T R E N D S VOL. 32, NO. 2, APRIL 2019 eBay invites Greensboro businesses to join Retail Revival elling to the the yearlong program line, eBay had received S world is about to receive coaching in more than 100 ap- get a little easier for online marketing and plications, said Chris certain businesses in ecommerce techniques Librie, who leads the Greensboro and the to make the most of Retail Revival program. surrounding area. selling through eBay. eBay’s CEO an- eBay has named Other cities in the nounced last year that Greensboro as the third program are Halifax, the 23-year-old compa- U.S. city to become Nova Scotia, Canada ny is making changes a partner in its Retail and Wolverhampton, to thrive in a “very Revival program. Retail a city in the West Mid- competitive environ- Revival is designed to lands of England. ment” by attracting help small and medi- The Retail Revival more young shoppers um-sized businesses program is 100 per- and women. CEO hook into the power of cent free to participat- Devin Wenig wants ecommerce and global ing businesses. Nor is to recruit 500 million trade. there any cost to the customers to eBay, up Lansing, Michigan city. Greensboro was from the current 175 and Akron, Ohio were selected, according to Perfecta Visuals photo million. Retail Revival the first two cities in an eBay press release, At the February launch were Michael Wilson, an owner of Greensboro-based Wilson appears to be part of the Retail Revival pro- after reviewing “the Brothers Jewelry on eBay; Brian Bieron, executive director, Global Public Policy, eBay; the strategy. gram. Businesses se- nature and potential of Lou Anne Flanders-Stec, executive vice president of entrepreneurship, Greensboro Greensboro Mayor Chamber of Commerce. lected to participate in (the) local retail com- Nancy Vaughan munity.” community. We were tive factors that help receive notification of noted that “small lo- In North also impressed by the provide “the perfect their acceptance status cal businesses are the Carolina, City of Greensboro’s backdrop for a new on March 13. The of- backbone of our local eBay said, commitment to small narrative about oppor- ficial launch of Retail economy” when the “Greensboro business and its vision tunity, inclusion and Revival Greensboro is Retail Revival program in particular for local economic prosperity.” set for March 27 with a was announced at the was appeal- growth.” The program was gathering of participat- International Civil ing because of eBay also noted the announced in early ing business owners at Rights Center & Mu- the strength, city’s “rich manufactur- February, and the Revolution Mill. seum. creativity and ing history and pivotal deadline to apply to With more than a Suzy Deering, eBay’s Akron’s Jim Meyers with the Merge diversity of its role in the Civil Rights participate was March week remaining before chief marketing offi- Cube, which he sells on eBay. small business movement” as posi- 8. Applicants were to the application dead- Continues on page 2 INSIDE T R E N D S City Transfer ................ 2 2019 Board ...................3 Annual Dinner ...............5 Amanda Barron .............6 An evening with Henry Winkler Workplace Workshops ....7 Henry Winkler – actor, producer, direc- disabilities – was guest speaker for GMA’s 225 Commerce Place 225 Commerce Greensboro, NC 27401 Greensboro, tor, fly-fisherman, best-selling author 113th Annual Dinner. Please see page 5 Trends is a publication of the Guilford Merchants Association. and advocate for those with learning for more Annual Dinner photos. An advertising supplement to The Business Journal Trends – Published for members of the Guilford Merchants Association Retail Revival Continued from page 1 cer, said North Carolina has ers and his wife, Grace, own more than 200,000 active a company that specializes sellers on eBay. She appeared in virtual and augmented on stage with Vaughan and reality products and ser- others at the announcement. vices. New Territory, LLC Participating businesses was invited to participate in in Akron have sold to shop- Retail Revival Akron. pers in nearly 70 nations “We sold a significantly outside the United States, large amount of product according to eBay. Experi- through the program,” enced sellers on eBay have he said. “We have been increased their year-over- able to sell our products year sales by a collective av- to the global marketplace, erage of 20 percent. as promised, and we got Akron resident Bill Mey- world-class support.” Marker commemorates City Transfer’s historic role A new marker in downtown High Point recognizes the role of City Transfer & Storage, founded in 1908, in High Point’s growth and development. The company was started by I.M. Lassiter, and it is owned and operated by his descendents today. Present for the February 14 dedication were (from left) Scott Lassiter, Bart Lassiter, Guilford County Commissioner Carlvina Foster, High Point Mayor Jay Wagoner, Councilwoman Monica Peters, and Ron Lassiter. The company is the state’s oldest family- owned, continuously operating moving company. Bart Lassiter, City Transfer’s vice president and co-owner, served as chairman of GMA and FirstPoint in 2018. Take a deep dive into networking with Abby Donnelly reensboro’s Abby Don- Participants will: quired. G nelly, who literally • Learn how to build Donnelly’s book, “Net- wrote the book on how to strong professional relation- working Works! Building Perfecta Visuals photo make the most of network- ships and enhance their pro- Relationships. Building Busi- Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan and Suzy Deering, eBay’s chief marketing officer, cross South Elm Street. ing, in April will lead a new fessional network. ness,” is available on Ama- class in NetworkingWorks! • Gain fresh insights into zon. Donnelly, how to get more qualified Kelly Millington, direc- Boost your business with video a longtime referrals. tor of strategic partnerships ideo can be a pow- stitute. Kristen Daukas of GMA mem- Establish additional con- for Junior Achievement of V erful component Atlantic Webworks will ber, will per- tacts to help grow their busi- the Triad, calls Networking- of your marketing and lead the seminar from sonally lead ness. Works! “the most beneficial branding strategy – if you 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the class. • Create a plan to get to professional development know how to use it. GMA headquarters. It will Donnelly decision-makers they want course that I have ever par- “How to Start Making The seminar is free and meet at GMA headquarters to know. ticipated in.” Video for Your Business” open to all employees of from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Donnelly offers a reduced Donnelly is founder of is the subject of the March GMA member companies. Wednesdays in April. The fee of $299 for GMA mem- The Leadership and Legacy 20 Digital Marketing In- Register at mygma.org. first class is April 3. bers. Preregistration is re- Group, based in Greensboro. T R E N D S President & CEO G. Mark Prince Vice President of Operations Michelle Bolick Operations/Special Events Coordinator Holly Smith Operations/Special Events Coordinator Lisa Daas Operations/Special Events Coordinator Audrey Lambert Membership Development Sharon Smith TRENDS is published for the members of the Guilford Merchants Association. Celebrating new members Publication Coordinator – Michelle Bolick New GMA members are always invited to an orientation to learn about the organization’s many Phone (336) 378-6350 Fax (336) 378-6272 services and benefits. Those attending the February orientation session included (seated, from left) 225 Commerce Place, Greensboro, N.C. 27401 Susan Weimer and Paulette Elway, Greensboro Senior Artists Guild; Vanessa O’Keeffe, The Village www.mygma.org Lofts; Julianne Rowe, Pink Spotlight; Grace Anderson, Aflac; Kristen Barnett, Vaco; Scotti Early, Pepper The Guilford Merchants Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1906. Moon Catering; Catena Bergevin, ArtsGreensboro. Standing (from left) are Deborah York, Primerica; The Association is a business membership organization focused on supporting member companies with educational programming, lead generation activities, Mark Prince, GMA/FirstPoint; Carol McGimpsey, Breakout Games; John Barker, Carter Bank and Trust; marketing opportunities, and overall enrichment while serving as a catalyst for Nicholas Luard, Realty Consultants Property Management; John Wing, PathGoal Employer Services; community growth and prosperity. Krish Parlikad, Allstate; Jonathan Autry, BB&T; Brian Sullivan, Vaco; Ira Ross, Spartan Planning; Trent Abel, Little Guys Movers; Jason Turner, Aflac. 2 Trends – Published for members of the Guilford Merchants Association GMA Board of Directors / 2019 Board Officers Chair Darlene Leonard Smith Leonard PLLC Immediate Past Chair Bart Lassiter City Transfer & Storage Richard Beard D. Ford Bowers Tara Burgio- Abby Donnelly J. Nathan Duggins Past Chair Schulman & Beard BB&T Wheelihan The Leadership III Rhonda Joyce ATI Decorative & Legacy Group Tuggle Duggins P.A. American National Bank Laminates Vice Chair J. Nathan Duggins III Tuggle Duggins P.A. Treasurer D. Ford Bowers BB&T President/CEO Mark Prince Guilford Merchants Association & FirstPoint, Inc. Scott Johnson Rhonda Joyce Bart Lassiter Darlene Leonard Clarence McDonald Greensboro Coliseum American National City Transfer Smith Leonard PLLC Wells Fargo Complex Bank & Storage Beryl McEwen Donald Moore Bobby Nugent Mark Prince Steve Swetoha John Thomas N.C. A&T State Greensboro Greensboro Fire Guilford Merchants Greensboro Swarm IDeACOM University Grasshoppers Department Association of Central N.C. & FirstPoint, Inc. Smith likes working with members, enjoys variety provided by GMA ike all GMA staff She’s the Network events and Teach UNC Chapel Hill. “There’s L members, Holly Smith staff connec- GMA STAFF Me Tuesday continuing edu- always something different juggles many responsi- tion for the cation programs also are part going on.” bilities as an operations and committee PROFILE of her purview. So are meet- Tammy Gamble of Touch special events coordinator.