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Even though the economy has been dismal and unemployment has been on the rise, a fascinating phenomenon suggests that small businesses and boutique firms stand to gain customers in these trying times.  Let’s face it, whether times are good or bad small businesses have never been able to afford the luxury of being wasteful, inefficient, or careless with money.  Large corporations, on the other hand, which are bureaucratic by their very nature, have a tendency to become highly inefficient and wasteful when times are good.  When faced with an economic downturn, the inevitable occurs in a large corporation—mass downsizing resulting in a loss of valuable talent and customer service.  Consequently, the large name brand company that customers were paying for tends to lose its luster in the face of lost relationships and customer support.

Peter Bregman, CEO of Bregman Partners, Inc., a global management consulting firm, also believes that small companies will win in this economy.  He states that “Small is the new big.  Sustainable is the new growth.  Trust is the new competitive advantage.”  He says that “small companies with low overhead, reliable owners, a small number of committed employees, personal client relationships, and sustainable business models that drive a reasonable profit are the great opportunity of our time.”  To read more about Bregman’s point of view on this topic visit his article Why Small Companies Will Win in This Economy.

The tenants of the Brentwood Business Center, the Sand Creek Business Center, and the Sand Creek Plaza are all too familiar with this mantra.  The majority of the tenants renting space in these Brentwood business centers are small local vendors with a particular focus on sustaining clients through relationships and keen customer service.  In fact, KMB Management, the managing firm over these properties, has developed a philosophy that embodies the spirit of Bregman’s slogan:  “Small is the new big. Sustainable is the new growth.  Trust is the new competitive advantage.”  Each new customer and/or potential customer at KMB Management is treated with respect, professionalism, kindness, and commitment. 

In closing, if you are a small business in this trying time don’t lose heart.  This is your golden opportunity to take advantage of the niche opportunities that are out there.  Just remember that small is the new big and the power of the personal relationship can never be underestimated.  Creativity may also be your number one asset in attracting new business and retaining loyal customers.  The business expert Peter Drucker once said that, “Business has only two basic functions—marketing and innovation.”  Therefore, turn your creativity into innovative marketing endeavors! 

In recent years, green living and design have become popular subjects and business practices in California.  In fact, it is hard to go anywhere without seeing a new advertisement for a natural or eco-friendly product.  It makes one wonder if this green craze is just a passing fad or if it is truly here to stay.  One thing is for certain, Americans are demanding a healthier lifestyle and the market seems to be responding to this shift in consumer demand.

For entrepreneurs and savvy business owners, this shift in demand can be equated with opportunity—the opportunity to gain market share in the ever emerging fields of sustainable products, design, and business practices. 

Green building and design is one facet of the emerging green market that presents opportunity to developers, general contractors, and subcontractors.  A great example of green building in the Bay Area is Oakland’s Margarido house.  According to the Contra Costa Times, the “Margarido House is the first home in Northern California to be both Greenpoint rated and to earn platinum certification — the highest — from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, green building rating system.”  In the design and construction of this sustainable home, many local architects, engineers, and contractors had the opportunity to expand both their knowledge base and resume of green building by participating in this project.  If you are interested in viewing the Margarido house, sign up for tickets prior to September 20 at www.rockridge.org.

Many of the tenants leasing space at the Brentwood Business Center, such as Easton Construction, Devcon Construction, Pacific Crest Landscape and Maintenance, and A Quality Heating and Air, have the same unique opportunity to break into the field of green building and design right now.  Features such as green roofs, rainwater catchment systems, low or nontoxic materials, energy efficient lighting, and heating, solar energy and green landscape design are becoming more popular and in some cases even subsidized by the government. 

I say “green” is here to stay.  So , if you have the opportunity to expand into this market take it and make your little piece of the world more sustainable in the process.                   

Much has been recently written on the closings of a number of automobile dealerships throughout the United States, and in particular in the San Francisco Bay Area. With the closings has come much pain for all those associated with them, including customers, employees, owners, suppliers, and the like.

Having said this, a question that can be asked is whether or not there is any "silver lining" in this situation. At first blush, one might say what a ridiculous question. With customers having to relocate to different dealerships or find other places for service opportunities, with confusion as to warranty and other maintenance concerns, with traditional and ongoing relationships being severed, as well as a myriad of other related issues, it could be said that the thought of any sliver lining with these dealership closings is thoroughly ridiculous.

In general, a key element of any dealer-customer relationship is trust. This is particularly true when such a relationship relates to service aspect of a vehicle. The superiority of the servicing of vehicles can vary from dealership to dealership, and in those dealerships that have been closed that had superior trust relationships, such closings can be devastating to the customer.

But once again we return to the question of do these closings have any "silver linings." It can be argued that such closing may have the opportunity of unintended consequences of enhancing increased service capacity at a lower cost than was available prior to such closings. For example, dealer service labor rates are quite high in general. If a dealership closes and its service department closes as well, which is usually the case, where will their former customers service their vehicles?

We believe that as choice becomes a more prevalent issue for customers in a variety of industries, the same can hold true for vehicle service.  In this regard, we can see a whole new entrepreneurial output of service shops being spawned out of these recent dealership closings.  Such shops may well provide superior service and a lesser cost. In his book "The Long Tail," Chris Anderson asserts that the "future of business is selling less of more."  In this respect, what we might see is a number of very specialized vehicle service firms locating near one another and enhancing one another, thereby not trying to have a one-size-fits-all model when it comes to auto service.


For many, the American Dream is to be in business for oneself.  For those mechanics and service technicians that have been laid off as a consequence of dealership closings, some will certainly find work with other entities.  However, for those with high skills and training that they have gained at these dealerships, and for those with a desire to have their own business, it can be asserted that there has never been a better time to start their own business since such closings open the possibility to start a business in a growth field, in that Americans appear to be servicing their cars and owning them longer, rather than buying a new car every few years.

In the Oakland Tribune, Gilbert Zamora was quoted as saying that "GMAC is forcing a lot of dealers out of business."  The Wall Street Journal reported that the "National Automobile Dealer Association estimates the closings will add 6,800 people to unemployment." Or, for those who are trained mechanics, is this a time for a new entrepreneurial explosion?  For example, many dealerships are auctioning off equipment such as car lifts and other valuable and specialized repair tools at a fraction of their original value.  Accordingly, it is possible that those who have dreamed of opening their own business could do so now, particularly in the automotive service area.

One area where the closing of dealerships has proven to be helpful is at the Brentwood Business Center in the Northern California City of Brentwood.  This community is characterized by synergy among the many new automotive uses that are able to promote one another.  In one location, one finds a tune-up shop, a transmission shop, a car stereo facility, an accessories store, as well as a number of classic car restoration firms.  Each of these facilities feeds off of one another, and each is able to provide superior service at generally less than what would have been the case in a higher cost dealership situation.

Too many new business owners become so excited about launching their new business that they fail to invest the necessary time into finding the right location. Remember that your company's image and its location are closely tied, so finding the right place to set up shop is critical to your success.

The Brentwood Business Center is the East Bay's finest offering of a comprehensively planned and architecturally thematic business park. The BBC provides distinctive warehouse and retail office properties in a landscaped environment. We have a variety of spaces available for immediate occupancy. From small offices and light industrial to warehouse, flex & automobile repair spaces, we are prepared for your immediate move in today!

Located on Valdry Court, one block from the intersection of Balfour Road and Highway 4. We have all types of spaces available for immediate occupancy. From small offices and light industrial to warehouse, flex & automobile repair spaces, we have it all! We also offer large warehouse spaces with 10′ truck doors in each unit. Located on one of the busiest commute arteries in and out of Brentwood, the BBC is the perfect location for your business! Please contact Nate Lorenzini anytime for more information at (925) 918-2861. We look forward to hearing from you.

*  Full Commission!
* 3 Months Free Rent!
* Brentwood's Auto and Industrial Hub
* Light industrial, warehouse and automotive
* Sizes from 1,200 to 16,500 SF
* Located on Valdry Court, one block south of Balfour Road and Highway 4 Intersection
* Spaces prepared for immediate occupancy
* Small offices, large warehouse and 10′ truck door in each unit
* On busiest commute artery in and out of Brentwood
* Parking : Available for each unit
* Adjacent to nearby restaurants, Holiday Inn Express, Ace Hardware and other retail services

At some point, your plans to start a new business may lead you on a search to find a suitable location. If you pick the right location, you'll be made in the shade. Pick the wrong one, and your business could be over before you know it.

Selecting an office space can be a rather difficult endeavor. To try to make the process a little easier, we're listing some things your should consider about any prospective rental property.

The square footage of the property is important. But, don't just think about the rentable square footage, which is the figure the landlord will give you. Instead consider the usable square footage of the office space, the amount of the property which you will actually be able to use. To get this figure, measure the interior of the office space where you will actually be working. Make sure the usable square footage is enough for your business.

Next, find out about utilities. For some properties, the utilities are included in the lease. But, for others, whoever rents the office space is responsible for paying for the heat, electric, and water bills. If you are responsible for these bills, it can obviously make a big difference in the amount you are paying each month for your office space.

If you depend on foot traffic for retail sales make sure your office space is visible from the street and that there is adequate parking. Don't rent an office space that is secluded unless your business does not rely on customers or clients coming in. If you do have customers during the day, be sure the location has adequate parking. You do not want customers or clients choosing not to stop at your business because the parking lot is full.

Find out about outside signage ordinances for the area. In some cases the landlord is responsible for providing signage, which saves the tenant money. In some cases the city or township may have certain laws about what types of signs an office space is allowed to have. For example, you may not be allowed to put up a neon business sign or a billboard that is taller than six feet. It is important to check the ordinances so that you do not get fined and so that you do not have to take down any expensive signage.

Lastly, ask about the onsite management services and get to know who's managing the building. An onsite management team is indispensable. Should an issue arise, an onsite team can act immediately, responsively and effectively. Look around, is the place clean? Attentive onsite management teams routinely take care of the details that keep the building running smoothly.

Finally, be diligent. Get as much information as possible, and work to understand issues before you make your selection. By sticking to these principles, you decision will always be the wise choice. Never overpay, but if the numbers are right, don't be afraid to pay a little extra for that perfect location. In the end, the building should contribute to your company's bottom line.