‘Tis the season for giving, but for some startups, donating to charity is a year-round endeavor. These companies aim to “help the world,” which might also be a smart business plan: A recent study by Cone Communications finds 91% of Americans want to see companies support worthy issues – up 8% since 2010. Here’s a look at six businesses committed to charity: 1. TOMS TOMS, which sells shoes and eyewear, popularized the “one-for-one” giving model: The company donates a pair of shoes to children in need for every pair purchased.  After making a name for itself with its shoes, the company branched out into eyewear; with every sunglasses purchase, TOMS will pay to restore or save the eyesight of one individual. According to the company, TOMS has donated 10 million shoes and saved the eyesight of 150,000 people in more than 60 countries. Earlier this year, the company launched an online marketplace to highlight other companies that are giving back as well. 2. Warby Parker Eyewear startup Warby Parker also operates on a one-for-one model, donating a pair of eyeglasses to someone in need with each pair bought. The e-commerce company has distributed more than 500,000 pairs thus far, working closely with non-profit partners like VisionSpring. 3. Harry’s Shaving startup Harry’s was co-founded by Jeff Raider, who also helped start Warby Parker. Raider continues to give back with his new company, donating 1% of all sales and 1% of employee time to charity. In the past, Harry’s has donated to non-profit org The Mission Continues, […]

The business world has changed dramatically. While the Internet has become a major force there has also been a few years where demand has been depressed in most sectors. The financial problems began on Wall Street but spread worldwide almost immediately. It is something that has certainly focused the mind of many CEOs who have the responsibility of ensuring not only survival and maintenance of market share but also of devising an effective strategy for the future. New way forward The traditional approach that companies have used for sales and marketing has never been under such scrutiny. Television and print advertising has certainly been effective over the years but there is an increasing feeling that advertising interrupts the enjoyment of a programme. An advertising budget must be spent wisely because of the level of competition that every business faces. There is an extremely strong argument that not only should the budget be directed to a website but that the challenge is to provide interest with sales being a natural consequence of the website becoming popular. Expertise It sounds easy and it is achievable but it needs a company with expertise on the Internet to produce and develop a good website. A website needs to make an initial impact and from there be easy to navigate and worth the effort to do so. The principle is the same as for an industry in a large city or one in a more rural area, somewhere like Cornwall where tourism represents around 25% […]

In many ways, “stay lean” has become the new American motto. People everywhere are trying to stay lean through diet, exercise or banishing meaningless possessions. There’s a reason the “stay lean movement” is so popular. It’s healthier and more efficient, and it provides the space for meaningful growth. Why should businesses be any different? They’re not. Staying lean in business means having everything you need and nothing you don’t. It requires examination and retooling to find and wipe out inefficiencies. Lean is a never-ending process, not something to achieve once and expect to continue. Lean might seem like the opposite of growth and expansion, but the reality is that the two can work quite well together. Warning: Don’t Forget What Got You Here I believe in having a narrow focus with your business, especially when starting out. It’s important for a business to find solid footing before moving on to new things. However, once a company is established and its core offerings are profitable, it makes sense to stretch a little. Diversifying business offerings — in the same way an investor diversifies her portfolio — helps increase reach and revenue potential, while decreasing the risk of a single revenue stream. Unfortunately, expansion comes with its own set of risks. Diversifying your offerings across multiple services means that a bad month or two in one area won’t sink your business. But don’t neglect your cash cow! Paying too much attention to new areas at the expense of the core services that […]

No matter if you are a fireman or an accountant, you are always at some risk regardless of profession. Of course, some jobs pose bigger threats than others, but what does this exactly mean to you? This means that beyond the obvious dangers of the work, the riskier your occupation is, the higher the insurance rates.  While it’s understandable that life insurance isn’t for everyone, if you have children or dependents, then there is no question but to invest in life insurance. There are a lot of practical benefits to life insurance but one of its best perks is that it provides you and your family a peace of mind. How is Danger Measured? There is a lot that goes into insurance companies’ policies, but one of the factors they consider is the riskiness of your occupation. So how is the “danger” of your job exactly measured? According to the Bureau Labor of Statistics, the analysis of how dangerous your job is based on fatality frequency, fatality rates and index of relative risk of your occupation. A common pattern within dangerous jobs is that most of them are outdoor occupations. When you are not in an office, factory or a controlled environment, you are exposed to all around higher risks. The top ten most dangerous jobs based on frequent fatality are the following: Fishers Timber cutters Airplane pilots Metal workers Farmers and ranchers Roofers Electrical power-line installers Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers Reuse and recyclable material collectors Police and sheriff’s […]

Getting a mortgage can mean keeping track of a lot of moving parts. Savvy shoppers know to ask lenders about interest rates, closing costs and how much they can borrow. But even seasoned buyers may not know to dig a little deeper. Here’s a look at five key things homebuyers often forget to ask mortgage lenders: What’s the Annual Percentage Rate? Interest rates get advertising attention, but you need to pay equally close attention to the annual percentage rate, or APR. The interest rate, or note rate, is stated on the mortgage note and is used to calculate your monthly payments. But it may not reflect the overall cost of borrowing. Let’s say Lender X offers you a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 4.5 percent interest. Lender Y offers the same mortgage for 4.25 percent. This would seem to be a no-brainer. But we’re missing some key information, namely all the other costs associated with the loan, from closing costs and origination fees to mortgage insurance and more. Lender Y may have the lower rate, but this loan could cost you more in the long run if their costs and fees are higher. That’s why you need to look at the APR, which factors in those costs beyond just your interest rate. It’s also why lenders are now required to disclose APR. Otherwise, they could hide fees and charges behind an incredibly low — yet ultimately misleading — interest rate. Do I Have to Escrow Taxes and Insurance? Homeowners paid on average about $800 per year for homeowners insurance in 2008, […]