New Bushwhacker open; Junction City eyes expansion

When Rich Pestien had to make a decision what to do with his Bushwhacker store, an opportunity opened he wasn’t expecting. And with the outdoor equipment and bicycle store just in its third week at Junction City Shopping Center, he can tell he made the right decision.

“This site became available at the end of July last year. That made everything really tight because I knew I’d have to be in here by May 1. We made it. It wasn’t easy, but we made it,” Pestien said.

The store actually isn’t 100 percent completed yet, as some signage still must be added as well as landscaping. On the interior, boxes are still being emptied, shelving put together and filled and other goods being put in their proper place. But, Pestien said, Bushwhacker is open at Junction City after 29 years at Metro Centre on North University Street.

“Metro Centre was very good for us. I mean, we went from having less than nothing to being a successful, well-known store while we were there. But we just ran out of room there. We needed more space and we needed better space. It needed extensive remodeling to become the kind of store we needed it to be in order for us to keep improving sales. When our lease was up at the end of April, I knew I needed either to commit to that situation, find another place or retire and sell the store. I wasn’t ready for that, so I started looking,” he said.

He looked at several locations before reaching a deal with Junction Ventures and because of the tight time frame he wasn’t sure it would be finished on time. But his general contractor, Jeff Craft, told him he could do it with a steel building with no basement.

Construction began in earnest in November but was hampered by a rainy December and snow late in the winter. “Neither of those things were good for business or for construction, but Jeff was outstanding. He told me he’d get it done and he did,” Pestien said.

The location at Junction City, right next to the Pimiteoui Trail and bridge over Knoxville Avenue and across the street from Donovan Park, “was certainly the best of the possible choices. It gives us a lot of visibility. I expect it will be a really good fit,” he said. “I’m excited to have the store here. And having a brand new store is exciting, too.”

The new Bushwhacker has 15,000 square feet, nearly 50 percent larger than the store at Metro Centre, and the main show room is one large room with high ceilings. “It gives more of an open-air feeling, which is what I was going for,” he said.

Another person who believes having Bushwhacker next to the bike/running trail is ideal is Alexis Khazzam, president of Junction Ventures. “We’re thrilled we were able to make the deal to get them here. With the bridge and park right across the street, it’s a perfect fit for that kind of store. Peoria getting on or coming off the bridge have a place to stop if they need equipment or bikes repaired or even just to relax,” he said.

“Ever since we bought Junction City we’ve been working to create an atmosphere that would be attractive for families, a place they can go to and enjoy walking around and shopping or having dinner or drinks. And we love to attract sportsy, fit family types to Junction City. We’re not interested in fast food or a gas station. We want to be unique,” he said.

Bushwhacker is one of several things going on at Junction City these days. New tenants coming soon include Prekshot Pharmacy, into the space where 309 restaurant once was located; Thirty-Thirty Coffee Co. is putting a second store near The Bronze Frog, and Fin 13 Sushi Bar and Grill will open next to Ce-Ces in July.

Also, construction has started on a new strip that will house seven retail operations. Expected to be completed by July 1, it will house a Chad Duke Hair Design salon and a couple restaurants, including a Mexican restaurant called Hacienda el Mirador, which Khazzam said has outstanding food.

All the spaces, he said, have already been leased but he isn’t able yet to name the other tenants.

That new strip is being built on the shopping center’s east side, where at one time there were plans for a retirement home.

While that didn’t happen, Khazzam said he selling the site where America Pi once stood to a company that will build an assisted living center. He said he was unable to identify the buyer yet but said demolition of the former American Pi will begin in a few weeks.

“Things are happening and we’re very excited about it. We’ll have more exciting news to tell soon,” Khazzam said,

Most spend gas savings on necessities

Four in 10 Americans spent savings from lower gasoline prices on necessities such as groceries or rent, according to a new Bankrate.com report. Necessities were the leading answer among all age, education and income groups.

"In a testament to tight household budgets, more Americans spent the savings from lower gasoline prices on necessities than anything else," said Greg McBride, Bankrate.com's chief financial analyst. "The percentage of Americans earmarking this money for everyday necessities outpaced those using it for discretionary purchases by nearly 3-to-1."

Less than 1-in-4 (23 percent) Americans saved or invested the extra savings (19 percent saved and 4 percent invested). Millennials were more likely to have saved (26 percent) or invested (6 percent) the money than any other age group.

Just 1-in-7 (14 percent) spent it on discretionary items, such as dining out or a vacation. Millennials (17 percent) were most likely to have spent on non-essential items while senior citizens were the least likely (7 percent).

"When just 14 percent of Americans ramp up spending as a result of gasoline savings, you see why the economy is growing at such an anemic pace," said McBride.

Americans gave high marks to their financial security in May, with the Financial Security Index rocketing back to the second highest level on record, 104.6. This trails only the 104.8 clocked in February 2015.

Improvement over the past year has been noted on four of the five components, with the only laggard continuing to be savings. Twenty-seven percent of Americans feel less comfortable with their savings while 22 percent feel more comfortable. Compared to one month ago, responses improved on all five components in May.

• Worries about job security are tied for the lowest percentage on record – only 11 percent of Americans feel less secure in their jobs than one year ago.

• Americans reporting higher net worth than one year ago outnumber those reporting lower net worth by more than 2-to-1 (29 percent to 14 percent).

• Just 16% of Americans say their overall financial situation has deteriorated over the past year, a level that is just half of what was seen when the poll commenced in December 2010. This is also down drastically from the peak of 35 percent recorded in August 2011.

The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) and can be seen in its entirety here:

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/consumer-index/financial-security-charts-0515.aspx

PSRAI obtained telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults living in the continental United States. Interviews were conducted by landline (500) and cell phone (500, including 285 without a landline phone) in English and Spanish by Princeton Data Source from April 30-May 3, 2015. Statistical results are weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies. The margin of sampling error for the complete set of weighted data is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

Do pre-trip vehicle check before hitting the road

If you are hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend, you will have lots of company. With millions of Americans taking road trips, the last thing you need is car trouble. A simple pre-trip vehicle inspection helps ensure a safe and stress-free holiday journey, says the non-profit Car Care Council.

"According to AAA, more than 37 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the highest in 10 years, and over 88 percent of them will go by car, an increase of 5.3 percent over last year," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. "While it won't solve a traffic jam, a quick vehicle inspection can help you avoid the hassle and unexpected cost of a breakdown away from home."

The non-profit Car Care Council suggests a driveway inspection of the following items before your holiday road trip to make sure your car is road ready. If you find your vehicle needs service, repairs can be performed before your weekend journey begins.

• Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
• Check the hoses and belts that can become cracked, brittle, frayed, loosened or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.
• Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
• Check the wipers and lighting so that you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and inspect and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation. Keep the reservoir filled with solvent.

The Car Care Council's newly redesigned 80-page Car Care Guide can be ordered free-of-charge at www.carcare.org/car-care-guide. Available in English and Spanish, the popular guide features helpful information about maintaining your vehicle for safety, dependability and value.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a free copy of the council's popular Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.  

Put. The Phone. Away.

It should go without saying, but checking your smartphone isn't a smart move during a job interview. In fact, it's the top way to blow your chances with a prospective employer, according to new research by The Creative Group.

More than three-quarters (77 percent) of advertising and marketing executives surveyed said it's likely they'd remove a candidate from consideration if the person used his or her phone during the interview.

The national study was developed by The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service for interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on 400 telephone interviews -- 200 with advertising executives randomly selected from agencies with 20 or more employees and 200 with marketing executives randomly selected from companies with 100 or more employees.

Advertising and marketing executives were asked, "When interviewing candidates for creative roles, which of the following do you consider to be a deal breaker (something a candidate says or does that will likely cause you to immediately discount that person from consideration)?"

Their responses:

"Hiring managers typically assume candidates are putting their best foot forward during job interviews, so any sign of unprofessional or unproductive behavior makes a big impact, no matter how qualified the person may be for the position," said Diane Domeyer, executive director of The Creative Group. "Job seekers should do everything they can to tip the scales in their favor, including paying attention to the smallest details."

The Creative Group offers tips to avoid the top five missteps that can ruin a job interview:

1. Pulling out your phone. Before entering the building, make sure your smartphone is turned off and put away. While you may be tempted to surf the Web or check social media while waiting in the lobby, it's better to sit patiently and peruse company literature that's available. When the interview begins, give the person you're meeting with your undivided attention.
2. Being tardy. Showing up even a few minutes late could signal to the hiring manager that you have little regard for his or her schedule; worse, it could cause you to miss the meeting altogether. Plan for any traffic and arrive about 10 minutes early for your job interview -- this also will give you time to calm any jitters. If you think you will be late, call ahead and explain the reason for the delay.
3. Arriving empty-handed. Don't assume hiring managers will have all of your application materials with them. Print extra copies of your resume and bring a laptop or tablet with your online portfolio saved to the desktop so you can easily present it without an Internet connection.
4. Dressing too casually. Even if the company you're meeting with is laid-back, it's usually not a good idea to wear flip-flops and board shorts, unless you're interviewing with a surf board company. Do some research to find out the company's dress code and choose an outfit that's slightly more formal.
5. Complaining about a past job. Badmouthing former employers, colleagues or clients may lead hiring managers to question your professionalism and attitude. Although it's OK  ̶  and often necessary  ̶  to discuss work-related challenges, show tact during these conversations. The ability to describe difficult situations diplomatically can turn the tables in your favor.

About The Creative Group
The Creative Group (TCG) specializes in placing a range of highly skilled interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals with a variety of firms on a project and full-time basis. More information, including online job-hunting services, candidate portfolios and TCG's blog, can be found at creativegroup.com.