Posts Tagged ‘business’

The Tax Cut misconception

Posted: December 3, 2010 by datechguy in economy, opinion/news
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As I was going door to door yesterday I stopped at a book store that absolutely screams “progressive” but is a mostly cool place with a fair amount of Anime and some wonderful used old volumes. At the store I asked the question I ask at almost every business, what would you do to stimulate the economy?

It was his opinion that the problems were systemic (first person to have that conclusion that I talked to) however there is one thing he knew for sure:

I wouldn’t give tax cuts to the rich.

I don’t know who he thinks actually hires people (I’ve never seen a paycheck written by a poor person) but his opinion has been a distinct minority in the hundreds of doors I’ve knocked on in the last month.

It’s certainly not my business to argue with potential customers (and he is more than welcome to get on our customer waiting list with the show sold out) but let me make the opposite case.

It has been amply demonstrated that Cutting Taxes across the board increases tax revenue as the money gets spent over and over (and is taxed over and over at the lower rate). It’s a simple business principle. You make more money selling 5 items with a $1 markup then 2 items at a $2 markup.

Remember Williams Restaurant? If you can’t sell a $20 steak sell $8 burgers and sell more of them.

People seems to have this image of rich people as Scrooge McDuck with a Money Pile diving into it, or of Mr. Krabs chasing pennies, you are more likely to see the rich chasing profit and or comfort and both of those things generate jobs.

It is the rich who chasing profit, invest in new business’ and ventures financing both their ideas and the ideas of others. This is the a big job creator.

And it is also the rich who after making said money buy expensive things like yachts and customer cars or restoring WW 2 Tanks and other expensive hobbies, this employees a lot of people.

And it is the rich who keep their houses spic and span hiring staff and cleaning companies and landscapers etc…

And if you are an artist, tell me who is going to pay you $5000 for some bent metal or a faux stuffed emu? It is not going to be the avg guy. It is either going to be the rich who have money or the government who is spending another persons money.

The truth is many people don’t care about the revenue levels, they are simply socialists looking to redistribute wealth and punish those who in their mind have too much.

The secret to a happy life is to not worry about if someone else has more than you. Do the best you can with what you have and appreciate it.

And as I type this the unemployment rate went up to 9.8%. Unexpectedly I’m sure.

Three Cheers for Market Basket

Posted: December 2, 2010 by datechguy in culture, oddities
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Market Basket knows what day it is!

For having this picture in their window.

Market Basket is handling this exactly the right way. By putting a sign that explicitly says Merry Christmas they are eschewing the political correctness that has frightened and intimidated the multitudes.

What many business don’t understand is that by trying to placate a vocal and angry minority they actually upset the vast majority of customers who have many other alternatives for shopping. When I see “Happy Holidays” as opposed to Merry Christmas I am inclined to spend my money elsewhere and I’ll wager a lot of other people are too.

And for the few in the “tolerant left” who do not want “Merry Christmas” on anything Market Basket has not ignored your, nor have they ignored those who don’t celebrate Christmas but are not as easily agitated as some. Take a look at the poster next to the first one

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Side by side in perfect harmony

This allows everybody to take a deep breath, the explicit Christmas poster allows them to say “Happy Holidays” elsewhere without insult because of the acknowledgment of the actual federal holiday that the country celebrates.

Would that more business’ had that degree of courage and common sense.

Voices of Main Street Chris Vasiliadis of Williams Resturant and Tavern

Posted: November 13, 2010 by datechguy in business, economy, oddities, short films/interviews
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Chris has been in business for 27 years so he knows how to stay in business during good times and bad:

His advice keep up or increase quality, decrease quality and give some low-end options for people who can’t afford a $20 steak but can afford a $9-$12 meal.

It sounds like some business didn’t take that advice:

The manager of Don Otto’s – a recently shuttered food market in the South End – is blaming neighborhood patrons for its untimely demise, cooking up an angry message to fair-weather fans of the Tremont Street eatery.

Blaming the customer? It gets better, or worse depending on how you look at it.

“People don’t understand their purchases make a difference, and that by buying something that wasn’t exactly what you want, it gets you closer to what you want. It’s an investment.”

It’s not our job to provide you with what you want. It’s the customer’s job to buy what you don’t want to keep me in business.

And unlike Tom Kahale advice Don Otto’s believes price should be no object.

Among their customers were U.S. Rep. Barney Frank and Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who has stopped by for their locally made lasagna. But in this economy, $28-per-pound steak and $8 cartons of eggs was not a recipe for success.

The arrogance is simply astounding. That’s why Don Otto’s is out of Business and Williams is about to start its 28th year without the advantages of a major metropolitan area or customers like Tom Menino or Barney Frank.

Is MSNBC coming out of the liberal closet?

Posted: October 5, 2010 by datechguy in business, media
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There is a very interesting line in this NYT article on their upcoming advertising campaign:

“When you’re clear about who you are, you actually make money,” said Sharon Otterman, the chief marketing officer for MSNBC, who started work there one year ago.

Hmmm and hmmmm again. What follows this sentence in the story? This does:

MSNBC’s brand was unclear for its first full decade. A creation of NBC News and Microsoft in 1996, the channel bounced from one programming idea to another before Mr. Olbermann, the host of “Countdown,” and Chris Matthews, the host of “Hardball,” seized on antiwar, anti-Republican sentiments in the latter part of the Bush administration.

The channel identified itself as “The Place for Politics” — a catchphrase that it will continue to use alongside “Lean Forward” — and added liberal hosts like Ms. Maddow and Ed Schultz, and a lively morning show, “Morning Joe.”

I think the first sentence should have followed this but more to the point, by taking the pretend mask off MSNBC stops pretending to be all things to all people. People do better being what they are.

And to those who say, “but DaTechGuy” this is a center right country blah blah blah. Remember these things.

  • If only 20% of people in the US are liberals then an awful lot of people.
  • If you are a business, you can make a good living catering to that 20%
  • That liberal 20% of the country, all eat, read, drink , use toilet paper , wash their clothes, buy trash bags (except when Marching on Washington ) etc and advertisers understand this.

So more power to you MSNBC, be yourself, Fox can be themselves and let the best network win and you can both watch CNN cry.

Via Stacy’s new feature Live at 5.

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