Retail and Business

Squeezed by tight credit and tempted by record high gold prices, small business owners are finding an alternative to the bank: the pawn shop.

CNNMoney reported that more than half of the customers at online …

Eight of the Des Moines area’s most respected men and women were selected by dsm magazine to be honored as the first Sages Over 70 winners. The honorees are Robert Burnett, Monroe Colston, Michael Gartner, …

The Young Professionals Connection (YPC) is encouraging interested organizations to submit registrations for the 2011 Nonprofit Forum on Sept. 22 at Jasper Winery. Space is limited for the event, which is free, the YPC said. …

The Institute for Supply Management’s factory index fell to 50.9 in July, the lowest reading in two years.

The index was 55.3 in June. A reading above 50 signals expansion, but the 50.9 reading was …

The Young Professionals Connection (YPC) will have a Mentors & Mulligans golf event from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at Copper Creek Golf Course, 4825 Copper Creek Drive., Pleasant Hill.

Golfers will have the …

The Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute is seeking proposals for a potential project partnership involving an area nonprofit organization and the 2011-2012 Community Leadership Program class.

Past projects include improvements to the Amos Hiatt Middle …

The Business Conditions Index for the nine-state Mid-American region fell for the fourth time in the past five months, according to the Creighton Economic Forecasting Group.

The July index reading of 54.1, derived from a …

U.S. construction spending unexpectedly rose in June to touch a six-month high, Reuters reported.

Construction spending advanced 0.2 percent to an annual rate of $772.32 billion, according to figures released today by the U.S. Department …

The National Women’s Business Council and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will host the Iowa Summit for Women Entrepreneurs from 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

The event will take place at the FFA …

The Greater Des Moines Partnership Young Professionals Connection will host its second-quarter recap event from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 2 at Big City Burgers and Greens in Capital Square. In addition to a …