Slow economy bruises profits of Indiana’s largest public companies
One-time events influenced bottom lines of some of the few companies that made more money in 2009.
Marc D. Allan
Articles
Recession hammered revenue of Indiana’s largest public companies
Few escaped the Great Recession unscathed, and unusual circumstances helped some appear as though they did.
Volunteers in Medicine fill need as boomers retire
Not-for-profit sees increasing numbers of patients, but can't plug the entire gap to be created by health care retirements.
Hiring family, friends can be dicey for business owners
Employing relatives or pals can be a godsend or a nightmare for small firms. And anecdotal evidence suggests it could be even
rougher on women business owners than it is on men.
Greenfield chain makes gas stations a family affair
In high-turnover industry of gas stations and convenience stores, Greenfield-based GasAmerica builds loyalty under the guidance of CEO Stephanie White-Longworth.
Carmel man’s coupon app for iPhone grabbing Yowza response
A Carmel software developer’s app has gotten a lift from a Hollywood actor’s unrelenting promotion.
Elwood rock store expands inventory
Spencer Lapidary expands offerings to include stained glass and silver.
Poll shows IBJ Daily readers keenly interested in the environment
A solid majority of subscribers to IBJ Daily believes climate change is a serious problem, thinks carbon emissions
should be regulated, and wants Indianapolis to pursue mass transit on a broad scale, according to a poll conducted in July
by IBJ.
Sidewalk inspections help downtown get spiffed up for big events
They used to say that downtown Indianapolis rolled up the sidewalks at 6 p.m. No one says
that anymore. Now they say those sidewalks need to be clean. Sidewalk cleanliness is important on a day-to-day
basis for aesthetic reasons, but even more so when Indianapolis wants to put on its best face for major events
like the Final Four, the Indianapolis 500 and the Super Bowl.
Fishers biz grows from dog-walking to full-service pet care
Cristi Melson started Purrs & Gurrs 2-1/2 years ago with an idea and some fliers she distributed door to door. She
didn’t have a formal business plan then and still doesn’t.
Monarch program persuades young, male workers to care about their health
Indianapolis-based Monarch Beverage is among hundreds of central Indiana companies that
have introduced wellness programs to counteract the rising costs of health insurance and Worker’s Compensation.
Ron Henriksen has accumulated a lifetime of mergers and acquisitions
A light touch and an eye for detail have brought Ron Henriksen riches and adventure in a humble life of deal-making. And at
age 70, he has no plans to stop.
Banks building new branches despite online age
Bank transaction counts—the number of people going into banks to make a deposit, cash a check or
conduct some other form of business—have declined in recent years with the increased popularity
of direct deposit, online banking and easy ATM accessibility. So why add branches?
Audiovox cranking out digital antennas as consumers prepare for changeover
The biggest remnant of the former Thomson consumer electronics operation in Carmel is cashing in on the digital TV transition
with a higher-tech version of the rabbit ears.
Faced with competition, record shops look for fresh ways to rock
Music CD sales are falling–down 8 percent so far in 2005–while digital downloading of music jumped 163 percent. And nearly one-third of the nation’s record stores have closed in the past three years. Even so, Indianapolis record-store owners say they’ve been reasonably successful adapting to a changing marketplace.