Increasing prices to offset rising costs doesn't need to alienate customers.(NEWSMAKERS)

Recent headlines continue to warn us about skyrocketing natural gas pricing that will take place this winter. Gas price hikes are expected to be in the 50-percent range.

No coin laundry owner likes to raise the price of goods and services, but when operating costs go up substantially it sometimes becomes necessary to offset the costs by raising prices.

When handled correctly, however, this may not necessarily mean alienating customers. Everyone that drives an automobile has been affected by the increase in gasoline prices, and as natural gas prices