And now a word from our sponsor
I’m very proud to be able to count Ben Lomand Connect as a sponsor of Business Pulse since my first week of taking it over. It’s an honor to be supported by an organization which, like the Southern Standard, has been such a vital part of this community for so long.
Beginning as a telephone cooperative in 1954, Ben Lomand has adapted over the years along with technology and the shifting needs of their customers. From making the move into cable television with BLTV to revolutionizing the area’s internet options by offering gig speed internet for $57.95 per month (a service that has made my work-flow much more efficient), Ben Lomand Connect continues to find new ways to serve Warren County and surrounding areas.
To that end, Ben Lomand Connect is announcing a new service and I’m happy to be able to pass the information along to Business Pulse readers. BLC is leveling up its existing offering, Secure Care – a landline-based medical alert service that worked at a home location. BLC’s new service, Secure Everywhere, adds flexibility and advanced technology.
Secure Everywhere is an easy-to-use personal emergency response system that goes where the user goes, working at home and on the road using state-of-the-art GPS location detection. The system helps seniors or those with chronic medical conditions live a safer and more independent life. No physical phone line is needed. It works anyplace there is adequate cell coverage.
The portable device can be worn as a watch or neck pendant and offers two-way communication, optional fall detection and can call 911/EMS and up to four personal contacts should an incident occur.
BLC GM/CEO Greg Smartt is enthusiastic about being able to offer customers an enhanced medical alert system. “Ben Lomand Connect has offered medical alert systems for quite some time, but Secure Everywhere is next-level because a landline phone is not required or needed. It works anywhere you go with adequate cell phone coverage. Secure Everywhere can even be used by people outside of our service territory. You can get it for loved ones that live all over the United States. Our offer includes the base station, a SOLO device that allows you to travel away from home and a neck pendant that can be tied to either the base station or the SOLO device. A watch band can also be purchased for the pendant as well. Secure Everywhere is something we are very proud to offer to our customers and their family members,” Greg said.
As we all get older and so do our parents, the need for such a service has become more apparent to me over recent years and a device like this can help give both those at-risk and their loved ones a bit more peace of mind.
The service starts at $29.95 per month. For more information visit benlomandconnect.com and type “Secure Everywhere” in the search bar, call (931) 669-4131 or visit BLC’s office at 311 N. Chancery St.
Nailing it
For those looking for a little more creativity with their nails, local options to express themselves are expanding. Two relatively new options are neighboring businesses on Main Street. Kai Sage’s New Moon Nails and Alex Bell’s The Hive 931 are elevating the state of nail art in McMinnville in their respective businesses at 121 W. Main St.
Kai Sage recently graduated from Tennessee College of Applied Technology and is excited to launch New Moon Nails in mid-August. Kai is born and raised in McMinnville and has always been interested in nails and art and has combined the two interests as an outlet for natural artistic skills.
Kai explained, “I had always done nails with regular polish and I figured out how to do designs with it. When I was a teenager, I found out about gel and other options and was quite interested in it. Once COVID hit and businesses closed and I couldn’t get my nails done, I saw a need here. I wanted complicated designs and no place around here could do that. I decided maybe I’d start a new hobby. I’ worked hard and practiced every day. I won the local Skills USA competition, I won first in state and then I went to Nationals and won third. I’m really proud of that.”
Kai has been drawing from an early age and took 10 years of private instruction from Carol Neal. “She really helped me cultivate my personal style. I worked as a manager for Dodi’s Painting Studio from its opening until it was sold and taught painting classes at The Doodle Fish. I always thought I would do something artistic but I didn’t expect it would be nails,” Kai said.
Kai wants to provide a personalized experience and relishes in being able to give customers something they may have always wanted but couldn’t get done elsewhere. “I’m focusing on the care and attention and how you feel about what you are getting. That care is what I’m focused on more than getting people in and out quickly,” Kai said.
Kai offers builder-gel nails, acrylics and natural nail care such as polishing and massaging hands. Appointments can be booked online now at new-moon-nails.square.site. New Moon can also be contacted at (931) 305-0838 or newmoonails@gmail.com.
Kai’s hours are Monday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Wednesday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
New Moon Nails is located at 121 W. Main St. Suite E. Right next door in Suite F is The Hive 931.
Alex opened The Hive in early July after working previously at Mane & Company Beauty Bar in Cookeville and Sweet Caroline Beauty Bar in McMinnville. Alex is a McMinnville native who returned after a few years away to study marketing and entrepreneurship.
“I decided to direct my career path to something I was passionate about,” Alex said. “I wanted to own my own business, so I thought the beauty industry would be a perfect fit. Once I toured Georgia Career Institute I knew it was something I wanted to do. I had a wonderful time in nail tech school, and got licensed on Feb. 22, 2022. I worked in Cookeville for a little over a year before I decided to make the leap and come to McMinnville full time, and it has been the best decision! I dreamed of one day opening my own salon, and this year brought me that opportunity. I opened The Hive in bee-utiful downtown McMinnville last month, and have loved every second.”
Alex offers manicures, pedicures, luminary gel, DIP powder, nail art, and tooth gems. “My goal is to make everyone feel excited to get their nails done. I am by appointment only, so you are the only focus while at The Hive. I am very gentle during the service, and take extra care of your wants so you leave happy every time. I love doing nail art, and adding some sparkle to every set I can,” Alex said.
The Hive is open Monday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Thursday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Appointments can be made online at TheHive931.GlossGenius.com. Alex can be found on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest @TheHive931.
Until next week,
Same biz time,
Same biz page
I sound like a broken record in this space every week but I truly do appreciate all the Business Pulse readers and it’s always gratifying when businesses I’ve featured tell me what an impact their inclusion has made on attracting new customers. So I thank you for reading and I thank you for checking out these businesses and letting them know you read about them here.
Keep the tips and suggestions coming. They are always appreciated. See you here next week!
