It's hard to imagine today's current economic recession actually helping with anything, but recession is an important part of the business cycle for a reason. First and foremost, it helps weed out weaker businesses without the resources to outlast what's guaranteed to be a temporary condition. Despite that fact, however, recession serves another valuable purpose; it can give small businesses the impetus they need to succeed!
Wait. If industry giants like Circuit City are buckling under the pressure of recession, how can it help small business with infinitely fewer resources? The fact that small businesses have fewer resources is exactly what makes them prime targets to outlast a recession. Fewer resources equals smaller overhead. A business being run from a home has fewer expenses; you're not paying for office rental, electricity, multiple phone lines, and any of the other myriad expenses that go hand in hand with running a large facility.
Because most small businesses don't stock huge amounts of inventory, they're less likely to be left hanging with the expense for inventory that simply didn't sell. They also generally employ fewer employees and have the capability to function with even less, helping them ride out the recession and get things back on stable ground.
Perhaps most importantly, because small businesses tend to operate with less overhead and a smaller staff they can often offer their customers less expensive, more personalized goods and services. For example, a smaller used auto retailer might be able to "take orders" from their customers when they go to auction rather than leaving them coming back time and time again hoping they'll have what they're looking for. And they might be able to offer their financially pressed customers a "discount" for their services that will earn them a customer for life when things go back to normal.
The bottom line is, with the recession in full swing consumers are looking for a better way to buy their goods and services-and they're not afraid to take a chance on a smaller business if it will give them what they want at a price that they can afford. Are you going to let this opportunity pass you by?
Wait. If industry giants like Circuit City are buckling under the pressure of recession, how can it help small business with infinitely fewer resources? The fact that small businesses have fewer resources is exactly what makes them prime targets to outlast a recession. Fewer resources equals smaller overhead. A business being run from a home has fewer expenses; you're not paying for office rental, electricity, multiple phone lines, and any of the other myriad expenses that go hand in hand with running a large facility.
Because most small businesses don't stock huge amounts of inventory, they're less likely to be left hanging with the expense for inventory that simply didn't sell. They also generally employ fewer employees and have the capability to function with even less, helping them ride out the recession and get things back on stable ground.
Perhaps most importantly, because small businesses tend to operate with less overhead and a smaller staff they can often offer their customers less expensive, more personalized goods and services. For example, a smaller used auto retailer might be able to "take orders" from their customers when they go to auction rather than leaving them coming back time and time again hoping they'll have what they're looking for. And they might be able to offer their financially pressed customers a "discount" for their services that will earn them a customer for life when things go back to normal.
The bottom line is, with the recession in full swing consumers are looking for a better way to buy their goods and services-and they're not afraid to take a chance on a smaller business if it will give them what they want at a price that they can afford. Are you going to let this opportunity pass you by?
Recession, Pawn Shops and the Golden Opportunity
Recession is a part of the endlessly fluctuating cycle of life for businesses, helping the strong survive, pushing the weak out of the running and reminding everyone to appreciate it when things are going well! The other thing recession does is give certain types of businesses a boost, encouraging people to shop places they would normally avoid and look to sources of income that they would normally consider to be inferior or tacky.
In other words, in the middle of a recession is a great time to be a pawn shop!\
Yes, pawn shops are feeling the pinch just like everyone else, but let's face it-if you're going to go looking for cheap electronics devices, jewelry and one of a kind gifts anyplace but Amazon or eBay, where better to go than a pawn shop? They're able to offer a huge selection of second hand items that they've purchased from people just like you looking for a way to unload their excess belongings for a profit. (Did you know that the average American has a minimum of $5,000 worth of "junk" lying around their house?)
Pawn shops tend to have a ready supply of inventory, and although they pay for the pieces they purchase they're still able to keep their shelves stocked for considerably less than the average electronics store-and the diversity of their inventory means they usually manage to corner their own share of the market without having to put too much effort into advertising. Pawn shops have seen a boom in business in every economic dip that history has seen, and it's a trend that continues into today's business world.
Give your pawn shop a boost during today's recession using the resources at www.1uptoyou.com.
In other words, in the middle of a recession is a great time to be a pawn shop!\
Yes, pawn shops are feeling the pinch just like everyone else, but let's face it-if you're going to go looking for cheap electronics devices, jewelry and one of a kind gifts anyplace but Amazon or eBay, where better to go than a pawn shop? They're able to offer a huge selection of second hand items that they've purchased from people just like you looking for a way to unload their excess belongings for a profit. (Did you know that the average American has a minimum of $5,000 worth of "junk" lying around their house?)
Pawn shops tend to have a ready supply of inventory, and although they pay for the pieces they purchase they're still able to keep their shelves stocked for considerably less than the average electronics store-and the diversity of their inventory means they usually manage to corner their own share of the market without having to put too much effort into advertising. Pawn shops have seen a boom in business in every economic dip that history has seen, and it's a trend that continues into today's business world.
Give your pawn shop a boost during today's recession using the resources at www.1uptoyou.com.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Develop Your Own Recession Proof Business
In today's tight economy it's easy to focus on what businesses are going under because of the recession and lose sight of the huge fields of opportunity that are opening up as people shift their focus back to the basics. Now is the prime time to open your own business, when your ability to operate with smaller overhead will make you a serious competitor in the pricing wars with many larger corporations, and if you branch out into a recession proof business you're guaranteed to enjoy not only a steady income now but also the security that comes with knowing that your business will stay afloat.
1) Home Repair. It doesn't matter how bad the economy is, when your septic tank backs up or your basement floods you're going to have to call in the troops! That's why plumbing, HVAC and other home repair services are all but guaranteed to be a recession proof business. Try and keep your inventory and services as basic as possible and your prices competitive you should be able to safely dodge the after effects of the recession.
2) Health Care. Unless you happen to already be a freelancer it might be hard for you to break into the health care services as an entrepreneur; however, now's a great time to step into this understaffed industry and start laying the foundation for what promises to be a stable career.
3) Funeral and Tax Services. Everything changes in life except for death and taxes, making funeral and tax services among the most profitable and recession proof businesses on the market. If you can find a way to break into these industries you're going to be in an excellent position to enjoy tremendous success.
As long as you have a product or service people want you're guaranteed to be able to make a success of any business venture; however, using these business ideas as a foundation will help you grow a recession proof business that will bring you the income and security you've been looking for.
Learn how to make your income grow in spite of the recession at www.1UpToYou.com.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
How the Internet Is Keeping Our Economy Afloat
The Great Depression. If anyone had to take their fingers and point at the source of the little voice nagging at the back of their heads it would be the haunting specter of the Great Depression and the huge strides that the government took to get the economy back on track-huge steps that today's government seems reluctant to take in the face of overwhelming debt stemming from our extended stay in Iraq. So how are we going to get things moving again?
The Internet might hold the secrets to keeping our economy afloat. After all, e-commerce has been a driving force in keeping things from sinking into depression for the past two years. The fact that the web throws the door wide open for International commerce and an increasing number of small businesses has helped our society get back to its roots, when businesses were small and major suppliers sold via mail order.
If you look at most of the publications that have stemmed from the recent recession, one theme is consistently seen: Experts advise that this is the prime time to launch an Internet business. On the surface the entire concept of trying to start a business when major players like Circuit City were floundering completely ridiculous. Regardless, these small web businesses have proven to be a driving force of income for many victims of the rising unemployment sweeping from coast to coast-a situation that promises to get worse before it gets better.
These small businesses are prospering due to the very nature of a free economy. Because these small companies have lower overhead they're able to offer products and services at a lower cost, drawing away customers from big businesses who can't afford to get into a pricing war. They also appeal more to special niche markets, eliminating the expense of mass marketing and building a personal relationship with their target market that keeps their business growing.
Only time can tell how long it's going to take for our economy to pull out of its current slump, but until then there's no doubt that the Internet is going to continue to play a major force in keeping America out of the devastation that would lead to a second major depression.
Come and discover how the Internet can help you and your family through the recession at www.1uptoyou.com.
The Internet might hold the secrets to keeping our economy afloat. After all, e-commerce has been a driving force in keeping things from sinking into depression for the past two years. The fact that the web throws the door wide open for International commerce and an increasing number of small businesses has helped our society get back to its roots, when businesses were small and major suppliers sold via mail order.
If you look at most of the publications that have stemmed from the recent recession, one theme is consistently seen: Experts advise that this is the prime time to launch an Internet business. On the surface the entire concept of trying to start a business when major players like Circuit City were floundering completely ridiculous. Regardless, these small web businesses have proven to be a driving force of income for many victims of the rising unemployment sweeping from coast to coast-a situation that promises to get worse before it gets better.
These small businesses are prospering due to the very nature of a free economy. Because these small companies have lower overhead they're able to offer products and services at a lower cost, drawing away customers from big businesses who can't afford to get into a pricing war. They also appeal more to special niche markets, eliminating the expense of mass marketing and building a personal relationship with their target market that keeps their business growing.
Only time can tell how long it's going to take for our economy to pull out of its current slump, but until then there's no doubt that the Internet is going to continue to play a major force in keeping America out of the devastation that would lead to a second major depression.
Come and discover how the Internet can help you and your family through the recession at www.1uptoyou.com.
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