Less than robust M&A activity
The market is waiting on deal flow, which is the prevailing theme from seven months of less than robust M&A activity in 2013. Fundamentals are supporting a favorable exit window for sellers. Increased deal activity has not yet shown up in the data, but there is pent up demand in the market from buyers and […]
Cut through overloaded marketing channels with a simplified message
A marketing epidemic, to put it mildly, has been impacting most businesses — and it’s time to think about keeping your message simple if you haven’t already done so. The roots of this epidemic can be traced back to two events. First, during the economic fall of 2008, as businesses looked for ways to preserve […]
World Entrepreneur of the Year: Overcoming Challenges
Monte Carlo has seen a lot of risk takers in its day, but not many have been like those who attended the recent EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year conference. These risk takers may use the term “gamble” every now and then, but they more often use their willingness to take a risk as a […]
Ah!thentic Ambition
Jack Butorac thought he had retired from the food industry in 2000, but a small Toledo, Ohio-based pizzeria was calling his name. “I failed at retirement and was starting to get a little itchy. Someone introduced me to the Marco’s Pizza brand, and I liked what I saw,” Butorac says. “I saw that the founder, […]
Raising the tide in Northeast Ohio
ABCO Fire Protection, founder of the Live Safe Foundation, took top honors recently as recipient of the Shatten Civic Distinction Award from The Entrepreneurs EDGE. Each year, as part of the Leading EDGE Awards Program, The Entrepreneurs EDGE highlights one of 101 companies with the award. The award recognizes a Leading EDGE honoree that exemplifies […]
How Diana Richards persevered to grow Vacuum Systems International
Diana Richards saw a need in the vacuum cleaner industry and has spent her life chasing that need through her business, Vacuum Systems International Inc. VSI was founded in 1995 to manage national chain stores’ floor care equipment. What started out as a single client wanting a resource for store associates to call and troubleshoot […]
Movers and Shakers – October 2013
Beacon Financial Partners has announced that Peter Franz joins the company as its co-chief investment officer. In this role Franz will serve as a member of the Beacon Investment Committee and Marketing Committee. He will help oversee and execute Beacon’s investment philosophy and investment strategies for the firm’s clients and advisers. The American Advertising Federation Cleveland […]
Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut: How to find new ideas in the most unlikely places
Most weeks I get on a plane and attempt to have an out-of-body experience to deal with all the hassles of flying as I travel from point A to point B. When flying, I have a few simple rules. One, I almost never eat the food. Two, I attempt to talk to no one other […]
Play it as it lies: Difficult situations in life require a redoubling of efforts
Life has a way of presenting us with difficult circumstances. Sometimes it’s in our personal lives, and sometimes it’s in our business. If the circumstance is severe enough, it can create a crisis, which can often cause a feeling of hopelessness. When things outside your control come at you in droves, it becomes difficult to […]
If you want to earn that championship ring learn to adjust and adapt
The greatest baseball game I ever saw was Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. The Minnesota Twins defeated the Atlanta Braves 1-0 in a 10-inning nail bitter, adding an exclamation point to what many consider the best World Series ever played. In that deciding game, Twins’ ace Jack Morris gave one of the gutsiest […]