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Industries

  • By Business Observer Staff
  • November 6, 2008
Next up: The Grinch

Santa sightings will be scare this Holiday Season, as a bevy of national retailers grapple with the economic downturn. Bankruptcy experts say liquidations will be a big theme.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • November 6, 2008
Fancy a Loan?

From a global view, lending has never been tighter. Says one top economist: "Banks are turning away borrowers left and right."

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • November 6, 2008
Bang a Gong

A late '90s Internet vibe rules the day at IntegraClick. But the Gulf Coast-based online advertising firm's funky approach belies its success.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • November 6, 2008
Socks appeal

Two entrepreneurs are out to eliminate thisfashion faux-pas: Bare-legged men who wear socks with their shoes. Toe'ds may be the answer.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • November 6, 2008
Selling SURGE

The residential real estate downturn hit Lee County especially hard. It may be the first to come out if home sales continue to rise.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • November 6, 2008
No Bust Zone

A real estate entrepreneur finds success, even as others crumble around him on the Gulf Coast. Says Shawn Kaleta: 'We are still busy.'

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • November 6, 2008
Power Pack

It took 20 years, but Alan Rash finally got his shot at runninghis own foam fabrication business. He's turned an unorthodoxapproach into a success story.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • November 6, 2008
Road Show

Entrepreneur Joe Hassani sought a less expensive way to help retailers advertise. The answer: Training people to entertain motorists while spinning a client's sign.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • November 6, 2008
Top billing

Operating a surgery center is as hard as operatingon a patient, doctors are realizing. That's whenthey call on Caryl Serbin and Judith English.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • November 6, 2008
Corporate Report

Gerdau Ameristeel of Tampabuys Ontario recycling firmWalter Industries board toissue new quarterly dividendFifth Third picks Call to headS. Florida bank operationsTECO Energy of Tampaissuing 20-cent dividendMidwest NeuroSurgery & Spinechooses Intergy EHR by SageAdvanced Ultrasound appointsRelations PR & MarketingDiamondhead Casino receives$1 million credit lineGold Standard unveils updated toxicology Web siteSpindlyville products available on the InternetJabil makeslocation devices for California firm

  • Industries
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • November 6, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Massachusetts investor buys Charleston SquareRyals Citrus, Cattle Ranchdoubles ranch landInvestor group buys,rezoning Daniels landDairy Queen franchise company buys storeThe Adler Group Inc. buys 15 buildingsin Breckenridge ParkBoynton Beach company buys Jackson Heights ApartmentsKimco Realty Corp.buysDale Mabry Albertsons store

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • October 30, 2008
Gulf Coast Week

Alaka'i expandsAlaka'i Consulting & Engineering Inc., a Largo-based defense contractor that makes bomb-detection devices, has moved from a Pinellas County business incubator to a new facility in Largo that will allow it to expand.Gymboree closesA Tampa Bay area franchisee of Gymboree Play & Music centers, who sought protection from creditors in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in March, has closed some of its Bay area locations.Another Indigo HotelA joint-venture partnership of Seaboard Hotel Associates LLC, Tampa-based BayStar Hotel Group and St. Petersburg-based Ballast Point Group plans to begin construction later this year on a 168-room Hotel Indigo in downtown Tampa's Channelside District.Bed tax for BoSoxLee County is considering diverting 20% of the taxes it collects on tourist accommodations to pay for a new stadium and training facility for the Boston Red Sox baseball team.Visitor count dropsThe number of visitors to Collier County in September declined 12.9% to 57,700 compared with one year ago, according to consulting firm Research Data Services.Airport traffic dropsThe number of passengers who traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers in September dropped 15% to 328,000 compared with the same month a year ago.Airport traffic decreasesTotal passenger traffic through Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport dipped almost 7% in September, but the drop wasn't as steep as officials thought

  • Finance
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • October 30, 2008
Choppy Waters

Strong headwinds from multiple fronts assail commercial real estate, but glimmers of hope peer over the horizon.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • October 30, 2008
Family Focus

Growing an organic clothing business organically takes the rightcombination of industry buzz and business savvy, two sisters are learning.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • By Business Observer Staff
  • October 30, 2008
Learning Curve

Joe Sterensis helped his own high-school-age children do better on test scores, then started a business to help others.

  • Entrepreneurs
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