Archive By Author - Jana Adkins
A day out for the guys
Salons that pamper women with massages, hair stylings and facials have flourished, growing into a $13 billion industry with an estimated 18,000 businesses in existence in the spa-services industry.
New SCV chamber chief has full plate
With the holidays just days away, Maricopa City, Ariz., resident Terri Kingery has to plan her son's 11th birthday, celebrate the holidays, pack up her household and personal belongings and find a place to live in the Santa Clarita Valley. All that by Jan. 4, when she starts her new job as president and CEO of the SCV Chamber of Commerce. Kingery has served as the president and CEO of the Maricopa City Chamber of ...
Small-business lending drops in past two years
A report recently released by the California Reinvestment Coalition revealed that small-business lending in California from 2007 through the end of 2009 decreased by almost 1.5 million loans and $21 billion.
Dealerships drive toward recovery
The recession rolled into California, building like angry Santa Ana winds, creating havoc and taking a heck of a long time to blow out of town.
Help your schools with fundraising network app
A mobile-marketing strategist and busy mom of three boys thought there had to be a better way to help schools than hosting fundraisers and selling wrapping paper or magazines.
Local entrepreneurs team up to create ‘A-list’ operation
When Sally Van Swearingen and Catherine Weber joined up to launch their full-service hair and make-up studio a year ago, each brought a specific expertise to the business. Their collaboration has allowed the burgeoning business to branch out into working with studio and professional business people, brides and commercial videos.
Culture of management success
Sandra Silvestre never imagined herself working in the car-wash industry. Today, she manages the Valencia Auto Spa in Valencia.
Medical detectives for legal professionals
Local entrepreneur Andrea Smith is like the Sherlock Holmes of the medical and legal worlds - she investigates issues on behalf of attorneys representing clients with medical claims.
Nonprofit promotes SCV business
The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation grew out of an economic development committee formed by the SCV Chamber of Commerce when more than 70 local business leaders initiated a number of activities designed to call attention to the favorable business climate in the valley.
A market for hard-working families
What do two educated professionals - one formerly an accountant, and the other a pharmacist - have in common beside precision and accuracy?
Business Story Tips!
Do you have a story tip for the Business section? The Business section is always looking for news stories that will be of interest to the readers. The best way to report a tip is to provide as much information as you can, to help us promptly sort through the multiple leads that come in each day. However, the more information you provide, the greater the chances are that we will better understand the significance ...
Card company makes small-business holiday
A Small Business Saturday shopping campaign was unveiled by American Express last week, encouraging consumers to shop at small brick-and-mortar stores in their community Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Jana Adkins: Open letter to Business readers
When I first joined The Signal as business editor three months ago, I was thrilled. A resident of the city since 1994, I've subscribed to the newspaper since I moved here. And while my previous employment took me out of the SCV nearly daily for 16 years, the one entity that kept me connected locally was The Signal. Having been afforded the opportunity to both live and work in Santa Clarita, I have come to ...
Westfield opens its Shops at the Patios
Westfield Valencia Town Center celebrated the grand opening Thursday of several clusters of new outdoor stores called Shops at the Patios.
Baby bums lead to new service
With experts warning that disposable diapers are filling landfills at alarming rates, one local couple - expecting their first child any day - decided to launch a business dedicated to meeting both family and environmental needs. "We wanted to use a diaper-delivery service," said Christopher Walker, 31. "But we couldn't find a local business that provided the service." The husband-and-wife team founded Blessed Bums, an organic cloth-diaper-delivery service. Laura Gately, 26, handles the accounting and ...
Articles By Author - Jana Adkins
Auto repair shop thrives on good service
Dan Carpenter first opened his Santa Clarita automotive service in October 1988, specializing in the repair of Honda and Acura vehicles.
AMS Fulfillment’s growth led to rapid-fire expansion
AMS Fulfillment's meteoric growth over the past decade led to the company's leasing of 13 different buildings scattered throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.
Premier America Credit Union planning expansion
When members speak, Premier America Credit Union listens.
Chevy introduces the most new product in decade
Just like General Motor's iconic muscle cars that helped the brand revolutionize the market, Chevrolet is revved and roaring to the marketplace with more new products than the public has seen in a decade.
Two new auto dealerships opt to open in Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita is already home to the largest collection of automotive dealerships in Southern California, giving residents a wide selection from which to shop and buy locally. But two more dealerships announced last year they are opening for business.
Santa Clarita’s unemployment rate drops
Santa Clarita's unemployment rate dropped to 6.3 percent in February, according to data released Friday by the California Employment Development Division.
Retailer says buying habits have shifted
First opened in 1972, retailer Bouquet Auto Parts has been a part of the economic changes and trends in Santa Clarita for over 40 years, said its co-owner, Owen Powell.
Office vacancies fall
The economic snapshot report for December 2012 was released by the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation – or SCVEDC – on March 21.
Purchasing a home can be tricky these days
Editor's Note: This is the last of a two-part series on the local real estate market. Last Sunday's story focused on the homeowner, or seller. Today's story focuses on the buyer.
Santa Clarita's unemployment rate rises
After dropping to a low of 6 percent in November, Santa Clarita's jobless numbers crept back up during the post-holiday season and stood at 6.7 percent in January, state officials reported this week.
Men’s Wearhouse founder speaks at VIA B2B
"Compassion and forgiveness are just as important as accountability and hard work," said George Zimmer, founder and executive chairman of the Men's Wearhouse.
SCV: Home sales continue march to recovery
Santa Clarita Valley home sales and prices continued their housing-slump recovery in February, the Southland Regional Association of Realtors reported Tuesday.
Low inventory marks home market recovery
Editor's Note: This is the first of a two-part series on the local real estate market. Today's story focuses on the homeowner, or seller. The series concludes next Sunday with the focus on the buyer. In a stabilizing real estate market, marked by rising home sales and moderate price gains, a severe shortage of homes listed for sale characterizes this particular housing recovery. The lack of inventory in Santa Clarita is the "major factor slowing ...
Homebuilder buys more lots for SCV homes
KB Home acquired 54 finished lots in a land purchase agreement with Newhall Land for a new community called Charleston at River Village in Santa Clarita, the homebuilder announced on Wednesday.
Learning how to get revenue from your website
Merely attracting streams of visitors to your website doesn't automatically translate into revenue growth for a business, said Erick Arndt, founder of SCV Startup.
