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Why the NHL playoffs are best viewed from a “man cave”…

OTTAWA, ON…

In your dad’s day, the “man cave” was the workshop in the garage. Today, it’s your basement den or office. Whereas your father might not have cared about sprucing up the workshop for company, today’s caveman, with the NHL Playoffs coming up, might want to upgrade their sanctuary before inviting other cavemen and their better halves.

DirectBuy, the leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, has some pointers for making the man cave guest-friendly for the upcoming NHL playoffs and beyond.

“While being able to get away from the rest of the house and watch sporting events like the NHL playoffs in peace may have been the genesis of the man cave, what might not have been taken into consideration initially was the desire to someday invite others to watch the game with you. And setting up a space fit for entertaining guests is something a lot of men may want some assistance with,” said Regis Girard, owner of DirectBuy of Ottawa.

So what items might today’s cave-gent need to complete the perfect hockey-watching party?

  • Kegerator – a man-cave essential for a beer-drinking crowd.
  •  Wide Screen TV with HD; surround sound speakers optional but highly desirable.
  • Sectional sofa to accommodate multiple visitors; reclining chair with cup holders for the host.
  • Full-size built-in bar area or free-standing, mobile bar station.
  • Tile or wood flooring that’s particularly resilient to potential spillage.
  •  Pool table, air hockey or foosball for halftime recreation.
  • Mini-kitchen with microwave to reheat buffalo wings.
  • Home gym equipment—e.g. treadmill, elliptical—to work off the excess calories consumed during man cave weekend hockey marathon.

DirectBuy offers nearly everything you need to create the perfect man cave no matter what your favorite sport might be at prices direct from manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. If you know what you want but don’t know how to pull it all together, DirectBuy also employs product specialists and professional designers well versed in the art of designing the perfect recreational space, while keeping you on budget.

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

Locations of DirectBuy by province are:

Alberta:

DirectBuy of Calgary Unit 17 3900 106th Ave. SE, Calgary, 403-543-1620

DirectBuy of Edmonton, 10427 174 St. NW, Edmonton, 780-413-8242

 

British Columbia:

DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver, 91 Golden Drive Unit #1, Coquitlam, 604-552-5252

DirectBuy of Vancouver, 2659 Lillooet St., Vancouver, 604-251-5822

DirectBuy of Central Okanagan, #5 2260 Hunter Rd, Kelowna, 250-763-4130

DirectBuy of Greater Victoria, 350B Bay Street, Victoria, 250-412-0238

 

Manitoba:

DirectBuy of Winnipeg, 180-117 King Edward Street East, Winnipeg, 204-925-4190

 

New Brunswick:

DirectBuy of New Brunswick, 950 Mountain Road, Moncton, 506-384-3009

 

Nova Scotia:

DirectBuy of Halifax, 60 Williams Avenue, Dartmouth, 902-446-4355

 

Ontario:

DirectBuy of Toronto Northwest, 2500 Williams Parkway E Unit 37, Brampton, 905-793-0639

DirectBuy of Ottawa, 1392 Cyrville Road, Ottawa, 613-749-2700

DirectBuy of London, 4093 Meadowbrook Dr. Unit 108, London, 519-652-0552

DirectBuy of Toronto North, 205 Torbay Road, Unit #2, Markham, 905-948-1911

DirectBuy of Mississauga, 4120 Ridgeway Drive Unit 26, Mississauga, 905-608-9244

DirectBuy of Kingston, 1121 John Counter Blvd, Kingston, 613-545-1200

DirectBuy of Toronto East, 1735 Bayly Unit 17, Pickering, 905-839-7747

DirectBuy of Hamilton – Niagara, 589 Barton St, Suite 102, Stoney Creek, 905-643-8271

DirectBuy of Toronto Downtown, 20 Banigan Drive, Toronto, 416-467-0078

DirectBuy of Waterloo, 755 Bridge St. Ste. 14, Waterloo, 519-885-3231

DirectBuy of Windsor, 2705 Kew Drive, Windsor, 519-945-3200

DirectBuy of Barrie, 320 Bayfield Street Unit 63, Barrie, 705-719-2999

 

Saskatchewan:

DirectBuy of Saskatoon, 201 Robin Crescent, Saskatoon, 306-683-3490

Why the NHL playoffs are best viewed from a “man cave”…Read More

Chiropractic Spine and Sports Rehabilitation to hold Spring Wellness Workshop on April 13th

Dr. Carol DeFranca, a Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedist and the Nutrition team at Chiropractic Spine and Sports Rehabilitation in Norwell will hold a FREE Spring Wellness workshop on Monday, April 13th from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the South Shore Natural Science Center on Jacobs Lane (Route 123) in Norwell.

Attendees will learn about the important role of detoxifying the body to maintain good health. Topics to be covered include:

· The differences between a detox, cleanse and fast

· Which foods are best to eat during a detox

· Which nutrients fuel the detoxification process

· The liver and its role in health

“Nutrition plays an important role in illness and prevention. Some health problems such as chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and allergies are linked to what is known as ‘toxic overload’ from continuous exposure to environmental toxins,” Dr. DeFranca explained. “Our Spring Wellness workshop will discuss detoxification as an important process that cleanses the body of these foreign chemicals and toxins.”

Complimentary nutritious shakes and bars will also be served.

Space is limited. Call (781) 982-5566 to register. For more information, contact the Chiropractic Spine and Sports nutrition team at (781) 982-5566 or visit their website at www.norwellspineandsports.com.

Chiropractic Spine and Sports Rehabilitation are providers of orthopedic chiropractic care; functional medicine; nutritional counseling; spine and sports rehabilitation and muscular therapy.

Office hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for appointments with Dr. Scott Chapman, and Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for appointments with Dr. DeFranca. The practice is located at 144 Washington Street, Route 53 in Norwell, MA.

Chiropractic Spine and Sports Rehabilitation to hold Spring Wellness Workshop on April 13thRead More

COBRA 101…Administrative Business Resources (ABR) hosts HR Webinar series on on COBRA on April 8

  

Sheldon Prenovitz, Administrative Business Resources
Sheldon Prenovitz, Administrative Business Resources

FRAMINGHAM, MA …

 

Administrative Business Resources (ABR) a company that specializes helping human resource departments automate their services, will host an upcoming Webinar entitled “Clarifying COBRA.” Frank Aubuchon, owner of Aubuchon & Associates, will conduct the 30-minute Webinar, which will take place on Wednesday, April 8 at 11 a.m. EST.

“COBRA has become a very hot topic since President Obama signed the new stimulus package into law. Here in Massachusetts, companies with less than 20 employees face many new challenges because of this new legislation. During this Webinar, Frank will try to sift through the new information while providing a basic overview of COBRA,” said Sheldon Prenovitz, president of ABR.

Prior to founding Aubuchon & Associates, Aubuchon was a regional director of human resources for a Fortune 1000 company. In addition, he’s also a former assistant vice president of human resources at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts and has taught numerous courses on HR-related topics.

To attend the Webinar, simply go to www.helloworld.com/abresources. Click on the broadcast tower and choose the “On the Air” option. There is no charge to attend the Webinar.

In addition to the COBRA presentation, there will also be a Q&A session so attendees can get instant feedback.

“Whether you have two employees or 200, COBRA is an issue these days that all business owners need to know about. Hopefully, with this session, we can give the small business owner who also doubles as his or her own human resources department enough of the basics and a sufficient update on what’s currently going on with COBRA,” said Prenovitz.

If you have questions about the upcoming Webinar, you can contact ABR by calling 617-747-3970 or by e-mail at info@abresources.com.

About Administrative Business Resources (ABR)

Administrative Business Resources (ABR) is a Payroll / HR technology company established to assist clients of all sizes with their Payroll / HR/Benefits integration and execution. ABR’s team of experts gives companies access to knowledge that would otherwise cost a substantial amount. This limitless resource of knowledge, combined with ABR’s online META portal technology, gives companies the ultimate control without a significant time and cost investment.  For more information on ABR, please visit www.abresourceshr.com.

COBRA 101…Administrative Business Resources (ABR) hosts HR Webinar series on on COBRA on April 8Read More

Family traditions provide a recipe for success as Cirelli Foods of Middleborough, MA expands with acquisition of Savage & Company of Framingham, MA.

DATELINE: MIDDLEBOROUGH, MA…
In these uncertain times, Cirelli Foods of Middleborough, MA, New England’s largest family owned broad line foodservice distributor continues to grow as they proudly announce the union of two great family traditions with their recent acquisition of Savage & Company of Framingham, MA.

Locally owned and operated for more than 80 years, Savage & Company’s high quality baking ingredients have enhanced a wide array of products created and produced by New England’s professional baking community.

Paul Morrissey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cirelli Foods, is excited about the opportunities that the acquisition offers for both Cirelli and Savage customers, “The addition of Savage’s artisan quality baking ingredients deepens and strengthens our existing product line, allowing us to expand our offerings to existing Cirelli customers. In addition, Savage customers will now have access to over 10,000 products available in our Middleborough warehouse, as well as the added boon of online product listings and convenient online ordering.”

“In acquiring Savage & Company, Cirelli Foods is also very fortunate to be able to welcome aboard Savage’s own dedicated sales and purchasing staff. Their knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset to Cirelli’s, ensuring a seamless transition of accounts and deliveries,” added Morrissey. “As Cirelli Foods expands, we will also continue to seek additional regional opportunities for growth.”

Al Gordon, President of Savage & Company, praised the acquisition, “It’s a very good marriage for two companies that both have a strong family heritage and are very good at what they do. I’ve been impressed with everyone I’ve met at Cirelli’s. They’re passionate and dedicated  – strong traits that have always been part of the Savage tradition. Cirelli Foods has an infrastructure already in place that will quickly bring the Savage product line to a more competitive level with access to more refined systems and better capabilities to transport products.”

Cirelli Foods will offer the complete line of Savage products, at the same prices. The same fine ingredients, prized by New England’s professional baking community, will now be available to ALL Cirelli customers starting in March of 2009, including their retail customers at Cirelli Marketplace. This includes Artisan quality flours and grains, as well as hard to find spices, seeds, fruits, nuts and a broad selection of additional epicurean essentials.

Cirelli Foods is also excited to be able to offer Fabbri’s internationally renowned line of fruit pastes, specialty toppings and syrups, as well as their exceptional line of ingredients for pastry, gelato, chocolate making, and baking, including Fabbri’s signature Amarena cherries.

From Humble Beginnings
Originally founded in Brockton over 60 years ago, Cirelli Foods’ headquarters and warehouse complex is located at 30 Commerce Boulevard in the Middleborough Industrial Park in Middleborough, MA, with close proximity to Interstate 495, and Routes 44 and 24.

Cirelli Foods is the largest family owned independent broad line foodservice distributor in New England with broad customer base that includes independent restaurants, multi-chain units, schools, healthcare facilities, non-profits, and other foodservice operations.

The retail division, originally referred to as Cirelli’s Cash & Carry, was founded in 1967. Located at Cirelli’s Middleborough facility, Cirelli Marketplace is a state-of-the-art retail market, offering a wide selection of name brand foods, paper goods, beer and wine as well as a full selection of liquor with over 4,000 on-shelf products and access to any of the additional 10,000 items in stock in the Cirelli Foods warehouse.

For additional information about Cirelli Foodservice, please call 1-800-242-0939, 1-508-947-8778, or email: info@cirelli.com; for Cirelli Marketplace please call 1-508-947-8211 or email: Marketplace@cirelli.com; or visit www.cirelli.com.

Family traditions provide a recipe for success as Cirelli Foods of Middleborough, MA expands with acquisition of Savage & Company of Framingham, MA.Read More

Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers invites the public to attend a free seminar on “Wills and Trusts in Uncertain Times” at the Wellesley Free Library on April 15, 2009 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.

DATELINE:  BOSTON, MA…
Are you relying on yesterday’s strategies to deal with today’s issues? Uncertain times are leading to changing economic circumstances for many individuals and families, making estate planning a topic of critical interest.

Learn more about “Wills and Trusts in Uncertain Times” at a seminar presented by Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers of Boston, to be held on Wednesday April 15, 2009 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the Wellesley Free Library located at 530 Washington Street, Wellesley Square, in Wellesley, MA. The seminar is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served. To reserve your place, please call (617) 218-2097 or email events@tbhr-law.com

The seminar will be presented by Perry Ganz, Esq. a partner with Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C of Boston. Attorney Ganz focuses his practice in the areas of estate planning and taxation and was named a Massachusetts Rising Star by Boston Magazine.  He is a frequent speaker on estate planning strategies and has written articles for various publications, as well as the chapter entitled “Making Charitable Contributions” in Drafting Estate Plans, a Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education publication. He has also been quoted in the Wall Street Journal on changes in the federal estate tax law.

A variety of real life issues will be discussed, including common estate planning errors, asset protection strategies, estate tax reduction strategies, and avoiding probate. Plan on attending to learn more and to explore current estate planning issues and options.

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, employment matters, mergers and acquisitions, litigation and dispute resolution, estate planning, taxation, real estate, bankruptcy, and municipal 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.

Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers invites the public to attend a free seminar on “Wills and Trusts in Uncertain Times” at the Wellesley Free Library on April 15, 2009 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.Read More

USMMA’s Child Safety Open House Kicks Off Free Self-Defense Classes for the Community. Raised $500 for Random Smile Project of Bellingham.

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United States Mixed Martial Arts’ of Bellingham is committed to empowering families with information regarding child safety and protection. Their recent Child Safety Open House attracted over 175 attendees and served to kick-off a series of free self-defense classes for the community.

$500 in proceeds were raised from the sale of signed memorabilia from champion Mixed Martial Arts fighters were donated to Random Smile Project of Bellingham, a non-profit that provides temporary assistance to families and individuals going through tough circumstances.

Parents and guardians of approximately 100 children were pleased to have the opportunity to have their children fingerprinted for safety and identification at the Child Safety Open House. Along with the fingerprinting, Franklin Police DARE officers were on site to talk with kids and the Sutton and Bellingham Police offered K-9 demonstrations. Attendees also enjoyed Mixed Martial Arts self-defense demonstrations and Free Chair Massages.

“We had a terrific turnout and hope to turn this into an annual event,” noted Tom Hafers, owner of USMMA.

The first in the series of free self defense classes is a Rape Prevention & Self Defense class for teens and adults which will be held on April 18th at USMMA’s training facility located at 316 Hartford Avenue.

For more information about the free self-defense classes, visit the website at www.usmma.org or contact 508-966-5006.

About USMMA

USMMA focuses on elevating the physical and spiritual well being of students through Mixed Martial Arts and Yoga. Classes offered include Strength & Conditioning; Brazilian Jiu Jitsu; Thai Boxing; Cardio Thai Boxing; Wrestling; Cardio and Open Mat; Kids Mixed Martial Arts; Pilates; Power Yoga and Deep Flow Yoga.

USMMA’s state of the art, 4,000 square foot training facility is complete with a 2,000 square foot padded MMA training floor equipped with heavy bags and conditioning equipment, a 1,500 square foot yoga studio, locker rooms, showers and a juice bar. USMMA is located at 316 Hartford Avenue in Bellingham. For more information, call 508-966-5006 or visit their website at www.usmma.org.

About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com), a leader in the natural and organic foods industry and America’s first national certified organic grocer, was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” in 2008 by Health magazine. The Whole Foods Market motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures the company’s mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to its 53,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 12 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2008, the company had sales of $8 billion and currently has more than 275 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & WildTM, and Harry’s Farmers Market® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP.  Wild Oats® and Capers Community MarketTM are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc.

About Random Smile Project

Random Smile, a grass-roots community non-profit organization located in Bellingham, Mass., offers temporary assistance to families and individuals going through tough circumstances. They also recognize the community’s “Unsung Heroes” and strive to get kids involved and engaged in helping their community and neighbors through community service. For more information, visit randomsmile.org or contact (508) 728-7850.

USMMA’s Child Safety Open House Kicks Off Free Self-Defense Classes for the Community. Raised $500 for Random Smile Project of Bellingham.Read More

Common HR mistakes addressed at Administrative Business Resources’s Webinar

FRAMINGHAM, MA …

Administrative Business Resources (ABR), a company that specializes helping human resource departments automate their services, recently hosted its first live Webinar with special guest, Frank Aubuchon, owner of Aubuchon Associates, an independent HR consulting firm.

The 30-minute Webinar, hosted by ABR President Sheldon Prenovitz, addressed “Common HR Mistakes” as part of Aubuchon’s presentation.

“These are challenging times for everyone, but particularly small businesses. This Webinar was kind of an HR 101 for the small business owner who due to size and budget constraints handles HR issues without the benefit of an HR staff,” said Prenovitz.

Held on March 18, here’s a snapshot of some of the “Common Mistakes” covered by Aubuchon during the presentation:

●        Failure to establish an effective sexual harassment policy

●        Failing to pay overtime to nonexempt employees

●        Failing to quickly discharge poor performing employees

●        Classifying employees as independent contractors

●        Being proactive in keeping your workforce union free

●        Not completing I-9 forms for new employees

“Having somebody of Frank’s caliber discuss these issues gave attendees a lot of information in a very short amount of time,” said Prenovitz. “He’s the level of guest we’re hoping to have for future Webinars.”

Prior to starting Aubuchon & Associates, Aubuchon was a regional director of human resources for a Fortune 1000 company. In addition, he’s also a former assistant vice president of Human Resources at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts and has taught numerous courses on HR-related topics.

For those who would like to view the recorded version of the Webinar, please visit http://www.helloworld.com:80/global_frameset.aspx?target=myworld&uID=107105&section=show&recID=196574.

If you have questions or requests for upcoming Webinars, you can contact ABR by calling 617-747-3970 or by e-mail at info@abresources.com.

About Administrative Business Resources (ABR)

Administrative Business Resources (ABR) is a Payroll / HR technology company established to assist clients of all sizes with their Payroll / HR/Benefits integration and execution. ABR’s team of experts provides companies access to knowledge that would otherwise cost a substantial amount. This limitless resource of knowledge, combined with ABR’s online META Portal Technology, gives companies the ultimate control without a significant time and cost investment.  For more information on ABR, please visit www.abresourceshr.com.

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J.P. Licks Offers “Ice Cream for a Buck” on Sox Home Opening Day – Encourages Donations of New/Gently Used Baseball Equipment to Support Boys & Girls Club of Boston

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On Red Sox Home Opening Day, Monday, April 6th, J.P. Licks will offer “Ice Cream for a Buck” at all their stores to say “thanks” to both fans of their homemade ice cream and fans of the Sox.

Stop by any of J.P. Licks’ eight homemade ice cream and coffee cafés in and around the Boston area between noon and 9 p.m. on Red Sox Home Opening Day and get any ice cream or frozen yogurt for only $1 per scoop. At the same time, make a donation to help the Boys & Girls Clubs in the Boston area.

From April 6th to April 12th, all J.P. Licks stores will be collecting new or gently used baseball (and other sporting) equipment for the non-profit Boys & Girls Club of Boston. Don’t have baseball equipment? Donate new/gently used basketballs, soccer balls, dodge balls, Wiffle™ balls and bats, softballs, softball helmets, soccer shin guards, street hockey equipment, tennis rackets, tennis balls, jump ropes, double dutch ropes and/or hula hoops.

“The Boys & Girls Club of Boston is a terrific organization and we’re asking folks to support them by donating much needed sports equipment to any one of our stores during the week of April 6th,” noted Vince Petryk, owner of the eight J.P. Licks stores.

He continued, “We’re looking forward to another great Opening Day. Last year, the Sox won and we scooped over 26,000 servings of ice cream to say Thank You to our customers. Baseball and ice cream simply go together. It’s a great way to start the season.”

Gear up for the season and try one of these special flavors in the spirit of the Sox: Rice DICE Kream, Green Monster Tea, One Sweet World Series, Peanut Beckett and Jelly, Cherry Ortiz, Very Berry Ellsbury Lowfat Yogurt and Pedroia’s Passion Fruit Sorbet.

Kids of all ages will enjoy J.P. Licks’ tribute “Slider Sundae”, made with a choice of ice cream and topping and served in a Red Sox logo cap. Or bring home a Baseball pie made with vanilla ice cream in a graham cracker shell with caramel complete with red stitching!

To locate a store, visit jplicks.com.

The Boys & Girls Club of Boston – Invest in a Child, Inspire a Future

The Boys & Girls Club mission is to help young people, especially those who need it most, build strong character and realize their full potential as responsible citizens and leaders. The Boys & Girls Club does this by providing: a safe haven filled with hope and opportunity; ongoing relationships with caring adults and life-enhancing programs. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston is a not-for-profit organization and a local affiliate of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

They are located at 50 Congress Street, Suite 730, Boston, MA 02109. For more information, visit www.bgcb.org.

Best of Boston and Beyond

For more than 27 years, J.P. Licks has been serving homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt and other specialties in their eight Kosher-certified shops in and around Boston. They have won, literally, hundreds of awards over the years. Most recently, J.P. Licks has received six “Best of Boston’s” from Boston Magazine; 10 consecutive “Best” awards from the Boston Phoenix Reader’s Poll and three consecutive “Bests” from The Weekly Dig magazine. J.P. Licks was also chosen as Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s “Small Business of the Year” in 2007.

Additionally, J.P. Licks roasts their own fair trade and organic coffee beans in the Jamaica Plain store and they cater ice cream parties, too. Visit the website at jplicks.com for even more information.

J.P. Licks Offers “Ice Cream for a Buck” on Sox Home Opening Day – Encourages Donations of New/Gently Used Baseball Equipment to Support Boys & Girls Club of BostonRead More

Is your line of credit next in your bank’s line of fire? …TBHR offers some precautionary tips for businesses with lines of credit.

William Rodgers
William Rodgers

BOSTON, MASS.

 

Business owners take out lines of credit for any number of reasons – to finance operations, fund the start-up of special projects, buy equipment, embark on an advertising campaign or even to act as a rainy day fund.

In today’s turbulent economic climate, there have been cases of banks calling business owners’ lines of credit without advance notice and, in many instances, without apparent justification. As counsel to many businesses as part of its corporate law practice, Boston-based Tarlow Breed Hart & Rodgers, P.C. has some pointers for business owners with on-demand lines of credit.  

“With the way things are today, it’s quite possible that a bank could call in a customer’s line of credit at any given time. While that might be unrelated to anything the borrower has or hasn’t done, business owners can put themselves on better ground with lenders,” said Bill Rodgers, a member of TBHR.

For starters, Rodgers suggests that businesses should, at all times, maintain compliance with the terms of the line of credit and the loan requirements. That not only means making payments on time, but also keeping up with timely reporting and observing all covenants of the loan.

“You also want to keep an open line of communication with your lender. If you’re experiencing some difficulty or if there’s a development at your business that could affect your line of credit, tell the bank sooner rather than later.  Banks do not like surprises, particularly in challenging economic times. By communicating forthrightly and regularly, you build goodwill that could save your line of credit down the road,” said Rodgers.

“The sad reality is that there are times the bank’s decision to call your line of credit has nothing to do with your performance as a customer and is a reflection of what’s going on internally with the lender or externally in the customer’s industry,” said Rodgers. “That’s why having a contingency plan in place before the bank calls your line of credit is critical.”

Of course, doing your due diligence on a lender prior to taking out a line of credit can also better insulate business owners from having a banker make a surprise demand for payment of a line of credit. Some guidelines business owners can follow in selecting a lender include:

●        Seeking out lenders who have an appetite for your industry  (e.g. a lender who specializes in loans for construction companies is less likely to get jittery by turns in the real estate market).

●        Seeking the counsel of financial intermediaries – working with somebody who knows the landscape and speaks the language of lenders can help prevent you from making a critical mistake. They can also tell you which institutions are giving out lines of credit at the moment.

●        Looking to community banks – it was the larger banks that were hit hardest by the recent economic downturn.

●        Being sure to have your own house in order – including having up to date financial statements and a current business plan in place.

“The current economic landscape has everybody—businesses and lenders—a little anxious.  By doing your homework first and by proactively working with your lender, you can better protect your business against the unwelcome payment demand when you’ve got no way to pay,” said Rodgers.

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.

Is your line of credit next in your bank’s line of fire? …TBHR offers some precautionary tips for businesses with lines of credit.Read More