November 22nd, 2009, 12:00 pm by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
More than one in four (26%) employed Americans say they have seriously thought that someone in their workplace was capable of mass violence, according to a Rasmussen Report survey.
Tell us what you think and then read on:
Have you ever had a co-worker capable of mass violence?
Clearly the issue is in the news because of the shooting at Fort Hood that killed 13 and wounded 30. Besides that, 2 million people a year are victims of workplace violence, according to the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
And an average of 1,000 people are killed at work each year since 1990, up from 850 in the 1980s, according to the Institute for Prevention of Workplace Violence in Lake Forest.
In the Rasmussen Report survey, 64% said they have not seriously thought a co-worker would be capable of mass violence and 11% were unsure.
One in three men say they have worked with someone they thought capable of mass violence, compared with 17% of women.
But here’s the scary one: 43% of government workers say they have felt a fellow employee was capable of mass violence, more than double the rate in private industry.
About half the workers in private industry say their employers have procedures in place to identify troubled employees, and 66% of government workers say their employer has such procedures.
Other business stories…
Posted in: Employees • Poll • Top posts • Workplace • National Institute for Prevention of Workplace violence • OHSA • Rasmussen Reports • workplace violence | 11 Comments »
November 22nd, 2009, 6:00 am by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
Jordyn is the greatest gift in the life of Pennie Curet, who owns Electric Beach Tanning Spas in Irvine and Costa Mesa.
Jordyn, inspiration for toy drive
She and husband Luis adopted Jordyn last year.
“She has truly brought the sunshine to my days, despite the economy and what it has done ot our business and so many others,” Pennie says. “Therefore we are having a toy drive in her honor and working with (Hope Kids), an agency that helps so many families and children in foster care.”
Pennie isn’t the only Orange County small-business owner using their establishments as a drop-off spot for Thanksgiving and Christmas collections.
Tim Telles, owner of Tribeca Salon at 6 Journey, suite 155, in Aliso Viejo, is
Pennie Curet, photo by A. Lorren Au
collecting nonperishable food items for the Village of Hope in Tustin. Drop off your items at his shop as soon as you can and he will deliver it.
It’s interesting that businesses continue to help charities in a year that many report eliminating the company year-end party or gifts for employees and clients.
Back to Pennie. I first wrote about her in It’s Your Business in 2007 about how an owner keeps her business going when she must take an extended leave. In Pennie’s case, she had her food amputated. Click here to read about it.
Now she’s going full steam again and helping others during this season. If you want to participate by donating a toy, drop it off a:
- 1460 Baker St., suite C, Costa Mesa or
- 4668 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine
“We are collecting unwrapped toys, blankets, stuffed animals, gift cars, movie certificates and more for kids from age 3 months to 19 years,” Pennie says.
Her goal is a gift for 100 children. Collection deadline is Dec. 15.
If you know of other business owners with charitable projects in which others can participate, write about them in the comments below.
Other entrepreneur stories…
Posted in: Economy • Entrepreneurship • People • Reports • Run your business • Top posts • Women entrepreneurs • Charity • Electric Beach Tanning Spa • Tribeca Salon | Post a Comment »
November 21st, 2009, 12:00 pm by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
A majority of consumers say they want a good laugh in the greeting cards they receive from companies with which they do business, according to a survey.
Maybe they’re seeking a respite from the sluggish economic recovery, high home foreclosure rate, deep consumer and government debt and rising unemployment rate.
A Harris Interactive survey for Hallmark Business Expressions of 2,300 consumers found that 62% want to receive cards with humor just in general this year and 51% like humorous cards this holiday season. Forty-nine percent prefer traditional Christmas cards.
In response, Hallmark Expressions, the business-to-business subsidiary of the greeting card giant, has released 16 humorous cards among its 161 holiday cards for businesses. The one pictured above is an example.
Here’s another:
“The goal of our humor holiday cards is to relate to everyday business people and office situations, as well as more specific occupations that lend themselves to industry humor,” says Angela Nelson, art director for Hallmark Business Expressions humor cards. “Humor has worked in the consumer world for years. We saw an opportunity to expand our business holiday cards to translate what’s been sucessful with consumers for the business customer.”
Hallmark’s research has found that some industries can get away with humor better than others. The most acceptable:
- Real estate, 47%
- Health services, 44%
- Human resources, 44%
- Insurance 37%
Other interesting stuff:
Posted in: Economy • Marketing • Top posts • Christmas cards • Greeting cards • Hallmark Business Expressions | Post a Comment »
November 21st, 2009, 6:00 am by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
Tom Patty was looking for the perfect gift for his wife Susan’s 60th birthday. He found it sitting in one of the marketing
From "Susan's Garden"
classes he teaches for SCORE, the volunteer small-business counseling group.
Tom is retired president of Chiat/Day Advertising and active SCORE counselor. He says he’s taught or counseled a thousand O.C. business owners in the past year.
One of these business owners was Jane Shafron, partners with her husband Peter in Your Story Here LLC in a Mission Viejo
The firm specializes in personal history video documentaries “honoring people who may not be celebrities to anyone but their families and friends,” Jane explains.
That’s the perfect gift, Tom decided, so he hired Your Story Here to produce “Susan’s Garden.”
Here’s a snippet from the 45-minute video: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Local companies • People • Top posts • Women entrepreneurs • Mission Viejo • SCORE • video biographies • Your Storey Here LLC | 2 Comments »
November 21st, 2009, 1:00 am by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
Fremont Bank, a community bank based in Northern California, is expanding into Southern California with its residential lending center in Aliso Viejo, which will open Dec. 1.
“With multiple Southern California community banks vanishing or being acquired by larger intuitions,
Fremont Bank fills a much needed void to provide residents with sound, traditional prime mortgage
lending,” says Brad Seibel, who will lead the new facility.
Click here to read the bank’s press release.
Other business stories…
Posted in: Banks • Top posts • Aliso Viejo • Fremont Bank | Post a Comment »
November 20th, 2009, 6:00 pm by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
Recently I posted about TruFocals, the world’s first adjustable-focus eye glasses.
Here’s your chance to try them in person and enter to win a free pair.
Costa Mesa optometrist Michael Bourgoin and Custom Eyes Optometry will have TruFocals on display from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday Nov. 21 at 1835 Newport Blvd., suite A-111 in Costa Mesa.
Click here to read the original post about TruFocal, created by Los Angeles inventor Stephen Kurtin. They adjust to near or far vision by adjusting the slider on the nose bridge. You’ll note that some commenters were critical of the style and skeptical about the functionality.
“They create an entirely clear field of view at any distance. It’s like having dozens of eyeglasses in a single frame,” the company claims.
Here’s your chance to determine for yourself who’s right. Visitors can enter to win a pair.
Posted in: Contests • Events • Local companies • Top posts • Updates • adjustable eyewear • Costa Mesa • TruFocals | Post a Comment »
November 20th, 2009, 12:00 pm by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
California is on the losing end when compared to Texas, according to a blog for the California Manufacturers & Technology Association.
He points out that the Milken Institute 2009 index compares compares business costs in California and Texas:
Source: Milken Institute
DiCaro says Texas has a $2 billion state budget surplus while the Legislative Analyst Office this wek said California is looking at a $21 billion deficit in the state budget after supposedly balancing the budget just a few months earlier.
Also, Chief Executive magazine rates Texas the best state in which to place a corporate headquarters and California is worst.
Trends magazine says Texas has more Fortune 500 headquarters, 64, than any other state. California has 51.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today that California’s unemployment rate is now 12.5% and Texas’ is 8.3%. Click here for more details.
Other economy stories…
Posted in: Economy • Top posts • California Manufacturers & Technology Association • California vs. Texas | 105 Comments »
November 20th, 2009, 6:00 am by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
Johnny Rebs’, a chain of four BBQ restaurants including one in Orange, has stacked 500 turkeys in the walk-in freezer at Meyerhof’s Fine Catering in Irvine, and preparing to smoke the birds on Saturday and Sunday.
Here’s a glimpse at the turkeys cooling til smoking time:
Meyerhof's freezer is packed with turkeys for Thanksgiving
The Southern roadhouse-style company has been selling cook-ahead Thanksgiving dinners for customers since it had just one diner in Long Beach in 1984, says director of operations Clay Carter.
“We probably sold 20 that first year, but that was before other restaurants, and especially supermarkets, started doing precooked Thanksgiving meals,” he says. “We sold 650 last year; I’m budgeting 500 this year.”
The package includes Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Events • Local companies • Top posts • irvine • Johnny Rebs • Meyerhofs Catering • Orange • Thanksgiving dinner | 1 Comment »
November 19th, 2009, 6:00 pm by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
Sixteen people are the winners of the $15,000 contest of 3 Day Blinds, an Irvine window coverings company.
More than 110,000 people from all over the United States entered the competition for free window treatments, according to Vice President Phil Mettra.
“With a tight economy like we are all dealing with, it is a pleasure to reach out consumers and give them a chance to win window treatments Free and make their day,” he said.
3 Day Blinds, founded in 1978, emerged from its bankruptcy reorganization in July as a direct sales company.
Before bankruptcy reorganization, 3 Day Blinds had more than 180 retail locations. Now it operates through 225 sales consultants in 15 states.
Winners were selected at random on Nov. 16. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Contests • Local companies • Top posts • 3 Day Blinds • winners | Post a Comment »
November 19th, 2009, 12:00 pm by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
The recession is driving down workplace morale, according to a new Harris Interactive Poll for CareerBuilder.com.
Tell us what you think then read what others said:
How do you rate morale at your workplace?
In a survey of 2,924 hiring managers and 4,285 U.S. full-time employees, 23% rated their organization’s current 
employee morale as low.
Not only that, 40% of workers report that they have had difficulty staying motivated at work in the past year, and 24% do not feel loyal to their current employer.
Obviously increased workloads, longer hours and strained resources are having an impact.
Maybe that’s why 65% of employees are looking for a new job and nearly 60% intend to intensify their search in the next three months, according to consultant Jane Goldner, founder of The Goldner Group.
Among workers surveyed by CareerBuilder, 40% said that their stress level at work is high and 47% said that their workload has increased in the last six months. One-in-five is dissatisfied with the work/life balance. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Economy • Jobs • Poll • Reports • Top posts • Workplace • CareerBuilder • workplace morale | 4 Comments »
