July 2014 Features

• Should Your Small Business Just Ignore These 7 Technologies?

  July 31, 2014

  New technologies are released every day. For those small business owners that have shiny object syndromes (SOS), they can be hard to resist. Many are pushed to thinking that in order to have a competitive edge, they need to offer their customers the latest technology. However, for the good of your company, here are seven that you may need to ignore for now.

• Should You Demand a Return on Investment From Business Travel?

  July 30, 2014

  How do you choose when to travel, and when not to, for your business? The smart business owner expects a return on investment from business travel. That means having a plan for your trip, and then following through on the plan after the trip.

• Piedmont Construction Group Faces the Opportunity & Challenge of Growth

  July 29, 2014

  Business at Piedmont Construction Group has been "wide open in the first half of 2014 and will remain busy," according to Vice President of Pre-Construction Christy Kovac. Piedmont is a multi-specialty construction firm founded in 1995 by brothers Scott and David Thompson. It has offices in Macon and Athens.

• The Hidden Costs of an Unreliable Internet Connection

  July 28, 2014

  In business, an unreliable Internet connection costs dollars and cents. It’s that simple. Let’s break down the real issues and what they could cost you, to measure how important your Internet connection is.

• Does Self-Employment Really Rise in Recessions?

  July 25, 2014

  Some observers argue that self-employment is counter-cyclical. Focusing on people’s decisions to go into business for themselves, these researchers argue that some of the people who lose their jobs when the economy contracts enter into self-employment, rather than becoming unemployed or exiting the labor force.

• Come Home to Macon’s College Hill Corridor

  July 24, 2014

  With more than $90 million invested in Macon’s College Hill Corridor, a two square mile area between Mercer University and Historic Macon’s downtown business district about an hour south of Atlanta, through private and public investments, Knight Foundation Investments and Mercer University as well as investments by Macon-Bibb County, it’s no wonder this community is a hot bed for entrepreneurship and innovation while serving as the breeding ground for a hip hometown vibe.

• Common Entrepreneurial Advice That You Need to Ignore

  July 23, 2014

  Entrepreneurs get advice every day from their professional advisors and information they read. A lot of it needs to be ignored. Pay close attention to disregarding these platitudes and what to do instead.

• What are Some Sources of Start-up Funding?

  July 22, 2014

  The latest Gallup-Wells Fargo Small Business Index, a representative telephone survey of 600 small business owners conducted at the end of March 2014, provides some interesting statistics on where current small company owners got the money they needed to start their businesses.

• How to Improve Your Self Control – It’s the Key to Your Success

  July 21, 2014

  If you’re tired of reading self help books and seemingly never getting anywhere, you may be interested in a study that found a single factor — self-control — to be one of the primary keys to success.

• Manage Your Future – Building your personal brand...

  July 18, 2014

  Have you ever wondered why certain people always appear to be in te right place at the right time? You know the ones I’m talking about; they always seem to get the next great opportunity; the promotion, the new job, the big order. In a world with so much noise and so many choices, how do we set ourselves apart and actually differentiate who we are? How do we become this sought-after person?

• Merrill Lynch Scorecard Shows Productivity Tied to Employees’ Financial Well-Being

  July 17, 2014

  Merrill Lynch recently released their 401(k) Wellness Scorecard for the second quarter, with results showing a positive increase in financial habits from plan participants. We spoke with James Wallace and Deborah Howard, Managing Directors – Wealth Management, Global Corporate & Institutional Advisory Services, to get their take on the results of the scorecard and why more companies need to become invested in the financial well-being of their employees.

• YKK AP America to Expand Macon Plant

  July 16, 2014

  In an effort to keep up with increasing customer demands, YKK AP America Inc. plans to expand its residential window plant in Macon, Ga. Slated to begin production in January 2015, the expansion will allow YKK AP to double the plant’s production capacity.

• When is the Best Time to Trademark Your Company Name?

  July 15, 2014

  For the new business that is just starting out, a common question is, “When is the right time to file a trademark application?” Should business owners bother registering before their product or service is ready, or just wait until they’re ready to officially launch to the marketplace?

• 10 Ways to Use the BBB to Grow Your Business

  July 14, 2014

  If you own a business, you already know about the Better Business Bureau and the importance of its ratings. But that isn’t all the BBB has to offer. We discuss some of the lesser-known features of the BBB and how they might be able to boost your business growth.

• Should You Ever Make a Counter Offer to an Employee?

  July 11, 2014

  It’s no secret that competition for experienced employees is heating up. Despite the economy’s ups and downs, the news continues to be filled with reports that businesses seeking to hire can’t find qualified workers. So if you have qualified workers on board, how far should you go to retain them? When a key employee gets a job offer, should you consider making a counter offer?

• 3 Classic Recipes in Case Your Brand Ever Gets Grilled

  July 10, 2014

  Yes, it’s true. The Paula Deen Network is launching in September. The celebrity cook, whose career was nearly burnt, is cooking up something new – and digital. Just in case your brand ever gets grilled, we look at three fast and easy tips inspired by the digital rebranding of Paula Deen.

• 3 Ways to Keep Your Small Business Growing & Gaining Ground

  July 09, 2014

  As many business leaders spent the last year focused on cutting costs and staying competitive, small-business employers specifically took measures to hold fast – making careful choices about hiring, compensation and employee benefits options.

• Robins Regional Chamber Guarantees Benefits for Engaged Members

  July 08, 2014

  The Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce is so confident that members who actively engage in its programs will realize meaningful value, it recently issued a money-back guarantee. Any member who follows the Chamber's recommended guidelines for attending events and meets stated criteria but is not satisfied after one full year of membership may receive a refund of their membership dues.

• Kumho Tire Co. Inc. to Begin Construction on Manufacturing Facility in Macon

  July 07, 2014

  Kumho Tire Co., Inc. announced Tuesday from Korea that the Korean-based company will restart the construction of a state of the art automotive tire plant in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia. This will be Kumho Tire's first plant in the US. The plant is expected to be in production by early 2016. It represents a $413M investment in the community.

• Central Georgia Hospitals Announce Strategic Partnership

  July 02, 2014

  Oconee Regional Health Systems and Oconee Regional Medical Center in Milledgeville along with Central Georgia Health System and The Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon today announced their intent to enter a partnership that will allow the two entities to jointly develop healthcare services for the benefit of Milledgeville and its seven surrounding counties.

• Mercer Medicine to Open New Medical Complex

  July 01, 2014

  Mercer Medicine – the multi-physician practice and subsidiary of the Mercer University School of Medicine and the Mercer Health Sciences Center – will open its new multi-specialty physician medical complex in downtown Macon in July.