By Margot C. Lester
Columnist
Sigh. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Another big-time article has lumped Carrboro in with other (admittedly great) local food cities. This month’s Garden & Gunmagazine features a swell article on Chapel Hill. What’s better, albeit rather frustrating, is that much of what the writer asserts makes Chapel Hill great is actually in Carrboro. The main graphic illustrating the article is the back porch at Johnny’s. And of the “twenty-four reasons this town has earned its reputation as ’the Southern part of heaven,’†five (Carrburritos, Neal’s Deli, The Station, Carrboro Farmers’ Market and Cat’s Cradle) are in Carrboro.
If you subscribe to the “any PR is good PR†school of thought, then you’re thrilled that magazines like Forbes and Bon Appétit reference our little town at all. So, like any good Southern belle, who learned early to be gracious when someone paid me a compliment, I extend thanks to the writers who mention us in their articles.
But it sticks in my craw that we don’t get our own dang stories. Judging by what others are saying, we’ve got plenty of our own good stuff right here. The days are gone when we’re merely an extension of our larger neighbor to the east. We’ve grown beyond our humble beginnings as “West of†(as in, West of Chapel Hill) to develop a reputation for great food and choice ingredients. Should we want to have our own place in the spotlight – and if Walk Carrboro is any indication, we do – then here’s something for the folks at Town Hall to chew on: better foodie branding.
Seasoned entrepreneurs
Thanks to the Tech Boom, the mental picture most folks have of entrepreneurs is a fresh-faced youngster full of boundless energy who is ready to change the world with a few lines of code. But new research from the Kauffman Foundation shows that the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity occurs in the 55- to 64-year-old age group.
“I’m not surprised to hear that,†asserts Rollie Tillman, former director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at UNC. “A lot of people are taking early retirement – some even un-asked – and their income stream flows from social security, severance and retirement plans, so they can afford to start a business. Back in the wild days of dot-coms, people just had recess money from mom.â€
But more than available capital, entrepreneurs of a “certain vintage,†as my mother would say, have experience, a track record to attract investors.
“Age, income, experience and a lot of life left in them – they don’t want to be put out to pasture,†Tillman adds. “These folks are realistic about the fact that starting a venture takes a lot of work.â€
Everyone from President Obama to Carrboro Economic Development Director James Harris points to entrepreneurs as the little engine that could turn the employment situation around. According to the Small Business Administration, entrepreneurial ventures employ more than half of all private-sector employees. In the last 10 years, these businesses have generated 60 percent to 80 percent of net new jobs annually.
“There’s a lot to be said for a maturing entrepreneurial culture,†Tillman says. “They’ll be creating jobs for young people to start the career ladder in. But these older entrepreneurs don’t want to work that hard forever. They’ll ensure the transfer of experience to a new generation to take over and run the companies. That creates a continuing flow of entrepreneurs, and that’s great for the economy.â€
Sustainable Walmart?
Ever wonder if Walmart’s claims of sustainability are genuine? Then you’ll want to check out “Leadership, Innovation, and Consumers of the Future,†a presentation by Matt Kistler, senior vice president of sustainability at Walmart Stores, Inc. The event, sponsored by The Center for Sustainable Enterprise at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, will be held on Friday, Sept. 25, at 5:30 p.m. in the Koury Auditorium. Kistler and adjunct professor Kellie McElhaney will discuss the future of sustainability, trends and consumer behavior, and the roles that executives play in their companies. RSVP to cse@unc.edu.
Career notes
Ashley Atkins was named account manager at OENOPHILIA. The Hillsborough company sells barware and wine accessories like glassware, wine racks and corkscrews to wineries, restaurants, wine shops and other retailers. She is responsible for a territory that extends from Delaware to Florida, and Mississippi. The wholesale company has been in business since 1983.
Chapel Hill investment firm PRI Investments, Inc. hired Kent Fisher as vice president. PRI is a fee-only registered investment advisor with approximately $160 million in assets under management as of June 30. He will act as a relationship manager for a select group of clients. Prior to joining the firm, Fisher was a principal at Smith Breeden Associates responsible for new business development and client relationships.
Carrboro is SO remarkably different than Chapel Hill, and darned if people still don’t get it. New Year’s resolution: from now on, I’m simply saying to friends from afar, “I live in Carrboro” – no reason for the explanatory “…we are right next to (other town that shall remain nameless)”