What’s New: Charlie’s Chillers
Meet Sherri Campbell, who is ramping up Indianapolis-based Charlie’s Chillers LLC after winning last month’s Hottest Kitchen Entrepreneur Challenge.
Small Business
Articles
Building relationships pays off for contractor Gray
Steve Gray Renovations grew during the remodeling industry’s worst downturn in more than two decades.
WOJTOWICZ: It pays to know environmental requirements
Unexpected problems add to the headaches of opening or relocating a business, and we hear a lot about the hang-ups of required, but annoying, environmental investigations.
Co-working spaces multiply, giving independent workers options
Co-working sites—shared office spaces designed to give entrepreneurs, free-lancers and consultants the tools they need to get the job done as well as the chance to interact with other professionals, sans cubicle—are gaining popularity nationally and, finally, in Indianapolis.
Local ad firm BrandWidth rebounds after internal turmoil
BrandWidth puts legal scuffle behind it, emerges to nab several national accounts.
What’s New: MyBestFriendsHair
Meet Janell Shaffer and Danielle McDowell, who started consumer-review service MyBestFriendsHair.com to help folks like them looking for the right hair stylist.
Google unveils biz photo service in Indianapolis
The interactive virtual tour gives customers a glimpse of the layout and decor of a business without setting foot inside the location. For St. Elmo Steak House, where the service was introduced locally, it was an easy sell.
Image consultant aims to meld personal, professional styles
Sola Adelowo, a certified image consultant and owner of Indianapolis-based ImageCube LLC, uses a surprisingly scientific process that starts with a personality-type assessment and results in custom-style kits and an illustrated wardrobe guide.
Boutique Anderson ad agency expanding to Indianapolis
Four-person shop opening office downtown got its start at Flagship Enterprise incubator.
Richmond eyes ex-auto supplier site for tech park
Officials will be seeking approval from the eastern Indiana city's Redevelopment Commission to use money from a $5 million state technology park grant to buy 14 acres and two buildings that once belonged to Dana Corp.
Indianapolis firm launching dream-sharing app
Remember.com’s free Dreamt It app will be followed by a paid version with additional features.
Compendium moving its business beyond blogging software
Compendium Software says there’s money to be made in creating a place where marketing content can be centralized and repurposed and sent out via e-mail newsletters, social media channels and—of course—blogs.
Benefits brokers gain ground without merging
While mergers and acquisitions have been rampant in central Indiana’s benefits-broker industry the past five years, a handful of brokers has grown the old-fashioned way—by adding clients.
Burd Ford dealership closing by end of June
Manager Jon Parson told IBJ that he had "no idea" why the dealership was closing. Christine Burd took over the business in late 2009 following the suicide of her husband, Richard Burd.
Racing simulator lands real tax break for two-seaters
Legislature agreed to extend to Indy Racing Experience the same sales-tax exemption enjoyed by race teams.
Angie’s List CEO Oesterle grows east-side footprint
Bill Oesterle’s firm Henry Amalgamated has purchased 48 properties in the Holy Cross neighborhood from 2006 through this May. Nearly 40 percent of those purchases have been made since Angie’s List struck a $7.1 million incentives deal with the city of Indianapolis in October.
Taxing career path ultimately appeals to entrepreneur
Accounting, church jobs lead to software firm that helps tax accountants manage property tax disputes.
What’s New: Ready the Nest
NICU nurse Becky Drummy’s maternity concierge service helps new parents handle the arrival of their little life changers.
INSIDE DISH: Smokers’ haven prepares for ban
Mass Avenue Pub survived a two-year hiatus in the mid-2000s after a massive infrastructure collapse. Its owners think going smokeless on Friday will be a comparative breeze, even though 65 percent of their clientele like to light up.
Mentors give entrepreneurs a business boost
Good mentors can make a world of difference to up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Countless business owners find themselves in need of a gut check from time to time and, these days, mentors are an essential part of their toolkit.