JULY 21, 2017 | VOL. 6 ISSUE 29
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David and Kelly Schlitter of Maker Pipe Photo by Will Crooks
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TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK
| THE RUNDOWN
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 29 Featured this issue: Diner 24 channels old-school ’50s nostalgia.............................................................4 30 new aerospace jobs launching in Greer..............................................................10 How your brand can ace the visual credibility test..............................................16
Last week, Feed & Seed, a nonprofit that aims to create a self-sustaining revenue system for regional food producers, celebrated the groundbreaking of its market in The Commons with a dinner prepared by chef Anthony Gray and the Bacon Brothers Food Group team. Read more in this week’s Greenville Journal. Photo by Katie Fenske.
WORTH REPEATING “A lot of people are excited for a diner. It’s something different, and being that it’s open 24 hours, it’s more opportunity to make money.”
VERBATIM
On health care reform
Page 4
“People can build anything they want to with our connectors. I’ve seen everything from chicken coops to bike racks.” Page 12
“It’s so easy to be collaborative in a small space, or someone can pop in their headphones and work in silence.” Page 15
Courtesy of Gage Skidmore
“Instead of having a onesize-fits-all solution from Washington, we should return dollars back to the states to address each individual state’s health care needs.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in a July 13 press release announcing his proposed replacement of the Affordable Care Act
NEWS |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW Diner 24 has seating for 99 divided between two floors.
Order up! Diner 24 brings all-day and all-night dining to downtown Greenville WORDS BY ARIEL TURNER PHOTOS BY CAROLINE HERRING
The almost two-year-long wait for the opening of Diner 24 in the former Charlie’s Steakhouse location at 18 E. Coffee St. in Greenville is over. The 24-hour, seven-days-a-week diner quietly opened last week in preparation for the official grand opening July 17 at 6 a.m., when the first 30 customers received $10 gift cards. Morgan Conroy, marketing director for the diner’s ownership company, Bottle Cap Group, says the few days prior to the official opening were used to get the front of house staff and kitchen ready for the lunch and late-night rushes they anticipate. “A lot of people are excited for a diner,” Conroy says. “It’s something different, and being that it’s open 24 4
UBJ | 7.21.2017
hours, it’s more opportunity to make money.” The delay in opening was due to the Charlotte, N.C.-based group’s multiple projects in the Charlotte and Charleston areas. In Greenville, Bottle Cap Group also owns and operates Ink N Ivy, SIP, Brazwell’s, and Green Room, which is currently closed but will be reopened with a new concept. The proposed retro-styled sign Diner 24 planned to mount on the exterior became a hot topic in May after the city’s Design Review Board Urban Panel nixed the design. A new sign following the DRB recommendations is currently being fabricated, Conroy says.
Diner 24 and all Bottle Cap Group restaurants, like many restaurants in town, are actively hiring for all positions. Conroy says not serving alcohol at the diner has allowed them to fill positions with high school students. Manager Kim Underwood has already hired 50 employees, but the hours of operation will require more staff. Initially named Butch’s Diner when the project was first introduced, Diner 24 has seating for 99, which is a smaller capacity than Bottle Cap Group’s other restaurants. Seating is divided between the two floors, with room for 49 on the first floor, which
includes counter, booth, and four-top table seating, and for 50 upstairs with similar options, minus the bar counter. The decor is 1950s-themed with chrome and teal tables, walls, and vinyl seating; black-and-white checkered tile floors; and the building’s original wooden stairs and hammered tin ceiling on both levels. A jukebox sits next to the semi-open kitchen on the first floor. Non-gender-specific restrooms, featuring black-and-white bistro tile, three separate stalls, and a common sink area are upstairs. The menu, which includes break-
The menu, available 24 hours a day, includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner offerings.
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
| NEWS
Handspun milkshakes and floats round out the classic diner fare.
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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
MANUFACTURING
Jobs driving into Spartanburg Automotive market manufacturer announces new plant in Spartanburg TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF
tanderson@communityjournals.com Netherlands-based AWL-Techniek, a producer of high-tech welding machines primarily for the automotive market, said last week it will invest $2.53 million to establish its first plant in the U.S., bringing with it at least 71 new jobs in Spartanburg County. The company has leased a more than 33,000-squarefoot facility on almost 4 acres at 4231 Orchard Park Blvd., the site of the former Bico South building. “This is in line with AWL’s global strategy, whereby we offer our customers a worldwide standard with local service and construction,” said Brand van ‘t Hof, CEO of AWL-Techniek, in a statement. “We particularly see opportunities in the American automotive segment, both for our existing customers that manufacture worldwide and for new local players.” Per Blohm, business development manager for AWL-Techniek, said the company has already begun hiring for the new jobs ranging from office to mecha-
tronics positions. The company has temporarily set up shop in Spartanburg Community College’s Center for Business and Entrepreneurial Development at its Tyger River Campus off Highway 290 near Duncan, Blohm said. He said the company hopes to have its operation in the new space up and running within the next six to eight weeks. The company’s lease is for five years with a five-year renewal, but it has the option to buy the facility after two years and until its fourth year, said Adam Padgett with Lyons Industrial Properties, who represented the landlord in the transaction. AWL-Techniek represented itself in the deal, Padgett said. Blohm said the facility will produce state-of-the-art robotic lasers, MIG, and spot welding machines for customers in the U.S. and Mexico. It will also have office, laboratory, and engineering spaces. “We do like it here,” Blohm said. “We think it’s good for us and good for our clients. We’d like to thank Upstate Alliance SC. They are a valuable asset to this
AWL-TECHNIEK Who: Manufacturer of welding machines for automotive market CEO: Brand van ‘t Hof Investment in new plant: $2.53 million Number of jobs: 71 Size of facility: 33,404 square feet What: The facility will produce state-ofthe-art robotic lasers, MIG, and spot welding machines for customers in the U.S. and Mexico
state and country. They helped us tremendously. … Spartanburg Community College and Spartanburg County have been great to work with.” Sources familiar with the matter said AWL-Techniek’s facility is the economic development project in Spartanburg County codenamed “Project Tulip.” County Council was scheduled to vote on the first reading of the company’s incentives during its monthly meeting on Monday, July 17. Blohm said jobseekers interested in working for AWL-Techniek should visit the company’s website or the state’s readySC website.
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The Upstate of South Carolina is a beautiful area home to many businesses. It is also home to severe thunderstorms in the summer and ice storms in the winter. As the Summer Sunshine heats up, as memories of recent winter storms melt away, it’s tempting to forget the cold, hard dread that the lights might go out. Most of the Upstate felt the effects Scott Kelly of no power due President Carolina to ice and wind. Heating Service But the potential for storm related Serving Greenville power outages since 1981 is a year-round sleeping trigger. While you cannot prevent power outages, you can prepare for them. As a business owner I know just how important having power is to stay profitable and keep that competitive edge, so do the folks at Golden Harvest Food Bank here in the Upstate. Golden Harvest distributes food to over 60 partners in a five county area out of our Anderson SC location. Ensuring the food they distribute is kept at proper temperature is imperative to providing safe meals to the clients they serve. Their facility in the upstate has gone from a cross dock facility to a full service operation in a very short time. Installing the generator was a no brainer as they look forward to increasing distribution by moving even more product. Virtually every function of their business is dependent in some way on a power source. The worst case scenario for power loss would be the potential loss of literally tons of food. While they have contingency plans in place, the addition of the generator literally removes risk and keeps their operation running through any electrical and/or weather catastrophe. As peace of mind Carolina Generators installed an 80KW Generac Generator on location. “The staff at Carolina Generators has been amazing to work with. We are thrilled to have a new local partner in our mission of Feeding Lives Together!” – Golden Harvest Food Bank “I knew instantly that your company was the one for us. Karen Gallman’s assessment of our facility was thorough and the initial quote was presented quickly and professionally. We had an aggressive timeline and the installation crew made sure that they completed the job ahead of schedule. We are thrilled with our new generator and the peace of mind it brings.” – Golden Harvest Food Bank
The Upstate Team at Golden Harvest Food Bank
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www.CarolinaCommercialGenerators.com 7.21.2017
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NEWS |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
MANUFACTURING
Saddle Up Spartanburg company bringing ‘living wage’ to Dominican Republic inks deal with Dallas Cowboys TREVOR ANDERSON | STAFF
tanderson@communityjournals.com On
Monday,
Alta
Gracia
announced it has partnered with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys to develop a new line of garment-dyed T-shirts. The Spartanburg-based company said the shirts will be available this fall. Alta Gracia said the partnership, which was with Dallas Cowboys Merchandising Ltd. and 289c Apparel Ltd., will be part of officially licensed apparel lines for the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Southern California. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Headquartered at the GreenHouse incubator at the University of South
Carolina Upstate’s George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics in downtown Spartanburg, Alta Gracia is looking to expand its manufacturing product line and broaden its customer base by launching a new blank division to augment its direct licensed collegiate business. “The Cowboys reached out to us and indicated they wanted to support Alta Gracia in a significant way and worked with us to help us launch this new initiative,” said Donnie Hodge, CEO and co-founder of Alta Gracia. “They are a great organization. We’re very excited about this partnership.” Alta Gracia was founded in 2010 by Hodge and Joe Bozich as part of Knights Apparel. The company employs 140 people at
Welcome to our newest Doctor of Audiology, Dr. Maggie Robertson Dr. Robertson looks forward to serving patients in both the Greenville & Travelers Rest offices
Alta Gracia employs 140 workers at its production facility in the Villa Altagracia in the Dominican Republic and pays 300 percent higher than the nation’s legal minimum wage. Photo provided
its production facility in the Villa Altagracia in the Dominican Republic. Alta Gracia said it utilizes raw materials from the U.S. and U.S.-based post-garment processing. The company said it was the first employer in the “developing” world independently certified to pay a living wage. The wage is audited by the Worker Rights Consortium, a nonprofit independent labor rights monitoring organization, and negotiated with a local union. It is more than 300 percent higher than the legal minimum wage in the Dominican Republic and almost three times higher than the industry average. “In addition to this salary, we respect our employees’ rights as workers and as human beings, including the right to a safe and healthy workplace, the right to be treated with dignity and
respect on the job, and the right to form a union,” the company said in a statement on its website. Alta Gracia products are sold in college bookstores and campus retailers across the country, with products in more than 600 stores and rights to more than 1,000 schools. The company said its major customers include Barnes & Noble, Follett, Fanatics, and several independent schools, including Duke University, the University of California Berkeley, New York University, the University of California Los Angeles, and others. “On behalf of the Jones family and entire Dallas Cowboys organization, we are pleased to be able to support Alta Gracia,” said Jerry Jones Jr., chief sales and marketing officer for the Dallas Cowboys, in a statement.
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UBJ | 7.21.2017
Major customers: Barnes & Noble, Follett, Fanatics, Duke University, the University of California Berkeley, the University of California Los Angeles, and the Dallas Cowboys Pays Dominican Republic workers 300 percent higher than legal minimum wage
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The Rise And Potential Fall Of Solar In South Carolina By Ryan Davis
When it comes to solar energy in South Carolina there’s good news and bad news. The good news is the incentives are better than ever for homeowners to put solar on their roof. The bad news is the incentives are going away and residential solar may not make financial sense in the not too distant future. Over the last two years you have probably seen solar systems popping up on homes all over the Upstate. This is the result of a combination of federal tax incentives, South Carolina state tax incentives, utility rebates, and solar equipment costs at an all time low. The combination of these incentives has created the perfect storm for homeowners to take advantage of getting solar put on their homes without paying a dime upfront and enjoying less expensive, clean power for years to come. In the past, solar was considered a product for environmentalists or the rich. The incentives have paved the way for everyone, regardless of political
beliefs, environmental views or income level, to get a solar system for less of a monthly payment than their current monthly electric company bill. There has never been a better time to go solar! This storm is passing and the solar incentives are likely to fade quickly. The first metric that is talked about the most is the falling cost of materials. While it’s true the price of solar products have fallen rapidly during recent years, prices have now leveled off; however with new tariff increases possibly going into effect, it is likely that materials will be harder to obtain and costs will have a floor much higher than what we are currently seeing. The next major change in store is the 30% federal tax credit, which is set to decrease to 26% in 2020, 22% in 2021, and be gone altogether by 2022. No end date has been announced by South Carolina for their 25% state solar tax credit.
The third issue the solar industry faces in South Carolina is the 2% net metering cap is approximately half full. A net metering agreement was passed in 2014 that allows homeowners to earn full retail value bill credit for each kilowatthour produced from their solar system that goes back onto the grid. Once the 2% cap is met, customers will no longer receive net metering credits on their bill, making the return time on their investment much longer than before. Once all of the incentives are gone, going solar in South Carolina will only make financial sense if equipment costs somehow fall lower than where they currently are and utility rates rise faster than what they are today. What does this mean for us today? Solar has never been easier or cheaper to attain than it is today. Local programs offer solar ownership to homeowners for no money out of pocket and a bill that is less than what they pay today. Homeowners in South Carolina can currently take advantage of a 30% federal tax credit, 25% state tax credit, and local programs
that allow the homeowner to pay no money out of pocket for the system and simply pay the balance over 10,15, or 20 years. The average solar system in South Carolina would typically cost around $30,000. A homeowner would get back $9,000 (30%) on their federal taxes and $7,500 (25%) on their state taxes. That means the homeowners net cost of the solar system would only be $13,500! Instead of writing a check, the program allows you to pay the system off over the next 10,15, or 20 years with no money out of pocket and a payment much cheaper than what it currently is. Keep in mind; these tax incentives are credits, and not deductions. Therefore, you would get back the 30% and 25% on your tax bill. As the program incentives come to an end over these next few years, the backlog of customers is going to grow quickly. The best thing for you to do is take the first step and schedule a free energy assessment to determine if your house is a good fit for solar and what your financial benefits will be.
NEWS IN BRIEF |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
AEROSPACE
Honeywell to invest $10M in Greer facility
Donnell Drummond, CRA mortgage loan originator, United Community Bank; Jeanne Vernon, director of housing programs, Urban League of the Upstate; and Michael Davies, president, United Community Mortgage Services. Photo provided
HOUSING
Urban League, UCB partner for affordable housing Urban League of the Upstate and United Community Bank last week announced a $20,000 contribution to fund affordable housing initiatives. The gift will be used “to create free home-buying seminars, provide financial and home-buying counseling, and provide foreclosure prevention counseling,” according to a news release. “When a family has access to safe, affordable housing, especially as homeowners, the family benefits,” said Jil Littlejohn, president and CEO of the Urban League of the Upstate. “Children can focus on their education, economic stability is created, and the health of the family as a whole increases. We are honored to have United Community Bank see the value of having housing programs and counselors available.” Established in 1972, the Urban League of the Upstate seeks to address inequalities in education, housing, and employment within the community. “We are grateful to the Urban League of the Upstate for their tireless work to help citizens in the Upstate build wealth through home ownership,” said Michael Davies, president of United Community Mortgage Services, which is the mortgage division of United Community Bank. “We at United Community Bank also believe strongly in the benefits of home ownership and are proud to support the work of such a dynamic and valuable organization,” Davies added. —Emily Pietras
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UBJ | 7.21.2017
Honeywell plans to invest more than $10 million and create at least 30 jobs at its aerospace facility in Greer over the next five years. Last week, the company announced its plans to add up to 5,000 square feet of manufacturing space to the facility, which is located on South Buncombe Road. The newly announced expansion, which begins later this year, has an estimated completion date of 2019. It will create about 30 skilled high-tech jobs. The South Carolina Department of Commerce has also committed additional tax incentives over the next 20 years to help the company develop, maintain, and expand the facility. “The aerospace industry is one of the most competitive industries in the world, and South Carolina in particular hosts nearly 200 aerospace-related companies. Our facility expansion means that we not only increase our capabilities but Honeywell continues to contribute to South Carolina’s burgeoning aerospace economy,” said Jason Lewandowski, senior director for the Honeywell Aerospace Greer site. “This investment positions our manufacturing network for future growth to help us maintain leadership and drive innovation. We will benefit greatly from South Carolina’s wealth of engineering and manufacturing talent to strengthen our technical capabilities and provide production support from Greer,” Lewandowski added. Honeywell first established manufacturing operations in Greer in 1982. The facility is a major center for the company’s machining, special processes, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for both commercial and military aircraft. The company employs more than 1,000 people in South Carolina. —Andrew Moore
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Ports Authority sets all-time high record Last week, the state Ports Authority (SCPA) reported it moved a record 2.14 million 20-foot equivalent units between July 2016 and June 2017, a 10 percent increase compared with the previous year — and an all-time high for the agency. SCPA said the volume at its Inland Port in Spartanburg County near Greer finished the year having completed a record 121,761 rail moves, a 33 percent increase compared with fiscal year 2016. “We had a strong fiscal year, reflective of a capable and hardworking SCPA team and entire maritime community,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of SCPA, in a statement. “Such growth enables the port to continue to make the necessary investments in equipment and infrastructure to support the big ships being deployed to the East Coast today.” According to a study by the American Association of Port Authorities, the Port of Charleston ranked first among the country’s top 10 ports in terms of the percentage of volume growth between 2011 and 2016. In June, the authority’s board adopted a financial plan for the coming year that projects 6 percent pier container growth, $251.1 million in operating revenues, $44.1 million in operating earnings, and $263 million in capital expenditures. Those expenditures include $54 million for construction of the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston, $86.3 million in upgrades to the Wando Welch Terminal, $32.2 million for the construction of the state’s second inland port in Dillon
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
County, $23.3 million for the construction of SCPA’s new corporate office, and other projects. The Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal will be completed in 2020. Inland Port Dillon will open in the spring of 2018, the authority said. A 2015 study by the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business said port operations generate $53 billion in annual economic activity and support 187,600 jobs statewide. In the Upstate, port operations have a $26.8 billion economic impact and support 94,500 jobs, the study said. —Trevor Anderson
| NEWS IN BRIEF
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FINANCE
Southern First Bank opens first branch in Atlanta Greenville-based Southern First Bank has expanded into a third state by launching a branch in Atlanta. The bank, which has about 200 employees, began doing business outside of South Carolina for the first time last year by opening a branch in Raleigh, N.C. Art Seaver, chief executive officer, said the new Atlanta branch is currently operating in a temporary space while preparing a permanent location in a renovated building in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. Seaver said Southern First’s latest expansion is occurring the same way as past expansions: through the recruitment of veteran bankers who know their markets well and can bring longtime clients with them. “We’re not going for the whole market, right?” Seaver said. “We’re going for the clientele that our bank team has always known, generally, in Buckhead.” Leading Southern First’s four-banker team in Atlanta is Sandy Bowen, a Buckhead native who formerly worked for Atlanta-based Atlantic Capital Bank, Seaver said. In South Carolina, Southern First operates branches in Greenville, Greer, Columbia, Lexington, Cayce, Charleston, and Mount Pleasant. Seaver and investors founded the bank in 2000 with $11.5 million. He said the shareholders’ original cost basis was $4.50 a share. On Monday, Southern First shares were priced on the Nasdaq exchange at $36.85 apiece. —Rudolph Bell
AWARD
Greenville Drive honor developer Bob Hughes on Green Day Bob Hughes, a key player in downtown Greenville’s renaissance, has been selected as the honoree for the Greenville Drive’s 12th annual Green Day event. Hughes launched Hughes Development in 1991 and has been a part of several transformative projects, such as the RiverPlace development in the West End; ONE, the $100 million development at Main and Washington streets; and the NEXT Innovation Center. Hughes was also one of the three principals of Institutional Resources, the company that came up with an alternative financing plan that allowed the Greenville County School District to complete a $1.06 billion capital improvement plan that renovated, built, or added to 70 schools. The announcement was made Tuesday at a luncheon at the Champions Club at Fluor Field presented by Hubbell Lighting. This is the 12th year the Greenville Drive has saluted someone who has been instrumental in positively transforming Greenville at the team’s Green Day event. The Green Day celebration to mark the city’s 186th birthday is set for Aug. 1 when the Drive plays the Asheville Tourists at Fluor Field. The Greenville Drive began the Green Day celebration in 2006 when it first moved into its downtown home at Fluor Field at the West End. Hughes joins previous Green Day honorees, including former Greenville Mayor Max Heller and his wife, Trudy (2006); Greenville City Councilwoman Lillian Brock Flemming and Greenville County Councilwoman Xanthene Norris (2007); former Greenville Technical College President Dr. Tom Barton (2008); businessman and philanthropist C. Dan Joyner (2009); civic leader, judge, and attorney Merl Code (2010); former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Secretary of Education Dick Riley (2011); South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Founder Dr. Virginia Uldrick (2012); environmentalist and attorney Tommy Wyche (2013); philanthropists Hayne and Anna Kate Hipp (2014); David Glenn, CEO and founder of Centennial American Properties (2015); and Joe Erwin, co-founder and former president of national advertising agency Erwin Penland and founder of Endeavor, a co-working space for the creative. —Cindy Landrum
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COVER |
MAKER PIPE
MAKING CONNECTIONS IF
you ask David and Kelly Schlitter, the world needs more makers. “There are a lot of people who don’t build things anymore, because they think it’s difficult. It really only takes some connectors and pipes,” David Schlitter said. The husband-and-wife duo from Clemson is the founder of Maker Pipe. The concept is simple: Schlitter designs custom connectors that users then attach to pipes to “create things that meet their daily needs.” “People can build anything they want to with our connectors,” Schlitter said. “I’ve seen everything from chicken coops to bike racks. The possibilities really are endless.” Since its launch last year, Maker Pipe has raised more than $80,000 in funding and garnered a customer base that spans the globe. For David Schlitter, building things has been a lifelong pursuit. As a child, he would sit for hours and play with Legos. While pursuing a degree in business and economics at the University of Connecticut, he was creating surfboards and skateboards out of his dorm room. “I get a lot of satisfaction out of building stuff from scratch,” Schlitter said. In 2001, Schlitter launched an online store for his creations called Skim Shop. He and several friends 12
UBJ | 7.21.2017
operated the shop as a full-time business for more than a decade before shutting it down in 2011 to pursue different interests. Afterward, Schlitter decided to go back to school for a degree in engineering technology. Now he’s a supply chain manager for a Greenville-based manufacturer. “I did some research into manufacturing and found out it’s the mecca for making things,” Schlitter said. “It’s a great job that allows you to create stuff almost daily.” Despite his career change, Schlitter continued to build things in his garage. In 2013, he started searching for strong, convenient, and affordable ways to build furniture and other things during his personal time. “We actually use a lot of materials on the production lines at work, but I couldn’t bring them home. They were just too big,” Schlitter said. “I decided to make my own.” Schlitter eventually created the Standard T Connecter out of steel and paired it with galvanized electrical conduit. “Electrical conduit is typically used to run wires in buildings. But it’s a good base material, because it’s dirt cheap, accessible, and easy to use,” Schlitter said. “Many people actually use PVC pipe, but it’s weak and flimsy.” According to Schlitter, Maker Pipe connectors are designed to work with ¾-inch electrical conduit, which offers
Husband-and-wife duo aims to kickstart DIY creativity with Maker Pipe WORDS BY ANDREW MOORE H PHOTOS BY WILL CROOKS
a “good balance between strength and cost.” The connecter, which has a nut and bolt, is essentially interlocked around the pipe, creating a strong steel connection. The design and production process took years to perfect. In 2015, Schlitter used a 3-D printer to create some prototypes of his connectors, but the plastic wasn’t strong enough for testing. That’s when he decided to pay a company to 3-D print them from sheet metal. “It cost hundreds of dollars to print the 3-D connectors through a company, so the best way to make them was by stamping them out of sheet metal myself,” Schlitter said. “You need sheet metal stamping dies to form the parts.” The husband-and-wife duo launched a Kickstarter campaign in September 2015 to raise $100,000 to purchase the machinery needed to create stamping dies. Unfortunately, they only raised $15,000 through friends and family. “We spent about two months with our heads down, contemplating whether or not we should call it quits,” Schlitter said. “But we knew had to keep trying.” The duo spent much of 2016 traveling the country to attend numerous Maker Faires, which are events created by Make magazine to “celebrate arts, crafts, engineering, science projects, and the do-it-yourself mindset.”
They traveled to Washington, D.C.; New York City; Charlotte, N.C.; Columbia; Orlando, Fla.; and Nashville, Tenn., to showcase their product and hopefully garner a customer base. “It was a great opportunity for us to introduce people to Maker Pipe,” said Kelly Schlitter, who oversees marketing and communications. “Many people don’t really know much about building with conduit, so we had to educate them a bit.” In October 2016, the husband-andwife duo launched a second Kickstarter campaign for Maker Pipe to raise at least $10,000 for production costs. They met their goal in just six hours, according to David Schlitter. “It was great to see our efforts pay off,” he said. “There was a lot of pizza and high-fives happening.” The duo raised $87,717 from 529 backers after a month, allowing them to begin production of the Standard T Connector and create three additional connector styles. The collection now also includes a 180 Degree Connector, 90 Degree Connector for corners, and 45 Degree Connector for bracing and reinforcement. Maker Pipe has since sold about 40,000 connectors, which cost about $2.75 each, and partnered with several manufacturers to mass-produce them, David Schlitter said. “We set out to target homeowners and people who were going to use our
MAKER PIPE
| COVER
Maker Pipe’s custom connectors have been used to construct everything from a bike rack (left) to a home-brew station (right). Photos provided.
Maker Pipe has since sold about 40,000 connectors, which cost about $2.75 each, and partnered with several manufacturers to mass-produce them. 7.21.2017
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COVER |
MAKER PIPE
connectors for DIY projects,” Schlitter said. “It’s become much more than that.” According to Schlitter, Maker Pipe has garnered a surprising amount of interest from middle and high school educators, especially those using Makerspaces. Makerspaces are classrooms designed to provide hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design, experiment, build, and invent as they engage in science, engineering, and tinkering. They can include activities ranging from cardboard construction to robotics to electronics to prototyping. Robert Garguilo, superintendent of Estelle Manor School District in New Jersey, purchased several hundred Maker Pipe connectors for his schools earlier this year. “Maker Pipe is great for teaching design processes,” Garguilo said. “Our students are using power tools and pipe cutters to create their own workstations. It’s great.” David Schlitter has also seen how Maker Pipe has taken hold among Garguilo’s female students. “We actually packed our bags and visited one of Robert’s schools earlier this year and brought our connectors,” Schlitter said. “I remember four girls, not boys, being extremely excited to make things, which was great to see.” Fewer female students are receiving bachelor’s degrees in STEM subjects than males, according to a report from National Student Clearinghouse. Maker Pipe has
In October 2016, the husband-and-wife duo launched a second Kickstarter campaign for Maker Pipe to raise at least $10,000 for production costs. They met their goal in just six hours. also found other purposes across the country and globe. According to Schlitter, a California-based technology startup purchased several hundred connectors last month to create their workstations out of Maker Pipe. It’s also being heavily used in drone racing. MultiGP Drone Racing League, for instance, purchased several hundred Maker Pipe connectors for their drone racing clubs across the U.S. earlier this year. “They’re actually using our connectors to build courses,” Schlitter said. “I think it could offer us a great avenue for us in the future.” Drone racing is a sport where pilots strive to build extremely fast and agile drones to fly around a set course as fast as possible. Leagues are popping up around the world, attracting sponsors and networks like ESPN, Bud Light, Mountain Dew, AIG, GoPro, and more. For instance, the Drone Racing
Maker Pipe’s Standard T Connector, which has a nut and bolt, is interlocked around the pipe, creating a strong steel connection.
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League has secured a score of sponsorship, investment, and partnership deals since it launched in 2015. It recently announced the closing of a $20 million Series B round of financing. Drone leagues are also starting to recruit official suppliers. In June, drone racing manufacturer Lumnier became the DRL’s official supplier of drone antennas. “Drone racing is still young, but it has a lot of possibilities,” David Schlitter said. “We’re definitely open to supplying more leagues.” But for now, the duo plans to focus on the launch of their education initiatives. “Many people don’t really know how to build with conduit. It’s not really a thing,” David Schlitter said. “Part of our job is to educate others about the design and build process, so we’re basically planting a seed for creativity.” Maker Pipe currently sells starter kits with “build ideas.” The Schlitters also recently launched a website that includes a list of parts and step-by-step instructions. And they’ve created a YouTube channel for instructional videos. Kelly Schlitter said they also plan to introduce “additional goodies to help people be more creative with their conduit.” In addition to connectors, Maker Pipe currently offers shrink wrap, motion casters, heat guns, Allen wrenches, pipe cutters, and more. “We see the need for many different connectors and accessories to really unleash the power of Maker Pipe,” David Schlitter said. “We can also see a day where we create connectors for different size conduit and pipe.”
Greenville’s Most Successful Kickstarter Campaigns Pinstripe: An Adventure Through Hell Type: 2-D adventure video game Goal: $28,000 Pledged: $160,729 Backers: 3,780 Where are they now? Thomas Brush, a Greenville-based developer, was able to complete the production process last year. The game can be purchased at bit.ly/2tUtqnS.
“Tinker” Type: Feature film Goal: $100,000 Pledged: $101,860 Backers: 267 Where are they now? Greenville director Sonny Marler and his crew recently completed the film, which is set for a 2017 release.
Tides of Infamy Type: Board game Goal: $7,500 Pledged: $36,541 Backers: 585 Where are they now? Gamewalker partnered with Panda GM to manufacture the game in 2015. It can be purchased at bit.ly/2tULpu8.
VRGE Type: Charging dock for virtual reality hardware Goal: $30,000 Pledged: $36,541 Backers: 303 Where are they now? The system, completed last year, is available at bit.ly/2v0MrFd.
CarryOn Jib Type: Camera crane Goal: $25,000 Pledged: $43,210 Backers: 119 Where are they now? The camera crane was completed in 2014. It’s currently available for purchase at proamusa.com.
REAL ESTATE DEALS AND DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
ARIEL TURNER | STAFF
aturner@communityjournals.com |
| SQUARE FEET @arielhturner
Workspace for creatives opens in Hampton Station Greenville photographer Hannah McKeel of McKeely Creative loved the idea of a collaborative work environment but discovered the majority of co-work spaces were male- and technology-driven. So she created her own solution for that. On July 21, McKeel officially launches MEANT, a small-scale, curated, female-friendly co-working space and photography studio designed with creatives in mind. The site is welcoming to both men and women. Applications will be accepted at that time, while MEANT plans to open Aug. 1. Located in Hampton Station’s ARTUP studios at 1320 Hampton Ave., Bay 2, MEANT is a 400-squarefoot space designed specifically to accommodate the needs of photographers, graphic designers, and anyone looking to work in an inspiring collaborative environment, McKeel says. ARTUP studios also houses Tanya Stiegler Designs, Gerry Wubben, The Flow Depot, and Company Interior Designs. No more than five people will be allowed to use the MEANT space at once to allow for more organic networking, McKeel says. “It’s so easy to be collaborative in a small space, or someone can pop in their headphones and work in silence,” McKeel says.
MEANT studio and co-work space is geared toward creatives in decor and function, but owner Hannah McKeel says anyone will be welcome at the table. Photo by Caroline Herring.
In addition to being available to rent for meetings and small events, the space features professional retractable photo studio backdrops; umbrella and soft box lighting, a flat-lay station with different backgrounds, and a prop box filled with various items for use in product shoots; white walls and a red brick statement wall; a communal table and workspace; free Wi-Fi; and a mobile pour-over coffee cart. Usage fees will begin at $75 per month, McKeel says. The space is decorated in neutral earth tones and metal finishes, with rose gold and glass coffee canis-
ters on the brushed gold coffee cart, a large hammered nickel “M” resting on the concrete floor, a full-length silver-framed mirror, a gold wire cactus sculpture, and various succulents on a small marble-topped conversation table between two dark chestnut-colored chairs. The Oriental rug under the wooden worktable provides a pop of red. “Every inch is meant to be photographed,” McKeel says.
Healthy eating franchise Clean Eatz comes to Greenville’s eastside The former Local Taco space at 3608-C Pelham Road in the Pelham 85 shopping center has a new occupant. Clean Eatz, a Wilmington, N.C.based healthy food franchise, plans to open by the second week of August in the 2,450-square-foot space, according to Eric Dunn, Clean Eatz marketing director.
The owner and general manager of the Greenville location is Matt Tanner. He previously opened his first Clean Eatz in Murrells Inlet in 2016. The franchise has branched out to more than 25 cities across the East Coast since the first restaurant opened in 2011. “We are excited to join the
Greenville community and offer a fast-casual option that helps you eat better and reach your goals,” Dunn said. The restaurant offers a variety of health-conscious options, including buffalo cauliflower (cauliflower florets tossed in buffalo sauce served with fat-free ranch dressing); build-your-own bowls with a
choice of base, vegetables, protein, and sauce; build-your-own burgers with turkey, black bean, or bison; and a grilled goat cheese sandwich with squash, tomato, and homemade spinach remoulade sauce on oat bread. Clean Eatz will also offer flatbreads, salads, smoothies, and grab-and-go meals. —Ariel Turner
7.21.2017
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INNOVATE |
MOVERS, SHAKERS, AND DISRUP TORS SHAPING OUR FUTURE
First Impressions Three vital considerations for your web presence (Part 1)
By BRENT WARWICK Partner, ipsoCreative
For many businesses, particularly small to medium ones, your web presence is still confusing. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the contradictory perspectives of agencies and digital marketing experts. It’s easy to become disillusioned by previous initiatives that failed to meet your expectations. And it’s easy to become paralyzed by what to do this time around. First of all, cut yourself some slack. The ever-changing digital landscape is difficult for everyone, even those in it day in and day out. Devices are constantly evolving. Platforms then adapt and evolve as well. All the while, various economic forces are at play.
The result: On any given day, we are all looking out on a horizon that looks like the digital equivalent of multiple bodies of water meeting up and producing tempest-driven crosscurrents and mountain-sized swells. Most will view such a foreboding horizon as a curse that must be survived rather than what could be a blessing. But if you keep your wits about you and remember a few simple things, you and your organization will not just survive, but thrive. To evaluate your brand’s presence on the web, keep these three key questions in mind: Does my web presence pass the visual credibility test? Does my web presence pass the relevance test? And does my web presence pass the differentiation test? In this article, I’m just going to focus on the first question and will then
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The most obvious first filter is whether what they are viewing passes the visual credibility test.
Does what I am viewing look outdated? Does it look cheap? focus on the other two questions in subsequent articles.
QUESTION NO. 1:
Does my web presence pass the visual credibility test? Viewers have more choices than ever, and that is largely paralyzing. With so much white noise and content clutter, it’s no wonder that web users make quick decisions about what’s worthy of their time. And the most obvious first filter is whether what they are viewing passes the visual credibility test. Does what I am viewing look outdated? Does it look cheap? Does it look like someone has spent time and energy on maintaining its appearance? You and your brand can get away with a visually deficient web presence so long as you have a captive target audience who doesn’t have anywhere else to go for what they are looking for. This is often the case in a business-to-business setting where a manufacturer, for instance, is the only maker of a certain product. If there’s no one else in that space, then it’s entirely possible to have a lackluster web presence and not suffer from a potential loss of business as a result. However, if even a small amount of competition exists in your particular industry, one of the first filters that web viewers use in their decision making process is the appearance of a brand’s digital presence. Like many other areas of life, where a first impression causes someone to be interested in learning more or not,
online viewers quickly assess a homepage, social media company page, or digital advertisement to determine whether they will click through to the next step. Homepage and advertisement bounce rates prove this to be true. Be careful not to underestimate the possibility of your website, in particular, causing you to potentially lose business. Your website needs to be at least as visually appealing as others in your industry. However, there is one important caveat to this idea. The web has, in some ways, blurred the lines between once clearly delineated industries. It’s not just direct competitors in your industry that you are competing against on the web or in digital advertising. It can also be other brands and companies that are upstream or downstream in your industry, or perhaps only tangentially related to your industry. When folks are searching for something online, those industry distinctions aren’t so clear. So, you are not only competing against your known competitors. You are also competing against the web presence of many others. That’s often a nuance that is lost as folks consider their web presence. If what you are offering is truly credible and worth others’ time in considering it, then give careful consideration to the first impression you are presenting to the world, because you never know who among your target audience may be in that viewing world.
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS
ELECTED
HIRED
HIRED
HIRED
| ON THE MOVE
HONORED
SCOTT STEPHENS
NORA LAMENDOLA
SARAH LUSK
CARA ANN HENDSBEE
JENNIFER OSGOOD
Elected to be the president of the Rotary Club of Greenville. Stephens, a Greenville native, is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Upstate and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the director of development for Generations Group. Stephens has an extensive background in sales, manufacturing, and nonprofit leadership. In addition, Stephens and his wife owned a restaurant in Asheville, N.C., and downtown Greenville called Camille’s Sidewalk Café.
Joined Godshall Professional Recruiting and Staffing as a recruiter for the health care team. Lamendola has extensive experience in account management and marketing, including a variety of marketing mediums such as retail activation, website, print, and point of sale. Most recently, she was the director of marketing for the largest independent orthopedic group in southern Colorado, where she managed all provider relations, reputation management, and marketing initiatives.
Joined High Spirits Hospitality as director of human resources. A graduate of Furman University, Lusk’s primary responsibilities will be in the hiring process, employee relations, compliance, and the training of the High Spirits Hospitality staff. Lusk previously worked in a similar position with Human Technologies (HTI) in the Upstate.
Joined Jackson Marketing, Motorsports & Events as office coordinator. Hendsbee served as assistant to Anderson University’s associate professor of theater and as an education intern and teaching assistant, leading weeklong summer camps, theater-forthe-very-young shows, and workshops. In her role as office coordinator, Hendsbee will be responsible for day-to-day coordination of agency activities and will serve as front desk receptionist.
Received the 2017 Athena Young Professional Award from the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce. Osgood is a financial advisor with Wagner Wealth Management and is an Anderson Chamber of Commerce ambassador and business advancement committee member. She is a graduate of Leadership Anderson Class 31 and serves on the Leadership Anderson board of regents, Foothills Alliance board of directors, and A Child’s Haven board of directors.
Marketing FUEL Digital Marketing and Branding recently brought on Spencer Patrick as intern and Georgia Skerman as executive assistant. Patrick, a rising junior marketing major at Clemson University, will help the account service and traffic teams in a support position, learning processes and procedures. She will also assist in internal meetings and events, and have the opportunity to sit in and observe client meetings. Skerman is a graduate of Sewanee (The University of the South), where she majored in international and global studies, as well as French literature. She will work closely with the senior management team to assist with scheduling, planning FUEL events, organizing client meetings, and new business development. Infinity Marketing recently brought aboard Katie Lasitter as graphic designer, Anna Meadows as office coordinator, and Landon Senn as digital creative designer. Lasitter, a recent graphic design graduate from Anderson University, previously interned with Infinity. She has experience in branding and in designing websites and newspaper ads. Meadows is a graduate of Bob Jones University with a degree in applied science in business. She will be responsible for organizing and maintaining Infinity’s office. Senn has a Masters in Arts in motion media design from Savannah College of Art and Design and a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication from North Greenville University. Senn brings with him an extensive background in media.
Transportation Jim Wall has been re-elected chairman of the Greenville Airport Commission, and R. Kinard Johnson Jr. has been re-elected vice chairman.
Automotive Douglas G. McElveen of McElveen Buick GMC in Summerville has been elected president of the South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association (SCADA) for 2017-2018. McElveen has served on the SCADA board of directors since 1990, when he was first elected as director of the coastal district. In that time, he has chaired the legislative committee, budget and finance committee, convention committee, membership and dealer services committee, and safety and public relations committee. He has also served as the director of the coastal district, regional vice pres-
ident, treasurer, and first vice president. He is the owner of McElveen Buick GMC and is a third-generation automobile dealer, continuing the legacy begun by his grandfather in the late 1940s at Winslow Chevrolet Cadillac.
Human Resources Human Technologies Inc. is pleased to announce the promotion of three directors – Nat Banks, Brian Buchanan, and Leisa Hulme – to the position of vice president and shareholder. Banks, previously director of sales and marketing, has been instrumental in leading the growth of the organization through business development, branding, and strategic client engagement. Banks will now serve as the vice president of sales and marketing. Buchanan originally joined HTI as an account manager during a plant startup and then founded the industrial services division, where he served as the director of branch operations. Buchanan will now serve as the vice president of staffing operations. Hulme has served in various roles throughout her 17-year tenure, including account manager, branch manager, customer quality manager, and most recently, the director of quality. She now serves as the vice president of quality.
Finance Sandlapper Securities LLC, an independent securities brokerage firm based in Greenville, has added Paul S. Martin and Ilya Falkovich to their Charleston team as head of sales and head trader for the Fixed Income Credit Desk branch, respectively. Martin’s years of experience in the financial industry include positions at Morgan Stanley Global Wealth Management and Bank of America, mainly focusing on stock options and restricted stock with reinvestment into fixed income. In 2011, he founded Martin Capital LLC, and he’s also the co-founder of Dominion Capital Hedge Fund. Falkovich has a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and economics from Columbia University and previously worked at Alliance Bernstein, Bear Sterns, and RBS, specializing in credit training and fixed income. CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions, & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com. 7.21.2017
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#TRENDING |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
THE WATERCOOLER Social Chatter RE: CLEAN EATZ FRANCHISE TO OPEN IN FORMER LOCAL TACO LOCATION AT PELHAM 85
RE: HONEYWELL TO INVEST $10M IN GREER’S AEROSPACE FACILITY
“Yay for someplace like this that isn’t downtown! I love downtown but can’t easily go there on a weeknight.”
Jim Cronin
Trishka Parker Hornbeck “I have been waiting forever for this! Now I don’t have to drive to Charlotte to get my meals! Woohoo!”
Larkin Bello “Please! No more restaurants or breweries!”
Susan Nigh
“Another EBPVD coater?”
RE: OPENING OF DINER 24 “Grabbed breakfast last night at the diner... very friendly service and delicious food! Definitely will go back!”
@blingbren
RE: FROM BOILING SPRINGS TO HOLLYWOOD, LAUREN ASHTYN COLLECTION’S SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR IN THE BEAUTY BIZ
RE: COUNCIL GIVES INITIAL APPROVAL TO BUY REEDY RIVER SITE
“There is much missing from this article. It states it takes 45 days for one person to make this product. It is made “overseas” then sold for as little as $450. Where is this made and who is getting paid probably $2 or $3 a day? Sounds like people are being taken advantage of ‘overseas.’”
Douglass Djfresh Gamble
Jackie Ziel Tatum
“We have been able to maintain our Southern comfort of a bustling downtown scene with a delicate balance that has proven itself to stand the test of time!”
“Why do you keep building in downtown? Soon there will be no views left.”
Patti Cogan Enter
CONNECT We’re great at networking. LINKEDIN.COM/COMPANY/UPSTATEBUSINESS-JOURNAL
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TOP 5:
*The top 5 stories from the past week ranked by shareability score
1. Spartanburg couple opens new eatery near Duncan 2. Clean Eatz franchise to open in former Local Taco location at Pelham 85 3. Fluor secures $48M contract for naval facility 4. New Groove Artisan Brewery opening Saturday in Spartanburg County 5. Honeywell to invest $10M in Greer’s aerospace facility For over 15 years, Kearns Brinen & Monaghan has set a high standard in the commercial debt recovery industry. Our story has been an exciting one. From starting in the basement of a home, Kearns Brinen & Monaghan has offices throughout the Southeast serving clients nationwide. Through rigorous interview processes, our company has emerged with multiple accreditations and certifications assuring you that you are getting the best possible value. Our staff ’s expertise and experience has given us the tools to provide maximum returns on the dollar without sacrificing our company’s morals and integrity.
INSIDE //
REMEM BERING JOHNNY WASSO N • SPA RTANBU RG’S HOL LYWOOD HAIR CONNEC TION • TWO HIG H-PROF JULY 14, ILE EAT 2017 | ERIES VOL. 6 CLOSE ISSUE 28
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EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR
DATE
EVENT INFO
WHERE DO I GO?
HOW DO I GO?
Collaborators and Cocktails
Endeavor 1 North Main St., fourth floor 5 p.m.
Cost: Free for Endeavor members, $30 nonmembers For more info: EndeavorGreenville.com
7/26
Pulse Leadership Luncheon
Hilton Greenville 45 W. Orchard Park Drive 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: Free for members, $25 for nonmembers For more info: bit.ly/2uWIxxk; 864-239-3702
Thursday
Pathways to Success: Hispanic Entrepreneurs & Professionals Forum
United Community Bank 306 E. North St. 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: $15 investors, $25 general admission For more info: bit.ly/2sp7OCB, 864-239-3727
Coffee & Connections
Duke Brands 600 S. Main St., third floor 8:30–9:30 a.m.
Cost: Free, investors only For more info: bit.ly/2tJjpdd; 864-239-3742; lwoodward@ greenvillechamber.org
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
Wednesday-Friday Greenville and Spartanburg Chambers’ Joint Intercommunity Leadership Visit
Hughes Development Corporation and Johnson Development Associates
For more info: Greenville contact: 864-239-3729; Spartanburg contact: 864-347-6080
Tuesday
TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: $35 investors, $50 noninvestors For more info: bit.ly/2sUsFdd; 864-239-3727; nwhite@greenvillechamber.org
Tuesday
7/25 PRESIDENT/CEO
Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com
UBJ PUBLISHER
Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com
EDITOR
Chris Haire chaire@communityjournals.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Emily Pietras epietras@communityjournals.com
DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Tori Lant tlant@communityjournals.com
Wednesday
7/27 Wednesday
8/2
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
Jonathan Bowden, Donna Johnston, Stephanie King, Rosie Peck, Caroline Spivey, Emily Yepes
ART & PRODUCTION VISUAL DIRECTOR
Saturday
9/9
9/27-9/29 11/14
ATHENA Leadership Symposium
Will Crooks
LAYOUT
Bo Leslie | Tammy Smith
| PLANNER
UP NEXT
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF UBJ? WANT A COPY FOR YOUR LOBBY?
OPERATIONS Holly Hardin
ADVERTISING DESIGN
Kristy Adair | Michael Allen
CLIENT SERVICES
Anita Harley | Jane Rogers
JULY 28 THE CRE ISSUE The state of commercial real estate in the Upstate.
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
jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years
>>
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE STORY IDEAS:
ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com
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 18 THE WORKFORCE ISSUE Filling today’s — and tomorrow’s — jobs.
EVENTS:
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
>>
2003 motorsports Division acquires an additional 26,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space
1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993
1990 Jackson Dawson
acquires therapon marketing Group and moves to Piedmont office Center on Villa.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Kristi Fortner
UBJ milestone
1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport
1988
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
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
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