Publisher Nathaniel Grant [email protected]
Associate Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Bruce Gemmill [email protected]
Creative Director Ronnie Price
Copy Editor Virginia Grant
gam|mag is published monthly except June/July and November/December. The magazine is mailed free of charge to select Washington, DC area businesses, nonprofits, associations, and government contractors. While reasonable care is taken Dear Reader, with all material submitted to gam|mag, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to any such material. In this issue, our cover story features an entrepreneur named Barry Gordy, Jr. Characteristic Opinions expressed in articles are strictly of so many entrepreneurs, his persistence, hard work, and determination enabled him to those of the authors. While ensuring that conquer trials and tribulations along the path to eventual success. I hope you enjoy reading all published information is accurate, the about the music empire Gordy built that took the world by storm and made this man a living publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or omissions. Reproduction legend. in whole or in part of any text, illustrations or photographs is strictly forbidden. ©2020 As an entrepreneur myself, 2020 was a challenging year for organizations and individuals. GAM Graphics and Marketing. Nothing prepared us for the pandemic, much less the government restrictions placed on This magazine is intended to provide a small businesses. I am an optimist by nature. As a country, I genuinely believe we Americans general guide to the News and the services will bounce back by sheer willpower and ingenuity, ingrained in our very nature. it provides. The material in our magazine is given for general information only and We welcome your thoughts and story pitches and encourage you to reach out to the editor of does not constitute professional advice. Where appropriate, readers should seek myself. their own legal or other professional advice. The gam|mag accepts no responsibility for Warmest regards, loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of material contained in this magazine.
Nathaniel Grant Publisher Phone: 571.375.7200 www.gam-mag.com
Follow us @gam-mag Page 4 • gam|mag • February 2021 Contributing Writers in this Issue Jenn Womack Liz Farmer Dan Rene 8
Inside 8 A Collection of Classic Love Poetry for Your Sweetheart 10 Motown's Soulful ‘60s 13 Press Release Strategies & Tactics 18 Why Some Cities In Low-Tax States Have The Highest Property Tax Rates 10 13 20 It's Miller Time! Redefining the Full-Service Car Wash Model 24 What’s in a Virginia Town Name? 28 Nascent News. Random Reviews.
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A Collection of Classic Love Poetry for Your Sweetheart Get Some Inspiration From Great Poets
The feelings of romantic love are pretty universal — even if "Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? it seems like nobody could ever have felt the way you do; that's Thou art more lovely and more temperate: universal, too. And that's why songs and poems often say just what Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, you're feeling — only better than you can express it. And summer’s lease hath all too short a date ..." If you want to tell your sweetheart just how you feel about him or her, whether it's Valentine's Day or any old day, but you can't quite find the just the right words, maybe these classic poems from some of 'A Red, Red Rose' by Robert Burns the greatest poets in the English language might fit the bill or give you Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote this to his love in 1794, and it some ideas. is one of the most quoted and famous love poems of all time in the English language. Throughout the poem, Burns uses simile as an Here's a line that is so famous — and expresses such universality effective literary device to describe his feelings. The first stanza is the — that it has become part of the language. It's from Christopher most well-known: Marlowe's "Hero and Leander," and he wrote this in 1598: "Whoever loved, that loved not at first sight?" Timeless. "O my Luve’s like a red, red rose, That’s newly sprung in June: Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare O my Luve’s like the melodie, Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, written in 1609, is one of the most That’s sweetly play’d in tune." famous and quoted love poems of all time. Its obvious use of metaphor in the comparison of the subject of the poem to a summer's day is hard to miss — the subject being much superior to 'Love's Philosophy' by Percy Bysshe Shelley that grandest of seasons. The poem's most famous lines are at the Once again, a metaphor is the literary device of choice in a love beginning, with the metaphor in full view: poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley from 1819, a prominent English Romantic poet. He uses metaphor again and again, to great effect, to make his point — which is crystal clear. Here's the first stanza:
Page 8 • gam|mag • February 2021 HISTORY NEWS
"The fountains mingle with the river "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. And the rivers with the Ocean, I love thee to the depth and breadth and height The winds of Heaven mix for ever My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight With a sweet emotion; For the ends of Being and ideal Grace." Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine 'In Excelsis' by Amy Lowell In one spirit meet and mingle. In this much more modern take on the poetic form, written in Why not I with thine?—" 1922, Amy Lowell uses simile, metaphor, and symbolism to express this most powerful feeling of romantic love. The imagery is more potent and elemental than that of earlier poets, and the writing Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning resembles the stream of consciousness style. The first few lines give a This sonnet by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, published in the hint of what's to come: collection "Sonnets From the Portuguese" in 1850, is one of 44 love sonnets. This one is without a doubt the most famous and most "You—you— quoted of her sonnets and also in all of the poems in the English language. Your shadow is sunlight on a plate of silver; Your footsteps, the seeding-place of lilies; She was married to the Victorian poet Robert Browning, and Your hands moving, a chime of bells across a windless air." he is the subject of these sonnets. This sonnet is a metaphor upon metaphor and extremely personal, which is likely why it resonates. Snyder, Bob Holman & Margery. "A Collection of Classic Love Poetry for Your The first lines are so well-known that nearly everyone recognizes Sweetheart." ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/love-poems-for-valentines- day-2725475. them:
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Page 9 • gam|mag • February 2021 NONPROFIT NEWS
Berry Gordy attends the Premiere Of Showtime's "Hitsville: The Making Of Motown" at Harmony Gold on August 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images) Motown's Soulful ‘60s Bruce Gemmill
It was a time like no other. The decade of the ‘60s changed In 1951, no sooner had he put pen to paper, he found himself American society in many ways, but it was the blend of soul music drafted into the United States Army. While he was in the Army, he and R&B that took pop charts by storm. Airwaves and dancefloors went back to school and earned his GED. In 1953, he was honorably rocked to the sounds of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson discharged from the military and married. Once again, he followed Five, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Temptations, the affection he had for music since seven years of age. He opened The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, The Marvelettes, and Gladys a record shop, but his plans fell short because his store offered jazz Knight & the Pips. Black music culture had finally arrived, and it records when rhythm and blues (R&B) was in demand. The business quickly became a worldwide success. failed. Times were proving tough for Gordy.
"Motown was about music for all people—white and black, blue In 1955, with a family to support, Gordy took a job on the Lincoln- and green, cops and the robbers." –Berry Gordy, Jr. Mercury assembly line where he installed seat upholstery. The job proved therapeutic, as it gave him peace to construct lyrics in his mind and compose the tune to go with them as he went about his Barry Gordy, Jr., was street tough, growing up poor in a loving work. Restless, Gordy quit his job in 1957 to put his time and energy family in Detroit. School was challenging for him. After Gordy had into music. He failed to mention this to his wife. The two separated. been unceremoniously tossed from his high school music class, he Soon after, Gordy’s lyrics were sung by family friend Jackie Wilson decided to take up boxing as a living. In three years, Gordy chalked who popularized the tunes “Lonely Teardrops,” and “To Be Loved.” up a record of 13 – 6. Still unsettled and realizing a boxing career At 27, Gordy finally enjoyed a small reward for his determination to would result in physical consequences he had rather avoid, Gordy succeed in his beloved world of music. ➤ decided to leave boxing to pursue his principal love, music. He began writing songs.
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Motown is Born Gordy’s eye for talent included signing young up-and-comers like 11-year-old Stevie Wonder, and the teenagers Mary Wilson, Florence In 1959, Gordy's family loaned Ballard and Diana Ross, the latter three joined together to become him $800 to start a record company the unforgettable team, Diana Ross and the Supremes. The Supremes he named Tamla Records. Setting up recorded hit after hit, with songs “Baby Love” topping the charts at #1 shop in a Detroit neighborhood house, in 1964, followed the next year with “Stop! In the Name of Love,” and he called his business headquarters another in 1966 with “You Can’t Hurry Love.” Hitsville. One of Tamla's record labels was called Motown, named after his hometown, known as In 1965, Gordy’s record label was raking in $15 million in sales. “Motor City.” Fans always referred Not too shabby for the $800 seed money he originally received from to Tamla as Motown, so in 1960, his family. Gordy’s business acumen was undeniable, as was his Gordy incorporated Motown Record propensity for introducing talent to the world. Throughout the ‘60s, Corporation. At 30, in an unsettled Motown was the largest black-owned business in the United States. decade for race relations, a persistent, Its music was king of the pop charts. determined black man took hold of his future. He started on a journey that In 1964, 75% of the chart lists were Motown releases. In 1968, of would take him to the highest levels of the Top 10 hits, five were Motown talent. The Jackson 5 took over in business stardom. 1969 and Motown's success kept soaring. It seemed there was no end in sight. Money…that’s what I want! In 1960, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles recorded a song Gordy had co-written with songwriter Barrett Strong. “Money (That’s What I Want!) became a sensational hit. Soon after, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles recorded “Shop Around,” which smashed the charts at #1 with over one million records sold.
The Marvelettes became Motown’s first top-ranked pop chart group in 1961 with the smash hit “Please Mr. Postman.” Black songwriters, performers, and groups made the black-owned Motown record label so popular, it even helped chip away at the walls of segregation (although, much more still needed to be done on this front). The world swooned to Mary Wells’ "My Guy." One after another, hit songs made their way onto vinyl records, dominating the playlists of disk jockeys across the world, and purchased by millions of Motown fans. Hollywood The 1970s was a year of further expansion for Gordy. He "You have to know who you are, and who are the people who love relocated Motown to Los Angeles three years after buying a home in you—because when you are famous, you got all the 'friends' in the California. The ever-talented Gordy dabbled in the movie business, world." –Berry Gordy, Jr. bringing Diana Ross to the Silver Screen in Lady Sings the Blues, and co-starring Richard Pryor. His early attempt producing a 1972 biopic about Billie Holiday earned five Academy Award nominations. He continued to make his mark in Hollywood with additional films Mahogany (1975) and The Wiz (1978).
But success can be fleeting, and Gordy’s fortunes started to fray as he spent more time focusing on films and less on Motown. Although Marvin Gaye’s Motown release of “What’s Going On” was an instant success, superstar talent started leaving for competing labels. Motown’s contract terms favored the record label more than (Continued on page 14)
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Berry Gordy's acceptance speech at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 1988
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Motown's Soulful ‘60s (Continued from page 13)
the artists. In quick succession, all but one of the Jackson 5 left, as well as Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Temptations, and The Four Tops. The Jackson remaining behind was Jermaine, who at the time was married to Gordy’s daughter Hazel. Despite the loss of great talent, Motown continued to sign new performers. Future sensations The Commodores and Lionel Richie signed lucrative contracts, and in 1976 Stevie Wonder renewed his deal with Motown for a whopping $23 million. Well-Deserved Recognition In 1988 Gordy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Supremes eventually split up, and Gordy threw his support, In 2016, President Barack Obama presented him with the National and his love, to the beautiful Diana Ross. Together, they had a Medal of Arts during a White House ceremony. In President Obama’s daughter, Rhonda. In 1981, Ross also left Motown. Losing Ross was words, Gordy “created a trailblazing new sound in American music. devastating to Gordy, and seven years later, to the chagrin of the black As a record producer and songwriter, he [Gordy] helped build community, he sold Motown to MCA for a cool $61 million. Gordy Motown, launching the music careers of countless legendary artists. did hold onto Jobete, the publishing arm of Motown, and in 1997 he His unique sound helped shape our nation’s story." received $132 million for half the company. Jobete held the rights to such hits as “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” “My Girl,” and “Ain’t "It's a labor of love, everything I've done." –Berry Gordy, Jr. No Mountain High Enough,” among others. Today, Gordy's original Detroit Motown headquarters, Hitsville, is “Motown educated people through song. You have no control over a museum about the music Gordy promoted. Berry Gordy, Jr, turned your emotions when you hear a song—it makes you dance, makes 91 November 28, 2020. you sing, makes you happy, sad.” –Berry Gordy, Jr.
Page 12 • gam|mag • February 2021 NONPROFIT NEWS
Press Release Strategies & Tactics Dan Rene, KGlobal
Technology for news delivery and consumption advances quickly. The gargantuan amount of information available today, literally at our fingertips, makes it a chore to process, understand, and remember important facts, messages, and correspondence. We are constantly bombarded with messages from marketers, advertisers, politicians, friends, and family. Our brains work overtime to determine what is important and moreover, what we should believe.
For journalists, the challenge is even more daunting. Reporters and editors must determine from an ongoing avalanche of information: what is worth covering and what ends up deleted from their inbox. These communications often are transmitted in the form of a press release. Despite rapidly evolving communication vehicles and distribution channels, this tried-and-true vehicle is consistent and remains popular.
Attention spans are shrinking throughout our society. Newsrooms are considering new approaches to capture and hold attention in an increasingly fragmented and competitive marketplace of ideas. Today, there are more graphics, fewer words, shorter quotes, and tighter sound bites across the media landscape. This means the media must also adapt and respond to demands that information be delivered quickly.
The race today is to be first – not always to be correct. It is increasingly rare to see reports like the late Paul Harvey described as Obtaining journalist engagement and focus (and eventually, the “the rest of the story.” However, a press release can deliver the news coverage we desire) can seem impossible. However, it is not. It is quickly and with critical context. obtainable by providing a compelling and memorable case, where the information provided is not only important – but also newsworthy. As communicators endeavor to achieve positive media attention and convince journalists to report specific events, announcements, Working with journalists to reach an audience with favorable or reframe an otherwise undesirable narrative, the process becomes messaging requires a careful approach and a proven strategy. even more challenging. Reporters are busy looking for the next scoop and wanting to report on breaking news topics, so they are often skeptical of pitches. Yet, this should not deter us from Press releases remain one of the most common ways to crafting the perfect press release – especially if we have a message to communicate with journalists. Many news organizations receive communicate. hundreds each day. Most are likely to be deleted – without ever being read. It is the responsibility of the communicator to craft these communications so that it cuts through the clutter and makes the news. Journalists are a bridge to an audience. The credibility that comes from earned media, and the added benefit of search engine optimization from online placements, make successful pursuits Before beginning to craft a press release, think about your valuable. Especially if we create a win-win situation for reporters and audience and what you hope to achieve with the document. Start by anyone else we intend to reach. asking yourself:
(Continued on page 14)
Page 13 • gam|mag • February 2021 MEDICAL NEWS
Press Release Strategies & Tactics (Continued from page 13)
➤ What is the strategic objective I hope to achieve with this press Contact. release? The journalist should know how to reach you. Place your contact information at the top and bottom of the press release. Be accessible. ➤ Why am I using a press release to communicate this Answer the phone and be prompt to reply to messages, texts, and information (is it news?) emails. (We can talk about outgoing pitch calls in a future article.)
➤ Who is my intended audience? (It is NOT the journalist; it is Headline. the consumer of their reporting.) The title of your press release, and the subject line of the email, must be no more than six words. It should concisely reflect the ➤ What questions would a journalist have? message you hope to communicate. Many journalists are immune to the words, “Breaking”, “Exclusive”, or “Happening Now” so save that language for the follow-up calls. Most journalists never make it past ➤ What will a journalist need (information, quotes, etc.) to write the headline/subject line anyway, so make it count. ➤ a story?
➤ What key message do you want to deliver and focus on, despite other possible distractions? Can I keep it that simple?
None of these answers are automatic. It requires a thoughtful approach to craft a press release that will get a journalist’s attention and results in coverage that inspires our audience.
Once you have addressed these strategic considerations, you may begin assembling the document, starting with these critical tactical elements:
Page 14 • gam|mag • February 2021 MEDICAL NEWS
Dateline. Reviews & Proofreading. Old news is not news. Unless you are sending an embargoed Before sending your information to a journalist, be sure to have press release to a reporter in advance, be sure you have the correct an extra set of eyes to review and proofread it. It is tough enough to date reflected in the document. Press releases can often take days to get the first chance with a reporter – having to make a correction or develop and finalize, so be sure the date is current before distribution. missing a typo can be detrimental (and plain embarrassing.) Place the location of the news in the dateline, too. The location is especially relevant when pitching local stories. The closer the proximity, the greater the news value.
Lead. If the journalist is still looking at your press release after the headline and dateline, you better have drafted an engaging first few lines. The introductory paragraph (even better if it is a single sentence) should give the reporter everything they need to craft a story – the W questions (who, what, when, where, why) and, of course, your message.
Quotes. Having a few quotes can make an article easy for a journalist on a tight deadline. Memorable messages attributed to an individual (along with their title) of less than 20 words each can fit nicely in an article. Craft the quote as if you are speaking directly to the audience Verify Everything. you wish to inspire. The information in your press release must be accurate. Putting out false information will destroy your credibility. While we all make mistakes, intentionally misleading a journalist or presenting Length. false information ruins any chance of trust. It also eliminates the If the document looks too long or dense, it is likely to be ignored. possibility of a future engagement or positive coverage. So, be careful Anything more than a page should be avoided. Try to keep the entire and be accurate. If you attempt to hide something – the reporter will press release to less than 500 words. Use white space and make it find it – it is their job. something that can be read easily (even with a passing glance) in the preview window of an email. The layout and structure strategy for the above elements is even more critical. As we advise our clients at kglobal, the most effective Links. messages are structured starting with a memorable quote, followed by a short statement of the message itself, and finally by carefully If you include additional information in your press release or selected supporting evidence and examples. When assembling the reference other documents, link to them in place of additional overall message/theme of your press release, think of your message as documents or attachments. Make your communication “one-stop a pyramid. shopping”. Remember, if a journalist clicks away, they may not come back. Be sure the hyperlink is additive and supportive to your message, and worth the risk to include. Instead of framing your argument conventionally, reasoning from the evidence to a conclusion, try putting the conclusion first, followed by the supporting evidence. Editor Notes or Boilerplate. At the end of the press release, you have an opportunity Generally, news is the latest information of current interest to to share more about an organization or event. This is usually a particular audience. Given that broad definition, however, the reference information, including a brief history of the editors and producers who decide which stories will be covered organization (including a website.) Take the time to have a short on any given day usually follow some general guidelines when paragraph that explains who you are to a journalist that may be deciding what makes the news. unfamiliar.
(Continued on page 17)
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MEDICAL NEWS
Press Release Strategies & Tactics (Continued from page 17)
Many of these strategic considerations are in the media coaching Advertise in guide our clients receive, including: gam|mag ➤ The more people a story affects, the greater its news value today! ➤ The more unusual the event or situation, the greater the interest Reach prospects for less than .15 cents per prospect! Email [email protected], ➤ The closer and more relevant to the local market, the greater the interest or call 571.375.7200.
If you want to promote ➤ The quicker a story reaches the public, the greater attention it your product and services will attract to businesses, nonprofi ts, trade associations, and government contractors, ➤ The more visual the story, the greater the likelihood it will gam|mag is the place to be. attract TV coverage
➤ Strong stories have clearly defined victims and villains, winners, and losers
➤ Conflict and confrontation are always newsworthy
Remember, just because you know a story is important (to you or anyone else) does not mean that it will automatically be newsworthy – or make the press release successful.
While the components and ideas are limitless, the success of the press release can be measured by determining if:
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Page 17 • gam|mag • February 2021 FINANCIAL NEWS
Why Some Cities In Low-Tax States Have The Highest Property Tax Rates Liz Farmer among large cities (populations of at least 350,000).Milwaukeeans pay a median $3,122 in property taxes on a median home value of The pandemic has allowed more people to work from home and $133,600, for an effective property tax rate of 2.17%. surveys show that many want to make their remote worker status permanent. That creates an opportunity for some folks living in Major cities in Texas also recorded some of the highest effective higher tax states because of their jobs to move to lower-tax areas. property tax rates, accounting for seven of the top 11 cities, according to Roofstock. Surprisingly, many of the large cities with the highest effective property taxes are in Texas. And places like Washington, D.C., and Denver are large cities with some of the lowest rates. It goes to show 15 Highest Effective Property Tax Rates Among 55 that cost-of-living and a low- or high-tax reputation all need to be Largest U.S. Cities take in context when it comes to housing.
Property taxes are the top source of revenue for most local governments and are an important factor in considering total housing costs. But property tax rates can be tricky property values are just as important as the tax rate applied to them. Plus, the rate on your bill isn’t directly applied to your total home value. Localities give varying discounts for homeowners before applying that property tax rate. That’s where this idea of an “effective” tax rate comes in, meaning that what you actually pay in taxes is compared against your total home value.
For example, the real estate investing website Roofstock recently ranked large, mid-, and small-sized cities based on their effective property tax rate and found that Milwaukee has the highest rate
Page 18 • gam|mag • February 2021 FINANCIAL NEWS
When it comes to the lowest effective property tax rates among large cities, the list may surprise you. Places in regions with high cost-of-living reputations (like San Francisco and Washington, D.C.) have some of the lowest effective property tax rates in the country of less than 1%.
15 Lowest Effective Property Tax Rates Among 55 Largest U.S. Cities
Charts Courtesy of Roofstock
Of course it goes without saying that at the end of the day, $3,100 in property taxes in Milwaukee is still a heck of a lot lower than the more than $7,600 a year in San Francisco property taxes. But that goes back to housing value. Housing markets on the lower-tax list tend to have higher home values than the ones on the higher-tax list. Meanwhile, most of the actual property taxes paid on the low-tax list are comparable or lower than the high-tax list — even though home values on the second list are much higher.
This no accident. Local governments still need to pay for things like roads, schools and parks, and the cost of those things generally doesn’t vary too much by housing market. So, places that have lower home values may have higher-than-average property tax rates pay for services. For a time, more than a third of streetlights weren't so those governments can get the revenue needed to help pay for turned on, employees (including firefighters and police) were laid off, resident services. garbage pick-ups were skipped, and lawns and medians were left un- mowed, among other cutbacks.
Conversely, governments operating in higher-cost real estate markets can afford to have lower rates. In short, living in a more affordable real estate market doesn’t necessarily mean paying lower property taxes. It helps to consider the effective tax rate — and what you’re getting for your dollar. There are always nuances to consider though. Colorado Springs, which has the lowest effective property tax rate of any large city, Liz Farmer is a fiscal policy expert, public policy wonk, national journalist, and doesn’t necessarily top the list because of its housing market. The a fellow at the Rockefeller Institute of Government. Besides gam|mag, her work city has a tax-averse, small government culture and famously during can be seen in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Forbes.com, and other national the Great Recession slashed its budget rather than raise revenue to publications.
Page 19 • gam|mag • February 2021 BUSINESS NEWS
It's Miller Time! Redefining the Full-Service Car Wash Model Bruce Gemmill
According to nationwide research conducted in 2019 by the Miller sees Loudoun County International Car Wash Association (ICWA), 77% of car owners as a gold mine of opportunity prefer to have their cars washed at a facility rather than washing for his latest business venture their vehicles at home. That’s up from 48% with a similar study in – BriteWash, an upscale car 1994. Each year, over 2 billion cars are washed in North America, wash. After all, the county has generating approximately $15 billion in revenue for car wash experienced rapid growth over facilities. ICWA reports nearly 63,000 car washes operate in the the past 30 years, becoming an United States as of 2020, but the number represents car washes of all exclusive bedroom community types, from gas station roll-over bays, to self-service and conveyor. for professionals working in and Of the total number of wash facilities, only 17,487 operate by around the nation's capital. With conveyor. The 100 largest conveyor car wash companies represent 413,500 residents, Loudoun is only 13% of conveyor car wash locations. We decided to interview an now the third-most populous entrepreneur who entered this lucrative market by introducing three county in Virginia, boasting large, full-service conveyor car wash facilities in Northern Virginia. the highest median household income of $136,000 (2018) of all the U.S. jurisdictions with Loudoun County resident, Greg Miller, is the founder and populations above 65,000. managing director of PM Hotel Group, one of the top 15 hotel management companies, overseeing nearly 40 hotels and development projects nationwide. A Cornell graduate with a degree "This rapid influx of new residents has created many excellent in hotel management, Miller’s ingrained spirit of entrepreneurship business opportunities in the service industry," Miller said. "There guides his many endeavors. are a couple of older car washes already serving the area, but there is plenty of room for additional facilities to pamper one's car," Miller added. ➤
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Design paint colors utilized are associated with traditional colonial styles, specifically white with light and dark grey accents. Having completed extensive research, due diligence, and capital acquisition, a design was needed to make a splash with his entry into this new industry. Miller is accustomed to working with architects. The Modern Car Wash Over his many years managing hotel projects, Miller had to select Based on research on prospective car wash customers' and collaborate with architectural firms regularly. When it came time expectations, Miller decided to go with a full-service car wash model, to choose an architect for his first BriteWash facility, not surprisingly, including hand-held payment tablets for employees and having Car-Wash-Architect.com was made to order. As Miller explains, customers ride the vehicles through the wash tunnel. After exiting the "Car-Wash-Architect.com specializes in larger, more elaborate car tunnel, customers will be directed to one of the finishing lanes or the wash projects explicitly designed to take on highly competitive detailing garage for more in-depth customized services. markets and succeed. I knew the firm was what I needed to break into the Northern Virginia market." Miller was also impressed by Car-Wash-Architect.com's willingness to offer advice even before the As their cars are being pampered, customers will enjoy the inviting company was selected as the project's architect. "They were my guide lobby with an upscale interior design, and a sports-bar open for beer to the industry at the crucial stage of my putting up the risk capital to and wine in the afternoon. Miller sees his BriteWash architectural get started," Miller added. design, combined with the special wash equipment he included, superior to any other car wash in Northern Virginia. He is confident his attention to detail and the comprehensive research he performed Miller credits Car-Wash-Architect.com for many innovative ideas will prove to be another successful venture in his business career. and options in the design plans. He considers these creative elements will be a powerful draw for his car wash locations to have successful launches. Early options were selections for tunnel equipment, vacuums, point-of-sale, and water reclaim. With the architect's guidance, Miller chose many leading industry vendors to equip the The Competitive Edge car wash, making it a state-of-the-art facility. To gain a competitive edge, Miller brainstormed with his architect to arrive at the following advantages for his BriteWash facilities:
Location, Location, Location • Appealing colonial exterior The site selected for the Leesburg BriteWash is at a new shopping center adjacent to Lowe’s, at the intersection of Battlefield Parkway • Inviting lobby with three floor-to-ceiling windows providing a and Russell Branch Parkway, just south of Route 7. The car wash "show wall" into the car wash tunnel. Customers will be treated property sits on over an acre, giving it ample space for its 111-foot to a laser- and black-light enhanced visual of the cascading conveyor length. Traffic flow and ease of operation dictated the foam cleaners as they watch their cars being washed in the design and layout of the overall site. Miller wanted four finish and tunnel. The lighting will be appropriately themed during detailing lanes, and there will be two fully covered payment lanes holidays. with a total stacking capacity of 18 vehicles.
• Three 65" high-definition flat screen television sets will also be The interior building layout is an efficient and functional design strategically placed for customers to enjoy down time while with no wasted space. Interior rooms are spacious, with high ceilings their vehicles are being detailed. and large windows allowing excellent views of both the wash tunnel and the finishing and detailing lanes. • Modern industrial interior motif complemented by hanging, heavy, glass- dome fixtures, polished cement floors, and The building exterior's architectural design had to meet the exposed aluminum mechanicals requirements of the Town of Leesburg Historic District. Working collaboratively with the shopping center developer (Peterson Companies) and the Town, Car-Wash-Architect.com produced an • Bleacher-style booth for kids to easily view the tunnel attractive modern colonial version. The walls have a red brick base, lightshow with the upper sections painted clapboard and wood trim. There are numerous square columns with brick bases, large windows, classic • Freshly popped corn will be complimentary on weekdays from colonial moldings, decorative metal railings, and a sloped metal roof 3 -4 pm, a time selected to accommodate parent's pick up of with raised battens. The key architectural feature and focal point of students and running after-school errands with the kids. the design is a large tower at the center of the main front façade. All (Continued on page 24)
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It's Miller Time! (Continued from page 23)
• A beer and wine bar will be open in the afternoon for customers ➤ One crucial, common denominator between the hotel and car wash industries is the emphasis on cleanliness. When it comes The facility will include a sundry shop where customers can to proper cleaning in any sector, process matters. BriteWash purchase prepackaged baked goods, snacks, chips, candies, cold will systematize the car interior cleaning process to have the beverages, and frozen snacks. It will also offer car-oriented products best outcome within a tightly controlled time frame. like hanging air fresheners, Armor-All wipes, Rain X, fix-a-flat, pet- hair-lifter, to name a few. ➤ Employees deserve recognition when they go above and beyond expectations. When hotel housekeepers excelled at Miller will be employing environmentally responsible measures, their work, they would be recognized for their extra efforts. including a sophisticated 90% water reclamation system, and organic We will reward the best car wash employees as champions of citric-acid cleaning products instead of corrosive chemicals. the BriteWash "sparkling clean" process.
➤ The small but important final touch? Miller wanted to ensure the Customer interactions come unscheduled, and minutes can restrooms are comfortably appointed and relaxing, especially for turn to an hour before a hotel lobby has any activity. The same women. applies to a car wash. In either case, when a customer walks through the door - or drives into the pay lane as will be the case at BriteWash-- the staff is on the customer's time and must The Car Wash with a Flair for Hospitality provide fast, friendly, and efficient service. How does an Ivy-Leaguer like Miller choose to become a car wash owner after 20 years as a hospitality management executive? Miller Including many hotels, the service business can benefit from explains, "Having built a long and successful career in the hotel further hospitality training, such as turning the workforce into a well- industry, I was eager to follow a new path. I still serve in a strategic coordinated team with positive energy, passion, and purpose. The capacity for PM Hotel Group, but now is a good time in my life to workday needs to have elements of fun. When employees smile and focus my attention on the car wash business. I have always been feel like they are making a difference, they take pride in their work intrigued by the industry." and they will be more productive. The customers also benefit from the positive environment and good service. It’s a win-win. “From the How can this new enterprise benefit from his hospitality very moment of arrival to the parting ‘"Thank You for your visit,"’ the background? Miller is confident his hospitality experience will be an BriteWash staff will be courteous, friendly, and helpful, said Miller. asset in this new line of business. He gives the following reasons why: He adds, “Each customer is unique and thereby deserving of the utmost attention.” ➤
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More on the Horizon Miller’s hospitality background, executive experience, and entrepreneurial spirit will undoubtedly serve him well in the car wash Miller expects to break ground on two more BriteWash facilities in business. Most important, a tried and true business model based on 2021. One will be in Fairfax County, at a site with multiple big-box personalized customer care should provide a great experience for retailers (Super Target, Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, Best Buy, those visiting his premium car wash centers. Costco, Dick’s, etc.) and a dozen popular restaurants. The other will be at a newly developed shopping center just south of Route 50 with views of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Warrenton, Virginia What’s in a Virginia Town Name? Jenn Womack
In last month's issue of gam|mag, we explored the fun and funny Herndon – The early settlement was named Herndon in 1858, street names of Northern Virginia. While writing that article, I ran after Commander William Lewis Herndon, an American naval across some Virginia town names that had me quizzically shaking my explorer, and author. Commander Herndon captained the ill- head as well. fated steamer SS Central America, going down with his ship while helping to save over 150 of its passengers and crew. In the 1870s, many Northern soldiers and their families settled in the area, taking Although the town names in our most local counties, Fairfax, advantage of moderate climate and low land prices. (3) Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William, don't necessarily have the "ha-ha" value that some of our local street names have, most do have a historical significance that shouldn't be overlooked. Vienna – This non-native settlement dates to ca. 1740. In 1754, prominent soldier and landowner Colonel Charles Broadwater settled within the town boundaries. In 1767, Broadwater's son-in- In Fairfax County, you'll find: law, John Hunter, built the first recorded house there, naming it Clifton – In the Colonial era, before the arrival of European Ayr Hill (recalling his birthplace, Ayr, Scotland.) That name was settlers, the present-day Clifton area was part of the hunting grounds subsequently applied to the developing community but changed used by Algonquin-speaking members of the Dogue tribe (1), who in the 1850s, when a doctor named William Hendrick settled also made use of the area's soapstone to carve bowls. there on the condition that the Town would rename itself after his hometown, Phelps, New York, then known as Vienna. (4) ➤ European settlers created the first nearby port settlement in the mid-1710s, and land in the Clifton area began to be settled in the early 18th century. (2)
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In Fauquier County: Although there were mills and houses in the Gap in the late 1700s, the Town of Hillsboro (spelled Hillsborough until its 1880 Remington – Remington was founded in the early nineteenth incorporation) was not formally established until December 31, century. The Town served as a transportation link on the 1802, by an act passed by the Virginia General Assembly. (9) Rappahannock River Canal and later the Orange and Alexandria Railroad before becoming southern Fauquier's commercial hub. Leesburg – Established in 1758, Leesburg is the seat of government for Loudoun County. The Town's rich history spans During the Civil War, Remington witnessed numerous three centuries. (10) If you're a history buff, I highly recommend engagements, including the Battle of Kelly's Ford, the Raid at reading more about the Town of Leesburg at Leesburgva.gov. For Rappahannock Station, and the Battle of Brandy Station – the the sake of brevity in this article, here's a quick synopsis: largest cavalry engagement in America's history. (5)
1722-1813 – Early Settlement and Founding 1814-1860 – The Plains – The wilderness on the western side of the Bull Antebellum Leesburg Run Mountains was originally the domain of the Sioux and then the Iroquois Indians. Ca. 1720-1724, the land was being granted 1861-1865 – Leesburg during the Civil War in the area around what was to become The Plains, Virginia. As 1866-1945 – Reconstruction through World War II 1946-present indicated by the wills of those receiving these grants, the land was – Post-War Boom and Sustained Growth left to their sons to move into the new area.
During the late 1700s and into the 1800s, the land was sold or passed to a son of the absentee landlord. Some landowners came to live and farm in the area, but sadly, the homes built there were small and did not survive. (6)
Warrenton – The settlement which would grow into the Town of Warrenton began as a crossroads at the junction of the Falmouth-Winchester and Alexandria-Culpeper roads, where a trading post called the Red Store was located. In the 1790s, a courthouse was built in the area, and the location was known as "Fauquier Courthouse."
Leesburg, Virginia The Town of Warrenton was incorporated on January 5, 1810, and named for General Joseph Warren, a Revolutionary War hero. (7) Lovettsville – Originally known as The German Settlement, Lovettsville was officially established in 1820, incorporated in 1842, In Loudoun County: and then re-incorporated in 1876. However, German settlers, many Hamilton – Settled by Quakers in the 1700s and established in of whom are buried in the Town's surrounding cemeteries, were 1835, Hamilton is quintessential small-town America: attractive living in the area by the 1730s. (11) Victorian homes with manicured lawns and picket fences on shady tree-lined streets, kids playing in the park. In the late 1800s, Middleburg – The Town was established in 1787 by American with the W&OD railway line stopping just south of Town, it Revolutionary War Lieutenant Colonel and Virginia statesman Leven served as a weekend retreat from the heat of Washington, D.C. (8) Powell. He purchased the land for Middleburg at $2.50 per acre in 1763 from Joseph Chinn, a first cousin of George Washington. It had Hillsboro – Early settlement in this area was stimulated by the been called "Chinn's growth of population in Pennsylvania of Germans and Quakers seeking religious freedom. Looking south for new, fertile lands to Crossroads" and was then called Powell Town. When Leven Powell farm, many Quaker families migrated to the Loudoun area and declined to have the Town named after him, the Town was called had a significant impact on its development. When referred to Middleburgh, and later, simply Middleburg. (12) as the Gap, the first record of settlement in the Hillsboro area is dated 1746.
(Continued on page 30)
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What’s in a Virginia Town Name? (Continued from page 29)
Purcellville – Purcellville's first known settler, James Dillon from Buck's County, PA, arrived in 1764. As might be expected, it would take a road to make a town; the early ox-cart track which wound westward from Leesburg, known later as the "Great Road," served the purpose. The first recorded business, an ordinary (a combined store and inn), was established by Abraham Vickers in 1799, then followed by a second ordinary, established by Stacey Taylor in 1804, and later by "Purcel's Store" and Post Office, established by Valentine Vernon Purcell, from whom the name is derived. On July 9, 1853, the village officially adopted the name Purcellville, and on March 4, 1908, the Town was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly. (13)
Round Hill – Round Hill was incorporated on February 5, 1900. From 1874 to 1900, the settlement had been the terminus of a Washington and Ohio rail line that ultimately became the W&OD Railroad. The railway allowed agricultural products to be brought into Washington, D.C., and allowed the District residents to escape to the surrounding countryside for holidays. Many of the Town's older residences were initially boarding houses, inns, and taverns where people would go upon arrival. The Town was considered a convenient destination as it lies close to the Shenandoah River (7 miles distant), the Shenandoah National Park (30 miles), the Appalachian Trail (4 miles), Harpers Ferry (15 miles), the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Tow Path (used currently as a bike trail) (12 miles), and the paved Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail (3 miles). (14)
Prince William County takes the NoVa Chuckle Trophy for Dumfries' town name, but all of its towns also have historical significance. the Civil War, the Town was directly in the path of marching armies. (16) Dumfries – Winner, winner chicken dinner for the silly name. You have to admit, this town name is, at best, odd. Yet, despite its quirky name, there's still a lot to be said about a town that dates back to the Occoquan – Occoquan is a historic town that was established late 1600s. in 1804 along the Occoquan River in Northern Virginia. The Town was first settled by early colonists who relied on the river for transportation and trade. For more than 175 years, the Town The history of Dumfries began as early as 1690 when Richard served as an industrial settlement with a grist mill and tobacco Gibson erected a gristmill on Quantico Creek. A customhouse and warehouses. (17) warehouse followed in 1731, and many others cropped up along the estuary by 1732. The Town of Dumfries was formally established on 60 acres of land at the head of the harbor of Quantico Creek, Quantico – European settlers obtained their first grants of provided by John Graham. He named the Town after his birthplace, land in what is now known as the Quantico area from the English Dumfries, Scotland. (15) government in 1654. During the American Revolution, the navy of Virginia was based on the Potomac nearby. A Confederate gun battery overlooking the river at Evansport (as the Town was Haymarket – Filled with quaint, restored buildings, and then called) maintained a blockade of Washington, D.C., early in shops, Haymarket packs a lot of history into a small amount of the American Civil War. In 1870 the Richmond, Fredericksburg, acreage. Founded in 1799, this Western Prince William County and Potomac Railroad reached the Town, which two years later historical gem has many stories to tell. The Town grew around adopted the named Quantico, said to mean "by the long stream" the intersection of Carolina and Dumfries Roads and was used by in a Native American language. (18) ➤ early settlers as a path from the Carolinas to Pennsylvania. During
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Outside of the NoVa area, we can find a couple more giggle- (1) History - Howard Darling – http://lifeinclifton.com/about-clifton/history/ worthy town names. For example, travel Southwest of Loudoun, and (2) Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton,_Virginia you'll discover Louisa County's Town of: (3) Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herndon,_Virginia (4) Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna,_Virginia (5) Visit Fauquier – http://www.visitfauquier.com/about-fauquier/towns-and-villages/ Bumpass – Holy Moly! This Town is named after the prominent remington Bumpass (pronounced Bump-us) family (circa the 1800s) and is (6) Town of The Plains, Virginia – http://theplainsvirginia.org/about-us (19) derived from the French bonpass, meaning "good passage." It's a tiny (7) Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrenton,_Virginia spot of a town, but you can bet that its name has caused many, many (8) Visit Loudoun – https://www.visitloudoun.org/towns-and-places/hamilton/ people to laugh out loud. I've read that residents of Bumpass won't even (9) Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsboro,_Loudoun_County,_Virginia entertain interviews about the name. Can you blame them? (10) Leesburgva.gov - Thomas Balch Library – https://www.leesburgva.gov/ departments/thomas-balch-library/research- reference-services/research-guides-book- indices/history-of-leesburg#cw And Smyth County's Town of: (11) Lovettsvilleva.gov – http://www.lovettsvilleva.gov/our-town/our-past/history/ Chilhowie – This name just makes you want to lie back and chill (12) Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middleburg,_Virginia out, doesn't it? In actuality, the name Chilhowie comes from the (13) Loudounhistory.org – https://www.loudounhistory.org/history/purcellville-history/ Cherokee word meaning "valley of many deer." (20) Since Chilhowie is (14) Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_Hill,_Loudoun_County,_Virginia the gateway to the Mount Rogers Recreation Area, my guess is that it (15) Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumfries,_Virginia is likely a great spot to chill out and still find our four-legged friends (16) The Patch – https://patch.com/virginia/manassas/4-facts-you-never-knew-historic- haymarket roaming freely. (17) TripSavvy.com – https://www.tripsavvy.com/historic-occoquan-va-1040494 (18) Britannica.com – https://www.britannica.com/place/Quantico-Virginia There's no question that our Virginia towns are chock full of (19) Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumpass,_Virginia history, and yes, a couple of their names are even quirky enough to (20) Chilhowie.org – https://chilhowie.org/town-history/ make visitors to our beautiful state take a double take when passing road signs! Regardless, I hope that all Virginians will one day get out and experience Virginia's rich history. Until then, do the research online; you'll be glad you did.
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Page 27 • gam|mag • February 2021 NASCENT NEWS. RANDOM REVIEWS.
Nascent News. Random Reviews. Brief snippets from the news wire.
The Late Tony Hsieh's Profitable Solution to Job Satisfaction One of the most original thinkers in business, Tony Hsieh, died in November in a Connecticut house fire. Hsieh, 46, left a vast legacy of entrepreneurship, most notably in his online shoe company, Zappos, which he sold to Amazon in 2009 for $1.4 billion. One of his innovations in staffing is the Hsieh put an actual dollar amount on job satisfaction and, you might say, company dissatisfaction. How much does it cost a company to keep a worker that doesn't like the work, doesn't like the company, wants to leave, but can't afford to quit the job?
In 2008, Hsieh thought getting rid of an unhappy worker was worth $1,000. So, after a week or so on the job, some workers would be given an offer. They could continue to work and presumably do better, or they could quit. If they quit, the company would pay them to go.
Author Bill Murphy, Jr., wrote about this policy in his blog understandably.com. He looks at the policy from a different perspective: That of the employee. Although the Hsieh policy wasn't Murphy should know. In 2009, he famously quit a six-figure job at intended to be an act of charity, it actually is, Murphy writes, since it 7:30 a.m. on the second day. But, he knew he was going to quit on the saves a person from doing something they hate. Life is too short. first day. No one paid him to leave that job. The moral of the story: Don't spin your wheels somewhere you hate. Find something you want to do, and then give it all you have.
PPP Loans and Taxed Expenses deduction the business would usually get (about $21,000) won't be allowable. So, surprise -- you have an extra $21,000 tax liability The IRS issued guidance in November clarifying the tax treatment (assuming 21 percent corporate tax). You did receive a net $79,000 of PPP loans that have not been forgiven by the end of the year the from the program, which you have already spent, but which you loan was received: might not have had otherwise.
* Businesses are not taxed on the proceeds of a forgiven PPP loan, • Businesses are encouraged to file for forgiveness as soon as so the expenses are not deductible. possible. If a business believes a PPP loan will be forgiven in This means that the taxpayer sees neither harm nor benefit since the future, expenses related to the loan are not deductible, the taxpayer has paid nothing out of pocket. whether the company has filed for forgiveness or not.
Here is how this looks on your tax return, according to bench.com: • If a PPP loan is expected to be forgiven, but it is not, the business will be able to deduct expenses. A C-corporation receives $100,000 in a PPP loan, uses the money entirely on payroll, and qualifies for loan forgiveness. The $100,000 According to the CARES Act, a forgiven loan amount won't be won't be listed as taxable income on the tax return. BUT the tax included in taxable income.
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Creating and Capturing Ideas Salvador Dali got ideas for paintings from his early sleep state. For new inspiration, he devised the "slumber with a key" method. Dali Business and personal challenges often demand new ideas... put a plate upside down on the floor next to his chair. Then he would those often fleeting solutions that streak through dreams, only to be relax back in the chair, extending his arms over the sides. In his forgotten in seconds. One thing that distinguishes creative people fingers, Dali lightly balanced a heavy key or spoon. When he drifted from others, according to Psychology Today, is that the creative ones off to sleep, the spoon fell onto the plate, and the sound would wake have learned ways to pay attention to and preserve some of the new him. He would then sketch the images he was seeing. ideas that occur to them. They have capturing skills.
Steve Jobs always conducted his most serious discussions and Scientist Otto Loewi struggled long with a problem in cell biology. brainstorming sessions while walking. Research from Stanford One night, a new approach occurred to him in his sleep. He grabbed University says that walking increases the flow of ideas by 60 percent a pen and wrote it down in the dark. But the next morning, he over sitting. couldn't read it. Fortunately, the great solution came to him again during sleep. Taking no chances, he went straight to his lab. He won the Nobel Prize for the work he began that night. Anyone can learn to capture new ideas and nudge creativity to new levels. You, too, can develop a unique technique and soon discover that you are more creative than you think. People who want to capture their ideas develop methods of doing it. Artists have sketchpads. Writers carry notebooks. Restaurant napkins are famous media for brilliant brainstorms.
Get Familiar with Your Home Insurance If you took a set-it-and-forget-it approach to your homeowner’s insurance, consider getting reacquainted. In addition to replacement and repairs, you need to think about what you own inside of that dwelling, about liability if someone is injured on your property, and how you’d pay for things like hotels and restaurants if you need to stay elsewhere for a while.
And, of course, every insurance has its exclusions. Do you know what’s not covered in your policy? Here are some things you should review, whether on an existing or new policy:
• Replacement coverage. Stay updated on how much it would cost to rebuild--an independent insurance agent can help. Renovations can affect the value, and you need to be aware of building code requirements that might not apply to your • Liability insurance. Most policies have a minimum coverage existing place. Ask about guaranteed replacement coverage, of $100,000, but you probably want three to five times that. which covers the cost regardless of spikes in labor or materials. Forbes recommends having enough to cover all of your assets, i.e., the house, car, and money in the bank, etc. • Personal property coverage. Personal property includes everything from clothing and furniture to electronics and • Additional Living Expenses (ALE) or Loss of Use coverage. even the food in your fridge and freezer. Take an inventory It covers the cost of hotels and restaurants if you can’t live at of everything you own, including photos of pricier items in home. particular. Check whether your policy covers the cost to buy
new items or whether you’d receive the actual cash value, which would consider depreciation. You might also need an Policy exclusions usually include things like floods, earthquakes, additional policy for expensive items like furs or jewelry. windstorms, nuclear hazards, etc. You’ll need separate coverage for those. Also, consider home business coverage and identity theft
coverage, among others.
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Nascent News. Random Reviews. Brief snippets from the news wire. The Work From Home Pre-Meeting Pack Meeting prep has long included a packet sent ahead of time so attendees can get up to speed on agenda items and arrive ready to discuss. But many businesses got a little more creative with meeting prep in 2020 -- a trend that appears destined to continue.
The customized pre-meeting pack is sent via snail mail a day or so ahead of an extended online meeting, Forbes reported, and can include a mix of snacks, accessories, and stationery.
The packs are an excellent real-world touch in a digitally- dominated world. Forbes adds that they can offer an opportunity to highlight local businesses as well. Goodwill and good partnerships are as important as ever. Companies might even partner with sponsors to fill swag boxes for employees.
Meeting packages can also provide a little morale boost with personalized stickers and snacks. Packages might include a small "You rock!" note or motivational quotations along with meeting munchies and materials to review. One fun idea: Conversation paddles, which attendees can hold up to express an opinion or reaction during a video call.
Battle of the 'Marts: The writing has been on the wall for Kmart for a long time. In 2010, Harvard Business Review noted that Kmart struggled One chain booms; the other fades to articulate a clear branding strategy, describing itself in generic It has been a slow, painful death, and unfortunately, it's still terms as a 'mass merchandising company' that offered customers ongoing. According to Forbes, Kmart, the storied discount retailer 'quality products.' With no clear concept or strategy for appealing that boasted thousands of locations, is down to its last 34 stores. From to consumers, the chain floundered. While Walmart responded to its humble beginnings in Detroit as the S.S. Kresge Company, the the rise of the internet and the birth of e-commerce, Kmart resisted chain, which changed its name to Kmart in 1977, once dominated innovation, according to blog Alabrava. the discount store market, according to the New York Times, and
owned a variety of other major retailers, including the Walden Book Company, the Borders bookstore chain, Membership Warehouse, While Kmart struggled, Walmart appealed to customers' budget and Sports Authority. concerns with its 'always low prices' marketing for all consumer items, combined with cost-effective supply chains and responsiveness to local trends and needs. But in 1990, the newer discount chain Wal-Mart (later renamed
Walmart) surpassed Kmart. Just 12 years later, the New York Times reported when Kmart entered bankruptcy protection for the first Despite its status as the reigning discount giant, Walmart has faced time. In 2019, Kmart's parent company, Sears Holdings, which its struggles. According to the Motley Fool, the retailer saw stagnant operated Sears and Kmart stores, entered bankruptcy protection growth by the mid-2010s, and some stores fell into the red. Its efforts again. According to CNN Business, what emerged was a weak overseas mostly flopped. Still, Walmart's long-term survival is a network of poorly performing stores that likely still exists only relative certainty, while Kmart will soon be a relic of the past. because the new owner, retailer Transformco, has received no reasonable offers for the chain's real estate and other assets.
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staff, and a physical experience for customers is the backbone of Dick's success. Customers can test out equipment in the store with batting cages and putting greens, and floor staff act as consultants to help customers figure out what they want.
Dick's also aggressively promoted its 'buy online, pick up in-store' strategy, which offers the convenience of online shopping while still bringing people into physical locations, according to the Sloan report.
While few retailers have survived unscathed, Dick's technology investments and existing technology-friendly reputation have proved immensely valuable. According to CNBC, in the first weeks of the pandemic in spring 2020, the retailer quickly rolled out curbside pickup options to soothe customer's nerves and sidestep store closures. According to MarketWatch, the company also cashed in on the home fitness, and outdoor activity boom after the states forced gyms and health clubs to close, posting higher-than-expected earnings during the third quarter of 2020. How a Dick's Sporting Goods Thrived While Others Crashed According to CNBC, in the final leg of the 2020 holiday season, It's a familiar tale these days. Legacy department stores and famed Dick's partnered with delivery service Instacart to offer same-day luxury retailers are going belly-up. But Dick's Sporting Goods, the deliveries from more than 150 stores. The company plans to roll this nation's largest sporting goods retailer, has continued to thrive as it service out to even more stores in 2021. responds to the changing economy and consumer needs, according to a report from MIT's Sloan School of Management. Still, Dick's is not without its naysayers. According to Yahoo News, analysts from financial services firm Stephens believe that rosy How has Dick's managed to beat the odds for brick-and-mortar forecasts are a bit too optimistic despite strong management and stores? Customer responsiveness is key. A combination of in-store market position. technology, user-friendly e-commerce options, knowledgeable sales
Storied Retailers Limp Through 2020 most in 2020, with high-profile liquidations of the Stein Mart and Pier 1 Imports chains. When is the last time you shopped at a Sears department store? Most Americans probably can't recall their most recent shopping trip to the legendary retailer. Formerly the biggest retailer in the country, Legacy retailers, including Sears, have suffered the most as the the company that owns Sears and Kmart, is on life support after the retail landscape continues to transform, especially as Americans retailers emerged from bankruptcy two years ago, according to CNN turned to online shopping. According to the Harvard Business Business. Review, these companies struggle to run the company while implementing necessary changes for survival. Legendary department store Lord & Taylor did not survive 2020, while household names like Transformco, the private entity that acquired Sears and Kmart JC Penney and Neiman Marcus filed for bankruptcy. after Sears Holdings entered bankruptcy in 2019, is likely biding its time until it can locate new tenants to fill its valuable real estate while the company continues to sell off other valuable assets. Advance Not all retailers are experiencing the same catastrophic fallout. Auto Parts purchased the DieHard automotive brand, while Stanley However, mega-retailers Walmart, Costco, Target, Dick's Sporting Black and Decker purchased the Craftsman tool brand. The Kenmore Goods, Home Depot, and Lowe's all finished 2020 in a strong growth appliance brand is also up for sale, according to the CNN report. position as they adapt more quickly to customer needs and the changing marketplace, according to Barron's. While Sears and Kmart are widely considered terminal, the situation is mixed regarding other retailers. According to USA Today, The biggest winner in 2020? Online retail giant Amazon, which department, specialty, off-price, and apparel retailers suffered the increased its stock price by 78 percent.
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