B2B Stories

B2B Stories

Aiken-based saddle company to relocate next year

An Aiken-based business is saddled up and ready to ride to a new location next year, according to Meybohm Commercial Properties. Custom Saddlery, which is currently located at 127 Hedge Road, will move to 390 Croft Mill Road, an 8,100-square-foot facility on a seven-acre property. Founded in 1992, the international company provides a variety of services to its customers, including designing, fitting, and repairing custom saddles. Besides Aiken, Custom Saddlery also has locations in Europe. For more information, visit mysaddle.com or call 803-649-2766.

Read More »
B2B Stories

Graniteville baker competes in NYC Macaron Bakeoff

Joey Blackwell may not fit your vision of a baker of delicate Italian pastries. He’s a self-described “big, burly, bearded guy.” But in the past two years, he has refined his recipe of macarons, started his Mac Daddy Macaron business, and was invited to compete in New York against fellow macaron bakers. “My interest in baking started in 2020 during the pandemic when many of us were staying home,” he said. “My wife and I got hooked on baking shows, particularly The Great British Bake-Off. At about that same time,

Read More »
B2B Stories

Martinez shared kitchen space to host holiday market, needs vendors

Onnie Sanford has already expanded her business, but the entrepreneur wants to help other small businesses grow by providing them more exposure to potential customers. Sanford, the owner of Paleo Num Yums and OPP Kitchen, 359 Furys Ferry Road, Martinez, will host a Holiday Market on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at her store. So far, six vendors have signed up, and Sanford would like to find six more. She’s looking for “artists and artisans” that sell unique products people can use as Christmas gifts or

Read More »
B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Pandemic shutdown’s long-term effect on businesses

  Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about how the pandemic affected school children and the impact it could have on businesses in the future. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: We’re seeing the results of studies showing that the past couple of years has had a negative impact on school children. What are some of those issues? Rick: To be honest, I think it affected everyone.

Read More »
Awards

New Thomson steakhouse nominated as one of the state’s best

It’s taken a Thomson restaurant less than a year to be recognized as one of the best in the state. Bordeaux Steak & Seafood, 250 Bordeaux Way, Thomson, opened on Feb. 15 but was recently nominated as one of Georgia’s best steakhouses by Georgia Business Journal. “We have an experienced staff, excellent food, and an inviting atmosphere,” the restaurant’s General Manager, Patricia “PJ” Johnson, said. “Everybody enjoys our atmosphere, cuisine, and service.” Bordeaux serves a variety of menu options, including filet mignon, pasta primavera, and chicken cordon bleu. According to

Read More »
B2B Podcasting

Free Access: The good and bad of business partnerships

A business partnership can be a dream – or a nightmare. Darin Myers of The Alternate Board (TAB) tells Neil Gordon that often, partners don’t dig deep enough into the details but doing the homework upfront can save a lot of money and hurt feelings in the end.

Read More »
B2B Stories

Special sales tax on ballot would raise millions for Columbia County

A penny here and a penny there may not seem like much, but over time they can add up to something significant. That’s why the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is urging voters to vote Yes for the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) when they go to the polls this fall. Voting yes would continue the one cent added to each sale, which has been in place since 1990. SPLOST funds in the past have been used to improve or create roads, schools, libraries, parks and recreation facilities, public

Read More »
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Labor Force Shrinks in CSRA

Job openings for Georgia and South Carolina in August were released last week. In Georgia, they fell 11 percent but in South Carolina, they fell just 1 percent. There are still over two job openings for every unemployed worker in Georgia and South Carolina. These job openings numbers impacted the Augusta Leading Economic Index which fell 0.9 percent in August, from July. In the local labor market, employment increased by 900 jobs to 244,700 and unemployment remained at 3.3 percent. The labor force shrank by 500 people and earnings fell

Read More »