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 Sponsored By:
E-Commerce Re
p
ort
Vol. 15|No. 8
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The Aiken Chamber MEANS business
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General Assembly Actions Impact Small Business
The Aiken Chamber works daily to help build and diversify the economy, aid the profitability of our members, and represent members' interests in governmental and legislative issues.
We know that decisions made at the State House directly impact the Aiken business community. At the conclusion of the 122nd South Carolina General Assembly we asked
members of the Aiken Legislative Delegation to provide a short update on the issues affecting small business.
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4
HOT Tuesdays|4
HOT
topics|4
HOT
seminars
Don't le
t the summer heat cook your business. Come keep your cool at the Aiken Chamber every hot Tuesday in August as four hot topics are presented each week from four local experts.
All four seminars will be held at the Aiken Chamber of Commerce from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and are presented free of charge to Chamber members. Register at
www.aikenchamber.net.
Presented by Becky Dawes, procurement director for Aiken County, Nathan Campbell, City of Aiken business license administrator, George Grieve, City of Aiken purchasing director, and Deborah L. Tyler, CPPB director of purchasing and warehousing for Aiken County Public School District.
HOT AUGUST TUESDAYS
ARE SPONSORED BY
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A look back to 1989
The Aiken Chamber is celebrating its centennial year in 2018. Each month in the Commerce Report we will take a short look back at its history. This month McDonald Law, a former Chamber Chair and architect at Hughes Beattie O'Neal Law & Associates PC, looks back at 1989 and adds a bit about 1998 as well.
One of the highlights of the 1989 Chamber year was the December board retreat in Charleston. This gave new board members a time to get acquainted in pleasant surroundings, and officers a time to plan for the New Year.
This sounds like a lot of work, but June Murff made sure we had time off with our spouses Saturday afternoon after a working breakfast and planning session. After two and a half days together, our Board was a unified group able to work together as friends with a common purpose-making Aiken a delightful place to live and work.
I
n an effort to combine planning and aesthetics, our annual meeting featured nationally-recognized landscape architect Robert Marvin as the keynote speaker. Besides giving an informative and entertaining talk, Robert was also instrumental in working with city leaders, Roland Windham in particular, to develop Hopeland Gardens as a community treasure.
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McDonald Law |
A milestone in Aiken's history was the changeover of the SRS Contract, after almost 40 years with DuPont, to Westinghouse. Aiken began a new page in its history as a science-oriented community with the influx of new residents
from places like Pittsburg and Washington State.
I was privileged in 1998 to be asked to design a new building for the Chamber, and SRS expertise was utilized in a very practical manner in this effort. What had been the site of two derelict service stations was cleaned up using gasoline-eating microbes to turn two derelict service stations was cleaned up using gasoline-eating microbes to turn two contaminated downtown parcels into the site of our current Chamber building.
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Hixon's Roofing & Construction, LLC
held a
ribbon cutting at its new facility located at 521 Silver Bluff Road in Aiken July 14th. Cutting the ribbon are father David Hixon and sons David and Tyler Hixon. Joining them are Aiken County Council Chairman Gary Bunker and members of the Chamber's ambassador team; Pegi Flahault, Trey Black and Debbie Roland. Hixon's Roofing handles
roof repair, shingle repair, and new roof construction needs for both residential and commercial customers. Learn more at
hixonsroofing.com
Return Engagement
celebrated a ribbon cutting and grand opening July 10 at its new street-front location in downtown Aiken, 151 Laurens St., SW. Helping Return Engagement's owner Pam Fischbach cut the ribbon is fiancé Brian Bouchillon. They are joined on the left by Mayor Rick Osbon and State Representative Bart Blackwell, and on the right by Chamber President/CEO J. David Jameson and Aiken City Councilman Ed Girardeau. Return Engagement is an upscale consignment boutique specializing in new and gently used apparel, designer jewelry, and accessories. They are open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Learn more at returnengagementaiken.com
South Aiken Physical Therapy & Wellness
held a ribbon cutting June 27 at its newly renovated facility located at 943 Pine Log Road in Aiken. On the front row from left to right are
Jeff Callis, Justine Torrente, Mitzi Shealy, Susan Sturgill, South Aiken Physical Therapy & Wellness President and Physical Therapist Darcy Armstrong, Aiken Chamber President/CEO J. David Jameson, Hunter Klem, Barbara Gunnells, Casey Rhodes and Melissa Geddie. They are joined by Channing Smith-Bump, Ashley Fox, Asia Ennis, Shelly Allman, Katie Sherrod, Jimmy Batte, Travis Gerrald, Mercedes' Holmes, Lindsey Psillos, Carolyn McCoy and members of the Aiken Chamber ambassador team. Learn more about South Aiken Physical Therapy and Wellness at
southaikenpt.com
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SCORE will offer two workshops for business in August
Basic Business Financials - August 10
Understanding basic business financials is key to being successful in business, but it can be a daunting process. An owner must know the costs involved and what it takes for the business to make a profit and provide a means of support.
Topics covered in the workshop will include
- Product pricing
- Determining fixed and variable costs
- Figuring the amount of cash needed for startup
- Vehicle costs
- Records required for IRS reporting
The workshop is free to attend and will be held at the Aiken Chamber of Commerce August 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. Please register at
www.greateraiken.score.org
or call the Aiken Chamber of Commerce at (803) 641-1111.
Starting a Nonprofit - August 17
Are you thinking of taking your hobby, passion or compassionate interest to a new level? If you are, you may realize a nonprofit organization is a good fit for you.
Starting a nonprofit can be a lot smoother with a little help, and the Aiken SCORE chapter is ready to assist.
Questions to be addressed include:
- What do I need to do to get state and federal approval?
- Does a nonprofit organization need a street address and a board of directors?
- What is an Employee Identification Number? Do I need one if my nonprofit organization has no employees?
- Will my organization need to file an annual tax return if it is granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status by the IRS?
- What are the state and local fees to establish such an organization?
- How long does it take to get all approvals for my new organization?
The workshop is free to attend and will be held at the Aiken Chamber of Commerce August 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. Please register at
www.greateraiken.score.org
or call the Aiken Chamber of Commerce at (803) 641-1111.
Greater Aiken SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow and succeed in Aiken, Allendale, Bamburg, Barnwell and Edgefield counties. SCORE is a partner with the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce and has provided no-cost mentoring to small-business owners in the area since 2004. Modest annual funding from the Small Business Administration is augmented by generous contributions from local SCORE business sponsors, including: Alison South Marketing Group, Fifth Third Bank, Floyd & Green Fine Jewelers, Security Federal Bank, South State Bank and TD Bank.
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Click on the title to register
Newberry Hall
Sponsored by: Security Federal Bank
7:30 to 9 a.m.
Doing business with the County, City and School District
Aiken Chamber of Commerce
Sponsored by: Atlantic Broadband
8:30 to 10 a.m.
Creating your brand
Aiken Chamber of Commerce
Sponsored by: Atlantic Broadband
8:30 to 10 a.m.
August 16 - Aiken Young Professionals (AYP)
Third Thursday
Sponsored by: Hilton Garden Inn - Aiken
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Network with a purpose
Aiken Chamber of Commerce
Sponsored by: Atlantic Broadband
8:30 to 10 a.m.
Sponsored by: City of Aiken at Aiken Center for the Arts
5 to 7 p.m.
The customer experience
Aiken Chamber of Commerce
Sponsored by: Atlantic Broadband
8:30 to 10 a.m.
August 29 - State of our Community
University of South Carolina Aiken
Noon - 2 p.m
Newberry Hall
Sponsored by: United Way of Aiken County
7:30 to 9 a.m.
September 7 Aiken's Makin'
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
September 8 Aiken's Makin'
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit www.aikenchamber.net to register for events.
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Advanced Spine Care & Wellness
- Chiropractor
Chiropractic care & medical massage, science-based nutrition & vibration exercise, digital x-ray
232 Silver Bluff Road
Aiken, SC 29803
Contact: Dr. Jason Drivere
Phone: (803) 649-1160
www.advancedspinecare.net
Electronic Medical Office, Solutions, LLC - Computer Software Solutions
Aiken, SC 29803
Contact: Robert Bradshaw
Phone: (803) 226-0709
Hixon's Roofing & Construction, LLC - Roofing
Your team of local roofing experts. We've been serving our community since 1984. Family owned, honest company you can trust with all your roofing needs.
521 Silver Bluff Road
Aiken, SC 29803
Contact: David Hixon
Phone: (803) 991-3018
www.hixonsroofing.com
Modjoul, LLC
- Health & Wellness
398 College Avenue
Clemson, SC 29631
Contact: Paul Roberts
Phone: (919) 606-2551
www.modjoul.com
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