Tap the potential of international trade
Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionBy Gerhard Apfelthaler I have been in international business for most of my life. My multiple and often parallel careers as an educator, a university administrator, a diplomat and an entrepreneur have enabled me to look at the same topic from a variety of angles. When I discuss the landscape of global trade with my Read More →
Requiring clean water not anti-business
Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionBy Owen Bailey There is nothing anti-business about insisting on clean water. Our tri-county region can reasonably be considered the birthplace of our country’s modern environmental movement. After the tragic blowout from offshore oil Platform A in January 1969, the Santa Barbara Channel became the poster child for irresponsible environmental practices and the devastation that Read More →
Make money, do good with ‘impact investing’
Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionBy Peter Brill I’m a typical Santa Barbara retiree who came here to enjoy its beauty after having a prosperous and fulfilling career in medicine and as a successful entrepreneur. I was considering how to best use my philanthropic dollars when I came across a concept in investing that captured my interest to the degree Read More →
Entrepreneurs should plan for retirement
Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionBy Lee Schuh Few entrepreneurs really think about preparing financially for retirement. Too many are depending on Social Security. Frankly, Social Security is only a safety net and not intended to be anything else. You are not going to have a very satisfactory retirement if Social Security is the major financial contributor. When asked Read More →
Landlords learn to repurpose their malls
Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionBy Lisa Spiwak This is a season of discontent for retailers. There doesn’t seem to be a week that goes by without a national chain closing stores or filing for bankruptcy protection. Most recently, we lost Sport Chalet. Before that, it was Sports Authority, Sears, Fresh & Easy, Office Depot, Radio Shack, Staples, Abercrombie Read More →
Marketing, innovation important but sales skills critical
Latest news, Op/EdsBy Jim Cathcart In a recent discussion at a business school in California, it was pointed out that the curriculum had plenty of marketing and entrepreneurship courses, plus even some innovation courses, but none on sales skills. The rationale was, “Sales gets covered in the other courses so there’s no need for a separate class.” Read More →
Profit not a dirty word for businesses
Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionBy Gary Wechter I must say I was outraged after reading Steven Mintz’ op-ed, “Minimum wage hike a moral issue,” in the April 8 issue. “Outraged” when at the end of the article I learn that Mintz is a professor in the Orfalea College of Business at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I asked Read More →
