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Kids play at DirectBuy…DirectBuy of Orlando offers “play” area for parents and kids.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA…

By purchasing directly from the manufacturer, DirectBuy Club members can not only save a lot of money, but enjoy the process as well. And while it can be a lot of fun to pick out your new kitchen, the new floors for your bathroom, it also requires your full attention—a luxury members with children don’t always have. That’s why DirectBuy of Orlando, the leading members-only home improvement and home furnishings club with direct insider prices, developed a “Kids Zone” area in their club so parents can focus on the task at hand and kids can enjoy the DirectBuy experience, too.

Though not a supervised area, the Kids Zone features a number of things to keep school-age children occupied and entertained, including books, puzzles, and games. The Kids Zone also includes a flat screen television so children can watch movies or play games.  

“Let’s face it, most kids would rather go to the dentist than watch their parents shop for their next home improvement project. By the same token, it’s difficult for members with children to get the most out of the experience and do the research they need to do if they’re concerned about the kids getting fidgety,” said Brian Cohen, owner of DirectBuy of Orlando. “The Kids Zone gives children of DirectBuy members a place to play games, watch TV, or even make new friends with other members’ kids while the grown-ups have their ‘fun.’”

Creating fun things to do for children is nothing new for DirectBuy. DirectBuy Clubs across North America regularly donate equipment to youth organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, YMCAs and children’s hospitals.

“As members of the Orlando business community, we have an even greater incentive to make this a one-of-a-kind, unique shopping experience because many of the members are our friends, neighbors, even relatives,” said Cohen. “Making the DirectBuy Club experience fun for children as well as the grownups is an extension of that philosophy.”

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

Since 1971, DirectBuy Club has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 502 Sunport Lane, Suite 400, in Orlando, DirectBuy of Orlando offers consumers a comfortable, welcoming setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy Club membership, visit directbuy.com.

About DirectBuy Club

For more than 39 years, DirectBuy Club 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 150 locations in North America, DirectBuy Club offers its members access to more than 700 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in Canada.

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

Kids play at DirectBuy…DirectBuy of Orlando offers “play” area for parents and kids.Read More

Boston Pack and Ship earns Better Business Bureau accreditation

BRAINTREE, MA…

As a small load shipping specialist for the past 22 years, Boston Pack and Ship has always tried to do right by its customers and its trusted business partners. That commitment to service recently earned Boston Pack and Ship accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a “Certificate of No Complaints” for a 36-month period.

The BBB accreditation recognizes Boston Pack and Ship’s satisfactory business record for a period of greater than one year. A satisfactory business record means being free from unsatisfactory reports or unresolved complaints for that period of time and agreeing to uphold BBB accreditation standards.

“The accreditation and the certificate are significant because the BBB is a recognized authority on best business practices and it’s reassuring to know the way we do business at Boston Pack and Ship meets those standards,” said Bill Yankee, co-owner of Boston Pack and Ship. “Of course, it’s our objective to provide superior service so that there never is a customer complaint to resolve and that what makes the ‘Certificate of No Complaints’ so gratifying. Consistently meeting the needs of our customers happy is the major reason why we are still going strong in our third decade of business.”

Boston Pack and Ship specializes in moves of 1,000 pounds or less. In addition, it offers customized package and custom crate building services at its workshop in Braintree. For items like computer equipment, artwork and other fragile items, Boston Pack and Ship employs foam-in-place technology to “lock” those items in place and limit movement within the package.

The breadth of Boston Pack and Ship’s relocation services includes:

  • Small loads – with no minimum requirement; blanket-wrapping for fragile, delicate moves; full insurance available
  • Custom crates and packaging for computers, electronic instruments, prototypes, antiques and artwork.
  • State-of-the-art, foam-in-place solutions to protect valuables
  • Multiple U.S. and International shipping options—ocean or air—to help lower costs
  • Door-to-door and door-to-port delivery with insurance available
  • On-time pickups by appointment

For more information, 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 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.

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How size can matter less…Secrets for decorating smaller rooms.

CHICAGO, GURNEE, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

How often have you heard the expression “doing more with less”? In a sluggish real estate market, many homeowners are staying in their current homes by necessity rather than upgrading to a larger home with more space. This places the challenge on the homeowner to make a smaller room look and function like a bigger space.

“When we think of making a smaller room work better, much of the focus is on throwing stuff out and organizing,” said Dave Kushner, owner of DirectBuy of Northern Illinois. “From a design and décor point of view, there are things homeowners and apartment residents can do to make a smaller space function and feel bigger.”

Kushner recommends the following:

Space planning – Creating a focal point in the room can keep visitors’ eyes from wandering and visually sizing up the entire room. Painting one wall a darker hue than the others accomplishes this quite nicely.

  • Mirrors – Consider mirroring the length of an entire wall to add depth and dimension to a room.
  • Lighting – If you can avoid it, do not use any hanging fixtures for lighting. These tend to accentuate lower ceilings. Track lighting is versatile and keeps the area above your furniture sight-line free.
  • Storage – In a smaller room, you need to be as efficient as possible with your storage. Make sure all the pieces of furniture you select for your smaller room have storage options (e.g. an electronics console with drawers, storage ottoman, etc.). Avoid open bookcases, which add to the cluttered, closed in feeling if they are full.
  • Décor – Remember, less is more. Select accessories that mean something to you and then think about removing one or two of those.
  • Flooring – If the square footage of the room is limited and it feels like the walls are closing in on you, the floor can be an ally. By sticking to neutral colors for the floor surface and then accentuating with a bold rug, you bring the focus of the room down to the surface.

“While everybody would like more space, decorating a smaller room does force you to do one thing that’s beneficial no matter what the size of your home—reduce clutter,” said Kushner. “By following just one or two of these guidelines, you can create a more livable space and, perhaps more importantly, make it feel more livable.”

About DirectBuy Club

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 or 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 150 locations throughout North America.

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

Locations of the DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are: 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 Northern Illinois, 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.

How size can matter less…Secrets for decorating smaller rooms.Read More

Boston’s Emerson Bearing Profiled in Gear Solutions

When Emerson Bearing was established more than 50 years ago in Boston, Massachusetts, where it’s still headquartered, it was a wholesale arm of Action Bearing. “My father, Justin Katz, co-founded Action Bearing with Edward Green in 1957,” according to Steven Katz, the current president of both companies, “and since we were such a big importer it made sense to establish a separate business entity to offer our ball and roller bearings to OEM and MRO clients on a wholesale basis.”

Read the article: http://bit.ly/diTvxT

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Tim Flynn of Winters Company featured in Contracting Business

Share information, serve with a smile
Running a service business is challenging. A single service call involves the work of many people, and incurs significant costs. As an HVAC and plumbing company, we incur many costs just getting our technician and truck out there, ready and able to complete a job….
Read Tim Flynn’s article in Contracting Business – http://bit.ly/bIQymp

Tim Flynn of Winters Company featured in Contracting BusinessRead More

Old Colony Elder Services Holds Annual Luncheon

Bernice Bennet, Nicolina Previtti, and Phyllis Hancock, board members at Old Colony Elder Services who were part of the reception committee for the Annual Luncheon.

175 guests and staff attended Old Colony Elder Services’ (OCES) Annual Luncheon held at the Shaw’s Center in Brockton on October 19th. Julie Murphy, President of the OCES Board of Directors, welcomed everyone, introduced the Executive Committee and acknowledged all other Directors.

OCES’ Executive Director, Diana DiGiorgi thanked staff for their work during the past year and elaborated upon several accomplishments over the past year which included the Executive Office of Elder Affairs’ re-designation of OCES as an Aging Services Access Point and OCES’ response submission having been evaluated as one of the best in the Commonwealth.

Sue Joss, Chief Executive Officer of the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center (BNHC), also located in Brockton, was the guest speaker. She talked about the 16 year history of the health center and the extraordinary growth they have experienced. Earlier this month, the BNHC received an $11.3 million federal grant for building expansion.

Service awards were presented to several OCES staff for 10 years (Dorothy Slack and Jacqui Sullivan); 15 years (Dorothy Crane, Isabel Sims, Eleanor Strangis, Michele Wall and Susan Weiner); 25 years (Tim Valentine); and 30 years (Linda Burroughs).

OCES serves elders, their families and caregivers in 23 towns in Southeastern Massachusetts.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services; Home Care and more.

OCES offers these programs 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.

In 2009, OCES was honored with the Metro-South Chamber of Commerce’s “Economic Impact Award”. The agency has 140 employees. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org

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HR Knowledge to Hold “Celebrating Charter School Excellence” Event on November 19th in Newton

The challenges faced by public education have promoted the growth of alternative learning environments. The Charter School industry is one of the fastest growing in the nation.

In light of this, HR Knowledge, Inc., providers of best-in-class integrated HR services to clients throughout New England, will hold a “Navigating a New Course – Celebrating Charter School Excellence” event on Friday, November 19, 2010, from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington Street in West Newton, MA.

Celebrating charter schools throughout New England, HR Knowledge is providing Charter school administrators and staff with a luncheon and private screening of “Waiting for Superman”, a documentary film that analyzes the challenges facing public education starring renowned Education Reformer Geoffrey Canada. A brief Q & A session on the state of Charter Schools and how they are changing the paradigm will precede the show.

This event is sponsored by HR Knowledge, Inc., Guardian, Hannify & King, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Lincoln Investment.

For more information about this event, contact Jeff Garr, CEO at HR Knowledge at (508) 339-1300.

About HR Knowledge, Inc.

HR Knowledge, Inc. is a leading Business Process Outsourcer (BPO) serving emerging to mid-sized companies in New England. HR Knowledge has the experience and technology to efficiently provide best-in-class integrated HR services at an affordable cost to clients.

HR Knowledge’s leaders have more than 100 years of combined experience and provide expert guidance in Human Resource management, Group Benefits Brokerage, Payroll Processing & Managed Services, Financial Services and Recruiting and Hiring Process Management (HPM).

Through their comprehensive Human Resource Services, HR Knowledge helps organizations minimize operational risks, reduce administrative costs and better serve their people.

HR Knowledge is headquartered at 905B South Main Street, Suite 203 in Mansfield and their second office is located at 45 First Avenue in Waltham, MA. For more information, contact (508) 339-1300 or visit their website at hrknowledge.com.

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Ride on…Todson sponsors May Institute; salutes successful 2010 Rodman Ride

Neal Todrys
Neal Todrys, president of Todson, Inc., takes part in the Rodman Ride for Kids as a member of May Institute's team.

NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASS…

For the fourth consecutive year, North Attleboro-based Todson, Inc., distributor of Topeak bicycle accessories and OnGuard Locks, sponsored the May Institute’s Rodman Ride team.  

In addition to Todson contributing $5,000 towards the May Institute’s donation, Todson staff joined the Institute’s team and the more than 1,000 riders who participated in this year’s Ride–which included a  25-, 50-, or 100-mile non-competitive cycling tour to raise funds for a wide variety of children’s social service agencies across Massachusetts. Todson also donated a bicycle and Red Sox tickets to the Rodman’s Ride raffle.

“The May Institute is a non-profit that’s near and dear to our hearts here at Todson. So as a distributor of cycling accessories, it’s an absolute no-brainer that we participate as part of the Institute’s Rodman team,” said Todson President and CEO Neal Todrys, who completed 25 miles for his part in the Rodman Ride. “Having participated in the Ride for several years, it’s gratifying to see how it’s grown because that means even more charities and non-profits across Massachusetts are benefitting.”

The May Institute is one of those non-profits. The May Institute serves children and adults with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, brain injury, mental illness and behavioral healthcare needs. Since its founding 55 years ago, May Institute has evolved into a national network that serves more than 25,000 individuals and their families annually. With corporate headquarters in Randolph, Mass., the Institute operates more than 200 service locations in the Northeast, Southeast, and on the West Coast.

“One hundred percent of the funds will directly benefit the estimated 16,000 children in New England who receive services from May Institute,” said Heidi Howard, M.P.A., Chief of Business Development. “We are extremely grateful to the Rodman Ride for helping us make a difference in the lives of the children we serve.”

Since its inception in 1991, the Rodman Ride for Kids has raised more than $44 million to help children across Massachusetts. That figures includes a whopping $7.2 million raised by the 2009 ride. The Rodman Ride is accepting donations until November 30, 2010 before issuing a final total for the year.

Persons or companies looking to donate to the Rodman Ride on behalf of The May Institute can contact Dana Pellitteri at dellitteri@mayinstitute.org. To donate directly to the Rodman Ride, visit www.rodmanrideforkids.org.

World Class Sports Accessories

Todson, Inc., the exclusive importer for Topeak for the U.S., is committed to providing the best in sports accessories to consumers around the globe.  Over the past 16 years, Topeak has risen to become the top cycling accessories brand in the world. 

In addition to Topeak cycling accessories, Todson is the distributor of renowned OnGuard line, the toughest line of power sport, bike and gear security products in the world.  The OnGuard line is available only through authorized dealers. Recognized for their legendary anti-drill and pick-proof M-Cylinder mechanism and flat key lock system, OnGuard’s locks, whether key or combination lock, are tested, approved and certified to guard bikes or power sport vehicles the world over.  OnGuard is the leading lock brand in Europe, in particular, Amsterdam, the bike theft capital of the world. 

Todson has successfully marketed recreational goods for more than 50 years. Now in its third generation of family ownership, Todson specializes in strategic sales and marketing, distribution, brand management and e-commerce. For more information about Topeak cycling accessories and OnGuard Locks, visit www.Todson.com or contact Todson at (800) 213-4561.  The company is located at 73 N. Washington Street, N. Attleboro, Mass.

About May Institute and the National Autism Center
May Institute is an award-winning nonprofit organization that provides educational, rehabilitative, and behavioral healthcare services to individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, brain injury, mental illness, and behavioral health needs.

Since its founding 55 years ago, May Institute has evolved into a national network that serves over 25,000 individuals and their families annually. With corporate headquarters in Randolph, Mass., the Institute operates more than 200 service locations in the Northeast, Southeast, and on the West Coast. Four May Institute schools serve children and adolescents with ASD and other developmental disabilities. Another school serves students with brain injury.

In 2005, in response to the tremendous increase in the prevalence of ASD, May Institute founded the National Autism Center. The Center is dedicated to serving children and adolescents with ASD by promoting best practices and offering comprehensive and reliable information to families, practitioners, and communities. In 2009, the Center’s unprecedented multi-year project – the National Standards Project – established a set of standards for effective, research-validated educational and behavioral interventions for children with ASD.

Together, May Institute and the National Autism Center are committed to identifying and applying universal standards for the treatment of autism and to providing care and hope to families throughout the country.

For more information, call 800.778.7601 or visit www.mayinstitute.org

Ride on…Todson sponsors May Institute; salutes successful 2010 Rodman RideRead More

Getting Stuck in the Middle – PR Pointers

From time to time, PR Works offers “Pointers” from other points of view.

The following are some pointers from our trusted colleague, Ken Cheo of Winfree Business Systems, a sales consultant.

GETTING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE

Here is a situation I encounter a lot with clients. I debrief with the client regarding a first meeting with a prospect. They tell me that the meeting went very well. They were able to generate good rapport and there was good discussion on the prospects needs which are a good fit for their products or services. The prospect said something encouraging like “I would like to do business with you” or “It sounds like you have just what we need”.

Then when I ask how did you leave it with them or what is the next step, they say something like, “They will call me next week after they bring it up in a meeting” or “They said they wanted to think about it for a while and will get back to me”.

It is easy for us as salespeople to be optimistic about our chances to make a sale and we need to maintain that positive attitude through the adversity. A seasoned salesperson would know that in a situation like this, you will not always receive that call back. In fact, many times it will be you that makes that follow up call and sometimes you end up having a difficult time getting reconnected or the project gets delayed for various reasons.

To be sure you are being most efficient with your time; you must first be able to recognize a real commitment. Then you must make sure you ask enough questions to gage their commitment so you know how much time to devote to this opportunity and when. Often times they tell me they are afraid to jeopardize their good rapport by appearing “too pushy”.

If a prospect really has a problem for you to solve and want your help, they will welcome a conversation about what needs to happen in order for them to solve it. It is when they have some hidden agenda that may prevent you from doing business with them that would prevent them from giving you a more firm commitment.

Set an agenda at the beginning of the meeting where you both agree on the potential outcomes for the meeting and if either one of you feel that you cannot do business; it is ok to say “no”. This will help create an environment where they are more open with the discussion and able to say so if they don’t see a fit.

If you do not close in the first meeting, understand what needs to happen between that first meeting and the time they will be able to decide and then get a commitment to work with you through that process. If you are not getting a genuine commitment to work towards a decision you should ask them about it.

If you want more advice about how to close more business faster and pay yourself what you’re worth, contact Ken Cheo at 508-735-5399 or email kcheo@winfree.org. Ask about the free sales workshops or for a no-cost consultation.

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