AUGUST 11, 2017 | VOL. 6 ISSUE 32
UP, UP, AND AWAY The business of drones takes off
Brian Scott of Upstate Aerial Photo by Will Crooks
INSIDE // BUILDING A BETTER BURGER BAR BIG NEWS FOR BOILING SPRINGS BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
THE RUNDOWN |
TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 32 Featured this issue: Lifestyle center planned for Boiling Springs............................................................4 Burger joint to take over former Dive ‘N’ Boar space...........................................5 DRB sends hotel back to the drawing board..........................................................12
Prior to drone usage, aerial imaging was performed by manned aircraft, such as airplanes and helicopters. Today, drones, like the one pictured above owned by Brian Scott of Upstate Aerial, are being used for that task. Fans say they are cheaper and faster than human surveyors, and they collect data more frequently. Read more about Scott’s company on Page 9. Photo by Will Crooks
WORTH REPEATING “I hope your clients understand there is additional cost building a hotel on Main Street rather than a block off or in the suburbs.” Page 12
“Let’s face it, a big reason to have IT help is so you don’t have to understand the technology yourself.” Page 13
“That’s the greatness of this country — that someone like me could come at 18 years of age, and make this happen. You can’t do that in many countries.” Page 14 2
UBJ | 8.11.2017
VERBATIM
On immigrant labor “South Carolina’s number one industry is agriculture, and tourism is number two. If this proposal were to become law, it would be devastating to our state’s economy, which relies on this immigrant workforce.” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on the RAISE Act, which seeks to decrease the number of green cards distributed annually
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
| NEWS
MANUFACTURING
Mixed Blessings Fountain Inn plant closes, but the market is hungry for factory workers — and willing to pay them more RUDOLPH BELL | STAFF
rbell@communityjournals.com About 100 people in Fountain Inn are scheduled to lose their jobs when a Wisconsin company called Fisher Barton closes its lawnmower blade plant in September. But it may well turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the workers. They’re getting laid off at a time when South Carolina employers are struggling to find enough labor. As a result, their chances of landing a new job are better than they have been in many years, and it may even come with better pay and working conditions. Camilla Haigler, human resources manager at the Fisher Barton plant, said she notified fellow human resources managers around the Upstate when she learned on July 19 that the plant would be closing. As of Aug. 1, she said, 34 companies had responded, expressing an interest in contacting the employees who are getting laid off. “We’re all competing for the same people with unemployment being so low,” Haigler said. Haigler, who is losing her own job after just eight months with Fisher Barton, said she’s inviting interested employers to a “job fair” in the plant’s canteen. South Carolina’s unemployment rate was 4 percent in June, the lowest rate since December 2000, according to the latest data from the state Department of Employment and Workforce. Jonathan Coleman, executive director of the Laurens County Development Corp., the county’s economic development organization, said there are hundreds of job openings within several miles of the Fisher Barton plant. The ZF Transmissions plant, located less than 5 miles away in Gray Court, needs about 200 workers, he said. “Every one of our industries will
take a good employee,” Coleman said. “They’re all hiring.” In addition, Coleman said he’ll be happy to have a vacant industrial building to market once Fisher Barton moves out. “We don’t have any available buildings in the county right now,” he said. The Fisher Barton plant makes lawnmower blades for the original equipment and replacement markets as well as other metal parts. The company has marketed the plant as a “low-cost supplier.” Fisher Barton says it’s relocating its production in Fountain Inn to Wisconsin. But the company has been mostly tight-lipped about the reason why. Bill Sanders, the plant’s president, cited only “business conditions and the decision to end manufacturing operations” in a July 19 notice to the Department of Employment and Workforce. The plant pays assembly-line workers an average of $15 an hour, Haigler said. That’s less than the hourly pay being advertised by two manufacturers and one staffing agency on billboards along Interstate 385 in the Fountain Inn and Simpsonville areas. Nonwoven fabrics maker Fitesa is advertising $16-an-hour pay at its Simpsonville plant on one of the billboards. On another billboard, hydraulics equipment maker Bosch Rexroth says $16 an hour is the starting pay at its factory complex in the Southchase industrial park in Fountain Inn. MAU Staffing Solutions is declaring on another billboard that its pay range for assembly-line work at BMW Manufacturing Co. is $16.50–$17.50 an hour. And right now, MAU is offering a $2,000 signing bonus, said Jared Mogan, the company’s Greenville-based regional operations manager.
Simple School Lessons Every year around this time, the back to school spirit takes hold of me. I have not been in a formal classroom setting in a long time, but I find inspiration every August when I see school supplies on sale. I like to take this month to get organized at home and at work. As my children go back to school, I tend to reflect on my own school experience and the valuable lessons I learned along the way. As a student, I thought Algebra was a waste of my time, yet now I realize I use it every day. The lessons I learned from researching history papers provided me the foundation to research business solutions. The group projects in elementary school helped prepare me to work in a team business setting. My 5th grade year as a safety patrol taught me lessons in leadership, responsibility, and work ethic that contribute to my success today. I believe that what we learned as children in school should still be applied to our daily lives. I am reminded of the wonderful poem by Robert Fulghum, All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. If we all applied the lessons we learned from our childhood to the workplace, imagine how much kinder our environments would be and what a difference it would make to your corporate culture. Here are just a few bits of wisdom from Fulghum’s poem applied to the work setting: Share everything. Imagine what more your business could accomplish if all employees shared a little more. I don’t just mean sharing the coffee creamer or office supplies, but what if teams shared knowledge, processes, and when necessary, workload. Clean up your own mess. Everyone makes mistakes. When you make a mistake at work, own it by acknowledging the error, apologize if necessary, and then work to resolve it. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Sometimes in a corporate environment, this simple rule can get blurred. However, think back to kindergarten and it will become more clear. If someone tells you a wonderful idea, don’t claim it as your own at the next staff meeting. Don’t use the company postage machine and supply closet for personal use. And if you accidentally take a pen from a colleague’s desk, return it with a smile. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Even adults need breaks and workplaces benefit from friendly social gatherings. In the waning days of summer, plan an ice cream social for your team to get everyone in the mood for a productive fall. Learn some and think some. Learning does not end with school. Encourage employees to constantly acquire new skills and allow them the opportunities to attend seminars, classes, and additional training. It may take time away from the tasks today, but they will be better workers tomorrow. Whether you are readying your own child for the first day of school or you just love back-to-school supplies, take a moment this month to reflect on the lessons you learned in your formative years. Apply those simple lessons to be a better worker, a better leader, and even a better person.
Lee Yarborough President
669 N. Academy St. Greenville, SC 29601 propelHR.com Info@propelHR.com 800–446–6567
8.11.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
NEWS |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
DEVELOPMENT
Center Fielding Spartanburg schools is looking to unload some property and entice a developer TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF
tanderson@communityjournals.com Officials for Spartanburg School District 2 have made the decision to shop a 64-acre site near the heart of the bustling Boiling Springs community in hopes of attracting new retail, food, residential, and recreational opportunities. The site is situated off Highway 9 between Double Bridge and Old Furnace roads. It is currently home to Boiling Springs High School’s Ninth Grade Campus, the district’s maintenance and transportation facilities, a bus parking lot, and the Upstate Family Resource Center in the former Boiling Springs Middle School. A master plan for the proposed center prepared by Spartanburg-based McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture shows 22.7 acres for largescale retail development. More than 9 acres are for multifamily residential development, almost 7.9 acres for townhomes, nearly 8.8 acres for assisted living facilities, about 4 acres of open space, and six outparcels totaling almost 11 acres for commercial use. “This is a great opportunity,” said Scott Mercer, superintendent for District 2. “We think it’s going to be a good development — something that will benefit the community and something the community will be very proud of.”
G
IN
IL
BO GS
IN
R SP D
A RO
D
OA
A
RN
U DF
R CE
OL
N LI
OAD YARD R
G
AD
RO
E
GS
I BR
RO
IN
R SP
E
BL
U DO
UBJ | 8.11.2017
District officials have selected Ben Hines and Andy Hayes, partners of Spartanburg-based commercial realty firm Spencer/Hines Properties, as the exclusive listing agents for the property. The price tag for the site is $7.7 million. Hines said he has already received word from three firms, including two in South Carolina and one out-of-state company, interested in developing the property. A few names on Hines’ short list of potential tenants include Target, Home Depot, Publix, Lidl, Kohl’s, and T.J. Maxx. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime listing,” Hines said. “This is the epicenter of Boiling Springs. It’s primed for development.” He adds, “But a lifestyle center has to coexist with the community that surrounds it. Dr. Mercer and the board of trustees are very cognizant of this, and they want to do something that will benefit the community for many years to come.” The project is fueled by the district’s $120 million plan to build a new high school on 34 acres near the current Boiling Springs High School. The plan includes upgrading the existing high school to house the Ninth Grade Campus, and improving athletic facilities. In November, residents voted in favor of a referendum enabling the district to borrow the funding without a tax increase. The district will pay back the loan over a 25-year period. Mercer said money earned from the sale of the property for the proposed lifestyle center will be placed in the district’s building fund and used for construction, equipment, or paying off the debt. Developers will be able I BO
SCHOOL AD
DG
4
“This is the epicenter of Boiling Springs. It’s primed for development.”
to develop some parts of the site before the Ninth Grade Campus relocates, Mercer said. He said the transportation offices would move to a 41-acre site the district owns off Fosters Grove Road. Mercer hopes to work with the developer to allocate about 5 acres of the site for a new YMCA facility. Hines said he is a member of a cohort group in Boiling Springs that was founded to advocate for a more “livable” community. He said he welcomes any public input on the project. The goal, Hines said, is to avoid creating another “asphalt jungle.” He said the site will be beautifully landscaped, highly accessible, and pedestrian-friendly. Hines referenced the Dorman Centre across town, a heavily trafficked retail center that opened in 2003 on the 65-acre site of the former Dorman High School. While the two sites are similar in size, Hines said the Boiling Springs site has the potential to serve as both a destination for shopping and dining and a hub of cultural, recreational, and residential activity. “We want it to be something that will stand the test of time,” Hines said. “Residents of Boiling Springs are getting a high school that better reflects the quality of education their kids are receiving. We think it’s time for them to have a lifestyle center that not only exemplifies but improves the quality of life in this community.”
LOCATION: Highway 9 and
Double Bridge and Old Furnace roads SIZE: 64 acres PRICE TAG: $7 million PURPOSES: Commercial, residences, assisted living, green space WISH LIST: Target, Home Depot, Publix, Lidl, Kohl’s, T.J. Maxx
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
| NEWS
RESTAURANTS
Burger Time The festive LTO Burger Bar opens in former Dive ‘N’ Boar space
Automatic Standby Generators
• Professionally Installed • Around-the-Clock Service
Photo by Natalie Wong
ARIEL TURNER | STAFF
aturner@communityjournals.com In the months before Dive ‘N’ Boar at 2541 N. Pleasantburg Drive closed for good in March, co-owner Chad Gangwer was already working on a Plan B. “The writing was on the wall,” says Gangwer, also co-owner of the neighboring Southern Culture Kitchen and Bar. That forethought accounts for the space’s quick turnaround from the foodie favorite Dive ‘N’ Boar to a brand new concept, LTO Burger Bar. A short five months since the close of the former gastropub, LTO opened Aug. 8. “It’s a concept built around the community,” Gangwer says. Inside, the décor has transformed from the stark industrial farmhouse feel of DNB to an early 1980s-inspired space with large pop art pieces covering whole walls, brightly colored accent walls and ceilings, and booths and barstools covered in faux cow hide. A newly constructed outdoor patio bridges the gap between Southern Culture and LTO. “It’s a big representation of my personality,” Gangwer says. “I wanted to do a 180 and put more vibrancy in the space.” The space, food, and music are designed to be entertaining for families, millennials, and “old guys like me,” Gangwer joked. Indoors, there is seating for close to 200, with additional seats on the outside front sidewalk, as well as the back patio. The menu, while certainly burger-
and meat-centric, features substantial vegetarian and vegan options and salads. Meat for the burger patties includes 100 percent ground chuck, Greenbrier Farms grass-fed beef, ground duck, a so-called Beyond Meat vegan burger, and seared ahi tuna. Some of the more ingenious toppings include Bomb Mustard made with PBR draft beer, blueberry ketchup, root beer caramelized onions, kohlrabi slaw, and sloppy joe chili. With burger names such as Grateful Garcia (field mushrooms, bacon, whipped blue cheese, steak sauce), Piedmont Mullet ’85 (sloppy joe chili, Bomb Mustard, American cheese, phat onion rings), and the Earth Quack Club (ground duck, devil on horseback jam, sharp cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion), it’s clear Gangwer and his crew are prepared to have some fun. Sugar coma-inducing milkshake concoctions include the Stone Cold Sally (peanut butter ice cream, Fruity Pebbles, Twinkie, Butterfinger sprinkles, Bugles), Cinnamon Roller Girl (vanilla shake, hot cinnamon rolls, icing, and spicy pecans), and a Mexican chocolate shake with a Choco Taco on top. The cocktails are creative, too, and on point for the August heat — Screwdriver and Jack and Coke slushies churning side-by-side at the bar and “La-Croixtails” served in a La Croix can. Hours of operation are Monday– Thursday, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Friday– Saturday 11:30 a.m.–midnight; and Sunday 11:30–10 p.m. 8.11.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
Financing Available!
A Service of Blue Ridge Electric Co-op
For information or a free estimate, call 1-800-240-3400
9302
NEWS IN BRIEF |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
IN-HOME CARE SERVICES
Staying Safe, Happy, and Healthy at Home Helping parents remain in their homes where they are comfortable and happy allows them to maintain their lifestyles, independence, and community relationships. • Companionship • Meal preparation • Laundry & light housekeeping • Incidental transportation • Grocery shopping • Errand services • 24-hour care 26 Rushmore Drive, Greenville, SC 29615 • Respite care or relief for family
864-268-8993
GREENVILLE
SPARTANBURG
26 Rushmore Drive
945 E. Main Street
864-268-8993
864-573-2353
www.ComfortKeepers.com
TECH
ScanSource completes acquisition of POS Portal ScanSource, a Greenville-based provider of technology products and services, has completed its acquisition of POS Portal, a California-based distributor of payment devices and services primarily to the small and medium-sized business market segment. “We acquired POS Portal to expand our high-value capabilities and market reach across all payment channels,” said Mike Baur, CEO of ScanSource. Under the agreement, which was first announced in June, the all-cash transaction includes an initial purchase price of approximately $144.9 million, plus an earn-out payment up to $13.2 million to be made on Nov. 30, according to a news release. According to the release, the acquisition “will create the industry’s largest payments channel, ensuring customers have access to the solutions, services, and support that can help them be successful.” For the first full year after closing, POS Portal net sales are estimated to total about $110 million. “We want to make it easier for our customers to enter the payments business or grow their payments offerings. We are extremely pleased to welcome the POS Portal team to the ScanSource family and bring our businesses together,” said Baur. —Andrew Moore
RESTAURANTS
Denny’s earnings fall 24 percent during Q2 Spartanburg-based family-dining chain Denny’s Corp. said its earnings decreased more than 24 percent during the second quarter. The company reported last week its net income for the quarter ended June 28 was about $8.75 million, compared with more than $11.5 million during the same quarter of 2016. Denny’s said its net income for the first half of the year was more than $17.1 million, a nearly tenfold increase compared with about $1.6 million during the same period of the previous year. “Despite challenges within the full-service dining environment, we achieved positive system same-store sales and continued to outperform key industry benchmarks during the second quarter,” said John Miller, Denny’s president and CEO, in a statement. “Our highly franchised business model, coupled with our efforts to further differentiate Denny’s as a relevant and compelling brand, continues to generate strong cash flows, which support ongoing investments in Denny’s brand re6
UBJ | 8.11.2017
vitalization and company restaurants, and the return of capital to our shareholders.” Denny’s said its second quarter system-wide same-store sales, or sales at restaurants open during the same quarter of the prior year, increased 2.6 percent. Year to date, its same-store sales have increased about eight-tenths of a percent. The company said it opened eight restaurants during the year, including seven franchise-owned stores and one company-owned location. It said 52 of its franchise stores were remodeled in 2016. “As we continue to successfully execute our brand revitalization strategy, we remain committed to further elevating the guest experience, consistently growing same-store sales, and expanding our global reach, leading to value creation for all franchisees and shareholders,” Miller added. The company said it generated $12.7 million of adjusted free cash flow during the quarter, a more than 31 percent decrease compared with about $18.5 million during the second quarter of the past year. Denny’s reported its total debt grew to nearly $265 million during the quarter, which was about an 8 percent increase compared with almost $246 million at the end of the second quarter of 2016. As of the end of the quarter, the company said it had 1,724 franchised, licensed, and company restaurants in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, New Zealand, Honduras, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, Guam, Curaçao, and El Salvador. —Trevor Anderson
MANUFACTURING
BMW’s US sales decrease 13.7 percent in July BMW’s U.S. business took a dip in July, despite increases in sales of two models, the X4 and X5. Both are made in the Upstate. BMW of North America last week announced its sales decreased 13.7 percent during the month to 26,363 vehicles, compared with 30,551 during the some month of 2016. For the year, the German automaker’s sales in the U.S. are down 5.5 percent to 197,654 vehicles, compared with 209,131 during the same seven-month period of the previous year. “Sedans made something of a comeback in July even as the dog days and summer vacations had their effect on the pace of business,” said Bernhard Kuhnt, president and CEO of BMW of North America, in a statement. “The new BMW 5 Series continues gaining as availability improves. The highly popular BMW X3 is now undergoing model changeover, and we are looking forward to the market launch of
the all-new model later this year.” Sales of the four X-model vehicles produced at the company’s assembly plant in Spartanburg County, including the X3, X4, X5, and X6, increased 3 percent in July to 6,341 vehicles, up from 6,156 during the same month of the prior year. Locally produced models, also known as the company’s light trucks division, have experienced a nearly 11 percent increase in sales since the start of the year to 60,249 vehicles, compared with 54,338 during the same period of 2016. X3 sales dropped less than 1 percent in July to 2,657 units, compared with 2,678 during the same month of the past year. For the year, X3 sales are up 20 percent to 27,007 units, compared with 22,506 during the same span of the previous year. Sales of the X4 increased 2.1 percent during the month to 336 units, compared with 329 during the same month of 2016. Year to date, X4 sales have decreased almost 16 percent to 2,482 units, compared with 2,944 during the same period of the prior year. X5 sales jumped nearly 9 percent in July to 2,986 units, compared with 2,744 during the same month of the previous year. Sales of the X5 are also up nearly 9 percent for the year to 27,145 units, compared with 24,948 during the same period of 2016. Sales of the X6 fell more than 10 percent in July to 362 units, compared with 405 during the same month a year ago. X6 sales have declined more than 8 percent since the beginning of 2017 to 3,615 units, compared with 3,940 during the same span of 2016. The company said sales of its MINI brand vehicles decreased 7.9 percent and 11.1 percent for July and the first seven months of the year, respectively. Sales of its brand vehicles decreased nearly 15 percent in July and almost 5 percent for the year. —Trevor Anderson
DEVELOPMENT
Drayton Mills gets new fitness franchise Burn Boot Camp officially opened at 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7, at Drayton Mills Marketplace. Elissa and David Farmer announced in January they planned to open their first location for the North Carolina-based fitness franchise in a 5,000-square-foot space on the commercial side of the Drayton Mill revitalization project. “We are excited to bring Burn Boot Camp to Spartanburg and are thrilled to be part of the Drayton Mills community,” Elissa Farmer said in a statement. “Burn is all about transforming and empowering our clients in a positive, non-competitive community that sup-
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
ports and encourages one another.” Founded in 2012 by Devan and Morgan Kline in Huntersville, N.C., Burn Boot Camp focuses on five pillars: mindset, whole food nutrition, burst training, strength training, and community. The Farmers’ studio includes the “floating floor,” a customized foam floor that reduces the impact from training. It also has a floating pull up bar, a childcare area, free weights, battle ropes, slam balls, kettle bells, plyometric boxes, and other equipment. Customers can take advantage of free childcare during mid-morning and evening camps, as well as one-on-one nutritional meetings with trainers. “Led by head trainer, Kayla O’Connell, we provide the tools needed to help clients achieve their specific goals,” Farmer added. “We believe in the power of community, and all fitness levels are welcome at Burn Boot Camp.“ Drayton Marketplace encompasses about 60,000 square feet of the 115-yearold former Milliken & Co. textile plant’s warehouses and company store. The development complements the 289-unit luxury loft apartment community located in the mill’s former spinning and weaving plants that features a lap pool, fitness center, and a 3-mile walking trail. The project, developed by Charlotte, N.C.-based TMS Development and Spartanburg-based Montgomery Development, is the largest historic restoration endeavor completed in South Carolina to date. Burn Boot Camp will join three existing businesses and one more that is on the way. Those businesses include Greenville restaurateur Rick Erwin’s The Standard: A Refined Kitchen; Spartanburg businessman Paul Melotte’s Mozza Roasters, Bella Latte, and Melotte Enterprises; and industrial developer Agracel Inc.’s regional office. Pi-Squared Pizza, a Detroit-style pizza restaurant with a family-friendly atmosphere, will open later this year. “We are extremely happy to see Burn Boot Camp open,” said John Montgomery, principal of Montgomery Development Group. “We believe they will be invaluable in helping us achieve our vision for a vibrant live, work, play community here at Drayton.” For more information, visit: burnbootcamp.com/spartanburg-sc, or draytonmarketplace.com. —Trevor Anderson
EDUCATION
Greenville’s Daniel-Mickel Foundation gives Wofford $300K for emergency fund Wofford College students will have access to more financial support to help them through emergencies and
other extreme circumstances. The Spartanburg-based college announced last week it has received a $300,000 grant from the Daniel-Mickel Foundation of Greenville that will be paired with a $50,000 grant from Wofford’s Trustees Matching Fund to create the OneWofford program. Funds will be available to students whose academic career might be jeopardized by significant life events, such as the death of a parent or guardian, or a family’s loss of income. “This newly endowed fund will help ensure success for all Wofford students and demonstrates the care and support of the Wofford family and friends for our students,” said Wofford College President Nayef Samhat in a statement. “We are so grateful to the Daniel-Mickel Foundation for this partnership to boost the success of Wofford students and power their futures through a liberal arts education.” Wofford said it will use software that links students to campus resources and notifies students, advisors, and other faculty and staff members of important events “relating to a student’s success.” The software, which is called Starfish, enables students to alert faculty and staff if they have family issues and are in need of help. “The Daniel-Mickel Foundation is very pleased to support Wofford and its students,” said Charles Mickel, trustee of the foundation, in a statement. “Financial concerns for students will always be present in college. We hope we can help keep some students from falling through the cracks and dropping out when unforeseen financial difficulties arise. The foundation has provided similar gifts to two other regional universities, and we wanted to do the same for Wofford students. We also hope the recipients of these funds will become strong alumni of Wofford and will pay forward this gift with their own generosity.” Wofford spokeswoman Laura Corbin said the funds will be held by the college and distributed to students. “A significant life event can occur at any time during a student’s matriculation, but that should not be an obstacle in the path to graduation,” said Boyce Lawton, Wofford’s dean of student success, in a statement. “Wofford’s partnership with the Daniel-Mickel Foundation will offer students a new scholarship resource that helps allay their worries during a particularly difficult time and allows them to concentrate on their studies rather than on their ability to pay college costs. This fund represents Wofford’s commitment to student success and compassion for all who are part of the campus community.” NEWS IN BRIEF continued on PAGE 8 8.11.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
| NEWS IN BRIEF
䌀 䰀 䔀 䴀 匀 伀 一 䴀 䈀 䄀 倀 刀 伀 䜀 刀 䄀 䴀
䌀伀䴀䔀 吀伀 䄀一 䤀一䘀伀 匀䔀匀匀䤀伀一 吀伀 䰀䔀䄀刀一 䄀䈀伀唀吀 䌀䰀䔀䴀匀伀一ᤠ匀 䘀唀䰀䰀ⴀ吀䤀䴀䔀 䄀一䐀 倀䄀刀吀ⴀ吀䤀䴀䔀 倀刀伀䜀刀䄀䴀 伀倀吀䤀伀一匀℀ 圀䠀䔀刀䔀㨀
吀唀䔀匀⸀ 匀䔀倀吀 㔀 吀䤀䴀䔀㨀
㔀㨀㌀ ⴀ 㜀㨀 倀䴀
倀䴀
NEWS IN BRIEF |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
The Daniel family of Greenville founded the Daniel-Mickel Foundation in 1948 as a way to support local hospitals, churches, and college students in need of financial aid through the success of their construction business. To date, the foundation has given more than $46 million to organizations in Greenville County, according to its website. —Trevor Anderson
REAL ESTATE
Idle downtown Spartanburg building purchased The future of a historic building in downtown Spartanburg was decided over sushi. Spartanburg entrepreneur Michael “Mici” Fluegge said he was eating lunch recently at Miyako Sushi Group off Magnolia Street when he ran into Andrew Babb, a commercial broker with NAI Earle Furman. The chance meeting led to a conversation that resulted in Fluegge and his wife, Leah Kent, purchasing the former Turnipseed Law Firm building at 128 Magnolia St. “We started talking, and before long he was showing me the building,” said Fluegge, originally of Hamburg, Germany. “I thought it was a great opportunity to be a part of all of the growth going on in downtown Spartanburg.” Property records showed the couple closed on the three-story, 6,600-squarefoot building on July 20. They purchased it via their company 128 Magnolia St LLC from English Hylton LLC for $415,000. The space is between Olive and Then Some and a 6,000-square-foot building that will soon house a satellite facility for the Children’s Museum of the Upstate. The 117-year-old building has sat idle for about three years. Its last tenant was the office of the late Spartanburg lawyer and former state Sen. David Turnipseed, who died in January after battling cancer. Fluegge formerly owned a multiunit franchise for Massage Envy that he sold a few years ago to pursue a variety of ventures in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. He currently serves as a regional developer and franchisee for the Joint Chiropractic chain, a regional developer for Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop for Guys, and a regional developer for Modern Acupuncture. The couple hopes to lease the space and bring in a concept that will add to downtown Spartanburg’s diversity and momentum. “It could be something that is family-friendly,” Fluegge said. “It could be a new restaurant, museum, or shop. At this point, we’re looking at different proposals.” Fluegge said the couple is not opposed to investing in improving the building’s façade. Babb represent both the buyer and seller in the transaction. —Trevor Anderson 8
UBJ | 8.11.2017
THE BUSINESS OF DRONES
| COVER
RISE OF THE DRONES
Brian Scott piloted attack helicopters for the U.S. Army for nearly a decade, providing air support for ground troops in Iraq and acting as their eyes in the sky. But now the Greenvillian is flying from behind the screen of an iPad, not a cockpit. WORDS BY ANDREW MOORE | PHOTOS BY WILL CROOKS
8.11.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
9
COVER |
THE BUSINESS OF DRONES
Drones could generate more than $82 billion for the economy and roughly 100,000 new jobs over the next 10 years.
In 2013, Scott retired from the military to pursue his interest in unmanned aerial vehicles, aka drones. After some research and flying lessons, he acquired the necessary exemption from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to operate drones commercially and founded Upstate Aerial, a drone photography business. Since then, Scott has found no shortage of customers, including real estate agents wanting to market their listings from the sky. Community Journals even hired him to shoot some aerial shots of downtown. However, Scott recently shifted his company’s focus to construction and infrastructure, which are quickly emerging as key drivers of the commercial drone market. In fact, drones have the potential to replace more than $40 billion of services and labor in construction and infrastructure, according to a 2016 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, a multinational accounting research firm based in London. “It was just a natural fit for me to take my love of aviation and combine it with my architectural experience,” said Scott, who studied architecture at Purdue University and previously worked as a BIN manager at several local architecture firms. “Being in the industry beforehand also means that I am better positioned to bring real value to my 10
UBJ | 8.11.2017
clients. I speak the language; I understand the limitations of the tech; and I don’t try to sell what isn’t going to help my clients grow their business,” he added. Scott uses drones to monitor, document, and inspect construction and infrastructure sites. The process is simple: Scott flies a drone above a site, snaps pictures from various angles and heights, and uses software to stitch the photos into a 3D structural model or map. Prior to drone usage, aerial imaging was a costly process performed by manned aircraft, such as airplanes or helicopters, said Scott. Drones, however, are much cheaper and faster than human surveyors, and they collect data more frequently, letting construction workers track a site’s progress with a degree of accuracy previously unknown in the industry. And while some might see similarities between Upstate Aerial’s technology and Google Earth, Scott is quick to point out the advantages of the drone. “Google Earth is certainly getting better, but it will not for the foreseeable future offer sub inch accuracy. I’ve pulled building and grade info from Google Earth Pro, and the data was off by several feet,” said Scott. “The work we do on average hovers in the sub inch area. “Our models aren’t perfect for every instance, but
for the vast majority of documentation we can provide similar or better results than a person in the field with tape measure at a fraction of the cost and time,” he added. Scott uses three drones, each varying in size and abilities and costing between $1,000 and $2,500. He also uses an iPad to monitor his drone’s location, height, and other diagnostics. So far, Scott has spent more than $30,000 on drones and cameras. He recently purchased a DJI Phantom IV Pro, which has a 20-megapixel camera capable of shooting 4K video. “Drones are like computers; there is always something better coming to market,” he said Scott’s ability to shoot quality footage and provide high-precision measurements has attracted the attention and business of local companies and multibillion dollar corporations. In April, for instance, Scott signed a contract with Walmart to photograph about a dozen stores in South Carolina and Georgia. “The purpose of the data capture mission was to create models of existing stores so that Walmart’s energy conservation team could investigate the installation of solar panels for each location,” he said. According to Scott, the resulting models saved the retailer “tens of thousands of dollars in field verification and architectural modeling costs.”
THE BUSINESS OF DRONES
A GROWING INDUSTRY Scott expects drone services like his to become more common in the coming years. “We’re already seeing more people getting into the industry, because the drones are pretty cheap and easy to fly. You can actually buy one for around $500,” he said. “In the next decade, drones are going to completely revolutionize the way businesses operate.” Scott said recent changes to FAA rules are already opening the industry to a new group of commercial drone operators who can perform a variety of jobs, from agriculture to marketing. Last year, the FAA removed a requirement that drone operators also be licensed to pilot an airplane or other manned aircraft. The new rules allow people to become a certified commercial drone operator through a 16-hour course and a test. Scott, who has performed more than 100 drone flights since he went into business, passed the test last year. “It’s no joke,” he said. “I know people who’ve taken online courses to prepare.” The FAA expects the new rule to drastically boost the number of drone businesses across the country. Earlier this year, the agency said 20,000 drones were registered for commercial use after the new rules were announced. The agency also said the new rules could generate more than $82 billion for the economy and roughly 100,000 new jobs over the next 10 years. According to Gartner, a technology research firm, commercial drone sales are expected to increase about 60 percent to 174,000 in 2017. By 2022, analysts predict the commercial drone market to skyrocket to $23 billion worldwide, up from about $6 billion today. South Carolina’s commercial drone industry is already taking off, according to Eric Harkins, president of the South Carolina UAV Operators Alliance, a Columbia-based organization focused on drone advocacy and pilot support. Harkins said there are more than 100 commercial drone operators across the state. Skyview Aerial Solutions of Summerville, for instance, has become one of the state’s largest drone businesses in South Carolina since
Upstate Aerial’s Brian Scott uses drones to monitor, document, and inspect construction and infrastructure sites.
opening in 2013. The company, which has four pilots and nine drones, offers construction management, energy loss analysis, and more. In Greenville, drones are being used for everything from agriculture to documentaries. Forrest Briggs Photography, for instance, has used drones for construction monitoring, real estate marketing, and more since 2013. Today, aerial photography accounts for about 30 percent of the company’s business, according to Briggs. In 2014, Sergio and Carlos Loaiza purchased a drone and launched ProBros Productions, an aerial photography company. The brothers, who received their “remote pilot airman certificate” last year, offer search and rescue services and more.
A NEW FLIGHT PATH As drone businesses continue to appear across the state and create increased competition, Scott is looking to expand his company. Last year, Scott signed a contract with Action Drones Inc., a drone manufacturer based in California, to inspect thousands of wind turbines across the country for Berlin-based manufacturing and energy powerhouse Siemens AG. “The market is massive,” said Scott. “Companies are increasingly sending drones up to snap photos of turbines so they can identify problems.” According to Navigant Research, the “cumulative global revenue for wind turbine drone sales and
inspection services is expected to reach nearly $6 billion by 2024.” And while the wind industry, which employs more than 100,000 employees, is booming, turbine blades, and the mechanical parts that harness their power, eventually break down. “Deterioration can cause reduced energy production in early stages and catastrophic and costly blade collapse if left unnoticed,” Navigant says. “This is driving a brisk business in wind turbine blade inspections, a role that has traditionally been accomplished from the ground with simple visual inspections or more complicated and risky rope or platform access. A new approach using unmanned aerial vehicles... is rapidly muscling in as a middle option.”
| COVER
According to Scott, drone inspections offer safety benefits over manual inspections. “Infrastructure is often located in areas that are not well-positioned for humans,” he said. “Drones can accomplish the same task without the risk much faster and at a reduced cost.” Inspectors have to climb hundreds of feet and deal with unpredictable weather to perform maintenance on the turbines, according to Scott. Drone inspections, however, allow them to remain on the ground, where it’s safe. Scott also said drones decrease labor costs, increase productivity, and deliver better data. For instance, Scott’s drones will fly up to a turbine, capture images of all four sides of each blade, circle around it to cover the whole surface area, and land in under 15 minutes. The captured images will then be used to build a 3-D model of each blade and allow Siemens to figure out the timing of repairs, while accurate data location provides a clear benchmark and a digital timeline of damage progression. According to Scott, his drones will be able to inspect 15 turbines daily. “The work will ramp up as it progresses, but we are estimating 4,000 to 5,000 turbines per year minimum,” said Scott, who plans to begin inspections later this year. Scott is also trying to introduce a drone education curriculum, created by Action Drones, at middle and high schools across the state. “The overall goal is to encourage students to think about possible career paths,” he said. “Drones have a lot to offer.”
WANT TO FLY A DRONE? THESE ARE THE RULES: Source: Federal Aviation Administration
•D rones have to be registered with the FAA. Registration costs $5. •F lying an unregistered drone carries civil penalties of up to $27,500. •D rones have to remain in the pilot’s visual line of sight. •P ilots must be at least 16 years old. •O peration is allowed only during daylight hours or twilight with appropriate lighting. •M aximum ground speed of 100 mph and maximum altitude of 400 feet. •F or commercial operation, pilots must hold a “remote pilot airman certificate.”
SQUARE FEET |
REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
CINDY LANDRUM | STAFF
FRONT ROW
clandrum@communityjournals.com |
@clandrum
Hot Takes
The City of Greenville Design
that it’s gone,” she said.
Review Board Urban Panel told the developer of the proposed Homewood Suites across from Fluor Field to go back to the drawing board last Thursday.
Patel told the panelists the rooftop bar was “something that economically didn’t work for the deal.” He said his company has done hotels with rooftop bars, including the Hyatt Place in downtown Asheville. “That was successful, but it costs millions,” he said. “This project is already at $32 million.”
The Homewood Suites by Hilton application was one of three projects reviewed by the panel at its August meeting. The others included the addition of two storefront entrances to a building along the Falls Park pedestrian path and a tax assessment for the Westone project on Stone Avenue.
HOMEWOOD SUITES The DRB tabled a decision about a certificate of appropriateness for modification to building materials for a proposed Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel and parking garage at 942 S. Main St. until its September meeting. The DRB had approved plans for the Homewood Suites by Hilton at its March 2016 meeting, but developer Shaunak Patel of Parks Hospitality Group said design changes to the project were required because of high costs. The new design eliminated a rooftop opening; added a fourth level of parking; and replaced stone at the lower levels with a second color of brick. DRB Urban Panel Chair Carmella Cioffi said the open area at the top of the hotel made a huge visual impact and really contributed to the look of the project. “I’m really disappointed. I understand economic issues, but I’m disappointed
DRB member Danielle Fountaine said to Patel, “I wonder if you’re being penny wise but pound foolish.” She said other rooftops in downtown Greenville have been successful. Fountaine said the new look of the parking garage was unacceptable, because Rhett Street is a pedestrian street and the new look of the garage is “very industrial.” “We cannot have an exposed garage structure like this on this street,” she said. “I hope your clients understand there is additional cost building a hotel on Main Street rather than a block off or in the suburbs,” she said. “This is not on some exit on 385. It’s on Main Street — not only Main Street but in the West End in which brick is dominant.” Fellow DRB member Mitch Lehde said the new design was “going back to a box building that could go on the interstate.” Cioffi told Patel he needed to come back with a creative solution that allows the use of a less expensive construction, “but it can’t be what you presented today.”
“I hope your clients understand there is additional cost building a hotel on Main Street rather than a block off or in the suburbs … This is not on some exit on 385. It’s on Main Street, not only Main Street but in the West End in which brick is dominant.” 531 S. MAIN The DRB approved a certificate of appropriateness for a project that will add two storefront entrances to the Falls Place building at 531 S. Main St. along the Falls Park pedestrian path. City staff recommended approval of the project because the addition of retail in the area will provide further activation of the pedestrian path with minimum disturbance to the park. Earle Hungerford, architect with McMillan Pazdan Smith, said building owner Dr. Richard Greer wants the Falls Place Riverwalk renovation “to keep the flavor of what’s there and allow some retail function.” The storefront will be composed of a glass façade and double doors with a wood frame that is reflective of many of the existing historical buildings around downtown. It will also blend with the existing path and park environment. The approval came on the condition that the existing crepe myrtles not be impacted by construction and the Greenville Health System Swamp
Rabbit Trail and Falls Park sidewalk not be closed during construction. Outside tables will not be permitted.
WESTONE The DRB approved a preliminary certification for a special tax assessment for the building at 109 W. Stone Ave., previously known as the Star Cleaners & Dryers building that was home to the Battery and Electric Company most recently. The development at 109 W. Stone Ave., known as Westone, will house a brewery, restaurant, and the second Coffee Underground location, among other retail outlets. The tax assessment based on the historic nature of the building would allow the developers, Pete Brett and Michael Fletcher, to pass along a lower triple-net lease rate to tenants. The DRB does not grant the tax assessment, but their recommendation that it be granted is necessary. The DRB said the building has historic architectural significance and was the first commercial property on Stone Avenue.
RealOp Investments closes on three-property office portfolio RealOp Investments closed July 21 on a suburban office portfolio consisting of three properties located within 2 miles of each other in Greenville at 770 Pelham Road, 1001 Keys Drive, and 1 Marcus Drive. Combined, the three properties total 211,174 square feet. Current tenants include ECPI, Asset Point, Cintas Corporation, and Mustang Engineering, and RealOp is looking 12
UBJ | 8.11.2017
for more. “We love it when opportunity allows us to invest in properties in our hometown of Greenville, knowing that existing tenants, as well as the whole area, will benefit from the enhancements and transformation that will take place here,” says Paul Sparks, managing principal and president of RealOp Investments. Office space within this portfolio is
currently available from approximately 1,800 to 9,000 square feet, and offers a variety of benefits, including private office entrances, exterior tenant signage, and onsite parking. Available square footage totals 28,516 (potentially 38,948) square feet at 770 Pelham Road, 35,500 square feet at 1001 Keys Drive, and 50,570 at 1 Marcus Drive. Charles Grouch, Blaine Hart, and
Shelby Dodson with CBRE are handling leasing inquiries. “RealOp’s ability to transact coupled with their aggressive leasing strategy pertaining to these assets presents a unique opportunity for this portfolio,” Hart says. “The properties are positioned in a market that is experiencing declining vacancy and rising rents.” —Ariel Turner
THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF BUSINESS
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
You and your IT tech have parted ways. Now what? By LAURA HAIGHT President, portfoliosc.com
Technology drives business, and yet small businesses are less likely to have dedicated IT staff to support them. Many rely on the services of a small IT shop or “solotech.” All IT techs are certainly not created equal, but once a business finds a good fit, it tends to put a lot of trust in them. Unfortunately, few relationships last forever, leaving you with some unpleasant realizations that may not be apparent for months.
DOMAIN AND BANDING CONTROL Many small IT shops offer an array of services like website management. Most small-business owners will happily cede the IT paperwork to their support crew without asking the question: “What is this for?” Periodically, ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, will send a copy of the registered contact information associated with your website domain. There are three contacts listed: an administrative contact, a technical contact, and a registrant contact. If your name is not listed as one of these contacts, you have no way to prove your ownership of this domain. In most cases, your IT tech will give you this information when you break up, but you might have to remember to ask. And, worse than that, in acrimonious situations that information may be withheld or unattainable. I know at least one Upstate company that lost control of its domain name and branding when this happened to them.
SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE OWNERSHIP The days of shrink-wrapped software and physical licenses are in the past, right? But ownership remains an issue, even with digital licenses. With Software as a Service (SaaS), everything from backups and CRM to virus protection is controlled by the
administrator console. You may not want to dig into the weeds in these services, but you need to have at least all the relevant information about your account so you can access these areas. Then there’s hardware. You may not even be aware of the age or warranty status of your servers, network gear, desktops, laptops, and even mobile devices. Ask your IT person to document all the relevant services, their administrative accesses, and account info, as well as all the hardware, where it was purchased, any service tag information, copies of any sale, and warranty information. Then be sure to keep adding to this information as you implement new systems.
| DIGITAL MAVEN
get your game gear on
HOSTING Let’s face it, a big reason to have IT help is so you don’t have to understand the technology yourself. So you may not realize that email and websites have to live (i.e., be hosted) somewhere. There’s an annual charge to renew your domain name, but that’s because you don’t own it as much as you rent it. Still, that has no connection with keeping your assets up and running. A friend of mine wondered why she kept getting emails from some unknown company dunning her for money. It turned out that company, which had been employed by a previous IT tech, was hosting her website. Since she had ignored their bills for more than half a year, she was just days from having her website shut down. She thought GoDaddy, where she bought the domain, was also hosting the website. Website and email hosting may be with two different companies. It’s possible that your IT tech is a reseller for those companies, so the account may not be owned by you. If you and your tech split, will you know where your website and your email are? Make sure accounts for your critical technology assets are in your name and that you have contact and access information if you need it. 8.11.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
“Purveyors of Classic American Style” 864.232.2761 | rushwilson.com 23 West North St. | Downtown Greenville
FORWARD |
WHAT ’S NEXT FOR THE UPSTATE, AND HOW WE’LL GET THERE
Hidden Opportunities FSC Cutting Tool and Technology gets a boost from an underused state Department of Commerce program after, he became a plant manager and remained with the company until Founder and Director, 2006, when he stepped out on his SC Connect own. In the meantime, Mir had married Surrounded by the roar of jet Raana, his childhood sweetheart airplanes outside and the din of the from Pakistan, and raised a family. As crowds inside, Afzaal Mir and his wife, he began FSC, his wife became his Raana, manned their Greenville professional colleague. company’s booth in the South Caroli“When I started the company, we na pavilion at the Paris Air Show and had nothing — no customers, nothing. marveled at their situation. Just my vision,” Mir says. “We worked “I feel that my story should be told hard. … We were everything — janitor to Americans,” says Mir, who arrived to running tools.” in the U.S. from Pakistan decades ago. The name is a shortened form of He now owns FSC Cutting Tool and “Five Star Carbide,” combining the Technology, located on Old Buncombe material used in tool making with the Road. company’s five focus sectors: automo“That’s the greatness of this country tive, aerospace, die mold, electronic, — that someone like me could come and woodworking. at 18 years of age and make this Though not a trained engineer, Mir happen. You can’t do that in many knew cutting tools and believed he countries,” Mir adds. could build a business based on service Mir’s father worked for Pakistan and custom technology that was tarAirlines, and Mir began flying at age 15 geted and nimble. in Pakistan. In 1978, he traveled to the At the beginning, he designed the United States to earn his Federal Aviatools and found other small companies tion Administration license, and moved to manufacture them. His goal was to to Greenville at the urging of friends. build a reputation for quality that “I was immediately in love with would help him qualify for business Greenville,” he says. with larger companies. Mir flew charter flights while trying “So I got qualified — slowly, slowly,” to get a job with a commercial airline, he recalls. but full-time jobs were tough to find. Within two years, he had 15 employHe applied for work near the airport ees and soon bought a 60,000-squareat a company called Tungsten Indusfoot building and 4 acres near Furman, tries that made cutting tools for the where he is now. Today, he builds the aerospace, automotive, and woodmachines that make the tools his working industries, among others. target industries use. At Tungsten, Mir was asked to set FSC now counts Northrup up a quality control department. Soon Grumman, Gulfstream, Lockheed UBJ_Sburg1.qxp_Layout 1 6/22/17 11:50 PM Page 1
By TRIP DUBARD
“That’s the greatness of this country — that someone like me could come at 18 years of age and make this happen. You can’t do that in many countries.”
Martin, and Triumph Aerospace as clients, but the company’s marquee customer is Boeing. “Qualifying for Boeing is a different environment,” Mir says. FSC became a qualified Boeing supplier in 2014, eight years after going into business. In seeking more skilled employees, Mir contacted local educators a few years ago, which ultimately led him to the state Department of Commerce. “I want you to help me so that I can create jobs,” Mir says he told the department. “You help me; I’ll create jobs. That’s how it is.” Now, the state Department of Commerce is helping Mir attend major trade events such as the Paris Air Show by underwriting some of the costs through a program called the Export Incentives Program. The program, funded with both federal and state dollars, is open to all budding state exporters. Qualifying companies can be reimbursed for selected trade show and other expenses related to growing exports. The
program, still relatively new and growing, is run through the Department of Commerce’s international trade division. According to the department, Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin is the 22nd largest metro area reporting exports nationwide; 85 percent of South Carolina exporters are companies with fewer than 500 employees. The vast majority of South Carolina exports are in the transportation field. That fits FSC’s profile perfectly for now — but perhaps not for long. “My logic in coming here was that I will get to know every manufacturer, anything to do with aerospace,” Mir says. “That way I will know who is doing what. I can find a distributor, and then I can start doing business here. Now, we feel comfortable that we can go to the next level.” For more information, go to scconnect.us or email trip@ scconnect.us or stijn@executionpartners.us.
Different interests. Same passion. Helping you reach your financial goals.
Barry Mason Exec. Vice President NMLS 453841 Woodworker
14
UBJ | 8.11.2017
Carolyn MacIntosh Vice President NMLS 328205 Women United Way Leader
Coleman Edmunds Exec, Vice President NMLS 328310 Sports enthusiast
200 South Church Street Spartanburg, SC 29306 (864) 208-2265 5 Upstate locations
carolinaalliancebank.com
MOVERS, SHAKERS, AND DISRUP TORS SHAPING OUR FUTURE
| INNOVATE
The Theory of Relevance Three vital considerations for your web presence (Part 2)
By BRENT WARWICK Partner, ipsoCreative
In my last article, I described the first of three vital considerations for your web presence, “Does my web presence pass the visual credibility test?” I mentioned, “Viewers have more choices than ever, and that is largely paralyzing to them. With so much digital white noise and content clutter, it’s no wonder that web users make quick decisions about what’s worthy of their time to click-through and what is not.” If a viewer makes that determination that your website is in fact worthy of their further consideration, their thoughts then turn to the next question, “Is this website relevant to what I am searching for?” This question of relevance is tricky, and it’s a bit more challenging than the visual credibility question in that our assumptions can lead us toward a false sense of security. We so often view relevance through our own lenses rather than through the lenses of others.
Consider relevance from the standpoint of others This seems like such a simple tenet to follow, but it’s deceptive. It’s actually quite challenging. If you are a brand owner, brand marketer, or have any other role associated with a brand’s messaging, you understand all there is to understand about your product or service. But we forget the steps that the non-experts take in considering what we have to offer. Often, we jump ahead to our key
differentiators from other products and services, and we lose our target audience in making that leap too soon. Vinyl yard fencing may be a more durable product. It may be easier to install than wood fencing. It may be a more expensive purchase, but it lasts significantly longer than the alternatives. But, if I am doing research on fencing because I simply need a fence and I need to determine if I can install it myself or if I need to hire a contractor to install it, I am not yet concerned with the value proposition of vinyl fencing. I need my initial questions answered before I can consider the subsequent options. That’s what we often forget when we are presenting our brand’s relevance. And we do that because we haven’t immersed ourselves in the mindset of the novice, the uninitiated, the curious, and/or diligent consumer who is searching for a solution. The remedy to this misalignment doesn’t require an advanced degree, nor does it necessarily require a highpriced outsider. What it requires is, quite simply, old-fashioned imagination (that faculty of forming an image or concept from someone else’s point of view). In this case, imagining the thought processes and decision-making process flow of someone without your knowledge and expertise. Content that is relevant is relevant because it meets the viewer where they are not where you expect them to be.
Overwhelming content is as irrelevant as inadequate content There is another approach that some
Content that is relevant is relevant because it meets the viewer where they are not where you expect them to be. brands take to website relevancy, and it involves throwing as much content as possible to a viewing audience in order to meet every eventuality. Often the thought process behind this approach is rooted in a fear that whatever content is excluded could potentially have been the content that mattered to a website viewer. In other words, if targeted content is aimed at the wrong target, then you may fail to grab that viewer’s attention. And since you often only get one chance for that all-important first impression, you make it count by providing the maximum amount of content to the maximum amount of potential viewers. It’s the shotgun approach to content. This same outcome can also be the result of too many cooks in the kitchen, too many voices who are vying for what’s important to them to be included on the website. Whatever the path to the inclusion of too much content, the effect on the viewer of that content is a sense of being overwhelmed. And an overwhelmed website user will abandon a page or your website altogether.
Relevant content is aligned content The real (or perceived) needs of your target audience matter a great deal when it comes to what you choose to include or exclude on your website. Given the vast and ever-growing volume of available content on the web, it is crucial that you give careful and intentional consideration to this second filter, relevant content. This alignment is hard-fought. It doesn’t happen in a breezy moment of inspiration. It doesn’t happen in isolation. And it certainly doesn’t happen without the humility to set aside one’s preconceived notions and assumptions. Identifying, creating, and promoting relevant content that satisfies users’ needs will also carry with it an added organic benefit. It will contribute to search engine algorithms meant to determine the relevance of a website to a searching public. And that is certainly worth that hard-fought effort to achieve alignment with your target audience.
Jackson Marketing, Motorsports & Events partners with Race to Erase 22 Jackson Marketing, Motorsports & Events has partnered with Race to Erase 22 in its effort to help U.S. veterans transition from military to civilian life by introducing them to the sport of off-road racing. In conjunction with Race to Erase 22, Jackson will provide free and discounted tires to outfit a new three-
seat truck built by Scott Racing that will give four veterans the ride of a lifetime when it debuts at SNORE’s Rage at the River in Laughlin, Nev. this December. The mission of Race to Erase 22, a 501c3 nonprofit, is to raise the awareness about the high number of military suicides in the United States.
The organization brings together volunteers including civilians, active military personnel, veterans, off-road racers and advocates to give wounded combat veterans a chance to be involved in the sport of off-road racing as course workers, retrievals, and other volunteer positions. — Staff Reports
8.11.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
15
THE TAKEAWAY |
NOTES FROM THE BEST TALKS YOU MISSED
Moving the Michelin Brand Forward What: Endeavor’s Collaborators & Cocktails professional development monthly series
Endeavor’s July Collaborators & Cocktails welcomed Michelin’s Jennifer Smith. Photo provided.
Where: Endeavor, a coworking community for creatives in the ONE Building Who Was There: 80+ creative industry and corporate marketing professionals Feature Presentation: Michelin’s Jennifer Smith
By AMANDA LONG Senior Account Director, Hughes Agency
Endeavor, a coworking space for Greenville’s creative community, hosted Jennifer Smith, director of image and brands for Michelin North America, at its July Collaborators & Cocktails professional development series, where marketing leaders share examples of the strategies and creative work that drove their brands beyond their competition. Smith spoke about her team’s mission to protect and promote Michelin’s brands and how they engage with their different communities. The Michelin brand, valuated at more than $6 billion, is known for its unparalleled quality and standards. Smith, one of its fiercest advocates, states, “Our job is to ensure that the quality of our communications materials and experiences equal that of a $6 billion brand. We should have the same standard and adherence to quality as we do for our products.” This is evident in how Michelin’s brand communications team proactively and reactively tells stories on behalf of their portfolio of brands, engaging with audiences across multiple segments. Smith shared the new advertising campaign that won a Cannes Bronze Lion — the first in the history of the brand — and their Super Bowl ad with a total implementation plan turned around in less than 48 hours. With more than 88,000 separate news items written about them last year and millions of social media mentions, Michelin’s brand marketing leads the mobility industry.
Moving beyond tires The meaning behind Michelin’s tagline, “a better way forward,” goes well beyond manufacturing tires. The brand is using premium dining and driving experiences to create deeper connections with its consumers. Michelin recently bought 40 percent of Robert Parker Wine Advocate, the world’s most widely read
16
UBJ | 8.11.2017
independent consumers’ guide to fine wine. Through its highly acclaimed Michelin Guides, the brand partners with Michelin-star chefs and Robert Parker to bring the experience of gourmet dining and wine tastings together. Michelin also acquired Bookatable (Europe’s version of Open Table) to encourage the spirit of mobility — inspiring people to travel, enjoy life, and be mobile.
Evolving iconic brands “Our mission statement, really, is that we care about giving people a better way forward. We are really a mobility company. Our portfolio of products reflects that,” Smith said. She shared how the company’s evolution and portfolio’s breadth led to an evaluation of their brand structure. Equally influential on the recent redesign is how digital communications have changed how marketers present their brands, requiring more design simplicity for smaller formats. In streamlining the globally recognized Michelin Man, people reacted strongly. “Any time you mess with the Michelin Man, you are going to hear love and hate stories from people. That’s part of the beauty of it, too.”
Creating change, one state at a time Through road safety research, Michelin learned the No. 1 cause of death for teenagers is car accidents. Of those, 17 to 18 percent involving inexperienced drivers have some sort of tire-related factor, such as improper
tire pressure or tread depth. Partnering with the FIA, a racing organization that shares the same passion for safe driving and reduction of deaths, Michelin launched “Beyond the Driving Test.” Their goal was to include tire safety basics in driver’s education by 2020, and in less than three years, they changed it in all 50 states. It was a major endeavor that required collaboration amongst many departments at Michelin. They also engaged teenage YouTube influencers to spread the word to their peers.
Launch, then let go of your brand Michelin set a new industry standard this year, launching its ultra-high-performance Michelin Pilot 4S tires. Bringing together 300 of the most passionate and influential car and tire aficionados, Michelin created an overall premium experience, including driving on test tracks, driving through Joshua Tree, and exceptional dinners. A 100-person film crew tailored personalized long-form films for each influencer to share their experience with their fans. More than 10,000 pieces of shareable content were created, resulting in millions of impressions. Endeavor, a creative, collaborative coworking community, presents a monthly professional development speaker series called Collaborators & Cocktails, where marketing chiefs from brands like Southwest Airlines, Ritz Carlton, and Nike share their marketing strategies.
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS
HIRED
HIRED
HIRED
HIRED
| ON THE MOVE
HIRED
JAMES EDWARDS
SAM GARRETT, O.D
EMILY LYNCH CUPELLI
NICOLE YEE
RACHEL GARRISON
Joined T E C Industrial Maintenance & Construction as vice president of business development. Edwards graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He is certified as a project management professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute.
Joined Clemson Eye’s Anderson office as an optometrist. Garrett has been an optometrist in Greenville for 35 years. Originally from Spartanburg, Garrett graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor of science in pharmacy before attending Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn.
Joined Buncombe Street United Methodist Church as the worship leader for its contemporary worship services at its downtown campus. Cupelli recently recorded her sophomore album, “Light Shine In,” in Nashville, Tenn., which features musicians such as the McCrary Sisters and Vince Gill.
Hired as an account coordinator at FerebeeLane. Yee is tasked with assisting the account team through research, client management, and client relations. Yee graduated from Clemson University in December 2016 with a degree in marketing.
Joined the FerebeeLane team as a graphic designer, where she will assist the creative department in the conception and creation of traditional, digital, and social executions. Garrison graduated from Anderson University in May 2017 with a degree in graphic design.
Government Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) has been awarded a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, and for outstanding achievement in popular annual financial reports for fiscal year ended June 30, 2016. This is the 24th year ReWa has received the award for the comprehensive annual financial report and the 19th year it has received the award for the popular annual financial report.
Construction O’Neal Inc., a Greenville-based integrated design and construction firm, has hired Walt Vaughn as construction project manager. Vaughn has more than 10 years of project management experience. He previously worked for JE Dunn and Whiting-Turner. He earned his bachelor’s degree in construction technology from Appalachian State University.
Education The Riley Institute at Furman University is growing its diversity and critical issues programs and has appointed three staff members to new positions. Jill Fuson has been promoted to director of the Riley Institute’s Center for Critical Issues, one of the Institute’s three centers of work. Courtenay Nantz, formerly director of the Riley Institute effort that brought New Tech schools to South Carolina, has been named senior associate with the Institute’s Center for Diversity Strategies. Summer Ramsey is the Riley Institute’s new director of marketing. Formerly director of communications at the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, Ramsey will work with Fuson on the planning and production of policy events and will oversee all marketing activities for the Institute. CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions, & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
Independent Living Patio Homes • Independent Apartment Homes Assisted Living • Memory Care • Rehabilitation • Skilled Nursing
1 Hoke Smith Blvd., Greenville 864.987.4612 • www.RollingGreenVillage.com
8.11.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
17
#TRENDING |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
THE WATERCOOLER Social Chatter
RE: NEW LIFESTYLE CENTER PLANNED FOR 64 ACRES IN BOILING SPRINGS “My thing is where is recreation in our city!? Such as bowling, movie theater, etc. We have so many restaurants, car washes (too many), Dollar Generals, but if we want fun, we have to go to Gaffney or Westgate! And traffic is an absolute NIGHTMARE!”
Patty Seay Hollifield “I hope this ‘cohort group in Boiling Springs that was founded to advocate for a more livable community’ is also pushing for improved roads and intersections along Highway 9. Traveling that road is rough now. Adding more residents/ retail will be a nightmare.”
Susan Horton Thrift “Every idea they have for this place is boring. Sounds like it’s all for soccer moms and people who try too hard to seem fancier than they are. Put in something fun like a gaming bar or just give us a Taco Bell that isn’t 10 miles away. If you don’t want a concrete jungle, then stop
TOP 5:
trying to build arts and crafts stores that 1 percent of residents will go to.”
Chris Burke “Change isn’t easy and people are going to complain no matter what (too much traffic with the new options in Boiling Springs or too much of a hassle to go to Target/Publix/etc. on the other side of town). We all hope the traffic will be looked at as they put these plans into action, but I’m also ready for the growth.”
Jennifer Harding Januchowski
Sherrie Loyd
1. New lifestyle center planned for 64 acres in Boiling Springs
A MOVE •
S FOR RIAL NEW BIG INDUST
URG SPARTANB
E 31
AUGUST 4,
RE: EX-CON JERRY BLASSINGAME LEADS THE CHARGE TO GET AN EXPUNGEMENT BILL PASSED “It’s not how you fall down, it’s how you bounce back.”
RE: UPDATED: SIDEWALL PIZZA OWNERS OPENING ROCKET SURGERY COCKTAIL BAR IN TR “Just what T.R. needs – another place to drink. SMH.”
Kathy Jo Dixon
“I would seriously love to understand how something referenced to Dorman Center makes this
INSIDE
Leanne Rogers Gossett
Maria Beth Stanfield
“I have lived in Boiling Springs for 45 years. When Highway 9 was two lanes, peach trees and land everywhere, hardly no traffic — those were the good ole days unlike now. The roads are terrible and the traffic is unreal. And now more confusion coming.”
TS FIRE PLO AINS ON TTER • BR OLINE REU BERING CAR // REMEM
community more livable. Or how more big name retail and apartment complexes are an attempt to make Boiling Springs a cultural or recreational hub??”
VOL. 6 ISSU 2017 |
2. Six chains sign up for space in Seneca shopping center
“Sounds way too cool!”
Veteran Services Division
DIGITAL FLIPBOOK ARCHIVE
The layout of print meets the convenience of the Web. Flip through the digital editions of any of our print issues, and see them all in one place. upstatebusinessjournal.com/ past-issues
CLEAATNE SL
ingame ry Blass r make be felon Jer Former eenville Chamfor getting Gr se and the o-business cathe workforce a pr back into ex-cons
3. DRB tells developer of proposed hotel to go back to the drawing board
GET THE INBOX 4. Ex-con Jerry Blassingame leads the charge to get an expungement bill passed
CONNECT We’re great at networking. LINKEDIN.COM/COMPANY/ UPSTATE-BUSINESS-JOURNAL
5. Mauldin is getting a Courtyard by Marriott *The Top 5 stories from last week’s issue ranked by page views
18
UBJ | 8.11.2017
FACEBOOK.COM/ THEUPSTATEBUSINESSJOURNAL @UPSTATEBIZ
Follow up on the Upstate’s workweek. The Inbox – our weekly rundown of the top 10 local biz stories you need to know. upstatebusinessjournal.com/email
ORDER A PRINT SUBSCRIPTION Style & substance are not mutually exclusive. Order a year of UBJ in no time, and we’ll deliver every week. upstatebusinessjournal.com/subscribe
EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR
DATE Thursday PRESIDENT/CEO
Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com
UBJ PUBLISHER
Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com
8/17 Tuesday-Wednesday
8/22-8/23
EVENT INFO
WHERE DO I GO?
HOW DO I GO?
Collaborators and Cocktails with Doug Poppen, Sr. Brand Marketing Strategist
Endeavor 1 North Main St., 4th Floor, Greenville 5–7 p.m..
Cost: Free for members; $30 for nonmembers. Registration is required; no walk-ins accepted. For more info: Endeavor@ EndeavorGreenvile.com
GSHRM HR Management Conference
Hyatt Regency 220 N. Main St. 8 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Cost: $175 nonmembers, $150 members, $50 pre-conference workshop For more info: greenvillehr.org
Pulse Village Block Party
Lawn of The West Village Lofts at Brandon Mill 25 Draper St. 5:30–8 p.m.
Cost: Free, registration required For more info: bit.ly/2tNDTzX; 864-239-3730; eaustin@ greenvillechamber.org
Business After Hours
The Crossings at Five Forks 345 Five Forks Rd., Simpsonville 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free For more info: bit.ly/2ur8zXR
Greenville Chamber Netnight
Cost: $15 for Chamber investors, The Champions Club at Fluor Field $25 general admission 945 S. Main St., Greenville For more info: bit.ly/2vzw6Ll 6–8 p.m. or 864-239-3727
Black Business Expo
Calhoun Bridge Center 214 Butler St., Clemson 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
For more info: 864-247-1257 or 864-506-1057
Greenville Chamber Golf Tournament Join nearly 300 Upstate business & community leaders for our 25th annual golf tournament presented by SYNNEX Corporation at the Greenville Country Club’s two championship 18-hole courses.
Greenville Country Club Chanticleer & Riverside Courses 10 a.m.
Cost: $375–$1,500 For more info: bit.ly/2w2KBo1; 864-239-3729; or mmann@ greenvillechamber.org
EDITOR
Chris Haire chaire@communityjournals.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Emily Pietras epietras@communityjournals.com
DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Tori Lant tlant@communityjournals.com
STAFF WRITERS
Trevor Anderson, Rudolph Bell, Cindy Landrum, Andrew Moore, Ariel Turner
MARKETING & ADVERTISING VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES David Rich drich@communityjournals.com
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Donna Johnston, Stephanie King, Rosie Peck, Caroline Spivey, Emily Yepes
ART & PRODUCTION VISUAL DIRECTOR Will Crooks
LAYOUT
Thursday
8/24 Thursday
8/24 Thursday
9/7
Saturday
9/9
Monday
9/18
Bo Leslie | Tammy Smith
OPERATIONS Holly Hardin
UP NEXT
ADVERTISING DESIGN
Kristy Adair | Michael Allen
CLIENT SERVICES
Anita Harley | Jane Rogers
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF UBJ? WANT A COPY FOR YOUR LOBBY?
AUGUST 18 THE WORKFORCE 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
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Kristi Fortner
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE STORY IDEAS:
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 editor Chris Haire at chaire@communityjournals.com to submit an article for consideration. Circulation Audit by
1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993
1990 Jackson Dawson
acquires therapon marketing Group and moves to Piedmont office Center on Villa.
>>
SEPTEMBER 15 THE REGIONAL 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
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
AS SEEN IN
OCTOBER 13 THE DESIGN ISSUE
2003 motorsports Division acquires an additional 26,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space
1998 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 Jackson Dawson changes name to Jackson marketing Group when larry sells his partnership in Detroit and lA 2003
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-prof 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 lients 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 nit inVolVeMent nitY in olV inV olVe VeMent & 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
ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com
EVENTS:
| PLANNER
NOVEMBER 1, 2013
Order a reprint today, PDFs available for $25. For more information, contact Anita Harley 864.679.1205 or aharley@communityjournals.com
Got any thoughts? Care to contribute? Let us know at ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com. EVENTS: Submit event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com
Copyright ©2017 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.
publishers of
581 Perry Avenue, Greenville, SC 29611 864-679-1200 | communityjournals.com UBJ: For subscriptions, call 864-679-1240 UpstateBusinessJournal.com
8.11.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
19
2017 Acura MDX All Wheel Drive, Technology Pkg.
Only 7972 miles, Bluetooth, moonroof, Premium leather seating, 3rd row seating, voice activated navigation system, trizone climate controls & so much more! Includes Certified Warranty
Original MSRP: $48,460 • Buy Now: $43,591 2017 Acura MDX All Wheel Drive, Technology Pkg.
Only 11,350 miles, Bluetooth, moonroof, premium leather seating, 3rd row seating, voice activated navigation system, trizone climate controls & so much more! Includes Certified Warranty
Original MSRP: $49,680 • Buy Now: $47,991 2017 Acura RDX Technology Pkg.
Less than 800 miles, Bluetooth, moonroof, premium leather seating, ELS Premium Sound package, on-demand multi-use display screen. Includes Certified Warranty
Original MSRP: $39370 • Buy Now: $34,792 2017 Acura RDX Advance Pkg.
Only 6359 miles, 18” wheels, heated & ventilated front seats, remote engine start, parking sensors, leather seating & much more! Includes Certified warranty.
Original MSRP: $44,750 • Buy Now: $38,591 Acura Certified: Every vehicle undergoes a rigorous 182 point inspection. Each Certified Acura offers a 12 month, 12,000 mile Certified Limited Warranty, extensive roadside assistance, full vehicle report, owner’s manual & Certified Warranty booklet.
2016 INFINITI Q50 2.0T All Wheel Drive, Premium Pkg.
Only 7500 miles. Heated leather seats, heated steering wheel, voice recognition navigation system, Bose premium entertainment system, Bluetooth, Certified warranty.
Original MSRP: $39,780 • Buy Now: $33,220 2016 INFINITI Q50 3.0T Premium Pkg.
Only 10,472 miles. Turbocharged V6, heated leather seats, voice recognition navigation system, Bose premium entertainment system, Bluetooth, Certified warranty.
Original MSRP: $44,085 • Buy Now: $33,589
2016 INFINITI Q50 3.0T Premium Pkg.
Only 8985 miles. Turbocharged V6, heated leather seats, voice recognition navigation system, Bose premium entertainment system, Bluetooth, Certified warranty.
Original MSRP: $44,085 • Buy Now: $33,937 2016 INFINITI QX30 All Wheel Drive, Premium Pkg.
Only 6662 miles. Satellite radio, dual zone climate controls, panoramic moonroof, heated seats & mirrors, navigation Certified warranty.
Original MSRP: $46,510 • Buy Now: $33,947 INFINITI Certified: Up to 6 year unlimited mileage warranty, 167 point safety & reliability inspection, complimentary first year basic maintenance, 24/7 roadside assistance, one year complimentary service & service loaner vehicle.