Book Publishing

June 2009

NAICS Code: 511130
SIC Code: 2731

by Marissa N. García

It's a Brave New World for the publishing industry as it attempts to keep pace with the arrival of the digital age. An industry that began in 15th-century Germany with Johannes Gutenberg's printing of the Bible is now grappling with electronic book imprints, digital article archives and online versions of publications. The $1 trillion industry includes publishers and printers of newspapers, books, magazines and other materials. ¹

The demise of publishing has been predicted since the days of Gutenberg. However, for most of the past century—through wars and depressions—the business of books has jogged along at a steady pace. It’s one of the main, some would say only, advantages of working in a “mature” industry: no unsustainable highs, no devastating lows. A stoic calm, peppered with a bit of gallows humor, prevailed in the industry.²

May 2009

NAICS Code: 812210
SIC Code: 7261

Completed by Dawn Jimenez

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

More than two million people died in the United States last year. For consumers, funerals and burials are big businesses. A funeral is one of the most expensive events in one's life: the average cost of a traditional funeral is close to $7,000. If you add flowers, obituary notices, acknowledgment cards, burial liners or vaults and special transportation, your costs go up.¹ When a loved one dies, grieving family members and friends often are confronted with dozens of decisions about the funeral - all of which must be made quickly and often under great emotional duress.² When emotions are high, it can be hard to remember that the cost of a funeral is not a measure of feelings for the deceased. It's not unusual for a family to spend $10,000 for a funeral today.¹ To help relieve their families of some of these decisions, an increasing number of people are planning their own funerals, designating their funeral preferences, and sometimes even paying for them in advance. They see funeral planning as an extension of will and estate planning. By thinking ahead individuals can make informed and thoughtful decisions about funeral arrangements.²

April 2009

Solar energy is rapidly increasing in popularity. Businesses in industries from homes to vehicles – even purses – are looking to harness the power of the sun to decrease dependency on fossil fuels and decrease pollution. With climate change and pollution becoming a greater concern and oil prices becoming increasingly volatile, solar energy acts as a promising alternative that is both clean and renewable.

Although the use of solar energy, or photovolataics, is not as widespread in the U.S. as it is in Europe, the industry is undoubtedly growing.¹ The U.S. has currently moved up the ranks to the third biggest market for solar panels in the world trailing behind only Japan and Germany.² In 2007 alone, photovoltaic equipment installations grew by 48%.

Solar energy is not a remedy for all our energy woes. The main drawback is cost. Solar energy costs anywhere from two to five times more than the typical electricity price.³ A photovoltaic system for a home can cost between $20,000 to $35,000.⁴ But advances in technology can make photovoltaic equipment and solar energy more affordable – even cheaper than electricity produced from coal.⁵ Furthermore, federal and state governments provide numerous incentives for home and business owners who choose to install renewable energy equipment.⁶