- Envi offers green, cost-effective alternative to central heating -
December, 2009 (HOUSTON, TX)…Conservetec International, a Houston-area product, research and development, and manufacturing company, recently introduced the envi wall-mounted, electric panel heater, which can help realize savings of up to 50 percent on heating bills.
The envi provides an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to central heating. The heater features new patented “Stack Convection” technology, which enhances natural circulation, boosting airflow through the unit to maximize heat transfer.
Without a built-in fan, the envi promotes a healthy living environment by reducing allergens and dust particles that are blown into the air.
The dual-stack design naturally draws cold air into the bottom of the envi, then heats the air rapidly, creating an updraft of warm air that re-circulates around a room.
“Our goal was to reinvent household heating”, said Mark McCourt, founder and CEO of Conservetec International. “Consumers no longer have to heat the entire house to try and get one room to the perfect temperature. The enviwall-mounted heater serves as a stand-alone heating solution or a hybrid supplement to existing home or office heating, while reducing heating bills.”
The envi heater is always cool to the touch, installs in seconds, and consumes as little as 4 cents per hour, about the same as four standard light bulbs. The envi also is equipped with a silent, state-of-the-art TRIAC thermostat with variable comfort settings to eliminate temperature swings and an auto-dimming power light.
The 450-watt envi is 19 inches wide, 22 inches high, just 2 inches deep, and weighs only 10 pounds. The envi is proudly made in the USA to ISO 9001-certified quality manufacturing standards.
“This is the perfect heating solution to combat high heating bills, especially in the winter,” said McCourt. “The envi is safe for seniors, kids, and pets, looks great in any room, and is easy to operate – it makes for a great holiday gift.”
Based in Tomball, Texas, Conservetec International designs, manufactures, and markets advanced technologies and products that help consumers conserve natural resources in heating/cooling, water preservation and air purification. For more information, visit www.conservetec.com.
It used to be that the corporate world supported non-profits simply because it was the right thing to do. But the days of philanthropic giving based solely on goodwill are coming to an end. Today, most companies expect a measurable return on their investment – and understandably so.
Several years ago, “cause marketing” was introduced as a new tactic to help companies sell their products by introducing a charity tie-in. Especially during holiday seasons, shoppers will notice products stating that a portion of proceed sales will benefit a charity. This is cause marketing – introducing a nonprofit tie-in to move products from shelves.
Over time, savvy charities have begun investing in a more long-term approach, known as “cause branding,” which moves the corporate-charity relationship to a whole new, more intense level. Cause branding is a community relations program designed to build brand equity and shape corporate character through a longer-term strategic alliance with a charity cause…
HOUSTON-AREA BLOCKBUSTER TO HOST MIDNIGHT DVD RELEASE PARTY FOR
“HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE”
Monday, Dec. 7th Event to Feature Prizes and 2008 Houston Magician of the Year
WHAT: The magic of Harry Potter will descend on the BLOCKBUSTER location at 225 Cypresswood Drive in Spring on Monday, Dec. 7 as the store hosts a midnight DVD release party for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” In addition to being the next chapter in the highly popular series of films based on J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” novels, the movie is the highest grossing film of 2009 and is among the top 10 highest grossing films of all time.
Activities at the event include:
The opportunity for loyal Harry Potter fans to be among the first to rent or purchase the movie on DVD or Blu-ray, while supplies last. Those who can’t stay until the midnight release are invited to reserve a copy for purchase with $5 down.
The chance to win Harry Potter prizes
104.1 KRBE Radio will be on-site
2008 Houston Magician of the Year Michael Satterwhite will be performing magic
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 7
9:30 pm: Event begins
Midnight: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” DVD and Blu-ray available for rent or purchase while supplies last. (Those who can’t stay until midnight can reserve a copy for purchase with $5 down.)
WHERE: BLOCKBUSTER, 225 Cypresswood Drive in Spring
HOW: Admission is free and open to the public.
OFFERING: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” will be available for purchase or rent while supplies last at participating BLOCKBUSTER stores and online at www.blockbuster.com on the movie’s nationwide release date of Tuesday, Dec. 8. Fans can reserve their copy in advance by putting $5 down at any participating store.
In addition to the single-disc DVD, BLOCKBUSTER will be offering several special editions: a two-disc DVD version and a Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Copy Combo Pack. Also available at BLOCKBUSTER stores starting on Dec. 8 will be a Harry Potter Years 1-6 Giftset, featuring all six of the Harry Potter movies, on DVD or Blu-ray.
New Nonprofit Provides Seniors with Way to Donate Unwanted Life Insurance Policies to Benefit Charities
- Seniors surrender more than $300 billion in benefits every year -
Houston – LifePoint Charitable Endowment recently launched as the first-ever charity to accept, pool, and manage life insurance policies donated by seniors to benefit their favorite charities. LifePoint assumes responsibility for premium payments and distributes benefits to nonprofits designated by donors, without expense to the donor or the charity.
Charities can accept direct donations of life insurance policies, but most do not and will only do so if the policies are paid in full or if donors continue paying the premiums because:
- Ongoing premium commitments can become a significant financial drain
- Charities do not want additional administrative burdens
- It is hard to predict when policy benefits will be received
“Life insurance is the most commonly discarded asset in the United States, to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars annually,” said Dale Toney, CEO and co-founder of LifePoint Charitable Endowment. “LifePoint is a vehicle for charities to add a sizeable new revenue stream from their existing donor bases, using something that most seniors give up anyway. Now many seniors have a very real opportunity to leave a legacy and make the endowment-sized gift they never thought possible.”
LifePoint offers donors the opportunity to designate almost any charity in the humanitarian, health sciences, Christian ministry, or education charitable sectors. LifePoint pools life insurance policies donated through the organization and distributes regular contributions to charities based on their percentage interest in the total policy pool, which is managed much like a mutual fund. Donations of life insurance policies offer several benefits:
- The donor can make an endowment-sized gift to a preferred charity
- The donor gets to stop paying insurance premiums
- The donor receives a charitable tax deduction
- Charities benefit without having to pay insurance premiums
Even those who do not have a life insurance policy can support the effort by making cash donations, which help LifePoint pay for premiums and operations. Cash gifts are leveraged and ultimately multiplied by more than 100 times the original donation, because premium payments secure much larger life insurance policy benefits.
“Thousands of charities are struggling with funding shortages in this challenging economic environment and are looking for ways to raise new dollars,” said Ken Berger, President and CEO of Charity Navigator. “The LifePoint endowment concept is a very innovative approach and we will be watching with great interest to see its effect on nonprofits’ ability to strengthen their financial situations.”
After spending more than a year researching the concept and finding significant interest among charities, associations, and prospective donors, Dale Toney and his business partner Dan Bates co-founded LifePoint to create a comprehensive solution for charities that makes possible their access to this vast new source of revenue.
About LifePoint Charitable Endowment
LifePoint Charitable Endowment is a financial catalyst that provides seniors with a simple way to donate life insurance to help their favorite charities meet the physical, medical, and spiritual needs of people around the world. LifePoint is a 501 (c)(3) based in the Houston, Texas area that accepts and manages tax-deductible donations of life insurance for the benefit of donor-designated charities. For more information about LifePoint, visit www.LifePointCE.org. Charities can visit www.GiveLifeToCharity.org to learn about LifePoint’s branded private label programs.
- Healthy frozen yogurt store launches at Market Street in The Woodlands -
HOUSTON – Red Mango, the fastest growing retailer of all natural frozen yogurt recently opened its first store in the Houston-area at Market Street in The Woodlands. Red Mango provides visitors a delicious, unique frozen yogurt sensation in a comfortable and stylish café-like environment.
“We are very excited to introduce Red Mango’s healthy and tasty frozen yogurt to people in and around The Woodlands,” said Jay Randle, owner of the Red Mango store at Market Street. “Our authentic and refreshing frozen yogurt is a satisfying and low-calorie treat to fulfill your sweet tooth cravings without the guilt.”
Unlike many other frozen yogurts, Red Mango is 100 percent all natural, gluten-free, and contains no fat or preservatives, artificial colors or flavors, and has less than 100 calories per serving. Red Mango’s frozen yogurts are made only with kosher ingredients.
Red Mango frozen yogurt is made in the way real yogurt is made, offers a deliciously authentic natural yogurt flavor, and contains significant amounts of live and active cultures (also known as probiotics), which promote digestive health and support a healthy immune system.
In 2007, Red Mango became the first natural frozen yogurt concept in the U.S. to be certified by the National Yogurt Association’s Live and Active Culture seal program, which confirms that Red Mango meets or exceeds the criteria for healthy frozen yogurt.
Red Mango frozen yogurt is available in four simple yet delicious flavors—Original, Tangomonium™, Pomegranate by POM Wonderful® and newly released Pumpkin Spice. Customers can garnish their yogurt with healthy, natural toppings including market fresh fruit, berries, nuts, and granola.
The Woodlands store is one of a handful across the nation that is offering fresh fruit parfaits and smoothies. Red Mango also recently became the first retailer of made-to-order iced teas fortified with probiotics.
Several more Red Mango stores are planned for opening in and around Houston in the coming months.
About Red Mango:
Red Mango, the fastest growing retailer of authentic nonfat frozen yogurt, opened its first U.S. store in July 2007 in Los Angeles and has since celebrated more than 50 store openings across Arizona, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Utah, and Washington. Red Mango received Nation’s Restaurant News’ 2009“Hot Concepts!” award and has been named the best frozen yogurt in Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, Chicago, Utah and New York by independent publications. Headquartered in Dallas, Red Mango serves uniquely delicious frozen yogurt that is all-natural, nonfat, gluten-free and packed with beneficial live and active probiotic cultures that support a healthy immune and digestive system. Red Mango’s frozen yogurt has been certified by the National Yogurt Association’s Live and Active Culture Seal for meeting the required criteria for healthy frozen yogurt. Additionally, Red Mango recently introduced the first iced teas fortified with probiotics.
Red Mango’s investors include CIC Advantage Holdings, LLC, a holding company formed by CIC Partners and leading retail restaurant operators to invest in and add value to multi unit retail companies. For more information about Red Mango, please visit www.redmangousa.com. For franchising information, please visit www.redmangofranchising.com or call 214-871-6865.
High-resolution images of Red Mango products are available upon request.
- Event and display solutions company rebranded as ShowBox Exhibits -
December 2, 2009 (HOUSTON) – Houston brand marketing firm BrightBox today announced that it has acquired one of its strategic partner businesses, Twiin Media, a custom trade show exhibit and event display design, fabrication, rental, and services company. The new subsidiary will remain as a separately branded company, now known as ShowBox Exhibits.
BrightBox and Twiin Media had been exploring a combination for several months and had been sharing offices at 4747 S. Pinemont Drive, Suite 100 in Houston since August 2009. BrightBox and ShowBox Exhibits will continue to work from that location.
“BrightBox designs a lot of trade show exhibit booths and event displays for companies in various industries, making this a perfect complement to our brand marketing and multimedia marketing communications offerings,” said Jason Arcemont, president of BrightBox. “ShowBox brings together a seasoned team of design, marketing, and logistics professionals to deliver a better experience and higher level of service to clients.”
Two of the BrightBox partners, Jason Arcemont and Patrick McDonough, spent several years working in trade show marketing and design, and the third partner, Petri Darby, APR, has handled strategy, creative planning, and event promotion and management throughout his career.
Some of the clients recently served by both BrightBox and Twiin Media include Tejas, Boots & Coots, Aclaro Softworks, Seamar Divers.
About BrightBox BrightBox is a Houston-based brand marketing and design firm serving companies spanning various industries. BrightBox provides clients with a wide range of services including brand strategy, graphic design, animation, video production, copywriting, public relations, marketing communications, and trade show exhibit design. For more information, visit www.brightboxonline.com.