B2B Stories

B2B Stories

Aiken Chamber “Buy Local” event brings out a crowd

David Jameson, long-time President of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce is photographed at the event here with United Way of Aiken Sharon Rodgers during the sold-out event. (Photo provided by Aiken Chamber of Commerce) David Jameson, president of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, was enthusiastic about the turnout for the group’s “Buy Local” expo at the Exhibit Hall at the Western Carolina State Fair Grounds last Thursday, June 17. But then, does anybody remember when David wasn’t enthusiastic about having a good day in Aiken? A few days before the

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B2B Stories

Augusta real estate brokers to redevelop historic Florida property

Summer House Real Estate brokers James and Jenny Schaffer have a flair for making people feel “at home”. Their boutique, three-story office on the 2600 block of Washington Road is part real estate office and part venue for the community. The Schaffers are also huge proponents of preserving the environment as evidenced by their gifts to the Water Mission Project. Jenny Schaffer, who also brokers an office in Fernandina Beach spoke to the hometown newspaper and told a reporter she has been interested in this property for many years and

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B2B Stories

Springtime Water brand growing nationally in midst of droughts

Southern Beverage CEO David Byrd in his Appling conference room with a few of his popular friends. (Photo by Neil Gordon) David Byrd is proud of the fact that CSRA TPS stores sell his bottled Springtime water for just $.59. Byrd likes that his family-owned Southern Beverage bottling company is a little fish swimming in a big water pond—populated by Nestle’s Deerpark, Coca-Cola’s Dasani, and Fiji Water amongst others. Why is Springtime water at a lower price point? “We don’t run million-dollar Super Bowl ads,” said Byrd from his humble

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B2B Stories

Local company that helps nonprofits raise money adds business coaching services

This photo was taken at the ABD Business Expo, which was held at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center on May 27. Pictured from left are Hollis Bush, senior director of programs and services for ForcesUnited, Faith Edmondson, ABD publisher Neil Gordon, and Ashley Ashe. Gateway Grant Services helps nonprofits like ForcesUnited receive funding. (Photo taken from Faith Edmondson’s LinkedIn profile) Faith Edmondson and Ashley Ashe primarily help nonprofits receive funding through grant writing and virtual fundraising, but they have now branched out to help small businesses succeed. Edmondson and

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B2B Stories

“Gone fishing” and other retirement options for older CSRA business owners

Dinesh Hasija, Ph.D. (photo courtesy of AU Hull College of Business) Like many U.S. cities, Augusta is experiencing an aging population. This trend impacts local businesses in several ways, from hiring a qualified workforce to business owners’ succession planning. This article will focus on how business owners can successfully navigate their succession planning. Retirement can be an emotional stage for business owners who have built a socio-economic wealth throughout their time. However, when business owners are planning their retirement, the majority of focus is on economic wealth, and less on

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B2B Stories

Employees of local automotive company sent letter of sale

The John Harris Shop on Evans to Locks Road in Evans is one of the three CSRA collision shops sold to Gerber Collision. (photo from John Harris website) More than 50 technicians and support staff at The John Harris Body Shop in downtown Augusta, Evans, and Grovetown are about to undergo a big change. ABD’s learned the company was just sold to Gerber Collision and Glass, a publicly traded company. Employees got a letter from founders John and Campbell Harris, who opted to sell the company after 46 years in

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B2B Stories

New chicken concept delayed until mid-August

Slim Chickens serves up a variety of familiar and unique chicken dishes. Slim Chickens originally hoped to open in May and now the launch has been moved to mid-August, while the operating partner continues to seek the best talent in the market to help run the restaurant. Jim Bennett, who is the principal of Peachtree Development and the franchisee of Slim Chickens tells ABD he feels the job market is getting better— thanks to decisions like Wednesdays by Georgia Governor Kemp to end federal pandemic unemployment benefits as of June

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B2B Stories

Aiken County native spends $1.5 million to construct mixed-use development on site of former slave plantation

The main house on the Lamar Plantation was built in 1850. The property later became Haskell’s Dairy. (Photo courtesy of Turner Development, LLC) Tracey Turner, an African American businessman, has big plans for a historic site in North Augusta that may change the course of black history in the CSRA and in South Carolina. Turner – owner of the Washington, D.C.-based Turner Development, LLC and a native of Aiken County – plans to build a 419-unit mixed-use development like the Hammond’s Ferry neighborhood in North Augusta on a 185-acre lot

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B2B Stories

Local financial advisor/investor says understand the risks in cryptocurrencies

There are many types of cryptocurrencies available, and the most popular are Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Dogecoin. (Photo taken from the MarketWatch website) Kurt Mueller understands the risks associated with investing in cryptocurrency as both a financial planner and individual investor. Mueller, a wealth management advisor for Apollon Wealth Management in Augusta, says you must do your research before choosing any type of investment, whether it be gold, real estate, oil, or stocks. Unlike stocks, “There really isn’t any insider information,” he explains. “It’s speculative, high-risk, and volatile,” so it’s certainly

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B2B Stories

CSRA Cybersecurity expert talks ransomware protection at ABD Expo

Patrick Reynolds, founder of Cross Link Consulting tackled the Colonial Pipeline Gas crisis at the ABD Expo. He painted a serious issue and then on video shared some suggestions after getting a few questions from the audience. “I am not surprised, it is predictable, and it will only increase in the weeks, months, and years ahead. The reality is that in countries such as Russia, there are literally entire cities the size of Augusta and larger that have over 50% of their GDP is comprised of illegal hacking and ransomware

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