June 2013 Features

  • How to Select the Right Name for Your New Business

    June 27, 2013

    While the right name can make your business popular within a short time, the wrong one can doom your prospects. The right name can create a unique business identity, but the wrong one can mar it, along with your chances of success.

  • A New Look for the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority

    June 26, 2013

    With the 2012 opening of three industrial parks with 485 shovel-ready acres, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority began a marketing campaign featuring a new look and feel for the organization. The campaign and property signage includes a new logo for the Industrial Authority and a new slogan – "Building a Ground-Breaking Community."

  • Commentary: If Bernanke’s Superman, Then…

    June 24, 2013

    The U.S. economy is his kryptonite. On the other hand, Al Lewis of MarketWatch apparently believes that Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke is the “Man of Steel”. Darton State College Economics Professor Aaron Johnson examines Ben Bernanke's performance.

  • 6 Steps to Help You Get Started in Exporting

    June 21, 2013

    Are you interested in growing your business in a global economy? Today, nearly 96 percent of consumers and over two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power reside outside the United States. Small businesses now constitute 34 percent of total export dollars, and comprise approximately 97.8 percent of all exporters. If you’re considering exporting as a way to expand and grow your business in new markets, where should you start?

  • Commentary: Time for Deal on Immigration

    June 20, 2013

    The remaining political oxygen for a debate leading up to Congress's summer recess will be used to fuel the debate on immigration. While it seems like the "debate" over this issue has gone on forever, it really hasn't. The knowledge that America has a huge number of people living and working here illegally has been with us for decades, and many have used the issue to fuel political campaigns and other talking points. Debate on how to actually fix the problem, however, has been sorely lacking -- until now.

  • 16th Annual DRUGS DON’T WORK in South Georgia Seminar Addresses Benefits of Random Drug Testing

    June 19, 2013

    The 16th Annual DRUGS DON’T WORK (DDW) in South Georgia breakfast seminar was held on June 13 at the Drury Inn & Suites. The seminar was sponsored by Peaceway Counseling & Mediation Services and Peaceway DUI School.

  • How the IRS Scandal Might Benefit Small Business

    June 17, 2013

    A few weeks ago, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) admitted that some of its employees improperly subjected to disproportionate scrutiny to conservative groups seeking to set up non-profit status. While you might think that the scandal has little to do with small business, in the strange world of Washington — where everything influences everything else — the scandal has the potential to benefit small business owners in several ways.

  • Top Small Business Stories for June

    June 14, 2013

    Smaller smartphones, cheaper tablets, and Vine for Android — they’re all top stories for small businesses this week. You’ll also learn about a new acquisition by sales and CRM software giant Salesforce.com that adds email marketing and marketing communications to the company’s offerings. As always, the editorial team gives you the news important to small businesses — and puts it into context for what it means to you.

  • Stacy Bush Answers: How Secure Is Social Security?

    June 13, 2013

    If you're retired or close to retiring, then you've probably got nothing to worry about--your Social Security benefits will likely be paid to you in the amount you've planned on (at least that's what most of the politicians say). But what about the rest of us? Stacy Bush shares some insight.

  • CJB Industries' Manufacturing Expertise Boosts Local Economy

    June 12, 2013

    With three locations in Valdosta, CJB Industries, Inc. brings valuable manufacturing expertise to the area that helps build a strong, balanced local economy. Founded in 1997, the company provides chemical manufacturing services including formulating, processing, filling and packaging liquids and solid products for customers in the agricultural, automotive, industrial and other industries.

  • The Internship: A Lighthearted Movie About Google and The Changing Business World

    June 11, 2013

    ”The Internship‘ is a new movie that follows two laid-off salesmen as they attempt to start over in their careers through an unpaid internship at Google. It comes across as a feel-good movie with special relevance for anyone interested in the inside workings of Google.

  • Your Attitude in Life Determines Your Altitude in Life

    June 10, 2013

    Your attitude is how you look at life and the way it looks back at you. Doug Robinson this month relates a story to the sales process, and gives a take away to help you and your team share the same outlook and optimism.

  • Dr. Tina Anderson to be the Next President of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

    June 07, 2013

    Commissioner Ron Jackson informed the state board that oversees the Technical College System of Georgia that Dr. Tina Anderson, who is currently the president of Moultrie Technical College, is his choice to become the next president of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College in Valdosta.

  • Commentary: Why Japan’s Currency Devaluation Is Worrisome

    June 06, 2013

    Japan has been in an economic funk since the 1990s. It was at that time that many speculated that they would overtake the U.S. as the global economic superpower, rather than China. However, a poorly regulated financial system led to a housing crisis that they have yet to recover from.

  • Franchise Ownership: When Can You Expect The Payoff?

    June 05, 2013

    In most cases, the payoff is not instant. Once in a while, it comes faster than expected but, on average, not fast enough. And, in a few rare occasions, it never happens. I’d like for you to avoid that.

  • 7 Tips for Your Business or Lawn Sign

    June 03, 2013

    Do you have a retail storefront? Are you a contractor that is supplying services at someones house or place of business? You should be using a business sign, like a sandwich board or a lawn sign, to draw in traffic or build awareness for you business. Signage is an excellent way to help generate sales leads for your company. We visit 7 tips that will help you generate a higher percentage of sales leads thru signage.