Business Diary. - Crain's Detroit Business

Acquisitions

AkzoNobel, a Troy paint and coatings supplier, has acquired Soliant L.L.C., a Lancaster, S.C., manufacturer of decorative paint and bright films.

Contracts

Technical Training Inc., Rochester Hills, will provide dealer technical training for Russian automaker Gorky Automotive Works. Technical Training Inc. will train 80 dealerships and 140 automotive technicians in support of Gorky's new car, the Siber.

Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc., Plymouth, and Manz Automation AG, Reutligen, Germany, have entered into a joint project to develop a new machine concept for the production of thin-film solar modules.

Brendy Barr Communications, Oakland Township, has been hired by Managing Thought L.L.C. to provide public-relations support to promote the release of West Bloomfield Township resident Mary Lore's new book, Managing Thought: How Do Your Thoughts Rule Your World?

DesignHub Inc., Saline, designed and developed the new Web site for the Adashi 3.0 incident response and command software (www.adashi.org) from OptiMetrics Inc., Ann Arbor.

Hile Design L.L.C., Ann Arbor, developed a new Web site for the Rockwell Lake Lodge, a conference and retreat center in Luther, at www.therockwelllakelodge.com. The lodge is on the grounds of Hillsdale College's G.H. Gordon Biological Station in Northwestern Michigan.

UHY Advisors MI Inc., Southfield, announced a partnership with Detroit Cristo Rey High School. The business advisory firm participated in the new Catholic high school's summer work-study internship program. Every Cristo Rey student takes part in the program to gain work experience and earn tuition.

JankowskiCo., a Troy-based advertising agency, has launched a new branding initiative for the West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science, a Grand Rapids charter school.

Qualitech, Bingham Farms, was selected by Biosan Laboratories Inc., a Warren microbiological testing kits company, to upgrade its computer network with a new Intel network server, new high-speed continuous backup technology, off-site disaster recovery storage and new workstations.

Attendance on Demand Inc., Farmington Hills, has been selected by the North Carolina-based Piedmont Triad Airport Authority to monitor and track employee time and attendance.

Grand River Interactive, Ann Arbor, completed a new e-commerce Web site, www.gandermountain.com, for Gander Mountain, a St. Paul, Minn.-based outdoor sporting goods retailer.

Nudell Architects, a Farmington Hills-based company, has teamed with J.C. Penney Co. Inc., Dallas, to design the first building to earn the Energy Star standard from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The J.C. Penney store is under construction in Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

Covisint, Detroit, and a Minneapolis-based coalition announced an agreement to build the Minnesota Health Information Exchange, an electronic network to give the state's health care providers patient-controlled access to medical information.

Creative Brands, a Warren food distributor, has purchased the rights to Bulldog Seafood sardines. Creative Brands plans to expand the Bulldog Seafood product line to other products, including hot sauces, spices and other canned seafood.

Clor & Associates, a Grosse Pointe Farms manufacturers representative and consulting agency, has added AQC-Dust Collectors and Capture Equipment and Emerald Air Systems to its line of products.

Sutariya Law Offices P.C., Westland, has become a member of ACA International-The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals, Minneapolis.

expansions

Finn and Porter has been chosen as the new steakhouse in the Fort Shelby Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel in downtown Detroit. Its menu is to include steak, sushi, seafood and a Sunday gospel brunch. The restaurant chain has locations in Austin, Texas; Missoula, Mont.; Alexandria, Va.; and Washington, D.C.

Ricardo Inc., Van Buren Township, is expanding its Shanghai-based Chinese operations with a new Shanghai technical center and also is building a testing center in the Anting 'Auto City'' area west of Shanghai.

Planned Parenthood Mid and South Michigan has opened a new health center at 4229 Cass Ave., Detroit. Web site: www.plannedparenthood.org/ midsouthmi.

name changes

The Law Firm of Levine, Benjamin, Tushman, Bratt, Jerris and Stein P.C., Southfield, to Levine Benjamin. Web site: www.levinebenjamin.com.

New programs

Evigia Systems Inc., Ann Arbor, has introduced its EV3 product line of RFID active transponders, interrogators and accessories. Web site: www.evigia.com.

Startups

Metro Detroit Speed Dating, Ferndale, plans to schedule weekly speed-dating events in the Detroit area. Up to 96 single men and women meet during eight-minute dates and decide whether or not to see their dates again. Steve Neavling is the organization's founder. Telephone: (586) 306-5572.

Seniors Helping Seniors is designed to connect Macomb County seniors who have an ability to help others with those who need assistance. Founder Al Caicedo is a certified senior consultant who is building rosters of both groups.

Other

NSF International, Ann Arbor, announced Premium Waters Inc., a Minneapolis-based bottled water company, is among the first to receive Safe Quality Food Code 2000 Certification. Premium Waters plants in Kansas, Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee and Georgia have received the voluntary certification.

Bright House Networks, Livonia, is offering its cable television customers free on demand viewing of the presidential and vice presidential debates on C-SPAN. All four debates will be available until Nov. 6 on channel 123, Elections '08 On Demand.

The directory of alternative media. (Directory) - Target Marketing

Postal rate hike got you down? Find out how cost-effective card decks, package inserts and ride-along programs can be

It's coming! The Postal Rate Commission will agree to a rate hike to at least 10.3 percent on Third-Class mail and push first-class stamps from 29 cents to 32 cents beginning in 1995.

With mailing costs already taking a chunk out of your direct marketing budget, maybe it's time you gave some serious thought to alternate media.

Opportunities abound for getting your offer/message into the hands of consumers. Take a look at a few old faithfuls and some up-and-coming stars.

The Staples

Cooperative mailings, card decks, package inserts and free-standing inserts (FSIs) have long been the mainstays of alternate media. They reach consumers through familiar channels such as the mail and purchases from catalogs but come at a cheaper price than solo direct mail. Marketers using these media share production and mailing costs, resulting in a more reasonable price per thousand.

A good reason to test these media is that today, most programs can be targeted. Madison Direct Marketing, a cooperative program originator in Greenwich, CT, offers marketers the ability to reach consumers by niche: seniors, expectant parents, new parents, families with infants, families with teenagers, Hispanic households, etc.

Or, you could target a more select group of consumers modeled on their purchase behavior using a program like Time Life's Multi Mail. Tapping into Time Life's vast file of customers, Multi Mail segments its programs by purchases customers have made in a variety of areas such as cooking/crafts, health and fitness, personal finance and do-it-yourself projects. Brin Lewis, Multi Mail's managing director, says that those offers which tie in to areas consumers have already responded to should 'strengthen customer involvement' and result in greater response. In the future, the Multi Mail program will also target families with children.

New Approaches

As competition among businesses produces even more offers for consumers to sift through, one company is using new technology and on-the-spot targeting to reach consumers through an untraditional channel.

Advanced Promotion Technologies, a Pompano Beach, FL-based electronic firm, created the Vision Value Network [TM], a satellite-based electronic direct marketing and financial services delivery network to provide coupons, instant rebates and information on special promotions. The Vision Value Club ([R]) a frequent-shopper program, works in conjunction with the Network to offer shoppers further benefits. Here's how it works: interested shoppers receive a 'smart' card that accumulates points with every trip to the store. Points are given on the purchase of participating brands and for the dollar amount of the total purchase. Shoppers can redeem points for gifts from a catalog.

The benefit for direct marketers is the ability to target individuals based on the purchases they make, at the time they make them. For example, if a shopper purchased some baby food, a coupon for diapers might be printed out and offered, due to the likelihood that this shopper has a baby.

Advanced Promotion Technologies isn't the only player cashing in on interactive systems. Interactive shopping and information network, Worldshop, Grand Rapids, MI, uses the power of the PC to reach customers directly. Customers can get on-line and use their PC to shop in an 'electronic mall' filled with products from participating mail order companies, retailers and manufacturers such as Tandy Computer and Hammacher Schlemmer.

Worldshop offers many benefits to customers: the convenience of shopping from home; full-color, real-time delivery with text; the ability to search for specific products, browse amongst suppliers and even create mini-catalogs of merchandise while browsing that can be stored to order from later, without having to get back on-line.

Most products are fulfilled directly to the customer; some require a visit to a local dealer for pickup. In both cases, the customer is notified on-screen when making a purchase.

More To Come

KRISPAK ISSUES RECALL DUE TO MIS-PACK, RESULTING IN POTENTIAL ALLERGY ALERT ON UNDECLARED MILK, WHEAT, AND EGG IN GFS BRAND HOSTESS CANDY MIX - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

BATTLE CREEK, Miss., April 25 -- The U.

S. Department of Health & Human Services' Food & Drug Administration issued the following recall notice:

Krispak, Inc. of Grand Rapids, MI is voluntarily recalling 16 cases of GFS Hostess Candy Mix 8-48 oz packages due to a potential mis-pack, resulting in undeclared allergens. A small number of cases of GFS Hostess Candy Mix were inadvertently put into GFS Chocolate Sprinkles packages. GFS Hostess Candy Mix contains wheat and milk and may contain egg, none of which are declared on the GFS Chocolate Sprinkles package. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk, eggs, and wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The GFS Hostess Candy Mix in question was distributed from April 5th - 19th to Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee Gordon Food Service Marketplace Stores.

Product is in a red stand up GFS, 48 oz pouch that says Chocolate Sprinkles. The code date is embossed on the top of the pouch as 088 12.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company's production and packaging processes.

Ex*tracts: a hotbed of creativity: the 12th edition of this personal care trade show attracted 150 exhibitors and more than 2,000 buyers of personal care products. - Household & Personal Products Industry

THE 12TH EDITION of Ex*Tracts, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, Oct. 11-14, showcased some 150 exhibitors for an overall combined market attendance of 6,500, including 2000 dedicated personal care buyers. Not confined to personal care and aromatherapy lines (although strong in those categories), the show also provided a venue for color cosmetics, natural and organic therapies, and fragrance products for both personal and home use.

'The fall market reinforced Ex*Tracts' position as the innovative hotbed for personal care products,' said Elizabeth Murphy, show manager. 'By supporting the entrepreneurial spirit, the show nurtures the creativity, which is the very lifeblood of the booming personal care industry.'

Ex*Tracts has become a prime staging ground for new lines of cosmetics, fragrance and personal care lines. Each year, all Ex*Tracts exhibitors are invited to enter an innovative product for the Product Display. Those products are then judged by a group of trade magazine editors. The winners and finalists for the Best Product awards are an indication of the diversity the show now draws. The winners and finalists are:

* Best Overall Product: Lather (Pasadena, CA), all natural personal care line;

* Finalists: Original Bombshell, LLC and Fruits & Passion and

* Most Creative Booth: Original Bombshell, LLC (New York, NY).

The Altruistic Angle in Abundance

The latest trend to show up at Ex*Tracts, the semi-annual trade show for personal care and lifestyle-enhancing products was altruism.

PeaceKeeper is the brainchild of Jody R. Weiss, founder; who explained, 'The goal of PeaceKeeper is to raise money for women's health advocacy and human rights issues by donating all profits, after taxes from the sales of the company's beauty and food products to targeted organizations.'

The PeaceKeeper color cosmetic line includes lipstick, lip gloss and nail lacquer. Described as 'the ultimate in dual-purpose cosmetics,' PeaceKeeper proposes to 'instill women with the power to help others as they help themselves.'

The 12 Lip Paint colors, with names such as Paint Me Empowered, Paint Me Open Minded and Paint Me Healthy, includes vitamins C and E to help moisturize and protect lips. The Nail Paint promises to be toluene- and formaldehyde-free in 10 shades with names such as Paint Me Heroic and Paint Me Generous. The PeaceKeeper lip gloss is available in eight shades. The products are available at Henri Bendel, Apothia at Fred Segal and Nordstrom in Paramus, NJ.

Finding a Good Cause

Green Daisy Inc., the Grand Rapids, MI-based manufacturer of Wuvit, a patent-pending therapeutic pillow that can be microwaved for hours of moist heat or frozen for icy relief, is launching a new Pink Ribbon fabric design Wuvit called Faith, Hope, Love to benefit breast cancer research. Green Daisy is donating a portion of the proceeds of all sales of the Pink Ribbon Wuvit to the Faith, Hope & Love Fund to benefit charities supporting breast cancer research. The Faith, Hope, Love fabric and product launched at Ex*Tracts.

'This just fits our philosophy,' said Kim Lavine, president of Green Daisy, 'who doesn't know somebody touched by breast cancer? We have to find a cure for this in our lifetime.'

Green Daisy's Wuvits are available at a range of outlets, including spas, home decorating stores, fine gift stores and hospital gift shops.

The 13th semi-annual edition of Ex*Tracts will once again take place at the Jacob Javits Center in New York from March 28-31, 2003.

Kroger Workers in Mid-Michigan Ratify New Contract. - Food Weekly News

Michigan Kroger workers represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Local 951 voted yesterday to approve a new three-year contract by a vote of 84 percent 'yes' to 16 percent 'no.'

'The proposal had the full recommendation of the bargaining committee as it preserved members' health benefits and pension, and provided top rate wage increases, which was a significant accomplishment given Michigan's challenging economy and high unemployment rate,' Marv Russow, UFCW Local 951's president, said. 'The committee felt this was the best contract possible under these circumstances. By their overwhelming ratification of the contract, I would say the membership agreed.'

In November, Kroger members rejected the company's first contract offer and authorized a strike. They had been working under a contract extension on the previous contract.

'The last month has been stressful for Kroger members as there was a great deal of uncertainty about the future,' Russow said. 'With the ratification of the new contract, they will have peace of mind and security for the next three years. Hopefully, the economy will turn around by 2014 and we can enter contract bargaining under improved circumstances.'

The UFCW 951 Kroger contract covers approximately 1,000 workers at 11 stores in greater Lansing, Jackson, and Mt. Pleasant.

Headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, UFCW Local 951 represents over 28,500 workers across Michigan in a variety of industries including retail food, food processing, nursing home, and retail drug, employed at several companies including Meijer, Kroger, Rite Aid, Plumb's, Polly's, and Harding's.

Keywords: UFCW 951.

Neat freak? Or slob? - Office World News

GRAND RAPIDS, Mi-Does the image of paper piles, frayed files and lopsided labels make you cringe? If so, you are not alone. Thirty-three percent of office workers say they are 'neat freaks,' according to the Steelcase Workplace Index, a semiannual survey that gauges workplace trends in the United States. Of these highly organized employees, most are women (40 percent vs. 26 percent.)

Asked to describe themselves using common labels, 27 percent of office workers identified themselves as 'pilers,' and 23 percent describe themselves as 'filers.' 'Pack rats' constitute 12 percent of office workers, and 'slobs' make up a mere two percent of the workforce.

The survey indicates 'pilers' are more likely to be men than women (33 percent vs. 21 percent), and buried under those stacks of paper, you are most likely to find.technical professional. Younger (18 to 34 years) and older (55 years and up) workers are most likely to feel they are 'neat freaks' (40 percent and 37 percent). Middle aged workers (35 to 54 years) tend to be pilers.

Lack of elbow room may be a factor in keeping organized

'Being organized today is a greater challenge than in the past,' explains Christine Albertini, director of storage for Steelcase Inc., the world's leading designer and manufacturer of high performance work environments. 'The sheer volume of information available is increasing at an incredible rate and workers often feel overwhelmed and out of control because of it. Also, team meeting spaces have increased and individual workspace size has decreased. This means that office workers must use their workspaces, including storage, more efficiently than before.'

Each day, American office workers spend an average of 20.1 minutes organizing their work areas. According to the Steelcase study, most people ages 18 to 54 spend between six and 30 minutes organizing and straightening their work area each day, while people 55 and over spend 15 munutes or less.

Where do we put it all?

'Paper use is increasing even though much of our information is being stored electronically. Plus, workers need to store disks and other media besides paper, so storage is even more of a necessity today,' continues Albertini. According to the Steelcase study, office workers report that an average of 44.6 percent of their own information is stored only in an electronic format, 34.4 percent is stored only on paper, and 20.9 percent is stored both electronically and on paper. Curbing the paper trail appears to be easier for the office workers under age 55, as these employees limit their paper only storage to about onethird of all their information, while workers 55 years and older store an average of 40.4 percent of their information on paper only.

Although storage space often appears scarce, 56 percent of office workers believe that they and their co-workers use storage and filing furniture 'very' or 'pretty' effectively. However, the survey reveals that more than just mere paper is being stored in employee work areas. Thirty-one percent of office workers keep coats and foul weather gear, 31 percent keep food and beverages, and 25 percent keep non-work related books and magazines. These storage cabinets also hold health and beauty aids (19 percent), shoes (1 percent), and sports gear (eight percent).

Steelcase Inc. commssioned a study from an East Coast based research firm as a part of a weekly omnibus survey. The study was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 2096 employed adults, 1155 men and 941 women, 18 years of age and older living in the continental United States. The Steelcase Workplace Indes results are based on 948 participants (483 male and 465 female) who are employed full or part time and work in offices and are 18 years of age and older living in the continental United States.

Steelcase Inc., headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, is the world's leading designer and manufacturer of high performance work environments, including office furniture systems, interior architectural products, and related products and services.

Free antibiotics may have high cost later.(Drug Safety) - Adverse Event Reporting News

Offering free antibiotics to cash-strapped customers may have seemed like a good idea this dire winter, but supermarket chains are fielding a backlash from health experts who say the promotions may do more harm than good, MSNBC.com reported March 5.

Five large retailers have received letters from the federal Centers for Disease Control and the Infectious Diseases Society of America cautioning that giving away antibiotics contributes to misuse of medication and the rise of increasingly drug-resistant bugs.

'We were a little alarmed, especially when they suggested they'd be doing it during cold and flu season,' said Lauri Hicks, medical director of the CDC's program on appropriate antibiotic use.

'We know that antibiotics aren't effective for cold and flu. We don't want to perpetuate the idea that they are.'

But the stores, which include Wegmans, ShopRite, Stop and Shop and Giant Food, contend they're only filling valid prescriptions written by doctors--and trying to save shoppers a little money in the process.

However, offering free antibiotics likely will prompt more patients to ask their doctors for the drugs, experts said. Repeated research shows that doctors often prescribe antibiotics just because a patient asks. A study published last fall in the 'British Medical Journal' showed that some doctors use antibiotics as placebos for patients who insist on medication.

'It's much easier to give someone an antibiotic than it is to explain to someone why they don't need it,' said Ed Septimus, M.D., an internist who helped write the letters sent by the IDSA.

Giant Food is one of several retailers that launched free-drug giveaways this winter, providing up to two weeks of the most frequently prescribed antibiotics, including amoxicillin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin and penicillin. The offer is available to anyone with a prescription whether they have health insurance or not.

A typical round of antibiotics costs $10 to $20, though many stores have started offering $4 generic prescriptions.

Most of the stores planned to continue offering the drugs through the end of this month, if not longer. Some grocery chains, such as Meijer of Grand Rapids, MI, and Publix Super Markets of Lakeland, FL, have offered the free meds year-round for several years.

Other experts contend that the stores' motives aren't completely altruistic because they're using the free drugs as so-called 'loss leaders' to attract new customers.

'They're buying these drugs for pennies and they're getting people into the store to buy things they can make money on,' said Septimus.