Batteries Plus may be well-known to Metro Detroit consumers who hear the company describe itself as “the battery experts” in advertisements during local television news broadcasts. But there is less awareness about the reputedly recession-resistant business among potential franchisees of the fast-growing Hartland, Wis.-based retailer. At five outlets, Metro Detroit is a vastly “under-stored” market [...]
StraightTalk, the bi-annual LGBT conference presented by dot429 and sponsored by FIAT 500 by Gucci,returns to the Tribeca Grand Hotel in New York on October 7th and 9th for a weekend of spirited, stimulating conversation with pioneering professionals from the fields of media, entertainment, design and politics. dot429 is the premier online and in-person professional [...]
LocalHero, a mobile networking application, launched its premiere product for the iPhone at the recent TechCrunch event in San Francisco. LocalHero lets friends help other friends by identifying the people in a person’s social network who are nearby and have the right skills to assist. By matching a person’s location to the skills and interests [...]
Hotel companies are stepping up efforts to sell through traditional travel agents, and bookings via agent channels show signs of increasing. The reason: Travel agent bookings tend to yield higher rates and longer stays for hotel companies than other channels, and hotels are taking notice. “The quality of business being booked by agents is significantly [...]
Food trucks are one of the hottest trends in the restaurant industry right now, and consumers are showing increasing interest in mobile foodservice, new research by the National Restaurant Association confirms: Nearly six out of 10 (59 percent) would be likely to visit a food truck if their favorite restaurant offered one, up from 47 [...]
Consumers are spending more, but doing so in fewer transactions, according to American Express Business Insights’ most recent Business Insights Spend Sights report. The study, which examines spending patterns across several key categories, U.S. cities and demographic groups, finds that while economic uncertainty continues to dampen overall consumer confidence, a new pattern of less frequent [...]
Many industry analysts are predicting a good — but not great — holiday season. The chief economist for the International Council of Shopping Centers, a major retail trade group, estimates that sales will rise 3.5% for November and December combined. Last year, sales during the same period beat expectations, rising 4.4% in what industry analysts [...]
More than 2 in 5 (42 percent) working adults are willing to give up some percentage of their salary for more flexibility at work, according to an online survey of 1,071 working adults nationwide conducted on behalf of Mom Corps, a staffing firm. The average cut they said they were willing to take was 6 [...]
Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Texas residents and business owners as a result of President Obama’s major disaster declaration, U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Karen G. Mills announced recently. The declaration covers Bastrop County Texas for damages caused by wildfires that began August 30. “The U. S. Small Business Administration is strongly [...]
Calling all vendors! Want a chance to sell and promote your product and services at Maryland’s busiest mall, Arundel Mills? Are you a designer, artist, author, crafter, tourist destination, beauty consultant, or spa owner? Do you have a small business? Do you sell unique holiday decor or gift items? “We are excited about all the [...]
Disaster is something that happens to someone else, right? That’s what SMBs seem to think, as new research from Carbonite, Inc. points to overwhelming states of unpreparedness throughout the SMB community. Only 13 percent think data disaster could happen, leaving 87 percent turning a blind eye to the possibility. What these SMBs are ignoring is [...]
Verizon Wireless will award three winners grants valued at over $70,000 to help spur technological advancement of Latino-owned firms The entry period for the Third Annual Latino Small Business Awards presented by Verizon Wireless will continue through September 30, 2011. Established entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, and working professionals can nominate themselves or others for cash and [...]
