Ideas

When you think of a high level of customer service in a major retailer, the names that come to mind are Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and even Saks Fifth Avenue. But it's not the merchandise that sets them apart, it's their people.

As the last few months have made abundantly clear, getting it right in the world of health care technology can prove to be quite the challenge.

Truck dealership firm The Kriete Group, which does business as Milwaukee Truck Sales Inc., plans to consolidate the business operations of its stores in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Fond du Lac and Racine into an historic downtown Milwaukee building.

BizTimes Media LLC announced the speaker lineup for the annual Northern Trust Economic Trends Breakfast, to be held on Friday, Jan. 17, at the Italian Community Center in downtown Milwaukee.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported that economy added 203,000 jobs in November with strong hiring across the board and the unemployment fell to its lowest rate in five years.

I just finished reading “Six Years,” a very readable little mystery written by Harlan Coben. The plot is entangled around a nonprofit organization called “Fresh Start.” This group has all of the resources needed to give anyone they select as worthy of a big-time fresh start in life, usually involving identity changes and what you might call disappearing acts.

Oak Creek-based Eder Flag Manufacturing Co. has acquired some of the assets and expertise of Baartol Company, a Kenton, Ohio-based flagpole manufacturer that is going out of business.

Early stage investing is all about getting to exits, a sale of an entrepreneurial startup in one way or another. Southeastern Wisconsin had a big exit last week that was cause for applause but underappreciated.

Milwaukee-based Artistic Plating Company will change its name to Advanced Plating Technologies, effective Monday, Dec. 9.

* Saturday, Dec. 7, the Milwaukee Art Museum will host Yoga @ the Museum from 8:15 a.m. to 9:30...