Today's Headlines / Wed, Sept. 26, 2007
News Alert: Ed Price Building Materials, Mississippi company merge
After 30 years in business, Ed Price Building Materials has merged with Mississippi-based Bailey Lumber for an undisclosed amount of money. Co-owner Ronnie Price says they agreed to the move last week, in part to allow his parents—who are in their 80s—to retire and to deal with market changes.
Bailey Lumber will integrate its Baton Rouge operations with the Ed Price location on Airline Highway. The location will continue bearing the Price name. Members of the Price family will remain with the company to consult and manage the Baton Rouge location. Price says once merger is complete, the location should employ about 90 people. “It hurt to some degree, but it was time,” Price says. “The trend of the market is changing daily, and this will make a better organization for our contractors by offering more services. We see it as all positives.” --Anna Thibodeaux
Perkins land sold for $2.85 million
A local builder has bought a 15-acre tract on Perkins Road for $2.85 million and might build a subdivision on the site. Norman Deumite of Deumite Construction bought the land between Bluebonnet Boulevard and YMCA Plaza Drive in a deal that was filed Wednesday. The property backs up to Oakbrook subdivision and is also next to Deumite's home. Deumite, who primarily focuses on industrial and commercial construction, says he was interested in the land because of all the activity going on that section of Perkins. That part of the road is being widened and should be five lanes by the middle of 2008. "We're going to do a little planning and thinking about what we need to do," he says. --Timothy Boone
LSU professor says social skills, manners important
A new book co-written by an LSU psychology professor says that good manners and basic social skills are just as important to school success as a focus on reading, writing and arithmetic. Frank Gresham wrote The Social Skills Improvement System with Vanderbilt professor Stephen Elliott. The book lists 10 charm-school skills that students need to succeed, based on surveys of more than 8,000 teachers. The skills including listening to others, following rules, ignoring distractions, asking for help, getting along with others and being responsible for own behavior. The book also includes a 10-week program that educators from preschool through middle school can use to teach skills alongside academic subjects.
Publisher reflects on past quarter-century
Business Report’s 25-year journey has been an adventure. Baton Rouge has changed considerably during that time, including the landscape, leaders, demographics and technology. Maybe even some of the attitudes. Writes Publisher Rolfe McCollister Jr., “There were those in 1982 who told us Baton Rouge didn’t need another publication. Others told us we would run out of business stories to cover. But there were some who encouraged and supported us from our first issue and first year—and we are grateful they took a chance.” Read his column here to learn who is chosen Man of the Quarter-Century and send comments to editors@businessreport.com.
New wine-based charity formed
Baton Rouge Uncorked is the latest development in a rash of wine news in the area lately, but this one lets you drink and helps charities. Founder Pete Bush, a Baton Rouge financial advisor, says they modeled the charitable organization from Louisville Uncorked in Kentucky, which now averages 1,100 young professionals at its wine fundraisers. Bush set the idea in motion, and his friends—Doug Cochran, Edmond Giering, Doug Allen, Patrick Coogan, Luke Williamson and Miles Higgins—helped bring it to fruition in Baton Rouge. Bush and Allen, who both have Louisville roots, say they hope to grow the organization in the same direction as Louisville Uncorked by holding wine-tasting competitions. Founding members determine which charities receive proceeds, which Bush says are chosen based on their impact. Baton Rouge Uncorked’s first fundraiser will be 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Shaw Center for the Arts. For more information, visit batonrougeuncorked.com . --Anna Thibodeaux
Juban's opening earlier for lunch
Juban's Restaurant and Catering will open for lunch at 11 a.m. beginning Tuesday. That's a half-hour earlier than the Perkins Road restaurant had been opening, co-owner Miriam Juban says. Juban says she's been thinking about making the change for several years. "People are starting their day a little earlier, and they're getting hungry a little earlier," she says. Juban notes that most restaurants in Baton Rouge now open for lunch at 11 a.m. "We may be the turtles," she says. --Timothy Boone
Frock Candy to open two new locations
Frock Candy, a local juniors boutique, is set to open two new locations in the next year, including its first in Alabama. The chain's second Baton Rouge store will open around November in the Perkins Rowe lifestyle center, says John Lund, who owns the business along with his wife, Renee. A Frock Candy is scheduled to open in Huntsville, Ala., in summer 2008. The store will be part of Bridge Street, a development that's similar to Perkins Rowe. This will be the chain's second location outside of Louisiana, joining one in Destin, Fla.
News roundup: Louisiana ranks high on Wal-Mart pharmacy savings; Toys “R” Us unveils hot gifts; Researcher says there may be a surplus of parking spaces
Taking advantage of everyday low prices: Louisiana residents have saved more than $18 million in less than a year from buying $4 generic drugs at Wal-Mart pharmacies, the company announced today. That puts the state 12th in terms of savings. Wal-Mart, which marked the first anniversary of the program last week, now sells more than 360 generic drugs at $4, including medicine for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and asthma. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas: Toys “R” Us has announced its list of what it thinks will be the 36 most popular gifts this holiday season. According to the retailer, some of the gifts children will be seeking from Santa Claus include Guitar Hero III video game, Laugh & Learn kitchen from Fisher-Price and Monopoly Boutique Edition. They paved paradise and put up a bunch of parking lots: A scientist studying parking spaces in the United States estimates that there may be more than 6,000 square miles of paved land--an area larger than Connecticut. Bryan Pijanowski, a land-use scientist at Purdue University, told the Christian Science Monitor that he found in his home county of Indiana there were 11 parking spots for every family and three for every registered vehicle. Pijanowski is trying to determine if there is a surplus of free parking. Read about his research here .
Tech Park U. opening second class
The Louisiana Technology Park is looking for rising entrepreneurs to participate in its second class at Tech Park U. The nine-month program, created in connection with Business Report, is designed for promising technology businesses. Applicants receive training on how to develop a business plan, along with a discount on space at the Tech Park and access to all of the office's resources. After the program is completed, the applicant with the best business plan will receive a $2,000 grant and possible acceptance into the park's business incubator. The deadline to apply for the classes is Oct. 22. Applications can be obtained at TechParkU.com .
