Entrepreneurship

6 Salon moves, expands in downtown Birmingham

6 Salon opened in downtown Royal Oak 10 years ago with four stylists, a hip and stylish decor and the unorthodox practice of operating from early morning 'til midnight. Within two years 18 stylists were styling in Royal Oak at 306 W. Sixth St., and by the third year a second 6 Salon had opened in downtown Birmingham. As the 10th anniversary approaches, the business, which focuses on hiring for personality, personally trains stylists and functions based on customer demands such as longer hours, is employing a staff of 65 and making another move by opening a much larger salon in downtown Birmingham. The newest 6 Salon opened July 5 at 180 S. Old Woodward, the prominent corner of Old Woodward and Merrill. The 4,400-square-foot space decorated in rich woods and warm colors, a move away from the white, black and stainless steel tableau of its predecessors, replaces a 1,500-square-food shop on West Maple. The new salon has 21 stylists' stations and adds a lash bar to its list of services. "We were completely busting out of the other location," says George Nikollaj, who co-owns the salon with brother Johnny Nikollaj and cousin Tomy Lulgjuraj. "It's unbelievable, the response we've gotten. People stop in and ask if they can see it, have a tour," he says. "We say, 'Of course.' It's great being where people want to come in and get to know us and see what we've done. It's great to be here." Writer: Kim North Shine Source: George Nikollaj, co-owner 6 Salon

Detroit Kitchen Connect cooks up affordable space for local culinary entrepreneurs

It's the classic chicken-or-the-egg conundrum for food entrepreneurs: they're usually required to use commenercial kitchen facilities to prepare their goods, but many can't make the rent until their businesses are off the ground. Excerpt: "Now Davison, the newly hired community kitchen coordinator at  Eastern Market Corp., and Daniel, founder of  FoodLab Detroit, are helping the next wave of food entrepreneurs tackle one of the biggest obstacles to growth in their industry: finding affordable, reliable commercial kitchen space.... Many local churches and nonprofits have commercial kitchens tucked away in their basements and back rooms -- even the  Detroit Symphony Orchestra  has one -- but finding them is all word of mouth. And even when entrepreneurs do find a kitchen, the owners don't always want to rent time because the additional usage increases utility costs and creates scheduling challenges... It took Majid several months of looking -- he even considered building his own facility -- before he finally found a kitchen.  It was 90 miles away in Holt.  That experience is not uncommon for Detroit-area food businesses. In fact, seeing that struggle was one reason Daniel founded FoodLab Detroit, an informal community of nearly 300 area food producers focused on sustainability and social justice through food. Through her noodle shop, Daniel discovered the intense need for kitchen space and began informally brokering deals. "I started getting connected to all of these folks who wanted to offer their kitchen space or entrepreneurs who were seeking kitchen space," said Daniel, 28. "So I became this personal hub between the two. When I started FoodLab, it became the informal connector." More here. 

Auburn Hills wants to generate alternative energy use

The city of Auburn Hills is stepping up again in support of alternative energy use, this time by purchasing police cruisers and other city vehicles that run on propane and natural gas and also by passing a resolution to prevent fuel waste and support alternative fuel use in general. The decision comes after the Ann Arbor-based Clean Energy Coalition provided the city with numerous recommendations spelled out in a Fuel Forward Fleet Study. It showed how the city could save money and reduce emissions by retrofitting city vehicles to be powered with natural gas or propane gas. It also made other recommendations such as reducing police car idling times and building an alternative fuel infrastructure. The city council adopted the recommendations and also purchased eight propane auto gas units for the new 2013 Dodge Charger police pursuit vehicles, a fuel dispenser, a year's worth of propane fuel, and a jet and vacuum truck for street and sewer cleaning. Ron Melchert, the city's director of public works, says about $4,000 will be saved over the 4.72 years, the average life of the police vehicles. Melchert says the city will see a return on investment in two and a half years and reduce the city's reliance on foreign oil as well as decrease its greenhouse emissions by 13 percent. The latest move follows the city's decision two years ago to promote  electric vehicles by encouraging and supporting the inclusion of electric vehicle plug-ins at local businesses and with contractors and builders. The city's attempts to boost alternative energy has made it a model for other cities, Mark Rabinksy, project manager for Clean Energy Coalition, says in a statement. “The city of Auburn Hills has shown time and again they are a leader in Michigan. No other city in the state has been more active in promoting the use of electric vehicles and now, by supporting the advancement of other forms of alternative fuels, the city is paving the way for other municipalities to do the same." Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Ron Melchert, director of public works, city of Auburn Hills

Artist Lounge to be part of Pontiac revival

State grants available for food trucks & farmers markets

Farmers market organizers and food truck operators have a chance to get some green -- $10,000 to $50,000 -- from the state if they can prove their business is unique, innovative and will be successful at making their communities a place with a special vibe and feel. The state and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation wants to promote food entrepreneurship as a means to promote a sense of place in Michigan communities by awarding matching grants through the Farmers Market Grant Program and the Mobile Cuisine Start-Up Program. “Farmers markets and food trucks improve our downtowns and bring vitality and economic growth to our communities,” says MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney in a statement announcing the grants. “These grants will support food entrepreneurs and local markets, strengthen communities and create jobs in our state.”   The state will award up to $200,000 in grants to farmers' markets and up to $100,000 to food trucks. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Kathy Fagan, communication specialist at Michigan Deparment of Economic Development

Marriott hotel planned for Auburn Hills

Auburn Hills' draw as a destination for corporate visitors is leading to the opening of a new hotel -- a $4.6 million Marriott property that will boost the city's property tax revenue and give Oakland County visitors and tourists another lodging option. The Marriott TownePlace Suites will be built near the Great Lakes Crossing outlet shopping center on I-75 and will have 80 rooms in a three-story building. The opening date is set for sometime in 2014. It will replace a closed Borders bookstore west of Baldwin road and north of Great Lakes Crossing Drive and be near a Holiday Inn Express and a Hampton Inn, all projects of Michigan hotel developer Basil Bacall. Stephanie Carroll, a spokesperson for the city of Auburn Hills, says the city has about 2,100 hotel rooms to house visitors, but a Marriott option was missing. "So many people are looking especially for Marriott," she says, "And because of our corporate presence in Auburn Hills we get people who come here and need to stay a month. They need an extended stay and a mid-priced hotel." "The story here," she says, "is Mr. Bacall continues to invest in this community." Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Stephanie Carroll, coordinator of community relations and legislative affairs, city of Auburn Hills

Suds soon to flow at Griffin Claw Brewing in Birmingham

Griffin Claw Brewing Company makes beer, of course, but it's more than a pull a stool up to the bar and have a glass kind of place. It's 12,000 square feet of distilling and brewing tanks and equipment, a distribution facility for hundreds of barrels of brew, a tap room, a biergarten and a restaurant. It is also the newest addition to Birmingham's Rail District, a trendy, walkable community carved out of the city. There are brownstones, residential lofts, small speciality businesses and high-end retailers thriving atop the old rail yards. The public can see what Griffin Claw is all about as of July 18. There's the outdoor gravel-covered patio with a fire pit and room for 75 to sit at long, biergarten-style tables purchased in Germany and an indoor taproom that's separated from the patio by oversized garage doors and with room for 100. Griffin Claw's focus is the award-winning suds, including 12 seasonal brews, made by Big Rock Chophouse brewmaster Dan Rogers and to be distributed with the Griffin Claw label. A "casual food" menu will complement the beer, and vodka and gin will eventually be turned out of the distillery. A martini bar is scheduled to open by late fall. Altogether more than 50 full-time employees will be at work at Griffin Claw. The brewery is at 575 S. Eton Street, and co-owners Bonnie LePage and Mary Nicholson, wives to the owners of Big Rock Chophouse in Birmingham, the Got Rocks Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge, and The Reserve, want Griffin Claw to be a neighborhood place, familiar, comfortable, quality. Altogether more than 50 full-time employees will be at work at Griffin Claw. "Our brewery is very casual and it's all about the beer but we have great food too," says Bonnie LePage. "We wanted to create a comfortable and familiar environment that fits into the neighborhood so more of our neighbors are able to drop in on a frequent basis." Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Bonnie LePage, co-owner Griffin Claw Brewing Company and Jaclyn Robinson, spokesperson, Griffin Claw Brewing Company

Cleaning firm Breathe Green launches Dirty Glove product line

Erecenia Friday's story is a classic tale of turning economic lemons into entrepreneurial lemonade. The Metro Detroit resident lost her job at a non-profit in early 2009, a casualty of the Great Recession. Shortly after that she started a green-cleaning business called Breathe Green. "A friend suggested I turn my love of green cleaning into a business," Friday says. "I printed up some business cards and discovered people really like green cleaning." Today the Oak Park-based business has three employees and an intern. It is also launching its own green-cleaning product line called "Dirty Glove." The enzyme-based product breaks down stains and smells and can be used as a multi-purpose cleaner. "We use it in bathrooms, kitchens, on a tile floor," Friday says. "It's great on porcelain." Breathe Green will be using Dirty Glove products in its own operations, serving as a more cost-effective option for its business. It will also be available in local Kroger stores later this summer. It will first sell an industrial-sized container (32 ounces) of its multi-purpose cleaner. Friday plans to expand its product lineup to floor, countertop and other specific-area cleaners. Friday came up with the formula for the cleaner herself after recognizing that a lot of green cleaners are made up of simple ingredients, such as glass cleaner made of vinegar and water. She researched the recipes for other cleaners and came up with her own unique line. "I did a lot of research online and in the library and interviewed some professors," Friday says. Source: Erecenia Friday, owner of Breathe Green Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Luxury Updated Homes upgrades small homes into larger luxuries

James Danley hates mediocrity. So much so that the local entrepreneur started a business focused on turning ho-hum homes in Oakland County into high-end living spaces. Luxury Updated Homes specializes in taking run-of-the-mill bungalows and ranches in Oakland County's tony municipalities and turning them into larger, luxury houses that fetch top dollar. Most of the houses are foreclosures in need of a lot of tender loving care. Danley's business acquires them, enlarges them and infuses high-end materials and finishes. "We will spend a lot more money on materials than a lot of other contractors will," Danley says. The 1-year-old firm now employs four people and 50 independent contractors. It has renovated 10 homes so far in Farmington Hills, Beverly Hills, Franklin and West Bloomfield. It got its start tackling houses in the $100,000 range. Its most recent renovations have hit the $500,000 price point and Danley is starting to focus on even more expensive housing stock in Birmingham. Luxury Updated Homes will often take a bungalow or ranch, tear off the roof and add a full second story to double the square footage. Danley is also looking to get into some new construction projects where older, smaller homes will be razed to make way for bigger, more up-to-date houses. Source: James Danley, president & owner of Luxury Updated Homes Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.