We’re looking for the ‘Coolest Thing Made in N.C.’

Mark your calendar: Aug. 22 is “opening day” for nominations in the third annual online contest to select the “Coolest Thing Made in North Carolina.” 

Organized by the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, it’s a fun event for people to vote for their favorite N.C. companies that “make stuff.” 

Emmy Boyette, the marketing director at the N.C. Chamber, says: “What’s made in North Carolina is what makes North Carolina.” So true, so true.

 

Last year, Jarrett Bay Boatworks in Carteret County was one of the top 15 finalists. Also nominated was Shibumi Shade, a company that “invented itself” in Emerald Isle.

 

Crab pot Christmas trees and Harkers Island anchors should have been nominated. We can fix that.

 

Surely, there are others that are equally deserving…Frank Door Company in Newport and so forth. 

Anyone can make a nomination, and once the online voting period opens to the public, we can each vote from our computer once a day. 

There’s no reason why the “Crystal Coast community” cannot rally ‘round and support our home-grown small businesses and “bring home the gold” and add to our “trophy case.” 

The N.C. Chamber has tweaked the rules for 2022 to include a new “Small Business Category” for manufacturers with fewer than 100 employees. That’s a good thing. 

The first two winners were “big boys” – an electric school bus manufactured by Thomas Built Buses of High Point and a giant truck produced at the Cleveland (N.C.) Truck Manufacturing Plant. (Both are subsidiaries of Daimler Trucks North America.)

This may have been what prompted a change in the rules for 2022: “Products manufactured by a company that has won ‘The Coolest Thing Made in NC Contest’ within the past 3 years are ineligible. Manufacturers that are subsidiaries of parent companies that have won within the past 3 years are also ineligible.” 

Additionally, “nominated companies cannot use paid advertising” to promote itself or its product for the purposes of soliciting votes in the contest. Offenders will be disqualified. 

However, the N.C. Chamber encourages nominees “to utilize social media, press and other channels to promote their product in the contest…but they may also take a hands-off approach if they choose.” 

“There is no cost to participate in the contest. Membership with the N.C. Chamber is not required.” 

As information, Shibumi Shade has recently signed on with the Raleigh advertising agency Baldwin&, which was formed by David Baldwin. It will be interesting to see whether the company seeks to reach out to its loyal customers in a grassroots campaign. 

If so, Shibumi has the potential to “blow away” its competitors. 

Curiously, one of the bridesmaids in the past two contests has been George’s BBQ Sauce of Nashville, N.C. George’s is a really small family-owned business. The sauce was invented in 1975 by George Stallings of Rocky Mount.

 

He was fond of saying George’s is “good on everything except banana pudding.” 

The current owner is Ashley Chappell Hassel. George’s is made by hand, in small quantities by an eight-person team. “We still personally pour, package and ship every bottle of George’s by hand – just 4,500 bottles per day to be exact,” she said. 

“There’s no automation – there’s no line. It’s just people using their hands,” Ashley Hassel added.

 

Beth’s husband Brian Hassel said: “Our customers are really why we do this because, with George’s, we get invited to somebody’s kitchen table every night.”