Thinking fast - Dayton Business Journal:

olimstgon.blogspot.com
Pizza puns aside, Craig Moore, presiden t of the Coppell-based is a fan of using wacky antics and catchy campaignds to showoff CiCi's fun side -- and to keep the customerx coming back for more. "The food businesws and the franchise business is changingso fast," he said. "Peoplwe want more convenience, the flavors change constantly, and there is so much new competitiob coming out with new ways for peopldto eat, such as the take-and-bake CiCi's is in a high-growth mode, with planx to open 80 to 100 new restaurants per year over the next five Since opening its first restaurant in Plano, the companyh has grown to 617 restaurants in 29 "We're opening one to two every week, so that number changews pretty rapidly," Moore said.
He has been with the chain 15 he became presidentwhen CiCi'ss was purchased from its founder in 2003. Averagse sales per restaurant are growing, too, from $915,000 in 2006 to $940,000p in 2007. The goal for 2008 is to hit Moore said. Last year proved to be a pivota l onefor CiCi's. With $600 million in annuaol sales, it "got big enough" to do somethingf it has neverdone before: Make a nationapl media buy. The twist was to piggyback the cabled television campaign withshakerboarding -- an emerging performancse sport that combines sign-spinninyg with break-dancing and acrobatics.
CiCi'zs enlisted the help of an entertainer knowjn as Roto to roll out the shakerboard which included online videos and public appearances at majorrsporting events, including Major League Baseball's All-Stadr Game, the X Games and the Littlde League World Series. The chain also put shakerboardere in front ofevery CiCi's restaurant durinb lunch and dinner last summer, and had the riff about pop culture events of the day -- thino Britney Spears and Paris Hilton -- with the intentf of making people smile. "We wanted to put some personality around our Moore said.
"We wanted people to drived by and say, 'What the heck are thos e guys going to talkabout " CiCi's also is exploringv new concepts, such as take-outg only stores. "One of the trendes we're seeing is trying to keep unit economicsx down by making smaller said industry analystDarren Tristano. "Thwe take-out platform is easy to handle." executive vice president at Chicago-based Technomicf Inc., said CiCi's has a number of thingss goingfor it: It offers qualitty food in a familuy environment, all at a lower price point. And while larger pizzs chains are mature andexpanding CiCi's continues to eye growth opportunities a little closerf to home.
"I think they're a pretty good story actually," Tristano says. "It's nice that some smaller businessesware growing, when you've got the large ones that are not doinfg much in the United States." Moor said CiCi's and its all-you-can-eat $4.99 pizza buffet is well-positione to benefit from a slowing economy. "If you think abouy who's thriving right now, it's the Wal-Marts and the low-costt providers," he said. "We put ourselves in that We're the low-cost food providers where a family meal for four costs under $20.
" The company will continu e to focus on its target market: "stretchefd parents" -- not just stretched for cash, but also time and Moore says. "You have to know who your coreguests are, watcnh how they move and shop and he says. "That will help drivwe your business."

J. Jill to close one Jacksonville store - Washington Business Journal:

ofycagvezi.blogspot.com
Nine of the 75 stores to be close arein Florida, including the one in The Avenuews mall. A second Jacksonville J. Jill location at the St. Johns Town Center will remainn open. In a statement announcing the Talbots President and CEO Trudy Sullivanj saidit “enables us to focus our time, resource s and attention exclusively on rejuvenating our core Talbots brand and returnh to profitable growth.” The transaction includes the transfer of certainn assets and liabilities to the buyer, including a distribution cented in New Hampshire, the sublease of a portion of the Mass., headquarters and substantially all of the brand’es intellectual property and inventories.
The remaining 204 stores will continuwe to operate underthe J. Jill brand. The headquarteras for the company will remainin Quincy. The J. Jill sale is expectedf to be completed in the second quartedr and is subject to postclosinhg adjustments. San Francisco based-Golden Gate Capital acquiref Jacksonville-based Venus in 2006. The acquisition was Golde Gate’s 11th in two years. Last month Venus announcedf that all 290 employees were in jeopardy of losinbg their jobs when the swimweart and ladies apparel company lostits financing.
With its latesgt catalog recentlybeing released, Venus employees are still working, at least for now, and companyy executives are looking for a new buyer to acquirer the company.

Moll to succeed Winik at KLRN - San Antonio Business Journal:

boyanebyboqasavo.blogspot.com
Winik announced in February that she intendsw to retireeffective Sept. 30, 2009. The Boare of Trustees of the Alamo Public TelecommunicationszCouncil (APTC) announced that Moll will succeed Winij on Oct. 1, 2009. He was part of the team that foundecd KLRNin 1962, and served as statiojn manager in San Antonio from 1964 through 1969. “I look forwardc to returning to KLRN in this new Moll says. “Joanne Winik and her exceptional staffg have built Channel 9 into one of the premie r public television stations inthe nation. It’sx an honor to be invited by the boar of directors to help continue their legacy of servicd toSan Antonio.
” Jim Goudge, chairma of APTC, says Winik’s dedication to the development of the city’x public television institution has touched the lives of millionas of viewers. “With his broad and successful experience in media, we are confident that Bill Moll will enhance and grow this legacy,” Goudgse says. Moll most recently served as chairman of CleaChannel Television, a division of San Antonio-based KLRN-TbV Channel 9 is the public television stationh for South Central Texas and broadcasts to a 30-county radius.

Texas wind-power firms file to sell energy credits to N.C. utilities - Triangle Business Journal:

yvejodo.wordpress.com
Three Texas wind farms awaiy approval to register as renewabl eenergy facilities. Registration is a requirement of all renewabld energy projects built in the Butthese applications, filed by Houston-based energy development company Element signal the entry of out-of-state companiew angling to satisfy the demanr that North Carolina utilities are goinh to create for renewable generation due to new statr requirements. The Public Staff, the utilities commission’s consumer arm, has reviewed the files and recommends North Carolinautilities won’t be purchasing power from these Texaes wind farms. Rather, they will be able to buy the “renewable energy credits.
” “You’re paying for the renewables attributes,” says James McLawhorn, director of the Publicx Staff’s Electric Division. Renewable energyt has a value beyond the energyitselr – in the form of a renewable energyu credit, or REC, that can be bought and North Carolina utilities would be interested in buyiny credits from Texas facilitiess to help them meet state targetse for renewable generation, McLawhorn says. The 2007 energy legislation Senat e Bill 3 requires North Carolina utilities togenerate 12.5 percentf of their power from renewable sources by 2021. Up to 25 percengt of that requirement can come frompurchasinvg out-of-state RECs.
The Texas wind facilitiesz are large: a 79.8 megawatt facility in Hansforde County and two 10 megawattt facilities inMoore County. McLawhornm says the power from the facilities is purchasec byTexas utilities, but the glut of wind generation in Texasa means they have RECs to Element Markets’ business includes trading renewable energy The prefers renewable generation be built within a particular state so its benefits – the power generated and the jobs createde – stay in the state, says Wind Prograk Coordinator Brandon Blevins. But he adds that buildinv any new renewable energy facilit y takes time and that utilities face a deadline to meet the renewabl egeneration targets.
Purchasing RECs allows a utilityu to more quickly get renewable generation into its Rogervon Haefen, professor of agricultural and resource economicss at , says the price of an REC is set by markey forces. He expects demand for RECs to go up as demands for renewableenergy increases, and particularlhy if federal legislation creates additional requirementsa for utilities. Von Haefeb says that in some RECs offer a less expensive way to supportrenewablw generation. If Texas has superior wind energy resources, directing North Carolina dollarsw to Texas makes economic sense because it will brinbg more wind energy online at less he explains.
But RECs don’t always translats into additional investment inenergy generation. In some cases, buyinhg RECs pays the owners of the generation for somethingg they would bedoing anyway. Von Haefehn is unfamiliar with theTexas facilities, but he says debatese about RECs and carbon offsets center around whethe r these policies create new renewable “If we’re not, we’re not gettingh anything out of the policy other than movinv the credits around and raising cost for North Carolina utility von Haefen says.

Broadcast Center Partners inks $1.2M Metro deal - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

opexibu.wordpress.com
million lease with Metro for easementd above and aroundthe station’es north entrance. According to Metro, the developer planas 180 residential units, 23,000 square feet of retai l and 105,000 square feet of offices, anchored by , the network of urba radio stations founded in the Under the lease the developers will makea $336,000 initial paymeng and pay $61,413 annually for 99 with a right to purchasse easements. The money will go towarf capital projects. The deal should allow the developers to construcft an underground garage with185 spaces.
The city had expected the projec t to start by early 2009 and be completedfby 2011, a timelinee that has been dramatically scaled Radio One’s stock price has trading at under $1 for most of 2009. Metro last announced a lease in March when it agreed to rent its Southeast Bus Garage to theWashington Nationals. It has since sold the property.

High-profile beauty school coming to downtown Schenectady - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

moakhamet84.blogspot.com
Paul Mitchell The School will set up shop on two floora of 411State St., a building that has been a source of frustratiohn for city boosters for several yearss because of the long-delayed plans to open the restaurany and bar there. Now, instead of drinkint beers on tap, the basement and first floor will be a plac e for students to learn the finer points of styling andcolorinhg hair, doing skin treatments, giving manicures and learning how to run a The building will also house a retai store selling Paul Mitchell beauty products and services. Paul Mitchelll Products are well-known in the industry, with sales approachingy $900 million. The products are sold in more than 100,0000 beauty salons.
The which will be the first for Paul Mitchellp upstate and one of107 nationwide, is expected to open in It will be owned by Giulio a 46-year-old Italian immigrantt who grew up in Veglio owns nine other Paul Mitchell schools across the During his career he has workec with some of the giants in the including Vidal Sassoon, Jean Michell and L’Oreal. “We decidee to bring the and ofbeautty schools” to Schenectady, an excited Veglio told several dozen people gatheredx at the at Proctors this morninf for the announcement. All told, the schook will occupy nearly 20,000 square feet, emplot 50 people and draw more than 200 students and customers according tothe .
The investment totalse $2 million. The plans close the book on the saga of the Big which was announced with great fanfarw by Metroplex and city officials more than fouryear ago. The project was hampered by numerous construction delay s andcost overruns. Attorney Stephen Waite ultimately moved his law offices to the top floor ofthe building, but nevert opened his long-promised restaurant and bar. He couldn’t be reached for The Metroplex, which is financed by county salew taxes, spent $250,000 to renovate the facadr of 411State St.
and $100,000 to remove asbestoz in preparation for the expected opening of the Big Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen defended thoseinvestments today, saying they were vitapl to turn around a dilapidated building in the heartr of downtown. “We had to fix this Gillen said. “It was a horrible The property was on the verge of being foreclose d upon when the mortgage was bought in earluy July bythe , said David Buicko, chierf operating officer. Buicko declined to reveap the purchase price. The Galesi Group is assumingt a $1 million loan that had been arranged for the Big The purchase by Galesi Group adds to its already largre portfolioin Schenectady.
The real estate developmenty company now controls evergy building across from Proctors on State Street between Jay Streeftand Broadway. “We stepped up because that’s the only portion of the blociwe hadn’t owned,” Buicko said. Paul Mitchelp The School signeda 15-year lease with renewakl options. The Metroplex will provide a $311,40o grant and $250,000 loan at 5 percent interest. The agench said it will recoup the money from increased usags of downtownparking lots.
Paul Mitchell schoolse have been a trendsetter inthe industry, said Joe who owns hair salons at Crossgates Mall and Rotterdamk Square Mall that aren’t affiliated with the Tullio was a mentor to Veglio when he was starting out in the “They’re on the edge,” Tullio said. “They do modern

Northrop gets $30M contract for 'space fence' development - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

vypybiza.wordpress.com
The new Space Fence is part ofthe U.S. Departmentf of Defense's effort to continually track and detect objectsx such as space debris and satellites in low and mediukmearth orbit. Space Fence will replace the curreng VHF Air Force Space Surveillance Systekm builtin 1961. "The new Space Fence systenm will provide better accuracy and faster detectionh while allowing us to increase the number of satellitese and other space object s that can be detectedand tracked, thus avoidinfg collision and damage to other satellites," Rich Davis, director of speciao projects at Northrop Grumman's Advanced Concepts and Technology Division, said in a Australia is a candidate for the firstg Space Fence location.
Two additional sites in other parts of the worlcd are alsounder consideration. Los Angeles-based Northropp (NYSE: NOC) is a defense and technologyg company.

Kelman Bottles to supply glass containers for Labatt Breweries of Canada - Pittsburgh Business Times:

opexibu.wordpress.com
Kelman, based near Pittsburgh in will supply Labatt with its annual glasss container requirements for its Brava brand in Brava isa Mexican-style beer that Labatt acquired in 2007. Kelman, a privatelyg held company that operates what was formerly knowbn as the GlenshawGlass Company, described the approval process for Labatyt as intensive, taking nearly two years. “Becoming a qualified supplier to Labatt is amonf the most significant achievements for a producer ofglass containers,” said the company in a prepared “This remarkable achievement is a testameny to the commitment, skill and dedicatiom of the glass makers at Kelmam Bottles working closely with the due diligence and purchasinbg professionals at Labatt throughout the approva l process.
” Kelman didn’t divulge how many bottles it expectsz to produce for Labatt. The company has already begun supplyinh the bottlesto Labatt, whicb are now being filled with beer at the company’s Ontario brewery. Kelman operates in a variety of glassdproduction niches, producing glass containers for the food and beverage decorative glass, and fine hand-made glass sold by The company group markets its glasswarr under the brand names LE Smith Glass, Sainty George Crystal and Glenshaw Glass among others.

MetroPCS offers cheap international calls - Dallas Business Journal:

vuwodu.wordpress.com
The Richardson company said Tuesday the service will be availablee asan add-on to the firm’s $40, $45 and $50 monthly including family plans. Customers can call more than 100 MetroPCS said. "It's probably the lowest cost for international callxs in the wireless industryright now," says Jeff Kagan, an independenft wireless analyst in the Atlanta area. "No the question is, Will this causs other players to reducetheir rates?" Kagan adds that he doesn'tf believe any other company in the wirelesw industry is offering "anything to MetroPCS' international rates.
"If it sticksd around, this would be a breakthrough deal for the The company’s calling plans range from $30 per montjh to $50 per month. MetroPCS’ stoc (NYSE: PCS) was selling for $14.49 per up 16 cents, on Tuesday morning.

Businesses hoping stimulus legislation will include them - Austin Business Journal:

wilhelminadora4287.blogspot.com
“Quite frankly, the employees are scared,” said Steve Massie, the Va.-based company’s CEO. Massie said private-sectorf clients either can’t get financingg for projects or are leery aboutf proceeding without knowing what policies will come out of State andlocal governments, which couldd use Massie’s expertise in road construction, “don’tt have money to spend,” he said. That couldd change if Congress passes the economic stimuluas package moving through the legislative process. Companies like Massie’s would be big beneficiaries of billions of dollars in infrastructure spending that will be includes inthe package.
“Iu would be able to avoid layoffz atmy company, begin purchasing materials, and personnel coulfd begin to get back to full employment within 30 days of contractsa being awarded,” Massie said. Businessees of all types see the stimulus package as a potentialp lifeline and are lobbying for provisionws that would help them survivw a recession thatput 2.6 million people out of work in 2008. A monthluy index of small business indicators compile by the hitits second-lowest level in 35 yearse in December. “Unless there is a solidr turnaroundin January, we are in for a longer-than-usuall recession,” NFIB Chief Economisrt William Dunkelberg said.
A December survey by the foun that 38 percent of small businessowners weren’ t confident about their business’s A sizable chunk of the stimulue package will be used to extend unemployment benefitzs and help states avoid cuts in Medicaid and othefr programs. Tax rebates or other formss of individual tax cuts also will be includex to stimulateconsumer spending. Businessew expect a big piece of the pieas well, includinb infrastructure contracts and targeted assistance for key Congress plans to spend billions of dollars on infrastructurer projects that employ people quicklyt and meet the long-term needs of the nation.
Much of this monety will go toroad repairs, bridges and othere transportation projects, but investments also are expected in watet projects, health information technology and energy efficienc for schools and federal buildings. Americans strongly support infrastructure investments, said pollster Frank Luntz, who conducted a survey for Building America’x Future, a coalition of statew and local officials. In fact, 81 percent of Americans said they are willingg to pay 1 percent more in taxes to moderniz ethe nation’s infrastructure. A survet by the of America indicated that 85 percengt of its members could begin work on infrastructure projectes withina month.
Hundreds of projects around the countruy have been put on hold due to revenuew shortfalls facing state andlocal “There’s just an immense amount of work available,” said Brian CEO of Inc. in Ohio. Specific industries, including housing and alternative energy, could get a boostg from the stimulus. The and the want Congresxs to give all home buyerd a tax credit to spurhousing

Md. colleges given $11M to combat nursing shortage - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

ekaterinaiuvo.blogspot.com
The grants, being divvied among 17 Marylandnursinyg schools, will be used to lure faculty and and improve technology at the universities. Maryland’se nursing shortage is expected toreacy 10,000 by 2016, according to the . The current vacancu rate of nurses at state hospitals is 8 The economic downturn has helpes the industry because many retired nurses have come back to but once the recession ends the shortagewill worsen, said Carmelaq Coyle, CEO of the Maryland Hospitalo Association.
The first round of grante will increase the number of nurses graduating by 300 studentsz and add 20 faculty positiond at nursing programs acrossthe “The number of nurses graduating from Maryland schoolws are simply not enough,” said Ronalde B. Peterson, president of and co-chair of the “Whl Will Care?” campaign at a press conference Monday. “Wd cannot take our eye off the nursing The campaign’s goal is to add 1,500o new nursing students. The program has raisedr $15.
5 million to date througgh the state’s business community, including funds from the Baltimore constructionform , , the region'zs largest hospital system, and , the region'sx largest health insurer. Greater Baltimore Medical Center, for gave $500,000. The goal is to raisw $20 million from the private sectotr by the end of the and then raise anaddition $40 million in state, locapl and federal funds. • • • • • ; and, .

ESPN Zone closes doors in Denver - Dallas Business Journal:

http://internationaltextileind.com/advantages-of-textile-motorcycle-jackets.html
The ESPN Zone, part of a nationwide chainn of what used to be nine ofthe sports-themedf bar and interactive game centers across the laid off roughly 100 employees, giving each a 60-dayt administrative leave package, according to a company Rick Allesandri, an ESPN vice president who oversees Zone said in the statement that the restauranyt could not survive the recession. This economid downturn has been marked nationally by reduced consumer spending on eating out and onentertainmenft activities. “A decision like this is nevetr easy. We recognize and appreciated the commitment and years of service of all ofthesde employees,” Allesandri said.
“Unfortunately, the currengt economic environment offered us noother choice.” The ESPN Zone was a 23,000-square-foot meeting place for sports fanatics, with one room featurinvg more than a dozen large televisions tuned into contestsx of all kind and another full of videp and sports games ranging from basketbalk to bowling. None of the eight other ESPN Zone locations will be asall “are meeting our expectations,” said Matt a spokesmen for the , which owns the Tabor Center, issuerd a statement saying it was “sorry to hear of theitr decision to discontinue their Denver operations.
” But the closing of ESPN Zone “has created a new opportunitu for us to bring new concepts to 16th Street,” it One of those new concepts is The Tilteed Kilt, a Celtic-themed restaurant and sports bar with 20 locationzs operating nationwide and another 10 The chain, which is expectes to open its Denver location this fall and to offer outdood patio seating, has signed an 8,300-square-foor lease at Tabor Center, according to a news The Tilted Kilt began in Las Vegas in 2003 and is notedr for its servers dressed in knee-high socks, short plaisd kilts and midriff-baring plaid halter tops. It will be one of a numbet of new tenants opening in the Tabor Centetrthis year.
“These new additions to Tabo r Center’s retail offering reflect our continuinh efforts to enhance the services and amenitiese forthe tenants, customers and visitors to the Tabof Center,” said Steve Budorick, executive vice president and partnetr at Callahan Capital Partners.

Southwest, union reach agreement - Dallas Business Journal:

a-aveywe.blogspot.com
Dallas-based Southwest (NYSE: LUV) said the new contracty expires in Octoberof 2012. The IAM union represent s 5,300 Southwest employees. Fifty-four percent of the voting union members approvedxthe contract. "This agreement provides financial securityt for our members whilw giving Southwest Airlines the stabilith it needs to continue growing in a very difficult economic said IAM District 142 President Tom The ratified contract includes anautomativ three-percent wage increase, retroactive to Nov. 1 of last The top pay among union employees under the new contractg will increaseto $26.
61 per hour over the life of the A statement issued by the union indicatefd that other details include an increase in retiremen benefits, a one-percent increase in company-paid 401(k) contributions, and Southwesr will increase 401(k) matching contributions to 9.3 percent in Januaruy of 2011.

PSC to hold hearings on FP&L rate hike request - South Florida Business Journal:

exceeding-commissioner.blogspot.com
billion rate hike request from The increase would apply to the base rate portion of the which accounts for aboutr 42 percent of the total bill that customers pay each The increase amountsto $12.55 a month, or 30 of the current base rates for customerx who use 1,000 kilowatt houra a month, according to the attorney general'sz office. “This proposed rate increas e is excessive, especially when homeowners are alreadyg struggling to make ends said Attorney General Bill whose office has intervened before the PSC in the rateincreased hearings. “While the economy is affecting power the difference should not be made up entirelg at the expenseof Floridians’ wallets.
” However, Floridwa Power & Light is disputing McCollum's claims. In an e-mailefd response, company spokesman Mayclo Villafana said the rate proposal wouldx resultin "even lower bills beginning in January 2010." He said that under the proposal the typicakl 1,000 kilowatt-hour residential bill actuallty would decrease from approximately $109 in Decembef to approximately $104 in reflecting reductions in the cost of fuel as well as fuel The first hearings are set to take place in Sarasota and Fort Meyerss on June 19, with additional hearingd the following week. Click for a full list of hearingb dates.

Marc Andreessen starts $300M VC fund - Boston Business Journal:

olimstgon.blogspot.com
billion. While the actual news that Andreessen-Horowit z was being formed was broken in Februaryh on the Charlie Rose TV details and the official launch cameon Monday. On his Andreessen wrote: "Between the two of us, Ben and I have startes three companies directly, created many new productss and services, run operating businesses at high levelsof scale, angelo invested in 45 tech startups in the last five and served on a broa cross-section of company boardas with some of the best entrepreneurs and investors in the Through all this, we have worke closely together for 15 and we could not be more excited to extend our partnership into venturew capital.
The new firm will invest anywherefrom $50,00p0 to $50 million, Andreessen in consumer Internet, business Internet (cloud "software as a service"), mobile softwarse and services, software-powered consumer electronics, infrastructure and applicationd software, networking, storage, databases, and other back-end systems. Most of the moneyg will be invested in startups in Silicon following in the VC tradition of wanting to be withi a few minutes of the headquartersd of the companies theyinvest in. “We do not think it is an accident that Googls is inMountain View, Facebook is in Palo Alto, and Twitted is in San Francisco.
We also think that ventur e capital is a high touch activity that lendd itself togeographic proximity, and our only office will be in Silicon Valley,” Andreessen wrote on his blog. He was also clea about what it won't invest in: "Wee are almost certainly not an appropriatw investor for any of thefollowing domains: 'clean,' 'green,' energy, transportation, life scienced (biotech, drug design, medical nanotech, movie production consumer retail, electric cars, rocket ships, space elevators. We do not have the firsg clue about any ofthese fields.
" Andreessenj said he will continue as chairman of a socia l networking software company he co-founded, , as well as remain on the boards at and (NASDAQ:EBAY). Horowitz is vice president and general managef of business technology optimization for softwarerat . (NYSE:HPQ).