Fresh flowers may just be the single easiest way to brighten a room. Flowers lend a bit of holistic warmth to a home, inviting friends and family alike to take some time to smell their sweet fragrance.
Unfortunately, that invitation lasts only as long as the flowers remain fresh. So, how do the professionals keep their flowers looking beautiful for weeks at a time?
According to Kelly Buck, a partner at Flowers by Jennie Lynne in Fairless Hills, there is a simple rule of thumb that will help you keep your flowers alive and beautiful for weeks.
“It's the five second rule,” said Kelly. “After just a few seconds of air exposure, the cells in the stem of a flower start to dehydrate and die. If your flower has been out of water for more than a few seconds, than you need to cut the stem again.”
Flowers can only stay healthy so long as they are able to take in water, so if the cut stem of the flower becomes clogged with dead and dehydrated cells, the flower will begin to wilt.
For maximum life out of your flowers, cut the stems every two days and be sure to get them back in the water within five seconds.
Of course, for the best possible results, you have to start with quality flowers.
For the best quality flowers contact Flowers by Jennie Lynne at 215-547-4550 or visit them online at www.FlowersbyJennieLynne.com.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Avoid paying too much for a new home
Despite what many of us think, the real estate business is still very much alive and kicking, as is the new home market.
Taking a drive through almost any part of Lower Bucks County, PA will reveal new home construction. From single homes to vast new communities, the new home market is heating up.
Large signs in front of many of these new neighborhoods welcome potential buyers, imploring them to walk right in to the site office an pickup a contract, and many new home buyers do just that. Unfortunately, what these eager home buyers don't know might cost them.
According to Johanny Manning, of Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc. in Yardley, PA, many new home buyers are unaware that they can be represented by their own Realtor during the new home purchasing process.
“New home buyers should always consult a Realtor before walking on to a new home site,” says Johanny. “In order for a Realtor to represent you, they must sign you in with the building company.”
The advantages of hiring a Realtor during the new home buying process can be immense. Realtors are skilled at both reading and understanding the “fine print” associated with the home buying process. Realtors are also better equipped to negotiate pricing because they have access to other local home sale prices and information.
“Realtors are not just the person you turn to when you need to sell a home or find an older home on the market,” said Johanny. “A Realtor's real job is to protect their client and help them to get the best house for the money and their situation.”
For more information about how a Realtor can help you find the home of your dreams, visit Johanny at, Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc., 69 South Main St., Yardley, Pa 19067. Or call her direct at 267-968-6651 or through her broker 215-493-5600 ext 331. You can also visit Johanny online at www.momsellshomes.com or email Johanny@Realtor.com.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Saving green while keeping your home clean
Most people have two things in common, we want to save money and we want a clean house.
The question is, in these times of disposable paper towels, disinfectant wipes and mop sheets – how do we get the most for our money.
Sharon Bordak, owner and manager of Sparkle Professional Cleaning Corp. based in Hulmeville, PA offered several tips for saving money on everyday cleaning costs.
For starters, Sharon suggests replacing disposable items, such as mop sheets and toilet bowl cleaning wands with sturdier re-usable items. “Disposable mops and toilet bowl cleaning wands will cost you a lot more over time than a good quality re-usable one,” said Sharon. “Not only do you have to keep buying the pads, but they are also very flimsy and over time, they will break, costing you even more money to replace them.”
For floor care, Sharon suggests a micro fiber mop, with a machine washable mop head. This way you get a clean mop head every time, without the cost of replacing it every time.
For dusting, Sharon suggests an electrostatic duster, often referred to as a rainbow duster. These inexpensive dusters can be washed over and over, lasting years over their disposable counterparts.
When it comes to soaps, detergents and polishes, Sharon suggests buying concentrates and carefully following the label's directions.
Sparkle Professional Cleaning Corp. provides residential and commercial cleaning services to customers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Sparkle's cleaning technicians use state-of the-art equipment to provide exceptional service. Daily, weekly, monthly or one-time service is available.
Sparkle offers free no obligation estimates. For additional information call 215-757-4014 or visit www.SparkleProClean.com.
The question is, in these times of disposable paper towels, disinfectant wipes and mop sheets – how do we get the most for our money.
Sharon Bordak, owner and manager of Sparkle Professional Cleaning Corp. based in Hulmeville, PA offered several tips for saving money on everyday cleaning costs.
For starters, Sharon suggests replacing disposable items, such as mop sheets and toilet bowl cleaning wands with sturdier re-usable items. “Disposable mops and toilet bowl cleaning wands will cost you a lot more over time than a good quality re-usable one,” said Sharon. “Not only do you have to keep buying the pads, but they are also very flimsy and over time, they will break, costing you even more money to replace them.”
For floor care, Sharon suggests a micro fiber mop, with a machine washable mop head. This way you get a clean mop head every time, without the cost of replacing it every time.
For dusting, Sharon suggests an electrostatic duster, often referred to as a rainbow duster. These inexpensive dusters can be washed over and over, lasting years over their disposable counterparts.
When it comes to soaps, detergents and polishes, Sharon suggests buying concentrates and carefully following the label's directions.
Sparkle Professional Cleaning Corp. provides residential and commercial cleaning services to customers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Sparkle's cleaning technicians use state-of the-art equipment to provide exceptional service. Daily, weekly, monthly or one-time service is available.
Sparkle offers free no obligation estimates. For additional information call 215-757-4014 or visit www.SparkleProClean.com.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Branding with promotional items
One of the most important things that a business owner can do is to get his (or her) name out there to the public. Branding is essential for building a strong business.
One thing that every company, big or small, should invest in is customer give-aways.
Whether its pens, t-shirts, calendars, magnets or larger items like coffee mugs, desk sets or leather portfolios, customer give-aways help keep your name, and your logo, in front of you customers.
Not only will existing customers see your business information every time they use their give-away, but their colleagues and other acquaintances will see it too.
According to Sharon Sandridge, a sales executive with Virgo III, Ltd. Based in Yardley, PA, any company, no matter their budget, can find a promotional product that works for them.
“At Virgo III we leave no stone unturned for our clients,” said Sharon. “I research different ideas and products for my clients so that they can get the best return on their investment and stay within their budget.”
Since Virgo III has established relationships with many different product manufacturers, including those overseas, Sharon is able to offer her clients hundreds of different product packages at many different price points.
“For our smaller clients, we have a very creative design team that can help make sure that the client's finished product comes out beyond their expectations,” said Sharon. “At Virgo III we truly believe in our mission statement – imagination is part of the package!”
One thing that every company, big or small, should invest in is customer give-aways.
Whether its pens, t-shirts, calendars, magnets or larger items like coffee mugs, desk sets or leather portfolios, customer give-aways help keep your name, and your logo, in front of you customers.
Not only will existing customers see your business information every time they use their give-away, but their colleagues and other acquaintances will see it too.
According to Sharon Sandridge, a sales executive with Virgo III, Ltd. Based in Yardley, PA, any company, no matter their budget, can find a promotional product that works for them.
“At Virgo III we leave no stone unturned for our clients,” said Sharon. “I research different ideas and products for my clients so that they can get the best return on their investment and stay within their budget.”
Since Virgo III has established relationships with many different product manufacturers, including those overseas, Sharon is able to offer her clients hundreds of different product packages at many different price points.
“For our smaller clients, we have a very creative design team that can help make sure that the client's finished product comes out beyond their expectations,” said Sharon. “At Virgo III we truly believe in our mission statement – imagination is part of the package!”
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Taking over a Parent’s Checking Account
Many “baby boomers” like myself have had to take over the role of “bill payer” and checking account balancer. For those of us who have swam in these waters, you know it is a daunting task to say the least. Often, the hardest part is obtaining consent from the parent.
Fortunately, there are some tools and strategies that can help with these tasks, according to Kelly Greene at Kelly.greene@wsj.com:
- Setting up a power of attorney
- Monitoring accounts online
- Hiring a professional bill-paying service ( some banks do this)
One way to get the conversation started, says Greene, is to ask your parents for some financial advice—and then bring up something they might find challenging. If your parent(s) are reluctant to cede control, you can suggest starting with an unofficial role of financial monitor. You can then gradually move into a more official role of money manager as you both get comfortable with sharing the reins.
A more formal step is to establish a power of attorney, which allows you to act on your parent’s behalf in all financial matters, such as directing their financial advisors and brokers. In this regard, I recommend consulting with an Elder Law Attorney to draw up the required documents.
Finally, if you’re willing to spend a few thousand dollars, you can set up a revocable living trust to hold a parent’s assets and make you and the parent co-trustees. Having a trust will also address any concerns banks and investment firms may have about children abusing powers of attorney.
These strategies will not solve all the problems associated with the loss of ones independence, but it is a proactive approach to preventing missed payments and unbalanced accounts.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Building Your Brand
Both opening and operating a business is hard work, and it is even harder if you customers can’t find you. Proper signage and branding are two of the major contributing factors to a successful business.
Not only do you need your customers to find you, but you need them to remember you.
But how can a small business, or any sized business for that matter, make sure that they are getting noticed? Well, the answer is simple really, hire a professional to do the job right.
Bob Flemming, owner of the Feasterville Sign-A-Rama, has been helping small, medium and large businesses to identify themselves and their brand in Bucks County since 1993.
According to Bob, the best way to identify yourself and your product is visually.
Without question, customers respond to visually appealing advertisements. The real question is, how do you get the best bang for your buck.
Start by hiring a company who can design and deliver all of your necessary signage and display advertisements. At the Feasterville Sign-A-Rama, Bob and his team can make wooden and electric signs, neon signs, banners, sidewalk signs, window signs and even vehicle wraps.
There is almost nothing that Bob and his team can't deliver in the way of signage for their customers. They can even produce Department of Transportation mandated signage, handicap parking and other legally necessary signage.
By using an experienced company, like the Feasterville Sign-A-Rama, you not only enjoy the benefits of one-stop-shopping, you can also rely on Bob and his team to use their expertise to save your company money by using creative and adaptive sign technologies.
For more information about how signage can help you business grow, contact Bob Flemming at the Feasterville Sign-A-Rama by calling 215-355-2060 or outside of Pennsylvania, 800-974-0072. Or just stop by at 434 West Street Rd., Santilli Plaza, Feasterville, PA 19053. They are on the web at www.SignaramaFeasterville.com
Not only do you need your customers to find you, but you need them to remember you.
But how can a small business, or any sized business for that matter, make sure that they are getting noticed? Well, the answer is simple really, hire a professional to do the job right.
Bob Flemming, owner of the Feasterville Sign-A-Rama, has been helping small, medium and large businesses to identify themselves and their brand in Bucks County since 1993.
According to Bob, the best way to identify yourself and your product is visually.
Without question, customers respond to visually appealing advertisements. The real question is, how do you get the best bang for your buck.
Start by hiring a company who can design and deliver all of your necessary signage and display advertisements. At the Feasterville Sign-A-Rama, Bob and his team can make wooden and electric signs, neon signs, banners, sidewalk signs, window signs and even vehicle wraps.
There is almost nothing that Bob and his team can't deliver in the way of signage for their customers. They can even produce Department of Transportation mandated signage, handicap parking and other legally necessary signage.
By using an experienced company, like the Feasterville Sign-A-Rama, you not only enjoy the benefits of one-stop-shopping, you can also rely on Bob and his team to use their expertise to save your company money by using creative and adaptive sign technologies.
For more information about how signage can help you business grow, contact Bob Flemming at the Feasterville Sign-A-Rama by calling 215-355-2060 or outside of Pennsylvania, 800-974-0072. Or just stop by at 434 West Street Rd., Santilli Plaza, Feasterville, PA 19053. They are on the web at www.SignaramaFeasterville.com
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tax loans waste money
It seems like you can't turn around anymore with out seeing an advertisement for a tax refund “now” loan. It seems like all the franchises are offering these rapid refunds, but what are they really?
The truth is, these rapid refunds are no better than the much criticized “pay day” loans. Commercial tax preparers are getting in to the action by offering customers faster, or in some cases, instant refunds at an expense anywhere between 40-and-700 percent APR.
According to Carl W. Maier, CPA, CVA with Cahan and Company in Southampton, PA, electronic filing, referred to as eFiling, has cut the standard wait time for a refund down dramatically.
Even waiting for a paper return to be accepted is a better deal than paying 700 percent interest on a tax refund loan.
According to the Center for Responsible Lending, a study conducted in 2005 found that about $1.57 million of earned income credits that were supposed to go to working parents, ended up in the pockets of tax preparers and other refund lenders.
Tax payers should take a close look at any income tax return loans they may want to take advantage of, remembering the old adage - “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
For more information about how to eFile your federal and state income taxes, or for advice and guidance to plan for next year's taxes, contact Carl at 215-364-7777 extension 106.
The truth is, these rapid refunds are no better than the much criticized “pay day” loans. Commercial tax preparers are getting in to the action by offering customers faster, or in some cases, instant refunds at an expense anywhere between 40-and-700 percent APR.
According to Carl W. Maier, CPA, CVA with Cahan and Company in Southampton, PA, electronic filing, referred to as eFiling, has cut the standard wait time for a refund down dramatically.
Even waiting for a paper return to be accepted is a better deal than paying 700 percent interest on a tax refund loan.
According to the Center for Responsible Lending, a study conducted in 2005 found that about $1.57 million of earned income credits that were supposed to go to working parents, ended up in the pockets of tax preparers and other refund lenders.
Tax payers should take a close look at any income tax return loans they may want to take advantage of, remembering the old adage - “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
For more information about how to eFile your federal and state income taxes, or for advice and guidance to plan for next year's taxes, contact Carl at 215-364-7777 extension 106.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Travel away the Winter Blues
There are many reasons to travel in the winter, especially if you live in the Philadelphia, PA area.
Record snow falls and freezing temperatures have virtually trapped many area residents in their homes, leading to extensive cases of cabin fever and even more seriously - seasonal affective disorder, commonly referred to as the winter blues.
I know what you're thinking....travel...easy...are you nuts?
Ok, so now you're thinking...a travel agent....isn't that expensive?
The truth is, that travel agents can save you money on your trip.
According to Barbara Sodano of Utopia Travel, travel agents are able to find and negotiate deals on travel that a regular consumer just can't find on their own. These savings can offset the cost of hiring the agent.
Hiring a travel agent will also ensure that you get the best bang for your buck.
"When you book a cruise, for instance," said Barbara, "the cruise line is not going to look over the deck plan to make sure that you get a room that best serves your personal needs. You may end up with a room right over top of the disco, even though you are the type of person who likes to turn in early - or you might end up right under the jogging track even though you like to sleep in late. These are the types of things that a travel agent looks at for their clients."
In addition, Barbara or one of her staff members will accompany your group to help make sure that everything goes off without a hitch. "We take care of everything so that you don't have to waste your valuable time tracking down AV equipment or coordinating catering people," said
Barbara. "Instead, you can relax and enjoy the best company event ever."
For more information about how Barbara Sodano or her team at Utopia Travel can help plan your next trip or event, call her at 215-750-6926, email info@utopiatravelonline.com or visit her website at www.UtopiaTravelOnline.com.
Record snow falls and freezing temperatures have virtually trapped many area residents in their homes, leading to extensive cases of cabin fever and even more seriously - seasonal affective disorder, commonly referred to as the winter blues.
So how do we break out of this winter blues funk?
Well, one easy and fun way to break your routine and brighten your day is to take a winter vacation.
I know what you're thinking....travel...easy...are you nuts?
Travel can be easy, and fun too. All you have to do is make sure that you book with the right travel agent.
Ok, so now you're thinking...a travel agent....isn't that expensive?
The truth is, that travel agents can save you money on your trip.
According to Barbara Sodano of Utopia Travel, travel agents are able to find and negotiate deals on travel that a regular consumer just can't find on their own. These savings can offset the cost of hiring the agent.
Hiring a travel agent will also ensure that you get the best bang for your buck.
"When you book a cruise, for instance," said Barbara, "the cruise line is not going to look over the deck plan to make sure that you get a room that best serves your personal needs. You may end up with a room right over top of the disco, even though you are the type of person who likes to turn in early - or you might end up right under the jogging track even though you like to sleep in late. These are the types of things that a travel agent looks at for their clients."
In addition to individual and family vacations, a travel agent like Barbara can help companies to boost their employee morale by booking training sessions and company meetings "at sea."
"Any event that can be held at a land based conference facility, can be accomplished as an Event at Sea," said Barbara. "Typically all seminars and training events are scheduled during 'Sea Days.' We recommend the use of this schedule so every family has time to explore together, while in each port of call."
In addition, Barbara or one of her staff members will accompany your group to help make sure that everything goes off without a hitch. "We take care of everything so that you don't have to waste your valuable time tracking down AV equipment or coordinating catering people," said
Barbara. "Instead, you can relax and enjoy the best company event ever."
For more information about how Barbara Sodano or her team at Utopia Travel can help plan your next trip or event, call her at 215-750-6926, email info@utopiatravelonline.com or visit her website at www.UtopiaTravelOnline.com.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Moving forward...
It is no secret that this is the age of the Internet. In the business world today, if you don't have a website, you simply don't exist.
Consumers look to the World Wide Web for almost all of their needs. There is virtually nothing that isn't available over the Internet.
The real question is, how do you compete? How do you get noticed among the sea of information available to any web-surfing potential customer?
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to these questions. What works for one, may not work for another. But one thing is for sure, no one is going to guess your website address. You must put your company out there, taking up as much cyberspace as you can.
An easy and very inexpensive way to spread your cyber wings is via cross linking. Cross linking is when you place a link on your website, and in return that website places a link to you. It works as a sort of "pay it forward" form of advertising.
Another way to drive potential customers to your site is via online informational articles. By offering a little bit of free advice, and being quoted in an article, you help to establish yourself as an expert in your field.
This holds several benefits:
Consumers look to the World Wide Web for almost all of their needs. There is virtually nothing that isn't available over the Internet.
The real question is, how do you compete? How do you get noticed among the sea of information available to any web-surfing potential customer?
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to these questions. What works for one, may not work for another. But one thing is for sure, no one is going to guess your website address. You must put your company out there, taking up as much cyberspace as you can.
An easy and very inexpensive way to spread your cyber wings is via cross linking. Cross linking is when you place a link on your website, and in return that website places a link to you. It works as a sort of "pay it forward" form of advertising.
Another way to drive potential customers to your site is via online informational articles. By offering a little bit of free advice, and being quoted in an article, you help to establish yourself as an expert in your field.
This holds several benefits:
- Many more people are Googling "taxes" than "Cahan & Company, Certified Public Accountants" right now - a business network's article about how to prepare for tax season is more likely to be clicked on than a company website
- When a potential customer reads an article that you are quoted in, the article serves as a first introduction - the potential client already knows your name, and has a small sense of how you do business before they make their first call to you
- If a potential customer - one who you have already met in person - searches the Internet for your name, they will find the article, which will lend additional credibility to you and your company
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Professional Business Network
Here is the latest addition to our website, this blog will contain the latest information we have regarding our schedule, meeting times, and any other important information.
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