Anyone who thinks that food trucks are just a passing fad hasn't been paying attention. Around the country mobile eateries are gaining more and more popularity. But where to get those trucks? That's the question the Mac Shack's Dan Gearig has set out to answer with his new food truck fabrication biz, Red Beard Customs.

Thousands of miles separate, but Israel and Michigan operate in a parallel universe. What happens when you cross Michigan's established manufacturing base and high-tech mindset over to Israel's 3,000-plus tech start-ups? The Michigan Israel Business Bridge yields an array of academic and entrepreneurial matches.

Just one word: e-commerce. You thought we were going to say plastics, didn't you? The funny thing is, Rochester-based Brand Labs owes as much to plastics as it does to the Internet. Mixing old economy lessons with new economy business, Kevin Harman and Dane Downer's 3-year-old firm has found incredible success. Metromode finds out how.

Sarah Lurtz and Sarah Lapinski (affectionately known as "The Sarahs") are our guest bloggers this week. They are the owners and designers of a local independent clothing label called WOUND Menswear.  They both reside in Detroit proper and enjoy advocating for the city's revival. Check back here each weekday to read their thoughts on the fashion, starting a business and the state of manufacturing.