The “Overnight Success” 20 Years in the Making

A retired professional athlete, long-time entrepreneur, and business owner, James “Boo” Jackson is an inventive culinary creator that can now add food truck operator to his long list of accomplishments. This family business that James and his mom, Kim, run together grew out of James’ original product K-Town Krack seasonings. James’ enthusiasm is contagious, so Everything Knoxville was eager to learn more about how their business has grown over the years, his successes along the way, and his most recent achievements.

EK: Tell us about the beginnings and background of your business.

James: I’ve always had a passion for cooking. As a young kid, I would sell hotdogs, hamburgers, and chicken in my neighborhood in Pittsburgh. When I got to college at Eastern Michigan University, I sold food made with my signature seasoning out of my dorm room to make some extra pocket change. Everyone loved the taste and often asked me for my seasoning recipe. After college in 2010, my father had a job relocation to Knoxville. I joined him here and opened up Studio X, a club and restaurant near UT campus. As part of my menu, I incorporated chicken wings seasoned with my special blend that quickly became a customer favorite. I’ve been told from thousands of people that these wings are the best they ever tasted!

EK: Many restaurants were not able to weather the recent pandemic. How did yours carry on?  

James: I took the restaurant slow down as an opportunity to bottle up my special blend – a long-time dream – with the hopes of sharing this seasoning experience throughout Tennessee and surroundings areas. To be able to retain and pay my restaurant employees, they helped with the spice mixing, bottling, adding labels, and shipping. 

At first, I sold predominantly online and through personal deliveries. It was an instant hit, and I had my first store placements in just a short few months at Oak Ridge Pharmacy and Gam’s Barbershop. I then got a great opportunity to have my products sold in local Elder’s Ace Hardware stores. The first day out on shelves, K-Town Krack sold out! This led to landing more stores in their chain and picking up a Publix deal shortly thereafter.

EK: Why do you think K-Town Krack seasoning has taken off like it has?

James: First, my friends and family have been such a good support. And with all the added local support, K-Town Krack has taken off faster than expected, and I am so grateful and thankful for that.

Secondly, because of its unique flavor and honest ingredients, I believe our brand has a tremendous upside in today’s market.

I’m just proud that I stuck with an idea I created out of my college dorm room and never gave up on myself. I am a strong believer in putting your faith in God and counting your blessings every single day. The work you put in will be evident in your ending results.

EK: How has having your mom as a business partner worked to your advantage?

James: My mother has a part in everything I do – helping me to become the best businessman possible. She has my best interest at heart but also isn’t afraid to speak her mind! She helps with a lot of stuff behind the scenes. She knows how to be a mother when it’s time to be a mom, and she knows how to be a business partner when it’s about the business. I have the best of both worlds and am so grateful for that.

We have similar goals of creating a culture of inclusiveness and belonging where all are welcome. We embrace change and innovation and are always looking for new ways to grow our organization and ourselves. We continue to  hold ourselves accountable at every step.

In the end, our customers are at the heart of every decision we make. We strive to exceed their expectations at every turn and create a culture of giving.

EK: What is next for you and your growing business? 

James: We will be rolling out some new seasoning flavors to accompany the four we already have out: Original, Hot, Ranch, and Lemon Pepper.

I am also in the process of launching my food truck concept called Chick-N-Sack. We will serve our signature wings and waffles along with other specialty foods using all flavors of K-Town Krack. Each truck will have a mobile app that can be downloaded to locate and place an order right on your smartphone.

EK: How can interested customers learn more about K-Town Krack, and where they can get your signature wings?

James: K-Town Krack seasoning spices are available at all Elder’s Ace Hardware and Publix locations throughout Tennessee, as well as Oak Ridge Pharmacy, Chicken City, and online at www.KTownKrack.com. 

On Instagram and Facebook (Meta) look for us @ktownkrack and @chicknsack. Our seasoning spice website is www.KTownKrack.com, and go to www.ChickNSack.net to book the food truck for private events.

EK: Is there anything else you want our Everything Knoxville readers to know?

James: I want to personally thank everyone who believed in me and my vision. None of this would be possible without all the support from my friends, family, and customers. And remember: “Always keep your faith and never give up on yourself, nothing worth having comes easy.”

K-Town Krack LLC
www.KTownKrack.com

By Aaron Hunt, Co-Owner of Premiere Consignment

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Becky, Toby, and me! We would like to express our appreciation for the continued support along with all the encouragement we’ve received since we first opened the doors of Premiere Consignment in nearby Tellico Village in 2012 – almost 10 years ago!

We feel that Premiere Consignment has continued to provide a valuable service, and be an invaluable resource, to our community. For those of you who are recent arrivals to this area, we offer the perfect opportunity to find another home for the gently used furniture, home décor items, art, and area rugs that you may no longer need in your new home. Empty nesters? Downsizing? We are the right venue for you, too!

For those of you who are in the market to purchase items, Premiere Consignment is your source for high-end, upscale furniture from the nation’s top brand-name manufacturers – saving you up to 90% off the original retail prices – making it well worth the short trip over the dam to see our store. If you are an estate sale enthusiast, we keep a current list of our area’s sales, so check back often.

Our eBay store is another opportunity for selling your treasured collectibles and those items that are particularly attractive to online shoppers. Imagine having interested buyers from all across the globe! We can provide a fully turn-key eBay experience, including professional photography, detailed descriptions, auction set up, handling financial transactions, and then packing and shipping your sold goods anywhere and everywhere in the world!

Whether you’re hoping to sell your gently used, brand-name household items, add that accent chair to your living room before holiday company arrives, or purchase an entire home full of furnishings with new-to-you home décor pieces, Premiere Consignment is your one-stop superstore for savings or selling, so come out and see us before you pay too much! If you prefer to shop from your home, visit our website at www.premiereconsignment.com to view our current inventory, and check back often as new items are added as they arrive.

Wishing you the greetings of the season from the entire Hunt family! Hope to see you soon!

Premiere Consignment
320 Lakeside Plaza
Loudon, TN 37774
865.458.9721
www.premiereconsignment.com

By David Brewster, Owner of Aqua Clear Water Systems, LLC

I guess we have all heard about the $10k – $20k that area homeowners have shelled out to repair the pinhole leaks in their home’s copper plumbing. Clients I have worked with tell stories of massive floods, ripping out drywall, hidden mold growing behind walls, and the $10k-$20k re-plumbing jobs that have resulted. What many of us may not have heard about is that, in most cases, there is a safe and effective alternative to replacing your existing plumbing. Fortunately for many a homeowner, we have helped them avoid turning their home into a job site by simply fixing the water that travels through their existing pipes.

Chlorine is corrosive to copper. It reacts with the copper to create a chemical compound: Copper chloride. This compound can slowly attack copper from the inside, which results in those tiny but destructive pinhole leaks. Also, hard water, which is an abundance of calcium/magnesium, can erode copper pipes if a hot water recirculation pump is installed.

Kinetico water systems from Aqua Clear can safely remove the chlorine, chloramines, and hardness that can attack copper pipes from the inside. We also add a special coating filter, after the Kinetico system, to recoat the copper plumbing from the years of damage. After installing hundreds of Kinetico systems to fix
our clients’ pinhole leak issues, we can say with 100% certainty that this system works!

We’ve been saving our valued clients from the expense of $10k – $20k re-plumbing jobs and also from turning their home into a job site. Not only did they save their plumbing, but they also get all the other benefits of installing a Kinetico whole house water filtration system. We are so confident in our turn-key pinhole leak prevention system that we will refund your investment if it doesn’t stop your pinhole leak problem. Call or text 865-234-1970 to schedule your free pinhole leak assessment, and get your
questions answered.

Aqua Clear Water Systems
1767 Kevin Lane
Lenoir City, TN 37772
865.234.1970
www.aquaclearws.com

Once upon a time, you wouldn’t think twice about perching on a stool to reach those high kitchen shelves or crouching in your bathroom to grasp an item under your sink. Today, it’s a different story. If you have mobility issues, you may be using those storage areas less and less. You love your home and aren’t

ready to downsize. Now, you don’t have to. Get your cabinets back, and more, with the space experts at Shelf Help! 

Celebrating five years in business, Shelf Help specializes in sturdy and attractive custom roll-out shelving and organizers for your kitchen, bath, and pantry. We’re your neighbors in Knoxville – not a franchise, but locally owned and operated. Because we’re a small business, our customers save 50% or more when compared to national brands. Best of all, everything we do is custom tailored to you.

In the Kitchen…

Whether you have limitations in movement or are simply “vertically challenged,” pull-down units will provide effortless access to those hard-to-reach upper shelves in your kitchen cabinets. For help managing heavy pots, pans, and skillets, a soft-close pot and lid organizer pull-out can be installed in lower cabinetry for clutter-free and easy-to-handle storage. And you no longer have to strain your eyes to see into those deep corner cabinets – we have a variety of solutions like a lazy susan, pull-out shelf, or corner half-moon shelf.

In the Bath…

Stop stooping in your bathroom to retrieve grooming products by installing a Salon Station with roll-out organizers for brushes, blow dryers, and other supplies. Or, try a powered vanity drawer that stores your plugged-in electric grooming appliances with an automatic shut-off switch when the drawer is closed. Under the sink, recover unused space around the plumbing with custom roll-out shelving, and try a removable basket to hold cleaning products.

In the Pantry…

From pull-outs to swing-outs, maximize your pantry with convenient rolling shelves that will store your canned items, dry goods, paper products and more. No matter the size of your pantry, you’ll be shocked at the amount of space you’ll gain after installing custom shelving. And prepare to do away with cumbersome, door-mounted storage racks – you won’t need them! 

Make your day-to-day living comfortable and your house fully usable with Shelf Help custom-designed roll-out shelves for your kitchen, pantry, or bath. Call us today for your free, no-obligation, in-home consultation. Our experienced design consultants will evaluate, design, and measure according to your lifestyle and unique needs, and our professional installers will provide thorough and competent service with a smile. Make it easy on yourself – call us for a free consultation today!

Shelf Help
865.675.5098
www.ShelfHelpTN.com

Design, fashion, and function are all key to Paula’s designs. A sharp awareness of new trends around the world has kept her a step ahead of the competition. She also has the unique ability to connect with her clients on a personal level. That connection and experience create energized, inspired, comfortable spaces.

“I sell a complete package… whether the client is buying one piece or a whole room, I am there from beginning to end,” states Paula. “Listening to my clients, helping them achieve the look they are after, originality, and customer service are key elements to a successful end result.”  
 
Paula has 30+ years’ experience in retail furniture and interior design through her business, Nouveau Classics. During this time, she has built long-term relationships with high-design companies that offer superior, quality products from Europe, Canada, and the U.S. As a result, Paula is able to offer nothing but the best for her clients.

Whether you engage Paula for designing, renovating, or staging, she will challenge you to take your spaces to a new level. One that is beautiful, sophisticated, and stands the test of time.

Nouveau Classics Contemporary Furniture & Interior Design
101 Gay Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
865.525.4755
www.nouveauclassics.com

Preserving the Past to Invest in the Future

In 1974, the Bijou Theatre was threatened by demolition and neglect, but a group of concerned citizens was determined not to let that happen; this is how Knox Heritage was born. In the decades since, our community of preservationists has continued to execute our shared vision of preserving Knoxville’s unique cultural and architectural heritage for the next generation. More simply, we believe that preserving our past serves as an investment in our future.

As we approach our upcoming 50th anniversary, we are taking time to reflect on all that we have accomplished together so far: The revitalization of Knoxville’s now-thriving downtown, saving the Eugenia Williams House, and, yes, protecting the Historic Bijou Theatre from demolition, just to name a few. 

We are also taking the time to think about our next 50 years, as we know that the choices we make today impact future generations. We will, of course, continue our advocacy for the preservation of the buildings and places that make Knoxville unique. We’ve seen firsthand that historic preservation is a dynamic and powerful movement that can restore the integrity of our historic neighborhoods, transform places in a way that fosters economic and community growth, and enrich the quality of life. This important work will continue.

But, at the same time, we are working to expand our definition of historic preservation as a people-centered movement that creates and nurtures more equitable, healthy, resilient, vibrant, and sustainable communities to ensure the long-term success of our city and all of its neighborhoods. It’s an exciting and necessary development, and we are committed to engaging diverse members of our community in the conversation as we look to our organization’s – and Knoxville’s – future.  

Knox Heritage has many wonderful partners in our vision, and we are largely supported by individual and corporate members who help us protect and share the places that tell Knoxville’s history. We offer multiple membership levels to fit your needs, and we offer many payment options such as annual, quarterly, and monthly. Member benefits (dependent on level) include invitations to members-exclusive events, tours of Historic Westwood, and the exclusive opportunity to buy our ever-popular Summer Supper tickets before they go on sale to the public. 

Most importantly, a Knox Heritage membership allows you to join our community of passionate preservationists. Together, we serve as guardians to the spaces and places that make Knoxville such a dynamic and thriving place to live, work, and visit – now and in the future.

We hope you will consider joining us. Please visit www.knoxheritage.org/support/membership for more information or call Janine Bolin at 865-523-8008, ext. 1.

Knox Heritage preserves structures and places of historic or cultural significance for our community. Established in 1974 as a non-profit educational corporation, our organization works to protect and raise awareness of what is beautiful and irreplaceable in East Tennessee.

Strength • Health • Weight Loss

It’s that time of year again. The tempting aroma of all of those holiday favorites like turkey, dressing, and homemade 7-layer apple cake can only mean one thing: Extra pounds!

Not to worry. This year many people are simply putting on their running shoes and walking across the living room to get on their new piece of fitness equipment from Fitness Solutions.

Fitness Solutions is Knoxville’s oldest and only locally owned fitness equipment store. We have a full showroom well stocked with the latest in top quality fitness equipment for the whole family – treadmills, seated and standing ellipticals, upright and recumbent bikes, rowers, home gyms, and much more.

Owner Richard Dowdy observed, “We have seen a huge increase in demand for home fitness equipment since Covid as many of our customers want to avoid the gym crowds, as well as the cross town traffic.”

Our equipment is made to last many years so the whole family can get involved in long-term fitness. As a local company, we are one of the few businesses with our own staff to deliver and set up your new equipment right where you want it.

Why choose Fitness Solutions? We hear a lot of people lament about buying fitness equipment online. There is often a long wait followed by the equipment being delivered by a service company that doesn’t specialize in fitness equipment assembly or service. We get lots of calls from folks that bought their fitness equipment online and can’t get anyone to come service their investment. Fitness Solutions not only has a trained installation staff on site, but a well qualified service team that can come right to your home after the sale if service is needed in the future.

“On quite a few occasions, customers come in and pick out their new piece of fitness equipment in our showroom, and our team has delivered on the very same day,” said Richard. “This is definitely one advantage of buying from a local company.”

Now is a great time to stop in at Fitness Solutions for new equipment. We have many of the top brands like True, Octane, Matrix, and Tuff-Stuff in stock and ready to deliver. We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm. We are also very happy to announce that 2021 marks Fitness Solutions’ 20 year anniversary serving Knoxville!

We look forward serving you and your family soon at our showroom next to Best Buy off Cedar Bluff.

Fitness Solutions
8891 Town & Country Circle
Knoxville, TN 37923
865.470.2667
www.FitnessSolutionsinc.net

The holiday season is in full swing as party invitations arrive and plans with family and friends are finalized for this special time of year. Whether you’re shopping for the perfect gift or something special just for yourself, we are here to help you select all the perfect pieces! 
 
If you are considering women’s apparel as a gift, remember how difficult and sometimes frustrating shopping can be. You’re sure you’ve chosen the perfect gift, only to discover that it’s not even the right size. How disappointing when you wanted to please her!
 
This is where Santa’s helpers at The Lily Pad come in! We’ll ask questions relating to hair color, eye color, approximate height and weight, and lifestyle so we can assist you in selecting the perfect items. Unfortunately, there’s no universal sizing code in women’s apparel, so we may suggest a size 6 from one company and a size 10 from another, basing our suggestions on how each garment is fitting. Our sales associates are knowledgeable about each line, how they’re sized, the care involved in cleaning, fabric contents, and general information about all the lines we represent.
 
If you aren’t comfortable selecting clothing, a Lily Pad gift certificate is a wonderful gift that every woman will appreciate! That way she can choose the pieces she really wants. And, best of all, with each $100 gift certificate purchased before Christmas, you’ll be entered to win a $500 gift certificate! This drawing will take place on December 26th.  
 
During this holiday season more than ever, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our success possible. In this spirit we simply, but sincerely, thank you and our wishes for a joyous holiday season! 
 
The Lily Pad Boutique
209 N. Main Street
Sweetwater, TN 37874
423.337.5537
www.lilypadboutiqueonline.com

By Brett Cafferty

“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat” from a speech by Winston Churchill in 1940, warning the British people of the hardships to come in fighting WWII. 

Did you know that small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) make up 99% of all businesses and create 64% of the new jobs in the U.S.? 

It has been another challenging year for our small business community. As we have gotten to know our advertiser partners better this past year, we are increasingly impressed and humbled by the amount of time and energy they put into their businesses. Running a business is already more than a full-time job, and when the adversity of the past 20 months is added, it reminds me of Churchill’s phrase above and the name of that great band of the ’60s and ’70s, Blood, Sweat, & Tears. 

Recent conversations with business owners in a variety of industries have increased my awareness of the new challenges ahead, as the uncertainty and gaps in the supply chain are expected to continue. Shortages of raw materials, reduced manufacturing capacity, constraints in the transportation of goods, labor shortages (where did everyone go?), and the resulting price increases may be around for a while. 

In the midst of this holiday season and beyond, we should extend an extra measure of grace to our local small business community. While most are optimistic and see brighter days ahead, there are significant challenges to deal with. 

Almost every business is short staffed and trying to find solutions to alleviate overworked employees – from retail clerks putting in longer hours, to the wait staff pulling a double-shift when there is no one else to step in, to service providers with far more demand than supply capacity. While these front-line issues require creativity and daily attention, business owners are also working to source goods, keep an inventory, and maintain cash flow while wages and cost of goods rise. It’s a juggling act not for the faint of heart!

On our part, this “extra measure” could include patience, understanding, and flexibility when what you need is out of stock or on backorder, an encouraging word to a frazzled employee, and a conscious effort to support and spend dollars with the local, small businesses that make up our community. 

Everything Knoxville is thankful for our small businesses and local area organizations for the good work they continue to do and strive to do, and we wish you all a joyous holiday season and healthy New Year.