Kim Scheeler will take over as president of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce. He has been the head of the Tampa Chamber of Commerce since 2001. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of South Florida.
Aaron Kremer
Aaron Kremer is the founder of Richmond BizSense. Email him at [email protected].
The Indie Look T-shirts celebrating little-guy capitalism
A California business sells T-shirts with the names of Mom and Pop shops from around the country. Destee Nation was featured in a New York Times Magazine article by Rob Walker. Part of the proceeds goes to the business where the shirt originated. I could imagine a C.F. Sauers T-shirt selling well. Maybe with the… Read more »
Slow economy and shifting tastes hammer CarMax
CarMax Inc.’s quarterly profit fell 55%, hit by a slowing economy and weaker consumer sentiment, and the used-car retailer said Wednesday it would suspend its guidance for the rest of the fiscal year. Fuel-hungry light trucks and sports utility vehicles brought lower than expected sales, while Gross profit per car fell 8.5% to $2,564. RBC… Read more »
Grocery store shakup, aisle 8
Ukrop’s continues losing market share in Richmond, according to a story in Friday’s Times-Dispatch. Of course, there’s always a huge untapped potential for Ukrop’s: Stay open on Sunday and sell booze. Ukrop’s continues losing market share in Richmond, according to a story in Friday’s Times-Dispatch. “A market study released today by Food World, a trade… Read more »
Private Equity startup about to seal first deal
Local startup Boxwood Partners is putting the finishing touches on its first deal as a private equity fund. Boxwood is acquiring an out-of-state internet wholesaler/distributor (name not revealed) that can perhaps best be described as an online version of Sam’s Club. That web-based business has millions of dollars in revenue and six employees, according to… Read more »
Our New Office
We moved into our first office today. It’s a sublet at the edge of the Fan. I’m grateful to the building’s regular tenant for agreeing to such generous (on his part) sublease. As a startup, we’re trying to control costs as much as we can. How do you christen a new office? Is it too… Read more »
A Richmond startup tries to cut health care costs
A Richmond startup thinks there’s a market for treating health care more like car repairs – encouraging employees to pay out-of-pocket for routine tune-ups and letting insurance cover the accidents and emergencies. Hoping to implement this style of health care on a broader scale, nHealth recently raised $12 million, with most of that money coming… Read more »
Work. v. Play
I’ve decided I live an altered version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. (or in my case Ms.) Hyde. Last Wednesday I was at work being professional and doing the 9 to 5 thing. As soon as 5:00 rolled around, I turned off my computer and changed from my work clothes to my bike clothes. In… Read more »
Startup Junkies
There’s a great program on TV called “Startup Junkies,” which follows a Seattle startup called Earth Class Mail. There are high-fives. There are firings. You can watch it for free at Hulu.com. Most of the characters seem like they came out of central casting. I find the blazer-and-no-tie-wearing CEO fascinating — and by my count… Read more »
Seventh Inning Questions
I’ve been thinking a lot about the business of minor league ball. A few questions: How much would a local business pay for the naming rights to a new stadium? What businesses might be likely candidates? Does paying for parking illicit some emotional reaction from consumers and turn them off, and would the Diamond get… Read more »