Being successful in business requires many things, including intelligence, tenacity and…a good wardrobe? As odd as that may sound at first, there’s simply no way around the fact that a professional wardrobe is critical, no matter what your gender. read more »

It’s a rare employee who hasn’t dreamed of the relative luxury of working from home. And although there are many benefits, from ditching the killer commute to having more control over your work schedule, there are also a number of pitfalls that most who work from home — whether they are telecommuting or self-employed — can fall victim to. read more »

Business travel can be a less-than-appealing venture. Early morning flights. Crossing time zones. Days packed with meetings to justify the cost of travel. And, at the end of the day, an anonymous hotel room that is indistinguishable from hundreds of other hotel rooms.

Bed and breakfasts, frequently thought of more as places for a romantic getaway weekend, can also serve as a welcoming haven for the weary business traveler who wants a change from their usual accommodations — and more business travelers appear to be taking advantage of the home-like qualities bed and breakfasts have to offer. read more »

Hawryluk In the wake of the subprime lender fiasco of recent months, where a slew of mortgage companies specializing in providing subprime loans — high risk mortgages granted to individuals who otherwise may not have qualified for a more standard, “A paper” loan — went out of business, there have been considerable changes in the regulations that govern subprime lending, making it more difficult for borrowers who may have been granted a subprime loan in the past to obt read more »

The White Horse Golf Community development, a planned community of 224 luxury homes and a 456-acre, 18-hole golf course situated between Kingston and Indianola, has had to delay the official opening of its golf course yet again. The current scheduling hitch is due to a delayed permit review at the Kitsap County Department of Community Development office. The course, which was expected to be opened for play in April, will not be allowed to open until a final permit, dealing with storm drainage work in the course’s parking lot, has been reviewed and approved by the county. read more »

Commercial construction is still going strong all around the Kitsap Peninsula, with various projects ranging from mixed use to health care facilities in the works. A sampling of projects that are under way: GIG HARBOR read more »

Ottercraft owners Nanette Gehlen and Don Temple, along with their senior staff, have spent most of their professional lives in the boat industry.

“We all got our start at Munson Manufacturing in Edmonds,” said Gehlen. After leaving Munson and working for other manufacturers for several years, however, the two reached a stage where it just made more sense to head out on their own.

“At one point Don and I looked at each other and said, ‘you know, there could be so much more out there,” said Gehlen. read more »

Mobile phones represent one of the most competitive technology markets — and that market is about to get even more cutthroat, with the imminent arrival of iPhone, by technology giant, Apple, Inc.

Unlike rival Microsoft, Apple has a well-deserved reputation for “getting it right the first time,” which began with the introduction of the McIntosh computer in 1984. And from all reports, the iPhone is no exception. read more »

Businesses need banks, there’s simply no way around it. From checking accounts to lines of credit to business loans, banks provide a vital financial service to all small business owners.

In today’s Internet-focused society, it’s become quite easy to set up and maintain bank accounts, lines of credit — even loans — without ever setting foot in a bank. But in the long run, there are significant benefits to be had by building a long-term, personal, financial and business relationship with both a bank and its employees. read more »