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Small Business Marketing - Get More Customers Now!

In todays economy, every customer counts more than ever.  Small business marketing budgets are generally limited - get the most bang for your buck by investing wisely in your outdoor advertising.  Here is a letter from a small business that got great results from their marketing program.

Letter to Signtronix Sign Company:

Signtronix - The sign has proven itself to be worth it’s weight in gold.  Even though, the electrician hasn’t gotten the sign wired yet, since putting it up on the marquee last week business has doubled.  People who are stuck in highway traffic are pulling the parking lot to see what we have inside.

This is incredible!  Since we are the only retail store in this mall, we didn’t get a lot of foot traffic through our door.  Now people are coming in and saying my wife saw your sign and told me about you.

Our other two signs didn’t even generate half the interest in the shop, we wound up relying on word of mouth.  Now all of that’s changing and we’re getting business from 20 miles away!!

In the near future we are going to invest in one of the signs for the building and one with scrolling messages for the window.

Thank you and Signtronix for everything you’ve done for us and possible even saving our fledgling business.

Doug Barreto

Archery Plus Inc D/B/A Billy Bob’s
808 Rte 15 South
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849

Video: Small Business Marketing

South Lake Tahoe Ski Season 2008 / 2009

What's new for the 2008/2009 season at South Lake Tahoe Resort in California

Thanks to a new detachable-quad chairlift, the Olympic Express, access to one of the best tree skiing trails, the Nevada woods.  The Olympic Express also enables easier access to the Dipper Express, Comet Express and East Peak Lodge.  The lift is over a mile long, and improves upon the older lift's ride time of eleven minutes to just three and a half minutes.

Looking for deals on lift tickets and lodging?  Visit the Lake Tahoe Ski Vacation page on Ski Coupons.

In addition, there are three new trails open, two intermediate and one advance course.  Cloud nine is a course that is perfect for cruising about with some comfort room.  The two remaining have had their trees reduced.  The Pines is an intermediate trail that highlights the western white pines.  Bohemian Groves is an advance trail that is un groomed and offers the feeling of skiing amongst the trees.  Nevada woods are an expert trail that provided the full tree skiing that the area is famous for.  These four runs gives the Resort a total of 95 ski runs.  There is also a new attraction to the resort, the heavenly flyer.  This is a zip line that is over an entire mile long.  The heavenly flyer has a drop of over 500 feet so be prepared for the ride of your life.

The California Snowboarding Blog has up-to-date info on the SLT snow scene.

Golf-Camelback Inn Marriott Resort & Spa

The Camelback Inn opened in 1936 and today offers its guests the luxury of its casita guest rooms and suites featuring garden patios, balconies and private entrances. Several of the deluxe suites include their own private swimming pools. The Camelback Inn, a JW Marriott Resort & Spa is situated on 125 acres overlooking Camelback Mountain and offers 36 holes of championship golf, three outdoor pools, a magnificent spa, and seven exciting gourmet dining options, including the organic and nutritious menu at Sprouts Restaurant and the awe-insipring desert views from the memorable Hoppin' Jack's Restaurant. The Camelback Inn, a JW Marriott Resort & Spa's conference facilities comprise of 40,000 square feet of meeting space including the 16,000-square-foot Arizona Ballroom, the 6,400-square-foot Sunshine Ballroom, and the 3,744-square-foot Peace Pipe Ballroom. Start booking your golf vacation today.

Conflict in Republic of Georgia is a Testing Ground for Presidential Candidates

The Could-Be Presidential Pawns

With the U.S. Presidential elections about to come into full swing, any world event is going to be a point of contention. What better timing could there be for John McCain to show off his international strategy savvy than now? What better time for Barak Obama's lack of experience to show? Will McCain come off as a war-monger? Will Obama appear to be indecisive? It's certain that the situation in the Republic of Georgia will become their testing ground.

The U.S. Presidential elections aren't the only place that will be using the situation in Georgia as a trial, though. Europe and NATO have promised Georgia an eventual place at their table. Will Europe's desire for Russian oil be greater than their promises to Georgia? Does Georgia even deserve that place card while it's waging internal war with rebelling regions?

No matter how you look at the Georgia-Russia conflict, the real victims in all of this are the people. The people of Georgia and those of South Ossetia and Abkhazia will both be the losers, pawns to the greater powers trying to use them. Georgia may very well be the Afghanistan of this coming decade. Let's hope we don't repeat those mistakes.

 

Signtronix-The Economic Impact of On-Premise Signage

Without effective business sign communication, motorists are business opportunities passing by. 

In 1997, a landmark court case – Denny’s Inc. et al v. City of Agoura Hills, 97 CDOX 6341, Second Appellate District – involved businesses with tall freeway-oriented pole signs that considerably exceeded the city sign code’s height limit.  Evidence presented by one of the litigants – Burger King – clearly demonstrated the interplay among signs, motorists and economic vitality. 

Corporate studies found that nearly 60% of the Agoura Hills Burger King site’s business was attributable to its sign, which attracted not only local customers, but persons far from residence or workplace – a group representing approximate 35% of sales.  The drop in patronage that would accompany loss of the sign equaled at least $3.2 million during the 15-year remaining leasehold.

  Plaintiffs’’ traffic-pattern and consumer-profile research also disclosed the evolution of trade-area theories of business practices and economics.  Traditionally, a “trade area” has been defined as a 5-10-mile circle, containing a fairly immutable mix of residential, commercial, government, recreational and industrial land uses.  However, automobile use, population shifts and expanding job opportunities have fostered changes in consumer behavior, and therefore, in trade-area demographics and dynamics. 

Agoura Hills’ litigation established that for freeway-oriented businesses, as much as 85% of customers live or work outside the local trade-area boundary – many as far away as 25 miles.  This means the increasing mobility of American consumers generates new business stratagems based almost singly on travel patterns.  In terms of signage, retailers must use legible, conspicuous, on-premises signs to attract consumers traveling between destinations. 

The Agoura Hills controversy was a mega-case brought by mega-corporations.  Still, I thought the case’s demographic lessons could be applied to traditional, trade-area small businesses, neither franchised nor “freeway-oriented.”

Notes - Signtronix Style Design - Top 10 Sign Design Tips

Colorado Family Vacation Adventure Tours

Colorado and the Rocky Mountains' beauty is legendary.  People the world over know of the state, both by a well earned reputation and the songs of the late John Denver.  But most never give themselves the chance to see and know this magnificent wildlife wonderland's true pristine splendor.  The only way to see the real Colorado is to get the family off of the main roads and highways, back into the mountain wilderness itself, for an adventure tour.  In the past, this meant very strenuous days of backpacking or horseback riding, but now you can cover the distance in very little time with an off-road vehicle.

There are a number of vehicles going back into the mountains these days.  ATVs (quad-runners, etc.) are very popular, and Jeep, of course.  Lately Hummers and even snowmobiles (in the winter) have made a good day's fun out of those grueling days of backpacking and horses from yesteryear.  While the nostalgic may still enjoy it, off-road vehicles are just far more efficient – and fun, too for an exciting family vaction adventure tour!

Visit Rocky Mountain National Park this summer for the ultimate Colorado family vacation.

Of course you need to know what you're doing, and where you're going.  Tour guide operators can provide vehicles and safety equipment at competitive rates AND offer highly valuable expertise as they guide you towards the most attractive and unusual of destinations, bearing safety in mind at all times.  Whether it's on ATVs, whitewater rafts, hot air balloons or a more conventional off-road vehicle, it pays to have someone with who knows the area intimately and can show you around the pitfalls – literally!

Some of the best operators also offer the top off-road adventure packages.  At the top of the list are Outlaw Rivers and Jeep Tours and Mesa Verde activities, Continental Divide ATV Tours, Get Out Adventures, and Mild To Wild rafting and Jeep tours.  It's especially exciting to combine the means of transportation; Take a rock-climbing ATV on back into the mountains and down to the river, then take Duckies (inflatable kayaks) through the whitewater.  A guide will pick you up downstream and whisk you back upstream to do it over again!

Plan an Estes Park Whitewater Rafting tour or a Royal Gorge Whitewater Rafting family adventure tour.

Part of the pleasure of off-roading in Colorado is the ability to get beyond what's spoon-fed at the side of the road, to seek out the “road less traveled” that makes all the difference.  On a Hummer mountain adventure, one can get to places few have ever seen before, and places that time allowed men to forget.  For example, there are ghost towns in southern Colorado, and some of them aren't on a highway or a map!  Imagine the thrills of exploring a ghost town!  Think about all the pristine scenery you'll take in along the way, and on the way back to civilization!

Start planning your Telluride Summer Vacation now!

It's hard to pick any one activity or tour as the Top Colorado Adventure.  There are so many things to do and experience, and the experience of Colorado itself is not complete without them.  But why choose?  Instead, pick two or three that sound good to you this trip, and a few more next time.  No matter what you select, you're certain to have a great adventure in Colorado.  The Rockies guarantee it!

Thinking of a Colorado family summer vacation to the Roaring Fork Valley - Aspen Lodging

Going Green-Energy Conservation Tips for the Car

Are you a motorist who is concerned about the environment and what oil-based transportation is doing to it?  Efforts to save and conserve energy should be a concern in every motorist's mind.  As it relates to driving and techniques for driving, there are plenty of ways that money can be saved and energy conserved.  Most people are primarily concerned when it comes to better fuel consumption, but there are plenty of other things to consider when it comes to practical, eco-friendly driving.  Here are 8 great Going Green energy-conservation tips for the eco-friendly motorist.

1. Tires - For every mile you travel, you will find yourself burning a great deal more gas if your tires are under-inflated.  This is because under-inflated tires create more friction on the road, and this causes your vehicle to burn more gas.  Under-inflated tires also burn out much more quickly.  Over-inflated tires are just as harmful, however, wearing out rapidly and causing problems in the long run.  One of the easiest ways to conserve energy while driving is simply to ensure that your tires are properly inflated.

2. Pedals - An 'untrained Right Foot' is a popular cause for excessive expenditure when it comes to driving activity, because excessive fuel usage is created by accelerating hard, braking hard and generally just driving too fast.  The corresponding increase with this increase to gasoline consumption is a steady increase in noxious emissions.  The harder you drive, the more harmful chemicals are put out into the air.

3. For optimum consumption of fuel, the speed that you should be driving at during most periods is around 55 miles per hour.  Your fuel consumption will increase dramatically as your speed increases beyond this point.

4. An engine that is poorly tuned can also cause an increase in the amount of fuel that your vehicle expends.  You may need to put some money into getting your engine tuned, but it will be well worth it when you begin to save money in gasoline purchases.

5. Keeping your windows and sunroof open can contribute heavily to drag, which increases your vehicle's fuel consumption.  Exercise good judgment when determining whether or not to open up your windows while driving.

6. Do not weigh your vehicle down.  While it may take a lot of trash and extra junk to make a big different in the weight of your vehicle, keeping a lot of extra stuff in your car does definitely contribute to how much gasoline it burns.

7. If you do plan on carrying more passengers or luggage than usual during a trip, consider increasing the tire pressure for a smoother and much safer ride.  You will also avoid excessive wear of the tires by preparing in this way.

8. One of the greatest ways to conserve energy and to drive in an eco-friendly way is to be willing to shut your engine off when you are stuck in traffic where there will be more than simply a minor delay.  If you will be sitting for several minutes with your engine running the entire time, you might as well stop wasting fuel and putting out harmful greenhouse gasses and toxins by turning your engine off.

More Information on Alternate Power

PC Backup Software-Data Recovery Experts

An experienced data recovery expert is required in the event of a catastrophic event.  It is imperative to make sure that all programs and files can be recovered with as little downtime as possible.   Even an hour of downtime can cost a company a devastating amount of money. If that hour were to turn into days, the cost could be detrimental to the company’s future.  At NovaStor a superior level of competence and confidence is provided to ensure that your most valuable data is kept safe and restored quickly.

 

Founded in 1987, NovaStor has grown and maintained a reputation for being the best data recovery experts available.  With over 30 years of experience, amazing backup software, and very competitive pricing, NovaStor is truly dedicated to their customers.  All programmers and service personnel are thoroughly trained and knowledgeable about all aspects of the NovaStor products.  Friendly, ready to serve data recovery experts are ready with personalized recommendations and to help with every aspect of the set up process.

Great personnel would mean nothing without a great product to back.  NovaStor provides users with an excellent selection of data recovery and storage software.  This is invaluable protection that no company should be without.  The most popular NovaStor software is the NovaBACKUP, which allows for an extremely easy and professional backup of data onto a variety of media options.  Other options include the NovaNET, which allows users to backup important data over networks.

NovaStor is proud to offer a superior product at an affordable price.  With special introductory deals and discounts now is the perfect time to inquire about the NovaStor backup software products.  NovaStor’s products are guaranteed giving users an even greater sense of confidence that NovaStor will do anything they can to provide top service and a top product to their customers.

Looking for more information on computer backup software or network backup software?

Seattle Sightseeing-Washington State Travel

Seattle is one of the most populous and popular travel destinations in the United States, with lots of things to offer the tourist as well as the long term resident. Seattle is often thought of as one of the most convenient and beautiful cities to live in, with a rich cultural life in addition to all of the facilities and depth that a good city should have, but for those who are just visiting it has a good number of attractions which are interesting to anyone who arrives in town for a couple days and wants to be entertained.

The Space Needle is one of the first things that people think about when they think of Seattle Sightseeing – the presence of the Space Needle in the Seattle skyline has given the city’s silhouette an iconic status and has played a large part in making Seattle one of the first cities that people think about when they list major U.S. cities.

The Sky Needle was built in 1962 and is open every day until midnight – at the top of the Space Needle there is an observation deck and the SkyCity Restaurant, the second revolving restaurant in the world. If you go to the SkyCity Restaurant you will have free access to the Observation Deck and the elevator ride (which takes only 40 seconds to climb to the top of the 605 foot tall tower).

The Seattle Aquarium is a great place to take kids when you are visiting the city, with a great number of marine mammals including fur seals in addition to sea lions and otters. The Seattle Aquarium also has a giant octopus, and it is one of the attractions in the city which is open every day of the year – a good place for you to spend an afternoon with your family when you have two hours or so.

Seattle is the gateway for Alaska Travel

Pioneer Square is one of the historical areas of Seattle where you can learn about the way that the city used to be – the underground tour in this area will take you through a part of the city which has since been built over, while you can also find some of the best art galleries, book stores and small cafes / restaurants in this area. All in all, Pioneer Square is a great place for you to visit and one of the always open places that you can go to without spending money!

Health-Home Back Pain Relief

The number of things that can cause you back pain are legion. Probably the most are a sprain, strain or spasm caused by lifting something wrong., bad posture or an unhealthy environment. According to Dr. Steven Richeimer, Director of USC Medical Center’s pain management department, 65-85% of the U.S. population will suffer from back pain at some time in their lives. Disc problems developing from an injury, wear and tear or just plain old age are also prime causes of back pain. Finally, there are a variety of medical problems including spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis that may be the source of the problem. Only a doctor can be certain.

Of course there are different types of back pain which range from temporary to chronic. Even a short-lived problem, however, may be extremely painful while it lasts. Acute Pain is a warning to limit the activity that might result in more serious damage. It is severe and usually of short duration. The more intense this pain is and the longer it lasts increases the possibility that it will become chronic. Chronic Pain is a disease process. It can last for years and even for many decades. Some of the factors that underlie the development of chronic pain include nerve damage, age depression and level of disability. Neuropathic Pain is a pain patients describe as burning, tingling or shooting. Many medical treatments, medications, therapies and surgery may be required to alleviate it. Finally, there is Nociceptive Pain  or localized pain described by sufferers as throbbing, aching or sharp in nature. Pain after surgery, an accident or resulting from arthritis fall into this category.

Physicians deal with these pain problems in different ways depending upon the cause. Some treatments include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); anti-depressants; epidural steroid injections; facet joint injections; nerve blocks; physical therapy and even biofeedback techniques.

There are some new products on the market that have received good reviews on their ability to provide back pain relief. One of these, called “Posture Pump Spine Trainer” which was developed by a doctor,  is designed to correct improper spine curvature which has compressed spinal discs so that rich lubricating fluid cannot reach them. This device  restores proper spinal configuration and fluid flow and thereby alleviates or eliminates pain. Users who have had success using this product swear to both its effectiveness and relatively low cost compared to expensive medical procedures.

Whether the solution is medical or through physical manipulation, saying goodbye to pain is a benefit that dramatically affects quality of life.