Topics > Business and Entrepreneurship
Short
Emilime Handcrafted Weaves the Best of Peru With Unique Woolly Designs
Scott Ballum | March 9, 2010

Emily Green moved to Lima, Peru in August 2008 to start a business, without a real idea of what it was going to be or how it was all going to work out.

Feature
The Rise of the Citizen Entrepreneur
Scott Ballum | February 12, 2010

It was quite remarkable to get a personal shout-out from the President of the United States last week. Amidst the ovations--some bi-partisan and some quite partisan--I heard a President say that it was small businesses that were going to get this country back on its feet again. He talked dramatically about a national belt-cinching, and described pulling this country forward in a manner that sounded an awful lot like boot-strapping.

Short
A Midwinter Update with Brooklyn Mammal
Maggie Feuchter | February 8, 2010

Brooklyn Mammal has had a good several months since we initially profiled them back in October 2009. Since then, Adam Lesser and Michael Miritello, the two behind this Red Hook-based sustainable wood shop, have sorted out several aspects of their business and its ongoing plan, but that doesn't mean that they still don't face hiccups in the realization of their new enterprise.

Short
Nationwide Survey Shows Power of "Buy Local" Campaigns
Scott Ballum | February 3, 2010

A Special Announcement from the American Independent Buisiness Alliance: Locally-owned independent businesses outperform average retailer sales during 2009 holidays. Those with active Buy Local campaigns fared best.

More holiday shoppers deliberately sought out locally owned businesses this year, according to a national survey of more than 1,800 independent businesses.

(Read the full announcement here)

Short
How to avoid Student Syndrome at work, a.k.a technology is fantastic
Emily Warren | January 27, 2010

If you are anything like me, you probably suffer from Student Syndrome every so often. I didn't know that Student Syndrome was real, nor that it is slightly different from procrastination. Yet, it is, at least according to Wikipedia: the phenomenon where people will only start to complete a task at the last possible moment leading up to a deadline. Says Wikipedia, "The student syndrome is a form of procrastination, but with more of a plan with good intention. "

Short
Then and Nau: Rebirth of Sustainable Retailing
Kate Bryant | January 20, 2010

After being resurrected from its ashes, Nau hesitated to make the same mistakes again—letting ambition take the reigns before the brand had legs enough to stand on. But opening up a one-month pop-up shop in New York City's Soho neighborhood proved a great way to test the market and expose local clientele to the brand without the risk of long-term investment.

Resource
RISE: The Voice of the South West England Social Enterprise
| January 15, 2010

RISE is the voice for South West England social enterprise and supports the development of sustainable social enterprises in the region.

Feature
The Linkery Learns From Its Mistakes, and Changes a Bit of the World in the Process
Scott Ballum | January 14, 2010

The Linkery in San Diego’s North Park is one of the hottest, if not the most recommended, farm-to-table, high caliber restaurant around. But if owner Jay Porter were in the same position now as he was in 2004, he certainly wouldn’t open a restaurant again.

Feature
New: From the Editor
Scott Ballum | January 4, 2010

I am excited and humbled by the extent to which Sheepless.org continues to grow, thanks to a wonderful team of contributors. I'm inspired to double my own efforts in 2010, and invite all of our readers to join in the conversation and collaborate in as many ways as you would like. I'm looking forward to spending more time on the West Coast this year, and am looking forward to bringing in new writers from California and Denver soon, and contributors from all over.

Short
How to Play Hooky From Grad School and Still Start a New Business
Kate Bryant | January 4, 2010

If you're like me, starting a new business can mean acquiring a multitude of new skills. Enough so that I keep circling back to the same question: Should I go to grad school? For many people thinking of striking out on their own, graduate school may be a perfect place to sharpen business acumen, network, or fine-tune a business idea. And for those who aren't finding work right now anyway, returning to school may actually work out in their favor. But for those weighing the loss of present income against future gains, it can be a tough decision.