INSIDE THIS ISSUE SAMSUNG TO BRING 400 JOBS TO REGION • VIDEO JOB INTERVIEWS • WHEN BUSINESS IS BOOMING
JULY 20, 2018 | VOL. 7 ISSUE 25
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Rob Young, owner of Borderlands Comics and Games Will Crooks/Upstate Business Journal
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TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK
| THE RUNDOWN
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 28 Featured this issue: The 5 other County Square proposals.........................................................................4 New Samsung center to create 400 jobs....................................................................7 How to ace your video job interview…………...............................................................14
Mark Larimer, assistant manager of Borderlands Comics and Games, flips through the new DC Comics’ “Superman” #1, written by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Ivan Reis. Borderlands still sells 1,400 to 1,700 physical comic copies per week, even with the rise of digital comics. Read more on Page 10. Will Crooks/Upstate Business Journal
WORTH REPEATING “This move is the culmination of a lifelong dream for me.” Rob Young, Page 10
“As companies look for ways to drive down hiring costs, video interviews save time and money for both the company and its candidates.” Mike Dolch, Page 14
“Invest in your marketing when times are good, so that when they’re not, you have the right marketing tools to survive the downturn.” Chris Manley, Page 16
VERBATIM
On BMW “ Let’s clear the air. BMW is NOT moving U.S. production to China. Production in China is growing because of customer demand. Expansion of our U.S. plant, including $600M investment and 1,000 new jobs, is on track with a new X5 and allnew X7 arriving before the end of the year.” BMW USA’s official Twitter account, in a tweet on July 11, clarifying recent news that the manufacturer is increasing production in China
7.20.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
Fletcher Development and Carolina Holdings proposed that the development primarily serve a retail purpose. Provided by Greenville County.
DEVELOPMENT
County Square redevelopment proposals included affordable housing, a re-created Furman bell tower, expanded Governor’s School CINDY LANDRUM | STAFF
clandrum@communityjournals.com Plans for a redeveloped County Square were made public in May, when Greenville County reached a deal with RocaPoint Partners for what is one of the largest and most ambitious redevelopment plans in Greenville history. Greenville Journal gave the community the first look at RocaPoint’s vision for the 37-acre site near downtown when it broke the news that the county had reached a deal with the company, more than a year after the proposals were received. Now, Upstate Business Journal has obtained the proposals submitted by the five other developers: Fletcher Development and Carolina Holdings, Armada Hoffler Properties and CitiSculpt, Crosland Southeast and Northwood Ravin, East West Partners and Design Strategies, and Municipal Consolidation and Construction. Among the ideas were moving Greenville County offices somewhere else, the construction of a tower that would pay homage to the Furman University bell tower that once occupied the site, and a collection of national retailers. The winning $1.1 billion redevelopment plan includes a new $60 million glass-and-steel multistory county-government building at the corner of Church Street and University Ridge being designed by Foster + Partners, the architectural firm that designed Apple’s new 4
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headquarters, Apple Park, in California. The new county building will be paid for through land sales. In addition, RocaPoint’s proposal calls for 1,125 units of multifamily housing, 450,000 square feet of retail space, 650,000 square feet of office space, and 350 hotel rooms. The mix may change depending on market demand. Here are details of the other proposals. FLETCHER DEVELOPMENT AND CAROLINA HOLDINGS Fletcher Development and Carolina Holdings envisioned University Square as primarily serving a retail purpose with a complement of Class A residential and commercial uses.
“This is the last remaining opportunity in downtown Greenville to congregate a mass of national, regional, and local retailers that will support the sustained residential growth that has already occurred within the city limits,” the proposal said. Office opportunities were incorporated into the plan but were ancillary to the primary objective of congregating retail to support the heart of downtown. The proposal said that while there were more than 4 million square feet of office space and more than 2,500 new residential units downtown, there was a dearth of large-scale retail uses.
“The city of Greenville has longed for more of a national retail presence downtown. However, the nature of the position of the anchors along Main Street lends itself to a long, linear stretch dominated by restaurants and local retailers,” the proposal said. The developers proposed targeting a theater, grocer, new-to-market anchor tenants, junior retailers, shops, and restaurants. The developers believed county offices should not remain on the site. Instead, opportunities close to downtown should be pursued that would help revitalize other key corridors, save taxpayers money by using space more efficiently, and provide the development team a blank canvas to maximize value to Greenville County, the proposal said. ARMADA HOFFLER PROPERTIES AND CITISCULPT
Armada Hoffler Properties and Citisculpt’s vision included pocket parks and an entertainment venue. Provided by Greenville County.
This proposal called for integrating personal rapid transit and the city’s trolleys into the redevelopment. Trolley stops and enclosures would have been incorporated into the site, and the developers urged that the number and frequency of the trolleys be increased because of an expected increase in traffic. The development would have had a 1-acre commons with lawn and outdoor plaza, a veterans plaza that would contain existing monuments on County Square, and a green alleyway that would provide
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
a buffer between new residential buildings and the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. The plan also included pocket parks — small parks available to the public. Hoffler Properties and CitiSculpt envisioned a mix of retail and fashion shopping brands not currently in downtown. In addition, the development would have included an entertainment venue, a 250-room hotel, 718,000 square feet of office, and 837 residential units. The proposal said the development would require nearly 4,000 parking spaces at a cost of $112.7 million. CROSLAND SOUTHEAST AND NORTHWOOD RAVIN The companies called their proposal “one of the best we have ever put forth.” “When they are at their best, urban infill developments like this one proposed are complex, multivalent — and improve over time,”
the proposal said. “Unlike the singular uses that have preceded us on this site — each of which have had an expiration date — we see our proposal as an inevitable evolution of the patterns and scale of development that has occurred in the downtown area.” It included integration of Falls Park and Greenville’s trail system into the development with additional green space for recreational use, a multiplex movie theater, 100,000 square feet of entertainment-oriented retail and restaurants, a specialty grocer, 293 units of brownstones, office space, an expansion opportunity for the Governor’s School, and potential for medical office space. In addition, the proposal included 78 units of workforce housing. EAST WEST PARTNERS AND DESIGNSTRATEGIES In their proposal, East West Partners and DesignStrategies wanted to extend the success of downtown Greenville to Univer-
| NEWS
Crosland Southeast and Northwood Ravin’s plan integrated Falls Park and Greenville’s trail system into the development. Provided by Greenville County.
sity Ridge, not to create a new or competing downtown area or to design a place so distinctive in style that it bears no connection to downtown. “For both of us, University Ridge will be our legacy project,” wrote Harry Frampton, chairman and founding father of East West Partners, and Ben Rook, chairman and CEO of DesignStrategies.
The plan included new office space for county administration, a diverse mix of housing stock that included an assisted- and independent-living facility, a Governor’s School expansion, boutique retail, and restaurants. It would have had a football-shaped common green space. The village green would have had a parking garage underneath.
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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
East West Partners and DesignStrategies proposed a re-creation of the Furman bell tower as a tribute to the former campus location. Provided by Greenville County.
However, the most unique aspect of the plan was a re-creation of the Furman bell tower, which would have stood in a roundabout just south of the center of the property on the precise location of Old Main’s original bell tower. The proposal called for the bell to ring hourly from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. just as the bell did in the Furman days to signal the start of classes and celebrate victories by athletic teams. The developers envisioned donating a piece of land to the Governor’s School for a performing arts center that would be designed and built at cost.
Municipal Consolidated and Construction’s proposal focused on sustainability and green initiatives. Provided by Greenville County.
Five to 10 percent of the development’s residential unit count would have been inclusionary housing. MUNICIPAL CONSOLIDATION AND CONSTRUCTION Municipal Consolidation and Construction said sustainability is the essence of smart development, both financially and environmentally. Its proposal called for green initiatives such as capturing surface runoff, or rainwater, before it reaches the Reedy River, creating a walkable development where cars would be a secondary
mode of travel, using alternative forms of energy to build and power structures, and business incubators. The development would have included a specialty grocery store, which would have been within walking distance of several residential neighborhoods. The development would have a mix of residential, including affordable units, and space for county offices and Family Court.
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Samsung bringing 400 jobs to Upstate with new ‘connected care center’ ANDREW MOORE | STAFF
amoore@communityjournals.com South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics announced Thursday, July 12, that it is opening a new “connected customer care center” in Greenville County. The 34,928-square-foot facility, which will be located in the former Bloom grocery store site at 901 Holland Road in Mauldin, is expected to bring 400 additional support jobs to the region by 2020, according to a news release. Officials said the new connected customer care center will “support the company’s move toward integrated connectivity between Samsung products and services.” “The way consumers are using technology devices is changing,” Michael Lawder, senior vice president of Customer Care at Samsung Electronics America, said in the release. “We are entering a world in which the way consumers use and switch technology products is constant and seamless.” Lawder added that the connected care center will ensure “Samsung customers are able to receive world-class education, training, and support to connect their products and maximize their use however and whenever they would like.” The new facility will include two training centers for on-site agents, a showcase of the company’s products, a video chat support area, and a “connected living lab” that will allow agents to test real-life consumer experiences,
| NEWS
The new Samsung facility, located in Mauldin, will include two training centers for on-site agents, a showcase of the company’s video products, a video chat support area, and a “connected living lab” that will allow agents to test real-life consumer experiences.
according to the release. Employees will also be able to enjoy an onsite café and various other amenities. Samsung plans to open the new facility in partnership with Alorica, a California-based customer services management company. It will be the company’s second consumer care facility in the state, according to the release. Samsung opened its first product support center in 2009 in Mauldin. The company also recently opened a $380 million home appliance manufacturing plant in Newberry. “When Samsung announced its intentions to build a manufacturing facility in Newberry, they told the people of South Carolina that they were dedicated to our community,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in the release. “At every opportunity, this fantastic company has demonstrated that commitment, and today’s announcement that will create 400 new jobs in Greenville is just further proof that Samsung will be here for a very long time, investing in South Carolina and creating jobs for the people of our state.” Samsung said it chose South Carolina for its new connected care center due to the state’s skilled workforce and existing facilities. Additional details on the site, as well as the building’s formal ribbon-cutting, will be made available later this summer. 7.20.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
LEADERSHIP
Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co. names new president and CEO ANDREW MOORE | STAFF
amoore@communityjournals.com One of the Upstate’s largest and oldest industrial businesses is undergoing a leadership change. Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co. announced on Wednesday, July 11, that Halsey M. Cook Jr. will take over as the company’s next president and CEO on Sept. 1. Cook succeeds J. Harold Chandler, who will return to his role as the chair of the board of directors at the global chemical and textile giant. “The board of directors is confident that Halsey is the right leader for Milliken’s next era,” Chandler said in a statement. “He has the experience to accelerate what is working very well today at Milliken and, importantly, introduce change where the organization can further leverage our emphasis on innovation, manufacturing excellence, and customer care.” Cook’s 30-year career includes leadership roles
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in sales, marketing, and product development in the U.S. and overseas at companies such as United Technologies and Legrand North America. Most recently, he was president and CEO for Halsey M. Cook Jr. Sonepar USA, a Photo Provided Dutch-owned global distributor of electrical products headquartered in North Charleston. Cook, who has a B.A. in economics and English from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from the University of Virginia, said he is “honored and excited” about his new role at Milliken & Co.
“ He has the experience to accelerate what is working very well today at Milliken.” J. Harold Chandler, outgoing president and CEO “It is an esteemed company with talented associates and an opportunity-rich future. I am looking forward to meeting the team and listening to their ideas and aspirations for the next chapter of Milliken & Co.,” he said in a written statement. Founded in 1865, Milliken employs about 7,000 workers and operates more than 35 manufacturing sites and numerous sales and service centers worldwide.
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
| NEWS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GSP sees continued passenger, cargo traffic growth in May ANDREW MOORE | STAFF
amoore@communityjournals.com Growth at the GreenvilleSpartanburg International Airport (GSP) continues. May marked the eighth consecutive month of growing passenger and cargo traffic at the airport, according to a news release. GSP served 196,894 passengers in May, a 3.6 percent increase compared with 189,991 passengers during the same month last year. “This continued growth is exciting,” Dave Edwards, GSP’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “We are looking forward to seeing these numbers continue to increase with the addition of a sixth airline
operating from GSP and additional cargo flights.” Several new flights have been added at GSP in recent months, according to the release. Earlier this week, for instance, Atlanta-based Delta Airlines added two daily nonstop flights from GSP to New York City’s LaGuardia Airport. The new flights depart Sunday through Friday at 6:40 a.m., 12:40 p.m., and 5:12 p.m. Saturday service will also be available from GSP at 7:15 a.m. Frontier Airlines also announced last month it would become the sixth airline to offer flights from GSP when it begins service on Sept. 8. The Colorado-based company will offer nonstop flights to Denver,
GSP served 196,894 passengers in May. Will Crooks/Upstate Business Journal
Las Vegas, Orlando, and seasonal service to Tampa. American Airlines will also begin offering two daily nonstop flights to Miami on Dec. 19. GSP said cargo traffic also increased in May to more than 9.7 million pounds, a 26.3 percent increase compared with more than 7.6 million pounds of cargo traffic during the same month last year. As the Upstate Business Journal reported, German-based freight shipping and logistics company
Senator International recently added weekly cargo flights from GSP to Querétaro Intercontinental Airport in Mexico. The airport will also be the entry point for 550 horses competing in this fall’s World Equestrian Games in Mill Spring, N.C. Opened in 1962, GSP serves more than 2.1 million passengers per year and offers more than 50 nonstop daily flights to 19 cities across the United States.
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BORDERLANDS COMICS AND GAMES
NG U YO B O R R EU EN R EP TR EN LE IL V N GREE
IS
GROWING HIS HAVEN FOR COMIC BO
OK FANS
Words by Andrew Moore | Photos by Will Crooks
G
reenville’s Borderlands Comics and Games is on the move. The business, long a Laurens Road fixture, will soon move into a South Pleasantburg location that will almost double the store’s retail space and create up to a dozen new jobs. It’s part of a continuing success story that might have been penned by comic-book legend Stan Lee himself, except that, unlike Lee’s fantastic stories, this one is true. A lifelong love Borderlands owner Rob Young discovered comics when, as a boy, a neighbor gifted him with a small comic-book collection. Young, a Navy brat, found he could turn to comic books for adventure and comfort wherever the family moved. “The only constant in my life was comics,” Young told Upstate Business Journal during a recent interview. The first title to catch Young’s eye was a comic about Captain America, a character created by writers Jack Kirby and Joe Simon during World War II. The patriotic super soldier remains Young’s favorite comic book character. His wedding ring even features an engraving of the character’s signature red, white, and blue shield. 10
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As a teenager, Young continued to read comics and began shopping at Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find in Winston-Salem, N.C. The shopping sprees, however, came to an abrupt end when Young found himself with no money or home after graduating high school. The next few years were rocky for the youth, but he managed to land on his feet, and eventually caught the attention of the owner of the same local comic book shop he had frequented as a kid. Charlotte, N.C.-based Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find, which at the time had six locations throughout the region, approached Young in 1991 and asked if he would manage a shop in Greenville. Opportunity knocks in the Upstate Young was 21 when he first arrived in Greenville. He would spend several years at Heroes before moving on to another job, but it wasn’t long before Young’s former boss, Stan Reed, asked him to return to the world of comics. Reed needed a manager for the 800-square-foot shop he had purchased from Heroes in 1995, relocated across the street, and renamed Borderlands. Young, with his love of comics and years of retail-management experience, accepted the job and spent the better part of a year working with Reed to get the new shop up and running.
While the shop became a hit among locals and garnered a reputation as one of Greenville’s premier retail hubs for comics, Young took a corporate job and left the industry again; however, his passion for comics never died. From 1996 through 2010, Young repeatedly offered to buy the business from Reed, without success. Finally, over a dinner in 2010, Reed acquiesced, and after six months of negotiations, Young took over Borderlands on Jan. 1, 2011, and set out to put his burgeoning shop on the map. “There hasn’t been much time to rest,” Young said. “It’s been a crazy roller coaster since day one.” Young said his early days as an entrepreneur were uneasy, but his shop has developed a loyal following over the years thanks to its diverse inventory of products and commitment to customer service. The resurgence of comics in recent years hasn’t hurt, either. The shop, despite facing a landscape increasingly dominated by Amazon and other online shopping platforms, has become a mecca for Upstate residents seeking out the same illustrated periodicals that Young enjoyed as a kid and still enjoys today. “A lot of people love having the original comics in their hands,” Young said. “They are a unique
BORDERLANDS COMICS AND GAMES
| COVER
piece of pop culture, and collecting is a community unto itself. Folks appreciate the history and fun of it. Plus, some of the stories have never been collected.” Young added that sales have increased in the face of digital competition. Borderlands still sells 1,400 to 1,700 physical copies per week. And lines of loyal customers regularly form outside the store on Wednesdays, the day new comics are released.
“ I think in our current business climate and culture, where you can buy just about anything online, you choose to buy local for the experience. You want to support the business, because it makes you feel good.” Rob Young, owner, Borderlands Comics and Games
“I don’t fault anyone wanting to read on a digital platform. But I think more people would enjoy reading from a physical book,” Young said. “I think in our current business climate and culture, where you can buy just about anything online, you choose to buy local for the experience. You want to support the business, because it makes you feel good.” Young said that his shop has retained loyal readers by offering a subscription service whereby they can list the comic series they want in order to get new issues every time they publish — which happens bimonthly or monthly — and the store orders the copies and has them ready for subscribers before they become available on the shelves.
7.20.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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BORDERLANDS COMICS AND GAMES
Over the years, Borderlands Comics and Games has become a haven for comic book fans in the Upstate. In addition to thousands of comics, the store carries games, toys, posters, models, and T-shirts, and it also hosts special events for customers.
UP, UP, AND AWAY!
SUPERHEROES HISTORICALLY DELIVER FOR BILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY A new report from Comichron.com, a website that tracks annual comic book and graphic novel sales, and ICv2, an online trade publication, shows that North American comic book
stores ordered $1.015 billion worth of comics and graphic novels in 2017. Print
sales comprised $925 million of that total, while digital sales accounted for the remainder. “After a multiyear growth run, the comics shop market gave back some of its gains in 2017, with lackluster response to new periodical offerings and, consequently, graphic novel sales,” said industry analyst and Comichron.com founder John Jackson Miller. “The third quarter of 2017 saw the worst of the year-over-year declines, leading into what has turned out to be a stronger spring for stores in 2018.”
Miller emphasized that while the market experienced a $70 million decrease in sales from 2016, it still remains $370 million ahead of sales in 2011. It’s a far cry from
the economic downturns the industry has faced over the years. While the format originated in 1933, comic books first gained popularity in 1938, when National Allied Publications (now DC Comics) 12
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published “Action Comics” No. 1, featuring Superman. This was followed by a boom that lasted until the end of World War II and resulted in an explosion of comic-book characters. After the war, the comics industry rapidly expanded with genres such as horror, romance, and crime. The industry, however, experienced a gradual decline in the 1950s as more and more households traded print media for television, according to Miller. “Once every house had a television; the comic book was no longer the cheapest babysitter around,” he said. “It was no longer as important.” Comics were also impacted by the introduction, in 1954, of the Comics Code Authority, a regulating body established by the industry in response to the Senate subcommittee hearings into the supposed influence of comics on juvenile delinquency. To survive the industry’s new regulations, publishers began introducing superhero stories again, a change that began with the 1956 publication of DC Comics’ “Showcase” No. 4 featuring the modern version of the Flash. As demand increased, DC Comics decided to publish more superhero stories, including the
“Justice League of America” series, which follows Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and other characters as they team up against evildoers. Marvel Comics followed suit in 1961 with The Fantastic Four, a team of four civilian astronauts who gain powers after being exposed to cosmic rays during an unauthorized outer space test flight. The series became a hit and prompted Marvel writers Stan Lee and Jack Kirby to develop some of the industry’s most popular and lasting characters and teams including the Hulk, Iron Man, The X-Men, and Spider-Man, according to Miller. As demand for comics continued to grow in the 1970s, corporate comics publishers moved away from selling through newsstands and other mass market locations and began selling through the “direct market,” which allowed readers to purchase comics straight from the publishers. Miller said many of today’s comic book shops have survived industry downturns by establishing subscription services, modernizing distribution systems, and offering a diverse selection of products. —Andrew Moore
BORDERLANDS COMICS AND GAMES
Comicon and more Another factor that has helped Borderlands remain a local favorite is outreach, according to Young. The store has reached out to the community through events at theaters, schools, libraries, and charity events. It has also held SC Comicon since 2014. The two-day event, which is held at the TD Convention Center, is billed as a “celebration of all things geek” and features panels with guest celebrities, including comic book writers, artists, and television and film actors. Last year’s event attracted more than 20,000 visitors and included celebrities like Cary Elwes, who starred in “The Princess Bride” and “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” and Kyle Starks, the award-winning writer currently penning the comic book version of “Rick and Morty,” an animated science-fiction adventure comedy series on Cartoon Network. On the move Business has continued to be strong enough to warrant Borderland’s move to new digs, which Young said has been a goal for two years. The new store will be in the former Tony’s Fabrics
HOLY BREAKING NEWS! SC COMICON 2019 will be March 9-10 and will include a special panel with the best-selling team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo, who are best known for penning a five-year series of Batman comics. The exclusive panel presentation will be limited to about 200 people and cost $100 per ticket. Customers will receive autographs and get photos with the dynamic duo after the panel. building at 401 S. Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville. It will include 7,000 square feet of warehouse space and 9,000 square feet of retail space, according to Young. Another advantage is that the new location features a larger parking lot, which will make it easier for customers, espe-
| COVER
cially those attending events that draw a crowd, such as Free Comic Book Day, Ladies’ Night, Geek Trivia, and book signings. The expansion could also improve the store’s warehouse efficiency. “Our warehouse is off-site right now, so we’re wasting time going back and forth when we have to retrieve a book that’s not on the shelves,” Young explained. “I think this expansion will help us be more organized and productive. Freight shipments, for instance, will come directly to the store and unload comics directly in the warehouse.” While the location has changed, Young said his goal is to retain the store’s ambiance, with customers able to leisurely peruse the thousands of comics, games, toys, posters, models, and T-shirts that Borderlands stocks. Young said the new shop, which is a $2 million investment, will require a new roof and some interior improvements, but it will likely open during the fourth quarter of this year. Hiring is expected to begin later this year. “This move is the culmination of a lifelong dream for me,” he said. “I still can’t believe it’s happening.”
Borderlands’ new store will be in the former Tony’s Fabrics building at 401 S. Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville. It will include 7,000 square feet of warehouse space and 9,000 square feet of retail space.
7.20.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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PROFESSIONAL |
STRATEGIES FOR HONING YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
4 tips to help you ace your video interview Video job interviews are quickly becoming senior recruiter, widespread in today’s The Hiring Group business world. As companies look for ways to drive down hiring costs, video interviews save time and money for both the company and its candidates. If you’re applying for a job, it is highly likely your first step in the hiring process will be a video interview. Even if you’re a technology wiz with tons of experience communicating through video, it’s important for you to prepare as much as you would for an in-person interview. If you have limited experience with video interviews, you’ll want to practice so you don’t come across as anxious or uncomfortable. By MIKE DOLCH
Here are four tips to help you prepare for success. Dress the part Often in video interviews, simple details like dress code are overlooked. It is easy to fall into the trap that because it is a video interview, it is less formal than a face-to-face interview. You should dress professionally for the video interview just as you would for an in-person interview. Even though many people use video regularly, it should still be treated with professionalism.
Room setting and location It is important to remember that your dress, the room you are in, and the lighting affect how your potential employer sees you. Be sure you are in a well-lit room with absolutely no other distractions in your viewable space. Sit in a place where you can clearly hear the interviewer and where he can hear you. Do not conduct a video interview in the middle of a coffee shop — there is too much activity going on around you and too many other people talking. It is easy for you and your interviewer to get distracted. Create an environment so you’re able to give the interviewer your full attention without interruptions. Don’t forget to put your phone on vibrate and move it out of sight so you’re not tempted to look at.
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Preparation Don’t just turn on the camera and go for it. It is imperative to prepare for the interview — make sure you test your microphone, camera, and internet connection to confirm all are working before the interview. Take time to prepare for questions you may be asked just as you would for an in-person interview. Always be aware that while you’re communicating via video, you need to make eye contact and speak clearly.
Keep it simple Finally, keep it simple. Video interviews for highly technical positions can be challenging for both the interviewer and the candidate. The exchange of information and ideas via video can be difficult if you’re not face-to-face. The key to acing the video interview is to optimize your interview space for maximum focus and prepare yourself to deliver thoughtful, concise responses. Be authentic and let your interviewer see your per-
sonality. Give him an accurate depiction of your personality and skill set so he can get a good feel for what kind of fit you would be, even over video. Be yourself and answer the questions as simply and as effectively as you can. In summary Interviewing — whether in person or via video — can be stressful. If you have a video interview coming up, I hope you’ll take these bits of advice as you prepare. Like with any interview, you want to portray yourself in the most positive light possible. This means you need to come across neat, polished, well-prepared, and focused. Using these tips will help you take your video interview skills to the next level and hopefully land your dream job. Mike Dolch is a senior recruiter at The Hiring Group, a technical staffing and recruiting services firms.
MASTER’S DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Nonprofit Professional Development INFORMATION SESSION:
Tuesday, August 7, 6-7:30 p.m. Hilton Greenville, 45 W. Orchard Park Dr. (just off I-85 and I-385)
Complimentary refreshments Registration at: mendoza.nd.edu/programs/non-profit-programs
SERVANT HEART. BUSINESS MIND.
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS
“
United Community Bank understood what we were trying to do and they made
“
things happen.
- Chad Odom, Encore Container
Member FDIC. ©2018 United Community Bank | ucbi.com
7.20.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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PROFESSIONAL |
STRATEGIES FOR HONING YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
The temptation when the good times roll By CHRIS MANLEY CEO, Engenius
There’s a saying in French that gets a lot of attention during Mardi Gras festivities: “Laissez les bons temps rouler.” Translated, it means, “Let the good times roll.” Are the good times rolling for your business? I’ve heard from many business owners recently that business is good. Sales continue to grow, pushing up revenue and hopefully profitability, too. You might feel overwhelmed with leads coming in and a full pipeline. In fact, I’ve seen some companies increasing staff just to handle all the business opportunities on the horizon. But a full pipeline brings with it a temptation to take your foot off the gas and forget what got you to that point. Why did all those leads start coming in? Was it chance? Likely not. You get business because people have heard about you. That might be from a colleague. It could be from a Google search. It could be from myriad sources depending on your overall marketing strategy.
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UBJ | 7.20.2018
Perhaps part of your marketing strategy is brand awareness — getting your brand in front of as many decision makers as possible. That might be through some traditional advertising and some online ads. Your goal is not direct sales — but rather to keep your brand in front of people so that, when they’re ready to buy, they see your name and recognize your brand. It is the frequent viewing of your brand that leads this potential customer to you. If business is good right now, then this strategy is clearly working. Your brand was visible to decision-makers who decided to buy. But what about the next round of decision-makers? Shouldn’t they get the same exposure to your brand as the first round did? If you pull back now because business is good, what happens to your pipeline if your main source of advertising has stopped? If you have extra resources to spare, now might be the time to increase this strategy so that it can be even more effective. Likewise, let’s say your website is a little dated. It may not be hurting yet, but it’s far from current. Is the timing right — while times are
good — to do something about it? I’d argue yes. If the site is already dated, time will continue to erode the site’s relevance and its effectiveness in your overall marketing strategy, making it harder to attract new business to keep the good times rolling. Investing in a new website while the times are good will be an easier financial move now than when leads have dried up, consequently taking with them your marketing budget. Even though times are good and getting new leads right now isn’t an issue, you must continue to lay the groundwork for your marketing investments. Invest in your marketing when times are good, so that when they’re not, you have the right marketing tools to survive the downturn. Chris Manley is the CEO of Engenius, a marketing firm specializing in helping businesses navigate digital marketing through strategic web design, search optimization, and digital advertising. You can contact him at chris@engeniusweb. com or by visiting www.engeniusweb.com.
| ON THE MOVE
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS
HIRED
HIRED
HIRED
PROMOTED
HIRED
ANDREW FOX
CHIP HUGHES
JANE HARRISON FISHER
DAVID BERGER
MEAGHAN CARRIGAN
Has joined Buncombe Street United Methodist Church as director of youth ministries. Fox has spent the past 20 years working in youth ministry through various United Methodist and Presbyterian churches, camps, and nonprofits across the country. Fox holds a bachelor’s degree in youth ministry leadership from Eastern University.
Has joined Greenville Country Club as clubhouse manager. Hughes is originally from the Upstate and worked for the past two years as the assistant clubhouse manager at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. He has also worked as food and beverage manager at Colleton River Plantation Club in Bluffton, overseen more than 1,200 employees during the Masters Tournament, and worked locally at Thornblade Club.
Has joined Coldwell Banker Caine as chief operating officer. Fisher has more than 15 years of marketing and management experience and previously worked with the firm from 2010 to 2016. She most recently served as a senior account director for a local marketing and public relations agency. Fisher earned her undergraduate degree at Sewanee — The University of the South and her master’s from the University of Mississippi.
Has been promoted to chief operating officer of Hospitality America Inc., which is based out of Nashville, Tenn., and manages properties in Greenville. Berger previously served as vice president of operations of the company for the past five years. Berger earned his bachelor’s in business administration from Lynn University’s hospitality program.
Has been hired as the director of the value-added reseller channel at Foxfire, a specialist in warehouse management software. Carrigan is originally from Greenville and earned her undergraduate degree in business administration, finance, and marketing from the University of Richmond in Virginia, and earned a master’s in international business from the University of South Carolina. Carrigan previously interned with Foxfire during graduate school.
Because Your Bottom Line is our TOP concern!
FINANCE AmeriTrust Cos. has merged with Argent Financial Group, the largest independent trust-based wealth management company in the South. Argent Financial Group has a sizeable presence and offices in Greenville. Spartanburg-based WJ Partners has announced the acquisition of Myrtle Beach Communications to its portfolio company Mobile Communications America. TECHNOLOGY EDTS LLC was ranked 87th among the world’s 501 most strategic and innovative managed service providers, according to Channel Futures 11th Annual MSP 501 Worldwide Company Rankings. The MSP 501 is the largest and most comprehensive ranking of managed service providers worldwide. This year, Channel Futures received a record number of submissions. EDTS LLC has seven Southeast offices including Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston.
We’re not just a great accounting firm; We’re a great partner. Even though BGC is sized to handle a wide variety of complex engagements, we still maintain our small-town feel with quick responsiveness, long-term commitment, to clients and staying local. Making lives easier and businesses better for the last 30 years.
B GC
BRADSHAW, GORDON & CLINKSCALES
Contribute: New hires, promotions, & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
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bgcllc.com | 864-233-0590 | 630 E. Washington St., Greenville 7.20.2018 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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#TRENDING |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
Inform. Connect. Inspire.
THE WATERCOOLER 1. Samsung bringing 400 jobs to Upstate with new ‘connected care center’
2. Moe’s Original Bar B Que rolls some Alabama into Greenville
3. F ujifilm announces $3.9M expansion in Greenwood County
4. Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co. names new president and CEO
5. Improving air quality in the Upstate is an environmental and economic priority
* The Top 5 online stories from last week ranked by Facebook reach
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UBJ | 7.20.2018
EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR
| PLANNER
DATE
EVENT INFO
WHERE DO I GO?
HOW DO I GO?
Tuesday UBJ PUBLISHER
7/24
Caffeinated Conversations: Growing Your Business With Buxton
SMC Studio Aug Smith on Main, 174 E. Main St., Spartanburg 8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Cost: Free for members. $10 for nonmembers. For more info: https://bit.ly/2tHN071
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Tuesday
Ten at the Top’s Connecting Our Future
TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Cost: $25 For more info: www.conta.cc/2kPv2LX; anottingham@tenatthetop.org
Ten at the Top’s A Cleaner Future: A Look at Air Quality, Sustainability & Energy Innovation in the Upstate
TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Cost: $25 For more info: https://conta.cc/2KJ8sjv
Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Business Growth Expo
TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
Cost: See registration for details. For more info: www.bit.ly/2H4jHQS; eaustin@greenvillechamber.org
The Greenville Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management’s REthinkHR
Ogletree Building (Aug. 28) & TD Convention Center (Aug. 29) - 300 N. Main St., 500 (Ogletree); 1 Exposition Drive (TD Convention Center) 7:30 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Cost: Aug. 28: $100 members/nonmembers; Aug. 29: to July 1: $150 members/$175 nonmembers; to Aug. 15: $175 members/$200 nonmembers For more info: www.greenvillehr.org/meetinginfo.php
Ten at the Top’s Winning the Future – Regional Summit
TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Cost: $60 For more info: https://tenatthetop.org/2018-upstate-regional-summit/
Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com Susan Schwartzkopf susans@communityjournals.com
8/7
MANAGING EDITOR
Emily Pietras epietras@communityjournals.com
COPY EDITOR Rebecca Strelow
STAFF WRITERS
Friday
8/17
Ariel Gilreath, Cindy Landrum, Andrew Moore, Sara Pearce, Ariel Turner
MARKETING & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF SALES Emily Yepes
Tuesday
8/23
MANAGER OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Donna Johnston
MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Heather Propp, Meredith Rice, Caroline Spivey, Liz Tew
CLIENT SERVICES
Tuesday- Wednesday
8/28-8/29
Anita Harley | Rosie Peck
ART & PRODUCTION VISUAL DIRECTOR Will Crooks
LAYOUT
Bo Leslie | Tammy Smith
Tuesday
9/25
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Amanda Walker
ADVERTISING DESIGN Michael Allen
VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS Holly Hardin
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Kristi Fortner
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE STORY IDEAS:
upstatebusinessjournal.com/submit
EVENTS:
events@upstatebusinessjournal.com
NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND AWARDS:
onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com UBJ welcomes expert commentary from business leaders on timely news topics related to their specialties. Guest columns run 700-800 words. Contact managing editor Emily Pietras at epietras@communityjournals.com to submit an article for consideration. Circulation Audit by
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IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF UBJ? WANT A COPY FOR YOUR LOBBY?
JULY 27 COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ISSUE
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
UBJ milestone
UBJ milestone jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years 1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport
1988
1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993
1990 Jackson Dawson acquires therapon marketing Group and moves to Piedmont office Center on Villa.
>>
AUGUST 3 FINANCE ISSUE
Chairman larry Jackson, Jackson marketing Group. Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff
Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years By sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com
AUGUST 17 WORKFORCE ISSUE Got any thoughts? Care to contribute? Let us know at upstatebusinessjournal.com/submit.
Solve. Serve. Grow. Those three words summarize Jackson Marketing Group’s guiding principles, and according to owner Larry Jackson, form the motivation that has kept the firm thriving for the past 25 years.
Jackson graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in video and film production and started his 41-year career in the communications industry with the U.S. Army’s Public Information Office. He served during
Vietnam, where he said he was “luckily” stationed in the middle of Texas at Fort Hood. He left the service and went to work in public affairs and motorsports at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After a stint at Bell and Howell, where he was responsible for managing Ford’s dealer marketing and training, the entrepreneurial bug hit and he co-founded Jackson-Dawson Marketing Communications, a company specializing in dealer training and product launches for the auto industry in 1980. In 1987, Jackson wanted to move back south and thought Greenville would be a good fit. An avid pilot, he
learned of an opportunity to purchase Cornerstone Aviation, a fixed base operation (FBO) that served as a service station for the Greenville Downtown Airport, providing fuel, maintenance and storage. In fact, when he started the Greenville office of what is now Jackson Marketing Group (JMG) in 1988, the offices were housed on the second floor in an airport hangar. “Clients would get distracted by the airplanes in the hangars and we’d have to corral them to get back upstairs to the meeting,” Jackson said. Jackson sold the FBO in 1993, but says it was a great way to get to know Greenville’s fathers and leaders
>>
with a majority of them utilizing the general aviation airport as a “corporate gateway to the city.” In 1997, Jackson and his son, Darrell, launched Jackson Motorsports Group. The new division was designed to sell race tires and go to racetracks to sell and mount the tires. Darrell Jackson now serves as president of the motorsports group and Larry Jackson has two other children and a son-in-law who work there. Jackson said all his children started at the bottom and “earned their way up.” Jackson kept the Jackson-Dawson branches in Detroit and others in Los Angeles and New York until he sold his portion of that partnership in 2009 as part of his estate planning. The company now operates a small office in Charlotte, but its main headquarters are in Greenville in a large office space off Woodruff Road, complete with a vision gallery that displays local artwork and an auditorium Jackson makes available for non-profit use. The Motorsports Group is housed in an additional 26,000 square feet building just down the street, and the agency is currently looking for another 20,000 square feet. Jackson said JMG has expanded into other verticals such as financial, healthcare, manufacturing and pro-bono work, but still has a strong focus on the auto industry and transportation. It’s
2003 motorsports Division acquires an additional 26,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space
1998
2009 Jackson Dawson changes name to Jackson marketing Group when larry sells his partnership in Detroit and lA 2003
1998 Jackson Dawson moves to task industrial Court
also one of the few marketing companies in South Carolina to handle all aspects of a project in-house, with four suites handling video production, copywriting, media and research and web design. Clients include heavyweights such as BMW, Bob Jones University, the Peace Center, Michelin and Sage Automotive. Recent projects have included an interactive mobile application for Milliken’s arboretum and 600-acre Spartanburg campus and a marketing campaign for the 2013 Big League World Series. “In my opinion, our greatest single achievement is the longevity of our client relationships,” said Darrell Jackson. “Our first client from back in 1988 is still a client today. I can count on one hand the number of clients who have gone elsewhere in the past decade.” Larry Jackson says his Christian faith and belief in service to others, coupled with business values rooted in solving clients’ problems, have kept
2009-2012 Jackson marketing Group named a top BtoB agency by BtoB magazine 4 years running
him going and growing his business over the years. He is passionate about giving back and outreach to non-profits. The company was recently awarded the Community Foundation Spirit Award. The company reaffirmed its commitment to serving the community last week by celebrating its 25th anniversary with a birthday party and a 25-hour Serve-A-Thon partnership with Hands on Greenville and Habitat for Humanity. JMG’s 103 full-time employees worked in shifts around the clock on October 22 and 23 to help construct a house for a deserving family. As Jackson inches towards retirement, he says he hasn’t quite figured out his succession plan yet, but sees the companies staying under the same umbrella. He wants to continue to strategically grow the business. “From the beginning, my father has taught me that this business is all about our people – both our clients and our associates,” said his son, Darrell. “We have created a focus and a culture that strives to solve problems, serve people and grow careers.” Darrell Jackson said he wants to “continue helping lead a culture where we solve, serve and grow. If we are successful, we will continue to grow towards our ultimate goal of becoming the leading integrated marketing communications brand in the Southeast.”
2011 Jackson marketing Group/Jackson motorsports Group employee base reaches 100 people
2008 2012 Jackson marketing Group recognized by Community Foundation with Creative spirit Award
pro-bono/non-proFit Clients American Red Cross of Western Carolinas Metropolitan Arts Council Artisphere Big League World Series The Wilds Advance SC South Carolina Charities, Inc. Aloft Hidden Treasure Christian School
CoMMUnitY inVolVeMent & boarD positions lArry JACkson (ChAirmAn): Bob Jones University Board chairman, The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center board member, Gospel Fellowship Association board member, Past Greenville Area Development Corporation board member, Past Chamber of Commerce Headquarters Recruiting Committee member, Past Greenville Tech Foundation board member David Jones (Vice President Client services, Chief marketing officer): Hands on Greenville board chairman mike Zeller (Vice President, Brand marketing): Artisphere Board, Metropolitan Arts Council Board, American Red Cross Board, Greenville Tech Foundation Board, South Carolina Chamber Board eric Jackson (Jackson motorsports Group sales specialist): Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board
November 1, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 21
20 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal November 1, 2013
AS SEEN IN
NOVEMBER 1, 2013
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publishers of Copyright ©2018 BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLC. All rights reserved. Upstate Business Journal is published weekly by Community Journals LLC. 581 Perry Ave., Greenville, South Carolina, 29611. Upstate Business Journal is a free publication. Annual subscriptions (52 issues) can be purchased for $50. Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, P581 Perry Ave., Greenville, South Carolina, 29611. Printed in the USA.
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