Expected to help kick-start the flow of capital to businesses for loans they need to grow, At Work for Arizona Business Loan Alliance launched last month with $12 million committed to fund loans of $50,000 to $500,000 to businesses that lack adequate equity investment or sufficient collateral for a conventional loan but are otherwise creditworthy. Forging this groundbreaking … [More]
Council Launched to Address Fraud, Security and Identity Theft in Digital Age
Identity theft comes in many unexpected guises that can harm a business, a realization that prompted LifeLock to sponsor the recently launched Council for Identity Protection. Says Todd Davis, chairman and CEO of LifeLock, “It is our belief that challenges in the digital age are not independent, but must be viewed with a more integrated view of the problem and ultimate … [More]
Diamond Wholesaler Creates New Supply and Demand
Businesses are built on the idea of supply and demand. But what if there is not a supply? In Jana Hadany’s case, even the demand was not assured when she conceptualized Avilan Storied Diamonds to be a sustainable diamond business. The business concept was sparked by conversations in 2010 Hadany heard between her husband, Avi Hadany, and his partner, Ilan Wexsler, about … [More]
Local Bank Offers Import/Export Financing
Businesses are increasingly involved in export commerce, but loans on their foreign receivables are not as readily available as on domestic receivables. “That restricts the amount a business can leverage,” says Greg Lehmann, managing director of Biltmore Bank of Arizona, explaining the decision is made from a risk standpoint. Helping to fill that void, Biltmore Bank recently … [More]
Bytes: January 2013
LeadGen from Social Media Nimble, a pioneer of social relationship management, now integrates with HootSuite, makers of a market-leading social media management system. Now users can connect social media best practices to Social CRM capabilities, such as identifying, connecting and nurturing prospects; businesses can finally “close the loop” on social selling and customer … [More]
Prospecting Behavior Trumps ‘Sales Personality’
Studies show that having a “sales personality” is only one piece of a complex puzzle. In fact, a recently conducted study found that focusing on personality to forecast sales success is putting the cart before the horse. “Before personality traits, sophisticated training or financial incentives can even come into play, salespeople must first have prospective buyers to sell … [More]
Bio Talent Pool Attracts Bridgestone to Mesa
Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company, is bringing a multi-million-dollar capital investment to the Greater Phoenix area with the establishment of a research and development facility in southeast Mesa. The facility will be focused on the use and production a Guayule, a shrub native to the Southwest that produces natural rubber in its roots and … [More]
Marketing the ‘Shop Local’ Message Is a Local Priority
In the Town of Gilbert, the “shop local” message is getting a boost from local entities that recognize what’s at stake — its own municipal government and the local chamber of commerce. “The ‘Shop Gilbert’ campaign is vital to our community as it informs citizens about the importance of shopping local,” says Mayor John Lewis. “Tremendous benefits occur when we shop in our own … [More]
GPEC Initiative Comps California CEOs with Travel and an In-depth Asset Tour
Putting its money where its mouth is, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council is treating CEOs of qualified California-based companies — high-tech companies, emerging technology companies with compelling intellectual property, or those with corporate facilities with 200 or more employees — to airfare, transportation and hotel accommodations to bring them here for an insider’s look … [More]
Bytes: December 2012
Tech Career Center The Arizona Technology Council is a connection to post and search for tech jobs in Arizona. The portal, powered by Jobing.com, is a useful online employment tool. Desktop in the Cloud Just launched is SkyDesktop, a free, Cloud-based desktop where all of one’s files and apps live; SkyAppMarket, a marketplace dedicated to the best of breed, … [More]
Construction Supply Company in Expansion Mode
Flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators, which opened a 6,239-square-foot store in Scottsdale this fall, finds the Metro Phoenix market is “one of the shining stars in performance” in its operations, according to Jim Davis, vice president of sales. The company has 280 stores, with locations in almost every state nationwide. Since opening its first store in Phoenix — its 19th … [More]
New Golf Enterprise Focuses on Business Women
Women represent a huge new potential market for the golf industry, and the PGA’s Connecting with Her initiative for the industry-wide Golf 2.0 growth strategy attests to that organization’s interest in tapping into it. Entrepreneur Shawn Jardine recognized the void out of personal experience; recently launched Diva Golf in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and has chosen Phoenix as the … [More]
Services Is Growth Focus of Business
Many companies look at services as a strategy for growth and profitability — even companies whose business is built around a product. The Center for Services Leadership, established in 1985 at ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business, has involved many of Arizona’s biggest companies to study this growing trend. The Center’s recent creation of an executive committee of the board is … [More]
Sustainability Profits in Money and Morale
Mesa-based Crescent Crown Distributing, one of the nation’s largest distributors of alcoholic beverages, is reaping profits in morale as well as bottom line benefits due to the sustainability features it incorporated into its new 335,000-square-foot facility. James Moffett, president of Crescent Crown, says the company had been working toward the goal of being more energy … [More]
Bytes: November 2012
e-Marketing Can Be Rewarding PinningRewards, a grass-roots marketing and product distribution system, has helped Wizard Industries and a fast-growing number of other brand owners get their products into new retail markets. As the system has proven increasingly successful for its founding company, PinningRewards provides an array of functionality for varied types of … [More]
An Arizona Credit Union Part of International Partnership
Federación de Cajas Populares Alianza, a credit union association located in Guanajuato, Mexico, looking to expand its presence into the United States, has chosen to partner with Mountain West Credit Union Association, which has offices in Phoenix and Denver. “Alianza is eager to share insights as to how to serve the Latino members in the U.S. credit unions better,” says Victor … [More]
Bytes: October 2012
iTunes Revisited Apple rolls out the new version of iTunes this month. The Mac- and PC-friendly edition will be a completely redesigned player, a “newly remodeled” store, and will include more iCloud features to make it a more simple-to-use version that promises not to throw the loyal Apple-ist off his or her game. Be in the Know: World Economic Survey Released The … [More]
Scottsdale Corner Joins Urban Redevelopment Trend
Part of a trend nationwide, a project currently under construction at Scottsdale Road and Lincoln Drive in Scottsdale is set to bring the economic stimulus of 264 luxury apartments to a developed urban area where amenities and infrastructure are already in place. The anticipated advantage to the city is retail activity — such as shopping and dining out — that will benefit local … [More]
