BUSINESS
SUNDAY May 16, 2010
SALISBURY POST
Paris Goodnight, Business Page Editor, 704-797-4255 pgoodnight@salisburypost.com
www.salisburypost.com
BB&T promotes Miller to senior vice president
KEEPING IT DRY
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dry Corp logistics coordinator Mook Cahill uses a vacuum to take air out of a DryCASE at the company’s office and warehouse in Wilmington. The waterproof cases were originally created to keep medical devices such as casts dry.
Company works to keep your electronic devices safe from the sea — or hot tub BY JUDY ROYAL StarNews of Wilmington
ILMINGTON (AP) — What do broken-limb casts and iPhones have in common? Neither should go in water at least not until a Wilmington company’s products came on the scene. Dry Corp, hidden in a nondescript warehouse tucked behind a thicket of trees on Military Cutoff Road, is about to cross over into new territory with its waterproof technology, originally created to protect medical devices such as casts, ostomy bags, prosthetics and catheters. Now it’s going mainstream with a pouch that almost everyone can appreciate. “You can feel it coming on,” said Roy Archambault, Dry Corp founder and chief executive officer. “It’s like a big storm about to hit.” The company is no stranger to turbulent times. It suffered a fire nearly three years ago that destroyed its former office in Dutch Square. The employees wasted no time setting up tables and continuing to work outdoors at the site until zoning regulations forced them to stop. Within days Archambault found the current space, which employees have decorated with colorful beach towels and pool toys, and moved everything. They continued business as usual until a new idea started brewing last year. It all began when Archambault lost his iPhone because rain interrupted his bike ride to work and soaked through his pockets. After replacing that device, a hot tub incident wiped
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dry Corp products like this DryCASE offer waterproof technology for about $40 and come with a headphone jack. out the next. These mishaps happened to coincide with the market release of more types of portable electronic devices than the world has ever seen. “There were just all these smart phones coming out,” Archambault
“It’s like a big storm about to hit.”
1C
said. “And music players.” So Dry Corp employees went to work on manufacturing the company’s latest product, the DryCASE, a flexible, clear, vacuum-sealed waterproof bag that allows use of almost any wireless phone or digital camera around and even in water. Archambault said he’s used the case to take his iPhone 60 feet below the ocean’s surface to shoot pictures while scuba diving. The DryCASE, which retails for about $40 and comes with a headphone jack and buoyant armband, debuted last August and has been gaining momentum ever since. The company now has accessories that complement it, including waterproof headphones and a waistband. Most recently, Dry Corp has launched a DryCASE for the iPad, Kindle or other folio-sized electronic device. Employees put every case through an overnight, underwater test. Although word is just starting to get out, the DryCASE has prompted enough attention to generate inquiries from dealers all over the world. Chief Operating Officer Corey Heim said he expects the DryCASE side of business to “far surpass” the medical side this year. “It’s kind of been a savior for us to continue to innovate and grow the company,” said Heim, 26, who has been a driving force behind Dry Corp’s evolution since he came on board four years ago. “It certainly is a much bigger market than the cast cover.”
— ROY ARCHAMBAULT, Dry Corp founder, CEO
Brian Miller, who joined BB&T in 2009 as the county executive for Rowan County, has been promoted to senior vice president. He has primary responsibility for commercial loan and deposit growth. He is based at BB&T’s Salisbury branch office at 508 Jake Alexander Blvd. West. Miller earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is a 2005 graduate of the North Carolina School of Banking at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is on the Salisbury City Council, the board of Downtown Salisbury Inc., the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce and the Rowan Jobs Initiative. He also serves as the treasurer for the North Hills Christian School board. Miller and his wife, Amy, live in Salisbury with their three children.
Cauble participates in new VA initiative Bonnie Cauble, systems redesign coordinator at the W. G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, is one of 50 nationwide applicants selected to participate in the inaugural Veterans Health Administration Improvement Advisor Academy. The academy is designed to expand the capacity for improvement in the Veterans Health Administration by developing health care improvement advisers to be effective leaders and facilitators. The curriculum is designed for health care profes-
Business Roundup sionals who have a major portion of their work focused on improvement and who will be viewed by senior leadership as strategically vital assets to the organization. The first class session was held in Salt Lake City, April 26-30, and commencement will be held in March 2011. During the year, Academy participants will attend four workshops, monthly meetings and scheduled exercises between workshops. Cauble is a 2005 Business Administration cum laude graduate of Catawba College.
Carolina Phenoms’ fundraising breakfast The Carolina Phenoms 13 under AAU basketball team will hold a pancake breakfast Saturday from 8 until 10 a.m. at O’Charley’s. The breakfast is an effort to raise money for the team to travel to the USBA National Conference in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, coffee, drinks and tea is $6. For advance tickets, contact Marva McCain at 704-640-0087.
See ROUNDUP, 2C
‘Long live leisure’ new Cheerwine campaign What do a break-dancing bear, a tricked-out ’77 VW bus and college-age czars have in common? They’re all part of Cheerwine’s new lighthearted and laid-back 2010 integrated marketing campaign, which aims to tap into people’s inner “chill.” An integrated mix of activities, the soft drink’s new campaign targets its key audience – 18-24 year olds – by reaching them during TV shows, via social media, at places they spend leisure time and through their peers. Atlanta-based Hauser Group, Cheerwine’s marketing agency of record, created the campaign. The agency won Best of Show for its work for the family-owned soft drink at the most recent Atlanta ADDY Awards. The campaign consists of a television commercial, radio, print and in-store ads and
Gray market automobiles not the safest bet
a contest. One lucky Cheerwine fan will have a chance to win a refurbished 1977 VW Leisure Bus that includes a fridge stocked full of Cheerwine, a flat-screen TV, an Xbox, a surfboard and more. The bus, which will feature Cheerwine’s current artwork, will travel to various retailers and college hangouts during local voting times. The winner will be chosen via a random drawing. “Every element of the new campaign comes together as a cohesive group – all to help our fans enjoy their time relaxing – whether it’s through entertaining content, cool apps or a fun sampling event,” says Tom Barbitta, vice president of marketing for Cheerwine. For more information, you can visit www.facebook.com/ cheerwine.
BUSINESS CALENDAR May
BY BRUCE WILLIAMS United Features Syndicate
DEAR BRUCE: Can you tell me about gray market automobiles? What makes them different from other autos? How do they get into this country, and are they legal? I’ve heard they sell for less than similar models, but are they a wise purchase? — P.T. Grand Rapids
DEAR P.T.: Gray market is a term attached to automobiles that are manufactured outside the United States and do not meet U.S. standards. This could be emission or crash standards,
Smart money bumpers, etc. The fact is that they are illegal in this country. Yes, they can be purchased for a lot less money. Are they a wise purchase? In most cases, no. If you were playing it straight you will be required to bring them up to U.S. standards, which can cost you more than buying that same automobile that meets the U.S. standards at the time of manufacturing. Would I purchase one? Very unlikely. DEAR BRUCE: I am writing to you about a friend who needs
help. He and his mother have rented a duplex for the past six years. The rent has increased gradually to where it is now $700. The landlord was asked to come in and fix some of the peeling paint and plaster but ended up doing the whole house and adding some little niceties. I know my friend was not obligated to let them in to do the repairs but that seems of no significance. At the end of their lease period, which comes up in a few months, they’re raising the rent to $1,000. — Y.R. via e-mail
DEAR Y.R.: I don’t see any reason why not. They rented the
apartment for an agreed-upon rental for a stated time period. When that period is over, they have a right to raise the rent, keep it the same or ask your friend to leave. Your friend has the right to move out without further obligation or pay whatever the new rental is, assuming there is no rent control, which is relatively uncommon in our country. What the landlord did is not unusual. He’s invested some money to make his apartment a better rental property, and now he’s looking for a return on the investment. The choice of the tenant is clear. I would pay the rent or look
See MONEY, 2C
17 — Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors, Chamber, noon 18 — Chamber Business Council, Chamber, 9 a.m. 19 — Chamber Workforce Development Alliance, Chamber, 8 a.m. 20 — Chamber Leadership Rowan ‘Planning for 2010-11’ Day, Chamber, 8 a.m.-noon 20 — Chamber’s Leadership Rowan graduation, Country Club, 6:30 p.m. 26 — Rowan Partners for Education board of directors, Chamber, 7 a.m. 26 — Chamber’s small business financial counseling, Chamber, 9:30 a.m.-noon. Call 704-633-4221 for appointment 27 — Chamber’s local affairs committee, Chamber, 4 p.m.