New York SBDC Research Network

I found out about an article in the Salt Lake City Tribune that talks about a plan hatched by Overstock.com called the "Main Street Revolution Initiative". The first paragraph reads: "Small and minority-owned businesses have a chance to expand product sales through a partnership with Overstock.com, the Salt Lake City-based online discount retailer." Here's the page on Overstock's website, promoting the program: http://www.overstock.com/mainstreet As you'll notice on this site, the company says that the program "is designed to increase the visibility of small and minority-owned businesses which currently lack exposure to national markets. By joining our network these small businesses can reduce their supply chain costs, and open their products to a mass audience." More information is posted there. Anyone out there tapped into this yet?

Lately we’ve had a bunch of questions from clients who are authors or aspiring authors. Here are some resources related to publishing your work. If you are hoping to get the attention of the publishing houses, you may need a literary agent. Search for an agent here: Agent Query describes itself as the “the internet’s largest and most current database of literary agents.” Search by keyword, nonfiction or fiction genre, and you’ll get lots of results. Not sure if you need an agent or need help choosing one? The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America offers a helpful article and resources on literary agents in their “Writers Beware” web pages. Harold Underdown (author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books) also has a nice piece on “ Finding and Choosing Literary Agents ” We’ve also just purchased a copy of the 2010 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market which is full of helpful guidance and lists of agents and publishers, etc. Decide to forgo ...

Federal Reserve statistical releases and historical data have been divided into two pages: Statistics and Historical Data and Surveys and Reports. Principal Economic Indicators •Consumer Credit - G.19 •Factors Affecting Reserve Balances - H.4.1 •Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization - G.17 •Money Stock Measures - H.6 Bank Assets and Liabilities •Aggregate Reserves of Depository Institutions and the Monetary Base - H.3 •Agricultural Finance Databook - E.15 •Assets and Liabilities of Commercial Banks in the U.S. - H.8 •Assets and Liabilities of U.S. Branches and Agencies in Foreign Banks•Charge-Off and Delinquency Rates on Loans and Leases at Commercial Banks •Insured Commercial Bank Assets and Liabilities, Domestic and Foreign Offices •Survey of Terms of Business Lending - E.2 Business Finance •Commercial Paper •Finance Companies - G.20 •New Security Issues, State and Local Governments •New Security Issues, U.S. Corporations •Stock Market, Selected Statistics Exchange Rates an...

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The Earth Day Green Business Guide is a document from Business.gov , the official business link to the U.S. Government. The guide is intended to help "small business owners save money while protecting the environment. From changing a light bulb and using recyclable products to installing energy efficient equipment and systems, every business can make simple changes that save energy costs and natural resources." Small businesses can learn how to: * Develop an Environmental Management Plan * Comply with Environmental Regulations * Develop Green Products * Market and Grow Your Green Business * Reuse, Reduce and Recycle Waste * Explore Green Commuting Options * Learn about Successful Green Businesses In addition, the following Small Business Guides also available through Business.gov include special highlights to help you green your business: * Starting a Green Business - Start an Eco-Friendly Business * Advertising and Marketing - How to Ma...

Two patent searching sites for any lists of science, law or business resources: SumoBrain FreePatentsOnline Both of the sites are totally free, with powerful search engines, large document collections, and many features that other sites lack, including PDF downloading.

Here's an unusual article from the journal Psychological Science that might have no immediate use by any of your clients, but I'm sharing it nonetheless. A study from the University of Toronto argues that certain people, when simply exposed to green products (either in a market, or in advertising), act more altruistically and generously than those who actually buy the same product. This is an extension of what's known as "priming," whereby consumer behavior can be influenced by exposure to imagery - for instance, seeing the Apple logo inspires creativity in some folks. The authors argue that green products, marketed to promote a higher sense of social responsibility, are meant to inspire within the consumer the motivation to do good works. Conversely, they also argue that consumers who act on this exposure are the equivalent of the person who runs a 5K, then goes home and eats three Big Macs as a reward for their good work. Through a series of experiments,...