May 1, 2009

GREETINGS AND SAL-UTATIONS!

Dear NJGCA Member:

BUSINESS 101: MANAGING FINANCES & HELPING YOURSELF

As a small business owner, you have to make tough calls every day to keep your business viable.  You make key decisions from how to pay your employees or property taxes to when to purchase supplies or materials.  And you do all of this with a feasible business budget in mind.

The State of New Jersey never learned this simple and most basic tenant of finance.  Instead they have done everything to mismanage OUR money in Trenton.  What do I mean?

In March, Governor Corzine presented a $29.8 billion budget for next year – yet relies on federal funding to make up for an estimated $7 billion shortfall.  But even with all that extra cash, taxes will still INCREASE next year.  After years of mishandling our finances, poor fiscal policies have hampered New Jersey’s economy and those who do business here.  In fact, next year corporate business taxes, personal income taxes, and state sales taxes are all projected to be off by hundreds-of-millions of dollars!

And you thought that a hike in Unemployment Insurance was your only worry next year?

Ironically, Trenton can’t do what you do every day: Spend within your means and run things effectively.  But that fact will not stop Trenton from forcing you to make up that shortfall.  This underscores the need for all NJGCA members to actively pay attention as policies in Trenton will directly affect your business – and the wallets of your patrons.  That’s not just good sense; its part of being a sharp business owner!

And speaking of paying attention, NJGCA and our allies are on the cusp of a historical legislative triumph in Trenton!  After many months of hard work and endless meetings, there is light at the end of the tunnel for our Right to Repair and First Right of Refusal initiatives.

However, that doesn’t mean that there still isn’t work to be done.  We still NEED YOU and all our members to help contact Legislators and convince them to support our initiatives.  That’s part of being an ACTIVE MEMBER and DEFENDING your small business.

Many of you have been fantastic business activists and I thank you for all your help.  But many of you have not bothered to contribute at all.  That’s a sad statement to make – and it kind of pisses me off!

As I’ve said continually, we are very affective representing you in Trenton, but I NEED YOU to put a voice and face to what’s going on out there.  When we have members who don’t show up to meetings or can’t be bothered to contribute their time it hurts ALL our members.

Case in point is our GDC Price Matrix.  We have gone through a lot of trouble to get people to volunteer to submit their prices.  They do this to not only help their own small business, but help their fellow retailers.  And yet we have people who refuse to come forward to volunteer OR have volunteered but have been unreliable and have not submitted their prices timely with each new delivery.

Yet, others still call me asking for price information of competitors because they think they may be paying too much for their delivered product.  The first question I ask is “do you go to the MEMBERS ONLY section of the web site daily to check the prices that are posted today”?  Too many times I hear silence on the other end of the phone.  C’mon guys!!!  Get with it!!!

I’ve always been very direct, and will continue to be blunt: Everyone is expected to carry their own weight.  EVERYONE!   Any success we enjoy hinges on your active participation and demands you’re your attention.

In last week’s Road Warrior we announced our participation in the NJ Green Automotive Repair Council. We have already received a number of phone calls from those interested in participating.  I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity - See further details below.

Thanks for listening - See you next week!

Regards,
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

IN THIS WEEK’S NJGCA ROAD WARRIOR:

THE NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS
•BUSINESS FOR SALE: Are you interested in expanding your business?
•HELP WANTED: Could you fill this position?

BUSINESS TOOLS: National Credit Solutions
•Do you have credit problems?  Improve your credit with NCS Group!

NJ GREEN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR COUNCIL
•Take advantage of this program and get recognized for your "green" credentials!

NEWS AROUND THE STATE
•Credit Card reform bill nears final passage in Congress
•New Jobless claims decline, as consumer spending falls
•Vehicle fee hike proposals heard in Assembly
•US DOT Chief: Raising gas tax not the answer

ON THE NJGCA HOMEPAGE

MEMBER SAVINGS PAGE
Check out all of our MBPs and Programs designed to SAVE YOU MONEY!

HELPFUL LINKS
Looking for something? Take a look at our list of useful links!

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Find all our communications and search for old e-newsletters. Take a look!

NEWS AROUND THE STATE ARCHIVE
Need to catch up on events?  Want to see what's going on?  Find out here!

THE NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS

FOR SALE:

Emily Bielen, owner of John’s American Service Center, is selling her small business.

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION:  A corner service station; has been owned and operated by the same proprietor since 1956.  The owner is retiring and seeks interested parties.  The station has two bays with lifts and an office.  Currently the station performs full service automotive repairs and tire sales.  Gas pumps and tanks were completely upgraded to EPA guidelines in 1994, including double-wall fiberglass tanks and lines. 

Property also includes a 3-family, fully rented apartment building.  A two-car garage and a three-car garage are also included on the property; either can be used for additional storage or rental.

All buildings and garages will be included in the sale.

PROPERTY LOCATION: The station is a corner lot located at the intersection of 16th Street & Grove Street in Irvington, conveniently situated one block up from Garden State Parkway Exit 144.

For full location details and to view this classified ad, please click HERE

Interested parties are to contact Emily Bielen at 732-388-9291.

If you are interested in placing a classified ad, please contact Debbie Hill.

HELP WANTED:
 

Somerset based Shell Station seeks professional and reliable Front Office Manager with excellent communications skills. Must be well organized and able to multi-task and delegate work as required.  We are a family owned auto repair and car rental business, operating since 1946.

Interested parties: Please contact Frank Resta at 732-887-7773 for further information and to arrange an interview.
  

BUSINESS TOOLS: National Credit Solutions

Because of the current credit crunch with our economy, many of you are wondering if there is anything that you can do to improve your credit position. NJGCA may have a solution to your credit concerns. We are working with the NCS Group.  NCS offers credit repair, restoration and education through their exclusive Multi-Phase System™.

“At National Credit Solutions their only mission is to change the lives of their clients by restoring their credit and their confidence to a level that allows them to embrace their dreams and goals in obtaining homes, cars and endless opportunities.”

Is your credit score too low for you to do a loan at this time? Would higher credit scores enable you to qualify for lower interest rates, qualify for lower down payments, purchase more home, save dollars on all your home, auto, life and health insurance policies?

NCS offers a free evaluation and consultation after they have evaluated your credit report. After the free evaluation and consultation and then, when the restoration process is complete and we have raised your credit score and standardized your report, you are eligible, free of charge, for up to 36 months of financial counseling and education.

If the answers to the above questions are yes, please call Charles Gray at National Credit Solutions. Charles may be reached at 201 498-1105.

You can also contact Phil Apruzzi at the NJGCA office to get you “On The Road” to credit restoration. Phil can be reached at 973-376-0066 x- 209. Don’t forget you can also contact the NJGCA Territory Manager for your area.

Visit the NCS website to learn more; http://www.ncs700.com

NJ GREEN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR COUNCIL

NJGCA is participating in the NJ Green Automotive Repair Council along with AAA-NJ, the NJ Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJCAR), and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.  
 
The council's mission is to encourage NJ automotive repair facilities to adopt environmentally responsible business practices. 

Through a certification program for dealership and independent automotive repair facilities, the council will also establish “green” repair standards.  Those who are reviewed and qualify will receive certification.  Stickers will also be given to those facilities to illustrate their participation in the program.

If you would like to participate in the program and fill out an application, please contact Debbie Hill at 973-376-0066.  An application fee and annual review fee are applicable.  

More facts about the program are available www.njgreenautorepair.org


NEWS AROUND THE STATE

4/30/2009:
Credit Card reform bill nears final passage in Congress
A consumer protection measure currently before Congress is close to being approved.  If implemented, the bill will reform current credit card practices; including the elimination of ‘double cycle billing’, no retroactive rate hikes, a 45 day warning for rate changes, and prohibits individuals under the age of 18 from obtaining a credit card.

4/30/2009:
New Jobless claims decline, as consumer spending falls
After two months of gains, consumer spending fell in March by 0.2 percent – a lower drop than the 0.1 percent that many experts predicted.  Conversely, the Labor Department said new unemployment claims fell compared with February claim numbers.

4/29/2009:
Vehicle fee hike proposals heard in Assembly
The Assembly Budget Committee recently heard testimony from the Motor Vehicle Commission on their plan to raise 38 fees this year.  The Commission hopes to use the additional funds to pay for $300 million in operations this year.

4/29/2009:
US DOT Chief: Raising gas tax not the answer
In light of the current economic crisis, now is the wrong time to raise federal Gas Taxes, says US Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood.  LaHood made his comments during a recent hearing before Senate’s surface transportation subcommittee.