Donations made to Tri-City area Goodwill stores listed for nationwide salesA small team of employees spend their workday at Goodwill Industries of the Columbia sorting through unique instruments, collectible jewelry, antique artwork, vintage toys and often the unexpected—like framed animal teeth.“The teeth I can’t get out of my head for...

Washington Retail Association monitoring several key issues affecting retail sector this legislative sessionIt’s already starting to look a lot like Christmas as retailers rearrange their store layouts and offer new merchandise for the holiday season.With Thanksgiving a week later than usual—this year it falls on Nov. 28; in 2018 it...

By D. Patrick JonesThe sale of goods is big business in the greater Tri-Cities. As Benton-Franklin Trends data reveals, the retail sector has consistently ranked as the fourth largest employer in the area’s workforce. Over the course of the past 15 years, local retailers’ share of the workforce has stayed...

CEO/owner of Marla June’s Clothing Co.Number of employees you oversee: 10 Marla June BarnhartBrief background about your education: Associate degree, Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Oregon.How did you find your current role? I became chief operating officer for Marla June’s Clothing in 2005, when I changed my career from...

Benton County’s total increases, Franklin County’s total dipsA steady increase in construction once again helped boost the state’s total taxable retail sales.The most recent numbers released by the state are for the first quarter of 2019, and showed 4.9 percent growth over the same period in 2018, reaching $39.4 billion. Data...

Professional Investment Management Services celebrates 20 years in business in 2020A Kennewick independent boutique investment advisory firm is closing in on 20 years of business next year.That’s the case for Professional Investment Management Services, or PIMS for short, at 7103 W. Clearwater Ave., Suite B, upstairs in the new Copiers...

Sign Gypsies owner delivers personalized messages for friends, family, customersRobin Wojtanik of Richland didn’t expect to become an expert on Tri-City area soil density when she launched her new business, Sign Gypsies, this summer.But putting up signs with custom messages at homes, schools and businesses has turned her into one.“North...

By Marilou SheaIf you’re a foodie, you’re probably head down planning your Thanksgiving dinner in earnest right about now, though the ultimate foodie would have started in September when harvest was underway. And this foodie would have already taste-tested new recipes, twisted from the traditional ones, and scoured local stores...

By Kris JohnsonThe lack of access to affordable, high-quality child care isn’t just a problem for families. A recently released report shows that it’s also a major issue for employers and for the overall economy.The report, “The Mounting Costs of Child Care: Impacts of child care affordability and access to...

By Don C. BrunellEmployers and employees need to set aside their differences and partner with one another. The same advice should be heeded by our elected officials.Easier said than done, especially in a vitriolic and politically-charged atmosphere punctuated by an absence of listening and a profusion of people shouting at...