Black Enterprise articles from June 2004

Black Enterprise archives from June 2004

Standing up to be counted.(publisher's page)(Black Enterprise's top 100 black owned businesses)
June 1, 2004... The Annual Report on Black Business, featuring the BE 100s, our listings of the nation's largest black-owned companies, is well established as the definitive barometer of African American economic advancement and business achievement. Our...

Celebrating the workers of the B.E. 100s.(About This Issue)
June 1, 2004... For years this magazine has written about the CEOs of black-owned companies and senior-level executives or mainstream companies. But as everyone notes high-profile ventures in the boardroom, it seems less attention is paid to the workers who...

We are family ...(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... Thank you, Black Enterprise, for an Informative, enlightening article, "The Afro-Latino Connection" [February 2004]. Most of us are not aware of the African impact on the Americas. I thank God for my late, brilliant, trilingual grandfather...

... But do we want to be?(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... REGARDING YOUR SPECIAL REPORT ON "THE AFRO-LATINO CONNECTION" [February 2004]: That will either never happen or it will only happen under the most dire circumstances. I hate to be a cynic, but Latinos who come [to America], like every immigrant...

Time to step up.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... I could kiss you for the advice given to A. Jones in "Never Too Late." [Motivation, March 2004]. I graduated from an adult education vocational nursing program at 40. I am a single parent, working at a doctor's office five days a week and the...

Balancing two worlds.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... AS AN AFRO-LATINA PROFESSIONAL IN MY THIRTIES, I can not thank you enough for the cover story of your February 2004 issue, "The Afro-Latino Connection." All of my life I have had to balance two different worlds, my Latina (Dominican) world,...

Black like me.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... IN REGARDS TO YOUR FEBRUARY 2004 ARTICLE, "THE Afro-Latino Connection," kudos to Brother Frank Mercado-Valdes for acknowledging and celebrating his African heritage. It is this rich African blood flowing in our veins that unites us throughout...

Color and culture.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... Yes! Finally people will know that you can be Latino[a] and of African descent simultaneously. I was very excited when I saw "The Afro-Latino Connection" on the cover of your February 2004 issue. As an African American and student of the...

Valuable principles.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATIVE ARTICLES REGARDING WEALTH BUILDING [BLACK ENTERPRISE Black Wealth Initiative]. I'm a young black man who recently started a family and I've learned the value of the 10 principles that you share with your readers. It...

Destined for wealth.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... THANK YOU FOR THE IMPACT THAT your magazine has made in my life. The financial progression for our African American community has watered seeds of expectancy for an abundant financial future. For the past seven years, I've driven a 1994 Geo...

A Titan's success.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... I FELT COMPELLED TO LET YOU know that your article on Arthur Gaston ["A Titan's First Step," February 2004] was uplifting as well as inspirational. It only reinforced my belief that there are always opportunities to obtain success with hard...

Clarification.(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2004... In our April 2004 cover story "The New Face of NASCAR," we named Willy T. Ribbs as the first African American to race at the Winston Cup level (now the Nextel Cup Series) in 1986 The first African American to compote at that level was Wendell...

An inspiring example.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... What a fabulous article: "Profiles in Courage" [January 2004]. It was the first time in my 10 years of reading BLACK ENTERPRISE that I have been so inspired by an article in your magazine. In particular I loved the story of Zola Mashiriki,...

Divine guidance.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... I SUBSCRIBED TO BLACK ENTERPRISE two years before my release from prison. When I began reading your magazine, I quickly noticed that there were many things that I needed to know about business as well as just living a regular life. After...

Carver acquires independence federal savings: deal could create largest black-owned bank in the U.S.(B.E. 100s)
June 1, 2004... In a deal that promises more than 1 million new customers in the nation's capital, Carver Bancorp Inc., the holding company of Carver Federal Savings Bank (No. 1 on the BE BANKS list with $529.6 million in assets), has agreed to buy the parent...

Minority firm to seal $500 million deal.(Newsbytes)(Bridgewater Interiors contract with Ford Motor Co.)
June 1, 2004... Detriot-based auto supplier Bridgewater Interiors, a BE INDUSTRIAL/ SERVICE 100 company, scored a major coup for minority businesses in March by winning a Ford Motor Co. contract worth more than $500 million annually. While Ford has the option...

Oprah gives Morehouse $5 million.(Newspoints)(Opra Winfrey donates to Morehouse College )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Billionaire media mogul Oprah Winfrey has given Morehouse College a $5 million donation to fund scholarships. The gift brings Winfrey's contributions to the Atlanta school to a total of $12 million, making her its largest individual donor,...

Deal reched in largest housing discrimination case.(Newspoints)(U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has settled a 1980 lawsuit brought by three African Americans aimed at integrating public housing in East Texas. The settlement, which affects an estimated 10,000 low-income families, brings...

SBA loan faces uncertain future.(National News)
June 1, 2004... There are many words to describe the reactions of small business owners to the temporary shutdown of the Small Business Administration's popular 7(a) loan program in January. Only a few of them are printable. It was the second bit of bad news...

Revitalizing urban neighborhoods.(Newsmaker)(Kenneth Wade of Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp.)
June 1, 2004... If Kenneth Wade has his way, over the next few years he will have helped about 30,000 minorities with low and moderate incomes become new homeowners. This is one of the goals Wade has set since becoming executive director of Neighborhood...

Predatory lending still plaques minority homebuyers.(National News)(ACORN study Separate and Unequal 2004: Predatory Lending in America)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... African American and Latino home buyers are still the victims of predatory lending, the practice of imposing unfair and abusive loan terms on borrowers. According to the ACORN study Separate and Unequal 2004: Predatory Lending in America...

Obama closing in on Senate seat.(National News)(Burack Obama; Lugz Shoe Company; young African Americans voting behavior)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Illinois state senator and Harvard-trained civil rights lawyer Barack Obama is one step closer to claiming a U.S. Senate seat (see Newspoints, February 2004). Obama won his state's Democratic nomination, beating six opponents and upping the...

Advancing African American women in the workplace: new study finds challenges remain despite push for diversity.(Facts & Figures)
June 1, 2004... Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth has become a household name to millions of Americans who watched NBC's The Apprentice. Unfortunately, she gained notoriety for behavior that projects the most negative stereotypes of black females: angry, conniving,...

Moving to mutual funds: for Raven Enterprise, volatile times require a shift in investment style.(Investment Clubhouse)
June 1, 2004... Plenty of attention has been paid to the mutual fund industry's alleged unethical trading practices in certain fund families. Even though such information can be discouraging, Kenyatta T. Robinson, president of Raven Enterprise, an investment...

From speculation to structure: North Carolina dentist adjusts his portfolio to a proven asset allocation model.(Investment Strategies)
June 1, 2004... Dr. Edward J. Cemons, 44, was doing well operating his dental practice in Durham, North Carolina. But all his business success didn't exactly prepare him for the challenges he faced a few years ago. With three children, one of them...

A niche in time: Kila Weaver predicts large returns from healthcare and financial sectors.(Private Screening)
June 1, 2004... Financial services and healthcare sectors will yield outstanding returns in 2004, says Kila Weaver, managing director and financial analyst at Capital Management Group Securities. According to Weaver, companies in the healthcare industry...

A solid recovery: F. Douglass Lewis Jr. focused on value stocks to produce positive returns.(Stock Update)
June 1, 2004... Selecting companies that were ripe for growth once the economy began picking up steam was the strategy behind the stock picks given to us by F. Douglass Lewis Jr., president of Washington. D.C.-based FDL Financial Services. The four companies...

Scandal-free mutual funds: exchange-traded funds can shelter investors from mutual fund abuses.(Mutual Fund Focus)
June 1, 2004... For a while late last year and early this year, it seemed that one mutual fund family after another was being implicated in some sort of scandal. In fact, the widening scandal included some of the nation's most recognizable fund companies,...

Saving for college and retirement.(Ask B.E.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... QA I'm a single mother with three kids age 10, 9, and 7. I have $5,000 to invest and $2,500 in a savings account that I add $400 to each month. I want to save for my kids' college costs and for my retirement. Any ideas? H. Beasley Via...

The new look on the greens: how one entrepreneur merged hip-hop with golf apparel.(Making It)
June 1, 2004... Ever since Tiger Woods entered the golf circuit, the sport hasn't been the same. The "new face in golf" has attracted players of every ethnicity and has inspired Craig Tanner to change with the times. As president of Urban Golf Gear (UGG),...

Cracking the RFP code: it takes more than paperwork to effectively bid on contracts.(Business Advice; Request for Proposal)
June 1, 2004... Many companies take a dartboard approach to land corporate or government contracts, grasping at any and every opportunity to win a bid. While that may work from time to time, experts say a more efficient approach would involve the request for...

Seeking new streams: multiple revenue sources are critical to small businesses.(Management Advice)
June 1, 2004... From small streams, mighty rivers can flow. Solomon Thompson Jr. learned this shortly after he launched Blue Collar Objects L.L.C. Thompson initially focused the Fairfax, Virginia-based business on the product side of the technology industry,...

The doctors is in: Derek Siute's holistic approach to medicine has his practice thriving.(Making It)
June 1, 2004... Dr. Derek Suite, a clinical psychiatrist, loves his profession--especially when it's practice with the spiritual and cultural sensitivity he believes are fundamental to the healing process. That's why in today's America, where many...

Rebuilding Iraq: will small business be allowed to get the job done?(Small Business News)
June 1, 2004... Deleted from the $87 billion Iraq/Afghanistan emergency spending bill President George W. Bush signed into law in November 2003 was a small business subcontracting provision that would have instructed large corporations receiving Iraq...

Insurance inquiry.(Savvy Solutions; health insurance)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... QA I am starting my own firm. My biggest struggle in making the move is getting health insurance. I still need coverage. Any suggestions? V. Callahan Via the Internet You'll have to choose between a health maintenance...

A tradition of success: a legacy of business ownership drives tech security pioneer.(Black Digerati; Lurita Doan)
June 1, 2004... Lurita Doan's drive to succeed is in her blood. Inspired by three generations of entrepreneurs before her, the 45-year-old president and CEO of Reston, Virginia-based New Technology Management Inc., has grown her technology solutions company...

Getting paid: collections firm make debtors an offer they can't refuse.(Techwatch)
June 1, 2004... There are many reasons a company may not hit projected revenues. But one that often gets overlooked is the deadbeat client--a customer who skips out on the bill once products or services have been delivered. Many small business owners might not...

Geeks rule! Tech-support firm helps entrepreneurs focus on business.(B.E. Reviews)
June 1, 2004... An attorney who billed clients at $300 an hour was spending an afternoon every few weeks crawling under his desk, mucking with wires, and talking the firm's e-mail down with him. A fashion magazine's internal tech support was spending $150 to...

Now, ear this.(B.E. Reviews)
June 1, 2004... Cardo Systems says that it has a solution to a problem that has cell phone users all tied up: their cords. The company has released the allways headset for mobile and PDA phones. BLACK ENTERPRISE tested the Bluetooth version of the allways...

Under the radar: anonymous surfing: are you really invisible?(Tech News)
June 1, 2004... Would you be embarrassed (or worse) if Websites could personally identify you as a visitor? Well, they can if they have the muscle to subpoena your Internet service provider (ISP). Most people assume that firewalls or general security...

Is eight enough?(Hot Picks)
June 1, 2004... It seems so long ago now that 5-megapixel digital cameras were all the rage. Now, eight might not be enough. Nikon's Coolpix 8700 is an 8-megapixel digital camera that features an 8x optical zoom lens and 4x digital zoom, and produces images at...

Mini me.(Hot Picks)
June 1, 2004... Though some may balk at the $249 price tag, the iPod mini has managed to pack in the performance that you've come to expect from its larger sibling into a much smaller form. Available in five colors, the device runs on the Mac and Windows...

Tough customer.(Hot Picks)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... For PC users who are more comfortable off-roading to the Information Superhighway, there's the HP Rugged Tablet PC tr3000. The device is made of die-cast magnesium, exceeding military standards for ruggedness. It's rainwater resistant, wireless...

Small office solutions.(Cyberwise; printers)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... QA I have a small office and a small budget, so I'm looking for a cost-effective printing solution. Is it better to purchase a copier, printer, and fax machine separately or go with a multifunction device? Rodney Palmer Los Angeles...

HR growth: what you need to know about the changes in HR?(Industry Watch)
June 1, 2004... "I loved it," says Yvonne Jackson, senior vice president of human resources at Pfizer, referring to her first job in human resources. In 1970, fresh out of Atlanta's Spelman College, Jackson joined Sears, Boebuck & Co.'s Los Angeles office as...

How's your performance? Workplace evaluations can work to your benefit.(In The Box)
June 1, 2004... Terri Dean knew that she found a place to call her own the moment she stepped through the doors of her company for the first time. Today, she is president of Verizon Connected Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon that is responsible...

To a degree.(Since You Asked)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... QA I am a middle-aged woman with a master's in human resources and a securities series 7 license, which are both not being put to good use, I have been underemployed for years. I get a new position, give 100% of myself, and shortly after, I am...

Atlanta Life Financial Group.(On The Move)(Ronald D. Brown)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Ronald D. Brown has been appointed president and CEO of Atlanta Life Financial Group, the country's only stock-owned African American insurance company. Brown, who has managed international business in 32 countries, is charged with accelerating...

National Park Service's Southeast Region.(On The Move)(Patricia A. Hooks)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Patricia A. Hooks has been selected as regional director of the National Park Service's Southeast Region. which includes 64 national park sites in nine Southern states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Hooks, who will be responsible...

WATTSHealth Foundation Inc./UHP Healthcare.(On The Move)(Curtis Owens)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Curtis Owens has been appointed president and CEO of WATTSHealth Foundation Inc./UHP Healthcare. His primary responsibility will be to reinforce the healthcare organization's operations and services within Southern California's five-county...

Sony Urban Music.(On The Move)(Lisa Ellis)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Lisa Ellis has been named to the newly created position of general manager for Sony Urban Music. Her responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day operations and interfacing with the company's other labels on matters relating to urban music....

Westside Private Banking Services.(On The Move)(Karimu H. Johnson)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Karimu H. Johnson is senior vice president and team leader for Westside Private Banking Services under City National Bank. Johnson leads a team of private banking professionals in delivering the bank's range of financial solutions to affluent...

June 2004.(Convention Calendar)(Calendar)
June 1, 2004... June 2004 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Nia Enterprises 2004 Leadership...

Giving while you're living: through a living trust, Brenda Brandle is helping her 16 nieces and nephews enjoy her wealth now.(Black Wealth Initiative)
June 1, 2004... When Brenda Brandle, a cafeteria manager in the Los Angeles Unified School District, decided to straighten out her finances in 1999, she knew she had her work cut out for her. Besides needing to reduce her debt and provide for her retirement,...

A life pursuing real estate: after being laid off from his job, John Young is shifting to a career managing properties.(Financial Black Fitness Enterprise Contest Winner No. 48)
June 1, 2004... When John Young was downsized from his job last year, he didn't throw a pity party. He seized the opportunity to pursue his passion, and it could very well lead to his prosperity. In May 2003, Young was let go from his position as assistant to...

100s only the strong survive.(B.E. 100s Overview)(black enterprise)
June 1, 2004... In today's environment, B.E. 100s companies must be fit, fast, and inventive to not only survive but thrive. Whether running a mom-and-pop or a leviathan, today's CEOs must view their companies' longevity through a Darwinian prism. That...

The tough get going: in a merciless business environment, the B.E. Industrial Service 100 produced a number of casualties--and winners.(B.E. Industrial/Service 100 Overview)(black enterprise)(Illustration)
June 1, 2004... WHETHER THE BLAME FALLS ON THE sluggish economy, take-no-prisoners competition, or poor business management, a majority of CEOs who run the nation's largest black-owned industrial/service companies found 2003 to be a downright nasty year. In...

The Prince of South Beach: R. Donahue Peebles has built a real estate empire with the posh and a pipeline of deals in South Florida. And he's not finished yet.(B.E. Industrial/Service Company Of The Year)(Royal Palm Hotel)
June 1, 2004... R. Donahue Peebles sits at the head of a conference table in a makeshift conference room. Just outside, it's a cloudless spring day in Miami Beach, Florida, where golden sands meet the turquoise waters of the Atlantic under a sapphire sky. With...

The new frontier: auto dealers are rethinking the way they do business and finding new solutions to old challenges.(B.E. Auto Industry Overview)(black enterprise)(Illustration)
June 1, 2004... Vision and intellect were two strengths that African American auto dealers exploited to stay on the road of profitability in 2003. They drew strength not only from flexing the marketing muscle of a large body of store locations, but also from...

Power hitter: baseball legend Hank Aaron scores big with his import dealerships.(B.E. Auto Dealer Of The Year)(black enterprise)
June 1, 2004... Dealer's row is what they call this little stretch of Atlanta off 1-85, On this bright, 80-degree day, the Georgia landscape is peppered with auto dealerships, including some whose owners take up residence on the BE AUTO DEALER 100 listing. ...

What lies beneath: scratch the surface of these new entrants to the B.E. 100s list and you'll find smart planning, successful growth strategies, and a strong commitment to quality.(B.E. 100s Freshman Class)(black enterprise)
June 1, 2004... What lies beneath the surface of a successful African American firm? Hard work? Definitely. Perseverance? Of course. But for this year's Freshman Class, the new entrants to the BE 100s INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE list, what. also lies beneath their...

Now that black is in, are black agencies out? The African American market surges, but black agencies battle mainstream shops for the opportunity to deliver their message.(B.E. Advertising Overview)
June 1, 2004... Whether it's the halftime show at the Super Bowl or the entry of words like bling-bling into the mainstream, it's quite apparent that hip-hop's urban influence exudes from almost every fiber of the American experience. Advertising helps...

The magic touch: Carol H. Williams Advertising conjures up winning campaigns and huge billings using an enchanting mix of business savvy, creative talent, and unbridled passion.(B.E. Advertising Agency Of The Year)(African American market)
June 1, 2004... The agency is illuminated by color and and light--a blend of the natural and the fluorescent--highlighting an eclectic array of African art, paintings, sculptures, and montages. The rainfall of hues and varying textures adorns almost every inch...

Merger by design: in an economic environment with shrinking profit margins, the key to survival is growth by acquisition.(B.E. Financial Services Overview)
June 1, 2004... You might think that coming out of a year when the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 30% and the Nasdaq Index rocketed up more than 50%, financial services firms could only benefit from a recovering economy. But John W. Rogers Jr., founder,...

Full-contact finance: Paul Viera's take-charge approach to business has him at the top of the money game.(B.E. Financial Company Of The Year)
June 1, 2004... Talk about managing money with Paul Viera, CEO of Atlanta-based EARNEST Partners (No. 2 on the BE ASSET MANAGERS list with 8.2 billion in assets under management), and he'll talk passionately about the thrill of competition. For Viera, money...

Working for the B.E. 100s: the B.E. Industrial/Service 100 employs more than 75,000 people. Meet eight of its best and brightest.(B.E. 100s Photo Essay)(Black Enterprise)
June 1, 2004... TIFFANY HYDE & DANA COX Mays Chemical Co. Sales coordinators Hyde and Cox are shown here examining and Drooling labels to make sure the correct chemical is being shipped to the correct customer. Hyde, 26, joined the company six years...

They pay you to do what? They're not your typical 9-to-5, and that's what makes these jobs fun.(Careers)
June 1, 2004... Many children dream of becoming firemen or doctors or lawyers when they grow up. But as they grow older, new skills are developed and new opportunities arise, leaving many with careers they never expected to have when they were younger. And...

Time to venture abroad: exporting is a multibillion-dollar industry that can be extremely lucrative--if you're properly prepared.(International Business)
June 1, 2004... Michelle E. Wilson's star was on the rise. A model since the age of 16, she could be spotted on fashion runways as well as in print ads. But even while basking in the spotlight, Wilson knew that her modeling was only a financial springboard to...

Remembering Maggie Lena Walker: the making of a black bank: Walker became the country's first woman president of a financial institution and founded one of the nation's oldest surviving black-owned banks.(Book Excerpt)(St. Luke Penny Savings Bank)
June 1, 2004... Maggie Lena Walker's story, and the organization to which she dedicated her life, begins in 1867 with a nation struggling to repair the ills of slavery. At age 14, Maggie Lena Draper Mitchell (her birth name) joined the local council of the...

What the next election means for you: our economists review the impact of Bush's economic policies and offer their outlook on the presidential race.(B.E. Board Of Economists Report)
June 1, 2004... Carolyn Samora's future is uncertain. After working 14 years as a teachers' aide at the John Swett Elementary School in San Francisco, Samora was laid off at the end of the term last year. She received unemployment insurance over the...

Mid-year maneuvers: with these astute approaches, the second half of 2004 can be less taxing than the first half.(Tax Planning)
June 1, 2004... SUMMER TIME IS NEITHER LAZY NOR HAZY FOR BRIGITTE Johnson Herron, 46, of Silver Spring, Maryland. "I work full time as communications director of a nonprofit organization," she says. "My husband Reginald [also 46] is in sales, so he's busy,...

8 ways to change your financial life: these basic but powerful strategies can boost your net worth.(Money Management)
June 1, 2004... These are tough times for the sort of scrimping and saving required to boost net worth. Wealth building during the '90s stock market gave way to a cruel bear run just ending in 2003. And some experts say the situation might degenerate again...

Moving up: taking advantage of Tier II opportunities can help MBES grow and expand.(Special Advertising Section)(Minority owned business enterprises)(success of supplier diversity)
June 1, 2004... Supplier diversity is changing dramatically. It is back in the spotlight today--as companies scramble to revamp their existing programs or create new ones. "Supplier diversity is one of the hottest issues right now," says Ralph Moore,...

From dream to realty: it's simple: take baby steps to success.(Peak Performance)(Williams Yasinski L.L.P.)
June 1, 2004... Attorneys Julianna Yasinski and Nedy Williams were on the fast track at the national labor and employment law firm Littler Mendelson. With six-figure salaries and future partner ships a lock, their stars were definitely rising. But both women...

Engineer trades machines for manuscripts: Brian Egeston sacrificed income to follow his passion.(Guts & Glory)
June 1, 2004... Write on brother! In 2001, Brian Egeston walked away from a high-paying job as an engineer with Motorola to pursue his dream of becoming a successful author. And even though he earned less than half his engineering salary the first year as a...

Achieving your lifelong goals: once you identify them, it's time to act.(Peak Performance)
June 1, 2004... How many times have you verbalized a cherished goal, even written it down, only to find that a year later, you're no closer to attaining it? You are not alone. Many people lose steam or get discouraged when trying to achieve a goal. but a...

Get time on your side: accomplish more using less energy.(Words To Strive By)
June 1, 2004... We all wish we had more time to develop a new idea, to work on a new project, even organize oar desks more thoughtfully (Feng Shui anyone?). If you find yourself on the unwieldy treadmill of too much work, not enough time, you may want to...

Peer pressure.(Help Yourself)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... QA I am in college, I don't have a credit card yet because, as a younger person, I know that I will probably want to buy [unnecessary] items. Have I made a bad move by not having a credit card up to this point? W. Moody Via e-mail ...

Freedom to switch: FCC hopes new cell phone rules benefit customers.(Buying Power)(United States. Federal Communications Commission)
June 1, 2004... When Lounise Williams, a student at Baruch College in New York City, wanted to replace the prepaid cell phone plan that she had with T-Mobile, she turned to AT&T Wireless. With no existing credit, AT&T was the only carrier to offer her a...

First-time visit to a resale shop? Here are some terms you should know.(Secret Savings)
June 1, 2004... Entering the shop, there's the wonderful aroma of just-brewed coffee and freshly baked cookies, clients relax at the bistro tables before shopping in the two-level, 10,000-square-foot store featuring men's, women's, and children's selections....

Fair credit reporting act tweaked by congress: legislation gets a new name and a facelift.(Did You Know?)(Press by Mac)
June 1, 2004... In November 2003, Michael A. Chester was set to begin process of buying a new home. He applied for the home loan and was surprised to learn that his credit report revealed an extra $87,000 of debt including a car loan, educational loan, and...

Comparison shopping: PriceGrabber.com offers pricing info for you.(Priceless Resources)
June 1, 2004... Compare price on office supplies, music, movies, books, and other items at PriceGrabber.com, which provides consumers with product reviews, descriptions, and other information necessary to make an informed purchase. Visit the site's...

Hot fun in the summertime: the best deals on your favorite lawn products.(Best Buy)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Is your lawn the laughingstock of your neighborhood? Before you throw in the towel--or lay down the Astroturf--read on. We scouted out this season's hottest mowers, blowers, and trimmers. What we found will surprise you: Today's power lawn...

Bad debts.(Ask Your Advocate)
June 1, 2004... QA I am starting the process of clearing a couple of charge-offs from my credit report, and I have drafted a letter I would like to send to my creditors stating that I will pay them a lump sum if they remove the negative listing. I was...