Storm Center

July 16, 2008

This is an extraordinary time for entrepreneurs. There's no better time to start a business than during a recession. Think about it: There's a surplus of vacant office, retail and commercial space that can be had for below-market value. Ditto for high-quality labor.

Clark started his business in the midst of the 1980s recession. The reality is that you always lose money with a startup. But if your overhead is lower to begin with, then as the economy recovers you're poised for faster growth than you might have been otherwise.

The New York Times recently ran a story about people who wind up going the entrepreneur route after they've retired. Economists call this the "micro-businesses" trend. These are people who may have had a beloved hobby, but they never really got to pursue it during their working life.

It might also be a good time to try out a micro-business if you've lost your job. However, what was fun as a hobby does not always prove fun as a job. But Clark's longstanding belief is do what you love first -- and then figure out how to monetize it later.

July 15, 2008

If you've looked at the prices of diapers and formula lately, you're apt to start crying like a baby. Many manufacturers have been passing costs on to consumers for the past few months. Now comes word that Procter & Gamble is bumping up prices by as much as 16% on brands like Tide, Ivory, Gillette shaving cream, etc.

That means there's never been a better time to try off-brands or store brands; in many cases, the quality of the product is just as good. For example, there's little difference between cheap and costly shampoos.

In his TV work, Clark once interviewed a professor who chemically analyzed different shampoos and confirmed their sameness. Conditioner, however, is a different story. So if you must blow money, buy a cheap shampoo and splurge on a nice conditioner.

But Clark's message stands: Ignoring store brands is risky for your wallet. You could save between 30% and 60% by going the generic route.

July 14, 2008

Why do you buy home or auto insurance? You do it because if something goes wrong, the insurer is there to make it right -- be it repair your home, fix your car or replace it if stolen.

But some companies only do half the job. They take the premiums, but they aren't vey good about paying out claims. A trial lawyer's group called the American Association for Justice has come with a list of the worst insurers in America. ... More

July 9, 2008

Sanyo has invented a washing machine that cleans your clothes with no water. The Wall Street Journal reports this product is already being sold in Asia and will be marketed here in the future. ... More

July 7, 2008

What do you do when a collection agency is ruining your life? Today Clark heard from a caller who had a medical procedure and then moved. A collection agency had been sending bills to the old address for the portion that was unpaid by insurance. Finally, they started making harassing phone calls. ... More