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A singles solution…. eLove opens matchmaking office in Edina, Minnesota.

EDINA, MINNESOTA AND NORWELL, MASSACHUSETTS…

During a Minnesota winter, you get used to single digits. Yet being single (AKA alone) can make those frigid temperatures seem colder. In an effort to remedy that situation for singles in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area, eLove, the first company within the dating industry offering both online dating and matchmaking services, recently opened a matchmaking office at 3300 Edinborough Way, Suite 419 in Edina.

“If you’re ready to meet that special someone, the bar scene or many online sites can be every bit as cold as it is outside right now,” said Paul A. Falzone, CEO of eLove, one of the largest online dating and matchmaking services in the world. “We tailor our matchmaking service towards singles who are sick of the games and are ready to find their soul mate.”

eLove’s formula for helping people find that special somebody has been working for singles for the better part of four decades.

“My wife and I heartily endorse you,” said Roger McDaniel of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. “We just celebrated 23 years of marriage and all because of your company.”

In addition to a brick-and-mortar matchmaking service, eLove also offers online dating services. To find out more, visit www.elove.com. To arrange a consultation with a professional matchmaker or for a membership, contact eLove toll-free at 877–356-8370

For a free copy of Paul A. Falzone’s book “eLove: A Singles Guide”, please visit www.elovesuccess.com.                                                                                                                 

eLove is all you need

eLove, the next evolution in dating, has arrived.  eLove is the first “life stage company” within the dating industry to provide different levels of dating services, from internet to traditional matchmaking, based on how serious singles are about meeting their soul mate.  Never before has a dating service catered so completely to everyone regardless of their age, sex, or relationship goals. With 52 matchmaking offices in 23 states and an online dating network of more than three million singles worldwide, eLove is everything that singles have been wishing for whether they are looking for casual dating or a serious, committed relationship.                                                                                        

eLove’s Matchmaking Service offices are located in:  Arkansas (Bentonville, Fort Smith, Little Rock); California (Los Angeles, Palo Alto, Sacramento, Walnut Creek, San Diego, Santa Rosa, Westlake); Connecticut (Glastonbury, Stamford); Illinois (Chicago, Downers Grove, Normal, Schaumburg, Rockford); Indiana (Carmel, Ft. Wayne); Kansas (Overland Park, Wichita); Maryland (Columbia, Frederick); Massachusetts (Newton, Norwell, Shrewsbury, Woburn); Michigan (Bingham Farms);Minnesota (Edina); Missouri (Springfield, St. Louis); Nebraska (Lincoln, Omaha); New Jersey (Iselin, Saddle Brook); Nevada (Las Vegas); Ohio (Cincinnati); Oklahoma (Oklahoma City, Tulsa); Pennsylvania (Mechanicsburg, Philadelphia); Rhode Island (Warwick); South Carolina (Greenville); Tennessee (Memphis, Franklin); Texas (Austin, San Antonio); Virginia (Falls Church, Richmond); Wisconsin (Appleton, Elm Grove, Madison).

For more information on eLove, visit www.elove.com. 

A singles solution…. eLove opens matchmaking office in Edina, Minnesota.Read More

eLove’s newest matchmaker takes top prize at Internet Dating Conference

Julie Ferman
Julie Ferman of eLove

NORWELL, MASSACHUSETTS…

When eLove acquired Los-Angeles-based matchmaker Cupid’s Coach a few months ago, many industry experts called it the proverbial “marriage made in heaven”.  Based on honors bestowed on Cupid’s Coach owner Julie Ferman and eLove at the recent iDATE conference held in Miami—Ferman won “Best Matchmaker” for 2011, with eLove finishing second—the marriage is wedded bliss.

Ferman received more than 36 percent of the vote in the Best Matchmaker category, while eLove received more than 28 percent. eLove also finished third in the “Most Innovative Company” category.

“Julie Ferman truly is a star in this industry,” said Paul A. Falzone, CEO of eLove, one of the world’s largest matchmaking services. “This recognition is well deserved and if we had to come in second to someone, I’m glad it was Julie. I’m even happier now that she’s on our team at eLove.”

Ferman has been in the matchmaking business for more than two decades and has helped hundreds of singles find that special someone. In addition to her matchmaking work, she’s appeared on numerous television programs, including NBC’s Match Off, E’s Kendra and Dr. Phil.

“It’s been quite a year for Cupid’s Coach and this is just the icing on the cake,” said Ferman, who also won iDATE’s “Best Matchmaker” for 2010.

iDate is one of the matchmaking industry’s largest events for Online Dating and Social Networking business management. In addition to its awards ceremonies, iDate Conference provides matchmaking professionals the opportunity to network with other matchmakers and learn more about current industry trends, including: business strategies, mobile technologies, new markets, social networks, mobile marketing, venture capital, software, partnerships, legal issues, background search and payments.

iDate conference attendees include:

  • Social networking business executives
  • Software & technology executives
  • Venture Capitalists and Seed Funding Capitalists
  • Mobile Telecommunication executives
  • Marketing executives
  • Media executives
  • Background Search executives
  • Payment processing executives
  • Affiliate managers & Affiliates

The next iDate conference will be held in Los Angeles, California in June 2011.

eLove is all you need

eLove, the next evolution in dating, has arrived.  eLove is the first “life stage company” within the dating industry to provide different levels of dating services, from internet to traditional matchmaking, based on how serious singles are about meeting their soul mate.  Never before has a dating service catered so completely to everyone regardless of their age, sex, or relationship goals. With 52 matchmaking offices in 23 states and an online dating network of more than three million singles worldwide, eLove is everything that singles have been wishing for whether they are looking for casual dating or a serious, committed relationship.

eLove’s Matchmaking Service offices are located in:  Arkansas (Bentonville, Fort Smith, Little Rock); California (Los Angeles, Palo Alto, Sacramento, Walnut Creek, San Diego, Santa Rosa, Westlake); Connecticut (Glastonbury, Stamford); Illinois (Chicago, Downers Grove, Normal, Schaumburg, Rockford); Indiana (Carmel, Ft. Wayne); Kansas (Overland Park, Wichita); Maryland (Columbia, Frederick); Massachusetts (Newton, Norwell, Shrewsbury, Woburn); Michigan (Bingham Farms);Minnesota (Edina); Missouri (Springfield, St. Louis); Nebraska (Lincoln, Omaha); New Jersey (Iselin, Saddle Brook); Nevada (Las Vegas); Ohio (Cincinnati); Oklahoma (Oklahoma City, Tulsa); Pennsylvania (Mechanicsburg, Philadelphia); Rhode Island (Warwick); South Carolina (Greenville); Tennessee (Memphis, Franklin); Texas (Austin, San Antonio); Virginia (Falls Church, Richmond); Wisconsin (Appleton, Elm Grove, Madison).

For more information on eLove, visit www.elove.com.

eLove’s newest matchmaker takes top prize at Internet Dating ConferenceRead More

A bathroom refresher…Mini-makeovers for the bath

 CHICAGO, GURNEE, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

One of the many euphemisms for bathroom is “the necessary.” That perhaps explains the mindset of many homeowners and why, short of a total remodel, they do very little with the décor and design of their bathrooms over the course of a year. The bathroom might just be the one room that’s easiest to make over and make an impression with—without making a huge impression on your bank account.

“Even if you have a large bathroom, chances are it’s smaller than most rooms in your home,” said Jeremy Vest, owner of DirectBuy of DuPage County. “What that means is that even something as simple as a fresh coat of paint or some wallpaper can make your bathroom look like new.”

Some of the bathroom “touch ups” Vest recommends includes:

  • Putting a coat of fresh, new paint or textured wallpaper on the walls.
  • Changing an outdated sink and vanity with a new and beautiful pedestal sink.
  • Repainting or replacing bathroom cabinets.
  • Installing new flooring with something timeless like marble mosaics.
  • Updating and improving lighting with new, energy efficient sconces.

“The beauty of these upgrades is that you don’t need to be Mr. or Ms. Home Improvement to take these projects on and that saves you the cost of hiring someone to do it,” said Vest. “Couple the nominal investment needed for these improvements with the dramatic impact each can have on your bathroom and you’ve got a win-win.”

DirectBuy Club offers home furnishings and merchandise in addition to items for home improvement projects to help all homeowners brighten up their homes all year round—at direct insider prices. DirectBuy also employs product specialists and designers, so if you need some assistance in selecting products or taking on a home improvement project, you have seasoned professionals at your service.

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 140 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.

A bathroom refresher…Mini-makeovers for the bathRead More

Navy veteran earns his strips again…Launches YELLOW DAWG STRIPING of North Florida.

GOFFSTOWN, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA…

Robert Burris, a four year Navy veteran, has launched his new business venture, YELLOW DAWG STRIPING of North Florida.  Burris joins the YELLOW DAWG STRIPING franchise team of pavement marking specialists stretching from Maine to New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and, now, Florida. Burris’ new venture will service parking lots in the Jacksonville metro area including Duval, Nassau, Clay, Baker and St. Johns counties.

For Burris, who also happens to be a former professional athlete and four year veteran of local law enforcement, the decision to purchase a YELLOW DAWG franchise was direct and timely. “I had been working with a business coach for several months looking for the right opportunity to build a business of my own and, after going through the process to match my skills with various opportunities, it was obvious to me YELLOW DAWG was the hands-down winner.”

Robert continued, “This is a low cost franchise with low overhead.  It allows me to start a business where there is real demand for my services; every parking lot in my territory needs striping or restriping.  But, what really struck me about YELLOW DAWG was the thoroughness of the operation, how it is truly customer-oriented and not just engaged in lip service to that idea. As a veteran and police officer, I understand and believe in service. YELLOW DAWG does, too.”

The path to owning a line striping franchise goes further back than Burris’ recent business search. At a recent meeting, Burris recalled his days in professional baseball as a pitcher with the Oakland Athletics organization. “Oh, yeah, we always loved watching the groundskeepers do their job. So much goes into it. Back in college ball we were responsible for doing all the grounds keeping ourselves. It always made me smile to be one of the few guys who could run those foul lines straight for 300 feet. Now instead of chalk, I get to paint it on,” he laughed.

One of the lessons of his baseball days has stayed with Burris and is part of his plans for YELLOW DAWG of North Florida. “In sports, in any endeavor really, there are plateaus that need an extra push to break through. One of my coaches would always say to us, ‘It’s only money.’ Meaning, if we didn’t work harder, work smarter and commit to our work, then someone else was going to reach the next level. As a new business owner, that sticks with me. I’m here to work hard and deliver the best possible products and service in the market.”

Burris’ veteran status was important to Jack Child, founder of BLACK DAWG FRANCHISE GROUP, parent company of YELLOW DAWG.  Child, also a military veteran, had this to say “Bob joining our team is a big plus for us.  We really like recruiting veterans as they have been trained to show up on time, wear the uniform properly and follow a prescribed system in order to get the mission accomplished – all the necessary skills we need to satisfy our customers.” 

As a member of the VetFran Organization, dedicated to assisting military veterans find a path to business ownership, YELLOW DAWG granted Burris a 30% discount off his Initial Franchise Fee as a way of saying “Thanks” for his military service.

YELLOW DAWG STRIPING is one of three affiliate brands operated by BLACK DAWG FRANCHISE GROUP.  They also offer franchises for BLACK DAWG SEALCOAT, an asphalt maintenance business, and BLUE DAWG POWER WASH, a residential and commercial pressure washing business. BLACK DAWG SEALCOAT now has 11 franchises in seven states. YELLOW DAWG STRIPING has five locations serving six states and BLUE DAWG POWER WASH has three locations serving Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. For more information about their three franchise opportunities, please visit BlackDawgFranchise.com. To learn more about YELLOW DAWG STRIPING of North Florida, visit YellowDawgStriping.com.  Or call 1-800-998-DAWG (3294).

Navy veteran earns his strips again…Launches YELLOW DAWG STRIPING of North Florida.Read More

Ladies, take charge of Valentine’s Day

NORWELL, MASSACHUSETTS…

While Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a day for lovers, it can be a source of frustration for many couples. For women, it can be especially frustrating because their significant other doesn’t put much thought into the day or, worse, labors through Valentine’s Day plans as if it’s another chore on the dreaded “honey-do” list. That’s why many women have adopted a “take charge” approach to Valentine’s Day to recapture the spirit of the day.

“Women tend to expect big things from their partner’s on V-Day, and men often feel obliged to come up big or feel like they are letting someone down. No other holiday brings about the differences between men and women more than Valentine’s Day,” said Paul A. Falzone, CEO of eLove, one of the world’s largest online dating and matchmaking services. “,” said Paul A. Falzone, “By being proactive leading up to Valentine’s Day, women can actually show their significant other’s how Valentine’s Day  can be a date to be anticipated, not dreaded.”

Here are some strategies Falzone recommends women try to get their sweetie excited about Valentine’s Day:

  • Leave a racy text – Send them a racy text .
  • Mail a card – There’s just something special about receiving a Valentine in the mail—even for a guy. Again, send it early so he receives it with plenty of time to reciprocate. If you want to talk about having a special evening with him on Valentine’s, even better. Yet the focus should really be on how much you appreciate them.
  • E-mail reservations –  If there’s a restaurant, B&B or hotel you’ve been looking to go to, make reservations ahead of time and share it with your mate. Ask him if he wants to go there for Valentine’s.
  • Alternate years for Valentine’s Day planning – Decide to have one of you plan Valentine’s Day activities and alternate years. Does this open the door for him to do nothing when it’s his turn? Possibly. Yet men are competitive and do not like to look bad or be shown up. So, if you show him a great Valentine’s Day, the onus is on him to top it the next year. 

“It is quite easy to get stuck in the rut of Valentine’s being the proverbial greeting card holiday,” said Falzone. “The idea behind ladies taking over Valentine’s Day really is to make it a holiday you both enjoy and look forward to.” It’s also recommended that you show each other your appreciation by being thoughtful on the other 364 days of the year!

eLove is all you need

eLove, the next evolution in dating, has arrived.  eLove is the first “life stage company” within the dating industry to provide different levels of dating services, from internet to traditional matchmaking, based on how serious singles are about meeting their soul mate.  Never before has a dating service catered so completely to everyone regardless of their age, sex, or relationship goals. With 48 matchmaking offices in 23 states and an online dating network of more than three million singles worldwide, eLove is everything that singles have been wishing for whether they are looking for casual dating or a serious, committed relationship.                                                                                   

eLove’s Matchmaking Service offices are located in:  Arkansas (Bentonville, Fort Smith, Little Rock); California (Palo Alto, Sacramento, Walnut Creek, San Diego, Santa Rosa); Connecticut (Glastonbury, Stamford); Illinois (Chicago, Downers Grove, Normal, Northbrook, Rockford); Indiana (Carmel, Ft. Wayne); Kansas (Overland Park, Wichita); Kentucky (Louisville); Maryland (Columbia, Frederick); Massachusetts (Newton, Norwell, Shrewsbury, Woburn); Michigan (Bingham Farms); Missouri (Springfield, St. Louis); Nebraska (Lincoln, Omaha); New Jersey (Saddle Brook); Nevada (Las Vegas); Ohio (Cincinnati); Oklahoma (Oklahoma City, Tulsa); Pennsylvania (Mechanicsburg); Rhode Island (Warwick); South Carolina (Greenville); Tennessee (Memphis, Franklin); Texas (Austin, San Antonio); Virginia (Falls Church, Richmond); Wisconsin (Appleton, Elm Grove, Madison).

For more information on eLove, visit www.elove.com.

Ladies, take charge of Valentine’s DayRead More

Your new travel guide…Marilyn Holstein takes over Hamptons Resort Maps operations.

Marilyn Holstein of Resort Maps
Marilyn Holstein of Resort Maps

SAG HARBOR, NEW YORK AND WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

 Resort Maps, creator of more than 100 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently announced Marilyn Holstein as the new owner of their map for the Town of East Hampton. The Sag Harbor summer resident took over the publishing of the map effective November 2010.

 Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of towns and cities, distributed free to area visitors at travel information and rest areas as well at advertiser locations. Resort Maps highlight local attractions and things to do, restaurants, accommodations, retail shops, real estate and other services in the area. Each advertiser on the map is represented with a display ad surrounding the perimeter of the map, including a color-coded grid locator and their actual building hand-drawn, highlighted and labeled, making it easy to locate. 

“The Hamptons is such a huge and diverse area that it has really been underserved by having only one Resort Map,” said Holstein, who also owns Resort Maps of the North Fork. “That’s why we’ll be creating two maps for the area to offer visitors a more thorough resource and, for our advertisers, a map that better targets potential customers.”

The first edition of the Hamptons Resort Map will be published in May 2011 and will cover the Town of East Hampton, incorporating the villages of Wainscott, East Hampton, Amagansett and Montauk. A map of Southampton (covering Sag Harbor, Bridgehampton, Water Mill and Southampton) is planned for 2012.

“The East Hampton Resort Map is being completely redrawn to more accurately reflect the geography of the region,” said Holstein. “The map will also be folded differently than previous versions so it will be a more convenient size to carry around.”

In addition to the printed map, both Hamptons Resort Maps will also be available online at www.resortmaps.com. There you will also find interactive maps of the more than 100 map areas covered by Resort Maps. These interactive maps allow the viewer to see the business’s advertisement and read a description of each business as they scroll over their building and to connect to the website of the business for further information. 

Prior to starting the North Fork Resort Maps franchise in 2010, Holstein had a career spanning two decades in magazine publishing, including stints at Condé Nast Publications and Advanstar Communications. In her most recent position, she was the managing editor of Newsweek Budget Travel, where she directed the editorial operations of Budget Travel magazine and the new launch, Girlfriend Getaways.

For information on how to advertise on the initial East Hampton Resort Map, you can e-mail Marilyn Holstein at marilynh@resortmaps.com or call 631-655-2773.

Resort 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 more than 100 Resort Maps in publication in the US, the UK, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, with several more in the process of being published.  Nearly 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2010.

For more information on Resort Maps and/or the franchise opportunity, 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, Vail & Beaver Creek, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Boca Raton, Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Delray Beach, Key West, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, Tarpon Springs), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Kentucky (Lexington) 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, Brewster/Harwich/Dennis, Chatham-Orleans, Eastham-Wellfleet, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Northern Michigan/Petoskey/Harbor Springs; 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, New Brunswick, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York (The North Fork, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs, The Hamptons,), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Hendersonville , Outer Banks, Salisbury and Rowan County, Sandhills, Wilmington,), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, Lehigh Valley, The Main Line, Lancaster County), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), Texas (North Texas, including Fort Worth), Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) and Virginia (Alexandria, Northern Neck & Middle Peninsula) —as well as towns and cities in England (Chicester, Lewes), Puerto Rico (San Juan, Vieques, Culebra) and Costa Rica (Escazu-Santa Ana).

Your new travel guide…Marilyn Holstein takes over Hamptons Resort Maps operations.Read More

Your new travel guide…Mike Chenail opens Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Resort Maps franchise.

Mike Chenail
Mike Chenail of Resort Maps

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA AND WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

Resort Maps, creator of more than 100 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently announced Mike Chenail as the owner of the new Resort Map to be published for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of towns and cities, distributed free to area visitors at travel information and rest areas as well as at advertiser locations. The Lancaster County map will highlight local attractions and things to do, restaurants and bars, accommodations, retail shops, real estate and other services for both downtown Lancaster and Amish country. Each advertiser on the map will be represented with a display ad surrounding the perimeter of the map, including a color-coded grid locator and their actual building hand-drawn, highlighted and labeled, making it easy to locate. 

 “Lancaster County has a lot to offer in terms of sights and attractions, from the local independent baseball league team—the Lancaster Barnstormers—to President James Buchanan’s Wheatland home to the quaint Amish countryside,” said Chenail. “Resort Maps gives tourists and locals a hard copy map alternative and online map option that makes it easy to get around and really gives visitors a feel for what the area is all about.”

Originally from western Massachusetts, Chenail received a bachelor’s degree in arboriculture from the University of Massachusetts. Prior to owning the Resort Maps franchise, he worked in sales in the tree care industry. Chenail first heard of Resort Maps while residing in Massachusetts in the 1990’s, but the idea to pursue a franchise came after watching visitors to Bucks County navigate effortlessly with the map and frequenting the advertisers they saw.

The Lancaster County Resort Map will offer a treasure trove of things to do for people vacationing in the area or just visiting for a day or two. Resort Maps free ‘souvenir style’ maps will have a 200,000 map distribution at Welcome Centers and over 100 local advertisers’ shops and non-advertiser locations throughout Lancaster County. Each map display case will include a tag reader symbol so that readers with a smartphone can take a picture of the tag and be automatically taken to the online version of the Lancaster County Resort Map.

“The advanced technology of Resort Maps was one of the main reasons I bought a franchise. The fact that the map is online and the colorful art work of the hard copy give us a distinct advantage versus. other forms of marketing,” said Chenail, who recently joined the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Lancaster County map will be distributed in June 2011. The Lancaster County Resort Map will also be available on-line at www.resortmaps.com, along with interactive maps to more than 100 areas that Resort Maps covers. These interactive maps allow the viewer to read a description of each business as they scroll over each building and to connect to the website of the business for further information. 

For information on how to advertise on the initial Lancaster County Resort Map, you can e-mail Mike Chenail at mikec@resortmaps.com or call 717-826-8118.

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 more than 100 Resort Maps in publication in the US, the UK, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, with several more in the process of being published.  Nearly 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2010.

For more information on Resort Maps and/or the franchise opportunity, 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, Vail & Beaver Creek, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Boca Raton, Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Delray Beach, Key West, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, Tarpon Springs), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Kentucky (Lexington) 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, Brewster/Harwich/Dennis, Chatham-Orleans, Eastham-Wellfleet, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Northern Michigan/Petoskey/Harbor Springs; 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, New Brunswick, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York (The North Fork, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs, The Hamptons,), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Hendersonville , Outer Banks, Salisbury and Rowan County, Sandhills, Wilmington,), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, Lehigh Valley, The Main Line, Lancaster County), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), Texas (North Texas, including Fort Worth), Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) and Virginia (Alexandria, Northern Neck & Middle Peninsula) —as well as towns and cities in England (Chicester, Lewes), Puerto Rico (San Juan, Vieques, Culebra) and Costa Rica (Escazu-Santa Ana).

Your new travel guide…Mike Chenail opens Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Resort Maps franchise.Read More

Show your metal as a designer…How to brighten up your home’s interior.

CHICAGO, GURNEE, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

If this were Minneapolis, we would have Mary Tyler Moore’s smile to brighten up our winter days. In a Chicago winter, homeowners need to be a little more resourceful. In fact, many homeowners show their metal as designers by showing more “metal” in their interiors.

“Walls that are painted to a matte finish can bring a room down and look flat or one dimensional, while adding hints of metallic accents add depth and excitement to a space,” said Stephanie Nickolson, a designer at DirectBuy of Northern Illinois. “Metallics are the hot look right now. I love incorporating them into a space, especially in winter and during the holidays.”

So, how can you incorporate metallics into your space? Here are few ways:

  • Pillows – Throw some metallic fabric or even metallic leather pillows with decorative fringe applied to them on one of your sofas or chairs.
  • Vases or bowls – Place a tall clear glass vase or large bowl on a cocktail table and fill it with metallic holiday ornaments.
  • Wallpaper or paint – Putting up wallpaper with metallic stripes or adding stripes with a high-gloss metallic paint, ideally six to eight inches wide, can provide an effervescent quality to a room.

Nickolson also recommends using mirrors if you’re looking to brighten up your home this winter. Specifically, she advises placing one large mirror in every room you’re trying to lighten up. Mirrors give the illusion of space as well as add that reflective quality to a room, thus opening it up, making it appear larger.

“Another idea is to find an accent piece of furniture, for example, a console table with a mirrored front,” said Nickolson. “Again, this will add to the illusion of space and lighten things up.”

DirectBuy Club offers home furnishings and merchandise in addition to items for home improvement projects to help all homeowners brighten up their homes all year round— at direct insider prices. DirectBuy also employs product specialists and designers, so if you need some assistance in selecting products or taking on a home improvement project, you have experienced professionals at your service.

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 145 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.

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Your new travel guide…Maggie Thompson-Colón opens Lexington, Kentucky Resort Maps franchise.

Jorge Colon and Maggie Thompson-Colon of Resort Maps

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY AND WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

Resort Maps, creator of more than 100 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently announced Maggie Thompson-Colón as the owner of the new Resort Map to be published for Lexington, Kentucky.

Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of towns and cities, distributed free to area visitors at travel information and rest areas as well as at advertiser locations. The Lexington map will highlight local attractions and things to do, restaurants and bars, accommodations, retail shops, real estate and other services. Each advertiser on the map will be represented with a display ad surrounding the perimeter of the map, including a color-coded grid locator and their actual building hand-drawn, highlighted and labeled, making it easy to locate. 

 “With Lexington being known as the ‘Horse Capital of the World’, the area is prime for a Resort Map that will highlight the local places to eat, drink, shop and play; not just for the horse people, but also for the visitors to the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University and to local international industries like Toyota and Lexmark,” said Thompson-Colón, who is running Resort Maps with her husband, Jorge Colón, a local equine veterinarian and business owner.

Originally from Covington, Ohio, Thompson-Colón attended The Ohio State University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. Prior to owning at the Resort Maps franchise, Thompson-Colón worked in sales in the animal health industry. She and her husband first heard of Resort Maps through a family friend who owns the Resort Maps franchises in Vieques, Culebras and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“We were vacationing with relatives in Puerto Rico and literally used the Vieques Resort Map every day of our trip. We even found our hotel through the interactive portion of the map at www.resortmaps.com before leaving from Lexington,” said Thompson-Colón. “After talking to our friend and Resort Map owner, and after doing research about what was available in our area, we decided a Resort Map would be a great tool for visitors to our local community in Lexington.”

The Lexington Resort Map will offer a treasure trove of things to do for people vacationing in the area or just out visiting for a day or two. Resort Maps free ‘souvenir style’ maps will have a 300,000 map distribution at over 100 local advertisers’ shops and non-advertiser locations throughout Lexington.

The Lexington map will be distributed in April 2011, just in time for racing season at Keeneland and horse show season at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Lexington Resort Map will also be available on-line at www.resortmaps.com, along with interactive maps to more than 100 areas that Resort Maps covers. These interactive maps allow the viewer to read a description of each business as they scroll over each building and to connect to the website of the business for further information. 

For information on how to advertise on the initial Lexington Resort Map, you can e-mail Maggie Thompson-Colón at maggiet@resortmaps.com or call 859-640-2094.

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 more than 100 Resort Maps in publication in the US, the UK, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, with several more in the process of being published.  Nearly 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2010.

For more information on Resort Maps and/or the franchise opportunity, 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, Vail & Beaver Creek, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Boca Raton, Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Delray Beach, Key West, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, Tarpon Springs), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Kentucky (Lexington) 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, Brewster/Harwich/Dennis, Chatham-Orleans, Eastham-Wellfleet, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Northern Michigan/Petoskey/Harbor Springs; 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, New Brunswick, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York (The North Fork, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs, The Hamptons,), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Hendersonville , Outer Banks, Salisbury and Rowan County, Sandhills, Wilmington,), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, Lehigh Valley, The Main Line, Lancaster), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), Texas (North Texas, including Fort Worth), Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) and Virginia (Alexandria, Northern Neck & Middle Peninsula) —as well as towns and cities in England (Chicester, Lewes), Puerto Rico (San Juan, Vieques, Culebra) and Costa Rica (Escazu-Santa Ana).

Your new travel guide…Maggie Thompson-Colón opens Lexington, Kentucky Resort Maps franchise.Read More