AOL Small Business http://smallbusiness.aol.com AOL Small Business http://smallbusiness.aol.com/media/feedlogo.gif AOL Small Business http://smallbusiness.aol.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Made in the USA: When the Beach Beckonshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/01/made-in-the-usa-when-the-beach-beckons/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/01/made-in-the-usa-when-the-beach-beckons/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/01/made-in-the-usa-when-the-beach-beckons/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

For generations, entrepreneurs have found inspiration at the beach. A look at how today's business beach bums are putting their own spin on products designed to improve our annual summer exodus.

 

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]]>beach businessbeach entrepreneursCape Cod Beach Chair CompanyMade in the USApaperfeetShade Wagonstarting a businesssummer travelunique business ideasGeoff Williams2011-07-01T13:30:00+00:00Bee's Knees' Tammany Atkinson: Protecting Babies on Their Very First Journeyhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/27/bees-knees-tammany-atkinson-protecting-babies-on-their-very-f/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/27/bees-knees-tammany-atkinson-protecting-babies-on-their-very-f/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/27/bees-knees-tammany-atkinson-protecting-babies-on-their-very-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

When Tammany Atkinson's first son started to crawl, she noticed all that stumbling around was taking a toll on his little knees. That spawned the idea for Bee's Knees, infant pants with built-in knee pads, now sold around the world.

 

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]]>babiesBabies R Usbaby businessesbaby clothesBees Knees Babyinfant pantsinventionsmompreneursTammany Atkinsonunique business ideasAlicia Ciccone2011-06-27T18:00:00+00:00TailGate Beer's Wesley Keegan: Brewing Up Successhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/17/tailgate-beers-wesley-keegan-brewing-up-success/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/17/tailgate-beers-wesley-keegan-brewing-up-success/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/17/tailgate-beers-wesley-keegan-brewing-up-success/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Wesley Keegan's father gave him the idea to start a brewery. His passing gave him the inspiration to make it succeed.

 

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]]>breweriescraft beerEntrepreneur Spotlightmicrobreweriesrunning a businessstarting a businessTailGate Beerunique business ideasPatrick Sauer2011-06-17T18:00:00+00:00ManCans' Hart Main: A 13-Year-Old Entrepreneur Invents Candles for Menhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/10/mancans-hart-main-a-13-year-old-entrepreneur-invents-candles-f/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/10/mancans-hart-main-a-13-year-old-entrepreneur-invents-candles-f/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/10/mancans-hart-main-a-13-year-old-entrepreneur-invents-candles-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Hart Main realized that most guys don't want to smell like lavender or fresh laundry. So he created ManCans, candles designed specifically for men, with scents like New York Style Pizza, Grandpa's Pipe and, of course, Bacon. Did we mention he's only 13?

 

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]]>business ideas for kidsbusiness ideas for teenscandle businesscandlescandles for menEntrepreneur SpotlightHart Mainhome-based businesskid entrepreneurskidtrepreneursMan Cansstarting a businessyoung millionairesGeoff Williams2011-05-10T13:30:00+00:00You've Got... Tom Szaky, TerraCyclehttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/22/youve-got-tom-szaky-terracycle/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/22/youve-got-tom-szaky-terracycle/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/22/youve-got-tom-szaky-terracycle/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Tom Szaky, a member of the AOL Small Business Board of Directors, dropped out of Princeton to start TerraCycle, an eco-friendly company that literally turns trash into treasure. So how does he do it?

 

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]]>Earth Dayeco-friendlygreen businessgreen companiesrecyclingTom SkazyupcyclingYouve GotRod Kurtz2011-04-22T14:30:00+00:0027 Million and Counting: George Powell, The Renewed Grouphttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/15/27-million-and-counting-george-powell-the-renewed-group/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/15/27-million-and-counting-george-powell-the-renewed-group/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/15/27-million-and-counting-george-powell-the-renewed-group/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Meet George Powell, the founder and CEO of The Renewed Group, a Dallas-based manufacturer of REUSE Jeans, which are made with 80 percent recycled materials.

 

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]]>27 Million and Countingdenimeco-friendly jeansGeorge Powelljeansrecycled denimrecyclingRenewed GroupREUSELauren Drell2011-04-15T20:00:00+00:00Boogie Wipes: For These Moms, Necessity Really Is the Mother of Inventionhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/14/boogie-wipes-for-these-moms-necessity-really-is-the-mother-of/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/14/boogie-wipes-for-these-moms-necessity-really-is-the-mother-of/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/14/boogie-wipes-for-these-moms-necessity-really-is-the-mother-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

With six kids between them, Julie Pickens and Mindee Doney know a thing or two about runny noses. Together, they developed Boogie Wipes -- expected to bring in $10 million this year.

 

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]]>Entrepreneur SpotlightinnovationsinventionsJulie PickensLittle Busy BodiesMindee Doneymompreneurssaline wipesstarting a businessstartupsTargetunique business ideasWalgreensWalmartwipesGeoff Williams2011-04-14T20:30:00+00:00Going Green, Companies Eliminate 4 Billion Pounds of Packaginghttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/03/22/going-green-companies-eliminate-4-billion-pounds-of-packaging/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/03/22/going-green-companies-eliminate-4-billion-pounds-of-packaging/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/03/22/going-green-companies-eliminate-4-billion-pounds-of-packaging/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A new study finds that manufacturers of consumer products have eliminated 1.5 billion pounds of packaging waste since 2005 and plan to shed another 2.5 billion pounds by 2020 -- the equivalent of taking 815,000 cars off the road.

 

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]]>business packaginggreen businessesgreen packagingGrocery Manufacturers AssociationNewspackaging surveyrecyclable packagingTamara Schweitzer Raben2011-03-22T17:30:00+00:00Villy Customs' Fleetwood Hicks: Cruising to Success, On Two Wheelshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/03/07/villy-customs-fleetwood-hicks-cruising-to-success-on-two-whee/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/03/07/villy-customs-fleetwood-hicks-cruising-to-success-on-two-whee/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/03/07/villy-customs-fleetwood-hicks-cruising-to-success-on-two-whee/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

With thousands of possible combinations, including add-ons like Swarovski crystals, Villy Customs lets bike enthusiasts design their own cruisers.

 

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]]>best bike shopsbike shopscustom bicyclescustom bikescustomizationdesign your own bikeEntrepreneur SpotlightFleetwood HicksSchwinnstarting a businessunique business ideasLauren Drell2011-03-07T22:30:00+00:00Made in the USA: The End of 'One Size Fits All'http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/17/made-in-the-usa-the-end-of-one-size-fits-all/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/17/made-in-the-usa-the-end-of-one-size-fits-all/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/17/made-in-the-usa-the-end-of-one-size-fits-all/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Thanks to the Web and manufacturing technology, consumers can now customize virtually anything -- from dress shirts to cereal. A look at the innovative startups that are quite literally giving the people what they want.

 

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]]>Blank LabelChocricustomcustomizationDNA11inventionsKidlandiaMade in the USAmass customizationMe GojiPerfume StudioShirtsMyWaystarting a businessstartupsunique business ideasVilly CustomsLauren Drell2011-02-17T13:00:00+00:0027 Million and Counting: Colin Hunter and Peyton Jenkins, Alton Lanehttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/16/27-million-and-counting-colin-hunter-and-peyton-jenkins-alton/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/16/27-million-and-counting-colin-hunter-and-peyton-jenkins-alton/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/16/27-million-and-counting-colin-hunter-and-peyton-jenkins-alton/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Meet Colin Hunter and Peyton Jenkins, the co-founders of Alton Lane, a New York-based custom menswear brand.

 

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]]>27 Million and CountingAlton LanebespokeColin Huntercustom clothingcustom menswearcustom shirtscustom suitsmenswearPeyton Jenkinsrunning a businessstarting a businessLauren Drell2011-02-16T18:00:00+00:00Treesje's Laura Darrah and Sheila Nazarian: From Bridesmaids to Business Partnershttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/15/treesjes-laura-darrah-and-sheila-nazarian-from-bridesmaids-to/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/15/treesjes-laura-darrah-and-sheila-nazarian-from-bridesmaids-to/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/15/treesjes-laura-darrah-and-sheila-nazarian-from-bridesmaids-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Laura Darrah and Sheila Nazarian met at a mutual friend's wedding and discovered a mutual love of fashion. Today, their line of handbags can be found on the arms of Heidi Klum, Lauren Conrad and other celebrities.

 

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]]>best handbagsbusiness partnershipsEntrepreneur SpotlighthandbagsHeidi KlumKitsonLaura DarrahLauren Conradleather goodsluxury goodsNeiman MarcusSheila Nazarianstarting a businessstarting a business with friendsTreesjeLauren Drell2011-02-15T17:00:00+00:00Gregg McArthur, Maker of the Steelers' Terrible Towel, Is a Packers Fan!http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/02/gregg-mcarthur-maker-of-the-steelers-terrible-towel-is-a-pa/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/02/gregg-mcarthur-maker-of-the-steelers-terrible-towel-is-a-pa/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/02/gregg-mcarthur-maker-of-the-steelers-terrible-towel-is-a-pa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Even worse, Steelers fans' good luck charms are made in enemy territory in Wisconsin. On Super Bowl Sunday, the head of McArthur Towel & Sports will be pulling for the Packers.

 

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]]>CheeseheadsEntrepreneur Spotlightfamily businessGreen Bay PackersGregg McArthurMcArthur Towel and SportsPackersPackers CheeseheadsPittsburgh SteelersSteelersSteelers Terrible TowelsSteelers towelsTerrible TowelsPatrick Sauer2011-02-02T22:00:00+00:00Meet Ralph Bruno, the Green Bay Packers Cheesehead Guyhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/01/meet-ralph-bruno-the-green-bay-packers-cheesehead-guy/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/01/meet-ralph-bruno-the-green-bay-packers-cheesehead-guy/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/02/01/meet-ralph-bruno-the-green-bay-packers-cheesehead-guy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

You'll be seeing plenty of his iconic Cheesehead hats at Super Bowl XLV. How a native Wisconsinite took taunts from rival fans and a piece of his mom's couch -- and built a million-dollar business.

 

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]]>cheese hatscheeseheadcheeseheadsEntrepreneur SpotlightFoamationGreen BayGreen Bay PackersPacker BackersPackers SteelersRalph BrunoSuper BowlSuper Bowl SundaySuper Bowl XLVWedge of AllegianceWisconsinPatrick Sauer2011-02-01T14:00:00+00:00Made in the USA: Briefs, Bras, Billionshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/13/made-in-the-usa-briefs-bras-billions/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/13/made-in-the-usa-briefs-bras-billions/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/13/made-in-the-usa-briefs-bras-billions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

With high-end undershirts, "spare panties" that fold up to the size of a pack of gum and other specialty products, underwear entrepreneurs are cashing in on an estimated $30 billion industry.

 

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]]>best undershirtsBody Naturalsbra businesslingerie businessMade in the USASew SisterSPairzTom PattersonTommy Johnundershirtsunderwearunderwear businessunique business ideasGeoff Williams2011-01-13T19:00:00+00:0027 Million and Counting: Tom Patterson, Tommy Johnhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/13/27-million-and-counting-tom-patterson-tommy-john/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/13/27-million-and-counting-tom-patterson-tommy-john/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/13/27-million-and-counting-tom-patterson-tommy-john/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Meet Tom Patterson, the founder of Tommy John, a Los Angeles-based maker of premium undershirts and other apparel.

 

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]]>27 Million and Countingbest undershirtsNieman MarcusNordstromrunning a businessstarting a businessTom PattersonTommy Johnundershirtsunderwearunique business ideasLauren Drell2011-01-13T18:00:00+00:00Cashing in on the Verizon iPhonehttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/11/cashing-in-on-the-verizon-iphone/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/11/cashing-in-on-the-verizon-iphone/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/11/cashing-in-on-the-verizon-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Companies that make cases and other accessories for the iPhone are cheering its long-anticipated arrival on Verizon.

 

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]]>best iPhone accessoriesbest iPhone casesCase-MateiLuviPhone 4iPhone 4 VerizoniPhone accessoriesiPhone announcementiPhone casesiPhone CDMANewsSeidioVerizon iPhoneLauren Drell2011-01-11T13:30:00+00:00The Next Big Idea? BoomCase Brings Back the Boombox -- Using Old Suitcaseshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/05/the-next-big-idea-boomcase-brings-back-the-boom-box-using-ol/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/05/the-next-big-idea-boomcase-brings-back-the-boom-box-using-ol/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/05/the-next-big-idea-boomcase-brings-back-the-boom-box-using-ol/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Dominic Francisco Odbert takes vintage suitcases and transforms them into iPod stereos that have become a favorite of audiophiles. In fact, business is so good, he's putting grad school on hold.

 

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]]>best iPod docksboom boxboomboxBoomCaseDominic Francisco OdbertiPodiPod dockiPod stereostarting a businessstartupThe Next Big Ideaunique business ideasyoung entrepreneursPatrick Sauer2011-01-05T14:30:00+00:00The William and Kate Economic Stimulushttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/12/15/the-william-and-kate-economic-stimulus/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/12/15/the-william-and-kate-economic-stimulus/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/12/15/the-william-and-kate-economic-stimulus/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The royal couple's engagement could net millions for companies selling everything from mugs to commemorative coins.

 

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]]>Kate MiddletonKate Middleton family businessNewsPrince WilliamWilliam and KateWilliam and Kate engagementWilliam and Kate weddingWilliam and Kate wedding dateLauren Drell2010-12-15T01:00:00+00:00What's That Collar Really Made of? New Bill Calls for Fur Disclosurehttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/12/10/whats-that-collar-really-made-of-new-bill-calls-for-fur-disclo/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/12/10/whats-that-collar-really-made-of-new-bill-calls-for-fur-disclo/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/12/10/whats-that-collar-really-made-of-new-bill-calls-for-fur-disclo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Under current law, companies are not required to label fur items if they are valued at $150 or less.

 

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]]>fake furfur billfur bill Obamafur lawNewsreal furTruth in Fur ActLauren Drell2010-12-10T17:00:00+00:00