Business Beat for June 10

New UPS location coming to Matthews

Area residents will have another choice for shipping, packing, copying and more when a United Parcel Service location opens off Monroe Road in Matthews next month.

The store, in The Commons shopping center, at 10020 Monroe Road will be the second UPS franchise store for owner Yanti Santoso. She bought a UPS location in Harrisburg in 2007.

The Monroe Road location was a logical choice because of convenience – for herself and her customers, the Providence Plantation resident said.

“It’s on the way to work for most people and on the way home from work,” Santoso said. “It’s close to the street and easy to see. Our customers, they like to come in and out and in less than five minutes they’re done.”

Santoso will transfer staff from the Harrisburg location, but does expect to hire one additional employee. Customers can expect personal service, she said.
“We like to know the names of our customers. It’s just like a small-town store rather than a big box store,” Santoso said.

Mint Hill’s got Pizzazz!

Howard & Howard Events has combined its party-planning and chef services with handmade floral design and jewelry to open Pizzazz! in Mint Hill.

Pamela Howard of Howard & Howard said the business outgrew their location off Wilgrove-Mint Hill Road and wanted to incorporate walk-in retail sales, which led to the partnership with interior and floral designer Tommy Braswell and local jewelry artists.

Pizzazz! Is located at 11300 Lawyers Road, suite D, in the B.G. Walters shopping center. For more information, call 704-545-2060.

Chick-fil-A closes for renovations June 18
Matthews’ Chick-fil-A restaurant will close June 18 for a complete overhaul, including the addition of a double drive-through.

Owner Deno Keretses said the 19-year-old restaurant at 9905 Matthews Park Drive, will be gutted and renovations will mean closing the location for about a month.

The double drive-though will create two lanes for ordering, which will then merge into one lane for customers to pay and pick-up their food, Keretses said. Staff will watch the cars to make sure two people aren’t moving into the single lane at the same time, he said.

The design is already used in at least 30 Chick-fil-A restaurants, including the Mooresville location.

Greg’s Bar-B-Q collecting for Special Olympics

Greg’s Famous Bar-B-Q restaurant in Matthews is collecting quarters to help the Matthews Police Department reach its goal of a mile’s worth – or 63,360 quarters – to benefit Special Olympics of North Carolina.

A mile in quarters equals $15,840.

To donate, drop your quarters in the collection box inside the restaurant at 10915 Monroe Road.

For more information, call 704-847-5035.

Donate cash for troops at Kangaroo Express

Kangaroo Express convenience stores, including the Matthews location, will collect $1 donations through Labor Day to raise money for troop support services and nonprofits.

Donations will support the USO; the Wounded Warrior Project; and National Guard family assistance programs in five states.

In Matthews, Kangaroo Express is located at 101 E. John St.

For more information about the Salute Our Troops campaign, visit www.KESalute.com.

Matthews resident launches InsureEd.com

Jeff Conyers wants to be your insurance advocate.

The Matthews resident and licensed insurance broker recently launched a website, www.InsureEd.com, to give area residents ways to research their options.

“My experience with my fathers’ battle against Dementia taught me about family planning and insurance the hard way,” Conyers said in a press release.”Folks can use my website or they can call me … it’s a way to research, ask questions, get a second opinion, and plan in advance. It’s free, no obligations.”

For more information, call 704-321-0490 or e-mail jeff@InsureEd.com.

Mint Hill resident starts possession-protection business

Tiffany Steel wants to protect your home or business – with photos.

The Mint Hill resident started her own company, Comprehensive Inventory Solutions, a few months ago to detail the contents of area homes and businesses in case disaster strikes.

“We offer protection and detailed peace of mind,” Steel said. “Given the number of natural disasters in recent months, home and business owners know they should have an inventory, but simply don’t have the time or patience to perform one themselves.”

An inventory comes complete with a set of detailed reports, data backup CD, software so clients can view inventory results on their computers and an information package filled with tips and advice.

Find more information online at www.cis-inventory.com.

Harris Teeter shoppers donate $100K for troops

Harris Teeter shoppers raised nearly $100,000 last month during the company’s Smiles Over Miles donation card campaign to give military members and their families the opportunity to send secure video messages back home.

Matthews-based Harris Teeter sold $1and $7 donation cards in each of its stores during the month of May to raise money to purchase Smiles Over Miles account cards that will be placed at participating USO centers for use by military members. In total, Harris Teeter shoppers raised enough money to give more than 14,000 active duty service members an account card that enables them to send and receive unlimited voice, text, large file attachments or video messages for one year using Smiles Over Miles.

For more information about Smiles Over Miles, visit www.smilesovermiles.com.