Business

Interior design is typically a service affordable only to the wealthy, but a new startup is looking to change that.Laurel and Wolf, which recently just raised $4.4 million in its Series A round of fundraising, aims to bring interior design into the digital age. The new company is a web-based platform that connects professional interior designers with clients, who -- for a small, flat fee -- can get their residential and/or commercial spaces custom designed. Designers compete to win a client, offering them concept designs for their spaces, and once chosen, the selected designer will continue to revise the plan until it's been perfected.The startup is the brainchild of Leura Fine, a Los Angeles-based professional designer who has done designs for Elton John, and even designed the interior of...

Coca-Cola is one of the biggest and most recognizable brands in the world, responsible for everything from Diet Coke to Sprite and Minute Maid. However, according to the company's former head of global design, David Butler, the brand actually lacked a consistent approach to design until 2004. His views, available in his newly published book, "Design to Grow: How Coca-Cola Learned to Combine Scale and Agility," are a must-read for website design agencies, small business owners, and everyone in between. Upon joining Coca-Cola in 2004, Butler says that he was immediately charged with helping the company develop a vision, strategy and approach to ensure that the business would be getting the most out of their design efforts. At that point, Coca-Cola was already one of the largest brands in ...

UPDATED 9/8/20 After hospital officials announced on Feb. 23 that the Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Mid City Campus would be closing its emergency room by March 31, the residents of Baton Rouge, LA seemed to have one collective thought: Thank goodness for urgent care centers. After the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals made the official statement regarding the hospital’s emergency room closing date, a number of regional immediate care medical centers quickly reassured Baton Rouge residents that emergency medical treatment would still be readily available, from the moment the hospital’s ER closes its doors. Local news station WAFB has reported that two LSU Urgent Care Clinic locations are already planning on extending their hours to accommodate emergency services, as is the ...

Last year, Taco Bell and Starbucks both made waves by introducing mobile apps. This year, Wendy's will jump on the bandwagon by installing mobile-friendly point of sale terminals at over 2,600 locations. The new payment system will complement the existing Wendy's mobile rewards program and open up the possibility of mobile ordering in the future. Wendy's hopes that the new system will provide customers with more ways to order and pay for their food. Eventually, the line should be cut out altogether, and customers will be able to make an order, track it and pay for it from their phones. Right now, the new system is in operation at 957 locations, all the locations operated directly by the company. Mobile ordering is already available at seven locations in Columbus, OH, and service should b...

According to a recent report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, it looks like the home improvement industry is due for some much needed remodeling of its own. Following years of steadily declining revenue, experts say there is a rapidly growing number of homeowners who would rather improve than move. However, according to the report, the home improvement industry as a whole has fared far better the general housing market, so much so that industry experts predict record spending on home improvements in 2015. The industry is in the midst of reinventing itself after years of falling revenue, said Kermit Baker, director of the joint center's Remodeling Futures Program. The entire industry "is finding new ways to address emerging growth markets and rebuild its wo...

It's common knowledge that hybrid cars are better for the environment than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles; hybrids release between 25% and 35% less harmful emissions into the environment, on average. Since hybrids have been on the market for some time now, there is another issue that can affect the environment, however -- and not in a positive way. Hybrid batteries do fail and, in fact, this has been a major source of anxiety for hybrid owners, since replacement was so costly and in many cases unexpected. Battery warranties vary by state, but the average is eight years or 100,000 miles. Hybrid batteries, however, were failing as soon as six years after the initial purchase. These days, hybrid batteries are more efficient, better performing, and longer lasting -- but recy...

The city of Tempe, Arizona is providing relief for its residents through landscaping discounts. Azfamily.com reports that the city government has negotiated a referral program for its residents. Known as the "Tempe Landscape Referral" program, the initiative offers residents discounted rates for three local landscaping companies. The discounts can save residents up to 25% from what they would pay otherwise for basic landscaping services. "The City uses its, basically, bulk purchasing ability to get you the best rate possible," said city council member Kolby Granville. "You contract with them, they do the work. You pay on a monthly basis: $35 a month for the front yard and $70 a month during the summer months." The three landscaping companies -- Artistic Land Management , Inc., J.A. Dese...

With the Pope's highly anticipated visit to the City of Brotherly Love rapidly approaching, how are Philadelphians going to rock their papal pride? One young, newlywed couple hailing from Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania may have the perfect answer: Pope T Shirts. Newly married couple Michael and Ally Tandarich are designing custom Pope Francis T-Shirts -- the Official Pope Francis Philadelphia Apparel, mind you -- with great emphasis on what the city of Philadelphia is known for: brotherly love, of course. Michael, who also runs a branding agency in the city, No-Comply Designs, felt that designing custom t-shirts would be an excellent way to show support and give back to the Catholic community while continuing to build excitement for the papal visit. Also, it gives papal fans something unique to...

Millions of people will likely need bankruptcy help at some point in their lives. However, seeing prominent companies begin the same process can often come as a surprise. For this reason, many people were shocked to learn that RadioShack Corp., a technology retailer that has been in business for almost a century, will close on a bankruptcy agreement on or after after Thursday, February 5. RadioShack traces its roots back to 1921, when the company began as a mail-order retailer for amateur radio operators and maritime communications officers. Over time, the company shifted its focus, becoming the go-to source of hard-to-find electronics and other technology. In recent years, however, RadioShack has faced increasing competition from Wal-Mart, Amazon.com and other tech retailers. To make m...

The Washington State House of Representatives is currently considering bills that would seek to make oil transportation safer for workers, the public and the environment, if passed. According to the Columbian, one of these bills, House Bill 1449, would increase regulations placed on railway and waterway oil transportation. The bill would require all railroads to develop a set of procedures and plans for oil spills, and to report information about the oil loads they transport to the state Department of Ecology. In addition, the bill seeks to increase the tax levied on oil transported by rail and pipeline. For oil transportation workers in Washington state, safety has long been a neglected priority, the bill's supporters say. "What I've seen ... is safety takes a backseat to product...