B2B Stories

Learning if owning a franchise is right for you

Be it a side hustle, second chapter, or primary income, owning a franchise gives individuals a chance to be their own boss. Volunteers from the Aiken office of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) provide workshops to help interested people navigate becoming a franchisee. The most recent was March 26 in North Augusta. The workshop was led by SCORE volunteer, Bill Reichardt, a franchising consultant since 2013. “The main thrust of this presentation is going to be to educate you on basically what a franchise is, which some people don’t

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B2B Stories

Berry good season for ca$h crops

Manufacturing and construction may come to mind for big business, but in Georgia and South Carolina, agriculture is top dog, bringing in more than $126 billion according to the two states Departments of Agriculture. What is the number one fruit in America? In Georgia and South Carolina, you might think of a peach. However, it’s a plump, juicy, sweet strawberry. Right now is prime time for buying baskets of berries or visiting farms where you pick’em. McCurley Farms in North, S.C. is one of the largest family farms in the

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Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: Lake Living: Your permanent vacation destination near Augusta, GA

Have you ever dreamed of living in a permanent vacation home? With the onset of Spring Break, better known to us here as Masters Week, you are likely planning a trip to relax and recharge at a peaceful destination. Today, I’m here to tell you that you could enjoy the novelty of peace and serenity in your own backyard every day, by living by the lake! We are blessed to be surrounded by great lake life options. Lakeside living has jumped in popularity as life becomes more stressful and people

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Cyber Security

Staying ahead of the game

Planning equals more productivity and pennies in your pocket. See how Cross Link Consulting has more tips “fore” you in today’s P.U.T.T.

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B2B Stories

An extra month of income in a week

Destination Augusta said the Masters Tournament and related activities, including the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) Tournament, can be like a 13th month of revenue for some businesses. ABD requested a breakdown from Destination Augusta comparing money spent in 2022 to 2023, as well as the economic impact of ANWA since it began in 2019. One source Destination Augusta uses to track numbers is STR for hotel/motel data. Its website is quoted as saying: “STR provides premium data benchmarking, analytics, and marketplace insights for the global hospitality industry.” According to

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Lokos Tacos

Publisher’s Note: ABD is bringing back its popular Business Lunch Review and bringing back our original reporter to break bread with you and offer insight. We use a rating scale with “5” being the best score. Food Quality: 5 Service: 5 Business Meeting: 5 Value: 5 Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 You could say I’m a creature of habit, especially when it comes to the restaurants I like and the meals I order. I’ve always been a picky eater, but that isn’t the case for my wife, Rebecca. I

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Consumer Stories

New business offers something to smile about

There are more than a hundred orthodontists in the CSRA, but likely few are multilingual. Meet Dr. Daisy Oliveira who hails from Brazil and speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish. “Dr. O,” as she is called around the office, opened MyFamily Braces in January and has already built a loyal following. “A lot of patients come to see me because they feel comfortable because I speak their language,” Dr. Oliveira explained. Building a relationship with patients is important to her and her staff, especially since so many people have a fear

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B2B Stories

Masters Week in the making: Here’s what’s happening in the CSRA

Days spent on the golf course watching some of the premier golfers in the world can turn into enjoying fine music at some of Augusta’s largest social events. Festivities kick off Saturday, April 6 with the Mayor’s Masters Reception at the Augusta Common at 836 Broad St. from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will feature live music, food, games for children and end with a fireworks display. The event is free to attend. Started in 1999 by then-Mayor Bob Young, it had originally always been held on Sundays. “Moving

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Consumer Stories

‘Late Night with the Devil’ brings us analog, anxiety, and A.I.

The new supernatural horror film “Late Night with the Devil” is a potential sleeper this spring, offering a dark, gore-y satire on the pitfalls of attaining fame. The film’s prologue takes us to 1977, when financial woes, political tensions, and cult frenzy seemed to fill the air – or at least the airwaves. We are introduced to a tape of the fictional late-night talk show Night Owls, hosted by Jack Delroy (played by David Dastmalchian). Jack has struggled over the years to compete with the ratings of Johnny Carson’s Tonight

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