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 TRADD STREET: A sculpture at a home on Tradd Street captures the imagination of those who spot it. Perhaps this boy has just caught the first lightning bug of summer. Photo by Michael Kaynard. |
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JUNE 6, 2011 - Whether we like it, we live in the digital age where word travels fast and we share everything in real-time with friends. It's no wonder that digital couponing has fast-tracked itself and become a mainstay of marketing.
Today, a mom waiting in the carpool line scrolls through emails, texts, news, and weather, compliments of her smart phone. She tracks the deals via email, her best friend's tweet or Facebook messages. Yesterday, I saw a Facebook post asking the best place to buy a particular child's book and, in a matter of minutes there were several responses. Consumers are highly creative with finite resources: time and energy. Deals.com research indicates that "imaginative, upper-middle class mothers are 2.5 times more likely than others to be online coupon lovers, and only a quarter as likely to be coupon abstainers." In my own analysis, I see women maximizing their dollars with online coupons because online saves time. My company, Go Charleston Deals, a new digital coupon marketing service launches in Charleston on June 15, with a few Spoleto Festival Deals offered prior to that. Our service appeals to Charleston's coupon lovers by offering creative deals that are locally focused and more tailored to upper-middle class users. Many businesses are now using daily coupon delivery services like Go Charleston Deals to attract the attention of new customers.
As I've settled in Charleston, I've met so many business owners who take a hands-on approach to their ventures and I admire them for that. I view what I do as helping an owner's dream grow into a thriving endeavor while navigating the challenges of setting themselves apart. Analyzing offers from other deal sites, I wonder how these deep discounts help merchants. Some deals I've seen seem unreal. I've discovered from conversations with merchants they often are. Some deals are not crafted to help the business owner attract long-term repeat customers, but are designed to attract one-time bargain hunters. This seems especially true for small- to medium-sized local businesses without big-box margins. Business owners need to understand that offering a digital coupon can help or hurt them. The goal is to gain the right new customers, those who will become regulars, not one-time bargain hunters. Amber Johnson of Bodacious Bagels, said, "I had tried a big national (coupon) chain and had run a deal that sold a huge number of orders but it cost me so much that I didn't really know if I would do it again. Working with my margins, Holly helped me craft a deal that would market Bodacious Bagels but within my margins and the time frame that I wanted to offer." Sean Petrone, owner of Golf Tec of Charleston, is a big believer in using online coupons. He said, "Our business model is such that we can handle of big number of online sales. When Holly walked into our place, we were thinking about doing another online deal. We found out she was local and that sold us. We really liked that part." So if you're thinking of offering digital coupons, make sure you understand what it will cost your business in time as well as cost-of-goods. Also make sure you don't sell more products or services at such a deep discount that you end up regretting participation in the digital deal. And finally, realize that you are inviting new customers to try your company's services or products and when you have them in your shop, you want to treat them as well as you do your other customers. With these elements in mind, you can attract and retain the perfect customer who will enjoy shopping with you for many years to come. 
Haley wins award as state's new drama queen By ANDY BRACK, publisher JUNE 6, 2011 -- Boy, talk about a drama queen. Gov. Nikki Haley wins the award for her performances last week.
When Mark Sanford was governor, he pulled two big stunts in his first term that set the legislature, run by his own Republican Party, against him. First in 2004, he showed up in the lobby between the House and Senate carrying two piglets ("Pork" and "Barrel") to protest spending after the House overrode 105 of his 106 budget vetoes in just 99 minutes. The pigs defecated on his suit jacket, just one of the ways the stunt didn't go too well. The following year, he got a horse and buggy to cruise around the grounds of the Statehouse to illustrate how state government was stuck in the past and needed to be restructured. After this grandstanding, Sanford had a hard time being taken seriously by most of the General Assembly, save a few true believers. He didn't get much of his agenda approved, oddly enough, until his last year, which followed his extramarital affair and a boatload of contrition. So now comes Sanford's libertarian acolyte Nikki Haley, who distanced herself from Sanford following the affair by aligning herself with his now ex-wife. Haley in January started out with a bang with the legislature by wooing key lawmakers into her camp and essentially playing nice. Sure, there have been some bumps, but she's gotten some of what she wanted, including voting transparency. But she didn't get to a new Department of Administration, which leads to last week's drama in three parts. 
Act One: Haley dropped by the Senate chamber this week to talk with a couple of members, But that led Haley critic and GOP Sen. Jake Knotts of Lexington to complain that she wasn't invited to the Senate floor, which led to Haley defender Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, to complain that Knotts was always trying to "stick it to the governor." In the end, it was clear by Senate rules that Haley was allowed on the floor. Curtain. Act Two: Every year around the beginning of June, the governor traditionally hosts a non-partisan reception to celebrate the end of the session. But on Wednesday, several Democrats were turned away from the doors of the governor's mansion because they weren't on the invitation list. Haley's spokesman explained the party really was First Gentleman Michael Haley's (what a title) to thank lawmakers who had been helpful. House Minority Leader Harry Ott, one of the people not invited, complained strongly about the loss of civility in politics. "We must not let the pettiness so common in politics today impede the prospect of advancing our state," he wrote. Curtain. Act Three: When the Department of Administration bill didn't pass by the end of the session Thursday, Haley signed an executive order for legislators to return in a rare special session. The cost: at least $42,500 a day -- the cost, as one lawmaker noted, of a teacher's salary per year. State Sen. Glenn McConnell is balking, saying that the Senate won't show because "the Senate is closed." House Speaker Bobby Harrell at first told House members that they should return, but that could change as his staff researches whether lawmakers are required to return. The House has passed restructuring bills that Haley wants. The problem: Haley's order might not be valid because the law that allows special sessions is for extraordinary circumstances, not because an agenda item didn't pass in the first of a two-year session. Yes, that's right, the restructuring Haley so desperately wants is not dead because the General Assembly has the opportunity to pass it next year. But with all of the hysterics of a "petulant child," as one lawmaker described the governor, who knows what's going to happen? The curtain is still open. But three things are clear. First, you can't make up this stuff. Second, Jon Stewart has more comedy material to make the state look bad. And third, Haley is about to make herself as irrelevant as Sanford with state lawmakers because of her "my way or the highway" attitude.
If the Haley column doesn't get you riled up enough to write, send us a letter on somethign you do like that we're publishing. We love getting input from you. If you have an opinion you'd like to share (150 words or less), send your letters to the address below. We look forward to hearing from you!
Celebrated
children's illustrator E.B. Lewis, who visited Jane Edwards
Lewis was so moved by his visit that he wanted to incorporate some of the students into his book, which he is dedicating to the school. An award-winning artist, Lewis has illustrated more than 50 books for children, including Nikki Grimes' "Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman," the 2003 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner; Alice Schertle's "Down the Road," an ALA Notable Book; Tolowa M. Mollel's "My Rows and Piles of Coins," an ALA Notable Book and a Coretta Scott King Honor Book; "Bat Boy and His Violin" by Garvin Curtis, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book, and Jacqueline Woodson's "The Other Side," a 2002 Notable Book for the Language Arts. "The
future is not outer space or technology," said Lewis. "It's
our The Citadel's Authors and Schools program, which was made possible by a grant from the Wal?Mart Foundation, was created to advance the reading and writing skills of children in the St. Paul's Parish schools in Charleston County School District. "More than just reading and writing, the program focuses on developing children into lifetime readers by exposing them to art and powerful books we find in literature today," said School of Education Professor Dan Ouzts, who spearheaded the Authors and Schools program. Big chefs team up with small ones in competition Some of the Lowcountry's best chefs are coming together June 16 to help Louie's Kids fight childhood obesity with the Third Annual Piggly Wiggly Big Chef Little Chef Competition.
Leading the charge to get children excited about wholesome, fresh and healthy foods are top local chefs: Nico Romo of FISH, Marc Collins of Circa 1886, Cary Zapatka of Square Onion, Craig Deihl of Cypress, John Zucker of Cru Cafe, Ben Berryhill of Red Drum, John Ondo of Lana Restaurant, Michelle Weaver of Charleston Grill, Sean Brock of Husk, and Ken Vedrinski of Trattoria Lucca. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.louieskids.org and guests are strongly encouraged to purchase them early, as this event sells out annually. During the competition, the contestants will be judged on flavor, originality, and nutritional value of their dish by Emmy Award-nominated television host, chef and author, Marvin Woods and the event guests themselves. Patrons will also enjoy wine samples of Perception Wines, beer provided by Pearlstine Distributors and wines provided by Circa 1886 and Cypress Restaurant as well as other hors d'oeuvres courtesy of Square Onion. Sons of Summer and Doug Jones will provide live music. "Giving the kids in Louie's Kids a hands-on opportunity to see how fresh, delicious food is prepared is very important. Once they see what goes into the preparation and how it tastes, they will realize how easy it is and how important it is to their lives," said Louis Yuhasz, founder of Louie's Kids. "It also gives the chefs a chance to step out of the box and make a connection with a child they may never have had the opportunity to meet. It's a perfect recipe for a future of fighting a national epidemic." City Gallery seeking volunteer docents The City Gallery at Waterfront Park is looking for gallery docents.
The gallery is looking for volunteers during all gallery hours for its exhibition: "Contemporary Charleston 2011: Under the Radar," which runs from until July 31. The City Gallery at Waterfront Park, owned by the city of Charleston and operated by the Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, is a venue for contemporary artwork that is new, vital and innovative, with a focus on broadening Charleston's arts outlook. The City Gallery provides access to the visual arts for everyone in Charleston, visitors and residents alike, by offering exhibits that are all admission-free. The City Gallery is located at 34 Prioleau St. Call or e-mail the City Gallery to volunteer. For more information, call 843-958-6484 or go online. Charleston County parks get's Moody's highest rating Moody's Investor Services gave a AAA rating to the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, the highest possible rating for a government entity.
The AAA
rating was assigned to CCPRC's $12.5 million General Obligation Bonds
of 2011.
Musician James Brown was born near Barnwell on May 3, 1933, to Joe and Susie Brown. Brown likely was South Carolina's most famous twentieth-century entertainer. His career began in the 1950s in Augusta, Georgia, and grew into a music empire with a vast catalog of recordings, countless performances, and a global appeal that continued into the twenty-first century. While he was called the "Godfather of Soul," his body of work forms the rhythmic foundations of funk, disco, and hip-hop. He is arguably the most sampled musical artist of all time.
His first public performances progressed from his front porch to his school to local talent nights. At age 15 he was sent to jail for petty theft but was paroled early. He began seriously to consider a career in music, forming the Flames, the first of a series of backing bands that would contribute to the evolution of his trademark sound. Thus began a life of traveling the road and performing. Brown played the Jim Crow South and beyond, gaining a devoted following and building his reputation with a series of singles. His first hit came with the 1956 release of "Please, Please, Please." Although his band constantly changed members, it enabled Brown to utilize the talents of musicians such as Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Clyde Stubblefield, Bootsy Collins, and Vicki Anderson. A consummate entertainer, Brown gave his audiences the total experience of singing, dancing, and showbiz spectacle. His series of appearances recorded as Live at the Apollo (1963) are regarded as the peak of his live shows. Brown hit his stride after the 1965 release of "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." Subsequent songs including "I Got You (I Feel Good)" (1965), "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" (1966), "Cold Sweat" (1967), "Get on the Good Foot" (1972), and "Sex Machine" (1975) are but a sample of his string of hits, which endured for decades in radio, sales, and film popularity. Brown paradoxically was at odds with the government and served as an international cultural symbol of the United States. He met with Hubert Humphrey on stay-in-school initiatives in 1966, played for the troops in Vietnam in 1968, and controversially endorsed Richard Nixon in 1972. Long an antidrug advocate, he struggled with his own demons as late as 1988, when a police car chase that began in Augusta ended across the South Carolina border. Brown received a six-year sentence but was released early in 1991. James Brown continued to perform up until his death in Atlanta, Ga., on Dec. 25, 2006. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2003.
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Diet and nutrition checklist
Here's a great reason
to mark your calendar as 'busy' on Thursdays in July: "The single
easiest and best thing most of us can do to prevent cancer or its recurrence
is to eat right," says Jennifer Reilly, R.D., a senior nutritionist
for The Cancer Project. "More than a third of all cancer deaths in
this country are due to poor diet."
The challenge, Reilly acknowledges, is not only to teach people which foods are good for them, but also to show them how to make the foods taste good. The classes all run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Roper Saint Francis Cancer Center, 2085 Henry Tecklenburg Drive, Charleston. Details are as follows:
There is a $60 fee
for the four-class series. To register, contact instructor Ayla
Sarnoff at 843-270-5167.
"Chess is as
elaborate a waste of human intelligence as you can find outside an advertising
agency."
Spoleto Festival USA: Full calendar for this week's activities. Piccolo Spoleto: Full calendar for this week's activities.
Upstairs at McCrady's: 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets, Now through June 10, McCrady's, 2 Unity Alley. Jazz Artists of Charleston announces its 4th Annual JAC Jazz Series, regular sets at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. featuring some of Charleston's premiere jazz musicians, along with regionally, nationally and internationally acclaimed artists. The series will include two special events, Holy City Homecomin' featuring Art of the Song and The Charleston All-Stars. Detailed ticket and program information are online. (NEW)
Brown Bag
and Ballet: Noon, June 10 and 11, 477 King St, Charleston.
One of Piccolo Spoleto's most popular annual traditions, the short and
sweet Magnolia Garden Walks: 10 a.m., June 11, 18, and 25. Enjoy a morning garden walk at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens with garden director Tom Johnson at 10 a.m. every Saturday in June. After the hour-long walk, Magnolia will treat you to free snow cones and popcorn from the Peacock Café. The walk is free with the $15 garden admission. For more information, call 843-571-1266. North
Charleston Arts Festival: The
city of North Charleston's Arts Festival continues through June 13
with dozens of lectures, concerts, displays and performances. Admission
to these events is free. Go
online for a complete listing. A few highlights:
CALENDAR: ONGOING AND SOON You Are Safe: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday through June 25, Rick Rhodes Photography Gallery and Studio, 1842 Belgrade Ave., Charleston. An interdisciplinary art project presented by Tina Christophillis, visual art; Justin Nathanson, video/photography; and Brit Washburn, poetry. Admission: Free. (NEW)
Library
book sale: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., June 17 and 18, and 2 to 4
p.m., June 19, Charleston County Public Library Main Branch, 68
Calhoun St. The Charleston Friends of the Library present That Summer
Book Sale with great bargains, good books and a chance to support your
library system. Books, DVDs, and CDs, will be available with prices starting
at $1 for paperbacks and $3 for hardback books. Items include mysteries,
romances, classics, children's books, local histories, cookbooks and a
variety of non-fiction topics.
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I
relocated to Charleston to pursue my love of business and because I find
Charleston irresistible. I grew up in a small town in North Carolina.
Charlestonians pull me in with their warmth and hospitality, not to mention
the lifestyle. 
The
public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring Charleston
Currents to you at no cost. In this issue, we shine the spotlight
on SCRA, a global leader in applied research and commercialization
services with its headquarters in North Charleston. SCRA collaborates
to advance technology, providing technology-based solutions with assured
outcomes to industry and government, with the help of research universities
in South Carolina, the U.S. and around the world. Managing more than 100
national and international programs worth over $1.3B in applied R&D
contract value, SCRA has a results-based management approach that assures
delivery of technology solutions to complex client challenges. 
Presented
by IKON Financial Group from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Lowndes Grove Plantation,
10 "little chef" contestants, who are participants of the 
Gallery
docents will greet and assist visitors in the gallery and are trained
to have a comprehensive knowledge of the current exhibit and the exhibiting
artist(s).
Comparable
to a financial management report card, this rating reflects CCPRC's financial
stability in the 2011 bond market. In its published report, Moody's cited
the stability of the Charleston economy as rationale for their rating,
in addition to the following reasons:
Brown's
early life was bleak, lonely, and chaotic. His parents separated when
he was four. Eventually Brown went to live with his two aunts in Augusta,
in a house where he was exposed to gambling, prostitution, bootlegging
and violence. In spite of his disadvantaged upbringing, Brown displayed
an irrepressible enthusiasm for music, friendship and the street life
of Augusta. 
ART
FOR CHARITY: 5:30-7:30 p.m., June 10, 438 King St. A special
reception and gallery event to benefit the American Red Cross. With entertainment
provided by D&M Productions, food from Rue de Jean and wine provided
by Ice Box. Suggested donation at the door: $10. For more information,
go to 
Art
and Music Festival: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., June 18, 411 Coleman
Blvd., Mount Pleasant. To celebrate the revitalization of an area of Coleman
Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, three local businesses, Square Onion Too,
Earthly Artifacts and Awendaw Green, present the first Coleman Point Village
Art and Music Festival with four live bands, unique art and a variety
of food and beverages. Admission is $10 and proceeds benefit local nonprofits
Daisy's Place and Southern Women Animal Task Force. 
Living
Local: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., June 30, Sweet Olive garden and
gift boutique in I'On at 264 N. Shelmore Blvd., Mount Pleasant. With the
wide variety of creative local artists and local products in the Lowcountry,
Sweet Olive will hold a new free monthly happy hour to celebrate everything
local. The first Living Local Happy Hour will have a culinary twist showcasing
the creations from local vendors such as Purple Palmetto Dips, Neita's
Charleston Vinaigrettes & Marinades, Charleston Mix Bloody Mary Mix
and more. Future monthly themes will include locally made home products,
artists and authors and horticulture. Wine and beverages will also be
provided. Admission: Free. 