Friday, December 21, 2012

Hygiene Campaign Focuses on Cleaning Cell Phones

CleenCell? Wipes, makers of pre-moistened towelletes for cell phones and smartphones, has announced the launch of MobileHygiene.org, an awareness campaign focused specifically on the health effects of using a cell phone covered in germs.

A recent Stanford study published in The Journal of Applied Microbiology, found cell phones, the most handled electronic device over 220,000,000 Americans come in contact with everyday, are infected on average with more virulent bacteria than a public toilet or door knob. The study cautions users of touch-screen devices such as iPhones, many Android phones and iPads of dire infection risks, a wise tip as tech-happy consumers gear up for flu season and a holiday season that will be dominated with electronic gifts. (1)

"This is a growing health problem for cell phone and smartphone owners," says CleenCell? CEO Nima Sha fashion coats online rifi. "We now see many vulnerable groups using cell phones all day, such as doctors, pregnant women, and teens and young adults. Through MobileHygiene.org we are seeking collaborations with the infectious disease and health care communities to raise awareness, spur research, and ultimately develop infection prevention guidelines for specific industries like hospitals, restaurants, and offices, as well as for individuals and families."

Among the bacteria found in many microbial tests of cell phones, the staph bug, salmonella, E.coli, even the super germ MRSA has been detected at alarming rates. (2)

"Awareness on how and when to handle a mobile phone from a hygiene standpoint is increasingly necessary, and that's the discussion we are starting with the Mobile Hygiene Movement," explains Sharifi, who is also a licensed California attorney.

Medical professionals, infectious disease specialists and other organizations in health and wellness communities who wish to collaborate with the Mobile Hygiene Movement can contact info(at)mobilehygiene(dot)org.

About CleenCell? / Cell Phone Wipes, Inc.
Cell Phone Wipes, Inc. is a pioneer in mobile phone cleaning solutions. The company manufactures CleenCell? Wipes, single packed pre-moistened cloths infused with disinfectant solution that are streak and scratch-free, and designed specifically to be safe for cell phones and compact electronics. Its headquarters is in Los Angeles, CA.

(1) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2013163763_webgerms15.html
(2) http://www.ann-clinmicrob.com/content/8/1/7

Contact:
Maria Ruelas, PR
Cell Phone Wipes, Inc.
maria(at)cleanmycellphone(dot)com
info(at)cleanmycellphone(dot)com
(866)757-4907
Related links:
http://www.cleanmycellphone.com

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Puzzle Book Publisher, Monkeying Around, Joins Forces With Blue Star Mothers of America to Support Troops

Recently, designer and independent publisher David Kalvitis donated 500 of his popular Greatest Dot-to-Dot Super Challenge books to a local chapter of Blue Stars Mothers. The books were included in care packages distributed to American troops abroad, as well as to troops recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

fashion coats Kalvitis, who traditionally donates his award winning puzzle books to local charities around the holidays, wanted to extend his contributions to include the men and women serving in the military. "Being away from your family around the holidays has got to be difficult," Kalvitis stated, "If my books can help pass the time or take the troops' minds off their troubles or loneliness that would be a wonderful gift."

The Blue Star Mothers of America, a non-partisan, non-political organization of mothers "who now have, or have had, children honorably serving in the military," was formed during World War II to support our troops. They have helped American troops and veterans through sixty eight years and five wars. It is an organization Kalvitis was honored to help. "I was very pleased to find the Blue Star organization," Kalvitis said, "They are very organized and professional, and I was impressed with how quickly they included my books in their gift bags for the troops."

According to Sue Louis of the Rochester, New York chapter of Blue Star Mothers, the holiday care packages were sent to troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. When asked about how Kalvitis's puzzle books might be useful to the troops, Sue Louis said, "From my own sons' experiences there are times, such as flights to and from deployment sites, where it would be nice to have an activity to pass the time. While working or away from his base for extended periods, it is hard to start a book, put it down for a week or two and then try and return to reading it. Kalvitis's puzzles allow for starting up from where they left off without much hesitation."

In addition to reaching troops in the field, the books also accompanied care packages sent to injured troops recovering Stateside. "Books were sent along with clothing to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for their Wounded Warrior Transition Program," stated Sue Louis, "The items are given to recovering military and in some cases family who have come urgently to be at the bedside of their wounded family member. The Dot-to-Dot books serve as a diversion while waiting for treatments and procedures, or a way to pass time when immobile and confined to bed for extended periods."

Lauded by experts in the toy industry, the Greatest-Dot-to-Dot Super Challenge series provides a variety of unique, challenging connect-the-dots, some of which boast over a thousand dots. Kalvitis's puzzles have been used by educators to aid students in learning and physical therapists to aid patients in rehabilitation. It was after receiving comments from customers saying they found his puzzles helpful in their physical therapy that Kalvitis decided to contact local organizations in hopes of donating his books to troops recovering from injuries attained in service. It is his belief that with the help of Blue Star Mothers, his puzzle books will provide an enjoyable distraction for injured and active troops alike. Kalvitis said, "It is my hope that by partnering with Blue Star Mothers my puzzle books can help bring a moment of peace to the troops and their families this holiday season."

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Creative Collaboration by Arizona Businesses Illustrates Community Spirit and Responsibility to the Local Economy

Who doesn't love a good treasure hunt? For the kid in all of us, a very grown-up prize is the carrot small businesses are dangling in Arizona in an effort to increase customer traffic.

"The Bad Economy Buster Bling Bike Hunt?" is an out-of-the-box idea by four Arizona business owners to help "rev up" revenue for merchants across the state. For nine weeks the public will gather clues from participating businesses leading them to a stunning custom-designed motorcycle worth more than $35,000 by world-renowned motorcycle manufacturer Sucker Punch Sally's of Scottsdale.

Those partaking in the hunt have a very diverse list of participating businesses to obtain clues from -- everything from trendy restaurants to hip clothing boutiques and local wineries to highly-respected construction companies. More than 30 businesses are involved including: Troon Enterprises Incorporated, Mojito Cigar Lounge, What Women Want Swimwear, KA Cycles and Accessories, Blue Martini Lounge, MNM Racing & Performance, Jump and Shout Play Center, Beaver Stripes & Molding Supply, HawgLaw.com, Powersports Brokers, Kief-Joshua Vineyards, Cigar King, The Dugout Sports Grill, AZ Toy Store, American Junkie Restaurant, Urban Tea Loft, D & D Discount Motorcycles, Evolution Custom Motorcycles, Havana Cigars, MMI Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, K O'Donnell's American Bar & Grill, Wild West Pawn Shop, Carstar Complete Paint & Body, Kid Chilleen's BBQ Steakhouse, Knockout Motorcycle Co. and all six locations of Zia Record Exchange in Arizona.

Founding sponsors Julia Hutton, CEO of retail store Biker Babes and Beyond in Cottonwood, Bill Miko, Owner of Bikers Defense, a line of supplements for motorcyclists, Christian Clayton, President of Sucker Punch Sally's, and Valerie Thompson, 2X World Land Speed Record Holder and Founder of Valerie Thompson Racing, joined forces and developed the concept specifically to address the ongoing problem small business owners face today: lower sales due to a decrease in consumer spending. The program was created so that contestants must visit participating merchants multiple times in order to have a chance at finding the keys. After all, for small businesses half the battle is getting potential customers in the front door.

A new clue becomes available every week, in the form of a web access ID, and anyone hunting for the chopper's keys must obtain every clue for nine weeks. After retrieving a clue access card from a participating merchant, contestants must visit BikerHunt.com and view a new video divulging more details that will ultimately lead them to the key's whereabouts. The individual who was able to piece all the clues together and find the keys will be awarded the stunning custom on stage at Arizona Bike Week the first weekend of April.

Christian Clayton of Sucker Punch Sally's is currently designing and building the one-of-a-kind bike at his Arizona shop utilizing parts generously donated by Hawg Halter, Russ Wernimont, Custom Chrome, Billet Boys and Avon Motorcycle Tyres of North America. The owner of Bikers Defense, Bill Miko, donated the motor.

In addition to clu women's jackets e gathering, the hunt will offer the community special events with Valerie Thompson. Fans will have the opportunity to meet Valerie, obtain an autograph and take photos with her at several Phoenix-area appearances over the next two months, including: American Junkie Restaurant, Thursday, February 17th from 5-9pm; Havana Cigar, Saturday, February 19th from 1-4pm; The Blue Martini, Saturday, February 19th from 5-9pm; Cigar King on Saturday, February 26th; Zia Records on Thunderbird, Saturday, March 19th from 2-4pm; and at MMI Motorcycle Mechanics Institute Saturday, March 26th from 11am-2pm.

For complete details, a full events calendar, rules and regulations for joining the hunt, and more information on participating merchants please visit http://www.bikerhunt.com

Sponsors:
Biker Babes and Beyond: bikerbabesandbeyond.com
Bikers Defense: bikersdefense.com
Valerie Thompson Racing: valeriethompsonracing.com
Sucker Punch Sally's: suckerpunchsallys.com

Participating Merchants:
Mojito Cigar Lounge: mojitocigarlounge.com
Troon Enterprises Inc.: trooninc.com
MNM Racing & Performance: mnm-racing.com
Blue Martini Lounge: bluemartinilounge.com
Havana Cigars: havanacigarsAZ.com
Urban Tea Loft: urbantealoft.com
Cigar King: cigarking.com
Beaver Stripes & Custom Graphics: beaverstripes.com
Hawg Law: hawglaw.com
AZ Toy Store: aztoystore.com
Kief-Joshua Vineyards: kj-vineyards.com
Powersports Brokers: powersportsbrokers.net
Jump and Shout Play Center: jumpandshoutaz.com
D & D Discount Motorcycles: dddiscountmotorcycles.com
Evolution Customs: evolutioncustoms.com
American Junkie: americanjunkieaz.com
Dugout Sports Grill: dugoutsportsgrillaz.com
Carstar Complete Paint & Body: completepaintandbody.com
Wild West Pawn: wildwestpawn.com
Zia Record Exchange: ziarecords.com
K O'Donnell's American Bar & Grill: kodonnells.com
MMI Motorcycle Mechanics Institute: http://www.uti.edu/Programs/Motorcycle.com
Kid Chilleen's BBQ Steakhouse: badassbbq.com
What Women Want Swimwear: whatwomenwantswimwear.com
Knockout Motorcycle Co.: ralphrandolph.com

All media inquiries and requests for interviews should be sent to Wendy Roberts, Public Relations Director for Orca Communications Unlimited LLC, at wendy@orcapr.com or (480) 346-4004. Orca Communications is a full service public relations firm based in Phoenix, Arizona and can be found on the web at orcacommunications.com.

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Thursday, December 13, 2012

'MZI Global Marketing' Partners with Women's Organizations, Helps Woman-Owned Companies Go Global

Every industry is in the process of going global these days. For American companies, that means learning how to market their products internationally, but for some companies, that means finding a way to tap into the complex and vast markets of consumers in the U.S. One company, MZI Global Marketing, is partnering with leading women's organizations to help small international businesses make this leap.

As Andre Kim, South Korea's most famous and powerful fashion designer states in the New York Times full-page article on Korean fashion 9/15/07, "Fashion should portray grace, intellectual and artistic beauty, youthful energy…not too classic". In that vein, MZI Global Marketing is organizing a unique fashion event in New York City - 'Fashion Market Day' - featuring top upcoming and established Korean fashion brands, after their West Coast introduction. As South Korea has opened up since the 1980s and Western clothing has been made popular, talented Korean fashion designers are ready to "strut their stuff" in this one-day buyers' market event.

In its most recent project, 'Fashion Market Day', MZI Global Marketing is partnering with the 'Korean Women Entrepreneurs Association' (KWEA) to promote seven Korean designers, all woman-owned small businesses. Through the event, which is sponsored by the 'Small Business Corporation' (SBC) of Korea, the designers will be debuting their 2008 collections for U.S. buyers in hopes of breaking into the U.S. market. It's a critical step for these businesses, many of which have already garnered noteworthy success domestically and who are hoping to grow their businesses by introducing their products to U.S. consumers.

"American buyers expect quality apparel at low prices, but what's been missing is style. American buyers need designers who can deliver all three elements: style, price and quality," said Mira Zivkovich, president and CEO of MZI Global Marketing. "These Korean designers are known for their excellence in all three areas, but in order to bring their products to the U.S., they need support from American market experts. We're thrilled to collaborate with the KWEA to bring the collections of these incredible women designers to the U.S."

MZI Global Marketing is also meeting with additional women's organizations, including 'Women's Business Enterprise National Council' (WBENC), 'Asian Women in Business' (AWIB) and KWEA in October to determine additional opportunities to help women grow their businesses. WBENC's president, Linda J. Denny, will meet with the MZI Global Marketing team on Oct. 16 and KWEA's president Yoon-Jung Ahn, will meet with the MZI Global Marketing team on Oct. 17. Any women's groups interested in participating in these discussions, or in scheduling individual events or meetings can contact Mira Zivkovich.

About Asian Women in Business (AWIB)
AWIB is a not-for-profit membership organization founded in 1995 to assist Asian women to realize their entrepreneurial potential. AWIB fills a vital need for women who need information, education and networking opportunities to start or expand their businesses. Since its opening reception in October 1995, it has sponsored many conferences and workshops, provided individualized technical assistance and served as a support mechanism for small business owners. Over 16,000 people have attended its sponsored events and has become a reliable source of information for entrepreneurs. For more information, please visit http://www.awib.org.

About the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
The WBENC, founded in 1997, is the nation's leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to American corporations. It also is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. WBENC works to foster diversity in the world of commerce with programs and policies designed to expand opportunities and eliminate barriers in the marketplace for women business owners. Dedicated to enhancing opportunities for women's business enterprises, WBENC works in partnership with women's business organizations located throughout the country to provide a national standard of certification for women-owned businesses. For more information, please visit http://www.wbenc.org.

About the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO)
The Women Presidents' Organization (WPO) is for women whose businesses annually gross over two million d Tips: Find Street Fashion Online(may be you can find what you want on the oasap.com) ollars. The WPO is currently operating in 50 locations nationwide and in Canada. The WPO, along with its chapter facilitators, works hard to bring together a diverse group of successful women business owners who share enough to face similar issues but are different enough to make a unique contribution to the group. Meeting content is determined by the members and varies depending upon their interests and needs between roundtables, case studies, business analysis, expert consultants, burning issue reviews, guest experts, and self-assessments with group feedback. For more information, please visit http://www.womenpresidentsorg.com.

About Small Business Corporation of Korea (SBC)
Since its foundation as a non-profit government agency in 1979, SBC has been committed to fostering and promoting Korean small and medium sized businesses. SBC understands that excellence comes in different sizes and offers assistance to Korean businesses in entering the U.S. market. With a regional headquarters office located in New Jersey, it provides a variety of support services such as training, marketing, and financial assistance in order to increase the global competitiveness of Korean businesses. For more information, please visit http://www.sbc.or.kr/eng.

About Korean Women Entrepreneurs Association (KWEA)
Under the leadership of its president, Yoon-Jung Ahn, owner of leading fashion brand An Yoon Jung Ans, KWEA partners with American women leaders to improving the interests of businesswomen and their business activities. KWEA's objectives are to enhance businesswomen's position, to protect their interests by supporting the growth of businesses owned by women, and to promote the economic development of Korean women. For more information, please visit http://www.womanbiz.or.kr.

About MZI Global Marketing
MZI Global Marketing is an award-winning, full-service integrated marketing and advertising firm that creates and executes effective high-tech solutions for their clients across a wide spectrum of industries. Under the leadership of president and CEO Mira Zivkovich, recipient of the 2007 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, MZI Global Marketing puts its international, multicultural marketing expertise, a mastery of interactive marketing strategies, and custom publishing prowess to work for clients that aim to build their businesses on a global scale. MZI Global Marketing is committed to guiding its clients from initial strategy to well executed solutions, helping them surmount any challenge and achieve their every business goal. For more information, please visit http://www.mziglobal.com.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Snoa Lingerie Warms More Than a Woman's Heart This Valentine's Day

How many guys are tired of spending all their Valentine's Day budget on flowers that wilt and skimpy lingerie that is worn only once? This year, men who want to get lucky all year long will give sexy sleepwear that's sensuous, soft and made sustainably... in other words, Snoa Lingerie. It's easy for men to shop for and ship their Snoa gifts, at the new online boutique.

Snoa launched to rave reviews last November, thanks to its unique combination of sexy designs and warm, sustainable fabrics. Men love the way it looks and feels, and women love its warmth and versatility - and how alluring they look in it. Here is what some of Snoa Lingerie's first customers are saying:

"I love the Hot Toddy! Toasty and soft and oh so hot. A mutually satisfying gift. Can't wait to watch as you grow! What a fabulous idea." Kathleen, Los Angeles

"Just wanted to say that M. loves the black robe! She's worn it every night since she got it and even fell asleep in it a time or two." Drew, San Diego

"Slept in the ivory long sleeved [Hot Toddy] nightie last night. And again.... I loved it and rave reviews from hubby! You should be proud. Your product is amazing. Now you just need to get it featured on Oprah." Angela, San Francisco

Sexy, Soft and Warm. What's the Secret?

How does Snoa Lingerie manage to be sensual, revealing and warm all at the sa Tips: Find Street Fashion Online(may be you can find what you want on the oasap.com) me time? The Snoa secret is the soft, luxurious fabrics that warm without overheating. And in the Basics Collection, a distinctive double-fabric design of super soft silk-modal on the inside and thin yet warming wool jersey on the outside, gives many pieces in the collection a sumptuous, silky, cocooned feel. And when men give the gift of Snoa Lingerie this Valentine's Day, they'll also be giving back to the planet, because Snoa Lingerie's designs are created with the most earth friendly fabrics available today. Gentlemen can now seduce while reducing their carbon footprint. Sexy, warm and eco-friendly.... how many Valentine's Day gifts offer such an irresistible combination?

So many ways to heat up your Valentine's Day

Snoa Lingerie offers an alluring collection of Basics (sexy nighties, robe, flowing pant set) and a luxurious and romantic Signature Collection comprised of an elegant wrap, bedjacket and other sophisticated designs. You can view the collections in detail and learn more about the unique fabrics Snoa Lingerie uses at http://www.snoalingerie.com.

About the Company

Anh Oppenheimer is the founder of Snoa Lingerie. Before launching Snoa, Anh was a documentary filmmaker focusing on the environment and social justice. She is producer and director of the documentary YAKOANA: The Voice of Indigenous Peoples. Anh lives in San Francisco with her husband and two children.

Susan Robinson, Partner, brings a wealth of design knowledge to Snoa Lingerie. Susan teaches fashion design at the California College of the Arts. She has owned her own clothing retail store and, in addition to Snoa Lingerie's sleepwear, has designed her own line of sportswear and lingerie. Susan and her family live in San Francisco.

Happy Valentine's Day. Happy Snoa.

Snoa Lingerie. Warm is Sexy.

Contact:
Anh Oppenheimer
anh (at) snoalingerie (dot) com
415-751-9955

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Consumer Reviews Hub MyReviewsNow.net Spotlights New Luxury Lingerie from JuliannaRae.com

Ladies who want to shop online for the latest in luxury lingerie can now head to consumer reviews hub MyReviewsNow.net's affiliate partner JuliannaRae.com, and take advantage of their stylish and sexy new items.

New luxury lingerie items now featured at JuliannaRae.com include a wide selection of chemises, pajamas, silk gowns, sleepshirts, camisoles, tap pants, wraps, robes and more. All items are meticulously crafted in eco-friendly materials such as silk, cotton and micro modal, and are available in chic color selections, including bouquet, cerise, pearl, aura and ink.

Plus, people searching for elegant gift ideas for their significant other or intimate partner can shop online at JuliannaRae.com for a special selection of gift ideas for any occasion, including anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, or "just because."

"JuliannaRae.com features the Internet's most elegant selection of luxury lingerie," commented an Affiliate Relationship Spokesperson from MyReviewsNow.net. "And with so many incredible new items, all of which are featured in all sizes and in a variety of stylish colors, there's never been a better time to shop online and indulge!"

People who want to shop online at JuliannaRae.com and explore their elegant new selection of luxury lingerie items, can start their journey at MyReviewsNow.net's Womens Clothing & Apparel Portal. They can also read consumer reviews left by other shoppers. Consumers can also access luxury lingerie information at sleepwearwomen.com.

For more information or media inquiries, contact Lina Andrade at info(at)myreviewsnow(dot)net. Press release issued by SEOChampion.com.

About MyReviewsNow.net

An Internet superstore of services, products and publications Tips: Find Street Fashion Online(may be you can find what you want on the oasap.com) available online, MyReviewsNow.net is a business directory that sets itself apart from similar sites by offering both professional reviews and consumer reviews on the Internet's hottest offerings in a fun, simple format that is easy for visitors to shop and enjoy. Plus, MyReviewsNow.net is 100% free, open 24/7, and the best way avoid crowded malls and parking lots.

About SEO Champion

SEO Champion was started in 1999 and is owner operated by Michael Rotkin, SEO Specialist for over 17 years. Michael Rotkin's goal for his clients is to "own" keyword placements for the top 3 slots organically, so that his clients can earn a higher return on investment from their advertising dollars. Rotkin realizes the value of SEO over Pay-Per-Click campaigns, where click-throughs are generally more expensive and harder to convert into sales. SEOChampion's intense work ethic can be seen in daily and weekly reports that show progress through organic keyword gain. This effort is the reason his SEO firm has been able to build a loyal client base for many years. Learn more at SEO Champion.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

DownEast Basics Introduces New Line of High Fashion, Affordable Swim Wear for 2011

DownEast Basics debuts its 2011 swim wear collection today, offering women high style, trendy yet modest swimsuit designs that can be worn at the beach or poolside while staying on a budget. The swim wear's mix-and-match options and designs that complement every body type are a perennial favorite among shoppers.

This year, DownEast fashion designer Andrea Updike infused the new line with metallic prints as just one of the latest trends. The b women's coats rand's sister company, Modbe Clothing, has released a new line of swim wear just in time for summer, as well.

"There are so many great colors this year that were fun to incorporate into the swim line," said Updike. "Interesting and unexpected pairings of color were my inspiration. My favorite new DownEast swim prints are the scroll pattern, block floral and tropical oasis."

Customers can shop all of DownEast's swim styles online at http://www.downeastbasics.com/downeastswim.aspx. Modbe's swim selections are available online at http://www.downeastbasics.com/modbeswim.aspx.

"Our swim wear features design details that correlate to the latest trends, like those you see on the runways at fashion shows in New York or Paris Рincluding metallic prints, appliqu̩ flowers, ruffles and stripes," said Updike. "The benefit for our customers is that they can dress in style while saving over half of what they would spend on other designer swim wear."

The DownEast swim line, which originated in 2008 with six tops and two bottoms, has proven so popular that the brand expanded the line to over 40 pieces in 2011. This year's line offers styles and prints in a variety of options so shoppers can mix and match to create their own combinations, including choosing from swim tanks, halters, bikinis and skirts, as well as layering options with DownEast's summer cover-ups and swim dresses.

"With our fabulous pairing options of swim wear with our fun cover-ups and casual summer dresses, a woman can go from splashing in the pool to other activities without having to change her entire outfit," said Updike.

With mix-and-match swim wear pieces ranging from $22.99 to $32.99, and cover-ups and dresses beginning at just $34.99, shoppers can enjoy multiple looks for summer fun.

Some of Updike's personal favorites in the new swim line include:

  •     The Silver Metallic Stripe Sausalito Halter – Why? "I love the metallic stripe and the colors look great with a tan!"
  •     Scroll Print Santa Barbara Halter: "The colors give it a vintage feel and the gold metallic detail says beach goddess."
  •     Sea Harbor Halter: "I love the appliqué flower detail on the top and bottom and the sea color is beautiful."

New styles from DownEast for 2011 include three new swim tops to complement its best-selling styles from years past – the Sea Harbor Halter, Tropical Tank and Beachside Halter. Also new are three bottoms: the Sea Harbor Bikini, Waverider Bikini and Boardwalk Bikini.

In the opinion of Updike, who also leads the design team for the new Modbe swim line, the prints and color stories of the Modbe swim wear really set it apart from other 2011 summer styles. "The vintage prints and colors give it a high-end, boutique feel," she said.

Among her favorites from the Modbe line are the Sunshine Top, for the "classic Hollywood" shape of its retro style; and the sea blue polka dot banded bikini bottom, for its timeless print and color.

The main differences between the DownEast and Modbe lines are the swim tops – the Modbe selections are longer and provide more coverage for those looking for modest swim wear.

About DownEast Basics

DownEast Basics (http://www.downeastbasics.com) offers high-design looks on a bargain basement budget for today's cost-conscious yet fashionable consumer. The DownEast Basics clothing line features smart layering pieces and wardrobe enhancing garments so you can embrace the American classic look with your own sense of style.

Shop for cute tops, modest dresses and accessories for women and girls at DowneastBasics.com.

The fast-growing retailer operates nationally with its Basics line via its online store in addition to 42 locations throughout the West including in Utah, Colorado, California, Idaho, Arizona, Washington, Nevada and Wyoming.

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Friday, December 7, 2012

Crew Clothing Supply Kit for the Queens Tennis Tournament

The Queens tennis tournament started on 6th June and runs until 12th June ahead of Wimbledon which starts on 20th June with the top three seeds Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick all taking part. Former world number one, Roger Federer, competes at the Gerry Webber Open during Queen's week, so will not be making an appearance and Andy Murray's persistent ankle injury could prevent him from performing at his best. Rafael Nadal is on top of his game again, after winning the 2011 French Open, and Andy Roddick is consistently strong on grass. Serbian, Novak Djokovic, has been the biggest surprise this year, having won the first of the Grand Slam series, and reaching the semi-finals of the second. With athletes like these, this year's Aegon Championships is sure to be a spectacle.

This year, some of the staff at Queens including the stewards will be kitted out in the finest gear from Crew Clothing for a classic, English look. The clothes that were chosen include the Crew Classic Stripe Shirt which is the epitome of smart casual. It comes in a selection of fresh co women's coats online lours which are perfect for the summer months with the classic, vertical stripe and Crew crossed oars logo. Queens opted for the navy and white stripe shirt to go under the classic Ashton blazer in navy. The single breasted blazer is a cotton/linen mix and matches the navy linen trousers which were also supplied.

The women at Queens will be wearing the blue stripe Annie Shirt which is a tailored shirt with a relaxed fit. The blue, vertical stripe shirt matches the men's shirts but instead of wearing a navy blazer, the ladies will be wearing the white burley blazer.

Crew Clothing has often been associated with sporting events and has been sponsoring several Gig Rowing clubs across the South West of England in support of their coastal roots. For more information about Crew Clothing, their events and sponsorship, contact Frank Sendler on 0208 875 7205 or email frank(at)crewclothing(dot)co(dot)uk

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

Princess Diana at 50 - Primetime Premiere Saturday, August 27 at 7pm ET/ 4pm PT

REELZCHANNEL—TV About Movies? today announced it will air an hour-long special exploring the life and legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales titled "Princess Diana at 50". Hosted by celebrity journalist and former Extra host Dayna Devo women's jackets n, REELZCHANNEL gathered a collection of confidantes, friends and observers who were eyewitnesses to her extraordinary life to talk about their time with Diana and what her life would've been like today. Watch the primetime premiere on Saturday, August 27 at 7pm ET/ 4pm PT.

"This is a tribute to Diana that will take viewers on an intimate journey through her life, told by those who knew her best," said Steve Holzer, Executive Producer of REELZCHANNEL Original Programming. "These people – including the butler who arguably knew her best, the designer of perhaps the most famous wedding dress in history and the man who wrote the definitive biography of her life - share extraordinary anecdotes and highly personal stories that give new insight into one of the most beloved and important women of our time."

London-based REELZCHANNEL correspondent Adrian Dickson interviewed an internationally recognized roster of those closest to the late Princess:

Paul Burrell—The butler, confidant and friend. His career began in service to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, only to be requested personally by Diana to run her household after she married Prince Charles. Burrell quickly became a confidant to the late Princess and now tells that story to REELZCHANNEL, saying "She would want me to tell her story. She would want me to defend her."

Elizabeth Emanuel—International clothing designer who along with her husband David created Diana's famous wedding dress. Elizabeth takes us through her personal scrap books and tells the tale of how 'Shy Di' became an international fashion figure in part due to the Emanuels and the dress, which even Elizabeth will admit, "You love the dress or hate the dress. But the dress is now iconic."

Andrew Morton—Journalist and author (Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words) In an unprecedented move, Diana gave Morton carte blanche to her friends and stories. Through him, her life quite literally became an open book. His story as told to REELZCHANNEL is both captivating and insightful. Just why did she need to tell all?

Joan Lunden—Former Good Morning America co-host who covered the wedding of Diana and Charles talks candidly about the moment the fairy tale began…and takes a critical look at that dress.

Michael Cole—Royals Insider who covered the Royal family as a journalist and became the spokesperson for the al Fayed family. Cole opens up about what he knows about the relationship between Diana and Dodi al Fayed. Were they in love? Would they have married? Were they murdered? Cole knows and is willing to speak.

Bruce Oldfield—International couturier who was chosen by Vogue to submit various pieces for the soon to be Princess of Wales. And it was fashion fate. He went on to be one of Diana's favorite designers and went on to create some of her most memorable looks. Oldfield talks about Diana's fashion sense and his time with the late Princess.

David Ginola—Soccer legend and spokesperson for the International Red Cross landmine eradication campaign. He quite literally put his life on the line to fill the shoes of the late Princess by picking up the anti-landmine cause after the Princess' tragic death. He talks for the first time of his admiration for Diana and tells in detail about the dangers and emotional experiences both he and Diana faced after becoming involved with landmine eradication.

Jennie Bond— BBC International Royals Correspondent, she covered the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, from the wedding to her funeral. Along the way, she and the Princess became 'professional' friends and shared many personal moments. Bond's point of view is not just reportage but anecdotal and personal.

Encore presentations:

Saturday, August 27
9:30am ET/ 6:30am PT
10pm ET and at 10pm PT

Sunday, August 28
9am ET/ 6am PT
6pm ET/ 3pm PT
11pm PT/ 2am ET

Monday, August 29
12am PT/ 3am ET

Tuesday, August 30
5:30pm ET/ 2:30pm PT

Wednesday, August 31
1pm ET/ 10am PT

Thursday, September 1
12am PT/ 3am ET

About REELZCHANNEL
REELZCHANNEL—TV About Movies? is the only cable and satellite network devoted to delivering entertaining and informative programming that is all about movies, including the celebrities, fashion, music and stories behind the stories. With shows featuring movie and entertainment experts, including Leonard Maltin, Richard Roeper, Sam Rubin and John Salley, viewers get trusted insight into movies wherever they're playing, whether in theaters or at home.

REELZCHANNEL reaches more than 58 million homes on DIRECTV channel 238, Dish Network channel 299, Verizon FiOS TV channel 233, AT&T U-verse channels 799/1799HD and cable systems nationwide. Find REELZCHANNEL in your area by entering your zip code at http://www.reelz.com/watch. Owned by Hubbard Media Group, REELZCHANNEL is headquartered in Albuquerque, NM with an entertainment bureau in Los Angeles and sales office in New York.

For more information, please contact the REELZCHANNEL Media Line
877- REELZTV (733-5988) / pr(at)reelz(dot)com
Attached photo courtesy of REELZCHANNEL

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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

SF Bay Area Filipina Actress, Giovannie Espiritu, Appears in Series Targeted for LOGO TV, Pilot Premieres on October 6 at The Grand Lake Theater at 6pm

SF Bay Area actress Giovannie Espiritu challenges perceptions of Asian women in her role as a gender-fluid Filipina in Dyke Central a new series targeted for LOGO, a Cable TV channel that targets the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. Espiritu plays Gin, an integral character in the gender and ethnically diverse cast. Gin offers a very different gender-expression experience for viewers compared to the other main characters in the series - a self-identified butch lesbian, a bisexual woman and a lesbian femme.

"This whole project has made me question what is real in people's perceptions of attractiveness," said Espiritu. "We are surrounded today by images of what we are 'supposed' to think is sexy or desirable. It was a revelation to me when someone told me I was 'hot' as Gin beca fashion coats online use I felt so not-what-we-are-taught is attractive, in terms of being a female. That opened my eyes. I think this series will do the same for others as they witness the lives of the characters unfold."

Dyke Central is a dramedy, based in Oakland, which centers on 30-something butch roommates Alex and Gin. The first season sees Alex attempting to sustain her dysfunctional relationship with girlfriend Jackie, in the face of new life options and the resurfacing of an old flame. Gin, on the other hand, is a chameleon whose identity changes with every new interest and who tends to lose herself in others. Surrounded by a diverse group of friends who guide, challenge and support them, Alex and Gin struggle to adapt to change and create balance in their lives without losing themselves.

Dyke Central premieres Thursday, October 6, at The Renaissance Grand Lake Theater in Oakland at 7:00pm.

The premiere is sponsored by the Brown Boi Project. It will be hosted by D'Lo (a queer Tamil Sri L.A.nkan-American, political theatre artist/writer, director, comedian and music producer) and will include a fashion show featuring the new MoC clothing line – Marimacho; Distinguished Cravat; and Young & Faithful. There will also be musical performances from such talents as Jurni Rayne plus the opportunity to meet the cast in person, as well as mingle with special guests such as Rose Troche (director/producer of Go Fish, The L Word).

For more information and to puchase tickets ($20 for general admission or $50 for VIP passes) visit http://mynahfilms.chipin.com/dyke-central

ABOUT GIOVANNIE ESPIRITU

Giovannie Espiritu was nominated alongside Academy Award Nominees Alfre Woodard and Amy Irving for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS at Methodfest for the Mynah Films feature film, "Fiona's Script." Her PRIMETIME credits include a recurring role on ER (NBC), BONES (FOX), GILMORE GIRLS (ABC), and TRAUMA (NBC). She has voiced characters in international video games and cartoons, directed several theater productions at the Herbst Theater and produced two films and a pilot through her own production company, Desert Rose Media.

She is also founder of http://www.TheYoungActorsWorkshop.com and http://www.SFActorsWorkshop.com, a school for people (kids and adults) who are serious about working in film & television. Her students have worked on shows such as TRAUMA, screen tested for the Ben Stiller film, "Little Fockers," and are represented by the top agencies in the Bay Area and Los Angeles including: JE Talent, Stars, Look, Ford, Marla Dell, Boom Models and Talent, All American Rascals, and William Morris Endeavor.

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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Free Returns to Store & New Brands at Lipsy

Lipsy make shopping easy, fast and affordable with amazing offers online. Take advantag women's coats online e of Lipsy's free delivery on orders over ?75 and next day delivery for orders before 9pm and get must-have buys right on time. If celebrating the Christmas holidays away, girls can still look the part with low cost international shipping worldwide for just ?5 and be the show stopper at the party abroad.

New Brands at Lipsy

All that glitters is on Lipsy.co.uk with the launch of fab new brands online. Pop sensation Beyonce's clothing collection House of Dereon has arrived in the UK and customers can shop her celebrity style with Lipsy. For feminine silhouettes and sophisticated day looks, Hybrid's range can tick the fashion boxes and work the colour blocking and pencil skirt trends in high fashion.

Free Returns to Store

It's all happening at Lipsy HQ, as this Autumn/Winter also sees the launch of the new 'return to store' offer. All orders on the Lipsy website can now be returned to select Lipsy stand alone stores for free; providing the in-store personal service with all the benefits of shopping online. Just return items in their original packaging with the despatch note and let the Lipsy girls issue a new receipt.

See Lipsy's store locator Lipsy.co.uk/help/store-locator for return to store locations and visit Lipsy.co.uk/help/deliveryandreturns for more information.

Shop Lipsy this Christmas, Shop VIP………

Lipsy is a young British fashion brand founded in the heart of London specialising in women's clothing. Products include party dresses,faux fur coats, ladies macs and bodycon dresses. With an in-house design team, Lipsy is dedicated to ensuring the hottest looks move from the catwalk to the high street in the blink of an eye.

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Survey Shows Shoppers on Smartphones Do More Research Than Buying; Tablet Users Research and Buy

TechBargains.com, a leading deal curation website for electronic products, released its 2011 Holiday Mobile Shopping Survey, revealing that while the number of mobile shoppers is increasing dramatically, they are using their mobile devices to research products more than they use it to make purchases. Shoppers are comfortable making purchases from their home computers, but are more hesitant using their tablets and mobile phones to buy online. The survey found that 58% of shoppers have made purchases via their mobile phone as compared to 94% who have made purchases via laptops and 75% via tablets. For those who shop with their phone, 79% use it to research products, 73% to browse stores and 77% to compare prices. Of the 58% percent of shoppers who make purchases via their mobile devices, 69% use both the mobile browser and apps to buy products (18% only use apps, 13% only use a mobile browser).

What consumers are purchasing also differs from their buying behavior on laptops. Laptop shoppers' most popular items to buy online are consumer products like clothing and electronics, but shoppers buy more digital products like music and apps on their mobile devices. On mobile phones 70% of shoppers purchased digital goods, 60% purchased consumer products, 46% purchased services, and 38% purchased consumable goods. The majority of shoppers (76%) say ease of use is the reason they would buy one category of products over another and 34% cite price point as the reason why they would buy in one category over another.

"While the use of mobile devices is increasing, our survey results strongly indicate that mobile devices are currently much better for window shopping than for buying -- especially when it comes to consumer products," said Yung Trang, president, TechBargains. "Mobile shoppers are still more comfortable purchasing using their laptops, although tablets are widely used for research and shopping. This demonstrates that consumers are open to new technology, but until mobile shopping is as easy as shopping on larger devices and security concerns are addressed, they will be more reluctant to fully embrace mobile buying."

iPhone v. Android
As the iPhone v. Android debate continues, the survey reveals iPhone users make more purchases online via their iPhone than Android owners.

  •     71% of iPhone users make purchases via their phone compared to 64% of Android users.
  •     71% of iPhone users who make purchases using their phone use both a mobile browser and apps to make purchases, 22% use only apps to make purchases, 6% only use a mobile browser, while 70% of Android users who make purchases using their phone use both mobile browser and apps to make purchases, 14% use only apps to make purchases, and17% only use mobile browser.
  •     34% of iPhone users who make purchases using their phone say half or more of their holiday purchasing was done via phone, while 20% of Android users who make purchases using their phone say half or more of their holiday purchasing was done via phone.

"Our survey indicates that Apple's 'There's an App for that' campaign is really striking a chord for mobile shoppers. iPhone users are finding apps that can handle more of their needs in a simple and secure manner without needing to open a browser," said Jeff Haynes, editor of TechBargains. "Android users aren't consistently finding the same experience, either because of convoluted interfaces or security problems. As a result, if they want to shop with their devices, they're being forced to use the web browser whether they want to or not."

iPad 2 vs. Kindle Fire
Tablet users don't demonstrate the same reservations about mobile purchasing that mobile phone shoppers do. People are using their tablets to research and make purchases, supporting the women's jackets popular claim that tablets could eventually cannibalize laptop use due to ease of use and portability.

  •     75% of tablet owners use their tablet to make purchases, 90% use tablets to browse stores, 89% research products, and 85% compare prices.
  •     86% of iPad 2 owners make purchases via tablet, while 74% of Kindle Fire owners make purchases via tablet.
  •     79% of iPad 2 owners who make purchases via tablet use both their web browser and apps to buy products, 14% only use apps, and 8% only use the mobile browser.
  •     80% of Kindle Fire owners who make purchases via tablet use both a web browser and apps to buy products, 20% only use mobile browser, and 0% only use apps.
  •     81% purchase digital goods via tablet, 77% buy consumer products, 55% buy consumable goods, and 51% buy services.

Men vs. Women
Men and women's top two concerns when making purchases via their mobile devices were similar-- security concerns and difficulty purchasing-- with women most concerned about the difficulty of completing purchases and men more concerned with security.

  •     59% of men and 54% of women make purchases using their mobile phones.
  •     Of those who don't use their mobile phones to make purchases, 42% of men and 38% of women cited security concerns and 54% of men and 59% of women cited difficulty completing purchases.

While more men make purchases on their mobile phones than women, more females are purchasing on tablets. In both cases women are making more of their holiday purchases through mobile devices than men.

  •     74% of Men and 77% of Women make purchases using their tablets
  •     35% of Women and 21% of Men made half or more of their holiday purchases via their tablets.
  •     32% of Women and 25% of Men made half or more of their holiday purchases via phones.

TechBargains.com provides additional helpful resources for consumers with video clips on its YouTube channel that focus on product reviews, product deals, gadget giveaways and holiday shopping tips. TechBargains.com also released its 2011 Holiday Gift Guide which includes 30 consumer electronic products predicted to be best selling items this holiday season.

About TechBargains
Founded in 1999, TechBargains.com is a deal aggregation website that combines unbiased expert hand-curation and a real-time price/value discovery algorithm. Over $150 million worth of products were sold via TechBargains.com over the last year. 80% of the people that visit the site are repeat visitors and they give TechBargains.com a 98% customer satisfaction rating. The site is actively pursued by manufacturers based on the quality of channel and sales achieved. The company is a top partner to Dell, HP and NewEgg. For more information visit http://www.techbargains.com or join the conversation on Twitter @techbargains or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Techbargainscom/33983412764.

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OASAP Creative Director Forecasted Street Fashion Trend of Women's Clothing on Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2012

Four Fashion Week Spring 2012 have been come to the end with spectacular, people are still delighting in talking about the vast styles of women's apparel. Sweet and pleasant printing element is used widely; sexy hollow lace dress is so attractive; bright colors bring a pleasant enjoyment undoubtedly; the dresses launched by major brands interpret the colors matching to the extreme.
"Major brands are trying their best to increase the dominance of utterance for women's clothing", OASAP Creative Director Nico Robin said," the 2012 women's clothing they released on the Fashion Week are argumentative and referential, some of the styles are coincided with OASAP newly released products". Meanwhile, Nico predicted that following several distinct pop elements will integrate into the design of women's street fashion clothing for spring and women's jackets summer 2012.

Printing, Embroidery
At Spring-Summer Show Time 2012, the major brands are more or less introduced a few pieces of printing apparel. Dolce&Gabbana and its by-line brand D&G launched many print dresses in this season, skirt with cake-like design, highlighting the cute agile charm of little women feeling.

Lace, Hollow, Fluffy
The girl without a piece of lace clothing is just a girl, but not yet a woman. OASAP designers studied the CHANEL fashion show for this season and had a premonition that lace fluffy skirt will back to the trend again. High waist lace dress was so amazing and adorable with playful fairy fluffy hem, lifelike as a hydrangea hanging of dews. No woman can resist lace and hollow, especially see-through and flamboyant dress will enhance much more feminine, response to the Chanel theme of "feminine nature".

Animal patterns, Leopard, Diamonds, Sequins, Rock
"Wild passion" shows women's needs for strong, brave, rigorous, self-confident qualities to face the stressful urban life. OASAP staff recommended girls to concern the similar products of Dior and OASAP to change the environment of everyday urban life and release pressure. Leopard, sequins and rock, symbol of the desire for survival and revival of a dynamic original strength.

Nostalgic, Retro, Fresh, Elegant, Idyllic
Retro is not entirely within the boring, it can also be fun. Louis Vuitton's pursuit of Paris fancy retro feeling; Ferragamo's fresh chic style; lapel waist dresses, pleated skirts, Polka Dot shirt and printed scarves of PRADA, are all tracing the classic modern era. Hand-painted Eiffel Tower, and heart-shaped small floral patterns from OASAP, have added a lively, youthful temperament, and bring us to return to the original to re-feel the natural and idyllic life.

So many beautiful dazzling apparel are decorating the street fashion, OASAP calls on women who are willing to discover the most touching moments of street fashion, and to look at how those fashion girls to dress up themselves.

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Monday, December 3, 2012

The Blue Thong Society Celebrates Their 6 Year Anniversary

In addition to the upcoming annual conference cruise, the Blue Thong Society holds regional and local chapter events. Local events on the immediate horizon are in Staten Island on May 16th, and a women's retreat event, "Under the Blue Tent", in New York City on May 19th at Public House, 140 E 41st St. NY, NY 10017 from 5pm to 9pm. The event will include presentations from noted speakers, mixer/networking, and exhibitors (tables available). Event details are listed on the BTS website at http://www.bluethongsociety.com.

"BTS events are always open to the public", says Mary Jo Wallo, BTS Founder, "and they consistently include professional presentations from our sponsors on various subjects of interest to women".

New BTS merchandise is also arriving in March and will be unveiled to attendees at the annual conference. BTS has chosen, Match Resources, a local vendor for their branded merchandise. BTS will bring back some member favorites to their branded clothing line as well as some new items with include wearables for girls as well as a few items for the four-legged friends of the BTS members.

The Blue Thong Society is also expanding their corporate staff adding Joan Joseph, a current BTS Chapter Director, who will focus on PR and membership. The BTS has several volunteer helpers, also BTS members, who keep the organization thriving.

About Blue Thong Society (BTS)
Since its inceptio women's jackets n in 2006, the BTS (bluethongsociety.com & facebook.com/itscooltobeblue ) has grown its unique international women's philanthropic organization to 300 chapters and 5,000+ women. These modern, fun, confident, professional and philanthropic women - connect socially, but with purpose and intent to make the world a better place. Chapters commit to a GoodWorks? program twice a year and pledge that commitment to the BTS board and membership.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Harvard Business School Holds 16th Annual Business Plan Contest

Teams of student entrepreneurs focused on stabilizing vaccines to allow safer and more reliable distribution worldwide, and streamlining the transition of patients from the hospital to post-acute care facilities, took first place at the Harvard Business School (HBS) Business Plan Contest held Tuesday (April 24) in Burden Auditorium. This year marked the 16th anniversary of the for-profit Business Venture Track and the 12th year of the Social Venture Track, which focuses on creating social value via nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid-model plans. The capstone of the School's extensive Entrepreneurial Studies curriculum, the contest awards prizes totaling more than $150,000 in cash and in-kind services to the winners and runners-up in both tracks.

The Contest was open to all Harvard MBA candidates as well as eligible graduate students from around Harvard University. Eighty teams in the Business Venture Track and forty-nine in the Social Venture Track submitted plans to the 2012 Contest. Over time, more than 100 judges from fields such as venture capital, angel investing, consulting, law, accounting, life sciences, high technology, philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and academia reduced the field to the total of eight finalists.

"There is an incredibly strong entrepreneurial spirit among HBS students, which is apparent in the innovative and socially-minded busi women's jackets ness ideas that are showcased through the Contest," said Dean Nitin Nohria.

The winner in the Business Venture Track was Vaxess Technologies, founded by HBS second-year MBA students Michael Schrader and Anura Patil, Harvard Kennedy School student Livio Valenti, Harvard Law School student Patrick Ho, Faculty of Arts & Sciences student Kathryn Kosuda, Isa Watson, and Matthew Olsofsky. Vaxess Technologies is working to commercialize a Tufts University technology that stabilizes vaccines into a thin film strip which can be shipped and stored without refrigeration, eliminating the need for the cold-chain. Vaxess strives to not only lower the cost of distribution, but also to increase access to life-saving products for people all around the world.

In the Social Venture Track, the winning team was eTransitions, founded by MD/MBA joint degree candidate Lissy Hu, Harvard Medical School student Jessica Hohman, incoming MBA student Kira Yugay, and Jonathan Helm. eTransitions is a web-based solution that streamlines the transition of patients from the hospital to post-acute care facilities.

Senior Lecturer Michael Roberts, Executive Director of the School's Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship, announced three runners-up in the Business Venture Track. They were (in alphabetical order):

  • RallyPoint, founded by first-year student Aaron Kletzing and Yinon Weiss (MBA 2011), revolutionizes the way military professionals connect, develop, and pursue fulfilling opportunities throughout their military careers.
  • SaferTaxi, founded by second-year student Jonathan Lo, provides a smartphone application that allows consumers in Latin America to book taxis with added convenience and transparency, aiming to bring greater efficiency and safety to the existing taxi booking process.
  • Zumper, founded by second-year student Anthemos Georgiades, allows tenants to search for and close annual apartment leases in a much more transparent manner.

Laura Moon, director of the School's Social Enterprise Initiative, announced the runner-up in the Social Venture Track:

  • XinfuGo plans to build a disruptive base-of-pyramid (BOP) retail and distribution platform to deliver safe and effective essential products at a lower cost in rural China. The team is composed of second-year students Ying Chen and Yixin La and first-year student Qiwei (Gary) Shi.

Each winning team in the Business Venture Track was awarded $25,000 in cash and an equal amount of in-kind services, including work space in the Harvard Innovation Lab. They also received the Dubilier Prize, honoring the late Martin Dubilier (MBA 1952), cofounder of the prominent leveraged buyout firm of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.

The runner-up teams in the Business Venture Track received $10,000 in cash and an equal amount of in-kind services, as well as the Satchu-Burgstone Entrepreneurship Award, endowed by Jon Burgstone (MBA 1999), Asif Satchu (MBA 1999), and Reza Satchu (MBA 1996) in 2001. After being named runners-up in the 1999 Contest, these alumni went on to achieve considerable commercial success with their plan for SupplierMarket.com, an online marketplace for buying and selling manufactured materials.

The winning team and the runner–up team in the Social Venture Ttrack were awarded the Peter M. Sacerdote Prizes—$25,000 in cash for the winner and $10,000 in cash for the runner–up. These prizes were established by Mr. Sacerdote (MBA 1964) in honor of his 40th reunion and the Campaign for the Harvard Business School to enable more HBS graduates to apply their skills to develop and launch social–purpose ventures. Both winners and runners up in this track also received matching amounts of in–kind services provided by The Bridgespan Group, a social enterprise consultancy, and the law firm of Foley Hoag. The winner of the Social Venture Track also receives work space in the Harvard Innovation Lab.

Also recognized during the event was Angela Newnam (MBA 1996), winner of the third annual Alumni New Venture Contest. Newnam is the founder of Knock out!, a line of high-performance undergarments for men and women bringing moisture-absorbing, odor-control properties to comfortable cotton products. Launched in 2011, Knock out! sold 20,000 units in its first year. Hosted by the Rock Center, the Alumni New Venture Contest shines a spotlight on graduates' enterprises, bringing to campus teams representing Harvard Business School Clubs from around the world. Newnam received a cash prize of $50,000.

In addition, Sidhant Jena (MBA 2011) CEO of Jana Care, was named the recipient of the 2012 Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship, designed to support recent HBS graduates who are creating ventures that focus on creating social value. Through a competitive selection process, the Fellowship supports recent graduates with a $25,000 award. Jana Care, an India-based new venture aims "to use technology to democratize diabetes management in the developing world." To accomplish this, Jana Care has developed a tiny attachment that transforms any mobile phone into a glucose monitor, allowing diabetes patients to test blood sugar and transmit results to their physician for feedback on diet, nutrition, and medication.

Past participants in the HBS Business Plan Contest have gone on to create many successful companies such as Cloudfare, which enables websites to intelligently protect themselves from online attacks; Finale, a Boston-area restaurant chain serving desserts and beverages; RelayRides, the world's first person-to-person car sharing service; Rent the Runway, which provides access to designer clothing at a fraction of the retail price; Diagnostic-For-All, a nonprofit enterprise that has developed a low-cost, paper-based "lab-on-a-chip" for diagnosing diseases in poor regions around the world; Global Citizen Year, which encourages students between high school and college to address the global challenges of the 21st century; Good Start Genetics, which is developing a low-cost, pre-pregnancy test for multiple genetic disorders; and New Leaders, a national nonprofit organization devoted to improving education for all children by attracting and preparing the next generation of outstanding leaders for urban public schools.

Run under the auspices of the Harvard Business School's Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship and the Social Enterprise Initiative, the HBS Business Plan Contest provides an integrative learning experience for all participants. The prime objectives of the Contest are to educate students in the process of creating and evaluating new business ventures, prepare them for opportunities in traditional and social entrepreneurship during their careers, and harness the unique resources that HBS offers.

The Rock Center was created through the generosity of prominent venture capitalist Arthur Rock (MBA 1951). In 2003, he donated $25 million to HBS to support the entrepreneurship faculty and their research, fellowships for MBA and doctoral students, symposia and conferences, and new outreach efforts to extend the impact of the School's extensive work in this field. To further contribute to its research and course development efforts, Harvard Business School also established the California Research Center in the heart of Silicon Valley in 1997.

Harvard Business School offered the country's first business school course in entrepreneurship in 1947. Today, members of the HBS Entrepreneurial Management Unit, which numbers more than 30 faculty, teach a required course to some 900 students in the first year of the MBA program along with a broad selection of popular elective courses to second-year students.
The United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship has recognized the Harvard Business School entrepreneurship program as the best in the country.

Contact:
Kristen Raymaakers
kraymaakers(at)hbs(dot)edu
617-495-6931

About the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative
Since 1993, the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative (SEI) has applied innovative business practices and managerial disciplines to drive sustained, high-impact social change. The Social Enterprise Initiative acts as a catalyst for creating social value by serving as a focal point for the creativity and energy of its worldwide community. These efforts have manifested themselves in a number of areas, ranging from the participation of approximately 90 faculty members in social enterprise research and teaching to the creation of over 500 social enterprise cases and teaching notes. Courses that focus on social enterprise are embedded into the MBA curriculum and HBS Executive Education program offerings, reflecting a real-world blending of business and social issues. Beyond the classroom, the Initiative offers career development and community engagement programs designed to support students and alumni engaged in the social sector. For more information, visit: http://www.hbs.edu/socialenterprise/.

About Harvard Business School:
Founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University, Harvard Business School is located on a 40-acre campus in Boston. Its faculty of more than 200 offers full-time programs leading to the MBA and doctoral degrees, as well as more than 80 open enrollment Executive Education programs and more than 60 custom programs. For more than a century, HBS faculty have drawn on their research, their experience in working with organizations worldwide, and their passion for teaching to educate leaders who have shaped the practice of business and entrepreneurship around the globe.

CWA Enterprises’ Award-winning American Invention Re-String It Launches, Signals Hope for Small Business Economy

An idea that formed in Chad Archibeck's head almost three years ago has given birth to American assembly jobs that would not have existed without his fortitude and financial investment in his product, Re-String It, which has launched this quarter. He has taken the annoying, time consuming problem of drawstrings coming out of hoodies and pants and designed a problem solving tool that is more textile friendly and longer lasting than any of its competitors.

Additionally, having lived in a city hard-hit by the housing downturn, he also understands the need to get America back to work – and he's not waiting on a president for help. "Restring-It has already employed dozens of U.S. workers in the assembly process and has the potential to put hundreds of Americans back to work," Chad explained.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. unemployment hit 8.1 percent in April 2012. With companies like Research In Motion and HP laying off even more employees recently, the question becomes where will the next big invention come from that can employ U.S. workers? With his new product, Re-String It, Chad is solving two problems with one solution. Having founded CWA Enterprises, Re-String It now saves pants and jobs.

"It's not easy to create an invention, find trustworthy help, secure a patent, and get it manufactured and assembled with no guidance," says Chad, who has done all of this research himself. "You really end up becoming an expert in American innovation."

Re-String It is a universal drawstring re-threader designed to quickly and easily re-thread anything with a string. The adjustable loop allows for any thread type from flat threads to round threads. The edges on the loop are rounded which will allow for any thread composition to be used from silk to cotton and the clothing won't get frayed. While the invention may sound simple, Chad knows that the devil is in the details. "I give customers a life-time guarantee because the product is perfect. Its anodized aluminum material means it won't rust and the flexible body and rigid front guarantee easily and safe travel through any channel."

The uncharted path of bringing an invention to market can be so difficult that it can prevent a good idea from ever seeing the light of day. For Chad, he is not only seeing an enthusiastic response to his product, but has also been formally acknowledged for his hard work and tenacity. "The Next Best Zing" announces yearly awards in several categories, including Men, Women, and Everyone. Re-String It received the Winne women's jackets r of Everyone Category for 2012. But the accolades haven't stopped there.

The unsolicited reviews on Re-String It's website keep pouring in with high marks. One customer was so excited about this must-have domestic tool that she paid to promote Re-String It as a Loyola Marymount University's Race for Success 5k Fundraiser sponsor.

As the product continues to grow in popularity, CWA expects to provide many more jobs for American workers and save many more pants from the trash bin.

About the Company:
Re-String It is a product of CWA Enterprises, which was created to bring the perfect must-have domestic tool to market. Re-String It is a heavy duty, versatile re-stringer that is easy to use and won't damage clothing. The rounded edge on the adjustable loop enables use on delicate materials. Visit http://www.re-stringit.com for more information.