A series on PBS called "Start Up," whose first season concludes on Dec. 30, features stories about start-up businesses across the country. Because the series is the brainchild of Gary Bredow, whose production company, Big Bang Detroit, is based here, seven of the entrepreneurs and businesses featured have been in the Detroit area. These have included Pink Pump boutiques, Simply Suzanne Natural Foods and McClure's Pickles. Its season finale will showcase a coffeehouse called Astro Coffee in the Corktown district of Detroit.
Ally to pay $98 million for discrimination charges
Ally Financial Inc. has agreed to a settlement with the federal government in which it will pay $18 million in penalties. That's less than a quarter of what it will be paying into a settlement fund – another $80 million.
Michigan store greeter fired for helping with vehicle fire
"No good deed goes unpunished," as the saying goes. It probably feels that way for a man who was fired from his job as a greeter at a Gaylord, Michigan, Meijer store. The 62-year-old man left his post in the store last month after a man came in frantically seeking help with a fire in his truck's glove compartment. The greeter gave the vehicle's owner a fire extinguisher, and he quickly extinguished the flames. The employee, who had gone out into the parking lot, then returned to the store.
Michigan entrepreneur is behind Rainbow Loom phenomenon
Anyone with a child in grade school is likely familiar with one of the latest crazes � jewelry and other items made with a Rainbow Loom. These looms are used to weave bracelets and other items made of colorful rubber bands. The phenomenon has its home base right here in Wixom, Michigan, and the man behind it just a few years ago was a crash safety engineer at Nissan.
Michigan-based crash-test dummy maker gets new owner
The world of crash-test dummies is changing. While most of the dummies in use today were built in the 1980s, the technology is changing significantly since the days of Vince and Larry, the dummies featured in ads from that decade urging motorists to "Buckle Up." As federal vehicle safety regulations become more stringent, makers of crash-test dummies need to modernize these and other safety testing tools.
Michigan nurse accuses hospital of discrimination, retaliation
With 2014 coming up, it may seem hard to imagine that the family of a hospital patient would ask for only white caregivers and that the hospital would comply with the request. However, according to a discrimination suit filed in Grand Rapids by a nursing supervisor, that's what happened. The defendant in the lawsuit is Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital.
Delivery drones coming to a Detroit neighborhood near you
Successful Detroit business owners know that a company often needs to evolve and grow to remain viable. Business planning is not just something you do at start-up. It is on-going.
New Detroit business 'repurposes' materials into custom furniture
In the wake of the city's bankruptcy, one entrepreneur is hoping that the remnants of Detroit's vacant and abandoned homes can serve a new purpose - and help the city and its residents in the process. He has opened a store in the Fisher Building called Workshop. The store makes made-to-order furniture from materials acquired from houses that are no longer occupied.
