Philippe Matthews Show Guru Advice, Author Reviews, Tech Reviews, Entertainment News

If a brand can describe its core values and philosophy on its business card without a detailed description, the brand becomes a full representation of its vision. I heard a story that a few years ago Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of Ikea , happened to drive past one of his stores.

At an annual gathering of budding socially conscious businesspeople the money-for-good-deeds company held a competition to find the best path toward massive growth. For a company that wants to quickly grow its business from 2 million users to 10 million, there are a few obvious steps to take: consultants, marketing, focus groups. One less obvious step is the one Recyclebank --the company that offers redeemable rewards for recycling and other good behavior--took in its quest to grow: hold a competition of young social entrepreneurs to see who could come up with the best idea.

If Matt Lauzon has his way, his online custom jewelry company will one day "take on Tiffany head-to-head." That may seem like a bold prediction, but consider that Gemvara , which is just more than a year old, had a $10 million run rate at the end of last year and, as of this spring, is venture capital funded to the tune of more than $25 million. The company allows consumers to customize jewelry by design, stone, and metal, and offers more than a billion styles from which to choose (including Kate Middleton-inspired earrings and a reasonable facsimile of Natalie Portman’s engagement ring). Lauzon carries no inventory; he sources his gemstones and diamonds from suppliers in the United States, then works with several manufacturers (also domestically) to produce the jewelry as it’s ordered.

When you buy a silk Goddess Scarf from the online retailer Gianna Fair Trade, not only are you getting a stylish new accessory, you're also helping Mae Ta, the Laotian mother of five who made the garment, send her children to school.

The auteur behind "Thumbsucker" and the newly released "Beginners" has perfected the art of making capitalism look beautiful, earning money off of corporate commercial work to support uncompromisingly artistic independent films. Let's call 'em "dependies." “I don’t actually believe in advertising,” says Mike Mills, a guy who makes his living directing TV commercials. “I don’t really believe that when I make a Nike ad that people go buy more of that shoe, you know?” But by the time his spots air, the ambivalence has magically transformed into authenticity.

A recent Bloomberg article entitled "Apple Preparing Faster iPhone For September" is getting plenty of media buzz. Essentially, it says the new iPhone 5, due in September, will be better and faster, with an improved camera. But the big reveal is actually somewhat buried: According to Bloomberg's sources, Apple 's also got a "cheaper version of the iPhone aimed at attracting customers in developing countries" on the way.

The Melt, how businesses can reduce credit card fees, Roost reinvents itself, a career makeover, and a CEO's rockstar mentality. From Flip to Grilled Cheese.

When your company needs to use a process, concept, toolor really anything that's protected by a patent, copyright, or trademarkhere's how to license it, and avoid legal trouble. The world of intellectual property has suffered a shake up in the Internet age

Whether it's sudden press or a viral video, it's easier than ever for business owners to get a taste of the spotlight. Here's how to make it last. Before she turned actress Natalie Portman into a ballerina for the film Black Swan, dancer Mary Helen Bowers was already training women all over New York City through her fitness company, Ballet Beautiful, which she founded in 2008

Paul Gutierrez will cough up thousands of dollars to the person who lands him a date with his future wife. He says he'll donate the money to the charity of the person's choice.

The Financial Times follows Inc.'s Argentina story with its own take on the country, focusing on the difficulty businesses have raising money : With a small stock market where institutional investors have been in short supply since the nationalisation of pension funds in 2008, and few angel investors or venture capital funds, the traditional source of seed capital is what is known as FFF: friends, family and fools. “There is no culture of investment. People stick their money under the mattress, they don’t put it to work,” says Leo Piccioli, who used to work at Officenet, a stationery and supplies start-up bought in 2004 by Staples, the US office supply chain store, and is now that company’s Argentina country manager

Juntos Finanzas, a budget-by-text program started at Stanford with a group of janitorial workers, is part Mint.com, part Weight Watchers. Now it's making real changes in the lives of lower-income workers. Saving money is hard for most people

Record heat is gripping the East Coast of the U.S. Also hot?

Apple bought more semiconductors in 2010 than any of its peers, and the spread will be even larger in 2011. Semiconductors power chips. Chips power tech.

Sure, Apple's new syncing service might help the music industry recoup some of the money it's lost to piracy.