Blog Posts by CNBC

By Meg Cadoux Hirshberg, Author of "For Better or For Work", Special to CNBC.com

Can your marriage survive the start-up? 5 tips for entrepreneurs by Meg Cadoux Hirshberg author of, "For Better or For Work: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families."

'For Better or For Work'The biggest illusion about entrepreneurship is that it is a solo activity.
If the business succeeds, it becomes a heroic narrative in which the entrepreneur, by dint of hard work and persistence, grasps the brass ring. But that's never all there is to the story. Like it or not, the family is sucked into the vortex that any business creates.

Launching a business is like adding another member to the household-one that regularly cries out for time, attention, and cash.

Only the entrepreneur can care for it-but the family hears and is affected by the squalling.

The start-up phase-which often lasts for years-is usually the most stressful for couples and families. Financial insecurity is at its peak, and the entrepreneur's level

By Christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC.com

What does success smell like? If you ask Donald Trump, he might say juniper, iced red currant and hints of coriander.
Success fragrance by Trump
Trump is taking another crack at joining a long line of celebrities with their own fragrance brands. Success by Trump is being manufactured by Perfumania Holdings' Five Star Fragrance unit, and will be available at Macy's starting this month.

Trump, who made his last attempt at a fragrance brand in 2004, couldn't have picked a better time to try again. According to market researcher NPD Group, sales of prestige fragrances rose 11 percent in 2011, the strongest showing in 15 years.

Celebrity fragrance sales outpaced the overall fragrance category, rising 57 percent from 2010 to 2011. Those sales were largely driven by celebrity brands for women.

Trump's new fragrance will be advertised on television and in a print campaign, featuring Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete.

According to the press release, the scent "exudes sophistication

By Daniel Bukszpan, CNBC.com

On Friday, March 30, "Mirror, Mirror" will debut on movie screens across North America. The film is a live-action interpretation of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves," starring Julia Roberts as the wicked queen and newcomer Lily Collins as the fairest one of all. This movie should not be confused with "Snow White and the Huntsman," which stars Kristen Stewart of the "Twilight" saga and has a June 1 release date. The budget for "Mirror, Mirror" is less than $90 million, according to studio reports. This makes it relatively inexpensive for a fantasy film, particularly one with an A-list star like Julia Roberts.

More representative of the fantasy genre is "John Carter," which was released earlier this month and had a budget of $250 million. Its opening-weekend domestic box office take was a mere $36 million, but that's fantasy filmmaking for you. It's a high-risk genre that requires spectacular visual effects and huge budgets, and the potential for failure

By Michelle Fox, CNBC.com

Unique Million Dollar Ideas That May Surprise You

Have you ever seen a product or business and thought, "Why didn't I think of that?" While people daydream every day about striking it rich, only some have been lucky enough to come up with a million dollar idea.

Some entrepreneurs have found success with everyday products, like clothing and food. Others have dreamed up creations that are a bit more astounding. It may be a simple concept or one that is utterly unique. Either way, they may surprise you and will probably make you jealous.
Here we take a look at 10 surprising ideas that have earned more than a million in sales, and how the entrepreneurs behind the creations made it happen.

Check out these ideas that will make you say, "Why didn't I think of that?"


See the Slideshow: 9 Surprising Ideas That Made Millions


ClockyClocky

Gauri Nanda liked her sleep, and liked to hit the snooze button … a lot. So when it came time to design a product for a class project

By Katie Little, CNBC.com

The clothes may be small, but designers are betting on big business as they launch childrenswear brands.

Diane von Furstenberg's new collaboration with Gap is the latest of a string of designer forays into the children's fashion market.On Thursday, Diane von Furstenberg became the latest designer to venture into children's fashion as her signature wrap dresses and prints hit the racks at Gap Kids and Baby Gap in miniature sizes.

Ranging from $20 to $120, the pieces went on sale at U.S. stores today and will be available internationally on March 28.

"Versace, Gucci, Oscar de la Renta - they're all coming out with their kids' brands these days and targeting the U.S. market because it is becoming a new trend here as well," said Gina Rizzo, co-founder of Petite Parade.
While Europe has traditionally been a popular market for luxury childrenswear, the U.S. is now following suit.

"I think there's a lot more focus on the children's market design-wise, especially in this country, which was not that prevalent before," said Carolina Zapf, who designs the Baby CZ brand. "I mean historically

By Katie Little, CNBC.com

Thirsty for Napa Valley's best without the high price tag? You're in luck.

The online wine retailer TastingRoom.com now offers a solution for wine connoisseurs who wish to indulge in high-end wine by the glass at home.

Wines in the $20-plus category were the fasting growing segment in 2011. "Consumers want to enjoy quality wine without necessarily opening an entire bottle," said the company's CEO Tim Bucher. "Our innovative product allows consumers to drink luxury and premium wines exactly how they want, when they want, wherever they want."

For $19, consumers can buy a single glass of 2007 Silver Oak Napa Cabernet Sauvignon or four glasses for $70. The wines are served in 3.4-ounce glass bottles that are replicas of the full-size bottles.

Although the company is currently selling only one brand, Bucher said it will launch five more luxury brands on March 22 and about 100 additional premium brands at the beginning of May. He added that he was "bullish on the wine-by-the-glass format" because it now accounts for the majority of

Want To Be Smarter?
by Cindy Perman, CNBC.com

We tend to associate napping with babies, old people and slackers, but here's a news flash: Napping actually has a lot health benefits, including boosting your productivity, enhancing your libido and aiding in weight loss!
Today is actually "National Napping Day," a day to bring awareness to the benefits of napping. The creator, William Anthony, a professor at Boston University, chose the Monday after Daylight Savings Time kicks in because it's a day that most people are usually sluggish.

"Americans are more 'nap-ready' than usual after losing an hour of sleep to daylight savings time," Anthony said in a press release.

"Our goal is to encourage folks to take a nap wherever they may be, at home, at the workplace, or on vacation, and to make it a regular part of their healthy lifestyle," said Anthony. "It is a day when nappers all over the country need to lie down and be counted."

A study by Tempur-Pedic found that more than half of Americans

Ultra-High Priced Luxury Accessories

By Carolin Schober, CNBC

The world's biggest annual watch and jewelry fair, Baselworld opens its doors to an expected 100,000 visitors in the Swiss town of Basel this weekend. With glittering displays ranging from diamond-laden watches to emerald necklaces, it highlights the best, and most expensive, in the world of luxury goods.

Increasingly, the fate of luxury watchmakers and jewelers depends on Asia. In 2011, Swiss watchmakers' exports to Asia accounted for more than half of annual sales. Exports to China saw the fastest growth rate at 50 percent last year.

And for now, they see no signs of a slowdown in Chinese demand in 2012. Click ahead to see what the elite really want, and how much they are prepared to pay for it.