Opinion

Reviewing the ‘bargain branding’ rules

Is branding really worth it? The short answer is yes. Where it gets tricky is figuring out how much to invest in your business’ brand activation strategy. Whether you’re a…

Recruiting ‘outside the box’

Every company, regardless of size or industry, wants to skim the best recruits off the top of the talent pool. The fact is, though, if you want employees who think outside…

Riff Raff: Observations, drug money, ‘far away eyes,’ and gum and trinkets

There is this guy dressed as a clown singing The Who’s “Pinball Wizard” to the music of Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” Genius. America is great again, already. Even if we…

Delegation can boost enterprise value

I recently had the chance to listen to a Vistage presentation by a fellow M&A adviser. In addition to nodding my head in agreement at pretty much every word, I…

The future of advertising

Marketing experts from across the world gathered at the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) Digital Conference in Austin, Texas, recently to share views on the trends guiding and shaping the…

Riff Raff: Observations, corporate pieholes, and the ultimate halftime show

It’s been one of those weeks where one feels they drew the short straw on a United Airlines flight. Hell, not even the Luftwaffe had passengers removed by Hitler. Or…

Previewing Arkansas’ amendment debates ahead of the 2018 election

There were 31 resolutions filed in 2017 proposing amendments to the Constitution. Only two of them made the cut. Both of them will be subject to a lot of debate…

‘The food’s the thing,’ but not everything

“My friends say I make the best barbeque ribs ever and should open my own restaurant …” were words I often heard in initial calls from potential small business owners…

Riff Raff: Observations, germ wagons, and getting state-ified

Should have been at the gun range this week getting some religion as the Lord R. God intended. What follows are musings that might have occurred between busting caps for…

What we’ve done in the name of national security

The first few months of Donald Trump’s presidency has seen a flurry of activity. Much of this has been enacted through the president’s power of executive orders. Of course, as…

Gov. Hutchinson: Legislative accomplishments and ‘greater milestones’

After nearly three months, the work of the Arkansas General Assembly is nearing completion. And while there is more work to be done, I am very pleased that all of…

Estate planning and potential pitfalls

Estate planning is a blueprint for the accumulation, conservation and distribution of assets that accomplish your personal tax and nontax objectives. Action now can strongly influence, if not determine, what will…

Laws that apply to liability lawsuits are changing

Arkansas employers have reason to breathe a sigh of relief. Twenty-four years after the passage of the Arkansas Civil Rights Act, the General Assembly has finally closed some significant loopholes…

Riff Raff: Observations, the politics of color, and celebrating creativity

Again we take a few bite size bits from the thoughts that bounce around my head during a regular week. Or an irregular week. Normal seems to have taken an…

Touting tourism

Earlier this week, I joined nearly 400 tourism leaders at the 43rd Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism. It was an opportunity to highlight the outstanding accomplishments of those in Arkansas’s…

Riff Raff: Observations, good whisky and hipster logos

A lot of stuff rolls through the days and weeks and hyperactive impulsive minds of us enemies of the American people who daily and deftly deliver dishonesty. What follows is…

How regulatory relief can be good for the economy

There has been a lot of talk lately about loosening regulations and how that could be good for the economy. There has also been just as much talk about how…

‘The Slants’ and a challenge to trademark law

It would hardly come as a surprise that most businesses wish to stand out in some way. Some businesses choose to stand out through a superior customer experience, while others…

Investing in medical marijuana is a high risk, high reward venture

In November, Arkansas voters passed the Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016, which legalized marijuana use for medicinal purposes and created a state regulatory regime for the cultivation, distribution and sale…

It’s time to end Dodd-Frank’s hit on community banks

Arkansas is home to dozens of community banks, and it is not hard to see their positive impact on our communities. They not only provide traditional banking accounts for thousands…