The Centerpiece Competition, one of the highlights of the annual Small Business Celebration, gets bigger every year. Tuesday’s sold-out event featured 28 entries—some whimsical, some humorous, and all showcasing the wealth of innovative thinkers in the Chamber’s membership.
Now in its seventh year, the competition allows members to exhibit their products and services. A few of this year’s notables included a bouquet of pastel chocolates shaped like ears (Lake Murray Hearing Associates); a fishbowl with colorful flowers, flip flops, and a fish (The Clearwater Company, which builds pools and spas); and a home and yard display with a dog and miniature family playing horseshoes (Green Earth Services, Inc., which specializes in yard design).
Newsome & Company, a CPA firm, took top honors with a hilarious reminder that April 15 is looming. Staff accountant Sarah Hooper affixed a haphazard collection of mini-bottles and cigarettes to an adding machine and a messy display of tax forms. The scrawled message at the top said it all: “Are income taxes bringing out your worst habits? Stop stressing and give us a call.”
Lexington Soil & Water Conservation earned second place with their Earth Burger. Administrative Assistant Christine Blum used Styrofoam, felt, beads, pipe cleaners, and a brown sock to fashion a sandwich representing what healthy water and soil provide—vegetables from a garden and grain to make bread and feed livestock. Featuring top and bottom “buns” painted to look like the top and bottom of the globe, the Earth Burger included simulated lettuce, tomato, cheese, and chicken and beef patties. “Everything we eat comes from the soil,” Blum said. “We’re trying to let people know about conservation.”
Creative Tile won third place with a wooden castle covered in colorful tile. Becca Bertok’s creation included the suggestion to “make your home your castle … tile accordingly.”
Children’s Learning Place won the People’s Choice award with a fanciful, upward-spiraling depiction of a child’s progress from infant to toddler to preschooler to kindergartener. It was designed and created by retired commercial artist Bob Rodriguez, brother of CLP co-owner Susie Florido.
Winners received plaques, and the centerpieces were given as door prizes. Bunnie Hagelocher, chairwoman of the judging committee, praised the originality and professionalism of the entries. “Judging gets a little more challenging every year.”
To view all of the centerpieces please visit our Facebook page.
