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Icing the drink business
JD BIZ SMOOTHIEp 3
Darla Clarkson and her two employees, Carrie Ford and Jessica Gaskin (right), stand behind the counter of The Smooth Operator. - photo by Photo by John Deike
An inventive sole-proprietor named Darla Clarkson has used some creative methods to develop a called The Smooth Operator.
Even though many business owners have lost a large part of their customer base to the deployment, Clarkson has cut into this economic adversity by opening up a smoothie shop at the Newman Fitness Center on Fort Stewart.
By offering healthy and balanced smoothies, power shakes, snacks and breakfast food, she has appealed to many of the soldiers and civilians who frequent the fitness center, Clarkson said.
Her drinks and shakes offer a balance of protein and carbohydrates, and she also sells food supplements to aid her customers during their workout routines, she said.
However, to gain an edge, Clarkson and her staff (Carrie Ford and Jessica Gaskin) not only provide their patrons with the necessary fuel to enjoy a workout, but they also are trained to offer personal exercise advice to help their customers with their fitness goals, Clarkson said.
Clarkson and her staff take body fat percentage and heart rate measurements, and they keep them on file to help their customers gauge how efficient their workout routines are, she said.
The Smooth Operator has been in business for only seven weeks, yet the popularity of her shop has flourished and she plans to expand to other locations such as Hunter Fitness Center and a new gym coming to Fort Stewart, she said.
“My shop has brought some real life to this gym,” Clarkson said. “The people of the fitness center call our shop Club Newman because it has become a meeting place for those who want to enjoy a smoothie or a power shake while meeting with some of their peers.”
Besides their drinks, Clarkson’s shop also features Starbuck’s Coffee, and a free Wi-Fi connection for those who want to bring their laptops.
Clarkson also stressed The Smooth Operator is open to anyone who wants to enjoy a healthy drink or coffee.
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GPA grows trade, market share
Intermodal volume up 20 percent
port photo
Rubber tired gantry cranes handle cargo at the Chatham Intermodal Container Transfer Facility at the Port of Savannah. The Georgia Ports Authority's Mason Mega Rail project will double rail lift capacity to 1 million containers per year by 2020 - photo by Provided

The Georgia Ports Authority achieved 14 percent growth in March container volumes, moving 355,208 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers.

From July 2017 to March, TEU container trade grew by 9 percent, or 255,786 additional units for a total of 3.08 million, a new record for Savannah.

"Savannah's continued strength is a reflection of our customers' commitment, Georgia's leadership, and the many dedicated service providers, GPA employees and ILA members who come together every day to achieve great things," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "March marked our 17th consecutive month of business expansion thanks, in part, to a strong economy and growing market share."

Intermodal rail volumes jumped by 20 percent in March and 15.4 percent for the fiscal year to date, for a total of 318,454 containers handled over nine months – another record for the GPA.

"As the numbers show, our rail cargo is growing at a faster pace than our overall trade," GPA Chairman Jimmy Allgood said. "This is important because rail is playing a key role in our responsible growth strategy. We anticipate our rail infrastructure investments to take 250,000 trucks off the road each year by 2020."

The GPA recently broke ground on its Mason Mega Rail Terminal, on which the Port of Savannah will build 10,000-foot unit trains within its own footprint. From the expanded rail infrastructure at Garden City Terminal, Class I rail providers CSX and Norfolk Southern will provide direct rail service to major Southeast and Midwestern markets from Memphis to St. Louis, Chicago to Cincinnati.

An added benefit is that the Mason Mega Rail project will move all rail switching on terminal – improving vehicle traffic flow around the port.

In August, the GPA will open its Appalachian Regional Port in Murray County. Located in an industrial belt, including the production and export of carpet and flooring, automobiles and tires, the ARP will provide an alternative to all-truck transit to Northwest Georgia.

Each round-trip container moved via the Appalachian Regional Port will offset 710 truck miles on Georgia highways.

March was also a strong month for roll-on/roll-off auto and machinery units at the Port of Brunswick and Ocean Terminal in Savannah. Colonel's Island Terminal in Brunswick handled 66,144 cars, trucks and tractors, while Ocean Terminal added 4,050, for a total 70,194, a 17.2 percent increase.

"The global economy is thriving and our volumes are following suit," Lynch said. "As existing accounts grow their footprint in the expanding auto facility in Brunswick, Georgia's competitive logistical advantages are drawing additional business across all of our docks."

Lynch noted that for the fiscal year to date, Mayor's Point breakbulk terminal in Brunswick grew by 44 percent (34,515 tons) to reach 112,728 tons of forest products. At East River Terminal, bulk cargo expanded by 34 percent July-March (189,918 tons) for a total of 750,384 tons.

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