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Creating momentum for Moving Professionals.

Moving professionals can either choose to be victims of a difficult real estate market or be proactive as interest rates continue to be favorable and opportunity presents itself.  In recognition of the challenge for the moving and storage industry, a targeted seminar on sales and marketing is slated for Tuesday, April 21, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Vinny Testa’s Meeting Facility, 233 Elm Street, Dedham, MA.

 

The presentation is sponsored and led by Al Schrade, CMC and Steve Dubin, PR Works, two professionals with more than three decades of moving and storage experience. Cost for the day long presentation is $75.

 

The morning session “Selling in the Current Environment” presented by Al Schrade, CMC addresses a wide range of topics including Get Your Head “In the Sale”, Prospecting for Sales, Sales Call Prep, More Than a Survey, Listening to the “Customer”, Selling “On or Off” Price, Working with Objections, Closing Sales Techniques, Handling Challenging Customers, Multiple Decision Makers, Persuasive Sales Presentations, and Sales Motivation and Goals.

 

Al Schrade is a twenty year veteran of the transportation industry with a concentration in moving and storage products and services.  He has held positions in operations, sales, sales management, account management, interstate and international relocation, van line management and, during the past eight years, the director of a Massachusetts moving and storage trade association.  Al has presented and overseen numerous seminars on a variety of important topics over the past several years.

 

The afternoon session focuses on marketing and outlines how to STAND OUT from the crowd, how to generate leads now and on an ongoing basis.  Included are online secrets to traditional gems, this marketing/PR workshop provides the ammunition to drive new business today and tomorrow.  Specific topics include Targeting Low Hanging Fruit, Email for Essential Savings, Search Engines are the “New” Yellow Pages. Case Studies / Testimonials, Pitching the Press, and News Releases to full feature stories.

 

Steven Dubin, President of PR Works based in Kingston, Mass., knows marketing and the “news” business.  He started his newspaper career by covering the Boston Celtics.  From there Steve progressed to editing and marketing positions in several publishing companies, including Mariner Newspapers. 


 

Seating is limited. To reserve or to obtain more information, please contact Al Schrade, 401-245-5440 or email alschrade@aol.com.

 

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Online Lead Generation Service Launched by MediaRight.net, Hanover, Mass.

WORKING HEADLINE: Online Lead Generation Service Launched by MediaRight.net, Hanover, Mass.

 

For many plumbers, electricians and other home improvement providers were spoiled until recently. There was so much new business that customers would patiently wait weeks for projects to commence.  In today’s economy that lead flow has gone from a gusher to an unpredictable drip.

 

A new Online Lead Generation Service has been launched by MediaRight.net, based in Hanover, Mass., to respond to that challenge.  Utilizing a variety of techniques including Search Engine Optimization (SEO) of website pages, headlines and body copy; scrutiny of Google ad words and targeting key words and phrases; and a WordPress platform, MediaRight.net is transforming how service providers are finding motivated customers.

 

“This recession had me more than concerned,” noted John Wood, founder and CEO of Hub Plumbing, Boston, Mass.  He added, “I was skeptical about the validity of the Online Lead Generation Service approach, but I give it a shot by borrowing from my Yellow Pages budget.  Well, now I can sleep comfortably knowing that when I arrive at my shop in the morning we will have new customers who have found us and are ready to do business.”

 

Jack Child, founder and President of Black Dawg Sealcoat, a national franchise based in Nashua, NH, remarked, “Our driveway preservation business is very seasonal and we have to make hay while the sun is shining.  As a new brand, we needed to be easily found not by name, but category.  The Online Lead Generation Service is keeping our crews – both in New England and beyond – very busy.”

 

Due the competitive nature of the service industry, the Online Lead Generation Service is exclusive to each service providers market area.  Pricing for the service starts at $5,000.

 

The lead capturing system maintains a high level of accountability.  New customer information is sent via email to both the service provider and also archived on their website.  The customer also receives a confirmation email. 

 

Roland Lacey, the architect of The Online Lead Generation Service and President of MediaRight.net, asserted, “Our system and our client’s websites address three critical customer questions.  Do you have what I am looking for? Do I trust your company and site?  How do I get it?  By answering these questions with relevant content, professional design and user friendly navigation, we convert visitors to customers.”

Lacey continued, “Our stable of talented ghost writers and graphic designers create pages that search engines – and PEOPLE – really love. Many of our articles have been picked up by high profile sites leading to valuable links for our clients’ sites.”

ABOUT MEDIARIGHT.NET

Roland Lacey Jr. founded MediaRight.net in 1995 with the goal of helping small to medium sized businesses use the Internet and its associated technologies to grow their business online.

A Marketing major in college, Roland went on to a 28 year career in software design concluding that chapter as a Vice President at State Street Bank where he was a leader of development staffs of several European branches. Over the last 15 years Roland and the MediaRight.net team have built hundreds of successful web sites for businesses in all kinds of markets.

Lacey served as the Technical Editor of “The Essential Online Solution: The 5 Step Formula for Small Business Success” as well as the recently released second edition of “Retail Business Kit for Dummies” both published by Wiley and Sons. He serves as the Technical Editor and is a frequent presenter on “The Retailer’s Advantage” membership web site.

For more information about MediaRight.net, visit the website, email Roland@MediaRight.net, or call (781) 924-1141.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Price is Right. Seminar outlines how to price your service and collect for it.

South Shore Ad Club hosts event on May 11, 6 p.m. at Asian C, Hingham, Mass.

 

What is my time worth?  What is my product worth?  Many businesspeople are paralyzed by these thoughts.  In response, the South Shore Ad Club is hosting a panel discussion entitled “The Price is Right” on May 11, 6 p.m. at Asian C, 48 Whiting Street, Route 53, Hingham, Mass.

 

The panel of two seasoned accountants and business development gurus will explore the many factors involved in determining pricing and will also outline tactics to collect from clients.

 

Panelists include John Topham, a CPA and co-founder of Damon, Topham & Company, LLC of Marshfield, a full service multi-disciplined firm of Certified Public Accountants, providing accounting, taxation, business development and financial services and Larry Rice, a CPA and business development consultant with Rodman & Rodman, P.C. Certified Public Accountants and Business Strategists of Newton, Mass.  Steve Dubin, founder of PR Works of Kingston, a full service public relations firms will serve as moderator.

 

The price of admission is $25 for  non-members, $20 for members. Buffet dinner will be served.  Members and the general business community are welcome.

 

“Most service professional are too modest with their hourly fees and billing structure and leave money on the table or diminish their credibility via low pricing,” noted Steve Dubin, owner of PR Works and member of the South Shore Ad Club’s board of directors. He added, “This seminar explores simple methods to determine reasonable pricing and how to collect it.”

 

About The South Shore Ad Club

The South Shore Ad Club is a non-profit 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.

 

Space is limited. To RSVP, please contact Mary McElroy, McElroy Associates, (781) 383-0505 or info@mcelroyassoc.net.  Payment for this function can also be made on-line at www.SouthShoreAd.com.  Cash or checks will also be accepted at the door.

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DirectBuy of Tinley Park owner celebrates 35 years in business

TINLEY PARK, IL…

Before Ed Sell purchased his DirectBuy franchise back in 1974, the world was a different place. Richard Nixon had yet to resign from office. Not everybody had a color television. There was still no such thing as a free agent in baseball. Yet in celebrating his 35th anniversary with DirectBuy, Sell is still sold on the DirectBuy concept of providing members the opportunity to purchase name brand products at direct insider prices.

“My first experience with DirectBuy was as a member back in 1972. So I experienced the kind of savings you can only get by buying directly from the manufacturer firsthand. You could say I was impressed with the company from the very start because shortly after I joined applied for a job there and eventually wanted to buy my own franchise,” said Sell.

Sell opened his DirectBuy in Calumet, Illinois back in March of 1974. He ran his franchise in that location until 2000 before expanding his territory and opening the current location at 18400 S. 76th Avenue in Tinley Park, Illinois. About seven years into his ownership, Sell acquired a business partner when he married I.J., the current Mrs. Sell.

“Ed didn’t have to, pardon the pun, sell me on DirectBuy. It was clear to me from the start that this was a great company and a great business. Twenty-nine years later, for me, and 35 for Ed, we still take a tremendous amount of satisfaction in seeing people get more for their money and avoiding retail markups,” says I.J.

The leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, DirectBuy of Tinley Park Estates offers manufacturer-direct pricing on products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, all from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. DirectBuy also offers design, delivery and installation services.

“Our 35 years in business have not only given us the opportunity to help families in the greater Chicago area and northwestern Indiana create the home of their dreams, but to also establish ourselves as part of the local business community and as a contributor to local charities,” said Sell. “We look forward to further cultivating those relationships with our customers and the community as we build toward even bigger and better things in the years to come.”

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 to 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.  It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. The five DirectBuy showrooms 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.directbuychicago.com/. 

Locations of the five DirectBuy showrooms serving the greater Chicago area are: DirectBuy of Gurnee, 4081 Ryan Rd. #107, Gurnee, IL; DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, 2200 N. Stonington Ave Ste. 150 Hoffman Estates, IL; DirectBuy of Chicago North, 6325 Avondale, Chicago, IL; DirectBuy of DuPage County, 1864 Highgrove Ste. 136 Naperville, 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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Top mark for DirectBuy… DirectBuy hires Mark Boggess as chief financial officer

MERRILLVILLE, IN…

The DirectBuy Corporate Support Center recently hired Mark Boggess as chief financial officer (CFO).

AS CFO, Boggess will work closely with management to grow the DirectBuy network of franchise centers, as well as new products and services.

“We’re extremely excited to have somebody of Mark’s caliber as CFO. It’s no coincidence that the companies he’s worked for previously have enjoyed tremendous success and we’re hoping that continues here at DirectBuy,” said Scott Powell, president and CEO of DirectBuy.

Boggess comes to DirectBuy after a successful career with Affinity Group, Inc., which operates membership clubs with nearly two million active members. The company sells products and services like liability insurance, emergency road service, publishing and specialty retail.

“I’m positively thrilled with the opportunity to work with Scott and the rest of the team at DirectBuy,” said Boggess. “We’re in the middle of some very challenging economic times these days and that makes the job of CFO even more critical. Thankfully, DirectBuy has a product that gives consumers the power to stretch their dollars farther and that’s something I’m happy to be a part of.”

Boggess and his family are in the process of relocating to Chicagoland from Bowling Green, Kentucky.

DirectBuy clubs offer members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories by purchasing wholesale, directly from the manufacturer or authorized distributor. In addition, DirectBuy clubs boast a team of designers to help members with their purchases and gives them access to a roster of hand-selected contractors to expedite those projects.

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

About DirectBuy

For more than 37 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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DirectBuy of Little Rock makes local efforts for long distance disaster.

 LITTLE ROCK, AR…

Why is it that “no good deed goes unnoticed?” Sometimes it’s because the effects of that good deed will have forever altered the lives of those involved. And that’s why the service staff at DirectBuy of Little Rock donated their time and efforts on March 27, 2009 to help fill 4,000 disaster relief buckets for the recent flooding in North Dakota.

Ferncliff Disaster Assistance Center in Arkansas coordinated local relief efforts for the flood disasters in North Dakota. The buckets contained essential items for residential cleanup like: garbage bags, sponges, scrub brushes, masks, gloves, and detergent. Little Rock’s service staff helped fill and palletize close to a hundred extra large buckets before returning to work that day.

“Our service staff participates in community outreach every month,” said co-owner of DirectBuy of Little Rock Paula Schmidt. “We’ll be back to help fill First Aid kits anytime there is a disaster.”

Months of rain and bad weather caused the Red River that runs through eastern North and South Dakota as well as western Minnesota to swell and spill over its banks. Floodwaters that made it through the levee damaged roads, public buildings, businesses, and homes.

A week after record flooding in North Dakota, cleanup efforts were under way. Thanks to the help of Ferncliff Disaster Relief Center, residents and businesses were prepared for immediate cleanup as relief buckets were sent on Saturday March 28, 2009.

In order to obtain high levels of service, DirectBuy of Little Rock has service trainings 3 days a week. Once a month, the staff reaches out to the community as part of those trainings. Little Rock’s Catalog Updater Eden Carroll introduced the staff to the relief center where her father serves as Director.

“Although the Red River is out of immediate danger, the river is still roughly 37 feet above flood stage. Should the river flood the area again, and we pray that it doesn’t, we would be more than willing to contribute further efforts in the relief of North Dakota,” said Service Manager Joey Sammons.

DirectBuy clubs across North America are active contributors to many local non-profits and charities. Some of the more notable beneficiaries of DirectBuy’s generosity include the Boys & Girls Clubs, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Homes for Our Troops and Children’s Hospitals.

About Ferncliff Disaster Assistance Center

Ferncliff has a 10,000 sq ft Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) that works in cooperation with Church World Service (CWS) and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). The warehouse receives CWS Gift-of-the-Heart kits from churches around the country. Churches west of the Mississippi are invited to send their completed kits to Ferncliff. Churches to the east are asked to send their kits to the CWS national warehouse in New Windsor, Maryland. Kits received at Ferncliff will either be consolidated and sent in quantity to Maryland or can be sent directly to disaster sites.

About DirectBuy

For 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 furniture, carpet and flooring, and custom window treatments, to kitchen and bath cabinets and fixtures, appliances and much, much more.  DirectBuy enables members to purchase products from several hundred manufacturers at more than 160 clubs across North America.  To learn more about DirectBuy, visit www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

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Getting good wood on shipments…Boston Pack and Ship receives Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association certification.

BRAINTREE, MA…

As a small load-shipping specialist, Boston Pack and Ship builds crates to fit some rather unique sized objects—e.g. artwork, grandfather’s clocks, high value computer servers/electronics. Yet for overseas shipments, that crate not only has to fit whatever is being shipped, but made from the right wood. Hence the importance of Boston Pack and Ship’s recent certification by  the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NeLMA).

Established in 1933, NeLMA is the rules writing agency for Eastern White Pine Lumber and the grading authority for Eastern Spruce, Balsam Fir, Spruce Pine Fir (SPFs) species grouping and other commercially important eastern softwood lumber species. Wooden crates used to ship items overseas must be stamped by a governing body like NeLMA.

“Overseas, there’s been a real problem with shipments in wooden crates infested with termites and other insects and bugs. Those insects travel via crate, jump off and then infest trees and vegetation. The new customs regulations mandate that crates being shipped overseas have the approval of a regulating body like NeLMA or the overseas customs officers will destroy the crate and what’s inside. Not to mention the serious fines that are involved. That’s why Boston Pack and Ship receiving our NeLMA certification is critical,” said Joe Fell, co-owner of Boston Pack and Ship.

Wood to be used for crates for overseas shipping must meet the guidelines set by the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures. Specifically, wood used for crates must be heat-treated for 30 minutes at 133 degrees to receive the NeLMA stamp.

“Many of the softer woods like spruce can’t be used for overseas crates because though they have been heat-treated, they have not been treated for the right length of time and temperature,” added Fell. “That’s something that NeLMA really stays on top of. Even with our certification, we still undergo random audits to ensure that every crate that ships out of here meets NeLMA standards.”

In addition to customized crates and packages, Boston Pack and Ship employs foam-in-place technology to ensure the safe shipment of products for both commercial and residential customers. Products being shipped can range from medical equipment and computer servers to delicate artwork and grandfather clocks.

Boston Pack and Ship offers multiple U.S. shipping options including ground and air delivery to a terminal for pickup or inside delivery. International options include air or ocean with door-to-door or door-to-port delivery. Full declared value is available on both domestic and international shipments. Pick-up of items to be packed and shipped for delivery is made by appointment.

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

Formerly known as The Packaging Store and now repackaged as Boston Pack and Ship, these small load specialists have 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.

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Speech! Speech! How giving speeches can win you business.

Speaking at seminars, networking events, professional or trade gatherings or teaching a class is a great way to not only strut your stuff and show off your expertise, but market your company.

Why? Much like the credibility factor you gain when a newspaper or magazine writes a story on your company as opposed to you placing an ad in that publication, being an in-person authority via a speaking engagement gives you considerable cache. It also gives you the very best opportunity to showcase your expertise. 

Developing a speaking engagement program takes a game plan. For starters, you’ll want to:
  • Decide which product or service you want to showcase. It can be an existing product or service or the launch of a new one. Sometimes the best way to get a new product or service off the ground is via a speaking engagement.
  • Select the right speaker from your organization – Sometimes the head honcho isn’t the right fit for certain audiences; some of your executives may not be as polished. You need to select the speaker that puts your company in the best light.
  • Target an audience; geographic region – Sure, you want to speak in front of people who might actually buy your product or service. Yet sometimes in speaking to a non-profit group or to students, you can strike a chord with somebody who knows somebody. In other words, there’s never really a bad speaking opportunity. In designing your speaking program, you want to target the most likely potential customers in the desired geographic location.
  • Assign ownership of your speaking program – Designate one person in your organization to be in charge of finding speaking opps so it’s an active part or your marketing. It also makes it easier because your go-to person for speaking engagements will be more familiar with the application process and working with event coordinators.
  • Make a splash with your presentation – While speaking engagements can be a great way to market, you can also fall flat on your face if your presentation doesn’t grab your audience. Invest the time and, if necessary, the expense in making your speech captivating.
While it may take a bit to get your speaking program off the ground, it’s well worth it. Not only will you be able to market your company to the people you’re speaking to, but it provides a number of opportunities to publicize appearances-before and after-with press releases and links. But that’s a subject for another PR Pointer.

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Old Colony Elder Services to Hold “Elder Care Expo” on April 14th

PLYMOUTH COUNTY AND AVON; EASTON AND STOUGHTON, MA…
Old Colony Elder Services of Brockton will hold an “Elder Care Expo” for seniors and caregivers on Tuesday, April

14, 2009 from 10 a,m. to 2 p.m. at the Brockton Council on Aging, 10 Father Kenney Way in Brockton.  This is a FREE event.

The Elder Care Expo is designed to broaden the community’s awareness about resources available to help manage elder care issues.  There will be resource exhibits, health screenings and educational seminars throughout the day.  Health screenings include: hearing, glucose and pulmonary function screenings as well as blood pressure checks.

Rochelle Sugarman, Family Caregiver Support Program Caregiver Specialist at OCES will present a seminar on “Tools for Caring”.  Seniors and caregivers will learn about tips and resources that are available to family caregivers and the elders in their care.

Pam McCormack, Manager of the Alzheimer’s Association Southeastern MA, Cape Cod and the Islands office, will hold the seminar “Maintain Your Brain: How to Live a Brain-Healthy Lifestyle”.  Attendees will learn about
scientifically-rooted nutritional and lifestyle advice, interactive exercises and activities.  This program is
geared to adults who want to learn more about staying fit from the neck up.

There will also be refreshments, giveaways and raffles.  Every attendee will receive the updated Elder Education and Community Outreach (EECO).Resource Guide for Older Adults and Caregivers.

This event is sponsored by Old Colony Elder Services’ Family Caregiver Support Program (which is partially funded by The Older Americans Act, Title IIE with support from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs) and EECO.  For more information contact:  Sara Gassett at Old Colony Elder Services (508) 584-1561 ext. 272.

Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association strives to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through research; provide care and support for those affected and promote brain health.  The Southeastern MA/Cape Cod and the Islands Regional Office is located in Raynham, MA.  For more information, visit the website http://www.alz.org/manh/.

EECO
Elder Education and Community Outreach is sponsored by Brockton Neighborhood Health Center; Brockton Council on Aging; Brockton Visiting Nurse Association; Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital; Brockton Board of Health; New England Sinai Hospital and Rehab Center/Sinai Day Health; Old Colony Elder Services; St. Joseph’s Manor/Mater Dei Adult Day Health; Senior Whole Health and Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc. (BAMSI) Helpline.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

OCES serves elders, their families and caregivers in the towns of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent
unnecessary or premature institutionalization.

The agency has 130 employees and operates more than 12 programs serving elders, their families and caregivers.  For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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