Day: March 1, 2017

Redefining Clean for The Market Common by Melissa LaScaleia GermBustMyBins began in Horry County in 2016 as Market Common Cleaning. Companies like it have been in existence in Europe for the past thirty years, but didn’t begin to appear in the U.S. until around 2007 or 2008. They’ve increased in popularity over the years, especially in the South— and for good reason. John, the founder, shares about the business he began, and why it’s so valuable for our community. He starts by explaining the process: “Our truck arrives at people’s homes on the same day their garbage bins are emptied by trash pick-up. While the bins are at the end of the driveway, we conduct the cleaning process so customers can come home and have clean, germ-free bins. We have one truck, and it looks similar to a trash pick-up truck, with hydraulic arms on the back for picking up the bins.” A truck costs around $100,000, and is equipped in handling varying-sized trash bins as well as dumpsters up to eight yards long. The bin is lifted into the truck, where it is sprayed with 2oo°F water inside and out, to be effectively washed, deodorized and disinfected. It’s an eco-friendly self-contained cleaning machine. The rinse water is retained inside the truck, and is properly disposed of at the end of the day at a dump station obtained through permitting with Grand Strand Water and Sewer. Then the hydraulic arms replace the bin on the curb— clean, sanitized and 99% germ free. “It’s basically a giant dishwasher that shows up at your house on wheels and cleans your big bin,” John says. I consider myself a germ-conscious person, but the thought of cleaning my outdoor trash bin has never crossed my mind. Apparently, I’m not alone. John says: “One thing I don’t think people take into account, is that, having dirty bins in or near your home attracts pests, roaches, rodents, flies, bees, and E Coli and other bacteria. When you smell a trash bin, it’s not the trash you’re smelling, it’s the bacteria. “A lot of the houses in the Market Common are very close together. That close proximity, bin next to house, next to bin, next to car— means you’re basically living in a germ and bacteria-infested environment. And over time, with constant usage, that bacteria multiplies. “On top of that, a lot of people store their trash bins in their garage. Think about all the things you keep in your garage besides your car— workout equipment, Christmas decorations, laundry. All those things are exposed to the bacteria and germs in your trash bins. And you’re inhaling those contaminants when you’re in that enclosed space. Once you start to think about this, it’s like, ew!” GermBustMyBins is the only company of its kind in Horry County. Typically, the businesses are appearing in the warmer climates of the U.S.— areas like Florida, Texas, California, and also New Jersey. “The concept makes sense wherever you go,” John says. “But as you get to those colder, snowy climates, I don’t think that the germ build-up is quite as much of a concern for people. In the South, because of the warm, moist climate, it’s not uncommon for people to have maggots in their trash bins. Once you have them, they spread quickly; and then they turn into flies.  The company’s process removes 99% of all germs and bacteria, keeping you, loved ones, and your environment safe. (Photo Meganpixels Parker) “Many people will put a couple of gallons of bleach in the bin to disinfect it, and then dump it into the ground. But the contaminated byproduct of that type of cleaning is lying in your yard, sidewalk or street, plus it’s going right back into our drinking water. With our process, you eliminate all those germs. Having a healthy bin helps keep you healthier too.” John first heard about this concept when a close friend, living in Miami, created the concept. It became an instant hit in his area. His friend was vice president of ADT and when the company decided to downsize, he got laid off. One day, with more time on his hands, he was engaged in the messy process of cleaning his garbage bin in his backyard, and thought, ‘There’s gotta be a better way to do this.’ He developed the idea, and shared his story with John. Emboldened by his friend’s success, John decided to do it too. “It’s been a great risk,” he says. “I was talking to one of my friends in London, telling him how I was starting this, and that there was nothing like it in the area, and he said, ‘That’s disgusting, what do you guys do over there?’ “In London and other parts of Europe, companies like this have been going on for years. As we meet more customers, almost a third of the people we talk to say, ‘Oh my gosh, why didn’t I think of this idea!’” Another part of the community that their business benefits is the elderly and children. “The task of cleaning a large trash bin is just not feasible for the elderly,” John says. “And it’s not healthy either. Having clean and sanitized bins provides greater peace of mind for parents with kids. Kids aren’t always the cleanest, and they like to explore and get into everything.” “I actually read recently that in Carolina Forest, coyotes and mice are coming at night when people aren’t around, attracted by the garbage,” he adds. “There’s a lot that having clean bins can address. The more people from the same neighborhood who join, the cleaner and healthier everyone is.” John gets the most calls when his truck is out driving around servicing neighborhoods. “It’s big and green and has PowerPoint slides on the front that show before and after pictures,” John says. “And people just stare at it.” GermBustMyBins Sign up to get your bins spic and span and sparkling at our website down below or call us … Read more

Bringing a Different Kind of Lounge to the Market Common Area by Melissa LaScaleia The Cigar Shop recently opened its doors to serve the cigar aficionados of Myrtle Beach as well as those merely curious about the lifestyle. Large red flags, waving in the breeze, flank the outside of the store and inside, plenty of fun touches like a Harley Davidson motorcycle in the middle of the retail space, unique art, and a self-serve coffee station, keep everyone entertained. The owner, Mark Boley, and his partners, wanted a store that patrons could utilize for functions, private parties, and seminars as well as personal use. Thus, their 3,000 square foot space has a cigar lounge that is one of the largest in the state of South Carolina. “We have a lot of people who have been here to visit because they are established smokers,” Mark says. “But we love to cater to new smokers who might want to experience the world of cigars and what the lifestyle is like. This is not a private club, nor an old boys club,” he says. And it doesn’t have the energy of either. “Plenty of gals come too,” Mark continues. “Cigars are a great equalizer. If you’re in a room with people, and you have a couple guys who are multi-millionaires and a couple guys who are plumbers, it doesn’t matter, it’s all about the cigars.” Mark moved from Charlotte, NC about one-and-a-half years ago with his wife. “I love the lifestyle here, the pace,” he says. When he moved, Mark had an opportunity with a couple of business partners to open a full service cigar shop with a dedicated smoking lounge. “Cigars are a lifestyle choice,” he says. “It’s like fine dining, or fine bourbon, or fine whisky. Guys get into the apparel and trips overseas to the factories. People who work in the industry, who smoke cigars, are great people.” Inside the lounge, there’s a strong cigar smell, an array of magazines, multiple televisions, rich brown leather couches, and lots of sunlight. The vibe is spacious, relaxed, and has just the right balance of privacy and openness to satisfy the tastes of a broad range of people seeking a comfortable smoking lounge. The atmosphere lends itself with equal ease to intimate groups, as well as those doing their own thing. The retail area is smoke-free so non-smokers can visit the shop and feel welcome. The only place smoking is allowed is in the smoke lounge. During the spring and summer, Mark plans to have plenty of outside patio seating with umbrellas and rocking chairs under the shop’s covered portico to enhance the feeling of community and provide people with even more space to be at leisure and enjoy the offerings of his shop.  The shop, located on the outskirts of the Market Common, has the second largest humidor in South Carolina. A humidor is an enclosed area which keeps the cigars in an optimal temperature- controlled environment at about 70% humidity. Otherwise, the cigars will dry out, and then split and crack. The inside of the humidor is huge, with a cave-like feel, and there are shelves and shelves of cigars. “Even folks who have cigars at their house keep them in a cigar box, which is a humidor,” Mark shares. “Cedar helps age tobacco. So most cigar boxes are made of cedar.  A sampling of the cigars that line the shelves of The Cigar Shop. Most come from Latin America, and all are handmade by craftsmen. (Photo Casey York) Mark’s humidor contains a huge selection of all the major brands of cigars plus some boutique cigar lines from around the world. Cigars are primarily manufactured in the Caribbean and Central America. There are some limited cigars, typically from Miami and South Florida, but the vast majority, some 95%, come from Latin America. The making of cigars has a long history. Producing them is a talent; they are an artisanal, completely hand-made product. “They’re all rolled by hand,” Mark says. “That’s something you just don’t see nowadays. Some of the shapes and sizes these artisans produce are just incredible.” Mark and his business partners have a combined twenty years experience in the industry. “For the past 10 years, I’ve been running a couple of cigar shops in North Carolina,” he says. “So I have extensive knowledge in the business and great relationships with the brand owners and the reps. This is an incredibly intimate industry. It’s small, it’s family centered; the manufacturers, the brands, are all family owned. I’m fluent in Spanish, and can communicate with those guys on a really personal level which makes our relationships even better.” The Cigar Shop is partnering with Harley Davidson on sixteen events throughout the course of this year that are all geared towards supporting 501(c)(3) charities in the local area. Several will be on-site at Harley Davidson; several are rides throughout the Myrtle Beach area. The Cigar Shop is having a Grand Opening Thursday, March 23 from 5-9pm. Harley Davidson will be in attendance, and Palmetto Distillery will be offering a tasting while the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce will do a ribbon cutting. There will be a cigar brand-owner there to answer questions; promotional items; food; raffle prizes; door prizes; and cocktails and mocktails. “We wanted a world-class presentation with a tremendous selection coupled with huge square footage,” Mark says in speaking of how he designed his store. “Everything we do here we are thinking outside the box. This is a place which is a tribute to the lifestyle of the cigar world; we want it to be a place where anyone can come and have room to spread out. We’re filling a need here in the Myrtle Beach area. It’s truly a unique, world-class shop.” “We are just down the street from the Market Common,” he adds. “So we hope to become the go-to shop for the people who live in that area. We want to support the local community.” The … Read more