EE FR USAMeansBusiness.com/Akron
M A G A Z I N E Vol. 1 No.3
April 2008
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In This Issue: Letter from the Publisher 5
4
Become A Member
“How to Sell” Special Guest Column by Ron Finkelstein
6
7
Business Spotlight - Staged Makeovers My Brother’s Phonebook 8 9
Business Spotlight - New Directions
Fabulous Favorites 10 12
Business Spotlight - Ivan’s Journey
STAFF Kaeth S. Gauthier Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Peter “Frank� Gauthier CEO
T. Mason Brown Production Manager
Stacie Warner Sales/Marketing
Scott Roberts Senior Web Designer
Marie Rotondo Web Designer Akron Means Business is published by PML Publishing LLC, 60 South Maple Street, Suite 203, Akron OH 44303. Copyright 2008 by PML Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited without prior written consent. Contact us at 330-294-0234 Editorial kaeth@AkronMeansBusiness.com Advertising advertising@AkronMeansBusiness.com
3 Akron Means Business 04/2008
Welcome to
I received the perfect phone call the other day from Jeff Jones, who owns Consolidus, a promotional merchandise company. He said, “My mother was at the doctor’s office and picked up a copy of Akron Means Business. She called me and asked, ‘Why aren’t you in here?’” I told Jeff I should hire his mom to do our marketing. Dean Corpas of Akron Family Restaurant has a basket of our magazines at his front door and let us know, “Copies of the magazine are flying out the door.” That’s the idea and we’re delighted to hearing it’s working. Whether you find us at a local restaurant, doctor’s office or library, the message is spreading. When people call to ask if they can purchase a subscription, we tell them it’s not available by subscription. We direct them to the member’s list on the web site so that people will visit a local business (perhaps your business) to get a copy. Help us spread the word. Join Akron Means Business and display the magazine at your location. When your copies have “flown out the door” call us for more. We added several forms to the website to make it easier for you to send us your recommendations for Gold Stars, My Brother’s Phonebook and Fabulous Favorites. Let me know what I can do to help you succeed.
Kaeth Shaughnessy Gauthier Publisher/Editor-in-Chief “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” — Thomas Alva Edison
WANTS YOU!
Hto ow (and Why) join
Go to www.AkronMeansBusiness.com and click on “Sign Up” Membership is FREE Monthly magazine is FREE Monthly networking events are FREE How often does that happen? You get something of value without spending money. My passion is to help new and existing business in Akron, Ohio be successful. Why? Because this is my hometown and when you succeed, I succeed. The first issue of the magazine has a distribution of 10,000 through members, businesses, libraries, hospitals, schools and turnpike rest areas. How do we pay for the magazine and the web support? This venture is advertising supported and I welcome your advertising. A full page ad is $300 which gives you 10,000 pieces for 3 cents each. This includes printing and delivery. Call us at 330-294-0234 and advertise.
Here are ways to get your business mentioned in the magazine and on the web:
Join and appear on the members list Earn a Gold Star Be someone’s Fabulous Favorite Earn a spot in My Brother’s Phonebook Email kaeth@AkronMeansBusiness.com and invite us to write about you Tell us what’s new about your business – people, products and services
5 Akron Means Business 04/2008
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Guest Column
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How to Sell Wrong! Selling has nothing to do with your success. Selling is not the highest paid profession. Selling has nothing to do with your success! Helping others by Ron Finkelstein to buy has everyAMB Special Guest thing to do with Columnist your success! What you really want is someone who will listen to you and help you to understand the implications of your decision, help you define the correct course of action and help you though the buying process. That is not selling – that is helping someone to buy. That is treating them the way they want to be treated. It is a totally different approach to selling because through proper questioning you can quickly determine if the prospect is someone in need of your products or services. You can treat them the way they want to be treated. Novel idea, right? It is an idea whose time has come. Implementing a sales strategy of treating others the way they want to be treated allows you to: - not look like a slick sales representative but a trusted advisor - eliminate the fear of rejection because you will understand why people do what they do - close more sales because you are meeting them on their terms and treating them the way they want to be treated - take the stress out of sales because you are selling from a position of strength. Many people think sales is about sell-
ing, doing trial closes and manipulating people to buy from you. There are sales people who do that and they hurt all of us. They eliminate any possibility of repeat sales. We’ve all met sales people that made you wonder why you purchased their product. What happened? You weren’t ready, you did not want that product and you don’t feel like you were listened to. Yet you still made the purchase. That approach works if you are selling and you don’t care about the people you are selling to. That approach works if you don’t care about repeat business. That approach works if you don’t care what people think about you. That approach works if you want people to run the other way when they see you. That approach does not work if you want to create long term relationships with your clients or customers. Remember people prefer buying and not being sold. You sometimes meet people that you bond with immediately and taking them through the buying process is easy. It doesn’t feel like selling. There is instant rapport. They buy from you and enjoy it. I was in a meeting yesterday and I heard a comment that blew me away. “I pay your full fee and I pay it because I want to and I am getting great value for the price.” Do you want your customers to feel that way about you? To Your Success, Ron Finklestein “The Small Business Success Expert” 330-990-0788 www.businessmasterynow.com Akron Means Business 04/2008 6
Makeover
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Business Spotlight
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Magic
nine years old and toured the Biltmore Estate, I made it my life’s passion to be involved with beautiful environments.” “We have a passion for making peoBesides majoring in interior design and ple’s homes more beautiful so they can fashion merchandising at the University enjoy them more or sell them faster,” of Akron, she is an accredited staging says Sharon Kreighbaum, owner of professional with more than 15 years deStaged Makeovers. “Our team brings great design to your home and enhances sign and staging experience. By attending design shows and events, as well as your environment whether you want a reading trade magazines, Kreighbaum makeover or are putting your home on stays well-informed about design trends. the market.” Clients include homeowners, buildHer services include home staging, ers, realtors and investors. She designs interior redesign, shopping, full-service model homes and consults for invesinterior design and staging classes. Full tors who purchase homes to renovate service design may include selecting and resell quickly, known as “flipping.” furniture, fixtures, wall and floor treatShe does home staging ments as well as colors for realtors to generate and art work. KreighStaged Makeovers faster home sales. One baum tells us, “We can 330-472-6607 client considered lowercompletely redesign a StagedMakeovers.com ing the price of her home home for around $150. Sharon@StagedMakeovers.com $20,000 to speed the sale. We use the homeowner’s Instead she had a Staged items – furniture, art, acMakeover and sold her cessories – and re-position home without changing them for optimal effect.” The most the price. rewarding part of her job is seeing the When Kreighbaum shops with cusreaction of people when the redesign tomers she advises them to start with bais complete. Customers enjoy a professic pieces, like a sofa, in a classic shape sionally designed new look and can see and color. You can learn to accent with the result in two hours. the things you love. You can change acWhen your goal is to sell your home, Kreighbaum states with confidence that cents as your tastes, or seasons change. A basic sofa should last for at least ten buyers want to purchase a home that years and could then be re-upholstered. is clean, well-maintained, uncluttered, Staged Makeover’s website has fun well-organized and up to date with the latest fashions. Buyers want to visualize features and whimsical graphics. Be spaciousness, with lots of room for their certain to read the gossip page and be ready for some chuckles. The Little own belongings. If you’re moving, it’s Black Book feature is a wonderfully best to pack as much as you can before generous way they share links to favorite you show the house for the first time. Your home should be showcased with goods and services. Call Staged Makeovers to make your home and garden “wow” factors and be organized for efficiency. Kreighbaum and her team cre- more beautiful to live in, stage your ate luxurious environments in any space. property to sell fast at a great price, or learn about their class schedule. When asked what inspired her to do this work, she answered, “When I was by Kaeth S. Gauthier AMB Editor-in-Chief
7 Akron Means Business 04/2008
My Brother’s Phonebook Loan me your phonebook. Tell me about a service or product you used and why you recommend them. When you’re searching for a recommendation, let me know. I’ll post your request and let other members open their phonebooks to you too. My Brother’s Phonebook is compiled by AMB staff from staff recommendations, member submissions, and personal experience. If you would like to submit a business, other than your own, for possible mention in My Brother’s Phonebook, please contact us at phonebook@akronmeansbusiness.com.
Car Repair
Cartel Auto Recommended by Joe Boyle, Cutler Real Estate Agent I recommend an auto service place on North Main Street in Akron that repairs foreign and domestic cars. The name is Cartel Auto and they are very honest and not expensive. They are very nice and explain everything to me. They are tops in my book. I’d trust them with any vehicle I have. Cartel Auto, 965 North Main Street in Akron 330-376-3003.
Retail / Gifts
The Market Path Recommended by Donna Perdue, Executive Coordinator, Greater Akron Chamber My husband and I shopped here during the holidays. Having just opened November 2007 right next to Chipotle’s in Highland Square, it’s a peaceful spot, filled with beautiful fairly traded authentic goods from around the world (Kenya, Ethiopia, Chile, Mexico, Afghanistan, Croatia, etc). Featuring home decorations, collectibles, children’s toys, books, drums, inspirational items, jewelry and accessories, we found something for almost everyone! The staff is exceptionally friendly and accommodating. The store is a wonderful place to explore, reflect, appreciate and enjoy the variety of cultures, personalities and talents expressed by various artisans. The soft world music they play is a great part of the experience. We found The Market Path to be a place of honesty and integrity, upholding practices of fair trade marketing. I think it is truly the place to go if you are looking for a unique gift for yourself or someone else. The Market Path, 833 West Market Street, Akron, www.TheMarketPath.com, 330-258-9003
Give out
Gold Stars!
Gold Stars are submitted by Akron Means Business members, staff, and management. Information is edited by AMB staff. If you wish to request Gold Star Cards© or submit a Gold Star of your own, please contact us at goldstar@akronmeansbusiness.com Akron Means Business 04/2008 8
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Business Spotlight
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Training
on Wheels
include computer skills, leadership and management, team building, time and project management, personal developNed Parks, owner of New Directions, ment, business development, professional knows how to have fun and teach at the communication, employee training and same time. In fact, “have fun” is included retention. in his vision and values statements for The website is well worth the journey. his company. Parks is former military, a An informal beginning has a brief video trained mediator, and a dynamic speaker. with Ned’s daughter Sammy letting her Learning from Parks is like having a dad know that the customer is looking wisdom session with a good friend. Parks for him. The visual and auditory variety talks about the passion of training. “Our on the site contributes to a good learning learning company allows the talent and experience and a valuable demonstrapassion of the trainers to tion of what is offered by enhance the learning proNew Directions. Select New Directions vided to the customers.” “See Ned on Video” for a 330-328-8309 New Directions prohelpful taste of his training SelfBest.com vides performance and style. NedParks@SelfBest.com process improvement sysNed is the author of tems for individuals, teams five audio CD’s you can and organizations. Parks find in the web site’s comand his team offer services that include pany store. His first release, Simple and training, keynote presentation, retreats, Easy, teaches the little things you can do strategic planning, and assessments. Their that will have a big impact on your perforprograms are used to unite and inspire mance, success and happiness. Ned and teams, retain good people, and teach a colleague from Florida just released a leadership skills. Patty Strano of Pamseries of audio CD’s titled, Talking About pered Chef writes, “Ned, your program Your Business, which focus on four main was extremely informative and fun. You areas of customer service. Ned has also introduced me to a whole new way of writes two blogs and hosts a live call-in thinking as a leader in regards to inspiring radio show blog. You can read or listen and motivating my team.” to his blogs at: http://got2bekiddingme. Training programs are designed for blogspot.com, www.talkingaboutyourbusispecific company needs, using methodolo- ness.com, and www.blogtalkradio.com/ gies and formats best suited to the client. talkingaboutyourbusiness Your company may need several days of When you need an entertaining and interactive workshops designed to improve educational message delivered, New and develop skills and knowledge. Or, you Directions will fill the need with a format might benefit from outdoor adventures for and topic designed for you. team building. Topics offered by New Direction by Kaeth Gauthier AMB Editor-in-Chief
9 Akron Means Business 04/2008
Fabulous Want to sing the praises of your favorite Akron area spot? Send us an e-mail at FabFave@akronmeansbusiness.com. Please include your name, your business name, & the names, phone numbers, and web addresses of the places you love.
From Jo Bethea, Senior Sales Associate, Greater Akron Chamber Bravo to the whole crew over at the newly opened BRAVO under direction of General Manager Kevin Lambes. Food and atmosphere are great…everyone is upbeat and attentive. Sure makes for a fun night out. (Especially on Wed…. martini discounts!) Bravo www.BravoItalian.com 330-835-9583
Favorites
beers available and friendly staff and the atmosphere and patrons are always unique. Ray’s Pub 816 West Market Street
From Debbie Price, IJN1 Foundation Village Thrift on State Road is one of my favorite places to shop. There are terrific bargains at this re-sale store. They have clothing, decorative items and furniture. Village Thrift
From Rachel Shutte, Student at The University of Akron I like the Spaghetti Warehouse because of the entertaining atmosphere and great service. The food is delicious and I very much enjoy their sauce and bread. Spaghetti Warehouse www.Meatballs.com 330-374-0025
From Lindsay Barba, Student at The University of Akron I like going to Ray’s Pub in Highland Square. They have a good variety of Akron Means Business 04/2008 10
Akron goes
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Business Spotlight
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Hollywood
Orchestra Chorus. Blatch-Geib is Production Designer and has worked throughout the world. She says, “This Is Akron ready to be a film-making center? A diverse team of professionals is a wonderful opportunity for the many talented people here. I’ve looked at believes that we are and they are develsites throughout the area and we have oping and seeking funding for the film, so much architecture that works for “Ivan’s Journey.” It is the intention of this film.” Miller, Scenic Artist, will the creative team to shoot the majority bring his unique design sense and use of of this project in Northeast Ohio. recycled materials to reinforce the mood “Ivan’s Journey” is a supernatural of the film. thriller and psychological mystery. The mission statement for this comAbandoned buildings and industrial settings in our area are ready to provide pany includes these goals: “To make efficiently produced independent films the backdrop of burned out and dewith the goal of returning a profit to its cayed structures experienced by Ivan. investors. To prove that Author Matthew great films can be proIvan’s Journey Gregor is a writer, direcduced for lower cost in tor and actor with more IvansJourney.com Northeast Ohio. To prothan 20 years experience duce work that contains in the industry. He defines this film as high concept. Gregor’s responsible messages.” Independent movies have been in-depth research shows the wealth of distribution and money-making options made Akron for many years and some of those films are featured at the Akfor this type of this film. ron Independent Film Festival www. Producer Eric Vaughn says, “Akron AkronFilmFestival.com. Those filmis a magical place. I see “Ivan’s Jourmakers already know the cost benefits ney” as the first step in establishing a of filming here. The financial return very lucrative industry in this area.” to the community can be enormous. Vaughn has moved to Akron from Salt Pittsburgh added $37 million to their Lake City to produce the film. community in 2007 through film proCarmella Calta, is a corporate conduction. sultant for the company and tells us, Many people involved with this “I believe in this project. There is an enormous amount of acting and techni- project see a dynamic future for filmmaking here. If you have longed to be a cal talent in this area. This project can be a catalyst for more films in Northeast patron of the arts, you have the opportunity now to be a financial backer for Ohio.” Calta is the Founder and CEO “Ivan’s Journey.” Ivan’s Journey LLC is of Staffing Solutions Enterprise. looking for local investment for the film. Other local talent involved in this project include G. Michael Skerrit, Inda To be a part of the investment team for Ivan’s Journey contact Matthew Gregor Blatch-Geib and PR Miller. Executive through the website. Producer Skerrit is a founder of the 31-year-old community theatre group, the Happy Ending Lyric Players. He also spent 20 years with the Cleveland by Kaeth S. Gauthier AMB Editor-in-Chief
11 Akron Means Business 04/2008
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