B2B Podcasting

Bob Bigger: How do businesses cope with inflation?

Step one – don’t panic. We take a look back at the economic panel discussion from ABD’s Conference and Expo in May. Bob Bigger, Manager of SRP Commercial Lending, speaks about the importance of building connections, partnering and networking during times of rising interest rates.

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B2B Stories

Local retailers work together to create family-friendly summer camp event

Many parents are looking for family-friendly activities they can enjoy before their kids go back to school, but a group of downtown businesses is offering a creative way to have fun and beat the summer heat at the same time. On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 12 businesses, including Urban K9, Buona Caffe, Augusta Candle Company, and Mod Ink, will participate in the second annual Camp Soul City hosted by Downtown Soul City, an organization that promotes businesses in that part of the city and encourages downtown visitors

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B2B Podcasting

When a river runs through it, doesn’t mean development halts

SRP’s Commercial Lending Manager, Bob Biggers, may have hit the nail on the head when discussing future development in the CSRA. From the book and movie, A River Runs Through It, author, Norman Maclean said, “Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” But as Biggers stated at the recent ABD EXPO, that should be the beginning, not the end of development.

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B2B Stories

New therapeutic massage and spa could take your stress away

Business owners are the ones who get in early and stay late, sometimes skipping lunch breaks, heading off to meetings, and never getting to the bottom of their inboxes. Sound familiar? The need for relaxation and stress relief is real. Maria Cardona understands that better than most. She worked in the medical field for 21 years, first as a CNA and then as a phlebotomist. During that time, she also had a side job as a massage therapist. “I finally decided to open my own business. My husband has been

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B2B Stories

New build-for-rent community breaks ground

Crews have broken ground on West Park Townhomes on Wheeler Road, across from Doctors Hospital. Ivey Group and Batson Cook are developing the 262-home community and both companies have extensive experience in the Augusta market. The Ivey Group is one of the region’s largest homebuilders, and BCDC (Batson-Cook Development Company) is a real estate development investor. West Park Townhomes is their first joint-venture partnership. The 262-home build-for-rent townhome community will be on a more than 29-acre site on Wheeler Road. The project is located near the intersection of Interstates 20

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B2B Stories

Strategy and Operations: The Yin and Yang of Managing Your Business

As regular readers of this column know, I am returning to the classroom as a full-time faculty member this Fall Semester in August. In my first semester back in the classroom, I’ve been assigned two courses to teach. At the MBA level, I will be teaching a course in Strategic Management, while at the undergraduate level, I will be teaching a course in Operations and Supply Chain Management. While my most extensive academic training and experience have been in Operations and Supply Chain, I have taught Strategy in both MBA

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Closings

Another national retailer announces plans to close all its locations

It’s been a tough year for corporations and another major retailer has announced it won’t make it to Christmas 2023. Christmas Tree Shops is joining a growing list of companies, such as Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY, that are closing all their locations nationwide. All three stores are currently in the Augusta Exchange shopping center. ABD reached out to the Augusta store located at 239 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway, next to Target for more information. Signs at the store advertise sales of up to 50 percent off

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Consumer Stories

Are your home and business secure?

Summer is the prime time for vacations and for break-ins. In the next 25 seconds or the time it takes you to read the next two paragraphs of this story, there has been a home or business burglary. The number of burglaries overall has dropped in the past few years, but southern states including Georgia and South Carolina are still at the top of the heap for property crimes. 25% of home burglaries take place during the day, assuming homeowners will be out of the house during working hours. 10:00

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B2B Stories

Gourmet grocery and wine shop soon to open in CSRA

It’s been four years since Wine World closed in Aiken, but a store with something more is coming soon. Town Square Olive Oil & Wine is set to open in the next few weeks. The shop will offer olive oils, a variety of vinegar, wine, craft beers, and charcuterie boards. Owner, Tia Harville and her husband, Joey, are excited about the location, 509 Georgia Avenue in Aiken. “My husband’s family is from the area and the concept for the shop stems from his aunt’s Town Square Olive Oil business in

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