Marketing

B2B Stories

Learning to give to get from fast-food giant

Chick-fil-A is a prime example of fine marketing practices. Building off a three-year stint marketing their catering program I can tell you, they really have a great operation. When I was hired, I studied everything that I could to learn about their culture. In my studies, I learned of their history and how they got to become such a household name just by selling the simplest of menus and featuring their signature chicken sandwich. As my career journey continued, so did my opportunities to translate their marketing techniques into my

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B2B Stories

Local marketing experts to share effective branding techniques

When you think of popular brands, companies like Starbucks and Nike may come to mind. Branding is one of the most important things business owners do, yet few know how to build a strong brand and convey it to employees and the public, according to Kate Sanders. Sanders, Chief Operating Officer and co-owner of Alison South Marketing Group, along with President Cynthia South, will discuss that topic at the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Third Thursday Business Builder on Thursday, May 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the

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B2B Stories

Retired educator launches collaborative workspace in downtown Augusta

After retiring as a principal in Aiken County in June 2021, Natonia Tillman decided to launch a business that would provide space for other small business owners to work, network, and market their products and services. In February, Tillman opened that space, 10Twenty-Eight located at 1028 Broad St. She made the transition from education to business for various reasons, including the stress of being a school administrator and wanting more flexibility to spend time with her grandchild. Tillman also had experience hosting business events. But she makes a disclaimer about

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B2B Stories

The new print shop offers innovative graphic solutions for small businesses

Billy and Mindy Van Veghel have built a successful design and print business by creating custom graphic solutions for small businesses. While many of the services they provide are inexpensive, others can be quite costly. One of these services is their shop, 411 Graphics, LLC located at 3105 Spring Grove Drive, Suite H3, off Deans Bridge in Augusta, which provides vehicle wrapping, a service that can cost thousands. Wrapping refers to completely or partially covering a vehicle in vinyl for advertising purposes. The Van Veghels wrapped vans for the new

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B2B Stories

Small Think

  Don MacNeil is the former Marketing Director of Windsor Jewelers and long-time on-air radio professional.   Is it just me, or… Small Think Small think. Short term it may better allow us to sleep at night, but guarantees we’ll never be a Steve Jobs (Apple) or a Jeff Bezos (Amazon). In a nutshell, it’s a risk-averse fear of going broke that informs every business decision we make and ultimately decides the path of our lives. When I first had the thought to take this up with you, I envisioned

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B2B Stories

The Marketing Standing Next To You

  Don MacNeil is the former Marketing Director of Windsor Jewelers and long-time on-air radio professional.   Is it just me, or… The Marketing Standing Next To You If you accept the definition of marketing as being the projection of your brand upon the public, then surely your staffers – at least those who meet your customers – fit under this umbrella. We seldom think of it that way, but it’s true. Yet, from company to company, recognition of this varies wildly. At Disney, it’s simply everything. Staffers are referred

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B2B Stories

Giant sculptures help businesses make a big first impression

Outside of the clubhouse of The First Tee in Augusta is a colorful tee worthy of a Paul Bunyan-like drive. The one-ton, 30-foot-long sculpture is made of steel and solid foam. Ed Durant, the former owner of The Frame Shoppe on Walton Way in Augusta, created the concept to give the course its own unique identity. The project took about 14 months to complete and was unveiled in December 2021. “I went by First Tee, and there was no signage,” Durant said. “They needed an expression of what they do.”

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B2B Stories

Unconventional Thinking

  Don MacNeil is the former Marketing Director of Windsor Jewelers and long-time on-air radio professional.   Is it just me, or… Unconventional Thinking More than once I’ve written, “Conventional thinking can kill you.” Of course, I wasn’t being literal. I was making the point that conventional thinking not only threatens your being exceptional at the moment, but over time it can slowly hobble your career and your quality of life. Confederate General Robert E. Lee is universally conceded to be one of history’s great, thinking-out-of-the-box military strategists, yet one

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B2B Stories

Georgia and Augusta roll out the red carpet for potential business

It’s not Hollywood stars, but business stars who receive the red carpet treatment each year as part of Georgia’s Red Carpet Tour. And a major component of that tour is a few days in Augusta watching The Masters. The Red Carpet Tour, hosted by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and Georgia Department of Economic Development, is the longest-running economic development event in the United States. This year, the Tour will celebrate its 60th anniversary. The Tour began in 1960. You may wonder why those numbers don’t add up. It was

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B2B Stories

Branding expert begins 5th year in CSRA business

Good business owners find creative solutions to customers’ problems, according to Laura Morris. If Morris, owner and Creative Director of Design Aesthetic, LLC in Augusta, can’t find those solutions on her own, she connects her clients to people who can. Her company provides a variety of services to small businesses, including branding, marketing strategy, graphic design, and even interior design. “We focus on all the creative aspects of a business,” Morris said. She uses a variety of media to help businesses connect with potential customers. For example, she designs and

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