What’s New: Happy Dog Hotel and Spa
This week, meet Bev Schroeder, who opened Happy Dog Hotel and Spa in Carmel last month.
Small Business
Articles
Small businesses angle for piece of the big game
More than 400 companies statewide qualified for this year’s NFL Emerging Business program, an initiative that aims to open doors for minority- and women-owned enterprises seeking a sliver of Super Bowl spending.
House bill would cut barber licensing requirement
Besides no longer requiring barbers and cosmetologists to be licensed, the bill also exempts dieticians, hearing aid dealers, private investigators and security guards.
Indianapolis-area mergers and acquisitions in 2011
A number of acquisitions last year disclosed no sale price. In the Indianapolis area, those deals ranged from MacAllister Machinery’s purchase of a Caterpillar dealership in Michigan to Herff Jones’ acquisition of a Memphis, Tenn.-headquartered maker of cheerleading uniforms.
Indiana deals ranged upward of $800 million
Mergers and acquisitions in 2011 ranged from WellPoint’s acquisition of CareMore to a trucking company merger.
Entrepreneurs take risks without betting the farm
Some small-business owners are taking divergent paths to build revenue during difficult economic times. Some are adding products and services, while others are focusing on core competencies. What’s your take on the different strategies?
INSIDE DISH: Noodle readies for Super Bowl rush
Owner Hal Yeagy expects at least three months of business over 10 days at the newly nonsmoking Slippery Noodle Inn, and he's spending nearly $300,000 on physical improvements and a temporary tent to make sure it rocks.
Extras help small firms boost business
Small businesses like KnowSweat Workouts increasingly are adding products and services to keep revenue flowing during tight economic times.
What’s New: Violet Vintage
This week, we meet Vanessa Grider, who opened Violet Vintage this fall. The company collects and rents out unusual—and often time-tested—party supplies.
Brugge owners eye downtown buildings for brewery, eatery
Owners of Broad Ripple’s Brugge Brasserie want to bring a new restaurant concept to the Massachusetts Avenue district downtown, where they also plan to relocate the craft brewery that supplies beer to Brugge.
Edible Arrangements franchisee opens third location
Retha Parsley owns three franchises for Edible Arrangements, a fruit-bouquet-delivery business, including a new downtown location that also sells in-store dipped fruit, fruit smoothies and fruit parfaits.
New venue will give startup crowd a place to socialize, share ideas
A group of angel investors, entrepreneurs and high-tech aficionados on Jan. 18 will launch the Speak Easy, a 5,750-square-foot space on the southern edge of Broad Ripple that will serve as a gathering place for those active in the startup community.
LEADING QUESTIONS: Expanded Kahn’s banks on holidays
How much bubbly does Kahn's Fine Wines & Spirits sell at year's end? How have operations changed with the addition of two new stores? Owner Jim Arnold has answers.
What’s New: Vital Skates
Meet Naptown Roller Girls Amber Jones and Kate Bothwell, who opened Vital Skates in October to serve the growing roller derby community.
INSIDE DISH: Patrick’s finds room at the Inn in ‘X-mas miracle’
Beth Dickerson and Patrick Mullen had one month to find a new home for their struggling restaurant and move. A lucky break at Brick Street Inn and dozens of patrons (straight out of "It's a Wonderful Life") helped make it happen.
Entrepreneurial adventures offer lessons
Michael Cloran is problem solver. And he knows how to turn the answers into viable businesses. He also knows his limitations. Do you?
State SBDC network gets new director
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. announced Tuesday morning that Jacob Schpok officially has been named director of the agency. He was appointed interim director earlier in the month.
City goes after tow-company license
Indianapolis is moving to revoke the license of a prominent local towing company that officials say has violated local ordinances and elicited more than two dozen consumer complaints.
Independent doctors fear loss of referrals
Independent health care facilities, like Body One Physical Therapy, are seeing referrals from physicians beginning to slacken as more and more doctors become employees of hospitals. The hospitals request that doctors send patients to their in-house physical therapy practices.
WOJTOWICZ: Do homework before meeting business lender
Prepare to talk in detail about your business, the plans you are making and the reasons for expanding before you show the banker the facts and figures.