“This is a serious niche business,” David Young, owner of the store, said. “And it’s low pressure. If you like what you see, I’m the only game in town.”

Young grew up in Northern Virginia and moved to the area in 1993. After holding various occupations, including working in the book business and managing two Harley-Davidson dealerships, Young decided it was time to make a shift.

“I wanted to turn my hobbies into a business,” Young said. “When you walk in here, you’re walking into my world. I have an excellent staff; everyone is very tuned into the customers and very knowledgeable about what we have to offer.”

Stones n’ Bones is now going on its 15th year in business after spending its first two years in the Community Market in downtown Lynchburg and 13 years at its current location in Forest.

Young’s business continues to thrive, despite today’s economy, and he says it is mainly thanks to its location.

“I’ve been very fortunate here,” Young said. “Location, location, location. We did the research before moving here, and I don’t have one single regret.”

Young admits he does things a bit differently than many other businesses when it comes to dealing with the economy by spending more money to double his advertising.

“It has paid me back in spades,” he said. “I am constantly re-thinking how to do business in order to keep up. If you don’t run your business like a business, it’s not going to survive.”

As a local business owner himself, Young says he is a huge proponent of buying local.

“You will never see me in a Wal-Mart,” he said.

Stones n’ Bones offers one of the largest selections of sterling silver jewelry, beads and findings in the region. The store also offers classes in beading and wire wrapping for anyone interested in learning how to make jewelry. Full service jewelry repair is available on the premises as well and includes ring sizing and stone setting. Incense, oils and other one-of-a-kind gifts can also be found in this unique store. There is a little bit of everything and something for all ages.

Stones n’ Bones also proudly supports the local art community.

“We hang art in here for many local artists, and it changes regularly,” Young said. “Artists and customers alike come in here all the time and give me bizarre and interesting stuff that they make, and it truly honors me.”

As far as rocks, minerals and fossils go, Young finds most of the items himself.

“I’ve dug all over the United States and in Canada, but the most prolific digging has been done here and in North Carolina,” he said.

Young has received his Federal Mine Safety Certification, which enables him to work underground in operating mines. When he goes digging, he brings back 500 to 600 pounds of unique items at a time.

According to Stones n’ Bones’ website, their large selection of rocks, minerals and fossils include products such as tea light candle holders, massage wands and spheres. Amethyst, Celestite, Quartz crystals, Selenite and Fluorite are also always on hand.

The unique gems and minerals found provide the store with the opportunity to create beautiful sterling silver jewelry with stone set pendants. Moonstone, Labradorite, Lapis, Tourmaline and Rutilated Quartz are mainstays and always available, according to the website. Stones n’ Bones carries an excess of 500 pairs of earrings at all times, many of which are one-of-a-kind.

“The money is in jewelry, but it’s everything else that gets people in this door,” Young said.

While Young continues to enjoy the successes of his thriving business, he is not looking to expand at this moment.

“I’m here for the duration. I’m always looking for ways to increase business, but I don’t see any other stores in the picture right now,” he said. “I have more employees than I need. My store provides me with a great lifestyle. I’m not going to fall into the trap holes of culture.”

Young’s sedate lifestyle revolves around finding artifacts, creating art, reading books and growing plants.

“I strive to maintain a place where people can come in, be themselves and relax,” Young said. “My store is a direct extension of me and who I am.”

Stones n’ Bones is located in the Graves Mill Shopping Center in Forest at 18013 Forest Rd. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For questions or more information about the store, call (434) 385-7127 or visit www.stonesnbones.net.

Penelope Searcy had this problem and decided to do something about it. On March 1, 1988, she opened her own store, called “Penelope.”

“The reason I opened the store is that I would shop around Lynchburg and found that it was the mall or high-end boutiques and that was it,” Searcy said. “So I made a decision that it would be a good idea to start a shop since I was having trouble finding a place to buy things. If I was having trouble, other people were too. My vision for the company was for women to come shop and to have a nice shopping experience.”

Searcy decided to place her first new Lynchburg store right next to where women go the most—Kroger.

“It was the number one grocery store and where most women spent their time. Why not be next to the number one store in Lynchburg?” she explained.

Perhaps without coincidence, the business had no problems getting started—it immediately took off.  Since the opening of the first store, the business has continued to thrive, something Searcy is grateful for.

“We have been extremely successful over the years,” she said.

Today, Searcy is still the president of the company that she founded 23 years ago. Penelope now has seven locations—three in Richmond, one in Farmville, one in Charlottesville and two in Lynchburg. There is also a website that allows customers to order merchandise online.

Penelope sells a variety of items such as clothing, sterling silver jewelry, costume jewelry, handbags, scarves, shoes and sandals. It also carries several name brands including Pandora jewelry and Rainbow sandals.

The most successful merchandise in the store has been the sterling silver jewelry. According to Searcy, the companies that manufacture it guarantee the quality of their product so customers know they are receiving a high quality item. When Pandora was introduced, it became the biggest selling line of jewelry offered in the store.

Penelope purchases the jewelry to be sold in her stores from many different places.

“We buy from over 200 different jewelry venders. I have been to Atlanta, Las Vegas, Tucson, New York, and many other places. I go to markets about eight times a year,” she said.

The most successful branches of the store have been in Richmond. Last year, Penelope moved one of its Lynchburg locations from Linkhorne Drive to a newer retail location just off Wards Road in front of the Kohl’s shopping center.

Penelope has many customers coming in and out daily, and many shoppers have nothing but good things to say about their experiences in the store.

“I have been to Penelope two times. Overall, it was a great experience with great customer service and selection,” Nichole Pinkleton, from Richmond, Virginia, said. “The prices were fair and it was a very pleasant shopping experience. I would definitely go back!”

Donna Marcus, from Charlotte, North Carolina, has been to the store many times and is quick to complement Penelope’s staff.

“The sales associates were very attentive and the service overall was very good,” she said. “I bought quite a few things—tops, jeans, I’ve gotten jewelry there as well. It was a very good selection and the prices were really good. The atmosphere, because it was small, seemed more intimate—almost like a friend’s closet. I would shop there again.”

To learn more about Penelope, visit www.penelope-jewelry.com.    

Aid Station manager, Jeremy Ramsey, says what sets The Aid Station apart from other local running stores is its one-of-a-kind offerings and tailored products, specifically for the trail runners and ultra runners that often flock to this area for races.

“Initially, we decided to go the online route but as we sold more and more shoes, we realized the overwhelming need for people to have a place that afforded them a knowledgeable staff combined with the chance to check out several shoes at one time,” Ramsey said. “We never wanted to just be a website that sold shoes—we strived for something much larger.”

Catering to everyone from the beginning runner to the ultramarathoner provides The Aid Station with its own unique position in the retail running market. An ultra runner is a very exceptional breed of runner. According to ultrarunning.com, ultra running is typically defined as any amount of distance beyond the traditional marathon length of 26.2 miles, though standard ultramarathon races range from a little over 31 miles (50k) to 100 miles and can sometimes last for days at a time. Ultra runners maintain strict diets, strenuous training schedules and an undeniably deep love for running.

Naturally, a store geared towards such a unique set of individuals would be equally as unique in offerings. What may seem like an average running store from the outside—showcasing items such as apparel, shoes, watches, backpacks, water bottles and energy gels, really includes specific and rare items not found in typical sporting goods stores.

“We offer a wide variety of running shoes and apparel. We sell everything from your tradition road shoe to the non-tradition minimalist lines, along with much more. Our highly-trained staff will listen to your wants in a shoe then help recommend a shoe based on your fit, wants and needs,” Ramsey said.

The Aid Station is home to several specific men and women’s shoe brands, such as Altra, Hoka, Salomon, Scott, Montrail, Vasque, Inov-8 and Patagonia. The store also plays host to a variety of easily forgotten, albeit extremely important smaller accessories including Pro-Tec LiquiCell Blister Bands Skin Protection, Pro-Tec Kinesiology Tape, Zensah Compression Socks, Penguin Shoe Goo, Nipguards and Arctic Spray Liquid Ice. The most popular brands sold out of the Aid Station are Mountain Hardwear, Patagonia, Nathan Human Propulsion Laboratories, Montrail, Julbo, Inov-8, teko, Salomon, Vasque and Zensah.

Apart from its host of runner-geek gear, the new store also brings out a greater sense of community amongst local ultra runners. This is especially true for The Aid Station ultrarunning team, which includes record-breakers and top finishers like Ramsey, Andrew Thompson, Travis Wildeboer, Alyssa Wildeboer, Jenny Anderson, Eric Grossman, Sandi Nypaver and Jake Reed.

The mountainous terrain of Central Virginia made The Aid Station’s transition to an on-location store an easy decision. Several races take place in the area throughout the year, including the ever popular Terrapin Mountain 50k and Half-marathon. The 50k is the second event in both the Beast Series and Lynchburg Ultra Series. The series is compromised of the Holiday Lake 50k, Terrapin Mountain 50k & ½ Marathon, Promise Land 50k, Grindstone 100, Mountain Masochist 50 Mile Trail Run (MMTR) and Hellgate 100k.

In addition to providing runners with all the material items necessary to set them up for success, The Aid Station has gone above and beyond to encourage and create a love for running. The team there regularly schedules runs for both beginners and experienced runners at varying distances as well as shows up and supports local races by participating, volunteering and donating.

“Bottom line is we want you to enjoy a healthy lifetime of running,” Ramsey said.

The Aid Station also host giveaways by means of their Facebook fan page. For example, one giveaway included a case of Clif Gels, a pair of Darn Tough Socks and a $50 Aid Station gift card to the participant who received the most “likes” on his or her running photo posted to the Aid Station’s Facebook wall.

“The feedback from our customers has been extremely positive with most commenting on the variety and quality of the products we’ve brought to the Forest/Lynchburg market,” Ramsey said.

Beginners need not be intimidated, though, as The Aid Station will be quick to stock you with some of the most important items for beginners, such as properly fitting shoes, BodyGlide to prevent blisters, GPS, heart and time tracking systems, a water bottle and carrier, breathable running apparel, specialty socks, portable music cases, power and recovery drinks, bars, and gels and more, all at a low cost. Plus, each Aid Station employee comes equipped with a host of experience and advice for improving running technique, speed and distance.

For Ramsey, running is especially personal—something he says has helped transform his life. Now, he relishes the opportunity to share his experiences with shoppers at The Aid Station, no matter where they are in their running evolution.

“I wanted the opportunity to connect with the non-runner to provide them with the chance to experience what has been such blessing in my life,” he explained. “I was once a 24-year-old, 252-pound non-runner who had never run a step in my life. Now, 11 years later, I’m healthier and 100 pounds lighter. Running has played a major role in helping me enjoy life like never before.”

The Aid Station is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Their virtual store is open 24/7 at www.theaidstation.com.

After graduation, McCauley returned to Lynchburg where she worked as the Executive Chef and Catering Events Coordinator at Centra for 7 ½ years. It was during her time at Centra that she explored her own venture into the catering business by creating her own catering company. She was able to pursue her passion and was also given the opportunity to work directly with Magnolia Foods’ previous owner, Lucy Cook. At the time, McCauley had no idea of the bright future that would blossom from their friendship.

Almost out of the blue one day, McCauley received a Facebook message that prompted the life-changing lunch with Cook, who asked McCauley to buy the business.

“I wasn’t looking,” McCauley said of the offer and admits that it came as a surprise.

But the opportunity was one she couldn’t pass up. After all, this thriving business venture seemingly dropped into her lap. McCauley’s background made her qualified to not only fill the position, but to keep the brand image consistent. She said yes.

Magnolia Foods is known for its gourmet sandwiches, decadent cakes, local products, specialty groceries and trendy dining café. As new head honcho, McCauley emphasizes that Magnolia Foods will continue to be the Lynchburg hot spot it has always been.

“I want to carry Lucy’s legacy and make her proud,” she said.

With an “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” attitude, McCauley is building upon the legacy Cook started 16 years ago when she first opened the doors to Magnolia Foods.

Magnolia Foods’ unique offerings set them apart from other local restaurants, according to McCauley. Prepared-to-go brown bag specials are perfect for busy business professionals who get a choice of sandwich, side and dessert. Frequent wine tastings introduce locals to a variety of new spirits and appetizers. Magnolia Foods’ custom cakes are favorably seen at weddings and birthday parties across the city. Last, but not least, Magnolia Foods keeps things fresh by offering innovative sandwich creations that range from curried chicken salad and mango chutney on pumpernickel with green leaf lettuce to a prosciutto, goat cheese and red onion marmalade sandwich.

The locality in a well-visited strip on Rivermont Avenue also allows Magnolia Foods to carry a wide array of rarities for purchase, such as European chocolate, Stonewell Kitchen jams, imported cheeses, gourmet candies and Virginia Diner peanuts. Shoppers can search for that perfect gift on their own or allow Magnolia Foods to create a custom gift basket based on occasion and the recipient. Their exclusive offerings are one-of-a-kind in the area and allow customers to expand their choices without having to travel to larger surrounding cities.

Magnolia Foods’ Facebook page is a testament to its popularity. With over 700 “likes” and wall comments boasting rave reviews and re-occurring phrases such as, “I love the food and environment!” and “I eat here almost every day!” social media and loyal customer parts are two important elements of the business’s success.

“I am appreciative of Lucy’s loyal customers that have been receptive to the new ownership,” McCauley said.

With so many “regulars,” McCauley says that many wonder aloud to her whether any changes are to be expected at Magnolia Foods?

“The menu, staff and recipes will all be the same,” she is quick to explain.

There will also be no re-modeling, though she does hope to expand hours, introduce several new hot appetizers and offer more on-site catering. This aspect of the business will apply to parties, dinners and weddings, allowing McCauley to put her background in catering to good use.

One immediate change under McCauley’s ownership that guests are already noticing is that they can now enjoy appetizers, drinks and desserts until 10 p.m. on the patio outside. But McCauley knows a good thing when she sees it—and her menu, developed under Cook’s leadership, is something she considers to be a very good thing. Devoted customers can also let out a sigh of relief as popular menu items like the cappuccino brownies and lemon pound cake are here to stay. Looks like everyone will be able to continue to have his or her cake and eat it too at Magnolia Foods for now and years to come.

For more about Magnolia Foods or to check out the menu online, visit www.magnoliafoods.com.

Thomas Jefferson once owned the property before giving it to his daughter, Martha. Martha, in turn, sold it to an unknown individual who eventually built the mansion that is there now. Dating back to circa 1790, the mansion was still in good condition when Cheryl Reynolds decided to purchase it last year and establish the shops that are located there now.

“This has been in the works for 13 years. I have rented space and sold antiques and collectibles myself and so I had a lot of stuff that I would like to sell to people. My friend, Nancy Rosin, has always been into the designer clothes. The idea kept popping up to us how cool it would be to have something here,” Reynolds said.

The building was vacant for 12 years before they moved in, but Reynolds says the foundation was still in wonderful condition. Water damage was the biggest problem they had to deal with, which was quickly repaired.

The shops opened in September of last year and include three dress boutiques, a massage therapist, Avon, antiques, fine art and a photography studio. Venders rent the spaces and sell their products throughout the house. Items for sale consist of antiques, collectibles, books, furniture, casual and dressy clothes, prom dresses, wedding dresses, lingerie, pocket books, shoes, belts and more. Many of the items are vintage, dating from the 50’s and 60’s. There is also a shop, which Rosin owns, that contains brand name items such as Chico’s, Talbots, Christopher & Banks and Coldwater Creek.

The Shoppes at Ashwood have been exploring many avenues of advertising to get their name out, including newspaper ads, articles, signs and open houses. Recently, a yard sale was held to bring in more customers. Almost everyone that showed up were new customers, but expressed interest in wanting to revisit them. Future plans for marketing include the Winter Market at the Liberty Godparent Home and advertising around Randolph College to students who incorporate the vintage style into their fashion choices.

Reynolds says The Shoppes at Ashwood are now at full capacity which opens doors for them to partner with other local businesses, like the Good Cherry, to plan events that will draw a crowd.

“I would love to partner with them and have tea parties in the afternoon at the shops a couple times a week. This house would be perfect for something like a tearoom, but we just don’t have the space. A back porch is also available at the house. It’s screened in so it’s perfect for fall or spring,” Reynolds explained.

Reynolds says one of the elements that makes The Shoppes at Ashwood unique is the warm, inviting atmosphere. Even during work hours, Reynolds and her co-workers often gather around cups of coffee to talk with each other, and this welcoming feel is extended to every customer that walks through the doors.

“You can’t believe it until you’ve seen it. It’s a unique shopping experience with many special items,” Reynolds said. “Come on in and enjoy a cup of coffee and sit and talk.”

The shops are open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit their Facebook page, “The Shoppes at Ashwood.”

By building on the original property of that fruit stand, the Flippin family was able to grow what has now become a destination landmark for the Lynchburg community. When entering the doors leading into the gift shop, customers are greeted with the seasons. Flowers in spring, produce in summer and pumpkins in the fall all add to the warmth flowing throughout this charming shop. It is as though you are being greeted by a picture postcard upon each visit.

The family that originally owned the place also owned a farm and produced jams, jellies and what became the “Gift & Market” section of the current store. Today, visitors can find designer labels, fine gifts and accessories, jewelry, custom invitations, specialty foods and an array of Virginia made products. The quaint creek-side location also adds to the charm of this locally owned icon and indicates that some things in history are still preserved.

In August of 2007, the Flippin family transferred over 40 years of ownership to the committed hands of Rie Godsey, who is known throughout the area as the owner of the former restaurant, Meriwether’s, and the current Italian hot spot, Isabella’s. Upon this change, Kerry Giles, General Manager, joined The Farm Basket family. Giles was a small business owner herself and had much knowledge and experience to bring with her career move. As the former owner of The Patch & Co. located in Amherst, she brought with her a background in gifts and gardening, and knowledge of how to run a small, locally-owned business. This insight has helped to build upon the foundation that was established by the original family nearly 50 years prior.

These days, Giles says that they have “worked hard to maintain the real core of that business” as they are still specializing in locally grown produce. In fact, some of the flowers and produce that are sold in the shop still come from the Flippin farm.

As owner and president of the locally based catering company, Meriwether Godsey, Rie Godsey brought a new level of service to the business when ownership transferred.

“The parent company is all about food service and has a major influence in who we are today. The cafe has grown tremendously since we’ve been here,” Giles said.

A little-known secret is the off-site catering that the staff services every day. From August through May, the staff delivers to Holy Cross School for lunches and services two of the largest medical offices in the area on a daily basis. Giles explained that the market is “in the heart of the medical community that we are servicing, and that is very convenient.”

“The community has grown so much in terms of student population and we are trying to respond to that. Looking for ways to reach out to them is key,” Giles said, noting that The Farm Basket now offers Wi-Fi and dining space in their upstairs and outdoor deck.

The Farm Basket also focuses on personal touches, including a bridal registry and courtesy gift wrap. It is these small services that many visitors say really set them apart.

“We are about fine gifts,” Giles said. “Brands people have come to trust.”

Currently, those brands include Simon Pearce, Beatriz Ball, as well as Crane, Caspari and Vera Bradley. The fact that The Farm Basket carries some of these leading labels exclusively shows that they have been a “retail product leader” for a long time. And their offerings are about to expand. Giles is excited to announce that they will soon be adding Lilly Pulitzer to their collection. In fact, the paper store will relocate into the main shop to make space for the expansion.

In many ways, the shop has become an icon to the area. The Farm Basket is known for its wide array of gifts, specialty foods, wines and even catering services, and this charming little shop continues to be named among the “Best Of” in local, reader-voted newsprint and magazine contests. So, it comes as no surprise that the location is being sought out more and more for events and weddings. In recent years, they have begun hosting small parties and rehearsal dinners on the outside deck that overlooks Blackwater Creek and have even accommodated small, intimate weddings on the lawn. They are already booking weddings for 2012, evidence that their endeavors just continue to increase.

Like the fruit stand that grew because of its patrons, The Farm Basket has grown because of generations of support. This quaint shop is connected to the town that supports it, and to the people who live there. It is the people that comprise the character of a small town and it is the people that have helped to define the personality of The Farm Basket. In fact, Giles says that one of her goals for The Farm Basket is to be one of “those kinds of places that define the culture in a community.”

“It speaks of who we are because in the time we’ve been here, we’ve gotten to know our customers,” she said. “We know them by name and appreciate their likes, keep them in mind and can help them through a phone call.”

To learn more about The Farm Basket, visit www.thefarmbasket.com.

The unexpected earthy, nutty sweetness of the chewy barley is almost too good to believe, and his award-winning Dubbel concoction is a multi-layered potion of tastes and sensations: Light and dark, heavy and crisp, bracing yet caramelized and fruity. Taking in the products of Pints O’ Plenty, you can close your eyes and picture many things: a quaint, pastel Belgian square or stark Danish countryside. It’s easy to imagine the sun beaming through the mead of Norse Gods or savor conjuring up the well-worn brass taps at your favorite bloody English pub. The taste, scent, body and ebony or amber hue of the liquid is like a living, evolving spirit under glass, dancing potently on the palate. Whether the beverages are paired with delicacies or sipped thoughtfully on their own, the need to travel for these flavors of the nations is unnecessary, as it is now possible to create them in your own kitchen, with John at your elbow.

Giving craft brewers a run for their money with his niche regional business, John’s shop is located on Burnbridge Road off of Route 221 in Forest, Virginia. Despite its appearance as a nearly “underground” treasure trove of supplies, merchandise and gourmet additions, Pints O’ Plenty is well-known to the fast-growing, loyal local following of this national hobby. John has an excited gleam in his eye as he surveys his shop, a virtual “laboratory” of exotic ingredients. He looks out the back of his store to the three sunny green acres that “will be perfect for beer and cigar festivals,” and eyes his new building next door, soon to be a brewery for his new beer which has been picked up to be sold on a national level.

An extension of his hobby from 1995 to 2001, Pints O’ Plenty was a small, part-time business in a leased space at a nearby antique mall. Then, two years ago, John made the change from a nine-to-five and overtime successful, but stressful career at an international fabric corporation to full-time ownership and caretaking of his craft of brewing … essentially becoming a true entrepreneur. He wanted to perfect his craft, and more importantly, his relationship with his wife.

“It was the best decision!” he smiles, of their new life balance. “It’s now our time to get into something we both enjoy, and have the chance to sit back, too, with our kids now grown.”

Previously, John traveled extensively for business, and during his trips, sampled foreign brews. He also once had a travelling roommate, who brought him back a bottle of Chimay, which inspired him to want to learn how to re-create it.

“And when you can go back into something you just kind of had a passion for, it just snowballs!” John explained. “In ’95, I became a true fan of the Belgian ales. Chimay is made by Trappist Monks—I didn’t know beers could taste like this. I tasted plums, raisins! And you drink it in a brandy snifter. It was an eye-opener. I decided a few years later I had to learn how to make this. It is the style I have won awards for, my holy grail!”

As for the space where the “holy grail” is incubated, it too has been a work in progress.

“We’ve been re-opened for two years, but now in this space, built in 1945, it was empty for three years,” John noted. “We bought it in May 2011 and completely renovated it. The building next door will be a former fire department branch soon, and the new brewery for our formula that has been picked up to distribute nationally. That’s our vision. Now that we have a new storefront, we’re getting so much more traffic in.”

Their new sign has a cheerful green embellished design that beckons the curious closer to the vintage paned glass windows of the shop. One section of the shop has all the equipment and supplies, including hops, yeasts, malts and spices and exotic adjuncts and natural flavors and quality enhancers.

“I have the ingredients for people to make whatever kind of beer they like in the entire world,” he said. “We also have the ingredients and equipment to make any kind of wine from all over the world in your own home. We have boxes of the main juices from the actual country of origin, such as Italian Barolo and Spanish Tempranillo.”

John also has bags of brass bottle caps, corks, ingredients and natural elements. He has the ability to grind wheat for customers in house, which he says provide the malty or sweet base for beer, while bitter hops balance that out. And, he says, a little can go a long way.

“Five gallons will make 50 12-ounce bottles. You’re making 25 to 30 bottles of wine every time you make it, too,” he said.

With his enthusiastic and savvy wife, Lee, John has stocked his shop with samples of bottled beverages he respects, a mesmerizing and tempting collection of examples of international offerings. Lee has won International Winemaker awards, both 2011 silver for her style of Italian Barolo and bronze for her brewing based on Spain’s Tempranillo. John has his own national winning awards on the wall behind his merchant’s case filled with hip t-shirts and stickers and magazines. In 1999, he won the first national championship medal for a strong Scottish Ale.

“Last year my buddy and I won the national championship for home-brewing! And our prize was to go up to Baltimore and Clipper City brewery,” John enthused. “They let us take control of the brewery for two days, and we made 3,100 gallons of our Belgian Dubbel. It was released at [local Forest establishment] Benjamin’s at a big release party the other night, and now, it goes on sale in 19 states this month. They didn’t give it our name (deemed too risqué for some states), but put our names on the Heavy Seas bottle and call our brew The Letter of Marque.”

It’s a recipe John has been brewing for 15 years, and he says it’s nice to have it go commercial. He notes that the way to enter these championships is you just send your beverage sample off to be tasted and judged.

Pints O’ Plenty offers a rainbow spectrum of samples from craft breweries all over the U.S. and the world. The brand Dogfish Head was featured on the recent series, “Brewmasters” on the Discovery Channel and it has authentic recipes from South America and all over the world. For those with more unusual tastes, John even carries a beer blended with the Pinot Noir grape—a 20-percent black-hued Stout produced in Sri Lanka, named “Lion.”

“It sounds crazy; but it’s crazy-good!” John said.

Then, there’s the raspberry-and-chocolate stout, and one made with oysters from Ireland.

”Beer and an aphrodisiac?” John laughed.

Pints O’ Plenty also carries Monster Ale and others from the Brooklyn Brewery and many imports from almost every country, including India, Russia, Finland and Poland. As for the beers John brews himself, one is currently available on tap at Rivermont Pizza for the restaurant’s patrons to try.

John says the process of brewing is a blend of art and science. Though he has the necessary background with a degree in Biology and Chemistry, and a Master’s in Administration, he says the true key to his business is customer service. He will show you how to craft the brew at your own house within a 30-mile radius, or at his shop the week after you buy a kit.

“The key is to let me show you how. …I am not responsible for what people make if I don’t show them first,” John joked. “One thing that has helped me become so popular is that in the last two years I have taught close to 300 people how to make their first beer or wine. When you spend 100 bucks on an equipment kit, it includes me or my wife coming out to teach you how to make your first batch.”

As the conductor of these brew-thirsty “students,” John says he gets so proud when they bringing him in beers to sample and start winning their own competitions with brews.

“Spending three hours with a customer and developing that relationship, guaranteeing their success, ensures that when they make that beer or wine, it is going to be as good as anything you can buy off my shelf. … People are amazed they can do what is being done all over the world, right in their own basement or kitchen,” he said.

Home-brewing beer became legal in 1976 under President Jimmy Carter, but craft beer exploded as a hobby in the late 80s and throughout the 1990s. But even when helped by small breweries, quality was a challenge back then. These days, though, John says that’s the not the main challenge for beer enthusiasts—the economy is. John contends that due to the financial tightening of belts, people are no longer travelling as much to other lands to get their sample of their favorite heritage brew. However, he says that those who do have the opportunity to sample something in a foreign setting rarely want to go to the sometimes thin, over-carbonated domestic brews that are the North American mainstream.

“When someone has traveled to Germany, you usually hear them say, ‘That beer was so good over there, I have a hard time drinking anything else!’ So this prompts people to craft their own brews. When people are exposed to it and try it, they don’t go back,” John said.

With the ability to make the same quality brews at a fraction of the price, John says for many, Pints O’ Plenty’s offerings are a no brainer. Couple that with a sense of pride in crafting excellent beers and wines, and he says it’s a hobby that can become addictive.

“When a person makes her own wine, and has a label on it, and she gives it to a friend who says, ‘This is the best wine I’ve ever had!’ And she says: ‘I made it!’ there is a pride and satisfaction in it; a recognition that drives people to keep delving deeper into perfecting their own special blend,” he said.

Pints O’ Plenty is open daily. The shop holds beer tastings every Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and wine tastings are Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. Learn more by calling (434) 851-5646 or visiting www.pintsoplenty.com.

“We tend to cater and wait on [our customers]. There are a lot of older people that we can walk around and help pick up the plants,” Nelson Garner said.

Lee Aylor, the owner of Aylor’s Garden Center off of Forest Road, stressed the fact that local garden centers often offer their customers something many big box companies cannot—garden savvy information about the plants they are purchasing.

“We offer knowledge and advice on what to do if problems arise,” Aylor said.

Garner agreed when discussing his interactions with many of his customers.

“We can tell them what works in the sun, what works in the shade and which plants are compatible with each other,” he said. “In the chain stores, in general, you’re on your own.”

Aylor also stressed the quality of his shop’s products in comparison to many of the big box companies.

“We try to get things that are a little more substantial in quality. Some of the box stores sell fountains made of light materials and we sell the real thing—it’s more genuine,” Aylor said.

Garner said although there is some competition, his close proximity to Lowe’s has actually helped with business from time-to-time.

“They are good competition to have,” he said. “It’s not at all unusual for them to pick up the phone and call us and ask us if we’ve got a plant or a particular item in stock that they don’t have—they will send customers up here. They are close by and we have always been able to work really well with [them].”

As times have evolved in technology, some local garden shops have also chosen to keep up with the competition by joining a number of small, local businesses that have turned to the Internet and social media to advertise. Garner said by joining in the social media phenomenon, he is hoping his business can reach out to a younger generation.

“Of course with the younger generation, they are very computer savvy, so we’re trying to get out there and be seen,” Garner said. “As much as anything else, it’s a good advertisement for us and they can go [online] and see what we’ve got and when we’ve got truckloads of plants coming in.”

Still, some other garden shops, such as Aylor’s, have chosen to remain traditional in advertising and put a stronger emphasis on the personal face-to-face interactions.

“We played around with it at one point and it didn’t work out well,” Aylor said. “The thing about the Internet is people like to see what they buy. Coming into the shop, you get a better feel for sizes and can imagine how things will fit into your garden.”

While spring continues to be the busiest season for each of Lynchburg’s local garden shops, many owners continue to find new and unique ways to make a profit during the off-season.

“This season is by far our busiest time. Things slow down in the middle of summer and we have a month or so of slower times,” Garner said. “But we are still doing plant maintenance, we still have plants and still have a lot of them for sale.”

In the fall, Gary’s primarily focuses on flowers, such as mums and pansies, as well as shrub planting. In November, the showroom is converted into a Christmas shop with artificial trees and Christmas ornaments, while the greenrooms are filled with poinsettias.

“We move a few thousand poinsettias through here and that keeps us going and very busy through the end of December,” Garner said.

During the off-season, Aylor’s focuses on selling pet and bird feeders, which is what the shop primarily sold before its later evolution into garden plants and products. Other shops, like Gary’s, also focus on selling bird seeds while conducting much of the maintenance that is needed around the shop.

“A lot of the maintenance things that are behind-the-scenes that most people don’t see or think about, we’re getting done at that time of year,” Garner said.

For many local gardeners, a lot of meticulous planning for the off-season and thoughtful dealings with the competition comes with experience in the trade.

“We’ve been here long enough now, we know kind of what to expect and what’s going on in the industry,” Garner said.

Delvin Yoder and his family ran what was, until March, the smallest dairy farm in Campbell County. By turn, it was one of the smallest in the state, milking 40 cows twice a day.

“There are some market forces out there you just can’t control with dairy,” Delvin said. “Somebody’s going to milk and hopefully make a living.”

But not the Yoders.

“We didn’t have the cow numbers to spread our costs over,” Yoder said.

It wasn’t a decision the family made overnight.

For the last 15 years, the Yoders have built a local market—one that’s now getting attention outside of Central Virginia—by putting hydroponic tomatoes (and now cucumbers) on the market from October on, long after the outdoor summer vines have died. It’s this foothold, primarily, that’s allowing their transition away from dairy.

Delvin’s father, Ernest, began growing hydroponically in 1992.

“The market was pretty flat back then,” Delvin said. “People just weren’t ready to even like the idea … they really weren’t ready to commit to the idea of marketing winter tomatoes.”

Ernest and Lovina Yoder started the dairy farm in 1952 with roughly 10 cows. In those days, milk shipped from their farm in metal cans.

““It was sort of run down,” Ernest said of the property at the time. “It took a lot of enthusiasm and anticipation and hard work.”

Ernest, now 86 years old, has watched the decline in dairy herds since. Twenty-five years ago, there were 1,519 dairy farms in Virginia, according to John A. Beers at the state’s Office of Dairy and Foods.

As of January 2011, there were 674 herds, according to Virginia Tech’s Department of Dairy Science. However, the number of dairy cows across the U.S. has remained steady in recent years. Dairies are either closing shop or taking on more cows, Delvin said.

In the late 1970s, the Yoders recall that there were 25 to 30 “dairies,” as dairy farms are sometimes referred to, in Campbell County alone. Today, there are seven in the county, according to Virginia Tech. And the three F’s—fuel, feed and fertilizer—have driven the drop in the number of dairies of all sizes.

“These three items account for approximately 50 percent of the cost of producing milk and all three are surging to record or near-record highs,” Beverly Cox, an extension agent and dairy specialist based in Franklin County, said. “The dairy industry experiences tight profit margins under normal conditions.”

Some small and mid-sized dairies have diversified in recent years into beef cattle and row crops, Cox said. But most dairies, busy enough with cows as they are, still depend on milk checks as primary income, she said.

“There have been times that I have walked into the [milking] parlor and said, ‘Man, it feels kind of weird in here,’” Delvin and Barbara Yoder’s oldest son, Lowell, said. “But, I think we’ve been busy enough, we’ve hardly had time to miss [the cows].”

Lowell watches over the farm’s latest venture into strawberries. The Yoder’s have roughly 2,000 strawberry plants in the ground this year, in what is poised to become a pick-your-own revenue stream for the farm.

“It’s becoming more and more challenging, I think, to be a small farm … be any kind of farm, really,” Delvin said. “You need to identify what you can do well, and the economic environment you’re in. You can’t just plan on doing it like your dad did it.”

Visit the farm on the Web at www.YodersFarm.com.

Julia Bradner and Maria Schwartz, whose husbands work together, moved to Lynchburg in 2008 and were disappointed that a seasonal sale didn’t exist in the area. Schwartz, who had enjoyed finding bargains at consignment sales in Charlotte, N.C., where she lived previously, began talking to her best friend, Bradner, about the idea.

In spring 2009, they held their first consignment sale with 40 consignors at Lynchburg First Church of the Nazarene (LFCN) on Wards Ferry Road. The church agreed to the sale because of its support of the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, which receives donations from Kidz Kraze. It continues to house Kidz Kraze, which has grown five-fold since its inaugural event two years ago.

For that first sale, they used handwritten sales tags and manually tallied every sale. They put up flyers and advertised by word of mouth.

“We just felt quickly plugged into the community,” Schwartz said. “We immediately had a circle of friends and just felt like, ‘Yeah, we can do this.’”

And they could. They were overwhelmed by the response. This year’s March sale included more than 230 consignors. They now can have up to 1,400 transactions in a single day.

“Sales usually take a lot longer to take off,” Schwartz said. “On one hand, I think Julia and I have worked very hard and tried to really honor the Lord with our business. But the other part is the goodness of God. … When I talk to other sale owners, this has grown exponentially, it’s really something special.”

While Kidz Kraze sales items have remained the same—gently used clothes (newborn to size 14), toys, books, DVDs, nursery furniture and maternity wear—the sales process has evolved. Kidz Kraze now uses a computerized inventory and checkout system. They have created processes for getting all the inventory in place and then back out the door in a single week. Their tracking software reports that consignors generally sell 70 percent of their inventory, even those who are “restocking consignors” whose goods don’t go on sale until mid-week.

In 2010, they began offering sponsorship opportunities. In 2011, Bradner and Schwartz increased their community outreach. Consignors could donate all unsold goods for an invitation-only shopping opportunity for women from the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, Lynchburg Foster and Adoptive Families, Salvation Army and a Legacy of Literacy. Kidz Kraze also encourages each shopper to bring a nonperishable food item for the LFCN Food Pantry.

“One thing that’s important to us is that Kidz Kraze gives back,” Bradner said. “It’s a small business to us, but it’s also bigger than that.”

Kidz Kraze splits its profits with its consignors: 65 percent of each sale goes to the consignors; 35 percent goes back to the business. A portion of the profits is then donated to the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center. The fall 2010 sale saw $1,000 raised for the Center just through the benefit sale night.

In March, Kidz Kraze also had its first-ever new mom sale night. Schwartz and Bradner got the idea from a network they joined of consignment sale owners across the country.

The success of Kidz Kraze has spread largely through word-of-mouth, along with social media.

“We loved the deals we found last fall,” Meridith De Avila Khan, a Kidz Kraze shopper, said. “Our favorite find was a pair of super cute red leather Mary Janes for our daughter. They were like-new Keds for only $5 or so—they retail for about $30. It’s nice to find quality items for our kids at decent prices—heaven knows they wear things out so quickly!”

Consignor Jennifer McCarron Toler said, “I love having a place to sell outgrown items so that I can make a decent profit to buy new things for my kids.”

Shopper Tamara Parker shared, “My husband and I are on the wait list to adopt an infant child, which is an expensive journey. It is so nice to find, gender-neutral clothes and infant items at an affordable price. Julia has been super sweet in her emails to me. I am thankful for all the hard work and dedication that goes into organizing this event.”

Bradner and Schwartz said the opportunity to connect with other local moms has been a lot of fun.

“That’s one of the things we love best,” Schwartz said. “Our consignors we’ve had since the first sale or two, they consign with us every time. We look forward to seeing them and hearing how they’re doing.”

Kidz Kraze has also brought Schartz and Bradner closer.

“It has been so fun to do with Maria,” Bradner said. “We complement each other so well. We like spending time together. And with four kids each, we are in same season of life.”

While the friends have seen tremendous success from the sales, they hope the business will continue to evolve.

“We keep dreaming,” Bradner said. “We thought about expanding to the Bedford area. Then we thought about a Christmas sale or a back-to-school sale. … We definitely get excited about doing this for the long haul.”