Cover Story
Overseas expansion
The human body doesn’t recognize items coated in carbon as foreign bodies. So, medical treatments that use such products often respond better to treatments because patients have fewer allergic reactions. The technology has been around since the 1970s, but St. Paul-based Carbon Medical Technologies has developed a line of products expanding said carbon coding into […] Continue reading →
Letter From the Editor
So much easier in the box
"It's so weird going from writing about business to running one," said Robert Lillegard, a former journalist and marketer who now operates Duluth's Best Bread with his older brother, Michael Lillegard. "You've got all those pieces on the floor and only three fit together. It looks so much easier in the box." Continue reading →
Back Page
Hennepin County looks to Elevate Business
Many Twin Cities businesses have disappeared the last two years, victims of the COVID-19 pandemic or destroyed by rioting in Minneapolis. Others have gotten help in recovering, some from a program created jointly by Hennepin County and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. Elevate Business HC launched in May 2020 with the goal of matching business owners with a collection of experts who can help them with issues ranging from financing to marketing. Continue reading →
Focus
Prepping for a deal
Normally with a lot of snowbirds vacationing in Florida after the holidays and into the early months of a new year, activity related to mergers and acquisitions doesn’t start picking up in Minnesota for Lingate Financial until they return. Continue reading →
Business Builders
Mergers & acquisitions
The business selling process can be a roller coaster of highs and lows that oftentimes finds business owners questioning their decision to part with their “baby.” They will have days when business is strong and they wonder why they are selling. Other days they can’t maintain employees and they are thankful to be moving on. Continue reading →
Human resources
The war on talent is real and it doesn’t look to be getting better any time soon. This workforce challenge has been a significant pain point for many business leaders. The answer to this issue is not simple or easy, and it’s certainly not found in the way we’ve always been doing things. The solution […] Continue reading →
Franchising
Franchising is not for everyone. It requires time, thoughtful decision-making, money and commitment to your franchisees. Assuming you are prepared to franchise your business, here are five keys to readying your business for franchising. 1. Protect your name. Retain a trademark attorney to run a trademark search to determine if there are other users of […] Continue reading →
Exit planning
Demographics alone contributed to the wave of business transitions prior to the onset of COVID-19. On the pandemic’s heels, baby boomers continue to retire and transition ownership of their companies in record numbers. The pandemic only accelerated the trend as entrepreneurs take stock and pursue new life directions. Continue reading →
Catching up
Kruckeberg still busy despite maximizing Minimizer sale
In September 2018, Kruckeberg sold Minimizer in an eight-figure deal he says exceeded expert expectations “because they bought a brand,” he says of the company’s new owners. “It was a brand and a distribution model. They didn’t buy a manufacturing company.” Continue reading →
