Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 39

Tuesday December 25 2001 I Star-Telegram FROM PAGE 1C SECURITIES Continued from 1C money or assets to pay off all its debts if everyone it owes demands payment If Enron can't repay its bondholders investors who loaned the company money by buying corporate bonds then it certainly can't return any of the money its shareholders used to buy an ownership stake in the company Enron's bonds have been trading at about 20 cents on the dollar a sign that even the folks at the head of the line to squeeze money out of the company 'doubt that they'll be able to wring much out of Enron Even though that suggests Enron shares are worthless Reena Aggarwal a finance professor at Georgetown University says "it's not completely senseless" to buy Enron stock now "But you have to clearly recognize that RETAIL Continued from 1C down over the past year Retailers reduced prices to try to gain last-minute sales in what is expected to be the industry's worst holiday season in at least 16 years analysts said Many shoppers shunned clothes preferring to spend at discounters which gained appeal as the economy weakened and at electronics stores which offered new items like digital cameras "There's been real polarization in this year's consumer spending habits" Lehman Brothers analyst Alan Rifkin said "Apparel retailers and department stores are probably faring the worst" Consequently merchants are desperately counting on more rust-time procrastinators like Marcia Maxwell from Brooklyn NY who hadn't made holiday shopping a top priority earlier in the season "1 just wasn't in the mood" GIVING Continued from 1C "Corporate sales have been down incredibly this year" Mason said In a normal holiday season companies would place orders for as many 6000 to 7000 baskets This year it's closer to 500 to 1000 Mason said "And there are some that aren't even ordering" she said Mason isn't alone The holidays are usually a lot busier for gift basket designers But with layoffs and an economic recession in full swing companies are cutting back on everything including gifts to their most valuable assets customers and FILM Continued from 1C talking apples and animated fleas for companies that included Kroger and Southwestern Bell "Very dry subjects" Davis said "Not interesting at all" The first year they made enough to pay themselves $15000 each A few years later they upped the ante to $17000 Those projects may have paid the bills but the characters and videos they developed after hours kept their creative juices flowing They also tinkered with 3-D animation and entered their work in national animation contests "We never stopped being storytellers" Davis said "That's what led us to where we are now" The hard work paid off Jimmy Quasar a 10-year old boy who invents gadgets and dreams of communication with aliens was one of Davis' midnight oil projects you're taking huge risks" she says Some shareholders may be hanging on to and adding shares because they don't need to claim their Enron investment as a tax loss against capital gains this year These folks may be counting on Enron to emerge soon from its reorganization and restore some of the value to their shares so they can sell out at a higher price Research however shows that about 30 percent of companies that come out of bankruptcy go back into bankruptcy The complexity of Enron's business it now appears that Enron was less an energy trader and more of a publicly traded hedge fund complicates the bankruptcy It's highly unlikely the process will be completed in 12 to 18 months as is typical Aggarwal says especially because institutional investors shareholders and employees have filed dozens of lawsuits against said Maxwell who went out for the first time this past weekend buying software games for PlayStation2 and boardgames at Toys Us as well as sweaters at Banana Republic She planned to head back out to Toys Us to pick up a few more toys of a sudden it wasn't so important to get the shopping done" said Pat Sterle of West Bend Wis who was one of the few shoppers at a Target store in Milwaukee Wis on Monday Those who have waited have found some bargains The Gap Limited Abercrombie Fitch Co and other clothing chains offered price breaks last week on at least 70 percent of their items in a last-ditch attempt to clear store shelves before Christmas On average apparel stores discounted 58 percent of their merchandise in the week ended Friday up 1 percentage point from the week before Prudential Securities analyst Stacy Pak said in a report "Oh yeah I'm a procrastinator But it seems like my pro employees "It's stressful and scary" said Patricia Maniscalco owner of Baskets Unique in Fort Worth "Hopefully it will pick up" Like Mason Maniscalco's business has been slow but steady Business clients are asking for lower price ranges and less extravagant baskets "I think they understand the importance of customer appreciation and having a good relationship" she said "It's really important for future business" Mark Rednick president of MRI Consulting in Dallas recognizes the importance of saying "thanks" to his clients Even with the recession he's sending out gifts to clients "You still need to hustle" he said "Building and keeping relationships is important The character was entered into a 3-D animation contest in 1995 that won Best of Show Quasar caught the attention of director-writer Steve Oedekerk of 0 Entertainment in Los Angeles who wanted to partner with DNA Productions for a television series Suddenly DNA shifted its focus from commercial and corporate animated videos to entertainment producing and directing animated projects such as Santa vs the Snowman and 41's Time Travelers Partnering with Oedekerk Davis and Alcorn presented a story "bible" to Nickelodeon for a 13-part show "Nickelodeon loved it" Davis said "It became a slow steady march to where we are today" It was two years before DNA got the green light for the television pilot Then Nickelodeon also surprised them with a deal for a full-length feature film The pair signed a deal with Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures and Jimmy crastination has paid off this year" said Judy Cahalan of Lakeville Minn pointing out that the crowds at Bloomington Minn-based Mall of America the nation's biggest mall were thinner than she anticipated Political and economic uncertainties have dampened her overall enthusiasm for the season she said Christmas Eve is not typically a big sales generator accounting for less than 4 percent of overall holiday sales according to Britt Beemer chairman of Charleston SC-based America's Research Group But he noted that the holiday will be even less significant this year because more people will be focused on attending church services and spending more time with family The tempered spending comes after a disappointing sales performance and shopper turnout at the nation's malls this weekend despite heavy discounting and advertising blitzes The weekend before Christmas is usually one of the biggest shopping periods of the now more than ever" For more than 80 years gift basket design was a hobby But at least 15 years ago the pastime began to evolve into a moneymaking business Today the industry is worth an estimated $3 billion according to a study conducted by Sweet Survival in Paterson NJ The primary gift basket markets are individual gift-givers and corporate clients But since corporate clients are cutting back on the quantity of orders designers are having to use their creativity to appeal to customers Teresa Nelson owner of Teresa's Treasures in Fort Worth is using the Internet to market her goods A former financial analyst and alumna of Texas Wesleyan University Nelson also uses Quasar's name was changed to jimmy Neutron DNA Productions grew from a small office with 20 employees to a company with 150 workers in Irving's Las Colinas development It took five years for the project to reach the silver screen but Davis and Alcorn are happy that Neutron finally got there "If it hadn't happened the way it did this would have been a more overwhelming process" Alcorn said "We learned a lot and were more prepared because of it" These days Davis and Alcorn fly to Hollywood quite frequently learning the ropes of Hollywood deal-making while meeting with producers But they have no desire to move DNA Productions to Hollywood in the near future "We want to preserve the Texas way of doing business" Alcorn said "It's nice to conduct business there but it is nice to maintain perspective by not being immersed in Hollywood all the time" Femi Lewis (817) 390-7063 fiewisstar-telegrancom Enron Also it's not certain Enron will be allowed to reorganize because its junk status with credit rating firms makes it impossible for its trading business to function The company could be forced to liquidate everything Shareholders may also be paying penny-stock prices to build up a stake that gives them more clout in a class-action lawsuit or the bankruptcy proceedings Analysts say that such speculation is a strategy for institutional investors with millions of dollars that can cover a bet on Enron but that it doesn't make much sense for people trying to save for retirement or other financial goals "If you're a hedge fund and you buy a million shares at 20 cents on one day then sell them on another day for 40 cents then it's worth it" says Carol Coale analyst with Prudential Securities Research tt season Merchants whose share has been increasing over the past decade typically see a sales surge in the final seven days before Christmas However customers remained frugal scouring for bargains and continuing to focus on home-related merchandise like DVD players game consoles and home furnishings Consequently Jeff Feiner managing director of Lehman Brothers said he believes that most of the 22 retailers he tracks will not meet their most modest sales forecasts Furthermore even for those that do their sales will come at the expense of heavy discounting further eroding profit margins He added that his holiday forecast of a 2 percent sales gain may be a "little too optimistic" He now expects that retailers' profits will probably be down as much as 5 percent to 10 percent worse than the 3 percent to 5 percent he had anticipated There are exceptions Low-price chains like Wal her contacts in the financial industry and her college's alumni association to find customers When the holiday season began Nelson's business clients lowered their spending price to $25 to $35 per basket Last year sales typically ran $50 to $75 In November Nelson's Web site was up and running Since then she's been getting orders from across the country "All of a sudden we just got an outpour" Nelson said "And businesses realized that once they received they wanted to give" Others including Maniscalco have taken it to the streets "It sounds funny but it said "When you are new in business you've But unless you can afford to lose the money your gambling on the markets it's better to cut your losses and sell "I can't imagine why any investor would want to own Enron at this point" says Coale who has issued a "sell" rating on the company "People who are buying it are doing the opposite of what Wall Street analysts are recommending" Coale has 200 shares of Enron stock that she can't sell because of a company policy restricting purchases and sales of stock after an analyst changes a recommendation Since the stock is worth less than $100 she's thinking about keeping it "A stock certificate for a company that no longer exists has high collectible value" she says Several years from now she may be able to recoup her original investment by auctioning off the certificates But that's a big maybe Mart Stores are expected to fare the best this holiday Wal-Mart said same-store sales this month are still on track for a gain of at least 4 percent JC Penney Co said it expects a 3 percent to 4 percent gain for the month in line with forecasts based on sales through Sunday Still Feiner expects consumer spending will improve particularly in the second half of 2002 But any improvement then would be too late for retailers as frugality and a somber mood defines this Christmas season With many retailers realizing that the pre-Christmas season is a wash-out merchants are turning to the last week of December to recoup some of the lost holiday sales Beemer expects even deeper discounts to clear out merchandise making way for spring receipts In fact some merchants such as Eddie Bauer were offering post-Christmas discounts on Christmas Eve This report contains material fmm Bloomberg News just go to market yourself" And although business isn't what it used to be Mason remains confident "All of the retail industry has suffered" she said "But customers will come back to us when their confidence returns" Nell Lewis (817) 390-7063 flewisstar-telmancom LOWESTIRATES INiDEGADESI I 30 YEARTE 75 PR 125 5 YEAR! 650 Pc APR 687 OMR YOUR PAYMENT UT YOUR TERM IN I a AV HOU ANDS Reliance rd 81 T4 000 wwwdfwcom 13C AIRLINES Continued from 1C gers back by making them feel more secure" Neidl said In the weekend scare the American passenger identified in court documents as Richard Reid was accused of trying to ignite explosives in his shoes before being subdued by passengers and flight attendants aboard a flight to Miami from Paris Reid appeared Monday before a federal judge in Boston and requested a court-appointed attorney He is charged with interfering with flight attendants Airlines are still trying to rebuild business after the Sept11 terrorist attacks and analysts said the weekend incident raised concerns on Wall Street about "I its impact on traveler psyche "We'll see how fragile the public psyche is about flying" Engel said Among other airline shares: UAL Corp $1278 down 272 cents US Airways $559 down 42 cents Continental Airlines $2427 down 769 cents North- west Airlines $1555 down 31 cents and America West $265 down 16 cents All the stocks trade on the NYSE except Northwest which trades on the Nasdaq market At least one sector received a boost from the American incident Shares of bomb-detector makers InVision Teclmologies and OSI Systems rose on the likelihood that sales will increase after the weekend inci- dent InVision which gained $420 or 15 percent to $3271 has increased ninefold since Sept OSI Systems climbed $170 or 12 percent to $1620 American Science Engineering which also makes explosives detectors advanced $275 or 15 percent to $2075 Its shares have more than quadrupled since Sept11 All three of those shares trade on the Nasdaq market al '1 0 Al t1 1 A AA 100's of 2002 boats kola personal to Wm-aboard stuisors at the year's lowest Lia Li twy sl 00s a 2002 boats et oit sizes trees persona watettroft to tive-eboarti cruisers Presented by: Staralegram ed the year's lowest priced II I 1 CDs 550 occ: LOCATING THE HIGHEST FDIC INSURL'D CD's IN AMERICA DA 8 111 8-8288 (cox 1-8 8 2 6 (0:0431 Lighthouse Financial Services Todd Gibson Frost Bank Building 4200 Wen St Ste 600 Fort Worth TX 76109 DICfdp to S10000 9 per inoitution per depostion Tato nproog tht Annual 11wqt Ytoki Coll for $10000 pool rxierr orolohlho Business taBusiness Advertise-Here 1 4E390-79 2t a4 00-222-3918 uHleHoxti EINIMIMMIIIMEIMEINIIIIII IMEMEIMEMEIMEMEIMMINIE 1 Opportunity oll lBusi ness Or Lease BUSINESS Business Business Money To Loan Opportunity Property Rent ATTENTION $1 A A business buysell SUNBELT 577-1666 improvOWNER Dailey 817- 354-5577 sunbeltnetworkcom 722 Main OffcAVhse Cash Flow Sales ARIL CONSIGNMENT TRANSMIS SHOP 870-2122 456-6363 No Debt Use your furniture shop for sale Grt Accounts Receivable oc 817-657-3447 NCH 1-800-411-4229 $40K (817) 275-6600 WEDDING BUSINESS wwwnwcflcom $2500 817-370-1459 820 EXPOSURE- NRH NATION WIDE Capitol The classes in this freestanding building We buy invoices category are listed Retaiiofc up to 4000st Commercial Lease alphabetically and Business 972-960-7595 x27 Business Private include: CAFE I Irving $19999 rroperty Rent Notes (817) 858-6586 Auto Truck Rentals cash 972-253-8295 111111111111111111111111111EMIll Booking7T Leasing ax Service CONVENIENT STORE Or Lease Business 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Business Equipment for sale in Grand 5-6773 Money Wanted NEAR 820 NE retail ofc Property Sale Business Investments Prairie 817 71 100 Lease BUSINESS MAN Business Notices COUNTRY COOKING 0 sf 731-1212 Business Opportunity rest exc location NEW 750SF shop avail wanting to borrow for SO 0 ays Properly Rent Or Lease $59000 817-737-9151 $400 other sizes less 1815 ROGERS Ave $19000 than $500 Alliance 2700st office 4k st win $2500 pay Inter- Business Property FOR SALE: pizza Rest Kathi 817-439-3224 warehouse Rick est Collateral avail- Business Sale Or Lease Property OFFICE I Warehouse (deliverydiningcarrv- Hopwood 877-4433 able 817-478-4084 out) 20 min So of EV Sell Favorable Lease 16000 SE Warehouse Business Wanted Owner Finance $30K 2516 Minnie Dr 2100- SE Owner Mortgages 4200st 6750-1400mo Carry 817-919-9050 Commerical Property 81'7-351-0289 pgr Stocks Computer Systems FOR SALE Texaco 3515 Vicker 5220st $1305mo 2600-8000SOFT OFF Fixtures A Decorations Express Lube Ware 817 265-6511 PAY UP to100 notes Franchises (817) 896-4936 817-877-3510 5000 SE Warehouse annuity 888-661-1498 Heavy Equip Rentals SE FW $90K Owner Heavy Machinery OFFICE I whaishops in carry 817-919-9050 2 MORTGAGES Industrial Property Kennedale 1100 to FOR SALE Internet Services GAS A Convenience 2400st $400 and up 70 LTV or less Investment Property store for sale in Call Ka ryn $18635 bal 122 Wanted Liquidation Richland Hills Gas 817-834-3625 201 Franchises Int 556310 Pmt Money To Loan 70K Beer grocery RETAILOFFICE WFW BONUS BLDG CARE 854820 bal 1075 Money A75K Lotto $30K Mortgages Stocks ant $4K Latees 1680 sqft $900 sq11 BEST FEES Int $51520 pmt Call Office Equipment 817-915-9425 817-732-3377 1 Ottice Cleaning Mike 817-267-8799 Offices Rent GROWING PET Store SW BLVD business franchiseStart PTFT ilmm Oil Equipment in Mid Cities area Great park 1000st up $325 Guaranteed monthly Offices Rent Oil-Leases Royalties oppty only $19900 contracts financing Linda training equipmen 817-478-1137 Professional Services 817-992-1253 Secrelaral Services WAREHOUSES Accounts Available ARL OFFICE 1-30 360 Seminars INDUSTRY LEADER 3 000SF Art $900 817-795-3210 $200mo up to 12K Vending Machines Manufacture pavement 10800st Beach $2250 LLEANNET USA st short term OK emiaMillealliMinelaM coatings distribute 7515s1 Midway 62350 972-771-7577 a lull line of pavement 10040st I-35 $3100 CHEAP CLEAN office Metro 817-421-4144 Elil Business maint products 817-732-3377 in OFW Will finance warehouses CLEANNET USA Whse from $275 Investments rno equipt Existing facility 1000 -4800 sq ft office Metro 817-421-4144 817-222-2300 $495k 1-800-395-7325 pa 2 NRHArl LOOKING FOR indi- 14-828-2700 LEADING FINANCIAL wwwsealmasternet Investment vidual to share office Institution approving MAIL BOXES ETC 16500 SE storgilight onverty azinaroanii tmm in In small business 1-877-MBE-SALE mfg free stand $2450 property $350mo mortgages and ve- mo 817-732-3377 (817) 261-9594 hide loans Immedi- PRE Existing Routes IK SE to 5K sf shoo SIX BUILDING indus- ate Response Give us SodaSnack Local Co new i Haltom Ch trial complex in EFW 125 SF -761 SF: Office a call 1-877-471-4011 972-437-9300 -( rt a ng at 475 Karyn for sale Approx Suites on Airpo 817-834-3 25 x201 59304st On 236 an Freeway in Fort 5525K 817-732-3377 Worth 972-230-2696 Tuesday December 25 2001 I Star-Telegram wwwdfwcom I 3C FROM PAGE 1C you're taking huge risks" she says Enron But unless you can afford to lose Some shareholders may be hanging Also it's not certain Enron will be the money your gambling on the mar- AIRLINES on to and adding shares because they allowed to reorganize because its junk kets it's better to cut your losses and Continued from 1C don't need to claim their Enron invest- status with credit rating firms makes it sell Continued from 1C ment as a tax loss against capital gains impossible for its trading business to "I can't imagine why any investor money or assets to pay off all its debts this year function The company could be would want to own Enron at this gers back by making them feel if everyone it owes demands payment These folks may be counting on forced to liquidate everything point" says Coale who has issued a more secure" Neidl said If Enron can't repay its bondholders Enron to emerge soon from its reorga- Shareholders may also be paying "sell" rating on the company In the weekend scare the investors who loaned the company nization and restore some of the value penny-stock prices to build up a stake "People who are buying it are doing American passenger identified money by buying corporate bonds to their shares so they can sell out at a that gives them more clout in a class- the opposite of what Wall Street ana- in court documents as Richard then it certainly can't return any of the higher price action lawsuit or the bankruptcy pro- lysts are recommending" Reid was accused of trying to money its shareholders used to buy an Research however shows that ceedings Coale has 200 shares of Enron stock ignite explosives in his shoes ownership stake in the company about 30 percent of companies that Analysts say that such speculation that she can't sell because of a compa- before being subdued by passen- Enron's bonds have been trading at come out of bankruptcy go back into is a strategy for institutional investors ny policy restricting purchases and gers and flight attendants aboard about 20 cents on the dollar a sign bankruptcy with millions of dollars that can cover sales of stock after an analyst changes a flight to Miami from Paris that even the folks at the head of the The complexity of Enron's business a bet on Enron but that it doesn't a recommendation Reid appeared Monday line to squeeze money out of the corn- it now appears that Enron was less make much sense for people trying to Since the stock is worth less than before a federal judge in Boston pany 'doubt that they'll be able to an energy trader and more of a pub- save for retirement or other financial $100 she's thinking about keeping it and requested a court-appointed wring much out of Enron licly traded hedge fund complicates goals "A stock certificate for a company attorney He is charged with Even though that suggests Enron the bankruptcy It's highly unlikely the "If you're a hedge fund and you buy that no longer exists has high col- interfering with flight atten- shares are worthless Reena Aggarwal process will be completed in 12 to 18 a million shares at 20 cents on one day lectible value" she says Several years a finance professor at Georgetown months as is typical Aggarwal says then sell them on another day for 40 from now she may be able to recoup Airlines are still trying to University says "it's not completely especially because institutional cents then it's worth it" says Carol her original investment by auctioning rebuild business after the Sept11' senseless" to buy Enron stock now investors shareholders and employees Coale analyst with Prudential Securi- off the certificates terrorist attacks and analysts "But you have to clearly recognize that have filed dozens of lawsuits against ties Research But that's a big maybe said the weekend incident raised 1 concerns on Wall Street about "I its impact on traveler psyche RETAIL said Maxwell who went out for crastination has paid off this season the first time this past weekend year" said Judy Cahalan of Mart Stores are expected to "We'll see how fragile the Merchants whose share has fare the best this holiday Wal- public psyche is about flying" buying software games for Lakeville Minn pointing out been increasing over the past Mart said same-store sales this Engel said Continued from 1C PlayStation2 and boardgames that the crowds at Blooming- decade typically see a sales month are still on track for a Among other airline shares: at Toys Us as well as ton Minn-based Mall of Amer- surge in the final seven days gain of at least 4 percent UAL Corp $1278 down 272 down over the past yeat sweaters at Banana Republic ica the nation's biggest mall before Christmas However JC Penney Co said it cents US Airways $559 down Retailers reduced prices to She planned to head back out were thinner than she antici- customers remained frugal expects a 3 percent to 4 percent 42 cents Continental Airlines try to gain last-minute sales in to Toys Us to pick up a few pated Political and economic scouring for bargains and con- gain for the month in line with $2427 down 769 cents North- what is expected to be the more toys uncertainties have dampened firming to focus on home-relat- forecasts based on sales west Airlines $1555 down 31 industry's worst holiday season 'All of a sudden it wasn't so her overall enthusiasm for the ed merchandise like D'VD play- through Sunday cents and America West $265 in at least 16 years analysts important to get the shopping season she said ers game consoles and home Still Feiner expects con- down 16 cents All the stocks said Many shoppers shunned done" said Pat Sterle of West Christmas Eve is not typical- furnishings clothes preferring to spend at Bend Wis who was one of the ly a big sales generator account- sumer spending will improve trade on the NYSE except Consequently Jeff Feiner particularly in the second half Northwest which trades on the discounters which gained few shoppers at a Target store ing for less than 4 percent of managing director of Lehman of 2002 But any improvement Nasdaq market 1J appeal as the economy weak- in Milwaukee Wis on Monday overall holiday sales according Brothers said he believes that then would be too late for At least one sector received a ened and at electronics stores Those who have waited have to Britt Beemer chairman of most of the 22 retailers he retailers as frugality and a boost from the American inci- which offered new items like found some bargains Charleston SC-based Amen- tracks will not meet their most somber mood defines this dent Shares of bomb-detector 2 digital cameras The Gap Limited Aber- ca's Research Group But he modest sales forecasts Further- Christmas season makers InVision Teclmologies "There's been real polariza- crombie Fitch Co and other noted that the holiday will be more even for those that do With many retailers realiz- and OSI Systems rose on the tidn in this year's consumer clothing chains offered price even less significant this year their sales will come at the ing that the pre-Christmas sea- likelihood that sales will spending habits" Lehman breaks last week on at least 70 because more people will be expense of heavy discounting son is a wash-out merchants increase after the weekend inci- i Brothers analyst Alan Rifkin percent of their items in a last- focused on attending church further eroding profit margins are turning to the last week of dent InVision which gained said "Apparel retailers and ditch attempt to clear store services and spending more He added that his holiday December to recoup some of $420 or 15 percent to $3271 has department stores are probably shelves before Christmas time with family forecast of a 2 percent sales the lost holiday sales Beemer increased ninefold since Sept II faring the worst" On average apparel stores The tempered spending gain may be a "little too opti- expects even deeper discounts OSI Systems climbed $170 or Consequently merchants discounted 58 percent of their comes after a disappointing mistic" He now expects that to clear out merchandise mak- 12 percent to $1620 American are desperately counting on merchandise in the week ended sales performance and shopper retailers' profits will probably ing way for spring receipts In Science Engineering which more rust-time procrastinators Friday up 1 percentage point turnout at the nation's malls be down as much as 5 percent fact some merchants such as also makes explosives detectors like Marcia Maxwell from from the week before Pruden- this weekend despite heavy to 10 percent worse than the 3 Eddie Bauer were offering advanced $275 or 15 percent to Brooklyn NY who hadn't tial Securities analyst Stacy Pak discounting and advertising percent to 5 percent he had post-Christmas discounts on $2075 Its shares have more than made holiday shopping a top said in a report blitzes The weekend before anticipated Christmas Eve quadrupled since Sept II priority earlier in the season "Oh yeah I'm a procrastina- Christmas is usually one of the There are exceptions This report contains material fmm All three of those shares "I just wasn't in the mood" tor But it seems like my pro- biggest shopping periods of the Low-price chains like Wal- Bloomberg News trade on the Nasdaq market GIVING employees "It's stressful and scary" now more than ever" her contacts in the financial just go to market yourself" For more than 80 years industry and her college's And although business said Patricia Maniscalco gift basket design was a hob- alumni association to find isn't what it used to be 3 Continued from 1C owner of Baskets Unique in by But at least 15 years ago customers Mason remains confident Fort Worth "Hopefully it the pastime began to evolve When the holiday season "All of the retail industry 4- "Corporate sales have will pickup" into a moneymaking busi- began Nelson's business has suffered" she said "But been down incredibly this Like Mason Maniscalco's ness Today the industry is clients lowered their spend- customers will come back to 4 i C3 year" Mason said business has been slow but worth an estimated $3 bil- ing price to $25 to $35 per us when their confidence 0 In a normal holiday sea- steady Business clients are lion according to a study basket Last year sales typi- returns" 0 kg son companies would place asking for lower price ranges conducted by Sweet Survival cally ran $50 to $75 Feral Lewis (817) 390-7063 orders for as many 6000 to and less extravagant baskets in Paterson NJ The primary In November Nelson's fiewisstar-telegramcom LOCATING THE HIGHEST 7000 baskets This year it's "I think they understand gift basket markets are indi- Web site was up and running closer to 500 to 1000 Mason the importance of customer vidual gift-givers and corpo- Since then she's been getting FDIC INSURED CD's said appreciation and having a rate clients orders from across the coun- "And there are some that good relationship" she said But since corporate clients try LOWESTIRATES IN AMERICA aren't even ordering" she "It's really important for are cutting back on the quan- "All of a sudden we just IN1DEGADES I DA 1 8-8288 t' I ki ti I said future business" tity of orders designers are got an outpour" Nelson said 8 4' rexii Mason isn't alone The Mark Rednick president having to use their creativity "And businesses realized 30 -YEARITN7511P4125 i -8 8' 2 holidays are usually a lot of MR1 Consulting in Dallas to appeal to customers that once they received they 5YEARt 650 APR 687 busier for gift basket design- recognizes the importance of Teresa Nelson owner of wanted to give" OMR YOUR PAYMENT Lighthouse Financial Services i ers But with layoffs and an saying "thanks" to his clients Teresa's Treasures in Fort Others including Manis- UT YOUR TERM IN 1 a Todd Gibson economic recession in full Even with the recession he's Worth is using the Internet calco have taken it to the AV HOU ANDS swing companies are cutting sending out gifts to clients to market her goods A for- streets Frost Bank Building back on everything includ- "You still need to hustle" mer financial analyst and "It sounds funny but it 111" 4200 Hulett St Ste 600 eliance Cr Fort Worth TX 76109 gga ing gifts to their most valu- he said "Building and keep- alumna of Texas Wesleyan said "When you Mottae i mpn -WM: hisured up to $10000 9 per inoitution per depostion able assets customers and ing relationships is important University Nelson also uses are new in business you've 81 )4 11Alo 000 Tote npyroeg tht Annual Ilwortage Yttki Gall for $10000 Pool rol ler orailohibtp A a 11 FILM The character was entered Quasar's name was changed into a 3-D animation contest to jimmy Neutron Business to Business Advertise Here 1 to 390-792atE800-222-3918 in 1995 that won Best of DNA Productions grew Continued from 1C Show from a small office with 20 I '4111rs' EIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIMIIEIIIINNIIIIIII IMEMEMEIMEIMEMEMIEMIN Business Business Money To Loan Quasar caught the atten- employees to a company with Business opportunity Opportunity Property Rent ATTENTION talking apples and animated tion of director-writer Steve 150 workers in Irving's Las A A business buysell SUNBELT 577-1666 Or Lease BUSINESS OWNER fleas for companies that Oedekerk of 0 Entertainment Colinas development AA 4016 Dailey 617- 354-5577 sunbeitnetworkcom 722 Main Offchse Cash mAr 870-2122 456-6363 Sales ARL CONSIGNMENT TRANSMIS SHOP rolccrl'entg Receivable Use your Cru '1 included Kroger and South- in Los Angeles who wanted It took five years for the kc IN 8 G176u5s71-N3E44s7s NCEI 1-800-411-4229 western Bell to partner with DNA Produc- project to reach the silver BUSINESS li BUSINESS fahlauls7h)oVg-r6s6a88 W)DE1- $2500 817-370-1459 wwwnwcflcom Nl I AD 820 EXPOSURE- NRH NATION WIDE Capitol The classes in this "Very dry subjects" Davis tions for a television series screen but Davis and Alcorn category are listed fiCatacisylgo Zgal invioo1 -I alphabetically and Business 972-960-7595 x27 Business Private said "Not interesting at all" Suddenly DNA shifted its are happy that Neutron final- riod Property Rent 111111111111111MMEMEMEMIENII Notes (817) 858-6586 The first year they made focus from commercial and ly got there titcr Truck Rentals CAFE 99 95 BLeroakTiling9Tax Service CONVENIENT STORE Or Lease Business 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 enough to pay themselves corporate animated videos to "If it hadn't happened the Business Equipment Business Investments for sale in Grand Prairie 817 715-6773 NEAR 820 NE retail ofc 1000 sf 731-1212 Property Sale Money Wanted way it did this would have Business Notices COUNTRY COOKING Or Lease BUSINESS MAN wanting to borrow $15000 each A few years lat- entertainment producing and c'Proclg-inilitY- $r5U-oexc iM151 1615 ROGERS Ave $10000 for 30 days been a more overwhelming than 5500 Alliance 27w0a04gfutisce4iLsf wilt 1 er they upped the ante to directing animated projects Rent Or Lease FOR Rest Kathi 817-439-3224 process" Alcorn said "We Business Property (deliverydiningcarry- Hopwood 877-4433 able 817-478-4054 al Sale Or Lease $17000 such as Santa vs the Snow- Business Property buMrnalVe OFFICE Warehouse 16000 SE Warehouse learned a lot and were more Sell Sicieof FVY Those projects may have man and 41's Time Travel- Business Wanted Owner Finance learned 2516 Minnis Dr 2100- SE Owner Mortgages 4200st $750-1400mo Carry 817-919-9050 prepared because of it" Commerical Property 817-351-0289 pgr 3515 Vicker OFF Stocks paid the bills but the charac- ers Computer Systems FOR SALE Texaco 5220sf $1305mo 2600-8000SOF These days Davis and Fixtures A Decorations Ware 817 265-6511 ters and videos they devel- Partnering with Oedekerk Franchises (8T937 3r6-14VA 617-677-3510 PAY UP to100 notes 5000 SE Warehouse annuity 888-661-1498 Alcorn fly to Hollywood ritry Equip Rentals SE F11 $90K Owner oped: after hours kept their Davis and Alcorn presented a oaraiarsiispgs in MORTGAGES to carry 817-919-9050 2 quite frequently learning Propetgy FOR SALE creative juices flowing They story "bible" to Nickelodeon Internet Services GAS A Convenience 2400sf $400 and up 70 LTV or less the ropes of Hollywood deal- Investment Property Gas Call KarYn Franchises $18635 bal 122 also tinkered with 3-D anima- for a 13-part show Liquidation 817-834-3625 201 making $56310 Pmt while meeting with Money To Loan A-7a BeLeortt RETAILOFFICE WFW BONUS BLDG CARE 1Vrt a tion and entered their work "Nickelodeon loved it" i Money Wanted itRP9 3101 1 BEST FEES Cleaning Int 817-207799a a producers endin15L4tie2e5s 168 in national animation con- Davis said "It became a slow But they have no desire to 81tic Eecisuipi GROWING PET Store SW BLVD business fjirgartrriMrEily lemsommismosiumille tests steady march to were we in Mid Cities area Great PFIrg- 12(3-4 0 op vp Oil-Leases Royalties oppty only $19900 Lin a 7b- contracts financing Offices Rent training equipmen move DNA Productions to Professional Services 817-992-1253 WAREHOUSES Accounts Available ARL OFFICE 1-30 360 "We never stopped being are today" Hollywood in the near future Seminars Secri INDUSTRY LEADER 3000SF Art $900 817-795-3210 $200mo up to 12 entarral Services 10800st Beach t2250 9s7h2ortm term 0 1 storytellers" Davis said It was two years before 7515s1 Midway 2350 "We want to preserve the oVilmmollamiending Machines Mactfnauutilitnaliteuroaef pavement Metro A8N 1 NA2111A 144 10040st I-35 $3100 CHEAP rom $275 mo CLEAN office "That's what led us to where DNA got the green light for Texas way of doing business" Business 817-732-3377 CLEANNET USA Whse (al 1000 4800s 11 office Metro 817-421-4144 817-222-2300 ii we are now" the television pilot Then Alcorn said "It's nice to con- Investments min auctiniVILEmPvvisrotiiidnin'ttaastoicilet8' warehouses qNRHArl $495k 1-800-395-7325 Pam 214-828-2700 IMEMINEEINIIIIIIIINIEMENI LOOKING FOR indi- hard work paid off Nickelodeon also surprised duct business there but it is LEADING FINANCIAL wwwsealmasternel Institution approving MAIL BOXES ETC Investment 16pg g-ST-33770? SFt slcciireeKhc Property vidual to share office Th teraz in Jimmy Quasar a 10-year them with a deal for a full- nice to maintain perspective in small business 1-877-MBE-SALE rrYn'o' mortgages and ve- (817) Irar-r9594 c''' old boy who invents gadgets length feature film by not being immersed in hide loans Immedi- PRE Existing Totes 1K SE to 5K sf shot BUILDING indus- Stine! complex in EFW 125SE-761 SF: Office co rsTZ 911 no Hat $1t4T Kan' for sale Approx Suites on Airport and dreams of communica- The pair signed a deal Hollywood all the time 817-1834-3625 x201' L34alt sf 1 i 7 7 V- 17(''i tZ 717 al 72 22'10 2FArg tion with aliens was one of with Nickelodeon and Para- Fern Lewis (817) 390-7063 I Davis' midnight oil projects mount Pictures and jimmy fiewisstar-telegrancom wwwfortworthbontshownet 1 i 1 --4 ''r 1t i Fort Klyth i 11)- I 1 ql-1 4k74 i ii i iti'PO'l MI 6 a wwwfortwortlthestsbowsel i1 i II 4 i 4 py t) A hat WO 4t -111 I 4 I f--: ti er tLf LI 6: a 100s 2002 boat all sixes ttooa 'i A ql '1 in id Ihri 0 I r-' Ike i 11 da 100s 2002 heats Irons personal maenad -N-- 'emessows Aralatti -4' permed watescrall tiver-aboorst cruken 41: 04w Presented by: Starakgram to tall Presented by: Staralegram to Wm-aboard auisors at the year's lowest at the yeses towels micas waaranr2r4Erat 41 -7 yboomo rismaramnrr 1 0 Aramrzratgentwarat JP-0 imt 14 letksta466204104amiLaardow waw- tircolirt40's nsesagromeaossohlswthowesawo'n mt.