Inside Long Island Business
Get the latest news and trends on Long Island companies and the people behind them.
Poll: Do you buy everything online?
Photo credit: AP
These days, you can buy just about anything online, from electronics to dog food, toothpaste to platform shoes.
Are you comfortable shopping online? Would you purchase anything that way, or are there some things you still want to touch, feel or try on in person?
Vote and leave a comment. Results and a selection of comments will appear in next Sunday's paper....
Read more »Poll: Will you vacation on Long Island this summer?
Photo credit: Randee Daddona, 2010
The first summer vacation season since superstorm Sandy starts Memorial Day weekend. While some traditional vacation areas were damaged by the storm, business owners and public officials have worked hard to rebuild. Many say it will be business as usual this year.
At the same time, with gas costly and the economic recovery still slow, many people will consider vacationing close to home. ...
Read more »Poll: Should the U.S. spend less on defense?
Photo credit: Howard Schnapp
The defense industry on Long Island has been shrinking since its peak during the 1980s, when it employed as many as 80,000 people. Since then, smaller defense budgets, jobs shifts off the Island and consolidation in the industry have combined to reduce the defense presence here to less than half that. Now, $41 billion in federal “sequester” cuts to the defense budget threaten the industry further.
Defense...
Read more »Poll: Do you prefer local brews?
Photo credit: AP
The craft beer industry has taken off across the United States as consumers demand better quality and more variety in their brews.
Locally, the trend is also noticeable -- with inventive ales such as Long Island Oyster Stout, Eight Legged RyePA and the White's Beach Wit coming out of Long Island breweries.
Are you more inclined to buy a beer that's brewed locally? Vote and leave a comment. ...
Read more »Poll: Did your Sandy insurance settlement cover your losses?
Photo credit: Jack McCoy
Superstorm Sandy's wrath caused thousands of Long Islanders to file insurance claims for damaged homes, vehicles and businesses. Destruction came from flooding, downed trees, and loss of business due to power outages.
If you received an insurance settlement, did it cover your losses? Are you still waiting for your claim to be resolved? Vote and leave a comment. Results and a selection of the...
Read more »Poll: Do celebrity names sell perfume?
Photo credit: Nancy Borowick
Are you more likely to buy a perfume because it's named for a celebrity?
Bellport-based Perfumania Holdings Inc. is increasing its presence in the celebrity/designer perfume market through its recent acquisition of Parlux, Ltd. This year, Parlux is introducing scents by the likes of Rihanna and Jay-Z.
Industry experts say that fragrance launches by Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift...
Read more »Poll: Do you play less golf than you did 5 years ago?
Photo credit: Randee Daddona
The business of golf is shrinking on Long Island. The number of courses is down to 269, from 279 in 2004, according to the National Golf Foundation, and the number of rounds played has dropped substantially over the past 15 years.
Officials cite a variety of factors, including the weak economy and changing lifestyles that mean many people have less time for the game than they used to....
Read more »Poll: Do you still use a Rolodex?
Photo credit: Handout
Once upon a time, most business people had a Rolodex on their desk. For the youngsters out there, that meant they kept contacts' names and phone numbers on little cards that snapped in and out of this rotating file device (the name is a combination of rolling and index). Some users avoided the effort of writing by taping the contact's business cards directly to the Rolodex index card.
But...
Read more »Poll: Do you participate in your office NCAA pool?
It's March Madness time, and that means office pools. Are you the first to fill out your bracket, or does it bug you that people are betting in the office? Do you pore over the stats before you make your picks, or do you select based on who has the cutest uniforms?
Vote and leave a comment; results and a selection of comments will be published in next Sunday's business section....
Read more »Poll: How old is your car?
The American auto industry had its best performance in five years in 2012, thanks in part to an improving economy and in part to more aging cars on the road.
The average age of a car topped 11 years in the United States, a record that spurred people to trade in old vehicles.
How old is your car? Vote and leave a comment. Results and a selection of comments will appear in next Sunday's...
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