From the beginning, the main goal of Amazon Prime, the membership program that includes benefits such as free two-day shipping on all orders, was to get consumers into the habit of buying regularly at Amazon—to change …
The Economic Argument for Having More Kids
It’s been estimated that raising a child from birth through age 18 costs just under $227,000, or slightly more than the current median price of a home in the U.S. That figure doesn’t include college. Once a four-year degree is …
Despite Good Earnings, Big Banks Far From Fixed
You can’t have a strong economy without strong banks. That’s why President Bush’s and, later, President Obama’s first attempts to save the economy from a deep recession were focused around bank bailouts. And the fact that the …
Vado a Bordo: The Case For Booking A Cruise Now
Vada a bordo. Get on board. Those now famous words—less the slangy expletive—spoken by Italian Coast Guard captain Gregorio De Falco to captain Francesco Schettino, the rat who left the sinking Costa Concordia, are good advice to everyone contemplating a cruise trip thisyear. Pack your bags and go.
Mild Winter Could Mean Best-Ever Deals on Winter Coats and Cold-Weather Gear
There aren’t many people who are complaining that this winter has been too warm, too storm-free, and altogether too comfortable. But there is one group griping the weather just isn’t cold or snowy enough: retailers that sell …
Apple’s Textbooks: Undeniably Cool, But Will They Help Students?
Apple debuted the holy grail of textbooks on Thursday in New York City. The books are undeniably cool: they will integrate videos, photos and interactive graphics, make taking notes a breeze and be easy to navigate — all …
Early Super Bowl Ad’s a Hit: Volkswagen’s ‘Canine Choir’ Barks ‘Star Wars’ Theme
Every year, in addition to the battle between the two teams on the field at the Super Bowl, there’s a battle among advertisers to see which company comes up with the most memorable, most brilliant, and most hilarious commercial. …
5 Things To Look for in a Great Job Interview
In my career I have reviewed thousands of resumes and conducted hundreds of employment interviews for both The Trademark Company and other businesses for which I have worked. In doing so, I got to see the good, the bad, and the …
Would You Get Your Taxes Done At Walmart?
Walmart has been steadily growing the scope of its financial services, offering unbanked Americans a place to do things like cash checks and pay bills cheaply — located in stores where customers will hopefully turn around and …
Why Seniors Don’t Deserve the Senior Discount
On average, citizens who earn the most money and have the most net wealth are 50 and over. So why is it this group that’s entitled to discounts at the movies, supermarkets, hotels, and nearly everywhere else you turn, while the …
In Kodak Bankruptcy, Another Casualty of the Digital Revolution
Kodak’s decision to file for bankruptcy protection is a sad, though not unexpected, milestone for an American corporate icon that pioneered consumer photography and dominated the film market for decades, but ultimately failed to …
Google Shares Plunge 9% After Results Disappoint Wall Street
Internet search titan Google startled Wall Street with weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings results, sending the company’s shares down as much as 9% after the numbers were released. The results were driven primarily by an …