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How Smith Brothers Became a Famous Trade and Mark

Published May 30, 1994 Robert N. Steck |

Any family business might hope that its name would become a widely recognized trademark. For John Smith's sons, William and Andrew, that hope became reality in a very literal way.The Smith family busi...

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Exploiting the Information Age

Published May 30, 1994 Stephen J. Simurda |

For 28 years the Thomas S. Klise Company of Peoria, Illinois, has helped to teach millions via the company's educational film strips, which are widely shown in the nation's schools. But as new techno...

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Heading Off Conflict at the Impasse

Published March 30, 1994 Fredda Herz Brown | Advisers

All families have conflict and all businesses have conflict. Conflict is built into our lives, and while it tends to be viewed negatively, it can provide opportunities for constructive change. It beco...

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Overcoming Growing Pains

Published March 30, 1994 Stephen J. Simurda |

As Ed Dorian Jr. hurries through the halls of his company’s fourth-floor office on a campus-like setting in White Plains, New York, he doesn’t see desks and work cubicles and busy sales p...

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The Lessons of Stew-Gate

Published March 30, 1994 Jayne A. Pearl |

The shocking case of Stew Leonard Sr., who was sentenced to prison last year after pleading guilty to an elaborate tax evasion scheme, has received considerable publicity. Though the media thrives on...

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Keep What You Earn While Giving It Away

Published March 30, 1994 Joe M. Goodman | Advisers

Giving to charity has always been a prudent way to reduce income taxes. But suddenly the value of charitable giving has increased dramatically, especially for people in higher tax brackets who own the...

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Prettying Up Plain Jane Companies For Sale

Published March 30, 1994 Lloyd Greif | Advisers

If all family businesses were beauty queens, their owners would have little trouble finding buyers when they’re ready to sell. But in the real world there are far more Plain Janes than there are...

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A Partnership Survival Plan

Published March 30, 1994 Randy Bliss |

”I should have bought stock in the company that makes this stuff,” Ron said as he tossed the drained bottle of antacid in the waste basket. The anxiety and stress of the partner relations...

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What Makes a Leader?

Published March 30, 1994 Howard Muson |

What do executives most want to know about the people who work for them? Years ago John Cleaver asked some 2,000 executives who attended his firm’s management development seminars to rank 13 qu...

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A Shield Against Predatory Taxes

Published March 30, 1994 Larry W. Gibbs |

The family limited partnership has become a darling of tax advisors in recent months. The tool also has become the talk of the tax circuit because it could be eliminated as soon as next year, given t...

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Northwestern Golf Keeps its Eye on the Green

Published March 30, 1994 Mark Fischetti | Departments

In 1929, Nat Rosasco, an Italian immigrant grocer, started a new company with a new idea—that everyone should be able to enjoy the game of golf, regardless of their income. Although this notion ...

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How to Plan for your Future Capital Needs

Published March 30, 1994 Chester A. Gougis | Advisers

Almost every company on the New York Stock Exchange was at one time a family business. In most cases, the companies ceased to be family businesses when the need for capital to achieve corporate or fam...

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To the Victor Belongs the Ashes

Published March 30, 1994 Jeffrey B. Rudman |

There are people who believe that lawyers—like missiles—are very useful, but only so long as they are kept in their silos. I don’t happen to agree with that remark by the corporate ...

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Terminal Illness Calls for a Hurry-Up Offense

Published March 30, 1994 Leon Danco | Advisers

About 10 years ago I received a call from a man at a Cleveland hospital who was waiting while his brother underwent open heart surgery. He said he had read an article about me and could I come down an...

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Shareholders Have to Earn Their Wings, Too

Published March 30, 1994 Ivan Lansberg | Advisers

The distinction between ownership and management, so critical for the effective running of modern enterprises, is poorly understood by many family companies. If ever there was an issue that validates ...

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Justice You Can Afford

Published November 30, 1993 John S. Powell |

“I was never ruined but twice: once when I lost a lawsuit and once when I won one.” —Voltaire All healthy organizations have to deal with conflict, and a family business is no exc...

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Start Now If You Hope to Inspire a Successor

Published November 30, 1993 Leon Danco |

Recently I read about a young man in Michigan who had informed his father that he was not interested in taking over the family business. The son had gone to work with a major accounting firm after ea...

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To Invest as Individuals or as a Family?

Published November 30, 1993 Gerald Cramer |

Owners of family businesses tend to focus much of their time and energy on just that—running a successful business. There are, however, strong pressures on families to properly invest their capital ...

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Mom Is Still Mrs. Outside

Published November 30, 1993 Marcy Syms |

In startup companies of a generation ago, the husband would be in charge of making the product. He, or perhaps his brother, would go out and sell it. The wife would keep the books. She might continue...

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How to Avoid Multiple Shareholder Madness

Published November 30, 1993 Randy Bliss |

Recently, a young man called me with a vexing problem. His father, Joe Johnson, had started a home construction company in Georgia 42 years ago, and with great effort had created a solid, profitable ...

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