business

Buzz: Making Money Magazine – Franchising in the UK

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I just came back from Blighty. At the airport, there were no newspapers for the flight to HongKong so desperation drove me to find something else. That’s what happens when you buy good reading for the flight but then pack your flight reading in your check-in bag, not the carry on one! Doh!

making money magazine

There were stacks of a newish magazine (or at least one I had never heard of) called Making Money Magazine which is primarily about the franchising market in the UK. There are lots of feature articles on all sorts of companies from almost every industry you could imagine, including some very prominent names like BurgerKing, Subway, etc. Their online contact form lists over 400 different franchises. The only problem with the magazine is you can’t read it online, it’s a print-only publication, though the website is quite informative in its own way.

Testimonial: InvestorBlogger Dot Com – interesting, informative site that offers realistic advice

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I stumbled onto Investor Blogger the other day while researching some investments I’ve been thinking about. I never did finish what I’d intended to do because this website grabbed my attention and kept it! The first page I came across was Asus Eee PC News that introduced the new Asus Eee 900 PC. I’ve been looking for a laptop so I read the article and began browsing the index and clicking on the categories there.

The first that I clicked, of course, was Making Money. What a treasure trove! There were links to some very fine writings on finance, business and investing as well as articles by the blogger himself on a variety of business concerns. The business tips weren’t the same old run-of-the-mill unrealistic words aimed at big business but good, solid advice that the small business owner can use. The writing was relaxed and casual, almost as if you were sitting down and talking face to face, a welcome change from the formality of most sites dealing with investments and financial matters. I’ll be going back to that category frequently; you can find it in the money making section.

Next up was the NewsBites section at . This was another fine page full of the latest news dealing with the economy, finding markets for your products, ideas for improving your business and making money. I particularly liked the article that addressed how to survive and thrive during the recession we’re in and got a few good ideas for my own business.

Then it was time for something a bit lighter. I’d spent the better part of the evening reading some fine articles and following the links to fascinating financial information so it was time a change. I clicked on the Little Pleasures category and was greeted with not only an amusing clip from a popular movie but a truly magnificent photo of the Tamsui river in Taiwan that rivals anything you could find in a commercial photographer’s portfolio. There was an article about tea shops competing with Starbucks and accompanied by a video clip, a review of a Sony MP3 player and an account of a visit to San Francisco complete with photos. What a great way to add a little beauty and humor to the dour subjects of money and finance!

InvestorBlogger is an interesting, informative site that offers realisticadvice and a wealth of resources not only for investors but for anyone who wants to manage their finances intelligently. My only real gripe about the InvestorBlogger was the pop-up ad on the first page but it was a minor irritation and after all, someone has to pay the bills!

By Anuj.

Anuj, Thanks for your testimonial. I did remove the popup on the front page. It wasn’t worth the hit on the server or the irritation of my readers.

New Blood: New Hope – Can Taiwan Finally Escape the Impasse of the Last 30 Years?

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Taiwan has always been in an awkward position in its relationship with China. At different times, Taiwan has been the aggressor, the victim, had the upperhand, been at the bottom of the pile… While the actual position of its relationship hasn’t been that important to Taiwan’s political and economic position, in recent years Taiwan’s relationship has vacillated between ice cold and tepidly warm.

taiwan new changes

This vacillation in its diplomatic relationships with China, Japan, the US or Europe, hasn’t been conducive to good business, developing the economy here, or increasing the security of Asia Pacific. In fact, since the 1992 warming with Beijing, relationships have hit several low points with the mainland with the missile threats, the missile crisis in 1996, the cold-shouldering of Taiwan under Chen Shui Bien from 2000 ~ 2008.

Whatever one’s position on the final state for Taiwan’s future, whether it is independence, status quo or reunification, no one can deny rationally that the uncertainty is a factor that limits business opportunities, creates additional risk, and uncertainty.

With the new presidency here in Taiwan, and the assumption of office by Ma Ying-Jeou one can only hope that we are about to enter a period of increasing stability with the PRC. Seeing the news story on the BBC website with the headline “China talks to resume”, filled me with some hope perhaps the first in nearly 10 years that Taiwan could at least begin to emerge from the shadow of its big neighbor.

I don’t expect much to evolve from the talks in the short term, there are just too many practical issues that need to be worked out first: trade, travel, communications, visas, currency exchanges, ownership rules, … But if Taiwan is to ensure its own security for the future, attempts at cutting itself off from the PRC for whatever dumb ideological reason will only serve to increase its insecurity.

However, by tying the PRC increasingly into the well-being and fate of Taiwan – both politically and economically – seems to be the only real way to create a scenario in which the PRC cannot afford to cut off what has become a part of its own society, anymore than Germany (despite antagonisms that are historical) could cut itself off from France, or the UK from Europe, …

This is something that the PRC would be hard pressed to admit, but increasing its own involvement indirectly or directly with Taiwan would make it significantly harder for the PRC to launch any kind of strike against Taiwan. Their generals may whine, complain and moan, but the generals don’t provide jobs and social stability any more. It’s the factories, the companies, the money, … that all comes from the wider economy, both domestic and foreign.

Here’s hoping that President Ma Ying Jeou makes progress in talks, helps to open up Taiwan to China more, strengthens Taiwan’s future both locally, nationally, and internationally.