BOILING SPRINGS — Miranda Gilbert is planning to open a dessert shop that will satisfy a sweet tooth and honor the memory of her younger sister.
“I always said that I wanted to open a cupcake place and let her help me run it when she got older,” Gilbert said.
After Erika’s death at 22 nearly three years ago, Gilbert started Sissy’s Sweets at home as a side business. Gilbert is currently a school counselor but always wanted to be a business owner. Her sister’s death inspired her to finally start a business doing something she loves. They called each other Sissy and one of their favorite pastime activities was to bake cupcakes together.
“She was just like somebody that no words can describe,” Gilbert said. “Everybody loved her, she was hilarious and she was so full of life all the time.”
The shop will be in Rocky Branch Plaza on Boiling Springs Road in the former location of Yes Doll Boutique. Gilbert hopes to open this summer.
Though the specialty is cupcakes, customers will have other dessert options. There will also be coffee and breakfast items such as cinnamon rolls.
Gilbert plans to have pictures of her sister in the shop and incorporate purple into the decor — Erika’s favorite color. The dessert shop will have indoor seating.
“It’s nice to have people say things taste good, but the fact that I still get to tell people about her and do things that we loved to do together is definitely the best part,” she said.
Erika had Down Syndrome, so Gilbert hopes to create job opportunities for people with disabilities.
SPARTANBURG — Robots are coming to BMW’s Spartanburg manufacturing plant, but not at the cost of any human jobs.
California-based AI robotics company Figure announced Jan. 18 that it signed a commercial agreement with BMW Manufacturing to “deploy general purpose robots in automotive manufacturing environments.”
BMW spokesman Steve Wilson said in an email Friday that there is no timetable for when the robots will be deployed. He added that no job losses will occur because of the robots and that there will be no changes for BMW’s associates.
“Companies that invest in innovation such as this are more sustainable, become more productive, and have a competitive advantage,” Wilson said. “Innovation, digitalization, and sustainability are key success factors for our future.
BMW and Figure will pursue a “milestone-based approach.” After the initial phase where Figure will identify use cases to apply the robots in automotive production, the robots will begin staged deployment at the BMW manufacturing site in Greer.
At its 8-million-square-foot Spartanburg County campus, BMW Manufacturing employs 11,000 workers. It is the largest U.S. automotive exporter by value with a total export value of almost $9.6 billion, and more than 1,500 vehicles are assembled at the plant daily.
Figure founder and CEO Brett Adcock said the potential of general purpose robotics is untapped.
“Figure’s robots will enable companies to increase productivity, reduce costs, and create a safer and more consistent environment,” Adcock said.
The companies will also jointly explore other topics in advanced technology such as artificial intelligence, robot integration, robot control and manufacturing virtualization.
BMW CEO Robert Engelhorn said the use of “general purpose robot solutions” has the potential to make productivity more efficient.
Wilson said that the carmaker is investigating several tasks across the plant to help improve safety and ergonomics.