Thank you to the over 200 franchisees who participated in the various webinars for the design and launch of the new website. The web is so important in our overall marketing mix and in many cases is the consumer's first experience with our brand. That is why it is so important that we follow the testing protocols and ensure that our website provides an exceptional user experience for all who go to a local franchisee's site or ComfortKeepers.com.

In the course of our quality testing, and in the spirit of complete transparency, we have uncovered several irregularities that do not meet our quality standards. After discussing these with the vendor, we believe it is prudent to delay the launch of the website. At this juncture, we believe the delay could be up to 30 days, but we will know more as we continue the testing.

We know that you are all anxious to launch the new site, and we feel the same way. However, we must launch a website that not only projects the correct brand image, but provides the user experience that creates conversions and generates opportunities for each of you to service more clients.

This project has been a big one, and we thank those franchisees who have provided their feedback and guidance on the web experience we want to create for consumers. It is only when we work together that we all experience success. Thank you all for your patience and we are confident you will all be proud of the brand image we project. Please watch the Friday Flash for updates on the launch.   

The conference registration site is now open! Comfort Keepers^® will invade the Mile High City April 24 through 26, 2014 for our annual Leadership Conference. This is one of the greatest opportunities in 2014 to mingle with your peers, interact with vendors, and learn from business and industry experts.

We will have experts in leadership, management, and customer service who will offer ideas and innovations you can use to help your business grow. Lee Cockerell, retired and inspired from Walt Disney World Resorts^®, will share his best practices on how "YOU too can create magic" in your business during his Friday keynote address. Invest in your future, learn from your peers, and grow your business by attending the Leadership Conference.

Click here to watch an exciting video on what is new and different at this year's conference and to register. 

When: April 24-26, 2014

Where:

Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel

1550 Court Place. Denver, CO 80202

Special room rate for conference attendees: $169 per night

To book your room at the negotiated rate of $169 per night, click here, or call (303) 893-3333 and ask for the Comfort Keepers' rate.  

Beginning March 3 you will be ordering all print materials through SMARTworks, the new print vendor's, Standard Register's, customized program. SMARTworks requires no special software installations and offers easy-to-read displays for order placement, backorder follow-up, and document management. Ordering materials is simplified with product descriptions accompanied by digital images of printed materials.

To ensure franchisees can easily order the products they need, we have scheduled a series of live webinars that will cover setting up user profiles, using short cuts for repeat order placement, and designing personalized back panel for brochures. Make the transition smoother by joining these webinars to learn the new ordering system and have the opportunity to ask questions before you need to order.

We will be offering three (3) 60-minute Live Meeting web training sessions on the following dates and times of the scheduled sessions:

Tuesday, March 4 at  6  p.m. EST

Wednesday, March 5 at  1  p.m. EST

Thursday, March 6 at  10  a.m. EST

You can access the webinars using the following meeting information:

Meeting Number: 593 857 851

Meeting Password: smartworks

-------------------------------------------------------

Click here to join the online meeting  

-------------------------------------------------------

1. If requested, enter your name and email address.

2. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: smartworks

3. Click "Join."

-------------------------------------------------------

To join the teleconference only

-------------------------------------------------------

Call-in toll-free number: (866) 251-3046  (U.S.)

Conference Code: 120772

-------------------------------------------------------

Click here for assistance

-------------------------------------------------------

1. On the left navigation bar, click "Support."

Congratulations to all our Comfort Keepers^® franchisees who were recognized by Home Care Pulse as award recipients in one or more of the following categories:

Best of Home Care Provider of Choice: This is awarded based on the results of client feedback within 12 categories, which include work ethic, timeliness of caregiver, knowledge of caregiver, compassion of caregiver, the caregiver's appropriate appearance, confidence level in office staff, effective communication from agency, coordination of schedules, agency response to solving problems, receiving the service as promised, recommending agency to others, and overall quality of service.

Best of Home Care Employer of Choice: This is awarded based on the results of caregiver feedback within 10 categories, which include new hire training, continued training, comfort in talking with direct supervisor, respected by supervisor, job expectations, office support staff, client/caregiver compatibility, overall job satisfaction, recommending employment, and recommending the company's services. 

The Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence award was only awarded to 31 home care businesses and is based on the combined feedback from client and caregivers. To be awarded the Leader in Excellence award an agency must meet 18 categories of the total 22 (between both client and caregiver feedback).

Again, congratulations to these outstanding Comfort Keepers!  Click here to access list of award recipients.

Understanding your finances is critical to your franchise's long-term health and vitality. Join us for the March 2014 MasterMind as Keith Jardine, Program Director of Performance Management and Finance Coach, walks us through some of the most important financial tools at your disposal.  We will discuss how to use these tools to better manage, interpret, and predict your finances as well as how to calculate margins and link them to returns on investment (ROI).

Time:  11 a.m. EST (10 a.m. CST, 9 a.m. MTN, 8 a.m. PST)

Click here for the MasterMind webinar.

For Audio, enter your phone number when prompted after you log into the webinar. You will then be called back automatically by the system.

Or you can dial...  

Phone:                       (800) 591-2259
Participant Code:        886411 

Today is your last chance to register for the Salesapalooza Workshop being held on March 4 and 5.  Do not miss this opportunity to sharpen your sales skills through a series of interactive role-plays, featuring all new, transitions-focused scenarios.

Day One

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Salesapalooza I: This workshop is tailored for people with less than 1 year of experience with Comfort Keepers^® and/or who are new to sales in general.

• 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.   Accountable Care Organization (ACO)/Transitions: This workshop is appropriate for anyone with any level of sales experience who wants to learn more about how to maximize Comfort Keepers' transition programs with hospitals and other ACOs. 

Day Two

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Sales Intensified: We have designed this workshop for the more seasoned Comfort Keepers sales people. In order to participate in this portion, you must have more than 1 year of sales experience with Comfort Keepers.

Register here for Salesapalooza.

NOTE: When you register, you will be asked to indicate the workshops for which you wish to register.

Workshop Information:

Hotel Cost: $119 per night

When: March 4-5

Where:

Sheraton Suites Orlando Airport Hotel

7550 Augusta National Dr.

Orlando, FL 32822

Phone: (407) 240-5555

In order to receive this special rate, when you reserve your room, be sure to tell the reservationist that you are with the Comfort Keepers meeting.

The Human Resources (HR) Roadshow is coming to Philadelphia on March 18. Join us and get the most up-to-date information on pertinent HR topics: 

• Recruiting and Retaining Staff
• Hiring the Right People
• Conducting Background Checks

CK Franchising, Inc. will also be providing you with the latest learning and development updates and giving a preview of the new Relias Learning Management System. Do not miss out; sign up today!

Date: March 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location:

Comfort Keepers Office #132

101 Greenwood Ave, Ste 204

Jenkintown, PA 19046

Click here to register for the Human Resources workshop.

Nearby Hotels:

Burbridge Street Bed and Breakfast

6324 Burbridge Street

Philadelphia, PA, 19144

Phone: (215) 843-0886

Hampton Inn - Willow Grove

1500 Easton Rd

Willow Grove, PA, 19090

Phone: (215) 659-3535

Four Points by Sheraton Philadelphia Northeast

9461 Roosevelt Blvd

Philadelphia, PA, 19114

Phone: (215) 671-9600

Towneplace Suites by Marriott Horsham

198 Precision Dr.

Horsham, PA, 19044

Phone: (215) 323-9900