News
Lowcountry mayors meet for second annual Mayor’s Forum
By Live 5 Web StaffPublished: Oct. 20, 2026 at 9:53 PM EDT CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — The mayors of Charleston, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant are working together to help the Lowcountry as a whole. The Mayor’s Forum returned for a second year Tuesday morning. The event aims to connect elected leaders with local community and business leaders. This year, leaders came together to talk about the priorities and initiatives that benefit local businesses. “The Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce very
Hardcourt royalty: Debbie Antonelli turns free throws into fundraising for Special Olympics
Moultrie News | Oct. 17, 2026 For Debbie Antonelli, basketball has always been more than a game. It has shaped her career, opened doors throughout her life and, through an idea inspired by her son, become a way to help athletes with intellectual disabilities find opportunities of their own. Antonelli, an ESPN and CBS college basketball analyst and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, spoke about her career, her family and her commitment to Special Olympics during the Oct. 15 Mount
MP Chamber welcomes Elliot Seay
Moultrie News | October 5, 2026 The Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce (MPCC) recently announced the hiring of Elliot J. Seay as its new Membership and Engagement Manager. In this role, Seay will lead efforts to foster member relations, strengthen community engagement and drive strategic growth for the regional business community. A South Carolina native who now resides in Mount Pleasant, Seay brings a diverse background rooted in business management, marketing and client services. He holds a degree in
Lights, camera — EXPO: MP Chamber networking event takes center stage
Moultrie News | September 17, 2026 The Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce 16th Annual Business & Community EXPO saw representatives from 90-plus companies gather on Sept. 17 in the Omar Shrine Center to answer questions, as well as offer jobs. The Moultrie News spoke with several of the vendors during the highly-anticipated networking extravaganza. The B12 Store Mount Pleasant B12 Store franchise owner Brian Bednar was on hand to preach on the wonders of peptides available in his Wando Crossing site,
Chamber Expo is back, Sept. 17
Moultrie News September 1, 2026 Mount Pleasant’s largest networking event is back, bigger than ever and completely packed out. Presented by Crews Subaru, the 16th Annual Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce (MPCC) Business & Community EXPO takes over the Omar Shrine Convention Center at Patriots Point on Sept. 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For the second straight year, demand from the local business community has shattered records, selling out all exhibitor booths well ahead of the event. While the show
Officers rewarded for taking swift action
Moultrie News | August 20, 2026 A concerted effort by members of the Mount Pleasant Police Department and Mount Pleasant Fire Department to save the life of a sinking driver on May 30 was recently recognized by the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce. During the Chamber's Aug. 20 luncheon, the eight individuals were presented with a First Responder of the Month Award, with MPPD Lt. Don Calabrese accepting the the handsome crystal trophy. Calabrese recounted both departments responding to the call of a
A Mount Pleasant gem: Chamber guest touts wonders of Boone Hall
Moultrie News | August 23, 2026 Business owners and community members were recently treated to a tutorial of Mount Pleasant's iconic 738-acre centerpiece of culture and local history, known as Boone Hall Plantation. On hand to fill in attendees of its wonders was Boone Hall GM Jim Westerhold during the Aug. 20 Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, as the keynote speaker kicked off the event with a series of trivia questions. The interactive presentation saw teams of individuals answer a number
All aboard: MP Chamber welcomes guests at 7th annual Know Your Lawmaker
Attendees at the Aug. 12 Know Your Lawmaker event set a couse of adventure on the USS Yorktown, as local residents and members of the business community rubbed shoulders with local elected officials. Hosted by the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, this annual gathering serves as an opportunity for citizens to approach their representing lawmakers with questions about crime, the environment, taxes and zoning matters, among other topics. Participating sponsors included Renewal by Anderson, Mount Pleasant
Email Newsletters Still Win: A Growth Guide for Mount Pleasant Business Owners
Email is the most cost-effective marketing channel most small business owners aren't fully using. Email delivers roughly $36 per dollar invested, with 81% of small businesses relying on email as their primary customer acquisition channel. In a community like Mount Pleasant — where referrals travel across the Cooper and customers span the full greater Charleston metro — a well-crafted newsletter keeps you top of mind in a way that social posts rarely sustain.Why Email Outperforms Social Media for Customer
The File Chaos Costing Mount Pleasant Businesses 19 Work Days a Year
Organizing your digital marketing assets into a structured, findable system cuts wasted time, prevents duplicate work, and keeps your campaigns consistent across every channel. For most small businesses, the alternative — files scattered across email threads, personal hard drives, and multiple shared folders — carries a steeper cost than it appears. Marketers waste approximately 7 hours each week on duplicated work processes — the equivalent of 19 lost working days each year. For a Mount Pleasant
HCA Healthcare Long Point ER Scheduled To Open June 2026
HCA Healthcare Long Point ER Scheduled To Open June 2026Floor Signing Event Marks Construction MilestoneCHARLESTON, SC, March 6, 2026 – Members of the Mount Pleasant Town Council and the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce joined executives, physicians and nurses from HCA Healthcare Trident Hospital for a special floor signing event at HCA Healthcare Long Point ER, which is scheduled to open June 2026. The freestanding ER is located next to the Chick-fil-A and across the street from Belle Hall Shopping
When Gut Instinct Isn't Enough: Scaling Market Research for Mount Pleasant Businesses
Scaling your market research means building a repeatable system for gathering and analyzing customer, competitor, and market data — one that grows with your business rather than stalling after launch. Most established business owners in Mount Pleasant's diverse economy already know their customers intuitively. The problem is that intuition misses the slow shifts — in buyer priorities, competitive dynamics, and economic conditions — before they become expensive surprises. According to a 2025 survey, not
From Stage Fright to Sales Growth: Public Speaking for Mount Pleasant Entrepreneurs
Small business owners in the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce share a common challenge: how to stand out in a crowded market while building trust quickly. Public speaking is one of the most effective ways to do both. Whether you're presenting at a chamber luncheon, pitching to investors, or leading a workshop, your ability to communicate clearly and confidently can directly influence revenue, referrals, and reputation. In brief: Strong speaking builds credibility faster than ads. Clear messaging
High hopes in 2026
The Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Dec. 17 Holiday Luncheon at Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Harbor was an opportunity to look back and look ahead for members of the local business community. In addition to presenting new MPCC President Ben Nesvold, a newly configured Board of Directors and the MPPC Member of the Year, the Chamber also provided entertainment for attendees in the form of the Wando Jazz Bands.
YPGs contribute on habitat site
Moultrie News November 20, 2025Charleston Habitat for Humanity (CHFH) recently welcomed the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group — led by Josh Kramer of Private I Print and composed of local businesses committed to strengthening their community — for a Nov. 15 Team Build. The group made significant progress in preparing the site of CHFH’s next affordable neighborhood. The Young Professionals dedicated the day to the careful demolition of an aging structure on the property. Their
Shop Where You Live
The Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce (MPCC) and the Town of Mount Pleasant are excited to announce the return of the "Shop Where You Live" campaign, encouraging residents to support local businesses during the holiday shopping season. Kicking off on November 1, this year marks the fifth annual campaign and will run through December 31, 2025. Free for Mount Pleasant businesses to participate and free for the public to enter weekly giveaways. Watch video here.
New Chrysler, Dodge dealership debuts in MP
Moultrie News Nov. 3, 2025 Mount Pleasant Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram proudly celebrated its official Oct. 21 grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, marking a new chapter in automotive service, transparency and community partnership in the Lowcountry. The event, hosted in collaboration with the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, welcomed local business leaders, customers, friends, family and members of the community for an afternoon of celebration, facility tours, music and hospitality. Representatives
New Business? Mistakes Every First-Time Owner Should Dodge
Starting a small business is an exciting step — but it’s also easy to stumble. Many new owners underestimate the complexity of running a business, which can lead to preventable setbacks. Below, we’ll cover the most common mistakes, how to sidestep them, and where to find reliable resources to keep your venture on track. 1. Failing to Separate Personal and Business Finances Mixing personal and business expenses makes tax time a nightmare and can put your personal assets at risk. Open a dedicated
Lean Marketing: Building a Cost-Smart Strategy That Works
Every business wants to be heard, but not every business can afford to shout. The good news? You don’t need to. A well-structured marketing plan built on smart, cost-efficient strategies can deliver powerful results without draining your resources. Instead of pouring money into splashy campaigns, the real edge comes from thoughtful positioning, understanding your audience deeply, and squeezing more value out of every tactic deployed. While bigger players throw dollars at visibility, smaller and smarter
Open Books and Open Doors: The Trust Playbook for Small Businesses
When someone decides to support a small business, it's often more than a transaction—it's a vote for something personal. In an era of digital noise, global brands, and endless options, the decision to shop small is rooted in a search for honesty, connection, and community. Yet, trust isn’t automatic. It’s built, layer by layer, through how a business communicates, how it reacts when things go wrong, and how it makes people feel—consistently. For small businesses trying to grow without losing their soul,
The Outsider Advantage: How to Find the Right Experts to Elevate Your Sales and Marketing
Hiring the right external professionals to support your sales and marketing efforts is both an art and a science. You know your business better than anyone, but sometimes, taking it to the next level requires fresh perspectives and specialized expertise. Maybe your internal team is stretched thin, or you need a level of strategic insight that no one in-house currently offers. The challenge isn’t just finding skilled professionals—it’s finding the right ones. With a sea of consultants, agencies, and
Take Your Client Presentations to the Next Level with These Tips
Crafting presentations that captivate and persuade is a vital skill in today’s competitive business landscape. The ability to convey your message with clarity and impact can set you apart, ensuring your ideas resonate with clients and stakeholders. By adopting a strategic approach, you can transform your presentations into powerful tools for communication and influence. This involves not only the technical aspects of presentation design but also understanding the nuances of audience engagement and
Start Growing Your Side Hustle Into a Sustainable Full-Time Career
Turning your side hustle into a thriving full-time business is an exciting journey, brimming with both opportunities and challenges. Strategic use of the right tools and resources can help make the transition smoother and more effective. Setting clear goals and identifying key areas for growth are crucial steps in building a strong foundation. Staying adaptable and proactive will allow you to overcome obstacles and capitalize on emerging opportunities. With the right approach, your side hustle can become












