Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.
THEN: John Chuang, 33, founder of Mactemps, was featuredin our November 1998 "Young Millionaires"article. With aninitial loan of $5,000 that "took months of hardnegotiating" and a small Harvard Square storefront, histemporary employment agency of Mac-trained personnel spawnedoffices in 35 cities and seven countries, and he projected 1998sales at $130 million.
NOW: Sure enough, Chuang hit that $130 million mark.Mactemps has since acquired the corporate moniker Aquent andrelaunched into a full-service agency for independentprofessionals, including freelancers, contract workers andtemporary employees. Chuang remains CEO, overseeing 41 offices in10 countries, a Web site, an e-zine (Aquentmagazine.com) anda niche search engine. Aquent provides experts in Web design, printdesign and technology, placing over 35,000 professionals inpermanent and contract positions.
You Heard It Here
THEN: In 1991 and 1992, we listed audiobook stores as ahot business to be in, with industry sales at an estimated $1billion and more than 30,000 titles available. A product that"transformed downtime into uptime," we dubbed it the"new entertainment medium," the ultimate product for apopulation that prides itself on being able to do two things atonce.
NOW: After reading our listings and sending away forEntrepreneur's Business Start-Up Guide How To Start YourOwn Audio-Book Store (no longer published), Riverside,California, resident Ric Berg, 47, jumped on the bandwagon andopened The Audio Store in February 1994. In 1997, he partnered withSouthield, Michigan-based Talking Book World, and today, he'svice president of operations and co-owner along with co-foundersRichard Simtob and Tyrone Pereira. With a total of 40 stores in theUnited States and Canada, Talking Book World has reaped systemwidesales of about $7 million, contributing vastly to the now more than$2 billion industry.
Toe-tappin', hum-inducin', finger-snappin' . . .
On-hold music--the opiate of customers everywhere. Curious whatmusic businesses request most? We conducted an informal survey ofseveral on-hold music providers:
1. Light jazz
2. Contemporary pop
3. Classical
Contact Sources
Aquent, (617) 535-5000, http://www.aquent.com
Talking Book World,Richard@talkingbooks.com,http://www.talkingbookworld.com
