YouTube Video -- Blue Rock BBQ
The YouTube video on the front page is basically an informative / promotional video for Alibaba. Rather than just giving facts however, the video gives you a view on how Alibaba actually helped a couple successfully start their own business, Blue Rock BBQ. Alibaba helped Blue Rock BBQ get started by offering successful ways to market the company's brand name (i.e. loyalty cards, gift cards, and t-shirts). Alibaba also offers instant messaging with suppliers through its 'Trade Manager' function. This is a tool that entrepreneurs would greatly benefit from in order to find a supplier that is going to meet their needs at a reasonable price.
Deco Breeze
A success story that I liked was the one for Deco Breeze. Basically, Deco Breeze is a company that designs fans in a variety of shapes, figures, symbols, colors, etc. The reason I liked this story so much is because I would have never come up with the idea to start a company based on creating unique fans. However, if it weren't for Alibaba, the story may not have been a success.
In 2005, Phil Weil had an idea to start a new line of fans that combined style and functionality. In order to progress with this idea, though, Phil needed to find a good manufacturer for his fans. Through Alibaba he quickly found his future business partner, Sunway Electric Manufacturing Ltd (Sunway), which was located in China. The partnership between the two has since been a great success for both companies. Phil also gave much credit to Alibaba.com when he said, "the chances of us meeting Sunway without Alibaba.com would have been like winning the lottery."
Small Biz Toolbox -- IRS on Starting a Business
This link provided me with basic tax information on starting a new business as well as properly managing it and making the right decisions. Some topics covered in this section included the type of business (business structure), business tax (income, employee, excise, etc.), a checklist for starting, as well as many others. This would be a very useful tool for anyone who is starting a business, but may not know all the rules, regulations, and laws associated with it.
