Let’s sell fudge at a health fair
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Are we health conscious here at the newspaper or what? Forget about fruit, vegetables and healthy snacks. We were pushing calories and saturated fat. For our next trick, we’re going to sell packs of Marlboro at the Great American Smokeout.
But I’m probably being too hard on us because selling junk food at a health fair was at least a slight improvement on my idea of selling hot dogs and sausage biscuits. In our defense, all money raised from the bake sale benefits the Standard’s Relay for Life team. And all of that money goes to fight cancer.
Speaking of sweets, I thought I would also mention the latest dessert craze that’s sweeping through England. It’s an idea that began at a British hotel which wanted to reward chocolate lovers with an even better treat — a chocolate sandwich that’s dipped in batter and deep fried.
Ramada Jarvis is the hotel chain which introduced the delicacy last month. The company said the calorie-heavy dish has quickly become the most popular item on its menu.
As a chocolate lover myself, I can say there’s nothing wrong with an occasional candy bar, but I must admit I’ve never thought of making a chocolate sandwich. I’ve really never thought of making a chocolate sandwich and then deep frying it.
Before I bring this week’s rambling to an end, I wanted to mention two items in the news which caught my attention this past week. The first one involves a Redmon, Wash., man who had the nerve to reportedly steal an eight-ton cherry-picker from a construction equipment dealership.
The man, 43-year-old Sandy L. Warren, was discovered when he had the cherry-picker parked in his front yard — and with a for sale sign on it no less. The sign said “$28,990 OBO.” That’s certainly a new way to try and move hot merchandise.
And on Friday, President Bush grabbed the attention of the nation when he announced he wants all Americans to have access to high-speed Internet capabilities by 2007.
Now is Bush a great president or what? Here I am worried about affordable health care and American jobs, and Bush is fighting for every American’s right to access eBay. His vision for a better America is second to none. What would we do without the Internet, which ensures everyone is able to have instant access to hundreds of porn sites.
But I digress. And this week I have no room for such tomfoolery because there’s so much business news, and so little time. I regret I have but one business column to give to my country.
Enterprise now open in town
For years, folks have been saying we need an Enterprise rent-a-car dealer in McMinnville. OK, so maybe I’ve never actually heard someone say that, but I’m sure it’s been said out of my earshot.
Now those dreams have come true as Enterprise has opened its doors at a new location on N. Chancery Street next to O’Reilly Auto Parts, also in a new building. Enterprise carries more than 50 types of automobiles, including vans and SUVs.
Enterprise has been open for two weeks, even though construction is still taking place on its building and the parking lot has yet to be paved. It doesn’t really look open but customers have been fighting through the mess and a gentleman was even renting a car when I stopped by to see the store Friday afternoon.
Branch manager Cassidy Jenkins and Dawn Schultz are a friendly pair and they have North America’s largest rent-a-car company behind them. Enterprise has over 5,200 locations and a fleet of 600,000 automobiles worldwide. The phone number here is 506-5275.
Barbers and hair stylists, start your clippers
Brothers Doug and Mike Patrick have stumbled on an amazing discovery. You could call it a barbershop built for one.
The Patricks figure individual barbers and hair stylists might want to venture out on their own. Maybe they’ve grown tired of a multi-person shop, or perhaps they’ve built up an impressive clientele and want to venture out on their own. This is their chance.
Doug and Mike have revitalized the office space above the bowling alley and it includes what’s now called Salon Suites International, a mall of 13 individual hair salons. One of the salons is already rented to popular stylist Lesa Hillis and the other 12 are now available.
“It’s a situation where they can come in and get right to work for a very little amount of money,” said Doug, who was nice enough to show me around the place Monday. “We’ll do all the maintenance. We’re the landlords and each unit is recognized as its own individual shop.”
Seven of the shops are already equipped with a chair, a sink, and other hair care staples. The remaining five are empty so they can be custom designed by the new owners.
“From the one we opened in Murfreesboro I can tell you the customers love it,” said Doug. “It’s a chance to have a real one-on-one relationship with your hair dresser. You’re not sitting with your hair in rollers talking where a room full of people can hear you.”
The Salon Suites International mall is nice, but so is the entire space above the bowling alley. Charter Communications has already taken one spot and there are more available. For more information, call Doug at (615) 804-9661.
Farmers Market ready to blossom
The air has turned warmer, the Bradford pears have bloomed, and the NCAA basketball tournament is heading down the home stretch. All this points to one thing: The Farmers Market is just around the corner.
To be technical, the Farmers Market will have its season opener this coming Saturday, April 3, beginning at 7 a.m. And expectations are high for what promises to be an exciting second year under the new pavilion.
“We’ve had a year to feel out the new building and are really optimistic about this season,” said Farmers Market president Brent Bain.
Brent was excited about a couple promotions which went well last year, namely the fried pie contest and the Little Mr. and Miss Pumpkin Pageant. He said this year a special event is planned every month to generate season-long interest other than the regular fruit, vegetable and plant vendors which are the backbone of the market.
I always enjoy shopping at the Farmers Market and supporting local folks who grow these fine products themselves. This year the market has 80 members, with an average of 40 usually showing up on a given day.
In addition to Bain, other new officers are vice president and renowned fried pie cook Gloria Whitaker, secretary/ treasurer Carolyn Bickford, and directors Linwood Michaels, Carl Wilson, Burton Jones, Clarence Webb and Walter Clarke. Lovable Mary Cantrell returns as market manager.
The market will be open only on Saturdays until the first Wednesday in May. Beginning June 18, the market will be open Friday evenings. For more information, contact Bain at 934-2457 or Dale Beaty at 473-8484.
Cadillac sheds old-folk image with sporty new offerings
I’ve always thought Cadillacs were reserved for the older generation. That may be the stereotype but it’s one General Motors is eager to break.
To prove this point, the fine folks at Edd Rogers Chevrolet set up a test drive to show us here at the newspaper that the new Cadillac means business. Edd Rogers salesman Terry Raper designed an obstacle course at Three Star Mall and had the courage to turn loose Standard publisher Pat Zechman and yours truly with two 2004 Cadillacs.
“Cadillac is going after the youthful market,” said Terry. “This is not the old-person type vehicle like your grandma drives.”
After driving a Cadillac CTS, there’s no doubt about that. I felt like Jeff Gordon out there twisting and zipping through cones and putting the petal to the floorboard. If Terry wanted to impress me, consider it mission accomplished.
“I like putting on these shows and getting opinions from people who aren’t prejudiced,” said Terry.
The only thing that surprised me more than the great-handling Cadillacs was the driving of Pat Zechman. As someone who is a grandma herself, Pat wasn’t shy about hitting the gas.
New antique store graces Main Street
When it comes to antiques, Daphne Greene and Gail Greene know their stuff. So it should come as no surprise their new store, D&G Antiques and Collectibles, has done well its first three weeks of business.
“I grew up in this,” said Gail. “My grandparents were antique dealers and my mother was a dealer.”
Daphne has been active in several antique shops around McMinnville and is glad to have found a new home with her daughter-in-law in the building that was the longtime location of Touch O’ Klas.
“I’m really looking forward to getting downtown revitalized,” said Daphne. “When we go to other towns, their downtown is usually the first place we go. It’s where all the antique stores are.”
At D&G Antiques and Collectibles, they really have a nice variety of upscale antique items combined with popular collectibles. There’s glassware, depression glass, pottery items from McCoy, Roseville and Hull, furniture and stained glass, just to name a sampling of the items.
“This is not just an antique store,” said Daphne. “You have to have the collectibles because you don’t sell a $700 dresser every day.”
Gail and Daphne say the majority of their customers have come from out of town – from as far away as Alaska. The Alaskan couple didn’t come especially to see D&G Antiques, but all the antique shops downtown were a stopping point.
“People think because you have other antique stores around you that it hurts you,” said Gail. “But the more you have, the more the draw is.”
D&G is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. The phone number is 474-1818.
Homier rolls into McMinnville this Monday and Tuesday
Some of you may have noticed the full-color Homier Mobile Merchant flyer inserted in Friday’s Southern Standard. I sure did and was alarmed by the prices. I’ll get a chance to check out those prices first-hand at the Civic Center this Monday and Tuesday when the Homier show opens for business.
How do they sell hand trucks for $14.99? How do they sell tape measures for 99 cents and shovels for $5.99. The only thing I can figure is VOLUME.
In a press release issued to the Standard, Homier said people will be “blown away” by their prices. The Homier motto is to have absolutely, positively the lowest prices in the nation.
That’s all folks
I already have several interesting items for next week’s column, but I’m always on the lookout for more. With warm weather arriving, the business news is sure to really heat up in the coming months.
So don’t miss next week’s column when I stress the importance of regular flossing. To phone in your business tips, give me a call at 473-2191 or send me an e-mail at [email protected].