Better, but not bigger: Homebuyers downsize, but still attached to large-scale amenities

By Caitlin Coakley

CHARLOTTE — The house that Christine Faberman considered on Thursday wasn’t exactly what she was looking for.

Sure, it was in her price range, and the square footage — a cozy 2,400 compared to the 4,500 in her current home — was right.

But where were the hardwood floors? The stainless steel appliances? And, most of all, where were the windows?

“Downsizers, empty-nesters, they really want a miniature version of the home they’re leaving,” said Donna Anderson, the Cottingham-Chalk broker who showed Faberman the house. “We’re creatures of habit; it’s difficult for them to give those things up.”

Year-end SBA report indicates bleak 2009, but hopeful future

By Sam Boykin

CHARLOTTE — First the bad news: The number of small businesses citing decreases in revenue over the past 12 months rose to its highest point since 1993, according to a survey by the Washington-D.C. based National Small Business Association. Moreover, 39 percent of small businesses reported they are unable to get adequate financing.

These are just two of the discouraging findings in the NSBA’s 2009 Year-End Economic Report, released in January. The survey was conducted during the last two weeks in December 2009 among 450 small business owners from across the country in every industry.

And what’s the good news? At least 2009 is finally over.

Five Ventures competition kicks off with February workshops

By Sam Boykin

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte biotech company HepatoSys, Inc. recently received a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a product that preserves organs for transplantation.

Yap, Inc., a Charlotte technology company whose platform converts speech into text on mobile phones, secured $6.5 million in 2008 to expand research and development.

These are just two of the success stories that were borne out of UNC Charlotte’s Five Ventures Business Competition. Now in its ninth year, Five Ventures is hosted by the university’s Charlotte Research Institute, with emphasis on early-stage, high-growth companies. 

Winners receive cash prizes and in-kind services such as legal counseling and marketing help. Applications for this year’s competition are due Feb. 16 and the final event is on April 13.

Goodwill trainees graduate as U.S. unemployment drops

By Caitlin Coakley

CHARLOTTE — On Feb. 5, the same day the U.S. Department of Labor released January’s unemployment figures, Tammy Blanding, Vincente Lawson, Linda Lorde and 57 other local residents were heading to a graduation ceremony from Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont’s Occupational Skills Training Program.

“I’m in awe. I’m in complete thanks to Goodwill for letting us take this training at no cost … and to make us feel like we’re not just a number, not just a statistic of the unemployed,” Blanding said.

Reporter’s Notebook: The baby business

By Sam Boykin

We have a story this week about the Five Ventures Business Competition, a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to obtain useful guidance, win prize money, and get a healthy head start on their venture. Oh, how I wish they had a similar program for new parents.

My daughter, Lily, turns 5 months old this week, and I could certainly benefit from some seasoned mentoring — and prize money would be nice as well.

Of course, friends, relatives and even complete strangers are more than happy to lend their advice and guidance concerning parenting. But truth be told, just like in business, you have to get down in the trenches and get your hands dirty — sometimes quite literally — to truly learn the ropes.

Betting on the Big Game: At $3M a pop, execs weigh in on Super Bowl ads

By Sam Boykin

CHARLOTTE — Pursued by armed guards, a buff, blond beauty in snug red shorts runs through a tunnel carrying a big sledgehammer. She bursts into a room where row after row of slack-jawed minions stare at a giant video screen where a Big Brother-like figure barks orders. She hurls the sledgehammer at the screen, which explodes in light and smoke.

Apple’s famous TV ad introducing its new Macintosh computer ran for the first time on Jan. 22, 1984. More importantly, the 60-second spot was broadcast during the Super Bowl, forever cementing the annual sporting event as the granddaddy of all advertising opportunities.

If that same commercial were to run during this Sunday’s showdown between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints, it would cost Apple about $6 million. CBS is charging, on average, $3 million for every 30-second ad during Super Bowl XLIV.

Jackrabbit software leaps forward for athlete turned entrepreneur

By Sam Boykin

CHARLOTTE — Mark Mahoney has parlayed his passion for youth sports into a business called Jackrabbit that caters to both sports facilities and busy parents. With a background in information technology and software development, this was Mahoney’s first venture into business ownership. He said it’s been a daunting process, especially as he’s had to wear so many different hats as company president.

But since its inception in 2005, the company has experienced continuous growth despite the recession. Over the past few years, it has nearly doubled revenue and added more than 200 new customers.

New laws, new tech require updates to employee handbooks

By Caitlin Coakley

CHARLOTTE — With the new year underway, employment law attorneys recommend that business owners pick up their employee handbooks, dust them off and make sure the content is up-to-date with current laws and practices.

“Some people have handbooks that are five or six years old,” said Mason Alexander, an employment attorney with Fisher & Phillips LLP. “So when you’re talking about recent changes (in the law), heck, that’s the least of their concerns.”

Alexander recommends that owners review handbooks at least annually to make sure they reflect changes in company policy and labor laws.

Local shops benefit from increased interest in racing

By Caitlin Coakley

CHARLOTTE — Racing, whether triathlon, cycling or marathon, is experiencing a boom, and local shops are benefitting from the increased interest.

Since Charlotte’s Thunder Road Marathon was introduced in 2005, participation has jumped from 1,600 to 8,383 in 2009, said Jessica Douglas, event/registration coordinator for Event Marketing Services (EMS). In King’s Mountain, the Over the Mountain Triathlon has grown by 70 percent since 2005, according to Set Up Events.

“Marathon participation and half-marathon participation has been growing across the United States,” said Tim Rhodes, EMS president and owner of the Run For Your Life store in Dilworth. “There’s a growing demand.”

Reporter’s Notebook: Career advice from a triathlete

By Caitlin Coakley

Everything I needed to know about my professional career I learned as an endurance athlete. Here are three lessons that I learned in my first triathlon and am re-learning as I enter the workforce.

Lesson #1: Sometimes the water is colder than you think.

Before the race, I was pretty cocky about the swim. Sure, my trainer had warned that it was the most difficult part for newbies, and sure, it had rained for a good week before the event so the lake might be a little cold. But I was a great swimmer; how bad could it be?