Our Winter White Event was a tremendous success.We are all thrilled that we were able to bring our North American wood grain laminates to so many clients for the price of white. This event was so successful that the Italians want to get in on the act. The Italians? Our Lago product is imported from Italy and is our absolute best seller. We sold so much of our domestic product that it has left the Italians with a little more stock than they had anticipated. We told them that if they would cut price we would pass the savings on to our customers with an advertised event. So here it is:
Any of our units sold with the imported Lago wood laminate will be reduced by 20%. To make the point:
LAGO – 20% OFF
What is Lago? It was introduced this past year and is available in 6 different colors. This product is manufactured by Cleaf who is located in Milan, Italy. Cleaf is the top supplier of specialty wood laminate products in Europe. The product is European Certified green and has an attention to detail and beauty that is surpassed by none. California Closets (thank you Louis) was able to secure an exclusive purchasing agreement for the wood grained detail and color that we have been selling over the last year. The New England franchise was number 2 in the California Closets system in sales of this product only being surpassed by the Manhattan area business. This product has truly been a success story for California Closets.
OUR DIFFERENCE
The contractors and dealers that deal in the high end Italian closet systems must import the product already designed, manufactured and cut in Italy. It then must be packaged and boxed for shipment. This approach requires extraordinary lead times sometimes exceeding 12 weeks and any design changes or fixes require an additional lead time of 4- 6 weeks. Our difference is that we have our own manufacturing and we bring over containers of Lago (Cleaf) so that we can deliver to you the same quality product with lead times at 3-4 weeks complete. Bottom line: get a California Closet with its great designs and service and now get it manufactured locally in the top line of European/Italian wood product. But, even better, get it for 20% off.
California Closets - Lago Italian Finishes
California Closets - Lago Italian Finishes
REAL QUALITY, REAL VALUE
I need to explain a few things about how we do things as opposed to what our competitors like to do. THIS IS REAL SAVINGS! Some of our competitors advertise “Free installation.” Do people really fall for this? They have been advertising free installations since they went into business. Who is kidding who on this one? Our Lago promotion is real. We have used the buying power of the largest and best closet and storage system to get this outstanding product at the savings we are passing on to our clients. Another competitor has had a 20% off sale for the last two years. How believable is that? This Lago promotion is scheduled to continue for three months: April, May & June. Get it while lasts because it is truly a value.
I hope you take advantage of this great offer.
All of our Designers are extremely excited.
Happy spring.
Ken Cleary, President – California Closets New England.
Letterman has made the “top ten list” a part of our culture. Now we bring this favorite feature to the California Closets Blog. Probably not nearly as funny as David’s, but still very relevant for the state of the closet and storage world of today. Letterman may have the best list, but the second best top ten list feature is the one done in our company’s newsletter. List editor, Designer Joe M. has a talent for comedic irony and I have been fearful of his being recruited by the writing team from the Letterman show. Well, here we go with “Why California Closets Top Ten List.”
NUMBER 10: We like both dogs and cats. Some companies are “dog” companies, and some are “cat” companies. We have been very careful in our hiring and training practices to balance out the dog and cat people. When we come to your home we can be fully compatible with any of your pets. One of our features is that you can request dog or cat friendly designers and installers. Although not our biggest competitive advantage, it is truly a unique benefit of California Closets.
NUMBER 9:We have Lago.This Italian product is exclusive to California Closets and meets European ‘green’ standards. Our competitors do not have this product. It is truly an incredibly beautiful product and we have been importing and selling it for one year now. Our customers cannot resist it and it is displayed in all our showrooms. It could easily be in a better position on this list, but for now here it sits firmly ensconced at number 9.
NUMBER 8: Smiles. Yes, we are still smiling. All the stuff going on in the world and we are still positive. We are the friendly closet and storage company. We know that when you are the best and you have people dedicated to stay the best, you smile. We enjoy organizing for our clients. California Closets’ people enjoy their work and enjoy people. We like to smile. It is an advantage in today’s world to be able to smile.
NUMBER 7: Responsible. We feel a sense of responsibility to think globally and act locally. We have an extensive recycling program for our wood and cardboard refuse. Our new Eco-Resin products are socially responsible and work to promote third world economic development. Our fleet of installation vehicles is being updated to be more efficient and ecologically friendly. We want to be good citizens.
NUMBER 6:Georgia. I told Georgia that she would get some mention in my next blog entry. She deserves the press. Here comes a sport’s analogy. If you follow the New England Patriots and if you are a student of the way Bill Belichik values players, you know that he places a high value on versatility. He likes those players that can play more than one position. Georgia is very versatile – she works the customer service desk, handles customer follow up communication, schedules design consultations, and works to help in accounting in any way she can. In this economic climate you need versatile people working for you. When you call 800-225-6901say hello to Georgia and she will schedule your appointment or help you in any way she can. Please do not chat too long with her – her versatility keeps her very busy.
NUMBER 5:We have showrooms, real showrooms. Our 6 showrooms are located throughout New England. The competition claims to have showrooms, but we have showrooms that give you an opportunity to really see and understand our product and help you understand design concepts. Our showrooms are not a 6ft X 8ft room with one cheesy display. We are not shy to show off the fact that we can deliver on a high quality product. Our showroomsare an advantage for California Closets as a sales and design tool and an advantage for our customers because they know just what they are going to get in their home.
NUMBER 4: The Installation Department. Our install team is the absolute best. They work to efficiently get your closet and storage system installed. They are clean, fast and friendly. Our installers understand customer service – they are more than just storage technicians. They understand the urgency of getting the home in the organized state that would make the client smile.
NUMBER 3: California Closets controls chaos. The world is chaotic – shouldn’t your home at least be organized? Every day is another day of the unknown- you just do not know what to expect – the banks, the auto industry, the government: in the famous words of Elaine Benis-yada, yada, yada. It just seems to go on and on. All these things we just do not have control over. Don’t you think it would be great to have control over the organization of your home? Wouldn’t it be nice to have California Closets help you with at least bringing your home into order and organization? The economic situation is beyond our control – the organizing of your home is not.
NUMBER 2: The California Closets Designer. Our Designers are the best in the industry. They deliver on number 3 of this list. They know organizing and they will spend the time to make your home the sanctuary you need in these times. They care, they smile, they have a sense of humor and they can organize the un-organizable. They will do all this with an eye for the aesthetics. Organized and aesthetically pleasing to the eye – the mission of the California Closets Designer.
AND……..THE NUMBER 1 REASON WHY YOU SHOULD USE CALIFORNIA CLOSETS (now more than ever): Value! We are now the best value – by far. We are working with our suppliers to offer incredible values to our clients. Right now we are giving a free upgrade on our white product. You can buy American wood grains for the price of white! We have reduced prices on many of our products as we work to meet the needs of clients in these trying economic times. However, we have not changed our service level or product quality. Our standards have not changed! This is why the value of California Closets is number 1 on the list – now more than ever is the time to eliminate chaos, bring order and add value to your home.
Thank you for reading my blog.
Ken Cleary – President, California Closets- New England
Do it yourself! We have developed options to save you money!
SAVE UP TO 30%!
You must:
Measure your space
Provide our Designer with the measurements
Approve the design created by the Designer
Approve the shipping arrangements for the product
Install the system
If your job is done in the above manner you will get a California Closet system for 30% lessthan our standard process. If you want your contractor to install the system we can work with him/her on the installation process.
CALL GEORGIA! TELL HER YOU WANT THE “DIY” SYSTEM.
800-225-6901. She will get you going with one of our designers and the process will begin. Go to our website and select “Request a Consultation” and indicate that you want the DIY in the notes section.
We also welcome any carpenters and contractors to participate in this offer!
At this time of year things get very cold, very dark, and very slow. With the type of people I have they do not like to be idle. This year we have no new showrooms to open and none that need upgrading so they are clamoring for something to do. Of course the economy has not helped the situation much as we try to live through this cold winter. So for the sake of all those hyper active people I have working for me I have decided to put together an event that will keep everyone busy and make our customers very happy.
THE WHITE EVENT
Here’s what we are doing:
Wood grain laminates can now be bought for the price of white.
The auto industry would call this “free upgrades.” We are calling this a “White Event.” This pricing is going to last through March ‘09 and is real. We are not messing with our pricing model (like some of our competitors) – this is the real deal! This is the time to get an authentic California Closets storage solution and save some money. There’s nothing better than that organized feeling you get from owning California Closets®.
I was watching Sunday Morning on CBS when, there it was! They were doing a feature on Brides magazine and were showing a clip from the movie Bride Wars. In the film clip was our closet! And in the closet was Kate Hudson talking about her Vera Wang wedding gown. Our closet had Kate Hudson and Vera Wang’s wedding gown in it. So how does this all happen? How does California Closets get in the movies? It’s who we are. We are the best known closet company in the world. Our reputation makes our brand second to none. But how did the New England franchise get involved? Here’s our Bride Wars story.
Bride Wars – the movie
Lincoln Theatre
We got the call from our corporate office that there was a movie being filmed in Boston that wanted to use California Closets for some of their sets. The movie was Bride Wars starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway and we were very willing to help. It is not everyday that you get to have your product in a movie – even though the movie is the ultimate chick-flick. This project was managed by our very capable Marketing Manager, Kim Kaplan and the designs for the closets were done by Boston area designer Erin Hall. They did a great job working with the movie staff to meet the needs for the sets. Our shop and installation departments were able to make special adjustments to meet mobility requirements. Everything went according to plan and the producers were very grateful. We were thrilled to be a part of the whole process and we were even happier when we got the invitation to the world premier in New York City.
Kim and Erin in New York
Kim Kaplan and Erin Hall
When the invitation to the premier came it was obvious to me who should represent the company at the premier and it certainly was not me. Kim and Erin made the trip to the premier and the experience was reported be very “unique.” The movie was very good but they never got to meet any of the stars. The Lincoln theatre was nice, they actually had a “blue” carpet for the entryway and they got to sit in the balcony. All this seems to be a little short of some real details. I have some doubts about whether or not we got the whole story on the trip. I am having a hard time believing that this was just a “unique” experience – these two, in New York and the experience can only be described as unique? Please. The real story always takes time to surface.
The California Closets Experience
Why were we chosen to do this movie? Why are we the company that is always on “This Old House?” This franchise has done 5 episodes of “This Old House.” Why? Why do we do so many closets for the Red Sox, the Celtics, the Bruins, and the Patriots? Why do so many different types of people want us in their homes organizing and simplifying their lives? Why do we have an unprecedented rate of repeat and referral business? When you pay attention to your clients and when you work hard to be the best – good things happen. Movies, TV shows, sports stars, celebrities and everyone else understands that some organizations are just great and deliver on their promises. We are creative and we deliver a product that is not matched by any competitor. We are California Closets!
It began when my children started to really converse with each other when I noticed the distinction and creativity of their words. There has always been slang - words that conveyed meaning with the way they sounded. In my youth, words such as “cool”, “wicked” or “radical” often made it into most conversations. Soon, these words became overused and gave way to other “words.”
As time goes by, (when you get older and become out of touch with absolutely anything …….cool?), you start to hear words from your kids that you just don’t understand. My son Robert, however, seems to want to take words to a new more confusing level for me. He and his friends use words and create derisive meanings that are just beyond my attempts to understand.
“Herb” was used nonstop to describe certain kids, teachers and quite frankly anyone that just wasn’t up on what “herb” means. Was it a play on the name Herb? Was it a putdown born of the person so described as a sage, rosemary or thyme?
Then, everything became “random.” To be random was just the worst. This teacher was just “random.” This player on the other team was just “so random.“ Does that mean I should be consistent – never deviate from the predictable? Randomness had me confused. I work very hard not to be random.
The latest confusion for me has been “new“. “What are you….NEW?” All of a sudden if you are new you will incur the derision of my son and his friends. What does it mean? Just when you think you have figured out the nuances of the word – the word becomes …….old.
Now, it appears that something described as “bad” could be in reference to a positive association – sometimes bad is good. These words made their way into the mainstream.
One of the worst things you can do as an out of touch parent is to try to use these words in what you believe is the right context. You are never correct in their appropriate usage and it is most difficult to get the right voice tone and body language that would communicate the fully meaning of the word.
Now what does this have to do with this California Closet business blog? Well, some of our competitors use words and use nuanced definitions to confuse potential clients. When a company tells you that their product is green – take the time to ask about it.
Ask us about our green product Lagoand we will give you the real facts.
Ask us about our new product line of decorative door glass from ThreeFormand we will tell you about the good works that buying this product will do for developing countries.
The most nuanced and confusing word is “value.” Many confuse “cheaper” with delivering value. California Closets delivers real value – you get the most for your dollar and a lifetime product that you can count on.
So as words come and go many with trendy or elusive meanings – I am very clear on what we have here at California Closets. We offer value. We have employees that are committed to delivering value and these people understand that this is the driving force behind California Closets.
New Survey from California Closets Reveals Americans Seek Space, Comfort and Organization
Hopkinton, MA (November 3, 2008) – A recent survey conducted by California Closets, the pioneer in spatial design solutions, reveals that a lack of space and organization in the home is a source of stress for 60 percent of Americans. In addition to strain resulting from disorganized home environments, external factors are also causing Americans anxiety. In the downturn economy and slowing housing market, many Americans are trying to identify ways to increase the value of their homes and make changes that customize their existing space to make it more conducive to their current lifestyle needs.
Home Organization Reduces Stress
A growing number of Americans are identifying clutter in their homes as a source of anxiety, with over a third of survey respondents admitting their home is so disorganized that it prevents them from getting anything done. In addition to revealing how a lack of home organization causes stress, the survey also found that 85 percent of Americans experience positive benefits as a result of a well-organized home. In fact, six in ten respondents agree that an organized living space makes them feel more calm, efficient and in control.
“This survey emphasizes what California Closets has always understood, which is that an organized and well-designed living space contributes directly to a more comfortable and ultimately less stressful home environment,” said Ken Cleary, owner of California Closets New England. “For the past thirty years, California Closets has been helping homeowners find serenity in their favorite spaces with customized spatial design solutions for every room in the home.”
Designed With You In Mind
California Closets can help create beautiful, customized designs to accommodate the unique needs of every homeowner, while bringing comfort and serenity to almost any space in the home. Some of the company’s most popular design solutions include:
The Family Gathering Space – whether it’s with entertainment/media centers, book shelves or other customized design solutions, California Closets can help create a comfortable place for friends and loved ones to gather.
Kitchen Pantry/Wine Storage – to organize kitchen essentials and favorite bottles of wine for effortless holiday season entertaining.
Home Office Systems – to prioritize and bring order to the endless mountain of papers and office technology as the new year brings household budget planning and tax preparation.
Extraordinary Closets – as wardrobes shift from fall to winter, the ultimate closet provides the perfect home for the ultimate wardrobe, with designated space for this season’s hottest shoes and coolest clothes. A unique, custom closet is also the perfect gift, especially for the person who has everything.
Craft Room – to organize hobbies, arts, crafts and even holiday gift wrapping stations in a convenient and manageable space.
Entryway/Mudroom – to create valuable storage space at the entry of the home that can accommodate outerwear, boots, sports equipment and more, for easy accessibility and tidiness.
To create these spatial design solutions, California Closets offers a wide variety of wood grain finishes and storage accessories. The newest addition to California Closets’ design portfolio is the assortment of LagoTM Italian finishes. Lago offers six distinct wood grain finishes – Venetian Wenge, Milano Grey, Roman Walnut, Umbrian Oak, Florentine Rosewood and Bellissima White.
All of these finishes are defined by a unique grain texture and an elegant palette of colors with the look and feel of wood veneer that enhances any décor. All of the new Lago finishes meet strict European E1 level guidelines, the global standard for clean and safe wood, exemplifying California Closets’ commitment to creating a healthier home.
About California Closets New England
California Closets New England provides individually-designed custom storage solutions for any space. Known for innovative product design, commitment to customers and creative solutions for any lifestyle, California Closets provides consumers more of life’s most valuable commodity – time. Additional information can be found at www.californiaclosets.com, in our showrooms, or by calling us at 508.544.9860 or use our 800.274.6754.
Showroom locations: Brighton, Danvers, Natick, Hyannis, Hopkinton and West Hartford, CT
California Closets Company, Inc. is owned by The Franchise Company, a subsidiary of First Service Corporation.
I am old. Not really old, but old enough to have seen the economic conditions we are experiencing before. No, this is nota 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?
It is not always the best indicator of economic trends.
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.
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.
Tell us! We want to hear what you have to say. Leave a comment here or send it in an email to CaliforniaClosetsNE@gmail.com. Your feedback is important to us.
Posted by California Closets® - New England Franchise 
Posted by California Closets® - New England Franchise 
Posted by California Closets® - New England Franchise 
