MARKETING: Why Discount Tire gets my vote, again and again
There are plenty of “low-tech” companies exploring ways to build social media into their marketing strategies
with outstanding results.
Small Business
Articles
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.
Dodson Group hit crisis mode after trusted CFO suspected of theft
At first, small-business owner Jim Dodson figured the problem must be a technical glitch. During a routine analysis of
aging unpaid invoices last September, one of his employees couldn’t tie the latest figures to the company’s ledger.
Accounts receivable for his company,
the Dodson Group, had been overstated by $2.7 million—double their true value. And $422,539 was missing from the firm’s
coffers.
INpact Medical Device Network matches start-ups with service providers
Industry groups in the life sciences, medical and information technology realms have helped lure companies to the region
and foster upstarts. Funding is almost always an issue, but it’s not the only barrier. Getting medical
devices to market often requires product design, development and marketing resources that aren’t
always apparent to upstarts.
Handmade chocolates shop opens location in Chase Tower
Best Chocolate in Town is expanding beyond its original store on Massachusetts Ave.
Summer program turns teens into entrepreneurs
Eighteen students from Indianapolis’ Haughville neighborhood sold their wares— ranging from caps and sunglasses
to purses
to home-baked cookies—as part of a summer business-education program
for low-income youth.
Tenants trickling in to Purdue’s technology center
For a city feverishly growing its technology and life sciences sectors, it seemed a bit anticlimactic last January when
Purdue University dedicated its new technology center with only one tenant. But the lone tenant in the $12.8
million complex, FlamencoNets, a high-tech telecommunications firm, is about to get some company.
Local company acquires monster truck series
The Promotion Co Inc., an Indianapolis-based event promoter, said today that it has acquired the Monster Nationals series
of monster-truck shows from Image Promotions Inc. in Chardon, Ohio.
Vet supplier promises 30 jobs in Whitestown
Idaho-based MWI Veterinary Supply Inc. said today it will establish distribution operations in Indiana by leasing space in
Whitestown, creating more than 30 new jobs by the end of the year.
Contractors, manufacturers hope clean-energy incentives, mandates lead to more business
Federal stimulus funds and greenhouse-gas legislation have the potential to spark a green version of the Gold Rush. Many Indiana
firms are retooling to sell products or services that are or might soon be in demand.
Carmel tech staffing firm Sales Diesel closes
Sales Diesel, a Carmel company that provided salespeople for technology companies, appears to be out of business. The firm’s Web site was taken down last week and calls to its 11590 N. Meridian St. offices were not returned.
Hamilton County Alliance spins off entrepreneurial center
The Hamilton County Alliance economic development group has spun off its Entrepreneurship Advancement Center, which serves
fast-growing startup businesses in Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield and the rest of Hamilton County.
Brownsburg car detailer lands link to upcoming movie
Mike Shumaker’s Brownsburg firm Driven Auto Detail spiffed up a Porsche for the upcoming movie “Whistleblower,” starring Matt
Damon.
Orr fellows finding opportunity in male-dominated tech industry
Many young women who have participated in the Governor Bob Orr Indiana Entrepreneurial Fellowship program have landed at high-flying local technology firms.
Emerging life sciences companies grabbing more in government grants
More emerging life science companies have found life in the form of federal
Small Business Innovation Research grants.
Downturn provides opportunity for restaurants hungry for expansion
The economic slump is giving independent local restaurants a shot at prime locations that in good times would be snapped up
by chains.
Barter network Tradebank opens branch in Indianapolis
The barter network Tradebank has opened a franchise in Indianapolis with two veterans from Louisville.
Arts festivals feel financial pinch
Art-show organizers are getting creative to keep their events alive as they struggle to attract sponsors and participating artists.
Is Indiana coming out of venture capital swoon?
Carmel-based Dormir LLC’s announcement July 29 of $12 million in venture financing was the second local life sciences
deal announced in July. It could suggest a turnaround from a woeful second-quarter performance, when Indiana life
sciences firms announced zero venture capital deals.
Time Factory will challenge Shutterfly, Flickr for Web photo market
Indianapolis calendar publisher Time Factory Publishing is launching a Website to compete with photo sharing and publishing
sites Shutterfly and Flickr.