Big Red & Boeing

I would suspect that Boeing did not hire a SC-based ad agency in this latest color one-page ad in the Greenville News. I know it suppose to be South Carolina rolling out the red carpet for the airliner, but why did they have to put the Palmetto Tree & Crescent logo on the red carpet?

For those unaware of Big Red, here is a little bit of history. I've provided an excerpt below:

In the weeks following South Carolina's withdrawal from the United States in December 1860, a variety of "secession flags" were sewn and flown throughout the new republic. One such banner--a red flag with a white palmetto in its center--was presented to a company of Citadel cadets stationed on Morris Island...

Apparently the company was unaware of the symbol this flag has with the Confederacy and the Civil War. This will likely make the news.

Happy Bday Mrs. Dell

Just wanted to make note that it's Mrs. Dell's birthday. Hope that it's a joy filled day with many more to come.

Clemson MBA & Greenville, SC

It's official. Clemson's MBA Program is coming to Downtown Greenville. Per the GSA Business Journal:

Clemson University said today it will relocate its MBA program to the Bowater Building in downtown Greenville

The university leased 33,355 square feet of space, about one-and-a-half floors, at the Bowater Building, which overlooks the historic Reedy River falls and park. The 10-year agreement includes an option to purchase the building.

This relocation is likely going to help both Greenville & Clemson University.

Trademarking Yourself?

I was a bit surprised to learn in today's paper that South Carolina's first lady, Jenny Sanford, filed for a trademark on her name. As reported in The State Newspaper:

Jenny Sanford's trademark, according to the July 2 filings, is intended for items sold by an online retailer bearing her name. The merchandise listed on the filing includes clothing, mugs, "other household items," stickers, decals, notepads.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has not approved the trademark, asking her in September to provide more specifics about the merchandise she plans to sell....

[T]he trademark filing could indicate plans for a more public profile for Jenny Sanford.

Is Mrs. Sanford attempting to become the next "Martha Stewart" and is South Carolina ready to have items with her name attached to them? Time will tell...

Strategic Focus in South Carolina?

It appears that an Upstate South Carolina organization is planning to improve its efforts in business recruitment and address the region's unemployment.

The Upstate South Carolina Alliance has completed an in-depth study targeting four industry sectors for the organization's marketing efforts. They are the following, as reported from the Greenville News:

Advanced materials: (e.g.: Optoelectronics and photonics)
Within the industry, alliance officials also want to pursue plastics operations, including injection molding; metals components, including titanium applications; and fabrics and fibers, including headquarters of companies that can’t move operations offshore due to security reasons.

Automotive: (e.g. Automotive suppliers)
Also includes so-called boutique original equipment manufacturers of parts and accessories; and companies specializing in power train mechanisms and onboard electronics.

Biosciences: (e.g.: Medical devices)
Also includes contract research and development efforts and biomaterial operations, including tissue regeneration.

Energy (e.g.: Blades and generator bearings for wind operations)
Also includes nuclear components such as instrument valves; and systems solutions such as grid components, embedded sensors and automated metering devices.

The purpose in the study is to help the Upstate "retool its approach to marketing the region to business and industry." The study also provides a strategy to seek out the targeted industries, and determining the steps needed to attract them.

It's good to see that the Upstate region with a strategy. As expected, results will likely depend upon the strategy's accuracy and implementation. But knowing that there is a new strategy in the Upstate, I had to ask this question based upon South Carolina's high unemployment rate:

Does the State of South Carolina have a business recruitment strategy?

I don't have the answer but maybe someone else knows.

The story was also covered in The State Newspaper.

Clemson moving to Greenville?

Word is in the press about Clemson moving to Greenville. Is it true?

Based upon the story in the the GSA Business Journal, the rumor has been flittering around that Clemson's MBA program is moving into downtown Greenville. Per the article:

Clemson did not provide any more details, but the school has been looking for a downtown location for its MBA program.

Also in downtown Greenville, Clemson currently has the Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Clemson Renaissance Center, both in the Liberty Building on Main Street. The MBA program also has a presence at University Center on South Pleasantburg Drive....

Clemson officials did not say whether the venue for the new initiative is the Bowater Building, which is the site of Friday’s news conference. But the 100,000-square-foot building, which overlooks the Reedy River falls and park, has unoccupied space.

Guess it is rational to move the MBA program to an area where both the students and the business community can benefit. We should know more about the details this Friday.

Sunday Afternoon Hike

This past Sunday the Dells managed to spend the beautiful day hiking at Paris Mountain State Park (link to the friends of the park). Being only 10 minutes from Downtown Greenville made it an easy choice to escape for the day.

With beautiful weather and wonderful autumn color remaining, it made for an enjoyable day. One of the first trails - a category 9 out of 10 - was a bit of a challenge because it wasn't much of a trail. Instead it consisted of steep slopes and roots prepared to make one fall.

Overall it was a fun day just getting out. A few photos are on flickr.

Saturday Humor - Improv

If you love lunch and improv comedy, then by all means, watch this video.

The Thompson-Muller House

During my stay in Charleston this week, I discovered a bit of history of the place I was staying. It was interesting to learn a little about the space and some of the original artifacts still in place. Below is the history (emphasis mine):

The Thompson-Muller House
20 Glebe Street
Circa 1846

When St. Philip’s Church divided some of the glebe lands into lots in 1770, the planwas to lease these lots for a specific term to the successful buyers. This was necessary because the term of the Afra Coming’s will, the property was required to held as glebe lands “forever.” For over 100 years this provision was honored and all of the glebe lots were leaseholds rather than fee conveyances.

The Thompson-Muller House was built at 20 Glebe in 1846 on property which was still held as part of the glebe lands. The property was not sold until 1879, making 20 Glebe Street the first lot to “break the Glebe.” The lot and the house were conveyed to Mrs. Christina Durkopp Kruse in fee. Mrs. Kruise and here descendants, the Muller family, remained ownership of the property until 1971 when it was purchased by the College of Charleston Foundation.

The builder of this house is uncertain. It was possible that the house was erected by Albert Elfe, who leased the lot from the vestry of the Church in 1834. Elfe was an important builder in Charleston at the time and the son of one of the City’s most famous cabinetmakers. It is more probable, however, that George Thompson who assumed Elfe’s lease in 846 actually contracted the early Victorian structure. The house prominently features earthquake bolts or rods which were widely used to repair damages and provide extra building support following the Great Earthquake of 1886.

A door on the third floor bears a lock made by James Carpenter, one of Charleston’s famous craftsmen. The lock features a brass patent seal with a lion and unicorn, similar to the British Royal Coat of Arms. The lock is said to have been made in Charleston, although Carpenter patented his locks in 1830 at the English Patent office in London.

The building has been used as a location for several movies made in Charleston in the 1980’s, including one of Alex Haley’s series.

Wish I took a better camera than the one on my phone.

Silver's 5-10 cent and $1.00 Stores

Walking the streets of Charleston, I encountered one of the many markers footnoting an old retailer from the past. The retailer was Silver's 5-10 cent and $1.00 Stores and I could not find any record or history of this Charleston establishment on King Street (Value of $1.00 in 1925 is the equivalent of $12.61 in 2009).

What I did encounter was this photo Silver’s store in Tampa from the 1920’s. I suspect this retailer was one of the many 5-10 cent stores that were common during this period. If I recall correctly, Woolworth’s was the first to start this retail establishment and many competitors followed suit.

Theft was a common problem with these five & dime stores, particularly due to the ease of customers shoplifting. Initially some managers thought it had to be the store's staff and not the "honest" customers. The logic: the staff could easily steal from the inventory and take money from the register in this cash-only business. Customers were always under the watchful eye of the store's employees.

In a State Department of Labor report, one store manager who wanted to test the honesty of the public, wrapped empty boxes and left one on a front counter. It disappeared immediately and he replaced it with another wrapped box. Within 30 minutes, 22 wrapped, empty packages had been taken and convinced the theft was not just a dishonest sales force.

Many would not be shocked at this revelation today.

Holy City of South Carolina

Currently I'm on the road working in Charleston for the remainder of the week. With enjoyable temperatures, I'm finding walking the city's streets and watching the tourist with their guide books amusing.

Earlier this evening one tourist exclaimed to their husband, "That's the place where Rachel Ray ate and recommended."

It kills me seeing one of may favorite local places overrun by tourists due to a celebrity's recommendation. May need to find a new hidden spot on the peninsula.

The photo to the left is were I'll be staying for a couple of days. It's not a high-end hotel but the college's accommodations do have some character and southern charm. The best part to me is that it's free.

Trick-or-Treat Index

How does one rate the child friendliness of a neighborhood? Well, there is an interesting measure worth considering for those staying home tonight.

Richard Florida, author of Who’s Your City? and The Rise of the Creative Class, has coined an intriguing concept: the “Trick-or-Treater Index.”

The idea is simple: one just counts the number of trick-or-treaters at your door on Halloween night and you’ll get a measure of how child friendly your neighborhood is the whole year. Certainly, it’s quite simplistic, but I would agree that neighborhoods with lots of trick-or-treaters tend to have lots of children who are comfortable being outside in their neighborhood.

It appears that Zillow also tracks this in the major meto areas. Guess I’ll be counting the number of costumed trick-or-treaters tonight! If you're expecting a lot of kids, I encourage you to have a monster amount of candy.

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Update: The Dells were hit hard with the young trick-or-treaters this evening until the rain started to fall. At that point we watched the kids run around in the downpour. I believe the kids had fun playing in the rain instead of going door-to-door requesting treats.

Average count was over 1/minute from 6:15-8:30 pm window.

Clemson Football = Rain

Currently it’s raining in Upstate South Carolina and I’m not surprised. Why?

Clemson is playing a home game today.

For the past 4 home games, Clemson has played in the rain with the weather soaking the fans. Per the records:

Clemson v. Boston College
Clemson v. TCU
Clemson v. Wake Forest
Clemson v. Costal Carolina - Currently raining now!

Fans that I know personally have complained about tailgating in the rain and left each game all wet. I hope that sitting in the rain today is well worth their time.