Winston-Salem Journal articles from December 2003

Winston-Salem Journal archives from December 2003

Job Fears Overshadow Improving Economy in Winston-Salem, N.C., Area in 2003.
December 31, 2003... Dec. 31--An improving regional economy overshadowed by job fears dominated local business headlines this year, but big companies such as R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. also made plenty of news. After a slow start to 2003, the Triad's...

Survey Gives Domestic Furniture Industry Hope for Break-Even Year.
December 30, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 30--A fifth consecutive increase in monthly furniture orders is giving the industry more confidence that it might achieve a break-even year, a High Point financial-services company reported. BDO Seidman...

Animation Firm Is Thriving in Winston-Salem, N.C.
December 29, 2003... Byline: Leigh Somerville McMillan Dec. 29--Despite the "Slow Children Playing" sign in the lobby window, the bespectacled dinosaur in the conference room and the sexy mannequin in the Santa suit on the roof, Out of Our Minds Animation...

Shoppers Jam Winston-Salem, N.C.-Area Stores to Make Returns, Spend Gift Cards.
December 27, 2003... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 27--Shoppers made a mad dash to local stores and malls yesterday in search of bargains and to exchange gifts that were damaged, the wrong color or size, or duplicates. A crowd of people stood at the entrance...

After 56 Years in Business, Winston-Salem, N.C., Flower Shop Will Close.
December 24, 2003... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 24--December will end with the closing of one of the oldest family-owned flower shops in Winston-Salem. After 56 years in business, Carpenter's Flower Shop Inc. on Hawthorne Road across from Forsyth Medical...

Krispy Kreme's Chief Governance Officer Steps Down.
December 24, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 24--Randy Casstevens, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.'s chief governance officer and acting chief financial officer, is leaving the company, Krispy Kreme said yesterday. In April, Krispy Kreme appointed...

Real Estate Investment Trust Sells Industrial Buildings in Winston-Salem, N.C.
December 24, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 24--Highwoods Properties Inc. said yesterday that it has sold industrial buildings worth $65 million in Winston-Salem, Rural Hall and Richmond, initially to pay down debt. Of the 1.9 million square feet of...

Winston-Salem, N.C., Boutique Owner Stays Focused During Tough Year.
December 23, 2003... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 23--Ellise-Marie's Boutique in Winston-Salem has managed to hold its own this year, despite a drop in sales. Bernard Patterson, who owns the shop with his sister, Cassandra Brown, said they have survived by...

Economic Report Shows Expected Improvement for Winston-Salem, N.C., Area.
December 23, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 23--Triad business officials said that a report released yesterday shows improved prospects for local business and hiring in 2004. "Businesses in the Triad are optimistic about the future," said Tom...

Winston-Salem, N.C.-Area Engineering Firm Forges Ahead, Invests in Future.
December 23, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 23--Many companies held back on expansion plans in 2003 because of the tepid economic recovery, but Cavanaugh & Associates P.A. forged ahead, saying it was investing in the future. The engineering, planning...

Winston-Salem, N.C.-Based Medical Technology Firm to Keep Production Local.
December 23, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 23--ALR Technologies Inc. said yesterday that it plans to manufacture part of its next generation of Med Reminders products at the Piedmont Triad Research Park in downtown Winston-Salem instead of in China....

Tobaccoville, N.C., Couple Sees Fireplace Tool Business Take Off.
December 22, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 22--Now that cold weather is here, business is starting to heat up for a fireplace tool designed, manufactured and marketed by a Tobaccoville couple. Karen and Paul Marley, who operate Endless Embers LLC,...

Hispanic Marketing Firm in Winston Salem, N.C., Enjoys Respectable Gains.
December 22, 2003... Byline: Jeanne Sturiale Dec. 22--Don Hild launched Hispanic Marketing Resources Inc. in January 2002, a time when the economy had been badly bruised by the recession and Sept. 11 terror attacks. "People shook their heads at us and...

Winston-Salem, N.C., Home-Building Eyes Plans for Residential Development.
December 20, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 20--A Winston-Salem home-building company said yesterday that it wants to develop 168 acres in northern Davidson County near the intersection of N.C. 150 and Goodwill Road. The proposed residential...

Many Holiday Shoppers Opt for Ease, Convenience of Gift Cards.
December 20, 2003... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 20--Glenda Beauchamp of Winston-Salem said she's buying more holiday gift cards this year than she normally does. "I don't know exactly all the kinds of movies and music our friends would like or have, so I...

North Carolina's Jobless Rate Inches Higher in November.
December 20, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 20--North Carolina's unemployment rate reversed a four-month downward trend in November, edging up from 6.1 percent in October to 6.2 percent, the N.C. Employment Security Commission reported yesterday. ...

Mixed-Use Development Proposed in Winston-Salem, N.C.
December 19, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 19--A Greensboro company wants to develop 34 acres on Hanes Mill Road in Winston-Salem that would include condominiums, townhouses, small retail shops and offices. The proposed development , which would be...

Lexington State Bank to Open Mortgage-Loan Office in Raleigh, N.C.
December 18, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 18--Lexington State Bank said yesterday that it would expand outside the Triad for the first time when it opens a mortgage-loan office in north Raleigh next month. The office will operate as LSB...

Winston-Salem, N.C., Hispanic Center Moves to New Location.
December 18, 2003... Byline: Jeanne Sturiale Dec. 18--Clients of Southside Hispanic Center on East Sprague Street will now have to travel farther north to use the center's free education, business and consulting services. Yesterday Southside, a...

Greensboro, N.C., Firm Creates Online Marketplace for Custom Manufacturers.
December 18, 2003... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 18--SourceHorizon Inc., a company in Greensboro that matches North Carolina suppliers with buyers, has created an online marketplace for the custom-manufacturing industry. SourceAuthority.com, a subsidiary of...

Shift to Video Proves Fatal for Winston-Salem, N.C, Communications Company.
December 17, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 17--Fyock & Associates Inc., a former communications company based in Winston-Salem, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and will liquidate its assets following the failure of a new business model. The...

Executive Sees Future for Propane-Fueled Products that Kill Mosquitoes.
December 17, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 17--The market for propane-fueled products that kill mosquitoes could be as big as gas grills some day, Blue Rhino Corp.'s chief executive told shareholders yesterday at its annual meeting. "We think this is...

Winston-Salem, N.C., Employers More Optimistic about Hiring Plans.
December 16, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 16--Prospects for a brighter economy in 2004 has made Winston-Salem employers more optimistic about their hiring plans, according to a survey released yesterday by Manpower Inc. About 48 percent of...

Residential Real Estate Company Looks for New Home in Winston-Salem, N.C.
December 16, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 16--Graham & Boles Properties is looking for a new home in Winston-Salem, the company's leader said yesterday. However, it may be a while before the company moves, said Katy Boles, the president and chief...

Frozen Weather Puts Retailers on the Skids in Triad Region of North Carolina.
December 16, 2003... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 16--The stormy weather this weekend didn't do much to help local retailers and their holiday sales. Rain and sleet started falling Saturday night and by Sunday morning had created a frozen mess across the...

Kansas City, Mo., Foundation's Entrepreneurship Grant to Get Liberal Arts Test.
December 16, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 16--Wake Forest University said yesterday that it would receive a grant of $2.16 million over five-years that will serve as a test on whether a campus-wide entrepreneurial spirit can be developed at a...

Winston-Salem, N.C., Online Golf Retail Firm Sees Sales Grow Quickly.
December 15, 2003... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 15--Online shoppers have given Winston-Salem business partners Aubrey Linville and Rob Garrett an early holiday gift. Sales from their e-commerce retail company, Junior Golf Warehouse, have been growing about...

Used-Car Retailer CarMax Plans to Open Store in Winston-Salem, N.C.
December 13, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 13--CarMax Inc., a used-car retailer, plans to open its first Winston-Salem store in early May on the north side of Hanes Mall Boulevard near the intersection with Kester Mill Road. The store will have 75-100...

Minneapolis-Based Venture Capital Firm Seeks Winston-Salem, N.C., Investors.
December 13, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 13--A Minneapolis investment-securities company with a Winston-Salem connection is offering another option for Triad residents interested in investing in early-stage technology companies. Miller Johnson...

Two Winston-Salem, N.C., Credit Unions to Merge Operations.
December 12, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 12--Truliant Federal Credit Union said yesterday that it has acquired Victory Masonic Mutual Credit Union as part of a plan to create a more diversified membership base for the Winston-Salem financial...

Wisconsin Detergent Maker to Open Plant in Winston-Salem, N.C.
December 12, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 12--Jennico2 Inc., a Wisconsin detergent manufacturer, said yesterday that it would open an East Coast plant in Winston-Salem in January and eventually create 110 jobs. The company, based in Eau Claire,...

Winston-Salem, N.C.-Area Real Estate Veterans Make Plans for Development.
December 12, 2003... Dec. 12--Two local real-estate veterans want to develop 33 acres on bustling Hanes Mall Boulevard that could include retail stores, offices and restaurants, and be worth between $35 million and $40 million when completed. The developers,...

Petition Prompts Commerce Department to Pursue Furniture-Dumping Allegations.
December 12, 2003... Dec. 12--WASHINGTON--The U.S. Commerce Department said yesterday that it has started an anti-dumping investigation into imports of Chinese wood-bedroom furniture. A petition filed by the American Manufacturers Committee for Legal Trade,...

Wachovia to Create New Identity for Trust, Investment-Management Group.
December 11, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 11--Wachovia Corp. said yesterday that it would establish a separate brand for its trust and investment-management business during the first quarter next year and hire 100 employees as part of the new...

FedEx Cargo Hub at Greensboro, N.C., Airport Gets First Construction Contract.
December 10, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 10--The proposed FedEx Corp. cargo hub at Piedmont Triad International Airport took a major step toward reality yesterday when the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority awarded its first construction contract. ...

Winston-Salem, N.C., Prepares to Recruit Workers for FedEx Hub.
December 10, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 10--Economic-development officials in the Triad received the green light yesterday to begin recruiting efforts in earnest for the FedEx Corp. hub at Piedmont Triad International Airport. After a wait of...

Mount Airy, N.C., Firm Seeks Antidumping Duties on Steel from Five Countries.
December 10, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 10--Insteel Industries Inc. wants permanent "antidumping" duties imposed on companies from five countries which it claims have hurt its business by their unfair trade practices. The Mount Airy company is...

Better Business Unit Warns to Keep Eye on Product Promotions.
December 9, 2003... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 9--Shoppers should carefully look at product promotions that benefit charities this holiday season, warns a unit of the Better Business Bureau. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance urges shoppers to check to see if...

Lowe's Board Approves Share Repurchase Program.
December 9, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 9--Lowe's Cos. Inc., the No. 2 home-improvement retailer, said yesterday that its board of directors approved a share repurchase program of up to $1 billion. The share-repurchase program is the company's...

Winston-Salem, N.C., Textile Manufacturer to Downsize, Move to Yadkinville.
December 8, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 8--Briggs-Shaffner Co., one of Winston-Salem's oldest manufacturers, said yesterday that it will move to a smaller building in Yadkinville by mid-January as it shrinks in line with the U.S. textile industry....

North Carolina State Bar Sees Beyond Age of Its New President.
December 7, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 7--Dudley Humphrey almost had given up hope of receiving what he considered the ultimate privilege among North Carolina attorneys -- serving as president of the N.C. State Bar. When you're just a few...

Politicians Could Feel Heat over Loss of Manufacturing Jobs in North Carolina.
December 5, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 5-- GREENSBORO, N.C.--The time is right to politicize North Carolina's manufacturing base and hold federal and state legislators accountable for their business-oriented votes on Election Day, speakers told...

Wachovia Still Searching for Buyer for Winston-Salem Office Space.
December 5, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 5--Wachovia Corp. is still sitting on 404,000 square feet of empty Class A office space in downtown Winston-Salem, 18 months after making it available for purchase or lease. Not even the opportunity to...

Davidson County, N.C., Businesses Describe Needed Employee Skills to Officials.
December 4, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 4--Business leaders have given a list of needs and wants to Davidson County government and economic-development officials as part of an effort to improve the county's struggling economy. County officials...

Winston-Salem, N.C., Economic Development Group to Launch Marketing Campaign.
December 4, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 4--Winston-Salem Business Inc. is about to launch a national marketing campaign touting the community's quality of life to corporate site selectors and consultants. The campaign, titled "Winston-Salem....

Winston-Salem, N.C., Family-Owned Restaurant to Close.
December 4, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 4--Richard Singletary sat yesterday in Simos Barbecue on Indiana Avenue eating a cheeseburger for lunch -- and digesting the news that the restaurant he's been coming to since the mid-1970s is closing later this...

BB&T Enters Central Florida Market with Purchase of Republic Bancshares.
December 3, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 3--BB&T Corp. said yesterday it plans to enter the lucrative central Florida market with a $436 million cash-and-stock purchase of Republic Bancshares Inc. of St. Petersburg, Fla. Republic has $2.8 billion...

Winston-Salem, N.C., Chamber Encourages Holiday Shoppers to Buy Locally.
December 3, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 3--The Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce has enlisted the help of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer to encourage local residents to spend their holiday dollars here. The chamber has posted billboards...

Lawmaker Says Partisan Acrimony in Congress Obstructs Technology Funding.
December 3, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 3--The political acrimony in Washington is clogging up the federal-funding pipeline for technology initiatives, including those in the Triad, U.S. Rep. Richard Burr said yesterday. Burr, R-5th, and a...

North Carolina Internet Summit Grapples with State's Lingering Digital Divide.
December 3, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 3--Advances in technology and resources are bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas, but affordability is still an issue, according to officials at yesterday's inaugural Southeast Wireless...

Forsyth County, N.C., Jobless Rate Drops in October.
December 3, 2003... Byline: Brian Louis Dec. 3--The unemployment rate in Forsyth County dropped from 5.1 percent in September to 4.8 percent in October, the N.C. Employment Security Commission reported yesterday. The jobless rate for the Triad...

Online Shopping Becomes Greater Part of Holiday Retail Sales.
December 3, 2003... Byline: Fran Daniel Dec. 3--Tim Butner of Winston-Salem likes shopping at malls but not after Thanksgiving, when stores are typically crowded. As the holiday-shopping season gets into full swing, Butner turns to the Internet to find...

Business Offers Residential Christmas Decorating in Winston-Salem, N.C., Area.
December 2, 2003... Byline: Richard Craver Dec. 2--There's nothing like the first chilly blast of winter and a colorfully decorated home to put Pauline Chapman in the holiday mood. But recent health issues have curtailed the ability of Chapman and her...

Housecleaning Businesses Prosper during Holiday Season.
December 1, 2003... Byline: Leigh Somerville McMillan Dec. 1--Households cut corners when economic times get tough, but apparently few cut the professionals who help them keep those corners clean. Historically, November and December have been busy for...