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B2B Stories

Young Aikenite builds successful boutique business

The timing may not have been ideal for Brooke Thomas to open a boutique in downtown Aiken. She signed the lease on her Laurens Street shop in March 2020, right before the pandemic shut everything down, but she used the downtime to complete renovations. A few months later, when shoppers began to venture out, Ginger Bee Boutique was ready. Ever since, there has been a hive of activity at her shop. Even at the age of 24, Thomas was ready for that as well. She has a passion for fashion

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Mitzi Oxford November 2, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Rural counties harder hit by job loss than metro areas

Last week, I reported the labor force was down 500 people in the local area. Unfortunately, I was not specific about the “local” bit. I was referring to the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), while the headline referenced the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). These are not the same with the MSA including Burke, Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie, and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. The CSRA is a 13-county region, entirely within Georgia as seen in the map below (source: csrarc.ga.gov). The CSRA does

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Economics Professor November 1, 2022 No Comments
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.

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Josh Heath November 1, 2022 No Comments
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,

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Mitzi Oxford October 31, 2022 No Comments
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

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Story and photos by Josh Heath October 30, 2022 No Comments
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.

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Gary Kauffman October 30, 2022 No Comments
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

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Josh Heath October 27, 2022 No Comments
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.

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Neil Gordon with Darin Myers October 27, 2022 No Comments
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