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Consumer Stories
Consumer Stories

Local businesses continue to face hiring struggles

Like many business owners, Dave Barrett has struggled to find employees to work in his local store and deliver products to customers. Barrett owns Dave’s Appliance Warehouse located at 368 Furys Ferry Road, Suite 3 in Martinez, which was formerly occupied by Earth Fare. He was one of more than 40 local employers who participated in yesterday’s ABD Expo. Other participating companies included ADP, Manpower, Mary Kay Cosmetics, and Tub Doctor. “The majority of people who schedule interviews don’t show up; showing up is half the battle,” he said. “It’s

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Josh Heath May 17, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Slim Chickens

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”. Food

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Wes Hennings May 17, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Georgia and South Carolina among top states with highest job resignation rates

As the economy has continued to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in job openings, with some employers having a difficult time filling all their open positions. Millions of Americans are quitting their jobs each month, even in the face of high inflation. The incentives available from changing jobs, as well as a desire to get away from careers impacted most by COVID-19, are two big factors driving what’s been dubbed the “Great Resignation.” As a result, new job applicants have a lot

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Staff Report May 17, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Local auto glass entrepreneur makes windshields clearer

Jose Pringle has always been interested in cars, but he never thought he would enjoy working in the auto glass industry, until he tried it for himself. In March, Pringle launched Let’s Get It Clear Auto Glass, LLC, a mobile business that repairs and replaces damaged windshields caused by rocks, break-ins, and even domestic violence situations. “I’ve been in the car industry for over 15 years, and I started off as a car washer,” the Miami native said. He worked his way up to jobs at dealerships and body shop

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Josh Heath May 16, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local female homebuilders and home services professionals donate playhouses to community

About 20 local female homebuilders and home services professionals have collaborated to build and donate playhouses to CSRA non-profit organizations. Yesterday, the Augusta Chapter of Professional Women in Building held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the donation of its first playhouse to the Family Y Child Development Academy, located at 1425 Walton Way, next door to the Peabody Apartments. The playhouse is 4 feet high and 8 feet wide. “Right now, we’re working on two more,” said Builders Association of Metro Augusta Executive Officer, Tiffany Heitzman. Those playhouses will be

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Josh Heath May 16, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Local handyman launches mobile business

Jonathan Lechner’s business provides so many home services that listing all of them is a challenge. Last Monday, May 8, Lechner launched Lechner Home Services, a mobile handyman business.  He performs a variety of household tasks, such as assembling furniture, repairing drywall, installing toilets, changing lightbulbs, and mounting TVs. Lechner said he started by performing many of those services for his friends and family. “I was getting so many requests that I decided to make a business out of it,” he said. “I have a long history and background in

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Josh Heath May 16, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Strike could result in a heyday for Augusta’s film industry

There could be a silver lining playbook for Augusta filmmaking, despite a Writers Guild of America strikes now in its third week. Destination Augusta and local producers are keeping a close eye on what will happen next, as they should. Craig Miller believes Augusta could end up benefiting from the strike. He should know. Miller served eight years as the Co-President of the Georgia Production Partnership, the grassroots organization that established the Georgia Film Incentive. You could say his finger is on the pulse of Georgia movie making. “Jobs are

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Mitzi Oxford and Dana Lynn McIntyre May 16, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local wellness studio owners offer holistic approach to common ailments

A few years ago, Jamie Cressend battled a chronic health problem and traditional medical treatments offered little relief, so she decided to try a holistic approach to healing. When Cressend, co-owner of Synergy Studio located at 7013 Evans Town Center Blvd., Suite 203 in Evans, discovered scalar light therapy, she found rapid relief from her pain. Cressend and her business partner, Amy Iseman held their business’s soft opening on Tuesday, May 2, and its grand opening on Saturday, May 6. Scalar light therapy refers to the use of light waves

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Josh Heath May 15, 2023 No Comments
Closings

Two CSRA retail locations to close following company’s bankruptcy

After years of struggling to stay afloat, two retail giants have announced plans to close all their stores nationwide, including locations in the Augusta Exchange shopping center. Bed Bath & Beyond located at 221 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway and buybuy BABY located at 242 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway will both close their doors permanently after Bed Bath & Beyond, the parent company of buybuy BABY, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month. ABD contacted both Augusta stores, which had recorded messages that said, “We have made the

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Josh Heath May 15, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Bagel business heating up in the CSRA

It’s a bagel lover’s dream. A few weeks ago, Straight Outta Brooklyn opened in Aiken, and now Oh Mie Stella Bakery is open for business as of May 6. For the record, Oh Mie Stella is Italian for Oh My Stars, thus the name. Italian bakers are known for their unique baking techniques and passion for the art and craft of breadmaking. Crissy Kuhl didn’t start out as a baker. Her background is in law enforcement and as a project manager for the Savannah River Site. But she was bitten

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Mitzi Oxford May 15, 2023 No Comments
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