Tuesday's Daily Pulse
Florida's political parties see money dip
Florida's two main political parties are getting a lot less money now that the election season is finally over. The Republican Party of Florida and Florida Democratic Party on Monday turned in their fundraising reports for the final two months of 2014. More from the AP and BizPac Review.
See also:
» Marco Rubio sharpens his potential 2016 pitch
» Romney may run but faces a different Florida
» Which Bush is Most Conservative? You Might Be Surprised
 Howard Schnellenberger [Photo: Jeffrey Salter] |
Florida Trend Exclusive
Howard Schnellenberger is a Florida 'Icon'
“I could take the University of Miami from obscurity and degradation and broke and make them a national championship team in five years. What crazy idiot could do that in good conscience unless you had an enormous amount of confidence and perception in how to do it?” Read other quotes from the longtime coach. Access full story.
Convertibles poised to make a comeback
Automakers are rolling out new convertible models at a time when many consumers are gaining confidence in the economy and have more money to spend on less-practical big-ticket items thanks to juicy stock market returns. [Source: AP]
Retail gadgets aim to get inside your wallet and your brain
The underlying theme of the National Retail Federation's 104th annual "Big Show" is a simple, altogether human one: You, the Consumer, are a fascinating, mysterious creature, a riddle yet to be fully solved. Oh, and you are definitely being watched. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
In shopping meccas, a deep divide
Although premature obituaries for the shopping mall have been appearing since the late 1990s, the reality today is more nuanced, reflecting broader trends remaking the American economy, experts say. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Deadline looms for some wanting solar rebates [Orlando Sentinel]
Duke Energy and Florida Power and Light customers have deadlines looming this week for a state solar-energy rebate program.
› Sports teams deliver gold medal business for Brevard [Florida Today]
Rusty Buchanan says it's easy to sell the Space Coast to groups looking to hold amateur sports events — if you know how to approach things.
› VOXX to build new Orlando manufacturing center [Orlando Sentinel]
Car electronics manufacturer VOXX International Corp. is breaking ground on a new, $17 million manufacturing center in South Orlando. An incentive package of $1.4 million for the project was approved this summer, with expectation of adding 134 jobs at average salary of $65,559.
› Cuba's top diplomat in U.S. to talk trade in Bradenton [Bradenton Herald]
José Ramón Cabañas, head of the Cuban Interest Section in Washington, D.C., will address the recent thaw in U.S.-Cuba diplomatic relations in a speech to the local business community on Feb. 18.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Small business is “just starting to boom,” but insurance agents need to be better [Insurance Business America]
After the long dirge of the Great Recession, optimism among the nation’s small business owners is up. Capturing this growing market, however, will require a change in strategy for insurance agents and brokers—particularly for those working with entrepreneurs and single-person entities.
› Florida digital artist creating piece for Grammy Awards [AP]
Miami digital artist Laurence Gartel has been named the official artist of the Grammy Awards. Gartel is working on a life-sized version of the iconic statuette, which he's wrapping in his psychedelic imagery using vinyl, glitter and prismatic materials.
› Obama: Companies should tell customers of data hacks within 30 days [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
President Barack Obama wants Congress to pass legislation requiring companies to inform customers within 30 days if their data has been hacked, a move that follows high-profile breaches at retailers including Target, Home Depot and Neiman Marcus.
› Citrix acquires Massachusetts data storage company [South Florida Business Journal]
Citrix Systems acquired Waltham, Mass.-based data storage company Sanbolic, which aims to make virtual desktops and apps easier and cheaper to use. The Fort Lauderdale-based mobile workspace company did not announce the terms of the deal.