Santa Ana, CA  (Profitable.com)  Airline competition is decreasing and airfare is rising, resulting in fewer option for travelers, because airlines want to make the most revenue possible, according to Yahoo! Finance. Small business owners might similarly want to make the most revenue possible. While strategies like those of airlines may not be possible in every industry, there are a few strategies one can try to improve the chances of increasing revenue. In the recent blog post “Airlines Use Capacity Reduction to Preserve Profitability: How is Your Business Answering the Call?,” the Business Finance Store discusses some mistakes small businesses should avoid if they want to ensure profitability.

Small business owner or entrepreneur facing difficult times might be wondering what they can do to make the greatest possible revenue. While the answer is not the same for every business, there are things small businesses can do to avoid losses. Read more about how small businesses can prevent losses and keep being profitable at the Business Finance Store Blog.

The Business Finance Store is a business financing and consulting firm that offers customized Business Financial Solutions. Seasoned professionals offer assistance in a variety of financial solutions to help small businesses succeed such as: Business Financial Solutions, Legal Solutions, and Accounting Solutions.

The staff at The Business Finance Store understands that starting and growing a business is an exciting time. They keep it exciting by taking care of some of the most difficult aspects, by providing legal advice, helping with vital responsibilities like accounting & bookkeeping, and by obtaining business finance. They can quickly and easily guide entrepreneurs through many different complicated processes, and put them on the path to success.

For 10 years The Business Finance Store has been helping startups and other small businesses legally structure their companies, find the right franchises, get the funding they need, and to achieve the American Dream of owning their own successful business. Since expanding nationwide in 2007 they have helped thousands of companies and have funded over $60 Million in business credit lines, not including SBA loans. The Business Finance Store sees limitless potential in the current climate, and looks forward to many strong years of growth to come. Take some time to review their services, and give them a call.

For more information, or a free, no-obligation analysis of your business needs, visit The Business Finance Store, visit http://www.businessfinancestore.com. A member of their professional staff will contact you to discuss your business’ short and long-term goals. Whatever you need, The Business Finance Store is there.

Los Angeles, CA  (Profitable.com)  The Pet Memorial Wall, has launched a website; http://www.petmemorialwall.com memorializing pets with a unique interface designed to share a tribute with other grieving pet owners and celebrate their lives.

When a member of our family passes away the depth of this personal loss is universally accepted. If it is a loss of a wife or husband, your friends won’t set you up on blind dates by the end of the month. If it is a son or daughter you will never hear someone say; “It was just a child, you can get another”.

In many households across the world, pets are constant companions and sometimes the only essential emotional support in many people’s lives. Children are comforted with unconditional acceptance. Adults who would never otherwise exercise are kept healthy. Boomers and elderly have companionship after the nest is empty. Those of us without children feel blessed with the next best thing.

But what happens when pet companionship is lost? While studies show that pet bonds are sometimes stronger than human relationships, many are reticent to share the depth of their emotions.

Miriam Preissel experienced this loss in 2010 when her dog Paladin passed away. The conflicting feelings of despair, anger and loss were overwhelming.

In an attempt to find comfort and celebrate Paladin’s life, Miriam looked to Internet pet memorial websites. “Although many sites offered pet memorial services along with products such as urns, none had the tribute qualities or emotional pet loss support I had expected. Most were confusing to navigate with photo galleries that pushed old posts into oblivion, some appeared to be designed for children with the lovely Rainbow Bridge poem, but none with a tribute that I though anyone would notice.”

The Pet Memorial Wall was Preissel’s answer to her dilemma. Spending a year on development the site’s homepage features a “wall” of memorials, inspired by the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Up to 1,000 animal memorials are available at once in a universal spirit, easily navigated by users, connecting with other’s experiencing similar emotions in their pet loss. Each tribute pops up when moused over showing a larger image with birth/passing date, a short epitaph you would find on a gravestone, a link to a personal pet memorial page along with a live chat and pet loss blog.

Features:

• Choice of placement and size of pet memorial

• Photograph “pops up” when moused over showing a larger image, pet name, birth/passing date and a 150-character epitaph

• Clicks through to personal pet memorial page for user comments and social networking

• Pet Memorial Certificate Available

• Live chat

• Blog specific to pet loss

• Minimum purchase of $45

• 10% of purchase is donated immediately to animal charity of user’s choice

• As each wall is filled, the current wall will be archived and assessable to all users for 5 years

Pet Facts:

• In the USA, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey reported pet ownership is currently at it’s highest level with 71.4 million households owning at least one pet (translating to a staggering 62% of the population). The survey revealed that there are 77.5 million dogs, 93.6 million cats, 171.7 million freshwater fish, 11.2 million saltwater fish, 15 million birds, 15.9 million small animals, 13.63 million reptiles and 13.3 million horses.

• In the UK, according to the Pet Food Manufacturer’s Association, the top 10 Pets are: Fish (over 40 million Indoor and Outdoor), 8 million dogs, 8 million cats and about 3 million small animals such as rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc. Birds, chickens and fish are also increasingly popular pets, particularly fish kept indoors.

• PFMA also estimates in Europe, 55 million households own a pet, many owning a mix of different types. These households own 47 million cats and 41 million dogs.

• The European Pet Food Industry (fediaf.org) reports throughout Europe, an estimated 550,000 direct and indirect jobs are generated by pet ownership such as veterinarians, breeders or connected supply industries. The pet food industry and related supply and services represent a combined annual turnover of about €24 billion.

For more information contact:
Miriam Preissel
http://www.petmemorialwall.com/home/contact

(Profitable.com)  Each year weight loss authority website Weight Loss Guide releases its choices for the top products in a variety of categories. Hoodoba® Pure Hoodia has surpassed the competition by securing the top position in the highly coveted appetite suppressant category.

“Of all the diet pills I’ve tried, natural and otherwise there is nothing that comes even close. I can surely say Hoodoba® diet pill is my savior. I lost 44 pounds in 10 weeks flat.”
– Stephanie

When Hoodoba® pure Hoodia diet pills were launched into the weight loss market in 2006, they were touted as the most effective appetite suppressant out there. But their vast popularity brought about many counterfeit and diluted “Hoodia” products that caused authentic Hoodia to fall out of the limelight. Even without the surplus of media attention, Hoodoba® was able to thrive and even released the highly successful Hoodoba® Potent Hoodia and Hoodoba® Hunger Block Plus in later years.

Weight Loss Guide’s selection of Hoodoba® Pure Hoodia diet pills is no surprise as they have consistently outranked all other Hoodia products sold both in stores and online. Hoodoba® is so confident about their products in fact, that they have them tested by third party testing lab Alkemist Pharmaceutics to ensure purity and potency.

Hoodoba® Pure is a clear choice for anyone hoping to lose weight in 2012. Made with only 100% pure Hoodia gordonii, Hoodoba® Pure suppresses the appetite so less food is consumed naturally. Hoodia has proven its effectiveness in numerous scientific studies and is so safe that it is classified as a food in South Africa.

To view Weight Loss Guide’s other top picks including top fat burners, top metabolism boosters, top weight loss kits and more please visit WeightLossGuide.com.

Editor’s Notes: Weight Loss Guide rates and ranks diet pills and weight loss products to determine the top choices in a variety of categories. Weight Loss Guide was launched in 1998 and has since become an online weight loss and wellness authority.

Neenah, WI  (Profitable.com)  Adopting healthy habits is a common New Year’s resolution, but following a few simple dietary rules also can help individuals manage incontinence, according Dianna Malkowski, physician assistant, nutritionist and professional adviser for The CareGiver Partnership.

“Incontinence is not a disease; it can be a symptom of daily habits, an underlying medical condition or a physical problem. Urinary incontinence is often treatable, and is always manageable,” says Malkowski. “Along with maintaining a healthy weight, a change in eating and drinking habits can help bring relief.”

1. Monitoring fluid intake. When individuals don’t drink enough and become dehydrated, their urine can become concentrated with bladder-irritating salts. Conversely, drinking too much at a time increases the amount of urine and can irritate or overwork a bladder. Some find it helpful to measure and record daily fluid intake, along with incontinence episodes, to help them see patterns and help health care providers monitor their condition.

2. Increasing dietary fiber. Eating a high-fiber diet can help avoid constipation. Compacted stool can cause nearby bladder nerves to become overactive, increasing urinary frequency. Insoluble fiber helps move stool and is found in vegetables, wheat bran and other whole grains, nuts, beans and berries. Soluble fiber helps soothe the digestive tract and is therefore often recommended for those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. Soluble fiber is found in fruits such as apples and oranges, pasta, white bread and potatoes.

3. Avoiding bladder irritants. For those with bladder control problems, it may be helpful to limit alcohol and caffeine. Both are bladder stimulants and diuretics, which can cause a sudden need to urinate. Even teas and carbonated beverages may contribute to bladder problems. Other known irritants are sugar and artificial sweeteners, corn syrup, spicy foods, and acidic foods such as tomatoes and citrus.

Read the complete article on The CareGiver Partnership blog.

The CareGiver Partnership is a national direct-to-consumer retailer of home healthcare products for incontinence, diabetes, nutrition support and more. In its fifth year of providing products and services that help caregivers and loved ones maintain personal dignity, the company also offers an online library of more than 1,100 family caregiver resources and personal service by experts in caregiving. Call 1-800-985-1353 or visit online at http://www.caregiverpartnership.com.

Dianna Malkowski is a Board Certified Physician Assistant and Mayo Clinic trained nutritionist specializing in diabetes, cancer, wound healing, therapeutic diets and nutrition support. She serves on the board of professional advisors for The CareGiver Partnership and enjoys working with patients and caregivers alike. Ask Dianna a question.

Overland Park, KS  (Profitable.com)  Everyone wants the economy to bounce back, but we all have different ideas about when it will happen. It seems that 40% of respondents in a December Persuadable Research survey say it will take up to three years for the economy to improve. Almost the same number, 38%, think it will be three to five years before the economy sees the light at the end of the tunnel.

Panelists feel that there are several elements contributing to the lagging economy. Banks and other financial institutions are pointed to by 81%. The U.S. Congress was also at fault according to 79%. Interestingly, panelists believe that Congress had and still has a very strong role in shaping the past and current state of the economy. Past and present White House Administrations, on the other hand, were being blamed by far fewer respondents, 56%. In addition to that, 75% felt that outsourcing jobs was holding our economy back, while the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were mentioned by 71% of panelists. Because the war in Iraq came to an end this month, this may have an effect on people’s opinions and on the economy as a whole.

“There have been more layoffs; companies are forcing people to retire or are being bought out; prices are increasing; wages are decreasing; and stocks are bombing,” says one respondent. People are anxious about spending and also about jobs. Over one-third, 37%, believe that the economy is negatively affecting their ability to find a job presently. Additionally, 35% think that the economy is holding them back from advancing in their jobs. A clear majority of respondents, 69%, do not believe that they could get another job with comparable pay within ninety days if they should lose their current job.

There is a small number of panelists that think that this is the new norm; that the economy will never bounce back. Still, on the other hand, there is a whopping 92% who have faith that some way, somehow, the economy will be resuscitated. According to the survey, it’s almost as if the bulk of attention is on Congress, not the White House, to provide leadership on important issues such as keeping jobs in the U.S., managing the banking industry better, and working out trade issues with China. Perhaps, decisive teamwork among members of Congress would be enough to drive up consumer confidence and shorten the economy’s sentence.

Chip Osborn is the CEO of Persuadable Research Corporation, a full service online market research company. Their high-tech structure is a powerful alternative to old line research companies. Get paid to take online surveys by visiting Rocket Powered Surveys today.

Fort Lauderdale, FL  (Profitable.com)  The leading bad credit offer resource online, ReallyBadCreditOffers.com has announced an update to the recommended bad credit car loans being offered. The site offers people with low credit scores alternative financing and credit resources make borrowing faster and easier for people turned away from traditional banks.

Online car title loans allow a consumer with bad credit to get a loan quickly without all of the credit and background checking that is normal for a traditional loan because the consumer is putting up their vehicle as collateral for the loan. Consumers simply visit the website, fill out the hassle free application form and they get an approval notification within just a few minutes.
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“Helping people get the loan they need to buy a car is a great feeling. We get to be a part of helping good people get back on their feet. A car is an essential for many to get to work, and rebuild after hardship,” said Ariel Pryor, loan expert, adding, “People that are hard to finance tend to give up, unaware of the resources and help that is available to them.”

The site connects borrowers with lenders willing to extend credit despite the higher risk typically associated with the bad credit industry. Car loans are possible despite a bad history, in many cases, because of the equity of the vehicle being used as security.

The site provides financial advice in addition to the offer comparisons, topics covering leasing a car for people with bad credit, how banks look at credit scores, and action guides to improve credit for the do it yourself crowd preferring not to get help from recommended credit repair companies.

“Regardless of how bad your credit scores are, people should know they have options,” said Pryor. The site recommends debt consolidation loans to reduce bill payments and has helped thousands get money fast in emergency loans.

About ReallyBadCreditOffers.com

Providing consumers with the best bad credit information, the sites review team works to provide people the second chance help they need to rebuild after facing money problems. Information is provided to make personal finance fast and easy again.

Contact

Ariel Pryor, Financial Expert
http://www.reallybadcreditoffers.com
(520) 344-2001

Fall River, MA  (Profitable.com)  Earlier this week the Today show aired a segment titled,  “Hidden Dangers of Indoor Ice Rinks,” exposing the potential risks of inhaling hazards like carbon monoxide (CO) for the users of the estimated 8,500 ice rinks across the United States and Canada.  The source of this poisoning?  Usually it’s the fuel-fired ice resurfacing machines used to keep the ice clean and smooth,  but can also be attributed to malfunctioning equipment used to keep the rinks cold.

In recent years there have been several incidents of athletes and spectators at indoor ice arenas falling ill by way of inhaling these toxic fumes.  In Clearwater, Fla. earlier this month, 23 children and adults were sickened and six were treated at a local hospital after a malfunctioning dehumidifier filled the space with CO, as reported by www.tampabay.com.  And, according to Reuters, in February of this year, in Gunnison, Colo., 61 people at a youth girls’ hockey tournament were poisoned, likely from a buildup of CO from ice resurfacing machine, the local fire marshal said.  In response to these incidents, Apollo Safety is offering CO solutions for rink owners and managers at
apollogassafety.com.

“Too often we learn of near disasters, near death experiences, and unfortunately death from carbon monoxide poisoning,” said John V. Carvalho III, president and CEO of Apollo Safety.  “More often than not these tragedies could have been avoided with inexpensive CO devices readily available from professional gas detection suppliers and gas monitor calibration.  Don’t let your family, customers or workers suffer to this end.”

Carbon monoxide is a combustion pollutant and is produced when fuels such as gasoline, propane or diesel is burned to power, for example, ice resurfacing machines.  Because CO is odorless, tasteless, and invisible it is impossible to detect without a CO detector.  At low levels of CO, a person would experience headache, nausea, dizziness, and confusion.  It is critical to find fresh air immediately and seek medical attention, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

While there are no federal regulations requiring indoor air monitoring equipment for ice arenas, the EPA has increased its emissions standards for all new fuel-burning ice resurfacers greatly reducing the amount of toxic gas emissions by these machines.  Additionally, the EPA lists recommendations for owners and managers of these facilities to keep the level of these toxins down, such as providing adequate ventilation, replacing older equipment, warming up resurfacing vehicles in a well ventilated room, and establishing a system of monitoring air quality, according to www.epa.gov/iaq/icearenas.

Angel Fire, NM  (Profitable.com)  WorldSharp Technologies, Inc. today announced the availability of the 2011 version of the WorldSharp 1099 Preparation System. It is shipping with the new form changes and the IRS electronic reporting and correction specifications for 2011. Forms and corrections for past years all the way back to 1995 may also be processed. The system now has even easier importing capabilities. When ordered, the software can be downloaded or shipped on CD. Items can be entered using two different modes of data entry or the data can be imported from files of other computer applications or spreadsheets. The WorldSharp customer support staff is available to help customers import their data and electronically file their returns. WorldSharp also provides the optional service to print, mail and e-file for their customers.

Printing can be on pre-printed forms or blank paper. The system can print the form with the data and e-file, so there is no need to purchase forms. The system prints and electronically reports 1098, 1098-C, 1098-E, 1098-T, 1099-A, 1099-B, 1099-C, 1099-CAP, 1099-DIV, 1099-G, 1099-H, 1099-INT, 1099-LTC, 1099-MISC, 1099-OID, 1099-PATR, 1099-R, 1099-S, 1099-SA, 3921, 3922, 5498, 5498-ESA, 5498-SA, W-2G and optionally 1042-S forms.

Bobby Anderson, president of WorldSharp Technologies said that in the past, the system has been primarily used by banks and financial institutions, which is WorldSharp’s main marketing focus. However, in order to make the quality software package available to small businesses and companies in other industries, WorldSharp lowered the price from $500 to $89.95. A 2-license version is $159.95 and a 10-license version is $249.95. Many vendors charge extra for electronic reporting. So, WorldSharp decided to provide its Premium Package which includes all of the forms (except 1042-S) and electronic reporting without additional charges. A system which includes 1042-S support is available for $189.95.

Unlike other systems, the WorldSharp 1099 Preparation System allows users to process any kind of 1099 form and has no restrictions on the number of forms processed or the number of companies processed.

For additional information about the 2011 version of the WorldSharp 1099 Preparation System, contact customer support at (575)445-2504 or visit http://www.WorldSharp1099Software.com. Inquires may also be addressed to info@worldsharp.com.

WorldSharp Technologies, Inc. is located in Angel Fire, New Mexico and has provided quality financial software packages primarily to banks and financial institutions since 1978. For additional information about WorldSharp visit http://www.WorldSharp.com.

WorldSharp Technologies, Inc. provides Banking and Financial Software, primary products Stockholder Accounting and 1099 Preparation. For further information, pleast contact us at (575)445-2504.

Domain.com Consistent on its Opposition to Proposed SOPA Legislation

Vancouver, WA  (Profitable.com)  Domain.com, a leading domain registrar and web hosting provider with over five million domains under group management, is unwavering in its opposition to SOPA’s infringement of First Amendment rights. Domain.com firmly opposes the legislation, and invites like-minded domain owners to join them by transferring away from companies that have shown support for SOPA.

“While Domain.com respects the rights of intellectual property owners, the SOPA legislation is troubling in its restraint on free speech under the First Amendment. The uncertainty it would create for website owners and the resulting chilling effect on the tech industry is a serious issue the Internet community should not take lightly,” said David Andrews, Marketing Director for Domain.com.

The SOPA legislation has been hotly debated in the Internet community, with leading providers such as Google, iPage, Twitter, Facebook, and AOL aligned with Domain.com against it. Domain provider GoDaddy initially supported the bill, but later reconsidered its position, based on concerns raised by the Internet community. News of SOPA continues to blow up over social media with coverage from sites like Reddit, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Ars Technica, and more.

Transfer domains to Domain.com to work with a provider who staunchly supports Internet freedom. Visit http://www.domain.com/domains/transfer.php, and use the coupon code “FREEDOM” to save.

About Domain.com

Helping entrepreneurs become successful online since 2000, Domain.com offers high quality, reliable Web hosting and domain name registration services at the most affordable prices in the industry. Domain.com, an ICANN-accredited registrar, offers a full range of solutions to create and market websites includes web hosting, VPS hosting, Email, SSL certificates, website design, and email marketing. For more information visit: http://www.domain.com.

Compare Local Cable TV Providers with New Search Website BundleMyBills.com

Austin, TX  (Profitable.com)  Home service comparison site BundleMyBills.com is improving the way online shoppers find local cable TV providers and services. Utilizing Saveology.com’s advanced proprietary technology, BundleMyBills.com is now providing users with tools that enable them to search by state, city or their own address to find and compare cable TV providers across the country.

The user-friendly search tools serve two important, simultaneous purposes says BundleMyBills.com Operations Manager Ace Elliott. “Users not only get the most up-to-date information about which cable TV providers are operating in a specific service area, they also get side-by-side comparisons which makes it much easier to weigh all the available options.”

By targeting a certain area online shoppers can rule out cable TV providers that aren’t offering services in their neighborhood and focus just on those that do. This eliminates the need to seek out service area information for each cable TV provider. “It’s not always easy to figure out where a cable TV provider operates using their own websites,” adds Elliott. “After you provide your address some providers immediately start trying to make the sale and they certainly aren’t going to tell you about competitive offers from other local cable TV providers.”

In addition to search and comparison tools, BundleMyBills.com also provides users with a guide that gives users tips on how to find the best cable TV providers and prices regardless of where they live. The site also provides information on fiber optic and satellite TV services.

To search for cable TV deals in your area or to find out more about specific cable TV providers like Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications, please visit: BundleMyBills.com

About BundleMyBills.com

BundleMyBills.com offers customers the latest tools in the home service comparison shopping. Powered by Saveology’s proprietary technology, BundleMyBills.com gives consumers the ability to do a side-by-side comparison of plans and prices from the top providers within their local area. The company has brought together leading national and local providers so consumers can accurately weigh all of their options before signing up for a service. As an authorized retailer of DISH Network, Time Warner Cable, Comcast, AT&T, Cox Communications, Verizon, ADT, Protect America and more BundleMyBills.com is able to offer online shoppers the very best deals on the market.

Gainesville, FL  (Profitable.com)  A Gainesville business owner’s mutually-beneficial partnership with Haven Hospice has resulted in charitable donations of $50,000 in 2011, an amount equivalent to half of the franchise’s annual revenue. In exchange for providing bulk disposal services to the Haven Hospice Attic Store, Cameron Lansdell and his 1-800-GOT-JUNK? franchise receives free warehouse space for storage.

“It’s rewarding to know that my business and a great community charity can have such a cooperative relationship.” Lansdell’s crew often picks up gently used or unused items on the job, which they then donate directly to Haven Hospice and their thrift store. “The more customers we get, the more items we have for donation.”

“Responsible disposal is a huge part of the business.” To Lansdell, the greatest benefit of responsible disposal is when there is no disposal at all, when salvageable items are used to benefit community members in need.

His initiatives have not gone unnoticed. Lansdell’s franchise was nominated for the 2011 Ethics in Business Award. The award, designed by the Rotary Club of Gainesville in collaboration with the University of Florida Center for Leadership and Ethics in Business, honors organizations and individuals who demonstrate ethical business practices at the highest levels.

Lansdell’s other beneficiaries include the Children’s Home Society (who have received around $10,000 worth of used goods), Interfaith Hospitality, Rebuild Florida, the local Humane Society, Bread of the Mighty and Sister Hazel. Apart from donating, Lansdell and his team recycles metal, cardboard, paper, E-waste, books, and even packing peanuts.

About 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

1-800-GOT-JUNK? is pioneering an industry that is helping residents and businesses remove junk and regain space. Whether it’s a pile of household junk in the garage or a warehouse full of office furnishings, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? removes it for you, making the ordinary business of junk removal exceptional. We are passionate about recycling and donating to charity. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? was founded in 1989 and now operates throughout North America and Australia. Please visit us at 1800gotjunk.com.

Media Contact:

Samantha Landa
PR Manager, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
(866) 552-1107
samantha(dot)landa(at)1800gotjunk(dot)com

Total Gym Offers the 2012 New Year Resolution Solution

West Chester, PA  (Profitable.com)  New Year, New You! Each year individuals make Resolutions only to find themselves overwhelmed with all of the changes that they wish to implement. If only there was a way to target multiple resolutions with one solution. Well, Total Gym, a trusted leader in the fitness industry for over 35 years has done just that. Total Gym resolves to help individuals efficiently and cost-effectively meet their weight loss and fitness goals in 2012.

How will they do it?

Save Time – Total Gym targets all major muscle groups with just one workout. Resistance training, cardio training and stretching – everything the body needs, with over 80 exercises, in just one machine. Individuals can get a total body workout in as little as 10 – 20 minutes a day, making Total Gym at-home workouts more efficient and effective, and perfect for the entire family from ages eight to 80.

Save Money – With the costs of gym memberships and gas these days, individuals can save money with Total Gym. Plus, according to Medical News Today nearly 80% of U.S. gym memberships go unused each year resulting in over $12 billion wasted annually. With Total Gym one can own a gym and workout in the convenience of their own home for less then the price of a gym membership. Total Gym offers a 30-Day In Home Trial as well as convenient payment plans.

Lose Weight & Get Fit – With over 4 million customers worldwide, Total Gym has helped millions of people reach their fitness goals. Like Shawn Peterson who lost 177 pounds, “I’ve battled with weight all my life, said Shawn, using the Total Gym, I lost 177 pounds. I can do all kinds of things now. Before, when I was 338 lbs my children would always ask me to go outside and play with them and I couldn’t do it – now I can.” And Rebecca Kiritsy who lost over 70 pounds with Total Gym “Within the first month, I could really see results. I dropped a dress size and lost 10 lbs. I could see and feel my body being more toned and tightened. Now I’ve lost over 70 lbs and kept it off for about a year and a half.” Plus, every Total Gym arrives fully assembled and ready to use out of the box, and comes with the workout tools and nutritional plans needed to get started on the road to success. Click here to learn more about the Total Gym Resolution Solution!

About Total Gym®

The Total Gym is the ultimate workout machine utilizing an individual’s own body weight as resistance to perform any exercise and incorporates the use of multiple muscle groups together in all planes of movement. Total Gym entered the consumer “home fitness” market in 1996 with the airing of its first television infomercial featuring long-time user Chuck Norris and co-host Christie Brinkley. The Total Gym infomercial is one of the industry’s longest-running and most successful; broadcast to 85 countries and credited with sales of over four million units worldwide.

New Free iPhone App Directs Users to the Nearest Medical Centers Worldwide

Philadelphia, PA  (Profitable.com)  Azavea, an award-winning geospatial analysis (GIS) software development company, announces the release of the Emergency Medical Center Locator (EMCL) application, available for free download through iTunes. The application was built for the Biomedical Research and Education Foundation (BREF), whose mission is to provide unbiased information resources about biomedical products for patients and their physician.

The first few minutes and hours after a trauma can significantly impact chances of survival, especially as one travels abroad and does not know the local language. The EMCL for iPhone identifies a user’s location and automatically retrieves the name and addresses of the 50 nearest medical centers around them in the United States and abroad. Only the most advanced and state-of-the-art emergency care facilities with improved patient outcomes are included within the application. Six specialty areas can be selected: trauma, stroke, eye, pediatric, cardiac and burn. The application contains close to 2,400 medical centers in 101 countries, including Algeria, Afghanistan, France, Jordan, Morocco, Peru, and Yemen.

“A recent study showed that 75% of emergency rooms do not have round-the-clock resources to open a blocked coronary artery and only 10% of patients are transferred to a medical center in time to receive this life saving treatment. The EMCL app lists only the centers that meet the American College of Cardiology gold standard ‘door to cath lab’ within 90 minutes,” says Dr. Bruce Moskowitz, Founder and Chair of the Board of BREF.

Data-driven applications like the EMCL are significant equalizers when it comes to making information accessible. However, the data they contain can change on an ongoing basis. The application was built in such way that it communicates with a set of database services in order to retrieve the latest information for medical centers worldwide.

The application can be downloaded for free at http://itunes.apple.com/si/app/emergency-medical-center-locator/id477974669

About Azavea – Azavea is an award-winning geospatial analysis (GIS) software development firm specializing in the creation of location-based web and mobile software as well as geospatial analysis services. Azavea is a certified B Corporation that applies geographic data and technology to promote the emergence of more dynamic, vibrant, and sustainable communities. Each of Azavea’s projects, products and pro bono engagements showcases this commitment. Find more at http://www.azavea.com.

About BREF

The Biomedical Research and Education Foundation (BREF) is a listed Patient Safety Organization that provides unbiased information on medical devices for patients and their physician. BREF was founded with the concern that patients and doctors do not receive impartial information on the latest biomedical technology; whether it is an implanted device, new surgical procedure, or diagnostic tool. BREF is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization created in 2003. Find more at http://www.brefnet.org/

If you would like more information about Azavea or to schedule an interview with Robert Cheetham, Azavea CEO and President, please contact Amy Trahey at (215) 558 – 6184 or e-mail atrahey(at)azavea(dot)com.

Atlanta, GA  (Profitable.com)  Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a lease-to-own retailer specializing in the sales and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has extended its store hours to accommodate the expected increase of holiday shopping.

All Aaron’s stores across the U.S. will follow this schedule through the remainder of 2011:

Friday, Dec. 16 (9am-8pm)
Saturday, Dec. 17 (10am-5pm), selected locations (9am-6pm)
Monday, Dec. 19 – Friday, Dec. 23 (9am-8pm)
Saturday, Dec. 24 (9am-2pm)
Monday, Dec. 26 (CLOSED)
Tuesday, Dec. 27 – Thursday, Dec. 29 (10am-7pm)
Friday, Dec. 30 (10am-8pm)
Saturday, Dec. 31 (10am-5pm)
Monday, Jan. 2, 2012 (CLOSED)

According to Ken Butler, Aaron’s chief operating officer, the Company is assisting its customers in every way it can during the hectic holiday season by extending store hours and discounting popular items.

“Over the last 55 years, Aaron’s has built a reputation of providing superior customer service by giving back to its customers at every opportunity, and that includes the holidays especially,” Butler said. “While the month of December is synonymous with fun and excitement for most families, it can also bring additional challenges for those who are short on time and finances. Our holiday promotions address both of these issues – extended hours allow consumers more options for finding time to shop in their busy schedules, and our affordable lease program gives families an opportunity to purchase everything from beds and sofas to televisions and laptops.”

In-store promotions for December include the customer’s choice – a 73-inch DLP TV from Mitsubishi Electric, a 60-inch plasma flat screen TV from LG Panasonic, or a 55-inch LED flat panel TV from LG – for $99.99 a month at participating locations. A 15.6-inch Presario laptop is available for $79.99 a month at participating locations. Tax and ASP are additional, and pricing may vary by state and store. For additional sales and promotional information, as well as terms and conditions, visit www.aarons.com and select “browse our circular.”

About Aaron’s, Inc.

Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), the nation’s leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 1,904 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit www.aarons.com.

Los Angeles, CA  (Profitable.com)  Holiday parties, gift giving and a time of cheer are sledding into a snow ball of low job satisfaction and bonus anxiety at global organizations this holiday season, according to an executive survey by Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY), a premier global provider of talent management solutions.

According to the survey, 55 percent of executives are attending their office holiday party, up four percent from last year and up 14 percent from two years ago.  Despite a still tenuous economic environment, holiday parties have bounced back from the Great Recession, as organizations look to corporate festiveness to increase morale amid challenging market conditions.

Fifty-six percent of executives surveyed say they look forward to the company holiday party and 34 percent make it when they can, while only 10 percent do not attend or have little interest.

Holiday spending expectations also remain high this year.  The survey shows that nearly 60 percent of executives plan on spending $100 or more on all business-related gifts this season, with nearly half of that group expecting to spend more than $300.  Only 28 percent say that they will spend less than $50 this season.

“Organizations and employees have come to grips with the ‘new normal’ business environment,” said Mike Distefano, Korn/Ferry senior vice president and chief marketing officer.  “In the midst of this prolonged tenuous economic environment, companies are embracing opportunities to increase morale and express appreciation to their colleagues for what they have accomplished during these challenging times.”

Bonus Expectations Mild, Demands High

While spending increases on business-related gifts, bonus expectations are mild.  Fifty-one percent of executives say they anticipate bonuses that are the same bonus level as last year and 12 percent expect bonuses somewhat less than last year.  Only 4 percent expect a bonus significantly less than last year.

And if expectations are not met, employers may see a lump of coal in their stockings.  A resounding 43 percent of executives said they would leave or consider leaving their employer if they were not satisfied with their bonus.

When asked to clarify their expectations, of those executives receiving a bonus this year, 51 percent said they expect to receive bonus compensation that is 25 percent or more of their base salary.  Twenty-six percent of those surveyed expect a bonus in the range of 15 to 24 percent of their base salary and 23 percent expect a bonus of one to 14 percent of their base salary.

Low Job Satisfaction, Labor Market Uncertainty 

Rating their level of job satisfaction heading into the new year, an emphatic 40 percent of executives said they were not satisfied, while 60 percent were either somewhat satisfied or extremely satisfied.

Executives are mixed when it comes to evaluating the prospects for hiring in North America and Europe in the coming year.  While 39 percent foresee increased hiring from 2011, 24 percent envision less hiring than 2011.  Twenty-five percent of respondents expect the same hiring as this year, while only four percent see robust hiring.

Executives also do not see eye to eye on what role the political landscape will play for jobs in 2012.  While 44 percent say the 2012 U.S. election will have a positive impact on the labor market, an equally adamant 40 percent of executives indicate that the election will have little to no impact.  Sixteen percent of those surveyed say the election will have a negative impact.

Methodology

The Korn/Ferry Institute Executive Quiz survey is based on a global survey of executives registered within the firm’s online Executive Center, ekornferry.com. Respondents from more than 60 countries, representing a wide spectrum of industries and functional areas, participated in the most recent Executive Survey in November and December 2011.

About The Korn/Ferry Institute

The Korn/Ferry Institute generates forward-thinking research and viewpoints that illuminate how talent advances business strategy. Since its founding in 2008, the institute has published scores of articles, studies and books that explore global best practices in organizational leadership and human capital development. For more information, visit www.kornferryinstitute.com.

About Korn/Ferry International

Korn/Ferry International, with a presence throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, is a premier global provider of talent management solutions. Based in Los Angeles, the firm delivers an array of solutions that help clients to attract, deploy, develop and reward their talent. Visit www.kornferry.com for more information on the Korn/Ferry International family of companies, and www.kornferryinstitute.com for thought leadership, intellectual property and research.

New York  (Profitable.com)  Mobile Data Providers face the challenge of delivering greater broadband width to users of smart phones while ensuring that the increase in data traffic means an increase in profit and revenues.  With unlimited data plans getting thrown out, the key challenge in the future is how providers will charge customers for data usage.  Connected Business Research, in partnership with Penton’s Connected Planet, Cloud IT Pro and Mobile Dev Pro, surveyed more than 300 mobile operators on mobile data usage billing, and put the findings in an in-depth report.  The report concludes that usage-based billing is the favored method across operators of all sizes, and that a super-majority of operators expect to make changes to billing plans in 2012.

In this report, readers will learn not only how operators are currently charging for data usage, but also what their preferred methods of billing for data are likely to be in the future, along with critical information on preferred plans, spectrum availability, and choice of network technologies.  Sam Masud, a senior analyst for Connected Business Research explains, “This report provides key insight into the future of mobile data billing, something all players in the mobile ecosystem are interested in given the current state of the industry.”

Connected Business Research is committed to providing the best research services and assistance in navigating the advanced telecom industry, their findings from the Mobile Data Usage Billing Trends Survey does just that.  The study shows that many mobile operators would prefer to charge users on tiered usage plans, that many operators are considering changes to billing plans in 2012 and where these changes might take place in data usage billing.

Some other key findings:

• Factors such as network technology or spectrum do not have much impact on operators’ desire to change billing plans.
• Smaller operators don’t lag too far behind big operators in offering multi-device data plans for individuals or families.
• When it comes to changing billing plans, technology readiness/cost and regulatory considerations are much less important than market perception and competitive considerations.

For more information or to purchase this in-depth report today, visit http://preview.connectedplanetonline.com/research/reports/mobiledatabilling/index.html

For more information, contact:
Rich Karpinski
Rich.karpinski@penton.com
(312) 840-8450

About Penton Media

As a leading, independent, business-to-business media company, Penton knows business and how to create and disseminate vital content that moves markets. Penton is where professionals turn to gain the critical insight, expert analysis and relevant connections needed to compete and succeed. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its co-investors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com.

New York and Secaucus, NJ  (Profitable.com)  The winners of the 2011 Greatness in Baseball Yearly (GIBBY) Awards have been unveiled on MLB Network and MLB.com during a show hosted by MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger and Mitch Williams. David Freese of the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals was the only multiple award winner, as he earned Postseason MVP and top Postseason Moment for his dramatic game-tying, ninth-inning triple in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series.

In addition to the Cardinals, four other Clubs claimed multiple GIBBY winners, including the Arizona Diamondbacks (Kirk Gibson, Manager of the Year; Ian Kennedy, Breakout Player of the Year); Detroit Tigers (Justin Verlander, Starting Pitcher of the Year; Jose Valverde, Closer of the Year); New York Yankees (David Robertson, Setup Man of the Year; Robinson Cano, Wow Factor of the Year; Derek Jeter, Performance of the Year); and Tampa Bay Rays (Dan Johnson, Moment of the Year; Evan Longoria, Walk-Off of the Year).

This year’s winners of the GIBBY Awards – the ultimate trophies honoring the best players and must-see moments from the 2011 Major League Baseball season – were determined through a comprehensive six-week voting process (Oct. 29-Dec. 4) that included national and local media members, Major League Club front office personnel, former Major League players and online fan balloting at MLB.com. Over the past four seasons, fans have cast more than 40 million online votes for the 19 categories, none of which were restricted to individual League affiliation. A complete list of 2011 winners and highlights can be found at MLB.com/GIBBYs.

QUOTES FROM THE 2011 GIBBY AWARDS SHOW

GIBSON – “I’d like to thank all the fans and everybody who voted for me for Manager of the Year. It’s an exceptional honor for me, being a rookie manager. … It’s exemplary of why we all get up and play the game hard with dedication, and do it the right way every day.”

KENNEDY – “I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me for this award. It’s an honor. Every one of those guys is deserving and had great years. I’d like to thank my teammates for putting me in this position to win this award.”

JOHN MOZELIAK (Executive of the Year) – “I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me on this award. It’s a great honor, and I take a lot of pride in being recognized in this. … There are so many great people who work in our front office who deserve credit for this award. I’m honored and humbled by this. I also want to recognize our ownership that gives us so much support throughout the year.”

BEN REVERE (Play of the Year) – “I just want to say thank you to the fans who voted for me, to the Minnesota Twins faithful, and to MLB.com and MLB Network for allowing me to accept this honor.”

ROBERTSON – “This is a huge honor. This is one of those things I didn’t expect to win.”

First-Ever Collaborative Online Network for Restaurants and Their Vendors

Minneapolis, MN (Profitable.com) Nitch, an online collaborative platform that allows restaurants to collaborate as well as the ability to find and manage vendors, launched last week. The free platform allows restaurants to exchange industry-specific information in order to collaborate and learn from one another’s experiences.

“Facebook builds communities of friends online,” says Nitch founder Michael Noble. “In a similar way, we are grouping together Restaurants with one another to give them a single location to manage their vendors, source new ones, engage in e-commerce, save money on deal offers, find software to run their business and more.”

The platform is designed to be intuitive and easy to use.

“To create a bidding opportunity to source a new product or service, it is as simple as filling out two fields,” says Noble. “Vendors automatically get your email and can respond to the bid opportunity. Most restaurant owners and managers don’t have the time to call vendors and get multiple bids and offers. With Nitch, restaurants save time and money using our platform.”

Restaurants can build out their “Vendor Pods” on Nitch to carve out their vendor communication from their normal inbox, view vendor twitter feeds and see specials and deals. Vendors can also be reviewed by other businesses.

“Our goal is to help independent businesses save money and to give B2B vendors the ability to be more targeted in their marketing activities,” says Noble. “We’re excited about what we’re doing and believe we can truly build a platform to help small business owners thrive.

Nitch is free to join. Go to www.nitch.biz to learn more.

Contact

Michael Noble
45 University Ave SE, #705
Minneapolis, MN 55414
mnoble@nitch.biz
952.657.4743

Restaurant Marketing Tips for the Holiday Season

(Profitable.com)  The holiday season is the perfect time of year to promote your restaurant.  Shoppers are hungry for holiday deals and special dining experiences.  An online press release can be an affordable, effective restaurant marketing tool for owners and operators this time of year.

Here are some ideas that can help your restaurant make the most of the holidays with an online press release:

Community Involvement – Are you working in the community to make the season brighter for others?  If you’re collecting food or toys for those in need, donating time or resources to local charitable events or working a fundraiser, those are all noble and newsworthy events.

Holiday Promotions – Holiday shoppers are hungry for a great meal and deal.  If you’re preparing a special holiday menu, or running a limited time offer, let current and potential guests know about it.  This is also a good opportunity to remind people of your holiday hours.

New Products – Deep fried turkeys, party platters, eggnog shakes, pumpkin pies and other holiday treats are all the rage this time of year.  Tempt their taste buds with a mouthwatering press release.

Catering Options – Catering can be an excellent sales and profit builder.  Although feeling the economic pinch, many large companies and small businesses are still spending money to show appreciation for their staffs as the year winds down.

Gift Cards – One of the most popular gift items during past holiday seasons has been restaurant gift cards, and even more of them are expected to be sold this year.  The National Restaurant Association reports that 78 percent of adults say they would like to receive restaurant gift cards or certificates on gift occasions.  Your restaurant’s gift cards should be a press release priority.

Social Media Festivities -  Facebook, Twitter and other online networking sites should, of course, play a part in your overall restaurant marketing strategy.  During the holidays, however, you have the opportunity to provide interactive holiday fun with online contests and promotions.

RestaurantNews.com’s online press release service offers an affordable restaurant marketing solution for owners and operators.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.restaurantnews.com/press-release/

For daily restaurant news updates, subscribe to the RestaurantNews.com email newsletter at http://www.restaurantnews.com/subscribe/.

About RestaurantNews.com

RestaurantNews.com has been providing the latest online restaurant news for over twelve years.  RestaurantNews.com offers press release services and exposure for restaurant owners and operators looking to grow their restaurants.  For diners, RestaurantNews.com offers current and upcoming restaurant deals, specials and promotions.

Chicago, IL  (Profitable.com)  Consumers are quickly becoming fed up with banking fees. If your financial institution began charging $2/month for the convenience of having a debit card with your checking account, what would you do? Recent research from Mintel Comperemedia found that only 19% of consumers would pay the fee and continue to use the card, while 56% said they would use another payment method instead.

Not surprisingly, consumer sentiment about bank fees doesn’t seem to be subsiding. Almost a quarter of those surveyed (24%) reported that they would switch banks over a $2/month fee. Moreover, 29% of individuals surveyed for a separate study said they had heard of Bank Transfer Day that took place November 5th, 13% actually transferred banks and 8% planned to do so.

“Banks moved customers into new services like debit cards and online banking because they were cheaper and more profitable than cash and checks,” says Susan Wolfe, vice president of financial services at Mintel Comperemedia. “They can’t now backtrack and charge consumers for things they’ve been offering for years at no additional cost.”

It seems banks aren’t getting the hint, as the incidence of free checking accounts has plummeted in recent years. In Q3 2007, 75% of checking acquisition offers mentioned free checking. For the same period in 2011, that number dropped to 29%.

“It’s clearly been a tough year for banks, but the answer doesn’t lie in charging customers for things that the bank wants them to do anyway—like using their debit card,” adds Susan Wolfe. “A better idea would be offering new products and services they wouldn’t mind paying extra for: personal financial management tools, coupons and discounts offered through the online banking system, these are untapped markets that customers would respond to, and wouldn’t mind being charged for.”

Hear more from Susan Wolfe on this topic here.

About Mintel Comperemedia

Mintel Comperemedia provides competitive intelligence for businesses looking to advance and improve their direct marketing strategy. Tracking direct marketing (including mail, email and print advertising) targeted at consumers, small businesses and insurance agents, Mintel Comperemedia offers a unique perspective on everything from banking trends to insurance trends to credit card statistics. For nearly 40 years, Mintel has provided insight into key worldwide trends, leading the industry for consumer, product and media intelligence.

Follow Mintel on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mintelnews

New York  (Profitable.com)  Radio delivers more than 93 percent of its lead-in audience during the average commercial break, according to a new study of radio ratings data and commercial occurrence data conducted by Arbitron, Media Monitors and Coleman Insights.

What Happens When the Spots Come On: 2011 Edition is a comprehensive update of a landmark 2006 study on the radio audience behavior during commercial breaks. Both studies took advantage of the increased precision of passive electronic measurement, both for radio audiences and for commercial occurrences.

The 2011 study of minute-by-minute audience levels across 48 top radio markets again demonstrates that radio maintains its audience delivery during commercial breaks, contrary to the common misperception among advertisers, agencies and even radio executives that audiences during commercial breaks are a fraction of the numbers that were listening to the station just before the commercials began.

For the 2011 study, Arbitron, Media Monitors and Coleman Insights analyzed 18 million commercial breaks, 62 million minutes of commercials and 866 stations for a year of audience data from all 48 PPM markets to compare the audience level for each minute of a commercial break to the audience for the minute before the commercials began.

Key findings of the 2011 study include:

• One to three-minute commercial breaks deliver radio audiences levels that are practically the same as the lead-in audience. The average minute audience during one-minute breaks is equal to the lead-in audience for that break; two-minute breaks deliver 99 percent of their lead-in average minute audiences; and three-minute breaks deliver 96 percent of their lead-in audience levels.
• Longer spot breaks of four to six minutes-plus delivered an average minute audience that was nearly 90 percent of the lead-in audience. Four-minute breaks delivered 92 percent of the lead-in audience; five-minute breaks delivered 87 percent.  Even spot breaks of six minutes or longer delivered an average minute audience that was 85 percent of the audience level before the commercials began.
• Commercial breaks in morning drive deliver 97 percent of their lead-in audience, on average. The higher percentage during mornings is driven by shorter commercial breaks during morning compared with other time periods and the higher number of people who are first tuning into radio early in the day than those who tune out.
• Among teens and persons aged 18 to 24, radio delivers nearly 90 percent of its lead-in audience during commercial breaks.  Among people age 65 and older, radio delivers 98 percent of the lead-in audience once the commercials come on.

New findings unique to the more comprehensive 2011 study include:

• There is little difference by market in terms of the average audience delivery during commercial breaks. Of the 48 markets studied, three markets with the highest percentage delivered an average of 95 percent of their lead-in audience levels during commercial breaks and the three markets with the smallest percentage delivered an average of 91 percent of their lead-in audience levels.
• Audience delivery during commercial breaks was consistent throughout the year.  Radio commercial breaks delivered between 93 percent and 94 percent of lead-in audience levels during each month of the year.

These findings stand in stark contrast to the perceptions of the advertiser/agency industry and even of radio broadcasters about the impact of commercials on the radio audience. In a web poll conducted by Arbitron and Coleman Insights, people identifying themselves as members of the advertiser/agency industry (362 responses) said that, on average, the size of the audience during a radio commercial break is only 68 percent of the size of the audience before the commercial began. On average, respondents identifying themselves as members of the radio industry (1,178 responses) believe radio holds only 78 percent of the audience during commercials.

“Radio does a remarkable job of maintaining its audience delivery when the commercials come on,” said Bill Rose, senior vice president, Marketing, Arbitron Inc. “Now that the Portable People Meter service can track radio audiences across 48 top markets, we can now demonstrate how radio constantly replenishes its audience with new listeners during commercial breaks. Today we know that the medium can deliver an average of 93 percent of its lead-in audience levels on a consistent basis, no matter the market, the daypart or the time of year.”

“The incredible ability of radio stations to deliver audiences during commercial breaks suggests that programmers should not obsess over their stations’ spot placement strategies,” said Warren Kurtzman, president and chief operating officer, Coleman Insights.  “There is no doubt that running excessive commercial inventory can undermine a station’s brand and hurt its long-term performance, but we see very little evidence that commercials cause nearly as much audience tune-out in the short term as many radio industry professionals believe.”

“Our Media Monitors technical team did an amazing job of computing a massive full year of spot break information on US radio. To our knowledge, this is the first study of this magnitude ever done. We’re thrilled to continue writing the book on audience behavior for Radio,” said Philippe Generali, president, Media Monitors.

Free copies of the full report detailing the study’s findings and implications are available at http://www.arbitron.com/study/spot_study.asp, www.colemaninsights.com and http://www.mediamonitors.com

How the study was conducted

This study looks at the 866 radio stations measured by Media Monitors and Arbitron across all 48 Portable People Meter-measured radio markets in the United States during the months of October 2010 through September 2011.  All told, the study analyzed 17,896,325 unique commercial breaks involving 61,902,473 minutes of advertising.

The study analyzed ratings data from Arbitron’s Portable People Meter service to determine the audience during each of these nearly 18 million commercial breaks, ranging in length from one minute to six minutes and longer. The audience for the minute prior to the start of each break (the “lead-in audience”) was compared to the average minute audience during each commercial break.

About Coleman Insights

Coleman Insights, headquartered in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, with offices in Philadelphia and Hamburg, Germany, is a firm that has helped media properties build strong brands and develop great content since 1978. Its clients include hundreds of media properties in North America, South America, Europe and Asia, including those owned by CBS Corporation, Sony Corporation, Emmis Communications, The Walt Disney Company, Lincoln Financial Media, Clear Channel Communications, EMI, Radio One, Warner Music Group, NPR, Astral Media, Bonneville International Corporation, Vivendi SA, Citadel Communications, Grupo Radio Centro, Sandusky Radio, Lagardere International, Beasley Broadcast Group, Grupo Prisa, Mid-West Family Broadcast Group, Salem Communications, The Mondadori Group, Connoisseur Media, Corporacion Radial del Peru, South Central Communications, SBS Broadcasting, Townsquare Media, Maverick Media and Hubbard Broadcasting. Additional information about Coleman Insights is available at www.ColemanInsights.com.

About Media Monitors, LLC

Media Monitors is the nation’s leading broadcast monitoring and verification service for broadcasters, print media, media investment companies and advertising agencies. Media Monitors is a subsidiary of RCS, the world’s largest provider of broadcast and webcast software. Media Monitors and its logo are registered trademarks of Media Monitors. The Media Monitors broadcast content recognition process of audio fingerprinting used by Media Monitors is protected by U.S. Patent 5,437,050. For more information, visit www.mediamonitors.com.

About Arbitron

Arbitron Inc. (NYSE: ARB) is an international media and marketing research firm serving the media–radio, television, cable and out-of-home; the mobile industry as well as advertising agencies and advertisers around the world. Arbitron’s businesses include: measuring network and local market radio audiences across the United States; surveying the retail, media and product patterns of U.S. consumers; providing mobile audience measurement and analytics in the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia, and developing application software used for analyzing media audience and marketing information data. The Company has developed the Portable People Meter™ (PPM™ ) and the PPM 360™, new technologies for media and marketing research.

Portable People Meter™, PPM™ and PPM 360™ are marks of Arbitron Inc.

PPM ratings are based on audience estimates and are the opinion of Arbitron and should not be relied on for precise accuracy or precise representativeness of a demographic or radio market.

Yonkers, NY  (Profitable.com)  Toy tablets, like their adult-oriented counterparts, figure to be a popular gift item this holiday season. Fourteen percent of Americans plan to give a LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet ($100) as a present, according to a recent Consumer Reports poll. In addition to the LeapPad, Consumer Reports tested three other tablet-like toys: the Fisher Price iXL 6-in-1 Learning System ($80), and the Vtech InnoTab Interactive Learning Tablet ($80). CR also tested the Vinci Tab ($480), an Android tablet that’s geared toward kids. The full report is available for free online at http://www.ConsumerReports.org.

“Toy tablets don’t have all the bells and whistles that standard tablets do, but their learning apps and kid-friendly content make them ideal for children,” said Paul Reynolds, electronics editor, Consumer Reports.

The tablets were tested both in the Consumer Reports lab to see how well they performed, and by children within the manufacturer-recommended age ranges to see how much kids liked them. Each table features a color touchscreen display, at least a few preloaded learning games and apps, and the ability to connect to a PC for new content downloads and software upgrades. All except the rechargeable Vinci Tab are powered by AA batteries.

The LeapFrog LeapPad was the most fun overall, as judged by Consumer Reports’ kid panelists. Eight in 10 children said that they would like to own it. The Fisher Price iXL was popular with younger kids and had the longest battery life in lab testing; as for the Vtech InnoTab, the kid testers thought its games were the most fun.  The Vinci Tab had the best display and touch-screen interface of the toy tablets, but was otherwise not a standout performer in lab tests and it costs much more than the other tested tablets.

For more information on electronics for kids and for buying advice and Ratings of regular tablets, please visit www.ConsumerReports.org.

Consumer Reports is the world’s largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center,  the  nonprofit  rates  thousands  of  products  and  services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website and other publications.   Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.

DECEMBER 2012

The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves.  We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports®, ConsumerReports.org® and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent commercial use of its materials, its name, or the name of Consumer Reports®.

San Francisco, CA  (Profitable.com)  Speech with Milo apps have been enormously poplular since they were created one year ago by the innovative Speech-Language Pathologist, Poorani Doonan. She originally created the apps after using the iPad in therapy and realizing that there was a need for an app to build basic language skills. Getting to 50,000 apps sold was never a goal that Poorani thought she could achieve- she just wanted to create a useful app for kids getting speech therapy.

The Speech with Milo apps have been well-received by critics and reviewers, as they were selected as Best in Education by the Mobile Premier Awards and as #2 in Educational Apps by Babble.com. Poorani, however, attributes Speech with Milo’s success to the parents, teachers and SLP’s that have so enthusiastically supported Milo and friends. “The response never ceases to amaze me,” says Poorani.

Speech with Milo does not appear to be done changing the face of Speech Therapy. They just released an update to the Prepositions which includes ‘Therapy Ideas’ integrated into the tool. “Therapy Ideas was something that I originally started on our Facebook page because I wanted to provide people with useful tips three times a week. It was a natural fit to add it to the app. Now, anybody with our app can scroll through a bunch of good tips to use at home or in school. It will be in all our apps going forward.”

Speech with Milo also continues to stay busy on the development front as they are currently working on an Android version of Verbs. They also plan to release a brand new app on the iPad in December. Poorani declined to comment on the new app, saying only that she wants it to be a surprise.

The innovation is nothing new, but Poorani never thought that the apps would see such success. “I remember one of our first reviews was by AutismEpicenter.com. I was so surprised that we were reviewed in such a great blog. It made me confident that we could build great apps at low prices, and people would find them. Soon we had these amazing sites saying great things about our apps. There are too many to mention, but sites like the iPhoneMom.com were so happy with our apps that we decided to make more.” Recently, sites focused on SLP’s have detailed how they use Speech with Milo. “SpeechLanguageNeighborhood.com does an amazing job explaining how our app and others are used in therapy.” Poorani has also created her own videos for speech therapy apps explaining how she uses Milo in her private practice.

Poorani is very grateful for the support that Speech with Milo has received from parents, teachers, SLP’s and reviewers. “Emails that say ‘We love Milo’ are the greatest motivator we have. We hope to create many more.”

Speech with Milo offers six speech therapy apps. They offer english versions of Verbs, Prepositions, Sequencing, Interactive Storybook. Also offered are Verbs and Prepositions in Spanish.

Dallas, TX  (Profitable.com)  La Quinta Inns & Suites announces the appointment of Edgar Garin, as Director of Franchise Development for Central and South America. Garin brings more than 25 years of hospitality management and sales experience to La Quinta. He most recently served as Vice President of Development for Radisson Hotels & Resorts Latin America. He will report to David Wilner, La Quinta’s Senior Vice President of Development.

“We are pleased to welcome Edgar Garin to our management team for Central and South America,” said Rajiv Trivedi, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer for La Quinta. “This announcement represents another critical building block in our drive to accelerate La Quinta’s growth throughout Latin America and Central America.” He concluded, “As La Quinta grows and expands internationally, we continue to stay focused on providing travelers with consistent quality, reliable service, comfortable and spacious rooms and secure facilities. We are proud to continue our growth, and look forward to making some significant additional announcements in the coming weeks.”

La Quinta currently has hotels open in the key Mexico markets of Cancun; San Luis Potosi; Ciudad Juarez, Poza Rica and, soon to open, in Pueblo. The brand has an additional 25 hotels in the development pipeline in Latin America, expects to more than triple its presence in Mexico in the next six to twelve months and is working closely with developers in Brazil and Columbia to introduce La Quinta in those countries. La Quinta has dedicated Franchise Development and Services offices in Mexico.

Edgar Garin said, “I am excited and happy to assume my new responsibilities at La Quinta.” He concluded, “This is a dynamic and promising moment to join the La Quinta development team – and I look forward to helping promote and accelerate the brand’s growth in Central America and South America, very quickly.”

In addition to his most recent position at Radisson, Garin has held management positions at Lexington Services/Vantis International/TravelClick; Carnival Hotels & Resorts; and at Taj Hotels, Potomac Hotel Group and Sonesta International. Garin holds a B.S. from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and a Master’s degree in International Business from Florida International University. He resides in Miami Beach, Florida and can be contacted at (305) 790-7395 or edward.garin(at)laquinta(dot)com.

About La Quinta

LQ Management L.L.C. is one of the largest operators of limited-service hotels in the United States. Based in Dallas, Texas, the Company operates and provides franchise services to more than 800 hotels in 46 states, Canada and Mexico under the La Quinta Inn® and La Quinta Inn & Suites® brands. For reservations or more information about La Quinta, please visit http://www.LQ.com or call 1-800-SLEEPLQ.    Follow La Quinta Inns & Suites on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LQ or become a Facebook fan at http://www.facebook.com/laquinta.

Los Angeles, CA  (Profitable.com)  ExploreTalent, a premier online social-network for industry insiders, announced today that the company has reach to a total of six and a half million members. Explore Talent is a professional site that connects actors, models, musicians and dancers in the United States. The online community has been responsible for new collaborations and business ventures in entertainment because of their vast lists of casting calls and auditions. Explore Talent is responsible for countless models and actors getting acting jobs and modeling jobs. Explore Talent also helps aspiring entertainment professionals further their careers with contests that showcase their profiles to members of the social media community. Furthermore, the Explore Talent site features celebrity videos, exclusive interviews with actors, actresses, and musicians, such as Akon and T-Pain.

After just announcing that Explore Talent reached 6,391,000 members last week, the count has now jumped to 6.5 million. Anyone in the entertainment industry can create a profile on the site where they can showcase their photos, videos, songs, etc., to showcase their talent.

“We are overjoyed that more and more people are finding out site,” said Daniel Jackson, Marketing Director of Explore Talent. “We hope that our members will be able to network with each other, and find their niche in the entertainment world.”

Explore Talent’s proprietary software and vast infrastructure is the most advanced entertainment-based technology of its kind. The site’s popularity is based on the fact that there are many ways for talent to network, make friends and connect with other industry players, participate in wide variety of contests and earn prizes for being active on the site. The easy access to a pool of six million members attracts industry players who are posting every month about 50,000 new auditions and job openings which is 30 times more than any other site.

For more information on Explore Talent, go to http://www.ExploreTalent.com.

Flipper Universal Big Button Remote Serves Millions of TV-Watching Seniors

Los Angeles, CA  (Profitable.com)  Flipper Remote, a company providing an innovative elderly TV remote control for seniors and others with low vision, dementia and other conditions, has launched its new website and is helping people find the perfect gift for the elderly loved ones in their lives.

The simple remote control, which features a functional design and large buttons, makes it easier for users to control their TV, cable and digital TV devices. It is universal and compatible with all major brands.

“This holiday season, give the senior citizen in your life the gift of ease and convenience with our highly functional, giant remote control,” said Dan Pitkow, Founder of Flipper Remote. “With only six buttons, this remote allows people to operate their TV sets more easily and helps them stay connected to the world.”

The Flipper big button remote control is extremely easy to setup and use, and comes preset to standard Motorola cable boxes. The on/off button on the senior remote control works the TV and top-box with its One Touch capabilities, and the channel buttons then work the top-box and the volume buttons control the volume on the TV set. There is also a proprietary Favorite Channel feature, which allows users to program up to 30 of their favorite channels for easy flipping, eliminating channel overload.

The average person over 65 years old watches about 200 hours of TV per month, which is the most of any age demographic. At a time where a majority of advertising is geared toward younger people, it seems like this very large segment of the population sometimes gets ignored.

“It’s important not to underestimate the importance of television in care giving, as it often is the vital link for seniors to the outside world,” said Pitkow. “With our large button remote control, we’re making it easier for elderly people to watch and enjoy TV. This gives them peace of mind and can bring up positive memories, as well as allow them to stay informed with news and other current events.”

In addition, the parental controls on the remote make it safe for kids. There is also locking setup that is designed to prevent channel reprogramming by accident.

The elder remote control from Flipper Remote uses two AAA batteries (not included) and comes in frustration-free clamshell packaging. It helps to foster independence, reducing care giver time. To learn more, visit http://www.flipperremote.com.

For a limited time, get free shipping by entering the promo code FREESHIP9.

Port Washington, NY  (Profitable.com)  According to beauty market research conducted by The NPD Group, Inc., a leading market research company, during the first 10 months of 2011, (January to October), total prestige makeup dollar sales in U.S. department stores were $2.8 million, an increase of eight percent in dollars, compared to the same time last year. Units grew five percent with almost 117 million units sold. October was the tenth month of dollar growth and the ninth month of unit growth for the year.

In the first 10 months of the year, all prestige makeup segments saw dollar growth: Total Nail, up 59%; Total Eye and All Other Color, each up 10%; Total Sets, up 9%; Total Lip, up 8%; and Total Face, up 7%.

The big winners in the Face segment were concealer and foundation, while Eyes showed dramatic increases in the eye shadow, eye brow, and mascara categories. In Lip, it was lip color that stole the dollars away from lip gloss and liner (each declining -1% in sales). Lip color outperformed the category’s dollar performance of 8 percent, with an increase of 12 percent. The Nail segment was a winner all around, showing 50+ dollar increases for both nail enamel and top/base coats.

In addition, eye shadow palette sales came on strong, with the trend of dramatic eyes this season. In the first 10 months, eye shadow consisting of five or more palettes grew triple digits in dollar sales, compared to the same time last year. Quad palettes grew double-digits.

“In makeup, while neutral tones and face products led in the past, across countries we see strong gains in color categories of lip and nail color and a new focus on eye shadow and eye definition with growth in eye pencil and brow products,” said Karen Grant, vice president and senior global industry analyst, The NPD Group, Inc. “In makeup, the joy of color is seen with more than half of the top 25 new products (and 7 of the top 10) being from an eye or lip category.”

About The NPD Group, Inc.

The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,800 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. For more information, contact us, visit http://www.npd.com/, or follow us Twitter at https://twitter.com/npdgroup.