2013 Business Archive Stories

Getting your money's worth or being satisfied with a purchase are critical tenets for savvy consumers. But when it comes to handling sub-par experiences, both consumer and business advocates say it's best to let cooler heads prevail before becoming threatening or considering litigation. If you aren't happy with a product or servi

Anyone who has shopped at or sold at a garage sale or on eBay knows the quality of items runs a vast spectrum — and both the buyer and the seller are looking for a win. For people who aren't sure what exactly they've got, however, listing an item online or setting it out on a table in the driveway can be a stressful proposition.

Marysville Raminator visits dealership John L. Sullivan Dodge in Marysville is providing a behind-the-scenes opportunity today to see the award winning Raminator monster truck up close. The Raminator is on display from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at 529 Fifth St. During the Ram Truck exhibit, the public can also

Between the flowers, tuxedos, dresses, dinners and dance tickets — to start with — springtime prom season can bring out cash and credit as well as butterflies and romance. And while the recession might have capped some spending, local and national business owners and analysts say this go-around has offered a bit of a bounce b

Most everybody knows that agriculture is the chief driver of Yuba County's economy. The county's 2011 crop was nearly $213 million, shattering the previous record in 2009 by some $14 million. While the jobless rate was rising and the bottom was falling out of the housing market, farming continued to thrive. At the same time, Stev

Prospective college students and their parents have long had to navigate the world of financial aid, student loans and tuition to realize their higher education goals. A recent Princeton Review survey of high school seniors nationwide, however, found students are more worried about loan debt than attending the college of their dreams.

Sacramento's Nonprofit Resource Center Executive Director Gail Catlin said three things can help nonprofits get on the right path: striving for efficiency, creating collaborative relationships and having a diverse revenue mix. "New forms of funding have come about with social media," Catlin said. "A lot more of the crowdfunding approach.

A Mid-Valley industrial designer has received a US patent for a guitar amplifier that is lightweight and affordable yet has the sound of traditional tube-type amplifiers. Jason Sannar, product design manager for Gibbs Group LLC of Yuba City, was granted his first patent, which protects the design of the EM-1 guitar amplifier made by Four

With the closing of B. Dalton Bookseller at the Yuba Sutter Mall and Amicus Books in downtown Marysville, both in early 2010, the picture for book buyers in Marysville and Yuba City didn't look good. The two towns were left with only one bookstore, the longstanding Book House, which sells used books in Yuba City. In 2013, the situation h

Bill Duthler stood next to photos of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg to tell people at Yuba City City Hall about the formulas the three men followed to business success. "He figured out that people wanted to organize their own information," Duthler said Wednesday of Gates. Duthler, the chapter chairman in Sacramento fo

After several years of houses frequently popping up on the market due to foreclosure, most Yuba-Sutter mortgage professionals and lenders are seeing payment deficiency rates drop. Mixed results from federal mortgage-assistance initiatives like the Home Affordable Modification Program and Home Affordable Refinance Program have played a ro

Lissa Wallace of Marysville is not part of a growing trend. Wallace drinks a six pack of Dr Pepper every day. She drinks two 12-ounce cans at work, three when she gets home and one before going to bed. The habit began in the sixth grade, she said. "And I've been addicted to it every day since then," she added. For more th

Mary's Gone Crackers, makers of gourmet cookies and crackers, has announced that a leading Japanese rice-snack producer has acquired a majority stake in the Gridley company. Kameda Seika Co. Ltd., Japan's largest manufacturer of rice crackers, has taken a 77.8 percent share of the company, the Gridley firm announced Tuesday. Mary's Gone

Papa Murphy's Fundraiser benefits Relay team Fundraising is planned Wednesday for the "Going to Bat for Bob" Relay for Life team at Papa Murphy's Take 'N Bake Pizza, 962 Gray Ave., Yuba City. The business will donate 20 percent of that day's regular priced food sales to the team which will take part in the A

WEDNESDAY Series: How to become a well-run business at 7:30 a.m. at Yuba City City Council chambers, 1201 Civic Center Blvd. Third of six sessions. Hosted by city of Yuba City. Free. Call 822-4762. Thiobencarb stewardship video at 8 a.m. at Butchie's Pool, 144 Gibson Ave., Yuba City; for Sutter County rice farmers. Sponsored by S

Dear J.T. & Dale: I am a certified X-ray and CT technologist who is having a difficult time getting interviews with hospitals and outpatient imaging centers. Is there anything wrong with my enclosed resume and cover letter? — John Dale: There is nothing wrong with your resume, John. People often send them t

Information is power, particularly when making a life-changing and important financial decision like buying or selling a house. Websites like Zillow, Realtor.com and Trulia and their respective mobile apps are drawing the eyeballs of buyers, sellers, real estate agents and curious neighbors with property values, foreclosure notices and m

Under a bill recently introduced in the state Senate, bars and restaurants would be able to serve alcohol for two extra hours — till 4 a.m. The bill, SB 635, introduced by state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would allow cities and counties to submit a local plan to the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to extend ser

Sutter County Ag Stewardship video on April 3 The thiobencarb stewardship video will be shown in April for Sutter County rice farmers who did not attend the mandatory stewardship meetings held earlier. The video will be seen at 8 a.m. April 3 at Butchie's Pool, 144 Gibson Ave., Yuba City. For reserva

MONDAY Workshop: Landlord/tenant, in Spanish – 2:30 p.m. at California Rural Legal Assistance, 511 D St., Marysville. Call 742-5191. TUESDAY Workshop: Workers compensation – 2 p.m. at California Rural Legal Assistance, 511 D St., Marysville. Call 742-5191. WEDNESDAY Series: How

Dear J.T. & Dale: I am a single, 53-year-old female who has worked for the same grocery chain for more than 20 years. My title is supervisor. I work 18 hours a week. I have applied online to several places, but no luck. I've let friends, customers, etc., know that I'm looking for something part-time, since I'm available four d

Financial advisers sternly warn against prematurely pulling funds from retirement accounts. But the job market and the recession's lingering effects have made the move usually described as a last resort an unfortunate reality for some people. "Sometimes, you know, you just don't have any choice," said Azim Financial Services brok

California voters in the November elections rejected Proposition 37, a controversial ballot measure that would have required labels on certain genetically modified food products. Earlier this month, Whole Foods Market Inc., a national grocery chain selling organic and healthy foods, mandated that all items in its US and Canadian stores note in t

Several California crops and commodities are celebrating last year's performances, but none more than the raisin, wine and table grape industries. We heard from the raisin and wine grape sectors earlier, and now we learn that table grape growers reached a remarkable level by shipping 100 million 19-pound boxes or the equivalent. That inc

Dear J.T. & Dale: I just turned 31, and I'm having a difficult time finding a career path. My mom says I should look into nursing, but I can't see myself being a nurse. Another idea my mom presented is becoming a mechanic. I like cars, but I'd rather drive them than fix them. My true dream is to be an actor. But the en