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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Panda Express

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday, he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and the tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”.

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Wes Hennings February 15, 2023 No Comments
Chamber News

Kick-off tonight for entrepreneur program

There are 480 Black businesses in the Augusta metro area, accounting for 6% of employer businesses. According to the Brooking Institute, if Black businesses accounted for 38% of employer firms (equivalent to the Black population), there would be 4,544 more Black businesses. The Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce (GABCC) is working to address the disparity through an Entrepreneurship Training Program. The program features courses covering administration, strategy and planning, and marketing during a four-week timeframe. The program was developed by GABCC President, Ronic West who worked with ADP for 15 years in

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Mitzi Oxford February 15, 2023 No Comments
Darin Myers

Free Access: Coach Darin: Improve Online Traffic

Editor’s Note: Think of your website as your online business card. People need to know who you are and what you do if they are going to hire you or buy your products or services. A great website is an excellent marketing tool that can be used to attract potential leads and customers. There are several excellent web designers in the CSRA from ABD’s partner, Alive Media to local ad agencies and higher-end creative firms like Wier Stewart, Kruhu, and more. Here are some best practices to consider:  Speed up

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Darin Myers February 15, 2023 No Comments
Lessons Learned

Free Access: Lessons Learned: Knowing When It’s Time

As many of you know by now, in less than two weeks, I will be stepping down after just over six years as the Dean of the James M. Hull College of Business (HCoB) at Augusta University (AU). Over the next five months, I will be preparing to return to full-time faculty for the first time in over seventeen years, by preparing to teach courses and dedicating more time to ongoing and new research. As in most major decisions like this, much goes into it; factors that are both personal

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Dr. Richard Franza February 14, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

New Martinez gym helps women reach fitness and weight loss goals

For many women, particularly those who haven’t exercised in years, visiting a traditional gym can be an intimidating experience. But one local gym was designed to take the fear out of fitness. PLUM Metabolic Fitness opened last month at 3830 Washington Road, Suite 16, next door to Taqueria El Rey in the West Town Shopping Center in Martinez. PLUM stands for Planned Use Management, which combines exercise, nutrition counseling, and motivation to help women lose weight and get in shape. Prior to the gym’s grand opening, another women’s gym, Pulse

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Josh Heath February 14, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Struggling hospitality industry could rebound in 2023

The Leisure and Hospitality industry had a strong start to 2022 but was not able to sustain that momentum throughout the rest of the year. Data provided by STR shows that hotel occupancy rates in Richmond County were higher in the first four months of 2022 than the same four months in 2021, after seasonal adjustment. However, of the remaining months, only October saw higher occupancy rates in 2022 than in 2021. Hoteliers were able to capitalize on this increased demand by receiving a higher revenue per available room from

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Economics Professor February 14, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

USC Aiken receives donation to support veterans and active service members

The University of South Carolina Aiken’s Office of Veteran and Military Student Success was recently presented with a $2,000 check from the North Augusta Cultural Arts Council. The donation supports the office’s mission of education and transitional support for veterans, service members, and their families. The center helps ease the transition back to civilian life for active and former service members and their families by connecting them with academic and financial resources, professional and vocational support, and a community of students with similar backgrounds and experiences. “We’re honored to receive

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Staff Report February 14, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Nurse and entrepreneur establishes scholarship in memory of her son

Lakeya Collins has found a unique way to honor her son’s memory on his birthday and help a local student at the same time. In 2022, Collins, a registered nurse and owner of Robert’s Angels Scrubs established the Robert Ballard Scholarship. Ballard was a 16-year-old football player at Greenbrier High School who drowned in Clarks Hill Lake in April 2016. The scholarship was designed to help one CSRA college student each year. Last year, the amount was $500. This year, she hopes to double that amount by raffling off a

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Josh Heath February 14, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Retired Capt. chooses Grovetown for 5th location

Retired Army Cpt. Tyler Merritt started his clothing business in his garage and now has four store locations, about 200 employees, and a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Savannah. Merritt serves as CEO of Nine Line Apparel, which has store locations in not only Savannah but also Charleston and Delray Beach. He said the company is expected to open its fifth location at 284 Meridian Drive next door to Cold Stone Creamery in Grovetown on Monday, March 6. ABD previously ran a story about the company, which sells a variety of

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Josh Heath February 13, 2023 No Comments
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