May
29
Comply – or face calamity
Filed Under Business Builders, Editorial & Guest Columns | Leave a Comment
What you need to know about the Fair Labor Standards Act
By LISA L. GARRETT
Guest Contributor
The signs are clear – now more than ever, it is essential that employers know how to become compliant with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and stay that way.
Nationally, the number of wage and hour lawsuits filed in federal courts has more than doubled in the last five years. There are now more class action wage and hour suits filed than any other type of employment law class action, even outpacing discrimination cases.
In the United States, Florida ranks second – behind only California – for the number of wage and hour lawsuits filed by current or former employees, and more federal overtime claims are filed in South Florida than anywhere else in the country.
May
29
Manage your staff now – before it gets too big
Filed Under Business Builders, Editorial & Guest Columns | Leave a Comment
Performance management planning will put you on track to handle HR growth
By PAULINE CASON
Guest Columnist
When small businesses begin to grow, one of the first dilemmas they encounter is the management of people. It is important to think about the issues of employee remuneration, performance management and related issues early before precedents are set. Otherwise, they become difficult to deal with as staff levels grow.
May
29
Richard Florida applauds EDC’s Project Innovation
Filed Under Economic Development | Leave a Comment
Economist-author cites concensus building, framework
By ANNIE LINDSTROM
Business Writer
It’s time to put some meat on the bones of the business framework created by the 62 endorser companies involved in the Economic Development Council (EDC) of Collier County’s Project Innovation.
To help keep people motivated over the summer, the EDC brought in noted economist, university professor and bestselling author Richard Florida.
Without any PowerPoint slides or notes, Florida captivated a crowd of approximately 500 people for about an hour the evening of May 20 at the Naples Beach Club and Hotel. Before he began to speak, both Florida and Don Upton, Project Innovation moderator and president of Fairfield Index, praised the Project Innovation team for building consensus and producing a framework that will enable the group to move ahead. Both men also were impressed with a 56-page magazine the group produced that covers the content of each of the sessions and a timeline of the project through year-end 2009.
May
29
Going with the Flow
Filed Under Tourism, Trends | Leave a Comment
For small marine businesses, steady sales are no fish tale
“Boating and fishing is all about having fun – and fun is something people will only go so long without,” said Gary Ingman. Secure in this knowledge, the owner of Ingman Marine in Port Charlotte remains optimistic about the region’s marine industry in spite of rough economic waters.
He’s got the numbers on his side, too. A recent Associated Press report indicated that, along with other less expensive “feel good” items such as chocolate, lipstick, condoms and antacids, fishing equipment is now one of the 15 hottest selling products in the nation.
With few exceptions, many big businesses continue to report declines as cautious consumers eliminate larger discretionary purchases from their budgets. However, this year’s sales of boating and fishing supplies by small businesses in Southwest Florida have improved or held steady with 2008 results.
May
29
The future of marketing is electronic
Filed Under Going "Green", Profiles, Technology, Trends | Leave a Comment
An interview with Lisa Sparks
By BOB MASSEY
Editor
One thing Lisa Sparks knows about is small business marketing. And she doesn’t need a crystal ball to see its future.
As regional director of Constant Contact (www.constantcontact.com/southflorida), an e-mail marketing and survey firm, she has to be on top of the subject to be effective to her clients. But she spent time on the other side too, as a freelance commercial writer.
She was so successful at that career, she was cited by Peter Bowerman in his book “Back for Seconds” – the sequel to his bestselling “The Well-Fed Writer.” She was also featured in another sequel: “99 Cows” by internationally known marketing guru Seth Godin, author of numerous business bestsellers including “Purple Cow.”
“Lisa Sparks is one of my heroes in this biz,” Bowerman writes. “Here’s this extraordinarily impressive then-27-year-old African-American woman, who, through a winning combination of moxie, persistence, enthusiasm, resourcefulness, ingenuity, strong faith and plain old hard work, was building a thriving writing business, Integrity Writing in the small and predominantly white Fort Myers, Florida market area.
“Crucial to her success has been her mastery of e-mail marketing.”
It was that mastery that led her to her present position – and a place on the cusp of a growing trend.
May
29
Franchising - the way forward?
Filed Under Business Builders, Editorial & Guest Columns | Leave a Comment
Part III
Editor’s note: Last time we looked at personnel considerations and franchisor support. This instalment explores the financial aspects of franschising.
By KARL GIBBONS
Guest Columnist
A franchisor needs to establish an appropriate structure of fees, including advertising assessments, the franchisee will be required to pay. It also must have a thorough understanding of the investment that a typical franchisee will need to make. Finally, the franchisor needs to understand the financial results both entities can expect to achieve. Read more
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