Features
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Leadership Columbus Program Now Accepting Applications
May 16, 2014
Leadership Columbus is an official program of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The program is designed to expose highly talented and motivated leaders to issues which will determine the future direction of the area.
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Allegra Design-Marketing-Print Helps Businesses Implement Multi-channel Communications
May 15, 2014
Businesses can improve the return on their marketing investments by implementing multi-channel communications, according to Fran Hargarten, owner of Allegra Design-Marketing-Print, a locally owned and operated Columbus marketing services firm.
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CooperCraft, Now ISNetworld Certified and Ready for Continued Growth
May 14, 2014
CooperCraft made the move from Sylvester to Tifton December 2011, and the transition has treated the company well. The easy access to I-75, continued growth of Tifton, and larger office space have all led to increased productivity and volume for the statewide company ran by childhood friends Jerry Cooper and Darrell Powell, who lived three houses apart since elementary school while growing up in Sylvester.
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Commentary: Keep An Eye On Columbus Next Tuesday
May 13, 2014
Each campaign cycle I try to find one race where I hope I can learn something. Or, perhaps to put an even finer point on that, I hope to find a race where I can see something different. A race that is outside the norm. One that demonstrates, hopefully, somewhere in the future, the current paradigm of how campaigns are won and lost will change. Columbus looks like its shaping up to be just that.
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When the Boss Calls After Hours
May 12, 2014
We shouldn’t laugh too hard about the agreement announced last month in France that sought to protect employees from after-hours texts and emails but confused a lot of people. Here in the United States, where we are known for our relentless work ethic, we are ignoring this issue and letting confusion govern what is expected from employees after they leave work.
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New Banking Environment Opens Opportunities for Regions Bank
May 09, 2014
Banks have changed the way they do business and many of their best clients aren't happy about it, according to Regions Bank City President Mike Marz. That creates opportunity for Regions, a relatively small player in the Columbus market.
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Georgia's Tourism Industry Impact Hits Record High With $53.6B
May 08, 2014
Georgia Tourism, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced Thursday that tourism demand generated $53.6 billion in business sales including direct, indirect and induced impact in 2013, up 4.5 percent, according to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics.
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Self Employment Continues to Decline, Despite the Recovery
May 07, 2014
The recently released Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity (KIEA) shows that pace of entry into self-employment declined last year. The media has put a positive slant on the news. Because many people go into business for themselves out of necessity when the economy is doing poorly and they have few employment alternatives, this decline is okay, the reporters say. It means that the jobs market is doing better.
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Curt Fowler on How GE Uses Lean Innovation
May 06, 2014
Lean innovation is not just for startups. According to a recent Harvard Business Review article by Brad Powers, GE is implementing lean innovation principles into its appliance division as it attempts to prove that it can bring manufacturing back to the US and compete successfully.
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Top Stories: Minimum Wage Increase Defeated, Internet Explorer Fixed
May 05, 2014
Top stories for small business owners this week involved the fate of a contentious minimum wage bill and the repair of a major Web security issue. The Small Business Trends editorial team has you covered with this important news and more. Just follow our roundup.
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Did You Know That Wrong Conversations Rule Workplace Communication?
May 02, 2014
There’s a new concept, The 4 Workplace Conversations, which came out of a recent client case study from facilitating a training session to help a senior leadership team of a clients confront issues directly in a way that reduced workplace conflict.
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SunTrust Finds Business Leaders Rank Companies Stronger Than Economy
May 01, 2014
Business owners and top decision-makers are more optimistic about their own businesses in 2014 than they are about the overall U.S. economy, according to an annual survey sponsored by SunTrust Banks, Inc.
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Talk to the Hand, Cause the Face Ain’t Listenin’
May 01, 2014
When I was in the fourth grade, I had a crush on Jill. It was a one-sided relationship, but as Valentine’s Day came closer I decided the best way to wow her was to walk to Lintner’s Drugstore and buy her a heart-shaped box of Russell Stover chocolates. It took about 6 weeks allowance to be able to afford that purchase, but to me Jill was worth it.
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AT&T Commits to Georgia’s Future
April 30, 2014
AT&T made a significant investment in both serving Georgia customers and employing more Georgians in 2013 through the communication company’s Project Velocity IP. Georgia CEO spoke to AT&T Media Relations Manager Ann Elsas on the impact AT&T is having on the state.
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Talk About Bad Company: The True Cost of a Bad Hire
April 29, 2014
Hiring the wrong person for a position is an expensive mistake for a company to make. In a recent Career Builder survey 42% of companies reported that a bad hire cost them at least $25,000 in the past year, and 25% reported a loss of at least $50,000. But for small companies, where every employee often juggles many important responsibilities, the cost of a bad hire can be even more devastating – up to $190,000 according to a report by Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
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Lessons Learned From Your 2013 Tax Return
April 28, 2014
With another tax filing deadline in the rearview mirror, most people don’t think about taxes until the next year. However, take a few moments to review your return before you stock it away. This year’s return can provide valuable information on the financial health of your business, as well as show you ways to improve your tax situation in time for next year’s filing.
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Aflac Approaches $90 Million in Contributions to Fight Childhood Cancer
April 25, 2014
Aflac, the leading provider of voluntary insurance at the worksite in the United States, insuring more than 50 million people worldwide, announced Thursday its corporate giving for the treatment and research of childhood cancer exceeded $87 million in 2013.
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Research Shows How Retirees Strengthen Georgia’s Economy
April 24, 2014
The State of Georgia can bolster its economy by attracting more retirees, according to new research from the University of Georgia’s Selig Center for Economic Growth.
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Batson-Cook Construction: Building Partnerships First
April 23, 2014
From its humble beginnings in the early 20th century in West Point, Ga., Batson-Cook Construction has always operated on the philosophy of building relationships with clients and partnerships with its owners, architects and subcontractors on every building project.
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Using Retirement Accounts to Fund a Business Startup Draws IRS Scrutiny
April 22, 2014
The IRS is increasing scrutiny into a complex practice for using retirement accounts to fund a business. The practice may trip up business owners who take advantage of it. In the end, it could cost them not only their retirement nest eggs, but open them up to paying back taxes and large penalties to the IRS.
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Yes, Top Performing Businesses Pay More in Taxes
April 21, 2014
Do businesses pay their fair share of taxes? Should they pay more in taxes and are they paying considerably less than everyone else? Many consumers seem to believe they’re held more accountable for their income taxes than businesses, especially around tax time.
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Strengthening Your Small Business With Subcontractors
April 18, 2014
Dealing with the ebb and flow of workloads can be challenging for small businesses. How do you address those extra busy times without adding regular employees? And what happens when things slow down again Subcontractors can often help provide a great solution. Below are some benefits of using subcontractors and considerations for bringing subcontractors on board.
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Q&A with Georgia DOL’s Business Service Unit Director
April 17, 2014
As the Georgia Department of Labor approaches the first anniversary of their Business Service Unit, we chatted with Director Linda Manis about their progress in year one and what lies ahead for the BSU.
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How Do You Optimize Your Facebook And Twitter Accounts?
April 16, 2014
Whether you need to promote your brand, share event pictures, connect with your clients or create a buzz, social media marketing is a necessity and not an option any more. An optimized social media profile shows your strong social media presence. But how do you elevate your social media profile to establish a strong connection with your fans? Let’s explore two of the most popular social media platforms and how you can optimize them.
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An Update on the Greater Opportunities for Small Business Act
April 15, 2014
Government contracts for small businesses were discussed last week on Capitol Hill. The Greater Opportunities for Small Business Act of 2014 was written to give small businesses more opportunities to compete for federal government contract work.