Small businesses will face challenges in 2014

The vast majority of small businesses in the U.S. took a financial hit during the Great Recession. For years, as the recession gripped the economy, the outlook for small business growth remained grim. But today, some five years later, small firms with fewer than 100 employees are finally feeling optimistic about the future, according to a recent American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor survey. More at the Miami Herald.

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Sales and Marketing Advice for Florida business
How to drive more revenue (and not drive yourself nuts)

First things first: stop thinking about what you needed to do for your business last year and never got around to. Aside from taking too much of your precious time reflecting on how far behind you feel it’s getting you down in the dumps. Get over it! Read more from Ron Stein.

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AutoNation sales rise, outpace market

Industry Profile Medical Devices More than just an assembly hub, the medical device industry in South Florida has a major focus on research and development. A 2012 study found that the number of jobs in the medical devices and equipment industry increased from 2001 through 2010 by 7.3 percent to 16,237 in Florida. » Full story from the Miami Herald

Fort Lauderdale-based AutoNation, the country's largest vehicle retailer, gained market share from rivals in December and all 2013 in its best performance in years, according to new numbers released Monday. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

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Small Business Advice
New Year a time to reflect, make resolution to be more grateful

As we begin a new year, it is useful to reflect on what we accomplished last year as well as what we would like to accomplish in the year ahead. Before I talk about how you can make the most of the new opportunities 2014 will bring, I want to go over one very important New Year’s resolution all businesses should make: be grateful. Read more from Jerry Osteryoung.

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Moonlighting is the new money maxim

Having a freelance side gig to your full-time job, or a supplement to retirement income, is not only a good idea, it's also becoming a personal finance fundamental. "I think there's no other way to live, which may sound extreme. But no one, even a federal worker, can guarantee their job now," said Kimberly Palmer, a writer for U.S. News & World Report. More at McClatchy.

Out of the Box Old-fashioned carnival games thrive at high-tech theme parks At Universal Studios Florida, you can pretend you're battling 30-foot-tall robots engaged in urban warfare inside the multimillion-dollar Transformers ride. Or, across the lagoon, you can just whack a mole. In an industry where bigger, faster, higher and newer attractions garner worldwide attention, there's still room for an old-fashioned ring toss and other carnival games that send winners home with crazy-big stuffed animals and other souvenirs. » More from the Orlando Sentinel

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