Last year was a very good year for retail sales in the greater Tri-Cities. For the first time, taxable retail sales in the two counties breached the $6 billion mark, ending 2019 at nearly $6.4 billion, as the Benton-Franklin Trends graph shows.Taxable sales grew year over year by 9.8%. This...
When one door closes, another opens – in this case quite literally.The unexpected closure of a neighboring business and a spring surge in community donations prompted Community Thrift’s expansion.The 1½-year-old thrift shop at 303 Wellsian Way in Richland recently took over the lease of the storefront once occupied by Cascade...
The Covid-19 pandemic and a supply shortage could prevent a ban on single-use plastic bags from taking effect in Washington on Jan. 1.Gov. Jay Inslee signed a reusable bag bill — a plastic bag ban — into law in March after it passed in both the House and Senate. The...
By East Benton County Historical SocietyWhen the Golden Arches of McDonald’s first emblazoned across the skylines of Othello and Prosser, the glow dazzled the rural communities with pride and a turnout of civic and elected leaders sharing a first McDonald’s breakfast in their towns.What occurred in those communities and what...
Tri-City retailers are staffing up for the holiday shopping season even as customers head online because of the pandemic.U.S. shoppers will spend more than $189 billion online during the holiday season, a 33% increase that represents two years’ worth of typical growth, according to the Adobe Analytics Holiday Forecast 2020.The...
Local manufacturing businesses and jobs have experienced a resurgence in recent years that needs to continue for our state’s livelihood and connection to the global economy.Before the pandemic, the manufacturing sector employed 11.6 million workers in the United States. During the past three years, about 500,000 manufacturing jobs were added...
One goal for employers is to hire and then incentivize the brightest talent available to remain with the employer and grow the business over time. So, what are the components of a compelling compensation package that keeps the prized executive employee with the company?The most recognizable component of the executive’s...
The Covid-19 pandemic has shed light on the many holes in America’s social safety net — workers in fields deemed “nonessential” are struggling to make ends meet across Eastern Washington. Many of those deemed essential find themselves in harm’s way.Fortunately, there is one resource that working families in the Tri-Cities...
I have often said that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and that could not be truer in Central Washington’s rural communities.The owners and employees of Main Street businesses are integral to the well-being of our communities, and the support for small businesses I have witnessed during my...
Executive manager, Audi/BMW of Tri-CitiesChristopher MartinezNumber of employees you oversee: 59Brief background of your business:Sales, parts and service of new and pre-owned Audis and BMWs as well as selling of any other brand pre-owned as well.How did you land your current role? How long have you been in it?My family...
