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Donald Trump's Apprentice - Week 6
Martha Stewart's Apprentice - Week 6
Donald Trump's Apprentice - Week 5
Martha Stewart Apprentice - Week 5
Sluggishness In Senate Hurts Small Business
This Year's Number One Company
Inc. 500 Countdown: American Apparel
Inc. 500 Countdown: Shutterfly
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Archives › October 2005
October 28, 2005
Culture
Donald Trump's Apprentice - Week 6
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 11:15 AM
I have a confession: I like the Donald more and more each week. He made a great decision last night. His disgust was palpable in the boardroom, and for good reason. I can't believe how badly Excel blew it. Josh, Mark, and James acted like kids at the first day of Little League practice. They totally ignored the point of the task, which was to sell merchandise. Obviously.
Okay, when I first saw the baseball diamond, I was impressed. The idea of having merchandise stations set up at each base was a good idea, but the batting practice concept was ridiculous. Why did it take so long for them to realize that people would get hit by the balls if they browsed right in the middle of the action? That was Excel's first huge mistake. When the batting cage arrived, they should have simply used it as decoration and canned the actual batting practice. They probably would have generated a lot more sales on the merits of the neat setting alone. I thought I was seeing things when Josh started shoving merchandise displays behind the baseball diamond! Then, somebody said safety should come first. What about sales? Hello?
As for Jennifer, I don't even know where to begin. I can't blame Felisha for wishing Kristi had returned to the suite at the beginning of the episode. Yes, Kristi is annoying and disruptive, but at least she's honest. Jennifer is phony and sickening, and, from what Josh said in the boardroom, she outright lied about telling him the concept wasn't working. She keeps saying she's such a great salesperson, but she's a total cheese ball! Her attempts at selling those radar guns were cringe-inducing. I think she's confusing flirting with selling. Oh, and she acted like a total psycho in the boardroom to boot. More on that later.
Not surprisingly, Alla was an excellent project manager. This was her first time as PM, but she's always been one of the team's unofficial leaders. Unlike Josh, she totally understood the point of the task. When Clay suggested that they put a fence around the area, she told him that was a bad idea, which it was, as the batting cage proved. I know some people think Alla's abrasive, but I disagree. She's straightforward, fair, and she knows what she wants. She's not soft and cuddly, but she's still a good leader. She gives credit where credit is due. She told Clay to "cut it" when he was whining, but then mentioned that he did a good job selling.
Speaking of Clay, I think he needs to go. He's way too whiny, and I hated the way he grabbed Alla's hands when he was talking to her. That was weird. Also, even though Alla said he was a good salesman, I'm not so sure. I've never had a sales job, but from a consumer's perspective, his style seemed kind of desperate and overbearing. Maybe some shoppers go for that, but I usually run in the other direction when salespeople get pushy.
Good for Markus for coming up with the golf idea. That made the most sense out of all the sports, since putting stations are easy to set up and golf gear is so pricey. It was very classy. Like Carolyn, I did wonder how the team could sell products that they knew nothing about, but I guess that's a moot point. The fact that they won just proves that they're great sellers.
As for the boardroom scene, it was pretty shocking. I never expected the Donald to fire all four players! They all deserved it. Jennifer really embarrassed herself in the boardroom, and the other three guys just kind of sat there. They knew there was no defense for the fact they messed up so badly. Either the Donald's a great actor, or he really takes this show seriously. He seemed genuinely upset. I loved his solemn quote at the end of the show: "Life continues." That was inspired. The cab ride was also brilliant. I can't believe they all had to pile into the same taxi. How great! The silence was deafening.
I'm curious to find out how long the other candidates waited up to see who would return to the suite. Maybe Rhona called to break the bad news? I guess we'll find out next week.
October 27, 2005
Culture
Martha Stewart's Apprentice - Week 6
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 2:14 PM
I almost fell asleep during last night's conference room scenes. I can't figure out who was the dullest: Marcela, David, Martha, or Alexis. Martha should have just fired both Marcela and David to give us all a break. David seems like a nice enough guy, and I'm sure he's smart, but he's too timid to be a good leader. Charles hit the nail on the head when he pointed out that David's speech in the conference room was better than anything he ever contributed during the task. Not only did he bow out of the negotiations altogether, but he also blew it by typing during the meeting with Merv Griffin! I don't blame Merv for being annoyed. I guess David's teammates are partly to blame: If they had taken turns doing the negotiations, as they've done in past auction episodes, he could have proven himself either way. It was weird to ask one person to sit there doing nothing.
Marcela wasn't much better. She also seems like a nice person, and, as her teammates are quick to point out, she's a great chef. But she's not management material. In fact, I think she would be miserable in a leadership role. Amanda, on the other hand, becomes more of a stand-out each week. She did a great job negotiating with the celebrities last night, and she's already proven that she's an inspiring boss. She's definitely one of my picks at this point.
The best part about last night's show was clearly Jim's over-the-top performance at the team dinner. He really cracks me up, but there's no way I'd ever work for someone like him. He's scary. It's a shame, because he's clearly very creative and talented. Last night, he generated a lot of good ideas and was fine during the negotiations. Then he blew it, as usual, by acting like a total nut at dinner. If he could only tone-down his behavior, he could be a contender. But it would take more than a little self restraint to make Jim Martha material. It would require a lobotomy. Still, I'm glad his team won the challenge. Without him, this show would be a lot less entertaining.
No one else really blew me away last night. The problem with these "celebrity auction" episodes is that they don't require much from the candidates once the negotiations are over. Besides, the deck is clearly stacked in their favor. These celebrities already signed up for the auction. And who doesn't want to do everything they can to save homeless dogs? Even so, it's nice to see a reality TV show giving something back to the world for once. And I liked the fact that Martha emphasized the important of charity to the contestants.
Apparently the kids will be hawking Tide next week. Judging from the previews, it looks like someone's going to don a super hero suit and get a little nutty. Then Martha's going to fire two people. Jim seems like an obvious choice, but I can't figure out who the other person might be. I guess we'll find out next week!
October 21, 2005
The Apprentice
Donald Trump's Apprentice - Week 5
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:09 AM
Once again, the women's team totally missed the point of their assignment. They're too busy bickering to take a step back and think about what's really important. Last week, they blew it by creating a cartoonish character that wouldn't appeal to teens. This week, they failed to emphasize the name Zathura, even though John Favreau made it perfectly clear that making people familiar with the name was one of the float's main goals!
Even though Kristi has a toxic personality, I think Jennifer should have been fired last night. It was her fault that Zip was so childish, and she blew the float task by mispronouncing Zathura five times during her presentation! If she was physically unable to say the name correctly, she should have let someone else make the presentation. She seems to think her flowing hair and peppy personality can substitute for actual substance. That may work at the Miss Universe contest, but not in the business world! During her presentation, she was acting like a total ditz, talking about "her little helpers." Give me a break!
That said, Kristi isn't much better. She's honest and outspoken, which I like, but being the loudest person on the team isn't necessarily a good thing. Most of the time, it seemed like she was making a stink about inconsequential details. If she was loudly insisting that they plaster the name Zathura all over the float, that would have been a good thing. But it seems like she was just being difficult and stubborn. If she had actually suggested a good idea, everyone probably would have tuned her out anyway.
I've always liked Randal, but I'm beginning to wonder if he was just riding on his team's coattails. I was hoping he'd help get Capital Edge on track, but he didn't seem to do much at all. When Jen decided to take three team members with her to buy a red carpet, he simply went along, rather than staying behind to help Kristi, Alla, and Felisha complete the float. I'm not impressed. I do think Randal was correct to point out that the women didn't seem to respect each other. The guys, on the other hand, gel very well (except for Markus, but I'll get to him later). The recording session with Wyclef was a great example of how they work together. That was, by far, the best reward ever on this show.
I was disappointed in Markus' performance last night. He rebounded a bit during the past two weeks, but he really blew it during the float task. He seems almost delusional. He thinks he's made of teflon? Why, exactly? I don't blame Brian and the rest of the guys for being annoyed that Markus simply sulked while they worked on the float. I don't think Brian handled the situation too well, though. He should have taken Markus to the side before things got so out of hand. Besides that, I thought Brian was a decent leader (except, of course, for his terrible presentation skills). The float was very impressive, especially compared to Capital Edge's design. I loved the idea of using an audio loop to drive home the name Zahtura.
I guess the Donald plans to mix up the teams last week. Finally! I hope Alla gets some wins under her belt. I predict that either Markus or Jennifer will get the boot next week. One can only hope!
October 20, 2005
The Apprentice
Martha Stewart Apprentice - Week 5
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 12:26 PM
I can't believe Jim dodged the bullet again last night. His behavior was completely bizarre and inappropriate. I think the Donald would have fired him in a heart beat, but since Martha's company has room for more "creative" types, I can see why she would keep him around for a little longer. He's pretty entertaining. That said, I don't see him winning the grand prize. He definitely seems to have a dark side. That argument with Howie about "slaying the dragon" was completely ridiculous. They're both hot heads and, for that reason, I wouldn't want either of them working at my company.
Besides, Jennifer's performance was terrible. She was hiding like a scared mouse behind the "counter" the entire time. When Jim started acting crazy, she was afraid to pull him off the floor. If she was worried that he would make a scene, she should have asked him to step outside to talk. When it comes down to it, the task was about selling, and she bombed out in that department.
I was really relieved that Martha reorganized the teams. I don't blame Ryan for choosing Marcela last. Up until last night, she's been pretty blah. But, like Bethenny, she really shone when she was in her element. Good for her. I'm also glad that David finally won a challenge, although I'm not quite sure if he's Martha material. He seems to be good for team spirit, but I haven't noticed him make any other big contributions.
I felt bad for Bethenny. She came up with a great salad dressing and, for the first time, she seemed confident and energized. I think she would be a good fit at Martha's company, but if she doesn't win a few challenges, she'll never have a shot. One person who didn't deserve a reward last night was Leslie. Her pushy sales tactics were totally unacceptable. I can't believe she was actually putting salad dressing in people's carts and yelling at them. I liked her tactic of selling multiple bottles to each customer, but she could have been a lot more subtle about it. She's a real boob. I predict that either she or Jim will get the boot next week.
On a different note, I read that Donald Trump is publicly blaming Martha Stewart for diluting his ratings. The nerve! As Martha pointed out last week, she's not the kind of person you'd want to annoy.
October 19, 2005
Laws and regulation
Sluggishness In Senate Hurts Small Business
Posted by Daniel Del'Re at 4:57 PM
Jack Faris of the National Federation of Independent Business recently wrote a column in the Fairfield Country Business Journal discussing Depression era legislation that prohibits banks from paying interest on business checking accounts. The legislation falls hardest on small companies because they cannot afford "sweep" accounts that pay interest but require a much higher minimum balance. In effect, the law puts small businesses between a rock and a hard place.
Legislators have long considered deregulating aspects of banking laws so that interest-bearing checking accounts are available to businesses of all sizes. As Faris notes in his column, last May Congress voted 424 to 1 in favor of a bill that would remove this prohibition.
Senators, however, have been slower to act. In June 2004, Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican of Kansas, spoke at length with the Senate's Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Development about the unfair nature of the prohibition on interest bearing accounts for businesses. "While this prohibition applies to all banks and businesses, it targets and discriminates against small banks and small businesses," said Hagel in a 2004 speech before the committee.
But it has taken a full year for senators to act. In August, Hagel and Maine Republican Olympia Snowe introduced the "Interest on Business Checking Act of 2005" bill to address this matter. At present, Senator Mike Crapo is leading his colleagues in negotiating a version. Mr. Crapo's press secretary refused to comment on the negotiations, saying only that a vote is not likely until sometime next year.
The securities legislation passed in the 1930's was largely a knee-jerk reaction to the Depression and an attempt to clamp down on the scapegoats of the day -- financial capitalists. What's more, many scholars have unearthed evidence that those purported reforms have had adverse consequences, namely stifling entrepreneurship and preserving the monopolies of local banks.
It's surprising and unsettling that 70 years later, legislators still hesitate to reform an obviously flawed system. It seems that Hagel and Snowe are the only two senators who recognize the need to move beyond the past. Where are the other 98?
Inc. 500 Countdown
This Year's Number One Company
Posted by Carole Matthews at 11:06 AM
Video Gaming Technologies, a maker of touchscreen gaming machines, takes top honors on the 2005 Inc. 500 list.
Rank: No. 1
Location: Roebuck, S.C.
Three-Year Growth: 9,720.5%
Revenue: $99.8 million
Employees: 102
Founded: 1991
The idea behind Video Gaming Technologies was hatched 26 years ago over a foosball table. Back then, Jon Yarbrough, now 48, was an engineering student at Tennessee Tech, fresh from an internship with NASA. When he moved out of a house he had been renting, he had nowhere to put his beloved foosball table, so he lent it to a local game parlor. Then he watched people line up to pay money to play with it.
"I was just amazed at how quickly it generated revenue," Yarbrough says. "The light went on right then." That light is still very much on. South Carolina-based VGT, which Yarbrough founded in 1991, makes touchscreen gaming machines and leases them to Indian casinos in Oklahoma. Last year the company had revenue of $99.8 million. Since getting its first machines into the casinos in 2001, it has had growth of 9,720.5%.
Yarbrough traces his success to two things: one, being first to the Oklahoma market with touchscreen gaming machines. And two, producing a slim cabinet that allows casinos to fit twice as many machines in the same space. Yarbrough says an average touchscreen machine generates roughly $50,000 in revenue a year, and a large Indian casino can hold as many as 2,000. "Video gaming is like a permit to print money," he chuckles.
Currently VGT has about 30% of the Oklahoma market, according to Yarbrough, but instead of looking to other states, he's looking abroad. Next for VGT are South America and China, which Yarbrough expects "will dwarf the American market." Coming from him, that's probably a tip worth checking out. --Allen P. Roberts Jr.
October 18, 2005
Inc. 500 Countdown
Inc. 500 Countdown: American Apparel
Posted by Carole Matthews at 2:14 PM
Location: Los Angeles
Three-Year Growth: 524.6%
2004 Revenue: $127.9 million
Employees: 3,500
Founded: 1998
What it does: Manufactures T-shirts and every other kind of cotton clothing--it has close to 10,000 SKUs--which it sells wholesale, online, and through 100-plus American Apparel stores. Why it's growing: The company appeals to trendy consumers at the retail stores and to designers and promotional users in the wholesale market. Plus, founder and senior partner Dov Charney is a man of appetites: He wants 1,000 stores. For more, see "Dov Charney, Like It or Not" in the September 2005 issue.
October 17, 2005
Inc. 500 Countdown
Inc. 500 Countdown: Shutterfly
Posted by Carole Matthews at 12:31 PM
Location: Redwood City, Calif.
Three-Year Growth: 626.8%
2004 Revenue: $54.5 million
Employees: 135
Founded: 1999
What it does: Allows customers to store and share photographs online and order prints and gift items. Why it's growing: More than 60 million digital cameras were sold last year. Shutterfly gives people a place to house and share their photos without cluttering their hard drives. Money man: One of the company's original investors was Jim Clark, founder of Netscape Communications and Silicon Graphics.
October 14, 2005
Inc. 500 Countdown
Inc. 500 Countdown: Gratis Internet
Posted by Carole Matthews at 3:30 PM
Location: Washington, D.C.
Three-Year Growth: 2,349.8%
2004 Revenue: $20.5 million
Employees: 12
Founded: 2000
What it does: Places ads that drive customers to bigger advertisers by giving away iPods, flat-screen TVs, and such. Why it's growing: Gratis, which has given away nearly 20,000 iPods and will soon start doling out Xbox 360 game consoles, earns $40 to $60 a pop when visitors to its website, FreePay, sign up for the not-always-free offers from advertisers including Citibank, AOL, and Blockbuster.
Inc.com is counting down to the unveiling of Inc. magazine's Inc. 500 list with a profile a day of one of this year's honorees. See other honorees in the Inc. 500 Countdown archive, and discover new winners each business day until Oct. 19, when we reveal this year's number one company.
The Apprentice
Donald Trump Apprentice - Week 4
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:17 AM
Toral was so worried about looking foolish last night that she wound up looking like, well, a complete fool. Her credentials are nothing to sneeze at: She's worked at Goldman Sachs and American Express, she's currently a vp at a big investment bank, and, at age 29, she's a multi-millionaire, according to her NBC profile. Still, I'd take someone like Lana over Toral any day. Even though Lana owns a chain of spas and is also a multi-millionaire, she's not afraid to roll up her sleeves and dive into every task. She's a team player and never seems to look down on the other candidates.
Toral, on the other hand, was afraid to be project manager, her contributions during the brainstorming session stunk, and her lame excuses for not wearing the Zip costume were embarassing. Even Rebecca seemed appalled at Toral's little rooftop rant about how much better she is than the other candidates. I'm sure her bosses and coworkers were watching. I wonder what they think of her now?
Though I don't think Rebecca did a great job on last week's retirement home task, I think she has potential. At 23, she's younger than a lot of the other women, so it's understandable why she was a bit naive about Toral. She more or less redeemed herself in the boardroom last night when she told Trump to fire her former pal. Hopefully she's learned her lesson about confusing friendship with business.
I have to agree with Toral on one point: Zip was pathetic. The women totally ignored the teen demographic. And why didn't they listen to Rebecca when she suggested that Zip wear a Dairy Queen t-shirt? I blame Rebecca for not being more insistent. Is it me, or do people on this show have a bad habit of suggesting ideas, then backing down immediately? That way, they can't be blamed for a loss if the idea is a bust (since it's never put to the test), but they can take credit for it later on if, in hindsight, it winds up to have been a good suggestion. If you know something's essential to winning the task, and don't fight to push it through, you're just as bad as everyone else. Plus, if Rebecca wants to be taken more seriously, perhaps she should spend less time looking in the mirror and teasing her hair.
At first, when the the guys were talking about the genie's big boobs, I was a little nervous. But the character turned out pretty great. The genie would definitely appeal to both kids and teens. I liked her ice-cream hair and, more importantly, her DQ belt buckle. The guys worked together really well and I'm glad that Markus behaved himself again. That said, I don't think they should have given Clay an exemption. His behavior was ridiculous from the get-go. He'd never make it as a manager with that kind of dictatorial attitude.
I hope the teams get mixed up soon. I can't stand another week of the women fighting. Toral was terrible, but the four blonds were almost just as bad. They were petty and shrewish last night. If their behavior doesn't improve soon, the rest of the season will be painful to watch.
October 13, 2005
The Apprentice
Martha Stewart Apprentice - Week 4
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:15 AM
It's about time Dawn got the boot. I couldn't stand another second of her whining and complaining. Has she not watched previous episodes of the Apprentice? If she couldn't handle pulling an all-nighter, she shouldn't have wasted everyone's time by applying for the show. Thank goodness she's gone.
If it wasn't for Dawn's outrageous behavior, I think Leslie would have gotten fired last night. She had gumption for volunteering to lead Team Loser, but she was crazy to waste six hours coming up with a theme.I liked the idea of a zen-type suite where business travelers can recharge, but, in the end, it just looked like a nicely designed space. There didn't seem to be any accessories related to the idea of flow and water. They could have easily picked up a little water fountain and one of those desk-top sandbox things to drive the theme home. For that reason, even if the couches had arrived, I still don't think they would have won, even though the FLOW concept was much classier and Martha-like than Primarius's entertainment theme. (Martha and Alexis clearly thought the popcorn maker was a bit low-brow.)
I'm not a huge Amanda fan, and that inspirational pencil thing was pretty cheesy, but I have to give her credit for being a good leader. When the decor turned out to be a disaster (that moldy-looking wallpaper in the bathroom was disgusting), she kept the team focused on the big-picture. She was right...once the furniture and accessories were in place, the gray walls weren't as dreary. I also loved when Ryan pointed out that no matter how badly Primarius screwed up, Matchstick would always be worse. That was particularly true last night.
Speaking of screw-ups, I'm not quite sure how much blame to place on Bethenny for last night's loss. As Martha pointed out, she did a great job picking out the furniture, especially since she had only eight minutes to make up her mind. Yes, she was responsible for making sure the furniture was delivered on time, but Leslie made that nearly impossible to pull off by wasting so much time in the beginning.
Matchstick did show some potential last night. When the contractor asked them to start painting at midnight, they pulled together (except for Dawn, of course). For once, Jim shut his mouth and focused on getting the job done. I was also impressed by Leslie's brave presentation to the Westin execs. Talk about faking it!
I was hoping Matchstick would rally now that Dawn is gone, but it looks like Jim's going to go off the rails during next week's challenge. Maybe the team is just destined to fail. I guess we'll find out soon enough.
Inc. 500 Countdown
Inc. 500 Countdown: VitalSmarts
Posted by Carole Matthews at 9:41 AM
Location: Provo, Utah
Three-Year Growth: 432%
2004 Revenue: $8 million
Employees: 31
Founded: 1990
What it does: Management consulting and training. Why it's growing: Back in 2001, CEO Al Switzler and his three partners decided to promote their business by writing a bestseller. Which is exactly what they did. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High landed on The New York Times business bestseller list and was followed by a sequel. "Those two books are now in 17 languages," says Switzler, and they serve as the basis for training materials that VitalSmarts sells through resellers around the world.
Inc.com is counting down to the unveiling of Inc. magazine's Inc. 500 list with a profile a day of one of this year's honorees. See other honorees in the Inc. 500 Countdown archive, and discover new winners each business day until Oct. 19, when we reveal this year's number one company.
October 12, 2005
Inc. 500 Countdown
Inc. 500 Countdown: Dynetech
Posted by Carole Matthews at 10:45 AM
Location: Orlando
Three-Year Growth: 779.2%
2004 Revenue: $177 million
Employees: 490
Founded: 2000
What it does: Provides development, marketing, and distribution for its own and other companies' consumer products--everything from suits to investment software--and fills the resulting orders. Why it's growing: Companies that don't have the human or financial wherewithal to launch pricey marketing campaigns sign on with Dynetech, which puts up all the capital to market and sell its clients' goods--and then takes 50% of the profit.
Inc.com is counting down to the unveiling of Inc. magazine's Inc. 500 list with a profile a day of one of this year's honorees. See other honorees in the Inc. 500 Countdown archive, and discover new winners each business day until Oct. 19, when we reveal this year's number one company.
October 11, 2005
Inc. 500 Countdown
Inc. 500 Countdown: Medical Education Broadcast Network
Posted by Carole Matthews at 12:45 PM
Location: Londonderry, N.H.
Three-Year Growth: 849.1%
2004 Revenue: $8.2 million
Employees: 23
Founded: 1999
What it does: Provides continuing education and distance-learning programs and materials for medical professionals. Why it's growing: Most states require their health care workers--doctors, nurses, physician's assistants, etc.--to complete a certain number of continuing education courses in order to retain their licenses. MEBN helps streamline that process, publishing medical journals and interactive media that allow people to take tests online. MEBN founder and CEO (and former nurse) Sharyn Lee says she's helped more than 700,000 people keep their licenses current.
October 10, 2005
Woe is a Bankrupt Dinosaur
Posted by at 4:43 PM
The largest auto supplier in the country, Delphi, filed for bankruptcy on Saturday putting the 50,000 American jobs at risk, particularly in Michigan which was home to the largest number of workers. Delphi executives were seeking benefits and wage cuts of up to 63%, down from the $25-30 to the $10-12 from UAW members. You can probably guess how that played out.
Chapter 11.
It's fair of Delphi to try and bring wages in line to national average, since its were double. It's quite another, however, to propose the unseemly plan to offer some $88 million bonuses to executives who see the bankruptcy through. {Umm, don't they share some of the blame here? Are these the bright lights to lead Delphi out of the darkness? Isn't this at least a 50-50 deal?}
It's the biggest bankruptcy filing in US automotive history and could lead to an even bigger calamity. General Motors agreed to cover Delphi's pension and health costs for eight years when the company was spun-off in 1999, which could bring its retirement costs to a massive $11 billion. And let's face it, with an S&P junk credit rating, GM wasn't exactly merrily rolling along as it was.
Outside of empathy for the wave of unemployed that's sure to come, I'm not sure what this means. If anything, even if GM ends up filing its own Chapter 11. (A real possibility, considering GM already pays $1,500 in per-vehicle health care costs, which will increase if it adheres to its arrangement with Delphi). Does Delphi's (or any other corporation's) bankruptcy filing matter to you? Are there reasons for concern when industrial American giants in the auto, steel and airline industries falter? It sure seems like that's the direction they're headed.
Did anyone shed a tear for the dinosaurs as their extinction unfolded?
Inc. 500 Countdown
Inc. 500 Countdown: Starizon
Posted by Carole Matthews at 7:32 AM
Location: Keystone, Colo.
Three-Year Growth: 512.3%
2004 Revenue: $3.1 million
Employees: 13
Founded: 1999
What it does: Starizon helps technology, banking, hospitality, and health care companies reconceive and reengineer their businesses. Why it's growing: CEO Gary Adamson promises a transformational experience. Client memberships range from $90,000 to $875,000 and entitle a company to an overhaul that takes place in a 9,200-square-foot facility in the Rocky Mountains. The place sleeps six and includes a kitchen, massage room, fitness center, hot tub, and movie theater. What's different: You may find actors role-playing Einstein, Galileo, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and Thomas Jefferson.
Inc.com is counting down to the unveiling of Inc. magazine's Inc. 500 list with a profile a day of one of this year's honorees. See other honorees in the Inc. 500 Countdown archive, and discover new winners each business day until Oct. 19, when we reveal this year's number one company.
October 7, 2005
The Apprentice
Donald Trump Apprentice - Week 3
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:41 AM
I don't agree with the Donald's decision to fire Jennifer W. last night. Yes, she did a terrible job with the event. The food seemed lame and the room was totally bland. I had to laugh when she started blubbering about how much her grandmother likes cookies and cake, and how she even bought sugar-free cookies for the diabetics. She was really pathetic. That said, I think she was dumped with too much responsibility. Rebecca should have taken a more active role in decorating the room.
Either Rebecca or Toral should have gotten the boot. Toral was inexcusably clueless. Why didn't she read the directions for the HDTV? If she knew she couldn't handle that task, she should have given it to someone else. Jennifer M.'s flirty behavior was embarrassing, too. I almost died when she started doing push-ups in front of one of the male senior citizens. Has she no shame?
The guys, on the other hand, did a great job. I like how they emphasized technology as a way to stay in touch with your family and reconnect with old friends. The posters and balloons were festive, and the guys all knew how to use the gadgets. Even Markus was great. I think Randal's experience with his grandmother really helped him set the right tone for the event. He was a great leader, which was made apparent by the fact that everyone on his time voted to grant him an exemption. The one dud on the men's team last night was Clay. Obviously, he shouldn't have made a big stink about the Tivo. First of all, Tivo isn't that complicated once you set it up. Second of all, it was inappropriate to cause such a scene in front of George. He's not long for this show.
So far, the men seem a lot stronger than the women. Rebecca really rubs me the wrong way. I'm surprised that the Donald let her get away with that lame excuse for not bringing Torval back into the room. He usually fires people that let their friendships cloud their judgement. Rebecca talks a good game, but I doubt that will get her very far. I guess we'll find out.
October 6, 2005
Inc. 500 Countdown
Inc. 500 Countdown: Arena Communications
Posted by Carole Matthews at 5:52 PM
Today's Inc. 500 honoree, Arena Communications, makes a business of helping Republican congressional candidates by producing political direct mail in support of their campaigns.
Location: Salt Lake City
Three-Year Growth: 799.8%
2004 Revenue: $12.8 million
Employees: 8
Founded: 1996
What it does: Produces "high quality junk mail," in the words of CEO Peter Valcarce, for Republican congressional candidates primarily in the midwestern and western states. Why it's growing: Those candidates have won 70% of their races. Revenues are always down in odd-number years, but 30% of Arena's business is in "franking," sending out official taxpayer-funded mailings.
Inc.com is counting down to the unveiling of Inc. magazine's Inc. 500 list with a profile a day of one of this year's honorees. See other honorees in the Inc. 500 Countdown archive, and discover new winners each business day until Oct. 19, when we reveal this year's number one company.
The Apprentice
Martha Stewart Apprentice - Week 3
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:21 AM
Shawn really blew it last night. Didn't she learn anything from Bradley's big screw up with the Donald last season? I couldn't believe she actually told Charlie she would take the fall if her team lost the wedding cake task. Her "fake it til you make it" strategy made absolutely no sense, considering the winner of the task would be determined by sales numbers, which can't be faked. I agreed with Martha when she said that stupid statements like that can really ruin a business person.
Besides, Shawn was the one who called Sylvia Weinstock for cake advice. I'm a big fan of Sylvia Weinstock. In fact, we ran a story about her in Inc. But she clearly serves a niche audience of high-end customers who are looking for unconventonal cakes. Primarius made the right (and obvious) move by simply checking out Martha's site and putting a slightly different spin on a traditional style. Even though Marcela made the decision to go with an oval, off-center design, the thing that really sunk Matchstick was the pink bow, and that was Shawn's idea. And it seemed like Bethenny was trying to do most of the selling at the expo, even though she was on the design team. I thought Shawn's TV-personality charm would help her land at least one sale.
Even though Howie's team won, he was a poor leader. The way he blew up at Sarah about the presentation platter was totally unacceptable. He was scary! I wouldn't want someone with such a short fuse working for me. Sorry, Howie! Ryan, on the other hand, seems very calm under pressure. That definitely helped him make sales. Nobody wants to buy a product from a stressed-out, desperate salesperson like Bethenny, who seemed like she was about to have a nervous breakdown.
Did anyone else think that Jim is a weirdo for not going home to be with his wife as she gave birth to their child? I thought that was pretty odd. To Jim's credit, he did seem to be less out of control last night, although he didn't add much to the task. The same goes for Dawn. I still don't think she has what it takes to win, but at least she wasn't a distraction last night. Martha made it pretty clear that she's interested in firing people who contributed directly to the loss. I thought it was great that she called the sales team back down to the conference room after David let them off the hook.
So far, I like this show better than the Donald's Apprentice. The tasks are refreshingly different, and I like Martha's attitude. That said, I can't stand her sidekicks. Charlie's cigar really annoys me. And what's the deal with Alexis? She seems really spacey and she acts like a spoiled teenager, complaining about how Martha yelled at her for making a mess when she tried to bake a cake. This isn't the appropriate forum for those issues, although it is interesting. I wonder if Martha will reign her in at some point? I hope not...
Inc. 500 Countdown
Inc. 500 Countdown: S.A. Robotics
Posted by Carole Matthews at 9:53 AM
S.A. Robotics, today's Inc. 500 honoree, is developing what may be the world's longest robotic arm.
Location: Loveland, Colo.
Three-Year Growth: 485%
2004 Revenue: $8.5 million
Employees: 72
Founded: 1992
What it does: Designs and manufactures remote-control robots for industrial purposes--such as cleaning nuclear and hazardous waste sites, like power plants. Why it's growing: From Wisconsin to the United Kingdom, there's still quite a bit of nuclear waste left over from the Cold War, says CEO and co-owner Michael Cappello. But the company is increasingly branching out into other areas, including chemical waste cleanup. Long arm: S.A. Robotics is developing what may be the longest robotic arm in the world--a 104-foot device that will place pollution-filtering caps on the smokestacks of cargo ships docked in the L.A. harbor.
Inc.com is counting down to the unveiling of Inc. magazine's Inc. 500 list with a profile a day of one of this year's honorees. See other honorees in the Inc. 500 Countdown archive, and discover new winners each business day until Oct. 19, when we reveal this year's number one company.
October 5, 2005
No One Asked Me But...
No One Asked Me But...
Posted by Adam Hanft at 6:01 PM
Whenever insiders perched at the top of public companies decide to sell their stock, the argument they always make is that they are diversifying their holdings. A recent story in the New York Times on the insider rush at home-building companies -- and whether or not the vast liquidication is a signal that we're pushing the limits of the tensile strength of the bubble -- reminded me of how this facile excuse so perfectly highlights the difference btween a public and a private company.
Entrepreneurs have their fortunes and their life's work, generally, wrapped up in their companies. They're a different species from professional managers who have one eye on the business and the other on an exit strategy and "wealth preservation." The very idea of insider selling to an entrepreneur is hard to fathom; it's a fundamental betrayal of conviction.
I wonder how a CEO who just sold a couple of million dollars worth of his or her company's stock can look at a potential customer with a straight face and say "do business with us." How can you ask for confidence in your organization when you've just demonstrated a significant lack of it? After all, "diversification" is simply a polite way to say that your money is at less risk -- or can grow faster -- somewhere else. When you've bailed out why should someone bail in?
It seems to me that any entrepreneur competing against a public entity has a huge advantage in this dimension. But are we using it? Just because the depth and level of committment that an entrepreneur feels is intangible, doesn't make it any less real, or meaningful. Insider selling is one big, jumbo metaphor for the self-interest that -- sadly and largely -- goes unrecognized at America's largest companies.
The Rise of the Entrepreneurial Class
Posted by Laura Rich at 3:58 PM
In a recent speech at the Cleveland City Club, John Koten, CEO of Mansueto Ventures (publisher of Inc. and Fast Company and its websites), discussed the "Rise of the Entrepreneurial Class," in which creative and business instincts are building toward one another to create a new enterpreneurial class.
"An entrepreneur is someone who sees a marketplace, any marketplace, as a blank canvas rather as a fully realized landscape," he said.
What's more, he said, entrepreneurs can be a force for change -- and a key uniting group in any divisive environment, such as the current split in American politics and its population. Entrepreneurs, he said, compel a "driving urgency of human behavior and social organization and in doing so allows for personal expression, economic growth, wealth creation and reduction of conflict between people."
Listen to the entire speech here.
Inc. 500 Countdown
Inc. 500 Countdown: New Media Strategies
Posted by Carole Matthews at 9:03 AM
An early understanding of blogging helped today's Inc. 500 honoree, New Media Strategies, get a leg up on the competition.
Location: Arlington, Va.
Three-Year Growth: 686.4%
2004 Revenue: $5 million
Employees: 44
Founded: 1999
What it does: Creates online buzz about companies and products. Why it's growing: First-mover advantage still applies. New Media Strategies understood blogging early, and when mainstream ad agencies caught up, some of them partnered with NMS instead of fighting it for clients. NMS also produces Brand Perception Reports, which tell clients--including HBO, Sony, and Citigroup--what's being said about them.
Inc.com is counting down to the unveiling of Inc. magazine's Inc. 500 list with a profile a day of one of this year's honorees. See other honorees in the Inc. 500 Countdown archive, and discover new winners each business day until Oct. 19, when we reveal this year's number one company.
October 3, 2005
Inc. 500 Countdown
Inc. 500 Countdown: ath Power Consulting
Posted by Carole Matthews at 4:58 PM
Today's Inc. 500 honoree, ath Power Consulting, gets real-time data on customers to help its clients better gauge their business performance.
Location: Andover, Mass.
Three-Year Growth: 335.9%
2004 Revenue: $2.8 million
Employees: 26
Founded: 1997
What it does: Mystery shopping and research, primarily for banks and retailers. Why it's growing: "Everybody thinks mystery shopping is this crazy thing because it has such a misleading name, but it's one of the best ways to collect real-time data with regard to how things are going in your company," says founder Frank Aloi.
Inc.com is counting down to the unveiling of Inc. magazine's Inc. 500 list with a profile a day of one of this year's honorees. See other honorees in the Inc. 500 Countdown archive, and discover new winners each business day until Oct. 19, when we reveal this year's number one company.
Inc. 500 Countdown
Inc. 500 Countdown: Hiller Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
Posted by Carole Matthews at 9:03 AM
Need a good plumber? If you live in the Nashville area, you might want to check out today's Inc. 500 honoree, Hiller Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.
Location: Nashville
Three-Year Growth: 315.3%
2004 Revenue: $11.1 million
Employees: 95
Founded: 1990
What it does: Exactly what its name promises: plumbing, heating, and cooling services for homeowners and commercial clients. Why it's growing: Three years ago, the company began bidding on school projects and business doubled; last year, CEO Jimmy Hiller hired a new manager to run the heating and air conditioning department, which doubled as well. A 100% money-back guarantee doesn't hurt either. Recruiting drive: To find good plumbers, Hiller bought radio ads offering a $4,000 signing bonus and free maid service for a year. "We picked up two workers," he says. "I guess that's all you can expect."
Inc.com is counting down to the unveiling of Inc. magazine's Inc. 500 list with a profile a day of one of this year's honorees. See other honorees in the Inc. 500 Countdown archive, and discover new winners each business day until Oct. 19, when we reveal this year's number one company.
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