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Business to Business Newsletter
September - 2011
In This Issue
New - "Risky Business"
Buying Distressed Commercial Properties? Read this first.
Social Media & Protecting Your Business
Fan Beating - Lessons for Your Business
NEW! Check out our Blog - "Risky Business"!
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Follow-up Links

 

Facebook 
Who knew insurance could be social?

 

We did!
 

Here's a sampling of what you'll get when you "like" us on Facebook:

 

*Cool tools & articles

 

*Trivia Tuesdays (place your bets!)

 

*Photos from our "Whoops!" File (you won't believe this stuff!)

 

Please look us up and, if you like what you see, share our page with your friends!

QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE BUYING DISTRESSED COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

Distressed Property 

The economic downturn that began in late 2007 has taken a severe toll on all sectors of the U.S. economy, but it hit the real estate sector especially hard. Real estate research company Green Street Advisors reported in March 2011 that commercial property values were 17% below their peak in August 2007. CoStar Group reported that the values of the highest quality office buildings, relatively new retail and industrial properties, and apartment complexes were down 33% since June 2007. These large price decreases might attract investors in search of good buying opportunities, but potential buyers should look beyond the low purchase price when they evaluate these properties. The properties' physical state, legal issues, and insurance considerations also affect whether they are smart investments.

 

Many of these properties were only partially completed when the financial crisis hit, so buyers must assess their economic viability and physical condition. They need to ask...

 

 MORE...  

 

 

One of our local supermarkets just received a major facelift. Some new equipment, some new shelving, some new signs above each aisle... even though it was a bit chaotic during the remodel, the end result is a cleaner (and supposedly more organized) store.

 

During the process though, the place was in a state of mass Supermarketconfusion. People were frustrated and cranky. The staff answered endless questions and listened to countless complaints because nothing was where the shoppers expected it to be. To those not in the store 40 hours a week, it was - a whole new kind of "mystery shopping"... challenging to say the least, and quite disorienting

 

We understand that sometimes going over an insurance program can leave you feeling a little like that. Some insurance packages can be pretty complex, and we get that you have better things to do with your time than sitting around trying to decipher your policy (after all, if you were a whiz at insurance, you'd be working here instead of doing what you're doing, right? ;-))

 

We're happy to take the mystery out of insurance shopping for you. We do our best to break down your policy in a way that helps you understand exactly what's covered and what's not, saving you the time and trouble of sifting through pages and pages of forms (of course the forms are there for you, if you'd like to take a look). In addition, should you need additional guidance, we're always here to answer your questions and point you in the right direction. Life can be crazy... insurance doesn't have to be. :)

 

Have a great month!

Dave & Jeanne


Dave Mason, CIC

Mason & Mason Insurance 

M&M Assurance Group 
   
P.S. Looking to connect? Check out our new blog! You can also find us on facebook... and don't forget about our website at www.mmins.com. Click the "Clients" tab at the top of the page and gain entry to the site with username: "Client" and password: "INFO4U". You'll find a business insurance section designed with you in mind! Let us know what you think!

PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS WHEN USING SOCIAL MEDIA  Social Media

By the beginning of 2011, the social networking Website Facebook had more than 600 million users. An estimated 200 million people use micro-blogging service Twitter. The business networking site LinkedIn has reported that it has more than 100 million members. In addition, the Internet hosts millions of blogs and tens of thousands of podcasts. These sites and media, popularly known as "social media," have opened up new ways for people and businesses to communicate with each other. As the numbers show, they have become extremely popular. Consequently, businesses are increasingly using social media to reach current and potential customers.

 

However, use of these services presents risks together with the potential benefits. For example...

 

    

                                     MORE... 

 

 

FAN BEATING AT A BASEBALL GAME: LESSONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS Baseball & Glove

On the opening day of the 2011 baseball season, a San Francisco Giants fan named Bryan Stow attended the Giants' game against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium in L.A. After the game, as Stow tried to hail a taxi, two men accosted him for wearing Giants fan apparel and administered a brutal beating.

 

Violent crime is not unique to Los Angeles or Major League Baseball teams. Something like this could happen in a school, an apartment complex courtyard, or in the parking lots of a shopping mall, a convenience store, a library or a restaurant. If it is common for groups of people to gather at your business, there are a few lessons you can take from this incident.

 

1. The amount of liability insurance you buy...

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this month's newsletter! Remember, your feedback helps shape future issues. We value your input, so please...let us know what you think! Have a great month!

 

Sincerely,

 


David Mason, CIC

President

Mason and Mason Insurance
M&M Assurance Group 
Mason & Mason Insurance                   M&M Assurance Group
458 South Avenue                                      3304 White Mountain Hwy
Whitman, MA 02382                                    North Conway, NH 03860
T (800) 759-1452                                        T (800) 298-0802
F (781) 447-2832                                        F (603) 356-9290