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Everybody's Business

Merchants unify to attract attention

By MICHAEL CANNING
Published May 12, 2006

The Business Guild of Seminole Heights, or B'GoSH, is employing modern technology and an old-fashioned tactic to boost its profile and further its cause.

B'GoSH vice president Jay McGee recently launched the group's Web site, www.bgosh.org, which lists the association's members and links to their Web sites.

B'GoSH member Suzanne Prieur said the group also plans to introduce chamber of commerce-style social mixers at member businesses, hopefully every month.

"Word of mouth is the strongest, and cheapest, advertising, and several businesses have already expressed a strong interest in being hosts," Prieur said.

Seminole Heights merchant Sherry King, owner of Sherry's Yesterdaze vintage clothing and antique shop, launched B'GoSH in early 2005. She had recently moved her business from South Tampa and decided that merchants of the commercially stagnant neighborhood lacked synergy.

Prieur said that perception has persisted, according to a recent B'GoSH survey of local businesses.

"The lack of cooperative marketing was considered by many members to be a key issue," she said. The Web site and mixers will be B'GoSH's first weapons in the fight to change the status quo.

The first mixer will begin at 7 p.m. June 8 at Sherry's Yesterdaze, 7112 N Florida Ave. Call 234-1230.

All that glitters CHANGES: When your family has worked at the same business in Tampa since 1917, the business plan tends to be pretty straightforward, even when things change hands.

"We're going to try to do things the old-fashioned way, with traditional customer service," said Winnie Marvel, who recently assumed the reins of Alvin Magnon Jewelers from her 78-year-old father, Alvin Magnon.

"Our family of customers appreciate that. The South Tampa people know us."

Although the store is marking his departure with a retirement sale, Marvel said little else will change at the business. The sale will simply make room for new inventory.

Marvel's grandfather, Alvin Lee Magnon, began working at the jewelry store in 1917. In the 1930s, he bought the business and made it his namesake.

The store was on Franklin Street downtown, then on the corner of West Shore Boulevard and North A Street, before it moved to 606 S Dale Mabry Highway.

A GOOD WALK IMPROVED: Attention, golfers. No more dribblers too-short shots or air mail (too long). GolfTEC is coming to Tampa. The golf school chain from Denver will open its first area location May 25 at 418 N Dale Mabry Highway.

Founded by former PGA pros Joe Assell and Mike Clinton, GolfTEC uses high-tech processes to impart golf technique, including a digital video computer system that records a swing at various angles and a motion analysis computer system that measures key parts of the student's swing against a database of more than 200 PGA professionals.

Staffed with certified PGA professionals, the 3,500-square-foot facility has indoor teaching bays for lefties and righties, club fitting, fitness space and a 250-square-foot putting green. Clubs are sold and grips can be refitted. Lessons are $50 to $75 an hour.

There are more than 50 GolfTECs around the country. Another is set to open at Clearwater Mall in mid June. The company is considering sites in Brandon, Carrollwood and Sarasota.

For information, go to www.GolfTEC.com or call 489-6217.

Wouldn't Mom fancy this artful Mary Frances handbag? Check out the beadwork and bold butterfly clasp handmade by artisans. We found this purse, for $169, among the wide selection of fashions and accessories at Georgette's of Old Hyde Park, 1602 Snow Circle. Call 254-1141.

- AMY SCHERZER

[Last modified May 11, 2006, 14:07:11]