I have a friend who travels a lot, and he is always curious about what industry or company is unique to the cities he visits. Take for example the city of Muncie, Ind. The Ball Corporation – which became a household name for manufacturing the eponymous glass home canning jars – is still a dominant industry there. Now a major packaging conglomerate that no longer even produces the jars that made it famous, Ball Corp. has had an enormous impact on that modest Northeastern Indiana town. Ball State University is found there as well (clever name, huh?), and Muncie has a rich history of generations of families who have made their living as Ball employees.

Years ago, while spending a summer in Hawaii, I encountered some local teenagers who wanted to know where I was from. Right away it became clear that they didn’t have a really good conception of U.S. geography. When I told them that I was from St. Louis, they said, “Oh, is that in California?” “No,” I said, “it’s in Missouri, which is a lot farther east.” “Oh, you mean New York?” “No,” I said, wondering whether these guys had ever seen a map, “It’s kind of in-between those two,” “Florida?” they said, and then I had an idea. “You see that Budweiser poster over there? Well if you look closely at the bottom, it says St. Louis, Missouri. I’m from the place where they make Budweiser beer.” That did it – I could see the light bulb go off, and from their smiles I figured they approved.

Beer and canning jars are just two examples of the myriad ways that people have devised to make money over the years. Some professions have hundreds of years of history behind them, others are newer, but no less valid. I know one man who made a large fortune in the dried, packaged bean business. Go figure.

In every issue of NETWORK we present New Businesses in Town – a chance to acquaint yourself with some of the latest commercial ventures in the area. This month, we also feature a story about some of the more unusual businesses in town, including a termite-sniffing dog and a man who specializes in singing telegrams. If you look carefully, you’ll also read about a company that has garnered millions in venture capital, all so that it can study nematodes. The fact is, it doesn’t matter what business you’re in, as long as you’re successful.

Regards,

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