December 2013 Business Journal by Herald & Review

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DECEMBER 2013

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December 2013

YOUR CALENDAR

Monday, Dec. 2 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill, 101 S. Main St. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club, 158 W. Prairie Ave. Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.

Tuesday, Dec. 3 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton, 333 W. Marion Ave., Forsyth. Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility, 3909 W. Main St. Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club. Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Wednesday, Dec. 4 Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club. Decatur Leadership Institute participants scheduled to make project presentations. Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Dec. 5 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Human Service Agency Consortium (HSAC), noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y, 220 W. McKinley Ave. American Business Women’s Association (Amacita), 6 p.m., location varies. Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building, 2715 N. 27th St.

Friday, Dec. 6 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce First Friday Luncheon, noon, Main Street Church Tea Room, 2000 N. Main St.

Monday, Dec. 9 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Tuesday, Dec. 10 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton. Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center. Decatur Building Construction Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Hall, 3390 N. Woodford St.

Decatur Area Society for Human Resource Management, 11 a.m., Doherty’s Pub and Pins, 242 E. William St. Central Illinois Ad Club, 11:30 a.m., Decatur Club. Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club. Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Wednesday, Dec. 11 Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Mary Belle’s, 170 W. Debby Drive, Mount Zion. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Real Estate Investors Association, 6:30 p.m., Perkins Family Restaurant, 2999 N. Monroe St.

Thursday, Dec. 12 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. GFWC Decatur Woman’s Club, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Senior Resources Network (formerly Mature Resources Network), 11:45 a.m., Keystone Gardens, 1455 W. Mound Road. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Decatur Area Women’s Network (DAWN), 5:30 p.m., location varies. Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building. Decatur Camera Club, 7 p.m., Rock Springs Environmental Center, 3939 Nearing Lane.

Friday, Dec. 13 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Monday, Dec. 16 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club. Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.

Decatur Christian Women’s Club, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Decatur AMBUCS, 6 p.m., Decatur Club.

Friday, Dec. 20 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Noon Women’s Network, 11:45 a.m., Decatur Club.

Monday, Dec 23

Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building.

Friday, Jan. 3 Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce First Friday Luncheon, noon, Main Street Church Tea Room, 2000 N. Main St.

To submit items for Your Calendar, contact Scott Perry at (217) 421-7976, at sperry@heraldreview.com, or click the “Submit an Event” link at www.thebusiness-journal.com.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Friday, Dec. 27 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. American Business Women’s Association (Monarch), noon, location varies.

Monday, Dec. 30 Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Thursday, Jan. 2 American Business Women’s Association (Amacita), 11:30 a.m., location varies. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y.

Looking Up answers Here are the answers to the November Looking Up in downtown Decatur clues. See another batch of clues on pages 20 and 21. 1. All Things Beautiful/Earthen Pottery 2. Pro Max Construction 3. Madden Arts Center 4. Embroidered Expressions 5. Pastabilities Italian Grill 6. The Brass Horn 7. Robbies Outlet 8. Jasmine Thai 9. Zip’s Flowers By The Gates 10. Haines & Essick 11. Sloan’s Calzones

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The 2014 Spring Schedule has GONE PAPERLESS All of our courses are now searchable online at richland.edu/registration

Tuesday, Dec. 17 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton. Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club. Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Wednesday, Dec. 18 Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Christian Women’s Network, noon, Decatur Club. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Dec. 19 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

One College Park | Decatur, Illinois 62521 | 217.875.7200 | richland.edu

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December 2013

FROM THE EDITOR 2013 has been an interesting year, full of change and challenges, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the bad stuff that’s going on around us. For some reason, the bad stuff just sticks in our brain more than the good stuff. I know this for a fact, having taken many calls over the years of people complaining about how the newspaper only focuses on the negative things as they take issue with a particular story or make a pitch for us to cover something “positive” they have going on. I politely disagree, telling them that a majority of the local stories are very positive and highlight the events and people that make our community so great. I found an ally at this year’s Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Community Thanksgiving Luncheon. The featured speaker, Richland Community College President Gayle Saunders, used her time to highlight 70 positive things taking place in the community. Aside from taking comfort in the fact the sky isn’t falling, I’m glad to say all of the things she mentioned appeared on the pages of the Herald & Review. Saunders added the list could have been much longer. I have no doubt. Here is my Christmas wish for you. Take a few moments to take in and cherish the good things in your life and the community. It won’t make the bad things go away, but it should provide less room in your brain to dwell on them.

31 BACK AWAY Avoid overindulging on Christmas eats

Business Clips . . . . . . 37 Fred Spannaus . . . . . 36

Health calendar . . . . 32 Liz Reyer . . . . . . . . . . 10 Office Coach . . . . . . . . 9

Buy local

SCORE counselor . . . 37 Wendy Gauntt . . . . . . 12

VOLUME 19

ISSUE 12

601 E. William St. Decatur, IL 62523 217.421.7976 217.421.7965 (fax)

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STORY IDEAS: Email sperry@herald-review.com or call 217.421.7976. SUBSCRIPTIONS: To order additional copies call 217.421.7931 ADVERTISING: The deadline for ad and ad copy for the January issue is Dec. 12. Call 217.421.7953 for rate information. The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois is printed monthly and is a publication of Lee Enterprises Inc.

Free Time calendar . . 30

Professional profile . . . 8

OF MIDCENTRAL ILLINOIS

COVER PHOTO: Jim Bowling

December2013Contents Biz Bites . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

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LAYOUT & DESIGN: Ginger Wortman

Scott Perry, editor Business Journal of Midcentral Illinois

Standing Features

BUSINESS JOURNAL

The Christmas shopping season is important for so many reasons. We’ve all heard how it can make or break a business. But the benefit of dollars spent locally go well beyond the store and impact the entire community. Page 38

33 SMALL-TOWN TOUCH Sav-Mor Pharmacy prides itself on service

Information published is the responsibility of the author and does not reflect the opinions of The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois. To submit articles, mail typewritten and 500 words or less to: The Business Journal, 601 E. William St., Decatur, IL 62523. Articles will not be returned. Any editorial content or advertising published is the property of Lee Enterprises Inc., DBA The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois. Copyright 2013 Herald & Review All rights reserved for entire content.

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December 2013

YOUR COMMUNITY

Economic Gardening sprouts first bloom Peerless excited to utilize program By CHRIS LUSVARDI Business Journal Writer

DECATUR — Peerless Cleaning and Restoration Services, based in Decatur, is a business that is ready to grow, so it is looking for new ways to attract customers. As one of the initial participants selected for the Greater Decatur Economic Gardening program, Peerless has been able to gather information useful for making decisions about its future, said Sarah Johnson, marketing director. The company is excited about being selected for the program and what it might mean for them. “The information is just priceless,” she said. “We’re beyond happy with it. We couldn’t have personally done the research. We wouldn’t have the knowledge to even know where to find it all. Instead, they package it and hand it to us to go over.” The economic gardening concept was brought to Decatur and launched in May with the cooperation of various community groups and businesses, including the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce,

Millikin University Center for Entrepreneurship, Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County and city of Decatur. It is being made possible with $15,000, raised through the support of local banks, said David Tyrolt, president and CEO of Dunn Co., which is helping to promote the program. Similar programs have been launched across the country working with the Edward Lowe Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the National Center for Economic Gardening. Consultants spend about 36 hours with each company, said Mirinda Rothrock, president of the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce. Helping mid-tier businesses such as Peerless is part of what members of the Grow Decatur community development initiative have identified as an important way to solidify the area’s economic future. The consulting process is kept confidential to protect information companies don’t want to make widely known. Tyrolt is among those encouraged to see the collaboration taking place with Grow Decatur to move the community forward. “Mid-tier businesses are a huge generator of economic activity,” Tyrolt said. “Economic development is often focused around attracting large businesses. This

grows existing businesses, which helps to stimulate economic activity that way.” Assisting established, mid-tier businesses is often different than efforts to help smaller, startup companies, Rothrock said. “They have already gone through the growth stages,” Rothrock said. “They’re looking for tools they need to grow. They often can’t afford or are not aware of resources that exist. Through this program, they gain access to research and resources.” Businesses can apply and be selected to the program at different points in time, said Cindy Deadrick-Wolfer, a Grow Decatur member and business owner. The goal is to meet the needs of numerous companies, she said. “We want to help get them to the next level,” she said. “They are good, solid businesses. We want companies to prosper.” Decatur has more businesses that fall into the mid-tier level than many people realize, Deadrick-Wolfer said. More funding will be needed to continue the program, she added. Enough money has been raised to put a few businesses through the program free of charge, Tyrolt said. The hope is for those that participate to support the program in the future. All of the efforts are intended to make

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Decatur an attractive place to live and do business, said Larry Altenbaumer, a founder of Grow Decatur and newly appointed interim president of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County. “We want to make sure we’re doing what we can in respect to helping businesses prosper here,” Altenbaumer said. “If we play our cards right, what we will be able to achieve in the next 10 years will be the best we’ve seen in the past 50 years.” Peerless wants to use the information that is gathered as part of the economic gardening process to refocus the agenda for its retail services, which Johnson said includes dry cleaning, laundry, carpet and air duct cleaning. The business also includes restoration services for buildings. The process with information about customers, industry trends and social media marketing has proven to be helpful as the company completes a normal assessment of its status near the end of each year, she said. Businesses that are able to be successful help employ more people as they grow, which Johnson said helps the community. “Any time a business locally shines, then Decatur shines as well,” Johnson said.

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December 2013

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BIZ BITES

Now open Chef John Redden has brought his concept for dining to downtown Decatur. Redden opened TapRoot Restaurant at 170 N. Merchant St. in the space Porter’s on Merchant formerly occupied. Redden had worked eight years as executive chef at the Beach House in Decatur before deciding he wanted to put more of his own identity into a restaurant. Redden considers the concept to be rustic contemporary, putting a fresh take on American classics. The food is made from scratch and prepped on site, he said. “It’s a rather simple concept,” Redden said. “I wanted to focus on what we’re doing well.” Redden has found Decatur diners receptive to the ideas he’s introduced during his career. “It takes time, but eventually you can tell they like certain things,” he said. The name of the restaurant is an extended metaphor that includes eat, drink and enjoy, Redden said. It connects various ideas, including root-based vegetables such as roasted carrots and parsnip. The bar is open from 4-11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with the kitchen serving from 5-9 p.m., Redden said. Plans are to start offering lunch sometime next year. Reservations are encouraged. Call (217) 330-6365. nnn Mark Putnam found out at age 43 he was going to be a father for the first time. He didn’t think he was in the best of shape, so he wanted to find a way to be able to keep up with his child. Putnam enjoyed the CrossFit workout focusing on strength and conditioning so much he decided to open CrossFit MTZ at 1515 Illinois 121, Suite B, in Mount Zion, which is next to Next of Kiln. “I didn’t want to run on a treadmill,” Putnam said. “I like the variety of it. It’s different every day.” Those who stick with it will find a sense of accomplishment, he said. The workout style it emphasizes will help people be better prepared for doing things such as playing with their child or picking up groceries, Putnam said. “It will make you better at life in general,” he said. “It produces tangible results without spending hours in the gym.” An average workout lasts about 15 minutes, with stretching and warmups taking up to 45 minutes. A program for children ages 9 to 13 will be starting in this month. Sessions start at 5:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday. Prospective members can try out a class for free with advance notice. Call (217) 412-3371. nnn A shop has opened in Mount Zion that is aiming to provide needed maintenance for a variety of vehicles. Mount Zion Auto Service at 325 N. Illinois 121 offers services ranging from oil changes and tune-ups to engine repairs, owner Josh Rankins said. Rankins

opened the business in October after years of working at other jobs. While working, Rankins found that he would be repairing cars on the side almost every night. “I decided I wanted to have a shop,” Rankins said. “I found the building and things fell into place.” The building offers five bays, keeping Rankins busy. He will be looking for help as it gets busier, but for now, he’s focused on getting the business up and running. “It’s small but growing quick,” Rankins said. The shop is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Call (217) 864-2014. nnn Two former employees of a longtime Decatur company are trying to take advantage of an opportunity by starting their own woodworking business. Dave Jacobs and Dale Wilber are running D&D Custom Woodworking at 1960 S. Taylorville Road in Decatur. Jacobs said he had spent 25 years doing similar work for Sims Lumber before it closed last year. He and Wilber took it as a chance to continue the work, as Jacobs said they see a demand for it. “We know how to do the work,” Jacobs said. “It’s turning out to be a dream come true.” They can make and repair just about anything wooden, including antique rocking chairs, fireplace mantels and custom doors, Jacobs said. It deals with the types of products that Jacobs said can’t be found at big-box stores. Much of their work has been done behind the scenes, primarily for contractors, he said. The shop is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (217) 433-1964. nnn Roszette’s Coffee Cup has opened in the Small Business Expo of Decatur Plaza Mid-Town, 1123 N. Water St. Naketra Chavis has been selling Organo Gold products out of her Decatur home since January but wanted her customers to have more choices and the ability to come to her on their own terms. Her merchandise includes nutraceuticals, personal care products, coffees and teas. Roszette is Chavis’ middle name and the name of her paternal grandmother. The shop opens at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday and closes at 2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday. Call (217) 358-0260. nnn The owner of The Hidden Lair at 320 N. Illinois 121 in Mount Zion says if you like traditional card and board games, this is the place you want to be. For younger and school age kids, it carries an array of educational games billed as “bringing education to a gaming environment,” and there is space inside for users to try them out. Another part of the store is dedicated to the entertainment side, with games such as Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! Store owner Derrick Bradshaw said

there are dozens of games to choose from and try your hand at. The Hidden Lair also carries a big selection of board games, ranging from Monopoly to multilayered stuff such as The Settlers of Catan. Bradshaw, a gamer since he was 14, said the Decatur area needed a game store and game playing venue like this. He says while electronic video games get a lot of the attention, there is much to be said for traditional games in which you must interact directly with others. “You are sitting at a table with six other people and you’ve got to learn to be social, you have to learn how to be competitive, yet cooperative,” he said. “You have to learn how to lose and learn how to win.” The Hidden Lair is closed Mondays and open 2:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 2:30 p.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Go to thehiddenlair.com or call (217) 864-1851.

On the move There’s no place like home, so the owners of Plaza TV were glad to move back to 1920 N. Oakland Ave. about four months after a May 31 tornado caused catastrophic damage to the building’s roof and contents. “We kept answering the phone and we’ve never closed,” Walt Sroka said. “But it’s good to be back.” Plaza TV operated in the interim out of the former Sims Lumber building at 2320 N. Oakland Ave. Tampasis Computer Systems, previously located in the southwest corner of the Plaza TV building, relocated to 3777 N. Woodford St., Suite E, and reopened in June. nnn Like finding the right pair of glasses, searching for the ideal business location can take awhile. Bard Optical began its search in June 2012 when parking hassles and disruption from streetscape renovations persuaded it to leave its 20-year address on North Park Street in downtown Decatur. The new Decatur Bard store is now happily located at 331 W. First Drive, just opposite Kroger in South Shores, where it opened in August.

And Bard said it can see clearly that it’s made the right choice. “It’s working out wonderful,” said Michael Hall, vice president of Peoriabased Bard. “There is a lot more traffic there and it’s a much more vibrant area and a much better location than we had downtown.” Hall said the site search took a lot longer than he would have liked, and he looked at and rejected many possible locations. With another Bard office already in Forsyth, he wanted something south of Brettwood Village with plenty of shopper traffic. “There are a number of really strong retail areas in Decatur, but they just didn’t have the space we needed,” he said. The new office employs a doctor and three staff and is a full-service optical service with equipment to help diagnose eye diseases. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Call (217) 422-3881. nnn The first business has opened in a newly constructed building in the South Shores area of Decatur. The office of Patrick J. Delatte American Family Insurance moved to 105 W. First Drive Unit C from just down the road in the Southtowne Plaza near Pizza Factory. The new location at the corner of Franklin Street and First Drive near Speed Lube and two gas stations is much more visible, Delatte said. “The exposure is so much better here,” said Delatte, who has run the business for two years. “It’s a brand-new, goodlooking building.” The building has space for up to four businesses to occupy. Delatte has been happy being in South Shores and didn’t want to move far. The agency is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (217) 4223200.

Biz Bites highlight businesses that are opening, closing, expanding … you get the picture. If you have information for our Biz Bites column, contact Tony Reid at treid@herald-review.com, Chris Lusvardi at clusvardi@herald-review.com, Theresa Churchill at tchurchill@herald-review.com or call them at (217) 421-6979.

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December 2013

Richland opens new center in Clinton Richland Community College began a new chapter of its history with the opening last month of its Clinton Higher Education Center. The 4,400-square-foot, stand-alone building will provide more dual credit, technical training and continuing education opportunities for community members. “This is something we’ve been dreaming about for many, many years,” said college President Gayle Saunders. The facility is located in a new tax increment financing district just south of Clinton High School. Although Richland has had an extension center in Clinton High School since 1977, Saunders said the new building will allow the college to reach more high school students and adults. “Before, the extension center had to abide by the high school’s hours, but this building will give the adult population as much opportunity to access Richland classes as the high school students do,” she said.

Altenbaumer named interim head of EDC Larry Altenbaumer has taken on an official job in the community with hopes of continuing to move Decatur forward

well into the future. Altenbaumer, one of the founders of the Grow Decatur initiative launched last year, has been named interim president for the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County. His appointment comes at a critical time for shaping the economic outlook of the Decatur area. While taking the job on a part-time basis, Altenbaumer wants to remain supportive of the efforts started through Grow Decatur, which is a community coalition organized to better understand the challenges and opportunities and develop a plan to help position Decatur for long term success. Altenbaumer replaces Craig Coil, who had been the development corporation’s president for 11 years before resigning effective Oct. 31. One of Altenbaumer’s key tasks will be leading the national search to recruit a full-time president. He also plans to work with the economic corporation’s board to decide how to meet its support staff needs after Vice President of Business Development Patrick Hoban recently left to become an economic development officer with the city of Decatur.

City cuts 20 positions in next year’s budget The city of Decatur is cutting 20 positions, including six firefighters, to close

2014!

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a $1.6 million gap in next year’s budget. Twelve people are being laid off, and eight currently or soon-to-be vacant positions will be eliminated, City Manager Ryan McCrady said. The cuts to take effect near the end of the city’s fiscal year on Dec. 31. All departments are likely to be affected, except for police, which typically does not spend its entire personnel budget, and water, which is funded separately by user fees, he said. “The only way to solve the deficit was to eliminate the number of city employees,” McCrady said. “That’s not something we enjoy doing. Unfortunately, it was the only option we had remaining.” The deficit in McCrady’s budget proposal comes from a projection that revenues such as sales and food and beverage taxes will remain flat. Expenses continue to rise, including a 10 percent jump in pension costs. The Decatur City Council is expected to vote on the budget Dec. 16.

Oasis Day Center to receive $300,000 Sometimes the community’s ability to give to a good cause seems to have no limits. But state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said it’s time for the state to do its part in keeping Oasis Day Center for the homeless open, as he announced during

a news conference last month that Oasis would get the $300,000 it needed to operate for the coming year after all. While local fundraising efforts alone were not sufficient, Manar said they made it easier for him to make the case that the funding Heritage Behavioral Health Center was counting on should be restored. Diana Knaebe, Heritage president and CEO, said she and the senator are hoping to hear that the grant of federal funds through the Illinois Department of Human Services would continue for three years. The previous grant ran out June 30. Manar learned that Oasis helps prevent homelessness by providing mental health services and helping people with other basic needs. “This is something the state should support,” he said. “Dealing with this issue on the back end rather than the front end would be much more costly.”

BUSINESS JOURNAL Reader Profile: n 66% have household income of $80,000 or more. n 32% are age 55 or older.

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December 2013

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December 2013

YOUR CAREER

Meet Wesley ‘Wes’ Dalberg Salvation Army officer, minister Hometown: St. Petersburg, Fla. Family: Wife, Susan, and five children, all grown and on their own. Education: Graduate of Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg. Graduate of The Salvation Army Evangeline Booth College (school for officer training) in Atlanta, Ga. My “I’d rather be …” bumper sticker would read: “I’d rather be preaching/teaching.” I really enjoy the preparation of a sermon or Bible lesson and then sharing the “good news” with others. Hobbies/Interests: Watching all kinds of sports — football (Kansas City Chiefs), baseball (Kansas City Royals) and college basketball (University of Kansas Jayhawks). I also enjoy reading a good book. My first job: I worked as a camp helper at a Salvation Army Community Center Day Camp program in St. Petersburg. Why I do what I do: For me, Salvation Army officership is a calling of God. I can say that even though I have done other things in my life, nothing is as fulfilling as answering God’s call and following Jesus Christ in ministering to all sorts of people through the practical and spiritual ministries of The Salvation Army. Personal approaches to challenges: Pray first and often, then get the input of others that I trust and that are smarter than me. From all the information gleaned I put that together with my own thinking and what I feel God is leading me to do in that particular situation. Then I deal directly with the challenge whatever it may be. Community involvement: I am a proud member of the Decatur Rotary Club. I also serve on the local Federal Emergency Management Agency board along with other community leaders. I am part of the Decatur Area Christian Ministerial Association. What does the corps officer of a local Salvation Army do? Everything. A corps officer in The Salvation Army is an ordained minister of the gospel. We preach, teach, pastor and shepherd our local congregation. The corps officer is responsible for all funds that come to The Salvation Army in his/her appointment, this includes fundraising, budgeting and expenditures. The corps officer is also responsible for public relations and deals with local media outlets and with the help of the local advisory board and staff, determines how best to communicate the message of The Salvation Army to the community. The corps officers are responsible for all Salvation Army programming in their community. This includes social service programs that help people with physical/material needs such as the men’s shelter that is operated by The Salvation Army in Decatur, along with a large and very busy food pantry and emergency services programs. The corps officer, with the help of the local Salvation Army congregation is responsible for all of the children’s, youth, music, recreational and community center activities along with programs for men, women and seniors. In a community like Decatur that has significant social programs and sizeable other activities, the corps officer has to be a manager of staff and volunteers because no one could do all of these things alone. The

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paid and volunteer staff are the ones that make it possible for The Salvation Army to accomplish all that it does in the course of a year. A corps officer is truly a jack of all trades and master of some. This is a team leadership thing, isn’t it, with your wife also serving as the local corps officer? What is her role? In The Salvation Army, husbands and wives serve together and are co-equal as corps officers. Both are ordained, commissioned officers in the Army. The roles are somewhat defined by their gender. The woman officer takes charge of all women’s and girl’s programming. The other responsibilities are divided by the officer couple as best suits them. My wife is the organizer, who many times works behind the scenes to see that things run smoothly. She handles the human resources of our corps, working closely with the staff and volunteers. I, on the other hand, enjoy being the preacher and teacher. I don’t mind doing interviews with the media and being the “face,” if you will of The Salvation Army. She does things that play to her strengths and I to mine. It works out quite well for the most part. We work together closely and love one another, but perhaps most importantly, still like each other at the end of the day. How did you become associated with the Salvation Army? I was born into it. My parents were Salvation Army officers and I was the last of six children. I have two brothers

and a sister who were officers as well — they have all retired. I grew up attending our local corps in Grand Rapids, Mich., where I was born, and Omaha, Neb., where we lived until my parents retirement in 1970, I was 12 years old. That’s when we moved to St. Petersburg and I, along with my parents, attended the St. Petersburg corps. As a teen, I was involved in youth programs, played in the corps band, and sang in the Songsters (choir). After high school, I entered St. Petersburg College with hopes of becoming an interior designer and working with my architect brother. God had different plans for me. As a young man of 19, I felt God’s call on my life and responded by going to the “training college” in Atlanta. It was there I met my wife and fell in love and after training we were married and have served happily in God’s Army. The annual Red Kettle campaign is pretty important for the organization, isn’t it? The Salvation Army is celebrating its 125th year in Decatur. The Army has had a long and illustrious history here. The Salvation Army has grown with the community. As people in our community had needs, the Army did its best to meet those needs. Today, the needs are greater than ever. High unemployment, poverty and homelessness are all serious issues for the residents of our community. It is for these reasons that

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

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December 2013

BUSINESS JOURNAL

Tell boss when applying for internal position Q: Although I enjoy my current job, I’m ready for some new challenges. I recently learned about an internal position which sounds very interesting, but I’m not sure when to tell my manager that I’m planning to apply. What’s the best time to let him know I might be leaving? A: When applying for external jobs, it’s best not to tell anyone until you have an offer in hand. But with an internal position, your boss is likely to be a required reference, so you need to inform him before you submit the application. Most managers find it extremely Office Coach annoying to hear about employee departures through the grapevine. The specific timing of this revelation depends in part upon your boss’s personality. If he is a supportive manager who could help you strategize the application process, then an early conversation might be best. But if he’s an insecure soul who will consider this a defection, you may want to wait until the last possible minute.

Marie McIntyre

Q: Lately, my manager seems to have developed a very negative opinion of me. When I try to point out that she’s blaming me for things that are not my fault, she gets irritated and says she is only trying to help me. She also says that I refuse to accept constructive feedback. On my recent performance review, she included several critical comments which I felt were unjustified. When I asked her for examples, she accused me of being argumentative. I’m finding it increasingly difficult to communicate with her. What can I do about this situation? A: Your relationship with your boss

Continued from page 8 the annual kettle campaign is so vital. The funds raised through direct mail, the Internet and the familiar Christmas kettles around town allow The Salvation Army to assist needy families with holiday food and toys. It is due to the generosity of this community that will provide underprivileged children to have toys under the tree and their families to enjoy a good Christmas meal that includes turkey and all the fixings. But equally important, the funds raised through the kettles and these other means make it possible for The Salvation Army to continue to operate the vital services we provide throughout the year. Food, shelter and emergency assistance are all made possible through this annual fund drive. This drive will help us raise approximately one quarter to one third of our annual budget for the 2013-14 budget year.

seems to be in a dangerous downward spiral. To avoid permanent career damage, you need a better communication strategy, because your current approach is rapidly making things worse. While defensiveness is a natural reaction to criticism, that instinct is usually counterproductive. When you respond to feedback by arguing, blaming or explaining, your manager concludes that you have not received the message she is trying to deliver. So rather than trying to prove her wrong, acknowledge that some changes may be necessary. Instead of arguing about past examples, focus on the future and try to clearly define her expectations. For example, you might ask this question: “If I had another performance review six months from now, what could I do differently to get a better rating?” As a final step, you should propose an improvement plan and establish a feedback schedule. Even though it’s probably the last thing you want, ongoing feedback is the only way to avoid nasty surprises at review time. You already have one bad appraisal on your record, so you need to ensure that there won’t be another one. Q: I am trying to decide whether I should bring up certain issues during my upcoming performance review. My boss works in another location, so I don’t get many chances to talk with him, and a private phone conversation is impossible in our open office environment. My first concern involves the staff biographies on our company website. Our manager submits these summaries whenever someone is hired, but I noticed that some have been updated to include recent family events and accomplishments. When I checked my own bio, however, I saw no mention of my children’s activities. This was quite hurtful and upsetting. The second issue relates to some football tickets that our boss received from a client. Instead of inviting the staff to attend, he shared them with several Any plans to open a thrift store again? The thrift store operations in Decatur are controlled by The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Springfield. They are looking for a new location and are actively making plans for a donation center/thrift store in Decatur. What has been the biggest challenge? I believe the biggest challenge has been getting to know the people and who does what, when and where. It’s always a challenge learning how things are done in a new place. While some things are basically the same from city to city and appointment to appointment, there are also things that are unique to each place. The natural tendency might be for corps officers to come in to an appointment and turn everything upside down so that it suits them, but we have tried to avoid making too many changes just to suit ourselves. The officers come and go but the congregation, advisory board,

WEEKLY TIPS Can't get enough advice from the Office Coach. Get weekly column updates at www.thebusiness-journal.com. other managers, which seems very inconsiderate. Do you think I should discuss these concerns during my review? A: The answer to your question is a very emphatic no. Because these issues have nothing to do with your work, they have absolutely no place in your performance review. Besides, using the appraisal discussion as a platform for criticizing your boss would be a really stupid career move. On top of that, your assessment of these events is not exactly rational. Since your manager can hardly be expected to keep up with everyone’s personal life, the staff profiles were undoubtedly updated at the request of those employees. As for the football game, his decision to invite management colleagues was in no way inappropriate. Unfortunately, the real issue here is your apparent tendency to take things personally and get upset about trivial matters. Extreme hypersensitivity not only damages relationships, but also uses up a great deal of emotional energy that could be put to better use. So instead of giving feedback to your boss, perhaps you should take a long, hard look in the mirror. Q: When I get upset, I tend to let things fester instead of talking about them. Recently, after stewing over something trivial at work, I completely lost it and began yelling at everyone around me. After I calmed down, I felt deeply ashamed and humiliated, because I have always managed to control my temper in the past. I immediately apologized to my costaff and volunteers stay long after a set of officers are transferred somewhere else.

workers and have begun looking for a counselor to help me deal with these anger issues. However, my fear is that I will never be able to redeem myself at work. I am nearing retirement age and have considered resigning, but I would hate for this to be the last memory that people have of me. What should I do? A: Although your feelings of embarrassment are certainly understandable, resigning would be a serious overreaction. After all, you didn’t embezzle funds or set the break room on fire. You simply had an unexpected temper tantrum. Assuming that you’ve been with this company for awhile, one regrettable incident should not seriously damage your reputation. Your thoughts of quitting are probably triggered by a desire to escape the constant reminders of this unpleasant experience. But while you may still be obsessing about your meltdown, odds are that your colleagues have put it out of their minds. You have already apologized to them, so your challenge now is to forgive yourself. Despite this childish outburst, you appear to be a mature individual who is highly motivated to change. With the help of a qualified counselor, you should be able to determine why you exploded over “something trivial” in the first place. Typically, an angry overreaction indicates that the person is really upset about something else. For better relationships, both at work and at home, people who harbor resentments must learn to manage their emotions, let go of the small stuff and address important issues with calm, productive problem-solving discussions. If this unfortunate episode drives you to acquire those skills, you may eventually view it as a significant turning point.

Marie G. McIntyre is a workplace coach and the author of “Secrets to Winning at Office Politics.” Send in questions and get free coaching tips at www.yourofficecoach.com, or follow her on Twitter @officecoach.

How can people help, get involved? Volunteers are always needed. Our social service programs, Christmas efforts, children’s and youth programming can be helped greatly by people willing to give of their time and talents. If a person is interested in getting involved with The Salvation Army and volunteering in some way, they may go to our website at sadetcatur.org or call Kathy Hogg at (217) 428-4672.

addition on the west end of our corps building at 229 W. Main St. will be three years old in January and is a great program area addition for The Salvation Army and the community. It’s used weekly for adult and youth programming and the monthly senior’s event. It has been used by community groups for special meetings and events. At this point, we have no plans for further expansion. This coming year, we will be doing some strategic planning for The Salvation Army that will impact our future programming plans for Decatur for the next 5 to 10 years.

The local Salvation Army has benefited from a couple building projects recently. Tell us a little about them. Are there any projects on the drawing board? The Larry Cunningham Social Service Center at 137 Church St. is about six years old and houses the men’s shelter, food pantry/warehouse and social services offices. The community room

MORE INFO: Wes Dalberg provided more information about The Salvation Army than these pages could hold, especially when it came to the services The Salvation Army provides. For extensive list and description of the services, go to www.thebusiness-journal.com

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December 2013

Tips for remembering details about people Q: I’m forgetful when it comes to people. I have a hard time remembering details such as names of my co-workers’ kids and other personal things. I’m moving into a role where I will be engaging with a lot more people, and am worried that I will seem like I don’t care about them. What can I do? A: Figure out what you want your relationship with co-workers and clients to be like, and then train yourself to make it happen. Whatever style your interactions take, you need to be authentic. From that perspective, it’ll be important to take an honest look at the reasons for your forgetfulness. There may be some powerful “shoulds” going on; for example, “I should be interested in people’s lives outside of work.” Focus on setting aside judgment about yourself so that you can get curious and understand what’s really going on. Now, think more about this pattern. Is it just at work, or does the same thing happen socially? How much do you think is related to having too many things on your mind? Consider whether there are times when you do have a stronger recall, and try to figure out what makes them different. Take this a bit broader, and think about your methods of remembering tasks or work-related facts and figures. It may come more naturally; however, it’s more likely that you have set up systems to keep important information top of mind. These can be adapted to help you on the personal front. Start by creating a system to document information about people. Smartphones are a good resource — you can add detailed information into contacts. This is

Liz Reyer

WEEKLY TIPS Get weekly career tips from Liz Reyer at www.thebusiness-journal.com. especially helpful for people you don’t see often. Then, if you know you’ll be seeing someone, you can refresh your memory. But what about people you see regularly and unpredictably? Give yourself a study course to learn some things about people. Practice as you would a vocabulary list if learning a new language. Make it an important part of your day, and give yourself specific goals. You may be forgetting because you weren’t really listening. This is pretty common, and you can teach yourself to pay attention. Monitor yourself to see if you’re taking in the details or if your attention is drifting. Then stop and bring yourself back. You can see how well you’re doing by trying to write down what was said. With practice, you’ll get better at retaining the information. If you’re more visual, create images in your mind to help remember. Picture your co-worker with his family, for example, and tie the names to the images. If you know their favorite activities, picture them at a piano or playing hockey. Ask other people what they do, and learn from their ideas. And don’t be afraid to admit something has slipped your mind and ask again; it happens to all of us, and people will appreciate your transparency. Memories can be trained, and you’ll be able to improve your skills with focused effort.

Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience. Her company, Reyer Coaching & Consulting, offers services for organizations of all sizes. Submit questions or comments about this column at www.deliverchange.com/coachscorner or email her at liz@deliverchange.com.

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December 2013

HOLIDAY SPENDING TIPS

Ergonomic Chairs

Money is tight, how can I save during the holidays?

A The National Retail Federation has forecast the USA’s holiday spending in

Jeri Conaway Branch Manager 2890 North Oakland Avenue Decatur, IL 62526 (217) 875-1300

2013 will total about $602 billion. That holiday expense includes more than just gifts. There’s the additional cost of wrapping, holiday cards, travel, decorations, food and charity to consider when budgeting this time of year. Here are a few tips to help you cope with the extra money you’ll be shelling out: • Make a list, set a budget, and stick to it! Make a list in advance for each person you intend to buy for and a budget for each gift. You can also choose to shop with cash or debit cards which will eliminate the dreaded credit card bills later. • Use bargain sites like DealNews.com where they publish the best bargains on all sorts of products, plus they post commentary sharing their expertise. • Use a price-comparison site like Amazon.com or PriceGrabber.com to see whether another retailer offers a similar item at a lower price. • Save on shipping for your online purchases. Go to Freeshipping.org and search for items you want among the 4,000+ merchants who offer free shipping and discounts through the site. To help you prepare for next year, make a New Year’s resolution to budget throughout the upcoming year. This will ultimately lead to less stress and more cash on hand for next year’s holiday season. Talk to your financial institution about setting up a savings account and having money automatically transferred for hassle-free savings!

Donna Mauzev

A If a merchant can turn 1 in 5 of its deal customers into regular

Flexible Spending Account provides an employee with an important tax advantage that can help pay eligible family health care and dependent care expenses on a pretax basis.

Vice President of Sales

111 E Decatur Street Decatur Illinois 62521

217- 423-3311

A Win-Win for Both Employees and Employers Employees: Reduce your taxable income, plan for larger healthcare expenses, and use your current contributed amount towards dependent care expenses. Employers: Save on your payroll tax expenses and provide your employees with an efficient and convenient means to pay eligible family health care and dependent care expenses. The most important first step an employer can take to set up FSAs for their employees is to have an experienced professional assist you. Please contact me to answer your questions and assist you in providing Flexible Spending Accounts to your employees.

There are many things to keep in mind while shopping for an ergonomic chair: adjustable seat height, backrest, good seat padding, arm rests, lumbar support and easy rotation. For example, the Zody is the first mid-priced task chair that blends science-based wellness and comfort, providing a passive pelvic support and endorsement by the American Physical Therapy Association.

Q What is “Today’s Deal”?

new Use-Or-Lose change, and why should employers offer FSAs to all of their employees?

Dan Reynolds

The average office worker spends approximately seven hours a day at their desk and back pain is a common complaint. Often times this can be due to sitting in the wrong position and putting stress on the spine which could, in turn, lead to long-term health problems. In addition to health issues, working in an uncomfortable position inevitably reduces productivity and attentiveness. Keeping this in mind, the majority of discomfort stems from a seating choice that is not applicable to the worker, the work environment, or simply improper adjustment of the seat itself.

Today’s Deal – www.herald-review.com

Q What is a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)? What is the

As an employee, you agree to set aside a portion of your pretax salary in an account, and that money is deducted from your paycheck over the course of the year. The amount you contribute to the FSA is not subject to income taxes— effectively adjusting your annual taxable salary. As an employer, you can save up to 7.65% in FICA taxes based on employee deductions due to the decrease in taxable payroll expenses. Also, the IRS recently released a provision which relaxes the “use-or-lose” rule for FSAs. Employers will now be able to allow participants to carry over up to $500 in unused funds into the next year. This modification applies only if the plan does not also incorporate the grace period rule.

I get terrible back pain from sitting all day at work. Any suggestions?

Knowing that the average office worker spends more time in their office chair than on their sofa, it would be in their best interest to take some time to shop around and find the chair that is a perfect fit. Feel free to stop in and speak with one of our knowledgeable consultants who can assist you in finding a chair that you could sit in for a lifetime!”

For more information, visit www.llcu.org.

Flexible Spending Accounts Benefit Employers and Employees

BUSINESS JOURNAL

Cayla Hittmeier

Advertising Sales Manager

customers, it can achieve profitability with deals.* This is what “Today’s Deal” is all about. Your business and your deal will be featured in both the Herald & Review and on herald-review.com for one entire day. We take care of the promoting and advertising – you take care of the customers that come through your door. With “Today’s Deal”, customers learn about your business and you gain new customers immediately. There is no up-front cost to the business – we process all the transactions and then pay you! “Today’s Deal” subscribers share your offer with family and friends via Facebook, Twitter, email and other social media. All we need to know is your offer of the day! What kind of offer works? Anything with value! If you take one of your best-selling items and reduce it to half price for one day only… the buzz begins! Or simply offer free money! Sell a gift certificate at half price, you set the parameters. But in the end, the consumer feels they got a deal and you gain a new customer for life. To get started, call Steve Larson at 217-421-6927 or email slarson@herald-review.com It’s fun. It’s fast. It’s Today’s Deal…hop on it! *Jim Moran, co-founder of Yipit

601 E WILLIAM ST. DECATUR, IL 62523

217-421-6994

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December 2013

TECHTALK

Time to upgrade from Windows XP Most companies still have a few computers that are running Windows XP and Office 2003. This once-hallowed combination that for everyone relied on for years is no longer safe for your business. It is time to upgrade.

A little history Windows XP was released back in 2001, so it is now more than 12 years old. Most Windows XP machines are using Office 2003 which is over 10 years old. In technology terms, this is a lifetime! Think about how much has changed since 2001. The iPhone, which is such a staple in modern life, was released six years later, in 2007. The first Android phone came out a year after that, in 2008, and the first iPad followed in 2010. Millions of people Technology visit Facebook daily, but it wasn’t even launched until 2004. YouTube was founded in 2005. Back in 2001, texting saw limited use, mainly on BlackBerries and pagers. It only moved to widespread use after the iPhone and Android phones became popular. Windows XP may have been released in 2001 but development started back in the 1990s. So many services and gadgets we take for granted hadn’t even been thought of yet. It is really an amazing feat that it has lasted so long.

Wendy Gauntt

Why it’s a risk Microsoft has announced its official end of life support as of April 8, 2014. No more security patches will be released after that date. If hackers discover a new exploit — which they will, guaranteed — there will be no fix available from

Microsoft, and your systems will be vulnerable. The risk is not limited to your XP computers either. Hackers may find ways to penetrate the rest of your network once they find their way into an old XP machine. This means your business could grind to a halt, your company and customer data could be stolen, your computers could be used to send spam, and any other number of very bad things that would cause incredible disruption to your business. The risk is so serious that companies with protected financial and medical information are required by law to upgrade their systems from Windows XP and Office 2003. The regulatory authorities for those industries do not consider strong network protection enough to ensure safety of such critical data. If they think that, why would you want to risk the safety of your own company’s critical data? Keep in mind that no one will continue to develop software that is compatible with Windows XP. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to find anti-virus and malware protection that works reliably, which means there’s yet another hole in your overall security protection.

Additional complications The security risks are not the only issue you will face. Computers this old are far more likely to fail due to hardware issues. It will be difficult to procure replacement parts that work, and you could easily spend more to fix an old computer than to replace it. Add to that the impact of having an employee who is unable to work while they are waiting on a fix, or data that might be lost if a hard drive fails. Another complication: if you need to upgrade software programs, new versions won’t work on Windows XP, and vendors won’t support such old technology. If you have staff running different versions of programs you could also face

compatibility issues when you try to share files.

What to do When you purchase a computer today, it will come with Windows 8. Some computers are available with a downgrade to Windows 7, and short-term that can be a good choice for stability and compatibility reasons. It’s also helpful to standardize your computers, so if you have almost everyone on Windows 7 already, it will make sense to use that on new computers. Moving from Windows XP to Windows 7 or 8 is a big leap forward. Some of your team will play around with it and become familiar in a short period of time. It’s still Windows, after all. However, some of your team is probably less comfortable with technology. They will require more hand-holding to make this adjustment. Training can be extremely valuable in these situations, whether inperson or online. Many classes are available and surprisingly inexpensive. Even a “dummies” book can be a big help. As for Office, the current version is 2013. Microsoft no longer sells Office 2010 except through volume licensing. If you have a volume licensing agreement, you can still download 2010 if you prefer it. Otherwise, unless you happen to find an old copy online somewhere, any new computers will have Office 2013. Fortunately, Office 2010 and 2013 work well together. Just like with Windows, the move from Office 2003 to Office 2013 is a major transition. Office has changed a lot, and it takes some time to locate all the familiar features in the new interface. Further complicating things, Office 2010 and Office 2013 are also somewhat different in appearance, so even staff with newer computers won’t necessarily jump right into Office 2013. Again, training can be a great investment, and there are many options available.

If you really need it There will be a few situations where companies run old software that isn’t

compatible with newer systems. The best practice is to archive the data and retire those systems if at all possible. In the rare event that you have to keep something around, consider migrating these programs from Windows XP to Windows 2003 Server R2. This is still a very old operating system, but Microsoft will continue supporting it until July 14, 2015. It’s similar enough to Windows XP that your programs will probably run on it. This gives you an extra year and change to transition off the old software. Staff can access the software from their computer via remote desktop services (RDS). Again, this is not the ideal situation, but if you really need it, it’s an option.

Home users Wondering if this applies to your computers at home? ABSOLUTELY! In fact, you probably have a lot less protection at home than at work, meaning you are even more vulnerable. A hacker could wipe out all your family photos, snag financial and credit card information, send mass amounts of spam from your computer, hold your data for hostage until you pay a ransom (really!), or simply cause enough problems that your computer is completely unusable. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you won’t be a target. It’s not about hacking you personally; it’s about throwing a huge fishnet out on the Internet, with the goal of trapping as many people as possible. What can you do? The most important step is to upgrade your old Windows XP machines, for all the reasons listed above. This is a great time of year to do it, because there will be some great holiday deals coming up. Even on a new computer, be sure to keep your antivirus subscription up-to-date, download Windows patches regularly, and backup all your personal data.

Wendy Gauntt is president of CIO Services LLC, a technology consulting company that specializes in small-business solutions. Visit her website at www.cioservicesllc.com for more information, ideas and free resources.

Theft of iPhones, iPads rising SAVE BIG ON INK & TONER Features added to thwart robberies McClatchy-Tribune News Service

The theft of iPhones and iPads is so widespread it’s known as “Apple picking.” But Apple devices aren’t the only targets. Nearly one in three robberies nationwide involves the theft of a mobile phone, according to the Federal Communications Commission. The problem is so severe in their cities that

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman this summer convened a “smartphone summit” to urge the smartphone industry to implement technological solutions to thwart the robberies. Now some manufacturers of wireless mobile devices, most notably Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., are taking steps to fight back against the thieves. Supporters of such security measures say they will discourage thieves from stealing phones because they will not be able to sell them.

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December 2013

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BUSINESSES

WITH FAMILY TIES A Special Suppliment of the

Keeping It In The Family, Generation After Generation!

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December 2013

Good’s Floor Store 1705 E. Pershing Road, Decatur (217) 875-1551 Years in business: 57 years Family members involved: Owners Ed and Nancy Good, and sales professional Catherine “Cat” Good. Products/services offered: All floor coverings including carpet, vinyl, wood, laminate, ceramic, luxury vinyl tile, area rugs, remnants and cork. Your survival tip to others starting or maintaining a family (small) business: Customer service is very important. When you specialize in one area, such as floor covering, you have to know your products and be up-to-date on the latest trends and fashions. Customers can be indecisive, and it’s up to you to inform them and help them through the process. Purchasing floor covering is a big investment. The average time a consumer changes their flooring is every seven years. A lot changes in seven years such as price, trends, styles, etc. It’s up to us to help inform and educate our clients. The big-box stores sometimes work off of low profit margins on certain products. They may have the cheapest prices, but they don’t always have the

Coziahr HarleyDavidson Inc. 150 W. Marion Ave., Forsyth (217) 877-7115 Years in business: 28 years. In Galesburg (1985-1990), Decatur (1991-1998) and Forsyth (1998-present). Family members involved: Tim and Debbie Coziahr. Our daughter, Michele, has been with us since 2001 as our general merchandise/motorclothes manager. We also have a son, Mike, who currently teaches at Black Hawk College in Moline. Survival tip to others starting or maintaining a family (small) business: Have a game/business plan that reaches 3 to 5 years out. Understand that it will require lots of hours and work, and becoming rich overnight isn’t likely in the cards. The rewards make it worthwhile though, because the successes come from your good decisions and leadership and your failures supply valuable lessons to learn from. What makes your family business unique? We

best customer service. It’s also very important to network with other small-business owners. We try our best to buy locally, especially from small, family businesses. It’s so frustrating when people don’t support locallyowned, family businesses, or when you see the city or other companies buy/employ from businesses outside of Decatur. Small-business owners are a vital backbone of

are one of about 620 Harley-Davidson dealerships in the U.S., and while all dealerships have to follow the same contract with the motor company, each dealer is independently owned and the people who man each dealership is what sets them apart. We believe in a drama-/stress-free environment, a positive and fun workplace and we believe in giving our customers great service. Appreciating the fact that people don’t have to come into our store to get the bikes or products they want — there are many options. We have to show our appreciation for their business at all times. We foster a familybased environment and we welcome our customers and their two-legged kids or their four-legged kids. Business history/future: In 1985, we purchased half of the Harley-Davidson dealership in Galesburg, which was owned by two gentlemen. In 1990, we were able to buy out Weaver Harley-Davidson in Decatur, a business that had been here for many years. In 1996, we began a massive expansion of our dealership and in January 1998, as we were finishing the

the community, and we need to stick together so we don’t drive more businesses outside Decatur. What makes your family business unique? We are Decatur’s oldest family-owned and -operated carpet store. We have survived over five decades of change. We don’t have outsiders running the store. Our name is on the outside, and that’s who you will find working inside. We are the third generation to run the store. Many businesses don’t make it past the second generation. We only sell floor covering. We haven’t expanded into other areas, such as furniture, paint, window treatments, etc., because we want to give the best service and attention to customers when they come in to buy floor products. From start to finish, our customers will always work with someone from our company. Since we are a small, family-owned business, there are always familiar faces when you walk into our store. We don’t have a high employee turnover rate. Business history/future: The store was founded in February 1956 under the name Good’s Fine Furniture by Granddad Al Good. The store was located in downtown Decatur until 1983 when granddad retired and split the business into two companies — furniture and carpet. The carpet store was then moved to Pershing Road and run by the second generation, Jay Good. In December 1997, Ed and Nancy Good took over the family business.

new building, we had a fire that took the entire dealership. We were able to find a facility in Forsyth (the old Isringhausen building) to rent and get back into business. We slowly rebuilt our business and customer base and in early 2003, we purchased the vacant Toys R Us store in Forsyth, moving into the building in August 2003. We’ve recently been approved to move forward with our plans to add onto this facility, which will happen in 2014. In 1993, we broke into National Dirt

Track racing with the 883 program, graduating to the 750s in 1997. Several racers later, and with our Dream Team in place, we placed second in the nation two years in a row. We disbanded and retired from racing in 2007. Advice to someone starting a family business or working to maintain a family business: Be realistic, set good goals and know that flexibility and being open minded to change is pretty critical in today’s world. Love what you do and it won’t feel like you have a job!

FROM Good’s F : loor Store

Rd.

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Business needs to fit your style Look at skills and trends of today By CELESTE SMITH McClatchy-Tribune News Service Writer

Before starting a company, entrepreneurs often ask, “What’s the best business to start today?” Mike Collins, author, entrepreneur and president of Raleigh, N.C.-based The Perfect Workday Company, gives seminars based on this topic at North Carolina’s small-business centers. Usually, Collins said, audience members for his “best businesses” talk expect quick answers: “ ‘Give me a list of what’s going to be hot.’ ” “The problem with that is if you’re in Charlotte, (N.C.,) the list is going to look one way,” Collins said. “If you’re somewhere 30 miles away from an interstate highway, that list looks different.” Rather than presenting a catalog of choices, Collins helps participants figure out their own right fit. Here’s his advice: n Make ‘parachute’ lists: In an exercise inspired by Richard Bolles’s job-hunting book, “What Color is Your Parachute?” Collins advises making four lists. One shows every job held since high school; the others outline skills learned, job likes and job dislikes. “ ‘What can I get into using as many of these skills as possible?’ It gives people a guideline.” n Research options: Collins points people to Small Business Opportunities magazine for ideas on how their skills match certain fields. Once people develop a better idea of what businesses might click, Collins advises joining the trade association. “They’ll get you in touch with people who are already doing the business. That is crucial.” n Pay attention to trends: Collins focuses on the necessities, such as food and clothing, for hints of which small businesses can thrive around these basics. Sales at secondhand clothing stores and consignment shops have jumped in recent years because of the struggling economy, Collins said. As the economy recovers, Collins said, look for an increasing demand in personal services industries. “There are tons of opportunities out there,” Collins said. “But you’ve got to keep your eyes open.”

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Benny’s Grill 1770 E. Pershing Road, Decatur (217) 875-7706 Years in business: 2 years Family members involved: Benny and Disha Ballazhi Products/services offered: Food, spirits and entertainment Your survival tip to others starting or maintaining a family (small) business: Work hard. Be prepared to work long hours and, most importantly, love what you do. What makes your family business unique? Working closely with family members. We treat our patrons and employees like part of that family. Business history/future: Disha and I met when we were 17. We have been blessed with three beautiful children: Ana, Genti and Kushtrim. In the summer time they help as well. I ran Tuscany’s Steak and Pasta house on Wood Street in Decatur from 2004 to 2012. I opened Benny’s Grill on Aug. 17, 2011. I wanted to bring something unique to the Decatur area — freshground burgers and hand-cut fries with a touch of Italian cuisine. We have recently added a private gaming room in the bar area. I often have patrons tell me that I should re-open Tuscany’s, and I hope to do that in the near future. Advice to someone starting a family business

or working to maintain a family business: Treat your employees with respect and your

patrons the way you would want to be treated.

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December 2013

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Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy 245 W. 1st Drive Decatur (217) 429-5165 Years in business: 9 years Family members involved: Dale and Rita Colee, owners. They are joined by their daughters. Lauren Young is the marketing and merchandise manager. Erica Colee is the pharmacy manager. Products/services offered: Pharmacy services include free delivery to home or office, convenient drive-through, special packaging for medication and a patient advocate on staff. Dale’s is a one-stop shop for all your needs. Besides the reliable pharmacy services, Dale’s also provides a unique gift selection including Fannie May Candies, Yankee Candles, jewelry, children’s gifts, greeting cards, Del’s treats and much more, as well as a postal substation. Your survival tip to others starting or maintaining a family business: Know what your

December 2013

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expenses will be, including a living wage for the owner, and make certain that you have enough capital to cover the expenses. What makes your family business unique? Two generations of the Colee family are currently working in the family business. Our passion for helping customers has set us apart from other pharmacy or gift stores in the area. Business history/future: Dale and Rita opened Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy in September 2004. In October 2009, Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy moved across the street to the present location in South Shores. Future plans for the company include opening an additional location in Forsyth. Look for Colee’s Corner Drugs coming to Forsyth very soon! Advice to someone starting a family business or working to maintain a family business: Remember that working with your family can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life, and success comes from communicating as a team. This is easy to remember on the good days, but it is especially important to remember on the crazy days.

BUSINESS JOURNAL Reader Profile: n 72% read The Business Journal monthly. n 17% are 34 and under.

Dale Says...

Consociate Dansig 111 E. Decatur St., Decatur (217) 423-3311 Years in Business: 41 years Family members involved: Danny Reynolds, Darren Reynolds, Dan Reynolds, Dana (Reynolds) El Gammal, David Reynolds, Daniel Reynolds and Sam Reynolds. Products/services offered: Consociate: Employee benefits and claims administration. For more information, go to www.consociate.com. Dansig: Full-service insurance brokerage. For more information, go to www.dansig.com. Your survival tip to others starting or maintaining a family (small) business: Be patient, communicate well, keep your Christian values as part of your business plan, and try to not bring business home. More than anything else, remember to be highly involved with and give back to the community that supports you.

What makes your family business unique? Every family business is unique as management styles and strengths vary — even more so among family. Each family member possesses different strengths and the key is to capitalize on those differences to meet and exceed company objectives and goals. Business history/future: Dansig was founded in 1972 by Danny Reynolds and Sigurd Stottrup. Consociate was founded in 1995 by the Reynolds family. Both companies are 100 percent owned by the Reynolds family and we consider our work family (employees) to be our greatest strength and asset. We plan to continue growing through acquisition and continued organic growth. Advice to someone starting a family business or working to maintain a family business: Build your business around the strengths of family that are working for you. Don’t be afraid to bring in outside talent to fill any gaps. Unified teamwork is essential to starting, maintaining and growing the family business.

“Make Dale’s your one-stop shop!” “Look for Our Forsyth Location Coming Soon!”

To do: Call Dale’s for refills Pick up Fannie May Candies for Mom Get stamps at Dale’s

Erica Says... “Don’t forget we offer free delivery in the Decatur area, and accept most major insurances!”

245 W 1st Drive • 217-429-5165 • DalesSouthlakePharmacy.com

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December 2013

Mari-Mann Herb Co. Inc. 1405 Mari Mann Lane, Decatur (217) 429-1555 Years in business: 36 years Family members involved: Mike King, president; Joel King, vice president; Rob King, information systems manager; Marlene Lawson, store manager; Rob Lawson, vice president; and Tammy True, assistant store manager. Products/Services offered: “Highest quality and lowest cost on alternatives that work” is our core value. Mari-Mann Herbs has one of the area’s largest selections of nutritional items, health food, vitamins, supplements, gourmet and gift items, kitchen gadgets, cards, teas and more than 250 herbs and spices. There is also a seasonal greenhouse and tea room. We are “your supplement store and more.” You get more because Mari-Mann Herbs is one of the oldest and largest herb gardens in the U.S. and we personalize our customer service with one-on-one education and caring. Mari-Mann is a unique tourist attraction for Decatur, providing group luncheons and tours. Mike also is a speaker, educator and lecturer, sharing information with many organizations, schools and group meetings. Your survival tip to others starting or maintaining a family (small) business: Make communi-

cation a top priority. Know that failure is never an option. You need to be understanding of other’s needs and ideas and be a team that has the same goals. And have fun doing what you do. What makes your family business unique? We are a local business that is operated by a family and it also has a family working for it. There are two families involved in the business - the owner’s family of two brothers (Mike and Joel King) and a nephew (Rob King), plus another family consisting of a mother (Marlene Lawson), son (Rob Lawson) and daughter (Tammy True). Business history/future: Mari-Mann Herbs originated in the kitchen and backyard of Maribeth King in the mid 1970s. As a hobby and small craft fair business, Bob and Maribeth King transformed her hobby into a small retail business with the first gift shop and herb garden that opened in May 1978. Today, Mari-Mann Herbs continues the tradition of high quality, unique items (we have more than 14,000 of them) that benefit your health. In addition to healthy products, education on their use and a healthy lifestyle is core to what Mari-Mann continues to pursue. Advice to someone starting a family business or working to maintain a family business: You must love and greatly enjoy what you are doing and be passionate about it because sometimes that is all you do. Your business is your life.

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Carson Jewelers & Coin 2921 N. Water St., Decatur (217) 877-2760 Years in business: 66 years Family members involved: Mark Mehr, Danny Mehr and Jo Mehr Products/services offered: Jewelry/watch/clock repair,

retail/wholesale diamonds and diamond jewelry, colored-stone and precious metal jewelry, watches, coin and money. Your survival tip to others starting or maintaining a family (small) business: Keep your customers and your suppliers happy and satisfied. Remember, they come first. Without them you have nothing. Treat people right and they, their friends and family will keep coming back to you generation after generation.

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S.A. Lewis Construction Inc. 200 Lewis Park Drive, Mount Zion (217) 864-5056 Years in business: 34 years Family members involved: Steve and Cindy Lewis. Recently our son, Alex, joined us. Products/services offered: General contractors and residential and commercial construction. Your survival tip to others starting or maintaining a family (small) business: Clearly define the specific skills each family member brings to the table and from there identify what areas of the business each member will ultimately be responsible for. A healthy respect for those boundaries and trust in your partner can minimize conflict. The other main survival tip is to really make a concentrated effort not to have business discussions at home. Try to leave it at the office. What makes your family business unique? We run a stressful business and have managed to stay married and raise two great kids while running that business together. That may not be all that unique, but we are proud of it. Business history/future: Steve started in

December 2013

1979 with a building trades education from the Decatur Vocational Center and a pickup truck. After graduation from ISU, Cindy joined Steve in helping with the financial side of the business. Land development was added to the equation in the late 1980s and continues today. We offer several residential subdivisions and commercial development locations in the Mount Zion area. We continue to evolve and change our product to meet consumer demand. Our most recent projects are August Hill, a 55 and older community of homes, and Brighton Park, at the other end of the spectrum, with a cool, younger vibe. Both areas offer fully furnished model homes. Advice to someone starting a family business or working to maintain a family business: Go for it! Don’t think that every decision you make together will be a good one. It is tempting to look at a successful business from the outside and think that everything they tried worked. That’s almost never the case. Making a poor business decision is not always the worst thing. Not recognizing a poor decision and adjusting your course of action accordingly is the much bigger error. Also, it’s so important to hire good people. We are lucky to have some key employees that have worked with us for a very long time. We owe a huge part of our success to them.

Stop in and see your local Country Financial agents Craig and Carolyn Brueggemann! 1219 State Highway 121 PO Box 197 Mt. Zion, IL 62549 • (217)864-5355 Auto | Home | Farm | Commercial | Life

Country FinancialBrueggemann Office 1219 N. Illinois 121, Mount Zion (217) 864-5355 Years in business: 67 years Family members involved: Craig and Carolyn Brueggemann (1986 to present); Vernon Brueggemann, father, (19481995); and Kenneth Been, grandfather (1946-1972).

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Products/services offered: We offer auto, home and life, insurance. We also offer annuities, long-term care, IRAs and financial planning. Your survival tip to others starting or maintaining a family (small) business: Stay involved in the community, greet your customers with a smile and look them in the eye. Return phone calls promptly and listen to what the client has to say and help them achieve their goals, not yours. Most of all, surround yourself with good help.

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December 2013

With all the attention placed on the lower streetscape, some forget to take in the magnificent architecture and design that can be seen a few stories above. Can you identify the businesses that call these buildings home?

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS, BUY M THE CHAMBER MAKES IT

The Chamber encourages you to make the choice to spend

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December 2013

6 10

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Answers in the January issue of the Business Journal or go online now at www.herald-review.com

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December 2013

J.J. Swartz Co. 2120 N Oakland Ave., Decatur (217) 877-2611

Kenney’s Ace Hardware 2880 S. Mount Zion Road, Decatur (217) 864-9314 Years in business: 14 years as Kenney’s Ace and 43 years as Houran’s Ben Franklin. Family members involved: Terry, Libby, Patrick and Bryan Kenney Products/services offered: Hardware store with custom picture framing, gifts, UPS shipping, propane tank filling and more. Your survival tips to others starting or maintaining a family (small) business: Just remember, life is what you make it. If you never ask the answer is always no. What makes your family business unique? We hope that our customer service is the best it can be. We realize customers have a lot of choices in where they shop and we appreciate their business. We are also unique to have many of the same folks working and shopping with us for many years. We not only have our family, but have the Ace family. Business history/future: 1962: Ben Franklin opened by Jim and Ruth Turner (Libby’s grandparents). 1976: Jim and Ruth retired, Mike and Alice Houran (Libby’s parents) headed the Ben Franklin. 1982: Terry joined the family and became the master picture framer. 1991: Terry and Libby took over the Ben Franklin. 1999: Terry and Libby opened Kenney’s Ace Hardware. 2003: Ben Franklin closed and the

BUSINESS JOURNAL Reader Profile: n 63% have household incomes of $60,000 or greater. 36% have household incomes of $80,000 or greater.

custom picture frame department was moved to Kenney’s Ace. 2008: Patrick became the manager of Kenney’s Ace Hardware. In March 2011, we moved to a new location and added Benjamin Moore Paint and Craftsman tools. Advice to someone starting a family business or working to maintain a family business: Love what you are doing, keep a positive attitude and be thankful for the support of family and friends.

Years in business: 92 years Family members involved: Tom Swartz and Brad Swartz Products/services offered: Remodeling and restoration since 1921. Other services include residential and commercial remodeling, as well as insurance restoration, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, office remodeling and buildouts, interior and exterior repairs, room additions and decks, fire and water restoration and handyman services. What makes your family business unique? Since 1921, J.J. Swartz Co. has been the leader in residential building and remodeling by striving to have leadership and the vision to be flexible enough to the changes in small business and have the systems in place to be successful. The business of housing has been passed on through four generations by sharing the disciplines and following the principals of good business. Our “open book” and “open door” policies enables each generation to listen, learn and respond as the company has grown in sales and service to the community. Business history/future: James Jacob Swartz, a home builder and contractor who built new homes and remodeled existing homes, founded J.J. Swartz Co in 1921. His sons, Carl and Roy Swartz, came in the business after serving in World War II in 1946. From 1946 to 1948,

J.J. Swartz Co. built more than 4,000 homes and remodeled many thousands more. Carl’s sons, Davis and Tom Swartz, were partners in the business from 1973 to 1981. Tom Swartz serves as the current president and is partners with his son, Brad Swartz, who is vice president of the company. The company’s plans include expanding offices to area communities and continuing to expand work with customers in the Central Illinois area who remodel their homes and businesses. Advice to someone starting a family business or working to maintain a family business: Maintaining a family business from one generation to the next can be tricky, hard and complicated, as well as seamless, easy and fun. The main advice is to stay flexible and talk straight about personal and business topics. It’s important to set expectations and get out of the way and let the next generation make it happen their way. Listen, learn and respond. It’s also important for that next generation to learn from the mistakes of the past. Also, in a family business, it’s very important to have leadership that has a vision for the company to grow and be successful. Keeping your business values the same as you family values is the key to success. Family, at times, allows for total trust and understanding when faced with difficult times or situations. It is amazing how lending an ear to someone who really needs it can improve relationships and business. Finally, the family that you have at home really creates motivation for working hard every day to be a better the business, and to better ourselves.

You are our neighbor, Thanks for making Kenney’s ACE your place!

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SCORE gets new chairman, expands focus Chapter looking to recruit mentors By CHRIS LUSVARDI Business Journal Writer

The new chairman of the Decatur SCORE chapter wants to extend the reach the organization has in assisting area businesses. Grant Bullock brings with him a career full of experience owning a rehabilitation health care business in Northern Illinois and working for the Illinois Department of Mental Health. “We want to be proactive in the community,” Bullock said. “We need to change like any other business.” Bullock has moved into the key leadership position after longtime chairman Myung Kim stepped aside from that role but remains active in the organization. The SCORE chapter, which was chartered in 1977, is looking to recruit more mentors with experience in various fields to be able to assist its clients, Bullock said. It is particularly interested in those who are still working, he said. “We want to find people like that who are current with their experience in business,” Bullock said. “They’ve been out there and doing it for 20 years. They know what it takes to succeed.”

Mentors provide free independent, unbiased and confidential advising services to businesses. They can look at aspects such as the organization, staffing, planning, operations, marketing, financing and strategy of a business. Its mentoring services do not provide access to financing, issue formal reports, no-cost labor, make decisions, train employees or act as a broker. The SCORE chapter covers four counties in Central Illinois, which includes Macon, DeWitt, Piatt and Shelby counties. It provides services to businesses ranging from ones looking to import products to frosting cupcakes, Bullock said. In addition to mentors, SCORE has ambassadors who might not work directly with a business but want to help more generally with its activities in the community. Part of the group’s mission is to seek growth and prosperity in the community. SCORE has partnered with the Millikin University Center for Entrepreneurship to offer a First Step FastTrac course for new or prospective owners to develop their business plans and decide if they have a feasible concept. Plans are in the works to offer another class in the spring, said Bob Luther, a SCORE mentor. An informational meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, in ADMScovill Hall Room 109. The classes run from 5:30-9 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 27

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Details To learn more about the Decatur SCORE chapter, go to www.decatur.scorechapter. org. Information on the Millikin Micro Business Network is available at www.Millikin MBN.com. For additional information about any of its activities or to RSVP for a monthly meeting, contact Pam Angel at pangel@ millikin.edu or call (217) 424-6296. through May 8. “We absolutely have to create for this community that has a start-up culture that’s vibrant,” said Sharon Alpi, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. “We do that by helping businesses be successful.” The group’s efforts through the class have focused mainly on small businesses in their start-up phase. The organization’s leaders have realized the need exists to continue assisting the students that go through the class even after they finish the course and start their businesses. The Millikin Micro Business Network was launched earlier this fall as a way to connect with SCORE mentors and provide resources to business owners. “Most resources aren’t checks,” Alpi said. “We can’t keep them from experiencing challenges. We can connect them

to the assets of what the community offers. To do so, we need to serve in a way that is nimble and flexible.” The network is primarily focused on business owners, who Luther said are the decision makers in their companies. Its activities include a speaker series, roundtable discussions and special events. The next events include a presentation on taxes from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, in the Student Programming and Entertainment Center, 1099 W. Wood St. in Decatur and presentations Jan. 16 and Feb. 19 from Millikin Entrepreneur-in-Residence Bruce Nims. The focus of the network is on locally owned businesses that have local markets for their products and services, Alpi said. Those types of businesses are most able to circulate much-needed money in the local area, she said. Businesses can often be in different stages of development, Bullock said. “We want to develop more continuity with people and establish that lasting relationship,” Luther said. “We want them to be successful by providing another resource for them.” It’s not just business owners who want to expand their knowledge, Luther said. SCORE holds meetings at 7 a.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the Richards Treat University Center on the Millikin campus featuring speakers on various topics of interest.

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December 2013

Unique Boutique Salon and Spa

3645 East U.S. 36, Decatur (217) 791-5150

1515 N. Illinois 121, Mount Zion Telephone: (217) 864-0634 Years in business: 8 years Family members involved: Erica Alford, owner/stylist, and Katie Shreiner, stylist. Products/services offered: For hair we offer color, cut, style, formals, chemical and textures. Our spa services include massage, facials, pedicures, manicures, nail enhancements, body wraps, waxing and micro current treatments. Your survival tip to others starting or maintaining a family (small) business: Focus on your goals. Write them down or it will never become a reality. Put God first, family second and work third. What makes your family business unique? We are full-service. We stay on top of the latest trends in the beauty industry. We work together as a team. Our business works better in numbers. Business history/future: We were established in September 2005. We have future plans to build another location and to expand our facility in Mount Zion. We have a wonderful community and we appreciate their support. Advice to someone starting a family business or working to maintain a family business: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Do not bring your business from home into the professional workplace.

service is the most important goal. We need to fulfill our customer’s needs.

Galaxy Hall Years in business: Opened in July Family members involved: Geralyn and John Shreiner, Miranda and Kandra Streibick and Karen and Larry Stephenson. Products/services offered: We provide a fun-filled fundraiser hall. We offer pull tabs, games and bingo. We also offer a wide range of great food from Chef Tippy. Your survival tip to others starting or maintaining a family (small) business: Customer

Chef Tippy’s 3645 East U.S. 36, Decatur (217) 791-5150 Years in business: 1½ years Family members involved: Matthew, Melissa (wife), Andrew (brother), Noah (brother). Products/services offered: Full-service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Your survival tip to others starting or main-

What makes your family business unique? We have the most up-to-date, state-of-theart bingo equipment. We also provide everything needed for a nonprofit organization to host a successful bingo session — the hall, the equipment, paper and pull tabs. Business history/future: Galaxy Hall got its start in October 2012. After years of working at a bingo hall, most recently as managers, Geralyn, Miranda and a group of others decided to take what they had learned from the customers and put it into action at a new location. At the top of the wish list was obtaining a machine that eliminates the caller from having to come into

1515 N. State Hwy 121, Mt. Zion, IL 62549

217-864-0634 Email:ubsalonandspa@yahoo.com

Advice to someone starting a family business or working to maintain a family business: Always be available.

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taining a family (small) business: Leave work at work. Treat employees like they are family. What makes your family business unique? Family restaurant focused on fresh food that provides breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as, full-service catering. Business history/future: We started Chef Tippy’s in March 2012 in Sullivan, and moved to Decatur in 2013. Advice to someone starting a family business or working to maintain a family business: Shop at other local businesses.

Unique Boutique Salon & Spa

Services: • Hair Coloring (by Paul Mitchell) • Chemical Services • Color Correction • Formals • Makeup Application • OPI Gel Polish • Full Body Massage • Eyelash Extensions • Seacret Skin Care • Facials • Bare Minerals Makeup • Spa Manicures & Pedicures

contact with the balls, which we did. Working with LaVelle Hunt and Tony Romano, we found an awesome space that included a fully-equipped kitchen that fit our needs. We were lucky enough to find Chef Matt Tipton, who was interested in running our kitchen. We then lined up different nonprofit organizations that were looking for the fundraising opportunities bingo provides. So beginning in July, customers were able to enjoy an amazing state-of-theart facility that includes a hands-free blower, point of sale machines, computers, wi-fi and great food. Together all that makes BINGO!

Thursday - Early Bird 5:45 Regular games 6:30 Friday - Early Bird 5:45 Regular games 6:30 Saturday - Early Bird 12:15 & 5:45 Regular games 1:00 & 6:30 Sunday - Early Bird 4:45 Regular games 5:30 We can help with your fundraising! We are now looking for local Non-Profit Organizations (with status of five years) to run bingo sessions.

Call (217) 791-5150 for more information.

3645 E. Rte. 36 Decatur, IL 62521

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Reader Profile: n 48% share their copy of the Business Journal with others. n 23% are 35 to 44 years old.

Sounds Good… Hours:

Thursday 4pm – 8pm Friday 7am – 8pm Saturday 7am – 8pm Sunday 7am – 8pm

Come in and See us! Open for Dinner on Thursday and Breakfast, Lunch, And Dinner Friday, Saturday, Sunday!

Lunch and Dinner specials Full service catering available for your event! 217-791-5150

3645 US Rt 36 E www.cheftippys.com Decatur, IL 62521

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December 2013

Craft a clear vision for your company Start with key words, concepts By JENNIE WONG McClatchy-Tribune News Service Writer

Mission, vision and values statements. Big companies all have them. Some are staggering, such as Google’s “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” Some are iconic, such as Coca-Cola’s “to refresh the world.” And some are generic sentences about exceeding customer expectations and creating long-term value, etc. As an entrepreneur, how can you create a vision for your business that goes beyond platitudes? And how can you leverage that vision to inspire people to engage with your company?

Say it out loud Dan Roselli, co-founder of Charlotte, N.C., entrepreneurship hub Packard Place, defines vision as a lighthouse. “Vision is a constant beacon and reminder of where you’re trying to go.” So ask yourself: What’s your destination on this journey?

Filippo’s Pizza & Pasta 435 N. State Highway 121, Mount Zion (217) 864-4467 Years in business: 17 years in Mount Zion and 43 years in Monticello. Family members involved: Everybody! Products/Services offered: Pizza and pasta of course. Your survival tip to others starting or maintaining a family (small) business: Do it for the love of what you’re doing and always do

Simply saying your vision out loud for the first time can be an act of courage, whether it’s to the mirror in your dorm room, to your spouse over dinner, or to a professional coach who is charging by the hour. Many of the people that I work with hesitate on their first attempt, saying “I’m not sure,” or “It depends on what happens.” But a vision is not your prediction of the future. A vision is your heart’s desire. Assuming all goes well, what does your company do in this world? Maybe today you’re a mom-and-pop graphic design firm, but your vision is to define the very essence of Southern cool. Maybe today you’re selling custom baby blankets out of the spare bedroom, but your vision is to create an infant couture empire that reaches all the way to China. Or perhaps your vision is about less, instead of more.

Write, review, revise So where do you begin? Roselli advises starting with the key words and concepts that make your organization unique. What are the core ideas that define you? That’s your vision. And you can test your vision by substituting other companies or your competitors’ names in the vision state-

your best. What makes your family business unique? Just about everything we do and how we do it. No shortcuts. It’s well worth it. Business history/future: Filippo’s opened its doors to the public in Monticello in 1970 and has been in continuous operation ever since. We expanded to Mahomet in 1991 and came to Mount Zion 17 years ago. We plan on serving Mount Zion and the surrounding community for the foreseeable future. Advice to someone starting a family business or working to maintain a family business: You must make your business top priority and it helps to enjoy what you do.

‘A business vision, at its best, is more than a list of values.’ ment. If it still makes sense, you don’t have a truly differentiated vision statement yet.” Brainstorm, do a draft, sleep on it, do another draft, then show it to a select handful of stakeholders, such as your business partners, long-standing customers, or key employees. See what insights you get from their feedback. These conversations can produce rich information on how your business is viewed and valued. You may be surprised to learn what vision others have for your company and the future direction others would like to see you take. Your stakeholders may all have different opinions, or you may notice certain common themes emerge. Take any consistent feedback that you receive seriously, but also with a grain of salt.

What’s the big picture? My business vision for my new venture is “To connect people through their products.” Right now, I’m focused on the nitty-gritty details of getting the company off the ground, but every once in a while, I need to look up and focus on the bigger picture. The business vision helps me prioritize an endless list of action items and recalibrate my focus. The business vision is also a critical communication tool when explaining the concept to potential users, pitching the company to interested investors, and wooing prospective employees. By putting your current efforts into a bigger frame, your vision offers others the opportunity to be a part of something larger than themselves. A business vision, at its best, is more than a list of values. When crafted correctly, a business vision expresses your dream as an entrepreneur and an inspiring picture that draws people in to take a closer look.

Jennie Wong is an executive coach, author of the e-book ‘Ask the Mompreneur’ and the founder of the social shopping website CartCentric.com.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

Five reasons small businesses can fail Burn out, lack of cash top issues By VIRGINIA BRIDGES McClatchy-Tribune News Service Writer

Starting a small business is risky. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, approximately 50 percent of new businesses last five years or more, and only about 33 percent last 10 years or more. To find out why, the News & Observer reached out to David Grant, chairman of the Raleigh, N.C., chapter of small-business counseling

Good leaders influence, serve others McClatchy-Tribune News Service Writer

Leadership is an important part of a small business’ success. According to Jennifer C. Dunleavy, president of Raleigh, N.C.-based Accuro, a strategic staffing and recruitment business, nothing is more energizing than learning from leadership authors. “Most of these authors write about leading large-scale enterprises, where people, processes and systems are wellestablished,” Dunleavy said. “This world is vastly different from a small business, where the leader often wears many hats and battles a variety of unique challenges.” Here are Dunleavy’s edited comments on being an effective leader. n Leadership is not based on position. True leadership comes from serving others, including clients, employees and the community — not from the title of CEO. Being an effective small-business leader means excelling at a variety of skills, including mentoring, selling and ordering office supplies. n Leaders are the “caretakers of the vision.” One of the most important parts of a leadership role is setting the vision for the organization. Ask these questions: Where is your company going? How will you get there? Who will help you? How will you measure progress? It is critical to communicate the vision to employees, customers and stakeholders. n Leaders can’t lead without followers. A leader’s primary objective is to influence people, including employees, and move them into action. n Each employee will respond to a leader’s vision differently; therefore, a leader’s ability to influence followers will vary depending on each relationship. n Leadership is a journey, not a destination. An effective leader should be a lifelong student of leadership.

agency SCORE. Grant, with the help of other SCORE volunteers, shared the top five reasons why many small businesses fail. Here are the edited comments: 1. Running out of cash: Most businesses start self-funded. Owners put in some of their own money and don’t take money out. At some point, the owner can no longer afford to contribute financially and must close the business. 2. Getting burned out: Almost everyone who owns a business puts in long hours to make it successful. But most people can’t keep that pace going for the long term. It’s easy to lose the passion and drive that you had when the business

started. 3. Being complacent with customers: It’s important for small-business owners not to take customers for granted. Whenever you come in contact with your best customers, take the time to recognize them, ask them for input, and find out what you can do to improve. When owners stop interacting with customers, those people think that you don’t care and look elsewhere. 4. Changing competitive landscapes: If you become successful, other businesses will try to compete with you. Competitors might differentiate themselves by offering other products and services with lower prices, shorter lead times

and better guarantees, value and quality. Your business’ survival depends on how you react to the competition. Learn about your competitors and how you compare to them. 5. Shifting technology: If your business provides a technology service, keep upto-date on training and customers’ demands. If your business develops a technology product, don’t overdesign the product when the competition offers something simpler. Stay up-todate with interfaces between customers and suppliers. It’s important to be able to easily transfer information. Don’t develop an application without input from users and customers.

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December 2013

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December 2013

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YOUR FREE TIME

Holiday menu planning can be overwhelming Simple steps help first-time hosts Metro Editorial Services

Novice holiday hosts often have a lot on their plates. Whether hosting family or friends or a combination of both, first-time hosts typically want to impress their guests while ensuring they get enough to eat and have an enjoyable evening. Since dinner is such a big part of holiday gatherings, hosts often place extra emphasis on what to serve, and that can be tricky when this is the first time they are hosting. When planning the menu for your holiday soiree, consider the following tips. Get a head count. Though other factors will influence what to serve, the size of your guest list may ultimately dictate what to serve. For example, a small gathering of four to five people will likely rule out turkey, as even a small turkey will prove too much effort and produce too much extra food. On the same note, a small dish such as lasagna might not be doable for a larger crowd, as it will force you to prepare multiple entrees, which means more time in the kitchen juggling the various cooking duties and less time with your guests. Once you have confirmed just how many guests you will be hosting, you can then choose a main course that suits the

size of your guest list. Decide which type of party you want to host. The type of party you want to host also will influence what you serve. A formal gathering should include an appetizer, a main course and a dessert, including both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffees. A less formal gathering gives hosts more leeway. For example, whereas a formal gathering may include soup as an appetizer, hosting a less formal gathering allows hosts to put out some snacks or bread for guests to whet their appetites before everyone sits down for the meal.

The more formal the gathering, the more formal the menu. Hosts of less formal gatherings may even want to host a holiday pot luck buffet, inviting guests to bring a favorite dish or side dish while the hosts take care of the main course. Ask guests if they have any dietary restrictions. Upon being invited to a holiday dinner, some invitees may let hosts know if they have any food allergies or medical conditions that restrict which foods they can eat. Solicit such information from all of your guests, and do your best to cater to each of your guests’ needs.

Some guests might be on a gluten-free diet while others may need to limit their sodium intake. You might not be able to meet everyone’s demands. Let guests know if they should bring an appropriate snack if you cannot provide one for them. Include traditional holiday fare. People have grown to expect certain things from holiday meals, be it sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving, brisket for Chanukah or holiday cookies or even eggnog at Christmas parties. When planning the menu, be sure to include at least one of these traditional items, even asking guests for suggestions. Such fare will give the party a genuine holiday feel, and guests will appreciate seeing some items on your dinner table they have enjoyed at their own holiday celebrations over the years. Don’t overdo it. First-time hosts want to ensure everyone gets enough to eat, so it’s easy to overdo things and prepare too much food. This can be expensive, and guests may feel obligated to overeat so hosts don’t have to discard any of the food they worked so hard to prepare. Though it might once have been a holiday tradition to overeat, many men and women now prefer moderation, and hosts should keep that in mind when preparing their holiday meals. Hosting a holiday dinner for the first time can be nervewracking. But there are a variety of steps first-timers can take when preparing their menus to come off looking like old pros.

Enlisting help, planning can relieve hosting stress Tips can make holiday less hectic Metro Editorial Services

Gatherings with friends and family are a big part of the holiday season. Many people travel during the holidays to spend time with distant relatives, but those same people often want to gather with those loved ones who live nearby as well. Thus an abundance of gatherings comes in December, when office parties, dinners with family and festivities with friends have a way of dominating the last five weeks of the year. All of those gatherings translate to a lot of holiday hosting, and hosts can easily feel overwhelmed as they try to juggle hosting duties with everything else that comes along during this time of year. The following are a few steps holiday hosts can take to make hosting a lot less hectic and a lot more fun. Enlist help. Just because a holiday party is at your home does not mean others

can’t pitch in or will be unwilling to help. If you plan to decorate for the party, invite a friend over to assist. When hosting a holiday dinner party, ask guests to bring certain items to save you some work. Ask one guest to bring some dessert, saving you the time it takes to visit the local bakery or bake your own desserts, and ask others to provide side dishes. This drastically reduces the time it will take you to shop for groceries and cook the meal, leaving you more time to spend with friends and family, both during the party and in the days leading up to the festivities. Plan well in advance. The earlier you begin planning the party, the less stress you’re likely to feel as a host. Certain items for the party, like decorations and certain snacks and beverages, have no expiration dates, so buy such items well in advance of the party. This leads to one less task to tackle in the weeks and days leading up to the party. Planning early also affords you ample time coordinate with guests and decide who will be responsible for certain party tasks. Planning a party at the last minute

can be stressful, so if you know you will be handling hosting duties this holiday season, start preparing for the party as soon as possible. Hire a cleaning service. One of the more difficult parts of holiday hosting is cleaning the house before guests arrive. A thorough house cleaning can take up a substantial amount of time, which tends to be hard to come by during the holiday season. To avoid a late night cleaning session or the need to spend a valuable weekend afternoon hard at work around the house, hire a cleaning service to come and clean your house in the days before the party. Such services can clean your home in a fraction of the time it might take you to do so on your own, and this removes one of the more time-consuming and arduous tasks from your to-do list. Have a theme for the party. Holiday hosts may worry about how to entertain their guests throughout the party. A theme party makes it easier to entertain guests, who can show up decked out in holiday pajamas or sweaters or bring along a favorite unique compilation of holiday songs for a sing-along. Such themes set a tone for the party

right away and often make it easier for guests to unwind immediately. Seek suggestions for a theme from your guests to make the party even more fun. Pass the buck. Hosting a holiday dinner party? Consider passing the hosting duties on to a local restaurant, especially if your friends and family members are on board with the idea. If your schedule is especially hectic this holiday season, then move the party from your home to a local restaurant, where the staff can worry about accommodating your guests and you can simply relax and have a good time with your loved ones. When choosing a restaurant, look for one with a menu that features something for everyone. Entrée selections should include a pasta dish, a beef dish, a seafood dish, a poultry dish, and vegetarian fare. Holiday hosting is meant to be fun, but hosts often find themselves scrambling to prepare for the party as it draws closer. Planning early, seeking help and input from your guests and delegating certain tasks can help ensure hosts have as festive a time as their friends and family members.

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December 2013

The Arts Anne Lloyd Gallery: XMAS ARTicles. The gallery transforms into a holiday shop featuring an array of original arts and crafts. Call (217) 423-3189. www.decturarts.org Gallery 510: Watercolors by Rae Nell Spenser of Oreana. Call (217) 422-1509. Decatur Airport: Works by Sharon Zimmerman. Decatur Public Library: Works by Michael Delaney.

Music Vespers, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and 8, at Kirkland Fine Arts Center. Cost is $10 for adults and 6 for seniors. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318 or go to www.kirklandfinearts.com Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra chamber orchestra teams up with the musicians of Central Christian Church for Advent Services at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. Holiday Jazz by the Millikin University Faculty Jazz Sextet, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, Kirkland Fine Arts Center. “A Christmas to Remember” acoustic show with Christian artist Mark Schultz, 7:30

Calendar of events For a complete list of events, go to www.herald-review.com/go/ p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, Mount Zion Convention Center. Cost is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. For more information, go to www.mtzion.com or call (217) 8645424.

On Stage The Richland Community College dance program presents “The Nutcracker Ballet” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, December 6 and 7, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at Shilling Auditorium. Cost is $10. For tickets, call (217) 875-7211, ext. 6170. Little Theatre-On the Square: “A Christmas Story,” Dec. 13-15 and 16-22. For tickets, call (217) 728-7375. www.thelittle theatre.org. Millikin University Pipe Dreams Studio presents “A Queer Carol,” Dec. 12-14, at the Pipe Dreams Studio, 1099 W. Wood St. For tickets, call (217) 420-6739.

For the kids Children’s Museum of Illinois: n Breakfast with Santa, 8:30-10 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 7. Cost is $10. Registration required. n Gingerbread Workshop, 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Cost is $20 per house. n Family Science Sunday, 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. Make a snow globe and participate in winter-themed activities. n Family Book Bash, featuring “The Three Snow Bears,” 9-9:45 a.m. and 1010:45 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10. Cost is $6. n Cocoa and Cookies with Santa, 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13. Cost is $10. Registration required. n Happy Noon Year!, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 31. Cost is $6. Call (217) 423-5437 or go to www. cmofil.org Scovill Zoo: Pajama Party with Santa, 13 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Cost is $15. Call (217) 421-7435 or go to www.decatur-parks.org

Misc. Decatur Civic Center: Ice skating on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. www.decaturciviccenter.net The Decatur Park District’s Schaub Floral Display Center will host its annual Holiday

Showcase from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Dec. 27. The free exhibit will feature poinsettias, cyclamen, rosemary, coleus, amaryllis and a horticulture-themed Christmas tree. Downtown Decatur Christmas Walk, 4:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4. Visit downtown merchants for an evening of shopping while enjoying carolers and other festive activities. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony, 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Beach House. Guest speaker is Pete Frank, a World War II veteran and member of the Macon County Honor Guard. Mount Zion Christmas Parade, 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Victorian Christmas Tea at the James Millikin Homestead, 125 N. Pine St., from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. Complimentary cookies and hot cider will be served. The Great Gatsby Casino Night Gala, 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at the Mount Zion Convention Center. Cost is $55 and includes the free casino, band, appetizers and raffle. For more information, go to www.mtzion.com or call (217) 864-5424.

Got an item you’d like listed in the Your Free Time calendar? Send the information to Scott Perry at sperry@herald-review.com or 601 E. William St., Decatur, IL 62523.

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YOUR HEALTH

Curb munching, pounds over the holidays Add vegetables, limit sweets By JAMIE LOBER Business Journal Writer

The holidays are often referred to as the most wonderful time of the year. At the same time, winter is a season where people need to learn to resist the urge to graze over the party buffet and keep good health and nutrition in mind while participating in office potlucks and enjoying holiday snacks. “It is important that you do not just say that it is the holidays so you can eat whatever you want and however much that you want,” said Brandi Binkley, director of health promotion at the Macon County Health Department. Particularly if you want to shed some pounds for the New Year, make sure your expectations are realistic. “I would recommend trying to maintain weight because you do not want the pressure of losing weight during the holidays,” said Kris Richman, registered dietician at St. Mary’s Hospital. The key is to maintain a balanced diet. “A lot of times people neglect the vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, and choose the higher carb foods,” said Shanell Schulz, registered dietician with the DMH Wellness Center. This common problem has an easy fix. “If you add more vegetables to your plate, you are less likely to consume cookies, cakes and pies,” Schulz said. For the main dish, choose baked or grilled chicken or shrimp instead of fried. Here are some more tips for keeping your munching, and unwanted pounds, under control. Recognize when you are full. “Be mindful of what you are taking in and make sure you realize that your eyes are bigger than your stomach,” Richman said. If you are at a buffet, only fill your plate once and try to find a table that is not hovering over the food to avoid temptation. A little indulgence is OK but a lot can lead to weight gain.

“Keep everything to half a fist to help you control portions,” Schulz said. If you have any health issues, discuss any dietary changes with your doctor. “I use a plate method in class for diabetes where you draw a plate and split it in half — half should be vegetables, a quarter should be protein and a quarter should be grain,” Schulz said. Meat is not all bad. “Lean meats are going to be the best and you can have beef as contrary to popular belief like sirloin or ground beef that is 90 percent or leaner,” Schulz said. Chicken breast, turkey, fish or pork chops are great and even some eggs and lean cheese are low fat and good sources of protein. Not all sweets are bad. “There are sugarfree items people can use for replacements of desserts like Splenda in baking to reduce calories and carbohydrates,” Schulz said. Adding fruit to a recipe can make it healthier and fruit salad with a little Cool Whip is a great option. “Making something yourself rather than purchasing it can cut a lot of calories out,” Schulz said. Try not to get carried away in the kitchen. “Make sure you are not snacking while you are cooking,” Richman said. Know the contents of what you are putting together by doing a little

research. “You can find recipes online with the nutrition facts,” Richman said. If you are going to a potluck, bring something that you are OK going home with. If you are not a big fan of pies, do not bring one because you may be taking some home with you. “I often suggest a fruit or veggie tray because everyone forgets about that and always brings casseroles and dips,” Schulz said. It is also a good idea to bring some-

thing with a little protein. “You can bring a cheese tray with crackers since it is easy to assemble,” Schulz said. You can always dare to be different and bring a plant or floral arrangement to the office instead of something edible. If you are strong-willed you may choose to eat beforehand where you have more control over what you consume and hold a beverage to keep your hands busy. Stay hydrated. “Often we drink alcohol during holiday celebrations so it is important to drink lots of water and you can have a sugar substitute like Crystal Light or put different flavors like lime or lemon slices to flavor up the water a little bit,” Schulz said. Iced tea and coffee are other good low-calorie items. Of course, if you ever have questions or concerns about nutrition, you can always meet with a dietician. “It would be a good idea to meet with a dietician if you are a newly diagnosed diabetic or have high cholesterol or high blood pressure because a lot of times foods around the holiday season are high-sugar and high-fat items and you may not know how much you should be consuming,” Schulz said. Whether you work with yourself, a friend or professional, it is possible to get through the holiday season without packing on pounds.

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Community health calendar Screenings Kidney disease screening, Dec. 2-6, all DMH Express Care locations. Cost is $25. For more information, call (217) 876-5320. Bone density screening, 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, Women’s Health and Breast Center, 302 W. Hay St., Suite 117A. Screening to check your risk for osteoporosis. Register online or call (217) 876-4377. Cholesterol screening, 7-10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, 1689 S. Franklin Street Road. Cost is $20. To register, call (217) 876-4377.

Support groups TOPS Club IL 49 Decatur, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, 10 and 17, Main Street Church of God, 2000 N. Main St. (enter from Garfield Street). Weight loss support group. For more information, call Chris Granda at (217) 521-2420. Grief to Hope: Grief Education Group, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room G24. This grief education group is a time for individual or family bereavement support and care. For information, call Chaplain Marla at (217) 544-6464 ext. 41850. Helping Hands Bereavement for Children, 3:30 p.m. Thursdays, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, 210 W. McKinley, Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750. Breastfeeding support group, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 9, and 23, Baby TALK, 500 E. Lake Shore Dr. To register, call Flo Folami at (217) 464-2334. Epilepsy support group, 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10. For more information, call (217) 853-1655. Essential tremor support group, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. For more information, call Don Klinker at (217) 423-9667. Renewal bereavement support group, 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

A New Season–Young Widowed Group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19. For more information, call Dawn Followell at (217) 864-2799.

Classes Art therapy for cancer patients and families, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary Medicine Art Room 409, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Clay, paint watercolor, acrylic draw, print make, collage, weave and more. For information, call (217) 876-4700. Eat Right to Help the Fight, 1-2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Nutrition class for cancer patients. Register online or call (217) 876-4750. Infant CPR Class, 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, DMH OB Classrooms, third floor. Register online or call (217) 876-3400. Breastfeeding for the Pregnant Couple, 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, , St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. For information or to register, call (217) 464-2334. Cardiopulmonary education session, 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, and 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, DMH Cardiac Rehabilitation Department. Register online or call (217) 876-2496. Happiest Baby on the Block–Magic? 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. For more information or to register, call (217) 464-2334. Real Dads Rock!, 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. This class enriches the father-to-be with skills to be confident in his major role in the care and birth of the new baby. Call (217) 4642334. Breastfeeding Basics, 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Classrooms–Lobby Level. Registration required. Register online or call (217) 876-3400.

Post partum emotional support group, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. For more information, call Flo at (217) 464-2334.

Red Cross Blood Drive, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, DMH Classrooms and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room.

Cardiopulmonary rehab wellness group, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Classroom A-Lobby Level. Register online or call (217) 876-2496.

Community Health Lecture Series, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, Decatur Public Library. The St. Mary’s Hospital community health lecture service provides an informational lecture from a local health care provider. This month will feature infection protection. For more information, call (217) 464-5125.

Parkinson’s disease support group, 1:30-3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1360 W. Main St. For information, call Kathy Broaddus at (217) 820-3096. Widowed support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19. Monthly dinner gathering. For location or to register, call (217) 428-7733.

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December 2013

Alzheimer’s Series: Caregiver Stress: Relief, Acceptance and Empowerment, 10-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. For more information or to register call (217) 464-5121.

How to be a good nutrition ‘director’ McClatchy-Tribune News Service

In many households, one person is in charge of food shopping — and has lots of power. “They lay the groundwork for healthy eating habits,” said Babs Benson, R.N., director of the weight management program at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Va. To do the job well: Get rid of your own misconceptions. Wholewheat bread and low-fat ice cream might have tasted like cardboard when you were a child, but many products have greatly improved. Avoid open-ended choices. Instead of asking, “What do you want to eat?” offer two or three nutritious options. Encourage variety and new items. Don’t reward noneaters. If a child doesn’t eat dinner, no favorite snack later in the evening. If you can’t stand seeing him hungry, offer something “plain” such as a piece of fruit. Don’t replenish treats right away. Junk food and sugary drinks should be for

special occasions, not part of the everyday supply. Create easy access to produce. Wash and slice fruits and vegetables and store them in visible spots on the counter or in the refrigerator. Share what good foods can do now. Kids may not relate to the word “health” or talk of future wellness. But they’ll like hearing about strong bones and muscles, smart brains, clear skin and shiny hair. Plan ahead. Prepare a weekly menu before going to the grocery store. You’re more likely to stick to a list, eat healthier and save money. Plan for busy days. Buy thin cuts of meat or fish such as turkey cutlets or tilapia that cook quickly and are nutritious. Involve everyone. Let kids help with the menu, shopping and cooking — or even grow a small vegetable garden. Teach them to read labels and avoid products with a long list of ingredients, especially words they can’t pronounce.

Study: Stress over money lowers your IQ Financial worries can cost 13 points WASHINGTON (AP) — Being short on cash may make you a bit slower in the brain, a new study suggests. People worrying about having enough money to pay their bills tend to lose temporarily the equivalent of 13 IQ points, scientists found when they gave intelligence tests to shoppers at a New Jersey mall and farmers in India. The idea is that financial stress monopolizes thinking, making other calculations slower and more difficult, sort of like the effects of going without sleep for a night. And this money-and-brain crunch applies, albeit to a smaller degree, to about 100 million Americans who face financial squeezes, say the team of economists and psychologists who wrote the study published in the journal Science. “Our paper isn’t about poverty. It’s about people struggling to make ends meet,” said Sendhil Mullainathan, a Harvard economist and study coauthor. “When we think about people who are financially stressed, we think they are short on money, but the truth

is they are also short on cognitive capacity.” If you are always thinking about overdue bills, a mortgage or rent, or college loans, it takes away from your focus on other things. So being late on loans could end up costing you both interest points and IQ points, Mullainathan said. The study used tests that studied various aspects of thinking including a traditional IQ test, getting the 13 IQ point drop, said study co-author Jiaying Zhao, a professor of psychology and sustainability at the University of British Columbia. The scientists looked at the effects of finances on the brain both in the lab and in the field. In controlled lablike conditions, they had about 400 shoppers at Quaker Bridge Mall in central New Jersey consider certain financial scenarios and tested their brain power. Then they looked at real life in the fields of India, where farmers only get paid once a year. Before the harvest, they take out loans and pawn goods. After they sell their harvest, they are flush with cash. Mullainathan and colleagues tested the same 464 farmers before and after the harvest and their IQ scores improved by 25 percent when their wallets fattened.

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December 2013

BUSINESS JOURNAL

YOUR BUSINESS

Sav-Mor Pharmacy has small-town touch New store open in Mount Zion By CHRIS LUSVARDI Business Journal Writer

The concept of a small-town drug store continues in 13 communities throughout Illinois where Sav-Mor Pharmacies are found. The business has been expanding since David Falk took it over from the previous owners: Dick Weber and David’s father, Ed Falk. It has gone from four stores in 1999 to its current size, with some stores operating under other longstanding names. The original four towns include Tuscola, Sav-Mor Pharmacies Nokomis, are located in Mount Zion, Fairbury Clinton, Tuscola, Fairbury, and Virden, Flora, Neoga, Virden and Falk said. Nokomis. It also operates “I knew Bertram Pharmacy in what I wantRobinson, Toledo Phared to do,” macy, Brown’s Drug Falk said. Store in Effingham, The “They wantPharmacie Shoppe in ed to retire. Casey and Martinsville I didn’t. I Pharmacy. was 30 years old. I wanted to keep working. When the time came along, we made it happen.” Operating out of a corporate office built in 2007 on West Mound Road in Decatur, Falk has seen the business grow mainly through acquisition and most recently through new construction. In the past year, new Sav-Mor stores have opened in Clinton and Mount Zion. “They had been looking at a pharmacy for quite a while in the village of Mount Zion,” Falk said. “We refused to locate outside of town limits. We wanted to bring a new business in town. We’re in Mount Zion to support Mount Zion.” Mount Zion Village Administrator Julie Miller said a pharmacy had been one of the gaps identified in an analysis of desirable businesses. It was a somewhat long process, but the Sav-Mor was built as part of a tax increment financing redevelopment area off Illinois 121 that includes the new Mount Zion Convention Center. “Sav-Mor is locally owned and operated,” Miller said. “We thought it was a great fit.” Falk enjoys helping to establish the pharmacies as part of the community by having its staff get to know customers. Pharmacist Mindy Amos grew up in Mount Zion and understands the philosophy Falk has wanted to create in the stores, he said. The quality of the staff helps as small pharmacies compete against larger chains and insurance-driven mail order prescriptions. “It comes down to staff,” Falk said.

Locations

Business Journal photos/Danny Damiani

Pharmacist Mindy Amos takes a call while behind the counter at Sav-Mor Pharmacy in Mount Zion. There are 13 Sav-Mor Pharmacy locations throughout Illinois. “We go above and beyond. It’s easier to build relationships with customers. They can walk in and talk to the pharmacist. They know who they’re talking to.” Falk has kept his family involved in the business. His brother-in-law, Trent Moore, is the vice president of operations, becoming Falk’s “right hand man.” The two were best friends and later became family when Moore married Falk’s twin sister. “I needed help at the store level,” Falk said. “I trust him. He’s family. I would have no way to handle 13 stores without help.” Falk’s wife, Angela, is the pharmacist at the store in Tuscola, where it has operated for about 40 years. Their daughter is in high school, but she has expressed an interest in pharmacy, which helps to create the possibility the business could eventually remain in the family. The business has had to adapt to changing customer needs through the years, including increased use of drivethrough windows. Bertram Pharmacy, which operates in Robinson, was moved in October partly because Falk said the building it was in couldn’t accommodate a drive-through. About 15 minutes after the Robinson store reopened, the first drive-through

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Tiffany Voegel, a pharmacy technician, looks through prescriptions to find the right one at Sav-Mor Pharmacy in Mount Zion.

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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December 2013

Continued from page 33

Business Journal/Danny Damiani

Pharmacy technician Jackie Davis talks with a customer using the drive-up window at Sav-Mor Pharmacy in Mt. Zion Thursday.

customers had arrived. Falk said its staff barely had time to be trained on how the system works. The Tuscola location has previously moved from downtown to a higher traffic area along U.S. 36, Falk said. The move provided it with the opportunity to add a two-lane drive-through and 50 parking spaces. “We’ve seen it transition through the years,” Falk said. “It’s all about reinventing in the future and hope you get a payback.” In addition to the pharmacy, the Mount Zion location sells other items including gifts and cards, which not all of the locations offer, Falk said. “Pharmacy is 90 percent of the business but the rest of it is a nice draw, especially around Christmas time,” Falk said. The inclusion of gifts helps make Sav-Mor an attractive and convenient business for Mount Zion, Miller said. She hopes residents in the area continue to support the business as it becomes more of an established part of the community. Retaining businesses becomes the focus once the work of attracting them to town is completed, Miller said. The long-term possibility exists of eventually adding a stop light at the intersection of 121 and Village Parkway, she said. More retail businesses are interested in the development, as a restaurant and yogurt shop could soon be added to an area that includes Coz’s Pizza and Drs. Paulson & Paulson dentistry. “The future looks bright,” Miller said. “The ball is rolling. We hope the momentum stays up.” After opening the two new stores, Falk is content to sit tight for the time being and help them continue to grow. He keeps his eye out for what possibilities might be next. “We’ve done a lot in the last year,” Falk said. “It’s time to regroup and focus on what’s next.”

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December 2013

There are warning signs employees may resign Pessimism, rumors can be clues By HANAH CHO McClatchy-Tribune News Service Writer

Human resources executive Karen LaCroix talked to the Dallas Morning News about five warning signs that an employee may resign. LaCroix is president and founder of Frisco, Texas-based SuperiorHR. She has spent more than 25 years in human resources, working in industries such as health care, financial services, manufacturing, technology and oil and gas. 1. Positivity becomes pessimism: Do you hear employees grumbling about work, procedures, management or day-to-day activities? Keep your ears open for verbal or written communication that signals unhappiness with the company or the position. 2. Huh? Are you talking to me? If you notice an employee isn’t participating; makes frequent mistakes (more than the norm); seems bored, tired or otherwise disengaged; or who doesn’t pay attention

in meetings or contribute to discussions, you may be dealing with someone who’s mentally already out the door. 3. Desk no-show: The computer monitor stays dark. Papers haven’t moved. The coffee cup needed washing days ago. An employee who misses work more than usual may seem like an obvious sign of dissatisfaction, but you’ll know about it only if you’re engaged with the daily activities of your team, or if you’ve challenged your managers to do so. 4. Lone wolf: There are always employees who volunteer for project work or want to contribute to the team, department or organization. If you notice that a once-social employee seems quiet, spends time alone or distances himself on purpose, you may have a situation in which he’s preparing for a clean break. 5. Rumor mill is churning: Keep your ears perked to discussions about what’s going on in your department or company. If you overhear that an employee is unhappy or looking for a job, or any similar topic, follow up as appropriate. Rumors are often rooted in truth, and many times they’re worth some attention.

BUSINESS JOURNAL

First ImpresThey are the first person customers see or hear. And how they handle that initial contact goes a long way toward setting the tone — good and bad — for the rest of the visit. They are the Directors of First Impressions. In the March issue, the Business Journal wants to celebrate the best of the best and we need your help. Share with us your stories of employees who are the ideal business gatekeepers. You know the ones, they greet you with a smile, answer your questions or find someone who can, and point you in the right direction. Send the name of the employee, the business they work for and a brief story of why they are the best at what they do to Scott Perry at sperry@heraldreview.com or at 601 E. William St., Decatur, IL 62523.

We at the Herald & Review/ Business Journal are proud to say our Director of First Impressions is

Carol Collins

The Retirement Times

“As my retirement approaches, I find that I have very mixed emotions. I truly look forward to being able to spend more time with Judy and family, work with my beloved honeybees, and to travel; however, I will miss the bank that has been my life for so long. A 37-year career in community banking has been very rewarding, being able to work daily with my friends and neighbors, who also just happen to be customers, helping them with their financial needs. So as the yearends and my retirement approaches, please take a moment to stop by the bank so we can share some old stories. I thank you all for being my friends. See you down the road!”

Help us celebrate the 37 years of a true leader and the retirement of

James L. Hall Please attend a retirement open house in his honor on: Thursday, December 19, 2013 Drop in between 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Prairie State Bank & Trust 340 Main Street, Mt. Zion

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December 2013

Getting buster to work, finally This continues a theme from November’s Business Journal. Last month’s column described two common elements that are shared by programs that successfully transition people from homelessness to productive employment. Today we take a look at four other common elements. You will recall that these six elements were identified through the Connect to Work project. Human Resources This effort was sponsored by the Supportive Housing Providers Association of Illinois with help from the Butler Family Fund. The first two elements, discussed last month, were (1) starting small, and (2) enrolling only those people who really want to work. The third component is lots of oneon-one and small-group interactions. Classroom lecturing and online learning have their place, but it’s a very small place. Adults learn best by doing (by the way, children do, too). People learn by trying, making errors, trying again and eventually getting it right.

Fred Spannaus

Intense coaching and practice are the best way to teach new habits and skills. Great programs often operate with classes of eight or fewer participants and provide plenty of peer group interaction. The fourth is a program without end. The Cara Program in Chicago keeps participants enrolled and active until they secure an acceptable living-wage job. Every weekday they report to Cara, where they conduct job searches, build specific skills or perform volunteer duties for nonprofit organizations. The only way they can leave the program is by finding and keeping a decent job. Even then, Cara stays with each client for several months to assure a successful transition to work. This is very different from traditional programs, which have definite starting and ending dates. And it is very successful: Cara has among the best placement and retention rates in the field. The fifth element is local collaboration. Great programs never go it alone. They are led by people who are “natural collaborators.” Their leaders participate in the Chamber of Commerce, in human service networks and in neighborhood organizations. They involve other organizations in every aspect of planning and implementation. They focus on measuring outcomes. They don’t care who gets the credit.

The sixth and final might be the most important. Great programs have longterm partnerships with potential employers. They understand that they are not asking companies for favors or donations. No handouts for these guys. Instead, they offer answers. They solve problems for companies that can’t find enough qualified applicants. The best programs have solid relationships with employers, because they churn out great job candidates. nnn Here’s what we’ve done with this knowledge. First, IT consultant Brook Paslay (she’s a Decaturite and a genius) created a website at www.connecttowork.org. On this site, users can find more than 80 promising practices along with links and useful documents. Second, the Supportive Housing Providers Association of Illinois is communicating its discoveries to organizations all over the state. Using webinars and in-person events, the association already has reached hundreds of organizations, including job-training programs, groups serving the homeless and housing providers.

Did you know? Dreaming of a write Christmas Origins of holiday tales 1. A Christmas Carol — published at author’s expense 2. Tiny Tim — originally to be named “Fred” 3. The Christmas Box — written in six weeks, self-published 4. Night Before Christmas — “Santa” not used 5. A Christmas Carol — written in six weeks Source: World Features Syndicate

A Christmas recital 1. Philippines — Christmas carols on radio in September 2. Boston — schools open on Christmas until 1870 3. Santa’s P.O. in Lapland — 60,000 letters a year 4. White House tree — 25,000 lights 5. Mistletoe kissing — servants only until 19th century Source: World Features Syndicate

Very Merry

Fred W. Spannaus, principal of Spannaus Consulting, is a senior professional in human resources. He loves feedback to his columns. Fred can be contacted by email at spannaus@ ameritech.net or by phone at (217) 425-2635.

Number of cards sent in U.S. in 2011 1. Christmas — 1.6 billion 2. Valentine’s Day — 144 million 3. Mother’s Day — 133 million 4. Father’s Day — 94 million 5. Easter — 57 million 6. Halloween — 17 million 7. Thanksgiving — 13 million Source: Hallmark Card Corp.

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December 2013

BUSINESS CLIPS

New staff members Sue’s Hair Designers welcomes nail tech Margo Hunter and hair stylist Nikki Nelson. Mike Brokaw has joined the Loan Department of CNB Bank & Trust in Taylorville.

Brokaw

Richie Wolf has joined the Macon County Conservation District as nature center manager.

Lawrence Jackson has joined Walkers Limousine and Shuttle Service as its operations manager.

For the third consecutive year, Decatur Memorial Hospital has been named one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics. Dr. Thomas Rohde, medical director of Renew Total Body Wellness, has achieved certification by the American Board of Anti Aging and Regenerative Medicine. Rohde EPL Bio Analytical Services was honored for Best Supporting Role during the 2013 Agrow Awards.

Byers

Clark

Matlock

Shaw

Scherer

Conour

Dieu

Peterson

Nevitt

Minton

Chris Harrison has joined the sales team of Brinkoetter and Associates Realtors. Harrison

Promotions Joseph R. Dively will replace the retiring William S. Rowland as chairman, president and chief executive officer of First MidDively Illinois Bancshares Inc. Rowland’s retirement is effective Dec. 31. Rowland

Achievements Deb Clem and Rosa Lacey, of the Decatur Conference Center & Hotel, are the recipiClem ents of Lacey regional Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association’s 2013 Stars of the Industry awards. Clem was named Regional Administrative Employee of the Year and Lacey was named Regional Housekeeping Employee of the Year. Physician’s Choice Wellness received the Outstanding Achievement Award for implementing new and creative ways to battle obesity and for its continued growth at the National Weight Management Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. Several staff members attended the conference and were speakers at the event.

The Mid-Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross recognized the following individuals as Heartland Heroes: Brian Byers of Decatur, Citizenship Hero; Ryan Clark of Blue Mound, Every Day Hero; Riley Matlock, Grace Shaw and Michael Dust of Decatur and Nicholas Scherer and Austin Conour of Dalton City, Youth Courage Heroes; Brock Dieu of Danville, Valor Award; Don Peterson of Decatur, Senior Hero; and B.G. Nevitt, In Memoriam.

Announcements

Kilby

ASK THE SCORE COUNSELOR

Renee Emrick has joined Investment Planners Inc. as general council and chief compliance officer. Judy A. Minton has joined the Emrick practice of Dr. John W. Newlin as an advanced practice nurse.

BUSINESS JOURNAL

Burkart

McElroy

Nora Kilby and Jeanette Burkart of Fun For All Vacations participated in top-tier travel industry training and networking hosted by Nexion. Decatur Mayor Mike McElroy has been elected vice president for the Illinois Municipal League.

Business Clips are abbreviated versions of paid Business Achievements which appear on Mondays in the Herald & Review.

Q: How can I know when to act on a “great idea?” A: Anita Campbell, editor and founder of Small Business Trends LLC writes in the Small Business Development’s Weekly Connection publication that many small businesses approach innovation the wrong way around, devoting lots of time to coming up with ideas and then quickly deciding among them in a haphazard fashion. For best results, however, you should spend more time assessing your ideas and deciding which one(s) to implement than coming up with those ideas in the first place. So how do you assess your ideas? Here are some questions to ask about the innovations you’re considering. How long will it take? Some innovations may be a simple matter of changing an internal process or tweaking a website. Others are long-term projects requiring huge commitments of time and resources. Consider what the benefits are likely to be and weigh them against the costs — both short-term and longterm. If an innovation that can be implemented quickly and cheaply will have huge benefits, it’s a no-brainer, you should do it. Most innovations fall into more of a gray area. How much will it cost? In addition to dollars spent, consider the cost of time employees and others will devote to the innovation. Will new training or equipment be required? Will employees add new responsibilities requiring overtime or promotions? Will you need to find new distribution channels or establish new relationships with vendors or contractors? Consider the short-term or immediate costs of developing the innovation and the long-term costs. Do you have the internal resources to execute? This can include everything from employees and expertise, to equipment and your physical plant or location. If you will need to staff up, retain contractors, get financing or expand into larger office space to make the innovation a reality, figure out realistic ways to get what you need, including partnering with other companies. How will the innovation alter your existing business model? Some innovations can fit neatly into the way you’re currently

GOT A QUESTION? For help assessing that “great idea,” or to submit a question for the “Ask the SCORE Counselor” column, contact SCORE Chapter 296, Millikin University, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522 or call (217) 424-6296.

doing business, barely making a ripple. Others are game-changers that can swamp your business if you’re not prepared. Envision how adding this innovation might affect the rest of your business and what you need to do to accommodate the change. Do your customers want this innovation enough to pay for it? In the excitement of creating something new, all too often, small-business owners forget to ask this vital question. No matter how convinced you are that customers will beat the door down to buy your innovation, do thorough market research before you make a commitment of time, effort and money. It’s easier than ever to find out what customers really want — just ask. Keep in mind that the assessment stage of innovation generally requires a different team than the people who came up with the ideas. While you may want some of the same people on board, the bean-counters, lawyer types, and other left-brainers who might not excel at generating ideas typically have a lot of valuable input about which ones will actually work. Assessing a concept’s business potential requires someone who doesn’t see the world through rose-colored glasses. Balance their tendency to nay-say with your own ability to strategize, and you should come up with a winning selection. — Carol Harding, SCORE counselor

Meet a SCORE counselor Dr. Joseph Schrodt is a retired physician from the Decatur area. His field of expertise is health care. He has been a SCORE member for 11 years. Schrodt

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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December 2013

YOUR MONEY

Buying local helps community Treasures abound in small stores By CHRIS LUSVARDI Business Journal Writer

Diane Little enjoys filling up balloons for children so much she considers it the best part of her job. Working for Party Warehouse located in the Brettwood Village Shopping Center in Decatur, filling balloons is something Little has had the pleasure of doing for the past 19 years. She’s owned the business for the past 5 years. “I could stand and do it for 12 hours,” Little said. “I love that part of it.” Party Warehouse carries 700 varieties of Mylar balloons. Little is able to watch the smiles come across children’s faces as they see the balloons fill up. “Balloons are very big for us,” Little said. “You don’t get them every day, so it’s special when you do.” Business Journal/Jim Bowling It’s an example of the type of service Party Warehouse store owner Diane Little shows a snowman pinata, a new item of the holithat can be found shopping at a locally day novelty inventory at the store. owned business rather than buying things online as is especially popular gotten so big.” needed, Hoban said. this time of year with Christmas fast The store typically hasn’t been busy “With online, nothing comes here,” he approaching. on Black Friday, but Little said it starts The holiday shopping season is one of to pick up once consumers have bought the busiest times of year for the store their presents and are looking for wrapalong with graduation season and Halping materials. loween, Little said. Black FriThe busiday is seen as ness has to the traditional adapt to start of the changing holholiday shopiday tradiping season, tions, she but the push said. has increased “Thanksfor supporting giving family small busigatherings nesses, not have gotten just the large bigger,” Little retailers. said. “We sell “If you tableware in want to make 40 count or 20 a difference count rather this holiday than 8 count Little says that large gift bags are popular sellers at the season, shop packages. store. local and shop People are small,” said having more Kim Clarke relatives and friends in.” Maisch, Illinois state director of the New Year’s is another holiday Little National Federation of Independent has seen change with more at-home parties and shoppers looking for supplies for Business. “Small and independent business owners are among the most genera festive party. ous supporters of civic groups, local More shopping for New Year’s usually charities, youth sports, schools and virboosts the end of the Christmas season, tually every other form of community Little said. She watches for what was activity.” popular in the past in an effort to have While some consumers might not difenough in supply the following year. ferentiate who owns a particular busiThe store carries large plastic bags for ness, the point to keep in mind is to shop wrapping big presents and has stocked at stores locally, said Patrick Hoban, up this year, she said. “It was hard to find,” Little said. “Four city of Decatur economic development officer. days before Christmas, the giant plastic The trend has been to buy more prodwas gone. I had nothing. We’re hoping to ucts online, but local sales tax revenue is have it covered. All the toys for kids have

said. “We miss out here.” Prior to joining the city in October, Hoban was one of the leaders of the Decatur Cash Mob group, which supports a different business in Decatur each week through a Facebook page and visiting the designated business on Saturdays. He’s been amazed by the support that following has gained in the past year and how it makes people aware of what’s in Decatur. Many people don’t know all of what’s available locally, Hoban said. “I was the same way,” Hoban said. “It gets them in the door.” Little said getting people to see what her store offers is what counts. They usually like what they find and, in turn, that helps the city, she said. All of the store’s employees live in Macon County, which Little said makes them interested in what happens locally. “I wish the economy was better,” Little said. “It’s a struggle for everybody. Coming here, it supports the town.” Children, in particular, can see all of what’s available in the store, Little said. Plus, it has an important customer by carrying a line of Santa suits. “This is where Santa buys his suit,” Little said. “Actually, he doesn’t do the shopping. Mrs. Claus comes in for him.”

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December 2013

BUSINESS JOURNAL

Pros, cons of buying with credit, debit cards Provides easy money but watch out for fees Metro Editorial Services

Get togethers with friends and family are staples of the holiday season. But those aren’t the only reunions during the holiday season. Creditors and credit card holders typically get together during the holiday season as well. And while some of those reunions are happy ones, others can turn disastrous. Shoppers who aren’t careful can quickly find themselves with finance charges that equal or exceed what they spent in the first place. While many shoppers feel as if they won’t make it through the holiday season without piling up debt, it’s important shoppers remember they need to make it through the months of January, February, March, April, etc., as well. Before swiping your credit or debit card at the nearest cash register, it’s best to understand the differences between these two forms of plastic: n Credit cards are issued by banks or a business and allow you to make purchases on a line of credit. You’ll be offered a pre-set spending limit (credit limit) based on your financial standing. In essence, credit cards offer you a short-term loan that must be paid back in full the next month or else a high interest rate is imposed. (Charge cards do not allow cardholders to carry a balance, and must be paid back in full immediately). n Debit cards are issued strictly by the bank, and offer a direct link to an individual’s checking account. When a purchase is made, it is deducted from that account. Using a debit card is the same as paying with a check, just without the hassle of paperwork or waiting on lines while people write out checks. While every family or group of friends likely has one person with a horror story or two pertaining to holiday credit debt, there are pros and cons to using both credit cards and debit cars during the holidays. Some of the benefits include: n Available funds. Credit cards provide easy money, allowing shoppers to make it to holiday gatherings or to

purchase last-minute gifts. Setting aside larger purchases (i.e. plane tickets, holiday meals, hotel reservations) solely for a credit card can help you better keep track of how much you have spent and can make the stress of planning your travel schedule easier. Debit cards will provide a quick link to your checking account, and can make purchases faster than using a paper check.

n Sense of security. Credit cards offer far more security for your purchases than simply paying with cash. Also, items purchased with credit or debit cards can make returning or exchanging gifts a far smoother process. Typically, purchases made with credit cards are completely protected, meaning a lost or stolen purchase, while unfortunate, can be replaced at no cost to the consumer. n Hidden benefits. Many times credit card companies offer incentive programs such as airline miles and other discounts with each purchase, giving consumers more for their money and mitigating future interest payments. But just like there are two sides to every coin, there is also a dark side to relying solely on credit or debit cards when holiday shopping. Some of those disadvanatages include: n Fees. Both credit and debit cards often carry hidden fees with them. These fees charge or deduct money from an account simply for making a purchase. Knowing these fees and limiting how much they are charged is essential to keeping bills low come January. Credit cards also impose hefty interest rates if purchases are not paid back in a timely manner. Look for cards with lower rates, or pay as much toward your credit card balance as possible come bill time. n Going over budget. Credit cards can offer consumers a false sense of security, making most believe they have more money readily available to them than they actually do. At a time as emotional as the holidays and in a year when many people learned the hard way about financing more than they could afford, overspending can prove especially dangerous. n Nonfixed interest rates. Credit card companies can change interest rates on a whim, and without an account holder’s approval. Just because an interest rate is affordable today does not mean it will be tomorrow. n Identity theft. Identity theft protection has made leaps and bounds since the salad days of Internet shopping, but shopping extensively with a credit or debit card, particularly online, is still risky. Hackers can steal personal information from shoppers who use plastic to make purchases online. Keep track of purchases and cross-check statements to monitor unauthorized purchases. And, if cards are stolen, notify the relevant bank and credit card companies at once.

Brush up on gift-giving etiquette at work Be professional, stay within limits Metro Editorial Services

Many offices host a gift exchange during the holiday season. Professionalism should always be a top priority when gifting co-workers, and some men and women may want to brush up on gift-giving etiquette before exchanging gifts with fellow employees. Long before any gifts are exchanged, research your firm’s policies on gift-giving. An employee handbook or a visit to the human resources department is a good place to start. When in doubt, inquire among more seasoned workers. Many companies put dollar limits on gift values, while others have strict policies forbidding such exchanges, as it’s easy

for gifts to create discomfort around the office or give the impression of favoritism. Gift exchanges also depend on the relationship between employees and their supervisors. Close, friendly relationships may warrant gift exchanges, especially if everyone else is on board with the idea. Gifting a boss is not necessary, but employees who have a close working relationship with their supervisors may want to purchase a professional gift to indicate their appreciation of a supervisor’s support. These can include picture frames, gloves, scarves, books and personal interest items. Steer clear of personal gifts or ones that can be taken the wrong way. Inappropriate gifts should always be avoided. Decorative gifts that do not focus on any particular religion or holiday, inspirational books, calendars,

plants and publications that cater to a particular interest likely won’t raise anyone’s ire. However, self-help gifts, perfumes, lotions or overly personal gifts may give recipients the wrong impression. While homemade foods were once popular gifts, many companies now discourage such gifts because they may trigger various food allergies. Gift cards tend to be universally

acceptable, but only when they do not exceed the agreed-upon spending limit. Grocery store gift cards can help employees offset some of the costs of entertaining, and gift cards to popular department stores may help offset holiday spending. Whenever any giving between co-workers takes place, care should be given to ensure all the gift values are equivalent. Co-workers who are especially close and want to give a more meaningful gift should exchange those gifts on their own time and not during office hours. Tenure can also dictate gift-giving. Employees who have been with their companies longer than their co-workers may receive a more personalized gift. Employees who receive gifts from their bosses should not feel obligated to reciprocate. Employees should also keep in mind that personal thank-you notes are courteous, professional and appreciated.

BUSINESS JOURNAL

December 2013

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