1. 1 ~rnISl~LSitmil'C"eSVm~TIi:J]PD-r!mif'!lrr-cOll)mcmlreIp~trIilFrr ill an ppor u- ran mqs
city lists, but economic development officials and nity for a second restaurant in Durham, where Duke aren't
chambers of commerce, which provided informa- University is adding on to its engineering schooL necessarily
tion about where sewing plants had recently closed. Business locator research is a booming business. the best
Watkins' research led him to open the plant near Consultants charge $10,000 and up for research, way to find
his Atlanta home, where sewing workers were but you can get detailed demographics for free or the right
available and property taxes were low. The com- for cheap. For example, www.demographicsnow. business
pany now has 45 employees, annual revenue of com is a subscription service with free online sarn- location, as
about $8 million, and was named the state's top ples: www.sitereports.com offers demographic re- Vera and Bill
small-business exporter in 2001. ports; and www.esribis.com publishes a free book- Watkins
For Wendy Woods, customer base was the driv- let, Evaluating Population Projections: The Importance found out.
ing force when she and Piper Lunsford, 41, launched of Accurate Forecasting. Commercial realtors can
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, eatery also provide an overview of area leasing rates,
Piper's in the Park. The restaurant, which has $1 mil- property operating costs and demographic stats.
MAKE A LISTJ CHECK IT TWICE
EVER WONDER WHAT'S ON OTHER HAVE YOU EVER COM- list leaves no time for this 33-year-old to nibble on
plained that 24 hours is sweets ... well, maybe occasionally.
ENTREPRENEURS' TO-DO LISTS? just not enough time in • Informally test-market Momints
a day? If so, stop whin- • Respond to customer feedback
BY SARA WILSON ing.Wesneakedapeek • Interact with employees at all levels of the or-
at some successful en- ganization to ensure high morale
trepreneurs' to-do lists • Conduct weekly strategic sessions with key ad-
and found that life in the fast lane doesn't leave visors to discuss ways to grow revenue
room for procrastination. • Lead weekly marketing brainstorming sessions
• Have lunch with son, Jackson, as often as time
Sarah Siegel-Magness, 3', is founder of So Low, a Los permits
Angeles contemporary sportswear maker. Notes
stuck to her computer keep her organized. Here's Michael Koch, 42. founder of Koch Entertainment,
a recent week's sampling: an independent music company in Port Washing-
• Financial meeting on Tuesday ton, New York, was so busy that he shared his daily
• Design meeting on Wednesday duties with us only after we added it to his list.
• Work with new accounting firm to reconcile • Take children to school
cost of goods for first quarter • Read industry news
• Review target account list with sales staff .Answer e-mails, and make calls
• Hire another designer • Conduct several brief in-person/phone meet-
• Prenatal doctor's appointment on Thursday ings with key staff
• Identify and pursue new business opportunity
As founder ofYosha! Enterprises, a Westfield, New • Make time to think and read
Jersey, mint-maker, Anthony Shurman's weekly to-do • Complete one key priority/project
26 • ENTREPRENEUR