Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: Business owner credits faith and family values for industry staying power

Trust in God. Treat people right. Help the community. These three core principles propel Augusta native and wholesale retailer Keith Brown as much now as they did almost 40 years ago. Support from others helps, too. “There are a lot of people who pray for my success,” Brown says. “I’m deeply rooted in my faith.”  Brown’s roots have kept him grounded in the screen printing and embroidery business over the years. ZZ’s Best Tees began as a retail venture he wasn’t sure would last. But, after returning home from Howard

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Consumer Stories

Real Talk Real Estate: How much does a buyer’s agent cost?

Purchasing a CSRA home is a huge life commitment. It can be a beneficial endeavor that brings wealth and happiness to you and your family. Conversely, one mistake in the buying process can be detrimental to you, your loved ones, and your wallet. Unfortunately, the horror stories about home purchases that went catastrophic are abundant. First off, please never purchase a home without having a qualified home inspector inspect the property. Too many times people forgo a home inspection (sometimes not knowing any better) and just weeks after moving in

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Consumer Stories

Local law firm to help needy families for the holidays

Many in the CSRA face significant financial burdens, and Christmas shopping only compounds those burdens, but a local law firm wants to help. Hawk Law Group is currently accepting applications for its second annual Hawk Helps program. The firm will select five families to help this holiday season. “Things are difficult enough for families experiencing difficult times, but it’s more difficult during the holidays,” says Reid Sanders, one of the firm’s partners. “We started Hawk Helps to bring some Christmas joy to local families who are struggling.” Hawk Law Group

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Employment Cartoon

Thanks to our member Mike Frazier of Peak TCS who’s always taken an innovative approach to communicating with employers and employees as part of their staffing company. Here’s his take on working remotely in the CSRA!

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Olive Garden

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 the 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”.

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B2B Stories

Two businessmen purchase the Boy Scouts a $1.7 Million headquarters

After a unique sealed bidding process with a deadline that came and went several months ago— a creative, near $1.7 Million deal was struck by Sherman and Hemstreet Real Estate, the Augusta Jewish Community Center—the property owner and Georgia-Carolina Nature and Adventure Center, LLC—the private group that bought the 26 acre facility and blessed the Boy Scouts with a long-term charitable lease. It will be called the GCC Adventure Center. The two businessmen grew up in the scouting program and asked to remain anonymous. “We will lease it for $1

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B2B Stories

Military veteran launches line of bottled sauces and favorite recipes

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Mark Douglass has been serving his entire life. From 24 years in the U.S Army, to 16 years as a CSRA Real Estate agent and now founder of his home grown blend of four barbecue sauces. “During my travels around the world and throughout the U.S., I learned many secrets on barbecue sauces and recipes which I have kept with me for nearly 40 years,” writes Douglass on his www.warriorschoice.us website. He says he’s always toyed with bringing it to market and the pandemic gave Douglass time

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Consumer Stories

Simon Says: Augusta’s unemployment picture

The headline unemployment rate for the Augusta MSA fell to a record low of 2.8% in September on a seasonally adjusted basis unemployment has been at 3.1% for the last three months.  Other labor market data for Augusta also barely moved in September. Employment fell by 400 jobs, average weekly earnings rose by $3, hours worked fell by about 12 minutes and the labor force contained 373 fewer people. Putting all these variables into the Augusta Labor Market Index suggest there has been little improvement locally, with the LMI is

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Consumer Stories

Attract and Secure Talent

Robert Kelly and his brother Isaac have been the “boots on the ground” for their three family staffing companies.  In today’s employment tip, Robert says that employers and employees have to put themselves in each other’s shoes to get what they want.

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Consumer Stories

UPS, Coke and Home Depot making holiday new$

  These three heavyweight headquartered Atlanta companies are busy innovating in the face of a unique holiday season. One of the Georgia Giants got a little nudge from the White House. Here’s Mike Petchenik with your business week in review from Atlanta.

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