 December 6, 2013 |
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Click the Links Below to be Taken to that Discipline's Article(s)
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OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
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 A Commitment to Quality!
Each year, hundreds of Comfort Keepers® franchisees across the network demonstrate their commitment to quality through the outstanding care they provide clients. When each of you makes the decision to hire and train only the best caregivers, when each of you participates actively in the communities where you live and work, and when each of you goes out of your way to make life better for those you serve, you are growing the Comfort Keepers brand.
This year, at the 2014 Leadership Conference, we will award the Operational Excellence award to those franchisees that are able to demonstrate their commitment to enduring quality throughout their organizations. This award has been developed by a committee of franchisees and CKFI staff to highlight and recognize those franchisees, regardless of size and revenue volume, who live their commitment to quality every single day.
Details on how you may make application for the Operational Excellence award may be found by clicking on the Operational Excellence tab on the Members website. Applications will be accepted from December 1, 2013 - January 31, 2014.
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 MARKETING
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NEW APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE NATIONAL BRAND FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE
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Committee Has Two Open Positions - Apply if You Have Interest and Relevant Experience
 The National Branding campaign launched September 3, 2013, and by now, you have probably seen the new TV spots on various networks. Are you ready to have a voice in the execution of the National Brand Fund? Do you have a background in marketing or media? We have 2 positions available on the 2014 National Brand Fund Advisory Committee and we are looking for qualified applicants.
This committee is a strategic marketing group that works with our advertising and media agencies to develop and execute the following national branding efforts:
- Advertising strategy
- Media budget planning
- KPI reporting
- Ongoing plan optimizations
- Creative strategy and development
The committee meets at least once per week throughout the calendar year. It's an important responsibility and one we expect all committee members to take seriously.
Attached is the application form for the NBF Advisory Committee, which includes the criteria as well as several questions to answer. Applications will be accepted from Dec. 6-15, 2013. If you have any questions, please reach out to the 2014 Committee Chair, Jack Warren, at JackWarren@ComfortKeepers.com, or (440) 721-0100.
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NEW PRINT VENDOR COMING SOON!
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Providing a Better Solution for Printed Materials
 Working with members of the NAC, CKFI has undergone a review and RFP process to identify a new print vendor for all forms and four-color marketing materials. We are pleased to announce that Standard Register will now be Comfort Keepers ® preferred print vendor. Standard Register will ultimately assume responsibility for the print functions currently at ThinkPatented and Holmes Printing. Standard Register recently acquired Workflow One to expand its capabilities and services to its clients. One of the benefits of the acquisition fulfilled on a key criterion within the Comfort Keepers RFP and that is having distribution centers across the USA. These distribution centers will help reduce shipping costs and improve delivery time. Standard Register's advanced programming platforms will allow for a higher level of customization for a number of the brochures and handouts. The transition from Holmes Printing and Think Patented to Standard Register will be phased and we will share a refined timeline for the transition in the next several weeks. In the meantime, please continue to order from the current vendors until further notice. CKFI and Standard Register will offer multiple training webinars in early January, which will help you, become familiar with the new website and software as well as the improved capabilities. Look for dates and times to be published in future Friday Flashes. If you have any questions, please contact Kimberly Epple ( KimberlyEpple@ComfortKeepers.com) or Terry Carity ( TerryCarity@ComfortKeepers.com). Click here to learn more about Standard Register! |
SALES
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Now You Have a Giveaway and a Sales Tool to Help Distinguish Comfort Keepers®
 The ADL/iADL Deficit Evaluation by Diagnosis Wheel is now available at Standard Register for purchase. CKFI developed this new sales tool targeting medical referral sources. It provides a reference tool that helps these potential referral sources understand the ADL/iADL challenges faced by their patients based on patients' diagnoses. It then aligns the services Comfort Keepers can provide to help alleviate some of these challenges. The Wheel is easy to use - simply match the colors on the outer wheel to the inner wheel.
Before finalizing the concept, we tested this new tool at the National Case Management Society meeting. We used this opportunity to solicit feedback from the healthcare professionals you will be targeting. The feedback we received from case managers from around the country was very positive. Some of the benefits case managers shared with us included (1) it will help build the care plan; (2) it will help nursing students better understand Comfort Keepers services; and; (3) it can help families understand the challenges a senior loved one may face with deteriorating health.
If selling to healthcare professionals is core to your sales strategy, then The Wheel may be one of the best sales tools in which you will invest.
Click here for The Wheel order form.
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FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT
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ARE YOU LOOKING TO EXPAND YOUR TERRITORY?
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Time to Consider Buying Zip Codes
 Many of you will begin 2014 with a plan to expand your business that can include the purchase of specific zip codes. CKFI is reinstating the zip code sale program, AND, is offering a financing opportunity for qualifying franchisees. Here are the details for purchasing specific zip codes:
- $300 per 1,000 in population.
- The zip codes must be contiguous with your existing territory.
- The unassigned zip codes must be part of an open area, which when viewed collectively, are not sufficient to form a new territory.
The financing details are as follows:
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Zip Code
Purchase
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25% Down Payment
Finance the Balance Over
| Under $10,000
| 12 Months*
| $10,000 and Over
| 30 Months*
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*6°/o Simple Interest
If you have any questions or would like to move forward with zip code purchases, please contact Larry France at LarryFrance@ComfortKeepers.com or (888) 329-1368.
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LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
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eRSP TRAINING
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How You Can Use eRSP for Better Management of Your Clients
 Join Patrick Hanna of eRSP for training on client care management - we will discuss the tool; some best practices for intake, assessments, reassessments and the scheduling cycle of a client. This will include, how to make efficient adjustments to the schedule and how it relates to telephony in regards to reporting, features and functions, and best practices.
To join this webinar on Wednesday, December 11th, 2013; 11:00 am EST click here and enter as a Guest. To join the audio portion of the call, please dial (800) 591-2259 and enter the participant code 886411.
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LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT ROAD SHOWS
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Mark Your Calendar for the First Quarter 2014 Road Shows
Once again, Learning & Development will be hitting the road to bring the training to you. The first quarter schedule is set, and here are the workshops we'll be bringing to you. Click on the links to be taken to the corresponding registration pages...
Human Resources Workshop
February 5
Philadelphia, PA
Register now for the Human Resources Workshop.
Hotel TBD
Client Care Workshop
February 11-12
Sacramento, CA
Register now for the Client Care Workshop.
Hotel TBD
The Leadership Challenge & Time Management
February 26-27
Houston, TX
Register now for the Leadership Challenge & Time Management Workshop.
Hotel Info for the Leadership Challenge & Time Management Workshop:
SpringHill Suites by Marriott
Houston Medical Center / Reliant Park
1400 Old Spanish Trail
Houston, TX 77054
(713) 796-1000
Salesapalooza
March 4-5
Orlando, FL
Register now for the Salesapalooza Workshop.
Hotel TBD
Visit the CKFI Members Learning & Development page for more information on the road shows.
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