Looking to Start a New Business? Consider the Personalized Products Industry

Nancy Wurtzel

Looking to launch a new consumer products business that makes and markets gifts? Why not consider a niche that has grown dramatically over the past few decades and still shows signs of continued expansion? The market has your name written all over it -- the personalized products industry.

In the U.S. today, there are more than 100,000 businesses selling personalized gift products with annual sales of at least $27 billion, and these numbers are continuing to increase.

Why is the personalized gift market considered such a rapid growth industry? Several forces are at work currently driving the personalization market.

1. The Economy: The U.S. is just coming out of an economy slump and recession. During tough economic times, consumers often look for added value when they make discretionary purchases. For example, when shopping for a gift, price conscious buyers look for a selection that will make an impression and be lasting. Consumers perceive that they are getting both when they purchase a personalized product. In general, buyers are actively seeking personalized gifts, and this activity and interest is moving the industry forward.

2. New Technology: Advances in technology have made a wider variety of products available and much more affordable. For example, machines that personalize towels and clothing once cost thousands of dollars and weigh hundreds of pounds. Now, a much smaller, cleaner, quieter, computer-driven piece of equipment can produce the same quality goods -- but at a fraction of the price. And, if manufacturing upfront costs are less, products become more affordable.

3. Product Selection: Since technology has made production easier and cheaper, there has been an explosion of personalized goods and gifts. Gifts range from the inexpensive and predictable to the upscale and highly innovative. Most gift stores offer some personalized gift selections and there are now many stores, websites and even mail-order catalogs with literally thousands of consumer choices.

4. Stand-Out Gifts: Personalized gifts are memorable. For instance, parents will always remember who gave their newborn a charming personalized picture frame, but can't recall who sent the expensive outfit that baby outgrew in a few weeks. A personalized present is also a great choice for the "person who has everything."

PERSONALIZED HISTORY
The personalized gift market is primarily a U.S. phenomenon. Its roots can be traced back to our early American history when silversmiths practiced their skills by engraving family names or initials on one-of-a-kind silver trays, bowls and jewelry.

As the country expanded westward, saddle and gun makers would occasionally personalize their wares, while wood artisans used their talents to create uniquely decorated trunks with family names or crests.

These early personalized items were always made to order and available only to those who could afford to pay the price -- which was, at that time, a very small percentage of the population.

Not much changed until the late 1950s when mass production brought the "pre-made" personalized gifts to middle America.

Suddenly, every local corner drug store offered displays of inexpensive pencils, key chains and jewelry featuring names like Linda, Mike, Tom, Cindy, Mary and Dave.

However, most of these personalized items were considered cheap imported gifts aimed at kids and teenagers. And, if you had an unusual name, you were out of luck because all these novelty products were pre-made at the factory with the most common names of the day.

While there are still many of these low-ticket items available today, the personalized products industry has grown and evolved over the past forty odd years. Probably the biggest change that has moved the industry forward has been advances in technology.

Lower costs for machinery means that it's now possible to have personalization equipment in decentralized locations rather than one central processing plant. Additionally, personalized gifts that once would take weeks to obtain can now be created in a matter of days or even minutes. Consequently, gifts that once had a long ordering lead time, are now almost impulse buys for today's busy consumer.

Computer-driven technology also has made literally thousands of personalized gift choices in a variety of price ranges available to the consumer.

BUYING AND SELLING
What type of companies sell personalized gifts? Major catalogs, countless ecommerce sites, upscale department stores, specialty boutiques, general dry-goods retail storefronts, drug store chains and thousands of small entrepreneurs.

What types of personalized items are consumers buying? Almost anything can be personalized, so the choices are many.

Just pick up a catalog and you will find robes for adults and kids, fine crystal, quilts, keepsake gifts for newborn babies, expensive gifts to mark a graduation, wedding or anniversary, a variety of clothing and even furniture. Visit a local retail store and you will find stationery, jewelry, wall art, T-shirts, mugs and dinnerware, glasses, picture frames and much more.

Why are these gifts so attractive for so many sellers? Any retailer will agree that a personalized gift means a little more effort up-front, but in the long run fewer returns. Plus, these products often carry a higher price point -- and therefore profits -- making these gifts very attractive.

AMERICANS LOVE PERSONALIZED GIFTS
While you may find some personalized gift items in other countries, you will not see the same wide range of products that are found in the U.S. Why has the personalized gift market thrived here at home?

It's really pretty simple according to those who study consumers. Americans -- young and old alike -- love to see their names on a product because it makes them feel special and unique.

And, American consumers are always looking for products with a slightly different spin, and this, too, is accomplished by purchasing a personalized product.

Faith Popcorn, who studies and reports on nationwide trends, has coined the word "egonomics" to describe the personalized product phenomenon. Other trend forecasters agree that the personalized gift industry is here to stay and will continue steady growth as more products are brought to market in response to consumer demand.


Nancy Wurtzel is the founder and owner of All About Baby, an ecommerce site located at http://www.allbaby.com. All About Baby specializes in personalized and memorable gifts for children as well as interesting and helpful child-related site content. Ms. Wurtzel has over 20 years of marketing and communications experience. She consults with small businesses seeking to enter the marketplace or grow their existing ecommerce business.

Buying Gold Jewelry Without Being Ripped-Off
Sam Serio

Buying gold jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of gold jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality gold jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.

Gold
The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, it's usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry
is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.

The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.

Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you don't see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.

Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark.

Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.

Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay.

Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate.



The Authors of the above Article, Sam and Tami Serio have been passionately involved with Jewelry and Gemstones for over fifteen-years. You are cordially invited to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com for a wealth of information about the fascinating world of Jewelry and Gemstones. Together they also shelter 20 abandoned and abused dogs & cats. A portion of their profits goes to the care and feeding of the animals.

How To Clean Gold Jewelry

Ben Sather

Gold jewelry to a woman is priceless. Although gold jewelry comes in many different styles and colors, the care and cleaning procedure for all golden treasures remain the same. Good common sense is your best guide, and these important tips on how to clean gold jewelry will help you keep your exquisite pieces lustrous and shining.

Gold is tarnish-resistant, but it can get dirty or smudged. Lotions, powders, soaps, even natural skin oils that we use regularly can cover your jewelry and cut down their brilliance. Jewelry cleaning removes any such build-up or residue and restores the original sparkle and shine to make your precious jewelries last a lifetime.

Although numerous commercial products are available to clean gold jewelry, most often water and a mild detergent is sufficient to restore the radiance, and a soft brush helps to gently clean intricate filigree designs and stones. Sometimes it can be helpful to soak the gold jewelry in a solution of one part ammonia and six parts water for up to sixty seconds. It is imperative to dry and polish your gold jewelry with a chamois or soft cloth after cleaning.

Jewelry polishing cloths are an effective and inexpensive way of keeping your bits of gold glittering and radiant. These essential cotton cloths help to remove tarnish and to buff jewelry to look as good as new. Avoid wearing jewelry while in contact with household chemicals, such as chlorine bleach as this can discolor or damage your gold jewelry mountings.

Proper storage of jewelry when not in use is essential to keep your golden treasures clean and new. When storing your jewelry, be careful that pieces do not tumble against each other to avoid scratching and loss of radiance. Ideally, store your jewelry in a fabric-lined jewel case, or a box with compartments or dividers or store each piece in individual soft cloth pouches.

It is important to check the stone settings of your jewelry periodically for any damage to the gold prongs or bezels. Immersing the jewelry in rubbing alcohol for a few seconds will restore the gorgeous sparkle to cloudy stones. It is very important to dry the jewelry thoroughly after cleaning before wearing or storing. Remember that Pave set (glued in stones) jewelry should never be immersed in water while cleaning gold jewelry.

Ben Sather is the publisher of http://www.a2-gold-jewelry.com/ - A gold jewelry information resource. You can publish this article if the author's byline is included and all links are hyperlinked.

The Best Christmas Gift You Can Give Yourself or Anyone Else: Simplicity
Susan Dunn, MA, cEQc, The EQ Coach�

I had to laugh when I read that quote recently. I particularly remember a time in my merry life when I had two sons, 3 dogs, my clothes filled two
closets in my home, I owned Madeleine pans, exotic juicers, a regular and a gourmet coffeemaker, 3 sets of flatware, 10 tableclothes, 10 sets of
placemats for 6 or 8, and formal china
tablesettings for 12 - and most "cluttering" of all, a social calendar that was unmanageable.

Life is a series of stages, and there is the "acquiring" stage.

However, there came a point where I felt
overwhelmed by my "blessings" and took a look at what was going on. At the time, my boyfriend, who was a stock broker, kept saying, "Simplify,
simplify." He lived what I considered a "Sparten existence."

It caused me to take a look at the whole picture. I was exhausted all the time. I went to a therapist; too bad there weren't coaches then. She said I was "trying to do too much." I
interpreted it that I wasn't capable of handling all these things, and redoubled my efforts.

Coaches make things more clear. "Why are you doing what doesn't bring you pleasure?" would've been the question to ask. Eventually I asked myself that question and here are some of the things I did.

THE CLOTHES
I was still operating from an old childhood scarcity-mentality. I never had "enough" clothes in high school, not because my parents couldn't afford it, just that they didn't want to spend
their money on that. I started babysitting rigorously to buy myself clothes and makeup and stuff. Not a bad thing to do, but I realized that
time was over. I gave a number of things to Goodwill, set aside a space-allotment, and stuck to it.

I did have to "dress" for my profession at the time (PR), so I chose two outfits I could accessorize in infinite ways. Scarves, jewelry and pins take far less storage space!

THE DOGS
Two were strays we had "adopted," under pressure from my good-hearted son. However, they were difficult dogs, not having been well-raised, and took far more work than our original family pet.
I decided to give up this rescuing mentality and at the same time educate my children. We found good homes for two of them, and the family pact
was "no more." We stuck with our one chosen, well-cared for, and well-trained dog.

THE ENTERTAINING WARE
That's a hard one. It's been an abiding interest and love in my life, to entertain with all the accoutrements. I decided that was an okay hobby, but to stick with what I had for a long time. How many sets of Christmas tablemats does one really
need?

THE COOKWARE
Life is choices. I could eliminate a lot of these things by turning to fast food, eating out, less elaborate meals. I decided this was not something
to sacrifice. There are health benefits to wok cooking, steamers, double boilers, etc., and "happy"
benefits to beautiful Bundt cakes. My youngest son particularly enjoyed the camaraderie of a fondue meal. Our family dinners were fun for all of us, and a good thing, and I didn't want to sacrifice that for "convenience."

Not everything in the enriched life should be "efficient."

THE FINANCIAL PICTURE
My stocks were scattered all over the place, and we consolidated. It seemed risky to me to "put all my eggs in one basket," but we did, and it resulted in a nice financial gain.

THE ORGANIZATION
I decided it wasn't all that I had that was the problem - many of them were valuable to me and my lifestyle - it was the organization of it all.

One thing I did was buy containers, for instance, "fall decorations" and got everything in one place. I added to the box my apparel for that time of year - autumn sweaters, accessories, and
jewelry. I labeled them clearly, stacked them in one place, and felt better about it all.

I tackled the gift-producing area. I had a bow maker, rolls of paper, ribbons, ready for every occasion. It was a time when the boys would be
invited to a birthday party quite suddenly, and it kept me from "running out" at the last minute to buy the wrapping. This I decided to eliminate.
The storage space required and the clutter were not worth it, and it seemed I never had the right thing anyway. I bought 10 generic gift bags with white tissue, appropriate for any age or occasion.

Also, seeing myself "burdened" by the gifts coming my way - that teddy bear statuette just wasn't "me" even if it was expensive crystal - I switched
to what I call "disposable" gifts. Sending someone a floral arrangement, or a basket of fruit, or a Honey-baked ham would note the occasion, but it would "go away" and they wouldn't
have to find a place for it.

I have never been comfortable giving money, but gift certificates seemed possible. It showed at least a little "thought" and "effort," the two
things I find missing in gifts of money. (Not that I've ever refused one!)

For those with no material needs whatsoever, I would donate money to a charity close to their heart. That is greatly appreciated by most people. Charities list in their newsletter the
gifts made in honor of, or in memory of, others, and that's a nice touch.

Re: the people in my life, I took a look at the investment-return ratio. Some of them, I had to admit, were a drain. With me being in a helping
profession, some were "using" me for free counseling, while making no improvements in their lives, and that didn't give me the friendship I needed, or provide for them the counseling or
coaching they needed.

I made a list of the people who really meant something to me, with whom I had strong mutual bonds, and I whittled away at the ones who didn't contribute anything to my life. We call this in
coaching, "getting rid of tolerations." Yes, people can be "tolerations" and I think this is
one of the more important "ah hahs" Thomas Leonard, the founder of coaching, gave to the world.

I eliminated immediately the ones who were a negative drain on me, and took a closer look at ones wanting entry. I quietly discouraged some "friendships" from ever occurring in the first place. Life is choices.

I believe that our lives are greatly influenced by the 5 people we spend the most time with. I made sure the Top 5 were the ones I wanted and needed them to be.

META-THEORY
I decided to slow myself down at the checkout counter. I disciplined myself for 6 months. I would not make any impulse buys. I would go home and consider it. Usually it wasn't worth the effort to go back.

I would not go shopping to "window shop." There's no such thing! There's always something attracts my eye I think I "must have."

Shopping would be a necessity for essentials, not Saturday afternoon entertainment for me and the kids.

I put more thought into the things I gave others so as to slow the flow into their lives as well.

READY FOR THE NEW YEAR
As you participate in, or observe, the shopping frenzy of the holiday season. Ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?"

Good reasons are:
�It's meaningful
�I enjoy it
�I know it's something I can afford and know it's
something they need or would like

Bad reasons are:
�I don't know why
�To keep up with the Joneses
�Because I always have
�Because you're supposed to

Oserve closely your own behavior. That's the beginning of making positive changes.

It's the emotionally intelligent thing to do!

©Susan Dunn, MA, cEQc, The EQ Coach�,
http://www.susandunn.cc . Author of "How to Live
Your Life with Emotional Intelligence," (
http://www.webstrategies.cc/ebooklibrary.html )
and The EQ Foundation Course©, 12 modules on the
Internet that can change your life:
http://www.webstrategies.cc/EQcourse.htm .
Coaching for all yours needs; Emotional
Intelligence always included.
Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE eZine.

Home Inventory Businesses Offer Huge Profit Potential!

Randy Wilson

Home inventory businesses are springing up everywhere these days. And they're great business opportunities you can work at either part-time or full-time and still make a great deal of money.

So what is a home inventory business? It's exactly what it says. It's where a person goes into a home or business and inventories all the valuable items for insurance purposes. In a home environment, they look at the art, furniture, jewelry, and other things that have value to person owning the home. In a business one, they look at equipment, supplies, etc. They record all these things and then set a dollar amount on what these things are worth.

A home inventory business helps homeowners, business owners, and insurance companies tremendously by providing this service. As an impartial professional who knows just how much that quilt your great-grandmother made or that European water purifying system you had installed at your business is truly worth, insurance companies know how to advise you on insuring your home or business.

Should something happen like a fire and you lose everything, the record provided by an inventory business provides everyone involved the information they need on payouts.

Now, you can't just open a home inventory business. Most states require you to obtain a license or certfication in order to operate a home inventory business. And even if they don't, insurance companies will. Since this is a fairly new field for independent contractors, state regulations are changing rapidly.

Before you start, you have to know what the regulations are for your state. A good place to start your research is with your state's Insurance Commissioner. That office can point you in the direction you need to go to obtain the proper certifications in order for you to proceed in pursuing your home inventory business opportunity.

Also, there are many courses available for you to take so that you can start one of the hot home inventory businesses. You can find them at your local colleges, community colleges, and online. There are also correspondence courses available. The courses are neither expensive nor difficult.

They simply inform you on what you should inventory and what the appropriate values are for certain items-and how much insurance companies will generally payout in the event something happens. Once you take your course, you can find business home inventory software that makes it simple to keep up with your client's possessions and their value.

And while you're looking into these things, you also need to be preparing a business plan for your home inventory business. There are many factors you need to take into consideration before you pay to take that class. Some of them are:

• 
  
• Will I be comfortable entering people's homes and businesses and going through their possessions?
  
• Do I want to pursue this part-time or full-time?
  
• Will this job improve the quality of my life?
  
• Is this a job I will enjoy?
  
• Am I willing to take classes if necessary?
  
• What are my state's regulations?
  
• Is my family supportive?
  
• Do I have a tax plan?
  
• Do I want to hire people for my home inventory business?
  
• What's the best accounting plan for my business?
  
• Do I have space in my home for an office?
  
• Is there any equipment I have to purchase?
  
• Do I need any financial assistance to get give my home business inventory start up a needed initial boost?
  
• Is this a business I will want to be in for the long haul?
  
• Will I want to grow this business?
  
• If so, what sort of planning do I need to do to see that it does?
  
• How will I market and advertise my home inventory business?
  

Once you have the answers to these questions, you'll be well on your way to having a successful home inventory business. Good luck!

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy is has dozens of home based business articles such as Mattress Cleaning Business and Nutrition Home Business.


Teen Jewelry Fashion Exposed
Sam Serio

Teenagers are a fickle bunch. At that stage of physical and psychological growth, they are constantly experimenting with things to improve their image and their look. Teen jewelry fashion plays a major part in the development of their identity and efforts to either blend in with the crowd or establish their own unique persona. Any parental endorsement of fashion accessories is akin to the kiss of death, and adolescents look to other influences when it comes to teen jewelry fashion.

The celebrities that teenagers see in music videos, television programs or movie screens are largely responsible for dictating trends in teen jewelry fashion. The oversized, ostentatious accoutrements favored by rap musicians have spawned the hip-hop jewelry trend, and teenagers have been patronizing lower-priced but accurate replicas of celebrity bling bling. Instead of the diamonds and other precious gems used in celebrity jewelry, cheaper zirconia and base metals are used for duplicates. Body jewelry (both the pierced and non-pierced types) that is unusually designed and made with inexpensive materials has also seen an increase in teenage patrons.

Beaded jewelry and woven friendship bracelets and rings are some of the other hot trends in teen jewelry fashion. Many teenagers make these dress accessories themselves and give them to friends as gifts. These are personalized with beads that have the letters of the recipient's name on them are incorporated into the woven fibers. Many teenagers also wear certain types of jewelry to identify them as part of a clique or group. These may take the form of uniquely designed pendants, rings or charms that have spiritual or mystical overtones.

Feminine teen jewelry fashion styles are also influenced largely by young celebrities today. Items worn by teen stars, such as Hilary Duff's slave bracelets, are copied by her non-celebrity counterparts. However, whimsical designs are still hugely popular among this set of young consumers. Gold- or silver-plated jewelry and jewelry that has gemstones has not lost its following among teenagers.

Some masculine teen jewelry fashion trends, on the other hand, tend to lean more toward beadwork, silverwork, leatherwork, and unusual stones. Teenage guys seem to think that sporty-looking accessories, such as so-called surfer-dude necklaces and arm bands made from bone, wood, or shell beads on a rubber or leather cord are cool. Stainless steel jewelry is popular with them, too.

Jewelry has been used by all people throughout history as marks of beauty or to denote social status. Adolescents are not immune to these patterns; in fact they are probably even more susceptible to them because of their need to simultaneously conform and stand out. Teenage jewelry fashion is part of their social arsenal and a tool in the development process.


For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.

10 Ways To Sell Your Products Faster

Anton Cheranev

1. Give people a deadline to order. Tell people if they order by Jan 28, 2000 they will get a discount or free bonuses. This will create an urgency so they don't put off buying.

2. Offer people a money back guarantee. The longer the guarantee the more effective it will be. It could be a 30 day, 60 day, 1 year, or lifetime guarantee.

3. Offer a free on-site repair service for products you sell. This is convenient for people because they won't have to send it away for repair and they won't have to be without the product for a long period of time.

4. Publish testimonials on your ad copy. They will give your business credibility and you'll gain peoples trust. It's important to include the persons full name and location with the testimonial.

5. Give people free bonuses when they order your product or service. The free bonuses could be books, jewelry, reports, newsletters, etc.

6. Allow people to make money reselling the product or service. Tell people they can join your affiliate program, if they order. You could pay them per sale, per click, per referral, etc.

7. Offer free 24 hour help with all products you sell. Allow customers to ask you questions by e-mail, by toll free phone, by free fax, etc.

8. Provide free shipping with all orders. If you can't afford it, you could offer free shipping on orders over a specific dollar amount.

9. Give away a free sample of your product. You will gain people's trust when you allow them to try out a free sample of your product. If they like it they won't hesitate buying it.

10. Offer a buy one get one free deal. If you sell more than one product this type of deal works great. People will feel they are getting more for their money and order quicker.

Sincerely,
Anton Cheranev

Copyright © 2005 Profitable Marketing. All Rights Reserved.

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Top Ten Preparations for a Television Appearance
Tara Kachaturoff, Executive Coach

It's a dream come true. You've been invited to appear on a local or national television program to talk about your business, your new book, or perhaps an invention. Now what should you do? While a television appearance can seem overwhelming at first, following this advice will make it an interesting, fun, and enjoyable experience.

1. Details, details, and more details.

The more you know before the television program taping, the easier it will be to prepare for the experience. First, you need to know who will be hosting the show. Research the host by looking up their name on the internet or searching newspaper archives for more information. The station or studio probably maintains their own website with biographies of its key employees as well. Make sure you have the host's complete contact information and that of their assistant in case something comes up. Second, you need to know what topic will be discussed. Does the host want you to talk about a topic they intend to choose? Do they want you to respond to a current event, trend or idea that applies to your area of expertise? Or, do they want you to provide a list of potential topics from which they can select one that would be of interest to their audience? Once you know this information, it will be easier for you to orient your responses to meet expectations. Third, you need to gain some familiarity with the program and its format. Watch a couple of the shows if you can or borrow a tape of a prior show to see how guest are greeted and interviewed. Try to imagine yourself in the same circumstances. Notice how everyone is seated, how greetings are exchanged, how long the show is between commercial breaks, and what people are wearing.

2. Familiarity breeds comfort.

Provide the host with your press or marketing kit once you are invited to be on the show. The host or producer wants to get to know you just as much as you want to get to know them. Provide a one page professional overview which describes your business, your background and experience, professional awards, certifications and designations, any titles of publications, as well as complete contact information.

3. Fieldtrips are fun.

Visit the studio where the program taping will take place a week or so before your scheduled appearance. Make sure that you have clear driving directions, including contact names, telephone numbers, and fax numbers. This field trip will serve to reduce any nervousness or anxiety about the taping. If you have permission, walk around the studio to familiarize yourself with the location, the employees, and the types of equipment that will be around you as the show is taped (cameras, lights, etc.). Better yet, attend a live taping if you can and watch what goes on. You'll find out that it's not as big a deal as you originally thought.

4. Meet the host.

Meet the individual or individuals who will be hosting the show. While in person is best, if you can't manage that, have a telephone conversation so that you hear their voice and gain some experience with their speaking and communication style. This interaction will help increase your comfort level before the actual taping takes place.

5. I've got a question.

Once you are clear about the objective of the television program, write out some possible interview questions, along with responses. This exercise will help you to organize your thoughts and to make notes about the information you want to provide during the limited time that you have. This is a good time to gather interesting quotations, statistics, supporting case studies or stories, and potential resources, all which will serve to enrich your content. This upfront preparation will add to your professionalism and credibility in that your ideas will be well organized, supported, and delivered with much more ease than if you spoke "off the cuff". Your host may even ask for questions to be submitted in advance, not that he or she will necessarily use these, but more for helping them gain familiarity with you, your background, and your topic.

6. This is life, but this is a rehearsal.

Practice and practice some more. Ask a friend or associate to make up interview questions (or use ones you've written in advance) so that you can practice responding. Wear clothes that you think you might wear to the actual taping and practice using hand and facial gestures as well. If you can, videotape yourself so that you can have an idea as to how you might appear to others. It will also allow you to check on any nervous habits or distracting gestures.

7. Logistics.

Once you know the date and time of the taping, plan on arriving forty-five minutes to one hour in advance. This will allow you to calm any nervousness and to review any last minute notes - even if you are just sitting in your car. If possible, don't plan any activities before the taping. Keep your mind calm and quiet. Don't answer the cell phone or call the office checking for messages. Concentrate on the task at hand. Also, it you need to eat before the taping, either eat at home wearing something other than the clothes you will wear on television, be very careful, or have an extra change of clothes on hand just in case you need to do a quick wardrobe change. Also, make sure you teeth are brushed and free of food particles.

8. Present your best you.

When it's "go time" make sure that you are wearing clothing appropriate for the audience and congruent with the nature of the program. Don't wear bright white, red or other bright colors, or any clothing with a "heavy" design which will detract from your face. Navy suits or pants and cream-colored blouses or shirts are appropriate. Don't wear jewelry that clangs or makes distracting noises. Have your nails manicured, even though no one will see them. It will make you feel more confident. Cut your hair at least a week in advance so that you can practice styling it the way that you want. This is not the time to experiment with new hair styles or hair colors. For women, if you're not comfortable doing your own makeup, you can have it professionally done at any upscale department store cosmetic counter. If you are at a large studio, there may be someone available to help you with both your hair and makeup. Also, a week or so before, purchase a teeth whitening kit (whitening strips are very effective), and start using them. There's nothing better than a great smile showing nice, white teeth.

9. I've been duped!

If allowed, make sure you ask the studio to make you a copy of the program, either on digital or tape media. You can always have the tape duplicated and use it to give away as part of your press or media package. You must obtain a written release from the studio or station to have a copy of the program and to have it duplicated. Also, because you don't have rights to the taped product, you will not be able to sell it or make a profit from it. Companies that specialize in legitimate tape duplication will require a written release, from the studio, before making any copies for you.

10. There's a pressing matter at hand.

When you appear on television, you immediately become viewed as an expert. Take advantage of this opportunity by going to www.prweb.com to send out a free press release announcing your upcoming television appearance. This information might be picked up by local and national media, leading to potential radio, television, and print opportunities.

Copyright 2004 by Tara Kachaturoff.


Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff is an executive coach, trainer, consultant and professional speaker with over 15 years of corporate experience. She coaches executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs on leadership, business and lifestyle issues and has been featured in radio, print, and television. She is the owner of CoachPoint�, www.virtualleverage.com,and www.relationshipplanning.com.

Selling through Auction Marketplaces

Nowshade Kabir

Consumers are increasingly feeling more comfortable in buying
products through the Internet. According to a report released
recently by the Department of Commerce first-quarter retail sales
rose 23.8 percent to US$ 19.8 billion in the United States from
US$ 16 billion a year ago. E-commerce sales during the first
quarter of 2005 rose 6.4 percent from the fourth quarter of last
year. Forrester Research estimated that 2005 online retail sales
will increase at a pace of 22 percent. Today, a third of all
households in US make at least one purchase online within a year,
a figure which will grow to almost 40 percent by 2009, predicts
Forrester. As a seller, this strong growth of online sales means
that you have to put considerable stress on your Internet sales
endeavor if you are not doing this as yet.

According to statistics compiled for the Internet Retailer Top
400 Guide, the top retailers in 2004 garnered combined online
sales of more than US$ 51 billion, which accounts for 58.3
percent of all US Internet sales. The growth in online sales is
quite impressive for large retailers. J.C. Penny Co. Inc., for
example, reported a 35 percent year-over-year rise of online
sales in May, 2005. Can new online ventures boast same type of
significant growth? Unfortunately, not!

Each day, there are thousands of new companies are setting up
shops on the Internet trying to sell every conceivable type of
products and services. Most of these websites do not attract
enough visitors to make them profitable. Competition on the
Internet is fierce! Internet marketing campaigns are becoming
increasing expensive. Many small companies can't afford to spend
money required to promote their sites. So, what are the options
available for a small company with modest product range to thrive
on the Internet? One of the best sales channels, in my opinion,
on the Internet by far is auction marketplaces. Of course, no
matter what, you will still need to promote your website with all
the methods you can master. However, selling your products and
services through established auction marketplaces has its own
advantage.

eBay

With 63.8 million unique visitors hitting the auction site only
in April of this year, eBay has established itself as the largest
marketplace on earth. In 2004 alone US$ 34.2 billion worth of
merchandize exchange hands on eBay. Presently, the site has
around 135 million registered users in 32 markets worldwide.

With such a vast community of buyers and sellers, eBay should be
your number one choice for selling your products or services
online. On the eBay you can sell any kind of item. The varieties
of stuffs people are selling through eBay are mind boggling! At
any given time there are over 29 million items displayed on eBay.
The number of new items added each day exceeds 3.5 million.
However, still many offline sellers perceive eBay as an auction
site for mainly collectible items. They can't be more wrong! The
largest selling category on the eBay is, believe it or not,
automobile and accessories, which comprises of almost 22 percent
of all sales. I have, personally, bought three luxury cars over
the course of last two years through eBay and I have nothing to
complain about.

As a seller on the eBay, the biggest advantage that you gain is
the possibility of becoming from a local merchant to an
international player over night. If you are already selling
merchandize to consumers online or offline, eBay gives you an
additional sales channel without any extra cost. If you are
planning to begin selling goods or services through the Internet,
eBay allows you to start your business online quickly and with
minimum expenses.

Yahoo

You may have difficulty in imagining the biggest portal on our
planet as a marketplace, in some countries, like Japan and
Canada, Yahoo auction is, actually, doing better than eBay. In
the US market Yahoo has just announced its intention to eliminate
fees charged for using its auction site. This is a good news for
even many eBay power sellers. Some of them will definitely move
to Yahoo in a bid to save on high fees charged by eBay. The good
thing about Yahoo is slowly it is becoming a major hub for many
small business web stores. As a matter of fact, according to
Yahoo, every eighth online store is now hosted by Yahoo.

Amazon

Amazon, may be is not as popular as eBay or Yahoo as far as
auction marketplace is concerned, however, many auctioneers claim
that some of the products sell better on Amazon than any other
auction marketplace.

Why should you consider selling through auction marketplaces?

Here are some reasons, why auction marketplaces are viable sales
channel for businesses:

�The auction marketplaces are very popular and each of
them has huge community of buyers and sellers.
�There is virtually no start-up cost involved.
�No extra overhead is required.
�You really don't have to set up a website to start
selling.
�Easy to learn.

While determining what to sell through auction marketplaces,
choose your products very carefully. Don't try to sell products
like DVD, cellular phones and similar common items. There are way
too many people are trying to sell those products. Do your
research before jumping into online auctions. Go through the
categories of your choice. See how your competitors are doing.
Check out the listings of sold items. For how much the products
you intend to list are getting sold for? What keywords your
prospective competitors are using to market these products? On
which auction site these products are selling better?

Go with the trend! Travel, cosmetics and jewelry sales are
expected to do better than other categories of e-commerce in
coming years. In every category of goods and services you will
find a niche, which is doing fairly well. All you have to do is
find that niche by making extensive and thorough research!

Selling through auction marketplaces like any other business
process requires sound judgment and careful planning. Be sure to
use them before starting your online sales.

Nowshade Kabir, is the founder, primary developer and present
CEO of Rusbiz.com - a Global B2B Exchange with solutions to
create e-catalog, Web store, business process management and
other features to run a business online. You can read various
articles written by Nowshade Kabir at http://ezine.rusbiz.com .

How To Sell On Ebay: The Money Is In The Back-End
Isaiah Hull

How To Sell On Ebay: The Money Is In The Back-End

Many people who sell on Ebay completely neglect the
follow-up process. They post an auction. Someone wins.
They send an automated message to the winner. They ship
the item. End of story. End of buyer-seller relationship.

. . .end of customer's total worth to the business
--and this is why so many people who sell on Ebay
fail or make negligible profits: they have no idea
that the real money is actually in back-end and
follow-up sales.

In this article, I am going to go over one of the
tools you can use to make follow-up sales on
Ebay: autoresponders.

Autoresponders will allow you to automate the
follow-up and upselling process. You can subscribe
to an autoresponding service through a number of
different companies. Most will give you a free
trial that limits your abilities, but lasts indefinitely.

Getresponse (getresponse.com) is one of these
companies. It has a user-friendly control panel,
excellent customer service, and offers a free trial
version that will give you access to everything
you need for early upselling and follow-up.

You can use your autoresponder a number of different
ways to make follow-up sales, but you must start by
collecting names to load into your autoresponder.

You can do this by asking customers (after you've
made a sale) if they would like to join your mailing
list and receive special offers, discounts, and the
chance to buy items before they go on auction. Load
the names and email addresses of the people who respond
positively into your autoresponder.

Getresponse will send them a confirmation message.
The rest is up to you.

Come up with special offers, discounts, and
contests and send them out via broadcast to your
subscribers on a regular basis, but not too often.

Your customers have already a) purchased from you
and b) agreed to receive special offers. From here,
it shouldn't be too hard to get follow-up sales.
They are already hooked--just give them a good offer.

For instance, you could send out special offers for
complementary products at certain intervals. You could
target people who purchased digital cameras and offer
them sticks of memory at a discounted price, but only
if they buy within a certain amount of days after the
close of the auction. You could do the same thing with
camera bags--and also set a specific date.

If you sell jewelry, you could offer customers a matching
set of earrings for a necklace at a discount. Or cleaning
tools. Or a jewelry box.

There are a number of different ways in which you can
structure your Ebay post-sales follow-up with your
autoresponder. There are only two real rules you
should follow:

1) Do not, under any circumstances, add people to your
list who did not specifically ask to be added to it.
It is illegal and unethical, and it could land you
in jail; and

2) Make sure you are targeting the right people with
the right follow-up pitch. If you're trying to sell
discount plastic dinosaurs to someone who just
bought a case of motor oil, you probably wont get
the response you want.

. . .other than that, it is completely up to you.
Come up with some creative ideas; put them to work;
and you can easily double or triple the lifetime
worth of each customer who shops at your Ebay store.

http://www.workathomerightnow.net/ebay.html -
Written by Isaiah Hull, author of "How to Profit
on Ebay In Seven Days Without Spending A Single
Penny." For a limited time only you can get a
pre-publication copy of his book for
ONE-FOURTH the post-publication price!

Winter Looks on a Budget

Kathryn Finney

Here are some quick and easy winter looks on a budget.

There are several new looks you can pull off for a fraction of the usual cost. Knee-high shearling boots are very hot right now, but you can get a pair of shearling-like boots from stores like Aldo , Bakers, and even Nordstrom for well under $70. These boots look great with a pair of jeans tucked inside.

Ponchos are definitely not "in" anymore, but what is "in" is to take a wide/long pashmina-like scarf in a great color like green or pink (you can get these at pretty much any store), and draping it around your shoulders, much as you would wear a poncho. Fasten the two ends together at the shoulder with brooches. Brooches continue to rock, and stores like Express and Claire's Boutique have a wonderful assortment. Remember: The gaudier the brooch, the better! Wear three or so at the same time.

Another hot look, straight from the runways, is to wear black or camel from head to toe, with turquoise jewelry accents. So throw on a pair of black fitted pants, a nice long-sleeve black top, and turquoise jewelry. It is a good time to buy some turquoise, or turquoise-like, jewelry - because it will be VERY HOT this spring and summer.

Use these three simple winter looks to add excitement and color to your winter wardrobe.


Kathryn Finney is the Chief Shopping Officer and Founder of Kate Magazine and The Budget Fashionista

Frivolous and Impracticle
Gina Schreck

Be Frivolous and Impractical

I am meeting some girl friends for lunch at a little cafe later this afternoon and I am dressed as if I were stepping onto the runway of a New York City fashion show. I am wearing a simple red sweater with a black skirt, but the shoes I have on...they are an old flame. A love from my past.

These are not just shoes. These are the hottest looking pair of red Salvatore Ferragamo works of art. Stiletto heels and a little red and black polka dot bow on the back.

They could stop traffic on a busy street corner during rush hour standing all alone, and the best part about them is they make me feel powerful! They are impractical, but when I wear them I am fearless!

I love shoes. High-heeled or flat, wedge or stiletto, strappy sandals or a great pair of boots, just about any shoe that is impractical, could find a home in my closet.

I typically see a great pair of shoes, hunt down an outfit to go with them and then decide where I can go to wear this new ensemble. I know it sounds impractical, materialistic and completely backwards, but I got this from my grandmother, Annie Florio.

My grandmother was extremely practical and this is where her and I were very different. I have never heard anyone use the word practical in the same sentence with my name.

Of course growing up during the great depression, she was extremely frugal and never bought anything unless it was truly necessary. She washed and reused pieces of aluminum foil, even piecing the small scraps together to reuse later. She made most of her clothes and wore very practical shoes. I don't think she ever owned anything flashy...except for the single pair of glorious, red, Ferragamo shoes.

When I was only ten years old, I was playing hide and seek with my cousins and I had found a great hiding spot in the very back corner of my grandmother's bedroom closet. As I sat, I started looking through the neatly stacked boxes that were behind me.

At the bottom of the stack, sat a red and gold box. The box was so lovely that I knew it had to contain certain treasures. As I carefully lifted the lid on this wonderful box, my heart began to race and I suddenly felt hot. The contents were beyond wonderful. Not even in magazines had my eyes ever seen such beauty.

It was love at first sight. Almost in a trance, I gently lifted these precious gems from their slumbering bed and ever so slowly slipped them onto my size five feet.

I stood quickly and tried to rush to the full-length mirror across the bedroom, but before I could catch a glimpse of their magnificence on the ends of my skinny chicken legs, I tripped and twisted my ankle.

I must have let out a yelp, signally my grandmother, because suddenly I could hear her wooden clogs clacking down the tile hallway. I scrambled to my feet and tried to get the treasure back to its hiding place.

When the door opened I spun around and my face gave away my transgression. I began to explain that I just happened to find these shoes and told her they were the most beautiful things I had ever seen.

She took the box into her hands like a lost lover and began caressing the lid. She told me she had bought them when she was in her thirties. My mother and aunt were just children and they didn't have a lot of money, but when my grandmother spotted them in a little shop somewhere in San Francisco, she was smitten.

She never went anywhere dressy enough to warrant wearing such beautiful shoes and she didn't own anything that would match their splendor. But she knew she had to have them, so she put a little bit of money down on them that day and told the clerk to hold them for her. She made the trip back into the city each week to deposit more money until she could take them home with her.

But I didn't understand. These shoes were over twenty years old and yet they were still brand new, unblemished. Why, if she loved them so much did she never wear them? She said she kept them hidden away for a special occasion, but admitted that every time she thought about wearing them she said she feared people would think she was frivolous and impractical, so they laid unworn, prisoners to her fear.

What did these words, "frivolous" and "impractical" really mean and why would they cause a grown woman such fear?

When I was forty, my grandmother passed away and as her children and grandchildren divided her jewelry and china, the only thing I asked for was the gold and red box in the very back corner of her bedroom closet.

It is time to head out for lunch and I am reminded that some love affairs grow stronger over time. I gather my purse and as turn off my computer I have an overwhelming feeling of power and fearlessness. I am going out into the world frivolous and impractical!



© Gina Schreck is the "Cheerman of the Bored" and she helps people Reconnect with What Matters Most! She is the author of several books, including Inside Out Success: Reconnecting with What Matters Most, and Marriage Mechanics: A Tune Up for the Highway of Love! She speaks to organizations that want to improve relationships from the inside out. To contact Gina, call 303-978-0887 or check out her website at http://www.schrecktalk.com/

How to Sell Your Crafts on eBay

James Dillehay

Artists, craftspeople and photographers are successfully selling their wares everyday on the online auction site, eBay. According to a recent analysis of eBay sales, a crafts-related item is sold every nine seconds, a scrapbook item is sold every minute, and 40 cross-stitch items sell in an hour on eBay. Sales of craft items on eBay have grown almost 60 percent in the past year, according to TheBidFloor.com.
But, at the same time, many would be sellers are listing their pieces for sale on auctions and getting no bids, concluding that eBay just doesn't work.
Here are some tips from James Dillehay, craft artist, eBay seller and author of the new book, "Sell Your Crafts on eBay" (Warm Snow Publishers), on how to profitably sell your wares online:
1. A word's spelling impacts an item's profitability. For example, the word 'handmade,' spelled as one word, was part of 2,233 auction titles with an average closing price of $16.29. However, auction titles that included 'hand made' as two words were found in 1,358 listings, but with an average auction closing price higher, at $27.81, or $11.52 more profit per item.
2. Go to eBay.com and find the search box. Type in the word or phrase that describes your art or craft item. Then scroll down the links on the left side of the page and click on the link for "completed items." Here, you'll be able to see the demand for this type of product. Do searches for your items every two to three weeks
to chart buying patterns.
3. Find out how much people are willing to pay for your wares. Click on the link that says "highest price." This will give you a list of completed auctions from highest priced items to lowest priced ones. You want to know what people are willing to pay for items like yours. If you can't make and sell your product for a profit, eBay might not be your marketplace.
4. Determine how much money you'll make on your product. To determine your profitability, use the cost of your materials plus the cost of your labor plus the cost of your selling price, which should be the minimum price to recover your expenses. If it takes you eight hours to make a piece of jewelry and the highest priced similar item sells on eBay for $26, you won't make a profit.
5. Look at the elements of successful sellers of products that are similar to yours. Examine their winning auction titles. Observe how much detail they use to describe their item. See if the seller used any of eBay's special features such as gallery photos or a bold, featured listing. Evaluate the starting price, starting day of the week, and duration of winning auctions.
For more tips on how to sell your craft items on eBay, consult a resource book like "Sell Your Crafts on eBay," by James Dillehay. It offers-more than 200 easy-to-learn tactics and tips that help sell art, craft and theme-related items for a profit on eBay and on other online auction Web sites.


James Dillehay is a 20 year crafts veteran and nationally recognized expert on craft business. Author of eight books, his articles have helped readers of Family Circle, Better Homes & Gardens, Country Almanac, Working Mothers, The Crafts Report, Sunshine Artist, and many other magazines. For more information, see http://www.craftmarketer.com.


Jewelry Christmas Gifts That Sparkle and Shine
Sam Serio

The joyous season of Christmas is steeped in tradition, and gift giving is one ritual that is inseparable from this holiday. Who hasn't had difficulty at one time or another in choosing a suitable present for a beloved family member or a dear friend? Fortunately, jewelry Christmas gifts are widely available and there is an endless variety of styles from which to choose. Twinkling and shining, they reflect the nature of that season to be jolly.

Sparkling and glittering are two words that would describe diamonds. Browse through the World Wide Web and you'll see a plethora of online stores that showcase jewelry Christmas gifts. Imagine a woman's pleasure at the shimmering sight of diamond snowflake dangling earrings or a glittering diamond bracelet adorned with traditional symbols associated with Christmas. Men, on the other hand, will surely appreciate flashing yet tasteful diamond cuff links. Other gemstones make wonderful jewelry Christmas gifts. Sapphires or rubies set in gold, sterling silver or platinum will gleam subtly from rings or necklaces.

Not all jewelry Christmas gifts that glitter need to be expensive, though. Whimsical and unique designs at an affordable price for the holiday season abound. For instance, brightly colored, rhinestone encrusted pins shaped like Christmas trees are widely available. For young recipients, bracelets, necklaces or anklets made from gold- or silver-plated metals, engraved with their names for a personal touch, will fit snugly in any Christmas stocking. Stores or web sites that specialize in vintage and antique items also offer bright jewelry Christmas gifts. Take your pick from pieces such as brilliant poinsettia-shaped hairpins or nativity-inspired pendants dotted with Swarovski crystals.

For many centuries, men, women and children have been eagerly counting the days until Christmas morning, when everyone would rush to the Christmas tree to open their presents. The giving of gifts is a time honored tradition, and the selection of presents that will be appreciated and enjoyed by those whom we love is no trivial task. Scintillating jewelry Christmas gifts have always been part of that tradition and they continue to contribute to the glow that the holiday season brings.


For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.

Protecting Yourself from Miter Saw Hazards

Kaitlin Carruth

A miter saw, also known as a "chop saw," is a circular saw that is mounted on a frame. It is designed to be portable and to make very accurate angled cuts between 45 and 90 degrees. The compound miter saw can cut at an additional angle in order to cut bevels. Miter saws are predominately used in cutting wood but can also be used to cut plastics and light metals. Like any power tool, it is important to follow some safety rules to protect yourself. The following are some guidelines to keep yourself safe while operating you miter saw:

1) Wear protective gear. Make sure to protect your eyes with
safety goggles or safety glasses that currently meet the national safety standard. Wear a full protective face mask when needed or dust mask for dusty projects (some of the dust from projects can contain harmful chemicals). It is also recommended to wear hearing protection (such as ear plugs) with extended use of a miter saw.

2) Avoid wearing any loose clothing. Do not wear anything that could possibly get in the way or fall into the path of the saw. This would include loose clothing, jewelry such as earrings, neck ties, gloves, or any dangling object. Remember to tie back long hair.

3) Keep miter saw clean. The miter saw and area around the miter saw should always be clean and free from debris. Also, inspect material to make sure it is free from nails and any other foreign objects before cutting.

4) Maintain a sharp miter saw blade. Always use a miter saw blade that is sharp and undamaged.

5) Do not over reach. Keep a secure footing and do not over reach. Never attempt to reach around the miter saw while it is on.

6) Use miter saw safety guards. The miter saw should come with an upper hood that covers the top half of the blade along with a lower
blade guard. Do not operate machinery without these guards.

7) Make sure that blade is securely fastened. Loose blades have the ability to fall off. Take care to make sure that the miter saw blade is securely fastened and aligned correctly. To do this, unplug the miter saw and carefully spin blade with finger. The blade should not hit any of the other components of the saw.

8) Keep work material secure. Do not attempt to cut the material freehand. Always make sure that the material being cut is secure against the fence of the miter saw. If the work piece is unstable, then use a clamp to hold it in place. Also, remember to check that the miter saw is on a smooth and stable
surface before beginning a project.

9) Leave miter saw unplugged and in the off position when not in use. Following this guideline will protect you from any accidents that could occur when turning on your miter saw. Never leave a power tool on while unattended. It is also advisable to wait until your miter saw is completely warmed up and come up to speed before starting a project.

10) Be Alert! Always be alert when operating a power tool. If the work becomes monotonous, take a short break. Accidents are prone to happen to those who are not paying attention.

Be sure to follow these miter saw safety tips in order to keep yourself safe.
Remember that these are only general guidelines and that you should stop operation of a miter saw at any sign of abnormality. Always be cautious while operating a miter saw in order to avoid any possible accidents.

Kaitlin Carruth is a client account specialist with 10xMarketing
- More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue.
For more information about miter saws, please visit Tool America.

Getting Priorities Straight
Lois R. Thompson

It is reported that there are over 1.5 million new people coming online each month,
with only 95% of all online businesses making a profit.

I believe that the Internet is by far the greatest gold rush in history. So, how can
this be...only 5% of online businesses raking in the gold?

Are the opportunities not equal for all? does it take large financial backing? No! I
believe the failure of the 95% is attributed to the same causes for business failure
off line as well as online. In a nutshell...it's the lack in clarity of vision.

How can we be focused when we don't have a clue what it is that we are to be focused
on line. Without clarity of vision there is no real purpose, and with out real
purpose our priorities become confused.

Without a carefully thought out game plan, it is most unlikely for one to achieve
true success. In any venture, discouragement will come. And without a game plan when
discouraged does not produce the Quick Riches that was so hopeful would come, one
tends to give up on that venture. Then, frantically looks for the next opportunity and
jumps right on in.

Before long, we are back to square one. We now have 3 or 4 newly claims staked, and
none of them really producing. Depending on how much time and money we have
invested, at this point, he may be tempted to sit the next race out, or even worse...drop
out of the race entirely, with the false notion that..."it does not work."

What is wrong here? We have never taken the time to lay a solid foundation. Without
a solid foundation a house just cannot stand the storm.

So what...if it takes a year or so to pay your dues in the School of Hard Knocks?
That is not much time for a life of wealth and freedom. Don't buy the hype! No one
logs on to the internet, signs up for a bizop, get a fancy website then sit back and
become financially free.

As with anything else in life, we all must make a dedicated effort if in fact we are
to reap the blessings.

The Beginning - Your Reason

Now that you are ready to create a game plan for financial
freedom there are some steps to be followed closely.

Here's Fact.
Financial freedom, becomes very elusive, unless you have a reason, and I mean are
really big reason or a bunch of important reasons that drive you emotionally. If you
don't have know your reason right now, you need to begin to dig deep and keep
searching for that thing that drives your passion. Do you remember a time when you were
really passionate in life? What what was that passion about? How would you like to
have that back?


Here's where you start:

1. Keep a new notebook for your training. Make it
one you'd be proud to plan your life with. This
notebook is going to hold a lot of important
information you are going to want to refer back.

2. Once you have that notebook, state your life's creed or
statement of life. Write this out boldly! Make this a
commitment to yourself. Write at the top, "I'm 100%
committed to achieving my goals and dreams." Something
powerful happens when you write things down. Don't
just think it, ink it. You will want to review this
often. A year from now, you'll be blown away at how
significant it is that you've written that down.

3. Why do you want financial freedom? Here's your first
task: write down everything financial freedom would
mean to you. Keep writing for as long as you can, up to
30 minutes. Yes, I said 30 minutes! Most people will
spend hours planning a vacation, but they can't give 30
minutes to writing down their reasons for financial
success. Will you commit to your success and do this
task, or are you keeping yourself busy building someone
else's dreams. This is a goal setting exercise, built
on the power of your dreams.

I do this once a quarter. Each time I do it, I am impressed upon and inspired to do
more with my life. It will be the same for you, so go for it!

Write down ALL your dreams and goals.

Here are some thoughts to get you going:

What would your family be like?
What would your relationships be like?
What kind of house would you live in?
What kind of car would you drive?
What specific vacations would you take?
How could you give back?
Would you set up a charity? What kind?
To live debt free how much would it require per year?
How much fun would you put into your day?
What time would you get up in the morning? Go to
bed at night?
Would you travel? Where? In what style?
What kind of clothes would you own?
What kind of jewelry would you wear?
What would you do for your community?
Being financially solid and debt free, what would you
do with the rest of your life?


If you have not done this before, it can be most tedious, but keep writing until you
until you get to the bottom of this. Working out your dreams is a very profitable
investment. As with anything else, the more you work at it, the better you'll become
at it. You'll be doing this again, and we'll take you back to your notebook to see
how you've progressed since you wrote all this down. I think you'll be very inspired.

Yes! this is a time consuming process, but an investment so great a price cannot be
placed upon it. Remember the turtle? he is the last to get out of the starter box in
a race, but he plows steadily along and finishes at the finish line. Sometimes,
going slow is getting ahead...those that wait, mount up with wings as eagles!

Now that you know your own dreams, you're ready to hear about our strategy for
helping you achieve them?




==>>> Lois has been blessed with earning a full time <<==
= income working from home part-time, through combining
= MLM and Affiliate Marketing. You CAN TOO! Subscribe to
= Building Wealth News Ezine and Discover HOW to
= "Bridge The Gap Between MLM And Affiliate Marketing"
= Visit http://www.the-power-to-get-wealth.com

Online Shopping: 10 Tips For Safe Online Shopping

I-key Benney, CEO

Have you ever bought a product or service from the internet?

Me too.

Some of the reasons why most people are shopping online are: they can buy anything at anytime because Internet shopping is available 24 hours, all the time.

You can shop from the convenience of your home. You can avoid traffic and crowding at the malls.

Online shopping is one of the best ways to locate hard-to-find items not available in your local stores.

Whatever you buy can be delivered by mail to your house.

Most online stores and companies provide excellent values and discount prices because they do not have to pay the overhead of owning a physical business that will cost them insurance, employee pay, taxes and more.

VeriSign, Inc. says that online sales recorded during the prime holidays shopping season was about $2.2 billion dollars.

According to a study by Forrester Research Company, by 2010, online sales will reach $331 billion dollars.

More consumers are shopping online today than a year ago. The range of products they buy are many: software, hardware, electronics, digital products, music, toys, e-books, books, programs, DVD, flowers, pets, jewelry, clothes, air tickets, insurance, cars, prescription drugs, comic books, games, gifts and more.

They are flocking to buy from online bookstores, software stores, online computer stores, target stores, pet stores, liquor stores, drug stores, music stores, furniture stores, fabric stores, the Disney store, outlet stores, surplus stores, discount stores, thrift stores, gift stores, candy stores, lingerie stores, sports stores, video stores, sex stores, department stores, game stores, clothing stores and others.

Be a smart and savvy online shopper. Shop wisely and safely.

Here are a few tips to help you do your online shopping safely.

(1) Shop at the websites of companies that you know and are popular offline.

If you're not sure of the company, request their catalog or brochure first.

Be sure they have a physical address and phone, as well as an e-mail address. Call them and speak to a human being first.

Check with the yellow pages and the Better Business Bureaus to be sure the company is legitimate.

Read all the fine print and the refund policy before you place an order.

You may read about product reviews and what other shoppers have to say about a company at:
http://www.epinions.com, http://www.consumersearch.com , http://www.productopia.com, http://www.deja.com

Here are some internet shopping agents' sites:
http://www.comparenet.com , http://vo.infospace.com , http://bottomdollar.com

To read about reviews on shopping stores, regarding ease of use, pricing, selection and service go to:
http://www.gomez.com, http://www.bizrate.com , http://www.ratingwonders.com

To read about web business frauds and get help to avoid being a victim, go to:
http://www.fraud.org , http://www.bbbonline.org , http://www.webassured.com

(2) Keep a record of all your purchases.

Most people are by nature disorganized and unable to keep records. Learn to keep records of all your online purchases. This will help you keep track of your spending and shopping.

Print all receipts or save them on your computer in a folder named "receipts".

This will help you locate orders that you placed but were never delivered.

The more organized you are the less negative online shopping experience you'll have.

(3) Keep all your important personal information safe.

Don't give them to strangers who may call you over the phone or request them by e-mail.

Personal information includes: your address, e-mail address, phone number, social security number, drivers license, age, information about your family.

Don't give them to any stranger and, also, teach your children not to do so.

(4) Keep your passwords private.

When creating a password, avoid using phone numbers, birth dates or social security numbers.

Be creative. Use a password that is not easy for others to guess, and yet not easy for you to forget.

Change your passwords often. Use phrases to help you remember them.

Don't disclose passwords to anyone.

(5) Use a credit (but never debit) card to make your payment.

Be sure to keep all credit card payment receipts. Check your credit card account statements to be able to spot any unauthorized charges.

When you buy certain goods and services from some companies, sometimes they will keep billing you thereafter. So scrutinize your statements. If you see a charge you're not sure of, call the billing merchant and check it out.

Keep your credit cards secure.

Avoid making a payment using your credit card on a public computer.

Report any lost credit cards immediately and have them cancelled. Don't give anyone that you don't know your credit card number.

(6) Read the return policy before placing an order.

Be sure that you read and understand the return policy and warranty.

(7) Read and understand the company's privacy statement (or policy).

A privacy statement tells you how and why a business is collecting your information, and how that information may be used.
You may find the company's privacy statement (or policy) at the very bottom of the home page or inside their "Terms & Conditions" or "Terms of Service" (TOS).

(8) Use a secure browser and server.

Be sure whatever browser you're using complies with the industry's security standards, such as secure sockets layer (SSL).

This security protocol scrambles or encrypts the personal information you send over the Internet to ensure your transaction is secured.

How do you know if the server is secure where you're making a payment?

If a Web site is using secure technology, its Web address begins with https and a tiny locked padlock appears at the bottom right corner of the screen.

(9) Check out a few stores and compare prices before buying.
Look for hidden costs such as shipping and handling.

(10) Use Yahoo Search Engine for all your searches.

Yahoo continues to be, not only the largest online company, but also, the best Search Engine.

Unlike the other popular Search engine, which keeps companies in a sandbox for many months and refuses to give them rankings for many months, Yahoo is pro business and gives immediate rankings to companies and business.

Their search result is also excellent. That may be one reason why 60% of people online (including me) love Yahoo.

Also, they have the most reliable and the best hosting service in the world.

For these reasons, I strongly recommend you use Yahoo to do all your searches.

Happy and safe online shopping.

Warmly,

I-key Benney


Visit Maychic's Amazon.com Store at:
http://www.maychic.com/amazonstore

Also, Download free "TMT Power Secrets" Book-1 at:
http://www.tmtworldwide.org



Precious Stones - The Big Five Part 3 The Sapphire
Sam Serio

The sapphire, protector of the innocent, celestial guardian of truth, bringer of health and youth, symbol of the heavens and birthstone for the month of September, is in fact the same stone as the ruby, the mineral corundum.

The blue corundum, ranging in color from the lightest blue to deep blue and black, is the same stone as the ruby, the only difference being in the color. The choicest color is the soft velvety blue, approaching the cornflower in shade and exhibiting that color vividly by artificial as well as by natural light. The deeper-colored stones are known as male, and the light-colored ones as female sapphires. Although choice sapphires are rare, a much greater quantity of good and large stones are to be had than of rubies, and therefore the price of a large sapphire does not advance in the same proportion as the price of a large ruby.

The word "sapphire" which means blue is of the same form in nearly all the early tongues, thus showing that they were in use by the ancients. Sapphires are found in many parts of the world and are usually found in the same locality as the ruby. The largest number and finest quality of these stones come from Thailand and India, and are found and recovered in much the same way as the ruby.

The sapphire is next to the diamond in hardness and it is this quality that makes it impervious to wear and insures its sharp edges and corners against years of use. Like the ruby the value of the sapphire is determined by its color. The finest stones are a deep blue and the deeper the color the more highly it is prized if its translucency is not impaired. Although the sapphire with its many shades of blue is considered the most desirable stone, it is also found in other colors such as red, green, yellow and pink.

The Oriental emerald or green sapphire does not approach the beryl or true emerald in depth of color, but because of its superior hardness and brilliancy, added to its extreme rarity, it is the most valuable of green gems. The Oriental amethyst or purple sapphire sometimes reflects a red color by artificial light, and is valued highly as a gem stone; the common amethyst is softer, less brilliant, and loses by artificial light. The various other colored sapphires, such as yellow or Oriental topaz, light green or Oriental aquamarine, greenish-yellow or Oriental chrysolite, and aurora red or Oriental hyacinth, are all valuable as gem stones when they are pure, well cut, and have pronounced colors-in fact, the name Oriental is given to distinguish the corundums from the less valuable minerals of the same colors which they resemble, but which they greatly surpass in beauty and value because of their brilliancy and superior hardness.

Asterias or star stones are corundums of three different colors; the star sapphire proper is a grayish blue, the star ruby red, and the star topaz yellow. These stones are usually cut cabochon or convex, and display under the rays of the sun, or when exposed to one candle or other artificial light, a beautiful star with six points. This star is produced by foreign substances in the corundum, and the lapidary brings about the regular effect by cutting a pointed carbuncle so that the center of the star begins at the apex, and the six bright stripes radiate to the base of the stone. The bright lines of the star following the light move over the surface of the stone and produce a remarkable effect. These stones are amongst the most wonderful of mineral productions, and good specimens are very valuable. The corundum cat's-eye, called Oriental girasol or sunstone, has a bluish, reddish, or yellowish reflection of light of a lighter shade than the stone itself, and which moves on the convex surface of the stone like the lines of a star stone.

To this day, sapphire is one of the most important members of the family of gems and is certainly one of the most favored by jewelry artisans worldwide. Consequently, there is more "hanky-panky" with treatments, alteration of color and various other techniques to disguise or improve flaws etc., than almost any other precious stone. Buyer beware of bargains that look "too good to be true". Deal with reputable jewelers both online and offline. The sapphire is the birthstone for September.


For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.

Vacationing Tips to Protect You and Your Family

Have you ever wondered why that girl from the bar never called you back? The conversation came easy, the drinks were flowing, you could feel the chemistry, and you were dressed to kill?or were you?

Your mother always told you that you only get one chance to make a first impression and first impressions can make or break you. Women look at every last detail, from your tasseled shoes to the amount of goop you have in your hair. Be honest guys, women aren?t the only ones who try on ten different outfits before deciding what to wear for a night out on the town. And it is perfectly normal. But how do you know which outfit is the right one to impress the girl on your first date?

Let me take you through it step by step. Clothes aren?t the only thing a woman looks at when you?re dressing to impress; it?s the whole package. Fortunately or not, the outside is what she sees first. What you see is sometimes what you get. So what do you wear?

Out with the Old?

Rule number one is: don?t under dress. Guys have a tendency to pull on a pair of pants and the first shirt they find and head out the door. You have to look put-together, like some sort of effort was made for her. So take those ratty, old tennis shoes and toss ?em! Take your t-shirts with big, loud prints and forget about them! And yes, women think carpenters are sexy but that doesn?t give you the green light to wear your paint-stained jeans. The solution is simple. Ask a friend (male or female) over the day of your big date. Not only will they help calm your nerves but they?ll also give you their honest opinion on your chosen outfit. Second, an iron can also be a man?s best friend. You?d be surprised what a little pressing can do to change your look. Finally, don?t rush! There?s nothing wrong with taking an extra half hour to prepare. If you take the time to get ready, your date will take the time to notice.

?in with the New

So while the first rule might seem simple enough, some guys might take it too far, which brings us to rule number two: don?t overdress. We don?t expect you to know all the latest fashion trends of the day and we don?t expect you to follow them either. This second rule doesn?t only deal with being a label whore but also with men going overboard; that is to say those men don?t know when enough is enough. While some guys take a shirt, smell it and decide whether or not it is clean, others think their shirt has to say Hugo Boss, Armani, or Ralph Lauren to look good. So let?s make your sweater selection. Stay away from Grandma?s knitted birthday gift and nipple shirts. The former screams little kid while the latter leaves nothing to the imagination. The tight shirt may not be an option if you?re not comfortable enough with your body, but if you are physically fit, why not let the woman imagine what?s under there to maintain an element of mystery. You can?t go wrong with a button shirt, leaving the first couple of buttons at the top undone. It?s casual, comfortable, and classic.

A Dab Will Do You

Do you remember the last time you were walking down the street and almost got whiplash because someone passed by you with an overwhelming smell? Our sense of smell is one of our most powerful senses, which leads us to rule number three: always remember to smell good. Some smells take us back to childhood and others remind us of something very specific. The same applies to your cologne. But why is cologne used in the first place? Its purpose is twofold: it becomes your ?signature? and the sense of smell is heightened when things start getting hot and heavy. Again, less is more. No need to drown yourself with the stuff, keep in mind that when it comes to cologne, a little goes a long way. The best places to apply your signature are the inside of your wrists, your neck, and even your chest.

Attention to Detail

Sometimes it?s the little things that make a difference and rule number four reminds you to pay attention to detail. We all know women have an eye for the minute and the slightest thing can turn us off. So the solution is simple boys, don?t overlook the small stuff. Just like women like carpenters, some women also think scruffy is sexy, but on your first date, go with the clean shaven look to be safe. And not only are you going to brush your teeth, you?re also going to break out the dental floss for this one just to be extra safe. Make sure your hair is neat and doesn?t hold an entire bottle of product in it. Remember to clean those nails. You may look like a man?s man with dirty nails, but it?s a turn off for women. Finally, keep the accessories to a minimum. You can wear your watch and necklace or a ring but that?s it. If you?re wearing more jewelry than your date then we could have a problem!

Of course, not all women are the same but most will agree that less is more when making a good first impression. So remember the four simple rules: don?t dress like you?re going to watch the game at a buddy?s house or like you?re about to walk down the runway; smell great and put in the effort to care of the details. You?re sure to have plenty of second, third, and fourth dates!

Dress to Impress
Marisa Pellegrino

Have you ever wondered why that girl from the bar never called you back? The conversation came easy, the drinks were flowing, you could feel the chemistry, and you were dressed to kill?or were you?

Your mother always told you that you only get one chance to make a first impression and first impressions can make or break you. Women look at every last detail, from your tasseled shoes to the amount of goop you have in your hair. Be honest guys, women aren?t the only ones who try on ten different outfits before deciding what to wear for a night out on the town. And it is perfectly normal. But how do you know which outfit is the right one to impress the girl on your first date?

Let me take you through it step by step. Clothes aren?t the only thing a woman looks at when you?re dressing to impress; it?s the whole package. Fortunately or not, the outside is what she sees first. What you see is sometimes what you get. So what do you wear?

Out with the Old?

Rule number one is: don?t under dress. Guys have a tendency to pull on a pair of pants and the first shirt they find and head out the door. You have to look put-together, like some sort of effort was made for her. So take those ratty, old tennis shoes and toss ?em! Take your t-shirts with big, loud prints and forget about them! And yes, women think carpenters are sexy but that doesn?t give you the green light to wear your paint-stained jeans. The solution is simple. Ask a friend (male or female) over the day of your big date. Not only will they help calm your nerves but they?ll also give you their honest opinion on your chosen outfit. Second, an iron can also be a man?s best friend. You?d be surprised what a little pressing can do to change your look. Finally, don?t rush! There?s nothing wrong with taking an extra half hour to prepare. If you take the time to get ready, your date will take the time to notice.

?in with the New

So while the first rule might seem simple enough, some guys might take it too far, which brings us to rule number two: don?t overdress. We don?t expect you to know all the latest fashion trends of the day and we don?t expect you to follow them either. This second rule doesn?t only deal with being a label whore but also with men going overboard; that is to say those men don?t know when enough is enough. While some guys take a shirt, smell it and decide whether or not it is clean, others think their shirt has to say Hugo Boss, Armani, or Ralph Lauren to look good. So let?s make your sweater selection. Stay away from Grandma?s knitted birthday gift and nipple shirts. The former screams little kid while the latter leaves nothing to the imagination. The tight shirt may not be an option if you?re not comfortable enough with your body, but if you are physically fit, why not let the woman imagine what?s under there to maintain an element of mystery. You can?t go wrong with a button shirt, leaving the first couple of buttons at the top undone. It?s casual, comfortable, and classic.

A Dab Will Do You

Do you remember the last time you were walking down the street and almost got whiplash because someone passed by you with an overwhelming smell? Our sense of smell is one of our most powerful senses, which leads us to rule number three: always remember to smell good. Some smells take us back to childhood and others remind us of something very specific. The same applies to your cologne. But why is cologne used in the first place? Its purpose is twofold: it becomes your ?signature? and the sense of smell is heightened when things start getting hot and heavy. Again, less is more. No need to drown yourself with the stuff, keep in mind that when it comes to cologne, a little goes a long way. The best places to apply your signature are the inside of your wrists, your neck, and even your chest.

Attention to Detail

Sometimes it?s the little things that make a difference and rule number four reminds you to pay attention to detail. We all know women have an eye for the minute and the slightest thing can turn us off. So the solution is simple boys, don?t overlook the small stuff. Just like women like carpenters, some women also think scruffy is sexy, but on your first date, go with the clean shaven look to be safe. And not only are you going to brush your teeth, you?re also going to break out the dental floss for this one just to be extra safe. Make sure your hair is neat and doesn?t hold an entire bottle of product in it. Remember to clean those nails. You may look like a man?s man with dirty nails, but it?s a turn off for women. Finally, keep the accessories to a minimum. You can wear your watch and necklace or a ring but that?s it. If you?re wearing more jewelry than your date then we could have a problem!

Of course, not all women are the same but most will agree that less is more when making a good first impression. So remember the four simple rules: don?t dress like you?re going to watch the game at a buddy?s house or like you?re about to walk down the runway; smell great and put in the effort to care of the details. You?re sure to have plenty of second, third, and fourth dates!


I recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from
Concordia University in Montreal, with a minor in Professional
Writing. Currently, I help research and write for a Montreal
radio show called Passion, a program about dating, relationships,
and sex (www.dating-idea.com). I also do web copywriting.