Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

Therapy program makes horse sense

A partnership between two local companies is providing equine therapy for senior citizens in the CSRA. Steven Gay – owner and President of Augusta Aviation, Inc. is providing horses for residents of Thrive at Augusta (see photo above story). Thrive, an assisted living facility located at 313 Furys Ferry Road in Martinez, began the therapy program in November. “I am proud to be able to offer this program to the residents at Thrive at Augusta,” says Gay, who needed help caring for the horses. “It’s a joy to see residents

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Consumer Stories

The Cost of Cutting Corners

  Don MacNeil is the former Marketing Director of Windsor Jewelers and long-time on-air radio professional.   Is it just me, or… The Cost of Cutting Corners Have you had groceries delivered to your home lately? If you have, have you also come to the conclusion that home delivery – especially to the house-bound – has become a dumping ground for expired, near-expired and damaged goods? When free grocery delivery suddenly swept the supermarket industry not long ago, I immediately imagined a CEO rolling his eyes when first advised that

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Consumer Stories

Mondays with Rick: Co-Founder of Mailchimp

Editor’s Note:   Recently, Rick Franza, Dean of AU’s Hull College of Business attended a meet-and-greet with Ben Chestnut, the co-founder of the marketing platform Mailchimp. External media was not allowed to the meet-and-greet or Chestnut’s “fireside chat” (Click here to watch the video) with nearly 100 AU students and faculty. ABD: I know he spent some time with AU President Brooks Keel and AU’s Scott Thorp, faculty coordinator of Innovation Project (see photo above). What were your impressions of him at the meet-and-greet? Rick: He’s proud of his roots

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Consumer Stories

Local teens need businesses to support March event

For many high school girls, the prom is an exciting event, but not everyone can afford to go. A local event provides everything teen girls need to enjoy the evening in style. Cinderella Day (see photo above story) is a free event hosted by the Augusta Dream Center – a nonprofit that provides a variety of services for those in need in the CSRA. The fifth annual Cinderella Day will be held on Saturday, March 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center located at 3364 Peach Orchard

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Consumer Stories

‘Divine drinking’ the way to better health, says soldier-turned-entrepreneur

Editor’s Note: Our Faith Friday columnist Monique Williams is off this week and will be back with a new story sure to inspire you next weekend. In early November, she profiled a special family utilizing God’s creation to quench the thirst of others. Geoffery Jackson wants to leave a legacy for his children’s children. It’s a seed he says was planted one day while listening to a sermon from his pastor. “That’s something we don’t do,” he thought to himself. “Leave a legacy. But, I asked God how did that

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Consumer Stories

Dr. Thom and the Kit Fox Hunt

It sounds like the title of a children’s book, huh? But it’s as real as the long history of fox hunting in Aiken. It’s as real as the bronze foxes scattered among city parks and downtown business locations. It all started with Dr. Thom Akins, owner of Kitfox Pediatric Dentistry. His vision was to create a fun way to engage families and encourage locals and tourists to stay and play downtown. In case you didn’t know, a “kit” is a young fox. We learn something every day. Since Dr. Thom

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Meet you at The Back Porch

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings is on vacation from eating out this week! He will return with a new restaurant review next Thursday. Yours truly chose a review he did more than three months ago—a bit off of the beaten path. Enjoy! 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

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Consumer Stories

Career fair to support $10 million re-opening

This Friday and Saturday, the iconic Partridge Inn will be using its sister hotel to try and hire up to 75 full and part-time hospitality workers for the grand re-opening scheduled for late February. The Career Fair is from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on both days at another North Pointe hotel—the Crowne Plaza in North Augusta on 1060 Center Street. About 20 longtime Partridge Inn employees are staying on through the current six-month renovation and will be part of a workforce numbering nearly 100. Positions that are available include:

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Consumer Stories

Local franchise helps combat food shortages

According to a recent article from Reuters, the number of out-of-stock items in U.S. grocery stores has risen from 7-10% prior to the pandemic to its current level of 12-15%. If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you’ve probably seen empty shelves and limited supplies of just about everything (see photo above story), but Addie Strozier gets quality food delivered right to her door. Strozier – a local photographer – has been a customer of Southern Foods at Home for about six months. “We’re about to place our second

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Consumer Stories

Local jewelry shop holds Valentine’s Day contest

If you’re not sure what to get your wife or girlfriend for Valentine’s Day, a local business wants to give you the chance to win a gift she’s guaranteed to love. Floyd & Green Fine Jewelers (see photo above story) – located at 515 Silver Bluff Road in Aiken, is celebrating the occasion with a contest called Share Your Love Story. Local couples are encouraged to visit the store or go online and complete a short form that tell their unique stories of how they met, obstacles they’ve overcome, and

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