by - July 3, 2013 1:36 pm
Fort Smith area jobless rate rises to 7.7%
The combination of a 0.23% gain in the Fort Smith regional workforce number and a 5.3% increase in the number of area unemployed pushed the regional jobless rate higher in…
Special Sections
by - June 28, 2013 4:04 pm
Study highlights pattern shifts among shoppers
Shoppers are normally creatures of habit but this past spring behaviors shifted, according to a survey by RetailNext Inc. Using so-called "big data," the survey studied 41 million shopping trips…
by - June 28, 2013 9:46 am
The Supply Side briefs: Kimberly Clark honored, Nestle R&D
• Kimberly Clark garners procurement honors Kimberly-Clark Corporation earned top honors from the Procurement Leaders Awards in London. These awards recognize and celebrate the excellence in the world of procurement…
by - June 26, 2013 6:30 pm
Wal-Mart cans contract with Paula Deen
It’s been a bad week for Southern cooking celebrity Paula Deen, as lucrative corporate endorsements continue to slip through her hands, the most recent being a multimillion dollar contract with…
by - June 24, 2013 11:03 am
Suppliers face audit pressures from big box retailers
Retailers and their third-party auditing firms continue to scour payment records of their product and service suppliers in pursuit of more than $1 billion annually – a practice that has…
by - June 22, 2013 2:57 pm
Razorbacks name new communicator for men’s basketball, golf teams
Patrick Pierson, who was responsible for all communication efforts at Florida Gulf Coast University as assistant athletics director for communications, has been named associate media relations director at Arkansas, it…
by - June 21, 2013 12:04 am
The Supply Side: Retailer business briefs
• Federal authorities seize 14 franchises of 7-Eleven Convenience store giant 7-Eleven said it will require an internal review of personnel records among its 5,600 franchise owners after federal authorities…
by - June 20, 2013 11:27 am
Duo hope to build on NWA retail sector
It’s a simple concept that excites Adam Kuettel and Christian Baldwin: connect retail ideas with retail experience and, possibly, retail money in such a way to create another level of…
by - June 20, 2013 10:18 am
The Compass Report: Central Arkansas economy slows
First quarter 2013 economic conditions in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway (central Arkansas) metro area were down slightly compared to the first quarter of 2012. The quarter saw gains in…
by - June 20, 2013 10:12 am
The Compass Report: Trends positive for NWA economy
Economic conditions in Northwest Arkansas have been strong for several quarters, and the first quarter 2013 economy improved compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. The first quarter 2013 grade…
by - June 20, 2013 10:05 am
The Compass Report: Economy slows in Fort Smith area
The Fort Smith regional economy ended 2012 on a positive note, but first quarter 2013 conditions did not continue the trend, according to data collected for The Compass Report. First…
by - June 19, 2013 6:33 pm
Growth for suppliers linked to e-commerce
Wal-Mart is keenly focused on leveraging its assets to boost the bottomline profits in an era when sluggish growth and hyper competition have curtailed top line revenue growth. But suppliers…
by - June 17, 2013 10:58 pm
Retailer briefs: Lowe’s acquisition, J.C. Penney staffing
• Lowes to expand its California footprint Lowe's agreed to buy Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corp. for $205 million, as the California-based Orchard filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday (June…
by - June 17, 2013 10:24 pm
The Supply Side briefs: Del-Monte explores sale, Kraft division changes
• Del Monte explore sale Del Monte is reportedly exploring a sale of its canned-food business, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the matter. The…
by - June 17, 2013 8:32 pm
Sam’s Club ‘Sensory Lab’ tests holiday products
Sam’s Club puts every fresh product sold in its clubs through a rigorous six-step regimen because company officials said its members expect quality, diversity and value in return for their…
by - June 17, 2013 4:36 pm
Fort Smith area building permit values up 54%
The value of building permits in Fort Smith, Greenwood and Van Buren were a combined $34.602 million in May. The figure is up significantly from last month, with $18.35 million…
by - June 13, 2013 2:26 pm
Enplanement trends improve for XNA, Fort Smith
With not as many service points as other regional airports, the severe weather during May was a cause in Fort Smith Regional Airport traffic declining almost 3% in May. Traffic…
by - June 13, 2013 10:54 am
Retailers report stronger sales in May
Improved consumer confidence and spending helped drive up retail sales in May. The National Retail Federation reports May retail sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) increased 0.6% (seasonally adjusted)…
by - June 11, 2013 6:07 pm
The Supply Side: Dole takeover bid, General Mills boosts forecast
• Dole Food CEO launches takeover bid The Dole Food Company, one of the world's biggest fruit largest producers, received an unsolicited buyout offer from 90-year-old CEO David Murdock. The…
by - June 11, 2013 5:04 pm
CEO Andrews exits Collective Bias
John Andrews, one of the founders and CEO of Collective Bias has exited the company, according to a company press release on Tuesday. “John is an entrepreneur at heart and…