Staying Positive at California Closets New England

Friends, clients, family and employees:

I am old. Not really old, but old enough to have seen the economic conditions we are experiencing before. No, this is not a repeat of the great depression – it is another part of an economic cycle. We all have to be confident that things will improve and just not overreact.

All the economic issues tend to feed and then grow on themselves. It is time to be smart, positive and diligent. Here are some things that you need to do to make sure that you keep your positive attitude and not overreact.

DO NOT WATCH NEWS SHOWS ON TV!

Please remember that the media outlets are businesses charged with making money like any other business. They must have viewers watching their programs so they can get ratings and sell more advertising. They love to make a mountain our of a mole hill, “THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING – get the full story after this commercial break.”

Cable news has more competition now than ever before. To compensate, these news programs are using sensationalism to make the economic problem bigger than it needs to be. Don’t get me wrong – things are bad. We just need to look at the problems objectively and work through them. Keep from driving yourself crazy – watch sports, read a good book or listen to some music you like.

THE STOCK MARKET

Can we all agree on some of the realities of the stock market?

1. It is not always the best indicator of economic trends.

2. If you invest in the stock market you should be in it for the long run and over the fullness of time it will deliver a reasonable return.

3. Lastly, it’s short term performance gets exaggerated by the supposed professionals that are working it. They overreact. They play games that the normal person does not always understand and they make pronouncements that are rarely supported by facts and reality.

Just look at what happens – down 700 points – up 500 points! Did things really change with the economy overnight? The average person should take an approach where they invest in quality companies that they know will deliver for the long haul and not over react to the day to day boom and bust mentality of Wall Street.

BE A SMART CONSUMER

The reality is that now is the time to buy – but you have to be smart about it. Do not fall for bait and switch scams, phony rebates, or discounting off of inflated phony retail prices. Buy value. This is not the time to get something “cheap” for cheaper. Now is the time to get something of value at a better price. Look for the bargains on those items that will endure and maintain value over time.

Here at California Closets we have taken the approach that we should be conservative with our mark ups, maintain the quality, and make our service even better. How do we do well in these economic times? Work hard and honest, be smart with our business principles and continue to treat our clients with the utmost respect and care. We will look for ways to save money without sacrificing the quality of the product. My hands are cold as I type because the office manager keeps the thermostat low – that’s how we cut costs – freeze the boss.

GET ORGANIZED – GET PEACEFUL

There is always a sense of direction and a peaceful feeling when you are in control of your environment. Running around in a state of negative panic does nothing but make you unsure and incapable of making clear and logical decisions. The current environment makes for a negative and disjointed approach to managing your life and financial situation. Step back and view the landscape objectively so that your decision making going forward is logical and positive.

California Closets can help you in your quest to get organized and peaceful. We cannot make your situation perfect, but we can help you reduce the angst from clutter and disorganization – it is what we do best. We can help you get control of your environment so that you can move forward on all the opportunities that really do exist out there!

Things are never as good as they seem in the good times and never as bad as they seem in the tough times. We need to stay positive, look for the opportunities, and stay the course of finding value in this world as we move forward.

Sincerely,

Ken Cleary – President, California Closets – New England.

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PUT YOUR MONEY IN A SAFE PLACE – CALIFORNIA CLOSETS!

What crazy times we are going through – makes it challenging for a small businessman. At a team meeting last week one of my employees told me, “Lehman Brothers is gone, but California Closets is still going strong!” OUR “fundamentals” really are strong. There are not many businesses today that design, sell, manufacture, install and support a tangible product like we do. Many businesses sell “air.” We sell a tangible, utilitarian and stylish product and we back it up for life. Can the fundamentals be any stronger than that?

People are looking for a safe place for their money and we can offer the solution. For most people, their home is their biggest investment and keeping that investment safe is critical to financial health. With falling real estate values it is critical to make sure that we do things to the home that enhance its value - California Closets. Many real estate ads include the following: “this home is equipped with California Closets throughout.” A home with California Closets tells a story to any potential buyer and the story helps increase value.

A home with California Closets:

1. Tells people that this is a person who is concerned with quality - they have paid attention to the care of their home.
2. This is an organized home and organized people pay attention to details – this home has good craftsmanship and improvements were done with care.
3. This homeowner has style: they gravitate to things that have creativity and beauty. They are interested in the way things look and pay attention to the aesthetics.
4. Value: the owner of a home with California Closets understands the value proposition when purchasing things for their home. California Closets represents value - you get the full package and after all is complete you understand that the price is supported by the product delivered.

So if you are looking for a safe place to put your cash – we can help. Buy some closets – you will be more organized, feel better and all the stuff that’s bothering you will fade into the background. Our fundamentals are strong – we can help you in these troubled times!