Green Business Marketing

Web services and internet consulting for small business and Nonprofits by Kahl Consultants

2012-02-22T19:19:00.001-08:00

For your small business and nonprofit internet marketing services you can trust Kahl Consultants.

Kahl Consultants consists of an experienced team of web designers, programmers, internet consultants and online marketers. Our team is creative, professional, and environmental. We are a solar powered certified green business serving small business and nonprofit clients.

Based in San Rafael, CA (near San Francisco), we service hundreds of satisfied customers in the San Francisco Bay Area, Marin County and Sonoma County, as well as our national and international clients.

Complete Online Marketing

Not only do we design, program, host and market websites, but we also develop e-commerce shopping carts, manage email newsletter campaigns, build and maintain your blogs and social media sites (such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn).

Our Internet Services include:

• Full spectrum of Small Business Web Services

• Website Design and redesign

• Web Hosting

• Web Site Maintenance

• Internet Consulting and Training

• Content Management Systems (CMS) / Website redesign

• Search Engine Optimization and Marketing (SEO / SEM)

• E-Commerce Shopping Cart Development and Hosting

• Email Marketing

• Blogs and Social Media

As internet consultants we provide our services to a wide variety of small business and nonprofit clients from many industries including:

• Professional and tech firms

• Environmental and energy firms

• Sole proprietors

• Non-profits and NGOs

• Social and environmental groups

• Health and Wellness

• Green products and green services

• Other small business websites

ABOUT KAHL CONSULTANTS

Trust Kahl Consultants for all your small business and nonprofit internet services, from website design to web hosting and online marketing.

Since 1996 our team of web designers, programmers, internet consultants and online marketers has been developing and maintaining the online presence for hundreds of clients.

We are an environmentally friendly business founded and operated by Alex Kahl. To show that we walk the walk we are certified green and are an approved member of the Green America Business Network, the Bay Area Green Business Network, and a Marin County Sustainable Partner.

We are also proud to be solar powered and are constantly investing in becoming more environmentally friendly and energy efficient. We also help our clients to be environmentally conscious as well. Our team serves small business and nonprofit clients worldwide.

Our mission is to help small business and nonprofits with appropriate online technology in order to establish and maintain an online presence and an online marketing campaign in an environmentally and socially conscious manner.

Our internet consulting company is based in the San Francisco Bay Area in San Rafael, California, USA, where we have satisfied hundreds of customers. Many of our clients are based in the San Francisco Bay Area, especially in the North Bay in Marin County and Sonoma County. We also work with companies and nonprofits nationally and internationally.

Kahl Consultants specializes in providing a full spectrum of environmentally friendly web services to small businesses and nonprofits. From website development to online marketing strategies, we have completed over 500 contracts worldwide for customers from almost every industry, including many professionals, green businesses, energy and environmental firms, social organizations, non-profits and NGOs. Select nonprofit customers benefit from our pro bono and reduced rate nonprofit work, one of many ways in which we support environmental and social nonprofits.

Visit http://www.kahl.net for more information about Kahl Consultants web services. Call us at 415-499-0838.

Contra Costa County Climate Leaders - a Network assisting Contra Costa County and 19 Cities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

2012-02-16T01:14:00.001-08:00

Planning for our Future

The Contra Costa County Climate Leaders (4CL) Program is a network assisting the Contra Costa county and its 19 cities to inform, support and encourage the measurement and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Through education and sharing of best practices we will ensure sustainable, healthy and livable cities.

The 4CL network uses a three pronged multi-media approach that provides encouraging reminders and easy access to the tools necessary to ensure the county’s decision makers are well informed, educated and receive copies of best practices.

We provide city leaders with a monthly newsletter, quarterly workshops, and a website portal for sharing activities. This multi-media approach will ensure that best practices are at the forefront of day-to-day discussion–and that they are shared, supported, and implemented into policies that reduce Greenhouse gas emissions in Contra Costa County.

Who We Are

The mission of the Contra Costa County Climate Leaders Program (4CL) is to help cities take action and reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in Contra Costa County (CCC). To facilitate regional action, we monitor activities, provide free resources and tools and a multimedia communications strategy that ensures best practices are shared and implemented. Joined by elected officials, paid staff, volunteer advocates and grassroots organizations, we are ALL climate leaders in CCC.

Contra Costa County Cities are working together to address the issues associated with global climate change and 4CL is working to help track and share local government successes. Our summary matrix provides a great snapshot of individual progress, and each city page contains a summary of that city’s local policies and actions towards a more sustainable community.

Local Governments are taking the lead to address key policies issues to create sustainable communities and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To facilitate, track and measure regional action, 4CL provides cities with fact sheets on important key issues. Included in these fact sheets are the Who, What, Where and How, with direct links to other city policies to help facilitate the sharing of best practices. We also provide a discussion forum and encourage you to comment and share additional links and resources!

4CL ISSUES

Implement a Precautionary Principle

The Precautionary Principle is a framework for decision-making that anticipates how actions will affect the environment and health of future generations. When it is apparent that an activity is a potential threat to the environment or human health, full scientific certainty is not necessary to initiate precautionary action. Precautionary decision making is based on thorough examination of alternatives, transparency, community participation, and prevention of harm. It is not a ban on products or practices.

Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.

A Precautionary Principle is necessary to reduce continued harm from the effects of careless human activity before effect before the results are irreversible. Some frequently asked questions put together by the Science and Environmental Health Network describes several points as to why

Environmental Policies don’t always sufficiently prevent human and environmental harm. The study “Late Lessons from Early Warnings: The Precautionary Principle 1896-2000″ describes one-hundred-year history of policies repeatedly failing to protect human health and the environment.

Protecting Creeks in Contra Costa County

Each year, cities have the choice between using gallons of pesticides or using environmentally friendly methods of weed and pest control. They can enforce more stringent policies regarding new developments to decrease impermeable surface areas and prevent increased flooding and erosion. Cities have the choice to prevent chemical runoff and pollution in our creeks by a number of ways.

Creeks are an essential ecosystem, especially in the Contra Costa County where our creeks drain to reservoirs and the San Francisco Bay and Delta but many factors affect the decision to protect creeks:

· High property values – creeks are an ideal habitat for many aquatic plants and animals and provide us with a beautiful landscape.

· Creeks are areas of blooming biodiversity and, when properly maintained, serve as a passageway for fish populations to reproduce and feed.

· Water conservation-after creeks are restored, native plants would use half the amount of water that invasive species do.

· A city- run creek restoration committee can provide adequate representation of these vital waterways when new developments or legislature is being considered.

· Green approaches to weed and pest abatement, such as bait and trap methods and aphid use, can often be cost effective in the long run.

· Keeping pesticides away from schools, parks, and workers in charge of their application has many health benefits.

Implementing a Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance

“Paper or Plastic?” How about neither? Consider banning the hard-to-recycle plastic bags within your city. Many cities are considering or have already implemented such ordinances. Businesses are also taking the lead to offer alternatives for purchase. Yet, plastic bags are still being used in abundance. These bags eventually end up in the landfill or polluting our local environment. By creating a plastic bag ban in your city, you can create real change and help the efforts of your local businesses.

Has your city considered a Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance? There are many good reasons to do so:

Plastic bags are designed for one use. Less than 5% of plastic bags are recycled and the process is not cost effective

The solution is quick and easy. Bring your own bag! Many people are already bringing their own bags to stores; many stores are already offering monetary incentives. Encourage the sustainable actions that are already happening in your city by making it a city policy!

More cities are looking into creating ordinances.

Chicken Ordinance

A Chicken Ordinance dictates what your city will allow in regards to egg laying hens as pets. Many residents currently house chickens in their backyard. And many others are thinking about it. Unfortunately, this practice isn’t always legal. It is important to update out of date city ordinances.

Some cities have out of date ordinances that prevent chickens in residential areas, considering them the same as “Farm Animals”, rather than domestic pets. This means that fresh eggs are only allowed in a home that is zoned for horses or ranch animals such as cows. There are Several BENEFITS to having a handful of domestic pet chickens…while still maintaining a strict no rooster policy.

• Organic. Have control over the quality of your own eggs.

• Ensure proper care and diet to limit steroids and chemicals that affect your own health.

• Reduce harmful greenhouse gases, chemicals, and pesticides that result from factory farming.

• Prevent groundwater degradation from the large scale chicken production.

• Use waste products as very high quality fertilizer for personal gardens.

• Pest control by eating aphids and slugs reducing needs for pesticides in your own yard.

• Contribute to the local eating movement

• Contribute to the animal’s rights movement.

Environmental Purchasing Policy (EPP)

An Environmental Purchasing Policy (EPP) is designed to promote the purchase and use of recycled or environmentally preferable products for your city and to encourage partnerships with others who follow the same methods. “Environmentally preferable products” are items that are made in a more sustainable manner and respect human health. EPPs focus on the entire lifespan of a product from materials acquisition, to production and packaging, to disposal. By reducing the impact of an item at any stage, these policies can help save your city money too!

There are several BENEFITS to your city when implementing EPPs:

• Save money through lower upfront costs, lower maintenance costs, reduced replacement costs, and decreased disposal or cleanup costs.

• Decrease the negative health impacts in your community.

• Generate less waste material by reviewing how supplies, materials and equipment are manufactured, purchased, packaged, delivered, used, and disposed. Reduce your landfill contribution.

• Conserve resources through your support of recycled materials.

• Encourage other vendors, contractors, businesses and those that you work with to market and use recycled/recyclable materials as well.

• Serve as an example for other communities to follow- be recognized for your environmentally friendly practices!

For more information about CCC Climate Leaders visit http://www.cccclimateleaders.org

Professional Electrical Services for Residence and Commercial- AMPLEX Electrical and Solar serves Bay Area

2012-01-16T19:23:00.001-08:00

Amplex Electrical, Inc. has provided Bay Area residential and commercial customers with professional electrical services since 1989. With more than 20 years of industry experience, we offer solutions for any project, from residential homes to large commercial buildings and multi-story dwellings. We know what it takes to complete your project on time and on budget.

Over the past 20 years, we’ve customized our services to include:

• New construction, residential and commercial

• Extensions & remodels

• Fire alarm life safety systems

• Voice and data installation and terminations

• Close circuit television and intrusion systems

• Design-build services

• Access control and intercom systems

• Building management systems

• Electrical service upgrades of all sizes

• Building power analysis

• Emergency back-up power generators systems

• Solar photovoltaic systems (residential and commercial)

• Single- to three-phase power converters

AMPLEX SERVICES

SOLAR SERVICES

Amplex Electrical, Inc. can help you harness the sun’s unlimited power to supply energy to your home or business. Solar photovoltaic systems efficiently produce electricity, and can reduce or eliminate your electric bill, saving you thousands of dollars.

Trust Amplex with your next electrical or solar project. You’ll benefit from our decades of experience and cost-effective approach.

A solar PV system is a great investment, it:

• Increases property value by thousands of dollars

• Earns up to 15% return on your investment

• Harnesses the sun’s power 365 days per year

• Qualifies you for local, state, and federal rebates (where available)

• Substantially reduces your carbon footprint

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

Amplex Electrical, Inc. has provided Bay Area residential and commercial customers with electrical services since 1989. Our recent addition of a solar photovoltaic division provides our customers with additional eco-friendly services.

Amplex Electrical, Inc. provides homeowners with the following residential services:

• New and remodel homes

• Electrical main service upgrades

• Hot tubs and pools

• Outdoor landscape lighting

• Grounding and surge protection

• Arc fault and GFI protection

• Home safety inspections

• Smoke and carbon monoxide detector upgrades

• Nob and tube wiring-repair and replacement

• Home power analysis

• Timers, dimmer switches, occupancy sensors and other energy saving devices

COMMERCIAL SERVICES

Amplex Electrical, Inc. provides a variety of electrical services specifically tailored to the commercial industry, including:

• Office dwellings/work stations

• Retail Spaces (restaurants, showrooms, hair salons, coffee shops, among others)

• New electrical three-phase services

• Back-up, three-phase emergency generators

• Single- to three-phase converters (rotary and static)

• Three-phase power analysis

SPECIALIZED SERVICES

At Amplex Electrical, Inc., we pride ourselves on offering all of the expert services a residential or commercial structure would demand. In doing so, we’ve positioned ourselves to be the electrical company that fits all of your project needs.

Fire Alarm Design & Installation – Amplex Electrical, Inc. expertly designs and installs conventional, addressable, and voice evacuation fire alarm systems for commercial projects of all sizes. Through close collaboration with elevator and mechanical contractors, we insure a seamless interface from design through final inspection. We use the following high-quality products: Silent Knight Addressable Control Panels,Silent Knight Modules and Devices, System Sensor Notification Devices, andEdwards Signaling Magnetic Hold Openers.

Voice & Data Systems – When it comes to the voice and data requirements for your new or remodel office project, let your IT person and Amplex Electrical, Inc. work together to simplify the process and reduce sub-contracts.

We install Cat-5 or Cat-6 wiring from the telecom room to the office work stations. At each work station, we install modular wall outlets to accommodate your needs, and then test and label. In the telecom room, we install wire management systems, racks, and patch panels. We punch down all Cat-5 and Cat-6 wires, in either A or B configurations, to accommodate your IT installer.

Amplex also installs telephone and DSL lines and terminate adjacent to patch panels. We take care of your power needs within the telecom room and even size and install your UPS systems. We plan ahead and accommodate your air conditioning needs to insure a stable, safe temperature within the telecom room for your valuable equipment.

We use the following high-quality products: Leviton electric and electronic products, including wall plates and housing network solutions.

Intercoms, Access Control and Close Circuit TV – Trust Amplex Electrical, Inc. to coordinate your intercom, access control, and close circuit TV applications. No project is too big or too small – from single family residences to large buildings with multiple elevators – we can control access to several entrances and floors using state-of-the-art elevator control.

Using proximity cards or fobs with computer-based software, combined with close circuit TV systems offer you limitless possibilities to easily monitor all entrances and unsecured areas. Leave your worries behind with a 24-hour security system.

We use the following high-quality products: DoorKing Access Control Solutions, Sony Broadcast & Production Cameras, ASSA ABLOY Door Opening Solutions, and HID Secure Identity Solutions.

Intercoms, Access Control and Close Circuit TV – TrustAmplex Electrical, Inc. to coordinate your intercom, access control, and close circuit TV applications. No project is too big or too small – from single family residences to large buildings with multiple elevators – we can control access to several entrances and floors using state-of-the-art elevator control.

We use the following high-quality products: DoorKing Access Control Solutions, Sony Broadcast & Production Cameras, ASSA ABLOY Door Opening Solutions, and HID Secure Identity Solutions.

ABOUT US

Amplex Electrical, Inc. has been providing Bay Area customers with electrical contracting services since 1989. Over the years, Amplexhas expanded its services from focusing primarily on new construction and remodel projects to include fire alarm life safety systems, voice and data, CCTV, access control, and intercoms. Most recently, Amplex added a solar photovoltaic division.

Over the past 20 years we have provided our clients’ money-saving design-built services in every aspect of the building industry. Those areas include: power distribution, emergency generation, and fire alarm life safety systems. When you work with Amplex the cost effectively design-build process saves you money and time. Our design-build services set us apart from the rest of the industry.

Our new solar division provides the same quality of service and workmanship and that important personal touch that we have provided for more than 20 years. That’s service you won’t get from the larger national solar companies.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide you with the best possible service, complete each project with pride and leave customers knowing they made the right decision in Amplex Electrical, Inc.

Founder

Patrick Whooley is the founder and president of Amplex Electrical, Inc. Patrick has spent more than 30 years in the electrical business and has run his own company for more than twenty of those years.

A native of Ireland, Patrick received his initial training there. He has also worked in England, Australia and New Zealand. A veteran in all aspects of the industry, Patrick attributes his success to his customer relationships and his steadfast attitude that the quality of the job should never be compromised. He often recites that if the customer isn’t 100% happy, neither is he.

Certifications

We only believe in professional, high-quality service. And we can back up that statement with facts. Amplex Electrical, Inc. is:

Registered California Contractor: C10 866386 Contractor Number

Fully Bonded: SC6079111

Fully Insured: General Liability & Workers Compensation

An Eaton Certified Contractor

Eaton is a nation-wide network of highly qualified certified electricians, incorporating cutting edge tools and technologies with advanced ideals to make your home as safe and functional as possible.

A Certified Solar Installer through Unitech College and the Boots on the Roof program.

A certified Better Business Bureau company with an A+ rating.

For more information about Amplex Electrical & Solar services visit http://www.amplexelectrical.com. Call (415) 892-6501 for free estimate.

Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy for professional adults, educators, medical professionals by Achievement Solutions Hypnotherapy

2012-01-13T00:10:00.001-08:00

Do you have bad habits that leave you feeling trapped?

Do you want to be a non smoker?

Do you feel stressed to the max?

Do you want to gain more confidence?

Hypnotherapy can help if you have answered “yes” to any of these questions. As an extremely effective solution for numerous issues, Hypnotherapy is proved to be a useful tool to stop smoking, achieve your ideal weight, or overcoming phobias, addictions, low self-esteem, insomnia and many other problems. Imagine the sense of pride and satisfaction you would feel as you accomplish your goals and feel in control of your own destiny!

About

Achievement Solutions Hypnotherapy has one mission: to partner with you in order to provide you with self-empowerment tools to help you achieve your goals and have more control over your physical, emotional and spirtual health. As a result YOU help create lasting positive change so you can have the life you dream of.

Dori Strait, Ed.S., School Psychologist, Certified Hypnotherapist, is highly trained in psychology, counseling, and hypnotherapy. She brings more than 13 years of successful experience as a school psychologist in public school systems in Georgia and Tennessee, where she has helped numerous parents, educators and children overcome obstacles to success. She will work with you to help you achieve your dreams to stop smoking, achieve your ideal weight, increase self-confidence, eliminate phobias and unnecessary fears, and change bad habits. Ms. Strait stands behind her work and in her ability to empower people to change their lives for the better. She is certified hypnotherapist who is credentialed by the National Guild of Hypnotists.

Quit Smoking

Sound Familiar?

I can quit any time, but I don’t want to.

I know I should quit smoking, but I enjoy it

My friends all smoke; it’s unfair that I have to quit

It’s my right to smoke.

If I quit smoking, I know I’ll gain weight.

I want to quit, but don’t have the will power.

Have you said any of these things? How often have you tried to quit smoking? Are you frustrated because you cannot stop the cravings and become a nonsmoker? Smoking is one of the toughest addictions to overcome, as tobacco is one of the most addictive substances known to man. The American Council on Science and Health reports that smoking has become the leader in preventable deaths in the United States.

Hypnosis is an effective, safe way to stop smoking. Hypnosis works through suggestion to your subconscious mind, where habits, both good and bad are housed. Through hypnosis the desire to smoke is replaced by healthy alternative behaviors.

Weight Loss

DIETS DON’T WORK

Tired of dieting? We all know that diets don’t work long term. At Achievement Solutions Hypnotherapy, we begin by changing your behavior

The second step is to resolve and reprogram the underlying causes of current eating habits and then reinforce and add new empowering thoughts and behaviors to permanently change the way you eat. Using hypnotherapy we remove the emotional reasons for eating and reinforce new behaviors.

Weight loss sessions are customized to the individual. The diet plan we provide is not just another diet. It is a way to permanently change your habitual ways of interacting with food.

Phobias

DO YOU FEAR SNAKES, SPIDERS, HEIGHTS, OPEN SPACES?

Phobias are very common. One in nine persons have some type of phobia—more than eleven percent of the population. One in twenty has panic attacks at some time in their life, often triggered by a phobia. There is little that conventional medical science can to for phobias, other than prescribing medication.

Hypnosis can in many cases alleviate or eliminate the phobia. I have known clients who have had a fear of flying. In the past they have either avoided flying or gone through agony and a great deal of mental pain when they boarded an aircraft to go on vacation. A number of these persons spent their vacation time in fear of the return trip.

Hypnosis can reverse the fear that caused the phobia through regression therapy to the original event. We use desensitization techniques to dissociate clients from the original trauma.

OTHER PROGRAMS

Addiction :

Millions of people turn to addictions for temporary relief. Are you one? An addiction is a behavior that you consistently give in to, which can bring you more problems than benefits. What is important to understand about addiction is that it is an attempt to fill some sort of emotional need, to fill a void in your life.

Some of the most common addictions today include gambling, exercise, work, extreme sports, computer gaming, and shopping. Although most of these are natural and can be a normal part of your daily life, in excess they can cause you real problems.

To permanently treat addictions, it is very important to first understand the nature of the emotional void you are trying to fill through your addiction. It must be explore and understood, so you can comprehend the root of your addiction. Through hypnotherapy you can establish a firm foundation where recovery begins.

Pain

Do you want to control the pain instead of the pain controlling you?

Hypnosis is extremely effective in alleviating pain and has proven to be possibly the best method for managing acute and chronic pain, without the use of drugs. For example, studies have shown hypnosis to be effective for the relief of pain in pre and post-surgical operations, dental procedures, and in childbirth.

With hypnosis we can communicate with the brain to change the message loops by communicating messages of healing to replace old pain signals.

Proof Hypnosis Affects the Brain

According to Science Daily (April, 2005), brain imaging studies allow a greater understanding of what is happening in the brain when one experiences hypnosis. Sebastian Schulz-Stubner, M.D., author of the study, reported, “…it helps to dispel prejudice about hypnosis as a technique to manage pain because we can show an objective, measurable change in brain activity linked to a reduced perception of pain.” For more information, go to healthcare.com or sciencedaily.com, release date: April 8, 2005.

Stress

FEELING OVERWHELMED?

Are you stressed or anxious most of the time? If you are, this is an unhealthy state which could lead to many other problems and challenges. When you experience excessive anxiety and stress, your health, stamina, and ability to sleep could all be affected. It may feel as if you are just barely getting by in life.

Stress also affects your ability to concentrate and to focus. In relationships, too much stress can negatively affect your personal relationships and your level of joy. You may have read that scientific research has confirmed the crucial role stress plays in contributing to such disorders as hypertension, stroke, heart attack, ulcers, pain, and cancer, to name a few.

To learn more about hypnotherapy visit, http://www.ashypnotherapy.com/ or speak directly to Dori (404) 421-9809.

Retail Real Estate Consultant, Expansion Planning, Medical Retail Planning - Jeff Green Partners

2012-01-12T23:31:00.001-08:00

Jeff Green Partners is a leading consultant in Retail Real Estate Feasibility, Retail Expansion Planning, Medical Retail Planning, Location Analysis and Commercial Land Use.

We provide market analysis and strategic planning and consulting services including:

● Shopping Center Feasibility

● Distressed Center Repositioning

● Retail Real Estate Planning and Investing

● Retail Market Research and Strategies

● Retail Expansion Planning

● Retail Strategies for Municipalities

● Medical Retail Planning

● Location Analysis

● Commercial Land Use

● Urban Redevelopment

● Retail Master Plans

A LEADER IN RETAIL REAL ESTATE FEASIBILITY

Jeff Green Partners was founded in May of 2004 in response to a growing demand for a new level of expert consulting services in the retail real estate marketplace. Led by President and CEO Jeff Green, Jeff Green Partners provides a full spectrum of analytical and interpretive services for property owners and developers.

Beyond feasibility studies and demographic profiles, the firm provides the kind of in-depth full spectrum analysis that generates critical context, penetrating insight and valuable strategic direction to many of the country’s leading retailers, commercial and retail real estate developers, and health care facilities. From project-specific guidance to long-term national expansion strategies, a wide range of national and regional retailers, property owners/managers/developers and medical practitioners look to Jeff Green Partners for the firm’s expertise and unparalleled knowledge of key retail markets nationwide to find out what is happening, what is going to happen, and how it will impact their businesses.

To succeed in today’s changing market, developers, retailers and medical practitioners all require more than just a consultant; they need a fresh perspective. They need a professional partner with the experience to make sound judgments, the vision to understand the broader perspective, and the keen insights needed to help them navigate the evolving complexities of a rapidly changing industry. For Jeff Green Partners, serving clients means providing them with the tools they need to achieve success in today’s competitive environment. By providing in-depth analyses and comprehensive strategic support, Jeff Green Partners offers the vision; insight and adaptive innovations that helps them accomplish this goal.

A RANGE OF SERVICES

Jeff Green Partners provides comprehensive market analysis and strategic planning services, tailored to the specific needs of our clients.

Where appropriate, we emphasize close coordination and continuity with existing market research. We also have assisted many companies in establishing or expanding their research departments.

Our Services Include, But Are Not Limited To:

Shopping Center Research
Location Analysis
Consumer Profiling
Tenant Mix Evaluation
Distressed Center Repositioning and Redevelopment
Assessing Center Viability Long-Term
Marketing
Expansion (or Contraction) Opportunities.

Retail Expansion Planning

Site Feasibility Studies
Customer Profiling
Definition and Analysis of Trade Area
Target Customer Profiling (Demographic and Psychographic)
Competitive Review
Determination of Expenditure Potential
Sales Forecasting
Cannibalization (Sister Store Impact) Analysis
Prioritization of Expansion Opportunities
Overall Strategies for New Market Entry or Existing Market Expansion
New Store Format Development
Image Analysis

• Urban Redevelopment

Location Analysis
Retail Master Plans for Downtowns
Highest and Best Use Analysis
Supportable Space Analysis
Retail Void Analysis
Tenant Mix Recommendations
Adaptive Reuse
Mixed Use Developments

• Retail Real Estate Planning and Investing

Underwriting Retail and Real Estate Credits for Acquisitions Financing in the Public and Private Market
Investment Strategies
Asset and Securities Underwriting
Liquidation of Assets
Valuations
Repositioning Retailers’ and Developers’ assets

• Litigation Support

Market Analysis
Market Research
Retail Store Leasing
Retail Marketing

• Medical Retail Planning

Site Feasibility Studies
Definition and Analysis of Trade Area
Target Customer/Patient Profiling (Demographic and Psychographic)
Competitive Review
Sales Forecasting
Image Analysis
Overall Strategies for New Market Entry or Existing Market Expansion

• Hotel Feasibility

Competitive Analysis
Supportable Format
Size and Amenity Recommendations
Revenue Projections

• Office Space Research

Analysis of Existing Market
Existing and Historical Absorption
Supportable Space Recommendations
Analysis of Target Tenants
Revenue Projections

• Single and Multi-Family Residential Feasibility

Assessment of Existing Housing Stock
Measurement of Supply and Turnover
Analysis of Historical Absorption
Analysis of the Demand for New Housing
Supportable Residential Type (single-family, condominiums and/or apartments)
Forecast Sales and Recommend Price Range, Amenities, etc.
Project Absorption

• Training and Technical Support

Jeff Green Bio

Jeff Green is the owner and proprietor of Jeff Green Partners. Jeff has extensive consulting experience on a wide range of research projects ranging from feasibility studies for development projects across the US and internationally to sales projections for specific retailers. Mr. Green is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences sponsored by industry organizations such as the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the Food Marketing Institute and Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Mr. Green was President of Market Insite Group which specialized in developing web based tools to assist retailers and property owners in site and tenant selection. In addition, Mr. Green headed the professional services division for Market Insite Group providing feasibility studies for property owners and national expansion plans and sales forecasts for a wide range of national and regional retailers.

Mr. Green was also President and Owner of The Green Group which merged with Market Insite Group in 2001. The Green Group had a 35 year history of providing consulting services to retail, restaurant and entertainment tenants.

Mr. Green is a graduate of Michigan State University and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Food Marketing Institute, American Marketing Association, ULI, International Downtown Association and the Value Retail Association.

For more information visit http://www.jeffgreenpartners.com/ or call 602.795.8351 for appointment.

JFK Marble Granite & Ceramic serves San Francisco and North Bay Area

2012-01-09T19:06:00.001-08:00

JFK offers the following services:

Custom fabrication & installation of stone
Installation of tile – ceramic or stone
Restoration of natural stone
Residential and Commercial

Areas served:

Marin County, San Francisco, Sonoma County, Napa County

About Josef

Josef Kremlacek is originally from the Czech Republic, where he learned the artistry of stone design. When he immigrated to the United States, he brought his knowledge and expertise to the Bay Area and formed JFK & Associates – Marble-Granite-Ceramic. He has worked in the stone industry since 1965 and has continually worked toward perfecting his craft.

Josef’s expertise in the field of natural and engineered stone includes working with granite, marble, slate, limestone, travertine, Cesarstone, Eurostone, Quartzite, Zodiac, ceramic tiles, mosaic tiles, stone medallions, as well as, glass blocks. He really knows how to bring out the beauty of any of these materials. As an artist, he takes great pride in creating a product that is both beautiful and outstanding. Close attention to detail and fine craftsmanship are evident in all of JFK’s projects. It is JFK’s goal to provide the highest quality finished product at a fair and reasonable price.

JFK & Associate fabricate and install kitchen counter tops, islands, bars, vanities, bathtub and fireplace surrounds, mantels and hearths, window sills, as well as installing ceramic or natural stone tiles. Although they believe that it’s best to have their crews prepare your site, they can work with any preparation that might be needed in order to ensure that your job is done right.

Regular office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but JFK is flexible in their schedule to meet the customer’s timeline. JFK Marble & Granite provides free estimates and in-home consultations and can do small or large projects.

Company’s Philosophy:

JFK believes that quality of work, attention to detail, and making sure that the customer is satisfied with the service are the key aspects of every project.

Stone Care Tips

The care and maintenance of natural stone is very important in order to ensure that the integrity and beauty of your stone is preserved for a long time. Using a neutral pH cleaner or stone soap to clean the stone surface is highly recommended.

What is pH? PH is used to express the acidity or alkalinity for a chemical liquid. PH only applies to water-based chemicals. PH scale ranges from 1-14 where (1-6) = Acid, (7) = Neutral, (8-14) = Alkaline. PH of 1 means the solutions is a strong acid. PH of 14 means the solution is a strong alkaline.

Common Acids: Muriatic Acid, polishing compounds; vinegar, grout cleaners, batteries, bathroom cleaners, rust removers, alcoholic and carbonated beverages, and fruit juices.

Alkaline: Alkaline chemicals are found in heavy-duty stone cleaners, floor strippers, ammonia and lye. When using alkaline products be sure to thoroughly rinse the surface to remove all the alkaline solution. Rinsing is crucial since alkaline solutions can leave a residue on the surface of the stone.

Maintenance: To provide good results, a maintenance program should be implemented when the stone is in “like new” condition. But, there’s no time like the present time to get on a good maintenance program.

Floor surfaces:

Dust Mop: Dust mop with a non-treated dust mop daily to remove sand, dirt and miscellaneous grit. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to nature stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone surface. Normally, it takes a person 7 to 8 steps on a floor surface to remove sand and dirt from the bottom of their shoes. Dust mop only in one direction. Do not move it back and forth. Store mop with head off the ground and keep the mop clean. Do not dust mop on a wet floor. This may cause streaking. Designate one dust mop for each type of surface. Treated dust mops are not recommended for nature stone because the oils in the treated material may soak into the stone and discolor it. Do not used vacuum cleaners with metal wheels. The wheels may scratch the stone.

Damp mop: Sponge type mops are excellent for picking up a spill quickly. It is very important to rinse frequently. The sewn end string mops are best to use because they can be laundered easily in the washing machine. Use clean cold to warm water. Never use hot water as it might cause streaking. Again, it is very important to rinse frequently. Rinsing frequently can prevent streaking, sticky floors and the shine will last longer. Dry the tile with a clean terry cloth towel or machine buff with a white pad.

Cleaning rags: White terry cloth, old t-shirts, cotton rags are all excellent for picking up spills and removing streaking. Do not use colored rags. The colors could bleed into the stone and stain it.

Countertops and Vanities:

Regularly use a neutral pH cleaner or stone soap to clean the stone surface to remove residues from cooking oils and everyday food spills. A mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water may also be used. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that may etch the stone and dull the surface of the stone. Common toiletries such as perfume, toothpaste and mouthwash contain acids and may damage the stone surface and penetrate the sealer. Use a clean soft cloth for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acidic products on marble or other calcareous stones. Rinse with clean warm water and dry with a soft cloth. Change the rinse water often. This is very important. Do not use scouring powders or creams. These products may scratch the stone.

Bath and Other Areas:

In the bathroom soap scum and hard water deposits are the culprits. Using a squeegee after each use can minimize soap scum and hard water deposit builds up. To remove soap scum, use a non-acidic soap scum remover.

Spills and Stains:

Spills are going to happen so a quick response and the right solutions can keep spills from damaging your stone or the sealer. Whether the stone is sealed or unsealed highly acidic substances such as orange juice, tomato juice, vinegar, mustard, carbonated soft drinks, alcoholic drinks and coffee will etch most marble, limestone and travertine. Although sealing the stone allows you enough time to wipe up a spill, it cannot prevent the chemical reaction that may dull or etch the stone area.

Dos and Don’ts:

Do dust mop floors regularly.

Do clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone soap.

Do blot up spills immediately.

Do thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing.

Do dust countertops, islands and vanities regularly.

Do protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs and counter top surfaces with coasters, trivets or placemats.

Do enjoy the beauty of your stone.

Don’t use vinegar, lemon juice, or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine, onyx surfaces.

Don’t use abrasive cleaners such as dry or soft cleaners

Don’t use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for natural stone

Don’t use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub and tile cleaners.

Don’t mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.

Don’t worry. Stains happen and they can be removed.

Visit http://www.jfkmarble.com/ for sample of designs.

For more information please call 415 442-4982.

English Country Pine & Design provides custom kitchen cabinets, tables & chairs, Traditional & Country Design Furniture, Remodeling and Woodworking in Marin County.

2012-01-04T17:25:00.001-08:00

English Country Design was established in 1986 by John Varney, an English Craftsman and Designer with patience and an eye for detail.

In the well-equipped workshop everything from a coffee table to a large kitchen job flows with ease and confidence. A separate building for finishing offers a dust free environment for a variety of eco-friendly finishes.

The showroom is a perfect designing space loaded with samples of wood, hardware, moulding, colors, etc. and lots of pictures to aid in the designing process.

In the showroom you can also purchase:

• Fiddles furniture wax

• Rocky Mountain Hardware

• Sun Mountain Doors

• Michigan Maple Butcher Block tops

• Spekva Scandinavian countertops

• Raymond Enkeboll carvings

• Shaw farm house sinks

• Rohl taps and faucets

Wood Choices

Pine, cherry, oak, maple, alder, teak, mahogany... Don’t be overwhelmed. As you see what you don’t care for, it becomes clearer what you do like. You seek can advise on the pros and cons of different wood species and show you an array of color samples. The showroom is a wonderful and vital aid in assisting with the design process and our multitude of samples are available to be taken home so you can be sure of your selection.

Designing

Designing is John’s strong point. With over 25 years of experience, a trained eye, and a good ear, John first listens to your needs then puts pen to paper and starts to sketch for you. Combining this art with examples in the showroom and a myriad of wonderful photographs your idea becomes a reality. John has lectured for the A.S.I.D. on furniture design addressing how to incorporate modern technologies into a traditional design. He’s also a problem solver for those awkward spaces and can always find the perfect balance between function and aesthetic.

Reclaimed Lumber

Typically, reclaimed timber is obtained from the roof joist or flooring of old buildings which are scheduled to be torn down. Although reclaimed timber is usually more expensive than new wood, its rich character and proven quality make it an attractive choice for the discerning furniture buyer.

By the time it reaches your home, reclaimed timber will have endured decades, if not centuries, of seasoning. Its low moisture content and tight grain make reclaimed timber much more resistant to cupping, cracking, curling, splitting, or twisting than new wood.

Reclaimed timber is available in a wide variety of colors and grain patterns. Every piece is unique in its character, often bearing subtle signs of previous use, and can add instant atmosphere to any room in your home or office. At English Country Design, you can personally select the degree of distressing to best suit your taste.

Lastly, by choosing to have your furniture built with reclaimed timber, you will contribute to saving our old growth forests.

Pine Furniture

Antique pine furniture, as we know it today started in popularity in the late 1960's. Young homemakers not wanting the mass produced melamine cheap furniture turned to the auction rooms and secondhand furniture stores for the old pine furniture that had survived from the previous century. Often covered in many coats of paint, a chest of drawers was a bargain at $10.

First they would strip their newly acquired antique down to bare wood, then polish with Briwax, an inexpensive wax polish with a light brown color and this was the birth of STRIPPED PINE FURNITURE, later to be labeled country pine furniture. The antique trade at the time disowned it, considering it junk furniture and not a fine hardwood antique.

Little did they know because over the following 30 years it grew in popularity and prices rose dramatically and a new cottage industry was born. That $10 chest of drawers would sell for $500 in the 90's.

In England a dresser (or hutch as it's called in America) will differ in style depending on the region of its construction, and named after that region i.e. Cornish dresser, Irish dresser, Welsh dresser, Lincolnshire dresser, Scottish dresser.

Differences may at first appear subtle but once one knows what to look for it becomes obvious, much like seeing a Mercedes, BMW, or Jaguar without the emblem, one would still be able to identify it.

Throughout Britain people were stripping their interior room doors and adding a wax finish as most houses have interior wood work of pine. Still to this day watch and English movie and note the pine doors and pine kitchen furniture.

Visit http://www.englishcountrypine.com/ to see our sample designs. Hours is by appointment only please call first (415) 382 1952 to book for appointment.

Panchitos Mexican Restaurant in Terra Linda, San Rafael serves outstanding Mexican food

2011-12-28T21:47:00.001-08:00

With reasonable prices, quality Mexican food and a wide variety of offerings for every appetite and diet, Panchitos is the perfect place for couples, single diners, families, and groups in North San Rafael.

Since 1979 Panchitos offers:

Traditional Mexican dishes, outstanding soups and salads
All lunch items available for take-out.
Delivery available for larger orders to your office within the area and with notice.
Great chips and salsa!

PANCHITOS SERVES:

LUNCH

A Terra Linda lunch favorite for 32 years. Featuring traditional Mexican dishes, outstanding soups and salads as well as a wide variety of house favorites to match every ones appetite and diet desires.

Fast in and out lunches, superior service and exceptional food and beverage choices make Panchitos a great choice for lunch. Bring yourself or the whole office, they can handle large parties up to 26 people.

All lunch items available for take-out.
Delivery available for larger orders to your office within the area and with notice.
Great chips and salsa!
Wide variety of choices to satisfy every appetite as well as healthy choices to meet special dietary needs.

DINNER

Proudly serving the Terra Linda community (and beyond) since 1979, Panchitos Mexican restaurant continues the tradition of outstanding Mexican food and exceptional service.

Original dinner favorites such as enchiladas, Chile rellenos, taco, burritos and tostadas as well newer house specialties including carne azada, tilapia fish tacos and shrimp diablo keep the families, couples and singles coming back again and again, year after year.

With a warm, friendly and exceptional commitment to service, they strive daily to be known as Marin’s Best Mex!

Kids Menu from $4.95.
Dinner specials and healthy choices to satisfy all appetites.
Large parties up to 26 people.
Nice selection of beers wines, and popular beverages.
Reservations taken for 5 or more.

CATERING

Would you like to serve Marin’s best Mexican food at your next party or special occasion?

It easy, fun and affordable! Panchitos offers a variety of famous traditional Mexican in party trays. They can handle all your party food needs from five to five hundred and even ask special request that you would like to be included on your menu list.

Free delivery and set-up.
Served in “stay-hot” aluminum party trays.
Beverage service available.
Can handle 5 to 500!
Can handle most special requests.

ABOUT PANCHITOS

Located in the heart of the Terra Linda community, Panchitos Mexican Restaurant has served up an exceptional combination of friendly fast service along with outstanding Mexican food since 1979.

Original owners Pancho and Yolanda Aceves 19 year Panchitos tradition was passed along to Leo Limeta and Jeffrey Jauch in 1999. With combined nearly 60 years of restaurant experience, Leo and Jeff are dedicated to keeping the outstanding original recipes intact while expanding the menu with exciting new tasty offerings.

In a clean and inviting atmosphere, Panchitos strives to serve the Terra Linda community and beyond with the goal of building and keeping relationships from generation to generation. With reasonable prices, quality food and a wide variety of offerings for every appetite and diet is perfect place for couples, single diners, families, and groups–Lunch and Dinner.

Visit http://www.panchitosrestaurant.com to see Panchitos Restaurant online menu. For reservation call call (415) 472-6766.

Indian Restaurant serving Authentic Indian Food: Taj of Marin in San Rafael, Marin County

2011-12-12T00:54:00.001-08:00

Taj of Marin on 4th Street in San Rafael, CA provides authentic and delicious Indian food at a great price. The restaurant is run by the Singh family and is truly dedicated to providing an upscale experience at an affordable price. Situated in the heart of downtown San Rafael, Taj of Marin offers the most exquisite and authentic Indian cuisine in North Bay. The restaurant, adorned with traditional Indian artwork and décor, provides a serene and comforting atmosphere.

The menu encompasses the very best of North and South Indian cuisines and includes vegetarian, meat, seafood, gluten-free, and vegan options. To complete the dining experience, Taj of Marin carries an exceptional selection of beers, fine wines, and traditional Indian drinks.

At Taj of Marin, you will find impeccable food, outstanding customer service, and a delightful environment.

TAJ OF MARIN is unique like Marin County. Come in to cool off, have a great dinner and listen to some amazing music. We are also buying locally grown organic and sustainable produce when possible.

We would also like to partner with you in terms of fundraising so if you have an organization, club, church, need to raise funds to stay alive in this economy–come on in and talk to us. We would love to partner with you and give a percentage of dinner sales to your group for one month! Come on in and talk to Gurpreet Singh.

We also ask you to YELP about TAJ OF MARIN and like us on Facebook. Tell us when you get your bill—we will give you 20% discount on your ala carte dinner.

Check our website www.tajofmarin.com to find out more of our deals. For reservations call (415) 459-9555.

Customer's Review:

Terrific dinner - my mom and dad took me here last night and I left completely satiated. The meal was delightful. We had ground lamb somosas, coconut, shrimp masala, garlic naan, yellow lentil dal and mango chicken:) DELICIOUS. I hear they have a nice lunch buffet too:) Review by Erin S., San Mateo, CA on Yelp

I have been here atleast 5 times. And was very satisfied with the quality and quantity of the food.

They have almost double the options for buffet than any Lotus restaurants. Review by Prasanna B., Novato, CA on Yelp

INTERPROJECTS

2011-10-18T18:06:00.001-07:00

Optimising Organisational Health

Led by internationally acclaimed multi-lingual expert Reavis Hilz-Ward, INTERPROJECTS is a company with corporate capability and a very human face. A consulting firm that knows that in a competitive environment it’s smarter not harder that will liberate your success.

SOLUTIONS TAILORED TO YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS

LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
RISK ANALYSIS AND MITIGATION
CRISIS INTERVENTIONS – PROJECT FIREFIGHTING

INTERPROJECTS has a track record of achievement in optimising people, processes and complex organizations – making them more efficient and more effective. From one-to-one professional coaching to global scale complexity issues, INTERPROJECTS takes the time to be considered, understanding, innovative, enlightening and endlessly passionate about assisting you in achieving your goals.

Reavis Hilz-Ward is a management consultant specializing in international and intercultural project management, risk management, process optimization, and change management for financial services, pharmacy, and automobile industries and for multinational organizations. From offices in Frankfurt, Germany we bring business executives to international success.

SERVICES:

Executive Coaching and Leadership Development
Risk analysis and mitigation
Transformational Leadership
Employee Empowerment

THE INTERPROJECTS APPROACH

The tools and approaches created by Reavis are a reflection of the considered and compassionate way in which INTERPROJECTS optimizes success. The methods of work are guided by honesty, integrity, deep knowledge, sensitivity and focus. The journey for each client and project will be different but the destination is always improvement and success. INTERPROJECTS visits ‘way-points’ on your journey that will vary in length and content for each client. A typical journey might include:

Initial non-binding consultation – establishes ‘fit’ between INTERPROJECTS and the needs. Broadly defines challenges, goals and time frames.

Analysis sessions – using extensive interviews and state-of-the-art tools to clarify the issues, uncover root cause and deliver a firm understanding of the context of the environment.

Goal identification – uncovering agreed goals and measurement indicators for success.

Implementation – a programme designed to address the issues which might include individual andgroup coaching sessions, training, performance management, risk assessment and change process design.

Mid-term review – assessment and orientation ‘health check’ for the project.

Second implementation phase – a continuation of work.

Success review – appraisal and evaluation of works against the indicators of success.

To find out more about how Reavis Hilz-Ward and the INTERPROJECTS team might help call +49 (69) 75600-10, email us or explore our site, http://interprojects.de.

How-to Guides to Running Your Small Business from Work.com

2011-06-23T18:35:00.001-07:00

Check out this website I found at work.com

Business Growth | Funding Solution | Marble Bridge Funding Group, Inc.

2011-05-02T15:10:00.001-07:00

Your Bridge to Success

Marble Bridge Funding Group is your source to immediate cash to grow your business. Since 1997, Marble Bridge has provided more than $500 million of funding to hundreds of companies. We provide ready cash through financing your accounts receivable and purchase orders.

For companies looking to grow, Marble Bridge is your bridge to success. We are a direct lender, providing flexible, quick, reliable, custom funding solutions, and superior customer service.

Find out how we can help you:

Expand your business

Purchase additional inventory

Acquire larger customers

Get cash in 24-48 hours rather than waiting 30, 60 or even 90 days

Simply make the payroll

Contact Us Today!

Tel 925-977-8210

via marblebridge.com

Kahl Consultants client Marble Bridge Funding Group is a progressive commercial finance company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Since 1997 this privately held direct funder has been financing growing businesses – from start-ups to companies with $100 million in sales – via a range of innovative programs:

Account Receivable Financing
Purchase Order Financing
Receivables Management
Other Related Financial Services

Marble Bridge also maintain a visible presence in the community, assisting government and private institutions that serve small businesses.

Entrepreneur Magazine Tips to Start Your Own Business

2011-04-22T12:08:00.001-07:00

Or almost nothing. Before you sign a lease (or buy a phone plan or make a hire), find out what's available for free.
You don't need a fancy telecom system and an office full of equipment to get your business off the ground. Hell, you don't even need an office, especially with the ever-growing array of virtual services at your disposal. --E.W.
The un-office
Save the rent and work with your colleagues anywhere that has a Wi-Fi signal. Basecamp--a web-based project-management app--lets you assign tasks, send instant messages, collaboratively edit documents, create presentations and track projects with employees and clients. A good service for web design professionals and other creatives completing longer-term assignments. Plans start at $24 a month for as many as 15 projects and go up to $149 a month for unlimited use. But if you can find office space at that price, we suggest you take it.
Basecamphq.com: From $24 a month.
Credit cards
Setting up a conventional credit card payment system involves contracts, equipment rental and thousands in transaction fees. Ex-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has a new startup called Square that allows you to swipe plastic with your iPhone or iPod. Simply plug Square's, er, square, into the headphone jack and your customers can make a purchase from anywhere. With instant photo verification, on-screen signature technology and e-mail receipts, the system is paperless, too. It's still in beta testing, but expect Square to arrive this summer.
Squareup.com: $1 for the app, plus 2.9 percent of each transaction. Hardware will be free.

The phone
Telecom systems killed the receptionist. Now Google Voice is set to kill telecom. Voice gives you the local number of your choice and lets you forward it to as many landline or cell phones as you please, giving you an "office number" even if said office consists of nothing more than you and your cat. Voice kindly transcribes voicemails for access through text message or e-mail, and incoming calls can be recorded and played back on the web. Local calls are free; long distance starts at just 2 cents a minute.
Google.com/voice: Free, or close to it.
The fax
Buying a bulky fax machine is so 1993. And then there's the monthly cost of the dedicated landline needed to run the thing. With eFax, $16.95 a month gets you a local fax number of your choosing and 130 incoming pages each month. And eFax sends incoming faxes as e-mail attachments--very 2010, indeed.
Efax.com: $16.95 a month.
IT department
Get the perks of a corporate computer network with Dropbox's free downloadable software: Just drag and drop files into a desktop folder to sync them to computers and PDAs--no IT guy needed.
Dropbox.com: Free.
Accounting department
Freshbooks--an online invoicing, time-tracking and expense service--automates the accounting department with an easy web interface that sends documents (with your logo) to clients. Manage as many as three clients for free; a $19 monthly upgrade increases that to 25. Getting clients to pay on time? That's another matter.
Freshbooks.com: Free.
Complaint department
Get Satisfaction--a startup that mint.com and Nike are already using--collects questions, complaints and feedback from throughout the social media universe and organizes it into a customer service platform that can be used on your website. Led by CEO Wendy Lea, Get Satisfaction has plans starting at $19.
Getsatisfaction.com: From $19 a month.
Make it legal
Create a simple LLC or trademark your business name with LegalZoom, a low-cost alternative to hiring counsel. LLC document preparation starts at $149 (about one-tenth of what an attorney would charge) and includes all filing fees and a custom operating agreement.
LegalZoom.com: $149 for an LLC document.

via entrepreneur.com

Ready to start your own business? Worried about the expenses?

This article has excellent tips for free or almost free services and tools to get you going when you are short on money.

myearthdaymarin.org

2011-04-21T16:20:00.001-07:00

Thank you for visiting the My Earth Day Marin Coalition Homepage – your source for information on environmentally focused service projects organized in honor of Earth Day throughout Marin County! Opportunities abound for those interested in giving back to mother nature, but sometimes it is difficult to know where to begin. That is why agencies across Marin have come together to collectively advertise Earth Day service projects and celebrations. We hope that your celebrations this April leave you with a greater understanding of, and appreciation for the incredible land and wildlife of Marin County, and the people who reside here. Together we can make a great difference; thank you very much for your time!

“Let it rain, let it pour, let the sun rise and roar, whatever the weather we are here to serve, to celebrate, nurture, preserve and observe, the endless wonders of earth!” -Marin County Park Ranger Kirk Schroeder

If you are interested in volunteering for an Earth Day service project, please visit our VOLUNTEER page for information on a wide variety of projects across the county. For more information on the My Earth Day Marin Coalition, please visit our About Us page. If you have general questions about the My Earth Day Marin Coalition, visit our Contact Us page. Note that our listed volunteer opportunities have specific contact persons pertaining to each event. If you are interested in promoting a volunteer event that is not listed on our VOLUNTEER page, visit our Add an Event page. We look forward to hearing from you!

[View with PicLens]
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My Earth Day Marin Partners:

Marin County Parks and Open Space District
City of San Rafael Volunteer Program and Public Works Department
San Rafael Clean
Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program
Marin County Department of Public Works
Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin
Marin Municipal Water District
Marin County Community Development Agency

Founded by:

Marin County Parks and Open Space District
City of San Rafael Volunteer Program
San Rafael Clean
Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin
Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program

via myearthdaymarin.org

April 22 is Earth Day! Celebrate Earth Day by giving back to Mother Earth and volunteering for community service projects.

Attend Green Events to Promote your Green Business

2010-11-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

Would you like to promote your green business and at the same time learn about new green products and services?

Then you should plan to attend some green business events. No matter where you are, there is bound to be such an event near you. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce or look at your local events calendars. Not a Chamber member? Check out the national Green Chamber of Commerce.

One of my favorite events is the popular Green Festival which is organized by environmental and social justice nonprofits Green America and Global Exchange and happens at several locations throughout the USA several times annually.

Here in the San Francisco Bay Area we just had a Green Festival in November 2010 at the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center. This event is a great way to learn about healthier environmental, economical and social solutions. You can attend presentations, film screenings, and many exhibit booths.Or you may even consider setting up a booth for your own business.

If you do go to such events be sure to meet and greet people, don't just look around. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible. Tell them about your business, talk about your needs or your goals. Compare products or services if you can. Use these events as an opportunity to network... that can lead to some business down the road.

Whatever you do, come prepared with plenty of business cards, a positive attitude, and a willingness to approach as many people as possible. And don't forget to follow up after the event!

9WJ764EGWFBD

Affordable and green marketing

2009-09-14T09:57:00.000-07:00

You know what "they" say about going green... If you compromise on effectiveness and pay a premium you can do the right thing for sustainability.

But, hey, that's last-century thinking, isn't it? Just take marketing, for example. Here's how you can spend less, use fewer resources and still do a good job of promoting your company -- the email newsletter.

Email marketing effectiveness
Not only does a monthly email newsletter allow you to share your expertise and spread the word about your offerings. It helps you nurture existing customer relationships and build new ones. And then there's the big advantage of regular contact with customers. Increased sales.

Surprisingly, statistics show your clients are more likely to leave you because they feel ignored than they are for bad service. People love to be acknowledged. So give 'em more appreciation and interaction, but not just more selling. When you provide useful information in bite-sized form and ask for feedback you create a newsletter readers will value.

How green is it?
The carbon footprint of an email newsletter is practically invisible. After all, you don't consume paper, ink or the energy needed for printing or delivery.

And since we're talking conservation, keep in mind that an email newsletter also conserves your marketing budget.

Find out more reasons email marketing makes sense, especially in this economic climate...

Bonnie Ayers Namkung, a Marin County green certified copywriter and marketing consultant, is editor of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce GreenUp! email newsletter.

Think Local, Act Local: Protect your Watershed

2009-08-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

As a green-minded business owner it is important to show your community that you "walk the talk."

So it is important to not only green your own business but to also get involved in your community and help improve your environment. Be a civic leader and set an example for others by joining or supporting a local environmental organization.

What kind of organization should you join? One example of a local environmental organization is a Watershed Council. Here in Marin County, California, each watershed has a Watershed Council.

In case you are not familiar with the term watershed, it is simply nature's boundary for water resources. A watershed covers an area of land within which all the water (rainwater, snowmelt) drains into a common body of water (such as a river or sea).

My company Kahl Consultants is a certified green business and also a Marin County Sustainable Partner (both excellent programs to join if you want to market your green business).

We also support our local watershed council, the Gallinas Watershed Council. Gallinas Watershd Council aims to connect the people who live and work in Las Gallinas Valley with their watershed, to help each other take responsibility for our impact on the watershed through protection, restoration and education, and to advance conservation action in our watershed environment.

If you want to find a Watershed Organization in your area start by checking out these watershed council links.

Whatever you do to improve the environment, be sure to tell people about what you are doing. Add a news entry on your website, write a press release, and mention it in your newsletter.

Welcome to KC Green Business Marketing

2009-08-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Kahl Consultants blog about how to market your Green Business.

Kahl Consultants is a web services and internet consulting company based in San Rafael, California. Our clients are found in the San Francisco Bay Area and around the world.

We hope to present valuable information about marketing you green business in this blog. Our focus will be on small businesses who are dedicated to environmentally friendly business practices.