Rob Smith
At Starbucks, Ceramic Mugs and Handwritten Notes
Seattle chain moves quickly to change its image
Starbucks is out to change the perception of itself and a world accustomed to grab-and-go culture. How? Ceramic mugs, handwritten notes and condiment bars. Company CEO Brian Niccol talked about the company’s reintroduction of ceramic mugs several times during an earnings call with analysts yesterday. It’s a decisive shift from the signature paper cups prevalent…
Little Hands, Big Brands
Small ad agency lands major clients
Michael Boychuk likes the critically acclaimed TV show Mad Men as much as anyone. It’s not inaccurate, he says, just romanticized. He should know. Boychuk, who cut his teeth at venerable Seattle ad agency WongDoody, now runs Little Hands of Stone, an independent creative agency with a modest office in the Fremont neighborhood, with partner…
Most Influential: Jaci McCormack
CEO, Co-Founder, Rise Above
A tragedy in her hometown launched Jaci McCormack’s winding journey. Now, as co-founder and chief executive officer of Seattle nonprofit Rise Above, she’s committed to empowering Native youth to live healthy lives. McCormack was raised on the Nez Perce Reservation in Idaho. She was a. young teenager when a boy was assaulted and died. She…
Expect More Krispy Krunchy’s in Seattle
Fast-growing hot-chicken chain plans 600-plus locations this year
Krispy Krunchy Chicken operates three locations in the Seattle area. Expect many more. The fast-growing, Atlanta-based chain — which operates out of convenience stores, truck stops, casinos and big-box retailers — plans more than 600 new stores this year after opening 605 last year. The chain competes on price, offering a $4 value meal. Its…
Most Influential: Samantha Holloway
Co-owner, Seattle Kraken
If you’re a long-suffering Seattle Supersonics fan, Samantha Holloway is someone you need to know. Holloway, co-chair and co-owner of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, leads the ownership group hoping to lure one of the NBA’s proposed two expansion teams. Rumors have swirled for years that Seattle would be next in line for expansion, especially after…
Want to see Hamilton? Here’s Your Chance
Lottery for Seattle tickets begins today
If you’ve wanted to see the smash hit Hamilton but were continually shut out, here’s your chance. A digital lottery for Hamilton tickets begins today at 10 a.m. via the Hamilton app and runs through Jan 30 for performances from Feb. 4-9 at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre. Subsequent digital lotteries will begin each Friday and close…
Beloved Artist Ginny Ruffner Dies
Ruffner was a longtime fixture in Seattle’s arts community
Prominent Seattle glass artist Ginny Ruffner has died. She was 72. No cause of death was given. Ruffner was a beloved member of Seattle’s arts community, and her work has been shown at the likes of the Seattle Art Museum, Carnegie Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian and the Corning Museum of…
Seattle Restaurants Capture 16 James Beard Award Semifinalist Nods
Winners will be announced in June
The Seattle area’s critically acclaimed food scene is once again receiving national recognition, this time from the James Beard Awards. Sixteen individuals and restaurants are on the prestigious 2025 semifinalist list. The restaurants represent numerous different cuisines, reflecting the city’s diverse fusion of cultures. Finalists will be announced April 2. Winners will be named June…
Brand Royalty
Seattle is home to two of the world’s top five brands
It’s a lazy Saturday. Let’s say you searched for something on Bing, made a run to Costco, and then ordered something from Amazon. If you did, you just supported three of the world’s largest brands. All are headquartered in or near Seattle. Brand valuation consultant Brand Finance says Microsoft’s brand value is $461 billion, good…
Most Influential: Peter Tomozawa
CEO, Seattle 2026 World Cup Organizing Committee
Those six FIFA World Cup matches in Seattle during the summer of 2026 are about so much more than soccer. They’re an opportunity to sell Seattle to a global audience on sports’ biggest stage. Peter Tomozawa is ready. For two years, Tomozawa has led the effort to create memorable experiences for fans across Washington state…
Drinking: Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty?
Distiller fears Surgeon General’s warning goes too far
Maddie Kelly isn’t a doctor. She’s a distiller at Seattle’s 2BAR Spirits, and she doesn’t want anybody to make health decisions based on her opinions. She does, however, encourage a healthy dose of skepticism over the Surgeon General’s recent warning about the dangers of even moderate alcohol consumption. “We’re a bourbon distillery, so naturally, we’re going…
The Corporate Rocket
Mortenson Market Lead Cori Palmer rose through the ranks at lightning speed
Talk about a rapid rise. In 2009, Cori Palmer was a freshly minted graduate from the University of Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. It didn’t take her long to land a job as a business development associate at Mortenson, a Minneapolis-based construction company with a sizable Seattle presence. Five promotions later, Palmer…
Why Nordstrom is a Brand to Watch
From going private to Black Friday, Nordstrom appears poised for success
Nordstrom has faced its fair share of criticism over the years, everything from inventory issues to store closures to financial performance. And there’s no denying that department stores are in a serious squeeze. But Placer.ai — a data company that measures, among other things, foot traffic — calls the Seattle retailer one of its “10…
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