Business Journal 20140908

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Food truck fever hits area Page 4

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144 S Thomas St, Tupelo, MS 38801 662.840.7665

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September 2014

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THE NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

Quality, service determine success of any business

n any business, whether it’s First impressions are everyselling cars or selling carnithing, and many consumers tas, success is heavily deare unforgiving. They can be pendent on the quality of downright brutal. its product and the quality of That leads to another asits service. pect about the restaurant Of course, having the skills business: food reviews. and knowledge to run the Reviews are nothing new; business and a capable staff restaurant critiques have been are critical, too. around as long as people have DENNIS And let’s not forget about been cooking. And everySEID working capital. body’s a critic in some form.

But the product you put out A Facebook page, North and how you treat your cusMississippi Restaurant Retomers ultimately will determine your views, has more than 6,300 members, success or failure. and reviews are posted consistently.

There is perhaps nothing more diffi- For longtime members of the page, cult than running a restaurant, and you know how the discussions can few restaurant owners would disagree. evolve. Or devolve. Sometimes there’s The hours are long. The prep work is a “piling-on” affect where a critical retime consuming, as is the work after view snowballs. the restaurant closes. Dealing with the It seems many forget the purpose of front of the house, the back of the the page – for diners to review their house, the bills, the vendors ... it’s not experiences, good or bad, and for othan operation that runs by itself. The ers to find out more about the area’s time between opening and closing is restaurants. filled with dealing with people with Full disclosure: I post reviews on the different tastes, different attitudes and page, but strictly as a diner and not a different expectations. representative of my employer.

Make no mistake: The restaurant inBut even without the review site, the dustry is big business, with sales of biggest issue in restaurants seems to more than $680 billion. be service. Bad service can ruin an That’s a lot to chew, pardon the pun. otherwise great meal.

I can’t count the number of restauIndifferent wait staff and indifferent rants that have opened and closed in management simply won’t do. It’s hard the 10 years I’ve been in Tupelo and to be passionate about your job everyNortheast Mississippi. day, but when you’re dealing with the Many have opened with great inten- public, at least show a little enthusiasm. tions, but the execution was flawed.

Restaurants in Northeast Mississippi The menu may have been too big. The aren’t immune to this problem, alservice was spotty. The food was inthough in my experience, bad service is consistent. the exception rather than the rule.

Simply opening your doors won’t So, if there’s any advice to dispense bring diners to your restaurant, either. for restaurateurs, it’s to hire and train, You’ve got to let people know you’re train, train your staff to not only know open, and depend on more than just the menu, but to know how to deal word of mouth. with the public.

That said, restaurants should never Bon appetit, y’all. open if they’re not fully prepared for the inevitable onslaught of customers. Contact DENNIS SEID at (662) 678-1578 I’ve seen it happen too often. or dennis.seid@journalinc.com

SEPTEMBER 2014

Q&A: Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association The Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association was formed in 1954 and is comprised of 800 member restaurants which represent more than 1,200 restaurant locations.

Grady Griffin, the MHRA’s education director, said, “our bread and butter member is the independentlyowned, single-unit operator, but Griffin we also enjoy serving the three-night-a-week rural fish house up to the largest gaming corporations in the state.”

Griffin was recently interviewed by the Business Journal:

Q. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS of being a member of the organization?

A. AS WITH ANY PROFESSIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATION, we serve our operators from three perspectives: governmental affairs, programs and services and education. We call those the three legs of the stool.

Our greatest value is in governmental affairs, where we continue to battle harmful legislation or costly regulation. If we weren’t in the legislative arena, it would have cost every restaurant operator over $17,000 per unit just last session.

We also vet programs and services that are bestin-class for the industry

that can pass along great savings to our members, such as property/casualty insurance and credit card processing. But we are most proud of, and see tremendous benefit in, our education initiatives. Whatever keeps our members up at night, we have a solution for. From staff training to financial review processes that uncover opportunities for greater profits, we really enjoy the opportunity to sit down with our members and find where their concerns are founded, and address those issues on a personal and confidential level.

Q. GENERALLY, what is the state of the restaurant industry in Mississippi?

A. MISSISSIPPI’S RESTAURANT INDUSTRY is projected to register $3.5 billion in sales in 2014 in nearly 4,400 eating and drinking locations. We employ 10 percent of the state’s workforce, with over 115,000 jobs which will become 127,000 jobs in the next 10 years.

Every $1 spent in Mississippi’s restaurants generates an additional 79 cents in sales for the state economy, and every $1 million in our restaurants generates an additional 27.3 jobs in the state.

While those numbers are generally positive, the state of the economy overall is still a concern for our industry. “Cautious optimism” is the buzz-phrase for forecasting sales into 2015, as consumers are still protective of disposable income.

Q. HIGHER FOOD PRICES are hitting consumers across the board. How is that affecting the industry and MHRA members?

A. HIGHER FOOD PRICES are facing our consumers at every purchase point, and the restaurant industry is acutely aware of that challenge. The industry has been forced mostly into rolling those price increases into existing menu TURN TO MHRA, 6

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Agnew’s draws many to rural but popular location

BY DENNIS SEID BUSINESS JOURNAL

PRATTS – Officially, the restaurant is called Agnew’s Fish & Steak House, but almost everyone simply calls it Agnew’s.

Its location isn’t exactly off the beaten path, though some might disagree, as it sits at the intersection of County Road 2788 and state highway 371 in Lee County, southeast of Baldwyn.

But few will argue that Agnew’s isn’t worth the drive. Customers from across Northeast Mississippi make it a popular dining spot Thursday-Saturday nights, snapping up not only steaks and catfish, but also smoked ribs, shrimp, oysters, chicken, frog legs and a host of other southern favorites.

“People do come from farther away than I thought they would,” said Debbie Moore, who with her husband, Rodney, opened the restaurant in July 2007. “I think if you have good food and good service, they’ll come find you.”

The restaurant also is open for breakfast at 6 a.m., Monday-Saturday, and lunch is served until 1 p.m.

The Moores spent about a year remodeling what was once the Frank Agnew & Son store, which was owned by lifelong Pratts resident Robert Agnew.

The building is one of the oldest establishments in this small Lee County community. The store was the gathering place for residents to buy groceries

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AGNEW’S

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LOCATION: 2154 Hwy 370, Baldwyn PHONE: (662) 365-5571 HOURS: Monday-Saturday 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and ThursdaySaturday 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. or sit around and talk. It had been closed a few years when the Moores bought it.

In an interview with the Daily Journal in 2007, Agnew welcomed the move.

“It’s good to see the store being used,” he said.

“It’s good to have somebody in it, and it will probably be good for the community. It’ll be run right.”

And that seems to be the case, as the Moores have expanded the restaurant twice since opening it.

“We can now seat 200,” Rodney Moore said. “We really didn’t have a choice but to expand.”

Pratts is about 10 minutes from any bigger town, including nearby Baldwyn and Guntown.

But Agnew’s is the only restaurant in Pratts, making it a popular dining spot.

And to think, it wasn’t initially going to be a restaurant at all.

“I thought it was going to be a convenience store, but I couldn’t get anybody to sell me gas,” Rodney said.

Timing wasn’t quite right at the time, as the economy was poised on a recession and gas prices began skyrocketing toward record highs.

As it turned out, the de-

LAUREN WOOD | BUY AT PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM

Debbie and Rodney Moore opened Agnew’s in 2007. cision to reopen Agnew’s as a restaurant was a good one.

Rodney, who farms fulltime, and Debbie, who teaches in Baldwyn, wanted to give something back to the community they’ve long called home.

If it couldn’t be another store, a restaurant was the best choice. It still is a gathering place for family, friends, neighbors and even strangers, and it provides a long-needed and long-sought place to eat. wouldn’t eat themselves.

The recipes aren’t great “It’s just stuff we pulled family secrets, but the together,” Debbie said.

Moores said they wouldn’t Steaks and fish are the serve anything they Agnew’s biggest sellers,

“We probably serve 300 to 400 people during our busiest times,” Debbie said.

Cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans crowd the parking lot and spill over into the parking lot across the street at Pratt Christian Church.

Drive by anytime during dinner hours, and you’ll likely see people waiting outside, a testament to Agnew’s popularity.

“We get a lot of community support, and we apand grilled catfish has preciate it,” Rodney said. grown immensely in pop- “We appreciate everyularity during he hectic body.” dinner hours, which keep the staff of 18 busy. dennis.seid@journalinc.com

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

SEPTEMBER 2014

BUSINESS JOURNAL

SEPTEMBER 2014

ADAM ROBISON | BUY AT PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM

Curt McLellan, owner of Local Mobile Food truck, talks with customer Shaw Moore, Jay Shannon, of Saltillo, Jeanie Christian, of Pontotoc, and Art Shannon, of Saltillo, of Tupelo. On the cover: Memphis Style BBQ on Wheels is one of three food trucks place their orders at the Two Dudes Mexican Foods truck during Food Truck Friday based in Tupelo. at Fairpark recently.

Food truck fever hits area

BY DENNIS SEID BUSINESS JOURNAL

TUPELO – Food trucks aren’t exactly a new fad, having been around for years.

In fact, they can be traced back to the turn of the century – the 19th century – when the first “food trucks” were chuckwagons feeding workers, cowboys and pioneers in the Old West.

Fast forward to the mid1950s, and it was mobile canteens feeding people.

Today’s food trucks still are mobile kitchens, serving a variety of fare, from simple dishes to gourmet meals.

Food trucks have gotten a big push on television, with shows like the Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race” raising awareness.

Mississippi’s food truck experience is nascent; the first food truck as we know it opened in October 2012 in Jackson, when Lauren Davis opened LurnyD’s Grille.

Serving gourmet burgers, LurnyD’s churns out what Davis refers to as“street food with a Southern flair.”

In Tupelo, the first food truck was Local Mobile, which opened in August of last year.

Owner Curt McLellan launched it with hopes that his sliders, po-boys and specials – like chicken and dumplings, shrimp and grits, gyros and wraps – would catch on.

They have.

“I can’t think of anything that’s been taken off the menu,” he said.“Now, we do rotate some items and there are some things that aren’t

made often, but there’s nothing that’s been completely eliminated.”

Following a well-used strategy by food trucks, Local Mobile uses social media to alert foodies where the truck is daily. It has a Facebook page and aTwitter account, and texts also can be sent to followers.

McLellan and Ashley Prince rotate Local Mobile’s locations daily, appearing just about anywhere: downtown Tupelo, McCullough Boulevard, Crosstown, Fairpark and all points in between.

“In the winter, we’ll go where more people are gathered, like the bank technology centers onWest Jackson,” McLellan said.

With a full year under his belt, McLellan has a better idea of what to expect as the

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TRACKING THE TRUCKS

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• Local Mobile – Phone: (615) 357-2660; Facebook: Local Mobile; Twitter: @Localmobiletup • Memphis Style BBQ on Wheels – Phone: (901) 591-6902; Facebook: Memphis Style BBQ on Wheels; Email: kakishar@yahoo.com • Two Dudes Mexican Foods – Phone (662) 401-4110; Facebook: Two Dudes Mexican Foods; Email: twodudesmexicanfoods@gmail.com next year rolls around.

The winter months are slower, while the busiest times are during the spring and summer. Fall trails off some, which allows Local Mobile to work other events.

For example, Local Mobile caters and expects those requests to pick up as football season gets underway.

But Local Mobile doesn’t have the market to itself.

Two Dudes Mexican Foods made its debut in March, followed about two weeks later by Memphis Style BBQ on Wheels.

Two Dudes is run by Eric Dufford and his son, Dane.

“It’s been great,” Dane said. “We figured that it would take a little time for people to catch on to the concept, but we’ve been going pretty strong.”

Memphis Style has been around for two years in Memphis, operated by Mitchell and Kakisha Redick, but they moved to Tupelo last year as Mitchell began working with a relative in the HVAC business.

“People know good barbecue, and we knew Tupelo would be a good place for

the food truck,” Mitchell Redick said.

WORKING TOGETHER

Tupelo isn’t exactly an Austin, Texas, or Los Angeles, where the food truck culture thrives with scores of the mobile kitchens on wheels roaming the streets.

But Local Mobile, Two Dudes Mexican Foods and Memphis Style BBQ on Wheels say there’s room for all.

All three owners say the work well together and consider themselves friendly rivals, with the premise that the more the merrier.

“Oh, yeah, we eat at each others trucks, try each other’s foods and we get along great,” said Dane Dufford.

In fact, every Friday, the trio of trucks usually be found lined up in Fairpark on Main Street in front of City Hall on Main Street.

McLellan said some of his busiest days are on “Food Truck Fridays” because it creates a critical mass of potential customers.

“You’ve got three options, all serving different foods at

different price points – it really works well,” he said.

Two Dudes, for example, specializes in tamales, athough its loaded nachos, quesadillas and tacos also drum up steady business.

Memphis Style BBQ’s pulled pork and barbecue nacho plate are customer favorites.

In Jackson, Davis, the Mississippi food truck pioneer, has a Facebook page, Mississippi Food Truck Association, that serves as a voice and platform for food trucks. While there’s no official association set up yet, he hopes to do so in the near future.

“I don’t think there’s quite enough food trucks statewide right now to build the organization yet,” he said.“But I think it will eventually happen.”

The goal of the group, set up as a nonprofit organization, would be to provide members resources and networking opportunities to work together.

For example, advice could be given to startups wondering how to navigate the myriad of city regulations which vary across the state.

Davis said the group also could work to gain fleet status and pool resources to get lower insurance rates as well, rather than everyone having to go alone.

“There’s lots of potential,” he said. dennis.seid@journalinc.com

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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SEPTEMBER 2014

PAGE 5

BUSINESS JOURNAL

SEPTEMBER 2014

MHRA FROM 2

pricing, thereby eating the increase and concerning profitability.

Our consumers have never been more educated than they are today on the foods they eat, and they seek value in every purchase. Meeting those demands, and exceeding their expectations through the value proposition, is what will generate positive results for our industry.

LAUREN WOOD | BUY AT PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM

Juva Juice founder Justin Mitchener, left, and Tupelo store manager Bill Cassilly opened the location last month.

New business profile:

DENNIS SEID

BUSINESS JOURNAL

TUPELO – Justin Mitchener flexed his entrepreneurial muscle while he was a student at Mississippi State University, opening his own nutrition shop in Starkville.

His store – opened and stocked with borrowed money – also happened to be a couple of doors down from a Smoothie King.

“I used to have a lot of customers come in thinking I was Smoothie King,” said Mitchener, who graduated from MSU in 2005.

Seeing the popularity of the neighboring store, Mitchener thought perhaps he should open his own store serving smoothies and juices.

“It all started about 10 years ago as I was working on a smoothie vending machine, and I thought maybe I should get on this side,” Mitchener.

“This side” is the retail side of the business, and two years ago, he opened his first smoothie and juice store, Juva Juice, in Starkville.

He later opened a location in the Sanderson Center, the university’s student sports recreation center.

In mid-August, he opened in Tupelo on South Gloster Street, adjacent to McAlister’s Deli.

“I was raised in Starkville, but I lived in Tupelo for a couple of years,” Mitchener

Juva Juice |

JUVA JUICE

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LOCATIONS: 495 S. Gloster Street, Tupelo; 404 Mississippi 12, Starkville; Sanderson Center, MSU campus PHONE: in Tupelo, (662) 2693739. In Starkville, (662) 6404200 WEBSITE: www.juvajuice.com said. “I always thought Tupelo would be a good location.”

The Juva name is inspired by “rejuvenate” – to make fresh or new again – and Mitchener said that’s exactly what his business is all about.

“It’s more than a product, it’s about the entire experience, from the time you walk in and are greeted, to making your order, getting your order, listening to the music, what you see inside ... we want you to feel better when you leave and we want you to tell all your friends about us.”

After trying smoothies from countless locations, Mitchener developed his own recipes. The juicing aspect of Juva wasn’t originally part of the concept, but after trying products from various shops and hearing and reading about the healthful benefits of juicing, he incorporated it into the business model.

Says the company’s website, “From the beginning, Juva has set out to be a dif-

ferent kind of company. We care about what you eat and we hope that you do as well.”

The smoothies are a blend of fresh fruits and organic flavoring, with protein added depending on the drink.

For example, the “Gym Dandy” is a blend of banana, ice cream, non-fat milk, weight gain mix, vanilla and wheat germ.The “Kale Yeah” is made of kale, banana, almond milk and sunflower butter.

There are all-fruit options like“Berry Bungalow,” made of blueberry, rapsberry, strawberry and turbinado, or the Trophy Life,” made of organge juice, strawberry, banana, turbinado and honey.

Customers might opt for juice-only options, like the “Citrus-Psyche,” made of orange, lemon, carrot, green apple and kale, or something like the “Red Zeppelin,” made of red bell pepper, orange, carrot and lemon.

Having recently launched the Tupelo store, Mitchener said the next few weeks will be spent getting the word out about Juva Juice and then looking toward further expansion of the brand.

“I’ve always envisioned having multiple locations,” he said. “But we’re going to take it step by step and not rush into anything.” dennis.seid@journalinc.com

Q. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES and challenges facing the industry?

A. WITH AVERAGE PROFIT MARGIN for a Mississippi restaurant at 4-6 percent, rising commodity prices continueto be a challenge, but look for the local foods movement to continue to address those concerns, as consumers become more educated about their food origins.

“Eco-fare” will move from trendy to main-

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BY THE NUMBERS

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• 4,369 – Eating and drinking locations in Mississippi • $3.5 billion – Projected Mississippi restaurant sales in 2014 • 115,000 – Mississippians employed in the industry • 127,000 – Projected employment in 2024 • $683.4 billion – Restaurant industry sales nationwide • 13.5 million - Number of people nationwide employed in the industry • 990,000 – Number of restaurant locations nationwide stream, providing healthier foods while also reducing the carbon footprint of food distribution.

The labor market also a great concern for industry, especially in attracting and retaining quality managers. The MHRA is piloting a Basic Management Development program thisfall that will provide such training to our members.

Q. DISCUSS ANYTHING we might not have covered for you would like to elaborate on.

A. THE MHRA CONTINUES TO ADDRESS the future needs of our industry through the coordination and sponsorship of the Mississippi ProStart Pro-

gram. Mississippi is one of 49 states that supports a two-year high school culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum called ProStart, enrolling over 1,700 students across 46 campuses.

This industry-in-theclassroom curriculum supports the food service leaders of tomorrow through student competitions, scholarship programs, articulation with post-secondary programs across the nation, and educator development.

For more information on the program and all our activities at the MHRA, please visit our website www.msra.org or call the office at (601) 420-4210.

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ChamberConnection A publication of Journal Publishing and the CDF Chamber Division – September 2014

Philips Lighting invests in Tupelo operations Officials from Philips Lighting recently announced the company will expand operations at its facility in Tupelo, Miss. The project represents a $2 million investment, allowing the company to retain the facility’s existing employees and create 50 new jobs.

Philips Lighting, leading global manufacturer of lighting solutions, is creating a major manufacturing hub for the company at its Tupelo facility. This includes incorporating LED technology made at the company’s San Jose, Calif., facility into the Tupelo facility’s production line-up, which includes state-ofthe-art intelligent fixtures that automatically respond to their environment, adding to the technology’s already high level of energy efficiency.

“The decision to expand the innovative product lines at Philips Lighting’s Tupelo facility is great news for the local community and the area’s residents,” Gov. Bryant said. “It serves as a testament to the supportive business climate and dedicated workforce found in Mississippi. I appreciate the team at Philips

Lighting for further investing in its Tupelo operations, creating new jobs and being such a valued business partner to the state of Mississippi.”

“As the world’s largest lighting company, Philips is leading the LED revolution, enabling our customers to embrace more efficient lighting solutions – solutions that are made right here in Tupelo,” said Iain Logan, head of operations for Philips Lighting Americas. “Our expansion at this facility reinforces our commitment to this community, which helps us to turn innovations into worldclass products that are good for the local economy and the environment. It is a great example of a publicprivate partnership that works.”

The Mississippi Development Authority provided assistance in support of the project for building modifications.

“Since 1947, Philips has been an invaluable partner in the industrial employment and economic growth of Tupelo. We are excited for Philips to begin yet another chapter in their Tupelo story,” said CDF

Iain Logan, head of operations for Philips Lighting Americas, second from left and Amar Yeddula, Philips Tupelo Plant Manager, fifth from left lead a tour of local and state economic development officials through Philips’ Tupelo facility. Philips Lighting recently announced the company will expand its Tupelo operations, allowing the company to retain the facility’s existing employees and create 50 new jobs.

Chairman Chauncey Godwin, Jr. “Philips has been an exceptional corporate citizen for decades,” said City of

Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton.” This expansion is a great testament to Tupelo’s favorable business climate and we look forward to

watching their company grow.”

Philips Lighting is a global market leader with recognized expertise in the

development, manufacturing and application of innovative lighting solutions.

For more information, visit usa.philips.com.

Challenge Automation expands in Tupelo

Challenge Automation General Manager Ethan Nanney announces the designers and builders of custom and automated equipment will expand its operations. The project represents an investment of $800,000 and will add up to 10 full-time jobs over the next 10 months.

Officials from Challenge Automation, designers and builders of custom and automated equipment, recently announced the expansion and relocation of its operations to its new facility at 2725 Old Belden Cir., Ste. D in Tupelo.

The project represents an investment of $800,000 and will add 6-10 full-time jobs over the next 10 months.

“We are excited about the future of our company as we continue to grow here in Tupelo. We have a lot to offer the existing industry here in North MS as well as the rest of the State and surrounding areas,” stated Challenge Automation

Owner and General Manager Eric Nanney.

This expansion, which includes a larger manufacturing facility and new office space, will support the company’s focus on better serving the needs of its clientele.

“This expansion is great for Challenge Automation and the City of Tupelo. Their high-tech work is a prime example of the diverse manufacturing operations located within our city,” said City of Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton.

Automation serves the manufacturing industry with “design and build” capabilities. It has an assembled staff of mechanical, electrical, fluid power and software design engineers and technicians with experience in a wide range of environments such as medical, automotive, commercial and industrial products.

The company handles every aspect of a project from conception, design, project planning, materials acquisition, fabrication, assembly and development and installation and ABOUT CHALLENGE startup in the customer’s facility.

AUTOMATION For more information, visit Founded in 2009, Challenge challengeautomation.com.

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A CDF

CHAMBER CONNECTION

SEPTEMBER 2014

Chamber Focus Prepare yourself – I’m going to bring up a touchy subject.

How many times over the last few months have you had to stop at that dreadful red light on the Trace? Don’t we take the Trace to avoid annoying stoplights? And between the Geddie construction at NMMC and the Hwy 6 interchange, the drivers on S. Gloster may not be able to recall when all lanes were open. Of course once construction is complete, we will hardly remember being annoyed.

We’ve been doing some construction ourselves here at the Chamber – we’ve moved all 1,200 CDF members to ChamberMaster, our new membership database. That being said, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is you are going to be annoyed the next time you register online for a CDF event because it will be different than what you’re used to.

The good news? It will be worth it in the end!

Don’t you get tired of retyping your personal information into a webpage every time you visit? With ChamberMaster, our event registration process no longer requires you to type in field after field of personal information be-

New CDF Members

cause the fields populate automatically for you. Our hope is that less time spent on a computer = more time spent out in the community growing your business.

There’s more. Pretty soon, you’ll have access to tons of great new website features that extend beyond registering for an event. Printing from our membership directory is now easier.

Searching for ChamberAdvantage deals is much quicker. There is even a local weather page. I won't overwhelm you with a list of upgrades all at once; our plan is to introduce new features one step at a time.

The first time you register for an event or look up your membership listing will be different, but we will navigate through the construction together. After that, it is smooth sailing.

Hopefully you are well primed for one more bothersome annoyance in your life.

If you need assistance, just call me at (662) 821-0752. I promise not to be annoyed.

Karen Geddie

Vice President Chamber of Commerce

Brooks Grocery Mr. Brooks Davis 1685 N Coley Rd. Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 423-9595 www.brooksgrocery.com Grocery Stores

Flawless by Jennifer Allen Ms. Jennifer Alexander 149 Coffee St. Pontotoc, MS 38863 (662) 419-4048

Cash Saver Supermarket Mr. Enoch Smithey 1704 S Gloster St. Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 680-9315 www.foodgiant.com Grocery Stores

Halle Jo’s Boutique Mr. Mike Walker 3466 C McCullough Blvd.

Belden, MS 38826 (662) 523-9197 www.shophallejos.com Retail & Specialty Shops

CB&S Bank Mr. Chuck Alderman 901 S Gloster St. Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 620-1120 www.cbsbank.com Banking

McAlister’s Deli Mr. Corey Kowach 495 S Gloster St. Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 680-3354 www.mcalistersdeli.com Restaurants & Catering

Constant Contact Mr. Marvin Smith P.O. Box 9207 Monroe, LA 77064 (318) 235-1682 www.constantcontact.com Advertising

Community Development Foundation’s 2014-2015 Board of Directors CDF’s goals and objectives are accomplished through the efforts of members appointed to committees operating under one of CDF’s three divisions: Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development, and Planning and Property Management.

2014-2015 Executive Committee Mr. Chauncey Godwin, Jr., Chairman Ms. Lisa Hawkins, First Vice Chairman Mr. Barry Smith, Second Vice Chairman Mr. David Rumbarger, President/Secretary Mr. David Copenhaver, Immediate Past Chairman

Mr. Tillmon Calvert Mr. B.J. Canup Mr. Scott Cochran Mr. Clay Foster Ms. Julianne Goodwin Mr. Bryan Hawkins

Mr. Jerry Maxcy Mr. Guy Mitchell, III Dr. Dick White Mr. Tollie White

2014-2015 Board of Directors Mike Armour Roger Bland David Brevard Mark Burleson Bo Calhoun Tillmon Calvert B.J. Canup Gary Carnathan Grace Clark Mike Clayborne V.M. Cleveland Scott Cochran Fred Cook David Copenhaver Beverly Crossen

Nettie Davis Jay Dey Mike Eaton Joe Estess Clay Foster Chauncey Godwin, Jr. Julianne Goodwin Bryan Hawkins Lisa Hawkins Skipper Holliman Blair Hughes David Irwin Wesley Jones Jamie Kennedy Bob Kerley

Jeff King Gearl Loden Jimmy Long Zell Long Jerry Maxy Robin McGraw Larry Michael Guy Mitchell Ted Moll Mabel Murphree Mary Pace Aubrey Patterson Darrell Rankin Harry Rayburn Jack Reed, Jr.

Scott Reed Eddie Richey Drew Robertson Ty Robinson Jason Shelton Barry Smith Rex Smith Jane Spain Gary Sparkman Buddy Stubbs Sean Suggs Aaron Washington Jimmy Weeks Dick White Tollie White

www.flawlessbyjenniferallen.com

Lifestyle & Wellness

Tupelo Family Pharmacy Dr. Jared Bounds 1244 E Main St. Tupelo, MS 38804 (662) 844-7811 Pharmacies Quick Stitch Ms. Daphene Hendricks 3819 McCullough Blvd.

Belden, MS 38826 (662) 891-6226 www.quickstitchtupelo.com Embroidery & Monogramming Visiting Angels of North Mississippi Ms. Jane Sams 398 E Main St., Ste. 206 Tupelo, MS 38804 Health Care Pure Yoga Tupelo Ms. Kristi Paxton 109 N Spring St. Tupelo, MS 38804 (662) 231-1150 Fitness

2014-2015 Ambassadors Club Jennifer Alexander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Flawless Don Arthur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mutual of Omaha Jesse Bandre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exceed Technologies Rashni Barath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trustmark National Bank Betty Baxter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop’s BBQ Grill Stephanie Browning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hampton Inn & Suites Tupelo Will Conn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morgan Moving & Storage Sheila Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PPI, Inc. Becki Duffie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Services Cheryl Foster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wingate by Wyndham Romanda Hampton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hilton Garden Inn Dianne Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summit Group Companies, LLC Toby Hedges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelter Insurance Jim Jolly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Denise Kennedy-Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Special Occasions by Denise Justin Kirk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. Lawns of Northeast Mississippi Charlise Latour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sprint Print Molly Lovorn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C Spire Bea Luckett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRI, Inc. Realtors Brad McCully . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sportsman Lawn & Landscape Chuck McIntosh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . McIntosh Creative Services Katie McMillan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Key Staff Source Scott Medlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elite Pro Wash Holley Meriweather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community Bank Leigh Monroe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Main Street Family Dentistry Carolyn Moss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quality Inn Kelsey Norrett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comcast Spotlight Allen Pegues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Premium Productions Fred Pitts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Safestore of Tupelo, Inc. Ashley Prince . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . local MOBILE Mendy Ramey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Renasant Bank Mortgage Lending Torrie Robertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Cotton Bolt Molly Scott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harveys Jacob Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C Spire Mary Sue Tudor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lamar Advertising Pam Turner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monts Paper & Packaging Lisa Wadley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sylvan Learning Center Ross Weems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BancorpSouth Mary Werner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robinson & Associates Stephanie West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Best Western Plus Grady Wigginton . . . . . . . . . . Legal Shield - Grady Wigginton & Associates June Wigginton . . . . . . . . . . . Legal Shield - Grady Wigginton & Associates

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QUICK STITCH

MOM & BABY QUIET AREA

Quick Stitch recently held a grand opening ribbon cutting. Your source for professional embroidery and monogramming services, Quick Stitch is located at 3819 McCullough Blvd. in Belden, and can be contacted at (662) 891-6226, quickstitchtupelo.com or on Facebook.

The Mall at Barnes Crossing held a ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of its Mom & Baby Quiet Area. Located inside The Mall at Barnes Crossing at 1001 Barnes Crossing Rd. in Tupelo, the Mom & Baby Quiet Area seeks to provide a welcoming environment for mothers and nursing babies. For more information, contact The Mall at Barnes Crossing at barnescrossing.com or (662) 844-MALL.

Beginner/Intermediate QuickBooks Training Session Wednesday, September 10 9 - 11 a.m.

398 E Main St., CDF Center CDF Boardroom EVENT SPONSOR

Amanda Angle CPA LLC is a partner with Page-Angle Associates in Tupelo, MS. She has over 16 years of accounting experience with an emphasis in tax services and small business accounting services.

As a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor since 2004, Amanda provides training and set-up for all QuickBooks editions.

Members: $75 Non-members: $100

Registration limited to first 60.

Register online at cdfms.org/events

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CHAMBER CONNECTION

SEPTEMBER 2014

CHAMBER CONNECTION

SEPTEMBER 2014

TWO DUDES MEXICAN FOOD

SPRING STREET CIGARS

Tupelo’s only Mexican food truck, Two Dudes Mexican Foods, held a ribbon cutting in celebration of its official grand opening. In addition to serving up the truck’s famous tamales, Two Dudes Mexican Foods offers a variety of traditional Mexican dishes. Follow Two Dudes for updates on their next location on Facebook and Twitter or call (501) 413-5463.

Spring Street Cigars held a ribbon cutting in celebration of its newly remodeled location at 208 N Spring St. in Tupelo. Tupelo’s new premium cigar shop boasts a walk in humidor featuring brands such as Ashton, Padron, Rocky Patel, La Flor Dominicana, and more. Contact Spring Street Cigars at (662) 842-6777 or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Are you interested in promoting your business with a ribbon cutting?

Contact Emily Addison at (662) 842-4521 or eaddison@cdfms.org.

Close the deal at Park Heights.

A business meeting like no other! Private rooms available 335 East Main Street Fairpark District | Historic Downtown Tupelo Lunch: M-F 11am-2pm | Dinner: M-S 5:30-10pm 662-842-5665

www.parkheightsrestaurant.com

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CB&S BANK W MAIN ST BRANCH

PAGE 11

CB&S BANK S GLOSTER ST BRANCH

In celebration of its new branches at 3425 W Main St. and 901 S Gloster St. in Tupelo, CB& S Bank held two ribbon cuttings. With over 50 locations in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, CB&S Bank has a vast array of banking products and services to meet the financial needs of its customers and businesses. Visit cbsbank.com for more information or call (662) 620-1120. Member FDIC.

Please join us for CDF Business Roundtable Wednesday, Sept. 24 | 4 p.m. | CDF Boardroom, 398 E. Main St., CDF Center || Free for CDF members For more information, contact Zandra Hereford at (662) 842-4521 or zhereford@cdfms.org

Express Employment Professionals Associates of the Quarter Nancy Blanchard was recently honored as the Express Employee Professionals Associate of The Quarter. Nancy was chosen based on her outstanding work, cooperation with fellow team members, and her perfect attendance record!

Nancy received a Visa Gift card, and other prize items from Express Employment Professionals. Express Employment Professionals is owned by Julianne and Jim Goodwin and has been servicing industrial, clerical, and managerial needs of Clients in this area for over 25 years. Please come see us.

Joey Moore

Hunter-Douglas 1st Shift Supervisor

ReneĂŠ Bell

Senior Staffing Consultant, Express Employment Professionals

Nancy Blanchard Express Employment Associate of the Month

Katie Walton Hunter-Douglas Human Resources Manager

810 Garfield St. Tupelo

842-5500

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CHAMBER CONNECTION

SEPTEMBER 2014

CHAMBER CONNECTION

TUPELO EYE CENTER OPTICAL SHOP

SEPTEMBER 2014

HALLE JO’S BOUTIQUE

In celebration of its completed remodel, the Tupelo Eye Center Optical Shop held a ribbon cutting. Conveniently located inside Tupelo Eye Center at 610 Brunson Dr., The Optical Shop’s courteous staff can help you find fashionable frames that flatter your eyes and style without breaking your budget. Call Tupelo Eye Center Optical (662) 844-3814 for an appointment or visit tupeloeyecenteroptical.com.

Halle Jo’s Boutique held a ribbon cutting in celebration of its grand opening at 3466 McCullough Blvd., Ste. C in Belden. Halle Jo’s Boutique provides customers a wide selection of fashionable clothing and accessories at the most affordable prices.

Halle Jo’s Boutique can be contacted at (662) 523-9197, online at shophallejos.com or on Facebook.

Mugshots Grill & Bar held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new location in Tupelo’s Downtown Fairpark District. The restaurant will be the 13th location for the Mugshots Franchise and is expected to open early 2015.

Mugshots Grill & Bar breaks ground in Tupelo

Mugshots Grill & Bar held a groundbreaking ceremony for the 2015 opening in Tupelo’s Fairpark District. “It’s an exciting time for the Mugshots brand and family,” said Mugshots Grill & Bar COO, Chris Banchero. “We’re extremely excited about taking the Mugshots brand to the Tupelo area and becoming part of the local community.”

“We couldn’t be more

excited about bringing the Mugshots brand to Tupelo, and at the same time helping further the development of the downtown area,” said local franchise owner, Johnny Robbins.

Mugshots also announced a partnership with the Tupelo/Lee Humane Society for the company’s ‘Eat Good, Give Back’ fundraising event that will be held prior to opening day.

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MUGSHOTS

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MUGSHOTS GRILL & BAR opened its first location in Hattiesburg, MS in 2004 serving up grilled specialty burgers, cold beer and familyfriendly fun. The franchise has 11 locations in three states with two more locations slated to open in late 2014 and early 2015 before the Tupelo, MS opening. The newest Mugshots Grill & Bar location will be opening in Auburn, Ala., in mid September of this year. For more information, visit mugshotsgrillandbar.com.

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Together, we’re better

Visiting Harvard MBAs reflect on their time in the South, Tupelo

BY ARIEL AVILA AND NAMRATA BHATTACHARYA

CITY: Tupelo, Mississippi ORGANIZATION: The Renasant Center for IDEAs, an incubator that is committed to fostering entrepreneurship in Tupelo.

CHALLENGE: Develop tools that can be used by small businesses to tackle various growth challenges, including advertising, target market selection, profitability analysis, hiring, and more.

IMPACT: From our interviews with 13 small businesses at The Renasant Center for IDEAs, we discovered some common challenges facing many small businesses around selecting and engaging customers, choosing the best customers and projects and evaluating staffing needs. Based on these needs, we developed tools that these businesses could use to address their concerns. We created an easy-to-use financial model that will help business owners evaluate project choices based on estimated profitability, an overview of digital marketing, a guide to hiring the first employee and a database of time-saving free or low-cost resources.

WELCOME TO TUPELO

Following our Louisiana adventure, we delved deeper into the heartland of America – this time to the hometown of Elvis Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi. We spent the week working with The Renasant Center for IDEAs, an

A group of Harvard MBAs helping with tornado cleanup efforts during their week in Tupelo as part of the MBA’s Across America program. incubator that is deeply committed to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in the town of Tupelo, houses more than 20 small businesses from a wide variety of industries, from real estate to massage therapy. Our task was to develop a series of tools that these small businesses could use to address their biggest challenges and help take their businesses to the next level.

After two days of interviews with the entrepre-

neurs at The Renasant Center, we were amazed – it was incredible to be offered such a unique window into the lives of these men and women. We learned so much just by listening to entrepreneurs such as Chuck McIntosh of McIntosh Creative Services and Pansey Bradley of Tidy Cleanup. We also realized that there was an opportunity for them to benefit from our professional and academic experiences. It dawned on us that while separately we

Interested in starting a business? Let the Renasant Center for IDEAs and the MS Small Business Development Center help you get started.

‘How to Develop a Business Plan’ September 16 1:00pm

‘Starting a Business – First Steps’ September 18 1:00pm

To register for a workshop or for more information, contact Dana Cawthon at 1-800-725-7232 or (662) 680-6988.

could certainly do some good work, together we were even better.

Rather than go into excruciating detail about the easy-to-use financial model that we built or the digital marketing presentation we created (although we trust that these tools will help the entrepreneurs think about their businesses differently and will be important resources moving forward!), we learned more than we could have ever imagined during our week in Tupelo.

First, being an entrepreneur is incredibly difficult, and we certainly have a newfound respect for individuals who are brave enough to chase their dreams and turn their visions into a reality. As MBA students, we have spent our fair share of time in the classroom closely studying start-ups and small businesses from every corner of the world. Sitting in Aldrich Hall on Harvard’s campus, we developed an uncanny knack for raising our hands and questioning the business sense of

entrepreneurs in hindsight. Why wasn’t he more focused on building a pipeline of projects from the start? Did she realize that advancing payments to her suppliers and holding inventory for several months would eventually lead to a cash flow crisis?

In reality, these entrepreneurs are being pulled in a million different directions. At every turn, they constantly have to choose between doing the very thing that they’re passionate about (i.e. drawing cartoons, selling homes, editing videos) and the more mundane tasks that keep the business running smoothly (i.e. advertising, generating leads, managing cash flow). Wearing so many different hats and balancing your time between investing in your product or service and maintaining your business is certainly no easy feat!

Secondly, we were truly inspired by the incredible passion that we saw in each of the entrepreneurs.

In just our first conversations with them, it was ob-

vious that they had found tremendous meaning in their work, and their businesses were much more than just a means to an end. We listened intently as Reta Doughty of Pinnacle Realty told us about how much she loves her job because she’s able to really support young people through one of the most important decisions of their lives – buying a home. In every graduation speech we’ve been told how important it is to find something that you love and to spend your life doing it – but in Tupelo, we saw it firsthand. It’s truly the difference between making a living and making a life.

And lastly, in Tupelo, we uncovered the incredible power of community that exists in towns all over America. As we spoke with entrepreneurs, it became clear that there was certainly some benefit that they could garner from online marketing, their own local networks, strong reputations in town, and word-of-mouth references.

This type of outreach had been more than sufficient to carry their businesses for years. It was truly inspiring to see the benefits of being part of a business community where people knew each other and trusted one another.

We also learned firsthand about Tupelo’s resilience in the face of tragedy. Mid-week, we helped with clean-up efforts following April’s tornado, and were impressed and moved by Tupelo’s spirit.

HELPING WITH TORNADO CLEAN-UP EFFORTS

It was amazing to see a community come together and help family, friends and neighbors rebuild in the midst of such a difficult time. As we leave Tupelo this week, we are thankful and humbled by all that we learned from the incredible folks at The Renasant Center for IDEAs and the surrounding community.

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CHAMBER CONNECTION

SEPTEMBER 2014

CHAMBER CONNECTION

Team Harvard: The New South

BY ARIEL AVILA AND NAMRATA BHATTACHARYA

Most of our team had spent little to no time in the South. Our perception of the South had been shaped by television shows, news reports and stories from friends that had traveled or lived in the area. As a Latino, I was a bit nervous about traveling in the South given its racial history. I asked myself: Would people stare at me? Would I be pulled over?

Would I be called a derogatory name? Living in northern cities, I had never considered these questions.

Economically, we knew that the South is one of the poorer regions in the United States and we weren’t quite sure what to expect.

Our travels over the course of these two weeks allowed us the opportunity to hit some well-known Southern cities: New Orleans, Biloxi, Tuscaloosa, Tupelo, Memphis, and Little Rock. From what we’ve read about the history of the South in the 1950s and 1960s, the region has absolutely come a long way.

Throughout our travel, we saw people from various backgrounds working together to push their cities and businesses forward. In Tupelo, one of the most successful small businesses, Tidy Cleanup, is run by a team of two women – one

African-American and the other White. They refer to each other as “sisters.”

Beyond Tupelo, we were happy to see similar stories.

In Memphis, our Lyft driver talked about how much the South has changed during her lifetime. She is proud to work in an office that promotes and appreciates racial diversity. Stopping at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King’s assassination, we were thankful to the courageous men, women, and children who fought for Civil Rights, which allow our team – a Jewish guy from New Jersey, a White woman from Illinois, an Indian woman from Texas, and a Latino guy from Illinois, to travel together. But, we were also moved by the mosaic of people we saw walking through the museum–the Civil Rights Movement’s reach went far beyond the African-American community.

CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM AT THE LORRAINE MOTEL

Economically, the South has come a long way over the past fifty years as well. According to Forbes, from 1990 to 2010, most Southern States are in the top-half of American states for private sector job creation while only New Hampshire from the North makes the list. During

our travels, we saw many economic opportunities. In New Orleans, a vibrant startup scene and the city’s rich culture attract young entrepreneurs from across the country. It’s no longer only native New Orleanians that are working to transformThe Big Easy. In Tupelo, the Renasant Center for IDEAS houses several small businesses that are poised for growth and the city has also successfully attracted larger businesses such as a Toyota manufacturing plant, which brought over 1,000 new jobs to the area.

In the end, we leave the South with a better appreciation of its history, culture, struggles and transformation. We also leave with hope because the work here is not done; hope that the South will continue moving forward –providing equal opportunities to all its people; hope that it will continue to tear down any remaining racial and economic barriers; and, hope that it will not forget those poignant moments in history that helped transform the South and the rest of the country. As Charles Hamilton Houston, a noted Civil Rights attorney, said, “Maybe the next generation will be able to take time out to rest, but we have too far to go and too much work to do. Shout if you can, but don’t shout out too soon.”

Walmart Express to open in Nettleton A new Walmart Express store will open later this year in Nettleton, Miss. The smaller format store is approximately 12,000-squarefeet and will feature a pharmacy and offer groceries and general merchandise, including an assortment of fresh produce, dairy and meats, dry goods, consumables, health and beauty aids, over-the-counter medicines and more, including a gas station. The pharmacy will offer a full range of products and services.

Pharmacy team members can answer product and prescription questions and

customers can ask about health and wellness solutions.

“The addition of Walmart Express to our community is great news for our local economy, bringing approximately 30 jobs to Nettleton,” said Mayor Jimmy Taylor. “We look forward to the community joining us at a grand-opening celebration later this year.”

In addition to all of the benefits to customers, the Nettleton Walmart Express will benefit the community by generating additional tax revenue, stimulating new investment and economic growth and provid-

ing 30 jobs with the opportunity to build a career.

“Nettleton customers tell us they want convenience and we are bringing it to them,” said Tice White, Walmart Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations. “The Nettleton Walmart Express store will provide that quick and easy way to access fresh food and household essentials at our everyday low prices.”

The new store will be located on Will Robbins Highway. The store is part of the retailer’s plans to launch new, smaller stores across the U.S. by January 2015.

SEPTEMBER 2014

CHAMBER PROGRAMS & SERVICES The Chamber provides business development seminars, networking opportunities, community leadership classes, publicity for your business, and much more. As an engaged Chamber member, you’ll provide business leadership for the entire community.You’ll also benefit from discounts, services, and opportunities designed to help ensure your success.

CHAMBER CONNECTION 2.0 (CC 2.0) E-NEWSLETTER With nearly 2,000 subscribers, members are encouraged to submit announcements, advertisements, awards, etc. for the monthly publication.

Constant Contact expert Marvin Smith speaks to Chamber members on the power of social media and e-mail marketing during a recent Chamber Seminar. Chamber seminars feature an array of topics focused on the practical applications of business tools that enhance the growth and development of both individuals and companies.

Leadership Institute is a twoyear program designed to enCHAMBERADVANTAGE hance community leadership CDF’s ChamberAdvantage development and to encouraffinity program features ex- age personal and professional clusive chamber member dis- growth. counts, products, or services offered by program particiLIVABILITY TUPELO/LEE pants.

COUNTY MAGAZINE Advertise in this award-winBUSINESS AFTER HOURS ning, CDF-sponsored quality of Business After Hours offers life magazine distributed to all members the opportunity to CDF members, including area meet other business repre- hotels, health care facilities, sentatives, exchange ideas, restaurants, and more. and make important long-lasting bonds in a relaxed social RIBBON CUTTING setting.

CEREMONIES Take advantage of this BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE ‘photo opp’ gaining publicity Join fellow CDF members for your business with a picat this bi-monthly networking ture and brief business profile meeting as they give brief, in- published in an upcoming formative reports. Over 50 issue of the Daily Journal’s member businesses are rep- Northeast MS Business Jourresented at each meeting. nal.

trade show and premier business networking event for the entire community features over 90 exhibitors and draws a crowd of over 1,300 attendees.

TUPELO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS The TYP’s mission is to bring together a group of young, active, and civicminded individuals who have a clear vision of Tupelo/Lee County’s future as a great place to live and work.

WAKE UP! TUPELO/LEE COUNTY Wake Up! Tupelo/Lee County features a full buffet breakfast, experts, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions addressing issues that directly impact our communities and our businesses.

JIM INGRAM COMMUNITY TASTE OF TUPELO Interested in joining CDF? LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE As the Chamber’s largest Call (662) 842-4521 or visiting The Jim Ingram Community event of the year, this regional cdfms.org.

Join us for New Member Networking New CDF members and new employees of current CDF members are invited to attend.

Tuesday, September 30 4:00 p.m.

398 E Main St., CDF Center CDF Boardroom

Bring your business cards and co-workers, and come network with other new CDF members. Each member in attendance will have the opportunity to give a 20-second introduction.

This event is free for CDF members. Registration required.

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A

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Asking questions none are asking

s busiand catholic aunesses, we diences.” are guilty As a business of spendowner and maring a lot of time keting consultant answering I am expected to unasked quesknow a certain tions in an atnumber of things tempt to get more in my particular looks from potenfield that other Marketing people don’t. tial customers.

We’re not the only That’s why people Matters guilty party; the decide to employ fire hose of ads the services of my JOSH and information agency. At the MABUS is a symptom of same time, “How the digital age in much do you which we live. know?” has never One of our embeen the first ployees recently spent question a potential client some time researching asked me. They also rarely the websites of marketing ask me to tell them about agencies that specialize in what else they should be education marketing. worrying. Most clients These companies have want to know how I can impressive bodies of help their business grow work, but instead of and how I can prove my telling visitors their core methods work. services and offering a When we introduce quick way to connect, ourselves in a business they choose to front-load setting, we say as much as their websites with rewe can in the amount of search papers and blogs time it takes to shake detailing tips like, “…lead hands. generation for transfer For example, “I’m Josh

Mabus and my agency can use smart branding and clear messaging to increase your business.” But for some reason, when we have a brochure, website or any other first-impression media, we spend the first few pages showing off and leave the end user searching to clarify what we can do for them.

As a rule, I try to think of the first page or initial lines of a brochure or website as a place to entice the end user to stay and spend time reading about the things I know and the auxiliary services I can offer. If I don’t interest prospective clients, they should leave, and if I do, they can keep reading.

A concise statement of services leaves the conversation open and gives me the opportunity to show the clients how I can tailor my services and products to fit their needs.

Business owners have a unique opportunity to beat established compa-

nies in their messaging, especially online, by getting straight to the point.

The goal isn’t to bog down prospective business partners with information and frustration until they feel obligated to partner.

If “who,” and “what,” stated clearly, are the first things a potential client or customer sees, their level of confusion is lowered, and the following conver-

sation will be more successful.

Anyone worried a concise statement of products or services will hinder their ability to lay out all of their products or fully show off their acumen should take a step back and look at the larger picture of who their customer is and what they want to communicate.

To make sure you’re

communicating with and meeting the needs of your customers, make these two consistent priorities: Seek to know your customers, and lead with what you know.

JOSH MABUS is the owner of The Mabus Agency, a marketing and advertising company in Tupelo. Contact him at (662) 823-2100 or josh@mabusagency.com.

WHERE A GREAT PERFORMANCE...

Is An Everyday Event!

Built in the heart of the Mid-South, the BancorpSouth Arena & Conference Center is designed to accommodate events that demand comfort, convenience, and flexibility.

375 East Main • Tupelo 841-6573 • 718-5555 fax www.bcsarena.com

LET US CATER YOUR NEXT TAILGATING EVENT!!!

1010 N. GLOSTER • TUPELO • 205-8751 • RESTAURANTSOUTH.COM

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

SEPTEMBER 2014

BUSINESS JOURNAL

SEPTEMBER 2014

Business Directory Apartments

Automotive Commercial Vehicles

Barley Court Apartments

Bank

1608 S. GLOSTER TUPELO

Accepting applications for 1, 2, 3, & 4 bedroom Affordable Housing

Call Robin Barnett today!

662-841-8743 rbarnett@trustmark.com

840 Barley Court • Tupelo, MS 38801

662-566-2553

M-F 9am - 12pm • 1 pm - 5 pm Office Manager: Melissa Phelps

THE FAST LANE FOR SMALL BUSINESS

CALL JIM BROWN 662.231.2392

Apartments

Affordable Luxury Apartment Homes 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom

111 Grand Ole Oaks Drive Belden, MS 38826

Journal, Inc.

www.GrandOleOaks.com

Crystal Gray

Inside Sales Consultant

Give Us One Day… We’ll Give You A Beautiful New Bathroom!

1242 South Green Street Tupelo, MS | 38804 djournal.com

Phone 662.678.1530 (o) Fax 662.620.8301(f) crystal.gray@journalinc.com

Bank

***HILLDALE APARTMENTS***

Tupelo Lending Office

Applications For 1 ,2,3 & 4 bedroom apartments are currently being accepted!!!

Our management office is open during the hours of 8:00AM5:00PM and is located at 320 Monument Dr., Tupelo, MS 38801. Only one application per household will be accepted.

If you have a disability and are unable to come into the office, call 662-844-4267 and request one to be mailed to you. All applications will be date & time stamped & reviewed in the order in which they are received.

662-205-8548

2015 McCullough Blvd. • Tupelo, MS 38801

431 W Main Suite 201 Jamie Osbirn Ron Roper Leslie Stacy

662.844.3419 fanb.net

Member

Apartments

Equal Housing

LENDER

Bank

Building Supplies Rex & Diannah Coggins, Owners

Apartment Homes

Ask about our Military & Law Enforcement Discount

Call 662-891-5000

3260 Hwy 145 N. • Tupelo, MS 38804

Automotive Commercial Vehicles

Licensed And Insured

Blinds

FDIC

1, 2, & 3 Bedrooms Move-In Special *FREE RENT

FREE IN HOME ESTIMATE

www.bathfitter.com

Apartments

** Preferences & Income Restrictions Apply **

Bath Remodeling Shower Remodeling Tub-To-Shower Conversion Bathroom Accessories Handicap Accessible

Newspaper • Magazine • Interactive • Commerical Print

Carey Wilson Manager

office: 662.823.1470 • fax: 662.823.1474 • cell:662.231.7508

Bath Remodeling

Bank Of Okolona

Okolona P.O. Box 306 Okolona, Mississippi 38860

(662) 447-5403

Houston Banking Center 321 W. Madison St. Houston, Mississippi

(662) 456-3347

Bank of Mantee 54 1st Street Mantee, Mississippi

(662) 456-5341

www.bankofokolona.com

Bank

Ph: (662) 365-7021

N H A R Fax: (662) 365-8902 Y DW & DW AR L E SUPPLY, INC. BA • Full Service • Hardware • Building Supplies • Plumbing • Hydraulic Hoses

• Electrical • Glass • Valspar Paints • Welding Supplies • Portable Carports

1187 North 4th St. ¥ Baldwyn, MS 38824

Collision Repair

Your 5-Star, A Rated Bank

by Bauer Financial and Weiss Ratings

Whether you’re hauling or delivering...Call

DWAYNE BLACKMON CHEVROLET for your commercial vehicle needs!

1410 SOUTH GLOSTER / TUPELO / 842-3611

24 Hour Wrecker Service

We take care of your money.

We take care of you.

◆ Junior Burns - Cell 662-728-0524 ◆ David Denson - Cell 662-416-5591 100 W. Veterans Drive • Booneville, MS 38829

Phone 662-728-4459 • Fax (662) 728-4150

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PAGE 17

Business Directory Building Supplies

Concrete

Commercial Cleaning Services

Lumbe ville r Boone Company Full Line of Lumber, Hardware, Plumbing and Electrical Supplies 2300 E. Chambers Dr. • Booneville • 728-0094

Booneville Hardware & Supply

224 Starlyn Ave. New Albany, MS 38652

403 Church St. • Booneville • 728-0032 "For all your hardware needs"

662-534-4448

401 Elizabeth St. • Tupelo 662-842-7305

Commercial Plumbing

Event Venue

Fine Furniture, Fabric, & Flooring

RH PLUMBING, INC. Commercial Plumbing, Gas & Industrial Piping RICHARD HANLON (662) 447-3213

P.O. BOX 417 Okolona, MS 38860

Thank you for choosing RH Plumbing. We appreciate your business

Furniture

T h e G o o d l e tt M a n o r

Available for Weddings, Receptions, Parties and Meetings For Information Call 844-2772

at affordable prices.

662-489-1176

7540 Veterans Hwy. West • Pontotoc, MS 38863

Healthcare

Mon.-Fri. 9am - 5pm

219 N o r t h B ro a d way • Tu p e l o

Fine Furniture, Fabric, & Flooring

Gifts

Glass & Overhead Doors

Okolona Drug Co.

We’ve got all your

home furnishings

903 Varsity Dr. Tupelo, MS

Complete Prescription Service

We Accept All Medicare Part D Plans • • • • •

Gifts & Fenton Glass Tyler Candles Aromatique Arthur Court Lenox & Gorham China

• Adora Dolls & Lee Middleton Dolls • Ole Miss & Miss. State Collegiate Items • NEW Casseroles to Go!

210 West Main Street Okolona, MS (662) 447-5471

Home Improvement

Serving Tupelo for 3 Generations

24 Hour Emergency Service

Store Fronts • Mirrors Shower Doors • Garage Doors Commercial Doors Hollow Metal Doors

662-844-4540

“Serving Tupelo for 3 Generations”

711 ROBERT E. LEE DR. • TUPELO, MS

“Experience Is The Difference”

FAX:662-620-7754 Insulation

Serving Lee, Chickasaw, Monroe, Pontotoc, Union, Calhoun, Itawamba, & Lafayette Counties.

Call 601-427-5973 Between 8am - 1pm

Insurance

Hancock Insurance Agency INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES ATV • Life • Health Annuities • RV • Automobile Motorcycle • Home Mobile Home Medicare Supplements

Scott Hancock

Allen Hancock

Monthly Rates Available

662-534-2661 720 W . Bankhead St. New Albany

(662) 963-2825

rafcomhs@gmail.com

Windows, Doors, Tubs, Skirting, Fixtures, and More!!

Installation available!!!

Kennels

Member of the QCN Network. Saving You Money And Making You More Comfortable For Over 38 Years Residential & Commercial Insulation, Installation Blown-In Attic Insulation - Blown-in Wall Insulation - Batting www.nsul8or@att.net www.nsul8or.com

662-844-1306

3166 West Jackson, Tupelo, MS

Locksmith

MILLER’S SAFE & LOCK SERVICE, INC.

NEW & USED SAFES

• Safes Serviced & Installed • Locks Installed • Locksets • Combinations Changed • Locks Rekeyed • Lost Keys Replaced • Master Key Systems • High Security Keys AUTO RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL

(662) 842-7720

1219 1⁄2 NELLE STREET • TUPELO

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

SEPTEMBER 2014

BUSINESS JOURNAL

SEPTEMBER 2014

Business Directory Moving

Medical

Furniture

, PA

Comprehensive Medical Care For Your Family or Business

Call for a Free Estimate

Bronzie Morgan

Appointments & Walk-Ins Welcome

Mon-Fri. 8 - 6:30 Sat. 9 - 6 Sun. 1 - 6

1154 Cross Creek Dr. (Next to Home Depot)

840-8010

Relocation Specialist

662-842-1120

Lee Wallace, CFNP David W. Bell, MD Leigh Ann Weatherly, CFNP

30,000 SQUARE FT. WAREHOUSE QUALITY PREOWNED OFFICE FURNITURE

“The Morgan Family has been moving families like yours for over 50 years”

277 Community Dr. • Tupelo • 662.871.0568

Real Estate

Real Estate

Paint

www.whittingtonofficefurniture.com

Thinking of Selling Your Home or Property?

Residential Rentals

We Have Six Full-Time Agents Pontotoc Ridge Realty, Ltd. Who Call MOSSY OAK PROPERTIES OFFICE Pontotoc Home. ISEACH INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Call Us Today 662-489-2848

renttupelo.com Call 662.844.2772 • Hoyet & Helen Pitts

Restaurant

Restaurant

Restaurant

Party Trays for all Occasions! ¥ Pizza Spaghetti ¥ Salad Bar ¥ Sandwich ¥ Pasta Special Every Thursday

365-7059

1101 W. Main • Tupelo 842-3774

709 S 4th St. • Baldwyn, MS

Mon.-Thurs. 11-10 • Fri.-Sat. 11-11 • Sun. 12-10

at

W • Drink Not Included • Kid's Menu Only

Storage Building

Roofing

Restaurant

• Max 2 FREE Kids with Adult Entree • 12 Years and Under

499 Gloster Creek Village, Tupelo, MS 38801 Phone: (662) 844-4888 Fax: (662) 844-3006

HE

EL

ER

RO

INC.

OF

Mooreville

ING

OPEN

“A Family Business Since 1946”

• Residential • Commercial • Industrial FREE Estimates

Tupelo • Tuesdays 3 - 9 pm • 495 S. Gloster • 680-3354 New Albany • Thursdays 5 - 9 pm • 534-2700 Corinth • Tuesdays 4 - 9 pm • 286-9007

411 CLARK ST. TUPELO 844-4481

Technology

Uniforms

LICENSED & INSURED

BAIT SHOP

7 DAYS!

Minnows Available Live Bait, Tackle, Rod & Reels

LOW MONTHLY PAYMENTS

397-2907 662-680-6916

Foundation Repair & Problem Flooring

Achieve greater network per for mance with less.

It's time to get more performance from your network with far less. As in less bandwidth utilization, fewer resources, and less cost.

ADVANCED RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FACILITY 1150 SOUTH GREEN ST • BUILDING 1, SUITE E • TUPELO,MS 662-821-2500 • www.circadence.com

Keeping Professional People Looking Professional 795 S. Gloster, Tupelo • (662) 844-4272 2316 Hwy. 45 N. Columbus • (662) 328-7777 1151 D. Frontage Rd. Oxford • (662) 513-0341

www.scrubsandco.com

All

types of floor and slab footing problems.

• Concrete Bell Bottom Pier System • Helical Steel Pier System • Conventional Flooring Leveling • Sill, Joist and Beam Repairs • Totally Rebuild Floor Foundation • Wood Floor Deterioration mold, mildew, fungi, dry rot, brown rot - wet rot • Specializing in Bathroom Repair • Moisture Proofing Airvents - improper ventilation & additional foundation vents Force Air Blower fans, (increase circulation)

Roger Rakestraw

1-877-288-7395 662-534-6698

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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SEPTEMBER 2014

PAGE 19

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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PAGE 20 SEPTEMBER 2014