Business Idea of the Day

Nothing is more troublesome than trying to find high quality, high end fashions… especially if you’re a plus sized woman. The reality is that there is a growing niche in the clothing market, a niche that many stores are not that quick to fill. A plus sized woman herself, Michelle just wasn’t able to find the fashions she wanted in her size. Together Michelle and her daughter Catherine decided to change that, so they made use of their combined talents and created La Grande Dame . Tell us a little about La Grande Dame and your inspiration for the business

Tim Kehoe believes that there isn’t always one right answer when making something new, reports the Redwood Gazette . Kehoe, an author and inventor, has been inventing toys for 20 years, and his inventions have been successful enough that he now talks to students about how they, too, can be creative. Kehoe has also written a book, “The Unu-sual Mind of Vincent Shadow,” that helps encourage that kind of creativity. “Whether you are making toys or writing a story, the process is the same,” said Kehoe.

Virgin Media and Enterprise UK have joined together to launch Virgin Media Pioneers, states UTalkMarketing.com . This creative new community will help connect young entrepreneurs with business experts. By connecting young entrepreneurial talent to a network of peer support, entrepreneurial contacts and expert business advice, Virgin Media Pioneers aims to help build better businesses and close the gap between the number of young people with a great idea and those who are able to make it happen.

According to Sign On San Diego , a survey states that pessimism has risen among small businesses during the past month. The fallback in confidence is occurring even as the economy seems to have bottomed out, with retail sales picking up nationwide and an increasing number of small businesses preparing to add workers.

Whether you’ve lost weight, gained it, or you’re somewhere in between, I’m willing to bet that you’ve experienced ill-fitting pants at least once in your life. Short of wearing a bulky belt or having them tailored to fit you, there isn’t much that you can do. For Dana Contey the temporary fix to loose jeans was safety pins. She’d just had her third child and she found herself wrestling with her loose fitting pants daily

Whether you’ve lost weight, gained it, or you’re somewhere in between, I’m willing to bet that you’ve experienced ill-fitting pants at least once in your life. Short of wearing a bulky belt or having them tailored to fit you, there isn’t much that you can do. For Dana Contey the temporary fix to loose jeans was safety pins

He may not have the power that Ben Bernanke wields or the kind of money that Donald Trump has, but the advice Bill McKown shares with business owners can mean the difference between surviving the recession and closing their doors forever, says Tampa Bay Online . “Due to current economic conditions, many businesses are looking for help. Their needs revolve around two basic areas: technical assistance and financial assistance. The SBDC specializes in providing technical assistance to small business,” said McKown, whose wide smile and approachable demeanor reflect his certifications in training and facilitation.

Karen Wildman and Lisa Holmes were constantly battling malfunctioning electronics due to moisture and water damage. The sisters set out to invent a solution. and they did! Their new product, Bheestie Bag, is designed to ‘dry out’ electronic devices: cell phones, iPods, etc.

photo credit: pingnews The following a guest post from the great people at Company.com . Health insurance — even with a crazy deductable — is not an optional expense for a startup. Judith Starkey spent half a lifetime arguing with government bureaucrats and health insurance companies on behalf of people trying to get coverage. You might think that decades of advocacy would create a bottomless well of sympathy and compassion for the uninsured

I’ve always wanted to send one of my children’s favorite stuffed animals on a round the world trip. The idea of getting back emails and photos from “Clifford” or “Puppy” showing them propped up in front of a variety of famous international landmarks always seemed like a great idea. At least it was until I casually mentioned it to my children