New York SBDC Research Network

We've gone a bit mad for digitization around here, but you don't need me to tell you that sometimes PDF files of print documents are much easier to use. Back in May 2005, dinosaurs still roamed the Earth, our blog was only a week old, and Roger wrote a post about a NYS Department of Transportation website that provided links to PDF documents, each of which gave traffic counts for county roads. I know many of you took that link to heart, and used it frequently. Life was simple. I think it was last year that DOT decided to "improve" the site by creating the Traffic Data Viewer. In their own words, it provides "a web-based index system that allows users to search for current traffic data available from NYSDOT. Users can obtain individual volume, speed and vehicle classification counts while viewing locations where the data was collected on an interactive map." Good . . . in theory. In reality, I can't figure out how to make the thing work. I've re

I read this article yesterday (ironically, while waiting for my PC to re-boot). It discussed findings presented at a conference here in Albany on Wednesday afternoon concerning the ongoing battle against identity theft & cybercrime. To me, its most compelling part focused on the software used by a UAlbany professor to "lift" credit card numbers from the RFID chips on "swipeless" credit cards - software that can be purchased relatively cheaply. The article also mentions that American Express & other credit card companies are aware of this situation, and often code "alias" numbers that are different from those imprinted on the card itself. The game - which isn't much of a game if you've had your numbers stolen - continues.

Although the information and service that we provide to our clients in starting and maintaining their small business is invaluable, sometimes they need some weathered advice from someone in their own industry, someone who has "been there, done that". For this type of help, send your client to MicroMentor . According to the MicroMentor website, "MicroMentor connects low-income business owners - called "microentrepreneurs" - to individuals who have successfully navigated business ownership or management in the same industry. Although there are some existing mentoring opportunities available to business owners, MicroMentor is the only one that utilizes technology to pair two people in the same industry."

Ahundredmonkeys is a corporate branding and naming consultancy. Their site offers news items about what is going on in this field and some insight into how companies should be thinking about their names. They give some ideas about what to look for in a naming company. Although they are a commercial site and naturally selling their service, I liked it because it is nicely put together. They even look at their competitors to show how their approach differs. Their meditation garden allows you to ponder some ideas about naming and branding. Check out the many articles on their site, it can be a very entertaining read. Just an interesting site and food for thought. Here are some other pointers on the subject: Naming Your Business Entrepreneur.com By Phil Davis April 07, 2005 18 Pithy Insights for Naming Your Small Business Posted by Dharmesh Shah on Mon, Jan 08, 2007

Lately, neckties seem to be a recurring theme in my life. Two weeks ago, I learned to tie a tie (yes, I'm a late bloomer). Then this week at lunch we discussed office dress codes, and the fact that ties from fifteen years ago might be noticeably unfashionable today. Want to know more about the history of men's neck wear? In, " Short, Bold, Skinny, Paisley " the Wall Street Journal presents a timeline of necktie history. We all know that styles change, but I thought this brief piece did an especially nice job illustrating the effect of changing styles on an industry and its trade association.

Monthly Small Business Economic Trends Analysis from the National Federation of Independent Business.

There are many industries and businesses in New York State that require permits and licensing in order to operate. Restaurants, day cares, liquor stores, contractors, and hotels are just a few of the more popular businesses that our clients start that require permits. In order to find out what NYS requires, the Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform provides OPAL - Online Permit Assistance and Licensing. OPAL provides information for all of the state agencies, as well as contact information, fees, and requirements for applying for the permits and licenses. The site also provides pages of "Helpful Information" on a variety of businesses, not just the ones that require permits. There is a keyword search to facilitate easy searching of the database.

Planning some outdoor recreation? Its a great time of year for biking and hiking, and just getting outside. Interested in the economic and demographic aspects of outdoor recreation? Check out the research provided by the Outdoor Industry Association . Some of the more technical or current reports are only for members, but free reports include a 2006 state of the industry report, state by state examinations of the active outdoor economy, demographic profiles, and retailer operational analyses.

Does international pressure really affect the survival of domestic manufacturers? Does it have the same effect regardless of size? A new study released by the Office of Advocacy, The Impact of International Competition on Small-Firm Exit in U.S. Manufacturing, provides answers. The study finds that changes in exchange rates affect the smallest of manufacturers, those with fewer than 20 employees, but have limited a impact on larger manufacturers. Manufacturing firms in high-tech industries felt less impact from international pressures than low-tech industries did. A full copy of this report is available here and the research summary can be found here . Should you need further information, please feel free to contact Brian Headd at (202) 205-6533 or advocacy@sba.gov. *** This report, "Characterization and Analysis of Small Business Energy Costs," compiles available information to (1) characterize the potential impact of energy price increases on small entities in individu

Everyone has a story to tell about a client who wants/needs a grant for their business. We know from experience that there are very, very few (if any) grants for private, for-profit businesses. Despite this experience, some clients are likely to insist that the money is "out there," somewhere. If they insist, then send them to GrantGopher.com . It's just been released. It promotes itself as a free website where information on grant funding possibilities can be found. From their home page: "We believe that this information should be freely available, especially because grants are so desperately needed by people and organizations that may not be able to afford subscription fees or a professional grant researcher." We're one of those organizations that have paid an annual fee for a database that we've used for your grants requests over the years (and that fee went up this year, and will go up again next year). GrantGopher requires a free registration to acc

A few weeks ago, I filled up the gas tank in my car and for the first time ever, I paid over $40. For those of you that drive large cars, trucks, or SUV's, $40 must sound like heaven. But for myself and my little Honda Civic, $40 is a lot. It is predicted the the price could hit $5 per gallon by the end of the year and certain gas stations in Germany are already charging up to $8 per gallon. Below are links to websites to help your clients (and you) find the cheapest gas in the area. Websites to find gas prices Gas Price Watch Gas Buddy Gas Prices from Mapquest The following links provide widgets that can be downloaded to your desktop or embedded in the programing of your blog or personal webpage. Automotive.com Gas Prices Widget Interdimension Media Gas Widget Apple Gas Widget for Macs Finally, here is a list of websites that are also pertinent to the gas crisis. Fuel Economy AAA Fuel Cost Calculator Alternate Fuel Prices - Includes prices and purchase locations for BioDiesel

I was thinking about changing minds. How difficult it is to do. To change one's own mind or another's. From the point of view of an individual but also from that of a company or a brand - once a person has made up their mind about something, it almost doesn't matter what they hear or see. It seems that lack of perception is reality. If a person is not looking for new information, they are only picking up on the elements in a person or product that agrees with their established opinion. All other information is weeded out so that the image agrees with the bias. We can see that in the political process, in the media; once a point of view has been repeated a few times, it solidifies in the mind and is intractable. They say the key to changing someone's mind is to acknowledge and understand their point of view and then slowly point them to another option, and repeat. Changing Minds: The Great Resistance Branding Strategy Insider Posted by Jack Trout November 12, 2007 Atta

According to a recent article from Federal Computing Week there are at least 31 active public blogs run by federal agencies. This piece highlights 5 blogs hosted by (or at least related to) federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (Secretary Mike Leavitt was the first head of an agency to write a public blog), the Congressional Budget Office, the State Department, and the Navy. We spend a fair amount of time searching for federal regulations and statistics. This more personable and conversational side of federal government feels particularly refreshing.

The Rockefeller Institute of Government has published the 32nd edition of its popular New York State Statistical Yearbook, providing updated information on a vast array of state data and state agency contacts for news media, citizens, government officials, and others. The 714-page Yearbook contains information ranging from population and health statistics to information on education in the state. Information is freely available online as a series of Excel pages here . For more information or to obtain a copy, click here . Read the news release .

We have Adobe Standard on our desktops, which helps us convert Word documents, images, PowerPoint slides, spreadsheets, and the like into PDF files. If you don't have this, here's one way to (freely) convert your stuff: a site called KoolWire . In addition to PDF, this site enables you to convert files into MP3, RTF, or WAV formats. On the home page, simply select (in Step 1) the format you want the item converted to. Click "start," and it will open a formatted email. Attach the file (or files - you can do more than one) to that email, click send, and await the results. If your file (or files) are more than 10 MB in size, they require you to upload through their website instead of by email. As for other file formats, check out the "KoolVersion Rules" link along the bottom of the home page. As a test, I sent them a Word file earlier today. It was 54K in size, and took about 90 seconds to be turned around back to me. Pretty cool (with a "c," n