Features
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Pent-Up Demand Turns to Sales at Turner's Fine Furniture
October 17, 2012
Austin Turner, co-owner with his brother Fortson of Turner's Fine Furniture, believes "things are getting ready to turn in the housing market." Business at the furniture retailer was up in August compared to the same period in 2011.
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Hiring Temporary Employees: Read This First
October 15, 2012
When your small business needs extra hands on deck during busy times, are you relying more and more on temporary employees to fill the bill? You’re not alone. NBCnews recently reported that the trend toward temporary employment is becoming a permanent feature of the U.S. economic landscape.
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Want Great Marketing: Follow Apple’s Example
October 12, 2012
On August 20, 2012, Apple surpassed Microsoft to become the largest public company in history. It’s a fact that makes it easy to forget that, not that long ago, Apple didn’t even exist. What’s contributed greatly to Apple’s success is great marketing. As most people know, Steve Jobs was a big believer in great, smart, creative marketing. It’s something he believed in from the very beginning of Apple.
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Williams Investment Company Rides I-75 to Prosperity
October 10, 2012
In the early 1960s, John L. Williams had the foresight to realize that the construction of Interstate 75 would change the way people traveled between the northern and southern United States. He set about building a business based in southern Georgia to take advantage of that travel.
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Which Retirement Plan Is Right for Your Business?
October 09, 2012
If you own a small business, there are many retirement plan alternatives available to help you and your eligible employees with retirement planning. To make an informed decision on which plan is right for your business, we take a look and review the differences in your options.
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How to Use Google+ Hangouts For Business
October 08, 2012
When Google+ launched last summer one of its most interesting features was Google+ Hangouts, especially if you were a business owner. By utilizing Google+ Hangouts SMBs could stream live broadcasts directly from their Web site, YouTube channel or Google+ profile with just a few clicks and no additional software. But now that a year has gone by, how have businesses used these Hangouts? How can we alluse them to increase engagement with our customers and to build our brands?
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Here’s What Your Employees Want: Are You Listening?
October 05, 2012
When it comes to what your employees want, too many small business owners are in denial. At least, that’s the finding of a new study by MetLife, which polled small business owners and employees and found that while employee loyalty has dropped steadily since 2008, employers mistakenly believe it’s on the rise.
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Valdosta State University Strives to be an Agent of Change
October 03, 2012
This story is one in a series of stories on the state of education in and around Valdosta. In this story, Dr. William McKinney, president of Valdosta State University shares his views on the future of public colleges and universities, and the initiatives under way at VSU.
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Georgia Creates Record Jobs and Investment in 2012
October 02, 2012
Gov. Nathan Deal announced today that jobs and investment generated by the Global Commerce division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development jumped by almost a third during the state’s most recent fiscal year. The department reported that the 403 company expansions or locations with which it assisted created 28,776 jobs.
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Dealing With “I Just Can’t Afford You”
October 01, 2012
Regardless of what you’re selling, most everyone in business has heard it: “Sorry, I just can’t afford it right now.” No one likes hearing that. In some cases it might be true. In most, however, it’s not.
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Where Do Franchisors Make Their Money?
September 28, 2012
I have a challenge for you, if you’re up to it. Ignore every pre-conceived notion you have about franchising for a few minutes. Pretend that it’s your first time learning about the franchise model. Be at one with the newness of it. Here we explore the world of franchising and how to profit from it.
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Technical Colleges to Expand Science and Technology Focus
September 26, 2012
This story is one in a series of stories on the state of education in and around Valdosta. In this story, Dr. Ray Perren, president of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC) shares his views on the future of technical colleges and the initiatives under way at WGTC.
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Georgia TV & Movie Productions Generate $3.1B in FY2012
September 25, 2012
The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced that Georgia-lensed productions generated an economic impact of $3.1 billion in the state during FY12, a 29% increase from FY11.
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Big Bank Lending Drops While Small Bank Lending Increases
September 24, 2012
Small companies pursuing capital during the month of August found mixed results from lenders. In a month where the overall volume of loan applications increased by 4.3%, my company’s Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index, a monthly analysis of 1,000 loan applications, revealed that approval rates increased at small banks and alternative lenders, but big banks and credit union approvals dropped in August 2012.
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Social Media Tips for Small Business
September 21, 2012
You’ve recently setup the obligatory Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ profile pages for your small business and you’re asking yourself, “Now what?” If you’re new to the game and wondering what to do next, we share 5 social media tips to send you and your business off in the right direction to achieve social media success:
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SunTrust Global Trade Forum: Cordele Inland Port Provides Another Boost for Area
September 20, 2012
In the second part of this two-part series, you’ll hear from Bruce C. Drennan, Executive Director, Cordele Crips Industrial Development Council. Mr. Brennan is responsible for much of the vision behind Cordele’s inland port and their amazing movement into global trade.
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SunTrust Global Trade Forum: How Global Trade & Strategic Ports Bring Economic Gain to Georgia
September 19, 2012
In part one of a two part series, regional business leaders gather for the SunTrust Bank Global Trade Forum. Local experts discuss the importance of global trade and answer the question, “How will state ports bring economic gain to Georgia?
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Chamber Fights for Business in D.C.
September 18, 2012
The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber Government Affairs Council traveled to the U.S. Capitol last week to advocate for federal issues that impact the Valdosta-Lowndes County business community.
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How To Train Your Team And Make It Connect
September 17, 2012
Staff training is an on going part of business. You can’t just toss people in and expect them to swim. That works for a hand full of all-stars, but if you want to increase the success rate and the consistency in how the team does what it does, then effective training is important.
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Project Management For Profit
September 14, 2012
The book "Project Management For Profit: A Failsafe Guide to Keeping Projects On Track and On Budget" is making a timely appearance in business culture today. Moreover, authors Joe Knight, Roger Thomas, and Brad Angus know it, as they note that the future has arrived and why projects are the result.
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Rising Labor Costs Not the Sole Factor Influencing Potential U.S. Manufacturing Resurgence
September 13, 2012
Consensus views on a U.S. manufacturing resurgence have largely centered on rising labor costs in markets such as China as the key driver of re-shoring back to the U.S. However, a new report reveals that while rising labor costs are part of the story, a range of factors—could drive a sustained manufacturing renaissance in the U.S. beyond any cyclical recovery, potentially improving investment, employment, production output and research & development (R&D).
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Valdosta Shared Office Space Nurtures Area Start-Ups
September 12, 2012
Economizing on operating expenses and maximizing flexibility are critical for new business start-ups. Choosing to lease from a shared office space provider can mean more flexible lease terms that include many amenities. Gino Fina, owner of Valdosta Shared Office Space, shares his story.
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Valdosta State Continues to be Growing Economic Force
September 11, 2012
Valdosta State University continues to be a major economic contributor for the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), with more than $451.2 million generated through direct spending and the multiplier effect in 2010-11.
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Budgeting From The Ground Up: This Budget Actually Means Something
September 10, 2012
Most small businesses seem to have a strong dislike for budgeting. The feeling is that budgets are just a time wasting distraction from the things that really need to get done. You probably have similar feelings toward budgeting. And you’re right. Budgeting is a waste of time if you do it the way most small business owners do it.
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Business Owners and Their Succession Plans
September 07, 2012
Many business owners find their wealth is mostly tied up in their businesses, which provides well for them and their families. When it comes to protecting their business, however, business owners often have not quantified how they would replace their income when the time comes for them to exit or sell their business and retire.