IN Business

 Keeping the Lawn (and Air) Clean

A new local business plans to make a difference in our air quality this summer. Clean Air Lawn Care is a lawn maintenance company that uses clean electric equipment, including mowers, edgers and blowers. The vehicles that haul this electric equipment stand out in a crowd because of the mounted solar panels, which are used to charge the equipment during the workday. Not only is this equipment clean, it is also quiet and competitively priced. Company president Kelly Giard said: "There is a lot of talk about global warming and decreasing our dependency on oil in this country right now. This is a simple way to positively affect both issues. Our primary mowers use no oil, create no air pollution, and less noise pollution. On average, the cost is same to the consumer. The entire business is carbon-neutral. There is no reason not to do it." This will be the first summer for Clean Air Lawn Care in Atlanta, but the business is already exploring a pilot program with Southface, a nonprofit organization that provides environmental education and outreach programs. (404) 842-1818 or www.cleanairlawncare.com.  

South of Market will open a new store in Virginia-Highland this month at 1044 N. Highland Ave. Founded in Charleston, S.C., the store offers sophisticated home furnishings and French and Belgian objects handpicked for their beauty and function. Upholstered furniture rounds out the mix. "Our unique objects and upholstery will be a natural fit for the neighborhood and other in-town areas" says Kay Douglass, owner. "This will give Intown residents a new place to turn for their home furnishing needs." The objects are transformed into fixtures, while others are left to their own simple, practical devices. With its first store in Peachtree Hills, the Virginia-Highland store will be South of Market’s second location in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.southofmarket.biz.

RETAIL NEWS

Bill Logan, owner/designer of Logan Gardens, in the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC), has opened a second 1,350-square-foot showroom branded as Logan Gardens II. The new showroom, neighboring the original Logan Gardens, exclusively features the JANUS et Cie line of outdoor furniture and textiles. "We’re very excited about the new showroom and our enhanced presentation of JANUS et Cie," said Logan. "Now designers and their clients will experience one of our most popular outdoor furniture and textile lines in a space especially designed to showcase its beauty, harmony and craftsmanship." Design services and custom furniture are available to provide the highest level of satisfaction in creative, effective solutions for residential and commercial design projects. Logan Gardens and Logan Gardens II, 351 Peachtree Hills Ave., NE, Suites 506 and 501, (404) 261-9101, www.logangardens.com.   

Whit’s End, a new casual men’s clothing store, has opened in Decatur offering affordable clothing, gifts and accessories. Shop for Columbia Sportswear, Levi Strauss, Fossil, and Jockey clothing. Some unisex and kids’ items are available too, as well as various gifts. Whit’s End also carries the Decatur Girl line of T-shirts, and various City of Decatur items. 431 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., No.2. (404) 377-3310 or www.whitsenddecatur.com.

Atlanta Vintage Books, an Atlanta institution for 19 years, has been purchased by Virginia-Highland residents Bob Roarty and Jan Bolgla. When they heard the previous owners, Giles and Helen Hollingsworth, were ready to retire, the husband-and-wife team decided to fulfill a dream they have always had and buy the bookstore. The shop has more than 70,000 rare and used books, many vintage and first editions, as well as a huge selection of children’s books, classics, history, art, cookbooks and more. 3660 Clairmont Rd., Chamblee. (770) 457-2919 or www.abebooks.com/home/AVB.

Leontine Linens has opened a shop for luxurious, handmade linens for bed and bath. All products are made to order – from fabric to color, border and monogram – and embellished with custom appliquÈ, embroidery or quilting. All products are made in the United States and are machine-washable. Other stores are in New Orleans and New York (Bergdorf Goodman). Open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 425 Peachtree Hills Ave., Building 12, 2nd floor. (404) 869-3435. www.leontinelinens.com.

The Atlanta International Fine Linen & Home Textiles Market is now open at AmericasMart Downtown. The new temporary collection – together with permanent showrooms – will give retailers access to more than 200 temporary exhibitors and more than 100 permanent showrooms showcasing a comprehensive selection of soft goods, home textiles and furnishings, personal care products and accessories. www.americasmart.com.  

Southern Web Group, a provider of custom Web site design and Internet marketing solutions, has opened a new office in Buckhead. In addition to its designers, project managers and account managers, Southern Web Group’s new location will also house its corporate leadership team. The new office is located in Piedmont Commons at 2985 Piedmont Rd., Lower Level. (404) 848-9440 or www.SouthernWebGroup.com.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Join 1,000 stair climbers on Saturday, April 21, and go up to the top of the BentleyForbes-Bank of America Plaza building on Peachtree Street, the tallest building in the Southeast. That’s 55 floors or 1,378 steps to reach the top. The money raised from Climb Atlanta goes to help the American Lung Association Southeast Region fight for clean air and healthy lungs. Register to climb at www.climbatlanta.com or call (770) 434-5864.

SpaFlow is a new Atlanta-based company that specializes in providing mobile massage therapy services. As part of the service, SpaFlow provides all necessary equipment to accomplish a true spa-like experience, including massage tables and chairs, linens, music and oils. According to owner Jeanetta Lambkin, services are "on demand," with only two hours’ notice required for booking appointments. (404) 577-8555.

MONEY AND FINANCE

Cobb Community Bank will open its first location at 3333 Riverwood Pkwy. off Cobb Parkway. The grand opening is scheduled for June 1, 2007. Cobb Community Bank is a division of Buckhead Community Bank, which also has community banks in Buckhead, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Midtown and Johns Creek. "Every time we open a new Community Bank, we concentrate on the specific needs of the business and residential customers in that area, said Marvin Cosgray, above, president and CEO of the Buckhead Bank. "We believe in becoming part of the neighborhood. We work hard to know our customers’ banking needs and to give them the personal attention they deserve." The Buckhead Community Bank opened in 1998 to recreate a hometown banking relationship for Atlanta. In nine years, total deposits have grown from $27 million to more than $487 million and total assets have grown from $34 million to more than $529 million. www.buckheadcommunitybank.com.

Premier Choice Management has launched a company providing personal management services for individuals looking for better balance in their personal lives. "We manage your chaos," its press release said. Premier Choice Management offers various solutions for clients, including but not limited to: overall personal management; event planning; researching and interviewing home-service companies; vacation planning; personal shopping; and running errands. www.premierchoicemgt.com.

You can claim a minimum $500 deduction on your itemized federal tax return by donating your car to Cars4Charities. If your car sells for more than $500, the sale price will be the amount you can claim as a deduction. Cars4Charities accepts most cars in the greater Atlanta area for donation, old or new, running or not. To be eligible for donation, your car must have a clear title, not be stripped of parts, have four inflated tires and be in a place where a tow truck can easily get to it. Cars4Charities will handle the entire donation process, from start to finish. Simply log onto www.cars4charities.org or call 1-866-448-3487. Your vehicle will be picked up in a matter of days, free of charge. Cars4Charities will provide you with all the paperwork you’ll need to claim your deduction. Some of the charities your donation can help include Breast Cancer Research Foundation, American Foundation for the Blind, Cancer Research & Prevention, Asthma and Allergy Foundation, United Spinal Association, Teach for America and the Arc of Georgia.

Midtown’s Sunrise Bank of Atlanta has appointed Jamie Ensley vice president of commercial and SBA lending and Nisha Shah business development officer of commercial lending.

NETWORKING

The Women’s Business Leadership Development Conference will mark its 10th anniversary this year at the Georgia World Congress Center on May 2 starting at 7:30 a.m. Keynote speakers for this one-day event include internationally known women: Marta Sahagun de Fox, former first lady of Mexico and noted voice on women’s issues and social responsibility; TV personality Judge Glenda Hatchett; and NASA’s first woman commander, Col. Eileen Collins. An address by Robyn Spizman and Tory Johnson, authors of Take This Book to Work — How to Ask For (And Get) Money, Fulfillment and Advancement, kicks off the conference. Workshops on a wide variety of topics tailored to corporate women and women business owners are planned. Go to www.possiblewoman.com for registration and details.

AWARDS AND BOARDS

Grownups actually did have all the fun at Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta at Museum’s fourth annual fundraising event. More than 400 guests ate, danced and saw the exhibits children enjoy every day. Amuse’UM 2007 raised more than $175,000 to directly benefit the educational exhibits and programs at Imagine It! www.imagineit-cma.org.

The Enterprise Innovation Institute at Georgia Institute of Technology recently won renewed funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce to continue operating the Georgia Statewide Minority Business Enterprise Center (GMBEC). Since its inception three years ago, GMBEC has helped its clients secure nearly $70 million in financing and create more than 240 jobs. The GMBEC is part of a national network of centers established to increase the number of minority-owned businesses and strengthen existing ones. Its services are designed to improve access to capital, make business more profitable, create jobs and make companies sustainable. It is funded by the Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency.

Donly Chase, left, president of the Midtown Community Bank, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Midtown Alliance for 2007. Chase has served as president of the Midtown Community Bank since it opened in October 2005.

The 2007 Atlanta Marketer of the Year Awards, held last month at the Fox Theatre, not only celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Atlanta chapter of the American Marketing Association but also honored media mogul Ted Turner with its inaugural Marketing Lifetime Achievement Award. www.amyawardsatl.com.