Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / June 29, 1989, edition 1 / Page 6
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Business Briefs BUSINESS PROFILE Everything is coming up home grown at Teen's Country Shop By ROBIN BARKSDALE Chronicle Staff Writer Ola Morris has the answer to any of your herbal Questions. The owner/operator of Teen's Country Herb Shop literally has hundreds of home-grown herbs and herbal products at the shop on Waughtown Street. Mrs. Morris opened her herb shop a little over two years ago. Few people are familiar with herb growing and cultivating as a hobby, but Mrs. Morris said that more people are becoming involved with the art. Her own interest in herbs began during her earlier years when her aunt gave her a mint plant. Since that time, she has been fascinated with herbs and their uses. "I've been interested in herbs for about 10 years, and now I'm in the U.S. Herb Society," said Mrs.' Morris. "I attend seminars regular ly." With so few people demon strating an interest in herbs or opt ing to run to the local grocery for processed her}>s, it seems risky to open a business that may not fmd a market. "I decided to open the shop because this was something that I really enjoy," Mrs. Morris said. "I Photos by Mike Cunningham Ola Morris has shelves full of her home-grown herbs. At left, rows of herbs are displayed on shelves at Teen's Country Herb Shop. Mrs. Morris says she wants to get more Afro-Americans Interested In using herbs. enjoy dealing with herbs. It's not so much the money that--I-was coneerned about. It's just fun. I am continually learning about herbs." Mrs. Morris shares her knowledge with the community through classes that are offered at her shop every Saturday and Sun day. Classes meet from 3 to 5 p.m. and the class loads have been large enough that Mrs. Morris now requires pre-registration. She said she feels that more people would use herbs if they were aware of their value and of # all their uses. She is particularly concerned about exposing Afro Arner icans to the dietary benefits of cooking with herbs. "I'm hoping to get to my peo ple, now," said Mrs. Morris. "I'm hoping to get to them so that I can show them ways to use herbs to substitute for a lot of the salt in their diets. I've had about 350 stu dents, and I think that out of that 350, only four have been black." Mrs. Morris grows herbs on a two- acre lot that she and her hus band, Larry, own. They harvest the herbs, dry them and can them in jars in the shop. The herbs grown in her garden are used to -make decorations, vinegary pot pourri and herbal dyes. Little equipment is required for the pro cesses, which Mrs. Morris said makes herbs an easy hobby for any one to take up. Unlike vegeta bles, herbs grow all year and can be grown in nearly any setting, Mrs. Morris said. Mrs. Morris, whose motto is "Herbs are forever and for all," said that she sells her herbs to restaurants and to grocery stores. She conducts seminars for garden clubs and at the city's elderly high rises. She currently is preparing for an "HerbFeast," which will-be - held July 15 to 16 at her shop, " from 1 to 5 p.m. "If you go back to slavery times, you'll t\ nd that all people used were herbs, and herbs are mentioned in the Bible," she said. "We're going to have an 'Herb Feast' which will expose people to herbs. There will be herbal foods, teas and drinks. It's just going to be an old-fashioned day with soap-making and basket-making. Herbs are becoming very popu lar." Owning your own firm: Risky but rewarding MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Bill Dyson flirted with the idea of own ing his own business for many years before taking the plunge in 1983. Armed with 30-plus years of experi ence as a lithographer and engraver, Dyson knew he had the technical background to be a success. But what about the intangibles? How do you get work orders? How do you win contracts? How do you compete with companies that have been around for 10, 20, 50 years? ? "I saw a lot of other people tak-. ing the risk of going into business for themselves, but I have three daughters and two sons. My wife and I wanted to be sure we were providing a solid family support sys tem for these kids. Going into busi ness was risky business," Dyson said. The attraction of trying his hand at being the boss overruled Dyson's sensibilities. First Edition Graphics is now established in St. Louis, Mo." It is a principal printing contractor, serving a variety of clients, large and small. One of the companies First Edi tion Graphics services is the major brewer, Miller Brewing Co. with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis. "Miller is just about everything you want in an account. They set extremely high quality standards, which provides the challenge I wel come. And they have deadlines that are not flexible," Dyson notes. Sometimes entrepreneurs need a nudge to act on their ideas. Dyson's nudge came when he attended a Miller-sponsored minority develop ment workshop in 1983. The work shop proved beneficiaHn how to get started and in meeting other ~ entrepreneurs in the St. Louis area. While the workshop gave Dyson the spark he needed to estab lish his own business, clearly the success of his company during the last six years has been due to his own talent and persistence. "A company in a highly com petitive industry such as Miller can not settle for less than high quality in its products. Therefore, its ven dors, inust be top notch," said Dennis Madigan, corporate purchasing man ager. "If Miller is doing business with you, it's because you are able to pro duce on time and with consistent high quality," said Madigan. A sign that Dyson passed the Miller muster is the fact that First Edition has supplied the brewer with printed material for more than five years. During that time, Dyson has specialized in point-of-purchase items that are distributed nationally. "I've paid my dues, but I think I've been fortunate," said Dyson. "I believe in opportunities. Miller gave me an opportunity to prove to myself that I could do it. "I believe the only way to learn is through people who can help you. There's no school you can go to that . can teach you the kind of things you learn when you're running your own show. Miller has taught me so much," Dyson said. Today, Dyson is an active mem ber of the Minority Development Council of St. Louis, passing along to the younger Bill Dysons of the world what he has learned and Bill Dyson checks the registration on a color job for Miller High Life point-of-sale material. encouraging them to take the risk of "This is a lot of fun. It's chal opportunity. lenging, but fun," he said. Stouffer Winston Plaza joins other Stouffers to offer conference planning service StoufFer Winston Plaza Hotel has joined 33 other Stouffer proper ties in offering a personalized, one stop conference planning service called Meeting Express. Meeting Express offers same day confirmation if sessions are booked through an exclusive toll free number, 1-800-USA-MEET, by noon Eastern Standard Time. With one call to a representa tive at the Stouffer Central Reserva tions Office, the expert or the first time meeting planner is able to con veniently book rooms, plan menus, and order audio-visual equipment. If arrangements are called in by noon EST, Meeting Express coordi nators at the hotel or resort where the session is scheduled will fax continuation of the meeting or send via next-day mail.. The service is specifically designed for short-notice confer ences regardless of size or complex ity. Kim Dinsmoor, director of sales and marketing at the Stouffer Winston Plaza, said, "Within the past few years, Winston-Salem has become a very popular city for meetings and conferences. Lead time is something that most meeting planners don't have the luxury of having, so the Meeting Express package is a tremendous help." Meeting Express is available at 33 Stouffer properties throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. YOUR OLD MOWER CANT CUT IT ANYMORE* GET $75 ON A TRADE M. ? Hurry, special trade-in offer ends July 15 ? Only Toro'offers the 5 year GTS starting guarantee. Toro GTS mowers are guaranteed to start on the first or second pull for 5 years or Toro will fix them free. ? No money down on Toro's revolving charge plan. Ask for details. IX MM) Haven't >ou done without aTbro long enough? IT'S OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY ? ? ? ? Trade Mart Blvd. at Old Salisbury Road 785-0000 WE HAVE RENTAL EQUIPMENT 785-1 111 "It's The Service After The Sale That Counts " The Power In Outdoor Power Equipment
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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June 29, 1989, edition 1
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