Glasspro makes commitment to safety

Glasspro is among a small group of auto glass replacement companies that have made a strong commitment to safety by registering a commitment to install windshields and auto glass in accordance with the Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard.

AGRSS-registered companies have agreed, in writing, to comply with all the provisions of the AGRSS safety standard.

Glasspro operates seven auto glass replacement and repair facilities in the Lowcountry, including Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Summerville, Goose Creek, Georgetown, Walterboro and Myrtle Beach.

The Beach Co. launches Web site

The Beach Co. announced the launch of its new corporate Web site, www.thebeachcompany.com.

“With all of the growth we’ve been experiencing at The Beach Co., we felt it was the perfect time to expand the Web site as well, said John Darby, CEO and president of The Beach Co. “Now the most up-to-date information about The Beach Co. is literally at your fingertips.”

The site was constructed to be user-friendly. Content includes everything from the company’s history, executive team and information on new projects.

The residential and commercial sections offer direct feeds to MLS and Loop Net, respectively, which provides the user access to the global search engines to research all available company listings. “Our goal was to create a real-time Web site that will serve as a constant tool and on-going resource for all of its visitors, regardless of what aspects of the company they are interest in,” said Kristen Reeves, director of marketing.

Small businesses concerned about inflation

A recent survey of South Carolina’s small businesses revealed the issues weighing heaviest on the minds of entrepreneurs.

The National Federation of Independent Business survey, conducted via telephone among a random sample of at least 350 small businesses from around the state, showed that the biggest issues for small-business owners are inflation and rising prices, insurance and big-business competition and employee quality or costs.

The survey also looked at sales, profits and costs for small businesses and found: • A net 44%—the positive percentage minus negative percentage—of respondents said sales are good, down from a net 55% in September and a net 49% in June. • A net 32% said profits are good, down from last quarter’s net 40%. • As for the average prices paid for goods and services for their business, 63% said those have increased, up from 55% in September. • Two out of three respondents, or 67%, said the recent increases in energy costs has had a negative impact, but 22% said the increases have had no impact. • To deal with increased energy costs, 26% of respondents said the most important action has been to reduce energy use; 20% said it was to raise prices and 18% said it was to absorb the costs with lower earnings.

Local search engine offers unique business opportunity

Business Solutions of America has introduced the SpyderSearch Directory, a local search engine with a focus on business and industry.

SpyderSearch does not crawl Google, Yahoo, MSN or any other search engine for its results. B.S.A will hand list and inspect all Web sites applying to list inside of SpyderSearch.

SpyderSearch’s goal is to create a search location where local businesses can highlight their services and products with less competition from businesses outside of the target query area.

All local businesses can submit their Web site information by visiting www.businessamerica.us/spydersearch.

Moody’s affirms A1 rating for SPA’s bond debt

Moody’s Investors Service has affirmed its A1 rating for the South Carolina State Ports Authority’s outstanding bond debt of $139.6 million, lauding the SPA for its stability, favorable financial performance and “unusually high productivity.”

The ratings update said the recently completed dredging of the Charleston harbor channel, good connections to roads and rail networks, and well-maintained facilities have enabled the Port of Charleston to hold its market share within the highly competitive port industry. Charleston is the busiest container port along the Southeast and Gulf Coasts and ranks fourth nationally, after Los Angeles, Long Beach and New York.

The Port of Charleston, the report continues, ranks closely with the most efficient ports in Asia, averaging 40 container moves per hour, compared to an average 30 container moves per hour at other U.S. ports. Container volume through Charleston increased 14 % from the pervious year, the report said.

Moody’s also lauded the authority for its consistent record of strong debt coverage, ability to generate excess cash to fund capitol projects, and maintenance of high levels of liquidity.

Byron Miller, SPA spokesman, said the ratings update confirms that the Port of Charleston is in “a very strong position to handle its growth and foster economic development in the region.”

“At the same time, it also demonstrates to the state’s taxpayers that they are not going to have to take care of the port through the issuance of public debt that would impact their wallets and pocketbooks,” he said.

However, the report does cite challenges the SPA may have to confront in the future. These included its having relatively few large customers locally compared to total cargo handled, something Moody’s thinks may make the port more susceptible to competition from other East Coast container ports.

Miller said while that assessment is accurate, the situation is also changing rapidly. “Just look at DaimlerChrysler,” he said. “Now that they’re going to be building their Sprinter vans here, they are going to be huge users of the port, and this is a trend we see continuing.”

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