You can’t beat Jones meats. Since 1980, Jones Country Meats of Climax, Georgia has provided southwest Georgia and surrounding areas with the freshest, tastiest beef and pork around. Unlike many small businesses, they’ve actually seen an uptick in business since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, as locals flood in to stock up on quality meats. With help from Tandem, they’ve been able to develop several ways for customers to buy and receive products while minimizing social contact.
“Our local bank approached us about using Tandem, and it was easy access for us,” says GeGe Baggett, who owns Jones Country Meats with her husband, Jerry. “Through Tandem, we were able to set up a portable credit card machine on our porch, so people can pay and pick up their order right from our freezer outside.”
They’re also encouraging customers to call in orders ahead of time and giving them the option to either pay over the phone or in-store, where they’re careful to get people in and out quickly. Customers who pay over the phone can simply grab their orders curbside, and have an employee load the meat into their cars. Between curbside and takeout options, they’ve seen an increase in business. They’re even running two phone lines to cover the increase in call-in orders.
“Whenever we need something material-wise, we can always get it through Tandem,” says GeGe. “Even as we’ve stepped up our sales, our systems haven’t slowed down or failed at all.”
GeGe also enjoys the easy access to help when they need it.
“We can always contact Jake Michaelis, our Tandem partner at First Port City Bank, when we need something, and he always gets back to us quickly,” she says. “I’ve called on a Friday night, on a Sunday, and they always respond quickly to me. I always get the help I need, when I need it.”
In such a devastating time for so many local businesses, we’re happy to see Jones Country Meats thriving. They’ve found innovative ways to drive business, thanks in part to payment processing solutions from Tandem – and, in large part, thanks to their delicious range of humanely sourced beef and pork, as well as jellies, preserves, syrups, sauces, and seasonings. If you find yourself in Southwest Georgia, be sure to stop by Jones Country Meats. Call ahead and you can pick up their premium cuts without even getting out of your car.