Saturday, November 24, 2012
Just what is Small Business Saturday, and why should you support it in Lilburn?
Big name national retailers take the spotlight on Black Friday as their deep price cuts pull in shoppers in droves. What about those mom-and-pop businesses all over PATCH TOWN and beyond that are the backbone of America’s economy? Just when do they get their day? That’s basically the question that was asked back in 2010 when the concept of Small Business Saturday was born. Small Business Saturday is “a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities,” the U.S. Small Business Administration explains on its website. American Express gets the credit for founding the shopping holiday, which got its official start on Nov. 27, 2010, according to the Small Business Saturday Facebook page. Celebrating its third …
Saturday, November 17, 2012
City of Lilburn officials are offering holiday crime tips -- good to use all the time -- for residents as they gear up for the busiest shopping time of the year.
- HOLIDAY GUIDE
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Saturday, November 17, 2012
(Editor's Note: Re-printed with permission from the city of Lilburn. This article is included in the city's winter newsletter.) With the holidays rapidly approaching, our thoughts turn to buying, giving and receiving gifts, visiting friends and family, and sharing delightful culinary experiences. However, there are others whose thoughts are occupied with unattended houses or apartments, distracted shoppers with extra cash in a purse or wallet, or the next con job in the name of Christmas charity. Statistics show that crime usually increases during and after the holiday season. The reason is very simple: more people with more cash, gifts, gift cards and other valuables are out and about, which presents more opportunities for the criminal …
Friday, November 16, 2012
Small business owners offer tips for growing your business and offering more services to expand their business and clients.
There are numerous small businesses in Lilburn, and when starting one or expanding it can be a rather daunting process. Small business owner Linda Fuller is no stranger to starting a business from the ground up. In her recent interview with Patch Partners, a website connecting business owners to Patch in local communities, she offers insight into how she expanded her business’s services from just flowers to wine, beer and gourmet gift baskets at Lake Anne Florist in Reston, Va. Homework must be done first, she said. “Research what’s compatible with your own products and services, what the current trends are and what your competition is doing.” -- What tips do you have? What do you find challengingm in Lilburn? -- Melissa Baxter, owner of …
Thursday, November 15, 2012
How do you do you do your shopping for Christmas gifts?
Every year there is an increased drive to get shoppers into stores. Black Friday now gets an early start on Thanksgiving Thursday, Buy Local campaigns push Small Business Saturday shopping and technology and social media sites encourage Cyber Monday logins. The message is clear - shop early and shop often. So what is your shopping style for the holidays? Will you be shopping off your Thanksgiving meal on Thursday or Friday, supporting the small businesses in your area on Saturday or is the computer your preferred shopping mall on Cyber Monday? There are, of course, the traditional procrastinators too. Are you one of those shoppers found at the local drug store just before closing time on Christmas Eve? Let us know how you expect to get …
Start your holiday shopping at locally owned stores during Small Business Saturday.
Small Business Saturday is on Nov. 24 this year, two days after Thanksgiving. It is a day for everyone to support the small businesses that their community thrives on. American Express founded the day in 2010 to help small businesses get exposure during the holiday season, when they might be otherwise overlooked. With retailers buzzing around the holidays, it is important to support local small businesses that rely on their neighbors in order to continue prospering and building the local economy in Lilburn. -- TELL US: What small businesses do you patronize in Lilburn and what makes them great? Share in the comments below. -- "I believe it's important to shop locally because it creates a stronger business community and economy," said …
Back By Popular Demand settled in Lilburn in 1980, and the store is celebrating with special goodies for customers. Owner Melissa Baxter talks to Patch about what has kept the business going.
Back By Popular Demand, a consignment store in Lilburn, is celebrating its 32nd anniversary today, Nov. 15. According to owner Melissa Baxter, Back by Popular Demand (BBPD) is the oldest of its kind in the Atlanta area. On Nov. 15, the store will celebrating its 32-year history by offering cupcakes, cookies, and 32 percent off regularly priced items in the store. And, yes, that will include designer clothing, purses and shoes. Patch caught up with Baxter, who started working in the store at 15 and then bought it in 2002 when she was 20, for a few questions on how things are going. Baxter Q & A: 1. Thirty-two years is a long time. What do think have been the keys to your success? "Resale is like any other business and is effected by today's…
Friday, November 2, 2012
We regularly feature a Lilburn business. This week, we highlight Legacy Station, a train and hobby shop that recently moved from Lawrenceville.
Brian and Val Sheffield are the owners of the recently opened Legacy Station in the Beaver Ruin Village shopping center along Lawrenceville Highway. The hobby shop (including its online store) features mostly things for the train enthusiast, but there are items for those with classic toy interests. There's also an area called "Department 56," which has Christmas, Disney, and other toy sets or buildings. We stopped in to talk to the couple recently to see how business was going. ---------- Patch: When did you officially open in Lilburn, and what made you move to the area? Brian Sheffield: "We opened on Sept 3 2012. We liked the location and the management of the Beaver Ruin Village and they had a much larger space for us. We also really …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
AOL Chairman and CEO Tim Armstrong gives advice to small business owners via Patch Partners.
There are many small businesses in Lilburn. Some of them may be places you and your family frequent, businesses that have been in Lilburn for as long as you can remember. And some may be your go-to places instead of national chains. AOL Chairman and CEO Tim Armstrong may stand behind a global brand, but he believes in the power of small businesses. In his recent interview with Patch Partners, a website connecting business owners to Patch in local communities, he offered his insight into what can set a small business above the rest of the competition. Small businesses can hold a lot of power if they are intuitive with their customer base, Armstrong said. “Small businesses can be nimble and can have intimate relationships with their …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
We regularly feature a Lilburn business. This week, we head to Old Town Lilburn, where E'tali's Thrift Store Boutique is. Check them out this weekend during Lilburn Daze.
E'tali's Thrift Store Boutique is celebrating its first anniversary in business along Lilburn's Main Street. Owner Kimra Kimbrough is a lifelong resident of the area, and wanted to start the business as a way to better the community through fashion and art. It has been difficult, she said, to drum up local traffic to the business. Still, she says, "just to be here in the city for a year is a big deal." To help make it all work, Kimbrough has found other ways to grow support for her vision, including doing personal styling for red carpet events. She then turns around, and puts that money back into her business, including giving back with her nonprofit Kultural Love Fusion and renovating the 100-year-old house that her business is located in…
Wendy Carter
6:31 pm on Sunday, November 25, 2012
Thank you to all of the people who supported the businesses in Old Town Lilburn on Small Business Saturday. With your help we can keep Main Street- Lilburn alive and thriving. Thanks - New For You Boutique & Consignment. more ›