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RECENT ISSUES

Editor’s Choice Posts

  • Cutting Edge Strategic Planning For Small Business Survival
    November 29, 2009

    STRATEGIC PLANNING Large companies place resources and focus on strategic planning at least once a year. Small businesses seldom complete a strategic plan. Yet in every way, planning is just as impo …

  • Powerful New Glenn Beck Video Alluding to Pending Collapse of the Dollar
    November 20, 2009

    Blog Editor’s Note: Glenn Beck is labeled a “conspiracy theorist.” However, you can rest assured no one presenting views this extreme on a regular basis could do so from a corporate …

  • $4.8 trillion – Interest on U.S. debt
    November 20, 2009

    Blog Editor’ Note: That’s nearly 5 million million dollars and nearly half the current Federal deficit, which continues to rise at an unprecedented rate. But don’t worry, analysts ca …

  • Economists Opposing Federal Reserve Audit Have Undisclosed Fed Ties
    November 20, 2009

    Blog Editor’s Note: This piece delivers more exposure than the usual establishment press critique of the current controversy surrounding the Federal Reserve. However, the focus on key economists …

  • 1 million stimulus jobs?
    November 20, 2009

    House panel investigates By Richard Simon (The Los Angeles Times) Reporting from Washington – Hundreds of new jobs in phantom congressional districts. Nearly 500 new teaching slots in a Chicag …

From the Print Edition

  • 7 Simple Ways to Law-Proof Your Business
    October 27, 2009

    By Kurt Andrew Schlichter, Esq. The article appeared in Business Insider Magazine’s first issue of 2009 While the economic downturn will increase most businesses’ exposure to legal problems, it …

  • Managing Your Business During Difficult Times
    October 27, 2009

    By Angela L.H. Sayers, CPA, MBA This column ran in Business Insider Magazine’s first issue of 2009 The stock market is extremely volatile and our investment portfolios have plummeted. So how ca …

  • Efficient IT Planning is Key to Recession Survival
    October 22, 2009

    By David Whitehead The financial crisis may not be the only thing putting a strain on your business. If your IT upgrades didn’t keep pace with your growth during the boom years, chances are expensive …

  • The Real Estate Weather Report
    October 6, 2009

    By Ken Roberts This article appeared in Business Insider Magazine’s second issue of 2009 If the real estate climate was reported like the weather, it might sound something like the following: “Expe …

  • 5 South Bay Organizations Upping the Eco Ante
    October 6, 2009

    By Brian Simon This article appeared in Business Insider Magazine’s second issue of 2009 While entire nations must grapple with the harsh implications of “global warming” and how to address it …

Management Insider

  • Cutting Edge Strategic Planning For Small Business Survival
    November 29, 2009

    STRATEGIC PLANNING Large companies place resources and focus on strategic planning at least once a year. Small businesses seldom complete a strategic plan. Yet in every way, planning is just as impo …

  • CalChamber Goes to Court to Protect Businesses from Additional Wage-and-Hour Lawsuits
    November 20, 2009

    (The California Chamber of Commerce) The California Chamber of Commerce is urging the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal to reverse a district court ruling that could result in numerous more wage-and-hour la …

  • Ten Questions with Jeffrey Pfeffer
    November 12, 2009

    (How to Change the World) Jeffrey Pfeffer is the Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. He is the author or co-author of twelve …

  • 3 Things that Stop Sales
    November 6, 2009

    How comfortable are you in asking people to become a paying client? Once you know what’s getting in your way, it will be easier to overcome these issues. By Kaya Singer (BizNik) If you own a sm …

  • Workplace Poster Needs Updating
    November 6, 2009

    Required Updates Due to EEOC Notice Change (The California Chamber of Commerce) A new mandatory change to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) notice in the Employment Notices Poster mus …

Marketing and Sales Insider

  • The Secret to Making Your Brand Truly Great
    November 20, 2009

    By Dan Huston Although many business leaders are obsessed with the concept of branding, few really understand what it means to develop a successful brand. Here’s what it really takes. (Biznik) H …

  • Your New Economy Customer
    November 13, 2009

    Recession Springboarding! By Tommy Jaye Positioning your business for the economic recovery starts now! It’s no longer “business as usual.” Small business owners and entrepreneurs …

  • Understanding the Buzz Around Social Media
    November 12, 2009

    Finding the Right Social Media Mix By Baltej Gill You might have heard that social media can help build your brand, promote your product and services, help collect feedback from your customers, incre …

  • 3 Things that Stop Sales
    November 6, 2009

    How comfortable are you in asking people to become a paying client? Once you know what’s getting in your way, it will be easier to overcome these issues. By Kaya Singer (BizNik) If you own a sm …

  • Stage Your Business to Sell
    November 4, 2009

    (Sacramento) – Before you put your business on the market to sell, be sure you are prepared so you can get the best price possible. The California Association of Business Brokers (CABB – a non-profit …

Legal Insider

  • RB Chamber Helps Stop Anti-Job Proposal
    November 4, 2009

    AB 793 and AB 943, two harmful legislative proposals that would have put businesses in Redondo Beach, were defeated in October when the Governor vetoed both pieces of legislation. The Cham …

  • 7 Simple Ways to Law-Proof Your Business
    October 27, 2009

    By Kurt Andrew Schlichter, Esq. The article appeared in Business Insider Magazine’s first issue of 2009 While the economic downturn will increase most businesses’ exposure to legal problems, it …

  • Protect Yourself When Making Written Offers
    October 20, 2009

    By DeAnn Flores Chase Attorney at Law There are many reasons why a business owner should have legal counsel when starting a business.  The following is an example based on a true story:An owner of re …

  • 7 Steps to Surviving a Lawsuit
    October 6, 2009

    By Kurt Schlichter, Esq, Attorney at Law This article appeared in Business Insider Magazine in the second issue of 2009 As the economy worsens, more businesspeople find themselves being sued.  Ge …

Human Resources Insider

  • Truer U.S. unemployment rate is 17.5%
    November 6, 2009
    (The Ticker – The Washington Post) Each month, as regular readers know, I like to unpack the new unemployment number and get behind the data. The news this month continues to be grim. Indeed, it …

  • Workplace Poster Needs Updating
    November 6, 2009
    Required Updates Due to EEOC Notice Change (The California Chamber of Commerce) A new mandatory change to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) notice in the Employment Notices Poster mus …

  • House Democrats Prepare For Close Healthcare Vote
    November 5, 2009
    WASHINGTON (Reuters – The New York Times) – Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives hustled on Thursday to count votes and round up support for a sweeping healthcare overha …

  • Health Plan “Hurts More Than Helps”
    November 5, 2009
    (Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce)  Consider the plight of the hard-working employee who’s earned the right to obtain benefits from their employer after years of loyal service – a coverage plan tha …

  • CalChamber Partners to Train Employees
    November 4, 2009
    CalChamber Keeps California Companies Competitive; New Partnership With ETP Will Facilitate Training for Thousands of Employees Statewide The California Chamber of Commerce and the Employment Training …

Real Estate Insider

  • Mortgage Holders Rent Back Their Homes
    November 5, 2009

    Fannie Mae: “Deed For Lease” Program Will Let Thousands Rent Out Homes To Avoid Foreclosure By Alan Zibel (Associate Press – The Huffington Post) Thousands of borrowers on the verge …

  • Goldman’s new role: taking away people’s homes
    November 2, 2009

    By Greg Gordon (McClatchy Newspapers) SAN JOSE, Calif. — When California wildfires ruined their jewelry business, Tony Becker and his wife fell months behind on their mortgage payments and experienced …

  • Wilbur Ross: ‘Huge’ Commercial Real Estate Crash
    October 30, 2009

    (Bloomberg) Billionaire investor Wilbur L. Ross Jr., said today the U.S. is in the beginning of a “huge crash in commercial real estate.” “All of the components of real estate value are going in the …

  • New home sales fall 3.6%
    October 28, 2009

    (Associated Press – Los Angeles Times) WASHINGTON – Sales of new homes dropped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a soon-to-expire tax credit for first-time owners started to wane. …

  • The Real Estate Weather Report
    October 6, 2009

    By Ken Roberts This article appeared in Business Insider Magazine’s second issue of 2009 If the real estate climate was reported like the weather, it might sound something like the following: “Expe …

American Residential Real Estate

East West Bank Acquires Failed Bank’s Assets

Editor’s Note: East West Bank has several South Bay branches and United Commercial Bank has a Torrance branch serving the South Bay south communities. This acquisition will significantely enhance East West’s position in the local market.

East-West-Bank[1]By RICHARD CLOUGH

(Los Angeles Business Journal) East West Bank nearly doubled in size late Friday after acquiring San Francisco’s United Commercial Bank, which was closed by regulators earlier in the evening.

East West Bancorp Inc., a Pasadena holding company for a bank catering to the Chinese-American community, purchased $10.2 billion in United Commercial’s assets, including 63 … Continue Reading

Holiday Regional Mixer, Thurs., Dec. 3, 2009

Network with members of more than a dozen South Bay Chambers

Thursday, December 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m., inside the Torrance Memorial Medical Center “Holiday Festival” tent, Skypark Drive and Medical Center Drive, Torrance.

The $10 admission includes one drink ticket (beer, wine or soft drink) and hors d’oeuvres. There are 48 designed and decorated holiday trees; holiday boutique; live entertainment; photos with Santa; fantastic raffle prizes.  RSVP is a must, by November 30: (310-377-8111 or office@palosverdeschamber.com). To donate a door prize for maximum visibility, contact Debby at 310-377-8111 or debby@palosverdeschamber.com

City of Torrance is award finalist

City selected as finalist for the Most Business-Friendly City in Los Angeles County Award

(Torrance Business Monthly) The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) has selected the City of Torrance as a finalist for its 2009 Most Business-Friendly City in L.A. County award for the population of 60,000 and over category.  The LAEDC honored the City of Torrance for creating a business-friendly environment that encourages businesses to locate or expand in the community by reducing red tape and improving response time with additional assistance.

Torrance has implemented streamlining measures such as a onestop permit center, ombudsman services, online project … Continue Reading

Manhattan Beach gives Chamber $75,000

City approves reduced allocation to “keep the body breathing”

by  Carley Dryden

(The Easy Reader) Six months after cutting its $210,000 allocation to the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce, the City Council agreed Tuesday night to a phase-out allocation. Funding for the Chamber will be reduced to $50,000 next year and $25,000 the next, with the expectation that the Chamber will be self-sufficient after two years.
City Council’s finance subcommittee, Richard Montgomery and Nick Tell, met with the Chamber last month to help them trim their budget.
“Pare it down to your necessities,” said Council member Richard Montgomery in September. “What are … Continue Reading

Parking legally may be illegal in Redondo Beach

Police let drivers off the hook with a warning for violation they could not have known they committed.

David_WhiteheadBy David Whitehead

This absurd enforcement action by the Redondo Beach Police Department was probably a bureaucratic snafu the chain of command decided to proceed with despite its highly questionable legality. It was clearly an unwarranted violation of the rights of law abiding citizens, but just to keep things in perspective, it wasn’t the Rodney King incident either. For me it was just stupid and annoying.

On Sunday, November … Continue Reading

P.V. Chamber Evening Mixer - Thurs., Nov. 19, 2009

Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Evening Mixer: Thursday, November 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m.,

Location: Marmalade Café, Promenade on the Peninsula, 550 Deep Valley Drive, Suite 201, Rolling Hills Estates.

Join fellow members and bring a potential member and join us in BUILDING BUSINESS REFERRALS!

Admission $10 for Chamber members; $15 for potential members. Includes one complimentary drink ticket.

Wine and beer bar available. RSVP: debby@palosverdeschamber.com or call 310-377-8111.

Market your business and donate a raffle prize!  Notify Debby of your item(s) at 310-377-8111, so that your donation is included in the signage at the event.

California National Bank Seized by Regulators

Editor’s Note: This Los Angeles-based bank has well-established branches in the South Bay region. Be aware the FDIC will do everything in it’s power to transition struggling financial institutions before taking the radical step of seizing its assets forcing a bailout. This is a grave situation indeed.

23821[1]By Richard Clough

(The Los Angeles Business Journal) California National Bank, which had struggled with insufficient capital levels for more than a year, was closed late Friday by regulators, marking the fourth bank failure in Los Angeles County this year.

With assets of $7.8 billion, Cal … Continue Reading

Managing: How to Work More Like a Start-Up

strategy-95-managing1_31[1]Rekindle that startup spirit with agile development

By Darren Dahl

(Inc.com) The first thing you notice when you walk into the Chicago offices of Total Attorneys, which provides software and services to small law firms, is the number of people on their feet. Every morning, the company’s 180 employees gather around the office in groups of five to 10. Close your eyes, take in the often raucous banter and laughter, and it’s easy to mistake Total Attorneys’s headquarters for a college cafeteria. But these meetings, which last for about 15 minutes, … Continue Reading

Building a Culture of Employee Appreciation

strategy-79-hands1_252[1]How Datotel overhauled its employee-appreciation, -recognition, and -incentive programs

By Nadine Heintz

(Inc.com) David Brown thinks it’s important to make his employees feel valued. So Brown, founder and president of Datotel, an IT services and data storage business in St. Louis with 38 employees, was dismayed when he realized his employee-of-the-month program wasn’t helping morale. Recipients didn’t seem enthusiastic about the award, which consisted of a $25 gift card, a perfunctory e-mail, and a mention on the company intranet.

It seems like a simple concept: Make employees feel appreciated, and they will … Continue Reading

New home sales fall 3.6%

(Associated Press – Los Angeles Times) WASHINGTON – Sales of new homes dropped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a soon-to-expire tax credit for first-time owners started to wane.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that sales fell 3.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 402,000 from a downwardly revised 417,000 in August. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a pace of 440,000.

It was the first decline since March. Sales in September were down 7.8 percent from a year ago.

The median sales price of $204,800 was off 9.1 percent from $225,200 a year earlier, but up 2.5 percent … Continue Reading


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