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Away from home or home alone, burglar-proof your house for the holidays

CHICAGO, GURNEE, HOFFMAN ESTATES, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

Think of holiday burglars and many Chicagoans hearken back to the bungling thieves in the movie Home Alone. It’s safe to say that most burglars are a bit smarter than the ones tormented by MacCaulay Culkin. As the leading home improvement and furnishing club, DirectBuy, with several locations in greater Chicago, has some helpful tips on protecting your home for this holiday season and beyond.

“Gifts under the tree and additional vehicles in the driveway belonging to guests—some perhaps from out-of-state—present added incentive for thieves,” said Dave Kushner, owner of DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates. “There’s even more opportunity if you happen to go away for the holidays. By following some simple steps, you can safeguard your home against potential break-ins.”

Some hints to ensure a safe, happy holiday season include:

 

  • Purchase an alarm system and advertise that fact on your exterior windows and doors.
  • Secure your doors and windows at all times, particularly at night.
  • Keep your window shades drawn, particularly near your Christmas tree. Gifts visible from street level provide huge temptation to thieves who may consider smashing the window to grab your packages.
  • Headed out of town for the holidays? Utilize lighting timers for both interior and exterior lights to ensure it appears to outsiders that someone is still at home.
  • After Christmas Day, don’t pile up empty gift boxes on the street for the garbage man, which simply informs burglars of the expensive gifts awaiting them inside your home.
  • Keep your homeowners insurance policy up-to-date.  

“Unfortunately, we don’t all possess the guile of Home Alone’s Kevin McCallister. It’s probably better and safer that way,” said Kushner. “By taking the above precautions, you can provide enough of a deterrent so that thieves leave your home alone.”

DirectBuy offers alarm systems and other items needed to protect your home during the holidays, all at direct insider prices. In addition, each DirectBuy club employs product specialists and designers who can help members select the system that works best for their home.

For more than 38 years, DirectBuy clubs have offered members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring and accessories by purchasing from over 700 brand name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. With several convenient locations in greater Chicago (Chicago, Gurnee, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, and Tinley Park), consumers can enjoy a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuycares.com.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality. The DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are part of more than 160 locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting http://www.directbuycares.com. 

Locations of the DirectBuy clubs serving greater Chicago area: DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, 2200 Stonington Ave Ste. 150, Hoffman Estates, IL; DirectBuy of Chicago North, 6325 North Avondale Ste. 110, Chicago, IL; DirectBuy of DuPage County, 1864 High Grove Lane Ste. 124, Naperville, IL; DirectBuy of Lake County, 3900 Washington Street, Gurnee, IL; and DirectBuy of Tinley Park, 18400 S. 76th Avenue Ste. B, Tinley Park, IL.

To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.

 

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Bringing independence to many, Independence Home Care Launches in Greater Boston

In an effort to meet a rapidly growing need in the marketplace for home care services, Independence Home Care, Inc., providers of private duty non-medical home care to the elderly, has recently launched in Boston.

As a licensed, non-medical home care agency, Independence Home Care offers assistance to elderly, disabled, post-surgical and other clients throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Independence Home Care provides assistance with daily activities that are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid but, in certain situations, may be covered by long-term care insurance.

Services include:

· Specialized Services such as Alzheimer’s care, fall prevention, live-in care, hospital-sitting and 24/7 service.

· Companionship Services that includes socialization activities, reading, playing games, and solving puzzles, depending on what interests our clients.

· Home Helper Services that provide assistance with daily activities, meal planning and preparation as well as light housekeeping.

· Personal Care Services that support individual needs such as daily hygiene and dressing, transportation to medical appointments and medication reminders.

The company strives to maintain the highest level of quality care. Independence Home Care’s bonded and insured caregivers are all experienced and dedicated caregivers who have completed the company’s rigorous training program and undergone state and federal background checks. All caregivers are supervised and monitored.

According to Joan Farahmand, the company’s president, “We saw a strong need for professional home care services in the greater Boston area. As baby-boomers age, the number of seniors needing assistance is increasing significantly. Oftentimes, an elderly person just needs help with dressing, medication reminders, and meal preparation. They are certainly not in need of institutionalization. Independence Home Care provides seniors and their families with an appropriate and affordable alternative.”

The National Family Caregivers Association and Family Caregiver Alliance’s 2004 study estimated the prevalence of caregiving in the U.S. Their findings indicated that in 2004, there were 28,827,766 caregivers in the country providing 30,880 (million) of caregiving hours per year. In 2006, it was estimated that there were between 30-38 million adults providing unpaid care to a relative or friend, averaging 21 hours per week of care.

Farahmand continued, “November is National Family Caregiver’s month where every year family caregivers are recognized. It’s important to note that family caregivers also benefit from our services, since home care provides peace of mind and often much needed respite care for family members, as well.”

Non-Medical Home Care in Greater Boston Area

Independence Home Care, Inc. provides non-medical home care services to seniors and others in need throughout the metropolitan Boston area and eastern Massachusetts. Independence Home Care offers a wide range of individually tailored personal care, home helper, and companionship services. From personal care needs and light housekeeping chores to companionship, Independence Home Care provides a wide array of non-medical services on a temporary or permanent basis.

All of the company’s caregivers are bonded and insured. They have undergone a rigorous training program as well as full background and reference checks. Whether someone needs as little as four hours of home care twice a week or they require full-time daily assistance, Independence Home Care offers an affordable alternative that enables an individual to maintain their independence and remain in their home.

Independence Home Care main office is located at 21 Custom House Street, Suite 910 in Boston. For more information, contact 877-805-9090 or visit www.IndependenceHomeCare.com.

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No place like your home for the holidays (and guests)

MERRILLVILLE, IN…

One of the wonders of the holiday season is how it brings family and friends together—especially those loved ones who live far away and you haven’t seen in a while. If you want to do a little more than roll out the proverbial red carpet, there are some relatively quick and inexpensive home improvement projects you can undertake before guests arrive.

“It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the prospect of guests coming over for the holidays,” said Mike Georgeff of DirectBuy. “The truth of the matter is that with a tweak here and a little refreshing there, you can transform your home into impressive accommodations for your guests.”

Some quick and easy home improvement projects to take on prior to the holidays include:

  • Paint: If you’ve got the time, a new coat of paint will do wonders in upgrading the look, feel and appeal of your guest room or bath.
  • Window treatments: Changing the appearance of your windows with blinds, valences, shades and curtains is an inexpensive way to add color to a room. To quickly give your room that holiday feel, simply tie some red ribbon around your new curtains.
  • “New” furniture: While there may not be time – or a budget – to buy new furniture before the holidays, you can instead give your existing furniture a facelift using new slip covers or consider having one or two favorite pieces reupholstered.
  • Linens: A new comforter, sheets and pillow shams can instantly jazz up a guest room.
  • Shower curtains and bath towels: Again, something new not only makes guests feel welcome, but makes you feel better too. And while you’re working on the bathroom, regrout and repair or replace any broken tiles.
  • Clean your gutters: Buildup in your gutters can lead to wet basements and slippery sidewalks, possibly endangering the safety of company.
  • Outdoor motion sensor lights: Your guests may not have visited your home in a while, if ever. Installing motion sensor lights along your sidewalk enhances their safety and adds a deterrent for potential burglars when you’re out of the house during the holidays.

“Creating a welcoming look and feel for guests doesn’t take an extraordinary amount time or money,” said Georgeff. “By undertaking just a few of these home improvement projects, you can give your home a mini-makeover and create a welcoming environment for your company.”

DirectBuy offers many products to help your home look better and run more efficiently during the holiday season and the rest of the winter months—all at direct insider prices. In addition, DirectBuy also employs product specialists and designers, so if you need some assistance in selecting products or just a second opinion, you have seasoned professionals at your service.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuycares.com.

About DirectBuy

For more than 38 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy’s savings, service and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

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Boston Pack and Ship delivers on care packages for U.S. Soldiers…Boston Pack and Ship donates boxes to Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops holiday care package drive.

BRAINTREE, MA and BREWSTER, MA…

In what’s become its own holiday tradition, Boston Pack and Ship, a small load shipping specialist, donated 300 boxes, tape and other packing supplies to Cape Cod Cares for Our Troops for its annual Christmas Care Packages drive.

Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops is a non-profit organization started in 2005 by then 12-year-old Dylan DeSilva of Brewster, Mass. Cape Cod Cares for Our Troops sends care packages to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on a weekly basis. For the holidays, Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops holds a special Christmas Care Package drive. This year’s goal is to send 1000 care packages to U.S. soldiers overseas.

“We’ve been involved with Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops for a few years now. It’s one of those causes where it’s never a question of whether or not we can help, but how much,” said Joe Fell, co-owner of Boston Pack and Ship.

In addition to Boston Pack and Ship’s donation, the small load shipping specialist recruited its vendor, Collin Box & Supply, of Easton, Mass., to sell the remainder of the boxes needed by Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops, 800, at cost.

“We receive a number of these requests, almost on a weekly basis, and it’s an easy one to say yes to,” said Paul Murphy of Collin Box & Supply. “My daughter is with the Air Force and will soon be deployed overseas. I’m grateful for the efforts of groups like Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops for their support of the men and women overseas serving our country.”

Cape Cod Cares for Our Troops will host a packing party for the Christmas Care Packages on November 21 and 22 at the Trowbridge Tavern, 100 Trowbridge Road in Bourne. People interested in volunteering to wrap, can call (508) 896-6424 or (774) 216-9052 or send an e-mail to capecod4thetroops@comcast.net

Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops regularly sends care packages to U.S. Troops overseas and accepts donations year round. Those interested contributing to the care packages can find a list of items and drop-off locations on www.capecod4thetroops.com. Cape Cod Cares for Our Troops also accepts monetary contributions to help with the cost of supplies and postage. Checks can be sent to: Cape Cod Cares for the Troops, 1831 Long Pond Rd.  Brewster, MA  02631.

“We’d like to thank Boston Pack and Ship, Collin Box & Supply and all our other sponsors and contributors for their generosity,” said DeSilva, now 16. “One thousand care packages is a mighty ambitious goal, but with the help of all our volunteers and contributors, we can and will accomplish this mission.”

For more information on Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops, please visit www.capecod4troops.com. For more information on the breadth of Boston Pack and Ship’s services, you can visit the company Web site at www.bostonpackandship.com. For a free quote on an out-of-state or international move or shipment, please call (800) 400-7204.

Small load specialists

Boston Pack and Ship, a small load specialist, has been a trusted strategic partner of many movers in eastern Massachusetts for more than two decades. Based in Braintree, Massachusetts, Boston Pack and Ship employs custom crates and packaging and foam-in-place solutions to pack and ship everything from artwork to heirlooms, computers to antiques to both out-of-state and international destinations. Known for its fast and efficient customer service, one call is usually all it takes to schedule a pickup for a door-to-door or door-to-port shipment. For more information, visit www.bostonpackandship.com or call (800) 400-7204 for a free quote.

Boston Pack and Ship delivers on care packages for U.S. Soldiers…Boston Pack and Ship donates boxes to Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops holiday care package drive.Read More

Emerson Bearing Launches New Website – a Handy Reference and Diagnostic Tool for Bearings

Emerson Bearing, a Boston based bearing company catering to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) markets throughout the U.S., recently announced the launch of the third generation of their website, EmersonBearing.com. The new site features the company’s full product catalog which also serves as a handy reference tool and a “Technical Toolbox” chock full of technical definitions, conversion charts and a diagnostic program for bearing failure.

Online catalog

The new online catalog enables visitors to quickly find what they need and check if a particular bearing or other part is in stock. Searches can be done by category or part number and there are visuals and specs for every bearing in the catalog. Customers can use the “Click to Call” feature to place their order with or question Emerson’s knowledgeable staff.  Additionally, the online catalog may be downloaded to the customer’s computer and used as a super-handy desktop reference tool for all bearings and related products. 

The new online catalog enables visitors to quickly find what they need and check if a particular bearing or other part is a stock item. Searches can be done by product category or part number. The online catalog serves as a super handy desktop reference tool by providing technical drawings, specs with load ratings, and the ability to compare parts side by side. This is all available for download with no password required. This new catalog features an expanded range of products from 3mm miniature bearings to 12” bore split spherical roller bearings and Oil Seals.

The site also features an ‘Industry Solutions’ section where the customer can find products and information for 16 of the major markets they serve nationwide

Technical toolbox

Bearing failure analysis can be quickly performed in-house with the help of Emerson Bearing’s online Failure Analysis diagnostic program found in the Technical Toolbox. Customers can now go online, identify the problem they are having with their bearing; determine why it failed and how to correct it.

Also within the Technical Toolbox page are dimensional and conversion charts.

Need to compare the load carrying ability of different types of bearings?  Looking for inch, decimal and metric conversion?  Visitors to Emersonbearing.com will be able to obtain all the necessary technical data and engineering information.

Bearing Detective

For those who are unable to read the numbers on an old bearing, Emerson Bearing offers an online “Bearing Detective” program that asks all the right questions and then tracks down the bearing that is required.

“Our sleek, new sophisticated website is easier to use than ever and includes our unique ‘Failure Analysis’ diagnostic program and our intelligent ‘Bearing Detective’ program. Customers will find our online catalog of more than 3 million bearings and related parts very user friendly and they can actually download and save it to their desktop to use as a reference. We’ve also made it easier than ever for engineers to find what they need by providing spec sheets and conversion charts,” explained Steve Katz, CEO of Emerson Bearing. He continued, “We invested thousands of dollars and nearly two years in the development of our new website and it is easily one of the most comprehensive sites for bearings.”

The Emerson Bearing Difference

In a proud tradition, the same families that started the company in 1957 keep Emerson Bearing rolling by specializing in bearings for OEM and MRO markets across the country. Emerson Bearing has a staff of 22 and a 23,000 square foot facility to provide bearings ranging in size from 3mm to tunnel-boring 15-foot-diameter giants.

Emerson Bearing offers customers a one-stop shopping experience. With an online product catalog with over 3 million bearings; a vast inventory of bearings; worldwide sourcing; a fixed price program; a knowledgeable staff dedicated to delivering; same day shipping and 24/7 service, Emerson Bearing has become the leading provider of bearings to OEM and MRO markets in the U.S.

Emerson Bearing maintains headquarters at 201 Brighton Ave. Boston, MA. For more information, contact 617-782-1400 or toll free, 800-225-4587 or visit www.emersonbearing.com

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Giving your employees a shot in the arm…Is offering your employees flu shots good business or opening the door to potential litigation?

BOSTON, MASS.

How does an employer prevent H1N1 flu (commonly known as swine flu) or your garden variety flu bug from infiltrating your workplace and your staff? The simple answer is: with caution.  

Requiring employees receive flu shots is generally not recommended. Mandatory immunization policies, however, may be appropriate in certain limited employment settings, such as for healthcare workers (e.g., physicians, nurses) who routinely come into contact with patients. Yet even employers making flu shots available on a voluntary basis run a possible risk of legal action by their employees.

“Making flu shots available to your employees might seem like a prudent and considerate thing for an employer to do, but there are many ways it can backfire.  For example, even asking an employee to reveal whether or not they’ve been vaccinated might arguably be considered a violation of HIPAA or state privacy laws,” said Terrence M. Schwab, an attorney for Boston-based Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C. “That’s not to say an employer shouldn’t make flu shots available to employees, however, there are a host of important considerations and potential repercussions that employers should be aware of.”

Some of the considerations employers should be aware of when deciding whether to offer employees vaccinations against H1N1 or other flu bugs include:

 

  • In all cases, have employees sign a consent and release form prior to receiving a flu shot.
  • Be careful when offering incentives (e.g., free lunch, half-day off work) to employees who choose to be vaccinated so as to avoid potential discrimination claims.  Some employees might be allergic to flu shots or may have religious beliefs or other valid objections that cause them to choose not to get a flu shot.  Excluding employees from an incentive-based flu shot campaign not only exposes employers to potential litigation, but it also could do significant harm to employee morale.
  • The better approach is to not keep records of employees who received immunizations and those who did not. Possessing such information, particularly when it concerns those employees who chose not to be immunized, could be considered a violation of HIPAA or state privacy laws.
  • If flu shots are made available on-site in the workplace, employers should arrange to have a licensed health care professional or organization (e.g. Visiting Nurses Association) administer the immunizations, and should make sure that any documents contained protected health information received from an on-site healthcare provider be safeguarded because of privacy issues under HIPAA.   

“An employer digging into his or her own pocket to provide employees with immunization is a good deed that really should go unpunished,” said Schwab. “By proceeding with care and taking certain precautionary measures, employers can not only help protect their employees from H1N1 or the flu, but they can do so in a manner that greatly minimizes their risk of legal exposure.”

About Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C.:

Formed in 1991, Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C. is committed to providing high quality, comprehensive legal services to its clients.  Featuring a breadth and depth of experience and perspective usually found only at larger law firms, Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers. P.C. offers sophisticated legal counsel to entrepreneurs, businesses, individuals, families, and institutions.

Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers’ areas of expertise include corporate law and business transactions, litigation and dispute resolution, estate planning, taxation, real estate, municipal law, and hospitality law.

The offices of Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C. are located at 101 Huntington Avenue, Prudential Center, in Boston, MA 02199. For additional information, or to arrange for a consultation, please call 1-617-218-2000, e-mail info@tbhr-law.com, or visit www.tbhr-law.com.

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Taking the Cash Crunch out of Christmas. New England Trade offers regional businesses a “barter” alternative to stuffing their stockings. Expo and Auction on December 2 at Danversport Yacht Club showcases over 25 booths.

DANVERS AND MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS…

 

This may be a cash-strapped Christmas for some. Others are taking an alternative route. What if you could trade or “barter” for gifts and goodies?

 

New England Trade, the largest bartering organization serving Massachusetts businesses for the past three decades, is hosting its Lucky 13th Annual Trade Expo and Auction on Wednesday, December 2, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Danversport Yacht Club, 161 Elliott Street, Danvers, Mass. More than 25 booths will feature gift baskets, restaurant gift certificates, clothing, toys for children of all ages, electronics and more.

 

The business public is welcome to attend. New England Trade membership is NOT required.

However businesses who aren’t members of New England Trade must pre-register as a guest in advance. Registration can be made by phone 781-388-9200 or by e-mail barter@newenglandtrade.com.

 

“This Christmas event is a great way to check off many of the items on your Christmas list and keep cash in your wallet,” said Ken Meharg, CEO of New England Trade. “These are difficult economic times and businesses that have extra inventory or service time are taking advantage of the age old concept of barter. They are ‘trading’ those extra goods or time for something within our barter system and everyone wins.”

 

The practice of bartering has been around since the days of the caveman. For example a plumber does some work for a CPA, who in turn does the plumber’s taxes. In a bartering organization, members have access to the products and services of all the members. So, the plumber can do work for the CPA on barter, but can then choose to “spend” the bartering dollars he’s accrued on another product or service offered by other members. Like use of an ocean-side condo for a week.

 

For more information on New England Trade, please visit www.newenglandtrade.com.

Trading up in New England
Since 1980, New England Trade has helped thousands of businesses gain a competitive edge by expanding their revenue and reach with barter. Restaurants, auto services, travel, retail stores, and professional business services such as accounting, legal and advertising/marketing are a sampling of the numerous clients who do business with New England Trade and each other. Maintaining offices at 926 Eastern Avenue in Malden, Mass., as well as 100 West Main Street in Hyannis for its Cape Cod branch (www.CapeCodTrade.com), New England Trade has become the largest barter organization in New England. The company is a founding member of the National Association of Trade Exchanges and a member of the International Reciprocal Trade Association, New England Trade manages more than $5-million in sales annually and has a staff of 10 people. New England Trade is operated by experienced, Certified Trade Brokers who know how to make barter work for business. The company is a long-standing member of the Malden Chamber of Commerce.
For additional information about New England Trade, please visit http://www.NewEnglandTrade.com or call 781-388-9200.

Taking the Cash Crunch out of Christmas. New England Trade offers regional businesses a “barter” alternative to stuffing their stockings. Expo and Auction on December 2 at Danversport Yacht Club showcases over 25 booths.Read More

A “crash” course in safe driving…King Collision Centers and Commerce Insurance partner with Plymouth Schools and Plymouth Police to promote safe driving for teens.

PLYMOUTH, MA…

As the owner of King Collision Center, Bruce King has seen the end result of many crashes involving young drivers. It’s a trend that’s escalated in recent years with the advent of cell phones and texting. That’s why King Collision has partnered with Commerce Insurance and Plymouth Public Schools and Plymouth Police Department on a safe driving campaign for Plymouth high school students.

To kick off the campaign, King Collision, with the help of Commerce Insurance, placed a smashed car on Long Pond Road as a reminder to all drivers of what can happen when you’re not focused on the road.

“We’ve got an epidemic out there with all drivers but particularly those new to driving. There’s too much speed and too many distractions and it’s a recipe for disaster,” said King. “We developed the Plymouth Safe Driving campaign to try and get the message out to young drivers that the only crash courses they should be taking are in school.”

In addition to the smashed car, which will appear at high traffic areas throughout Plymouth, the campaign also offers safe driving tips via its Web site, www.plymouthsafedriving.org. The site includes a contract for young drivers and their parents. The contract acts as the young driver’s pledge to drive responsibly.

Plymouth high school students who turn in a signed contract to their principal at either Plymouth North or South high school will be entered into a drawing for In Control’s Crash Prevention Training course (a $350 value!).  In addition to the winner, everyone who signs a contract and submits it to their respective principal is eligible to take the In Control Crash Prevention course at a 10 percent discount (see www.plymouthsafedriving.org for details). Not only does taking part in this course provide young drivers invaluable training, but it can also earn them or their parents a discount on auto insurance.

“We hope that students and parents take advantage of this great opportunity to get the training needed to create safer young drivers, which benefits us all,” said Gary Maestas, Plymouth Public Schools Superintendent.

The Plymouth Safe Driving campaign will be an ongoing effort to educate young drivers. For updates on latest events and activities related to this program and additional safety information, please periodically visit www.plymouthsafedriving.org.

Anyone Can Remove Dents – King Collision Centers Removes Doubts

Founded in 1984 by Bruce King, King Collision Centers provides superior collision repair and extraordinary customer care to thousands of clients south of Boston. King Collision is dedicated to earning customers for life and their team of professionals help clients through the collision repair process every step of the way – from coordinating a rental vehicle; providing accurate damage appraisal; assisting with the insurance claim process and ensuring that the vehicle is returned to its pre-accident operation, safety and value.

King Collision Centers was voted “Best Collision Repair” by Market Surveys of America and they have been selected to participate in the Repair Shop Referral Programs of 20 different insurance companies. The company continues to build strategic alliances with auto dealerships, enabling dealerships to offer collision repair services on-site – similar to their alignment with Mastria Auto Group in Raynham.

King Collision Centers are located in Pembroke, Plymouth and most recently, Raynham, MA.

For more information, visit KingCollision.com or contact 508-747-2005.

A “crash” course in safe driving…King Collision Centers and Commerce Insurance partner with Plymouth Schools and Plymouth Police to promote safe driving for teens.Read More

The “new” faces of franchising…Difficult economic times bring out franchisees from various walks of life

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

You’d think the worst economic times since the Great Depression would discourage budding entrepreneurs from going into business on their own. Yet with corporate layoffs, record unemployment rates, shrinking nest eggs and a number of other variables, many entrepreneurs are seeking franchises as a safer track to owning their own business—and that’s attracting franchise owners from a variety of backgrounds.

“It used to be your franchise owners drew more investor-types—celebrities, pro athletes and others with deep pockets looking for a turnkey operation,” said Peter Hans, CEO of Resort Maps Franchise, Inc., a franchisor and creator of more than 90 customized travel maps across the United States, England and Puerto Rico. “The economy has turned a number of franchise owners our way, either as an appealing option to corporate life and a shrinking job market or as a lifestyle option.”

Some of the areas attracting new franchise owners include:

·         Corporate casualties and refugees

·         Retirees

·         Working mothers

·         Veterans

·         Students

Gerry Pelissier, a Resort Maps franchise owner creating a new map in Dennis-Harwich, Massachusetts and with an existing map in Chatham-Orleans, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, represents one of the new faces. A former executive in the corporate world, Pelissier found owning a franchise; Resort Maps in particular, to be an appealing option. “Back when I was 28 years old, I had the drive and the entrepreneurship in my blood,’’ said Pelissier, who was the founder of a double drive-thru gourmet coffee business that he successfully franchised and then sold to Chock full o’Nuts. “I just turned 50 this year and I said to myself, ‘Let’s not create a new wheel.’ There’s a lot less risk in purchasing an existing franchise.”

David and Mary Kay McLane, owners of Resort Maps’ Charleston, South Carolina franchise, represent another of the new faces: retirees.

From central Pennsylvania, David and Mary Kay purchased a second home in Charleston in 2006. Since that time, both David, a clinical psychologist, and Mary Kay, healthcare and retail sales, retired from their respective careers. Yet early on the two realized they were not quite ready for full-time retirement.

“Resort Maps is a great business opportunity for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it’s a great product that provides a great vehicle for advertisers to showcase their businesses while offering invaluable service to people visiting Charleston,” said David McLane. “The other main appeal of the Resort Maps business opportunity is that it fits our lifestyle and gives us a chance to meet and know more people in the Charleston community.”

Resort Maps began creating and publishing maps in the northeastern U.S. back in 1986. In an effort to continue the company’s growth and simultaneously maintain the quality of the product, Resort Maps became a franchisor in 1993. Since adopting the franchise model, Resort Maps has grown steadily to more than 90 maps distributed across 20 states as well as towns and cities in England and Puerto Rico.

Adds Hans, “We’re probably a little different than most franchise opportunities. It’s the charge of our franchise owners to find advertisers for the map in their territory. The time frame for which the franchise owner finds those advertisers is totally up to them. So they’re not stuck in the 9-to-5, Monday through Friday, 12 months a year grind. An opportunity like that fits into the lifestyle of many of the new faces: retirees, couples, recent graduates or even current college students.”

About Resort Maps

Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Resort Maps has been creating and publishing advertising maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Today, that network of franchises has grown to over 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. More than 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009.

For more information on Resort Maps or to inquire about ownership of a Resort Maps franchise, please visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

Resort Maps franchises serve cities and towns in California (Carmel, Monterey), Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge, Cherry Creek, Colorado Springs, Denver, Eagle River, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, Tarpon Springs), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Maine (Bar Harbor/Acadia, Boothbay region, Camden-Rockland, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Portland, York-Ogunquit), , Maryland (Annapolis, Eastern Shore, Ocean City,  Solomons Island, St. Mary’s County), Massachusetts (Berkshires, Chatham-Orleans, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Traverse City), New Hampshire (Franconia/Notch Region, Hampton Beach, Hanover/Lebanon , Keene, Lakes Region, Mount Washington Valley, Portsmouth), New Jersey (Barnegat Bay, Cape May, Hoboken/Jersey City, Hunterdon, Lambertville , Long Beach Island, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York ( The Hamptons, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Hendersonville , Outer Banks, Salisbury and Rowan County, Sandhills, Wilmington,), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, The Main Line), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), and Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) —as well as towns and cities in England (Chicester, Lewes) and Puerto Rico (Vieques, Culebra).

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