Ribbon Cutting: Coal City Coffee
Chamber Member of the Month: Annie’s Frugal Finery
Chamber Celebrates
(606) 432-2006
Ribbon Cutting: Coal City Coffee
The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Pine Mountain Partnership, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 21, 2024, to celebrate the grand opening of Coal City Coffee’s second location. The new coffee shop is the latest effort by SmileFaith to expand its support for free dental clinics throughout the region.
This marks Coal City Coffee’s second location, with the first being inside SmileFaith in Jenkins, KY. SmileFaith, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of local residents, started Coal City Coffee as a fundraising initiative; for every item the shop sells, a portion of the money is donated to the Smile Faith Foundation, to bring free dental care to those who are underinsured. The grand opening event featured live music, refreshments, and Coal City Coffee’s signature brews.
Local media outlet WYMT was on-site to cover the festivities which were attended by community members, elected officials, and business leaders to celebrate this exciting new venture.
“We are thrilled to see Coal City Coffee expand its reach with this second location,” said Jordan Gibson, President and CEO of the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “Not only does this business offer excellent coffee, but it also directly benefits the health of our community by funding SmileFaith’s free dental clinics. It’s a wonderful example of the kind of socially responsible business we are proud to support.”
The Southeast Kentucky Chamber and Pine Mountain Partnership are excited to support Coal City Coffee as it continues to grow and make a positive impact in the region.
Chamber Celebrates Annual
The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce hosted their 2024 Annual Awards Night on Thursday, September 12, 2024. This year was one of the largest awards banquets in recent years with more than 400 members in attendance and 46 members businesses sponsoring the event.
The evening began with a reception and networking opportunities at 5 pm, and the dinner and the awards celebration began at 6:30 pm. Chamber President & CEO, Jordan Gibson, along with Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, Kansas Justice, led the ceremony. The event included awards presentations, as well as remarks from Mr. Gibson, and Mrs. Justice, and Kentucky State
Champion of the National Civics Bee, Ava June Tackett. There were ten awards presented to recipients this year, listed below. Also recognized were three businesses who have been longtime members of the Chamber: Economy Drug Co. Inc. with 52 years, Landmark Hotel with 58 years, and Community Trust Bank with 67 years of membership and investment in the Chamber of Commerce. Community Trust Bank has been a member since the Chamber’s inception in 1957.
“Annual Awards Night is our way of celebrating our members and their accomplishments,” said Chamber President & CEO, Jordan Gibson. “We’re so grateful for all the support we have received from our members over
Annual Awards Night 2024
the years, and Awards Night is one small way we can give back and let the community know about the great work being done by our members.”
Drs. R.V. and Jyothi Mettu, who received the Citizens of the Year award, remarked, “We both had an amazing experience at Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Night 2024. We both are very grateful for the recognition and feel honored for this award, Citizens of the Year. It was seamlessly presented, well planned, well organized and well executed program. The video introduction, presentation of the service of the individuals and the local businesses was very informative. It is also impressive to learn how
the Chamber supports the local businesses, economic growth with various programs. Mrs. Kansas Justice, Chairwoman and CEO Jordan Gibson have made the Chamber and Annual Awards Night a bright light for our community.”
Videos and photos from 2024 Annual Awards can be found on the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’ YouTube page at www.youtube.com/sekchamber.
Chamber Celebrates Annual Award Recipients
Volunteer of the Year: Eva Stewart
Citizens of the Year: Drs. R.V. and Jyothi Mettu
Business Person of the Year: Casey Lequire
Business of the Year: Brown Foodservice
Service Organization of the Year: Pikeville Rotary Club
Annual Awards Night 2024
Recipients
Outstanding Contribution by an Organization: Pikeville Area Family YMCA
Junior Williamson, East Kentucky Ambassador: Joshua Ball
Lon B. & Mary Evelyn Rogers Lifetime Achievement Award: Cheryl Hickman
Small Business of the Year: A-Z Event Planning
Business of the Year: Lawson Cancer Center
“We’re like a consignment supercenter, we have a little bit of everything,” is how owner Debbie Campbell described her business, Annie’s Frugal Finery, located on Jenkins Road in Whitesburg.
When I walked through the door into the consignment store, I was met with a mannequin dressed in a chic outfit and then immediately greeted by a friendly voice, “Hi! Welcome in!”
Stepping fully into the room, I turn and see a demurely dressed woman in red lipstick smiling at me and she says, “Are you Katie? I’m Debbie Campbell.”
Debbie invited me to look around the store and take pictures before we sat down to talk about the business. So, I did. As I made my way through, I noticed on a wall packed to the brim of women’s tops and blouses that they were all arranged in color order, creating a rainbow of different styles and textures. Light green flowing into darker shades and then into the blues, everything meticulously organized. There were dresses, designer handbags, a whole wall of women’s jeans, men’s clothing, and a children’s section. There was a lot to take in!
Debbie and I went upstairs, to a large room that held all the home goods—furniture, throw pillows, knickknacks, and artwork. We sat down and she began to tell me her story.
Chamber Member Annie’s Frugal
Growing up, Debbie loved to go to yard sales with her mom, and it’s something she likes to do with her daughter, Annie, too. She started Annie’s Frugal Finery when she retired from education in 2009. “I’ve always liked working,” she said.
Her passion for taking care of the environment is part of why she got into consignment. “You wouldn’t believe how much water is needed just to make one pair of Levi’s,” she told me. “Everything here experiences the circle of life. We re-use and try to be environmentally friendly. We use solar panels and efficient lights. We want to make it where we walk the walk.” They even recycle the hangers they use!
Debbie is also passionate about taking care of her community. At Annie’s Frugal Finery, consigners get a share of 50% of the profits made from the items sold. That means, if you consign a pair of jeans, and they sell that pair for $20, you get $10 from that sale. Compared to consignment stores in larger cities who only give about 25% of the profits, what Annie’s Frugal Finery offers is an amazing deal! They take pride in giving their consigners a great percentage because they know that every one of those dollars goes back into the community. And it’s not just dollars being spent in Whitesburg, those dollars are going back to Paintsville, Pikeville, Hazard, and Virginia.
the Month:
Frugal Finery
Annie’s Frugal Finery has a large reach in this region. They have about 4,000 consigners from 22 counties in Kentucky, 5 different states; tons of people are catching on to consignment! Because of the structure of profit sharing with their consigners, the business has been able to help a lot of people through tough times. Debbie told me the story about a college-student who consigned with Annie’s. The student later wrote a thank you note to Debbie saying, “I couldn’t have afforded a lot of stuff in college if I hadn’t consigned with you.” She gave another example of a high-schooler that was able to get a suit for homecoming, something he couldn’t have afforded at a department store. When it comes to consignment, this is not your typical thrift store. The items that they accept are thoroughly inspected and authenticated through meticulous procedures to make sure they only sell quality products. They go over items with a proverbial fine tooth comb to make sure there are no defects. Debbie said, “We have procedures and policies of how we go through things, and we do have high standards.” These high standards Annie’s Frugal Finery has for their product highlight the pride they take in the business. Giving their consigners high profit share and offering affordable prices to their customers, translates into how
Debbie takes care of her employees, as well. She is able to pay above minimum wage, give paid holidays, and offer a great work-life balance. She’s taken her employees on a retreat to Georgia for team building and even some consignment shopping!
Debbie remarked, “I love consignment and resale and want to provide people with sustainable product.” There’s a lot of love flowing at Annie’s Frugal Finery; it’s palpable, and I think that’s why the business has been so successful. Taking care of consigners, customers and employees while remaining environmentally conscious has made an economic impact on Southeast Kentucky and surrounding areas, and I can’t wait to see how they expand and continue to grow!
Be sure to follow Annie’s Frugal Finery for the latest information and to claim items while they last! You can also visit their website at www.anniesfrugalfinery.com or call (606) 633-4829.
Plaque Presentation: ServPro of Pike, Floyd and Knott Counties
The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Servpro of Pike, Floyd, and Knott Counties as a new member. A membership plaque was presented to the company on August 30, 2024. Servpro has 2,200 franchise locations nationwide serving 97% of all US zip codes within two hours and are available 24/7 for emergency services. The company is ranked #1 in the restoration industry and is an IICRC certified firm. They specialize and are certified in water damage, structural drying and fire damage, as well as many other services. Although Servpro primarily services Floyd, Pike, and Knott Counties, their service territory extends from Louisa to Hazard and also to Grundy, VA. Servpro of Pike, Floyd, and Knott Counties is owned and operated by Nathan Ratliff, who purchased the franchise from its previous owners in 2019. Over the years he has grown the business and provided services to over 600 customers, while retaining a 5-star Google review average. Mr. Ratliff plans to continue to grow the business and provide more reconstruction services in the future. His vision is for Servpro to be a household name and the first business that people think of when a disaster hits, cleaning services are needed, or they
need any type of reconstruction done to their home or business.
“Every day is a new challenge,” said Nathan Ratilff. “We’ve dealt with everything from houses submerged under water to boulders crashing through ceilings. We have an excellent team dedicated, working long hours, to bring our customers the best service possible. There’s no better feeling than completing a job after a disaster and seeing a smile on our customers’ faces. THAT is why we do what we do.”
“We’re so glad to welcome Servpro of Pike, Floyd, and Knott Counties as one of our newest members,” said Jordan Gibson, Southeast Kentucky Chamber President & CEO. “Their dedication to providing exceptional service in times of need is a testament to their commitment to our region. We look forward to supporting their continued growth and success as they serve and strengthen our local communities.”
For more information about Servpro of Pike, Floyd and Knott Counties, and to learn about all of the services they offer, please visit www.servpropikefloydknottcounties. com or call (606) 886-3826. You can also follow them on Facebook.
Surprise Patrol: Lynette Schindler CPA and
Bocook Engineering
The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce recently visited three businesses—Bocook Engineering, Lynette Schindler, CPA, and Pinch Aesthetics—as part of its Surprise Patrol initiative. All three were surprised with balloons and cupcakes to celebrate their contributions and long-standing commitment to the community. Bocook Engineering, a Chamber member for 3 years, is a trusted civil engineering firm serving the region. Lynette Schindler, CPA, has been a member since 1991, providing reliable accounting services for decades.
Pinch Aesthetics, a newer member since 2023, offers a variety of beauty services.
The Chamber celebrates the valuable impact each business has made. The Surprise Patrol initiative is the Chamber’s way of showing appreciation for its members’ involvement in supporting the local economy and community.
The Chamber looks forward to recognizing more members through future Surprise Patrol visits.
