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Using holiday-like storytelling to create sales success

Exchanging experiences that offered lessons on life can help you build rapport

December 18, 2008

It's likely you will be with family over the Christmas holiday.There will be great times, reunions, happiness, tears of sadness and joy, great food, gifts, people you love, and people you kind of love. And did I mention great food?Most people

Government steps certain to influence future of investments

Financial sector will feel biggest impact, but energy, infrastructure also eyed

December 18, 2008

Andrew Leckey

The huffing and puffing throughout 2008 about shrewd investment maneuvers to be well-positioned for a new U.S. president have vanished into thin air.From the economy to financial institutions to international terrorism, many of President-elect a

Miners hope for turnaround

December 18, 2008

Paul Read

What a difference a year makes, unfortunately for the mining industry. Last year at this time, mining executives were giddy, with metals prices rising, demand soaring, and enough capital available to fuel aggressive exploration and then, prices and

Lumber makers foresee further price declines

December 18, 2008

David Cole

The lumber industry has been hammered this year, and a downturn in demand that has hurt the industry likely will persist for another year, until the U.S. economy and the nation's housing market improve, industry representatives say.Shawn Church,

Farmers looking for good yields, higher prices

December 18, 2008

Jeanne Gustafson

Agricultural industry observers here say there's a bit of trepidation in the air concerning 2009, following a year that saw both prices and yields drop for wheat, dried peas, lentils, and chickpeas, all among the Inland Northwest's primary will be

Photo courtesy of the Spokane Regional Sports Commission

Soft year expected for tourism

December 18, 2008

Jeanne Gustafson

Tourism is expected to slow further in Spokane and North Idaho in the coming year, though event bookings remain strong, observers say.Harry Sladich, president and CEO of the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau, says a downward trend

Kootenai County in slower mode

December 18, 2008

Mike McLean

The Kootenai County economy won't be as vibrant in 2009 as it was earlier this decade, but business advocates there aren't anticipating a bust either."Things have slowed down, but we're faring a bit better than most of the country," says Coe, of

High-tech looks to weather storm

December 18, 2008

Jeanne Gustafson

High-tech manufacturers here are casting a cautious eye on 2009, and indicate that they plan to stay as lean as possible to be ready if sales growth, which already is beginning to soften, turns to a decline.For one such company, the economic its

Retail sales said likely to stay flat

December 18, 2008

Retail sales are expected to remain relatively flat here next year, though they could rise or fall slightly, economic observers here say.Randy Barcus, chief economist for Spokane-based Avista Corp., says he's more optimistic about retail sales a

Rendering courtesy of Zeck Butler Architects PS

Bankers hope for improvement

December 18, 2008

Richard Ripley

Spokane-area bankers, whose prospects rise and fall with the regional economy, say they're peering into a clouded crystal ball as they make projections for 2009."It's probably the first time in my career that I would have to say I have no idea