Only at Cobizmag.com

10 ways to improve your business without spending money
When cash is tight, you must find ways to ensure your company's survival without breaking the bank. Here are 10 ideas to get you started, including how to "hug" your customers, engage employees and lead with balance. By AJ Steger

Made in America stamp has staying power
ColoradoBiz recently sat down with Denver author Bruce Wolk to talk about his newly released shopping guide "Made Here, Baby!: The Essential Guide to Finding the Best American-Made Products for Your Kids." The book includes 400 American manufacturers of toys, games, apparel, furniture, baby gear and other items for children. By Patricia Kaowthumrong

Who wants to be a greenionaire?
Marketing strategists Wendy Cobrda and Amy Hebard spoke at the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability Forum last week about the behaviors of consumers who buy "green" products and why the sustainability market remains wide open. By Mary Butler

Become a fan of ColoradoBiz on Facebook
ColoradoBiz is now on Facebook. Click here and login to become a fan and have ColoradoBiz news, events, videos and podcasts posted to your personal Facebook page.

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In this month's issue

The economist: It's a puzzlement
"It's a puzzlement," sang Yul Brenner in "The King and I," as he tried to understand the differences between East and West. Alan Greenspan chose the word conundrum. No matter what we call them, clearly something odd has been going on in the world economy over the last decade. By Tucker Hart Adams

Entirely homegrown

ColoradoBiz managing editor Mike Taylor plans to plans to subsist entirely on his Denver backyard garden this August. Follow his journey, which includes interviewing local business owners for tips and tools. Watch his latest video about growing potatoes; read about it here.

Attention Private Companies

Nominate your company for ColoradoBiz magazine's annual ranking of the state's Top 250 Private Companies, to be published in the September issue. Click here for the entry form.

Check out ColoradoBiz's new job board for job seekers and employers.

E-mail mbutler@cobizmag.com to submit your Playmakers or In Biz news

Our most popular stories

• 50 Colorado companies: Fueling the economic fire
• Too much beetle wood ain't enough
• Sorry, you're overqualified
• Sustainability spotlight: Goodwill Industries of Denver
• Executive edge: John Lester

Community Calendar

Check out ColoradoBiz's sponsored events, community events or submit an event.

On ColoradoBiz TV

Colorado Sustainable Design Awards

Celebrate the state's best architecture
ColoradoBiz wants to recognize statewide building projects that exemplify social, environmental and economic sustainability. The magazine is now accepting applications for the Colorado Sustainable Design Awards, a program launched in partnership with the American Institute for Architects (AIA Colorado), the Urban Land Institute (ULI Colorado) and United States Green Building Council, Colorado Chapter (USGBCC).

Hot Biz Deals

• SummitCove Keystone Vacation Lodging is offering a free night in Keystone! Book any two nights and receive the third night free. Use discount code "cobiz3" when you book online, or call us at 970-368-7023 to make a reservation.
• Maggiano's Little Italy's inaugural Great Balls of Fire meatball-cooking contest June 25 at Maggiano's Denver Pavilions will benefit four Denver-area fire stations: Station #11, Federal Heights Fire Station #40, North Metro Fire Rescue District and North Washington Fire Protection District. The winning recipe will be featured on the Maggiano's "specials" menu for one month; each time the dish is ordered, $2 will be donated to Make-A-Wish of Colorado; and the fire fighter with the winning recipe will receive $500 in Maggiano's gift certificates.
• Hotel Monaco celebrates Pride Month with its Mile High Pride package and Summer of Pride (enter "PRIDE" rate code) offers; Receive a complimentary weekend night when booking two nights and a $50 dining credit; or the package includes a bottle of wine, complimentary wine reception from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. nightly, morning coffee and tea service, a $50 dining certificate to Hamburger Mary's Bar & Grille, a cultural attractions and LGBT hot spots guide and 5 percent of room rate donated to Human Rights Campaign; rates start at $229 per night. Visit KimptonHotels.com, www.monaco-denver.com or call (800) 990-1303.
• Experience Denver this summer all for the Mile High City price of $52.80, including the Story Trek 5-Pack, a self-guided exploration that includes two admissions to five museums - Black American West Museum, Byers-Evans House Museum, Four Mile Historic Park, Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art and Molly Brown House Museum, (303) 832-4092. Click here to see more $52.80 deals.

See ColoradoBiz stories on Channel 7

Channel 7 and ColoradoBiz on "The Road to Recovery"
As the economy continues to challenge businesses and consumers, KMGH Channel 7 and ColoradoBiz are collaborating on stories that explore how businesses are coping - and succeeding - despite the downturn. Look for new installments of "The Road to Recovery" at 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays, during the second half of the 4 p.m. broadcast. You can also find them online at TheDenverChannel.com.