Now is the time of the year to start planning that special outdoor living project. Southern Patio & Screen specializes in building sunrooms, screen rooms, patio covers, pool enclosures, pool fences, carports, wood decks, handrails, and gazebos.
Chris Kendrick, owner of the business, says, “Approximately 50% of the homes in the Baldwin County area have screened rooms or some kind of aluminum outdoor structure.” Spring and early summer are the most popular times for the three biggest projects of the year, which are screen enclosures, screen porches, and screen rooms.
Southern Patio & Screen is locally owned by Chris Kendrick in Summerdale. He and his late father, Larry Kendrick, started the business as a father/son team. The business has been in existence for eight years. Between Chris and his father, they had 27 years of experience in specializing in aluminum construction.
Depending on what the job entails, Kendrick says, “It generally takes about 3 days to get the job done." He added, “We have a lifetime guarantee on our workmanship.”
Their company is known for taking care of their workers. Kendrick said, “We do not have a high turnover of employees like some construction companies. One of our guys has been with us for 20 years.”
Kendrick was proud of the fact that they have the largest indoor/outdoor showroom on the Gulf Coast. “We love it when people stop and visit our showroom.”
He said, “When Hurricane Sally came through, we only lost two structures out of the 2800 structures they had built, and that was because of trees and debris damage.”
In this line of business, you want to be very cautious of who you hire as your contractor. Kendrick said, “Something to remember is any project over $10,000, you need to have a licensed contractor. You want to be covered in case anything goes wrong.” Kendrick said that there are too many bad situations where the structures were not built right, and there were always problems. “We call that "Chuck in a truck,” he said. “The only work or structure guarantee that you get is a “taillight guarantee.” When you no longer can see the taillight of the truck, your guarantee is gone.”
Southern Patio & Screen is highly recommended by many suppliers (who sell to hundreds of builders). Kendrick said, “We use only premium quality materials and build every job like it was attached to our own home.” They have financing available at 12 months interest-free.
Their service area includes a wide range of cities within Baldwin County, as well as outside of Baldwin County. Visit their website at southernpatioandscreen.com
“I find nutrition fascinating,” says Justina Ralston, owner and operator of GNC in the Pelican Place at Craft Farms in Gulf Shores. “It’s like working a puzzle,” she says. “I know medications are important, but alternative solutions can be a tool that can help fill in those nutritional gaps in your healthy well-being.”
Justina Ralston started as a sales associate with GNC in 2007 and worked her way up into management. Eventually, Ralston wanted her own store. She took over the ownership of the Gulf Shores location six years ago, in April of 2018.
Ralston shares her story of how she lost weight a few years ago. “I was collecting fat around the mid-section. I learned about macronutrients, which are the nutrients that your body needs in large amounts. They include fat, carbohydrates, and protein.” Macronutrients are the nutrients that give you energy and are often called “macros.” Ralston decided to explore macronutrients and the effects of macro management for her body type. She adjusted her intake of carbs, fats, and proteins.
Along with using the tools of vitamins and minerals that GNC has to offer, she was able to reap the benefits and quickly achieved her weight loss goal. Ralston said, “I’ve learned a lot about nutrition from owning my own store. It makes me appreciate what I have to offer to my customers. She said that people are becoming more aware of macro management and the role that vitamins and minerals play to maximize performance and to feel better. She loves it when her customers come into the store and tell her about the GNC products that are working for them.
During the depression years in 1935, many people were plagued with sicknesses, and diseases were running rampant. David Shakarian was concerned and dared to have a dream. He opened a small health food store in Pittsburgh, PA. He specialized in healthy foods like honey and whole grains. He introduced to Americans the benefits of a new product called yogurt. From there, his small business flourished into many stores known as GNC and is now the leading health food chain that has revolutionized the health food industry.
At Ralston’s store, she has more than just vitamins and minerals. She carries protein and collagen powders, a variety of herbs and superfoods, and products that aid digestion, skin care, weight control, and more.
She offers samplings of popular products for customers who want to taste them before they buy. She also offers a monthly raffle that her customers can enter to win $50 store credit. The monthly entries will then be combined, and at the end of the year, there will be a drawing for a $200 store credit.
Although we all know the importance of exercise to go along with our healthy lifestyle, Ralston said that if you need a recommendation for a trainer, “We have connections with local trainers. We have all the tools that you need to start your new year right.”
3800 Gulf Shores Pkwy
251-948-3850
Hours: 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Sunday 12 p.m. - 6:00 p.m
Website: gnc.com
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