Port City Technology brings Open Source Technology to Charleston

With the current recession apparently still showing no immediate signs of letting go of our collective jugular, Port City Technology is proud to be able to announce that our we have a couple of options to help relieve some of the financial pressure.

Full service ERP solutions may be out of reach for a lot of small businesses in the greater Charleston area and that truly is unfortunate.  That being said however, the option of Open Source Software is fairly unknown and very often overlooked when considering a business operating infrastructure.

At the crux of any organization actively involved in sales, (let’s use real estate as an example) should be a database driven article of software that will track all of its agents’ leads and contacts, as well as closing percentages, and the usual business model tracking statistics.  This for most entities is a CRM (Customer Relationship Management).  Port City Technology is proud to be able to offer several different flavors of open source CRM packages, all of which can be accessed via the internet which allows for a mostly “non Operating System specific” approach.  Combining a web based CRM with computers operating on Open Source Operating Systems would allow for great cost savings in all businesses (the average cost of a Windows based Operating System is between 100 and 200 dollars per computer).  The advances in Open Source Operating Systems have come at a rapid pace.  Linux Ubuntu V.9.04 (available here) operates VERY much like any Windows based operating system and is available for free or with a donation.  Most truly Open Source Software is offered for free, with the idea that, “if you find it useful and can afford it, please donate”.  Some Open Source software will have different versions, only one or two of which are “community editions” which are offered for free or with donations and with slightly less features or features that must manually be installed.

From the base of the CRM a small business can begin to integrate peripheral systems as well, most important of which is a solid phone system or PBX.  We also offer several different varities of PBX systems all based on the Open Source distribution called “Asterisk”.  Our most popular modified version of this will integrate directly with several of the Open Source CRM packages that we offer.  Let’s go back to the real estate example, if your company has agents that answer phone calls directed by your PBX and are also logged into the CRM, all the calls that come in can be checked with the database to see if the caller ID matches an existing customer or a possible new customer.  If there is a match, the agent then has the option of opening the contact’s information before they even pick up the phone call.

In addition to integration with the phone systems that we offer, we can also tailor the CRM to fit more ERP type solutions, such as inventory control, accounting, and even merchant services to accept credit card transactions right inside the CRM.
The use of Open Source Software is on the rise (as it should be) and you can be part of it whenever you’re ready.  Give us a call to set up a free initial consultation to allow us to discover your needs and to let us show you how we can solve them.

Little Shrimp, BIG Business

Despite declining demand for local shrimp, the shrimp trawler remains one of the most enduring symbols of Greater Charleston. And if local biotech firm AgraTech has its way, we’ll be seeing more of the boats trawling our seas in the very near future. But it’s not all about the protein packed delicacy, as this company is finding amazing uses for the crustacean’s crusty little shell.

SC Shrimp Processing & Biotechnologies, Inc., (SC Shrimp), a subsidiary of AgraTech International, Inc., was incorporated to address the growing need to revitalize the domestic shrimp industry, make it more competitive with shrimp imports and bring a new biotechnology industry to the State of South Carolina, reports company president Gregory Ensign.

Ensign, who is also an attorney, says SC Shrimp will serve two distinct, yet related business opportunities. The first is to purchase, process, and distribute high quality ocean-caught domestic shrimp to grocery stores and restaurants within South Carolina and other Southeast Atlantic areas. The second opportunity is to use the production waste, i.e. shrimp heads and shells, to produce a biomaterial called chitosan (ki´ to zan), that will be sold in a variety of markets, including, among others, agricultural, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and medical. According to Ensign, “these two complementary businesses will support the revitalization of the shrimping industry in South Carolina and the Southeast Atlantic while creating new products from chitosan, which will translate to hundreds of new jobs and a new ‘smart’ biotechnology industry for our state.”

The naturally occurring biochemical called chitin (ki´ tin) is obtained from the exoskeletons of crustaceans, such as shrimp, crab and lobster. This modified form of glucose is insoluble in water and other solvents, making it difficult to process. Chitosan is a soluble derivative of chitin that is the company’s magic ingredient. When in solution, chitosan has proven useful in wastewater treatment, water purification, nutraceuticals (as a “fat blocker”), and many medical applications, particularly as a blood-clotting agent. Chitosan is non-toxic and non-allergenic, making it safe to use in food and beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices and materials. Ensign puts high stock in the team of scientists and visionaries that are SC Shrimp, and feels they are on the verge of discoveries reminiscent of George Washington Carver’s work with the once lowly peanut.

SC Shrimp’s goals also make sense from a “green” perspective. Shrimp processing companies historically have been required to pay to have the shrimp shells hauled to landfills thereby creating an additional cost. The company plans to use the shells in the production of chitosan and chitosan-based products to turn a cost into a revenue generator, and of course, they plan to continue promoting shrimp as the genuinely “homegrown” culinary delight that it should always remain. That sounds like good business to us. ~GC

Greg Ensign can be contacted at:
greg.ensign@scshrimp.com
Main phone:  (843) 860-8772
Toll Free: (866) 884-9106, Ext. 81

The HD Video Agent LLC

The HD Video Agent is a locally owned and operated business based out of Mount Pleasant, SC.  Founder and President Tony Coombs wanted to offer the Lowcountry the opportunity to utilize the full potential of HD video in a number of differing scenarios.With Tony having been a Realtor in the Lowcountry for many years, he wanted to offer a solution that would help both agents and private individuals who are desperately trying to sell/rent/lease a home or commercial building or land.  He came up with The HD Video Agent, whereby he can create an HD video “virtual tour” of the property and upload it to the web.  The client also gets a DVD copy for themselves and the video can even be uploaded to the local MLS by area Realtors who are MLS members.  The HD “virtual tour” gives prospective buyers the ability to see the property as if they were there in person and provides them with the ability to gauge the proeprties true layout and “flow”.  Still pictures and photo montages just don’t offer that.  Agents can also have an agent interview of themselves posted on the “virtual tour” so the whole world can get to meet you.

In addition, The HD Video Agent provides HD contents insurance videos.  Most people would never be able to recite all the items in their homes to an insurance agent after a catostrophic event such as a flood, hurricane, theft or fire.  With The HD Video Agent contents insurance video, you don’t have to!  You have an HD video of all the covered assets in your home burned to a DVD for you and your insurance agent to review in case something happens.We also provide “micro-mercials” which are low cost, HD videos for a small business.  If you own a bar, restaurant, or small “mom and pop” operation and want to have a 5 minute “micro-mercial” produced that you can upload to your website without setting you back a small fortune, then The HD Video Agent can help.  You could have the owner of the buseinss give a short interview followed by an HD “virtual tour” of the business.These HD video ideas also work great for resorts, B&B’s, vacation rentals, people trying to sell cars, boats, etc.  The number of applications for The HD Video Agent are limitless!  Everything is better in HD!  Let us know what you dream up!

So if you have any other questions or would like to book your HD video, please contact us! We look forward to hearing from you!
Have a great day!

Summers Bend

Summer’s Bend on the Ashley is a special place of protected beauty, carefully planned and thoughtfully crafted. This collection of two- and three-bedroom townhomes and three-bedroom flat-styled condominiums, nestled in a lush landscape with over 1,500 protected grand trees, offers sweeping views of the historic Ashley River Corridor.  The quality, the setting, and the affordability offer an opportunity simply unheard of in the Charleston area today.

For more information please contact a Beach Residential sales specialist at 843.971.1312

Click here to see a full screen slideshow of Summers Bend in our Gallery!

The Gateway to Mount Pleasant

The new Memorial Waterfront Park at the foot of the Ravenel Bridge opened with a bang on the July 4th weekend. The much anticipated 22 acre park marks one of Mt. Pleasants major projects in the town’s history. The 1,250 ft pier, built on the pilings of the old Silas Pearman Bridge, is the longest in the area and will provide the residents of Charleston endless entertainment. The pier is open from 6:00am until 11:00pm and no doubt will become a favorite fishing spot at the mouth of the Wando River.

A fishing license is not necessary and all the gear you need can be rented from the bridge store. For $8.00 per day you can try your hand at some deep river fishing. Walking, biking, relaxing and people watching are free to all and the children’s park , shaded by the bridge, has lots of fun playground equipment and has already become an attraction for young families.

The 6,200 sq. ft. Visitors Center has an office for tourist to stop in and get the low down on things to do in Mt. Pleasant and Charleston. The large reception room  is decorated by original murals by local artists and is available for private parties and receptions for up to 175 people.

The Sweetgrass Cultural Arts pavilion provides the history of one of our areas cultural highlights. Mt. Pleasant is one, if not the only, area in our country where sweetgrass grows. You will see sweetgrass stands, belonging to individual families, along both sides of Hwy. 17  in Mt. Pleasant. These time-consuming creations can be purchased directly from the weavers on site at the pavilion or at one of the stands as they demonstrate their skills handed down from generations of artisans.

The centerpiece of the park is the War Memorial with an 8-foot bronze statue, by the renowned sculptor Raymond Kaskey, honoring the fallen war heroes originally from the Mt. Pleasant area.

It’s exciting to see our tax dollars being spent on something that will be enjoyed by the community for years to come.

Martial Arts

Swords of the East sells funtional martial arts swords for collectors and martial arts enthusiasts. We are located on James Island, in Charleston, SC. The business is primarily online and can be found at http://www.SwordsOfTheEast.com Check it out. Swords also make great presents for the upcoming holidays.

Scotts Creek

Scotts Creek is more than a neighborhood. It is an opportunity to live as well as you wish in one of the last new communities in Mount Pleasant’s premier Ben Sawyer/Rifle Range Road area.

It is a place where design guidelines ensure integrity. And one of just seventy generous homesites can be yours now. Scotts Creek embodies all the best of its spectacular surroundings – in the heart of Mount Pleasant, and just minutes from renowned beaches, golf, marinas, shopping, dining and more.

All that enriches life in one of Charleston’s most desirable towns can be yours. Your homesite will be centered on a six-acre private park with a pond, walking trails and natural landscaping. Like the grand canopy of oaks that greets you, all that you enjoy in Scotts Creek expresses the best of life in the Lowcountry. This is your neighborhood. Your custom-built home. Your inspired lifestyle.

For more information contact a Beach Residential sales specialist at 843.971.1312

Watermark

A rare and compelling opportunity to truly live where you live. Those who know Watermark know that its location in the heart of Mount Pleasant and having Charleston virtually at its doorstep means never having to go far for anything, from everyday necessities to a variety of indoor and outdoor entertainment and recreational opportunities.

Not only are there a variety of living options in Watermark, from custom-built homes to townhomes and luxury apartments, but the community is further enhanced by the convenience of neighborhood retail. It is a true and fully realized traditional neighborhood – the one you’ve always wanted to call your own. With its tree-lined sidewalks, comfortable pace and urban amenities, Watermark is what happens when you acquire a perfect location and make it better.

For more information please contact a Beach Resdidential sales specialist at 843.971.1312

Click here to see a full screen slideshow of Watermark in our Gallery!

Home Is Where the Heart Is

When I first graduated from Regent University in Virginia Beach, going back home was not the first thing on my mind. In fact, it was the last thing on my mind. When I went to college as an undergrad, I told myself that I was not going back home for a long time. I wanted to stay far away from Charleston as possible.

Now I’m starting to realize that I have been a little childish in my thinking.

How can I forget about the place that I grew up in?

The place that I gained and discovered my identity.

The place where I can find peace and not worry about “real world” things.

The place where I could call myself independent.

I learned that you don’t have to have your own things to be independent. Sometimes you can make what you have in front of you your own.

Sometimes you have to go back to the place you started from, in order to properly move on into the future.

I mean how many chances do I have left to make cherished memories here before I move on to the next chapter of my life? Who cares what people say?  So what if I don’t have everything yet. I still have enough to make it work.

This is indeed a big transition for a Southern gal such as myself. There isn’t much “South” where I’m planning to go.

Learn to embrace everything around you, your culture, your memories, your family and friends, for they are a part of you. If you don’t, one day you’re going to think back and wish you could stay longer.

So why waste time now? Make it happen.

 

10 Free “Must See” Places You’ve Probably Never Really Seen…

The cobbler’s kids have no shoes, the chef’s eats out every night, and Greater Charlestonians never visit the hidden gems of our beautiful community.  It’s a funny thing about human nature… we seldom truly appreciate what we have right in front of us.  And yet most of us don’t even frequent the major attractions like the Garden-of-Eden-like Middleton Place Gardens, or the outrageously moving USS Yorktown, or…. heaven forbid… the beach! Yes, that’s right. It’s unlikely that even 20% of us can say we sat in the sand last summer. If you’re a local and are saying, “no way,” then riddle us this: Take a look at our Top 10 Must See sites around Charleston that are off the beaten path.  Sure, you might have heard of them, or maybe you even live on the same street… but have you visited these spots to absorb the beauty and history of these majestic icons and their associated vistas? All of which are completely free to stand and and climb and explore and breath and take in with all your senses? Test yourself. Skim all 10 and see how many you’ve ever really enjoyed. Then read the associated articles to see how much you really know about your own back yard… where visits are always free. Cheers!

Click Here to see our “off the beaten path” top 10 (in no particular order… until you review them!)

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