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By Ted Williams |
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Hello Thursday. I got my oil changed yesterday at the Take 5 on Monroe.
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The guy working on my Jeep told me to pop the hood, but here’s the thing — I didn’t know how. So emasculating. I’m a blogger, not a mechanic! He just shook his head, gave me a smile, and did it himself.
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Also, do oil changes really cost $95.47 these days? Obviously, I have no clue and didn’t go to my usual spot.
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Sometimes I wonder how I’ve survived 40 years with only blogging skills. Anyways.
💼 Hot Job: Senior Business Operations Analyst at Credit Karma ($129K – $141K). Drive company-wide planning at their trendy Ballantyne office.
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💰 Number: $15. Cocktail price at the adults-only swim up bar at Carowinds. Opens on Saturday. Forget Blackberry Farm, they've got 6 luxury cabanas!
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👨 Shout-out: Brian Stockholm, 54 year old chef behind Papi Queso and Harriet's Hamburgers, for opening Harriet's 3rd location in Concord. Next up is Matthews and Plaza Midwood. I’m bullish.
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MARKETS: YEAR-TO-DATE
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S&P 500 |
5,844 |
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Nasdaq |
18,873 |
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GROWTH MODE
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31 year old ex-Googler starts "Drybar for textured hair" now with $1M in revenue
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Brooke Hill and Zanbria Asante, founders of Swella
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Charlotte native Brooke Hill struggled for years to find accessible, high-quality braiding services. "I realized there was a major gap in the textured hair care industry, so I built Swella."
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Growth: Swella, a tech-enabled braid bar, now has locations in Charlotte and Atlanta.
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Last year's revenue surpassed $980,000 and average ticket order was a whopping $316.
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"Corporate America has long overlooked the $30 billion textured hair care industry."
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Tech play: "We hold the utility patent for Unravl, a robotic device that automates braid takedowns, reducing service time by 50 percent and increasing salon efficiency by 20 percent."
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Resume: Brooke attended UNC-Chapel Hill, worked 5 years at Google, and has her MBA from Wharton.
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What's next: Brooke is currently raising money to invest in technology, then scale to more locations.
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PRESENTED BY OMJ CLOTHING
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Brad and Filipe started OMJ Clothing with $12,000 on credit cards, now it's doing $2M per year
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OMJ's South End store, located near Superica
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College roommates Bradley Rhyne and Filipe Ho left their corporate jobs to create a clothing and lifestyle brand. Now 12 years old, OMJ Clothing does around $2M in annual sales 🚀
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Shop: Whether you're looking for a wardrobe update, custom suit, casual wear, or Father's Day gift — go shop from my friends at OMJ Clothing!
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SIDE HUSTLE DIARIES
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Comms executive hits $125,000 in bookings in just 12 months as a Fora Travel Advisor
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Whitney Kendall, a comms exec at Facebook by day
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After planning a girls’ trip to Napa last summer, Whitney saw an online ad to become a Fora Travel Advisor.
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What's Fora? A modern travel agency startup that's raised $73.5M in VC funding. Their secret sauce is a community of travel advisors.
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How it works: As a Fora Advisor, you earn an average of 12% commission on bookings (paid by travel partners). You keep 70% of this and Fora gets the other 30%.
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Whitney joined Fora last August and did $50,000 in 2024 bookings.
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She's already hit $75,000 in bookings so far this year.
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"I've grown mostly through working with friends & family and then referrals and word of mouth."
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Customization: "I can provide anything from weekend hotel rates with perks (like free breakfast and upgrades) to a full multi-day/week, multi-city itinerary with hotels, transportation, tours, and dinner reservations."
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Favorite hotels: High Hampton (NC), Montage Palmetto Bluff (SC), Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay (CA), and JW Marriott Grosvenor House (London).
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"I've already logged 24 trips this year, so I would like to reach 40-50 by the end of this year. I'm also working on a newsletter and website."
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MONEY TALKS
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33 year old making $270K loves spray tans and cash flowing rentals
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Yunta lunch bento box, this exec’s favorite restaurant
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Money Talks is a weekly series showcasing how real people in Charlotte approach money. Participate.
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Salary: “I work in finance as a treasury manager. My total comp is $270K.”
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Other income: “I own a rental property with income of $30K/year after property management and repair fees. I bought the now rental as my first home in 2018 with just 5% down. I had two roommates for the first year, which covered around half the mortgage.”
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Favorite expense: “My spray tan membership to Gorgeous Glo ($45/month). There’s just something about having a tan that makes me happy.”
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Debt: “I tried to avoid having it at all costs. I lived with 3 friends my first year out of college and paid just $400 in rent so I could use my income to pay off $30K in student loans.”
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Net worth: “About $850K. My advice to others is to create a plan and be okay with it taking time. Wealth isn’t built overnight.”
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Worst money decision: “Going to Europe in 2016 instead of investing my bonus in Bitcoin.”
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Full story: Investment strategy of savvy 33 year old pulling down $300K
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MONEY SNACKS
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5 other financial headlines I’m snacking on
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Dive bar and music venue in the Charlotte suburbs for sale asking $595K. Owner retiring. $750K revenue. $205K cash flow.
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Pinehurst Resort debuts luxury golf cottages on No. 8 golf course. 4-bedroom cottages start at $6,768 per cottage per night.
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Foxcroft mansion on .84 acres blending "California modernism with Southern warmth" asks $8M. Comes with a 4-car garage.
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Etihad Airways will fly direct from Charlotte to Abu Dhabi starting May 4, 2026. Tickets start at $1,180 for economy.
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Two Buck Saloon opens new family-friendly bar in Oakhurst with $2 High Lifes and PBRs. Pool tables, dartboards, and free live music.
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HOUSEKEEPING
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Country club chic group sipping cocktails in $8M Quail Hollow backyard hits 12.4M views on TikTok
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Viral Quail Hollow post on TikTok
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While 4.7M viewers tuned in to watch the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow on CBS, another 12.4M watched this "I can see my future" clip on TikTok.
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Going viral: This well-dressed group of 7 ladies and 1 dude weren't inside the ropes, instead they were enjoying a cocktail under white umbrellas in the backyard of an $8M home overlooking the par 5, hole No. 7.
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Happy Thursday! I'm heading to Linville, NC, for the weekend. I'll be teeing it up with my 10-year-old at Linville Golf Club. Still debating whether or not to visit Tweetsie Railroad, which I shockingly love even though adult tickets are a ruthless $65.
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– Ted
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MONEY POLL
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Will you book a trip using a travel agent/advisor in the next 12 months?
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Last week’s poll results: Where would you rather vacation in North Carolina? (9,129 subscribers)
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