Marks ThoughtsMy thoughts on local businesses

Thought I would share the news about a patio company that’s coming to Hilton Head: Original article located here

I have a few relatives and some friends that live in the Hilton Head, SC area so I visit a couple times each year. Being that I’m in the paver patio industry, I’m always curious to check out new products and projects going on in the Hilton Head, SC area. I’ve always been surprised every time I visit Hilton Head at how far behind the area is in my industry. At best, I’m lucky to see a paver driveway or small paver patio installed using the worst possible materials and color selections.

I spent some time today on the phone with a local Hilton Head paver supply company and was surprised to find out how the industry had changed over the last few years. The owner of the company spent some time expressing his frustration with local paver installers and how they’re fighting over who can be the cheapest. He said the quality has gone way down and the minimum installation requirements, like base depth, have been thrown out the window. The “Chuck in a truck” contractors, as he called them, are not offering design and installation that’s comparable to the rest of the country.

So, after hearing my friends and family living in Hilton Head area tell me each time I’m down there how there is no companies in the area that offer what my company offers, I’ve decided to offer my design and installation expertise in the Hilton Head, South Carolina area.

Fall/Winter 2011

Beginning fall and winter of 2011 I’m going to be taking on a couple patio projects in the Hilton Head area. For these projects I will be providing a custom design and installation that I will be doing myself along with a couple of my employees from Ohio.

What I do offer:

• Highest quality materials and installation
  
• MOST CREATIVE DESIGNS
  
• Installation from my own employees that I’ve trained

Check out what our designs look like. This is just one view. We provide 3 views for every project.

Here are just a few reviews about me and my company that can be found on Facebook (if you would like to see these reviews on Facebook just click here)

I also highly recommend that you visit our website: www.TwoBrothersBrickPaving.com for more information about us and more pictures. This is just our blog. I also highly recommend that you check out our Facebook page.

If you would like to speak with me regarding a patio project you are interested in completing Fall or Winter of 2011 please contact me here. My name is Mark Rhodus, and yes I’m one of the brothers.

I wanted to take a second and rant about how great Austin Taylor Events in Dayton, Ohio is. The owner, Katie, is the most creative person I know. She has the ability to take someone’s vision and bring it to life. I know this because I was fortunate enough to have Katie plan my wedding and she’s also my wife . Didn’t see that one coming, did you?

Centerpieces from our wedding in Dayton

When Katie first started her wedding planning business here in Dayton she told me she could either be the largest wedding planner or the best. Needless to say, she chose to be the best. She is very particular about scheduling; she says it’s extremely important to spend as much time as possible with each client to make sure their event is perfect.

So if you’re engaged and you’re planning a wedding in the Dayton area, you should talk to my wife.

Another picture from our wedding at Benhams Grove in Centerville

Katie also keeps a blog where she shares some of her ideas, likes, etc. It’s worth checking out. I will say it one last time, if you’re looking for a Dayton wedding planner, I highly recommend that you contact Katie at Austin Taylor Events.

You can also check out Austin Taylor Events Facebook Page

Chevy Volt

I had lunch today with a good friend that sells cars for Jeff Schmitt Chevrolet in Dayton, Ohio. He kept talking about a new hybrid style car, the Chevrolet Volt, that just hit their floor. After hearing him rant about the Volt the entire time we were at lunch I told him I wanted to stop by and take a look at it.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with the Volt, its unique among electric vehicles because you have two sources of energy. You have an electric source–a battery–that allows you to drive gas–free for an EPA–estimated 35 miles. And there’s also an onboard gas generator that produces electricity so you can go up to to a total of 375 additional miles on a full tank of gas4. So if you want to drive using only electricity, you can. If you want to drive using electricity and gas, you can do that too. Volt is first for two very good reasons. – I got this straight from the Chevrolet website.

I met my friend at Jeff Schmitt Chevy in Dayton and he let me climb right in the drivers seat of a brand spanking new Chevy Volt. The first thought that came to mind was this car feels luxurious. It was extremely comfortable and spacious too. It has a power button you push to turn the car on and when it’s on you don’t hear a thing. Seriously, you don’t hear anything.

Chevy Volt Instrument Panel

As I pulled out of the dealership I accelerated, as all guys do during a test drive, and was simply amazed at how smoothly and fast this thing accelerated. It just goes. Unlike anything I’ve ever driven before. I continually laughed at how much power it had and a type of power that I had never felt before. I want to go back and drive it again; so amazingly exhilarating to drive.

Just about every control on the inside was touch.It’s technology is more advanced than any car I’ve ever been in.

When I first heard about it, I thought I should think it was cool because its electric and has a built in recharging system. But when I drove the Volt for the first time, I completely forgot about all of that because of how exasperating it was to drive the car.

I have no clue how much the Volt cost and I’m sure I’m leaving out a tun of information about it, but I thought it was so cool I would write about my experience.

Chevy Volt, you have 2 thumbs up. Well that’s my Chevy Volt Review from Dayton, OH.

BTW, my friend at Jeff Schmitt is Jonathan Miller. If you’re interested in checking out the Chevy Volt in Dayton, OH go see him.

-Mark Rhodus

Chevy Volt

I had lunch today with a good friend that sells cars for Jeff Schmitt Chevrolet in Dayton, Ohio. He kept talking about a new hybrid style car, the Chevrolet Volt, that just hit their floor.  After hearing him rant about the Volt the entire time we were at lunch I told him I wanted to stop by and take a look at it.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with the Volt, its unique among electric vehicles because you have two sources of energy. You have an electric source–a battery–that allows you to drive gas–free for an EPA–estimated 35 miles. And there’s also an onboard gas generator that produces electricity so you can go up to to a total of 375 additional miles on a full tank of gas4. So if you want to drive using only electricity, you can. If you want to drive using electricity and gas, you can do that too. Volt is first for two very good reasons. – I got this straight from the Chevrolet website.

I met my friend at Jeff Schmitt Chevy in Dayton and he let me climb right in the drivers seat of a brand spanking new Chevy Volt. The first thought that came to mind was this car feels luxurious.  It was extremely comfortable and spacious too. It has a power button you push to turn the car on and when it’s on you don’t hear a thing. Seriously, you don’t hear anything.

Chevy Volt Instrument Panel

As I pulled out of the dealership I accelerated, as all guys do during a test drive, and was simply amazed at how smoothly and fast this thing accelerated. It just goes. Unlike anything I’ve ever driven before. I continually laughed at how much power it had and a type of power that I had never felt before. I want to go back and drive it again; so amazingly exhilarating to drive.

Just about every control on the inside was touch.It’s technology is more advanced than any car I’ve ever been in.

When I first heard about it, I thought I should think it was cool because its electric and has a built in recharging system. But when I drove the Volt for the first time, I completely forgot about all of that because of how exasperating it was to drive the car.

I have no clue how much the Volt cost and I’m sure I’m leaving out a tun of information about it, but I thought it was so cool I would write about my experience.

Chevy Volt, you have 2 thumbs up. Well that’s my Chevy Volt Review from Dayton, OH.

I wanted to write this post to share a recent experience with Elizabeth Diamond Company and James Free Jewelers.

In December I went in to James Free Jewelers on Far Hills Ave. and spoke to them about purchasing a Tacori Ring. I was told by their rep that although they are not an authorized Tacori dealer, they can get Tacori products. I insisted on purchasing the Tacori and he gladly excepted my $800 deposit on the ring. He told me the cost of the ring would be $3600. He also told me the ring would be in by the end of January. I waited for about a month before speaking with the rep on the last week of January. He finally admitted to me that he could not get the ring. His exact words were, “Jon, I am sick about this. One of our competitors found out about it and they freaked out. I will be unable to get you the ring you wanted but I have another ring that I think you will like.” I intend to get my $800 deposit back on Monday and I hope that James Free does not sell anymore Tacori products. Although my salesperson was very honest and ethical I feel that it is unethical for James Free to sell black market tacori merchandise that they are not authorized to sell. Not to mention, the warranty from tacori is voided if you buy tacori products from James Free or any other non-authorized tacori dealer.

So I visited the tacori website to see if there were actually authorized dealers in the area. Turns out, the only authorized dealer was Elizabeth Diamond Co located in Centerville. My experience at Elizabeth Diamond Co was amazing. They were extremely knowledgeable and were able to help me in picking out the perfect tacori ring. They kept every single promise made and my ring came in exactly when they said it would. I absolutely love my tacori ring, thanks EDC.

Recent embroidery news, MIM Industries and Embroidery Supplies out of Miamisburg, Ohio has shut their doors. MIM Industries was a real leader in the embroidery industry especially here in Ohio. The embroidery industry hated to see them go. Even the site www.mimind.com has already come down, and interestingly enough, Brother owns the domain.

As a fellow embroidery professional, and the President of BuyEmbroiderySupplies.com, I would like to offer MIM Industries clients a 5% discount on our already low prices on Embroidery supplies. We too are located in Ohio and offer the same quality customer support as so many of you received from MIM Industries.

To get the discount, simply use the coupon code “5off” when checking out.

Please visit our website at www.buyembroiderysupplies.com

MIM Industries, thanks for so many great years and everything you’ve added to the industry.

Sincerely,

Mark Rhodus

BuyEmbroiderySupplies.com