This week sees me in the upstate of South Carolina as I work my way down to the gift show in Atlanta this weekend. Yesterday I had an appointment with a small customer in Chester, SC and also went over to Lancaster to prospect some. Amazingly, Lancaster did not appear to have any gift stores or window coverings dealers. All I could find were strip centers consisting mainly of payday advance type companies, E-Z financing places, pawn shops and lots of insurance providers of all kinds along with fast food restaurants a plenty and of course, Wal Mart. Lancaster is decent size, but seemed very depressed. This would be easy to explain if you take into account the massive, empty textile mills everywhere, with weeds growing, buildings falling into ruin and all for sale. I saw two huge Springs Industries mills shuttered, a huge F. Schumacher mill for sale or lease and several other textile related places shuttered. It really hits home when you see these buildings vacant. I made my way back up to Greenville for the night. Today I prospected all over Greenville and had a good appointment with a potential for window treatments and several possible follow up presentations the next time I am in the area - many times the buyer or owner is not there when you need them to be. I also went over to Easley to see an inactive customer who had not purchased since 2005. Very nice store and I will try to meet the owner for a full presentation when I am in the area again in late April. Tonight I am in the Greenwood area making my way down towards Columbia and on over to the Aiken area. I will cover whatever I can before I head to Atlanta on Friday afternoon for the show.