B2B Stories

CSRA “backyard company” expands; on the move this summer

With 100-degree temperatures this summer, Chattels In Design is expanding and adding a new pool, patio department, and website. They will be moving on August 1st to a larger location that will now offer a showroom of composite deck brands, pergolas, fiberglass pools, patio furniture, and Sunroom samples. Chattels In Design USA Ltd Co, LLC has been serving Aiken for 2-1/2 years at their current location at Suite 216, 237 Park Ave Sw, Aiken, SC 29801 in “The Mill” building downtown Aiken. They will be open for business on August 5th at the new

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Consumer Stories

Helping build a workforce pipeline for individuals with a criminal record

Two organizations have joined to create a series of specialized workshops to help previously incarcerated individuals reintegrate into meaningful employment. Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA and ReNforce, an Augusta-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping justice-involved individuals, will use existing programs and services to create pathways to employment by offering job readiness training workshops. “They cover things like time management, customer service, conflict resolution, skills, preparing for your interview,” Leah Pontani, Senior Vice President of Career Development at Goodwill, explained for ABD. “If you’re incarcerated for a number

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B2B Stories

South Carolina farm “grows” into the CSRA

What started as a produce stand 10 years ago in North, South Carolina, grew into one of the largest farms in the state. With 70 acres of produce including corn, okra, green beans, peas, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and watermelons, McCurley Farms is a hot commodity, especially at this time of year when families crave fresh fruits and veggies. Customers were already coming from across the CSRA and from as far away as Atlanta. When ABD talked to owner, Paul McCurley back in April, he had just partnered with Southern Carolina

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Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: CSRA Market Update

As of mid-July, the real estate market in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) is showing intriguing trends that are essential for buyers and sellers to understand. Current Market Snapshot Homes for Sale: 1,868 Homes Pending Sale: 1,168 Average Days on Market: 100 days for closed sales from April to June Percentage of Asking Price Received: 98.59% Sales Trends The first quarter of 2024 saw a robust 4,115 homes sold. However, the second quarter experienced a noticeable slowdown with only 2,378 homes sold, signaling a deceleration in spring sales. The

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B2B Stories

Bouncing the way to major economic impact

North Augusta is preparing to welcome one of the CSRA’s most popular, and economically significant, events back to Riverview Park. The 2024 Nike EYBL Peach Jam Basketball Tournament kicks off on July 12. This marks the 28th year the city has hosted the tournament which began as the Peach Basket Classic in 1996. It began as a four-day event, expanded to a weeklong tournament and this year is growing again. “New this year is the event will last 10 days, July 12 through the 21st,” Rick Meyer, Director of Parks,

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Pho-Ramen’L

Food Quality: 4 Service: 5 Business Meeting: 3 Value: 4 Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 I’ve always liked the kind of ramen you buy at the grocery store that comes in little orange packages because it’s cheap and tasty. It’s also a favorite meal among broke college students everywhere, though there are much healthier options. But several restaurants, such as Pho-Ramen’L, now serve more upscale versions of the traditional noodle dish. These eateries give diners the option of adding various meats, vegetables, spices, and other ingredients to their noodles

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Consumer Stories

Busy restaurant does six-week pop-ups

The Mullins Crossing crew from Chick-fil-A is hitting the road again tomorrow for their second of six pop-up lunch events. Team members are serving chicken sandwiches, salads, and wraps. “Riverwood residents have been asking us for years to come out that way. We want to make our customers happy. Security Federal in Riverwood was nice enough to let us set up in their parking lot. So many people that came to the pop-up location thanked us for being there,” said Gina Adams who operates the Mullins Crossing store with her husband, Jason. The

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B2B Stories

Summer school in session for business owners

While students fear the words “summer school,” a local marketing expert is hoping business owners are ready to learn how to show their businesses in the best light. The Marketing Summer School is the brainchild of Moniek James, a marketing strategist and consultant, and founder of Renegade Creative Media. “I definitely was trying to be a little cheeky with putting in summer school, because, yes, that does bring up memories like the worst thing ever,” she told ABD with a chuckle. “But as a business owner myself, I think about

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