Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: MyOpenBar.com
Why It’s a Gem: Community building and free samples have built a hobby into a genuine business venture.

Ruby Tuesday: MyOpenBar.com, Jason Fried (MP3)

Even in an up economy, the word “free” is one of marketing’s most popular buzzwords. Who can resist free? Jason Fried of MyOpenBar.com took the concept of giving something away for free and turned it into a viable business venture that has seen his company’s growth explode ever since the economy took a nosedive. Jason spoke with me about the key components to MyOpenBar’s success: community, public relations, and believing so strongly in his product that he gives it away for free. (more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Custom and Private
Why It’s a Gem: Founder Cliff Strome’s passion is all the fuel this small business needs

Ruby Tuesday: Custom and Private (MP3)

To be truly successful, you have to have passion. It’s essential. An entrepreneur without passion is like a New York City cab with a flat tire: It sits stuck in one place while the world passes it by.

Cliff Strome, Founder of Custom and Private Tours

Cliff Strome of New York’s Custom and Private tours is living proof that passion can drive success. After technology forced him into a new line of work, he finally heeded his “bliss” and struck out on his dream career: Giving clients a personalized view of the city he both loves and knows inside and out. The old nine-to-five job? Not for this entrepreneurial fellow. (more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: INK Inc.
Why It’s a Gem: By making a simple change to the traditional business model that public relations firms have used for decades, INK has attracted a spate of new business

Ruby Tuesday: INK Inc. (MP3)

“You get what you pay for.” In the old-school world of public relations, that chestnut didn’t always hold true. The system was based on high retainers, which clients paid whether or not they saw results. That’s like paying the lease on a Maserati and not getting to take it out of your driveway.

But a Kansas City, Missouri-based firm is changing the PR landscape. At a time when many businesses are cutting PR as the first step in tightening budgets, Dick Grove’s INK Inc. is finding its new-business pipeline flooded like a tsunami. How’d they do it? (more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Children’s Orchard
Why It’s a Gem: The nationwide chain delivers Mom’s needs at an affordable price.

Ruby Tuesday: Children’s Orchard (MP3)

You’ve heard the complaint often enough: Before there’s so much as a hole in Johnny’s new jeans, he’s outgrown them. Or Jane needs a special party dress that she’ll wear only once. With the rate that kids grow, clothing makes up a large portion of the estimated overall $1,375,408 it takes to raise a child from birth to high school. Considering that doesn’t even include college, many parents will need to do more than clip coupons and give bowl haircuts to make ends meet.

That’s the problem that Children’s Orchard’s business model focuses on – and with great success. Now when Momma needs a new pair of shoes, she can (more…)

As with most Super Bowl commercials, our Teleflora ad tried to cut through the clutter with humor – and from the laughter I heard starting in my own living room and reverberating around the blogosphere and cyberspace (The Mercury News, The Times Picayune, Buzz Sugar, I4U News, The Tennessean, Fanhouse, Yahoo! Video – to name a few of the earliest posters), it seems to have hit its mark.

You can vote for your favorite Super Bowl commercial on these sites: (more…)