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Archive for March, 2013|Monthly archive page

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David Slone Says Buick Verano Bucks the Trend

In Automotive on March 28, 2013 at 11:43 am

David Slone

David Slone

David Slone, General Sales Manager and Used Car Manager at Weld County Garage, has seen the sales of the Buick Verano take off since its introduction. David Slone has driven a Verano or two. As a longtime aficionado of the Buick brand, David Slone is surprised at the Verano’s performance and manners. For starters, the Verano’s cabin is amazingly quiet, a quality prized by David Slone and other buyers. The four-cylinder turbo engine in the Verano puts out 250 horsepower, hurrying it from 0-60 in 6.2 seconds.

David Slone notes that performance puts it in the same league as the Acura ILX and sedans like the VW GTI and Audi A3. The Buick owes its hushed interior to features like acoustical laminated glass, triple seals at the doors, a five-layer interior roof liner, floor mats that are designed for sound absorption, extra insulation and specially-manufactured 18-inch alloy wheels to hold down road noise.

With a demonstrator Verano, David Slone logged 20 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. In addition, David Slone is struck by some of the other features of the Verano, such as the rearview video camera, touch-screen Infotainment system and USB port. David Slone notes that the Verano’s spacious rear seat and sizable trunk make it a great family sedan.

Here’s what was surprising to David Slone and other analysts, though. For years, David Slone has seen Buicks skew more toward older buyers. The Verano, however, bucks the trend. David Slone and his sales staff have put many younger buyers into Verano sedans. In addition, David Slone notes, Buick is planning powertrain changes and new features for the Verano, slated to bring more of the younger buyers into the fold.

Why are younger drivers now gravitating toward Buick? David Slone says that the brand’s quality is the biggest reason. David Slone has taken Nissans and Toyotas as trade-ins on new Buicks. Also, according to David Slone, Buicks have undergone styling changes and shuffles in model lineups in recent years. A car like the compact Verano, states David Slone, offers comfort, performance and great fuel economy—all things that younger buyers love. David Slone and his team at Weld County Garage are eager to see what’s coming down the road next for Buick.

Prior to coming on board with Weld County Garage, David Slone held down the position of Vice President and President at Macrosystem US, a major manufacturer of video editing systems. At Macrosystem US, David Slone also worked as National Sales Manager, coordinating over 200 dealers and three regional managers. David Slone and his wife Stacey got their start in business and management with their video production company, Amber’s Video Production, specializing in wedding and special events videos. They sold the company after several years and moved on to other ventures. In his post at Weld County Garage, David Slone has helped the company become the one of the top Buick and GMC dealers in the western region, and one of the top ten used car dealerships in the state of Colorado.

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Conversation with Casa Sandoval: Exercise and Senior Adults

In Professionals on March 26, 2013 at 5:36 am

Casa Sandoval

Casa Sandoval

The human body was meant for action and motion. That’s something that applies across all age groups, as the staff at Casa Sandoval knows. The Casa Sandoval community serves the needs of both active retirees and senior adults requiring assisted living. Located in Hayward, California, Casa Sandoval puts an emphasis on active and independent lifestyles for its residents. The Casa Sandoval community features more than 200 apartment units in studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom configurations.

Exercise can help boost energy levels, help mental acuity, boost metabolism and relieve stress. Today, Information Nation visited with the professionals at Casa Sandoval to discuss the benefits of exercise for seniors. The conversation may surprise you.

Q: My 70-year-old father tells me that he’s recently felt compromised as far as mobility and flexibility. How much of a challenge can that be if he wants to start an exercise program?

Casa Sandoval: Even senior adults who have mobility problems can get exercise in ten-minute segments.

Q: Does taking up an exercise program mean a risk of injury for seniors?

Casa Sandoval: That’s a common misconception. It’s the lack of exercise that’s at the root of many age-related problems.

Q: It’s pretty well known that exercise helps mental acuity; how does it combat dementia?

Casa Sandoval: The increased blood flow from exercise means a better oxygen supply to the whole body, including the brain. Exercise can help everyone, including people with dementia.

Q: Are there health benefits from exercise for diabetics?

Casa Sandoval: Yes, absolutely. Exercise is part of the strategy for controlling diabetes, and can help slow or stop the progression of that and many other diseases. We see it often with the residents at Casa Sandoval.

Q: Isn’t there an age cutoff for exercise?

Casa Sandoval: No, that’s also a misconception. Casa Sandoval residents include seniors of all ages and physical condition who participate in exercise programs…even wheelchair-bound residents.

Q: What are the effects of aging on the body? How can exercise help?

Casa Sandoval: Muscle mass, flexibility and endurance all dwindle past age 50. All of those trends can be slowed with regular exercise, though.

Q: It’s just wear and tear, isn’t it?

Casa Sandoval: Yes, if you think of the human body like a machine, the years definitely take their toll in terms of wear and tear. It reaches a point where common chores like driving, shopping, or even getting dressed can be a real trial for senior citizens.

Q: What are the elements of exercise that you believe are the most important for seniors?

Casa Sandoval: Strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance training…

Q: Balance is especially important, isn’t it?

Casa Sandoval: Yes, it sure is. Problems with balance result in falls, a leading cause of injuries for seniors.

Q: What kind of exercise activities do you suggest?

Casa Sandoval: Really, it can be about anything…dancing, arts and crafts, gardening, walking, or a more rigorous workout with resistance or weights. Yoga is a big favorite and has been shown to have measurable results.

Q: What kinds of results have you seen?

Casa Sandoval: At Casa Sandoval, we’ve seen drops in blood pressure, improvements in mood, improvements in energy, and much more as a result of regular exercise.

Q: Do you have staff on hand to help with exercise?

Casa Sandoval: Yes, Casa Sandoval residents can meet with exercise coaches who are trained to make accommodations for mobility and other senior-related issues.

For more information about Casa Sandoval, visit online at casasandoval.com or call 510-727-1700.

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JustFab Expands Reach to Brings Hot Fashion to Germany, the UK and Canada

In Marketing on March 14, 2013 at 11:09 am
JustFab

JustFab

Online retailer JustFab launched in the U.S. in 2010 and has gone nowhere but up since then.  JustFab offers shoppers an online shopping experience like no other, filled with fashion-forward shoes, handbags, jeans, and accessories–all at great prices.  JustFab knows that women everywhere want to look beautiful and feel confident, so expansion beyond the U.S. has been inevitable.  In the following interview, JustFab explains how this fashion site rocks the needs of fashionistas, now, across the globe.

Presentation Solutions:  Please tell our readers a little bit about what makes JustFab so popular.

JustFab:  JustFab offers shoppers a unique online shopping experience.  Unlike traditional e-tailers, JustFab focuses on personalization and engagement to make shopping online more fun.

Presentation Solutions:  How does JustFab stay on top of today’s fashion trends – they change so fast!

JustFab:  That’s the fun part, right?  JustFab proudly has some of the leading fashion gurus working for shoppers. The celebrities and stylists working with JustFab eat, sleep and breathe fashion, so they are doing the work for shoppers.  JustFab was really fortunate to have Kimora Lee Simmons join our team in 2011 and she has been instrumental for keeping the company at the forefront of fashion.  Also, celebrity stylist Jessica Paster has been with JustFab since the beginning, making regular shoppers look as good as the celebrities she has worked with, like Miranda Kerr.

Presentation Solutions:  How does JustFab personalize the shopping experience when it is happening online?

JustFab:  Great question!  When a shopper registers to become a VIP, they first complete a survey of their personal style.  With that knowledge, JustFab is able to select shoes, handbags, and accessories just like a professional stylist would.

Presentation Solutions:  Does JustFab do anything different for your new shoppers in Germany, the UK or Canada?

JustFab:  Women want to look beautiful, sexy and confident around the world, so members across the globe have the same great products and service across the globe.

Presentation Solutions:  What about JustFab would be most appealing to women in Germany, the UK and Canada?

JustFab:  For the same women over 10 million women have grown to love JustFab in the US, women across the world will love everything JustFab has to offer.  The customized shopping experience, on-trend styles and celebrity inspiration and partnerships make the brand universally appealing.

Presentation Solutions:  That’s great! Who are some of the celebrities JustFab works with?

JustFab:  Rockstar Avril Lavigne did a special collection for JustFab with her Abbey Dawn line.  Her vibe was edgy with a little punk feel.  JustFab has also been worn by some of the Hollywood elite including Emily Blunt, Nicky Hilton, Christina Applegate, Miranda Kerr and Hilary Duff.

Presentation Solutions:  These ladies are amazing!  Anyone else shoppers would recognize?

JustFab:  Any fashion-conscious young woman who loves YouTube has probably watched videos of Elle and Blair Fowler.  These sisters have been serving up fashion and beauty advice on YouTube for years and have over 40 million views for many of their tutorials.  These ladies know fashion.  In the collection they designed, each sister’s unique style shines through.  Shoppers will find Bianca, a simple, yet sparkly flat, and the spiked platform boot, Dixie.

About JustFab

JustFab is an online fashion retailer that provides personalized shopping experiences to nearly 10 million shoppers. There are no membership fees or commitment to purchase.  For members who don’t want to make a monthly purchase, they can simply use the “skip the month” feature. Go to justfab.com to learn more.

Protecting Your Children Online

In Home and Family on March 13, 2013 at 3:28 am

The Internet is an amazing tool for people of all ages—including children. Not only is there a mind-boggling amount of information about virtually any topic that can be accessed in seconds, but it also allows for communication and socializing with people in completely new ways. However, with that increased connectivity comes the potential for abuse—and often times, the victims of this abuse are children.

Kids are infinitely curious, so it’s no surprise that the Internet can be incredibly appealing to youngsters. But with social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter becoming so popular in recent years, it can be tempting for kids to spend more and more time interacting with their friends virtually rather than in real life. Some children get so caught up in this digital world that it may begin to replace their interactions in real life—both good and bad.

One of the most common problems for preteens and adolescents is cyber bullying. Gone are the days when a child’s sole interaction with a tormentor might be in the hallway or in a single class period. Now with social networking, the bully has access to a victim’s profile and can send harmful and hateful messages at any time.

In addition, there’s also the threat of children getting involved in friendships online with adults who may be out to take advantage of them. These relationships may start out innocently enough, but television shows like To Catch a Predator have shown that many online relationships involving children can take a turn for the worse very quickly.

That’s why it is important for parents to monitor a child’s Internet usage and stay involved with their life. Ask questions about what they’re doing online such as who are they talking to, which of their friends are online, and do they have any Internet-only friends?

In some cases, it may even be appropriate to install software on the computer that blocks websites like Facebook and Twitter if a password you set isn’t entered. But before doing this, it’s important to sit down with your child and discuss the possible dangers that might lurk in cyberspace, and make sure he or she knows that things that happen online can very easily spill over into real life.