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SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012

Social media embedded in business

By By STEVE GIEGERICH St. Louis Post-Dispatch

ST. LOUIS — Anders Minkler & Diehl was prepared for the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on the national health care overhaul.

With the ink barely dry on the ruling, the St. Louis accounting firm noted the outcome on its Gray Matter blog and linked the post to a social media site — a heads up to clients and potential customers that the company intended to stay on top of the situation. An analysis of the act’s potential tax consequences on businesses soon followed.

Anders Minkler & Diehl once invested time and no small amount of capital for ed-

iting, layout, printing and postage to deliver tax tips and legislative and policy updates to clients on a leisurely quarterly schedule. Now, it operates somewhat more like a digital news operation, responding immediately to breaking events on multiple platforms — anticipating clients’ questions and digital searches at the precise moment they arise.

“I’ve been in (marketing) 30 years, and social media has changed the game more than anything I can think of, because of all the ways people can now see your message,” said Donna Erbs, the company’s marketing director.

As recently as five years ago, businesses and nonprofits alike

SMALL TALK

Small Business Majority breaks away from pack

still seemed puzzled at the business value of social media platforms, then derided as a what-I-had-for-lunch frivolity.

Even now, they struggle to quantify exactly what impact their investments in social media and Web content produce for their bottom lines.

But the strategy is as much defensive as offensive, as it grows increasingly clear that companies with no digital presence are becoming simply invisible to many consumers.

Businesses that don’t embrace social media as a marketing tool do so at their own peril, MCT PHOTO warns Steve Nicholls, author of Jessi Brawley, Communications Director with Foster & Adop“Social Media in Business.”

See SOCIAL MEDIA, Page 2D

tive Care Coalition, takes photos of television photojournalist Joe Eickmeier she will later post to Facebook and Twitter.

Almost 90 years old, M.D. Brown still going strong

By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG AP Business Writer

NEW YORK — When John Arensmeyer owned a high-tech company, he didn’t feel the organizations that lobbied on behalf of small business really represented him — or many other business owners.

“They put forth a monolithic view of what small business wants,” says Arensmeyer. “I felt they were overly partisan and overly ideological and didn’t really look pragmatically at what small businesses need. So I felt there was an opportunity and a need for a new voice.”

In 2005, Arensmeyer founded Small Business Majority, a group that now has 8,000 business people nationwide in its network. Like other lobbying groups, Small Business Majority takes positions on issues including tax and regulation.

But it doesn’t follow the pack. Arensmeyer’s group supported President Barack Obama’s overhaul of the health care system — a stark contrast to the National Federation of Independent Business, which unsuccessfully argued against the law before the Supreme Court.

“Policy makers need to listen to different voices because there are a variety of small businesses out there,” Arensmeyer says. “One of the things we’re trying to do is be somewhat of an aggregator of some of those voices.”

Arensmeyer, now based in California, began his working life as a commercial and corporate law attorney in New York, where he was born. He served as chief operating officer of SoftAd Group, a developer of multimedia marketing products, and then founded ACI Interactive, an e-commerce company. He started Small Business Majority after selling his company.

Arensmeyer spoke recently with The Associated Press. Here are excerpts, edited for clarity and brevity: Q. How is Small Business Majority dif-

BILL TARUTIS/FOR THE TIMES LEADER

ADAPTABLE

Nathan Brown, owner of M.D. Brown Co., talks about the history of his linens and textile distribution business.

By BILL O’BOYLE

boboyle@timesleader.com

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founded in 1924 by his father, UZERNE – There are Morris David Brown, and is many vivid images of the now located on Union Street in 1972 Agnes flood that Luzerne. The burning building devastated thousands of homes was located at 92-94 East and businesses in Wyoming ValNorthampton St, near other ley. warehouses like Sperling ToOne of the most memorable – bacco and Klein Candy. In June, of flames rising from buildings 1972, Nate, who worked in the on Northampton Street in business with his father and Wilkes-Barre – has been reprintTIMES LEADER FILE PHOTO brothers, was working the Cated over and over again in the skill Mountain region, calling decades since.

The M.D. Brown warehouse on Northon motels and campsites. He The photo and film footage ampton Street in Wilkes-Barre burns would sell “anything,” items shows a major fire along “ware- during the 1972 Agnes flood. like aprons, uniforms, kitchen house row” on Northampton linens, bar mops, tablecloths, napStreet. A fire erupted in a restau- like linen, textiles and napery. rant near the warehouse of M.D. Nate Brown of M.D. Brown Co. Brown – distributors of dry goods still runs the business that was See BROWN, Page 2D

See SMALL TALK, Page 2D

This week’s special deals: Cork, Quaker and Coney, oh my!

Virginia Thomas, of Wilkes-Barre, was the lucky winner who knew the answer to last column’s trivia question and earned a gift pack of goodies from Plum Organics.

The answer to the question, for those who are wondering, was plum.

No freebies this week to hand out but plenty of good deals, including one just for my readers.

Here are two nice offers from The Times Leader to tell you about.

Tomorrow only, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., new subscribers can call 8295000 and get the Sunday Times Leader for one year at $1 per issue. You must ask for the one-day sale when calling. Also, there’s an ongoing promotion where current subscribers that pay by cash, credit card or check can receive a $10 gift card to either Gerrity’s or Target just by calling 829-5000

ANDREW M. SEDER STEALS & DEALS and switching their account to EZ Pay. Here’s an insider deal for Steals & Deals readers only. Mention this deal when you head to Cork Bar & Restaurant, 463 Madison St., Wilkes-Barre from Tuesday through Saturday and buy one entrée, get an equal or lesser valued entrée for half off. Owner Ruth Corcoran says you must mention you saw the offer in Steals & Deals to take advantage of it.

Head to Quaker Steak & Lube, which has locations in Buckhorn and Dickson City through Aug. 12, and receive a free Short Wave O-ring with a dine-in, pick-up Window or take-out purchase of a Compact Bucket of Breaded Boneless Wings.

Big T’s Coney Island Deli will open Wednesday at 40 S. Main St Wilkes-

Barre and owner Tom Healy will offer a first-month special of two hot dogs and a fountain drink for $3.49. That’s $1 off the normal price you’d pay. By the way, nothing on Tom’s menu will be over $5.

For a limited time at the WilkesBarre TGI Friday’s, get a free Whisky Cake dessert when you purchase any Jack Daniel’s Grill or Premium Menu item.

Print out this coupon for $10 off a $25 purchase at Fashion Bug through Tuesday: http://tinyurl.com/c4o72gx Plenty of coupons in today’s Times Leader, total value of about $285.

Plenty of smart ways to use them, including: • Take the $10 off an Accu-Chek Nano blood glucose monitoring system coupon to CVS where the item is on sale for $9.99. You’ll get a handy life saving device for free. Don’t need one for yourself, get it and donate it to a local clinic or shelter.

• Head to Rite Aid with the $1 off coupon found here: http://www.mypolicare.com/Promotions.aspx and buy a tube of Super Poligrip denture adhesive for 99 cents. The product is on sale for $1.99 and if you sign up for Single Check Rebates you’ll get a check for the full purchase price before coupon sent to you. To learn more about the Single Check Rebates program, go here: https://riteaid1.rebateplus.com/ra-v2/#welcome • If you go by the commercials -and really, who doesn’t? – dogs love Beggin Strips. And thanks to the $3 off three coupon coupled with Weis selling three packs for $7.50, you’ll love them too. Get three packs for $4.50 with this deal.

Andrew M. Seder, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 570-829-7269.

Follow him on Twitter @TLAndrewSeder and email him at aseder@timesleader.com if you’d like to share a steal or deal.

RON BARTIZEK BUSINESS LOCAL

Gas industry doesn’t need our tax dollars

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ublic-private partnerships can be great, yielding landmark projects like the rebuilt World Trade Center in New York or Sematech, the notfor-profit consortium between the U.S. government and semiconductor manufacturers that 25 years ago vaulted the domestic technology industry past Japan.

And even such a pro-business organization as the Marcellus Shale Coalition believes government has a role to play in bolstering sectors of the economy that would seem to offer jobs, savings and efficiency.

But there’s a difference between aiding the reconstruction of an icon or supporting an emerging technology in a competitive world economy and using taxpayer funds to expand the market for an established industry that has shown it has money burning holes in its proverbial pockets.

The latter is how I read Sen. Bob Casey’s planned legislation that ostensibly would “promote further development and job growth” in the natural gas industry. Essentially, Casey is advocating that the federal and state governments provide subsidies for the construction of natural gas fueling stations and the purchase of vehicles that run on gas.

I’m all for using more gas; it’s cheaper and cleaner than fuels derived from oil and we don’t have to import it. But given the economic advantages to consumers and the profit potential to the gas industry, I don’t see a need to give grants and tax credits as encouragement.

Except that big business, despite its usual whining about government intrusion, likes a handout as much as anyone.

Casey’s vaguely worded announcement was long on promises and short on details. It suggests that states devise their own incentives based on the needs and opportunities in each, supported by $500 million in federal funds distributed each year between 2013 and 2022. Where would the money come from? “Senator Casey wants this legislation to be fully paid for and will find appropriate off-sets,” his staff wrote in response to that question.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition drafted a much more comprehensive plan last year, in which it laid out various scenarios for creating a retail natural gas distribution network in Pennsylvania. The estimated cost to boost construction of fueling stations and sale of gas-powered vehicles ran as high as $208 million. Several financing schemes were offered, none as far as I could tell involving the industry kicking in some of its money or involving a slight surtax on the gas it removes from under our feet.

In at least one example, the coalition cites a financing scheme in Utah under which all users of natural gas – not just in vehicles – pay higher rates with the extra money going to build the distribution network.

Pennsylvania already has a grant program to support the purchase of vehicles powered by alternative fuels.

It’s paid for with a portion of the gross receipts tax on utilities, so essentially we’re all chipping in.

At the very end of its extensive report on financing options, the coalition includes a few paragraphs about the “Private Investment Model” under which entrepreneurs and their backers build fueling stations with their own money.

After seeing how the gas producers throw around billions to buy leases on land they may never drill, that gets my vote. If they want to expand their markets faster, as the primary beneficiaries of more natural gas use they should be easily able to come up with the cash needed to fund expansion.

Ron Bartizek, Times Leader business editor, may be reached at rbartizek@timesleader.com or 570-970-7157.

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2012

RON BARTIZEK BUSINESS LOCAL

The former Empire Silk Mill is 114 years old, but structurally sound, owner George Tassone says.

The dining room is nearly ready to welcome customers. Tables are refurbished spools and carts used in the factory.

Owner dreams of transforming Empire Silk Mill building

PETE G. WILCOX PHOTOS/THE TIMES LEADER

When George Tassone looks at the former Empire Silk Mill on Empire Street in Wilkes-Barre he sees beautiful loft apartments on the upper floors, a health spa and fitness club, a fine restaurant and other amenities that make up a complete mixed-use development.

Keeping a vision alive

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thers might see it as too big a challenge or perhaps not even imagine what it could be, but when George Tassone looks at the former Empire Silk Mill his vision is of a thriving mixed-use development. Renters of luxury apartments on the upper floors are arriving home from work and getting a quick workout in the on-site fitness club before heading downstairs for dinner at the Brazilian steakhouse. Clients come and go from the day spa, or stop by to gaze at the paintings in the first-floor art gallery.

It’s been nine years since Tassone’s Empire

Street Realty bought the 80,000-square-foot building and 3 acres of land for $100,000, thinking it was an affordable place to move his Pool Factory business. Sometime later, Tassone began to see more possibilities in the 114-year-old brick walls and maple flooring, and in September 2007 he received zoning approval to build offices, apartments, a restaurant and a fitness club.

But just as his plans were coming together, the economy was falling apart. Since then Tassone has used a series of refinancings to keep his dream alive while turning his other business interests around. Realizing he couldn’t afford to do it all at once, he refinished some of the ground floor into restau-

rant space and began equipping a kitchen.

Then a partner in the restaurant fell ill, making its planned late October opening uncertain.

During a recent tour, Tassone showed off the work done so far and described the spacious apartments and amenities he believes would turn the former factory in WilkesBarre into a highly profitable – and highly satisfying – venture. But he needs help, whether it’s someone to help run the restaurant or a partner with the $3 million to $4 million he says it will take to realize the project. In the meantime, he’s turned down at least one purchase offer, although he says he might be tempted by a better one.

Pillsbury, Petco and Sonic among this week’s best deals Last week’s giveaway of a free variety pack of lice treatment products from LiceGuard was well received. More than a dozen people emailed in answers to the trivia question by 10 a.m. Sunday and Maylan Nicholson was the winner. She was the first to say that adult head lice have six legs when she emailed her response at 5:56 a.m.

A counselor at the Dana Elementary Center in Forty Fort, Nicholson said she would provide her sample packs “to a needy family who is having financial difficulties treating their children who are infested. Believe it or not, this happens more than you think.”

Thank you Maylan for all you do and for using your winnings to help those in need. And thanks to LiceGuard,

ANDREW M. SEDER STEALS & DEALS which has told me they’ll be providing extra samples in their package so Maylan can help more families in need.

I am a kid at heart and some nights there’s nothing better than popping some Totino’s Pizza Rolls into the oven and eating some yummy cheesy goodness while watching Nightline. Pillsbury has a free rebate deal going on that you should take advantage of. I know I will. Buy specially marked packages of Pillsbury cookies between now and Dec. 15. Send in the rebate form, along with your proof of purchase by Dec. 31.You’ll receive a coupon for a free 15-count box of Totino’s Pizza Rolls (up to $2.29) by mail.

Learn more at http://www.pillsbury-

cookiespromotion.com/ If you are a Petco Pet Pals member, be sure to print this coupon for a free 3 ounce Wellness Cubed, Sliced or Minced Cat Food coupon, good through Oct. 31. There are Petco stores in Edwardsville and Wilkes-Barre Township. Find the coupon here: http://www.petco.com/petco_Page_PC_wellnesscoupon0912.aspx There’s a glossy coupon page in today’s Times Leader from Sonic.

Among the coupons are a buy-one, get-one-free Sonic cheeseburger and a $1.49 BLT and any medium flavored iced tea offer.

There are coupons worth more than $322 in today’s Times Leader. Here are some good ways to use some of them: • Take the $1 off Listerine coupon to Target where select varieties of the mouthwash are on sale for $2.99. You’ll

pay just $1.99.

• Weis has a mix-and-match Progresso deal this week where you can get a combo of Progresso vegetable classics soups, bread crumbs and recipe starters for 99 cents each when you buy a total of 10. There is a coupon for $1 off four cans of soup and another for $1 off two cans of recipe starters. So make sure you grab at least four soups and two recipe starters, then four more of whatever you want off the list and you’ll get 10 items for $7.90.

• Redner’s Warehouse Markets has Uncle Ben’s rice cups for $1. Use the $1 off four Uncle Ben’s products coupon to get four for $3.

Andrew M. Seder, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 570-829-7269. If you know of any local steals or deals, send them to aseder@timesleader.com. And follow him on Twitter @TLAndrewSeder

KOZ shuffle cost plenty, helped little

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dozen years ago, as owner and editor of The Dallas Post, I wrote plenty of editorials decrying the gift of Keystone Opportunity Zone tax waivers that helped lure Commonwealth Telephone Company and more than 300 jobs to Wilkes-Barre, 10 miles away. The company wasn’t adding any jobs, but was removing hundreds of potential customers for Back Mountain restaurants and shops.

Now I work in Wilkes-Barre and the move is going the other way, with the announcement by Commonwealth successor Frontier Communications that its downtown staff – now just over 100 – will move back to its Dallas Township facilities. Wilkes-Barre businesses will now have to adapt to fewer lunches sold and birthday cards purchased.

Wilkes-Barre’s loss may be the Back Mountain’s gain this time, but the beneficiaries of this expensive shell game are few. Certainly Commonwealth and then Frontier saved on rent because landlord Humford Equities didn’t have to pay property taxes on the Wilkes-Barre Center building for 10 years. Those savings hopefully will be offset over the next decades by a higher assessment due to $11 million in renovations made to accommodate the company.

But the losers outnumber winners, most notably taxpayers in the WilkesBarre Area School District, which gave up more than $1 million in property tax revenue, and the city, which gave up about half that.

What didn’t happen in return, and was not required under KOZ rules, was job creation. To get the goodies, Commonwealth simply had to keep its Dallas Township office open, hardly a tough demand since its maintenance center is based there. While new jobs weren’t a necessary part of the deal, David Black, deputy secretary of the state office of Community and Economic Development, said Commonwealth was growing quickly and would surely add jobs.

In fact, what Commonwealth’s executives were doing was positioning the company for a sale in part by cutting costs wherever possible in order to improve profitability and the potential sale price. Their efforts were rewarded in 2006 when they struck a deal to sell the company to Citizens Communications – operator of the Frontier brand – for more than $1 billion. Instead of adding jobs, Citizens announced 51 layoffs just a month after the deal closed in March 2007, a continuing trend that resulted in one-third as many jobs going back to Dallas as came from there.

Frontier said the decision to now consolidate its employees in Dallas had nothing to do with expiration of the KOZ. While that may not be the only reason, it had to be part of the equation that is causing them to walk away from a lease that extends to 2016.

State Rep. Phyllis Mundy, whose district included Dallas Township in 2000, asks, “What good did it do to give them that tax break?” Good question, and another one is whether we’ll be smarter in the future. Mundy’s not optimistic given the proposed billiondollar windfall Gov. Corbett is proposing to give Shell if it builds a chemical plant near the western Pennsylvania border.

There’s no requirement to hire Pennsylvanians, she says, so “(We) are going to be subsidizing jobs for Ohio and West Virginia residents.”

At a time when every individual and government is pinching pennies, the state needs to be sure there’s a return on every dollar of taxpayer subsidy for businesses and not give away the store while betting on rewards that may never materialize.

Ron Bartizek, Times Leader business editor, may be reached at rbartizek@timesleader.com or 570-970-7157.

User: jmacintyre Time: 11-30-2012 16:58 Product: Times_Leader PubDate: 12-02-2012 Zone: Main Edition: Main_Run PageName: business_f PageNo: 1 D

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2012

Microsoft’s push for visas raises concerns

By KYUNG M. SONG The Seattle Times

WASHINGTON -- Microsoft is so eager to find qualified engineers and programmers for its thousands of vacancies that it has offered to pay a bounty to the government in exchange for extra visas in order to import more foreign workers.

The proposal, which also would raise fees on other corporations seeking to tap the additional visas, was intended to help jump-start immigration reform that had stalled in Congress. But the tactic may have backfired.

Microsoft’s proposal has sparked concerns -- both old and new -- about the visa program that has allowed companies to recruit hundreds of thousands of well-educated foreign nationals to fill U.S. jobs.

Researchers claim that some companies use the visas to bypass older, more expensive American job seekers. And some economists question contentions

by Microsoft and other technology firms about a dearth of domestic hightech talent.

But most troubling to critics is the fact many employers need not prove

they are unable to find qualified Americans before turning to foreign hires.

Microsoft rejects those claims. The company says its dilemma is simple math: The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant has more than 3,400 openings for researchers, engineers and developers, and new jobs are cropping up faster than new hires.

“The biggest myth people have is that a company like Microsoft somehow looks to foreign workers as an easy supply to displace American workers,” said Karen Jones, Microsoft’s deputy general counsel for human resources.

“We simply cannot find qualified Americans to fill these jobs.”

Still, skepticism about the program could hinder attempts by Microsoft and its allies to persuade Congress to grant 20,000 extra H-1B visas annually for jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. Brad Smith, Microsoft executive vice president and general counsel, unveiled that proposal during a speech in Washington, D.C., in September, calling the skilled-labor shortage an ecoSee VISAS, Page 2D

Lines by celebs pop up in stores

AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER

Heidi Dykins restocks socks at Boscov’s in Wilkes-Barre. A seasonal worker last year, she now works full time at the store.

Jolly time for jobs

Seasonal opportunites help workers secure employment

By ANDREW M. SEDER

aseder@timesleader.com

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ILKES-BARRE – For Heidi Dykins a seasonal job at Boscov’s last winter was a chance to get her foot in the door and show management what she could bring to the team.

It worked.

This year as 58 new seasonal hires work at the downtown retailer, Dykins, 20, of Wilkes-Barre, is among the store’s 110 year-round employees and credits her “temporary seasonal job” with giving her the chance to find fulltime work in a tough economy. With projections for increased sales this holiday season, more temporary workers are being brought on, raising the possibility more people can follow Dykins’ lead and turn their short-turn job into a long-term career.

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday, Free Shipping Day and the rest of the holiday sales holidays mean big business for many com-

passed.”

At the Best Buy store in WilkesBarre Township, general manager Chuck Sullick said he hired 40 seasonal workers this year, more than twice as many as last holiday season.

“We’re expecting a better season than last year,” Sullick said.

So too is Spencer Chesman, owner and CEO of West Pittston-based specialty foods company iGourmet.com.

He said the company is anticipating sales will be up 20 percent over last year and with that in mind, the company hired close to 400 seasonal workers to prepare orders this holiday season, an increase from about 300 it hired last year.

Not all businesses hire in the hundreds or even the dozens.

For some small businesses, a handful of new hires is all that’s needed.

Matt Camella, store manager of Schuylkill Valley Sports, said the team apparel shop hired three extra employ-

panies. They also mean big hiring numbers.

Many companies said they’re hiring more seasonal workers this year than last as sales projections show a stronger shopping season.

“The retail industry creates hundreds of thousands of jobs every holiday season by adding new staff in stores, distribution centers, and customer service departments across the country,” said National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay. “New jobs help people support their families, and for some, seasonal employment can turn into a career opportunity once the holidays have See JOBS, Page 2D

See CELEBS, Page 2D

Calling all customers: Frontier is offering an Apple of a deal LOCAL telephone, cable and Internet company Frontier Communications is offering quite the enticing offer to new or returning customers that subscribe to the company’s “Triple Play” package for $87.99 a month for the first year.

Do so and get a $450 Apple gift card. Visit Frontier.com/apple for details and to sign up.

Not an Apple fan? Frontier is also giving away a weekly $100 prepaid Visa card and a grand prize $450 prepaid Visa card as part of its Holiday Giveaway on Facebook. Go to facebook.com/FrontierCorp to enter and for full details and official rules.

For those who enjoy Starbucks at home, the time has come to rejoice.

You can get a free $5 gift card if you buy three participating Star-

BUSINESS LOCAL

Speaking the lingo of food, and others

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By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer

This holiday season you’re likely to spot singer Jennifer Lopez in Kohl’s. You could get a peek at pop music icon Madonna in Macy’s. You might even catch a glimpse of reality TV star Kim Kardashian in Sears.

Well, not literally.

These celebrities likely won’t be making guest appearances in the aisles of your favorite department stores. But clothes, shoes and even ties that bear their names will.

It is part of a big push by stores to cash in on celebrities’ money-making names. The move can be savvy.

After all, who wouldn’t want to don the stylish duds of a superstar? It can also be risky. The stars, figuratively, have to be aligned for celebrity lines to become a hit with shoppers. That can mean having the right celebrity pair up with the right store at the right time with the right amount of involvement in the design of the line.

“If it’s simply to monetize your moment in the sun, it is not going to work in the long term,” says Ivanka Trump, the daughter of real estate mogul Donald Trump who is an executive vice president for his Trump Organization and appeared on his “Apprentice” reality TV show.

Trump, 31, has a line of $150 handbags and $125 pumps at Lord & Taylor and other department stores.

“You have to be involved in every aspect of the product line,” she says.

Celebs have long dabbled in design. But with the growth of TV shows and websites that follow everything celebrities say, wear and do, interest in their clothing lines has increased in recent years. Indeed, revenue in North America from celebrity clothing lines, excluding merchandise linked to athletes, rose 6 percent last year to $7.58 billion, according to The Licensing Letter, an industry trade publication. That’s on top of a nearly 5 percent increase in 2010.

Major department stores, facing growing competition from trendy fashion chains such as H&M, Mango and Zara, have jumped on the

RON BARTIZEK

ANDREW M. SEDER STEALS & DEALS bucks products by the end of this year and send the receipts and UPC codes in by Jan. 31. Among the eligible products: Starbucks VIA Ready Brew, Starbucks K-Cup pack and four packs of Starbucks Frappuccino Chilled Coffee Drink.

If you are a coffee fan and want a Keurig brewer but thought you couldn’t afford it, well you still probably can’t. But you can try to win one by going to Folgers.com or the Folgers Facebook page www.facebook.com/folgers The folks at Krugel’s Georgetown Deli on Business Route 309 in Wilkes-Barre Township are offering some lucky folks free beer and more. Head to http://tinyurl.com/ c92txgp to learn all the details.

Essentially, if you visit the site, take a photo of what you crave the most – tip: Incorporate beer – and post it on the business’ Facebook page you can win one of three prizes, each of which includes a gift card to Krugel’s. First prize also includes a Miller Lite mini fridge; second place includes a Coors Light/Reebok Ultimate 2K hockey stick; and third place includes a Molson Canadian backpack.

Here’s another deal you can find on Facebook. Go here: www.facebook.com/HALLMARK/ app_296631273772333 and print out a $5 off a $10 purchase coupon for your local Hallmark Gold Crown Store. Just in time for the holidays.

Last week’s column dealt with gift card deals at area eateries. One restaurants mentioned was Chili’s, which has rolled out a daily deal sort of promotion that allows diners to go to their website and see the

special coupon deal of the day, print it out and use it that day.

Free items include dessert, appetizers, kids’ meals and more. Go to: http://www.chilis.com/EN/Pages/ HoliDaily/Holidaily.aspx to see what today’s deal is and scroll over other days of the week to see what’s coming down the pike.

Subway is offering $2 meatball and cold cut combo six-inch subs all month. Not your favorite subs? It’s OK, in today’s Times Leader glossy coupons, there are six Subway coupons that will get you a free six-inch sub of your choice when your purchase a 21-ounce drink and another six-inch sub of your choice of equal or greater value.

Andrew M. Seder, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 570-829-7269. If you know of any local steals or deals, send them to aseder@timesleader.com and follow Andrew on Twitter @TLAndrewSeder

orking from his home office in Drums – when he’s not on an airplane flying across an ocean – Mark Oulton has an interesting perspective on this area and the global economic scene, at least the agricultural part of it.

Oulton’s title is a mouthful: Global Agricultural Market Research Manager for SGS North America, the U.S. operations of a Geneva, Switzerland-based consulting firm with 70,000 employees scattered throughout the world.

Among its services to the food industry is estimating production for everything from Argentinean soybeans to Vietnamese coffee. On the company’s website this is called “crop scouting and yield assessment.”

I stumbled across Oulton’s name while searching for something else. He was quoted prominently in a couple of Bloomberg articles, with the dateline of Wilkes-Barre. Intrigued, I tracked him down one day – he was just finishing lunch at Olive Garden in WilkesBarre Township.

“I use Wilkes-Barre because it’s recognizable,” he explained, which should make local economic development types feel good. I don’t think there’s a Drums Chamber of Commerce to be offended.

While his route here was a varied one – “I was brought up on a coffee estate in Kenya,” he told me – Oulton is pleased with his location. “Apart from the tax rates it’s a very desirable place to live,” he said, allowing that taxes aren’t so bad compared with other northeastern states. His satisfaction might sound surprising coming from someone who left England eight years ago for a position in the Hazleton area and who now could live anywhere, but Oulton has good reason to feel as he does.

“I travel all over the world,” he said, including two trips this year to China.

“Actually I’m served by seven airports.”

And even our much maligned WilkesBarre/Scranton International is important to him, since it provides direct flights to Chicago, the world center of commodity trading.

Here are a few of his observations on the world food economy and our place in it: • U.S. companies, from fertilizer and seed producers to equipment makers, are highly competitive. “In the ag world, we’re doing extremely well.”

• But they’re going to have to work to stay ahead. “Some of these countries are now producing products like chemicals that are off patent.”

• Producers have the capacity to feed the world … at a price. A shrunken U.S. corn harvest leads to tighter supplies and higher prices, “and that goes down the line to the poorest countries” where many people can’t absorb even small rises in the cost of staple foods.

With a background in math, statistics and marketing, Oulton has enjoyed a long career in the agricultural industry.

He has another asset that gives him an edge in the global economy; in addition to English he speaks French and Mandarin Chinese. “Most people in SGS speak at least four languages,” he said.

That’s something America needs to work at if we’re to keep up with international business challenges. It’s hard to pin down a solid figure, but various estimates say fewer than 20 percent of Americans speak a second language, half of them living in immigrant households. Meanwhile, more than half of Europeans speak at least two languages and half of those speak three.

At a time when budget cuts dominate the political and educational conversation, businesses with export aspirations and parents concerned for their children’s future would do well to pressure schools to expand rather than reduce language training. If we continue to speak only English, we may find no one listening before too long.

Ron Bartizek, Times Leader business editor, may be reached at rbartizek@timesleader.com or 570-970-7157.