Mom-and-pop retailers and marketers are taking a greater shine to the corporate world as the U.S. economy continues to lag.
The rate of entrepreneurship is slowing and the self-employment rate is declining as more people move to salaried jobs, reports Kyle Stock of The Daily.
In April the number of self-employed U.S. residents was down 10% from five years ago, according to federal data, while the number of U.S. residents who tried to launch businesses last year dropped 5.9% from 2010, according to a recent report from the Kauffman Foundation.
That's partly because a growing number of entrepreneurs and freelancers are finding themselves in a Sisyphus-like state.
"I really wasn't making any money, and I was working a ton," former boutique owner Michelle Stash told The Daily. "That's OK in the beginning of the business--it's almost exciting at that point. But after five or six years, it just kind of got on my mental state."
After running her shoes and clothing shop for more than six years in Bozeman, Mont., Stash took a job as a front-office manager at a restaurant down the street. She said she no longer worries about competing with Wal-Mart.
Sales Buzz
Luxury E-Commerce Jobs (FINS)
Two-year-old luxury online retailer AHAlife is looking to hire merchandising and marketing professionals after raising $10.1 million in new funding.
Potential Retailer Sales (Bloomberg)
Struggling sleepwear and lingerie retailer Frederick's of Hollywood is considering a company sale after hiring an investment bank. Women's apparel chain Talbots faces a potential sale as the private-equity firm Sycamore Partners upped its takeover bid to $214.6 million.
Dunkin' Jobs in India (WSJ)
More overseas sales jobs from a U.S. chain are on the way. Dunkin' Donuts is opening a flagship store in New Delhi, India, today as one of 80-100 Dunkin' stores slated for the country. Rival coffee chain Starbucks is planning to open its first India cafe in August.
Marketing Buzz
New Cable Joint Venture (WSJ)
Walt Disney and Univision Communications are teaming up to launch a 24-hour cable-news channel targeting English-speaking Hispanics. The joint venture between Disney's ABC News and Univision News will announce a new management team this summer.
Oprah's Fundamental Mistakes (WSJ)
Oprah Winfrey's continuing challenges with her OWN network stem from her not giving the network her full attention from the outset and waiting too long to air, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Related: More Discovery Execs Could Join OWN
Draftfcb's Losses (Ad Age)
The 800 employees at Draftfcb's flagship office in Chicago took another morale blow: The agency lost its entire MillerCoors account to WPP. That loss followed last year's departure of SC Johnson and the TV portion of State Farm. Some say Draftfcb may have lost some of its creative edge.
Buzz Around the Office
The Supermoon (BuzzFeed)
Just in case you missed it this weekend.
List of the Day: The Informational Interview
The only way to get ahead is to get your foot in the door. Do it through an informational interview.
1. Don't be afraid to email strangers to ask for help.
2. Do your research on the person and company before you get to the meeting.
3. Don't forget to follow up periodically.
(Source: The Daily Muse)
