"How's business?" That's my favorite question and the name of the Observer's newest business blog focused on job growth, manufacturing, entrepreneurs and everything in between.
Yes, that covers a lot of territory, but so do I.
Just this week, I've been to an entrepreneurs networking event at Packard Place uptown, the groundbreaking for the PORTAL building at UNCC and the Charlotte Regional Partnership's holiday party at NASCAR Plaza.
Next week you'll see me at the Charlotte Chamber's Economic Outlook Conference at the convention center featuring a number of local heavy hitters, and the World Affairs Council of Charlotte luncheon at The Westin featuring Alan Krueger, chairman of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers. And that's just so far.
Earlier, I've been to Westinghouse Boulevard twice for ribbon-cuttings, to Ballantyne, to Mooresville, to Matthews and to Bessemer City, among other places.
In short, if you don't have my business card, you will soon.
What I've heard during my travels is a guarded optimism. Yes, the national economy is still sputtering, and the big banks continue to make headlines for the wrong reasons, but Charlotte remains a thriving business community, if you know where to look. Manufacturing (See: Siemens expansion) and entrepreneurial endeavors are particular areas of growth. Just this week, two Charlotte-area startups, InfoSense and mailVU, won grants of up to $50,000 each from NC IDEA. The not-for-profit organization "targets promising technology companies that need help bridging the gap between initial product
development and venture capital funding." (I'll write more about those companies in future blogs.)
A bit of background about myself, which may help explain the tone and subject matter of this blog.
I grew up in Statesville, graduated from Davidson College with an English degree, worked a year in Chapel Hill for Carolina Blue magazine and then worked seven years in Charlotte as a business journalist with a focus on economic development and commercial real estate. I then took my talents to Cincinnati, where I laid the groundwork for Chiquita's eventual relocation (kidding), then on to D.C., where I ran my first -- and only -- marathon, and finally Huntsville, Ala., for 11 years.
In Huntsville, I worked for the daily newspaper, The Huntsville Times, in a variety of roles, including business editor and copy desk chief. And before you discount my time in Alabama, know that Huntsville is the Rocket City, a key player in the space program and home to all of the nation's largest defense contractors thanks to Redstone Arsenal.
(Whom do I like in the BCS national title game, by the way? Roll Tide, of course.)
I took a buyout from the Times in April 2010 and proceeded to go without full-time work for 18 months, so I know what it's like to be unemployed and wondering where your next paycheck is going to come from. I returned to North Carolina in February and began with the Observer in October, which brings us to the present and this blog.
So tell me, how's business?
Friday, December 16, 2011
My favorite question: How's business?
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9 comments:
Greetings and Salutations, Steve!
You are most welcome to this community and to the Observer. Our newspaper needs a higher profile in the business community and it sounds like you are it. Charlotte has been overly focused on recruiting businesses and less focused on nurturing and encouraging local businesses. Twenty small companies can add ten workers and provide more long-term benefit to this marketplace by building a diverse business base. Welcome. I look forward to meeting you. We have been writing about businesses for 12 years in Charlotte and we intend to keep doing so for many years. If I can ever be helpful, please give me a call. I look forward to meeting you soon.
My Wife just started her new company a year ago this month over in Concord, just near the speedway.
We could not believe the difference in how we were treated with such kindness and attention, from the Government Employees.
As of now we are looking for property, not only to build a building, but also will be moving out of Mecklenburg.
They way you are treated in Mecklenburg when you are not a big business, is amazing and sad.
So now we have created 18 jobs and growing in a county who has bent over backward to be a business friendly environment.
this article is an insult to the unemployed
Anon 5:41....
You should already know this "blog" will be rife with comments from Mayor Fixxit, BOCC Democrats, CCCP and the CRVA on a constant basis and how wonderful things are in Charlotte and the County.
All of these groups now have their very own Observer mouthpiece....
Business sucks...
...unless that is you are "looking" only where you want to.
Business these days is not for the faint of heart. My business caters to the construction industry and home remodeling. We are not sitting idly by waiting for business to come to us. We are agressive in the marketplace not only with our advertising but also with the expansion of product lines to diversify our client base. It's working! Our sales over the prior year is up 47% and we were up 50% from '09 to '10. We are a young company of only just over 4 years old so we were born in this economy. It is the only environment that we have existed. We carry very little debt and keep our overhead low but we strive on giving excellent service and product for our customers at prices that they can't get anywhere else. They win and by jove we do too!
Business has been great for us! Its true that in 2008 there was a recession, but since then, the recession has been over. We think of and market new campaigns a few times a month to drive new business and traffic to our several locations in Charlotte NC. If you are ever in the market for home remodeling or granite countertops in Charlotte, we are the ones you see!
We agree with other comments here -- since the recession in 2008, we have discovered new ways to make sales and get new business in the door. Whenever there is a recession or a problem with the economy, your business needs to change with the times. You need to think up new strategies to keep customers interested and coming in the door.
We just moved our business from Mint Hill into Matthews NC to better serve our customer base. Combined with a strong online campaign, we are pumping out the word of our new bridal salon. Since the move, sales have skyrocketed and since we are right off Hwy 74, we have seen a large increase in walk in traffic. So to answer your question, business is good -- and getting better. Check out our newly designed website in the link!
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