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December 2010 - Year in Review Issue860-788-3764 [email protected] GBAConnecticut.com
Letter From Te GBA
You made it, you survived this 2010. I know it wasnt easy, holycow it wasnt easy, but you hung in there and made it and thatis truly worth celebrating so grab that special someone and tell
them your taking them out for dinner and tonight, they can order twothings from the dollar menu. Actually this was a pretty amazing year forGBA and its members with nearly $10,000 in just barter this year betweenits members. While most of the countrys large corporations complain ofslowing sales do to the recession many of our members have maintainedor grew in 2010. More importantly many of us have found other businessowners we can lean on and call friends. In fact I would be lying if I saidthe new online forum or re-branding as a referral group micro-businessesis whats going to make 2011 better than 2010. Its the relationships wehave been fostering and the new ones we will make that will make nextyear a great year for the group and a better year for your business.
Tanks for such a great year
John
GBA Rocks theCT Business Expo!
Booth 408 at the C BusinessExpo on June 10, 2010,was full of energy and we
have our wonderful members tothank! For 8 hours our booth was
buzzing with business owners andother members of the businesscommunity. Solo-preneurs, non-prot agencies, governmentrepresentatives, GBA members, andmany others stopped by to learnmore about the group and the GBAmembers who participated in theday.
Each hour a GBA member business
that signed up to participate in theExpo was featured at the booth. Teprime spot, a corner booth, was aperfect way to give both membersand GBA maximum exposure tothe busy foot trac past our area.With a dedicated table and signage,members were able to promote theirbusinesses to Expo attendees and theresults were great.
According to Eric Lopkin fromTe Modern Observer Group,Te C Business Expo was theultimate networking event. I wasable to present my services to a
large number of people, connectwith existing contacts, and discussbusiness with other businessowners.
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Winter Safety for PetsProvided to you by Out of the Dog House Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
W
inter is a wonderful timeif you are an Alaskan
Malamute or another ofthe pet breeds that are more tolerantof colder temperatures, but mostpets need a bit more attention asthe mercury drops. Puppies andelderly dogs are especially vulnerablebecause they are less ecient atmaintaining body temperature, asare dogs with sparse coats or thosethat are left outside. Here are somethings to which you should pay
attention.
Shelter is an especially importantconsideration: Outdoor pets needone that is large enough to stand upand turn around in but still smallenough to preserve body warmth.Equally important is providingplenty of soft and resilient insulationsuch as a heavy bed of straw.
Consider replacing outdoor waterdishes with ceramic or plastic bowls
to prevent tongues getting stuck tocold metal.
Dogs that use the yard need a way toget to their spot. For shorter dogs,this may mean needing to shovela designated potty spot after eachsnowfall. For all outdoor animals,there should be clear paths to doorsor fences.
Even indoor animals usually spend atleast some time outdoors in winter,and they too face dangers andinconveniences from the cold. Saltthat is used on sidewalks and roadmay cause irritation and pets are prone to dry, chapped paws. Wipe orwash o paws after a walk. Anothercommon problem is frostbite: tissueon animals feet, tail and tips of ears
can be exposed to freezing temps.Frost bitten skin may appear to be
gray, white or reddish and may peel.Seek medical attention for pets thathave these symptoms. Limit yourpets exposure to freezing temps andremove chunks of snow and icefrom your pets body when theycome in.
Lastly, cars can be both a haven anda danger for animals in winter. Catssometimes sleep under the hood
of a car or warmth, so make sureyou tap or bang on the hood beforestarting to avoid injuring one. Evenif there are no outdoor cats in yourneighborhood, there may still be strays that nd a warm engine bayinviting. On the other hand, a carleft alone in the cold can also act as arefrigerator, trapping a pet in thecold.
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Do you feel that your business and your sale gures seem to be frozen as well as constrained? Spring is here,and time for a fresh warm approach for your marketing strategies to break the thaw. When that happens, Ihope you will keep me in mind for your photography needs. call Ben Jordan, Photo Images Co.,860-978-2949, [email protected].
Useful Advice From Star-Schein LLC
Iwould liketo sharesomething
that happenedrecently withone of myclients. Imworking with
a local family. Te wife works for a
large multi-national company andthe husband works as a handyman.Tey became my clients this pastsummer and they recently asked meto research the husbands currentbusiness insurance.
Of course, I agreed and the rstthing I noticed in their current
policy was that the husband wasclassied as a carpenter. So I askedhimare you a carpenter? Wellguess what hes not, because in thecourse of his work week he does dosome light carpentry, some electricalwork, and minor home repairs,etc In fact he is a handyman! Tecommercial class code on his policy
was wrong. Tis means that if hehad a claim while doing somethingun-carpenter like he ran the risk ofhaving the claim being denied byhis insurance company and havinghis policy cancelled. On the otherside of the coin, his current agent(no, not mebut a LARGE state-wide chain) has a possible errors and
omissions exposure.
As a quick side note-a class code isthe code for a type of business. Tiscode is in turn associated with a rateEach business type has a dierentcode which means each code hasa dierent rate. For example acarpenter is generally a less expensive
rate than a roofer.
Sometimes an agent mightmisclassify a business deliberatelybecause the rates are more favorable.An agent that does this might losethe ability to sell insurance for thatcompany, especially if he/she does
continued on next page
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this often. While this may save you moneyon your insurance it could cost you a gooddeal more if your business is not classied
correctly. Te point is; check with yourinsurance agent to make sure that you arecorrectly covered for what you do. When youreceive your commercial policy, please reviewthe declaration page(s) carefully to make surethe information about your business and itsoperations are correct. Commercial insurancepolicies are very specic about what they willNO pay for. If you see something therethat either does not make sense, or you dontunderstandASK.
When you receive your commercial policyand you have questions, your agent shouldbe very willing to answer any and all yourquestions about it. By the way, when shoppingfor commercial insurance, you may want toconsider using an independent insurance agent(like me!). Tey have more than one companythey work with and if the rates go up with yourcurrent carrier, they can always shop your
continued from previous pageUseful Advice
Buying An Ad Is Not AdvertisingEric Lopkin, President, Te Modern Observer Group
Acommon complaint from business owners is thatthey placed an ad in their local paper and didntsee a return. From this they have determined that
advertising doesnt work. Tey are right, if you buy an ad
it wont work. Tats because an ad is not advertising.
Tink about how many advertisements you see in a day.Is one ad going to stand out among all that? Of coursenot. Advertising is about the campaign. So what does a
campaign entail? Quite a lot as it turns out, but it doesnthave to be as dicult as you might think.
Start With e Message
Your audience knows youre trying to sell themsomething. Simply telling them what it is will not gettheir attention. ug at their heartstrings, tickle theirfunny bone, or remind them of days gone by. Don;tsimply talk to them, you must evoke a reaction. Tink
about the commercials that stand out in yourmemory. Tey don;t stand out because of theproduct or service. Tey stand out because theymade you feel something. Your ad must do thesame.
Find Your AudienceOnce youve crafted your message, how do youget it to the people you need to reach? arget your
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market. If your ad market is seniorcitizens, placing a commercial onCartoon Network isnt going tohelp. An ad in the AARP magazine,however, would be an excellentvehicle. Study your market. Whatare they reading, watching, andlistening to? Tats where you needto be. elevision, radio, directmail, search engines, newspapers,magazines, websites, social media,and mobile phones all oer waysto reach your audience. When youthink you have found the placeto put your ad, call them up. Anymedia representative will be able
to give you the demographics andpsychographics of their audience. Iftheir market matches yours, youvefound the right medium for yourmessage.
Once Is Never Enougho get your ad noticed it needs to be
repeated. o get your ad noticed itneeds to be repeated. o get your adnoticed it needs to be repeated. Foryour ad to have an impact it needsto push through all the clutter. Tereare several ways to do that. Te rstis multiple insertions. Place your adin the same medium multiple times.Te more people see it, the morethey will notice it. Another way isto create a campaign. Have severalads that all share common elements.Each could be a dierent take on atagline. Tey could share a commontheme. Te important thing is thatit must be obvious that all the ads
belong together. Te advantage ofthe campaign is that you achieve therepetition you need while avoidingoverexposure of your ad. Even betteris to run complimentary campaignsin multiple media. Let your print adsconnect to your direct mail. Showyour ads on your website. Promote
your facebook fan page at the endof a radio spot. As long as eachmedium reaches your target market,you can use them in tandem.
Advertising Alone Is Not Enough
While advertising is eective, itdoesnt stand alone. o enhance itseectiveness, it needs to be part ofa complete marketing campaign.Public relations, social mediamarketing, networking, and morewill all enhance your response.Advertising is a wonderful tool, andlike any tool, only eective whenused correctly.
Te Modern Observer Group isa business and communicationsconsulting rm. Combiningoperational excellence with marketingexpertise, the company provides youwith the services to bring you customersand keep them coming back.
Advertising continued from previous page
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Accounting
DP & AccountingRichard Carroll Jr., EAPhone: 860-740-6123Email:[email protected]
Web: www.dptaxaccounting.com
Advertising
InLine AdzContact: Ray CharpentierPhone: 860-752-5628Fax: 860-683-2271Email: [email protected]: www.inlineadz.com
Natural AwakeningsContact: Holly Danowski
Phone: 203-314-9707Email: [email protected]: www.naturallyhealthyct.com
Alternative Health - HealingArts
Personal Harmony and Health LLCDiane C. Esposito, RM/Holistic Coach8 Whispering Pines DriveWallingford, C 06492O: 203-284-1204
C: 203-913-3869Email: [email protected]: www.personalharmonyandhealth.com
Attorney
R. Richard Croce LLCContact: Richard Croce438 Main St, suite 202 MiddletownPhone: 860.316.5404Email: [email protected]: www.rrc-llc.com
Automotive
Patricians Auto DetailingContact: Peter PatricianPortland, C 06480Phone: 315-278-3801Email: [email protected]
Bookkeeping
Balanced Books by JoeContact: Joe LavoieSouthington, CPhone: 203-464-3848
Email: [email protected]
Catering
Request A ChefContact: Tomas ApgarPO Box 504olland, C 06084Phone: 860-760-5990Email: [email protected] Website: www.RequestAChef.com
Computers/NetworkingDistinctive Computer Solutions, LLCContact: Sean Rogers298 Cherry StreetNew Britain, C 06051Phone: 860-237-8346Email: [email protected]: www.dcs-llc.biz
Computer Repair
Dan LeRoy Productions
Contact: Dan LeRoyEmail: [email protected]: www.danleroyproductions.com
Consulting/Marketing
Te Modern Observer GroupContact: Eric Lopkin220 Julia erraceMiddletown, C 06457Phone: 860-343-1579Fax: 860-343-1579Email: [email protected]
Web: www.modernobserver.com
Email Marketing
Malafronte ConsultingContact: Paul Malafronte958 Dixwell AvenueHamden, C 06514Phone: 203-843-6657Email: [email protected]: www.malafrontehosting.com
Energy Saving Devices
Green Products SystemsContact: Ray CharpentierPhone: 860-752-5628Fax: 860-683-2271
Email: [email protected]
Financial Services/Investments
Barnum Financial GroupContact: Michael S. ResnickFinancial Advisor100 Great Meadow Rd. Suite 200P: 860-218-2880F: 860-218-2899Email: [email protected]
website: www.barnnancialgroup.com
Fine Art
Peter A. Patrician Design & IllustrationContact: Peter PatricianPortland, C 06480Phone: 315-278-3801Email: [email protected]
Graphic Design
James Robert Creative
Contact: James Robert Valentino139 Cedar Ridge RoadNewington, C 06111Phone: 860-666-0176Email: [email protected]: http://www.jamesrobertcreative.com/
Health Products
My Healthy USContact: Dan PartissMiddletown, CPhone: 860-316-5132Email: [email protected] Web: www.myhealthyus.com
Home Improvement
Rich the Rehabber, LLCContact: Rich HartMiddleeld, C 06455Phone: 860-575-2589Email: [email protected] Web: www.richtherehabber.com
GBA Membership Directory
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Insurance (Property/Casualty)
Star-Schein LLCContact: Charlie Schein, Owner/AgencyPrincipalRocky Hill, COce Phone: 860-513-1055Cell Phone: 860-819-9810
Fax: 877-513-6363Email: [email protected] Address: www.starschein.com
Landscaping, Snow Removal,Lawn Care
Baba Landscaping & Snow Removal, LLCContact: Bhupal Baba6 Shawnee CourtCromwell, C 06416Phone: 860-913-4938
Email: [email protected]
Media
Natural AwakeningsContact: Holly DanowskiPhone: 203-314-9707Email: [email protected]: www.naturallyhealthyct.com
Motivational Speaking
Hold Your Head High
Contact: Joe LavoieSouthington, CPhone: 860-426-1057Email: [email protected]
Organizing Services
Organize for odayLauren M. GuidittaProfessional [email protected]
Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
Out of the Dog HouseContact: Vicki MoyerPO Box 2275,Middletown, C 06457Phone: 860-838-4269Email: [email protected]: www.outofthedoghousect.com
Photographer
Photo Images Co.Contact: Ben Jordan702-2 Church StreetNewington, C 06111Phone: 860-978-2949Email: [email protected]: www.photoimagesco.photoreect.com
Printers (Commercial)
Tirteenth Floor Graphics and PrintingContact: Agata Piorkowska375 Lake AveBristol, C 06010Phone: 860-585-7121Email: [email protected]: www.tfgp.net
Publications
Natural AwakeningsContact: Holly DanowskiPhone: 203-314-9707Email: [email protected]: www.naturallyhealthyct.com
Retail/Online
Dare to InspireContact: Jennifer LoscialpoGlastonbury, C 06033Phone: 860-338-5120Email: [email protected] Web: www.daretoinspire.net
Retail/Resale
Te Walk In Closet Consignment ShopContact: Jackie Goodwin72 Pane RoadNewington, C 06111Phone: 860-667-6046Fax: 860-667-6046Email: [email protected] Web: www.shopthewalkin.com
Send Out Cards
Malafronte ConsultingContact: Paul Malafronte958 Dixwell AvenueHamden, C 06514Phone: 203-843-6657Email: [email protected] Web: www.malafrontehosting.com
Social Media Marketing
1 Degree LLCContact: Richard A. Marti, JrPhone: 562-726-2784Email: [email protected]: www.ramartijr.com
Video Production/Post
Production/CartoonAnimation
Dan LeRoy ProductionsContact: Dan LeRoyEmail: [email protected]: www.danleroyproductions.com
Web Design and Hosting
Malafronte ConsultingContact: Paul Malafronte
958 Dixwell AvenueHamden, C 06514Phone: 203-843-6657Email: [email protected]
Writers
alcott Mountain Media, LLCContact: Matthew Craver126 Wadhams RoadBloomeld, C 06002Phone: 860-286-0782Email: [email protected]
AttentionMembers:
Te deadline for your articlesand ads for the January issue is
DECEMBER 17th
Need Help?
Contact alcott Mountain forbarter deals for your articlesand Te Modern ObserverGroup for barter deals on addesign.
8/8/2019 GBA Newsletter - Dec
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860-788-3764 [email protected] GBAConnecticut.com
December 1, 20106:00 p.m.
Topic: Appropriate holidaygifts for clients and contacts
December 16, 2010
8:00 a.m.Topic: Appropriate holidaygifts for clients and contacts
January 5, 20116:00 p.m.
Topic: Maximizing yourbusiness card at networking
events and beyond.
January 20, 20118:00 a.m.
Topic: Maximizing yourbusiness card at networking
events and beyond.
February 2, 20116:00 p.m.
Topic: Working the room at anetworking event
February 17, 20118:00 a.m.
Topic: Working the room at anetworking event
March 2, 20116:00 p.m.
March 17, 20118:00 a.m.
All Meetings Held At:
Waters Edge Center for
Health and Rehabilitation,
111 Church Street,Middletown, CT
GBA Meeting Calendar
