Internet Marketing and Web Site Design News for Small Business

Internet Marketing and Web Design News - Florida & Beyond

Friday, January 02, 2004 9:37 AM

Florida business Growth for 2004

According to the news-press.com, this year should be HUGE for southwest florida. And why not? The baby-boomer generation will be coming soon, and where are they going? Not the overly-priced california...but southwest florida. Recently, RSW (regional southwest airport) was overrun by tourists. With the new euro going strong, more international tourists are coming in. So, here's what's coming into our local businesses for 2004:

Dueling malls

South Lee County will see some new names in retailing as the duel continues between rival regional-mall builders over which gets the most valuable tenants.

But whose site gets the most valuable tenants — upscale department stores such as Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom — remains to be seen.

So far, the 1.6-million-square-foot Gulf Coast Town Center, planned by the Cleveland-based Richard E. Jacobs Group for Alico Road and Interstate 75, has signed outdoors retailer Bass Pro Shops, Belk department store and Regency Entertainment Group, which will build a 16-screen cinema.

Simon Property Group’s 1.3-million-square-foot Coconut Point Town Center on U.S. 41 south of Corkscrew Road has signed Muvico, which plans a cinema of up to 20 screens, and Dillard’s department store.

Each is scheduled to open in 2005.

They’ll both succeed although they’ll be built over several years instead of all at once, predicted commercial real estate agent Frank D’Alessandro of RE/MAX Realty Group, who also writes a column on real estate for The News-Press.

That’s contrary to the conventional wisdom even a few months ago when most experts thought one or the other would back down, he said. “What fooled everyone, including me, is that they’re building them in phases.”

Simon has better demographics around its site but that will change as growth heads east, he said. “In 10 years the demographics will be just as good at I-75 as what surrounds the 41 location.”

Retail expansion

Existing retail stores will continue to face growing competition from Wal-Mart, which plans to add two neighborhood markets and three supercenters in Lee County.

That competition will be heightened as Target reacts to Wal-Mart’s advances by expanding its south Fort Myers store into a Super Target with groceries next year, and laying plans for a new Super Target at an undisclosed location between Fort Myers and Bonita Springs.

As Lee County’s population grows, the area shows up on the radar screens of more and more retail and restaurant chains. That means the area will continue to draw new retailers just as it did last year when David’s Bridal and CargoKids debuted, along with several national restaurant chains including Cantina Laredo.

Also, expect Cracker Barrel Old Country Store to open in early 2004 at Interstate 75 and Daniels Parkway, Fort Myers.

Next year will also see Fresh Market, a Greensboro, N.C.-based gourmet grocery chain, open in Fort Myers in the Bell Tower Shops.

For internet marketing, FindWhat's business grew exponentially this year. They plan on acquiring Espotting.com and Miva.com. This will undoubtely gain in their areas that Froogle.com (Google's big boy online shopping arena) is dominating: online shopping. With online shopping at it's strongest this christmas season, 2004 should bode as the year of the online stores.

9:37 AM - Add your comment here!

Lessons for a guru: Small online tech outsourcing firm survives by watching pennies, buys giant rival Guru.com

Lessons for a guru: Small online tech outsourcing firm survives by watching pennies, buys giant rival Guru.com

Slow but steady, a2zmoonlighter.com took the slow, but practical choice for their business strategy. Basically, they took their internet referral fee (10% non-member, 5% member + subscription fee) and drummed up the business...not focusing on the freelancer during the dotcom version 1.0 days. Now that 2.0 has come through, it seems that building a good customer base and tight budgeting worked out. They invested $400,000 while their main competition, guru.com, had $63 million to play with. Now guru.com went bust and a2zmoonlighter bought them. It seems the tortoise, not the hare, won this time.

9:22 AM - Add your comment here!

Tuesday, December 30, 2003 7:24 AM

CNN.com - More firms use virtual assistance - Dec. 29, 2003

Imagine working from home, creating the "office" environment. But, who can professionally take the calls? Well, you can hire a virtual assistant (VA) and be completely mobile. But it brings another issue...communication. Sure there's email, IM, and many other tools out there. But there's nothing like seeing and interacting with other workers in the same office. So, the dilemna still arises - if you have the tools, should you use them?

Here's the article:

(CNN) -- The Internet has revolutionized many business sectors and has single-handedly created one -- virtual assistance.

Over the last decade, thousands have swapped corporate jobs to provide services for new bosses who they may never actually meet.

These home-based workers help out with anything from bookkeeping, Web design or travel arrangements via phone, e-mail or fax.

And the industry is now so big that there are trade groups and Web sites that assist virtual assistants (V.A.s) -- and try to attract potential clients.

"The growth is fastest in the U.S. There is also a substantial base in Australia, Canada and the UK," Bronwyn Robertson a virtual assistant for British arts companies, told CNN.

"Many employees who suffered from downsizing discovered they could offer their skills on a self-employed basis."

Even though the concept has been around for a while, according to some virtual assistants, many bosses are only just beginning to realize administrative support can easily be done virtually.

"The term virtual assistant is frequently not looked for because the general public are still not familiar with it," said Kathie Thomas, a virtual assistant in Australia.

"They tend to think -- home-based secretary -- or something similar."

However, as independent contractors, V.A.s are involved in all kinds of work including data entry, tax advice, accountancy and technology support.

Those in the industry say it is on the rise because it is cost-effective. The employer does not pay for extra office space, furniture, equipment or software. There is also no additional cost for training, pensions or work insurance.

In the U.S., medical practitioners, legal practitioners, realtors, public speakers and corporate trainers are the most prominent users of V.A.s.

The downside of employing them is that relationships take longer to develop, since they are not actually in the office.

Carolyn Moncel a V.A. in Paris, France, provides support for companies in North America, while her employers take advantage of the time difference to meet deadlines.

"I think people choose to be a V.A. because it gives them a alternative way of working -- it's mobile, flexible and empowering," she says.

Many mothers have become V.A.s in order to balance work with family commitments and for many the advantages are numerous, while others miss the office environment.

"I sometimes miss the camaraderie of my former work colleagues, although there is instant messaging, E-mail and phone," says Robertson.

7:24 AM - Add your comment here!

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Internet Marketing and Web Design News - Florida & Beyond

Florida business Growth for 2004