'Remembrance is the thing': Owners of vintage, antique stores report big business

‘Remembrance is the thing’: Owners of vintage, antique stores report big business

Owner Patty Wolfe takes a phone call last week inside Yesterday’s RAVE Antiques in Greensburg. The rapid growth of Yesterday’s RAVE in Greensburg has been a surprise to co-owner Patty Wolfe. The store that specializes in antique and vintage items with 15 vendors in a renovated space at the former Schaller’s Bakery building on Highland Avenue opened in November 2021. As more sections of the building opened in the ensuing months, the number of vendors quickly increased. “We went from 15 dealers to 115 dealers in one year,” she said. Now, Wolfe shares a commonality with other similar stores around the area: a waiting list for vendors to get in. The popularity of antique and vintage stores that provide space to vendors to sell their unique items seems to have been growing in recent years. An annual survey conducted by the Asheford Institute of Antiques found that in 2021 anything art deco style had strong sales among buyers between 20 and 40 years old. Young people or couples has been an increasing age group visiting Diamond Antiques and Gifts in Tarentum, owner Dianna Roney said. “We’re not stuffy old grandma stuff,” she said. Textiles, such as clothing, scarves and […]

4 Tips For Building A ‘Culture Of Collaboration’ Within Your Business

4 Tips For Building A ‘Culture Of Collaboration’ Within Your Business

True teamwork begins to take shape with a recognizable culture of collaboration within your … [+] Getty Images While there are many factors that can play a role in creating the ideal office culture, few things can prove more important than building a culture of collaboration. In fact, research from Stanford reveals that working in a collaborative setting makes employees 50% more effective at task completion, while also boosting their engagement and motivation. It may sound cliche, but it’s true: your team is the lifeblood of your business. No matter what your industry, building a healthy office culture driven by collaboration is key to driving outcomes for your company. Positive work cultures have been found to boost productivity, engagement, retention and other vital statistics. Building a collaborative culture within your business is well worth the effort — and with the right practices, you can quickly strengthen this aspect of your work. 1. Establish a Foundation of Trust and Communication As a leader, you set the tone for how collaboration can be carried out within your organization. Similar to establishing strong partnerships with other businesses, an internal collaborative culture needs a solid foundation of consistent communication and transparency. This doesn’t […]

Mills Seed Co Small Business Accelerator- “Idea Mill”

Mills Seed Co Small Business Accelerator- “Idea Mill”

A Washington County working space and small business accelerator event will be at the Mills Seed Co. Building on the 22nd. This “Idea Mill” event is geared toward individuals currently operating recently formed startup businesses or are thinking about doing so. The reason behind the event is to bring like-minded people together to share ideas and to help develop businesses in the Washington area. Discussion will be had on what it takes to begin a company and the challenges that go with that process. This event will run from 2-3 PM. You can find a link to the event with this news story at KCIIradio.com.

We asked 12 Triad business leaders about their biggest challenge in 2023. Here's what they had to say.

We asked 12 Triad business leaders about their biggest challenge in 2023. Here’s what they had to say.

While Triad business leaders are bullish about the Triad economy , their top challenges for 2023 are very much in line with concerns cited by their counterparts statewide in a Business Journals statewide economic outlook survey. The rising cost of business, with inflation a major part of the equation, tied with the U.S. economy as the top concern cited by respondents across the state in the survey. That finding is echoed by 12 Triad business leaders ( see below ) that TBJ’s news team approached at Thursday’s N.C. Economic Outlook event at High Point University. Labor and access to capital were among other top concerns local leaders to the highlighted, again mimicking survey that was conducted statewide. In the Business Journals survey a year earlier, the U.S. economy was the No. 1 concern, with rising costs second. The global economy has been the third-greatest concern both years. Access to capital, business loans and credit was the concern that jumped the most as somewhat or very concerning among respondents, cited by 41% compared with 32% a year earlier. A closer look reveals a slight difference by metro area in which concerns ranked highest, with rising costs the greatest concern cited […]

How social enterprises offer big businesses pathways to sustainable innovations

How social enterprises offer big businesses pathways to sustainable innovations

Corporations can advance stakeholder metrics by joining the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship. Crowdsource Innovation By partnering with social entrepreneurs, corporations can deliver measurable progress to help protect and regenerate environmental ecosystems, develop and invest in communities, promote value chain resilience and advance strategic business objectives. Social enterprises already partner with business but there is much room for broadening the scope within value chains. The Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship and its 100 plus members are surfacing partnership opportunities between social entrepreneurs and corporations and building the business case for collaboration. Today, there are many examples of social enterprises, cooperatives and innovative, entrepreneurial non-profits that have long created social and environmental value and provided pioneering examples of purpose-driven ways of organizing economic activity. As such, they are already improving the lives of hundreds of millions of people and changing whole industries . Partnering with these potent change actors could allow businesses to trial new approaches that help them navigate the challenges of the year(s) ahead while simultaneously achieving business objectives. And as businesses find themselves operating in a challenging economic environment, they should prioritize such engagements with urgency to help build resilience for future market disruptions. From rising inflation, […]

Is your business ready for the next crisis?

Is your business ready for the next crisis?

For business leaders, the current ‘polycrisis’ means continually confronting new and different challenges. The Big Picture Crowdsource Innovation The world is experiencing prolonged economic, social and geopolitical turbulence. Business leaders have no choice but to learn how to operate effectively within today’s unpredictable environment. To face an uncertain world head-on, businesses must think big and develop growth strategies that are purpose-driven and focused on long-term value creation, not just short-term profits. In the past three years, the global economy has been reshaped by a string of shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic to soaring inflation and the outbreak of war in Ukraine. The pace of climate change also continues to accelerate, unleashing extreme weather events that claim lives and inflict heavy economic damage. Have you read? The world is experiencing prolonged economic, social and geopolitical turbulence, driving uncertainty and volatility to their highest levels in decades. For business leaders, that means continually confronting new and different challenges. Facing uncertainty head-on One thing is clear, we won’t return to the old normal. Business leaders have no choice but to learn how to operate effectively within today’s unpredictable environment. Successful business leaders realize now, more than ever, that businesses have a greater […]

Business groups say Mount Pleasant’s latest plan to limit apartments encourages sprawl

Business groups say Mount Pleasant’s latest plan to limit apartments encourages sprawl

Shelmore Village in Mount Pleasant is a densely built 2006 development where each building has a ground-floor commercial space, and a residence on the upper floors. A development just like that one would not be permitted under a proposed Mount Pleasant zoning change. Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. Grace Beahm Alford/Staff MOUNT PLEASANT — The town’s latest attempt to restrict housing and apartment development by slashing the number of residences that could be built above businesses is misguided and will only create more sprawl according to real estate interests. Town Council members say the pending change in land-use rules would block high-density developments that could overcrowd schools and increase traffic while also providing incentives for more affordable housing. The curious thing about Mount Pleasant’s proposed zoning change is that it targets a rule that’s existed for decades but has only been used once, for the 41-building Shelmore Village development in 2006. It’s a development of townhouse-style three-story buildings, with commercial space on the ground floor and two-story homes above. The rule that allowed Shelmore Village permits development of 12 residences per acre if they are built above first-floor businesses with street frontage in a commercial area. The town’s proposal is […]

Allied Payment Network hires COO

Allied Payment Network hires COO

Kathi Klawitter (photo courtesy of Allied Payment Network) FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Fort Wayne-based Allied Payment Network Inc. has appointed Kathi Klawitter as chief operating officer. Allied, which provides payment technology for financial institutions, says Klawitter brings more than 20 years of experience building business units for companies within the financial and fintech industries. Klawitter will report directly to Allied CEO Geoff Knapp and will oversee the company’s operations to support growing demand and market share. In her new role, Allied says Klawitter will work to establish new business development, client retention, product development and performance optimization. “Kathi is a deeply experienced fintech leader who possesses a clear client-first mentality,” said Knapp. “Kathi has worked with community financial institutions her entire career, which puts her in the unique position of knowing exactly what it takes to nurture and grow those customer relationships. We are fortunate to have her join our leadership team.” Prior to her appointment, Klawitter worked for Wisconsin-based Fiserv Community Financial Institutions as head of operations, as well as head of operations & initiatives for the global business solutions division. Klawitter’s background also includes work as chief operating officer for Mississippi-based Security Card Services, as well as […]

Avoiding the Negative Impact of Nepotism in Family Business

Avoiding the Negative Impact of Nepotism in Family Business

It’s a tale as old as time. Nepotism in family businesses is a phenomenon that has been present for centuries, but it has recently gained more attention due to the increasing number of family businesses and the growing awareness of the negative effects of nepotism. Nepotism is the practice of favoring family members in business decisions and operations, often without giving priority to selecting the most qualified individuals. Two generations of owners inside their factory getty One of the main reasons nepotism is prevalent in family businesses is that the owners of the business are often emotionally invested in their family members and want to ensure their success. They may also believe that family members are more trustworthy and loyal than non-family members. However, this can lead to the exclusion of qualified and capable employees, which can negatively impact the business. Nepotism can also lead to a lack of accountability and poor decision-making, as family members may not feel the need to justify their actions or may not have the necessary skills or experience for the position. Another major issue with nepotism in family businesses is that it can lead to a lack of diversity and inclusivity within the […]

Disaster risks – what exposures are there for businesses?

Disaster risks – what exposures are there for businesses?

Floods, storms, wildfires, and other natural catastrophes create countless exposures for businesses. For most, planning for when (rather than if) disasters strike is a must. But two key issues place organizations at more risk and increase the need for robust disaster risk management plans: remote working and physical expansions. “Employees are going to work from home for the foreseeable future,” said Dale Buckner (pictured), CEO of Global Guardian. “So, when it comes to planning for natural disasters and disruptive events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, and wildfires, I think the number one difference is that you now must account for people that you think are in North Carolina, but could be in Australia, the Caribbean, basically thousands of miles away.” Buckner also strongly advocates for business leaders to put disaster risk at the top of their criteria when planning to expand their physical footprint. As executives consider their expansion plans for office locations, plants, and warehouses, they need to be aware of the natural disaster risks of chosen locations and potentially reassess plans to avoid those risks altogether. How does remote work influence businesses’ disaster risk planning? Around 5.1 million Canadians were working from home as of May […]