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Building Bridges Newsletter
Supporting businesses by lending good money to good businesses!
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Greetings!
After an extended chilly spring season and many major news stories dominating the airwaves, we look forward to settling into the pleasant months of summer fun! This issue of Building Bridges focuses on summer -- however you may plan to enjoy it!
We welcome our new Mazon clients to our factoring services and new subscribers to our quarterly newsletter, which we anticipate you will find informative, entertaining and useful.
Happy Summer!
Lisa Hultz
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Featured Entrepreneur: Mary Bonham
 Sam Bonham was born April 13, 1912 to William and Lelia Fitzhugh of Red River County, Texas. In 1968, Sam owned a truck service garage in Sulphur Springs, Texas when, working with a Texas A&M chemist, he formulated a cold-weld "tougher than steel" two-part epoxy to replace traditional torch welding in his shop. Sam, encouraged by his future wife, Mary, who owned a local beauty salon, began selling J-B Weld to machine shops and stores. When Mary and Sam married in 1969, they risked the beauty salon and machine shop when they went on the road selling the product out of their car to automotive shops, and later auto parts jobbers, across Texas.
 When Sam suddenly passed away in April 1989, Mary took up the reigns of J-B Weld. Shortly before he died, Sam had said, "My life's dream is for J-B Weld to be all the way around the world, and for me to see an 18-wheeler load out of here with nothing but J-B Weld." To fulfill her husband's dream, Mary opened an office in London within a year of his passing. This office became J-B Weld's European hub, turning it into an international business.
For almost four decades, Mary Bonham drove J-B Weld Company to become the success that it is today by working within the company as well as traveling around the world looking for new business. Her daughter Rhonda grew up within J-B Weld Company and later served as its president.
 In 2008, the company was purchased by a team of private investors led by Chip Hanson, who now serves as president and CEO. In just a few years, Chip and his team broadened the product line to include J-B Kwik, J-B SteelStik, WaterWeld, KwikWood, PlasticWeld, MarineWeld, Perm-O-Seal, WoodWeld and ClearWeld. J-B Weld products are available at more than 50,000 retail locations worldwide, including major auto retailers, mass merchants and hardware and home centers.
Early in 2012, Chip knew the time was right to buy out his own private investors. He worked to secure an equity investment of $20.2 Million in late December 2012 which enabled J-B Weld to finance their current needs as well as to close their share repurchase in an expedited time frame.
 Mary Bonham maintains an active role in the Sulphur Spring's community. She has dedicated much of her life to business ventures and community activities, including donations for Kid's Kingdom park, leading the Hopkins County Courthouse Renovation project, and the Women's Pavilion at the Hopkins County Memorial Hospital. She is also active in the horse racing industry, creating and operating one of the few training and breeding centers in Texas. In 2010 she donated two race horses (Tricky Prospect and Directs Unique One) to the Texas A&M University-Commerce equine program. She is also a keen investor in real estate properties. Mary has been instrumental in educational opportunities for students in the area as well, providing high school senior scholarships to local students for more than 15 years.
Mary's courageous spirt and positive attitude are still seen in the way J-B Weld Company conducts its business today. J-B Weld's goal of helping customers save their items and their money can be found in the original company moto: "Don't Scrap It! J-B Weld It!"
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Numbers in the News
 The Beijing National Aquatics Center in Beijing, China, officially known as the National Aquatics Center, and colloquially known as the Water Cube, was built alongside the Beijing National Stadium in the Olympic Green for the swimming competitions of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Ground was broken on December 24, 2003 and completed on January 28, 2008 at a cost of 940 Million Chinese Yuan (US $152,007,400). Swimmers at the Water Cube broke 25 world records during the 2008 Olympics. It was here where 23-year-old Michael Phelps (USA Olympic Swimming Team) won eight gold medals and took the record for the most first-place finishes at any single Olympic Games.
After the Olympics, the building underwent a 200 Million Yuan (US $3,341,548) revamping to turn half of its interior into a water park. The building officially reopened on August 8, 2010.
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I.R.S. Tax News
 With the 2012 tax filing season behind us, many small businesses are planning ahead for the 2013 tax season. In case you missed seeing it elsewhere, the IRS recently announced a simplified option (starting with the 2013 return) that many owners of home-based businesses and some home-based workers may use to figure their deductions for the business use of their homes. The new optional deduction, capped at $1,500 per year based on $5 a square foot for up to 300 square feet, will reduce the paperwork and recordkeeping burden on small business by an estimated 1.6 million hours annnually. "This is a common-sense rule to provide taxpayers an easier way to calculate and claim the home office deduction," said Acting IRS Commissioner Steven T. Miller. "The IRS continues to look for similar ways to combat complexity and encourages people to look at this option as they consider tax planning in 2013." Currently, taxpayers are generally required to fill out a 43-line form (Form 8829), often with complex calculations of allocated expenses, depreciation and carryovers of unused deductions; taxpayers claiming the optional deduction will complete a significantly simplified form. (In tax year 2010, nearly 3.4 million taxpayers claimed deductions for business use of a home.) |
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How often do I submit invoices to Mazon and how soon can I be funded?
 When you are a Mazon client, you may provide us with your schedule of invoices daily, weekly, monthly, as often as you choose without penalty or added fees. After your schedule of invoices is processed, funding will be made by check, deposit or wire transfer to your bank. Funding normally occurs the same day before 4:00 p.m. If you would like to find out more about our services for your business and/or apply for an account with Mazon Associates, please phone us at 972-554-6967 (toll-free 800-442-2740 or visit our website at www.Mazon.com. |
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Five Success Principles To Remember
 1) You are the only person responsible for your success. The best part of your life will start on the day you decide your life is your own -- no one to lean on, rely on, or blame. You are in full control of your future.
2) You don't have to invent the wheel. Lots of success were found just by taking something that already existed and simply putting their own twist on it (their unique selling proposition).
3) There is no progress without action. What is not started today is never finished tomorrow. Just remember, no action always results in a 100% failure rate. So, get into action now, and begin to move in the right direction.
4) Persistence always wins. As Winston Churchill once said, "Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." A river cuts through rocks because of its persistence over time.
5) Focus is everything. If you never focus clearly on something, you will never be 100% efficient at anything. Multi-tasking usually reduces your efficiency in dealing with each individual task.
(Source: Evan Carmichael, Facebook post)
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What You should Know About TBI
 Summer is time for enjoying more sports activities, traveling, and simply having fun. The CDC has asked everyone to be aware that tramatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious health issue, especially during summer vacations. Each year, TBI contributes to a substantial number of deaths and permanent disability. A TBI is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. The severity of a TBI may range from "mild" to "severe." According to research from CDC, approximately 3.5 million persons have a TBI in the United States. Of these individuals, 2.1 million received care in emergency departments; 300,000 were hospitalized; 84,000 were seen in outpatient departments; 1.1 million received care from office-based physicians; and 53,000 died. Previously referred to as the "Silent Epidemic," individuals with this injury may not have any visible scars, and symptoms may not show up or be noticed until hours or days later. Still, a TBI can cause short- or long-term problems seriously affecting thinking, learning, memory, and/or emotions. A TBI can affect all aspects of an individual's life, as well as that of their loved ones. This may include relationships with family and friends, as well as their ability to work or be employed, do household tasks, or drive a car. So, while on that much-anticipated summer vacation, please remember to wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle; avoid activities that can distract you while driving (such as using a cell phone, texting, eating); wear a helmet while riding a bike; and take care to avoid a fall. |
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Product Recalls
The following recent recalls were issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Recall numbers are included; more details can be found at www.cpsc.gov. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at 800-638-2772. (It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.)
#13-154, Filtrete Room Air Purifiers (Imp: 3M Company, St. Paul, MN); #13-142, LED 120-Volt Light Bulbs sold as 6-, 8- and 9-Watt (equivalent to 40 or 50 Watts) (Definity, EcoSmart, Sylvania and Westinghouse) (Imp: Lighting Science Group, Satellite Beach, FL); #13-121, Task It 1-UP Folding Step Stool (Mfg: Cramer LLC, Kansas City, MO); #13-119, Dual-Wattage Travel Converter Kits (Imp: Samsonite LLC, Mansfield, MA); #13-101, Mattresses and Mattresses with Foundations (Mfg: The Mattress Cloud, Brooklyn, NY); #13-127, One-cup Coffeemakers (Imp: Jerdon Style LLC, Richardson, TX); #13-124, Ryobi Lithium 18 V 4AH Battery Pack (Imp: One World Technologies, Anderson, SC); #13-096, Weight Workbenches (Imp: Powertec, Long Beach, CA); #13-122, Homelite Electric Blower Vacuums (Imp: Homelite Consumer Products, Anderson, SC); #13-123, Expert Gardener Electric Blower Vacuums (IMP: OWT Industries, Pickens, SC); #13-117, BlueStar Residential Gas Wall Ovens (Mfg: Prizer Painter Stove Works, Reading, PA). |
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Summer 2013 Holidays and Events
 May 5: Cinco de Mayo; May 7: National Teachers Day; May 12: Mother's Day, Nurses Day; May 18: Armed Forces Day; May 22: National Maritime Day; May 27: Memorial Day; June 1: Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins; June 5: World Environment Day; June 14: Flag Day; June 16: Father's Day; June 21: First Day of Summer; June 28: Paul Bunyan Day; July 4: Independence Day. May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.
Mazon Office Holidays: We will be closed Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day and Thursday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. You may submit your invoices during our closed hours via fax, e-mail or drop-slot to be processed the next business day.
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Paul Bunyan Day, June 28th
 One of the most famous lumberjacks in North American folklore, Paul Bunyan is usually described as an 8-foot giant weighing 300 pounds with unusual strength. He was often accompanied by his animal companion, Babe the Blue Ox (a massive creature with exceptional strength) who was given to Paul by Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett because they were all woodsy pioneer types. It is widely believed that much of the legend was created by an advertising copywriter named William Laughead who had once worked in lumber camps and took the stories from an old lumberjack, reworking them into a modern character. He then sold the character to the Red River Lumber Company, which published it as an advertising pamphlet in 1916.
As heroic myths go, Paul Bunyan's birth was somewhat unusual, as it took five storks to carry the infant to his parents' home. When he was old enough to clap and laugh, the vibration broke every window in the house. When he was seven months old, he sawed the legs off his parents' bed in the middle of the night. Paul and his companion Babe the Blue Ox dug the Grand Canyon when he dragged his axe behind him. He created Mount Hood by piling rocks on top of his campfire to put it out. A story about the formation of the Great Lakes was centered around Babe -- Paul Bunyan needed to create a watering hole large enough for Babe to drink from. There are also stories that Minnesota's 10,000 lakes were formed by Paul and Babe's footprints while they wandered blindly in a deep blizzard. The state of Michigan declared Oscoda, Michigan as the official home of Paul Bunyan because it had the earliest documented published stories about Paul Bunyan. Kelliher, Minnesota is the home of Paul Bunyan Memorial Park, which contains a site purporting to be Paul Bunyan's grave. Another legend claims that Rib Mountain in Wausau, Wisconsin is Paul Bunyan's gravesite.
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Build A Solid Brand By Helping Others
 It's easy to be a taker. To stand out, be a giver. Choose five things you do during the day and find a way to make them helpful to others. Doing so will catch people's attention and they will share the story with friends, family, or twitter followers -- doing your marketing for you. (Source: www.Manta.com) |
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Summer Business Book Pick
 The Wave Maker, by Tim O'Brien, published by Ripley Entertainment, September 2004. Hardcover, 352 pages. ISBN-10:1893951081, ISBN-13: 978-1893951082.
What began as a biography of George Millay, the "Father of the Waterpark Industry," ended up being both the intriguing life story of a great and successful risk-taker and the first-ever, in-depth look at the creation of two theme park genres which today entertain more than 100 million people a year, worldwide. This is the first in-depth look at the creation and the early history of the SeaWorld parks, now owned by Anheuser-Busch; Magic Mountain, now owned by Six Flags; and the Wet'n Wild parks, now owned by Universal and by Palace Entertainment. The book chronicles the deals, the people, and the events that shaped these parks -- from concept through construction and the early years of operation. (www.Amazon.com) |
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Thoughtful Thoughts
We must motivate ourselves to do our very best, and by our example lead others to do their best as well.
-- Samuel Truett Cathy,
Founder of Chick-fil-A
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You know it's summertime HOT when:
The cows are giving evaporated milk.
The trees are whistlin' for the dogs.
Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.
You realize that asphalt actually has a liquid state.
You can say 110 degrees without fainting.
Tabasco® sauce is the only thing that will quench your thirst.
You can make sun tea, instantly.
You learn that a seat belt makes a great branding iron.
If the temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.
You discover that in July, it takes only 2 fingers to drive your car.
You notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
You discover that you can get a sunburn through your car window even with window tinting.
Hot water now comes out of both taps.
It's noon in July, the kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is out on the streets.
You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
You break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m. before work.
The only time you can sell a car without air conditioning, or with vinyl upholstery is at Christmas.
Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"
You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.
The birds use pot holders to pull worms out of the ground.
The potatoes cook underground, and all you have to do to have lunch is to pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper.
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Did You Know?
 The Internet, originally called ARPANet (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) was created in 1966 by the U.S. department of defense. ARPANet was a Wide Area (WAN) Network linking many Universities and research centers, the beginning of what we consider the Internet today. |
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We hope you enjoyed this issue of Building Bridges Newsletter. Please share it with others.
Sincerely,
Lisa Hultz
Mazon Associates, Inc. |
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$$ Refer & Earn $$ | |
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Business contacts, friends, family and acquaintances -- you just never know when someone you know might need Mazon's accounts receivable factoring services! Visit our referral page for more info. |
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About Our Clients |  | |
Our clients are traditionally businesses that are manufacturers, distributors and service companies in the following areas: advertising / marketing / apparel / design / courier & delivery services / equipment repair & maintenance / environmental services / graphic design / signage & printing / staffing & employment services / security services / catering & food services / legal services / light construction / telecommunications / transportation services.
Our clients may include start-up, early-stage growth and high-growth businesses; under-capitalized businesses with historical operating losses; businesses with cash flow problems having a cash flow need; businesses with tax liens or turnaround situations; businesses who may have been turned down for bank loans and/or do not currently meet a bank's credit criteria.
Our clients have delivered services or products to other businesses and have business-to-business invoices that can be independently verified.
Most of our clients have come to us through referrals from current and former clients. We rely heavily on word-of-mouth marketing to bring in new clients -- and we offer a lucrative referral program.
Our clients are located in any of the 50 states in the U.S.A.
We do not accept as clients businesses which have a majority of consumer receivables such as retail businesses, progress billings, third party pay medical receivables and certain construction-related businesses.
For more information about becoming a client, please contact us by telephone 972-554-6967 or toll-free 1-800-442-2740, or visit our website:
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