Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL October 5, 2012 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include 3M Company (MMM), Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY), EI DuPont de Nemours & Co. (DD), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Bebe Stores Inc. (BEBE).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Thursdays Analyst Blog:

3M Restructures, Drops Avery Plan

3M Company (MMM), a globally diversified technology company, has reorganized its business groups to better serve its operating market. The company had been operating through six business groups: Consumer and Office, Display and Graphics, Electro and Communications, Healthcare, Industrial and Transportation, Safety, Security and Protection Services Business.

After the restructuring the company will operate through five business groups: Consumer (2011 sales of $4.2 billion), Industrial ($9.6 billion), Health Care ($5.0 billion), Safety & Graphics ($5.5 billion), and Electronics & Energy ($5.7 billion). The last two segments have been newly formed.

The restructured groups are effective immediately. The company will be providing the restated historical figures for the two new segments from first quarter of 2013. Safety & Graphics group will comprise nine operating divisions (3M Touch Systems, Communication Markets, Electrical Markets, Electronic Solutions, Electronics Markets Materials, Infrastructure Protection, Mobile Interactive Solutions, Optical Systems and Renewable Energy). Electronics & Energy will have eight operating divisions (Architectural Markets, Building & Commercial Services, Commercial Graphics, Industrial Mineral Products, Mining, Oil & Gas Solutions, Occupational Health & Environmental Safety, Security Systems and Traffic Safety Systems). Along with this reshuffle, the company also made some changes in its leadership positions.

See the article here:
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: 3M, Avery Dennison, EI DuPont de Nemours, Johnson & Johnson and Bebe Stores

MEMPHIS, TN -

(WMC-TV) - A Mid-South woman claims the construction company hired to repair her fire damaged home left the job incomplete after she and her insurance company paid them thousands of dollars.

Dorothy Stuckey has had a challenging year.

In January, her home caught on fire due to an electrical problem. More recently, she lost her job.

But it is what happened between then and now that prompted her to call the Action News 5 Investigators.

Dorothy Stuckey says she paid Northcross Restoration Company more than $100,000 in insurance money to restore her fired damaged home. But she says owner Charles Northcross sent her a sub contractor that turned her rehab into a nightmare.

"It took them a whole month to gut my house out and they still didn't gut it all the way out," said Stuckey.

Stuckey says builders painted over fire damaged and rotted wood. She said they replaced expensive fixtures with cheap ones.

"If you see how they left my back door, my back door is not secure," she said. "When you hit the stairwell at the top it will start smelling like something is burning."

Stuckey's ceiling is sagging from what she says is shabby roof repairs and there are structural concerns.

Excerpt from:
House fire victim claims restoration company didn't finish project

Just the thought of remodeling a room can be overwhelming. Where to begin? What is the cost? What stays and what goes? These are some of the most complicated questions homeowners face when choosing to remodel. The fear is that once the hammer begins to tear away at your comfort zone, there's no turning back.

Tile plays a large part in remodeling when considering a kitchen or bathroom remodel. These two living spaces are the most expensive to remodel. If you're contemplating changing the layout of the space, a plumber, electrician and kitchen/bath designer have to be commissioned, which adds to the cost of the remodel job.

In order to keep remodeling within your budget, consider working with the existing cabinets and countertops if the project allows. Here are a few scenarios where this practice was implemented.

Using existing cabinets: The homeowners of this

The solution: An 18x18-inch ceramic tile, light

Debbe Daley goes over the tile selections at the Nashua Tile Center. (sun/jon hill)

Outdated bathtub solution: In this bathroom, the existing baby blue tub/shower unit was to stay. Again the cabinets were a golden finish and in great shape. The existing countertop was a white Corian. The existing wall tile was 4x4-inch square with blue tiles the same size placed in a design in the center of the wall and topped off with a blue bullnose tile. This design and color were considered to be outdated.

The solution: Working with the cabinets, countertop and tub, a white 12x12 inch tile was chosen with gray veins in a high gloss to mimic the look of marble, with a companion wall tile to complement the floor tile. Tying it all together would be tiny, multicolored subway glass tile in light soft frosted blues, clear glossy glass pieces and iridescent blue tiles. This combination of deco accent tiles was the key piece needed in updating this bathroom and providing a more modern look.

Updated tile tips: Try incorporating accent glass tiles into your tile design. There are so many shapes and sizes, 1-inch mosaic and mini-subway tiles, glossy and frosted. Natural stone combinations of tumbled marble, granite and glass can be used as an accent strip in a shower, on a wall or as a border on a backsplash. The possibilities in tile design are endless.

Debbe Daley is an interior designer with more than 25 years of experience. Follow her blog at blogs.lowellsun.com/daleydecor

Read more:
Swapping out tile remakes a room

A Portland roofing company reported that an estimated $90,000 in building materials, including roofing supplies, insulation and nails, was taken last year during the construction of Walmarts Albany store on Goldfish Farm Road.

Arrow Roofing and Sheet Metal called the Albany Police Department to report the thefts at 11:51 a.m. Wednesday.

Thefts from construction sites are common, but not to this magnitude, said Sgt. Steve Dorn.

Culprits targeting work sites will take anything from backhoes and bulldozers to small items like tools and even nails, he added.

Dorn said the case could prove difficult to investigate because the crimes occurred between April and July 2011.

Arrow Roofing and Sheet Metal apparently realized something was amiss in October 2011, Dorn said.

The company isnt sure exactly what was taken.

Were not going to do anything further until they can verify that the product that was missing was actually on site, Dorn said.

Arrow Roofing and Sheet Metal and Walmarts corporate media relations office didnt return phone calls from Thursday morning.

See the rest here:
Roofing company reports thefts

Following is a list of building permits issued in the past few months in Henrico County and Richmond for construction valued at $50,000 or more. The names listed are those of the owner and contractor unless otherwise noted; the project is a single-family dwelling unless otherwise noted. Real estate transfers for the same localities appear today in the Classified section.

Henrico

CVI Office LLC, owner; J D Lewis Construction Inc., contractor; 211 Rocketts Way, alterations, $70,000.

Kenneth & Katherine Geffen, owners; J R Walker & Co. Inc., contractor; 3321 Wood Brook Lane, $305,523.

Jeffery F. & J. Dandridge, owners; Jenkins Restorations, contractor; 8014 Nicewood Road, alterations, $111,000.

JPO Richmond LLC; 5721 Stonehurst Estate Terrace, $155,000.

Capital Region Airport Commission, owner; KBS Inc., contractor; 1 Richard E. Byrd Terminal Drive, $2,040,000.

Darrell Kellum Inc., owner; Kellum & Co., contractor; 5520 Charles City Road, $70,000.

West Broad Village & II LLC, owner; Kodiak Constructors Inc., contractor; 11201 W. Broad St., $265,500.

Stephen A. & Kelly L. Plageman, owners; Lantz, contractor; 5829 Bradington Drive, $51,000.

See the original post:
Henrico & Richmond Building Permits for Oct. 6

The Anoka County Board has awarded contracts for three projects.

One will renovate the Anoka County Veterans Service Office at the Anoka County Government Center; another will construct a new restroom building at Locke Park, Fridley, which was destroyed by fire; and the third will renovate the parking lot behind the Anoka County office on Central Avenue in Columbia Heights.

Construction Results Corporation, Plymouth, was awarded the contract not to exceed $58,400 for the work at the veterans service office.

According to Andrew Dykstra, county director of facilities management and construction, there has been a 118 percent increase in visits to the veterans office since 2004 and a 51 percent increase since 2007, resulting in additional employees and increased workload.

Indeed, County Commissioner Robyn West, who chairs the boards veterans service sub-committee, said that year-to-date veterans service office visits from 2011 and 2012 have jumped 16 percent.

Under the current configuration, there are four offices, but there are five veterans service officers in addition to a full-time receptionist and part-time administrative assistant, Dykstra wrote in a memo to the board.

The remodeling work will include construction of computer kiosks, which will allow veterans to begin the paperwork process saving the county time and resources over the long-term, he wrote.

In addition, secure space will be provided for files than contain sensitive information and accommodations made for wheelchairs or personal scooters, Dykstra wrote.

According to County Commissioner Matt Look, chairman of the boards Finance and Capital Improvements Committee, the office will be expanding to hallway space that is not in use.

The project cost will come from dollars in the Anoka County Building Fund.

Here is the original post:
County moving ahead on building construction projects

SEVERAL Plenty homes and businesses appear to have been saved after plans to move a heritage-listed church were approved.

State Planning Minister Matthew Guy yesterday gazetted a planning amendment to allow for a Yan Yean Rd future upgrade, which places compulsory acquisition overlays over dozens of properties.

Planning consultant Michael Dunn, who helped residentsfight VicRoads' preferred plans, said the Minister chose VicRoads' "consultation option", which moved the heritage-listed Plenty Methodist Church to save several houses.

Mr Dunn said the choice was a "great outcome" for most landowners and businesses near River Ave, including Diamond Valley Garden Centre, which stood to lose its car park.

He said it was unfortunate proposed service lanes were not deleted but hoped they could be removed in the future.

"While we are disappointed that the acquisition area is based on a design that includes service lanes, we would hope that common sense will prevail when VicRoads undertake detailed design of the road upgrade and that the service lanes will be deleted, thus saving taxpayers from unnecessary land acquisition and construction costs with no real benefit for road users."

Resident Meredith Berry's home, which she bought with husband Nigel in 1976, appears to have avoided the wrecking ball.

Mrs Berry said the couple were "absolutely delighted" but were unsure how much land would be lost.

"We are getting ready for retirement and did not know what was going to happen, so now we can plan," Mrs Berry said.

"We hope they send us a letter as we want to see the detail."

Read the rest here:
Church move to save Plenty homes

The day after the first presidential debate, it wasn't Barack Obama or Mitt Romney getting the most attention. It was the maker of colorful kitchen appliances.

KitchenAid spent much of Thursday trying to repair the damage from a wayward tweet about President Obama that whipped up social media outrage faster than one of its signature blenders can spit out a smoothie.

The tweet, put out by a member of the company's social media team during the Obama-Romney faceoff Wednesday in Denver, attacked the president in a particularly personal way.

As Obama reminisced about his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who died shortly before Obama was elected president in 2008, the tweet appeared on KitchenAid's official Twitter account, @KitchenAidUSA: "Obamas gma even knew it was going 2 b bad! 'She died 3 days b4 he became president!"

The outrage was almost immediate, with angry Twitter users threatening to boycott the Benton Harbor, Mich., company.

The appliance maker, which is owned by Whirlpool Corp., quickly deleted the tweet. Cynthia Soledad, a KitchenAid marketing executive, issued a series of apologies via Twitter and Facebook.

"I would like to personally apologize to President @BarackObama, his family and everyone on Twitter for the offensive tweet sent earlier," she wrote. "It was carelessly sent in error by a member of our Twitter team who, needless to say, won't be tweeting for us anymore."

Soledad said in a separate statement that the employee meant to post the tweet on a personal account but mistakenly sent it instead through the corporate account. She referred to the tweet as a "tasteless joke."

The PR disaster shows the risks that companies take in using social media to leverage their brands. With 140 million active users worldwide, Twitter has been an especially popular site for corporations looking to advertise new products or tout discounts, particularly during big events such as the Academy Awards or the Super Bowl.

But in contrast to traditional advertising, the medium is fast-moving and unforgiving. The click of a button can send the wrong message to millions. There were about 10 million debate-related tweets issued during Wednesday's presidential showdown.

Here is the original post:
KitchenAid tweet about Obama stirs critics' anger

Central Valley Franchise Owners Receive National Award

Grapevine, Texas (PRWEB) October 04, 2012

The Franchisee of the Year winner is selected from Mr. Appliances approximately 150 franchise owners across the United States, recognizing one who has consistently grown his or her business through the Mr. Appliance system and has achieved a high level of success through professional and quality service.

Dylan is everything a franchisor could hope for, said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance. In three short years, he has demonstrated an ability to master our systems, improve and grow his business, mentor other franchisees, and give back to his community. His positive attitude is so infectious.

After inheriting his fathers Fresno-based appliance repair business, Conner converted his business to Mr. Appliance of The Central Valley in 2009 and has since expanded the businesss service territory and won numerous Mr. Appliance accolades, including 2009 Rookie of the Year. Conner is a Mr. Appliance representative for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), and frequently donates appliance parts and labor to his local house, RMHC of The Central Valley.

More than anything, I feel like my business is something I can be proud of, remarked Conner. Becoming part of the Mr. Appliance family has been more than business for meI feel like Im part of something bigger, like a big family.

To learn more about Mr. Appliance of The Central Valley or to schedule a service call, visit http://www.mrappliance.com/fresno or call 599-344-5816. For information about Mr. Appliance franchise opportunities, visit http://www.mrappliancefranchise.com.

About Mr. Appliance:

Mr. Appliance is North Americas largest appliance repair franchise system. Established in 1996, its franchises provide full-service residential and light commercial appliance repair. Mr. Appliance has approximately 150 locations throughout the United States and Canada and is consistently ranked among the top home service franchises by Entrepreneur magazine and other industry experts. Mr. Appliance is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc. For more information, visit http://www.mrappliance.com.

Mandy Bray Mr. Appliance 254-759-5827 Email Information

Read more from the original source:
Dylan and Anna Conner Named Mr. Appliance® Franchisee of the Year

Cherry Logistics Brings Deep Facilities Expertise to 2012 NACS Show

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) October 03, 2012

The NACS Show is the top buying show in the United States, providing the most comprehensive representation of products and services for the convenience and fuel retailing industry. It has been listed as one of the Top 50 Trade Shows in the Trade Show News Networks Top 250 Trade Shows in the United States. This years NACS Show features three days of general sessions, more than 50 educational sessions, and over 1,300 exhibitors including Cherry Logistics.

Were always proud to be a part of this show, said Chris Clark, Cherry Logistics Director of Sales and Marketing. We think the twin messages of safety and confidence in our new presentation will resonate with a group that knows the value of dependable, 360-degree facility support.

Those wishing to attend the show, as either a retailer or a supplier, must register online at the NACS Show website and select their registration package.

About Cherry Logistics

Cherry Logistics, Inc., headquartered in North Aurora, IL, was founded in 2003 as a snow removal service. Since that time the company has become a premier provider of consolidated facilities maintenance services including landscaping, lighting, emergency power, and HVAC, displaying proficiency in each category. Cherry Logistics specializes in offering facilities services for owners of multiple-location real estate. Specific services are offered to each client as needed, including snow removal, lot sweeping, landscaping, and window washing. The company is currently operating within 42 states.

Cherry Logistics prides itself on the fact its staff is comprised entirely of experts with years of experience within their respective fields. This diverse team includes managers and executives with experience in retail management, facilities management, customer service, commercial real estate, construction, transportation, information technology, and meteorology. For more information about the company, visit http://www.cherrylogistics.com.

Nate Warren Fusion Marketing Partners 1.720.244.4734 Email Information

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Top Facilities and Logistics Firm to Appear at Nation’s Most Influential Convenience/Fuel Retail Event