October 11, 2007 11:44 pm
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The recent quest to locate and identify a full-service gas station also brought an unexpected wave of additional suggestions about other local businesses whose employees go “above and beyond” for their customers.
For example, the people at Atkins Hardware were mentioned by three different readers.
This is definitely something I want to encourage and I’m making a list for future use. All I ask is that you keep these suggestions genuine.
Festival for charity
Local charitable groups seeking an opportunity to connect with the public and raise funds for their organization may be interested in signing up for the Kyova Tri-State Mall’s Charity Fall Festival set for Nov. 3.
Groups are asked to decide on a festival/carnival booth theme featuring a game, such as a duck pond or ring toss, or offer food items such as cotton candy or popcorn.
Booths will be assigned on a first-come first-served basis, with no duplicates allowed. Each charity will determine its own prices and retain 100 percent of the money generated during the two-hour event.
Mall organizers say they hope to repeat the success of last year’s Halloween event, which attracted more than 1,000 participants. The deadline to register is Oct. 19. For more information, call (606) 928-3835.
Artists also sought
Local artists often have to deal with frustrations in finding places to exhibit their work. Kyova Tri-State Mall is seeking such artists to help fill more than 6,400 square feet of space near the food court as part of a cooperative effort with the University of Kentucky and the Greenup Growing Up With the Arts program.
“We’re really open to anything,” said mall spokeswoman Karen Dillow. “We want to showcase the talent we have in this area.”
Artists can use the exhibit to sell their works as well as educate the public about heritage arts and skills. Interested artisans from throughout the region are asked to contact Cora Hughes, Greenup County Extension Agent for Fine Arts, at (606) 473-9881 or the mall office at (606) 928-3835.
Need to read?
One of the first assignments my wife gave me when we moved here was to find a good used book store. The same day she asked, I got a message from Donna Blair, owner of D’s Book Exchange on Rt. 60 in Ceredo.
Blair said her shop has more than 50,000 books in stock, including new releases (from major and independent publishers) which she orders weekly. She reports local author Lora Leigh is one of her most popular writers, and added, “All of the paranormal romances are very big this year.”
D’s is a trade store, meaning books purchased there can be returned for credit on your next purchase. They’ll also give store credit for your used books (if they need the titles) at 25 percent of the original cover price. Their used books are sold for half the original cover price. Due to the need to pay publishers for new releases, store credit is applied only to used books.
Blair also welcomes special orders and is happy to search for hard-to-find titles.
“I have always been an avid reader and I love my job,” she said. “I just love to take my work home with me.”
D’s Book Exchange, which has been in business at 901 C Street for 26 years, is open from noon to 5, Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call (304) 453-6955.
Profit workshop
A marketing workshop titled “Five Ways to Super Profits” will be offered from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Jesse Stuart Foundation on the corner of 17th Street and Winchester Avenue.
The workshop, offered as a joint effort by the Morehead State University/Ashland Small Business Development Center and the Ashland Alliance, will focus on topics including “How to increase your business profit by 61 percent in one year,” “Why most advertising doesn’t work and what to do about it,” and “How to create an unlimited marketing budget.”
John Null, Action Coach Business Coaching, Fifth Third Bank, Chillicothe, Ohio, will be the instructor.
The workshop is free and the registration deadline is Oct. 19. For more information, call (606) 329-8011.
Regional discovery contest
New Star Discovery will be conducting a New Star Search regional competition at 1:15 p.m. Oct. 20 at Ashland Town Center. Registration begins at noon. The competition is for boys and girls from infants to eight years old, divided into seven different categories.
For more information about the competition, visit www.newstardiscovery.com or call the company’s national headquarters at 877-330-2229.
Shultz recognized
Robert Shultz, who operates a Kirby distributorship in Barboursville, W.Va., was recently recognized for reaching business goals by Kirby World Headquarters in Cleveland. The recognition is part of the company’s Challenge of Champions “Walk of Fame” campaign.
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.
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