July 26, 1999
BUSINESS TIPS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM OFFICE OF MEDIA RELATIONS
1. Internet Art Caveat Emptor -- Buyers beware when purchasing art over the Internet, advises UAB art professor Alan Atkinson, Ph.D., whose expertise includes Asian art. According to Atkinson, many on-line auction sites that offer "genuine" Japanese woodblock prints, such as Hiroshige's famous landscapes from the 1830s, may actually be selling works printed in the 1930s, which makes a big difference in the value of the print. "You just can't tell much about a work of art from an Internet photo. If you want to buy a work of art there are plenty of reputable dealers on-line that will send works of art to you on approval or offer you a money-back guarantee, but some on-line auction houses offer the buyer little or no recourse." Call Atkinson at 934-8974 or [email protected].
2. Avoid Small Business Pitfalls -- Although women driven by the glass ceiling into their own businesses have a higher success rate than men, they are not immune to the pitfalls that produce a five-year, 50 percent failure rate for all new businesses. The solution is good advance planning, says Brenda Walker, MBA, director of UAB's Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Most small businesses fail because of insufficient funding or a lack of management skills. Entrepreneurs often overlook competition or other factors that can bankrupt businesses. "Some just go out and rent spaces and sign their names on contracts. They're not prepared." Fledgling entrepreneurs should look for reputable agencies like SBDC to get free, confidential counseling before taking the financial plunge. Call Walker at 934-6760.
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