Chaos to commerce – South Coast troops aid Iraq
By Pacific Coast Business Times Staff / Friday, February 20th, 2009 / Top Stories / Comments Off on Chaos to commerce – South Coast troops aid Iraq
BAGHDAD, IRAQ — After decades of sanctions and six years of conflict, the sprawling neighborhoods of Iraq’s largest city are understandably in poor shape. But as security improves, Iraq’s densely-packed urban areas are coming back to life. With them have come the retail businesses that were all but given up for lost in the post-2003 Read More →
A passion for fashion
By Pacific Coast Business Times Staff / Sunday, February 15th, 2009 / Top Stories / Comments Off on A passion for fashion
As female celebrities show off their high-end couture at the Oscars on Feb. 22, Ann Deal will likely watch from home smiling. That’s because she’ll know that her company — Ventura-based Fashion Forms — made the bras many stars have hiding beneath their dresses. “Silicone bra pads or adhesives pads or anything to keep that Read More →
Sugar-coated sales – Valentine
By Pacific Coast Business Times Staff / Monday, February 9th, 2009 / Top Stories / Comments Off on Sugar-coated sales – Valentine
The poet Virgil said love conquers all things — but can it triumph over economic hardships and deliver healthy Valentine’s Day sales to recession-weary retailers? It looks like Cupid has his work cut out for him. California’s unemployment rate is at 9.3 percent, and many more people are fearful of losing their jobs. Retailers contacted Read More →
Let the building begin – Tea Fire rekindles home construction
By Pacific Coast Business Times Staff / Saturday, January 31st, 2009 / Top Stories / Comments Off on Let the building begin – Tea Fire rekindles home construction
While California will likely see construction decline for the fourth consecutive year in 2009, Santa Barbara contractors may keep humming along. The Nov. 13 Tea Fire, which scorched 1,940 acres and burned 241 homes, has introduced massive, and often high-end, building projects to the county. A total of 168 residences within the city of Santa Read More →
Clouds over Camarillo – Despite retail mecca, budget woes loom
By Pacific Coast Business Times Staff / Sunday, January 25th, 2009 / Top Stories / Comments Off on Clouds over Camarillo – Despite retail mecca, budget woes loom
Being home to one of California’s biggest factory outlet malls, Camarillo seems to hold a winning hand as the state’s recession worsens. But no city is immune to the Golden State’s budget mess, and the uncertainty is frustrating to longtime City Manager Jerry Bankston. “The absence of a state budget is creating insecurities in Camarillo Read More →
Reduce, reuse, recover – Recycling firms cope with drop in demand
By Pacific Coast Business Times Staff / Sunday, January 18th, 2009 / Top Stories / Comments Off on Reduce, reuse, recover – Recycling firms cope with drop in demand
Tumbling global demand has hit your recycling bin. Across the Tri-Counties, firms that sort and resell recycled goods onto the commodities markets have been hammered in recent months by a decline of up to 75 percent in the prices they receive. The downturn in prices for cans, steel, paper and plastic has forced companies – Read More →
In with the new – Solvang
By Pacific Coast Business Times Staff / Sunday, January 11th, 2009 / Top Stories / Comments Off on In with the new – Solvang
Touting a new name and a new look to go with the New Year, the Royal Scandinavian Inn has been transformed into Hotel Corque — soon to be the newest destination in the Santa Ynez Valley. The Solvang hotel, purchased by the Santa Ynez Band of the Chumash Indians in 2007, is currently undergoing massive Read More →
