How one manufacturer in Japan tripped up the Apple machine

April 1st, 2011

Do you know what makes your iPod go?

Here’s a hint: It rhymes with phithium pholymer.

No?

It’s made in Japan.

Still not getting it?

The shutdown of the Japanese factory that makes it is disrupting Apple’s production line.

…

If you guessed “a very specific and obscure polymer used to hold together the lithium ion batteries used in iPods and a variety of other gadgets,” you’re right!! Ding!

This story is crazy. Who knew that one chemical made by one small company halfway across the world could affect iPod buyers in the U.S.?

For now, the company (Kureha) is scrambling to get back into action, but in the meantime, will the price of an iPod go up? Should we start stockpiling them in our panic rooms? Can we order iPods with the soothing voice of Justin Beiber pre-installed on them??

Seriously, though. Do you know where your favorite products are made?

Putting Energy (and Investment) to Good Use

April 1st, 2011


(photo credit: Evan Prodromou)

We all know that carbo-loading is essential for running a marathon (or staying up all night writing papers/ playing video games). So why expect lasting social change to run on a cookie here, a handful of peanuts there?

“45% of the population of rural India live in villages with no electricity.” So it was only a matter of time before capitalist do-gooders found an opportunity to profit from lighting up the countryside. Providing affordable clean energy solutions is potentially a $2 billion industry in India alone. And it’s not just the entrepreneurs who profit: locals suddenly have light to study and work by, cleaner air and water, and a new job market for selling and repairing solar lanterns and other green gadgets.

Sounds like a pretty neat social venture to us. What do you think?

When it comes to supporting causes you care about, are you more likely to fund emergency projects, like disease and hunger relief, or longer-term strategies for change, like electricity?

How one manufacturer in Japan tripped up the Apple machine

April 1st, 2011

Do you know what makes your iPod go?

Here’s a hint: It rhymes with phithium pholymer.

No?

It’s made in Japan.

Still not getting it?

The shutdown of the Japanese factory that makes it is disrupting Apple’s production line.

…

If you guessed “a very specific and rare polymer used to hold together the lithium ion batteries used in iPods and a variety of other gadgets,” you’re right!! Ding!

This story is crazy. Who knew that one chemical made by one small company halfway across the world could affect iPod buyers in the U.S.? This is a good example of outsourcing in action.

For now, the company (Kureha) is scrambling to get back into action, but in the meantime, will the price of an iPod go up? Should we start stockpiling them in our panic rooms? Can we order iPods with the soothing voice of Justin Beiber pre-installed on them??

Seriously, though. Do you know where your favorite products are made?

The Dutch Sandwich & The Double Irish: How Google Saved $3 Billion in Taxes

March 31st, 2011

We’d never heard of a Dutch Sandwich (mmm… sandwich) or a Double Irish before reading this article about how multinational corporations avoid paying U.S. taxes.

But then, we don’t have hundreds of highly-paid tax experts and lawyers working day in and day out to help us find and exploit loopholes in the tax code.

But guess who does? That’s right. The Googles, the Facebooks, the Pfizers, and the Microsofts of the world. General Electric alone currently has 975 people on staff to ensure it pays the least amount of tax possible while still not technically breaking the law.

They must be doing a pretty good job, because last year, G.E.’s U.S. tax bill was $0.00.

It pays to have smart people helping you make decisions.


(photo courtesy of Google)

How are you when it comes to saving money? Time to revisit that budget?

Click here to learn more about the wild and wonderful world of taxes!

Putting Energy (and Investment) to Good Use

March 31st, 2011


(photo credit: Evan Prodromou)

We all know that carbo-loading is essential for running a marathon (or staying up all night writing papers/ playing video games). So why expect lasting social change to run on a cookie here, a handful of peanuts there?

“45% of the population of rural India live in villages with no electricity.” So it was only a matter of time before capitalist do-gooders found an opportunity to profit from lighting up the countryside. Providing affordable clean energy solutions is potentially a $2 billion industry in India alone. And it’s not just the entrepreneurs who profit: locals suddenly have light to study and work by, cleaner air and water, and a new job market for selling and repairing solar lanterns and other green gadgets.

Sounds like a pretty neat social venture to us. What do you think?

When it comes to supporting causes you care about, are you more likely to fund emergency projects, like disease and hunger relief, or longer-term strategies for change, like electricity?

Today at TILE: Splitting Stocks

March 30th, 2011

Today at TILE we talked about “stock splits” – how companies use basic math to dress up (or dress down) the way their stocks look to investors. Why the need for mathematical gymnastics? Can a stock really change its stripes? Why does it matter?

Read the rest of this entry »

The Dutch Sandwich & The Double Irish: How Google Saved $3 Billion in Taxes

March 29th, 2011

We’d never heard of a Dutch Sandwich (mmm… sandwich) or a Double Irish before reading this article about how multinational corporations avoid paying U.S. taxes.

But then, we don’t have hundreds of highly-paid tax experts and lawyers working day in and day out to help us find and exploit loopholes in the tax code.

But guess who does? That’s right. The Googles, the Facebooks, the Pfizers, and the Microsofts of the world. General Electric alone currently has 975 people on staff to ensure it pays the least amount of tax possible while still not technically breaking the law.

They must be doing a pretty good job, because last year, G.E.’s U.S. tax bill was $0.00.

It pays to have smart people helping you make decisions.


(photo courtesy of Google)

How are you when it comes to saving money? Do you have some kind of smartypants financial advisor? Are you your own smartypants?

Be a beta!

March 29th, 2011

We’re now accepting a limited number of beta users for SPEND.GROW.GIVE. If you’re between the ages of 15 and 25, send us a message with your name, age, and preferred email address.

Check out Budgeting 101!

March 29th, 2011

Check out our latest digital short, Budgeting 101: http://bit.ly/fXahca

The Fashion Economy

March 29th, 2011

freddy-dico.png Freddy Dico is the co-founder of Sir New York, a modern menswear label that launched in Spring 2010. He’s from Macau, but grew up in San Francisco. And before getting into the world of design, he was actually a star student in the biochemistry program at U.C. Davis. Since switching gears and graduating from FIT in New York, Freddy has worked with companies like Polo Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, and Brooklyn Industries, and designed an entire line for mass-market men’s label Scappino in Mexico. You can check out his latest work here.


TILE: Being a designer involves much more than a creative vision and talent with scissors and thread. What are some of the costs of starting your own fashion label?
Freddy: Since we are a really small start-up with practically no capital, time is the #1 cost.

To start, you need a product, which means sourcing fabrics, making patterns, sewing/fitting, creating labels, etc. Once the product is perfected, you need to document and promote it through a website, lookbooks, business cards, fashion presentations, models, invites, etc.  The lists really goes on and on and on…  Luckily, I have a partner (Auston Bjorkman) who is equally well-rounded in many areas, so we try to personally execute most tasks to lower our costs.

Of course there are only 24 hours in a day, which means you can’t do it all. We’re fortunate enough to have many people who believe in us and who are willing to volunteer their time and effort.

Oh, and let’s not forget about getting a business license and all that legal stuff…

TILE: How does a piece get from the designer’s head to the runway?
Freddy: At the start of the season, Auston and I will brainstorm and finalize the themes/concepts we want to use. Then we create sketches, source fabrics, make patterns, and sew the samples. After that we set up a photoshoot, cast models, send invites, create a website, scout locations for the show, and stress ourselves out making sure the event goes off without a hitch.

TILE: And how does that piece get from the runway to the retail store?
Freddy: There’s a lot of following up on our part. Before your runway show, you need to figure out pricing and where will you produce the garments. Once you have all the business details – the linesheets – figured out, you’re ready to potentially attract buyers to place your product in their stores. Once orders are confirmed, you actually need to produce and ship the pieces to them.

TILE: How can you be a “smart shopper” when it comes to designer clothing?
Freddy: Well, the answer to that question depends on what kind of person I’m talking to. But in general, I always believe that the value of a garment is based on the number of times worn.  So make sure you love it!

TILE: What advice would you give to your teenage self?
Freddy: Enjoy the ride!

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