Flirts fail to advance

According to a Tulane University study, office female flirts who tried to advance their careers by sexual behavior actually gained fewer promotions than the women who never engaged in such activity. Among the 164 female MBAs surveyed, the average age was 43.

SC Chamber standouts

The SC Chamber of Commerce last week announced the selection of Sen. Jim Ritchie Jr. of Spartanburg and Darla Moore of Lake City as its 2005 Public Servant of the Year and Business Leader of the Year, respectively. The awards will be presented at the Chamber’s Annual Summit on November 3 in Greenville.

Colonial Center’s numbers a running success

Pollstar Magazine ’s 2005 mid–year numbers are in, and the Colonial Center is ranked as the 22nd arena in the world in total tickets sold. The 112,101 tickets sold to events in 2005 ranked the arena above well–known buildings such as the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the Giant Center in Hershey, and the BiLo Center in Greenville. The year earlier, 2004, the Colonial Center was also ranked 22nd in the world.

You have a voice only if you use it

The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the SC Chamber of Commerce, and area chambers will hold a regional grassroots meeting on Wednesday, August 31, from 11:30 am–1 pm at the Columbia Chamber’s office, 930 Richland Street. The purpose of the meeting is to determine the goals and agendas in the coming year. Registration information: 733-1148.

SC’s $300 million surplus

According to year–end financial results released by Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom, the State of South Carolina finished its fiscal year on an upswing. The state’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2005 with a robust operating surplus of $300 million.

Delta dusk

Delta Airlines has lost almost $10 billion since early 2001. This week Delta announced intentions to sell its feeder carrier Atlantic Seaboard Airlines to SkyWest Inc. for $425 million in cash. Meanwhile, Northwest Airlines CEO hinted recently about bankruptcy as he negotiated with labor unions for concessions to keep the carrier flying.

The local cost of Chinese labor

Two Delta Woodside textile mills in the Pee Dee will close this fall, putting 350 people out of work. Delta Woodside, based in Greenville, blamed cheap Chinese imports. A negotiating team from the Bush administration is scheduled to meet this week in San Francisco with Chinese delegates. The agenda includes an American effort to stem the tide of Chinese clothing and textile imports.

China returns some textile money missing in SC

Four Chinese airlines agreed this month to buy 42 Boeing 787 jets for more than $5 billion. Another six Chinese airlines ordered 60 787s last January for $7.2 billion. The Boeing plant under construction near the Charleston airport will partially assemble the jets for export to China.

Councilman Cromartie cops a plea

Columbia City Councilman E. W. Cromartie came to terms with the prosecuting attorney last week in response to charges of failing to maintain a pair of rental properties. Cromartie paid the $307.50 fine, and two of the charges were dropped.

Village at Sandhill opens

Developer Alan Kahn presided this week over the opening of his first 20 stores at the $250 million Village at Sandhill off Clemson Road in northeast Columbia. By the last week of August, almost 50 businesses should be open.

Try to remember...

Since 1900, the only month when the Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen more than risen is September.

Red October

The crash of ’29 was in October, as was the drastic fall of ’87. Of the Dow’s 15 worst one–day percentage drops, seven were in October.

May all your pagne be champagne

Global sales of champagne, the real stuff from the Champagne region of France, reached $4.5 billion last year. Since 1927, the land available to grow the champagne grapes has been fixed at about 84,000 acres. There are only a few hundred unplanted acres in the entire region, and some of that space is occupied by buildings. What to do? An acre sales price is running about $500,000. In France champagne is a food, and in America it’s a luxury. Champagne profits here are far better than in France, so the French are gradually exporting more champagne every year to the US, leaving less and less for the French. A legal enlargement of the growing opportunities in the Champagne region is expected in the next ten years.