Here are five places in 2024 owned by women that are making waves in 2024 and showcasing the diverse and passionate business sense of our forward thinking current and future small business leaders.
1. Merci, a neighborhood bistro offering European-inspired French and Italian cuisine, opening in summer 2024 on 28 Pitt Street. Co-owned by the husband and wife team of Courtney and Michael Zentner, Merci is poised to compliment the rich and robust restaurant offerings on the peninsula.
2. Uncommon James, a store offering jewelry, skincare, candles, and home decor, opened in 2024 on 309 King Street. Founded and creatively directed by television personality and fashion entrepreneur Kristin Cavallari, Uncommon James is a collection of timeless, effortless and sophisticated jewelry for women on-the-go.
3. ACE: The Anneclaire Experience, a dance-based fitness studio designed to strengthen the body and mind, opened in winter 2024 at 695 Meeting St. Anneclaire Nelson offers high-energy dance-based workouts at her new ACE fitness studio on Meeting Street. Greenville native Anneclaire Nelson opened ACE fitness studio on Meeting Street in March.
4. Ma Gloria’s Trinidad Catering, offering authentic Caribbean cuisine with influences from Asia, East India, and the South, located at 3640-B Dorchester Rd, North Charleston, SC 29405 owned by Roxann Melville. Ma Gloria’s is the only place to quench your Caribbean Craving. In a city like Charleston, SC, the island heritage is intertwined into the culture. Ma Gloria’s caters to many events, weddings, engagement parties, birthdays and more.
5. Beau & Ro, located at 171 King St, Charleston, SC 29401, was founded by Sara Rossi in 2013 as a leather bag company and has since grown into a full apparel brand with Sara producing all of her clothes at the fair trade factory she opened in India.
6. Victoria Dunn Design, located, offers unique clothing and accessory designs to the Lowcountry. Victoria Dunn Design was created by Victoria Dunn to celebrate coastal and southern living to inspire others to live through color and embrace the coast. All of her pieces are designed in America, but produced by artisans and craftsmen around the world to create a collection that is made with so much love. Victoria works along side craftsmen in India to create accessories, clothing and linens using block printing. Block printing is one of the slowest and oldest printing methods in India. Victoria partners with multiple printing studios in Jaipur India to bring her designs and visions to life. Victoria also works along side female artisan’s in Peru and Colombia. Each accessory is handwoven and crafted. The artisians use high-quality natural fibers to weave Iraca Palm into our earrings and bags. Her store is online, but once every two months or quarter, there is a Pop-up in Mount Pleasant, SC.
These women-owned businesses are bringing new and diverse dining, retail, and fitness experiences to revolutionize Charleston’s offerings in 2024.
In a sad and heartfelt statement on Instagram, the team at Charleston based Poogan’s Southern Kitchen announced they are closing their Forest Acres location with the last service on May 19, 2024. We wish the team all the best as they embark on new journeys.
We’re saddened to share the news that Poogan’s Southern Kitchen in Forest Acres will be permanently closing its doors after our final brunch and dinner service on Sunday, May 19th.
We want to express our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your patronage and support since our opening in 2022. Your presence has made our journey truly special.
To the people of Forest Acres, your support has been incredible, and we’re grateful for the warmth and community you’ve shown us.
Before we say goodbye, we invite you to join us over the next week, where we can reminisce and share our favorite Southern dishes with you once more.
For those venturing to the Lowcountry, our locations in Charleston and Summerville will continue to serve our signature cuisine with the same hospitality you’ve come to love.
Thank you for being a part of our story. We hope to see you soon.
Hospitality, entertainment, non-profits and restaurants are such a vital part of the Lowcounty economy, that we wanted to provide a guide to business owners and influencers on the best time and days to post on Instagram to maximize your visibility and conversion.
Best Times to Post on Instagram for Hospitality Brands
Here are some of the best times to post on Instagram for those in the hospitality industry:
Best days to post on Instagram: Tuesdays to Thursdays
Worst days to post on Instagram: Saturdays and Sundays
Worst time to post on Instagram: 11 PM to 5 AM
Share the above info with your peers:
From catchy transitions in Reels to detailed travel itineraries on carousels, Instagram serves as a virtual travel guide for the modern traveler. In fact, 52% of travelers decided to visit a specific place after seeing its photos/videos from friends, family, or peers on social media.
It’s obvious why hospitality brands leverage Instagram; it’s a visual-centric platform, making it ideal for hospitality brands to bring destinations to life and engage users.
Best Times to Post on Instagram for Media and Entertainment Brands
For media and entertainment brands, the following information is key if they want to thrive on Instagram:
Best days to post on Instagram: Mondays to Thursdays
Worst days to post on Instagram: Saturdays and Sundays
Worst time to post on Instagram: 10 PM to 2 AM
Download the following infograph and share it with your peers:
60% of Instagram’s user base is aged between 18 and 34 — the perfect target audience for many media and entertainment brands. Take Netflix for example; the brand creates relatable content, shares upcoming releases to build hype, runs specific campaigns to drive more eyeballs, and piggybacks on trending content like a meme using a popular series.
Best Times to Post on Instagram for Nonprofit
To really tap into the power of Instagram, nonprofit brands should leverage the following information:
Best days to post on Instagram: Wednesdays
Worst days to post on Instagram: Saturdays and Sundays
Worst time to post on Instagram: 2 AM to 5 AM
Share the above table with your colleagues:
Times like the pandemic remind us just how crucial social support is. It also extends beyond global crises, such as animal abuse, climate change, fostering childcare, and providing for the underprivileged. For nonprofit organizations, Instagram acts as a catalyst for their efforts and message. It helps them reach a wider audience and thus, helps them garner more support for their cause.
Spread the word by downloading and sharing this infograph:
Instagram is a goldmine for the bar and restaurant industry. You can showcase artfully crafted creations of your menu staples and indulge your audience in delicious content.
Cedric Grolet is a true visionary who gives up-close-and-personal looks at his pastry innovations. People can experience and watch the creations come to life as he prepares pastries for his pâtisserie outside of Paris, overlooking Hyde Park. Grolet has built a massive online presence with 7.8 million followers on Instagram, opened up a new restaurant in London UK, and convinced his followers that it’s worth waiting in a line for hours to get a taste of his creation.
Best Practices Around Making the Most Out of Your Best Time to Post on Instagram
Tip #1: Be Consistent With Your Posting And Testing
Like everything else, consistency is key for Instagram too. The more consistent your posts are, the wider net you can cast and increase visibility among your audience.
A general notion is that consistency equals how frequently you post. We’ve found that consistency on social platforms, specifically visual-centric ones like Instagram, can mean a lot of things, including but not limited to:
Brand voice and design; how your content looks like
Video editing; what your editing style is
Posting frequency; how often you post
Posting time; at what time you post
As you become more consistent in each of these aspects, your brand identity will become stronger — thus, helping you build trust with your audience. They’ll know who you are, what type of content to expect from you, and when to expect it, giving them a reason to engage with your content.
An efficient way to build consistency in your brand voice, design, and editing style is to use an Instagram video editor. For posting schedules, you can use scheduling tools like Sprout Social, Hootsuite, or Later.
Tip #2: Take The Best Time To Post On Instagram Guides (Like This) With A Grain Of Salt
Resources can be your bible when marketing on Instagram, and the internet has a lot of it. Researching about the best times to post can give you a fair idea of where the potential lies. Guides can help you with detailed research of when to post depending on which industry you are from and you can further utilize that to figure out your unique best posting times.
Tip #3: Leverage Video Content For Instagram For Even More Engagement
The reach of Instagram reels in accounts with up to 500 followers is a whopping 892%, while the reach of images in the same accounts is only 77%. Video content is a clear-cut choice for creators and teams looking to grow their following and engagement rate.
A great example is Rachael DeVaux, popularly known by the Instagram handle RachaelGoodEats. Rachael is a registered dietitian and trainer who regularly shares healthy recipes and fitness tips. When the pandemic hit, she started hosting Instagram Lives. Eventually, they became so popular, she had to organize them multiple times throughout the week for her audience. Her recent Reel ”High-Protein Froyo” has garnered 507K views and 16,391 likes.
Tip #4: Use Video Templates For Stronger Brand Resonance And Faster Production
Let’s reverse engineer for a hot second here: to find the best time to post on Instagram, you need to consistently post content. That requires dedicated effort, time and resources in content ideation, production, editing, and posting. That’s a lot!
By using video templates, you can significantly cut down your production time and efforts while still delivering good quality content. Besides, templates can help you build your brand’s style and vibe, and bring a sense of familiarity for people. This way, when your audience sees a post on their Instagram feed, they’ll immediately recognize it’s from you!
For this, you can use tools like VEED, a simple yet powerful video editing platform, that lets you record, edit, repurpose, and share videos easily. It provides AI-powered video editing features like auto-subtitles, AI avatars, eye correction, magic cut, and pre-designed templates to help you produce high-production quality videos.
VEED’s templates are carefully designed with the best Instagram video dimensions so you don’t have to worry about the aspect ratio or all the other jazz. Even if you have a landscape recording and need to resize your video for Instagram, VEED can do it in just a single click.
The best part? No need to download heavy software. Or watch hours of tutorials just to make a simple transition. All you need to do is create an account, select a template, and edit your video.
Nucor Steel Berkeley broke ground on the construction of a new galvanizing line on Thursday, May 2.
The $425 million investment will create more than 50 new full-time jobs, according to a news release. The new galvanizing line is expected to start up in mid-2025.
Adding a new galvanizing line at the South Carolina sheet steel mill supports Nucor’s strategy to expand the company’s capabilities and grow its participation in the automotive and consumer durables markets, the release stated. The mill in Berkeley County produces flat-rolled steel which has hundreds of everyday uses, including parts for cars, water heaters, lawnmowers, appliances and more.
Nucor Steel Berkeley also produces steel beams that are used as support structures in bridges and buildings.
“This capability broadens the mix of higher margin value-added products that Nucor can provide to our customers,” Rex Query, Nucor’s executive vice president of sheet products, said during a groundbreaking ceremony. “It also allows us to take advantage of the need our customers have for sustainable steel — sustainable steel being something that Nucor excels at producing.”
With its recycling-based steelmaking process, Nucor makes steel with much lower carbon emissions than traditional blast furnace steelmakers, the release stated.
At the event, Thompson Construction Group — a South Carolina-based company working on the project — signed a safety partnership with South Carolina OSHA that establishes safety goals and strategies to help protect the health and safety of workers constructing the new galvanizing line, the release stated.
The Nucor Steel Berkeley mill employs nearly 1,000 people and utilizes the services of up to 350 additional contractors working on-site on any given day, the release stated. Nucor Corp. has invested more than $1 billion in the Berkeley mill since it began production in 1996, generating approximately $2 billion in revenue annually.
Nucoris North America’s largest steel producer and recycler, recycling approximately 20 million tons of scrap metal annually to make new steel products, according to the release. The company got its start in the steel industry in the 1960s when it bought a steel joist facility in Florence, and later built its first steel mill in Darlington. Today, Nucor employs 2,500 people across South Carolina.
Fleet Landing Restaurant (186 Concord St, Charleston, SC) is renowned for its Charleston “Charleston Shrimp and Grits,” featuring fresh coastal seafood and a fusion of classic and contemporary Southern flavors. Their shrimp and grits dish is a specialty.
Magnolias (185 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC) ignited Charleston’s culinary renaissance in 1990 and remains a forerunner in upscale Lowcountry cuisine. Their “Shellfish Over Grits” is a classic dish (sautéed shrimp, sea scallops, creamy white grits, lobster butter sauce, fried spinach).
Poogan’s Porch (72 Queen Street, Charleston, SC) offers a unique take on Lowcountry cuisine and is widely known for their delicious shrimp and grits (Cooper River Farms andouille sausage, onions, peppers, Tasso ham gravy), among other Southern staples like biscuits and she-crab soup.
The Glass Onion (1219 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407) is one of Charleston’s original farm-to-table restaurants, showcasing Southern comfort food like shrimp and grits made with locally-sourced ingredients (Carolina Shrimp, Andouille Sausage, Creole Tomatoes, Marsh Hen Mills Grits).
While not a dedicated Southern restaurant, Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B)(192 E Bay St, Charleston, SC) is an acclaimed Lowcountry bistro that offers an excellent version of classic shrimp and grits (shrimp, house sausage, country ham, tomatoes, green onions, garlic, marsh hen mill grits).
According to the latest study by CoWorkingCafe, Charleston, South Carolina is the 2nd best U.S. city for summer part-time jobs due to its large number of part-time job openings, high health insurance coverage, and dynamic work environment.
For this particular study, CoworkingCafe compared 331 U.S. cities with at least 100,000 residents that had data for all metrics analyzed. The metrics used for this study were: youth part-time job availability (number of unqualified part-time job openings per 100,000 residents aged 16-24), youth idle rate (share of young population who did not participate in the labor force in the past 12 months), youth part-time work prevalence (difference between the number of young residents working full-time and those working less than full-time), share of part-time employees with health insurance coverage, and share of commuters riding public transportation (excluding taxicabs).
Here are a few key metrics for Charleston:
Charleston boasted the 2nd highest availability of youth-focused part-time jobs, with more than 5,700 openings per 100k residents aged 16-24;
The city ranked 7thamong our top 15 when it came to health coverage, with 70% of part-time workers having health insurance as an employee benefit;
Charleston had 25% more part-time workers than full-time employees, coupled with a 35% idle population rate — the latter suggesting a relatively low competition for youth-focused jobs;
Nationally, the Northeast stood out with four high-scoring cities at the very top of the list, with Rochester, NY, snatching 1st place.
(CHARLESTON COUNTY) – The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) will open its three waterparks – Splash Island in Mount Pleasant, Splash Zone on James Island, and Whirlin’ Waters in North Charleston – as well as the pool at the West County Aquatic Center, for weekends only starting May 18. Daily operations will begin in June and hours will vary this year.
A schedule for each park’s operations is as follows*:
– Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark:
Open weekends only starting May 18, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays
Open daily from June 1 – August 11, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. weekends and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays (Monday – Friday)
Open weekends only starting August 17 and closing on September 2, 2024
– Splash Island Waterpark:
Open weekends only starting May 18, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 – 6 p.m. on Sundays
Open daily from June 8 – August 4, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturdays; 1 – 6 p.m. Sundays; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays. Closes on August 4
– Splash Zone Waterpark:
Open weekends only starting May 18, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 – 6 p.m. on Sundays
Open daily from June 8 – August 4, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturdays; 1 – 6 p.m. Sundays; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays. Closes on August 4
– West County Aquatic Center:
Open weekends only starting May 18, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 – 6 p.m. on Sundays
Open daily from June 8 – Aug. 11, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturdays and weekdays, and 1 – 6 p.m. Sundays
Open weekends only starting Aug. 17 and closing on Sept. 2
*Holidays may have different hours; please visit CharlestonCountyParks.com (direct link) for a full daily schedule and hours of operation for each park before planning your visit.Schedules are subject to change.
Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark at North Charleston Wannamaker County Park is the largest of CCPRC’s three waterparks. Whirlin’ Waters features unique activities for all ages with attractions including a 60-foot-tall multi-person slide The Washout, plus the Big Splash Tree House, Rollin’ River lazy river, Big Kahuna wave pool, Tubular Twister slides, Rip Tide Run mat racer slide and Otter Bay kiddie area.
Splash Zone Waterpark is located within James Island County Park. It offers two 200-foot-long slides, a large leisure pool, a 500-foot-long lazy river with sprays and waterfalls, and a family play complex called The Rainforest that features slides, buckets and sprays.
Splash Island Waterpark, located within Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park, provides hours of fun for toddlers to pre-teenage children. Attractions include a 200-foot-long body flume, activity pool, a 16-foot-long otter slide, The Cyclone swirling water ride, and sprays, geysers, raindrop waterfalls and more.
The waterparks also offer a full range of amenities including concessions, lockers, lounge chairs, showers and restrooms. Each waterpark is staffed with certified lifeguards. Birthday party packages are also available. Admission fees vary, and Splash Passes for all-season waterpark access are available for sale now at CharlestonCountyParks.com.
The West County Aquatic Center offers a 6,000-square-foot seasonal outdoor pool for beginner and seasoned swimmers. It also offers programming including swimming lessons, fitness programs and a competitive swim team.
For more information on the waterparks or West County Aquatic Center, and a full daily schedule of operations for each park, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com or call 843-795-4386.
Charleston County Parks is hiring seasonal lifeguard and waterpark staff now, offering competitive pay and great benefits. For details and to apply, visit ccprc.com/jobs.
An inaugural report has revealed for the first time the massive economic and jobs impact of the Charleston Marine Manufacturing Corp. Navy Yard Industrial Campus.
CMMC unveiled its first comprehensive economic impact study, revealing a contribution of approximately $960.1 million annually to the Charleston County economy, according to a news release. Providing data on employment, growth trends, and heightened demand across industries served by CMMC tenants, this analysis illustrates a broad assessment of CMMC’s total economic influence on Charleston County, the tri-county region and the state of South Carolina.
Established in 1993 in the aftermath of the Naval Base closure, CMMC has played an important role in fostering a multifaceted business community by attracting, retaining and growing its tenant base within the marine, manufacturing, creative and logistics industries, the release stated.
“In the wake of the Naval Base closure, CMMC emerged as a beacon of economic resilience, fostering growth and opportunity within our community,” stated Charleston County Economic Development Executive Director Steve Dykes in the release. “The unveiling of this comprehensive economic impact study underscores the pivotal role CMMC plays in fueling Charleston County’s economy. As we celebrate its nearly $1 billion annual contribution, we acknowledge CMMC’s enduring legacy in shaping our economic landscape and propelling our future prosperity. We are proud to have CMMC as an economic development partner.”
The study — conducted by Joseph C. Von Nessen, research economist at the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business — summarizes how the growth of the advanced manufacturing and logistics industry clusters have been among the state’s strongest over the last decade, placing CMMC and its tenants at the center of South Carolina’s economic growth trends, the release stated.
The study’s findings highlight the importance of CMMC and its tenants to the county’s economy and serve as a reminder of the campus’s strong potential for growth. Additional key findings of the study include:
For the broader Charleston tri-county region (including Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties) and South Carolina as a whole, CMMC’s economic impact expands to $1 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively;
The dynamic business activities at CMMC result in an employment multiplier effect of 2.4; meaning that for every 10 jobs created by CMMC tenants, another 14 jobs are created elsewhere in South Carolina; and
3,694 jobs supported by CMMC and its tenants pay an average annual wage of $74,537, representing an 18% premium over the average annual wage across all jobs in Charleston County.
“This economic impact study not only highlights the significant role CMMC plays in driving the economic growth of Charleston County and South Carolina but also shines a light on the collective strength and potential of our amazing tenants,” CMMC CEO Elias Deeb said in the release. “As we look ahead, CMMC remains committed to fostering innovation, supporting job creation, and contributing to the prosperity of our community.”
Said North Charleston Mayor Reggie Burgess: “The CMMC Navy Yard Industrial Campus stands as a pillar of economic strength and innovation in North Charleston, contributing nearly a billion dollars annually to the County’s economy. This underscores CMMC’s role as a cornerstone of our community’s growth. As we celebrate these outstanding achievements, we are inspired by CMMC’s unwavering commitment to bolster North Charleston as a leading force in South Carolina’s vibrant economic landscape.”
Governor Henry McMaster declared the month of May to be South Carolina Hurricane Preparedness Month, marking the second year of the declaration. Hurricane season begins June 1, making May a crucial time for preparations for South Carolina residents.
The state’s theme for the month is “Make the most of your time while you still have it.” The month allows you adequate time to evaluate your current preparedness situation and see what preparations you can make now to ensure you are ready at the start of Hurricane Season.
Hurricanes often have impacts throughout the state of South Carolina. While those living and working in Hurricane Evacuation Zones are at the greatest risk, heavy rain, strong winds and possible tornados can impact those well inland. Regardless of where you live, begin your hurricane preparations now and consider these tips to help keep you and your family safe.
Be Informed
Know your hurricane risk. Whether you live on the coast or far inland, be aware of the impacts that rain, wind, water and even tornadoes can have on your location when a hurricane or tropical storm makes landfall.
Stay tuned to local TV and radio stations for emergency information and the latest weather reports.
Sign up for CU Alerts, which provide emergency notifications to Clemson locations throughout the state.
Get real-time alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) for up to five locations nationwide.
Sign up for alerts from your local emergency management office and be aware of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS).
Follow trusted and reliable sources on social media, such as your local NWS station, local news outlets and SCEMD.
Make a Plan
Learn your nearest evacuation route, practice with your household and pets and identify where you will stay. Rely on the blue hurricane evacuation signs, not GPS.
Keep your cell phone charged when a hurricane is in the forecast and purchase backup charging devices to power electronics.
Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands your hurricane plans. Include the office, kids’ daycare and anywhere else you frequent in your hurricane plans.
Prepare your home for hurricane season:
Conduct a safety check to ensure your home can withstand the effects of a hurricane.
Get your roof inspected, de-clutter drains and gutters, bring in outside furniture and consider hurricane shutters.
Confirm that your insurance policies cover the types of damages hurricanes can cause.
Make a list and take photos of your belongings as records.
Build a Kit
Build a kit with enough supplies for your household for several days, including medication, disinfectant supplies and pet supplies.
Consider the needs of those in your household when building your kit and tailor your kit to what’s best for you and your family.
Be sure to include important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container.
Know Your Zone
In South Carolina, state and local officials issue hurricane evacuations based on zones in coastal counties. These zones have changed for 2024. If you live near the coast, be sure that you and your family Know Your Zone. Clemson facilities are located in the following zones for 2024:
Northern Region
Zone A
Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science
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