B2B Stories

B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Success is in the Eye of the Beholder

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he gives advice on how entrepreneurs and small business owners can determine success. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: The definition of success is often an elusive term when it comes to operating a small business. How can an entrepreneur or business owner define success? Rick: The first step is viability – have you created an ongoing concern? Until you reach

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B2B Podcasting

Trends at area businesses

Laurie McRae is one of the most experienced and credentialed interior designers in the Southeast. Amy Richardson of Richardson Professional Solutions asks her about what’s next for decorating commercial spaces in the CSRA.

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B2B Stories

Palmetto Industries break ground at Horizon South Industrial Park

A long-time tenant in Columbia County’s Horizon South Industrial Park in Grovetown is ready to grow. Palmetto Industries broke ground Thursday, on the first phase of a two-phase expansion project. ”We’re excited to be here,” Chamber President and CEO, Russell Lahodny said. “It’s not every day that we get to do these things. So, when we get to do a groundbreaking, it’s pretty impressive.” The new phases are being built alongside the company’s existing facility on Horizon West Parkway. It will add 50,000 square feet of new office, factory, and

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B2B Stories

Local boutique owner to retire, close CSRA store

After 12 years in business, Jeriann Benton is retiring and closing her women’s clothing shop in Augusta. Benton, owner of 3 Chicks Boutique, located at 343 Highland Ave. in Surrey Center, has announced the store will officially close its doors on Saturday, June 24. ABD reached out to her, and she shared a letter she sent to her customers. “This little store has been a wonderful place for me to spend my time and energy, serving you and our community,” Benton said in the letter. “Over the years, people have

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B2B Stories

Local baker to celebrate opening of second CSRA location

Last summer, Alice Garner’s dreams came true when she opened a bakery kiosk in the Augusta Mall, but about one year later, she’s preparing to open a second location in Columbia County. Garner owns Garner’s Sweet Dreams, LLC, which sells a variety of desserts, including cakes, cupcakes, brownies, and banana pudding. Garner, a U.S. Army veteran, established Garner’s Sweet Dreams as a home-based business in Aug. 2019. Her kiosk opened on July 24, 2022. “We’ve been doing great in the mall,” she said. Her new location will be at 280

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B2B Stories

Coach Darin: Why exceeding customer expectations is just good business

Customer service as a whole, has taken a substantial hit since 2020. Throughout the pandemic, customers were primarily willing to overlook the often-bumpy service they received, as everyone at that time understood the stressors in the marketplace. Businesses were understaffed. Employees were exhausted. There were supply chain issues. So, yes, the public was rather forgiving of less-than-ideal customer service. We are now mid-2023, and most businesses have rebounded to some semblance of balance and normalcy. Still, all indications point to a continuing drop in overall customer satisfaction. The American Customer

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B2B Podcasting

It’s not about the money

Coach “Dave” Holdeman, co-owner of TAB CSRA, sits down with Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon to talk about reasons employees leave or stay with a company. Holdeman says that surveys often show that money isn’t always the top push or pull factor among employees. Those interested in learning more about TAB CSRA can visit: https://www.tabcsra.com

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B2B Stories

Columbia County Chamber of Commerce holds military appreciation event

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce used its June Executive Luncheon series to begin a new tradition, with more than 250 people attending the chamber’s inaugural Military Appreciation event at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Russell Lahodny, President and CEO of the chamber, said there are two reasons the organization wanted to begin the event. First, to honor the men and women stationed at Fort Gordon who serve America and secondly, to acknowledge the tremendous economic impact the Army post has on the local economy. “Our business community thrives off of our

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B2B Stories

CTA launches local business news programming

Atlanta-based Conservative Television of America, which has been streaming programming nationwide on Roku, Apple TV, and Firestick for more than two years, officially launched its first local TV affiliate with a Columbia County Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony. Columbia County Chamber of Commerce President, Russell Lahodny, who led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, is excited to bring local business news to the forefront on their one-hour show, which airs Tuesdays at 6:30 P.M and 11:30 P.M. and Wednesdays at 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. on digital channel 49.4. Conservative Television of America

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B2B Stories

Business hopes to give you ‘A Polished Finish’

A Polished Finish, a Loganville, GA.-based business that specializes in countertops recently opened a showroom here in Augusta. The Augusta showroom, located at 2907 Washington Road in Suite 710, opened in March and held a grand opening last month. Established in 2003, the business has worked with customers to provide custom, stone countertops for 20 years. Jenny Hartzog, office manager of A Polished Finish in Augusta, said that though business was initially slow at the new location, more people are learning about the company. “It was slow at first, but

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