Entrepreneur Magazine: August 2002

All Work & No Play
Targeted mailings and research are in. Client golf outings are out. If you expect to sell in today's economy, you need to stop wasting everyone's time.

Still Playing With Toys?
Your interest in the toy industry survived the recession. Now how do you make the most of the recovery?



Be Your Own Boss Features
So Many Choices
Picking the right franchise takes a lot of legwork. Luckily, we have 18 tools and techniques to make your due diligence doable.

Scary Move, Eh?
The risks of starting a business can be a fright. Fortunately, the right attitude can turn your quickened heart rate and night sweats into the kind of excitement that leads to a successful business.

Biz 101
Under the Microscope
Use microenterprise loans to help make micro a temporary condition.

Permanent Press
Make your Web site a magnet for news-hungry journalists.

Innovations
Raiser's Edge
Are your attempts at selling to retail stores going nowhere? Maybe your product needs a good fund-raiser.

Opportunities
I'll Follow the Sun
Who would have thought of the Great White North as a tanning hot spot?

Mom a la Mode
This entrepreneur wasn't expecting to find such a fashionable franchise.

What's New 08/02
Cutting out a hairy situation

Smart Ideas
Red Hot!
I scream, you scream, we all scream for . . . ice cream hot dogs? How one entrepreneur came up with a cool twist on a ballpark favorite

What's Your Problem?
Starting From Scratch
The less you know about your industry, the more prep work you have in your future.

Almost Famous
Tickets, Please
He sneaked into DVD rental through the door Blockbuster took its eye off--the internet.

Editor's Note
Get Your Butt in Gear!


Insurance
Worldwide Coverage
The right insurance for when you're way out of the office

Legal
Feeling Woozy?
If it's from the toxins, call a doctor. If it's from inheriting someone else's mess, help is coming.

Management Buzz
Management Buzz 08/02
Who's not getting the ax these days and books to help inspire you

Smart Moves
Competitive Pricing
Reverse online auctions will have suppliers racing to beat each others' bids.

Staff Smarts
How Embarrassing!
Highly publicized dry spells are poor recruitment tools. Will anybody decent ever want to work for you again?

A+ Ads
The Writing's on the Wall
Change is inevitable. And, if you do it right, your ad's persuasive impact on the viewer will be, too.

Breakthrough
Building Character
Art imitates business life for this entrepreneur.

Marketing Buzz
Marketing Buzz 08/02
How you should not market your enviromently friendly product; how to encourage customer complaints

Real Deal
Burnout Busters
Find out how to keep your cool when your deal gets hot.

Sales Force
Full of Hot Air
How to handle big egos on your sales team before they're blown out of proportion

Sales Success
Slipping Up
Botched a sale? Learn from the error of your ways—dust yourself off and try again.

Tactics
What's the Story?
Let the whole world know about your latest product launch, even on the tightest budget.

Dollar Signs
Take This Hand
Banks are looking to find a nice entrepreneur and settle down.

Funds
If the Cap Fits
Gird your portfolio with value small caps.

Money Buzz
Money Buzz 08/02
Sites that offer more credible stock market info, paying by fingerprint

Raising Money
Can I Take Your Orders?
You have no assets. You have no receivables. How do you get financing? Make purchase orders your entry-level collateral.

Tax Talk
Beefed Up
The IRS enforcement arm is working out.

Biz Travel
Power Trip
Pack enough voltage to last through the whole journey.

Books
When You Ad It All Up . . .
The life and times of an ad industry legend

Brand Aid
Nothing but Net
Offline advertising--who needs it?

Capitol Issues
Ergo-Huh?!
The forecast is hazy for the latest ergonomics plan.

Flash
Flash 08/02
Pursuing the "mass affluent" market, cell phones that read lips and more

Hot Seat
Let’s Chat
With what we've learned from the master of small talk, we have plenty to say.

It Figures
It Figures 08/02
Countries with the most entrepreneurial activity, how much overtime are people working and more

Smarts Features
Arguing Semantics
The Net cook is brewing up a new Web. Are you ready for a taste test?

Endless Options
No matter how often the markets let us down, stock options aren't going to die.

In Times of Crisis
Does less media hype mean the energy crises are over—or do we just miss Enron?

Bunch of Hosiers
How have women managed to maintain a monopoly on pantyhose all these years?

Payin’ Relief
Do your employees need a living wage law to get by?

Just Take Your Time
. . . and rethink what you do with it. Does multitasking really get anything done?

Snapshot
Gerald Chamales
51, chairman and founder of Carson, California-based Rhinotek Computer Products

Tech Toy
A Brand-New Development
For photos on the go, here's a digital camera and printer for your glove box.

Wheels
My Turn
If you don't need a car all the time, why not share?

Women
A Buying Shame
The number of companies buying from women-owned businesses is disgraceful.

Buyer's Guide
LAN of the Free
If you're feeling a little tied down at the office, give wireless a whirl.

Cool Clicks
Cool Clicks 08/02
Connect to your PC remotely; find the best high-speed Internet access providers

Digital Edge
Looking Sharp!
Blades can cut clutter and wasted office space without slicing off a chunk of your budget.

Gear
Gear 08/02
Scanning those pesky business cards; the mouse loses its tail

Hot Disks
Hot Disks 08/02
Put your math problems on the Web, get your PCs and Macs talking and more

Net Profits
Price Check, Please
Shopping around for a new way to attract clients? Try joining a price-comparison site.

Tech Buzz
Tech Buzz 08/02
Who's paying for computer recycling; the newest standard for modems

Wireless
Can’t Take It With You
Hold the phone! Number, that is. Your cell carrier will, at least for now.

Animation Nation
Cartoons draw attention from cell phone users.