TAS Marketing provides "Pay it Forward" stimulus checks to Answering Service Operators
In an effort to help stimulate this economy as well offering a twist with the traditional Christmas giving, TAS Marketing offered a 5% stimulus bonus package in the form of "Pay it Forward" checks to TAS operators across the country. From it's commission sales through the end of the year, TAS Marketing gave $3,685.00 to operators from 4 separate businesses to do with as they wish, as long as they give it to some worthy charity, cause or person(s).Commission checks went out in time for Christmas to the operators & staff of: Answer One, Inc. in Lexington, Kentucky, United Answering Service in Beverly Hills, California, Personalized Communications in Duncanville, Texas and World Class Communications in Seattle, Washington.
"It is our way of exploring what it means to give from the heart," says Steve Michaels, president of TAS Marketing. Mr. Michaels firmly believes that what "goes around, comes around" and is especially pleased to give these hard working members of our industry the chance to help others by donating to a cause of their choice.
"Pay it forward" is an idea that has spread across the country and is based on the novel about 11-year old Trevor McKinney who wanted to change the world by doing good deeds for three people. The pay it forward concept, said Michaels, is at the heart of the Christian faith, and serves as a reminder for people to give to others, "just as God gives to us... without preconditions."
Individual owners had a good time handing out these special, "Pay it Forward" checks to their employees and noted that the program has generated excitement among their staff and operators, as acts of kindness blossom. "Even with all the talk about the economy," says Kelly Hola, owner of World Class Communications, "our employees were still excited about giving to others." "Generosity begets generosity," says Michaels.
Employees were very grateful to be able to give to people they knew who were out of work or to find a local, needy family and help them pay their bills or put a little something extra under the tree for Christmas.
Mr. Michaels stated that he feels fortunate for all of the business that he received last year and is grateful to the many individuals who made it possible. "This is just my way of giving back to an industry that has given so much to me."
Personalized Communications & TAS Marketing "Warms Hearts"
For Christmas this year, the staff of Personalized Communications in Duncanville, Texas decided that they wanted to help those less fortunate. They formed "committees" and decided to give to a nonprofit organization called "Brighter Tomorrows". This organization provides housing and other services to families experiencing domestic and sexual violence. Brighter Tomorrows suggested we "adopt" a family to help out and said that each family in the shelter has a "wish list".Payroll deduction forms were made with "suggested" amounts of $1, $2, or $5 per participating employee, with the option to donate one time only, or have a payroll deduction from the remaining three payroll checks before our project would be complete and ready for delivery. Wow! To see the response from OUR staff, during such economic difficulties was just AMAZING. Then, to make it even better, our President, Stan Gardner, generously agreed to MATCH our donations! In addition, our staff chose to use the Stimulus Bonus check from TAS Marketing to increase our impact on these families.
Next, our shopping committee got the "wish lists" and headed to the stores! Because of our added donations, we were able to adopt TWO families. Our first family had one mother with two children and the other had a mother with three children. We purchased cookware, comforter sets, bedding, a Barbie house, Hannah Montana items, towels, gift cards for clothes and of course lots of toys. We were able to purchase EVERTHING on their lists which made both our employees and the "Brighter Tomorrow" families very happy and grateful!
When the shopping was complete, the wrapping committee gathered in the conference room with their hot chocolate, wrapping paper and twirled ribbon to wrap presents for two lucky families for that special Christmas. What a perfect way to end an 8 hour shift.
"We wanted to give something back to those in need even though many of our employee's families are struggling financially," says Sheila R. McBride, Operations Manager at Personalized, to show how, "so little can mean so much" when we all work together as a TEAM!
What a Christmas! What an INCREDIBLE staff!
Sheila R. McBride
Operations Manager
Personalized Communications, Inc.
September 2009
TAS Marketing helps stimulate Answering Service Economy
TAS Marketing, an answering service brokerage firm has taken the notion to stimulate our economy by supporting answering service employees during this economic downturn.Many answering service businesses are suffering through loss of customers and call volume and at least one company out there hopes to improve the life of it’s agents – if even by a little.
For the rest of the year, TAS Marketing will donate 5 percent of its commissions to the employees of any answering service that buys the accounts or business of another answering service by using TAS Marketing as it’s brokerage firm.
Steve Michaels, president of TAS Marketing states, “lots of people are complaining about this recession but nobody is doing anything about it. I have therefore decided to give back to an industry that has supported me for over 30 years with a 5% kickback to the people who make this industry work – the operators and agents.”
Each month, TAS Marketing will write a check to any company that acquires another answering service through it’s brokerage firm. “This money will be used exclusively to enhance the lives of the employees who will take on the extra workload that any acquisition can bring,” states Michaels.
“This concept if taken even further, can help stimulate our industry from within,” says Michaels. “We are really excited about the potential of this going viral – that other TAS businesses along with the vendors will pick up this idea and run with it. If they do, it will create a truly powerful economic stimulus, where friends help friends, neighbors help neighbors and businesses help businesses all by working together. It can start with just one company,” says Michaels.
Steve Michaels is a business broker with TAS Marketing and can be contacted at 800-369-6126 or tas@tasmarketing.com for questions. His web site is www.tasmarketing.com.
September 2009
TAS Marketing celebrates over 30 years of brokering expertise for the telephone answering service industry
Trout Creek, MontanaFrom its humble corporate headquarters in northwest Montana, TAS Marketing has supplied answering services with products and services for over 30 years. President and Broker, Steve Michaels says that he has gone through the gauntlet of selling answering service products from the first DID (direct inward dialing) system by Candela Electronics in 1979 to the more sophisticated Asterisk* based systems of today called TASterix.
But TAS Marketing’s primary business is selling telephone answering service businesses, which to-date adds up to over 370 businesses totaling a whopping $100,000,000.000 worth of sales.
Mr. Michael’s background supports his expertise from owning his TAS bureau in Palo Alto, CA to consulting for several TAS Manufacturers. He has been instrumental in hosting national TAS Expos and he also founded the Connections Magazine, the only trade journal in the industry today. Mr. Michael’s background generates many calls asking him to do evaluations for businesses and to help owners find new acquisitions for their existing answering services.
Titled the “TAS Guru”, Mr. Michael’s varieties of tasks have included writing answering service articles to selling used equipment. From selling multi-million dollar Call Centers to giving advice about a legal contract involving the sale of a business.
The All-Around Go-to-Guy serving the answering service industry is Steve Michaels and TAS Marketing. Mr. Michaels can be reached at (800) 369-6126.
June 2009
TAS Marketing Sells Two Winners
TAS Marketing announces the successful sale of two telecommunication businesses that were listed last month. The first business was Hudson Valley Answering Service located in Poughkeepsie, NY, owned by Dominic and Sharon Gallo. The Gallo’s were very satisfied with the sale as negotiations were made and equipment was purchased to enable the buyer to accept a few large accounts that were using radios. The buyer, Dick Gore and his daughter Julie Mooney with Berkshire Communications located in Pittsfield, MA. have taken over the operation and found it to be an excellent acquisition for their future growth.The second transaction was Answerphone, Inc. located in Jacksonville, Florida owned by Vicki Leonard. This sale was to Sunshine Communication Services, Inc. owned by Peter and Andy Gross out of Coral Gables, Florida. Peter found it helpful that the management would stay with the business and that they were on the same equipment platform.
Both transactions were complete within 60 days.
May 2009
Connections Communication Services purchases A Better Answer
Connections Communications Services located in San Francisco and owned by Gary Whalen has purchased A Better Answer located in Hesperia, CA, owned by Dee Cunningham. The transaction was handled by TAS Marketing.March 2009
Finger Lakes acquires Answer Bay Area in Florida
Tampa, Florida: Gard McLean from Finger Lakes Business Services located in Auburn, New York, has acquired Answer Bay Area, Inc. owned and operated since 1992 by Pete Ritchie in Tampa, Florida. The transisition was almost seamless according to Gard."We're happy to add Answer Bay Area to our list of acquisitions”, says Gard, who is also happy to now own an answering service in sunny Florida. The transaction was handled by Steve & Chris Michaels with the brokerage firm of TAS Marketing located in Trout Creek, Montana.
For more information regarding buying or selling an answering service, contact TAS Marketing at (800) 369-6126 or tas@tasmarketing.com.