Archives for November, 2007
Posted on Nov 26, 2007 under keith ikle |
Keith Ikle
Many people have the misconception that remodeling and construction work stops during the winter months. Nothing could be further from the truth! Just because Old Man Winter has arrived does not mean that outside construction work cannot continue. If you are contemplating a remodeling project that may involve outside work, such as an addition, don’t let the colder weather keep you from consulting with us about your project. Believe it or not, the winter months can be an attractive time to pursue your remodeling project.
Keith Ikle owner of Hansen Design Build
Remodeling in the winter can be a great way to beat the winter blahs and generate excitement around your home. Actually, a great deal of attention can be focused on your job in the winter by our tradesmen to provide you with a beautiful finished project ready to enjoy when warm weather arrives in the spring.
Posted on Nov 23, 2007 under Sleepys |
In the late 1920’s Louis Acker stood on Ellis Island and prepared for the American dream. In 1931 he opened his first mattress store.
In Brooklyn N.Y. a boy named Harry Acker worked in his father’s mattress store. Harry worked hard, tying knots, and stitching mattresses by hand. In 1957 two years after his father’s death, Harry made a decision to take the years of experience working with his father hand making mattresses and expand the well-known mattress store. Sleepy’s was born.
Harry worked day and night to make his dream a reality. He hired only the best salespeople and trained them not just how to sell, but how to listen to customers so they can focus on the customers’ needs. He called these salespeople “Mattress Professionals,” and they were. He filled his stores with the largest selection of brand-name mattresses because he wanted every Sleepy’s customer to find exactly what they needed for a healthy night’s rest. He followed his abiding belief that every customer deserved the lowest possible price with a guarantee that they would sleep comfortably and with peace of mind. And so, “Sleepy’s Incredible Price Guarantee” was born. And by delivering the “Same Day or Next Day” Sleepy’s had even more satisfied customers. Today, Sleepy’s is a household name in 13 states.
Harry knew then what every sleep expert is now saying that a good night’s sleep is important to one’s health and well-being, lack of sleep can affect your job performance, school grades, health, body and mind. Considering you spend one third of your life in bed, it makes sense that your mattress should be a significant part of your life.
By 1977 and with 8 stores, “The Mattress Professionals” was becoming such a household name and winning so many loyal sleepers, that headquarters needed to be expanded. The offices moved to a 20,000 square foot space in New Hyde Park. This was still not enough. So, in 1986 with 32 stores Sleepy’s built a 60,000 square foot building in Pt. Washington N.Y.
Growth was enormous. After acquiring Kleinsleep mattress chain in 1993 and opening their 75th store in 1994, Sleepy’s moved to their present home in Bethpage N.Y., a 230,000 square foot corporate headquarters.
1995 – 1998. Sleepy’s acquired Mattress Discounters in New York and New Jersey and launched 1-800-SLEEPYS, a convenient toll free service where people can consult with a mattress professional in the comfort of their home.
In 1999, www.sleepys.com was introduced, designed with the “customer on the go” in mind to help educate and research before going into one of Sleepy’s then 169 showrooms. Sleepy’s understands that your time is valuable and supplies invaluable information right in the comfort of your own home, on your time. Still growing, Sleepy’s opened another 90,000 square foot warehouse in Carteret, NJ.
In 2000 Sleepy’s acquired Sleep City mattress chain in Pennsylvania and now had 200 stores in 3 states.
In 2002 – 2003 Sleepy’s acquired Mattress Firm sleep chain in Connecticut and Massachusetts and built a new state-of-the-art 211,000 square foot warehouse in Robbinsville, New Jersey.
By the end of 2004, Sleepy’s had 300 stores in 6 states and built a new 120,000 square foot distribution center in East Windsor, Connecticut.
In 2007, Sleepy’s opened its 500th store and acquired the Rockaway Bedding chain and trade name, a bit later Sleepy’s bought OTB ( Off Track Bedding ) in Massachusetts expanding Sleepy’s total locations to over 600 in 13 states.
What started as a small mattress store in 1931, is now the largest mattress chain in America and 4 generations, Louis, Harry, David, AJ, Stuart and Julian carrying on the same values.
Today Sleepy’s employs over 2,000 employees in 11 states.
Why Sleepys?
14 REASONS TO BUY FROM SLEEPY’S
The First 8 Seconds
We welcome our customers warmly to Sleepy’s with a smile.
We Dress Professionally
At Sleepy’s you’ll find mattress professionals exemplifying professionalism at all times.
Sleepy’s Makes It Easy
We take the guesswork out of buying a mattress because we carry mattresses in every category.
We Have Them All!
We have the largest selection of name brand mattresses in the country!
Categories
Sleepy’s has a mattress in every price category. BRONZE/SILVER/GOLD/ SOLID GOLD/PLATINUM/PLATINUM PLUS
Platinum Plus
We give our customers the opportunity to choose the very best including BodyDiagnostics®, Tempur-Pedic, Vera Wang latex and many more
Guarantee
*Applies to same or comparable mattresses, prior to delivery. Excludes closeouts, special purchases, Internet, exchanges, floor samples, warranties, discontinued and one-of-a kinds. Must present current competitor’s ad or invoice.
The Sleepy’s Promise
Effort, Enthusiasm, Product Knowledge and Understanding the customers’ needs.
Financing Options
Available To meet all your needs.
Delivery
Sleepy’s Delivers Over 2,000 Mattresses Everywhere, Everyday - 7 Days-A-Week (Same day delivery arranged. Excluding holidays and store pick-ups. Available on in-stock models. Delivery fees apply)
Over 75 Years and Over 600 Convenient Locations
Sleepy’s has the experience to have earned the name “Mattress Professionals” with a store in your neighborhood.
Customer Satisfaction
Sleepy’s superior customer service department is open 7-days-a-week, 9am - 6pm EST for your convenience.
Training
Comprehensive training program to become a mattress professional.
Distribution Centers
Sleepy’s has 3 state-of-the-art Distribution Centers in NY, NJ and CT for convenient delivery.
Posted on Nov 20, 2007 under united payment services |
Retail merchants swipe their customers’ credit card through a magnetic reader on a credit card terminal at their storefront, restaurant, or office. These days it is a must for retail businesses to accept credit cards. Consumers have come to expect to be able to use their credit and debit cards at all reputable businesses.
United Payment Services can help your business set up a merchant account and accept credit cards for less money than you ever thought possible. Whether you are a small flower shop or a large department store with many checkout lanes, we have the right solutions for your business.
As always, if you have further questions about our merchant services, feel free to call us at 1-866-8UNITED (1-866-886-4833)
Posted on Nov 20, 2007 under business |
A fascinating and largely unknown story of business triumph and racial inequality comes to life in Montreal, Canada.
Jean Conille was no ordinary kid. Born in Haiti on August 12th, 1967, he was the third of a family of four. His father a well known physician, later became minister of sports and youth. His mother was a pharmacist and a lab technician.
Gifted with a phenomenal memory, a systematic and orderly approaches to problem solving, at age 7 he had already competed in the national chess championship in his native Haiti. He traveled to Montreal where he would finish high school at the age of 15 after successfully skipping two grades.
Upon graduating, he was chosen as a finalist by the Montreal chamber of commerce for the “Outstanding Student” award. He was designated as one of “Canada’s future leaders”.
Jean Conille went on to pursue his studies at College Andre Laurendeau in Physics Technology. During this period, his mother died from a chronic illness. He never quite completed the program as he chose to follow in the foot steps of great entrepreneurs such as Warren Buffet and Bill Gates.
At age 19, he started his first business, a very flourishing telecommunication company, which he named after his mother “Les Entreprises Marie Darbouze”.
Already at age 22, Jean was a self made millionaire.
“Being black, wealthy and young in Montreal in the 80’s or even today is highly irregular” says Jean. “Canada may have grown a lot in the matter of race discrimination, unfortunately the stereotypes still remain. Unless you are an athlete or a known entertainer, driving a luxurious car can only mean you are either a thug or involved in some type of illegal activity”. With a cynical look, Jean adds: “I remember when I was younger, being pulled over more then 17 times with in a week by cops, just because I was driving a new Mercedes.”
Jean talks about his dealings with the bank as being one of the most challenging events in his career. “The banks, back then, would simply not understand why a black teenager would want to open up a business account let alone consider a loan”.
Even following his numerous achievements, he continues to be seen as an outsider to this private club of influential deciders. “They will do business with you, but they want invite you to there weddings or even to there children’s bar mitzvahs”.
By challenging the social injustices we evoke a sense of community that we need to make our nation a better place, just as we make it a safer place.
Jean as recently created a foundation, “The Jean Conille foundation” to reach out to young ethnic entrepreneurs and help them achieve their goals and to educate the population on the contribution made by visible minorities to the Canadian society.
Twenty years later, Jean still gets mistaken for a bouncer at an exclusive supper club he owns. That doesn’t seem to bother him much though. With a smile, he gently hands me out his business card where you can clearly read at the bottom: “Some see the world the way it is and ask “why?” But I imagine things that never were and ask “why not?”…
Posted on Nov 19, 2007 under business, networking |
Empowering executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs; and making business-to-business connections around the world, the Madison Who’s Who mission is to recognize successful individuals both nationally and internationally in multiple industries and professions by providing a forum for networking, consulting, exposure and credibility in hopes of broadening one’s future success.
The members of Madison Who’s Who benefit from the array of online and print resources we provide to help increase their networking capabilities. Realizing the power of forming business to business and professional relationships, Madison Who’s Who has created numerous resources that members take advantage of for a multitude of reasons. By gaining access to thousands of professional biographies of individuals in a specific field and over 100 different industries, members of Madison Who’s Who can utilize the database for the purpose of recruitment, announcing career accomplishments, and most importantly to form long-lasting and valuable relationships that extend beyond the Madison Who’s Who membership program.
For more information regarding Madison Who’s Who membership opportunities including a list of products and services, visit http://www.madisonwhoswho.com. Only members can login to access the proprietary database of biographies and make changes to their biographical information; however, users are welcome to visit the Madison “Featured Member Pages” to browse the biographies of Premier Members from around the world. While on the Web site, members can view sample profiles to gain a feel for how biographies will appear once they are uploaded to the site. For added exposure, the e-mail and corporate Web sites of all of our members are linked, allowing instant contact and quick search functionality.
More than just a beautiful hardcover registry of accomplished individuals, Madison Who’s Who actually provides a forum for executive and professionals to introduce themselves to one another. Visit the site to explore vast resources which include members-only access to a searchable electronic registry that is continually updated with the personalized biographies of business leaders and professionals in virtually every industry and specialty.
Together, the hard cover registry and online registry represent unique and valuable compilations of exceptional people with their personalized profiles and expanded biographies. To have more networking opportunities and to have a chance to network directly with executive, professionals and entrepreneurs in any industry, Madison Who’s Who makes professional networking simple and convenient. Visit http://www.madisonwhoswho.com to begin networking today.
Posted on Nov 18, 2007 under brandon, connell |
Brandon is the man behind the curtains that controls what Google puts on the first page of search results. An expert seo with over a decade of experience in the sem field, Brandon Connell has many satisfied clients with multiple top 10 natural search engine rankings.
The algorithm of any given search engine can be figured out in minutes when Brandon is on the job. It is like an intuition.
Brandon Connell owns and operates RankRover which started in 2002 mainly as a search engine optimization firm. Now they provide a full range of web development and graphic design services.
Brandon is also an expert in creative financing. Not only does he use it on real estate, but he likes to integrate it into his daily life. He has successfully bartered with individuals and businesses many times over.
Posted on Nov 11, 2007 under animal cruelty |
James Fontanetta, former Wit Capital Executive is now working to help animals in need. Mr. Fontanetta spends all his weekends and evenings patroling the streets for sick, injured or just hungry animals.
“It is so disgusting to see the conditions that some of these animals are left in by owners that abonden them. I have found plenty of spayed or netured cats who are very affectionate and like to be held, obviously belonged to someone who are skin and bones with broken bones, festering infections, lice, mange just to name ae few…in some cases they are so bad that they have to have a tail or ear amputated”, said Fontanetta.
People think it’s okay to leave animals, especially cats, outside but they don’t realize there are many dangers. Cats are often run over by cars, especially black cats at night. Also, unneutered males get hit by cars often as they stray far from home looking for a female. Their sex drive is strong and it makes them loose focus and they often end up injured or dead. Many pet owners take in an adorable kitten or puppy but as soon as it grows up they tire of their new “toy” and throw it out.
“People need to realized that it’s not like buying a shirt or tie in the store that you can return or discard when you are tired of it, these are living, breathing creatures with feelings who are very intelligent. They feel pain just like we do. They deserve to have food and water and have shelter. They do not like to be outdoors as people often think, especially at housecat who has never been outside. How cruel is it to throw out that house cat when it’s spend it’s entire young life indoors with a family. It never developed survival instincts like cats that have been outside the whole time. Usually, it’s these former indoor cats who are in the worst shape when I find them”, said Fontanetta.
One of the most common ailments that outoodrs cats get infected with is mange. It causes their fur to fall out and leaves the skin very dry and crusty. It is very uncomfortable and painful for the cat. Many people are afraid to near a cat or dog with this skin disorder so they don’t help it. The truth that as long as you wash your hands after handling the animal, you will be fine. If you use common sense hygeine, you will not have a problem. These animals need to be treated right away before this permanantly affects their flesh. In advanced cases, some of the fur will not grow back even after treatment but mange is one hundred percent curable.
All it takes is a little bit of medicine and lots of love and you can transform a sick cat’s life for the better.
“I get tremendous joy feeling like I can help, especially when I see how bad they were and I get to watch them improve and be happy. It takes so little to change their lives dramatically for the better.” said Fontanetta.
There is never an excuse to walk past a sick or injured cat and think “someone will take care of it”, that someone needs to be you. If you can’t do it on your own, call a local animal rescue group. Just look them up in your area in the phone book or on the internet. You will be surprised at the wealth of resources you will find. There are also several groups that will help you spay and neture pets in your neighborhood at a huge discount. The Humane Society usually has programs for this. If you are kind enough to feed outdoor cats on a regular basis, spaying or neutering is the best thing you can do to control the population. If you need help capturing them,call a local animal rescue organizationa and they will guide you or provide help.
Posted on Nov 09, 2007 under consumer, merchants |
United Payment Services has been approved to be a full-service acquirer for Discover Network cards. United Payment Services will have full responsibility for pricing, processing, settlement, risk management, and customer service for the Discover Network merchant accounts it maintains. Agents and ISO’s of United Payment Services will now be able to make substantial residuals from their merchants Discover processing, in addition to Mastercard and Visa. Integration is under way and the rollout is scheduled for November.
About United Payment Services:
United Payment Services is a payment and transaction service provider serving sales organizations in the credit card processing industry. United Payment Services has been providing superior service and products to Agents and Merchants alike. Our company provides payment processing services for Visa, MasterCard, Discover®, American Express®, Diners Club®, JCB®, ATM, debit cards, gift cards, check conversion and guarantee programs, state-of-the-art equipment and ground breaking merchant and agent reporting. United Payment Services recently rolled out their MAAS electronic signature application, allowing merchant to sign up for a merchant account with a click of a mouse. Our corporate mission is defined by our dedication to the success of your sales organization. Call 866-8-UNITED to be part of the team.
United Payment Services is a registered ISO/MSP of BancorpSouth Bank, Tupelo, MS
Posted on Nov 07, 2007 under relationships |
Planning a wedding ceremony is a huge and nerve wracking task even for the most calm and collected bride-to-be. In order to maintain sanity while you try to plan every detail of what may just be the most memorable day of your life, you need to focus not just on the details of your wedding, but also on the state of your well-being.
You don’t want to get to your perfectly planned wedding day and find out that you are a stressed out mess. So while you plan for your wedding ceremony, also keep the following suggestions in mind that just might help keep a bride calm and cool until the big day.
Wedding Ceremony Tip #1 - Hit the Gym
Keeping up a regular exercise program prior to your wedding ceremony will not only insure that you look stunning in your wedding dress, but will also give you amazing stress relief. A great cardio, Pilates or yoga workout is a terrific way to clear your mind and get those creative juices flowing as you work out every detail of the wedding ceremony; from flower arrangements to seating arrangements.
Wedding Ceremony Tip #2 - Relax With Your Favorite Music
A great way to relieve the stress of planning your wedding ceremony is to listen to music. A terrific way to settle down when you are feeling wedding pressure building up is to play some great music. You might even give yourself the energy to finish up the planning and paperwork regarding invitations if you listen to music that reminds you of those first few dates with your husband-to-be.
Wedding Ceremony Tip #3 - Spoil Yourself at the Spa
Stress does nasty things to the skin. Pamper yourself at the spa with a relaxing facial, and get those hands and feet primped for the big day. A facial will not only make your skin look terrific for your wedding ceremony, it is also an awesome way to relax.
Wedding Ceremony Tip #4 - Make Time for Your Friends
When it feels like wedding ceremony preparations are about to make you snap it is probably the perfect time to put a pause on the planning and spend a little time with your friends. Go for coffee, or a glass of wine, or even a chocolate sundae. Spending time catching up and laughing with good friends is an excellent way to relieve wedding ceremony stress.
Wedding Ceremony Tip # - Consider Canning the Wedding Ceremony and… Eloping!
If all of the planning for your wedding ceremony still has you stressed out and miserable, perhaps a traditional wedding ceremony is not your style. Consider the possibility of canning all of the pomp and circumstance and settling for a much simpler wedding. All that is really required for a wedding is a bride and groom, a couple of witnesses, and an officiator.
Although eloping takes away the formality of a wedding ceremony, it also eliminates the stress. But regardless of how lavish you decide to make your wedding ceremony, remember to spend time mentally preparing yourself for this commitment, and allowing yourself to fully enjoy your wedding day.
Posted on Nov 06, 2007 under dating, matchmaking, relationships |
Orly, Based in Beverly Hills, California, USA, has set the standard in professional matchmaking for the past twenty-five years. Her clients include the elite, celebrities, wealthy, famous, and professional. They are scattered around the globe. She draws from a large, yet select, group of serious marriage-minded men and women who seek mates with impeccable backgrounds, as well as compatible lifestyles, careers, values, and goals.
In the Internet-driven world of the 21st century, with hundreds of online dating and introduction services, Orly still performs her magic without any computers or high-tech gadgets, preferring to spend time with each client on a one-to-one basis, in the old-fashioned tradition of matchmaking.
Orly receives up to $200,000 per client, depending upon geographic location and desired selection criteria. She has matched over thousands of happy couples all over the world. All custom design introductions are tailor made & one on one personal touch is the top of the line. 100% unlimited introductions.
Orly’s videotape, photos and more information are available on www.orlythematchmaker.com.
Orly is available for all media interviews.
From her Beverly Hills penthouse, Orly The Matchmaker, a modern day “yenta”, will find the perfect soulmate for her rich and famous clientele. Single celebrities, lawyers, doctors, millionaires, and busy CEO’s pay between $10,000 to $200,000 for Orly’s matchmaking services. One client described the fee as “substantial, but worth it as an investment in the future”.
Not to be confused with a Dating Service, Orly Hadida is a Marriage Broker, who for a fee will find “the man or woman of your dreams”. For the past 25 years, Orly has brought together thousands of affluent, sophisticated and marriage-minded singles, both nationally and internationally. She has written a book called “Finding the Perfect Match” and she has appeared on hundreds of talk shows, including Phil Donahue, Sally Jesse Raphael, Roseanne, CNN Headline News, E! Entertainment, and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. She is well known for her ability to introduce and marry off couples live on television. She is also featured as “the most expensive matchmaker in the world” in the 2003 Guinness Book of World Records.
Raised in Israel, a former Miss Israel, as well as a soldier, model, and actress, Orly says that in Israel “there is a matchmaker on every corner”. In fact, both of her parents were matchmakers. She says, “I learned everything from watching my parents, and then I took their concept and the love of it and brought it to America”.