A new lease for suburban retail?

JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Michael Ryan, general manager of hhgregg, Schaumburg.

Low rents, prime locations bring new tenants to empty shopping centers

By:John T.Slania Contributing Writer The Business Ledger Is the shopping center half full or half empty? That is the debate playing out across the Chicago suburbs as long vacant strip malls begin to fill in with new retail tenants. Retailers are taking advantage of historically low lease rates and available prime locations to move into storefronts vacant since the recession began decimating the retail market in 2008. Among the retailers and restaurants making a major investment in the suburbs include (read more)

Daily Herald to charge for online subscriptions

Source: Business Ledger News Services



The Daily Herald will become the first newspaper in the Chicago area to charge regularly for digital access, the company announced today in letters to its readers.


“It is our intention that no one without a subscription will have ongoing access to the Daily Herald newspaper content, dailyherald.com or any other Daily Herald digital platform,” said Douglas K. Ray, chairman, publisher and CEO of Paddock Publications, which operates the suburban newspaper.


“Why is it necessary to charge for digital access?” Ray asked in a staff memo. “We invest significantly in reporters and editors and an infrastructure that provides tailored coverage of local news, suburban business developments, politics and entertainment as well as sports from the pro levels to preps. We believe that what we do has value to our readers and to the community. A new payment structure will enable us to continue to provide the kind of quality local news and the journalism expected from the Daily Herald.”


In making the announcement, Ray also outlined details of a Subscriber Total Access package that will give print subscribers access to Daily Herald content on all digital platforms at a discounted $1-per-week rate, compared to a $19.99 30-day fee that will be charged to digital-only subscribers.


As part of the initiative, the newspaper is introducing an array of new digital products — an iPad application, improvements in its smartphone apps, an app for Android tablet applications due out later in the fall, e-edition replicas of the print newspaper and an electronic newsletter with afternoon headline alerts. Subscriber Total Access members will have complete access to those platforms in addition to the dailyherald.com website. They also will have opportunities to participate in a number of Daily Herald events involving newspaper columnists, reporters, editors and other experts, the company said.


Ray said a number of digital-only features will be added to dailyherald.com and most related digital platforms. Among them are new video features, new blogs, changes in online commenting to create a more civil environment, more interactivity with the audience and opportunities for Subscriber Total Access members to get behind-the-scenes views of the newsroom.


The new policy will take effect Sept. 7. Non-subscribers will be allowed a small number of free page views of content each 30-day period to sample dailyherald.com before access to the site is restricted. This policy will apply to most content, the company said, but some features will be categorized as premium content and restricted altogether.


“As many newspapers are starting to understand, we cannot afford to give away our content any longer online,” Ray said. “The reason is simple, unavoidable economics. Newspapers all over the country are realizing that they cannot rely solely on the income from advertisers to create and sustain the kind of journalism the community deserves, as new media have taken an increasingly larger slice of the available marketing dollars.”


In making the change, the Daily Herald joins a growing list of newspapers that have begun charging for digital content or are considering doing so. Recently, Media News based in Denver announced that 23 of its newspapers will go to a paid-digital subscription model. Lee Newspapers announced early this month that six of its newspapers will adopt a similar approach. Gannett is experimenting with paid content at several of its newspapers.


The New York Times has been the most prominent newspaper to charge for digital access, and recent reports indicate it has 1 million paying digital subscribers.


With the exception of The New York Times, Dallas Morning News and a few others, however, most newspapers charging for digital content are in smaller, non-competitive markets, which makes the Daily Herald venture, in Ray's words, “a bold move.”


“We feel we will be successful, in large part, because of the Daily Herald's pre-eminent market position in the suburbs, our strong brand loyalty and unique content exemplified every day through the quality suburban journalism we do,” he said. “And we also believe being first to market in Chicago is another example of journalistic leadership that has always exemplified Paddock Publications and the Daily Herald. It is a declaration of strength, not simply a 'me too.'”


The Daily Herald is published by Paddock Publications based in Arlington Heights, which also publishes the Daily Herald Business Ledger and Reflejos bilingual publication.

Dr. Jim Carney, DDS Brings Smiles to Jamaica

In 1979, while in college, Dr. Jim Carney was vacationing in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It was a most enjoyable trip, prompting him to want to return to the country.
But unwilling to merely enjoy all that Jamaica had to offer, he pondered, "What might I be able to do to help the wonderful people of Jamaica?"
A few years later, after completing dental school at the University of Iowa, he responded to an appeal from the Christian Dental Society to offer free dental services in Jamaica. Little did he know at the time just how involved he would eventually become.
Since that time, Dr. Carney, who practices in Lombard, Ill., has made more than 60 trips to Jamaica. He has also (read more)

Whitley: Time is now to rebuild Illinois economy

By Eric Peterson, Daily Herald Staff Writer


With the economy on the mend, Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Douglas Whitley says now is the time for state legislators to dedicate themselves to reclaiming all of Illinois’ business advantages.

Chief among these are its location and role as a transportation hub, which give state businesses access to markets throughout the Midwest and — through O’Hare International Airport — the world.

Though the last decade was disastrous for the state due to both the economy and its political leadership, a new potential for success is arising, Whitley told members of the Schaumburg Business Association Tuesday morning.

“I’m just tired of being negative about Illinois,” Whitley said at Chandler’s Banquets in Schaumburg. “You know what, we’ve got to put those things behind us.  Read More

Thinking About Hiring?

It's been a tough recession, but maybe you're ready to consider hiring that next employee. Or maybe you've already hired a new employee and didn't realize you can get a tax credit for it?

The Illinois Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit is still available until June 30 and your business may be eligible.

Please join the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Small Business Development Center at College of DuPage, Choose DuPage, and College of DuPage Business Solutions for an informational seminar about the Illinois Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit, a $2500 credit against withholding taxes.

                This 45-minute informational session will highlight the many features of the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit, how to apply without ever having to leave your office and a Q&A with DCEO staff. You'll also hear from some of the businesses who have already registered for the credit.

9 AM

Wednesday, May 11

Boardroom (SRC 2052), College of DuPage

Parking in Lot College/3

Many jobs have already been created thanks to the Illinois Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit, including a software engineer in Chicago, a welder in Carol Stream, a cosmetology instructor in Bloomington, a cabinet maker in Champaign and a winery specialist in Marion. Your business could be next to join this growing list of new hires.

Please join us to find out how your business can benefit. If you have any questions, feel free to call the Illinois SBDC at (630) 942-2771.  

Brand "essence" key to any business

March 24, 2011 Multi Chamber Lunch guest speaker, Ed Rensi (retired president and CEO of McDonald's USA)


By Richard R. Klicki
The Business Ledger

You may know your brand, but do you know your “brand essence?”
This was the question former McDonald’s CEO Ed Rensi posed to more than 500 local business leaders during a recent luncheon hosted by 18 West suburban chambers of commerce in Woodridge. While a brand says what your business is all about, Rensi said, brand essence is the emotional bond customers and employees have to that brand.
As an example, people will think detergent when someone mentions “Tide.” However, the main reason people (read more...)

The League of Women Voters Sponsors a Candidate’s Forum at Lombard Village Hall in February

The League of Women Voters will sponsor a Candidate’s Forum on the evening of February 22 at the Lombard Village Hall, located at 255 East Wilson in Lombard. The public is invited to attend the Forum that will begin videotaping at 7 p.m.

 

The Candidate’s Forum will be moderated by Kathy Brenniman on behalf of the League of Women Voters; League member Corinne Flemm is the event organizer. “The Forum’s format will allow each candidate a three minute introductory statement and a brief one minute statement at the conclusion of their session. Unopposed candidates will be given three minutes for a statement. A timekeeper will keep the candidates on task and keep them within the allotted time frame,” explained Flemm.
 

The Candidates Forum schedule for February 22 is the following:
7-7:20 p.m. School District 44 Board Candidates
7:25-7:45 p.m. School District 88 Board Candidates
7:50-8:10 p.m. School District 87 Board Candidates
8:15-8:35 p.m. School District 45 Board Candidates
8:40-9 p.m. Lombard Park District Board Candidates
9:05-9:40 p.m. Village of Lombard Board Candidates
9:45-10:05 p.m. Helen Plum Library Board Candidates
The Candidate’s Forum will be shown on the Lombard Channel (Comcast channel 6 and AT&T U-Verse channel 99) up to Election Day on April 5.

Used with permission from the Village of Lombard