Features
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Your Brand Equals Higher Profits
May 23, 2014
It's proven. Strong brands drive higher profits. In fact, most of the value of some of the biggest corporations in the world are their brand, not their buildings or the equipment.
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World Class Care in the Heart of Georgia
May 22, 2014
Dr. Ninfa Saunders took the helm of Central Georgia Health System in 2012, and the President and CEO has already made a number of noteworthy changes – not an easy feat when the organization is already considered by many to be world-class.
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Georgia Primaries Bring Expected Congressional Runoffs
May 21, 2014
Tuesday’s primary election results brought runoffs for candidates for both houses of Congress.
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Underdog Businesses Must Work Harder
May 20, 2014
Small business owners are almost always underdogs. They deal with competition from companies with much larger budgets and more resources at their disposal. So how can David compete with Goliath? In a recent sit-down with Inc.’s Issie Lapowski, author Malcolm Gladwell explained.
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How to Keep Your Family Business All in the Family
May 19, 2014
Is your small business family-owned? Family business owners are feeling optimistic about the short term, but pessimistic about the long-term outlook for their companies, says a recent survey by The Alternative Board. The good news? If your family business is on the wrong track, there are some simple steps you can take to right it before it’s too late.
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A Quick Guide to What You Should Be Doing NOW for the Affordable Care Act
May 16, 2014
Between the time President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010 and today, there have been a number of adjustments and changes to its implementation. One thing hasn’t changed, however. As of 2014, Americans, including solopreneurs and employees of small businesses, are required to carry health insurance as individuals. If you don’t, you may face a penalty come tax time. However, subsidies may be available to make coverage affordable.
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Middle Georgia State College Sets Its Sights on University Status
May 15, 2014
On May 16th, more than 1,300 students are expected to graduate from Middle Georgia State College (MGSC) in ceremonies to be held at the Macon Coliseum. It will mark an exciting, new beginning for the graduates and, in many ways, for the school as well. Under new President Christopher Blake, Ph.D., MGSC is diversifying its program offerings, expanding its facilities and strengthening its commitment to provide greater access to educational opportunities for the people of Middle Georgia.
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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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Deal Between Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medical Center Falls Apart
May 13, 2014
Central Georgia Health System and its affiliated entities announced Monday that they are preparing for termination of their contracts with Blue Cross Blue Shield.
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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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No Such Thing As Bad Publicity? Apparently There Is
May 09, 2014
Think all that matters is how much people are talking about your brand online? Think again. A recent study finds sentiment is more important than volume of online conversations when it comes to driving sales.
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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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Local Economic Development officials Announce the Grand Re-Opening of Pactiv Plant
May 02, 2014
Mayor Robert Reichert was joined by local Economic Development and Pactiv officials for the Grand Re-Opening of the Pactiv facility in the Airport Industrial Park May 1, 2014. The 235,000 sq. ft. food packaging plant suffered a fire exactly one year ago that caused major damage to the facility. Because of Pactiv's commitment to their employees, customers and the community the company decided to rebuild in Macon.
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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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Resurgence After the Recession: Are You Ready?
April 28, 2014
While much advice has been dispensed to employees preparing for re-entering the workforce, not a whole lot of attention has been paid to how employers should prepare. If you’re an employer and you’re going to be hiring soon, preparation is the key to making a good decision.
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5 Possible Outcomes in Franchise Ownership
April 25, 2014
It always helps to have a goal or two in mind when pursuing something big, like becoming the owner of a franchise business – any business. Do you have a specific goal in mind? Do you have your “end game” visualized? Have you thought about some of the possible outcomes? Or, are you thinking about becoming the owner of a franchise business just to escape a lousy career-related situation? We look at some possible long-term outcomes that can happen as the result of becoming the owner of a franchise business.
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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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Alarion Bank Agrees to Merge with HeritageBank of the South
April 22, 2014
HeritageBank of the South, the banking subsidiary of Heritage Financial Group, Inc., and Alarion Bank, the banking subsidiary of Alarion Financial Services, Inc. today jointly announced a merger in which Alarion Bank will merge with and into HeritageBank, and Heritage will acquire all of the common stock of Alarion in a stock transaction valued at approximately $22.1 million.