Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Public Service Announcement Better Business Bureau & Investor’s Group Lunch & Learn Seminars COMPENSATION AND BUSINESS SUCESSION PLANNING Central and northern Alberta businesses, plan for the future of your business! Attend the first of the Better Business Bureau & Investor’s Group - Lunch & Learn Seminars: “Compensation and Business Succession Planning”. Strategies and Topics to Include: Compensation & Tax Planning, Effective Use of Holding Companies, Buy - Sell Agreements, Principles of Integration of Taxes, How to Increase RRSP Limits, Business Succession Planning plus many other Tax-Effective Strategies for Business Owners. For convenience, these seminars will be held in north Edmonton (September 20 – Chateau Louis), south Edmonton (September 19 – Delta South) as well as a Red Deer (September 21 – Red Deer Lodge). The speaker, for the seminars, will be Caroline Daviduk, the Senior Financial Advisor, Investors Group™. BBB members can reserve a seat at this informative seminar for $25 (plus GST) and the public are also welcome for $35.00 (plus GST), which includes a lunch at 11:30 a.m. with the seminar starting at 12:00 p.m. Seating is limited. Please reserve your seat early. Phone (780) 488-6632, or toll free 1-800-232-7298 ext. 247 or email edmbbbmbr@gmail.com About The Speaker Caroline Daviduk, B.A. Adv., PFP, CIM, CFP is the Senior Financial Advisor, Investors Group. With over 18 years in the financial service industry, and several qualifications including the prestigious Certified Financial Planning Designation, Caroline has gained extensive experience and expertise in working with business owners to achieve financial success. Together with her team, Caroline specializes in tax and investment planning. She is a leading authority on providing customized strategies to business owners incorporating business, financial, insurance, and tax elements to provide a comprehensive approach. About The Better Business Bureau The Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta was founded in 1957 and is a non-profit membership association of business and professional firms. We are a public service agency devoted to the vitality of the free enterprise system and the concerns of the consuming public. We are NOT a government agency. Our Vision is…To develop, encourage and promote an ethical marketplace and our Mission is…To promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education and service excellence. For more information about The Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta, visit our website at www.edmontonbbb.org. - 30 - 1:10:39 PM

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Monday, August 21, 2006

Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta Media Release Back-to-School a Good Time to Master your Marketplace ABCs Edmonton, AB., August 15, 2006 – As the school year begins, the Better Business Bureau encourages parents to join with their kids and boost their learning skills. An informed consumer is a happy consumer. With the start of the school year, the Better Business Bureau is encouraging adults to master their Marketplace ABCs to ensure satisfactory shopping experiences year-round, said Chris Lawrence, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta. The BBB’s Marketplace ABCs include the following tips: Ask for All Details Relevant to the Sale. This is particularly important when shopping online. Before agreeing to purchase a product or service, you should know the physical location and phone number of the merchant, read the refund and return policy, have in writing any warranty or guaranty details, be familiar with delivery/shipping costs and time schedules, feel comfortable that the merchant is reliable and not the subject of consumer complaints, and be able to trust that any information you submit to complete the sale transaction (credit card number, etc.) will be treated with the proper care. Be your Own Best Protector. Be leery of high pressure too good to be true sales claims. Say no if you do not believe you have received satisfactory answers to your questions. Legitimate businesses will not insist on immediate sales and are happy to provide you with the information you need to make a wise purchasing decision. Read before you sign anything to make sure you understand it, and to make sure it matches what the salesperson told you. Get every sales promise in writing. Carefully Check out Businesses and Deals before signing anything, before paying any money up front, and before releasing any personal or financial information (this includes your Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, credit card, banking account number and other personal data). The Better Business Bureau has reports on more than two million businesses and charities. To access the BBB’s database of business reports, go to www.edmontonbbb.org or contact our consumer consultants at (780) 482-2341 or toll free at 1-800-232-7298. When in doubt, always check it out. And, trust your gut instincts. If you have unanswered questions before the sale, you’re likely to end up with an unanswered complaint after the sale, Chris Lawrence said. Consumers who need assistance resolving disputes with businesses can file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. If the complaint cannot be resolved through conciliation, the BBB can offer mediation and arbitration services. - 30 - For media inquiries please contact: Chris Lawrence, Chief Executive Officer Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta Phone: (780) 488-6632 Ext. 243 Toll Free: 1 (800) 232-7298 Email: chris@edmontonbbb.org 12:20:28 PM

Better Business Bureau® of Central and Northern Alberta Media Release Better Business Bureau & Investor’s Group™ Lunch & Learn Seminars   To assist businesses with their financial planning, the Better Business Bureau® of Central and Northern Alberta, in conjunction with their member company, Investors Group™ will be offering a series of Lunch & Learn Seminars. For convenience, these seminars will be held at north (September 20 – Chateau Louis) and south (September 19 – Delta South) locations in Edmonton, as well as in Red Deer (September 21 – Red Deer Lodge) location.   The first in the series will be:   “COMPENSATION AND BUSINESS SUCESSION PLANNING”   Strategies and Topics to Include: Compensation & Tax Planning, Effective Use of Holding Companies, Buy - Sell Agreements, Principles of Integration of Taxes, How to Increase RRSP Limits, Business Succession Planning plus many other Tax-Effective Strategies for Business Owners.   The speaker, for all three seminars, will be Caroline Daviduk, the Senior Financial Advisor, Investors Group™   Better Business Bureau members can reserve a seat at this informative seminar for $25.00 (plus 6% GST) and the public are also welcome for $35.00 (plus GST), which includes lunch at 11:30 a.m. with the seminar starting at 12:00 p.m.   About The Speaker   Caroline Daviduk, B.A. Adv., PFP, CIM, CFP is the Senior Financial Advisor, Investors Group™.   With over 18 years in the financial service industry, and several qualifications including the prestigious Certified Financial Planning  Designation, Caroline has gained extensive experience and expertise in working with business owners to achieve financial success. Together with her team, Caroline specializes in tax and investment planning. She is a leading authority on providing customized strategies to business owners incorporating business, financial, insurance, and tax elements to provide a comprehensive approach. About The Better Business Bureau The Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta was founded in 1957 and is a non-profit membership association of business and professional firms.  We are a public service agency devoted to the vitality of the free enterprise system and the concerns of the consuming public.  We are NOT a government agency. Our Vision is…To develop, encourage and promote an ethical marketplace and our Mission is…To promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education and service excellence. For more information about The Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta, visit our website at www.edmontonbbb.org. 11:34:43 AM

Friday, August 11, 2006

Better Business Bureau® of Central and Northern Alberta Media Release   July Top 10 Complaints & Inquiries   Edmonton, AB (August 2, 2006) During the month of July 2006, the Better Business Bureau® of Central and Northern Alberta received the following complaints and inquiries about businesses in the following industries: (Ranked from highest to the lowest)     Complaints   Inquiries  1  Auto Dealers-New Cars  1  Movers  2  Movers  2  Computers Software & Services    3  Furniture-Retail  3  Home Builders  4  Home Builders  4  Information Technology  5  Roofing Contractors  5  Work-At-Home Cos.  6  Computers Software & Services  6  Auto Dealers-New Cars  7  Landscape Contractors  7  Contractors-General  8  Vacation Time Share  8  Home Improvements  9  Weight Control Services  9  Roofing Contractors 10  Auto Repair & Service 10  Internet Marketing Services   Backgrounder   The following is a Consumer Tip from the Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta that provides background information about complaints that we received. For further tips, visit www.edmontonbbb.org/BBBtips.html   Buying Furniture   Household furniture is sold in two categories: upholstered (sofa, easy chairs, etc.) and wooden or metal furniture (often referred to as case goods). Upholstered Furniture   Traditionally, the best frames have been made of kiln-dried hardwood which resists warping. Today, quality frames may also be made of steel, plastic, laminated boards or a combination of materials. A spring edge consists of a heavy-gauge wire connected to the front row of coil springs or front ends of sinuous springs that gives the upholstered piece a better ride. A hard edge is lumber padded and upholstered to soften it. Legs on upholstered furniture can be either built-in (part of the front and side rail to make them an integral part of the frame) or screw-in (for removal in a tight spot). Some longer pieces (i.e. sofas) have additional center supports. The design, size and amount of support or softness desired by the designer will determine which type of spring construction is used. Examples are: §         8-way tied Spiral – shaped coil springs are cinched to the frame then hand knotted in 8 different places along the coil with heavy twine. This provides the firmest seat because the weight of the setter is more uniformly distributed. The quality depends on the number of coils in a seat, the gauge of wire and the number and type of knots. §         No-sag or sinuous Less costly and usually found in moderately priced upholstery. An S-shaped wire fastened from the front to the back. Gives a softer seat and requires less room between the bottom of the sofa and the deck. The quality of this construction depends upon the gauge of wire and number of wires used. §         Woven webbing seating suspension European technology is used to create a durable and resilient seating construction using industrial strength polyester/nylon woven webbing. Wide straps are permanently attached to the frame in either a straight or basket-weave configuration and straps are set to specific, unified tension gauged by a computer for consistency of seating throughout. This suspension provides a flexible yet sturdy foundation that lasts indefinitely while allowing for more freedom in terms of design, shape and comfort. This is the same seating suspension that many automotive and aeronautic manufacturers use, knowing that it can withstand heavy weight and stress. Fabrics are a major cost factor for the manufacturer. Choose your fabric based on the usage and expected durability of the piece. The furniture salesperson should be aware of the benefits of the various choices (synthetic, nylon, cotton, etc.). Fabrics are either exclusively woven, for a particular furniture manufacturer, or made available on the market for various manufacturers to use. The open availability allows some manufacturers to “knock-off” in appearance another’s more quality piece using the same or similar design and fabric, with a lesser quality frame, spring, cushions, etc. Most quality manufacturer’s stores can custom order, to meet your individual needs for fabrics. This will, of course, increase the cost and delivery time. The store should give you a written estimate of these details, before you make your purchase. Very firm foam in cushions may be a sign of poor quality that may not last very long. Another sign of poor quality foam is if the individual seat cushions on a sofa or loveseat buckle and form a gap in between them. The following is a checklist for buying upholstered furniture: Seats are comfortable Backs are free of bumps and hard spots Frame is sturdy, doesn't creak or wobble Frame sits squarely on the floor Frame and corners are well padded Corners are braced and glued Seams and welts are straight Patterns and stripes match at seams Patterns are centered Cushions fit snugly Cushions are resilient Buttons are sewn on securely Heavy-duty pieces are covered in tightly woven, durable fabric Mechanisms on recliners and sleep sofas work smoothly Any moving parts clear fabric to prevent tearing Metal parts are smooth with no sharp edges Dual purpose seating is well balanced in each position Wooden Furniture When you hear salespeople refer to “case goods,” they’re talking about chests, dressers, tables – living room and dining room pieces. “Case goods” is an industry term that refers to furniture that’s generally constructed of wood. In actuality, today’s case goods may be made totally or in part of metal, plastics or other man-made materials. Materials are, of course, a determining factor in the look of a piece and will affect durability and price. Two other types of wooden furniture are knock down, which requires assembly (bookshelves, computer desks, entertainment units, etc.) and unfinished furniture that is plain and can be finished by the consumer. As with upholstered furniture, be careful of “knock-off” models of another more quality manufacture’s using lesser quality materials and construction. The following is a checklist for buying wooden furniture: Doors and drawers fit well. Drawers have glides and stops. Drawers glide easily when pulled. Drawers have dust panels. Drawer corners are jointed securely. Insides of drawers are smooth and snag free. Long shelves have center supports. Doors swing open easily without squeaking or rubbing. Hardware is secure and strong. No rough edges on hardware. Long doors are attached with study hinges. Interior lights operate easily and replacement bulbs are easily purchased. Entertainment units have hole for electrical cords. Heavy balanced feeling when table is rocked. Tables leaves fit properly. Tables leaves match grain and finish of table. Finish feels smooth to the touch.(except distressed) Distressed finish has randomly spaced dark marks. As always, ensure that you contact the Better Business Bureau for a reliability report on the retailer that you choose to purchase furniture from.    -30 -  For media inquiries please contact:   Chris Lawrence, Chief Executive Officer Better Business Bureau® of Central and Northern Alberta Phone: (780) 488-6632 Ext. 243 Toll Free: 1 (800) 232-7298 Email: chris@edmontonbbb.org 12:25:11 PM