by eclewis | Jan 13, 2009 | Business News
In several recent articles, liquor store owners aren’t finding that the repeal of the Blue Law limiting sales on Sundays is helping them, and it could even be that it is hurting them. In an attempt last year to stop chain liquor stores, liquor store owners compromised by backing the sale of liquor on Sundays. Some store owners though say Sunday sales are hurting their bottom line because they now have to be open seven days a week instead of six and sales tend to be slower on Saturday and Monday now resulting in little increase of revenue.
In addition, now that the Sunday Blue Law has been repealed, grocery and chain stores are now renewing their push to be able to sell beer. In a recent guest commentary in the Daily Camera, the owner of Superior Liquor also commented on the big box and grocery store chains push to be able to sell “real beer”. Beer accounts for 25%-50% of liquor store sales and if sold at chain stores, would decrease the amount of revenue for small businesses.
If you are a small business owner of a liquor store and want to stop the legislature from passing any laws allowing grocery or chain store sales, contact your representatives today. If you are a liquor store needing help with any legal issues, please contact me, your Denver small business lawyer, at 720-258-6647 or email me at Elizabeth.Lewis@eclewis.com.
by eclewis | Jan 12, 2009 | Business News
A recent law has small business owners that run consignment stores for children’s clothing and goods concerned. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act has been revised to include language that children’s clothing must be tested to ensure they contain less than 600 parts per million total lead. The online, and offline world, of business owners running consignment stores were concerned that they would need to test each piece of clothing for lead. In a press release January 8, 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission states that “Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.” However, the USCPSC has said that consignment and thrift stores cannot sell children’s products with lead so owners should be careful about what products they sell.
To ensure that your business complies with the new regulations whether you sell used or new children’s products, contact me today at 720-258-6647 or Elizabeth.Lewis@eclewis.com.
by eclewis | Jan 11, 2009 | Business News
In an example that companies need to have good contracts, a snowmobile company in Summit County is having problems after a customer damaged a snowmobile. Two men rented a snowmobile, veered off the trail, and caused damages of $15,200.00. Now the men are refusing to pay and claiming that the store’s owner coerced them into stating they would pay for the damages. The owner has filed a case against the two men and it will probably come down to how the contract was written.
This case is an excellent example of why businesses need to have a contract with their clients. Whether your clients rent equipment from you, use services for which you block off time for them, or you buy products with the intent that your clients will buy them from you, a contact protects you. It ensures that your clients know their rights and responsibilities and gives you proof of your relationship if anything happens causing you to end up in court.
If you don’t currently have contracts with your clients, please call me at 720-258-6647 or email me at Elizabeth.Lewis@eclewis.com to discuss your situation.
by eclewis | Jan 9, 2009 | Business News
In part four of the professional corporation series, I discuss starting a chiropractic company.Companies formed to practice chiropractic care must only employ chiropractors who are licensed by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. In addition, the companies must be solely formed for the purpose of providing such care. Owners of the company are limited to licensed chiropractors. All owners may be liable for the errors made by other owners or employees unless liability insurance is in effect. In some cases, owners may still be liable even with proper insurance. Any owners who loses his or her chiropractic license must cease being an owner of a chiropractic company.As the above requirements are only some of the rules an chiropractic company needs to follow, if you are an chiropractor looking to start a company, please contact me if you need help to ensure that your company meets Colorado legal requirements.
by eclewis | Jan 7, 2009 | Business News
For about a year, every time I turn on the TV, I hear the same old, same old. The economy is doing terrible, businesses are failing, workers are being laid off. Recent articles have even talked about how hairdressers are suffering in this economy.
However, a recent This American Life confirmed what I already have been seeing in private practice – the economy doesn’t mean that small businesses, or even large businesses, are destined to fail, just that success may not be handed to the small business owner on a silver platter. For instance, this story about ice cream makers talks about how their product is in demand. Another story talks about how small businesses fared better this Christmas than they had thought they would.
So how can you help ensure that your new (or already existing) small business succeeds in this climate? Marketing is necessary in a bad economy to get clients in the door. Once you get clients in the door, providing good customer service, such as getting to know your clients and your products, helps keep them as clients. As always, it is important to have contracts with your clients clearly defining the services you are providing and your refund policy.
Should you have any questions if your small business is ready to stand up legally in this recession, please contact me at Elizabeth.Lewis@eclewis.com or 720-258-6647.
by eclewis | Jan 4, 2009 | Business News
The following are just a few of the more interesting business news articles involving the law found throughout the US in the last week.
In recent news, Colorado may begin to enforce its law regarding fire-safe cigarette sales. This may affect small businesses that sell cigarettes and have back stock of non-fire-safe cigarettes. In other news, the smoking ban may have actually helped businesses increase sales and drop the rate of heart attacks – or it may be the economy is just causing people to want to drink more?
If your business solicits customers by phone, you may want to familiarize yourself with the new phone solicitation laws. In addition, please keep checking my blog for updates on the new Legislative General Assembly starting Wednesday.
On a side note or two – in Wisconsin, a case currently being heard may change how much companies can compensate owners when companies are failing. Although only a Wisconsin case, the results may have an impact on businesses throughout the US. Finally, if you are looking to start a new business, maybe a pawnshop is the way to go!
If you find any links to interesting news stories involving small businesses, please email me at elizabeth.lewis@eclewis.com or add them as a comment to this post.
