When thinking small pays off
Even with the real estate market in the slumps, one small Santa Barbara construction company is holding its own by focusing on small projects larger firms won’t touch. Projects by Giffin & Crane is a women-run construction business and a division of Giffin & Crane General Contractors, a firm locally renowned for building many of Read More →
Impact Radius scores $6M
A Santa Barbara firm has just garnered a $6 million investment to see if it can shake up the broadcast, radio and print advertising world the same way its leaders shook up the online advertising world. Impact Radius has rolled out a new online platform for advertisers and media firms to buy and sell performance-based Read More →
Pizzeria goes online to save itself
Lou Torres isn’t on Facebook, but as of Jan. 13 he had 6,116 supporters of his failing restaurant on the social networking site. Torres owns Deano’s Pizzarama in Santa Barbara, a 50-year-old landmark heading for closure in the face of an ugly economy and tough competition. He owes his landlord two months in back rent Read More →
Getting better with time
Walking into the Liquor and Wine Grotto in Montecito is like stepping into a mom-and-pop store one would expect to find in Italy. The store has stone floors, vine-covered walls and racks stocked with wines and liquors of every age, origin and price. The front entrance itself resembles a large, wooden wine barrel and lights Read More →
Tech firms get a boost from small business
The economic slump has many small businesses scrambling to cut costs, but as a direct result one group of businesses is getting a boost: information technology firms. As small businesses look for ways to streamline their budgets, tri-county IT firms are seeing a wave of new clients — if they offer the right products and Read More →
Cashing in on a retail trend
If you own a small retail business in a tough economy, every dollar counts. That’s why many small businesses have found that automated teller machines, or ATMs, are quick and easy money-makers. By installing one of the cash-dispensing machines, merchants reap not only the benefits of a small commission every time someone uses it, but Read More →
An idea that holds water
Some innovations seem to be born almost by osmosis; you put the right brains in one room and the great ideas just flow. At least that’s how the idea for Vapur was born. The start-up company, not even a year old, is the producer of a reusable, foldable plastic water bottle by the same name. Read More →
