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Author: Cherith Andes

COVID Coping: The Power of One Wave

COVID Coping: The Power of One Wave

April 23, 2020January 31, 2023 Cherith AndesBlog, In Our Community, The Clairemont Teamcommunication, connection, social connection

A personal essay

In times of challenge or crisis, we sometimes find ourselves concentrating on the small things, the tiny non-issues that aren’t essential for basic survival. Rather than fear the crash of the economy, we worry what we’ll do now that our hair salon is closed, or we mourn the loss of March Madness. It’s quite natural — a way to cope with the weight of a hefty situation that otherwise threatens to engulf us. While we know that this involuntary practice doesn’t diminish the seriousness of a situation or negate the critical actions we must take, it somehow provides comfort. I get it. In the middle of chaos, we dial things down into manageable bits that we can understand and process.

My secret, small non-worry? The gym. This regular outlet provided structure and a healthy cornerstone in my daily routine.  Like my other health-nuttish-friends, when my gym closed, I rushed to order resistance bands and even sprung for a set of adjustable dumbbells. I then commenced hopping around my small living room, tangled in bands and heaving questionably-constructed weights, in an effort to boost my heart rate. Sadly, I think the greatest value so far has been free entertainment for my roommate.

So I turned to the next option on my exercise log — running outdoors. And after lacing up my shoes, I found an unexpected benefit to my runs beyond cardio.

I found people. People … everywhere. Moms pushing strollers. Dads taking sons on bike rides. Retired neighbors strolling and chatting. Couples refreshing their front yard mulch beds. I found two brothers doing a body-weight HIIT workout in a park and an elderly man walking his overly excited Pomeranian. Rain or shine, my neighbors came out in droves, spurred no doubt by the same cabin fever that irked me. And every time I passed someone, we would meet eyes, nod and wave — all within a safe distance, of course.

Those waves were so much more than requisite social greetings. They morphed into shared moments of meaning and engagement. An acknowledgment that “I don’t know you, but I see you, and I know you’re feeling the same concern and weight I am.” A silent encouragement, a touchpoint of hope forged through shared connection. We knew why we were all outside instead of at the gym, on the couch or wherever else our normal routines would have slotted us. And in those moments, we somehow gleaned great comfort simply knowing that we were not alone.

It’s just a simple wave. But it’s a meaningful one. A knowing one. One that binds us together in a time where connection is more vital than ever. So next time you’re out, take a moment to lift your eyes, smile and nod in your neighbor’s direction. Small moments like these will keep us connected, keep us encouraged, keep us strong.

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Wendell Falls Hosts Hero Home

Wendell Falls Hosts Hero Home

April 7, 2020January 31, 2023 Cherith AndesBlog, Clairemont Client News, Real Estate PRHero Home, Operation Coming Home, real estate marketing, real estate PR, wendell falls

We love when good things come together for a great cause. And now more than ever, we want to celebrate the “bright spot” stories in our community.

Clairemont client Wendell Falls, the Triangle’s largest master-planned community, is teaming up with acclaimed builder Garman Homes on a touching project known as the “Hero Home.”

The Hero Home

Sgt. 1st Class Elis A. Barreto Ortiz sacrificed his life in service of our country in September of 2019, leaving behind his wife — Legna — and two sons. To honor his life and legacy, Garman Homes will be building his wife and children a brand new home on a lot donated by Wendell Falls. The Hero Home is created in partnership with Home Builders Association of Raleigh – Wake County and Operation Coming Home.

This Hero Home carries an additional story of a trifecta of women who are making a difference in the Triangle. Garman Homes, a woman-led and owned builder, is joining hands with Newland, the developer led locally by Tanya Matzen, to build a home for Legna, a single mother.

Operation Coming Home

Since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF – Iraq) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF – Afghanistan), more than 35,000 men and women have been wounded in combat, and approximately half were so severely wounded they were not returned to duty. Operation Coming Home joins hands with willing partners like the HBA of Wake County, Garman Homes and Wendells Falls to provide some of these soldiers’ most basic needs — a safe home for them and their families.

Garman Homes and Wendell Falls presented the Ortiz family with this exciting announcement at a Carolina Hurricanes’ hockey game earlier this year. Wendell Falls plans to welcome the Ortiz family to its new home in October or November 2020.

Thank you to client Wendell Falls and partner Garman Homes for making a difference in our community.

Have a “bright spot stories” we can celebrate? Share on Facebook!

Photos courtesy of Summit Exposure.

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Working from Home: Clairemont’s Guide

Working from Home: Clairemont’s Guide

April 3, 2020January 31, 2023 Cherith AndesBlog, Professional Development, Public Relationshow to work from home, productivity tips, profesional development, working from home

Well, friends, like you, we’re now firmly ensconced at home, eagerly continuing to serve our wonderful clients.

With kids, families and pets now in the mix, working from home has been quite the adventure, wouldn’t you say? Since we know that most of you are slinging up your own home offices, we curated a list of our favorite tips to ensure a productive workday.

Set a Schedule.

No surprise here, but structure will serve as one of your biggest secrets for home-office success, especially if you’re also juggling homeschooling or other responsibilities. Avoid what some dub the “work creep” where your personal and professional time becomes enmeshed. (Anyone else have a laptop open at 8 p.m. while binge watching Tiger King?) Struggling with keeping a set schedule? Try using free time tracking tools, such as Clockify or Toggl.

Clairemont Tip: Tracy starts each day with a walk or run to get her mind and body energized for the workday.

Spruce Up Your Space.

In addition to designating your official work spot, take a few minutes to equip it with the same supplies you would have in your office (staplers, headphones, notepads, cookie jar — whatever you need!). Note, too, that atmosphere influences mood; so include a comfy chair for good posture, a nearby window for natural light, fresh flowers to add color, music for ambience (if you’re a tunes kind of guy or gal). Inc.com suggests musical genres that maximize productivity. See how our Clairemont team outfitted its spaces below! 

Set Expectations.

… for both your family and for yourself. Designate your official work hours as well as times you will take breaks to address needs around the house. (If possible, because we know that sometimes Fido just won’t wait for his bathroom break.) Schedule breaks, and allow yourself to take them in their entireties, since research shows that breaks can boost productivity and creativity levels. I, for one, take a quick walk, phone a friend, throw in a load of laundry (not all that exciting, I know. But a girl has to have clean towels at some point).

Clairemont Tip: As part of her schedule, Kelli starts each day with a journal entry to reflect, create a positive mindset and set tasks for the day.

Maximize Your “Sweet Spot.”

Track your most productive periods in the day, and schedule work around those time slots. I’ve found that the Rule of Threes provides value in my work schedule: I set the top three goals that must be completed each week, each day and each section of the day (morning, afternoon, etc.). While my to-do list is certainly longer than three items, those top priorities are non-negotiables that drive productivity. Others find value in free project management software to maximize time and manage work load.

Be Present and Engaged.

Hellooooo, multitaskers! While that skill can come into good use, now is a time more than ever to invest fully in each moment. Conference calls and video chats be your main — and only — form of communication with clients, partners and colleagues who are vital to your business. Show up. Prepare. Listen. Be fully present, because these moments and communication are more important than ever.

Buddy Up.

Stay connected with your team with regular group calls and one-on-one check ins. Try Skype, Webex, FaceTime, Google Hangouts — whatever works well for the group. Clairemont uses Zoom like a champ these days. And for any fellow extroverts out there, I’ve found it helpful to pick a virtual pal for the day — someone who doesn’t mind an ongoing text chat or phone call breaks.

Clairemont Tip: Now more than ever connection is vital. Dana stays in touch with her neighbors in a creative way; each morning, she puts new motivational quotes in a sign in her yard for those passing by.

Share pics of your work space with us on Facebook!

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Why Instagram’s “Swipe Up” Works

Why Instagram’s “Swipe Up” Works

February 21, 2020January 31, 2023 Cherith AndesBlog, Public Relations, Social Media + Influencer EngagementInstagram, instagram marketing, instagram swipe up, online sales, social media marketing

Confession time. We at Clairemont Communications aren’t immune. We have all been responsive to well-placed marketing ads — not the least of which are Instagram’s Story ads.

Story ads wield serious marketing clout. According to VidMob, 60 percent of millennials watch Stories, and one in four millennials and Gen Z-ers consult Stories for products to buy. Social Media Today noted that, “Facebook also found that Stories placement lead to a 35 percent increase in brand outcomes.”

That’s a noteworthy sales heft.

So what makes Instagram Story ads so effective?

  • Hyper-Targeting: Much like Facebook ads, Instagram Story ads allow you to choose objectives based on where your targeted customer falls in the sales funnel. (Just trying to make a first impression? Seeking to close the deal with a warm customer?) You are able to customize your audience based on demographic, psychographic and behaviors, and of course, maximize the Facebook pixel to create effective look-alike audiences.
  • Re-Targeting: Similarly to a well-placed Facebook ad strategy, Instagram Story ads can leverage your website traffic and target buyers who were browsing your products … but just didn’t purchase. It has worked. Yours truly may or may not have bought a sweatshirt that kept magically popping up in her Instagram Story ad sequence.
  • Visual Appeal: The marketing adage states that “diners eat with their eyes first.” The same applies to almost any product. Instagram’s Story ad platform allows for a highly visual medium designed to tout your product (and a strong call to action).
  • Ease: This one is the clincher. Literally, all one must do is swipe up to connect to the product page. At that point, add the item to your cart, punch in a credit card number (or approve Apple Pay) and mailing address, and wait for your purchase to arrive. No typing in URLs. No Google searches. Just suh-wipe up.

To prove our point, here are a few guilty pleasures that each of our team members recently purchased on an impulse via Instagram Story ads.

KELLI

“I bought this ice roller when Ashley Streicher (@streicherhair) posted a video of her rolling her face after a night out in an effort to de-puff and look fresh. This spoke to me. I keep it in the freezer and use most mornings – whether or not I’ve had that extra glass of wine the previous night!”

TRACY 

“I purchased this via a blogger on Instagram just hours after my favorite coffee mug shattered on the floor. Right place at the right time.”

CHERITH“Soooo … I often begin my workday from the bed after the alarm, checking emails and social media accounts. I have a big love for Friends, and when this classic joke showed up on my Instagram feed (How did they know!?), I just did the swipe thing before I was even fully awake.”

TAYLOR

“My recent impulse buy was this sweatshirt. I purchased it because everything on the website was 50 percent off, and the woman running the company is suspending the store until June.” (SCORE!)

Looking to learn how social media marketing can work for you?

Drop us a line!

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Briar Chapel Hits the News

Briar Chapel Hits the News

December 20, 2019January 31, 2023 Cherith AndesBlog, Clairemont Client News, Real Estate PRBlue Heron Asset Management, Briar Chapel, real estate marketing, real estate PR

Real estate news hit the Triangle — and all about Briar Chapel, an amazing Clairemont client. Briar Chapel, one of the largest and best-selling master-planned communities in the Triangle, recently unveiled the newest addition to its growing, vibrant community. Blue Heron Asset Management will be launching gorgeous, high-end apartments at Briar Chapel, complete with an amenity center and Pinterest-worthy interiors. In fact, this will be one of the first major apartment complexes of this type on 15-501!

Aided by our pitch efforts, the Triangle Business Journal shared the full scoop below!

Raleigh developer plots apartments for Briar Chapel 

A Raleigh real estate investment development firm has plans for an apartment complex in one of the region’s fast-growing communities.

Blue Heron Asset Management has announced it will build a 200-unit apartment community in Briar Chapel, a 900-acre master planned development south of Chapel Hill and led by Newland.

The apartments will be spread across three buildings, each four or five stories. The complex will have a centralized amenities building. 

“Blue Heron is thrilled to be building at Briar Chapel, where we’ll be bringing the best-in-class finishes and amenities common in urban apartment projects to a more laid-back, gracious and community-centered setting,” says Kevin Wade, project manager for Blue Heron. “Residents will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the Piedmont while maintaining a close proximity to the jobs and attractions in Chapel Hill, Durham, RTP and other hubs of activity in the Triangle.”

Apartments will range in size from 625 to 1,600 square feet — the company has yet to determine rental rates. Groundbreaking is slated for nearly next year, though the specifics of the timeline are still being worked out, as is the total cost of the project. 

Apartments will include features often found in single-family homes, such as built-in bookshelves, separate dining areas and kitchen bars, according to a release. Amenities at the apartments will include a main club building, fitness area, demonstration kitchen, library, a community pool and outdoor space.

Coffee bars, lounges, and pop-up workstations will be included in the lobbies of all three apartment buildings.

JLL commercial real estate brokered the project. 

Wade says as the popularity of mixed-use master-planned communities grows in the Triangle, so has interest from developers such as Blue Heron.

“It kind of proves out the attraction for tenants. People want to live in these communities and that’s attractive for us,” he says. “From a feasibility standpoint, Newland has laid an enormous amount of groundwork.”

Putting the project in Briar Chapel meant Blue Heron not only had the entitlements it needed to build the project, but the necessary infrastructure had already been put in place by Newland. 

“Few other apartment complexes in Chatham County have the benefit of a site with existing entitlements and infrastructure,” says Mike Scisciani, vice president of operations for Newland. “Briar Chapel offers both, which enables Blue Heron to create a large, urban multi-family complex not normally found in this area.”

Briar Chapel is currently entitled for up to 2,500 homes, with 1,900 already built, along with a senior apartment complex and assisted living/skilled nursing facility by Liberty Healthcare Management.

The development also features 500,000 square feet of commercial space, which includes a Central Carolina Community college campus and Veranda, Briar Chapel’s current commercial area. That area opened three years ago and features 42,500 square feet of dining and retail space, as well as health care, legal offices and educational institutions.  

Scisciani says another 400 residential lots are in the works, and Newland expects construction to continue for several more years.

Have some big news around the corner? We can help!

Drop Us a Line
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Have you heard about Meta’s newest social media Have you heard about Meta’s newest social media platform? It’s called Threads, and it’s being referred to as “the new Twitter.” Read everything you need to know about Threads in our latest blog post - link in bio!
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