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Special deliveries – G-Force Shipping honors carriers with “Ship Shape” awards.

HANOVER, MASSACHUSETTS…

We can all agree that the best shipments are the ones that arrive on time and in one piece. Yet there are some carriers who achieve that standard and then some, time and again. G-Force Shipping, a non-asset based, third-party logistics provider based in Hanover, MA, salutes those carriers with the 2011 “Ship Shape” awards.

“In working with more than 80 carriers, we hear a number of tremendous stories from customers about how so many of the carriers they work with do a fantastic job,” said Gordie Macfarlane, president of G-Force Shipping. “With the Ship Shape awards, manufacturers, distributors, dealers and the general public have the opportunity to do a little more than say thank you for the great work these carriers do.”

The Ship Shape awards honor carriers in three separate categories:

  • Best Carrier– Self explanatory, the Best Carrier goes to the freight company who performed the best over the past calendar year, 2010. Areas of consideration: price, transit time, condition of delivery, customer service.
  • Most Dependable – This goes to the carrier who consistently meets transit times with the least amount of claims. 
  • Shipper’s Shipper – This honor goes to the carrier who, on one particular occasion, went above and beyond the call to ensure the safe and on time arrival of a shipment.  This is a chance for you to tell us your best stories!

Manufacturers, dealers, distributors and the general public can nominate a carrier by e-mailing your nomination to info@gforceship.com. Employees of nominated carriers are not eligible to vote.

As part of the nomination form, voters can contribute a brief, 250-word testimonial on behalf of the carrier. The most compelling testimonial, as determined by G-Force customer representatives, will win a $100 credit towards their next shipment using G-Force.

The winners will be selected on July 1, 2011 and announced on www.gforceship.com.

G-Force Shipping provides manufacturers, dealers and distributors with an easy-to-use, Web-based shipping utility, www.GForceship.com, which delivers instant quotes and multiple carrier choices in seconds. There’s no long-term commitment. Access to a free online account or a toll-free number is all G-Force customers need. The only fees associated with an account are those directly connected to the shipping costs.

For more information, please call 877-7-GFORCE or visit www.gforceship.com.

More carriers, more choices, more savings.

G Force Shipping and Consulting, Inc. is a non asset based third-party logistics provider based in Hanover, Massachusetts. Through its Web site, www.gforceship.com, G-Force provides its customers with direct access to quotes from more than 80 carriers on LTL, FTL and small parcel shipments. In addition to helping customers find the right shipping company at the right price, G-Force offers white glove service that includes 24/7 customer service, freight consulting services, online warehouse management capabilities and much, much more.

For more information, visit www.gforceship.com or call 877-7-GFORCE (877-743-6723).

Special deliveries – G-Force Shipping honors carriers with “Ship Shape” awards.Read More

Howcast Features Boston Area Plumbing Expert in Series of DIY Plumbing Videos

Tim Flynn, plumbing industry expert and president of Winters Plumbing, Heating & Cooling of Cambridge was recently selected by Howcast Media Inc., based in New York, to develop a series of plumbing videos geared towards educating homeowners about plumbing related issues.

A total of 21 different plumbing videos featuring expert Tim Flynn were filmed by Howcast, covering how-to topics such as: repairing minor plumbing problems; choosing plumbing fittings and fixtures; understanding plumbing basics; finding a good plumber and more. The videos were filmed on location at Winters Plumbing state-of-the-art training facility in Cambridge, MA.

The videos will be released on Howcast channels, both on and off the web, over the next several weeks.

For a sneak preview of Tim Flynn’s video, “How to Fix a Leaky Faucet”, visit http://www.Howcast.com/videos/460922-Plumbing-HowTo-Fix-a-Leaky-Faucet-Standard  

“This series of videos will help homeowners become better ‘masters of their domain’ as far as plumbing goes. They’ll be able to solve some of the most common plumbing problems themselves – ranging from fixing a leaky faucet to unclogging a toilet or garbage disposal,” noted master plumber Tim Flynn, president of Winters Plumbing Heating & Cooling.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.wintershomeservices.com or call 617-209-2439.

About Howcast Media Inc.

Howcast Media Inc. is located in San Francisco and New York. The company provides engaging and useful how-to information to viewers worldwide. Howcast is known for their high-quality content, and streams tens of millions of videos every month across its multi-platform distribution network. Howcast is renowned as the number one mobile application for instructional content. For more information, visit howcast.com.

About Winters Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

Since 1994, Winters Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has specialized in providing home services of plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and kitchen and bath remodeling projects to thousands of homeowners throughout Eastern Massachusetts.

Winters Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is the largest residential plumbing company in the state, with 20 trucks on the road and a full staff of licensed and insured plumbers and technicians. In addition to 24 hour service and lifetime guarantees on many of their services, Winters Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has standardized their services, which ensures that every customer receives the same high quality workmanship delivered in the same professional and courteous manner.

Winters Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has been honored with a number of awards over the years including the Local Torch Award for Excellence from the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List Super Service Award. Winters Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. For more information, call 617-209-2439 or visit the website at www.wintershomeservices.com.

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“Belated Burials at Sea” Now Offered Through New England Burials at Sea LLC

New England Burials At Sea, (NEBAS) has recently launched a new service and website to help bring closure to families who wish to honor their loved ones with a Belated Burial at Sea (www.belatedburials.com).

The vast majority of cremations never have a proper, dignified “celebration of life” burial ceremony. Company founder Captain Brad White recently announced a new service now offered at NEBAS – the Belated Burial – a memorial ash scattering that pays tribute to a loved one when a family is still holding onto their cremated remains and not knowing how to put them to final rest.

According to Capt. White, “Typically, during the first year following cremation, the remains are placed proudly on the fireplace mantel. As the years go by, the remains are eventually moved to the hallway closet behind a tennis racquet and by year five, or even year 10, someone has an epiphany that a burial at sea or other ‘celebration’ would be a great final and proper tribute.”

NEBAS is the best known company in the USA for sea burials and it uses only properly insured and licensed captains with current U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) certifications who only use clean, safe and up to date vessels from Maine to Miami as well as San Francisco to San Diego. Vessels vary from vintage Maine down east style to sport or luxury level vessels accommodating up to 400 people.

NEBAS Burials at sea are legal, approved per USCG and EPA regulations and are easy to plan. For ash scatterings, NEBAS voyages out three nautical miles and the family scatters their loved ones cremated remains with a customized sea tribute service and returns to port all within about three hours. Traditional Ash Scattering rates include an official parchment sea burial certificate marking the latitude and longitude of a loved ones’ final resting place and start at $495.00. NEBAS also offers full body ocean burials with their patent pending organic Atlantic Sea Burial Shroud®

For more information or to make arrangements for a Belated Burial , contact NEBAS

Toll free at (877) 897-7700 or visit the website at www.belatedburials.com.

About NEBAS

New England Burials At Sea LLC, (NEBAS) offers burial at sea scatterings and eco-friendly full body sea burials, serving families from Maine to Miami for groups up to 400 people since 2006 and is recognized by the EPA, US Navy, U.S.C.G. and many area funeral homes and crematories.

NEBAS offers a unique Concierge Program specifically for families traveling to the Boston area for NEBAS services. The company has partnered with the pet friendly Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel, Rowe’s Wharf Water Transport Company, Winston Flowers and CityView Trolley company of Boston to help ensure NEBAS guests are as comfortable as possible during their time of grief and mourning – and one simple phone call handles it all.

The company also designed and manufactures the Atlantic Sea burial Shroud®.

For more information or images, visit http://www.newenglandburialsatsea.com, call toll free New England Burials At Sea, Capt Brad White at 877-897-7700 or (781) 834-7500, email OceanBurial@aol.com.

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Franchise Management Expert Evan Hackel of Ingage Consulting is Keynote Speaker at Exciting Windows! National Conference

Evan Hackel, franchise management expert and founder of Ingage Consulting of Woburn, MA, was the keynote speaker at Exciting Windows! 7th Annual National Conference held in Baltimore, MD.

A member of the International Franchise Association and New England Franchise Association, Hackel spoke to Exciting Windows! franchisees on the topic of ”Reaching Higher Together”. Hackel discussed what Exciting Windows! could accomplish if everyone worked together and focused on the company’s vision.

“We’ve received more favorable feedback from Evan Hackel’s ‘Reaching Higher Together’ presentation than any in our seven year conference history. His presentation added to the strength of Exciting Windows! and pride of our members to be part of this movement to benefit homeowners throughout North America and beyond. It has helped build the teamwork and belief that are essential for a great organization of franchisees/licensees,” stated Exciting Windows! Chairman/CEO, Steven C. Bursten.

Hackel has more than 25 years of franchise experience having developed, implemented and managed three successful new franchise systems. His experience includes overseeing four different business systems representing over $5 billion in annual sales through 2,000 locations in four countries at CCA Global Partners, one of the largest privately held companies in the U.S. An expert in team dynamics, best practices, and turnaround strategies in franchising, Hackel is often hired to review and analyze franchise businesses; provide recommendations and facilitate strategic planning.

Hackel is available for speaking engagements. Dedicated to helping franchise organization achieve their short and long term goals through franchisor and franchisee engagement, Hackel can speak to a franchise organization’s audiences on a variety of topics including:

The Need for Change

Reaching Hire Together – Why engaged franchises make all the difference.

The Franchise Covenant – The roles and responsibilities of the organization and the individual.

Making the Most of Your Research – Presenting analyzed data to the management team and franchisees.

Customer Excellence – The power of the person and the customer service chain.

Selling Strategies/Skills – The Four P’s of Selling and more.

Engagement: A Key Driver of Franchise Success

“Essentially, we help franchise companies build competitive advantages by reinforcing the drivers of success which are cooperation, commitment, passion and loyalty. The key to reinforcement is communication,” explained Hackel, who is often engaged by franchise organizations to facilitate and enhance communication.

To arrange a speaking engagement with Evan Hackel, contact (781) 569-5900.

About Ingage Consulting

Ingage Consulting is a management consulting firm that works with franchisors and franchisees to improve the franchise organization’s culture which in turn increases sales and satisfaction; improves growth and retention and boosts loyalty and profits.

Ingage Consulting provides solutions that drive the cooperation, commitment, passion and loyalty of franchisors and franchisees. They offer unique services that help solve the problems of franchises in a number of ways. Working closely with clients, the Ingage Consulting team quickly and thoughtfully assesses, understands and devises solutions to a franchise organization’s challenges. Leaders come away with ideas for improvement, including methods for maximizing collaboration among franchisees/licensees and a clear strategy and execution plan for change, customized to meet organizational objectives. Ingage Consulting’s proven techniques to increase collaboration brings about greater productivity and success on many levels. In short, Ingage Consulting makes franchises more successful.

Ingage Consulting is located at 400 Trade Center, Suite 5900 in Woburn, MA. For more information, contact (781) 569-5900 or visit the website www.ingage.net.

Evan Hackel

Franchise Management Expert Evan Hackel of Ingage Consulting is Keynote Speaker at Exciting Windows! National ConferenceRead More

PR Works Positions Winters as national plumbing experts with video series

Check out these HowCast videos arranged by PR Works. Now Winters Plumbing is positioned as “the” national expert for plumbing. Take a peek and learn how to make minor plumbing repairs!
http://www.howcast.com/users/WintersPlumbing

Tim Flynn, Winters Plumbing

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The sweet (and healthy) taste of success…Natural Fruit Franchise Group’s Business Builder Program makes selling 100% natural Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars an even sweeter deal for hardworking franchisees.

HIALEAH, FLORIDA…

When Natural Fruit Franchise Group (NFFG) launched its franchise offering, it had all the necessary ingredients for success. A relatively low franchise fee. No royalty fees. And two great lines of products—NFFG’s 100% natural Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars and Mars ice cream products—to capitalize on the trend towards “better for you” foods and America’s love of ice cream and desserts. The real sweetener to the deal is NFFG’s Business Builder program, which reinvests a percentage of product sales towards the purchase of additional freezers for successful franchise owners.

“We’re looking to support the growth of our franchisees. For us it’s all about the sale of our products,” said Susan Morris, senior vice president for Natural Fruit Corporation (NFC). “The best way to do that is to attract franchise owners who have the initial investment and, just as importantly, the drive to get out there and place freezers that move our products.”

The Business Builder Program enables new franchise owners to lease the initial 78 freezers, truck and storage space to get their business off the ground. As the franchise owner places those freezers in retail outlets like their local convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, schools, independent grocery stores, deli’s, family style restaurants, swim clubs and other high-traffic locations, NFC and Mars will reinvest part of the product sales towards freezer purchases after the initial 78 freezers have been placed.

“In effect, we’re giving our franchise owners the opportunity to purchase freezers after the initial 78 have been placed, funded by the sales from those freezers.  It does not cost the franchisee any additional capital; Natural Fruit and Mars also significantly invest in those freezers,” said Morris.

NFFG offers placement assistance and marketing support to help franchise owners identify retail outlets for their freezers as part of its franchise offering. It also provides assistance with leasing storage space for the initial inventory of Mars ice cream products, which include perennial favorites like Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove bars, and Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars.

Chunks O’Fruti® frozen fruit bars are 100% natural, with no added color or flavors; all the flavor and color come directly from the fruits. The fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process so real fruit is in almost every bite. Low in calories and actually good for you, Chunks O’ Fruti® offers 20 mouthwatering flavors to choose from including: strawberry, pineapple, lime, strawberry colada and coconutto name a few.

“With people paying closer attention to eating better, particularly parents being more mindful of the foods their children eat, the upside to the Chunks O’ Fruti® franchise opportunity is substantial,” said Morris. “Couple that with the fact that 90 percent of US households consume ice cream and frozen desserts and that sales for the packaged snacks industry are projected to rise from $68 billion in 2008 to $82 billion by 2013 and you have a home-based franchise opportunity where the right franchisee can enjoy success for a long time to come.”

The initial investment, including financing, can range from $75,000 to $101,000 depending on whether you lease or purchase trucks and storage space. The initial offering includes: 

  • Franchise Fee $25,000
  • Minimum of 75 freezers (lease option: 3 years @ $24.54/mo.  $1 buyout)
  • Truck with freezer body (lease option)
  • Leased space in freezer warehouse
  • Computer hardware and software
  • Initial Fruti® and Mars products inventory
  • Initial training and freezer placement service
  • Sales and marketing materials
  • Mobile route management equipment and software

Each franchisee is given an exclusive territory with a capacity for 1,000 freezers. Franchisees are then responsible for negotiating with merchants to place a Chunks O Fruti® freezer at the location, keeping those locations stocked and acquiring new locations.

Fruti® franchises are available across the U.S. For complete information on Fruti®’s franchise offering, please visit www.frutifranchise.com or contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com.

About Natural Fruit Corporation

Brothers Simon and Jorge Bravo Sr. founded Natural Fruit Corporation in 1985. Equipped with their vast backgrounds in food processing and production, the brothers set out to produce the highest quality, 100 percent natural, frozen fruit bars. Nearly three decades later, the company is still going strong, manufacturing more than 20 flavors of the Chunks O’ Fruti® brand products—100 percent natural with no added colors or flavoring. All flavors and color come directly from the fruit! Chunks O’ Fruti® brand products are Kosher-certified and gluten-free.

In 2009, Natural Fruit Corporation entered into an agreement for its distributors to offer the full line of Mars Ice Cream products, including Twix, Snickers, Dove bars and M&M brands. Natural Fruit Corporation began offering a revised franchise opportunity in 2010.

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S… For complete information on Fruti’s franchise offering, please contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com or visit www.frutifranchise.com.

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

The sweet (and healthy) taste of success…Natural Fruit Franchise Group’s Business Builder Program makes selling 100% natural Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars an even sweeter deal for hardworking franchisees.Read More

Facebook “advertising” to be featured in South Shore Ad Club

Perhaps you understand the value of having a Facebook page, but are you up to speed on the potential of Facebook “advertising”?
The South Shore Ad Club features an overview of the new Facebook advertising phenomenon at the upcoming Wednesday, May 25 meeting to be held at Asian C, 48 Whiting Street, (Route 53), Hingham.
The evening includes a cocktail and networking session beginning at 6 p.m., dinner at 7:00 p.m., and then the presentation on Facebook advertising. The entire business community is urged to attend. Reservations are required, but membership in the South Shore Ad Club is NOT . Registration Fee is $30 per person and includes buffet dinner. South Shore Ad Club members receive $10.00 off.
Danielle Griffin, Director of Smartly Social (a division of ACTSmart Inc.) will present the workshop on how to utilize Facebook advertising. Topics will include creation, managing, and bidding options for Facebook advertising.
To address specific questions and concerns of attendees, the South Shore Ad Club encourages the business community to submit questions about Facebook advertising to www.facebook.com/southshoreadclub.
“Facebook has become the place where many people begin and end their day,” noted Ms. Griffin. She added, “Facebook has become the central source for entertainment or information. Businesses have to determine how they fit in, how they reach targeted audiences and how to turn casual observers into involved fans.”
About The South Shore Ad Club
The South Shore Ad Club is an organization committed to the personal and professional development of communications professionals located south of Boston. It’s the club’s mission to improve, strengthen and advance career goals through learning and networking opportunities; and to serve as a resource for local and Boston-area businesses requiring marketing, advertising, public relations and/or communications services.

To RSVP, visit www.SouthShoreAdClub.com or email info@southshoreadclub.com.

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A service call for Plymouth South automotive students…Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac hosts hybrid training for vocational school students.

Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac Technician
Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac Technician Steve Rasch instructs Plymouth South students on hybrid technology.

PLYMOUTH, MA…

For three years running, Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac has honored local students through its Driven Student program. This program recognizes students going above and beyond,  inside and outside the classroom. For the month of April, Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac chose to honor automotive students in Plymouth South High School’s Technical Studies program.

While the typical Driven Student celebration involves a pizza party at the school, Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac provided these budding mechanics with something a bit more valuable: a training session on hybrid technology at the dealership.

“Even though hybrid cars have been around a while, our students really haven’t exposure to them through our programs because the vehicles typically have five-year warranties and the owners bring them into the dealership for service instead of our shop at the school,” said Randy Cabral, automotive instructor at Plymouth South. “Being invited down here to see that technology up close is a phenomenal experience for our students.”

Rick McGue, Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac service manager, led the training session. That included looking under the hood of two hybrids, one of those vehicles belonging to Bruins legend Bobby Orr. Tracy Service Technician Steve Rasch also provided instruction on the hybrid technology and answered questions in between servicing the vehicles.

“The service component of our business is critical to the success or failure of a dealership,” said Jeff Tracy, president of Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac. “By having the kids visit the dealership, we’re hopefully doing more than showing them a new technology but demonstrating the critical role they can play in our industry.”

Taking part in the training were: Michel Jacobson, Jake Waters, Cam Nwell, Billy Stevenson, Doug Duyette, Devin Ford, Jon Flaherty and Nick Luke, Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac’s Driven Student program recognizes Plymouth high school students for their performance and achievements in and out of the classroom. Awarded on a monthly basis, recipients are selected by faculty and advisors at the student’s given school.

So easy at Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac

For more than 80 years and three generations of dealers, the Tracy family has made it so easy for customers on the South Shore and greater Plymouth area to purchase new and used automobiles. Since its beginnings in 1992, Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac has emphasized first-rate customer service and straightforward, bottom-line pricing with fair trade-ins every time–without the games or gimmicks you find at other dealerships. For more information on new and used trucks and automobiles, you can go to www.tracymotors.com or stop by the dealership, conveniently located at 137 Samoset Street, just off exit 6 on Route 3. For more information, or to make a service appointment, you can also call (800) 640-2884.

A service call for Plymouth South automotive students…Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac hosts hybrid training for vocational school students.Read More

Awards put your company center stage.

It’s a family affair.
Awards put your company center stage. Nominations sought for 2011 Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Award sponsored by Northeastern University Center for Family Business

Every company wants to claim that they are an “award winning business”.

And for good reason. Awards are third-party affirmation that your firm is “better” than others. Distinct. Extraordinary. “THE” top of mind choice to do business with.

With that in mind, we encourage you to nominate your company or another for 5th Annual Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Award. Or alert PR Works and we will help with the nomination process.

PR Works is helping Northeastern University Center for Family Business with the publicity for this year’s awards. Applications are due by May 6, 2011. The awards dinner to celebrate and announce the recipients is scheduled for June 8 and will be held at the Henderson House, Weston, MA.

Nominations are welcome directly from family businesses as well as the business community at large.

Last year Piantedosi Baking Company, Malden MA won the Karofsky Award for companies with over 100 employees, Normandy Farms Family Camping Resort, Foxboro, MA won the Molloy Award for 25 – 100 employees, and Ruma’s Fruit & Gift Basket World, Everett, MA won the Paisner Award for companies with less than 25 employees.

A panel of independent judges will evaluate and select the winners based on business success, positive business and family linkages, multi-generational family involvement, contributions to the community and industry, and innovative business practices or strategies. Judges include a Northeastern University faculty member, a Family Firm Institute advisor and a former winner of the award.

The award presents a unique opportunity for family businesses to obtain significant regional press exposure, an opportunity to reflect on their own successes and challenges through the years and a chance to recognize the valuable contribution of their employees, suppliers and stakeholders.

The award categories are based on the number of full-time employees. All Massachusetts-based family-owned, businesses that include, or have included, more than one generation are eligible.

“Family businesses are the backbone of our economy,” stated Ted Clark, director of the Northeastern University Center for Family Business. Clark continued, “Family businesses provide sixty percent of employment in the U.S. and seventy-eight percent of all new jobs. Our awards celebrate and recognize the best in family business and what they contribute to the community.”

Past Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Award winners include: SALMON Health and Retirement, Elaine Construction, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture, New England Coffee, The Lupoli Companies, Avedis Zildjian Co., Camp Thoreau, and Crescent Ridge Dairy.

The Massachusetts Family Business of the Year Awards program was originally created in a partnership between Northeastern University’s Center for Family Business and The Family Firm Institute New England Chapter to promote and highlight some of the great achievements of Massachusetts-based, family-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.

For a nomination form, please visit www. http://cba.neu.edu and click on “Awards Program”. Or contact Katelyn Husereau, Northeastern University, Center for Family Business, k.husereau@neu.edu, 617.373.3718.

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