A plea for help sent out to about 1,600 local residents last week has saved Kirkland’s Parkplace Books — for now.
Short $8,000 on a payment owed to a supplier by April 28, bookstore owners Mary Harris and Rebecca Willow sent out an e-mail April 22 asking customers and supporters for donations to help pay “pressing bills due immediately.” The appeal worked, as the store raised the $8,000 it needed by about noon last Friday.
Willow called the payment a “one-time shot,” but said the store is suffering from a variety of economic factors, along with declining foot traffic and a lack of parking in Parkplace. She said the store’s survival strategy includes relocating to a new space and building an on-line presence.
Opened in 1986, Parkplace Books is now one of the last remaining independent bookstores on the Eastside. For more on Parkplace Books and its situation, see page 8.
County seeks ‘best recycling workplace’
King County is encouraging area businesses with exceptional recycling programs to rate themselves against other businesses by participating in its 2008 “Best Workplaces for Recycling” event.
All businesses operating in King County outside Seattle are eligible to apply.
Each year, businesses in King County send more than 250,000 tons of recyclable materials to the landfill, with an estimated value of more than $18 million. The “Best Workplaces for Recycling” showcases the best recycling practices for businesses, and encourages increased recycling efforts throughout the business community.
The deadline to apply for the list is June 30. The list will be publicized and announced to the public in early summer. The online application is available at http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/garbage-recycling/apply-best-workplaces.asp.
IT networking event next week
Local active and passive job seekers in the internet technology market are invited to a free spring “networking and learning” event May 1 from 6-9 p.m. at the Wilde Rover restaurant and pub in downtown Kirkland. The event is being organized by Chameleon Technologies, a Kirkland-based technical staffing and professional services company.
Industry experts who will discuss IT job market and job-seeking strategies include:
– Don Allen, experienced IT manager and Senior Director of Operations at Drugstore.com;
– Jack Leary, entrepreneur, veteran executive, and former V.P. of Development at Getty Images; and
– Ty Moore, Director of Mission Critical at Microsoft.
RSVP by May 7 to Keri@chameleontechinc.com and be entered into a raffle drawing that will take place the night of the event. For more information, visit www.chameleontechinc.com.
Retail sales increase 7 percent in 2007
Taxable retail sales increased 7 percent to $118.2 billion in 2007, the Washington State Department of Revenue reported last week.
Retail trade was up 4.2 percent over 2006 to $54.5 billion. Retail trade is a subset of all taxable retail sales that tracks sales at retail outlets only and excludes non-retail sectors such as construction.
Construction continued to represent more than 20 percent of all taxable retail sales, followed by motor vehicles and parts at 10.7 percent. Accommodations and food services, including bars and restaurants, comprised 9.2 percent of all taxable sales. Results for all counties and selected cities, including breakdowns of sales by industry sector, are available online at http://dor.wa.gov/Content/AboutUs/StatisticsAndReports/2007/qbrcal07/default.aspx.
