5 Frugal Halloween Ideas for Guys

Halloween is often the most exciting time of year for those who love to bring out their alter-ego at parties, gatherings and even work. However, if you're bored of the same costume year to year and need some ideas for to impress, try one of these great 2010 Halloween costume ideas for men.

1. Jersey Shore Guido - When it comes to hottest entertainers of the year, the Jersey Shore boys will definitely top the 2010 list considering MTV's hit reality show is in full swing in it's sophomore season. If you have short hair, an over the top personality and the washboard abs then go as Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino. If you're a gym rat with pecs to impress then pick up an affliction t-shirt and go as Ronald "Ronnie" Ortiz-Magro. If hair is your thing or maybe you already have an ultra-Guido cut similar to DJ Pauly D, then you won't need more than a gold chain or some bling to match that outrageously spiked hair. Which ever over the top character you choose, make sure to GTB (Gym, tan, beach) before hand because you'll need the orange glow of the tanning saloon to authenticate this costume and surely you'll be a hit with the ladies as you'll have something to talk about and hopefully, you won't bring a "Snooki".

2. Mad Hatter - if classic story characters are your thing, then why not go as Lewis Carrol's strangest sociopath, the Mad Hatter. Find a blue velvet sports coat, argyle pants and an outlandish top hat and you're good to go. It wouldn't hurt to paint your face white and spout off non-sensical riddles either if you really want to "sell it".

3. Avatar's Na'Vi - Surely you've heard of the blue-skinned tribesmen from James Cameron's mega-hit Avatar. If you need a costume on the cheap, then go as Jake Sully. You won't need more than some blue body paint for your face and exposed skin areas. Add in some tiger stripes and you'll authentic as they

4. Machete - Live it up as a "Machete" a former Mexican Federale turned renegade baddass. The film debuted this 2010 as part of Robert Rodriguez's brain-child about an ex-Federale, Danny Trejo, seeking justice and revenge from a former boss turned villain. The movie is still fresh in people's minds and the costume is easy to pull off. Find a biker's vest, biker pants and some fake tattoos (unless you have plenty of real tattoos already, then it's even easier).


5. Michael Jackson - Go as the King of Pop this 2010. Any M.J. costume is as timeless as his music and with the movie "Michael Jackson: This is it" circulating on DVD and premium cable, the costume is perennially relevant. Find a white-sequined glove, a curly-black wig, tight black pants with a "flood" so that your white socks show as you're moon-walking across the party dance floor. Images of Michael Jackson are sure to invoke nostalgia for almost any music lover and surely provide great fodder for party conversation. So, whether you prefer Scary-Michael from Thriller or early-Michael, this is a sure-hit costume.

The Worth Mutant Jeff Hall HD 120- Field and Test Review

Whether you're tournament pro or a 1-night a week amateur, no one wants to look embarrassed at the plate. Nothing beats grabbing a cold beer after a game with your softball buds and brag about who had the big hits that night. The right equipment in capable hands will lead to great results. I used a 28.5 oz Jeff Hall HD 120 Mutant over the 2010 spring season to put the Worth bat through a realistic softball season field test.

http://www.squidoo.com/worth-mutant-jeff-hall-hd-120-ussa-softball-bat-field-review

The Worth Mutant, flagship softball bat from a company that excels at composite bat technology.Worth claims the hybrid Composite three-piece technology is the head of the class, despite increasing competition in the softball and baseball bat market.Is this bat the best ussa softball bat on the market? I wanted to find out, too.
PROS:
Sweet Spot: Excellent and consistent sweet spot. It's a breeze to hit the giant and very forgiving sweet spot. I noticed even missed hits and routing infield flies were more likely to turn into "bloop" hits passed the infield. Definitely helped the batting average through the 2010 spring season. 4/5
Power: The end-loaded barrel adds 0.5 ounces under the barrel cap and can make a tremendous difference for players with good natural power and decent bat speed. A well-batted ball comes off this bat very hot and deep gap shots come with ease. The inertia from the end load has helped me more consistently turn warning track power into home power over the last 8 months of use. 5/5
Distance: I like to rate distance based on power and the sweet-spot. You won't get great distance unless you have great bat speed and hit the ball right on the sweet spot. I'd recommend going lighter, such as 26.5z if you have average or poor bat speed. If you have strong upper body strength and good mechanics, go up to the 27.5z or 28.5z model. The right combination of bat to swing type will reward you with great distance and plenty of extra bases. 4.5/5
Handle: A very slick looking vibration-reducing aluminum collar attached to the tuned Hybrid Composite handle make this one, if not, the best handle offered on a composite softball bat. Period. The grip is very comfortable and will feel great in your hands as well I presume. Adding even more cool points is the contrasting paint on handle, visually separating the handle from the barrel. 5/5

CONS:
Durability: I allowed all my teammates to use the bat during league nights, 3 nights a week over 1 full season. It was an instant favorite amongst the team and saw regular duty as well as plenty of abuse. Unfortunately, the paint at the top of the barrel starting to fade from hundreds of at bats. Additionally, a small casting or plastic chipped off inside the bat towards the end of the season and you can hear a small rattle inside the barrel, which can be easily removed. more paint chips off the brightly colored handle as well, although due to plenty of bats thrown in disgust. The biggest drawback of this bat is it's durability. Much like a Ferrari sports car, the Mutant is a bit of a Pre-Madonna and needs to be handled more delicately. I'd be surprised if you get more than 2 seasons of use from a Mutant if the bat is used by other teammates. 2/5
Price - The recommended retail price is $349 and definitely on the high side of bat prices. You have to pay to play as they say, and if you want the best equipment on the field, you'll have to pay for it. Savvy shoppers may look for used bats or new overstocks on the net and find deals as low as $200 and up. If you're serious about softball, I do think the Mutant is well worth the price and is a worthwhile investment for dedicated-hitters and well worth the price. 2/5

Neuro Drink Scores while riding the Health Bevarage trend

 Have a Neurogasm in Public (and not get arrested)

As the battle of the waistband grows to epic proportions (pun intended) and Americans taxpayers are burdened by the load of obesity in all generations, it is clear an alternative to products from corporate giants Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola company are sorely needed.
Sadly, sugary soft drinks are a staple of the American Diet and the average American consumes 60 gallons of soda annually. Sure, soft drinks are relatively cheap compared to energy drinks and juices, however soda offers no nutritional value.
-Osteoporosis, Diabetes, kidney damage, Obesity, increased risk of Cirrhosis and kidney failure round up symptoms with a strong correlation to heavy and frequent soft drink consumption.
That's why I've been exploring alternative beverages that will help ween soda drinkers who favor carbonated beverages over still beverages and crave quality. I first came across the Neuro Drink company while working as a Business Consultant for a major convenience store chain in 2009. The company Neuro Drink is based out of Santa Monica, CA and offers a refreshingly new lineup of lightly carbonated health beverages aimed at a "caffeine-addicted" society.
Here's the lineup:
NeuroGasm - the decadently named beverage is certainly an attention-grabber. The lightly carbonated beverage promotes increased sexual health with powerful amino acids, L-Arginine and L-Citrulline, which helps regulate blood flow through arteries that supply nutrients to muscles, brain, lungs and other organs. Nitric Oxide is also known to stimulate sexual response.
Taste Rating : 5/5
NeuroSonic - Is all about brain power and aimsto increase memory, alertness and concentration. Plant extracts, amino acids, Alpha GPC provides raw materials to the brain to help it function better, faster. Also, Inositol, B-6, B-12 and other B-vitamins support the nervous system, Resveratrol, the excat same antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes and red wine is widely believed to help protect the brain.
Taste Rating : 4/5
NeuroBliss - Find your happy place with this drink aimed to promote happiness and reduce stress by altering brain waves, shifting them from the beta spectrum to the alpha spectrum -- where a person is focused and alert, but calm. Another key ingredient is the cognitive booster Acetyl-L-Carnitine, a highly functional amino acid. 5-HTP and the botanical ingredient chamomile promote feelings of calm and relaxed attentiveness.
Taste Rating : 5/5
NeuroSport -  This tasty drink makes Gatorade seem pre-historic. Replenish your  body during and after exercise with 12 minerals and 5 electrolytes. The five key electrolytes of potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, and chloride are in each bottle. Most sports drinks have sodium, potassium and tons of excess and unnecessary sugar.
Taste Rating : 4/5
NeuroTrim - Promotes weight loss with LuraLean, as the active ingredient, a 300-year old Japanese fiber, by sending signals to the brain that it is satisfied. LuraLean also absorbs fats and oils, before they're absorbed by the body, and promotes healthy regularity and improved digestive health. The company claims that this has the equivalent effect of consuming 20g of fiber in your diet. Nice and worth a shot.
Taste Rating : 4/5
NeuroSleep - Having trouble sleeping? Sick of the side of effects of sleeping pills. Try the Neurosleep, which promotes rest and sleep quality. by adding melatonin and magnesium found to aid in healthy sleep quality and normalize the circadian rhythm.
Taste Rating : 3/5
NeuroAqua - spring water and "steroids". OK, not steroids but with high levels of magnesium and calcium, a source of electrolytes critical to body function, this water stands out from the pack of mundane spring waters.
Taste Rating : 3/5

Neuro Gasm and Neuro Aqua from Neuro Drink

KegRats Softball

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WWE Superstar John Cena Slams Coffee at 7-Eleven

John Cena and 7-Eleven have combined forces to "tag team" childhood illness by launching 20oz large, Cena-themed Coffee cups at 7-eleven stores nationwide.

WWE fans will be thrilled to find that not only are the large coffee cups decked out with John Cena on large cups of coffee, but will also feel good knowing that every Cena cup they purchase will provide some support towards the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The promotion is set to last until August 31st, but if cups run out at your local store, then you're out of luck. Cena’s cup shows off Cena's hand sign, which menas “Hustle, Loyalty, Respect.”

“I am thrilled to partner with 7-Eleven’s ‘Coffee Cup With A Cause’ program which will help the Make-A-Wish Foundation continue making wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions,” Cena said.

In addition to the John Cena cups, the rest of the monthly promotional material that adorns every 7-Eleven will feature other WWE superstars such as the Undertaker, Triple H, Edge and WWE Diva Kelly Kelly, who will each have their own Super Big Gulp Cups. Ray Mysterio Premium Slurpee cups, WWE character straws, "summer slam sub", WWE Slims Jims, WWE dvd's and WWE magazines will also be on-hand for purchase for wrestling aficionados.

"7-Eleven and WWE first partnered seven years ago, and it was a huge win for both of us. The cups were a hit, and stores sold out of a collectible WWE poster we created," said Jay Wilkins, 7-Eleven brand manager for proprietary cold beverages. "Big Gulp fans love WWE, and WWE fans love Big Gulp drinks."

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Who can blame you? Working from home is dream for millions of Americans, but the reality is that working from home isn't easy.
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Top 10 Best-Selling Craft / Super Premium Beers

Finding space to merchandise your craft and super premium beer 6-packs and 12-packs can be extremely challenging. Most stores owners simply do not have the space to stock and merchandise every 6 pack out there. I'd recommend carrying these industry top sellers in order to keep your customers happy and your pockets full. These top 10 will give you the best chance of success.

1.  Sierra Nevada Ale 6pk 12oz bottles - Sierra Nevada Brewing is one of the most popular craft breweries currently operating in the United States. Its Pale Ale is world renowned and deserving of the number #1 spot.
2. Blue Moon Belgian Wheat 6pk 12oz bottles - The Colorado based brewery crafts an awesome Belgian Wheat that goes great within a lemon slice.
3. Anchor Steam 6pk 12oz bottles - This up and comer is a rising star in the craft beer segment, Hailing from San Francisco, where you'll forget more than your heart if you knock back a 6 pack of this stellar offering.
4. Fat Tire Amber Ale 6pk 12oz bottles - Belgian beers use a far broader palette of ingredients such as fruits, spices, esoteric yeast strain that keeps consumers coming back for more.
5. Bud Light Lime 6pk 12oz bottles - Surprisingly, Budweiser's light lime offering strikes a cord with consumers with its light lime taste and attratice price tag for a 6-pack.
6. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale 12pk 12oz - the brewery produces almost 700,000 barrels of beer per year, so yes, they made the list again with the 12-pack.
7. Sam Adams Boston Lager 6pk 12oz - produced by the Boston Beer Company, the largest american owned brewery.
   
8. Lagunitas IPA 6pk 12oz  - Lagunitas Brewing's flagship, IPA, is consistently the best-selling IPA in the state of California and I'm willing to bet that it would do well in about any store nationwide.
9. Sierra Nevada Torpedo 6pk 12oz - If you haven't figured it out by now, Yeah... you should probably have a full shelf of Sierra Nevada 6-packs to keep customers happy.
10. Pyramid Hefewizen 6pk 12oz - Don't forget to include this full-flavord Bevarian fruit beer rounding up our top 10.
    

How to combat declining sales

For the last few decades, cigarettes have been the #1 sales driver at just about every convenience store, corner store and mom and pop's liquor store. Despite heavy taxation in states like New York and California, increased public awareness of the negative impact of cigarettes, and economic recession,  cigarettes are still the top grossing category in nearly every store where sold.
Compounding the problem is nearly 1 in 10 tobacco sales at gas stations/convenience stores are sold to people under the age of 18, according to a study from HealthDay News.

As a rule of thumb, cigarette sales generally account for ~25% of total sales dollars.  Of course, the problem is cigarette sales continue to decline year after year. Healthier habits and increasing tax prices are forcing consumers to quit or find other less expensive addictions. This has left many store owners and retailers scrambling to find new ways to increase sales and more importantly keep their regular customers coming through the doors.

Enter the "Electronic Cigarette" or "E-cigarettes". The personal vaporizer is a battery-powered device that provides inhaled doses of nicotine by way of a vaporized solution. The vapor provides controlled amounts of nicotine as well as physical sensation similar to that of real cigarettes. Plus many smokers trying to quit crave the physical sensation of holding the cigarette to their mouths and taking a puff.
The e-cig's help accomplish what the patch does not.

The health effects of using e-cigarettes are currently still in testing and the long-term effects are unknown. However, the manufactures of e-cigarettes claim because there is no combustion, there are no harmful carcinogens to cause the health problems that actual cigarettes do.

Since the FDA has allowed the sale of e-cigarettes by those with tobacco licenses, retailers can take advantage of this hot new item. Retailers have the opportunity to get ahead of the competition by simply carrying e-cigarettes, which is a new sales platform they may help offset the decline in traditional cigarettes. Customers often purchase a "starter kit" first which contains the Mouthpiece, or cartridge, the heating element, and a battery or charger. One cartridge is generally the equivalent to one pack of cigarettes and a 5pk cartridge is touted as a cost-effective carton of cigarettes.

While introducing electronic cigarettes may not completely offset the decline of traditional cigarettes, it will certainly help lessen the impact and may also help drive in new business and customers.
Upon the introduction of "e-cigs" to many of my 7-eleven stores in Northern California, sales quickly jumped to approximately $800 a month with a Gross Profit margin of ~38% depending on manufacture. The first vendor we used was a company called  X-hale 02 cigarettes. The X Hale O2 starter kits  sale for $19.99. Their website is http://e-hookah.com.

Lipton Brisk Iced Tea - the hottest trend in the beverage category.

If you're in the non-alcoholic beverage industry, it's no secret the iced teas are all the rage these days. There are many options for cheap iced teas, often priced at 99-cents, such as Lipton Brisk Iced tea from Pepsi Co., the new-to-the-game Peace teas from Coca Cola Co., and of course the long-time anchor of the value tea's, Arizona Iced teas.

While the product margin varies by distribution method, a retailer can usually expect  ~33% GP, assuming you're selling at the manufacturer's suggested retail price, or msrp.

Despite the low transaction ring, the iced tea is a traffic driver for value-conscious customers looking for an alternative to high-priced energy drinks. Interestedly enough, most retailers are seeing a downward trend in the energy drink market, most likely due to market saturation and high retail prices. Amid economic recessions, unemployment trends, and lower standards of living for many Americans, consumers have shown that paying a buck for an iced tea versus ~$4 for a can of their favorite energy drink such as Red Bull, Monster, or Rockstars, is a much easier pill to swallow.

As the energy drink market has had slight declines throughout 2009 and 2010, the Iced Tea category shows exciting growth. Be sure to allot space for Brisk top sellers such as Raspberry and Strawberry Melon, Razzleberry from the Peace Tea line, and nearly as much Arizona Iced tea as you can fit in the tea door. This will help ensure your corner store stays on target with the changing needs of your customers.

Narrow your slow sellers, increase top sellers.

Seems like every day retailers and customers are inundated with new items in nearly every category such as chocolates, snacks, beverages that range from new flavors, to hybrids to variations of classics.  If a retailer says "yes" to every new chocolate bar, they will be stuck with plenty of new inventory that doesn't sell. This "dead weight" only serves as a disservice for both the retailer (aka Joe Schmoe's liquors, quick stops, etc) AND most importantly, the customer.

When any retailer has a $40 box of junk taking up valuable retail space, they certainly stand to lose money when waiting too long to replace the "slow sellers" with another high potential new item.
Space to sales is the name of the game. That slow selling item is simply not "paying the rent".

If you were renting an apartment complex, wouldn't you require all the tenants to consistently pay the rent?
The items on the shelves are no different. Sure every items varies in its return, but everyone needs to pay nonetheless.

One solution would be to quickly replace the aforementioned item with a newer or different high potential new item of a similar category. A "high potential" item does more for any business than a "dead item".

Customers tastes constantly change and so should your product assortment mix!

Another solution that is very useful for many retailers would be to replace the dead space of a "dead item" with a duplicate of a top seller. This is called "double facing", when a product has multiple facings on shelf. Reasons for this merchandising tactic is to increase customer awareness of the product, help the retailer offset "out-of-stocks" with increased inventory on the sales floor, and to simply take up space.

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