Editor's Notes: Find great tools from creative people inside

By David Kennard
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Thank you for picking up this second edition of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal. 

Our team here in Fayetteville has put in some long hours to bring you a mix of stories, all related to local business and industry. It’s my hope that you find the content interesting, helpful and engaging.

We had a great response to the inaugural edition that was distributed at select locations throughout the area, so much so that even our surplus copies are beginning to run low.

David Kennard

“Not to worry,” as my entrepreneurial father in law liked to say. 

You may remember Caractacus Potts from the classic film “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” My wife’s father came from that same mold. He loved a challenge, and regardless of the obstacle, eventually he’d find a solution.

With that in mind, if you missed the inaugural edition of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal, you can find all the stories — as well as an electronic edition — online at bizfayetteville.com.

By the time you read this, our team is already hard at work on the June 25 edition. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

As you flip through this edition, you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss a few things.

First, you’ll want to thumb over to page 15 to find the story about Yoniara Montoya and her Yo! Shee Vegan food truck here in Fayetteville.

While many of us were busy hoarding toilet paper, Montoya was busy turning her passion into a unique business. Sure, you can sample many of her creations from her mobile restaurant, but you can find even more ideas, recipes and blog posts at yosheevegan.com.

Look, I like meat as much as the next guy, but some of these vegan creations are truly amazing.

With your tummy full, you’re going to want to learn more about the Fort Bragg Clay Target Center. Find that story page 23.

This is a little-known community asset that is going gangbusters, and is becoming even more popular with the corporate crowd looking for team building fun.

Take off your jacket, put on your safety glasses and earplugs and fire off a few shells not too far away from the artillery fire we’ve all come to know and love here in Fayetteville.

Don’t have a shotgun? Don’t worry, the pro shop has you covered. Call ahead to make sure there’s room for you or your group, bring some extra cash for the shells and snacks, then go destroy some clay pigeons.

A few of other things you’ll want to find in this edition are the “Biz Leads” on page 21, “The List” on page 22 and the “Achievers” column on page 6. These are designed to be usable features that provide information on things happening around here.

Pay special attention to the “Achievers” column; this is a list that is supplied primarily by readers like you. We are always looking for folks in your organization that are making moves, receiving accolades or doing other things that you’re proud of. You can send your news items to me at editor@bizfayetteville.com.

Now, on to the next edition…

Coming in the next edition, you’ll find the return of the popular economic indicators that we’ve compiled. 

As I’ve been pugging in the numbers for many of the charts and other graphics you’ll find on page 3 of the June 25 paper, I discovered how very telling things have been over the last year. 

For instance, you’ll see that the unemployment rate remained relatively steady -- well except for the whole March-to-April anomaly that sent our local workforce and employers reeling.

I should qualify the use of the word “steady.” With most economists considering full employment as anywhere between 4 percent and 6 percent, you can see that we’ve performed pretty well — even throttled by COVID-19. Of course we’ll have a much better idea once the state’s Department of Commerce releases its May jobless report in late June.

Watch for us to break that story online at bizfayetteville.com on June 30. You also can track us on Twitter at @bizfayetteville.

Speaking of economic indicators, you can really pay little attention to the gas prices listed in the chart coming on June 25, because, well, does anyone have any idea on what we’re going to pay at the pump? The only real data you’ll find there is how the average gas price has changed over the last year, but even that trend shows fluctuation that makes it hard to plan around.

Back in the 1970s, when gas became scarce and I traded in my Chevy Nova for a Toyota Corolla to save money on both gas and repairs, my father-in-law invented something “very clever” to save money on a simple car repair. 

When his windshield wipers failed to wipe, instead of shelling out big bucks to replace the motor, he used some nylon string and shoulder power to yank on the wiper before it fwapped back into position.

Caractacus Potts would have been proud.

David Kennard is the Executive Editor of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal. Contact him at davidk@bizfayetteville.com or 910-240-9697, ext. 104.