B2B Stories

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

Mondays with Rick: Customer interaction a key to a successful business

  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 one of the important aspects of running a business, the first of a two-part series. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: You’ve talked before about how a business can be divided into two parts, the front of the store and the back of the store. How do you define that? Rick: The front of the store is anywhere there

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B2B Stories

Local accident survivor shares inspirational story with business group

Like most business professionals, Jeanna Hancock experiences her share of stress as operations leader with Hargrove Home Inspections. But she was inspired by the harrowing tale Terrence Sansbury shared as guest speaker at this month’s CSRA Home Connections meeting on Wednesday, May 11. Sansbury, who has worked for the Wilson Family YMCA for 22 years, discussed many adversities he has overcome throughout his life, most notably a 1999 motorcycle accident that severely damaged his spinal cord and left him wheelchair-bound. “This wheelchair doesn’t define me,” he said. “My motorcycle accident

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B2B Stories

Trash bin cleaning business does the dirty work for you

It’s a dirty job but someone’s got to do it. CSRA Bin Cleaning, based in North Augusta, is open for businesses to do the job that most of us don’t want to do – clean our trash bins. Owner, Ben Clark explained why people should want clean bins. “Trash bins attract rats because they are a food source, spiders sometimes nest around the bin or the handle, and the bin itself creates a breeding ground for all kinds of germs and pathogens, including E-Coli, Listeria, and Salmonella, among others. Stuff

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Simon Says: Disputing a website’s ranking of Augusta’s affordability

GoodHire has just released its list of the most affordable cities to live and work in 2022 (https://www.goodhire.com/resources/articles/americas-most-affordable-places). They analyzed data from 155 cities with a labor force greater than 150,000. Top of the list is Sioux Falls, S.D. and Los Angeles was bottom. Georgia cities are represented by Atlanta (11), Savannah (47), and Augusta (117). What?! Atlanta is more affordable than Augusta? Something doesn’t seem right, so I looked at their methodology and the data they used. They used data from seven factors to establish their ranking. Wage growth

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B2B Stories

Friday is the deadline for Businesswoman of the Year nominations

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will be choosing its 2022 Businesswoman of the Year soon, but the deadline for nominations for the award are due by Friday, May 13. Taylor Williams, Director of Programs and Events, said the Chamber has already received several nominations for the award. The recipient of the 2022 award will be announced at the Executive Luncheon on June 8 at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Recent winners of the award were Angi Brock of The Cleveland Group in 2021 and JoAnn Herbert of Herbert Homes in

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B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Efforts to increase financial literacy

Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, with statistics showing that less than a third of Americans qualify as financially literate, he discusses some proposals to increase financial literacy, especially among students. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: Let’s start by defining what is meant by financial literacy. Rick: Financial literacy is being able to manage your finances. It’s understanding things like budgeting, credit, investments, interest rates, and savings. ABD:

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B2B Stories

State representative discusses gas tax and other legislation to help businesses

By now, you’re familiar with the phrase, “pain at the pump.” Small businesses throughout the state have been hit hard by rising gas prices, but the Georgia General Assembly has passed legislation signed by Gov. Brian Kemp to suspend the gas tax through May 31, according to State Rep. Jodi Lott. Lott, who represents District 122 in Evans, was one of six local legislators who attended the Post-Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce on Friday, May 6. The others were Reps. Barry Fleming, Rob Leverett, and

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