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7 Ways to Compete With Private-Label Brands
New Hope Network
As more consumers and retailers shift their focus and shelf space, respectively, towards private-label products, plenty of small businesses have been left wondering how they can best compete and stay relevant.
Any new food or startup is already an inherently better product line than a private label because the founders are trying to solve a problem they usually inherently understand, says Rob Lowe, co-founder of Hungry Harry’s, a Chicago-based company makes allergen-friendly line of baking mixes.
“When a founder sells something it’s done with a passion that’s unmatched by larger companies so that’s something that puts you ahead of the game,” he says.
The New York Times
Hacked? Don’t just run around in a panic, consciously uncouple your email accounts.
How B Corps Can Address Racial Inequities in the Workplace
New Hope Network
Anthea Kelsick, Co-CEO of B Lab U.S. and Canada, knows how difficult it is to navigate workplaces where diversity isn’t valued or emphasized enough.
“As a Black woman it has not been easy to be in predominantly white spaces for the entirety of my career,” says Kelsick, who has a BA in psychology from Stanford University and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. “When that occurs, you are inherently in environments that are not inclusive of your experience.”
3 Investment Strategies to Tackle Climate Change
U.S. News & World Report
Financial advisors say more investors want to make sustainable choices.
As coronavirus infections increase nationwide, many owners are still grappling with how to operate their businesses, keep their workers safe and comply with federal, state and local laws.
There’s a lot to navigate.
Eric Swan, an attorney with Lathrop GPM in Kansas City, Missouri, who handles civil litigation for personal injury defense claims for Fortune 500 companies, says businesses need to start preparing for more employee and third-party claims against their businesses.
“For the most part it’s a hodge-podge list of city, county or state ordinances telling employers what they should do, some of which are based on industry or type of business,” says David Barron, a Houston-based labor and employment attorney at Cozen O’Connor.
Industry Veterans Offer Up Words of Wisdom for Times of Crisis
NEw Hope Network
With the natural food industry grappling on how to manage their businesses in the middle of coronavirus, many industry leaders gathered for a town hall webinar to collaborate on potential solutions.
4 Ways to Become A Better Investor
U.S. News & World Report
No one becomes a savvy investor overnight. The best investors are always learning about investing. What's more, these investors recognize that every investment comes with a built-in trade-off.
What is a Registered Investment Advisor?
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
A financial advisor who isn't earning commissions can help develop a strong investing future.
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
Water. We drink it, we swim in it and it's vital to human life. Despite being the world's most precious resource, many people are only beginning to realize it's becoming scarce.
Think back to Kevin Costner's 1995 post-apocalyptic film, "Waterworld," where the polar ice caps had melted and earth was covered by the rising seas. Drifter pirate-types searched for land and fresh water.
Many laughed off the science fiction. According to a recent report by the United Nations, the world will only have 60 percent of the water it needs by 2030 without significant global policy change. Now as governments and businesses — even French wine investors — are seeking higher ground with a warming climate and rising sea levels, many still haven't considered investing in water.
How to Invest in the Internet of Things
U.S. News & World Report
As the conversion of big data and analytics continues to grow, business are ramping up their involvement in the Internet of Things to hyper-personalize and customize every aspect of their companies. At the same time, the growth of this nebulous network that connects anything digital is attracting investors who are increasingly aware of growing opportunities.
How to Invest in Equity Crowdfunding
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
Want to invest like the rich do? Now's your chance – to a point.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is now allowing individuals to invest in companies via web-based crowdfunding portals, known as intermediaries, via the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or JOBS act.
Options: most financial experts either love them or hate them.
"Many certified financial planners would not touch options with a 15-foot pole," says Barbara Kay, who coaches financial experts around the country via her certified woman business enterprise in Wheaton, Illinois.
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
As cities become more connected, there are more avenues for investing.
8 Investing Lessons From NFL Players
U.S. News & World REport
Plenty of stories have circulated about NFL athletes who are bankrupted two years after they retire, or undergoing financial stress. There are plenty of similar tales of woe about how restaurant owners or tech startups fail in their first year.
"Every athlete is essentially an entrepreneur," says former NFL linebacker Dhani Jones, who now owns a Cincinnati-based private equity company. "When you get out the league, you're making the transition into the real world, but ultimately you've just sold your last business."
8 Tips for Achieving Work-Life Balance
REjuvenate Magazine
From juggling upcoming events and travel plans to managing housework, your spouse, children and pets, finding work-life balance can be a struggle. It can be equally difficult to find personal time or a moment to visit with friends. Consider these tips to keep your home life—and your sanity—intact.
FoodService Director Magazine
Crafted monthly business-based advice columns from phone interviews with three industry experts.
So You've Got a Great Business Idea
TIME OUT CHICAGO MAGAZINE
…but you have no clue how to get it off the ground. Local entrepreneurs offer a plan of attack to make your vision a reality.
How to Keep Your Warehouse Clean and Operational During COVID-19
New Hope Network
Unlike many companies, Pure Synergy, a privately held, family-owned and operated organic supplement company headquartered in Moab, Utah, usually keeps a six-month supply of raw materials to fulfill orders.
That’s in addition to a six- to nine-month supply of finished inventory.
As a result, when COVID-19 hit, Pure Synergy was more prepared than most.
10 Budget-Friendly Recommendations for Strengthening a Chain
Restaurant Business
Advice from the annual National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago. Here are some of the inexpensive ways they suggested to improve a chain’s consumer research, real estate prowess, financial performance and other functions.
How to Plan a Convention in the Great Lakes Region
Connect Magazine
Columbus Commons in Columbus, Ohio, is a 7-acre park with a carousel, bocce courts, gardens, a stage,
life-size chess and Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion. It’s one of the abundant spaces in the the Great Lakes area attracting meetings.
How Ripple Was Able to Get Into Big-Box Retailers Like Target
New Hope Network
When Adam Lowry initially launched Ripple Foods in Target and Whole Foods Market in 2016 the pea-protein dairy alternative company only had four SKUs for its 48-ounce Ripple Milks. In three years, Ripple has expanded into eight product lines and 26 individual SKUs—half of all SKUs were launched in 2019—as the company has scaled into a brand available in over 13,000 retailers in the U.S. and Canada.
How to Host a Live Cooking Demo at Your Event
Connect Magazine
Culture of Collaboration: Q&A with Jason Fried
Connect Magazine
When he co-founded 37signals, a Chicago-based software firm in 1999, Jason Fried had no idea he’d become The New York Times bestselling co-author of “Rework,” a book about starting and running a “right-sized” business.”
Orange Magazine
The right planning couple with a robust database of content can turn a wine app into the perfect pour…
Five years ago Rick Breslin, CEO and co-founder of the wine app Hello Vino, was running a small Web agency, Drive Thru Interactive, for wineries in Bristol, Calif. Based on what he learned from his clients, Breslin started purchasing wine at local grocery stores and wine shops. After noticing confused shoppers beside him, Breslin began giving out free wine pairing advice based on a few questions.
CONNECT MAGAZINE
Although weak consumer spending and a slow economic recovery have hampered growth for many American businesses in recent years, the franchise sector is gradually growing.
How to Create a Cohesive Brand Experience
AMERICAN EXPRESS OPEN FORUM
Design is communication, visual communication. The more you have going on, the harder it is to be understood. So how can businesses create a cohesive brand experience?
CHICAGO MAGAZINE
Lost in front of the Web address bar? Search engines letting you down? We scoured the Web to find the sites that make the lives of Chicagoans better in the real world, winnowing the chaff from the wheat to give you the best real-estate search, the most active foodie forum, the top local news sources, and much, much more.
8 Ways to Network During the Holidays to Find a Job
AMERICAN EXPRESS OPEN FORUM
The holidays bring plenty of parties, family gatherings and work functions. That makes the final weeks of the year the perfect time to network, especially if you are looking for a job.
CHICAGO MAGAZINE
More Americans than ever are clicking “Add to Cart.” Check this out: how much Chicago spends online and what all that cash buys.
App Essentials: How a Traditional Publisher Built a No. 1 App
AMERICAN EXPRESS OPEN FORUM
Traditionally, book and magazine publishers are the last to convert to a new technology. Despite initial hesitations, Jason Patendaude, president and CEO of Chicago-based Carus Publishing, a children's magazine and book business, got creative and took a calculated risk.
Get the Job You Want When No One is Hiring
AMERICAN EXPRESS OPEN FORUM
Do you think it's too hard to get a job in this economy? Are you holding our for your dream job? Think again. The economy isn't great but there are plenty of ways to get a good job if you are willing to change your perspective.
Beckett Media
Chicago Apartment Market Gets Competitive
Time Out Chicago magazine
Finding an apartment in this city isn’t usually a competitive sport. That cutthroat stuff is for New York, where apartment seekers have been scrambling for a few hundred square feet in Manhattan for years, in many cases engaging in bidding wars with rival renters. But lately, Chicagoans like myself are seeing would-be neighbor turn against would-be neighbor in pursuit of nice rental digs.
The increasingly dog-eat-dog market is no surprise to real estate experts. Eric Enloe, managing director of Chicago-based Integra Realty Resources—the largest valuation and consulting firm in North America; it conducts feasibility studies on residential and commercial real estate—says this is happening as foreclosures push people into a market already saturated by those who would be buyers in a better market.
Getting your invention patented is important but navigating the process can be tricky.
BC Krishna recently flew to Phoenix for a conference on payment solutions. He wasn’t just attending the event — as the founder of MineralTree, an accounts payable company that processes over $1 billion annually, he was scheduled to give a talk on how his startup securely initiates electronic payments without requiring the transfer of sensitive bank account information from either party.
Before he shared this proprietary information with the crowd, however, he had to do one thing: file for a provisional patent. Thankfully, he’s not new to the patent game.
The U.S.’s First Organic Farm REIT is Based in Evanston
Crain’s Chicago Business
Access to capital is notoriously difficult for farmers. Growing and raising certified organic food is even more daunting. That's because the USDA requires organic farmers to work the soil for three years before allowing them to certify their crops as organic. What's more, yields are lower for a good five years after starting out while the soil becomes richer.
5 Factors to Consider Before Seeking VC Funding
New Hope Network
When it comes to seeking venture capital, Douglas Raggio, managing partner of Bias & Blind Spots, likes to decry its problems and pitfalls to founders.
Even though Raggio says an infusion of venture capital has gone up by a factor of 10 since he entered the healthy food and beverage industry as an investor more than a decade ago, he’s quick to point out very few successful independent businesses have staying power: About half of all U.S. small businesses survive the first five years, yet only one in three make it 10 or more years according to a Small Business Administration report released in 2018.
New Hope Network
When Samy Kobrosly, co-founder and “chief snack bagger” of Snacklins was trying to launch his Washington-based food startup in 2016, he needed someone to run his production line.
He hired Silvia Escoto, the sister of a line cook he worked with at a barbecue restaurant in Washington. Initially, he waited tables to pay her salary.
“The biggest challenge most businesses face is finding good production talent,” says Kobrosly, who has 21 employees and manufacturers out of a 5,000-square-foot Rockville, Maryland, warehouse.
The Future of Foodservice: Here’s What to Expect
New Hope Network
Think salad bars and hot delis are gone for good? Not so fast, says Corinne Shindelar, the founder and former CEO and president of Independent Natural Food Retailers Association.
“It’s all over the board, just like everything else,” Shindelar says. “But that is one part of the grocery experience that is going to totally remake itself.”
How to Find the Roth IRA Sweet Spot
U.S. News & World Report
Timing is everything, especially when it comes to making the proper tax conversions for a retirement savings account.
Knowing how and when to convert a 401(k) to a Roth 401(k) investments or transition a traditional individual retirement account – better known as an IRA – to a Roth IRA can have big tax implications.
Fred Neubauer, president and CEO of FDM Business Development, learned some key pieces of wisdom 20 years ago after his wife died of cancer.
Suddenly Neubauer had to figure out how to run a business while being a father to a two- and three-year-old. The experience taught him three lessons that he recommends business owners use today to help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
“Stay in the moment,” says Neubauer, who who lives in Bayside, Wisconsin, and has a condo in Chicago where his company of 24 employees is headquartered. “Eliminate negative thinking, you just can’t let it in. Third, and most importantly, focus on what you can do.”
How Debt-Laden Millennials Can Invest
U.S. News & World Report
Time is an investor's most valuable asset, and that's one thing millennials have. By starting early, millennials can put their savings to work earning compounding interest.
Of course, that same principle of compounding interest works against you with debt, especially as interest rates climb and make revolving credit card balances, for example, even more costly.
3 Ways to Use Unique Sampling Methods
New Hope Network
When RollinGreens co-founders Lindsey and Ryan “Chef Ko” Cunningham wanted to launch their business they took out a $25,000 loan to customize a food truck. Less than two months later it was operational and on the road.
Power Women: Stacy’s Rise Project Class of 2020
New Hope Network
Juanita Flowers, the founder and CEO of Minneapolis-based Juanita’s Jar, was just starting to distribute her bite-sized, preservative-free cookies when COVID-19 hit.
Flowers, a mother of two teenagers and a survivor of domestic abuse, wasn’t sure what she was going to do. “When COVID hit, I instantly lost 75% of my revenue,” she says.
She applied for a job to bring in extra income, but didn’t get the position. In April, she sent an email to her customers on her distribution list asking them to buy more cookies. “I told them, ‘I need you guys to buy, we are in trouble and may have to close our doors,’” she says. “And my customers showed up.”
Less than six weeks later, on Monday, May 25, George Floyd was murdered across the street from Flowers’ production kitchen. “We couldn’t operate with the civil unrest,” she says. “So it was one thing after another.”
Spindrift: 3 Lessons Learned Along the Way
New Hope Network
On the white wall in the kitchen of Spindrift’s headquarters in Newton, Massachusetts, are six words painted in big block letters: ambition, respect, collaboration, agility, innovation and trust.
Like a guiding North Star, Bill Creelman, founder and CEO of Spindrift, says these words serve as a daily reminder.
“We all come from different backgrounds and experiences, but we must share these core values as a business,” says Creelman, who co-founded Stirrings which was sold to Diageo in 2009. “It’s made us open to change and not afraid to challenge ourselves.”
Here’s his entrepreneurial advice to other founders.
When it comes to natural body and skincare, the name Badger has become synonymous with being a socially and environmentally conscious company known for organic products like its infamous Badger Balm.
Sixteen years after the family-owned and -operated company began in Gilsum, New Hampshire, W.S. Badger Co. opted to become a Certified B Corporation in 2011. Since then, Badger’s B Impact Score has gradually risen to the top 10%, earning a score of 141.2 in 2018 with “Best For the World” and “Best for the Environment” recognitions out of more than 2,000 Certified B corps.
When Arno Hesse speaks, business leaders listen.
Hesse, a co-leader and investor with Slow Money Northern California, knows everyone is concerned about how COVID-19 will change communities nationwide.
Because it impacts everything else, Hesse argues that the most important question to answer right now is “How do we keep our local food sources alive and afloat over the next few weeks and months?”
5 Questions to Ask a Fiduciary
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
Understand how your advisor is being compensated to become a more informed investor....
There's a lot of confusion about who is and who isn't a fiduciary, and what the term really means for investors.
"I come across many advisors that use this term quite loosely," Stephen Rischall, a fiduciary financial adviser and co-founder at 1080 Financial Group in Sherman Oaks, California. "The only way you are going to know is by directly asking how an advisor is being compensated."
Almost half – 46 percent – of all Americans mistakenly believe that all financial advisors are already required to put their clients' interests first when it comes to retirement, according to a recent report by Financial Engines.
Connect magazine
Working smarter, not harder, isn’t a dream, it’s a reality—especially for planners who have to budget time wisely. To maximize minutes, here are six clever ideas to consider adopting.
How to Buy Security Technology Stocks
U.S. News & World Report
As cybersecurity evolves, here's what investors should consider.
From parking lot security cameras to a coffee pot in the breakroom or a printer that was recently upgraded with Wi-Fi capabilities, there are plenty of ways for hackers to infiltrate a digital network or remotely monitor activities within a business.
6 Tips to Invest Like a Venture Capitalist
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
For nearly two decades, John Dougery, managing director of Inventus Capital Partners, has been investing in the startup community in Silicon Valley and India.
"Last year I reviewed 2,200 business plans," he says. "And I invested in six of them." That was after Dougery says he personally met with representatives of more than 600 startups.
What Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Investing in Startups
U.S. News & World Report
Concerns about Silicon Valley unicorns have investors scrambling over the valuation of tech companies.
6 Facts to Know Before Investing in a Restaurant
U.S. News & World Report
How to Invest in Co-Working Spaces
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
As the shared economy continues to evolve companies – both big and small – are managing their expense lines and testing new urban markets with co-working spaces.
In the past, many co-working companies were targeted toward freelancers and startups. According to the CBRE Group's 2015/2016 Americas Occupier Survey of 226 Americas-based corporate real estate organizations, more than 40 percent of respondents are using or considering shared workplaces.
13 Tips for Saving and Investing While Owning a Business
U.S. News & World Report
When it comes to saving and investing in his small business, Bill Hammer Jr. likes to joke he did what any good investor does – he sold at the top.
That meant cashing in on his conducting career after earning two Grammy awards and re-engineering his father's business in 2008 into a boutique wealth management firm in New York.
Chicago Magazine
FoodService Director Magazine
Created a 50-person Chefs' Council of industry subject matter experts. Interviewed foodservice professionals each month on one timely business trend.
FoodService Director magazine
How foodservice directors can steal business ideas from other industry experts. Led project redesign of FSD in 2015 that included the complete revamp of this final page in the monthly book.
Michigan Avenue magazine
How Nancy Bigley Brought Wine/Art Parties to Chicago.
Michigan Avenue Magazine
There are foolish gambles, and there are calculated risks. For hotel real estate and private equity investor John Rutledge, the founder and CEO of Chicago's Oxford Capital Group, avoid the former has made all the difference.
7 Steps to Get Your Event Wi-Fi Ready
Connect Magazine
Planning a conference or a convention takes a lot of work. But making sure there is the appropriate amount of Wi-Fi while trying to minimize costs can be particularly challenging.
How to Break Up With A Business Partner
AMERICAN EXPRESS OPEN FORUM
Break-ups are always difficult. Some are more amicable than others. When it comes to the legalities of a divorce, be it personal or a business relationship, most people run to an attorney and prepare for battle.
Spotlight on Chicago's Tech Scene
Collaborate Magazine
Silicon Valley is known as the biggest technology haven in the U.S., but Chicago has rapidly grown in the past few years as a tech startup hot spot in the Midwest. Companies like Groupon, GrubHub and 37signals started in the Second City.
Tips for Planning a Religious Convention in the Great Lakes Region
Rejuvenate Magazine
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus, Ohio, makes a lush setting for meetings during spring and summer months. The John F. Wolfe Palm House, shown here, has a double grand staircase descending into a tropical garden. Learn about more stand-out spaces in the Great Lakes region in the following pages.
Cover story about convention, meeting and event planners who are using innovative technology.
Iron Butterflies: How Remarkable Women Lead
AMERICAN EXPRESS OPEN FORUM
Iron Butterflies. Although some may think of the 1960’s psychedelic rock band, this concept is about women taking charge. At its core, its about making women great leaders and highlighting the many female negotiators who often get overlooked by upper management.
Entrepreneur Throws Hats in Ring
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Jenny Gerst knew this was her moment. But three minutes to sell hopes and dreams isn’t a lot of time. Hands sweating, cue cards ready, she clenched the stopwatch as she prepared for her sales pitch in a Navy Pier conference room.
RESTAURANTS & INSTITUTIONS
Frozen yogurt is back with new chains, new flavors, new style and ambitious plans.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine
40 interviews in less than four weeks...
App Essentials: What Every Business Needs to Know About Building A Killer App
AMERICAN EXPRESS OPEN FORUM
Many companies want to create an app. But where do you begin? There's so much to consider. It's important to do it on the front end, because adding details after a contract has been signed with a developer can cost significantly more money.