Realty company, retailer win North Davidson chamber awards
Ashley Lay Real Estate in Arcadia was recently named the Northern Davidson County. Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year 2021. Pictured are Kevin and Ashley Lay. {Contributed photo}
North Davidson chamber awards growing real estate firm and new retailer.
A real estate company and an old-fashioned general store were recently recognized by the Northern Davidson County Chamber of Commerce for being outstanding businesses.
The annual small business awards were presented at a ceremony at Bull City Ciderworks held in conjunction with the Thomasville and Lexington area chambers of commerce and the Davidson-Davie Community College Small Business Center.
Ashley Lay Real Estate, located at 303 Fair Oaks Lane in Arcadia, was named Small Business of the Year 2021. The real estate firm is affiliated with Keller Williams Realty Elite in Winston-Salem
Kiser Country Mercantile, 6157 Old Highway 52 in Welcome, was named Emerging Entrepreneur.
Randy Turner, president of the chamber, said Ashley Lay Real Estate won the award for its growth and strong business performance.
“They also have a very strong focus on community engagement,” he said, noting the staff has raised funds and volunteered on site with the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Davidson County.
Ashley Lay, CEO of the real estate firm, said becoming a servant leader has been a catalyst for her firm’s growth. That management philosophy is built on the belief that the most effective leaders strive to serve others, including customers, employees and the community to which they belong.
Lay aims to help her team members succeed by teaching them how to educate customers. Known as a new buyer consultation in real estate lingo, she said her agents call it a strategy session.
“You have to have a strategy in this market,” Lay said, noting the industry has been in a seller’s market for several years. “Even if you’ve bought a house before, this is a very different market. You have to educate people on what offers will win and how much money they need.”
A top-selling group in the county, Lay’s team works to build lasting relationships by offering customers gold star service.
Leveraging social media marketing, Lay said her firm has also promoted other small businesses in the North Davidson community by posting live videos on the company’s Facebook page with business owners explaining their business and products. That began when she agreed to volunteer with the chamber organization.
The real estate firm began a major team expansion three years ago and is something of a family affair. Kevin Lay, Ashley’s husband, joined the firm after a long career in textile management. Their son, Andrew Lay, also came on board as a buyer’s agent on the team. Stephanie Nifong, Ashley’s first cousin’s wife, joined as director of lead generation.
With the expansion of the team, Lay needed a larger building so they held a grand opening of their new headquarters in July with food, entertainment and vendors that was attended by a few hundred people.
“I truly believe we are having an impact on the lives of people in our community,” she opined.
Turner explained Kiser Country Mercantile, owned by Jordan and Jessica Kiser, opened in October 2020, during the pandemic. “They have really reinvigorated that corner in Welcome and become a very productive retail center,” he said, adding the unique shop brings people to Welcome from outside the community. “They are up and coming business leaders. They’re also very engaged with their community.”
Kiser Country Mercantile specializes in custom hand-painted wooden signs using a variety of woods and materials. From cabinet doors, fence pickets, barn wood and old siding, they create signs in styles ranging from primitive and country to vintage and modern farmhouse.
Jordan and Jessica Kiser were recently named Emerging Entrepreneurs by the North Davidson Chamber of Commerce. Their son, Greyson, “is our favorite employee." {Contributed photo}
The Kisers commenced making custom signs in 2012, selling them at festivals and craft shows and in a few small retail locations in the area, but they had been planning on their own retail store for years.
‘It’s been a long process but God provided for us in the middle of a pandemic,” Jessica said.
In addition to the signs, the store carries a wide variety of items from a little more than 25 vendors from across the state. There’s home décor ranging from furniture to flowers and wreaths. Gift items include jewelry, T-shirts, men’s caps, candles, goat milk soap and dog collars and treats. Food items include old-fashioned candy, pickles, pimento cheese and Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies. “We have something for everybody!”
Jessica and her husband enjoy visiting old general stores and they wanted to create that atmosphere in their business. “It makes you feel welcome and at home and our vendors fit that style, too.”
The store is currently open on Thursdays through Saturdays but will likely add Wednesday hours when the Kisers open a coffee shop within the store.
