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It’s Fall Car Care Month…Does Your Vehicle Make the Grade?

Did you know that 62 percent of motorists operate their vehicles under one or more severe service conditions but less than 10 percent think they do? That’s what AAA claims so the Henry Daily Herald has compiled the following tips to determine if your car or truck measures up.

John Nielsen, director of AAA Approved Auto Repair and Auto Buying Services, urges motorists to follow the automobile manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule to improve the reliability and longevity of their vehicles. "With increased traffic congestion and longer commutes becoming more common, many motorists do not realize what they think of as normal driving is actually severe when it comes to wear and tear on their vehicle," Nielsen said. According to Nielsen, maintenance schedules for severe driving conditions typically require the vehicle's fluids and filters to be changed on a more frequent basis, and more frequent inspections.

All motorists, whether driving under severe or normal conditions, should keep their vehicles regularly maintained, said Mark Hand, an owner of the Express Oil Change franchise. "The cost of maintaining an existing vehicle is far less than purchasing a new one outright, and we provide the services to do so at our 170 locations," Hand said. Hand advises motorists do three principle things to ensure the longevity of their automobiles: perform regular maintenance with oil changes, keep tires rotated and balanced, and ask questions about vehicle maintenance.

Staying on the Cutting Edge

The weather may be getting cooler but that doesn’t mean your interest in your lawn should drop as well! Among all of the strategies that make a lawn look its best, mowing properly is one of the most important. Here are a few mowing tips from Spring-Green Lawn Care’s David and Lori Mize to keep your lawn a cut above the rest.

Keep it High
The first guideline for growing grass, the Mizes tell the Raleigh Downtowner, is mowing high. A lawn kept clipped at the correct height is able to stay greener, helps with weed control, conserves water by shading the soil and has more food producing ability. Mowing at the right frequency is also vital in keeping your lawn in top condition. Lawns grow at very different rates from season to season but the key to mowing frequency is to never remove more than 1/3 of the total blade height in a single mowing.

Stay Sharp
We receive grass care inquiries every year about lawns that look brown even after periods of rain and cooler weather. In almost every case, this is the result of a dull mower blade shredding the tips of the grass. When a blade is dull, it rips the turf instead of cutting cleanly. The ripped tips then bleach out and turn brown, giving the whole lawn a tan or brown cast. To keep your grass growing strong, you should touch up your blade edge with a file or have it re-sharpened two to three times per year but remember to always disconnect the spark plug anytime you put your hands into the blade area.

"Grasscycling" is Great
Clippings "recycle" as much as 15 percent of all the food value of the lawn fertilizer applied, meaning “grasscycling” (leaving clippings on the lawn instead of bagging them) can be greener and better fed than one where clippings are removed. And because clippings have such high water content, they break down quickly and return both moisture and lawn fertilizing nutrients to the soil fast. Letting clippings lie taps into the natural cycle of nature and saves time and work with lawn fertilization.

For more tips, click here!

Advice Fit for (and from!) a King

It’s been a while since we’ve featured some advice from our friend, The Franchise King, but that streak is ending NOW. Here are some tips from His Majesty Joel Libava from a recent MSN Business on Main article about what to keep in mind before starting a franchise.

- Franchises don't come cheap. The cost can start at $15,000 for small, home-based operations, and go well into six figures for more established chains.

- Don't break the mold. If you want to create your own business model, then franchising may not be for you, because you'll likely have to follow a rigid framework for how the business should be run.

- Watch out for scams. Do your due diligence when choosing a franchise, because the industry is rife with scammers and default rates are at about 25 percent, according to recent data from the Small Business Administration.

Bearing in mind the above considerations, Libava says if you find a concept that fits your skill set and involves something you actually enjoy doing, going the franchise route can be a lucrative and rewarding entrepreneurial option; just be sure it’s something you can commit your heart and soul to working at every day. Here are a few more recommendations before signing on the dotted line:

- Have funding to cover you for the first year or two.
- Talk to other franchisees, past and present.
- Review the Franchise Disclosure Document that includes all the financials on the company.

And Now for Some Expert Advice

Did you know a new franchise opens every eight minutes in the United States? Karol Mercurio does and it’s her job to find the right opportunity for every client.

Oprah.com reported that Mercurio is a New Jersey-based consultant for MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network who, much like a real estate agent, is constantly seeking the best opportunities and fits for her clients. She says record numbers of people have entered the franchise market since corporate loyalty is generally down during this recession. She says they feel the only way to create self-worth is by becoming your own boss.

Mercurio says it's best to consider your motivation before getting involved with a franchise because they take an enormous amount of commitment. She also says to evaluate your skill set to find strengths, weaknesses, interests and overall goals. There are actually 75 different categories and more than 3,500 franchises to choose from – proving there’s much more to franchising than just fast food – so Mercurio also says to do your research and don't settle until you find a comfortable match. She recommends franchises that are both recession- and Internet-proof, those in the service industry and home-based businesses.

"Most franchisers don't require their franchisees to possess industry experience, but managerial experience is extremely beneficial," Mercurio says.

Photo: MatchPoint's Karol Mercurio.

Fake Can Be Great!

No, we’re not talking about personalities here…we’re talking about tans!

TLC’s Slice of Life blog reported that with the increased attention on the risks of traditional outdoor and indoor tanning, sun worshipers are seeking other ways to keep their bodies bronzed. There are several ways to do this – professional spray tans, booth spray tans, self-tanners and makeup/bronzers, to name a few – but in order to make the color last as long as possible, follow these tips from Todd Beckman, founder of The Tan Company:

1) Wait at least four to six hours before showering or swimming
2) Use moisturizer daily
3) Avoiding exfoliation until your next session
4) Stay away from salt water and chlorine

The Secret to Saving

Want to save thousands in operations costs? According to QSR magazine, all that's needed is a willingness to try new systems or make a few adjustments to existing protocols.

For example, McAlister’s Deli, known for its signature 4,000-square-foot stores, recently figured out how to save 10 percent in build-out costs by streamlining its kitchen and cutting seating. Bill McClintock, the brand’s senior vice president of development, says leaving the décor inside the restaurant was extremely important, ensuring that customers still got the same dining experience in the new smaller stores. Where he saw savings, however, was the refrigerator. Rather than relying solely on walk-ins, McAlister’s new kitchen relies heavily on reach-in freezers, eliminating the need for multiple large walk-in coolers. Also, by cutting down on seating, operations costs like upkeep and rent are reduced. Not to mention that consumers extend the lunch daypart by coming in early or later to avoid the crowds in the smaller stores.

Click here for some more money-saving secrets!

The Right Way to Tan

Independence Day weekend is almost here, which means countless individuals will be hitting the beach to soak up some sun and have some fun. Before setting foot on the sand, however, consider the effects those UV rays can have on your skin.

"There's been much debate over the 'right' amount of UV exposure but despite statistics, many people still want that summer glow," said Todd Beckman, founder and CEO of The Tan Company, one of the fastest growing tanning chains in the U.S. "Research shows that vitamin D plays a huge role in overall health and those with low vitamin D levels have double the risk of dying from heart disease and other causes over an eight-year period. However, this is a clear case of where you can get too much of a good thing. It's imperative to take precautions any time you tan, especially when skin hasn't been exposed to UV rays in some time like this long winter. Protecting your skin during indoor and outdoor exposure should be your number one priority no matter your age."

Here are some tips from Beckman and his network of certified skincare consultants on tanning the right way this Independence Day weekend:

1. Slather on sunscreen. Apply a lotion with at least SPF 15 a minimum of 30 minutes before exposure and reapply after swimming or towel-drying - even if the product is waterproof.

2. Protect eyes and lips. Closing your eyes while tanning isn't enough; opt for FDA-compliant eyewear instead. The same goes for lips: They produce less melanin so slick on balm with SPF every time you tan.

3. Build a base. To ensure an even tan, begin by exfoliating skin and consider a few initial indoor tanning sessions: The gradual exposure can prevent a painful sunburn.

4. Note medications and family histories. Certain medications can increase the likelihood of a burn. Discuss their possible effects as well as any abnormal moles or family history of skin cancer with your physician before UV exposure.

Photo: Tan Company founder and CEO Todd Beckman.

Summer Lovin’…for Your Lawn!

Do the lush lawns of your neighbors turn you green with envy? If so, check out these great tips on The Lawn Blog from Spring-Green Lawn Care’s Harold Enger about how to achieve a thick, vibrant landscape to call your own. (Check out the tips in their entirety here.)

1. Address Pests: One single insect can lay thousands of eggs, ensuring a continual attack on your lawn and landscape but if you know where to look for these pests, their impact can be minimal. For your landscape plants, Enger says to start by looking at the leaves or needles and keep an eye out for chew marks, feeding trails or curled leaves, as all can be indicators of insect activity. As for lawns, most surface-feeding insects will hide in the thatch layer during the day so you need to look for signs of their activity versus the actual insects.

2. Mow, Mow, Mow Your Lawn: Mowing is a simple process but it has more impact on the health and growth of a lawn than any other regular maintenance activity. Start by setting your mower deck to 2½ to 3½ inches – Enger says a soda can on its side should be able to slide under the mower at this height – and mow your lawn when it needs it as opposed to keeping to a weekly schedule.

3. Watch Your Water: When Mother Nature doesn’t supply enough rainfall, supplemental watering is integral to maintaining a healthy lawn but Enger says to remember too much water can be wasteful and even detrimental to the lawn’s lifespan and too little water can lead to turf that’s more susceptible to disease, insect and weed infestations. A well-maintained lawn needs one inch of water per week to stay green and growing so instead of setting your automatic sprinkler system so come up every day to water each zone for 10 minutes, set the system to fun only every three to four days for a longer time per zone – a practice which prevents roots from growing closer to the surface.