NAME: Barbara Ankersmit JOB: Market researcher, president and partner COMPANY: Anthology Marketing Group Research Team START: Ankersmit had been a project manager in California for Arbitron, a radio listener survey company. When she and her family moved to Hawaii, she got a job…
Iolani Sportswear president Lloyd Kawakami remembers when aloha shirts were only made in Hawaii. Today, they are produced cheaply in Asia or sold under labels such as Tommy Bahama, which have no connection to the Islands. That competition has put…
When the doors open at Saks Fifth Avenue Hawaii on August 25 at the redesigned International Market Place, it will be a homecoming for vice president and general manager Shelley Tadaki Cramer. Cramer was born and raised in Honolulu, then…
Q: It’s as if the different generations speak distinct languages at my company. How do I improve internal communications so everyone gets the message? A: Some of us look around our workplace and wonder who let in all those interns…
More men across Oahu are turning to upscale barbershops for an experience beyond the traditional in-and-out haircut, with two high-end shops recently opening in Honolulu and others expected to follow. Yes, you can still get a simple trim, but options…
Most of them are Millennials, first-generation digital natives strutting their stuff and chiseling new entry points into a post-recession economy. Those who achieve social-media stardom get labelled as “digital talent,” which sounds so Hollywood, but signals their digital charisma and…
Power: As the new digital media director of Hawaii Business, I have the ability and responsibility to engage with you by sharing creative and smart content through social media and our website, HawaiiBusiness.com. I will share observations and insights in…
"My store got blasted on Yelp. What do I do now?" You and your staff can deliver great service and products, all with a smile, yet still get a bad review online. You can’t control what people say about you,…
I’m hearing a lot of buzz about cause marketing. How do I get my small business started on it? Cause marketing aligns a brand with a cause in the community, such as sustainability, helping children or homelessness. When executed strategically,…
Jane Murao says she was frustrated with the process of delivering Ikea products to Hawaii, so she launched Haul2hi. The company specializes in bringing Ikea’s furniture and other products to the Islands. Her customers shop for products in Ikea’s physical…
Tuesday, 11:34 am Pearlridge Center Photo by Josiah Patterson Stephanie Lake stores the elements to her larger-than-life holiday displays in this room at Pearlridge Center. Awaiting her creative touch are 16 plastic Christmas…
When it comes to bikini shopping, there’s a vital statistical difference between the buying habits of locals and those of Island visitors. It all comes down to cheeks – the okole, that is – and just how much a lady…
MANY PEOPLE CAN'T imagine leaving the intimate communities and beautiful aina of their favorite Neighbor Island, even though that may limit their career opportunities. Executive and personal coach Sydney Wiecking offers ways to reduce those limitations and turn your home into…
BEFORE BECOMING A global franchise operation, L&L began in the 1950s as a modest business called L&L Dairy, owned by father and son Robert Lee and Robert Lee Jr. That restaurant, now called L&L Drive-Inn, still stands at 1711 Liliha St.…
Question: I have a great idea for a company, but I can’t come up with a name. How do I get started? Answer: Naming a business requires careful thought. Here are pointers to get you started: Define your brand…
Jason Cohen, marketing manager for the Kona-based Hawaii Forest & Trail tour company, checks user-review sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor whenever he is notified of a new review. He also monitors the company’s Facebook page daily for comments. If…
Honolulu drivers spend an average of 60 hours a year sitting in traffic, according to the annual INRIX Traffic Scorecard. That’s a challenge for your patience but a great opportunity for vehicle ads, says Kia Kamauu, VP for ROI Printing.…
Online marketing and meditation are not an obvious combination, but Kit Wynkoop incorporates both into his life. As CEO of Hoi ka Ha LLC (“breathing life back into”), he helps clients, such as Honolulu Community College, the Hawaii Restaurant Association…
Reports of the death of books have been greatly exaggerated, as the local publishing industry keeps evolving to meet demand Despite the closing of bookstores around the Islands, local publishers say they are thriving. Books about Hawaii still sell –…
During Crazy Shirts’ 50 years of business, many T-shirt styles and designs have come and gone. What has persisted in the company’s culture, say longtime employees, is creativity, a sense of humor and a “go big or go home” attitude.…
Each year, the world’s best surfers – both men and women – compete against each other for millions of dollars in prize money at tournaments around the globe staged by the Association of Surfing Professionals and other promoters. Hawaii surfers…
Just 25 years ago, Outrigger did not have a hotel outside of Waikiki. Today, it owns or operates 31 properties spread across the Hawaiian Islands and another 11 as far away as Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Quite an achievement…
1947 Roy and Estelle Kelley build their first hotel: the five-story, 50-room Islander Hotel on Seaside Avenue, the first in Waikiki to cater to middle-income travelers and families. Four more hotels follow over 12 years. The…
Question: How do I attract travelers from Asia to my business? Answer: First acknowledge that Japan, China and Korea are culturally unique. Understanding this key principle will enable you to create tailored campaigns that are relevant to the consumer…