— Most experts say a recession is no time for a busines to cut its ad and marketing budget, and a McGraw-Hill study found that during the economic downturn in the early 1980s, firms that advertised aggressively had sales that were 256 percent higher than companies that cut back. But according to the head of the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau, creating an effective advertising strategy isn’t just about where and when ads are placed. Also a key factor, according to the bureau’s Randall Hoth the correct use of certain phrases so you don’t get in trouble with consumers — or the law. Read more in a new BizOpinion post: http://blogs.wisbusiness.com/bizopinion/2009/06/how-to-avoid-six-common-advertising.html — Book reviewer Terri Schlichenmeyer says the new book “Twitter Power” can help show readers how to use Twitter to advance their businesses and careers in a few moves. Author Joel Comm believes that the beauty of Twitter is that it’s a series of real-time conversations between millions of people, simultaneously. And, if used properly and creatively, some of them could become new customers. See the review for more: http://blogs.wisbusiness.com/bizopinion/2009/06/book-review-twitter-power-how-to.html — Gov. Jim Doyle was in Washington, D.C., Wednesday to meet with Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to talk about high-speed rail projects in Wisconsin. “There is a real opportunity for Wisconsin and the Midwest to become a leader in high speed passenger rail,” Doyle said in a statement. “We need good, modern rail to revitalize our country’s infrastructure and economy.” Also attending the meeting were Michigan Gov, Jennifer Granholm, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. LaHood will be in Racine Friday for the groundbreaking ceremony on the County G/I-94 interchange project. — The state Department of Commerce is highlighting several events celebrating the accomplishments of women-owned businesses across Wisconsin being held this month: * The U.S. Small Business Administration will hold its 24th Annual Small Business Awards Breakfast on June 5 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Country Springs Hotel in Pewaukee. * Dane County Small Business Administration will hold its Awards Breakfast at the Sheraton Madison Hotel on June 19 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. * Gov. Jim Doyle and the Wisconsin Women’s Council are holding their 2009 Governor’s Trailblazer Awards for Women in Business at the State Capitol on June 22nd at 10:30 a.m. * Participants in the “Make Mine a Million $ Business Race (M3 Race)” will gather from June 24-June 26 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers See details: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=160616 — A UW-Milwaukee researcher says a new study shows that managers and business owners may pay a premium for white male employees because customers prefer them. “Customers, from students buying textbooks to patients in an examining room, are consistently biased in favor of white men,” says David Hekman, assistant professor in the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The study will be published in the Academy of Management Journal. “Because customer satisfaction is critical for organizational survival, business owners and managers will hire white men when possible and will pay lower salaries to the women and minorities they do hire.” Hekman and colleagues at four other North American business schools showed customers a video featuring either a black male, a white female, or a white male actor playing the role of an employee helping a customer. Those viewing the white male not only reported being 19 percent more satisfied with the employee’s performance, but also they were more satisfied with the store’s cleanliness and appearance. This despite the fact that employees demonstrated the same scripted behaviors and the store background, camera angles and lighting were identical. See details: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=160610 ************************* WISBUSINESS.COM / WISPOLITICS.COM FORUM JUNE 10 — Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Ships): Shaping Southeastern Wisconsin’s Transportation Future — WEDNESDAY, June 10, 7:15 AM at Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, Milwaukee Hear major decision-makers debate the future of passenger rail, highway expansion, the port of Milwaukee and Mitchell Field in light of stressed state and local budgets and commuters’ continuing search for the best way to get to work. Confirmed panelists include Milwaukee County Exec. Scott Walker, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett; Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine and a member of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee; and Rep. Jeff Stone, R-Greendale and a member of the Assembly Transportation Committee. Initial sponsors for the event include UW-Milwaukee, Wisconsin Urban & Rural Transit Association and HNTB. The event is open to the public, and the price is $30 per person. But WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com subscribers, the UW-Milwaukee community, and members of MMAC and Discovery World will be able to attend for $20 per person. The price includes the breakfast buffet but not parking. Call Debra Jordan (414) 287-4127 or e-mail djordan@mmac.org to register. Online registration is also available: http://mmac.org/display/router.asp?docid=488&event=1227&startDate=06/10/09 Additional sponsorships are available as well. For sponsorship information, contact Jim Greer at 608-237-6296 or webmaster@wisbusiness.com ************************* TOP STORIES Sanimax to close DeForest biodiesel operation : Sanimax has announced the temporary shutdown of its DeForest biodiesel operation. About 20 of the operation’s 30 employees will be laid off Friday. Incentives would reward Anchor BanCorp for early payment of debt : Incentives for an early payoff of Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin’s $116.3 million debt to U.S. Bank are built into the latest credit agreement. Bemis acquires Brazilian packaging firm for $43m: Bemis Company Inc. has acquired Brazilian rigid packaging firm Huhtamaki Oyj for $43 million in cash, assumed debt and other considerations. State considers electronics recycling program: Manufacturers of computers, printers, TVs, fax machines and other electronic equipment would be required to arrange for the collecting and recycling of products they sell in Wisconsin under a bill up for a vote in the state Senate on Tuesday.
************************************************************ See commentary from around the state and columns from WisBusiness contributors Jennifer Sereno, Kevin McKinley, Tom Burzinski, Gregg Hoffmann, Tom Still and Steve Jagler: ************************************************************ TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
BIOTECH (back to top)
ECONOMY (back to top) – BLS: Milwaukee jobless rate at 8.9% – Study ranks Kenosha area among top 50 high-tech economies
MANUFACTURING (back to top) – Joy Global profits rise 67 percent – Dental equipment distributor moving to Menomonee Valley
LABOR (back to top) – Attorneys who defend poor want $30-an-hour raise – Billboard job seeker finds work – Smith Barney sues Baird over defection of workers
SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
REAL ESTATE (back to top) – Developer considers building 83-room Staybridge Suites in Glendale
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top) – Wisconsin Corn Growers Talking About the ‘Real’ Cost of Breakfast
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
RETAIL (back to top) – Milwaukee-area execs to serve retail group
HEALTH CARE (back to top)
FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
MANAGEMENT (back to top) PRESS RELEASES (back to top) For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82 |
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