Henrico company matches members with contractors

Steve Green is a most unusual handyman.

He doesn't come to your house, he doesn't build fences and he can't do electrical work.

Yet, he wants to be the first guy you call if you wantthose things done.

Green owns Hocoa, a service network company in Henrico County that matches members with contractors.

Members, who pay an $89 membership fee, call him when they have work to be done on their homes. He then matches the job with screened contractors.

"We take the unknown out of the process," he said.

Green says Hocoa is part Better Business Bureau, part AAA and part concierge service.

While customers pay for the work, Green said Hocoa screens the contractors, saving clients time and, potentially, money.

Hocoa, he said, checks licenses, insurance coverage and references for each contractor.

The contractors are re-screened throughout the year.

Green said he has a "1½ strike policy" when it comes to complaints about the contractors.

"We just ask them to leave the network if they aren't doing what they are hired to do," he said.

To stay in the network -- beyond working on your house -- contractors must return calls, attend appointments and not bill more than their estimates.

The contractors benefit from Hocoa because they get a built-in network of customers.

Formed a year ago, Green has signed up 60 contractors and about 3,000 members. He has sent contractors out on about 1,000 jobs.

Franco's women's wear

Franco's Fine Clothier has closed the temporary store at Short Pump Town Center it set up to sell its women's clothing inventory.

The store opened in December, after the company announced it was exiting sales of women's apparel.

All remaining women's merchandise has been consolidated at Franco's Lakeside Avenue store.

Salvation Army store

On March 7, the Salvation Army plans to open one of its used merchandise stores on Midlothian Turnpike near Koger Center Boulevard.

The 15,000-square-foot space previously was occupied by La-Z-Boy and is in front of the Heaven & Earth Christian Specialty Store.

Paul White, a major in the Salvation Army, said the high visibility of the location made it attractive.

"This is an excellent area with a lot of traffic," he said.

Because of its high visibility, White said the newest store should have double the sales of other area stores.

At Family Stores, Salvation Army sells used clothes and merchandise. There are six in the Richmond area.

All profit from the stores goes toward the organization's adult rehabilitation centers, one of which is on Hermitage Road in Richmond.

Sales at thrift stores have been booming as the economy soured. The latest figures from the National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops, show sales were up an average of 35 percent for September and October from the same period in 2007.

Joining forces

Que Bella is closing its store at 3105 W. Cary St. and moving in with Pink across the street at 3158 W. Cary St.

Que Bella will sell shoes alongside Pink's high-end clothes for women.

"We share the same fashion direction and [Pink's] customers often ask us to carry shoes so . . . [now] we can offer style from head to toe," said Deborah Boschen, co-owner of Pink.

The two will join forces Feb. 5.

Contact Louis Llovio at (804) 649-6348 or .