Black Friday health boost?

Vitamins, weight loss kits and energy drinks fly off the shelves of Complete Nutrition on Black Friday.

Companies: Complete Nutrition

Headquarters: Omaha, Neb.

Coffee and donuts is the breakfast of Black Friday champions. But many shopping enthusiasts still have health on their minds.
Complete Nutrition, a competitor of GNC, sees a 22% jump in sales on Black Friday. "We do really well against the big chains on Black Friday," said Ryan Zink, president of Complete Nutrition. "It's not just gift purchases. People are also buying our products for themselves."
Zink credits two reasons behind Complete Nutrition's Black Friday sales spike: Many people have just had a big Thanksgiving meal and are feeling guilty about having overeaten the night before. Other shoppers want to encourage family and friends to make a healthy start in the New Year.
"So they come and buy our gift kits on Black Friday," said Zink. "Both these trends lend very nicely to what we do."
On the day after Thanksgiving, Zink said Complete Nutrition's 130 stores in 32 states lure in shoppers with buy-one-get-one 50%-off promotions. "Some stores are getting even more aggressive this year with buy-one-get-one-free deals on Black Friday," he said, adding that some Complete Nutrition stores will open as early as 6 a.m. and extend store hours until 9 p.m.
Zink expects this year's sales to be even better. "We expect a 22% to 26% increase that day," he said.

Coffee with a cause

Some of the revenues from the Porpoura Coffee Shop go to cancer patients.

Companies: Porpoura Coffee Shop

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D.

Black Friday is the biggest sales day of the year for Porpoura Coffee Shop, the only coffee shop at the more than 70-store Columbia Mall.
"On Black Friday, our sales are 30% more than on a typical day. We're open almost 24 hours that day. It's insane, non-stop and we love it," said Richelle Mewes, co-owner of Porpoura.
Porpoura only sells certified Fair Trade organic coffee, which means their cup o' joe costs a pretty penny. "We're not cheap," said Mewes. "Our coffee probably costs 30% more than Starbucks' coffee."
Nevertheless, shoppers looking for a little fuel to propel them to their next bargain, aren't deterred. The company's unique story also helps.
Mewes and Sarah Heitkamp founded Porpoura in 2006 after winning $50,000 in a Gap Inc. business competition for the best community-based idea. "We wanted to open a business through which we could support low-income patients at the Altru Cancer Center in the area," said Mewes.
With the money, the two opened Porpoura. Today, the company has seven full-time employees and annual revenues of $200,000.
"I'm proud to say that some of them have gone on to become doctors, nurses and lawyers," said Mewes about her employees.
Some of the shop's revenues are used to provide Altru cancer patients with money for lodging, gas and nutrition needed during their treatment. Mewes and Heitkamp have full-time jobs and do not draw salaries from the shop. They are hoping to expand the business.

Kids' drop, parents shop

Kids hit the inflatable slides at Pump It Up, while parents load up on Black Friday deals.

Companies: Pump It Up

Headquarters: Tempe, Ariz.

Many shoppers will get up at the crack of dawn on Black Friday just to grab doorbuster deals like $10 waffle makers and flatscreen TVs for under $200. But dragging the kids along that early can be, well, a drag.
Enter Pump it Up.
The nationwide franchise of kid-friendly recreation centers offers inflatable slides, bounce castles, houses and pizza parties. Four years ago, Pump It Up started Black Friday Drop & Shop events, which allowed shoppers to drop off their kids at a center for several hours while they did their shopping.
"We entertained kids, did arts and crafts with them and served pizza," said Lee Knowlton, CEO of Pump It Up. "Our Black Friday sales jumped 30% to 40% [that year]," he said.
"This is a great event for us and it also keeps the kids active and busy," he said. This year, Knowlton said 140 Pump It Up locations will hold the Black Friday Drop & Shop event nationwide. The price will vary regionally, but the range is $15 to $25 per child for three to four hours of fun-filled babysitting.
Knowlton expects this year's Black Friday sales to increase 10% to 20% over last year. "The bookings are already looking good," he said. "We encourage parents to make reservations early because a couple of our locations have already sold out for the Black Friday event."

Charged up for Black Friday

Who knew? Batteries are huge sellers on Black Friday.

Companies: Batteries Plus

Headquarters: Hartland, Wis.

Sales surge on Black Friday for Batteries Plus.
The seller of all types of batteries and light bulbs sees a 15% to 20% jump on the day after Thanksgiving compared to any other weekday. "This has been pretty consistent now for the last five years," said Jayson Serrault, vice president for Batteries Plus.
The secret? "People buy a lot of gadgets as gifts that day, and they need batteries for things like camcorders, cameras and laptops," he said.
Another reason sales go up is because many Batteries Plus stores are located near malls, big-box stores, such as Home Depot and Lowe's, and in Wal-Mart parking lots, explained Serrault. This enables Batteries Plus stores to also take advantage of spillover traffic coming out of those retailers on Black Friday.
Although Wal-Mart's prices may be a tad lower, Serrault said Batteries Plus uses better customer service to still get shoppers in the door.
"We don't need to compete with Wal-Mart. Our prices may be $1 to $2 higher, but our sales associates are very well informed and can answer any question," he said."[People] are tired of buying the wrong product," he said. "Shoppers will pay a little bit more for good service."

Benefits Of A Relocation Service

In relocating into a new house or office, you are aware of the chaos it may bring to your life. With all the clutter in your house, the planning and preparation of the relocation, choosing the right house, and what to do before and after relocating, who could accomplish these things with just two hands?

The job of a relocation service is to simplify things in moving into a new location. It is their duty to make sure that every little detail you should know about your new ...

In relocating into a new house or office, you are aware of the chaos it may bring to your life. With all the clutter in your house, the planning and preparation of the relocation, choosing the right house, and what to do before and after relocating, who could accomplish these things with just two hands?

The job of a relocation service is to simplify things in moving into a new location. It is their duty to make sure that every little detail you should know about your new house, and all information will be dealt with.

Before anything else, make sure that the relocation service provides you with a relocation policy. These are the guidelines that would provide you with an explanation on the benefits that will be included.

The relocation service’s duty is to assist in home marketing. One of the most vital details of the process of relocation is selling your present home. With an in depth analysis, the relocation service would provide your house’s fair market value. The relocation service will make strategic market plans on how and where to sell your current home. They will be the ones to search for real estate agents and deal with legal matters for you. It is the relocation service’s duty to provide you with the exact or more of your previous house’s value.

Make sure that the relocation service would ask you all important factors you would prefer. Your finances would be considered in choosing the environment and your ideal house.

Before the relocation service could look for a house, you should be able to tell them your asking price. This refers to the price of the house your finances could reach. Next, tell them the neighborhood you would want. Whether it should be near your house, school, shopping malls, banks, park or churches and the public transportation is convenient. Tell them to check the security of the neighborhood.

Last, you should tell them what kind of house you would want to have. It could be brand new or second hand. If second hand, consider the age of the house, the materials used in the house. Make sure to remind your relocation service of the condition of the foundation, your preferences on the exterior and interior, estimated electric and water billing, and the level of electrical and water supply. Whether your dream house is brand new or second hand, you should tell the relocation service specific information on the number of stories, how many bedrooms, bathrooms and closets you want, if you prefer to have carpeting, a fireplace, a backyard, attic, landscaping and any minor details you would wish to purchase.

Another benefit a relocation service could give you is mortgage assistance. They will provide you with the top mortgage companies in your city for financial assistance. Most relocation services are recognized by mortgage companies which could give you a better chance of buying power if necessary.

Relocation services could also provide you with temporary housing. In other words, if they haven’t been able to find your ideal house, and your previous house is not yet sold on the market, this housing assistance could be a convenience to you and your family. These instant houses could be well-furnished depending on your needs with a low cost of rent.

In moving from your old house to your new one, the relocation service provides you with the trust that your personal property and appliances would be transferred properly. Throughout the whole process of moving, you will be informed on every detail the relocation service is doing. With a scheduled plan on transporting everything you asked for, they would provide you a fast settlement.

Not only does the relocation service provide you with utmost care of your property, they also assist you and your family within the first months of settlement into your new house. If needed, they could help you with your finances in fixing utilities and or money to cover the various operating expense of the relocation. Plus, they could help your family adjust into your new neighborhood. If anyone in your family needs a new job, or a baby-sitter for your child, the relocation service provides you with this information.

Having a new house is a lot of job. But with the help of a few more people, and a hundred of caring hands, you relocation would make your new life organized and comfortable.

Benefits of a Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam mattresses can be the answer you are looking for if you suffer from poor sleep or constant aching joints. One specific mattress is the visco memory mattress.

Memory foam mattresses can be the answer you are looking for if you suffer from poor sleep or constant aching joints. One specific mattress is the visco memory mattress.

The visco memory mattress was developed from a material developed by NASA that was used to help cushion astronauts against g-forces. The visco mattress can react to weight and body heat to give superior support while you sleep. The foam will slowly contour to the body shape while you lie on it, helping to reduce the tension on joints that can be experienced from a standard mattress.

Also known as a visco elastic mattress or memory mattress, the visco memory mattress is ideal for providing a comfortable nights sleep. With the body weight evenly distributed, circulation is improved throughout the body compared to sleeping on a traditional mattress. Arthritis relieve can also be achieved with a memory foam mattress in that it helps to alleviate aches and pains.

With a memory foam mattress, tossing and turning is reduced due to the contoured support that is provided. Your sleeping partner will also notice a difference in that they will not feel movement on the bed.

A memory foam mattress will return to its original state due to the foam structure that they are made of. This mattress will never sag like a common spring mattress, resulting in no need to periodically turn the mattress. A visco memory foam mattress can easily be rolled up, allowing for easy portability throughout the house.

Before buying a memory foam mattress, it is recommended that you personally test out the mattress in person. It also might beneficial to make note of certain makes and models and compare prices online. Make sure to read more info about memory foam mattresses at www.memory-foam-mattress.ez-search.us

Beds In A Bag Make You An Instant Designing Pro!

If your bedroom needs revamping but you're design-challenged, then read on!

If you feel bedroom-designing challenged like I am, then bed in a bag sets may just be perfect for you! Everything you need comes in one complete set, and is designed to match or coordinate perfectly.

With no guess work, your bedroom will come out looking just like those in the finest home design magazines and at a price you can afford.

If you stick with the better designer brands names like Lawrence, Burlington House, Dan River, and Croscill you'll find the attention to detail, fabrics and quality to be superior.

They'll typically feature higher thread counts of 200 or more, which will provide the best combination of luxury and durability.

Another example would be a simple matter of the elastic that comes on fitted sheets. The better ones will have elastic all the way around the edges, not just on two sides. This insures that your sheet won't pop off the corner of the bed while you're sleeping. I personally hate waking up tangled-up like that! lol

To be sure what's included in your bed bag, check your descriptive list carefully.
Most of the basics in bed bag sets will include:
comforter, flat and fitted sheets, bed skirt, pillowcase (s)

Many of the better sets will also offer optional matching drapes, area rugs, accent tables, lamps and other important accessories like accent pillows. You'll be amazed at how much detail and flair a few of these lush little decorative pillows can add to your bedroom!

You'll be able to select a complete ensemble that will deck out your entire bedroom from floor to ceiling with matching accessories.

You'll know these sets will match your taste to a Capital-"T", whether that means Traditional, Tasteful or Trendy!

Bedding in a bag sets are affordable and often cost much less than purchasing the items ala carte. The best part is you know that even the wildest, boldest colors, prints, patterns and fabrics for your bedding and accessories, will be designed to match and coordinate just perfectly. Get that home design magazine look the easy way!

If you're like many and simply insist on 5 or 6 pillow cases, you won't find that many in most bed bags. Don't worry. You can add coordinating solid pillow cases easily enough. Maybe with piping and extra detailing that matches the overall color scheme. Some of the best bed bag sets will actually have optional matching pillow cases available.

Let's look at just two popular, quality bedding sets. There are hundreds of bed bag sets to select from, so let your creative juices flow!

Dan River always designs quality bedding whether you choose separate items or bed in a bags. The Monument Springs set is one example. Using earth tones to create a natural look, this set features a faux suede comforter in tan, brown, beige and chocolate with a large patchwork look.

Nothing's quilt-like about these large patches of near-suede material, they look and feel like the real thing...but without the problems of cowhide which feels so heavy and will become shiny with use. This suede-like fabric will last for years and has a light-weight feel and soft, cuddly texture.
Solid light neutral tone sheets and pillow shams in 210 thread count provide lasting night time comfort. A 100% polyester bed skirt in a solid brown earth tone completes this set to perfection. Of course, you'll want to dry clean the comforter and bed skirt.
The sheets and pillow shams are machine washable. Beautiful enough for the most elegant bedroom, this easy to love bag bed set is just unique and easy to live in.

Burlington House Luxury Bed in a Bag Set in their Tuscany design is a fabulous set in shades of greens and ivory. The set includes 220 thread count cotton sheets and pillowcases.

The top sheet is edged in a beautiful, small floral pattern which creates the perfect accent. It's got a center of ivory highlighted with the small floral pattern around the edges which matches the flat sheet perfectly.
The drop section of the comforter is olive green and the color scheme is perfect for blending into a room featuring natural, earth colors. The comforter needs to be dry cleaned along with the bed skirt. The sheets and pillow cases are machine washable.

Complete your look with the matching drapes, area rugs, tables, lamps and various shaped decorative accent pillows, and you'll be proud and amazed at how easy it was to pull your bedroom decor together!

You'll love having fun selecting the different bedroom looks you can create from bedding in a bag sets like this. You could even switch themes from bright, cheery florals for spring and summer, to more traditional tones for fall and winter- why keep the same look all year round..?

No one but you will know that you didn't call in a professional home designer to help you decorate the perfect bedroom. You'll love the selection of fabrics, the textures, colors and patterns- and the coordinated look you'll get when you choose top quality bedding that comes in sets like this. Simply smile when your friends compliment you on your home decorating skills!