Innovation News

Tampa Natives Launch Online Clothing Business

●

December 14, 2010

Lending Luxury, an online service, offers women the opportunity to rent high couture clothing at a fraction of the cost. The founders of the company, Sarah Jon Porreca and Jennifer Rosen, are natives of Tampa. Both have always had an eye for fashion and a desire to be entrepreneurs.When Porreca and Rosen met they were both fitness models wanting to dress fashionably, look great and feel like a million dollars without having to spend a million dollars. The duo imagined offering women the opportunity to rent high couture clothing at a fraction of the cost, and before long, their business was born. In just the first few months, the co-founders say, this innovative alternative to shopping has given their business tremendous growth. "Since we launched, people have been going crazy over this new concept, and can't get enough of it," Porreca says. "Our growth has been exceptional as we have been shipping orders all over the United States and can't wait to expand internationally." The owners describe how the service works. "We allow customers to rent a dress, top or bottom for 5 days with shipping, dry cleaning and insurance all included in the rental price," Porreca says. The company also offers women an option to purchase slightly used luxury clothing at a discounted price. Lending Luxury was launched on August 23, 2010. Writer: Kimberly PattersonSource: Sarah Jon Porreca and Jennifer Rosen, Lending Luxury

Latest in Innovation News

Lucky Dog Daycare, Resort Opens In South Tampa

By Kimberly Patterson

●

Entrepreneurship

●

December 14, 2010

Gone are the days when you dropped your pooch off at a kennel, where a majority of the time they were caged and crated with a bowl of food and water. Lucky Dog, an innovative alternative to a traditional kennel, offers pups an indoor playground, 2 pools, 2 grassy outdoor play areas and a hand-crafted dog door that gives dogs the option to go outside into a secured outdoor sunning area. Chelsea Smith, general manager of Lucky Dog, explains that the operation offers the comforts of home for four-legged clientele. "Some of our unique services include social boarding which allows the dogs to participate in daycare during the day, and group sleep in a large room by night," Smith says. "Many of our customers like this service because it cancels out the caged alternative, which is restrictive to the dog, and does not allow them to socialize outside of staff interaction. This social alternative provides a home away from home feeling." Lucky Dog offers owners of these four-legged family members a chance to remotely check in on their beloved pets from virtually anywhere. The facility has 7 webcams placed so that owners can view their pets at play via its website. The company has experienced steady growth since opening in October, and averages approximately 85 dogs per week in daycare. "We are in the process of building a large café style viewing room, which will give owners a view into our indoor splash pool area. The café will be complete with WiFi, tables and four one-way viewing windows," Smith says. Lucky Dog is located at 311 N. Newport Ave. in South Tampa. Writer: Kimberly PattersonSource: Chelsea Smith, Lucky Dog

Resource One To Relocate To Sarasota, Add 16+ Jobs

By Kimberly Patterson

●

Environment

●

December 14, 2010

Resource One, which manufactures and distributes environmentally friendly cleaning products, plans to relocate to Sarasota County in 2011 and bring jobs to the community. The manufacturer has been in business since 1975, and currently has offices in Largo and Ocala. "We were drawn to Sarasota because of the incentives the county offers companies, the pro-business climate and environmentally conscious citizenry," President Duncan Yull says. "The relocation will allow us to upgrade our manufacturing and distribution facility, which will enable the company to expand its manufacturing capabilities, create new environmentally friendly products, and increase productivity and efficiency."Resource One has plans to add 36 jobs over the next five years. Yull says the office in Sarasota will have 16 positions in 2011, with some of those positions being filled by current employees from Pinellas, and the majority of them being filled by new hires. Yull explains what he looks for in a potential employee. "Somebody who has a passion to take care of the customer and is environmentally conscious," Yull says. "We need employees who work hard to take care of the needs of our customers, and also feel that by providing environmentally conscious products and services; we are providing healthier work places, schools and healthcare facilities." Resource One does not have a physical address in Sarasota yet, however, a future location is being scouted, and Yull plans to open the new office in March 2011. Writer: Kimberly PattersonSource: Duncan Yull, Resource One

Tampa Bay Entrepreneur Tries Innovative Funding

By Missy Kavanaugh

●

Arts

●

December 14, 2010

Olga Bof has a business idea -- an innovative children's bookstore that offers more than just books. But she can't seem to find the funding. Enter the Internet.Bof's idea is Cheeky Monkey Books and Toys, a full-scale creative learning, wellness and cultural hub for Tampa Bay children of all ages, offering free tutoring and a wide variety of special events as well as unique books and toys. She has been working at raising funds and soliciting investors, but has had a tough time. So she turned to crowdfunding.Crowdfunding is a relatively new concept that has taken off in the age of social media. Crowdfunding is a way of asking the cyber-community for money to help fund a cause. In this case, Bof elected to use the services of IndieGogo, an Internet resource for raising funds from Web surfers."I've been trying for a long time to get funding and I've had to get creative in this economic climate. And it hasn't been easy," says Bof. "Crowdfinding can help more than just creative businesses. It can be anything from a bride trying to pay for her wedding to someone who wants to go over to India to do a service but needs funding. "I heard about it via another bookshop that actually did this a couple months ago," continues Bof. "She's one of the few businesses out there who used crowdfunding as a vehicle to raise money. And she raised about $2,000, which isn't $50,000, but in this economy it's better than nothing. "IndieGogo has actually gained strength and will become a business in the spotlight at this year's South by Southwest," says Bof. "IndieGogo manages the analytics and the funds for you. They tell you who your biggest refer is and help with social media and incentives."Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Olga Bof, Cheeky Monkey Books and Toys

Competition At USF To Find Future Programmers

By Kimberly Patterson

●

Higher Education

●

December 14, 2010

Bypassing traditional applications and interview processes, SiteWit, an online marketing company with offices in Tampa is hosting a competition in December to find potential employees.Ricardo Lasa, CEO of SiteWit explains what the company does. "SiteWit is a leader in online marketing optimization and predictive analytics," Lasa says. "Our thousands of customers use our platform to manage and optimize online campaigns on Google AdWords and Bing."SiteWit is working with the University of South Florida to find programmers to staff its development group. Participants must be students from the MIS and Computer Science/Computer Information System programs at USF and must sign up through the Co-Op program at the university.The winning team will work at SiteWit in a co-op capacity for the spring and fall 2011 semesters. The winners will be paid $15 per hour for both semesters, in addition to having the opportunity to be hired for full-time positions after graduation.Lasa explains the idea behind teams as opposed to an individual model for the competition. "We believe that by paring two programmers and having them compete, the contestants will help bubble up the best talent from the program," Lasa says. "The logic behind it is that if you are going to need somebody else to win the programming competition, you are going to select the best possible team mate. If you are good, your teammate will be also. Therefore, the students will help us identify the best talent."SiteWit has been in business since 2007 and this is the first year for the competition. "The Programming Competition is new, but we plan on having the competition at least once a year," Lasay says.Writer: Kimberly PattersonSource: Ricardo Lasa, SiteWit

Sarasota Guitar Company Continues To Grow, Hire

By Kimberly Patterson

●

Entrepreneurship

●

December 7, 2010

The Sarasota Guitar Company has been growing continuously since it started in June 2009. Scott Cook and his wife, both unemployed at the time, started selling guitars in a 10 feet by 10 feet booth at a flea market. By December that same year, they opened a store on Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. The inspiration for the store came from Cook's son who started playing guitar. "I told my son that if he kept practicing I would buy him a better guitar," Cook says. "When we went to a store to sell his old guitar and purchase a new one, I was surprised by the amount of people who were interested in buying them. From that point on, I started buying more guitars and selling them." In addition to selling guitars at the store in Sarasota, Cook's company also uses the Internet to sell his wares. Since opening the Sarasota Guitar Company, Cook has hired 10 employees. "We hired 3 people to work in the store, we have 2 people working in a separate location on our Internet business, and then we have 5 guitar instructors," Cook says. "We plan to hire at least 3 more people in the next year." Cook says his company has been successful because they offer fair prices and have marketed themselves well, however he says offering excellent customer service sets his company apart from other retailers. "I think customer service has been lost in retail over the last couple of years," Cook says. "We offer our customers a 125% price guarantee, have a 30-day money back guarantee, and offer a one-year upgrade policy. We always take care of our customers." Sarasota Guitar Company store is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month. Cook is very optimistic about the upcoming year, and hopes to open another store location soon. Writer: Kimberly Patterson Source: Scott Cook, Sarasota Guitar Company

Quarles & Brady: New Law Firm Hires 20 In Tampa

By Kimberly Patterson

●

Innovation News

●

December 7, 2010

There's a new law firm in Tampa.Quarles & Brady, a national firm based in Milwaukee, is seeking qualified attorneys for its new law office in downtown Tampa. The firm has offices in several cities including Chicago, Madison, WI and Phoenix. Kimberly Leach Johnson, managing partner of the Tampa office, explains why the 118-year-old firm decided to open an office here. "Though we are a Midwest firm, we had many clients in Tampa who we couldn't service because we weren't here," Johnson says. Since Quarles & Brady opened in Tampa, 11 attorneys have been hired, with plans to add an additional nine. "We are looking for attorneys in fields such as real estate, healthcare and IP (intellectual property)," Johnson says. "We need attorneys who can help our clients in Tampa, and help our clients nationwide." Quarles & Brady has also set up a program to give back to the community. "We have a program called 'Quarles Care' at our firm," Johnson says. "At our open house in Tampa, we displayed a poster that all attendees were encouraged to sign. For every person who signed their name, we gave $10 to three different charities. "We gave to a homeless shelter, the Blossom School for the Deaf, and to the Florida Aquarium for its children's educational programs." The Tampa office is in the Bank of America building at 101 E. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 3400. Writer: Kimberly PattersonSource: Kimberly Leach Johnson, Quarles & Brady

Career Fair In St. Petersburg Dedicated to Veterans

By Kimberly Patterson

●

Innovation News

●

December 7, 2010

WorkNet Pinellas will host a career fair for veterans on December 8 in St. Petersburg. The event will be from noon to 4 p.m. with the first hour dedicated to veterans only. The fair opens to the general public at 1 p.m. Haley Loeun, lead business services recruiter for WorkNet Pinellas, says the largely state-funded organization wants to help jobless veterans find work. "WorkNet has always had a deep commitment to our veterans and has veteran employment representatives on staff that work exclusively with the members of the armed forces," Loeun says. "Many employers are looking specifically for candidates who have served during the war, as these candidates often possess the highly desired security clearances, and have the skills and personal qualities that are in demand in the current market." Loeun gives the following advice to job seekers who plan on attending: "Use your time at the event to network and meet with representatives of the various companies. This is a great opportunity to learn more about their open positions and application processes as well as gain valuable insight into the culture of the company." She also advises attendees to wear professional dress, communicate effectively and make eye contact. "Ask for the recruiter's business card and discuss how and when you should follow up with the employer," Loeun says. Participating employers at the job fair include Coca-Cola, Lockheed Martin, Eckerd Youth Alternatives, the St. Petersburg Police Department, pTEC and Tech Data. The job fair will be held at the Pinellas Technical Education Center located at 901 34th St. S. in St. Petersburg. Worknet Pinellas is part of Workforce Florida. Writer: Kimberly Patterson Source: Haley Loeun, WorkNet Pinellas

Recruiter To Fill 60+ Tech Jobs, Sees Uptick In Hiring

By Kimberly Patterson

●

Health

●

November 30, 2010

CEO and IT job recruiter Fritz Eichelberger says his company, Hotspaces.net, currently is recruiting for 60+ job openings that he is trying to fill for various clients. The Hotspaces.net website has been up since 1999, and Eichelberger, who recruited throughout the recession, says he sees signs of life again in the marketplace.The four major industry sectors that Eichelberger targets for recruiting employees: technology, interactive marketing, sales and healthcare compliance. While most of his clients are in the Tampa Bay region, he says he is expanding in the Orlando region as well. In November, Eichelberger hosted the "Pure and Shameless Technology Networking Social'' at Blue Martini on Bay Street at International Plaza. About 250 attended. "The attendance for this event was a bit higher than the last one I did in June," Eichelberger says. He holds similar networking events three to five times a year at various locations. "I draw people to my events from Sarasota, Wesley Chapel and North Pinellas, so I try to make the locations equally convenient for everyone."Eichelberger says those who have been unemployed for some time should not get discouraged. "Half of the people I placed this year have been unemployed for over six months or even one year," Eichelberger says. "In my experience, there isn't any discrimination where companies are telling me, I don't want someone who has been unemployed for some 'time'." Although things are looking more promising for the unemployed, Eichelberger advises jobseekers to do what is needed to stand out."Own your accomplishments and put them on your resume," Eichelberger says. "Your accomplishments will set you apart from competitors in the marketplace."Writer: Kimberly PattersonSource: Fritz Eichelberger, Hotspaces.net

Bluewater Media To Add 10 Jobs In 2011

By Kimberly Patterson

●

Innovation News

●

November 30, 2010

Bluewater Media, a Clearwater-based multimedia company serving the Tampa Bay region, plans to hire 10 more employees in the next year. The company, formed in 2000, has experienced steady growth since 2006, says Bluewater Media CEO Andy Latimer, adding that the company's growth has caused moves from Tampa to St. Petersburg and now to Clearwater. "We went from 300 square feet of office space to 33,000 square feet in three years," Latimer says. Bluewater Media currently has 20 fulltime employees, and Latimer says the company plans to grow by 50 percent in the next year. It also contracts freelancers as needed for various projects. Latimer attributes Bluewater Media's success to a key strategic decision to focus on digital media. "We were the first production company in Florida to be a 100 percent tapeless house and have tapeless remote production," Latimer says. "With an investment in technology from Panasonic, we were able to live in a tapeless world, which reduced the overall expenses capturing the content." Another force that Latimer attributes to the company's success is his personnel. "We are a very entrepreneurial business," Latimer says, that rewards employees regardless of their place in the company. "We offer commission on sales for every employee in the company," Latimer says. "For example, if a receptionist brings in a job, she gets a commission. This enables the employee to generate their own income and their own opportunities." Writer: Kimberly Patterson Source: Andy Latimer, Bluewater Media