When you hit the slopes at Crystal Mountain this winter, you'll see plenty of skiers and snowboarders. But one thing you won't see in any of the slope-side lodges or restaurants are smokers. The Benzie County resort has gone completely smoke-free in all buildings. The...
TRAVERSE CITY - New York has Soho. Portland boasts the Pearl District. Chicago lays claim to Lincoln Park.Traverse City, meanwhile, has its own emerging trendy neighborhood in...
Downtown Traverse City is home to more than a dozen businesses that opened their doors more than a quarter of a century ago or longer. They have seen other businesses come and go, either out of downtown or out of business altogether. They have weathered...
TRAVERSE CITY - If you've ever wondered who conjures up the 23 or so annual activities that attract after-hours shoppers and curious onlookers to the sidewalks beneath the business district's glowing street lamps, it is the Downtown Traverse City Association.Nearly 200 downtown retailers and restaurants...
TRAVERSE CITY - Toy manufacturers have recalled 61 toys so far this year compared to a total of 40 last year. The recalls mean huge financial losses for large companies such as Mattel and Baby Einstein. But for area toy shops that specialize in...
As investors become more sophisticated, a new asset class labeled "Alternative Investments" has become routine when diversifying portfolios. These include such assets as real estate, precious metals and oil and gas. Let's look at oil and gas "tax shelters." These are usually marketed...
Unlike the stock market, there hasn't been a downturn or wild rally in business among barber shops in the Traverse City area. It's a competitive and steady business, with many of the barbers we talked to in the business for more than 30 years. Their customer base...
Harvest 2007 is history but for a few acres being saved for ice wine. Both Chateau Chantal and Black Star Farms have saved grapes gambling that conditions will be right to make the super-sweet, super-expensive, timing-is-everything wine. Ice wine is made from grapes picked and...
REGION - If you've been in business for any length of time, you've probably had a few clients who have impacted your bottom line-but not in the good way. Customers who are slow to pay, or even don't pay, are a risk if you offer...
Financial executives must continuously balance the cost of doing business with the risk of doing business. Each time a dollar of revenue is produced, all costs of generating that dollar have been thoroughly analyzed in an effort to maximize the profit margin, including costs associated...
