There's a Marine veteran in Greenback who's not
going to take it anymore — not without a fight.
Tim Adams is battling back as an entrepreneur. On Friday and
Saturday he will be expanding to open the Greenback Flea
Farmer's Market at his established business, East Tennessee
Electropolishing, 100 Tarwater Road, Greenback.
"It's a beautiful day. The leaves are starting to come back
out," he said after stepping outside his shop to show where
vendor booths will be set up, vehicles will be parked and
four-by-four UTVs will be giving off-road demonstration rides.
"It's time to fight back. There's too much bad news. We've got
to shake this thing," Adams said.
He was talking about the tough economy, and he's felt it
firsthand. His company provides aluminum-finishing services for
the boating industry, and that business is leaking.
"I graduated Everett (High School) in 1976, left home, got back
about four year ago, and bought a fab (fabrication) shop. That
didn't make it, so I started this electropolishing business, and
it was going great," Adams said.
Key word: was.
"Back about a year ago, I had so much work I couldn't get it all
done. Usually our busy season is in the winter months, and it
just didn't come, so we went from feast to famine. Since
October, it's been a bad decline."
Even with plenty of people squeezed for money, Adams figured
there had to be opportunity.
"You've got two types of people. People who want to make money,
and people who want to save money in this economy. It's a
perfect time, I believe, for flea markets. The next two or three
years, I think, they're going to be going well."
Adams has about 10 acres and 7,000 square feet of covered
commercial storage space not being used at his current business.
He listened to friends and neighbors talking about the need to
sell their new and used goods to free up assets and cash.
So he decided to start the Greenback Flea Farmer's Market to
help keep his business going and also "help those in Loudon,
Blount and Monroe counties to turn their used goods and
merchandise into cash."
In the process, he is offering free space at the new market to
charitable groups and nonprofits in the community.
"With the economy the way it is, I really want to put emphasis
on that part of it -- folks that are out there looking to have a
spot. We aren't charging them anything. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts,
Young Life, any organization like that, that wants to come out
here and set up a booth."
To add fun for kids, there will be face-painting and helium
balloons, plus food and drinks. Seven Day Believer, a gospel
group from Maryville, will perform starting at noon Saturday.
Customers are asked to bring lawn chairs to enjoy the outdoor
concert.
"We're trying to give something back to the community. We want
it to be a good experience."