Detroit Business

Automotive companies are up to bat

2008-12-03T20:57:00.002-05:00

written by: Andy Watkins
Editor - BusinessDetroit.com

As I write this article the automakers are driving to Washington D.C. to present their case to Congress. Now many call it a bailout and many others will call it a bridge loan. It's actually both a bridge loan and a bailout. The main question is should this occur and the answer is YES. If it does not happen are country's ability to mass produce will be greatly damaged. We will have to count on other country's to produce our products in the event of a war and that won't work. Just for National Security reasons we should allow the loans to go through as long as the business plans are real and that the loans are guaranteed to be paid back.

15 Running for Mayor of Detroit

2008-10-15T21:58:00.000-04:00

written by: Claire Oberiane - guess writer

In Detroit, Michigan we recently went through a long drawn out Mayoral scandal and now we are in phase two of it's recovery process. 15 to individuals have thrown their hats into the ring to run our great city of Detroit. As residents of Detroit I ask you to research these potential leaders and ask them what their plan is to make the City of Detroit one of the top 5 cities in the United States. Ask them for a time frame, ask them who their advisors are going to be and what's the most important item they see to start the turn around.

I cry everytime I drive down Woodward Avenue looking at blighted city scapes and offices with homes half burned down and stop lights that work only part of the time. Even with Ford Field, Comerica Park, Casinos and GM's head quarters the city still lacks basic services. Many cities that have similar issues tend to make the same mistakes year after year. They keep wanting to hit that home run with large investors and they forget the basics like good roads, top notch police that are apart of the neighborhoods, community centers, entertainment, parks and more parks.

Tell these potential Mayors that you want more from them then any Mayor from any other city and nothing less. Then tell your city council members to get out of the way have faith in the leadership that the people voted in.

New Mayor now what?

2008-09-24T13:16:00.000-04:00

written by: Andy Watkins - BD editor

Well, we now have a new Mayor and a potential race in the near future to select an another new Mayor for Detroit. I just hope whoever becomes our next Mayor goes back to the basic's and stops spending money unwisely. First, improve the roads, garbage pick up, lights, police and fire. Everything else can wait....businesses and residents will flock by the millions if the leadership of Detroit understands one simple thing and that is to keep it basic. When a city can't support the basic's why would anyone think they could grow. Let the private markets take care of the huge expansion projects, schools, subdivision build outs and let the city work on the basic's.

Will they do this...probably not because they've been advised that they all have to think big or the big players won't even think about coming back into the city. Well it's up to the voters to ask the questions and hopefully this time the voters will get it right.

Google number 1 ranking

2008-07-25T12:39:00.000-04:00

Written by: Andy Watkins

As I'm writing this blog I wanted to share with the members and the Internet community that Business Detroit has doubled it's membership and received the top ranking on Google's Search Engine. We also have the number three spot for MSN and the number fourth spot on Yahoo.

So what does this mean for the members on BusinessDetroit.com...it means that we will receive more traffic and that will help all our members to grow their business.
BusinessDetroit.com was started less than a year ago and it already has over 400 new business listings. Our unique directory was designed by the greatest web design team over at WorldWise.net. Thanks to them our members get great features like email blasts, rating systems, contact system, image loaders and much more. The RSS feed is automatically built in to the database, so everytime one of our members updates his or her listing on BusinessDetroit.com it automatically gets feed to the world wide web.

Please check out our partnership web site directories at BusinessChicago.com, BusinessNewYork.org, BusinessGrandRapids.com, BusinessDesMoines.com.

Are the Credit Unions the 1980's Savings and Loans?

2008-04-07T17:10:00.000-04:00

written by: Andy Watkins - BD editor

The credit arena is getting more and more tight as the bank regulators and the federal banks keep making statements of future slow downs and major write offs of billions of dollars from consumers. Do you remember the 1980's when hundreds of Savings and Loans closed their doors and the Federal government came in and help bail out many while others lost everything. Well now we have a new group that are under threat and that is the current credit unions across this country. On average 3 to 4 banks close each year, but not the prediction is that over 100 to 200 banks will close and most of them small banks or credit unions.

What should you do if your with a small bank or credit union...nothing if you just have savings or a checking account because that's insured for over $100k, but if you are invested in the stocks or a mutual fund you might want to protect your money and speak with your financial advisors from some short term and long term protection of your investments before it's too late.

Does that mean that all Small banks or Credit Unions will go under...NO...but many of them count on the larger banks and their cash flow is tightening everyday, which means the available monies will not got to small banks or credit unions to loan out, which means they won't make any money and will have to sell their existing loans to keep their doors open.

It's a different world we live in and it's time to relook at your portfolio and make sure your not opened for a complete wipe out.

Banks going out of business

2008-03-21T23:22:00.000-04:00

Written by: Karen Thompson - Guest writer

The Federal bank regulators now say as reported on CNN.com just two weeks ago that 100 - 200 banks mostly small banks will go out of business with in the next year. What is going on? Why are we still asking if we are in a recession or not....can we all say YES and move on. First thiing to repairing our economy is to admit there is a problem and then start fixing it. Everyday we don't admit that we are in a recession is another day that goes by that we don't fix things. People are losiing their homes, jobs, retirement etc...

The silver lining on all of this is that our own state of Michigan has been in a recession for a long time, so we've already been beaten up and are use to the bad times. Now with news of riots and bad economics coming out of China and India we might see a shift of the U.S. automakers readjusting their game plan and finally realize maybe it wasn't the greatest plan to move our factories overseas.

If people in the U.S. can't afford the companies products then it doesn't matter how cheap the labor force is....if no one is buying, then no one is buying. Greed has come full circle and now we are paying the price. We need to go back to the basics and remember why we became who we are as a nation. It was because we built things and sold things better and faster then anyone else. Well, today I moved my mutual funds around and made sure my funds had a limit to the financial sectors. I've gotten burned too many times in the past two decades and have learned my lesson....the Bear Sterns bank failure is just the begining....protect your money and slow down your spending to protect your assests. We are headed for rough waters and if your not prepared it could destroy everything you have earned. I'm not saying pull all your investments....but I'm telling you that you need to monitor them closing and don't panic. Place them in areas that haven't been hurt from the bad news and keep watching. If another chip falls...then you might want to make another change. If you ignore it...you will most likely lose everything.

In summary, banks failing really is a bad thing and we are in a recession. Pay attention to your investments and prepare yourself for a very bad fall. You can survive this mess if you just take the proper action and steps now to protecting yourself and your family. Best of luck to all the readers and hopefully this recession is a short one.

EBAY is failing to support it's membership

2008-02-22T21:30:00.000-05:00

Written by: Guest writer - Angela Carin

Ebay has done it again...it has started a crusade of being paranoid. A good friend of mine just had his account shut off after being a member in great standing for 5 years. He wasn't a very large member grant you, but he was still a very good member with a 100% in his favor on the responses he got. I don't want to mention his name because....well you'll hear about him in the national news soon enough...he's suing Ebay for $75 million. That's right he's suing them for $75 million for all the abuse he has under gone in the last three weeks.

Well it all started three weeks ago when my friend contacted Ebay and asked them how he could sell products with his account. They gave him the generic tips and posts that helped him connect with third party drop shipment company. A drop shipper is a company that holds the inventory, handles the sales and ships it to your customer, then cuts you a check. Well after Ebay recommended this company to my friend he signed up and he was on his way to selling on Ebay. Then Ebay shut his account down and told him he couldn't use a 3rd party to sell on Ebay....huh...that's strange they recommended this vendor now he can't use it...doesn't make much sense now does it...wait...it gets even better. Now that his account is shut off he inquires why...they say they don't believe he's the account holder....so they ask him to fax his personal information to number that goes to India...that's right....personal information (That Ebay says never do...) is now asking for him to send it right away. They asked him to fax his drivers license, Social Security number, three utility bills and a birth certificate....all in order to sell again on Ebay. Sounds a little fishy doesn't it, so my friend decided to contact the head quarters and yes it was a new policy of Ebay's. So he did fax it...and they still didn't believe him....well this went on back and forth for three weeks. He faxed a total of 112 pieces of information with his information on it and still nothing.

Now he was very upset and stressed out over the whole situation...he didn't know where to turn and wanted to stop the Ebay abuse, so no one would ever have to go through that mess again. My friend seeked out legal advise and decided to file legal action in the form of $75 million. I asked my friend do you think you have a chance of winning....he stated that's not the point....the amount I'm suing for will get an executives attention to see how stupid Ebay is and hopefully they will modify their practices. Well, that shows you how important high quality employees really are and how good communication skills could have avoided this situation for Ebay. Personally, I hope the judge throws the book at Ebay to show that the little guy does matter and just because your a large corporate monster, doesn't mean you have the right to abuse anyone. Well my friend good luck and hopefully your stress levels will lower as this situation passes.

Now if you've experienced anything like this with Ebay or another company share your thoughts with us today.

V-Day is over now what?

2008-02-15T19:45:00.000-05:00

Written by: Guest writer - Sara Keller BusinessChicago.com

Well did you have a great Valentine's Day or was it a big bust? Or does it really matter. Flowers, Candies, Love oh my....wow what a holiday. If you get the wrong gift it could be a mess and if you don't get enough it could be the end. Well my sweetie and I decided not to take part this year....wow what a relief. You really should try to just take off one or two hallmark holiday's....I mean really if you really do love someone why do you have to impress them on every holiday. Instead of buying hundreds of dollars on gifts...how about donate the money to a charity of your choice or pay down your debt.

Now the next holiday coming up is St. Pat's day....and my advise on that one is...enjoy it...no cards or gifts, but enjoy your friends and family with a little irish flare (Cabbage and Cornbeef). If you're going to drink...make sure you don't drive....get a designated driver and buy them with food and coffee.

In summary, on the next hallmark holiday that comes across your plate...instead of spending the monies on yourselves give a donation to your favorite charity and spread the word on this idea....yes this will hurt holiday card sales, but it will make a difference in the world.

Ebay - Warning

2008-02-08T23:51:00.000-05:00

Ebay - WARNING

Written by Andy Watkins - Editor

I need to share with our readers about one of our members experience recently with ebay. Owner of several web sites and ecommerce stores was shocked today when a security issue occurred with Ebay and once he reported it Ebay officials seemed not to care. He listed a few products and then they removed for an unauthorized reasons. Now that's the problem...here's the major warning he came across. He decided to contact Ebay and use the live chat. A representative named Rick appeared online to answer his questions. After hearing his concerns he decided to ask a lot of account information, once that was over he then asked a very upsetting request. Rick asked our member for a copy of his Drivers License, Social Security card and a copy of his utility bill...even after verfiying the account information. He gave our member a toll free number and our member decided to look into where this number actually was pointed and he found out that it was ending up in India. So the warning is clear...DO NOT give information to employees at EBAY that could be used for other reasons...it's just not worth it. EBay officials don't seem to care and obviously their own staff doesn't seem to have a problem.

Help us help our member and if you use Ebay share your disappoint with their security. Only when we share our views as consumers will products and services improve.

Grow your Business in a Recession

2008-01-16T11:56:00.000-05:00

Written by: Michael Newcomb - President, WorldWise, Inc.

A debate has been going on for the last few years in this country regarding that facts that we are headed for a recession or we are already in one. Now Michigan has already arrived and many businesses weren't prepared and suffered for it. If you drive up and down Woodward Avenue, Telegraph, I-75 or any other major highway in the Detroit area you'll notice several vacant office buildings, vacant retailers and homes for sale. The automotive companies have faced many challenges and one is the high cost of building cars, so they've moved most of their factories overseas or down to Mexico, which has caused us thousands of jobs and caused the Dettroit area and Michigan for that matter alot of pain.

Well the facts are real....now what? That's simple....you have two options...do nothing and fail or take action and get prepared now to survive and grow your business. While others do nothing market share will be available and it's an opportunity for you to take on new client's. Sounds easy enough, but how does one get prepared to grow in a recession. If our country not just Michigan goes into a recession this year many companies will have to close their doors or at least down size their operations, which means they will layoff support and service staff causing many companies to suffering in customer service areas.

The key factors to growing your business in a recession is to make major changes quickly. Listed below are the action items you need to add to your business plan right now.

1. Review all your bills and see what you can cancel without losing service or quality in your products.
2. Call your vendors and ask them to reduce their costs by 20%...tell them in order for you to keep them you need help.
3. Call your banker and ask for a refinancing of all your debt and restructure it asap.
4. Go electronic - move your billing to email
5. Tighten your collection process - right out a strict policy on payments and invoicing.
6. Offer your client's discounts for adding on more services with you.
7. Offer free services to your client's for signing up longer term contracts.
8. Move your ad budget from phone books to the web to lower marketing costs.
9. Roll out new services or products at least every 3 months during the recession process.
10. Slow down spending on new ventures.

Now if you take these action items and actually make them apart of your current business plan you will not only survive the next recession, but while others are closing their doors you will be growing your business.

2008 will be what you make it.

Happy New Year

2007-12-31T15:00:00.001-05:00

Written by: Andy Watkins - BusinessDetroit.com Editor

The crystal ball in time square is ready to drop with it's brand new look with led light technology. This year I'm visiting friends, but instead of staying out all night I'm making sure I'm headed home before all the crazy people are on the road. Save yourself and do the same as I am doing...and get home early. Watch Ryan and Dick on tv from the safety of your couch.

Well let's talk about 2007...was it a good or bad year. Detroit and Michigan's economy was terrible. Unemployement, home market, manufacturing closures just to name a few terrible items in our area. We can give up or wash it all clean with a New Year's resolution and just plug forward with new ideas, new technologies and new concepts for the 2008 year in business. Here are a few tips to get ready and move forward with your business in the Detroit Area.

1. Take a snapshot of our financial's and create a 2008 budget.
2. Get organized in your office and home.
3. Consolidate your financials into one bank or credit union.
4. Create a new marketing plan that enables your to go beyond the Detroit area.
5. Start the new year with great promotions and advertising.
6. Reduce all your costs by at least 25%
7. Create a new look or product mix for your company.
8. Resell to your exisiting customers. 80/20 rule of thumb...use it wisely.
9. Remember what you did to build your business years ago...and go back and do it all over again...go back to the basics - cold calling, referrals, simple grass root marketing through networking and chamber events.

Well...that should help you get started in 2008. Please share these thoughts and add your own...we would like to hear from you.

Happy New Year....Be Safe!

Detroit Business directory grows

2007-12-07T11:09:00.000-05:00

Written by: Editor - Andy Watkins

Well we've started to grow our new business directory at a fast past thanks to the business community in the Detroit area. We started our Free Listings campaign, which includes calling businesses and introducing them to our new business directory. If your business owner or manager in the Detroit area and want to get seen on the local level, then BusinessDetroit.com is the perfect spot to be listed. We wanted to create a business directory for Detroit area Businesses that wasn't just a simple list, but an interactive directory that allows individuals to write reviews, send to a friend, map your location, contact, and rate the businesses in the Detroit area. The best thing is it's free....yes free.

We've also just launched a few more directories: www.businessgrandrapids.com, www.businesschicago.com and www.businessdesmoines.com.

Spread the word about our great new business directory and get listed today for FREE....Yes it's FREE.

Chase Bank - Fees and More Fees

2007-12-05T10:02:00.001-05:00

Written by: Andy Watkins - BusinessDetroit.com editor

Boycott J.P. Morgan Chase Bank for taking advantage of hard working folks.

Chase bank and many other banks are playing the fee game and many of it's employees seem to be in on the action. How do I know well it's from personal experience. I've been a Chase Bank customer for years and in the recent years they seemed to have added a new method on increasing revenues for their company. This is how it seems to work at least it has towards myself directly.

- You make a payment on your line of credit, auto loan or home mortgage online or at a branch.
- A day later you receive a letter stating your past due and please mail your payment to this location.
- You mail the payment or pay at a branch thinking everything is current because your received a receipt for the payment.

************ Wrong....you are now late and you don't know it.**************

This is the oldest scam in the world and one of the largest banks in the world is using it to make money.

You then without realizing it get charged a late fee and a hold onto your account. Why do you have a hold on your account you ask...well it's simple they want you to pay more down on the princple of your loan and to make money on late fees. Well they can't do that if you pay your bills on time like I do....so they do this song and dance with 1,000's of customers making millions in fees.

They recently did this to me directly and it made me so mad I couldn't stand it. I made three payments one online, which their system didn't log it due to technical difficultlies and then I mailed one in that they said they didn't receive and then I finally made a payment at a branch and they said sorry can't take the payment you need to call in to our toll free number. The representative answered and asked for a payment over the phone and it would be a $15 charge.

In summary, I did the transaction as they requested and I was charged a $50 late fee and $15 phone payment fee a total of $65 in extra fees. Then the payments they said they didn't received now got processed exactly 24 hours after my payment over the phone was done. So now I'm out of 3 payments of $280 in cash flow and $65 in charges.

That's how it's done....so make sure you to get caught in this old scam. Make sure you get a confirmation number, extention number of the representative, mail payments certified and follow up with your bank to make sure the payments were taken.

Keep a copy of everything.....if that still doesn't work and you feel like you've been taken....contact your State and file a complaint with all the details. Then take them to court. This is the only way scams like this will stop happening to us hard working folks.

Remember Boycott Chase Bank - the only way we can stop companies from taking advantage of people is to stop using their services. Trust me they will get the point right away when their bottom line starts to fall apart.

Holiday Race is on

2007-11-27T16:39:00.001-05:00

Written by: Staff writer - BusinessDetroit.com

Wow...what a crazy time of year. I got run over in a Best Buy the other day by two young ladies wanting to get their hands on a Nintendo Wii. I saw my life flash before my eyes when these two young ladies proceeded to hip check me into the Cd racks. I feel to my knees with a shock feeling in my stomach. As I laid flat on my back with a copy of Office space DVD on my chest not one soul would give me a helping hand to get up. They of course stepped over me and gave me a look as if I was in their way.

That's when I decided to focus my holiday shopping online and so far I haven't been hip checked or stepped over. This year I would highly recommend you to shop online where I've found some great offers.

www.redwheelbarrow.com - Video Games and electronic's - 20 -50% off

www.Amazon.com - Everything from Books to Gadgets - 10% on up with used items as well

www.woodwardavenue.com - Jewelry and Watches - 30% off on most items all in stock.

www.etoys.com - Amazing Toy selection, blows Toysrus out of the water.

Detroit Ranked the Most Dangerous

2007-11-24T18:18:00.000-05:00

Written by: Andy Watkins - Editor - BusinessDetroit.com

Rankings: Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S.

1. Detroit, Michigan
2. St. Louis, Missouri
3. Flint, Michigan
4. Oakland, California
5. Camden, New Jersey

Well at least Detroit and Michigan took first place in something in this country. What a mess our state is in and now this news reports gets piled onto our already dreadful economy. It's not bad enough we are one of the highest in unemployment with our very own automakers bailing out on us everyday. The FBI report came out and the local stations like Detroit's Fox news, WXYZ and WDIV all ran stories about this new report, but since it was noted nothing has been improved.. Yes, I know it's only been a short time, but why isn't the Mayor of Detroit stepping up to the plate and cleaning house. The police chief and other City of
Detroit officials have pointed out that the facts are not true.....come on....you don't need the report to tell us that crime is a huge problem in Detroit. It's time that the tax payers take a stand on this issue and make the Mayor of Detroit and the neighboring communities to become more proactive in solutions for our Detroit Area. We should be demanding improvements and if we just get lip service ask for recalls. If that doesn't work, then next time we have to vote make sure it counts.

To the Mayor of Detroit, Business Leaders, Detroit and surrounding leaders it's time to improve our situation and go back to the basics and take our city back from the criminals. Policies and laws need to be enforced with the city limits. If a building is condemned then it needs to be turned over the the city if not improved. Take all the condemed buildings, homes and structures and link them to become the largest urban park system in the United States. It's time to clean up our city with aggressive measures. Well...what are you waiting for....get moving!

Lions vs Packers

2007-11-21T19:21:00.000-05:00

Written by: Andy Watkins - Editor BusinessDetroit.com

In Detroit it is Thanksgiving tradition to watch the Detroit Lions play football. It doesn't matter if they win or lose the fact is it's one of the few times that the entire family get's to yell at the the TV together. Well this year it's going to be a tough one. The Detroit Lions have an improved team, but those Green Bay Packers seem to be unstoppable. Thanksgiving in Detroit is perfect....first I'll get up and put on my fluffy slippers make my hot coffee and turn on the tube to watch the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade, then start on the side dishes while getting ready to watch some football. After the game I sit back and eat a huge carbo meal with close friends and family. Thanksgiving Day in Detroit is a perfect day. Go Lions!

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at BusinessDetroit.com

Turkey Day is almost here and I'm cheating

2007-11-19T14:58:00.000-05:00

Written by: Andy Watkins - BusinessDetroit.com Editor

Well this year I'm going to cheat on Thanksgiving. I was sold on the idea of a pre-made Turkey Dinner sold by Boston Market at my neighborhood Kroger store. What a wonderful idea....just heat and eat says the menu. I have to admit I'm a terrible cook if it can't be microwaved then I'm not eating it. Well I'm having everyone over for a Thanksgiving Dinner and I don't want it to be a disaster, so this pre-made Boston Market meal might be the perfect solution.

We will still make the side dishes, so most of the meal will be homemade, just not the Turkey...and really who cares. Turkey Day wouldn't be official without watching the Detroit Lions and now that I will have more time on my hands due to the pre-made Turkey I will have more time to become frustrated watching the good old Detroit Lions.

Holiday Tips:

1. Buy a pre-made Turkey - free up your time and enjoy the holiday - ( Krogers, Boston Market, Honey Baked Ham companies)
2. Time the dinner, so you can watch the Game
3. Pre make the pumpkin pies the night before. They taste much better the next day.
4. Drop cloth under the kids table...trust me it's a great idea.
5. Shop online for Christmas shopping ( Great Deals on line) at these best online picks:
www.Woodwardavenue.com
www.Amazon.com www.Etoys.com www.jcp.com www.overstock.com

Happy Thanksgiving !

Credit Squeeze in the Business World

2007-11-09T00:33:00.000-05:00

Written by: Andy Watkins - BusinessDetroit.com Editor

Well more bad news for small businesses. It looks like we have received a ton of letters and email's relating to the lack of funds from banks for their businesses. It seems that many of the banks at least in the Detroit area have slowed down on giving out funds to small businesses or any business for that matter. We at BusinessDetroit.com called on a few banks and each one seemed to have a canned response for us. They all stated in a few words that everything is fine and we are signing up new loans just as much as ever before.

Well I know this first hand that banks have turned down many of my close friends that showed me their bank information and were amazed that they got turned down even with a credit score in the low 800's. These business individuals had great credit scores and assets, but couldn't even get a $50k loan from a bank.

So are we in a recession or not? Watching CNBC the word "Recession" popped up 11 times during the power lunch segament.

Here's the big question to the BusinessDetroit.com membership....what's next...what should a business do if they need the money, but can't get the funds from the bank? Please share your thoughts right here and we will share them on our web site at BusinessDetroit.com . Make your views known today.

Michigan's Government playing a Shell Game?

2007-11-01T21:35:00.000-04:00

In Michigan we witnessed everyone of our elected officials crying about the budget and how we were so far in debt that we would need to make large cuts across the board and add a service tax on Michigan Businesses. Every night I would turn on the local news in the Detroit area and all the reports were about how Michigan's government might have to shut it's doors if they couldn't agree on the budget cuts and tax increase. Then I would flip on a national news channel and the reports about Michigan's poor economy is really showing it's head now due to the fact that millions needs to be cut and Govenor Granholm might add a service tax to businesses in Michigan. The entire country was watching how Michigan's economy was on the ropes and how the auto companies were pulling up stakes and moving overseas.

Now after months of debate it seems that a budget has been settled in Michigan. It looks like the tax payers and Michigan Businesses were not told the entire truth. Where's the cuts they spoke about all I saw was increases in budgets across the board with a cut to education. What are they doing in Lansing, Michigan anyway. They first tell us that it's looking really bad and we need to make serious cuts and then they turn around make minor cuts and add a tax on to businesses. They also gave the State Employees a big raise in the amount of $147 million.

Business in the Detroit area are hurting on every level with our major industry leaving the State of Michigan and now our own State government tells us a story just so they can add a service tax to businesses.

Sorry enough with the shell game it's time that our State of Michigan elected officials tell the truth and resign their positions. They have done only harm to businesses in Michigan. We will broadcast our disappointment at BusinessDetroit.com about our elected officials and if you've read this blog please contact your representative in your area and demand answers.

Holiday Season has started

2007-10-31T15:13:00.001-04:00

Well it's that time of year again. Are you ready to deal with the end of the year and the Holiday's? At BusinessDetroit.com we understand that the Holiday's are very stressful both on the business side and personal side of life. Here's a few tips to lowering your stress in your business and personal life right now. First let's visit the business side and talk about what needs to get done and the easiest way to just finish things up, so you can enjoy the Holiday's. Now is the time to sit down with your staff and write up the must do's for your companies year end. These should include improvements, taxes, sales campaigns, customer service issues and of course your new game plan for 2008. This might sound like a lot of work, but actually it should only take your a day or two to get this started. Some improvement ideas should be connected with looking back at how your year went in regards to sales and customer service. What worked and what really didn't...then write up a new way to do business. Now let's move onto the next task taxes....if you use Quickbooks or a similar product then this is a breeze...just print off an account summary of your financials and scan to see how much money you made and loss. This is the time you need to figure out if you want to pay extra taxes or get some more write offs by investing back into your business with new equipment, training or products. Touching base with your client's during the Holiday's is a great way to share with them how you care about their business and how you can help them in 2008. Sending out a Holiday card is the easiest way to maximize your marketing and customer service with a very low cost. We love using a company named Promotice, who does an outstanding job with Holiday cards....you can order online at www.Promotice.com . Now the game plan for 2008....don't make this to difficult because if you do then it just won't work. Keep it simple stupid...as my Mom would always say....I'm not sure if she just wanted to call me stupid or if she really liked to say that phrase...anyway it stuck and I'm in therapy 3 days a week...just joking. Keeping it simple is the only way to create a new game plan. Just go to a white board in your office and write down three things....Customer Service, Sales, Operations. Under each one write down five goals to improve each one then leave it up on the board and start working on them. This shouldn't take you very long...you know what needs to be done the hard part is actually just getting it done. Write it down, keep it simple and get it done.

Now on the personal side of life regarding lowering your stress levels. Buy early and on the web. As you know BusinessDetroit.com loves to promote Detroit Businesses and some of these are Detroit area based, but some are not sorry to say, but they are great places to go to get the shopping done. First stop should be www.etoys.com this website is a great place to get toys for all those kids in your life. They will even wrap the presents and ship them anyway...this is a huge time saver. If you have adults to buy for another great site is www.woodwardavenue.com and www.redwheelbarrow.com both of these are locally owned in the Detroit Area. Woodward Avenue sells luxury items like Ray Ban sunglasses, Gucci bags, diamond rings and very nice artwork. The RedWheel Barrow sells tech stuff like IPODs, Computers, Palm Pilots, MP3 players and other great tech gifts. Just like the business side of life creating a list of tasks that need to get done is a great way to make sure your on track with everything. Make sure you post this on the Refrigerator and put a due date on each item...if you don't then it won't get done. Make sure you free up the last two weeks of the year to do nothing. This is a great goal for everyone, so you can enjoy, relax and just restart your mind and body for the next year.

Well as always I hope these tips help you and when you visit the sites I've listed make sure you mention us at BusinessDetroit.com. Happy Holiday's to all!

Halloween time in Detroit

2007-10-30T23:19:00.000-04:00

Well it's Angel Night in Detroit and it seems to be very quiet. Former Mayor Archer created a great program with the Wayne county sheriffs department and renamed devils night into Angels Night. Groups of citizens patrol the city looking out for would be arsons. The number of fires have dropped by hundreds and saved many people's homes. Well two businesses in the Detroit Area Halloween USA and Spirit Shops are going head to head selling Halloween costumes and decorations. My kids loved going into these stores we must have visited them at least ten times spending over two hundred dollars on costumes and decorations. Well this is the time of year that many Detroit Area business start the big push for the Holiday seasons. Retail outlets like WoodWard Avenue.com, Macy's, JC Penny's and Kohl's will be showing off the Holiday decorations in the next couple of days.

Remember Detroit has one of the greatest Thanksgiving Parade in the world. Every year thousands come out for the big event along with the traditional Lions game that everyone in the country watches. More on the Detroit Thanksgivining parade and other local activities throughout the Detroit Metro Area.

Santa is coming to town

2007-10-29T00:29:00.000-04:00

Santa is here in Metro Detroit....yep...Santa Claus is back in town. This photography studio Winship Studios in Clarkston, Michigan has been providing a great new spin on sitting with Santa Claus. For years now Ken Winship (Santa Claus) has been bringing smiles to kids faces for generations. You bring your kids into see Santa Claus to share their wish lists and then get a photo, DVD, Video with everything recorder. Plus, you can bring back the old videos and just add to it from year to year.
You have to act quick though....the slots get filled mighty fast. Visit their web site at http://www.winshipstudio.com
Make sure you tell them that BusinessDetroit.com sent you.

WorldWise, Inc.'s new product OneWEB takes the lead

2007-10-29T00:22:00.000-04:00

WorldWise, Inc. has spent the last 3 years developing a web solution for small and medium sized businesses that would would give them everything they need regarding web solutions without losing out on customization and quality. WorldWise, Inc. introduced OneWEB, which includes custom desiged web site....yest a custom designed website not the typical templates that so many companies try to pawn off on businesses. OneWEB brings custom designed web sites, free web site hosting and submits your web site to all the top search engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN, Netscape / AOL and so much more without a huge down payment. Actually, the cost is so reasonable I don't know why every business doesn't sign up for this service right now. OneWEB starts at only $199 per month with nothing down. That's right only $199 per month and you get everything you need for a website.

You should check them out at www.GetOneWEB.com and make sure you tell them where you found out about them.

Who's the Great Vladae?

2007-10-28T23:46:00.000-04:00

Vladae Roytapel has been seen on David Letterman, Ellen and our local Detroit Area news Fox2 News every Monday morning showing the public great dog training tips. Vladae has launched a great web site that is hundreds of pages deep and covered with free dog training tips for every type of dog. Vladae has even taken this website one step further than any other Dog Trainer in Michigan or even in the entire World and that is interactive additions, ecommerce stores, free expert tips and so much more. If you have a dog and he or she needs some help...then Vladae is the dog training you should see. Visit his web site at http://www.alternativecaninetraining.com today.

BusinessDetroit.com

2007-10-28T23:40:00.000-04:00

This Business Directory that focuses on Business in the Metro Detroit Area. Any business that is located in Oakland, Macomb or Wayne Counties can list their business online at BusinessDetroit.com for free. This business directory is unique compared to any other directory on the web. BusinessDetroit.com adds great additions to the basic listings like referral features, ratings, mapping system and much more that brings top quality interactive ability to BusinessDetroit.com and helps local businesses in the Detroit, Michigan area the web site tools that they need to be found by people and business alike.

Now if your a business in the Metro Detroit area you should come by and visit our website www.BusinessDetroit.com and sign up your business for free. Sign up and fill in the details about your business that's all it takes. Help us build a great new business directory on the world wide web for the Detroit Area.