The Backup Plan November 2013

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Black Friday Beware

Posted On: November 29, 2013

Black Friday (say it isn’t so)


 

 

For those of you that are relatively new to the retail-shopping world we would like to provide for you a brief but enlightening education.  Black Friday is a perfect example of some of the more notorious marketing ploys perpetrated by retail and department stores.  Unfortunately it is also one of the few shopping days that retail customers can get really excited about.  Read on and don’t become a victim of some of the trickier marketing ploys out there.

 

First, as I am sure most are aware, there exists a huge mark up for retail items, the sweater we buy in the store for $59.99 probably costs that store somewhere around $14.99 when they buy it from the manufacturer, talk about a profit margin.  Now in reality the store does not expect to sell a lot of those sweaters at that starting price and the bulk of them will go at the fist mark down.   They are expecting to sell out at their bottom line which on a day like Black Friday with a 50% off sale will be around $30 this is still a 50% mark up for the store.   It was not always this way, you never saw a 40% off sale until the late 70’s early 80’s this is because retail stores starting popping up all over the place around that time and competition was fierce.   So in an effort to drive traffic their way stores started to invent these marketing ploys to get the customers in the door.

 

Another common tactic is the mail in rebate and even more common and less obvious are those tempting gift cards.  Most items that are listed as marked down or xxxx amount with a mail in rebate can be found online or in less trafficked stores for the same price all year round.   The gift cards with certain stipulations are another thing to watch out for, beware the gift cards that require you to spend a certain amount before they can come into play and if you combine that feature with a narrow window where it can be used I suggest you get all of your holiday shopping done right then or miss out on any type of deal.

 

These are just a few of the clever scams retail outlets use to lure shoppers in the door.  Although not criminal it is at the very least misleading and deceitful.  Don’t kill yourself running around this Black Friday when many of those seemingly great deals can be found year round with just a bit of investigating on your part.  Do our homework and be a savvy shopper, you will make your own deals.

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2013 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

by Jarrad Kulick

 

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The Importance of a Good CRM

Posted On: November 27, 2013

The Importance of a Good CRM


 

 

What exactly is a CRM?  CRM stands for customer relationship management and is an invaluable quantifying tool for customer service and marketing.  Essentially what A CRM does (in either software or department form) is measure your existing marketing efforts and keep your current customer base in the loop.  There are many CRM programs out there for businesses of all sizes, part of the trick is identifying what one is right for you, you don’t want to end up with something that is too big for your needs and you definitely don’t want to end up with something that is too small.

 

Some of the better CRM’s out there are programs that are very easily downloaded onto the computer and require only a small monthly fee too maintain.  Salesforce and Highrise are two of these programs; both are great pieces of software and offer versatile database, reservation and marketing options.  Salesforce is at the high end of the spectrum used by some of the biggest corporations, it can be a very daunting program to manipulate if you do not have the knowledge or the staff to maintain and utilize it.  Highrise is good for the small to medium sized business and is priced as such.  Highrise is an extremely good CRM and comes highly recommended.  Either one of these programs offers businesses an easy way to quantify data and organize their customer base, two things that are vital to any growing business.

 

Ultimately it is up to you but to operate without a CRM is to essentially be flying blind.   A good CRM will help you get organized and at the very least will save you money that would otherwise be wasted on futile marketing attempts.  Highrise and Salesforce are two great marketing tools that can build databases and track sales results.  A good business will thrive with the assistance of a CRM it is just a matter of identifying which one is right for you.

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2013 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

by Jarrad Kulick

 

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Three Of The Best Sushi Restaurants In NYC

Posted On: November 26, 2013

Three of the Best Sushi Restaurants in NYC


 

 

Today we are going to discuss the world of NYC sushi.  Previously we have presented the best steak houses in the city, the best restaurants for fine ding and the best places for shellfish and seafood, now its on to the raw fish.  Sushi is a personal favorite of mine and, as usual, NYC presents us with a wide range of options for this traditional Japanese fare.  Here are three incredible places to get unbeatable sushi in NYC.

 

15 East located, not surprisingly, at 15 E 15th street is presided over by Jewel Bako veteran Masato Shimizu.  Shimizu imports only the freshest first-rate seafood flown in daily from Japan and his creations are culinary masterpieces.  The dark wood bar rests commandingly beneath a high airy ceiling and presents a feeling of importance and authority.  As if to emphasize this point Shimuzu owns a massive collection of well worn books depicting detailed fish anatomy charts and diagrams which he uses to impart a friendly education to his customers.  Shimuzu serves up excellence and education all with flair and a smile.

 

Kanoyama caters to a bit of a younger crowd that haunts the streets in the East Village, throngs of co-eds flock to this restaurant known for its amazing nigiri and glistening skin-on jack fish.  Veterans Nobuyuki Shikanai and Daigo Yamaguchi run a nonchalant kitchen staff that’s serves up meltingly fresh sushi and shashimi.  Time Out says do your self a favor and “Order anything on the menu with toro on it”.  The newly named Koi (not to be confusing) comprises a large space, part of which is the heavily frequented saki bar.  So if you’re looking for a quiet meal and some time to reflect on the excellence that is Kanoyama find a nice place in the back room to enjoy that sweet-soy miso cod.  Catering to all, Kanoyama offers its fare at a substantially lower price then most of its contemporaries.

 

2012 saw the rise of fine-dining impresario David Bouley’s Ichimura at Brushstroke.  The phenomenally fresh and buttery sushi is presented on elegant plates prepared by Eiji Ichimura.  Blond wood and amber lighting is complemented by Lacquered Japanese ceramic ware and creates a gorgeous and traditional ambiance.   Their signature dish is the chawan-mushi a steamed egg custard decadently topped with a black truffle sauce and melt in your mouth snippets of Dungeness Crab.  This Michelin-starred venue is not to be missed by anyone proclaiming to be a sushi aficionado.

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2013 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

by Jarrad Kulick

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Thanksgiving

Posted On: November 25, 2013

Thanksgiving


 

Thanksgiving is an American and Canadian holiday originating at the time of the protestant reformation and the emigration of the European Pilgrims to America.  Traditionally thanksgiving was a time of prayer and appreciation, most specifically in regards to the end of the harvest season and bountiful crops.   The first American Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims in Plymouth Massachusetts in 1621 it was a feast between the local Native American tribes and the Pilgrims celebrating a successful harvest.

 

Today Thanksgiving is a time for celebration and a time to remember to be grateful and give thanks.  We are fortunate to have what we have in this country and when we are all around that Thanksgiving table remember to appreciate the food and the fellowship.  All Star Limousine has much to be thankful for this holiday season, we are prosperous and profitable, and we have amazing employees and an incredible clientele.  Jim and Janine Powers the CEO and CFO of All Star Limousine treat their people with the utmost respect and kindness, we could not ask for better employers.   In a time of doubt and hardship for some however All Star remains a bright constant, a foundation and a reliable institution.  We give thanks for our employers our employees our co-workers and especially our clients because without you their would be no us.

 

So thank you All Star Limousine and to all involved with our company.  Please remember to be grateful and to give thanks for what you have, your family, your loved ones, your job or whatever puts a smile on your face.  It is the season for thanks and fellowship, happy Thanksgiving from All Star Limousine.

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2013 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

by Jarrad Kulick

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The Debut Of The Harbor Club At Prime

Posted On: November 22, 2013

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