Friendship began over a shared love of baking and good books
By Pam Windsor
Hope Carter and Sydni King’s friendship began over a shared love of baking and good books. They met soon after Hope started a baking business in her home, and as they began talking more about two of their favorite things, they got the idea to open a bakery with a book component.
“Hope, and I actually bonded over books first and knew we wanted to incorporate that somehow into what we already loved, which was baking,” King explains. “We wanted a storefront with all the baked goods where we’d also do custom cakes, then have a section for books where people could relax, read, enjoy the moment, and have a treat.”
They opened Emerald Cake & Co in Columbia a little more than a year ago. Open Tuesday through Saturday, the bakery offers fresh, made-from-scratch cupcakes and pastries that people can carry out or stay and enjoy in-house. They also make a wide variety of custom-made birthday cakes, wedding cakes, and more.
“We’ve done so many different cakes over the past year,” says Carter. “We recently did a cute little underwater baby shower cake with a 3-D whale on top. KPop Demon Hunters are so popular now, we’ve made quite a few of those cakes in the past few months. And we’ve created so many different wedding cakes. One of our most popular is a four-tiered cake with a 3-D fondant bow going down the front of it.”
They ask that specialty cakes be ordered at least a week in advance. And when it comes to the design, Carter says they work hard to deliver on the customer’s vision.
“We always ask that they submit an inspiration photo of anything they like. Sometimes they send us one photo, sometimes they send us several, and we can combine elements to create a design they like.”
They can also customize cupcakes, although some of those offered on a daily basis already have a huge fan base.
“When it comes to cupcakes, carrot cake is probably our number one seller and then peanut butter after that,” notes King. “Lemon blueberry is a popular one for spring and summer. And while cupcakes do very well for us, overall, cinnamon rolls are our biggest seller.”
Many of their customers enjoy grabbing a pastry and perhaps a cup of coffee and heading over to the Bookery.
“We have a little room with sliding doors, we call our fairy garden doors, and they’re decorated,” says King. “And when you walk in, there’s two comfortable chairs in there, there’s a little fireplace set-up, and there are bookshelves that you can either pick a book off to read, or you can buy the books, or you can bring your own book. We also have a suitcase full of free books.”
In addition to books, there are also items from local vendors for sale, like t-shirts, candles, or jewelry. It’s turned out to be a good spot to pick up a quick gift, if needed.
Their unique business model has proven successful. After a year in operation, Carter and King are grateful for the support of regular customers, new ones who continue to discover them, and the ability to work together doing something they truly enjoy.
“I really like the creativity of what we do, and while it’s work, it’s fun to be able to do it with your best friend,” Hope says. “We still have people coming into the bakery that are just finding out about us, and once they do, they eventually become repeat customers. A lot of people love the space and the comfort they find here.”
“I think I’m still kind of amazed every day that this is what we built on our own, and people keep coming, and we’re really thankful for that,” says King. “But I also enjoy being here, and it’s fun. They say you don’t work a day in your life when you’re having fun, and I feel like that’s very true.”
To find out more about Emerald Cake & Co, check out their Facebook page. You can also email Hope and Sydni with questions or custom cake orders at emeraldcakenco@gmail.com.
Shine On Columbia Car Wash: Serving Muletown Since 1963
By Jason Zasky
Shine On
Columbia Car Wash has been a fixture in Muletown for more than six decades, and its iconic yellow sign remains one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
It’s a throwback to a time when car washes had big, ‘look at me’-type signs, says Kyle Gaines, who has owned Columbia Car Wash for the past four years after purchasing it from his mom, who owned it for 11 years prior.
“People see the sign and the red truck sitting in front of it, and they immediately know that we’re the car wash that cleans cars inside and out,” begins Gaines.
That immediately makes Columbia Car Wash distinctive from its decidedly corporate competitors—and a “dinosaur,” as Gaines puts it. “We’re the only ones around who are still doing it like they were decades ago, vacuuming for customers and wiping out the door jambs and such. We are very hands-on, as compared to the car washes where you drive through and then wipe down and vacuum your own car.”
To be sure, Columbia Car Wash’s services are very much appreciated by large segments of the local community, including consumers who prefer shopping local.
“People who are elderly or can’t clean the inside of their own cars also really appreciate us and the service we offer. It makes us feel like there’s a sense of purpose for what we do,” adds Gaines.
And in Gaines’ case, working at Columbia Car Wash has been something he has been doing for a big portion of his life.
“I started working here in high school,” he says, noting that he graduated from Columbia Central High School in 2004, before joining the military and going to college.
Now he’s helping this generation of young people get started in their careers.
“We employ kids with no experience and teach them work ethic and the importance of being on time and doing a good job. It’s a great starting point for these kids,” says Gaines, as well as a good job for people who need a second chance.
“We have hired quite a few people from Hope House, and (currently) have four of them here, turning their lives around. It’s great to be able to give somebody a second chance to prove themselves—because everyone wants to feel like they are contributing to society,” he continues. Many of his (and his mom’s) former employees have already gone on to great things, including a few who have gone on to become teachers and nurses.
Columbia Car Wash also maintains close ties to the local community as a supporter of local Boys & Girls Clubs, not to mention Columbia Central Baseball. The car wash also offers discounts for members of the military, seniors, teachers, and the like.
Looking ahead, Gaines expects the business to continue to grow alongside Columbia and the rest of Maury County, noting that many of the transplants come from places with their own old-fashioned car washes.
“There’s nothing high-tech about us,” quips Gaines, before recalling a recent visit to a car wash conference. “I had to send them pictures, because some of the newer guys had never seen equipment this old,” he says with a chuckle.
And while the equipment may be old, the result is still satisfying: an ongoing stream of clean, dry cars leaving the Columbia Car Wash lot.
“No matter what the growth and direction of society, I think we’ll always have a place here,” concludes Gaines.
CONTACT:
Columbia Car Wash
105 Nashville Hwy., Columbia, TN 38401
(931) 490-0600
https://www.facebook.com/columbiacarwash/
Lee and Kristey Ray have built a powerhouse brand
By Jason Zasky
“Most pressure washing companies are a man and a truck with a helper; we are a large and fast-growing business with all the extras,” begins Kristey Ray, who co-owns BREEZY PowerWash Inc. with her husband Lee, the latter a longtime Nashville firefighter. The Spring Hill couple has been growing the business for the past eight years—using Lee’s nickname at the fire department, Breezy, for the name of the company.
"We thought it (the name) was catchy, and both the logo and the name have been great advertising for us. Our van wraps are pretty recognizable and unforgettable,” continues Ray, before emphasizing that BREEZY does more than just power washing.
"We do all things exterior cleaning,” she says, serving a mix of residential, commercial, and multi-unit customers. That said, BREEZY handles everything from window cleaning to deck, fence & sidewalk cleaning, plus rust removal and oil, grease & graffiti removal. BREEZY also does a lot of tangentially-related work; that includes sealing driveways, cleaning out dryer vents, and installing gutter guards.
In the eight years the company has been in business, they have attracted more than its share of big-name clients in both Tennessee and Georgia. That includes the University of Georgia and Nissan Stadium.
"We clean the entire stadium from top to bottom every year, including all the seats, all the cushions and all the concrete under the seats, plus the concrete in the concourses and the concrete ramps (that lead) in and out of the facility,” notes Ray, who says it takes approximately 25 days to clean all of Nissan Stadium.
"But we’re in and out of there all year long,” she adds, because after, say, Monster Jam or AMA Supercross, “we have to go in there and clean. All that dirt has to get removed as it gets all over the ramps and lower-level seats.”
Yet the company is as well-suited for small-scale residential jobs.
"We'll clean anything no matter how big or small," emphasizes Ray, noting that BREEZY has cleaned everything from tree houses to horse trailers to RVs, not to mention mobile homes and log cabins.
In terms of the benefits of power washing, Ray cites improved appearance, increased curb appeal, increased property value, and the extension of the life of exterior surfaces among the top benefits.
"The first thing everyone thinks about is aesthetics. It makes everything look pretty," says Ray, and that’s why most people do it. But power washing also extends the life of your building materials. Also, you don’t want to live with mold and dirt.”
As for some of the ways that BREEZY differentiates itself from competitors, Ray highlights the fact that the company has a contractor's license and holds seven different industry certifications.
"Also, all of our techs are background checked and OSHA and EPA certified every two years. And we have a large fleet that allows us to have significant scheduling flexibility,” she says.
That said, the company has been so successful that some of its clients are itching to start franchises.
"We have clients who have been so impressed with the way our business runs—everything from the customer service to the ease of scheduling—that they want to buy into the business or start a franchise. Right now, we’re working with our attorney to finalize our franchise disclosure document. We already have five people who want to start a franchise,” offers Ray.
Meanwhile, Kristey and her husband plan to continue to focus on growing the business while continuing to give back to Spring Hill, which they have called home since 2010.
"We sponsor local sports teams, we’ve been a sponsor for Experience Spring Hill, and we also donate cleaning services,” offers Ray. “We’ve cleaned the softball facility—the walls, the dugouts, the sidewalks—at Summit High School. We’ve also cleaned the football stadium at Summit High. And in the past, we've cleaned The Well," she adds, referring to the organization that provides food for the hungry in Spring Hill.
At this point, it’s hard for Ray—a Kentucky native—to conceive living anywhere else.
“I love this community,” concludes Ray, who has been a member of the Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce since 2011. “I love living and working in a community where we can give back.”
CONTACT
BREEZY PowerWash Inc.
1031 Parkway Dr. #25A
Spring Hill, TN 37174
615-502-5525
Personal service since 1952
By Jason Zasky
Serving the needs of Maury County — and beyond — since 1952.
By Jason Zasky
If there is one word that epitomizes Foster Insurance Agency, it's longevity.
"The business opened in 1952, and we have been at our current location for 15 years," begins owner Michael Ford, who has been working in the insurance business since 1978 and has had an ownership stake in Foster Insurance since the mid-1990s.
"We don't have much turnover here," he says, noting that office manager/agent Nikki Oliver has been working alongside him for eight years, having replaced Mary Sue Dalton, who worked at the agency for nearly five decades. "That tells you a lot about us," he adds, describing the six-person office as a "close-knit family."
In fact, one of the individuals working with Mike Ford at the agency is family — that being his son Jimmy, who focuses on commercial insurance.
"We do homeowners, auto, and life insurance, but commercial insurance is our bread and butter," clarifies the elder Ford. "We write everything from helicopters to bulldozers, so there is not a whole lot left out when it comes to dealing with equipment. We also write workers comp insurance and write a couple government entities, as well as performance and surety bonds for jobs. Also, I'm a farmer, and we write (policies) for quite a few farms around here," he offers, before noting that his son has attracted a lot of aviation business, thanks in part to his experience as a pilot.
Nor is the agency's business restricted to Maury County — or even Middle Tennessee.
"Our service area is the entire state of Tennessee, but we are also licensed in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and we have business in all those states. In fact, one of our largest accounts is based in Palm Beach, and we write quite a few homeowners and condominiums in Florida," clarifies Ford, having indicated that his son will eventually take full ownership of the business.
That said, Mike Ford says he has no plans to retire, or to cut back on the work he does in the local community.
"I'm in Rotary (Club) and deliver Meals on Wheels," he says, while he and his wife and colleagues also support Special Olympics, Miracle League of Columbia, and The People's Table, among other organizations.
Yet the welfare of his family — and the agency's customers — are never far from his mind.
"We're open five days a week, but Jimmy and I put our personal cell phone numbers on our business cards because we want people to be able to get ahold of us," he explains. "You will get one of us — always. I may not answer the moment you call, but when I hear the phone ring, I am going to call you back. We take care of our customers," he insists, something he hopes to continue to do till the day he dies.
"I love the business, and I have no intention of giving it up totally, even when I don't have any ownership. I hope they will still let me come in every day," he quips.
And, as a lifelong resident of Columbia, it's hard for him to imagine living or working anywhere else.
"I love the business, and I lead a good life here, and I think all (six of us) would say the same thing. We don't have many dissatisfied customers — ever," he concludes. "If we can't do it right, we're not going to do it."
CONTACT:
Foster Insurance Agency Inc.
204 W 4th St.
Columbia, Tennessee 38401
Phone: 931-388-8365