Big strategy for small business

Small businesses are constantly being told by Government and the IT industry how much they have to gain by getting into e-business. But do they? The hype goes like this: if a small business has harnessed internet technologies beyond email (creating online business processes or connecting to customers or business partners) competitive advantages and cost savings are sure to follow.

'New' Poppe Tyson faces hard climb

Lorimar Telepictures Corp.'s recent restructuring of its USAdvertising and Poppe Tyson units faces a stern challenge in the current business-to-business advertising climate. The parent's creation in March of a "new" Poppe Tyson as a large agency specializing in business-to-business advertising comes at a time when the segment has lost some of its allure.

Best advice for budding businesses Business services at a glance

Canterbury Development Corporation is in the business of helping other businesses, and the level of expertise and services it offers to small business enterprises is not only extensive, but its business services are free, confidential, and commercially neutral. For any budding business person, or someone who is already in business and wants to expand, or has business questions, CDC should be at the top of the calling list. Those considering starting or buying a business can talk through their business idea with a CDC business support adviser.

Concerns of teachers of business English

CONTRARY to popular belief, business English teaching principles were known and practised before English for general and cultural purposes was taught. Those of us earning our living from business might pause to commemorate the 500th anniversary of business English. We can trace the roots of business English back to the writing, in 1498, of the Little Treatise for the Learn English and French by a printer, Winkyn de Worde. His purpose was to be able to carry on his business "so that (he) may do (his) merchandise in France and elsewhere in other lands".

Small Business Faces Sad Week

THE destruction or damage to perhaps 10,000 businesses during the Los Angeles riot - most of them small businesses - couldn't have occurred at a more ironic time. This week is "small business week" in the United States. At least 3,000 of those Los Angeles businesses may not reopen, observers there say. Across the nation, the US small-business community has been hit by the recent recession. Bankruptcies are still on the rise. Job hiring is down. The pace of new-business formation is off substantially compared to prior recoveries.

Small business plays a big part in the economy

Small business is the backbone of the economy. It accounts for about 40 percent of the gross domestic product and employs about 67 percent of the work force. The vast majority of businesses in this part of the state are small businesses that employ fewer than 50 people and most employ 10 or fewer. The unfortunate fact is that the majority of start-up businesses fail within the first two years. If I were pinned down to identify the main reason for these failures, I would say that most people who start a business of any kind do not understand that the operative word is business.