Family has steely plan for shifting business to next generation
Westfield Steel owners Karyn and Fred Prine are well on the way to transitioning to the next generation—son Fritz—thanks to timely planning.
Small Biz Profiles
Articles
Fountain Square staple Peppy Grill thrives on independence
The sign behind the counter at the we-never-close greasy spoon sums up its distinct personality: “Cows may come and cows may go, but the bull in this place goes on forever.”
Wrecker business emerges from sad circumstances
After Tammy and Tony Hanna each lost a parent to cancer, the couple took $175,000 from their parents’ life-insurance policies to start Hanna’s Wrecker Service. It opened in October 2008 with five trucks and 13 employees, and now has seven trucks and 17 workers, and plans to move to a larger site that will allow for additional growth.
Holy Cross startup sees plenty of room for more craft brewers
A startup brewery called Flat 12 Bierwerks has ignited a revival along lonely Dorman Street in Holy Cross, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.
INSIDE DISH: Saffron Cafe surges in second year
After a $150,000 startup and skin-of-their-teeth opening in 2009, sales at downtown's Moroccan eatery have spiked as word has spread.
Office-supply cooperative Stationers lands big contract
A local company whose mission is to help mom-and-pop office-products dealers survive has a new weapon in the fight against big-box retailers.
Production firm turns out TV shows without leaving state
Indiana-based MMY Productions, an independent production company that specializes in reality TV, is working on a new show that chronicles action at Terre Haute’s Crossroads Raceway.
Old-school costume shop survives new competition
Costumes by Margie isn’t a strip mall box store full of packaged—and disposable—costumes for sale. The shop has a variety of clothing and accessories for rent and a staff, including owner Cheryl Harmon, ready to help put together whatever disguise a customer can dream up.
Surveillance trailblazer Exacq Technologies touts big clients, rapid growth
Clever adaptation of new technology has helped propel Exacq Technologies’ dizzying 1,624-percent growth rate in the last three years.
Owners enjoy Melody Inn’s niche as well-worn music venue
Since Melody Inn owners Dave Brown and Rob Ondrish bought the 38th and Illinois streets mainstay in 2001, they figure more than 7,000 bands have played on the 18-inch-high stage tucked just inside their front door.
Summer is key time for those who raise Christmas trees
Christmas and July harmonize like a blizzard on Independence Day, but the summer months are perhaps the most vital for Tom
Dull and his wife, Kerry, who raise 23,000 Christmas trees on their peaceful farm in Thorntown.
Independent optic lab fights giants with technology
Bill Harding and his two partners in LensTech Optical, Greg Kyle and Greg Dallas, are striving to keep up with as many of
the changes in the eyeglass manufacturing business as possible. It’s a tall order for a lab with fewer than 30 employees.
Stone Creek owner adding to his dining empire
Mike Cunningham has run dining spots ranging from a bar and grill to yogurt stands and is now growing a popular chain of upscale
restaurants—primarily under the Stone Creek Dining Co. name—in Indiana and Ohio.
INSIDE DISH: Harried chef at R bistro tries to keep it fresh
In IBJ's new video feature on front-burner business issues that vex restaurants, Regina Mehallick
of downtown's R bistro mulls the financial and personal demands of running a chef-owned eatery with a menu that changes
every week.
Noblesville company has high hopes for pomegranate
Verdure Sciences, a botanical-extract distributor, has invested more than $1 million in marketing and research,
and hopes to see its product in more
foods and drinks, perhaps even mouthwash.
Adversity prepared health exec for new role at helm of SynCare
Stephanie DeKemper believes everything in her adult life has prepared her to run SynCare LLC. She’s so
sure that she’s buying the company.
Safis Solutions speaks ‘FDA’
Indianapolis regulatory compliance consultant Safis Solutions snares contracts with Eli Lilly, other big clients. CEO Ping
Poulsen has built company to 20 employees.
Barber shop thrives on retro appeal
Brownsburg’s Everyday Joe’s Barber Shop offers personal touch and a retro look.
Marketing firm Brandwidth helps clients with online branding
Firm combines traditional marketing, Web technology to help companies build successful brands. Measurable results help companies
document effectiveness.
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.