By Co-Editor, Bobby B:

GreatStartups.com is committed to celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit that is embodied in anyone who has started a new business. That spirit has been sorely tested over the last two or three years. However, things appear to have turned a corner.

For the first time since September 2007, the majority (55%) of small business owners have a positive view of the economic environment and its impact on their ability to grow, according to the American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor.  However, more firms are at risk of going out of business (17%) than six months ago (11%), due in part to personal funds being tapped out: one-third (32%) say they are using personal or private funds to manage cash flow challenges (up from 23% six months ago).

While there appears to be a widening divide between healthy and struggling businesses, even the healthy businesses are proceeding with caution. Fewer firms have hiring plans than at any point in the eight-year history of the Monitor (falling below the fall 2002 recession level of 26%), and plans for capital investments equal the record-setting low from Spring 2009 (42%).

The semi-annual survey covers a very broad range of topics and offers segmentation by business owner age, industry sector and geographic region. Some highlights from the survey are as follows:

Nearly seven-in-ten entrepreneurs (68%) are stressed out by the economy and three-in-ten (31%) say that the current economy has caused them to question their decision to become an entrepreneur;
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By: Co-Editor: Bobby B:

If you are a busy woman and do not have time to keep up with the latest fashions then this story is for you !!!!!

Based in New York, SheFinds.com is a unique fashion blog dedicated to helping readers find the latest fashion trends. The site has tens of thousands of readers who use the site regularly to check the latest fashion trends and see SheFinds latest recommendations. Registration for the SheFinds newsletter and access to its fashion blog are free.

Michelle Madhok created SheFinds in 2004. Ms. Madhok won the American Express ‘Make Mine a Million contest’ and was awarded financial support to redesign the SheFinds site.

SheFinds helps busy woman figure out what to buy. They study the trends and surf the web for the best items, then pass on that information to its users in newsletters and via its blog. They even find online coupon codes and great sales, which are available to users at a click of a button. SheFinds is not an online store and it doesn’t carry any inventory. So users are assured that their recommendations are solely based on trends and the taste sensibility of SheFinds.com.

For example, SheFinds’ buying guides provide information on such things as Best Underwear, Best Acne Treatment, and Best Mascara. Users will find beauty and fashion advice, grouped in easy-to-browse categories by season and type. SheFinds understands how difficult locating the latest clothing trends or best designer deals can be – that is why they have gone and done the digging for you. The fashion guides and reviews help users figure out what stylish new clothing and accessories to buy for every season and wardrobe need. Their beauty reviews are up to speed with all the newest cosmetics hitting stores’ shelves, so you can keep up with beauty trends without having to lose yourself in Sephora or the corner drugstore.
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