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Correcting and Replacing: Travel Expert Dayvee Sutton Provides Tips to Plan Summer Vacations on a Budget

YourUpdateTV

(Correcting to include video)- After a year of being stuck at home, Americans are more eager than ever to get back to traveling this summer. A new survey from the payment network Affirm found 75% of respondents plan to go on at least one vacation this summer, and consumers will spend more money on travel than any other category. With the travel boom causing an increase in booking rates, it’s more important than ever to not overextend your budget in all the excitement of being able to travel again. A video accompanying this release can be found here: https://youtu.be/8S26C8ILWMo More Findings from Affirm’s Summer Survey: Vacations are the #1 activity consumers are most looking forward to this summer Respondents plan to spend the most money this summer on travel (41%), followed by going out to eat (38%) and a new summer wardrobe (35%) Nearly half (45%) of Americans plan to spend more money this summer than the past two combined 41% are interested in using a buy now, pay later solution this summer to help them spend responsibly, and 1 in 4 are interested in using a buy now, pay later solution to book travel Emmy Award-winning journalist, Dayvee Sutton, whose travel advice is featured regularly on national programs such as NBC News, Today, CNN and The Weather Channel has partnered with Affirm to give budget-friendly summer travel advice. Here are some of her tips: Take advantage of modern, flexible payment options. Overall, rates for flights and hotels are up because consumers are so eager to travel. But, there are new payment tools you can use to not overextend your budget. Dayvee recommends Affirm, and has partnered with them because it can help you stay in control of your finances by letting you spread out the cost of flights, hotels, homestays and travel experiences into biweekly or monthly payments with interest options as low as 0% APR for eligible consumers. Affirm can give you the flexibility to book vacations now and pay at your own pace on Expedia, Vrbo, Priceline, Delta Vacations and more. With Affirm, you know exactly what you’ll pay upfront, and that number never changes – there are no late or hidden fees. Know when to book and track your airfare to get the best deals. The most expensive part of your trip will likely be the flight. Book as early as you can and opt for mid-week flights. A study from CheapOAir found the best time to book a flight is between 21 and 95 days before the trip. And traveling on a Tuesday or Wednesday, rather than the weekend, will not only be cheaper, but less crowded. Be prepared but remain flexible. Research social distancing protocols for theme parks, museums, and other attractions before you arrive, since many venues require you to reserve tickets early. Try to find low-cost activities in advance, such as walking tours and natural parks. Remember to leave room for unexpected costs in your budget – if you’re traveling internationally, set aside money for COVID tests before re-entering U.S., which can cost anywhere from $50 - $150 per person. Embrace summer road trips. With airfare on the rise, taking a road trip to smaller destinations is a great budget-friendly option for families. To save even more on the road, pack your own food and snacks ahead of time. You can also use Affirm to pay at your own pace for road trip essentials at Walmart, Target and other retailers. About Dayvee Sutton: Dayvee Sutton is a highly sought-after and award-winning media personality and journalist covering travel, culture and the environment. Dayvee has contributed her expertise to outlets such as the U.S. News and World Report, AOL, Yahoo, ESPN, The Root, NBA.com, Black Enterprise, NBC News and USA TODAY Network. She is the go-to on-air travel expert for several national programs, including NBC News and TODAY, CNN and HLN, The Weather Channel and Dr. Oz. About Affirm: Affirm is a transparent alternative to credit cards that can give travelers the flexibility to book vacations now and pay over time, without any late or hidden fees. Affirm lets eligible consumers spread out the cost of flights, accommodations, experiences and more into biweekly or monthly payments at Expedia, Vrbo, Priceline, Delta Vacations, and more. If approved, Affirm can help you stay in budget by letting you pay on a schedule that works best for you, and never charges you more than you agree to upfront. More Background: Affirm’s mission is to deliver honest financial products that improve lives. By building a new kind of payment network — one based on trust, transparency and putting people first — we empower millions of consumers to spend and save responsibly, and give thousands of businesses the tools to fuel growth. Unlike credit cards and other pay-over-time options, we show consumers exactly what they will pay up front, never increase that amount, and never charge any late or hidden fees. Follow Affirm on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter. Payment options through Affirm are subject to an eligibility check, may not be available in all states, and are provided by these lending partners: affirm.com/lenders. CA residents: Loans by Affirm Loan Services, LLC are made or arranged pursuant to a California Finance Lender license. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 17, 2021 03:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Putting a Lensbaby Twist on Small-Format Pinhole Photography; The Camera Lens Company Redefines Photography with its New Obscura Lens

Lensbaby

Lensbaby, the leader in award-winning creative effect camera lenses, is launching its revolutionary Obscura lens. A camera obscura, ancestor of the photographic camera, is a darkened room with a small hole or lens at one side through which an image is projected onto a wall or table opposite the hole. Dating back to the 4th century BCE, this experience is the earliest image projection technique known to the industry. Lensbaby is hosting a virtual launch party on June 21st where the newest Obscura lens will be revealed. Free tickets are available on Lensbaby’s website. The Lensbaby Obscura comes in two versions -- a 50mm Pinhole/Zone Plate/Pinhole Sieve optic for their Optic Swap System, and a standalone 16mm Pinhole/Zone Plate/Pinhole Sieve pancake lens (though pinholes are not technically lenses) for mirrorless cameras. Summary of Key Features: The Obscura’s pinhole, zone plate and pinhole sieve are made up of three layers of chrome with a total thickness of 0.00014mm deposited on 1.5mm thick glass before anti-reflective coating is applied. With a resolution of 128K dpi, this photolithography process not only makes true zone plates with excellent light transmission, it produces perfectly round pinholes and precision zone plate zones. Photographers can clean the Obscura’s glass as they would any camera lens, without fear of destroying any of the three imaging options. “Pinhole photography taught me to see composition, contrast, leading lines and the shape of things in ways that led me to make some of my most powerful images,” says Craig Strong, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Lensbaby, Inc. “We created the Obscura so that you could learn and grow while using a technologically advanced pinhole lens with options. It’s the Lensbaby twist to old-world imagery.” Photographers and creators who connect most with using an Obscura are those who enjoy working with fewer choices and are willing to challenge themselves to redefine what it means to create photographic art. About Lensbaby: Lensbaby creates tools that enable photographers and videographers to find their unique visual voice. For over 15 years, they have been manufacturing high-quality creative effects lenses, optics, and accessories out of their Portland, Oregon headquarters. Lensbaby sells its products on its website as well as through a worldwide network of retailers and distributors. For more information, visit www.lensbaby.com Product Specifications Contact Details Lensbaby Michael Anthony, VP Sales and Marketing +1 503-547-4949 Michael@lensbaby.com M&P Digital Creative Agency Jessica Pouzeschi, PR & Marketing +13035228161 Jessica.P@mcmillanphillips.com

June 17, 2021 11:55 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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SUPER73® debuts versatile, affordable SUPER73-ZX

SUPER73

SUPER73® – the American lifestyle adventure brand specializing in electric motorbikes – is a world leader on the e-bike scene, captivating a loyal riding community with its fun, affordable, versatile and environmentally friendly products. While the company expanded its range in 2020 with flagship models crammed with the latest technology, it hasn’t forgotten its roots. In fact, the SUPER73 design team went back to the drawing board to re-imagine and re-engineer one of its original products, the SUPER73-Z1. The result is the brand new SUPER73-ZX. Picking from a checklist of popular features, the SUPER73 team ensured the ZX will meet the demands of a broad range of existing fans and new customers. These features include a lighter aluminum-alloy frame, allowing for greater range from the now removable battery. Additionally, the new ZX frame is larger, providing comfort for taller riders and making it easier to pedal. Like its other new generation of models that launched in 2020, the ZX offers Pedal Assist Modes: the SUPER73-ZX has four Riding Modes, including Class 1 and 2 (up to 20mph) plus Class 3 and Unlimited (up to 28+ mph). Battery range is estimated at 25-50 miles depending on the pedal assist mode, but this can vary depending upon conditions such as rider weight, speed, temperature, wind, tire pressure, terrain, incline, etc. The Riding Modes are identified as Eco, Tour, Sport and Super. They are accessed via the SUPER73 smartphone app (compatible with IOS and Android devices) and confirmed on the compact ZX Transflective Monochrome LCD display. The same technology also allows over-the-air software updates, ensuring the power supply is always running at its most efficient. The versatile SUPER73-ZX has been designed to cater to the most popular riding groups, many of which came to prominence during the global pandemic. Not only did the lockdown create a huge surge in the popularity of e-bike transportation, but also an expansion in what customers expect from their vehicles. As a result, the features of the ZX make it ideal for everybody from week-day commuters to weekend warriors, urban adventurers, and even parents with young families; the longer seat makes it more practical to carry precious cargo. Purchase price is an important consideration in this consumer category and the SUPER73-ZX will launch with a price of only $1995. All models will ship with the standard 615 watt-hours battery pack, four Riding Modes, smartphone connectivity, extended comfort seat, 31” seat height, 180mm disc brakes, and much more. As a bonus for early adopters, the Moon Rock Launch Edition will have red wheel liners on the 20”x100mm wheels, while the Storm Gray models will have white liners inside the wheel rims for easy identification. The Launch Edition will be shipped with 20x4.5” LZRD Street tires that have a tire tread pattern biased towards street use but provides riders with the ability to explore almost any environment. The SUPER73-ZX is available now, with first deliveries scheduled for Mid-July. A full range of accessories are also available, allowing customers to tailor the bike to their needs. This includes items such as a Saddleman seat, Crank Brothers bags and pedals, 1 Up Car Rack, Oury Grips, and SUPER73 custom handlebars and molle panels. For full product details and to order the SUPER73-ZX, please visit super73.com EDITOR’S NOTE A selection of high-resolution images is available here: dropbox.com/sh/bfc42mv19gjxnt2/AAD5jKyebOxevaZIiSlpqvoMa?dl=0 Editor’s wishing to review the SUPER73-ZX for editorial purposes should use the Media Contacts below. ABOUT SUPER73® SUPER73® is an American lifestyle adventure brand based in Orange County, CA that develops products to help fuse motorcycle heritage with youth culture. Founded in 2016, SUPER73 has quickly grown into one of the most recognizable electric vehicle brands in the world with a passionate customer base including A-list celebrities, professional athletes, and many more. For more information, visit super73.com or @super73 on social media. Contact Details Christiana Mullen +1 714-659-4883 christiana@super73.com Greg Emmerson greg@theidagency.com Company Website https://super73.com

June 17, 2021 10:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Arria and Boost Sport AI Showcase the Benefits of Instant Generation of AI-Data-driven Content with Limitless Scale for Sports Betting, Gaming and Media in the Upcoming Webinar

Arria NLG

Arria NLG and partner, Boost Sport AI (BOOST), will co-host host a webinar on June 24, 2021, at 2:00 PM ET, showcasing the recently announced Arria x Boost platform’s breadth of functionality. REGISTER HERE Arria EVP, Lyndsee Manna, and Mustafa Abdul-Hamid, BOOST CEO, former UCLA standout and professional basketball player, will lead an interactive session addressing the platform’s many use cases as well as the ease with which media, corporate content creators, fantasy sports, gambling sites, and professional franchises can craft personalized, AI-generated narratives. WHAT: ESTABLISH A CONSISTENT, PERSONALIZED, 1:1 DIALOGUE WITH YOUR SPORT CONSUMERS WHO: Mustafa Abdul-Hamid, CEO, Boost Sport AI Lyndsee Manna, EVP, Arria NLG WHEN: Thursday, June 24, 2021 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT REGISTER HERE Noteworthy: With Maryland, Louisiana and South Dakota having joined the more than two dozen states in which sports betting is legal, analysts expect the sports analytics market to reach $ 5.2 billion by 2024 (Markets & Markets). Arria x Boost enables sportsbooks, online and mobile gambling services to deliver customizable, data-driven insights to users via any channel. Timely intelligence for handicapping, team and player pre-game analysis empowers sports betting enthusiasts to place more informed wagers. Arria X Boost humanizes the digital sport experience for Sports Books, Media and E-Commerce. Don’t miss this unique opportunity for an exclusive viewing of how AI, Data Analytics and Natural Language Generation combine for an enhanced, immersive and engaged human sport experience. Attendees will learn about: Sports Betting (Sports Books, Fantasy Sports, Online Gaming) Media Creation (Advertising, Publishing) E-Commerce, Product Descriptions, Retail Sports E-Commerce Content Generation Team Performance for Leagues, Teams, Coaches, and Athletes REGISTER HERE About Arria NLG Arria NLG ( www.arria.com ) is the global leader in the field of Natural Language Generation (NLG), a form of artificial intelligence, specializing in extracting insights from complex data sources and communicating that information in natural language (i.e. as if written or spoken by a human). The Arria NLG Platform is used across multiple industries and use cases. About Boost Sport AI Boost Sport AI ( https://boostsport.ai/ ) is a proprietary technology platform for sport that powers insights and data storytelling. Boost uses computer vision, data analytics, and natural language generation to build personalized, scalable sports applications. The platform is used by coaches and scouts as well as media and sportsbooks. ### Contact Details Mostafa Razzak JMRConnect +1 202-904-2048 m.razzak@jmrconnect.net

June 17, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Cyvatar Raises an Additional $9 Million in Series A Round

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced that it has raised $9 million as part of its Series A financing to help scale and serve its rapidly growing customer base and continue to drive the adoption of its innovative cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) model. Escalating cybersecurity breaches and the need to address vulnerabilities across systems, networks, and apps fuel the security services market, expected to reach $193 billion by 2028. Additionally, the growth in hybrid and remote workers coupled with unsecured and unpatched BYOD devices further underscores the need for on-demand cybersecurity resources that include human talent, proven processes, and best-of-breed technology delivered from a single intuitive platform. Cyvatar has grown more than 200% since its debut in October. ATX Venture Partners led the round with additional participation from existing customer CORTEC and longtime Cyvatar investor Bill Wood Ventures. Cyvatar closed a $3 million seed round late last year, bringing the total amount raised over the last eight months to $12 million. “We’ve seen fundraising explode in the security space, in part as a result of the raft of ransomware, email compromise, and phishing attacks that have made people more aware of the problem and increased the need to fix it quickly and effectively,” said Chris Shonk, partner at ATX Venture Partners. “Cyvatar is an exciting addition to our dynamic portfolio and a natural fit alongside our other rapidly growing organizations. No other company we evaluated solves the problems of cybersecurity like Cyvatar. With Cyvatar CSaaS, security becomes as effortless as turning on the lights. There’s no better value for customers.” Cyvatar CSaaS offers security in a box for organizations of any size and any level of cybersecurity expertise--already more than 150 platform members have started the security journey with Cyvatar. Its mature sales and marketing engine makes it easy for new members to join and offers ongoing education and support for existing customers to continuously remediate evolving threats, safeguard critical systems, and boost compliance scores. "I can tell you that after implementing just three Cyvatar solutions, our security confidence is a lot stronger than it was before and our company as a whole is far more secure,” said Brent Fanguy, vice president of technology at CORTEC. “We applaud Cyvatar for pricing by employee count because it’s so easy to calculate and fit into our budget -- no counting servers or workstations, which is a nightmare. Cyvatar has delivered consistent value from our security spend, and we look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with them.” Whether customers need to speed their sales cycles, remediate after a breach, prevent future incursions, or respond to a third-party risk assessment, Cyvatar helps them achieve superior business outcomes every day. Click HERE to get started free and learn more about how Cyvatar is making cybersecurity effortless for every business. About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to effortless cybersecurity for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert advisors, proven technologies, and a strategic process roadmap to guarantee results that map to their business drivers. Our approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently, all at a fixed monthly price. And because we’re a subscription, members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is a global organization with operations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at cyvatar.ai and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. About ATX Venture Partners ATX Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm specializing in the South-Central US. The firm’s seed and Series A investments focus on software-as-a-service, IoT, e-commerce, AI, frontier commercial technologies and mobile applications. ATX Venture Partners brings institutional-grade funding, process and rigor to early-stage venture capital investments, and is the partner to propel portfolio companies forward to larger growth capital. The firm was founded in 2014 and is based in Austin, Texas. Visit www.atxventurepartners.com, and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Contact Details Cyvatar KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai ATX Ventures Meg Brigman +15127666462 meg@atxventurepartners.com Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

June 17, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NHS Test and Trace strengthen their cyber defences with Risk Ledger

Stockwood Strategy

NHS Test and Trace has selected British cyber security company Risk Ledger to manage cyber security risks in their supply chain as a proactive measure to mitigate the increasing risks the NHS and other critical national infrastructure organisations face from supply chain cyber-attacks. The Risk Ledger platform will give the UK government funded service all the tools they need to manage cyber security risks in their supply chain at speed for a low per-supplier cost - at least 60% cheaper than traditional solutions. Cyber security risks in the supply chain can include third parties failing to encrypt sensitive data when it is being transferred. NHS Test and Trace, established to track and help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus in England, will take advantage of Risk Ledger's key innovation which is its secure 'social network' allowing organisations to connect and share risk data securely, quickly, and easily. This gives organisations like NHS Test and Trace unparalleled visibility of their supply chain and a comprehensive set of data to identify, measure and mitigate supply chain security risks at scale. Major supply chain cyber security breaches at Solarwinds and Microsoft in recent months have put the challenge of securing supply chains at the top of the agenda for organisations around the world. Minister for Digital Infrastructure, Matt Warman MP said: “The government is working tirelessly to secure the nation online and grow the UK's £8.9 billion cyber security industry as we build back better from the pandemic. We're helping SMEs develop innovative products and services and it's great to see Risk Ledger, one of the firms we've supported, win this contract to protect the Test and Trace system and support the national effort against coronavirus.” Risk Ledger's client base includes organisations like BAE AI, City of London Police, Telenor, Schroder's Personal Wealth and ASOS. Risk Ledger CEO and Co-Founder Haydn Brooks said: "NHS Test and Trace is essentially the biggest new start-up in the UK healthcare market so we are delighted they have chosen to take advantage of our ability to provide enhanced visibility of their supply chain risks. I am proud we will be part of the effort to secure this incredibly important supply chain. "Healthcare organisations and their supply chains handle lots of highly sensitive data and have a high rate of data breaches. We have already seen during the COVID-19 pandemic that bad actors are actively targeting supply chains to access data and cause disruption” added Haydn Brooks. Risk Ledger is a rising star of the UK's growing cyber security scene having won competitions run by the UK Government's National Cyber Security Centre, the tech industry body TechUK and most recently a winner in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport’s ‘Most Innovative UK Cyber SME of the Year’ competition in May. The company is also a member of the UK Government backed LORCA programme (London Office of Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement). About Risk Ledger Risk Ledger is a British company that manages cyber security risks in supply chains. Th process of supply chain security risk management ensures third parties who deliver critical services, have access to data, corporate networks, or any other status of business trust, maintain a good base level of cyber security controls to prevent bad actors using the third party as an attack vector. In 2019, Risk Ledger won the ‘Cyber Den’ competition at the 2019 CyberUK event run by the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). At the time, Ian Levy, Technical Director at the NCSC said: ‘Our mission is to make the UK the safest place to do business online. We run the Cyber Den competition with DCMS to identify and provide a springboard for the most promising cyber security start-ups in the UK. Risk Ledger beat some excellent competition at this year’s Cyber Den event because their platform approaches supply chain security in a novel way that could revolutionise the way organisations understand the cybersecurity of their supply chains which is at the root of so many security incidents.’ Notable achievements - Risk Ledger was a finalist in the 'Most Innovative New Technology Award' category at the 2021 Water Industry Awards. - In March 2021, Risk Ledger won the South Summit Industry 4.0 innovation competition. - In May 2021, Risk Ledger was announced as a runner up in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport’s ‘Most Innovative UK Cyber SME of the Year’ competition. Contact Details Risk Ledger Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://riskledger.com/

June 16, 2021 05:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Accelerated Wealth Advisors welcomes Mackenzie Bekeza, CFP®

Accelerated Wealth

Accelerated Wealth Advisors, LLC (AWA) announced today that Wealth Advisor Mackenzie “Mack” Bekeza has joined AWA to help clients achieve their retirement goals. “We believe Mack is a great addition to our team and more importantly will bring significant value to our clients,” said Accelerated Wealth’s Financial Advisor Dustin West with whom Mack will partner to serve clients. “AWA has taken great care to create an outstanding team to assist our clients over multiple business cycles. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Mack will make sure our clients are informed, empowered and have plans to ensure they don’t have to worry during their golden years. We extend a warm welcome to Mack and know he will help clients plan for their financial future.” Mack has been serving in the Financial Planning industry since he graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Financial Planning (CFP® Board Registered Program). Bekeza added, “I believe active investment management is needed to achieve consistent returns from inconsistent markets. As an independent firm with time tested strategies and access to a variety of investment solutions, Accelerated Wealth provides objective advice and crucial wealth management services for our clients.” About Accelerated Wealth Advisors (AWA) Accelerated Wealth Advisors, LLC is a Colorado Springs based wealth strategy firm dedicated to providing effective strategies to help its clients make wise financial decisions. AWA’s business practices and culture are driven by its core values of faith, integrity, relationships, vision, excellence and being coachable. AWA is headquartered in Colorado Springs with four offices located in three states including additional Colorado offices in Lone Tree and Englewood. For more information please visit www.acceleratedwealth.com or Facebook. All Rights Reserved. Advisory services are offered through Accelerated Wealth Advisors, LLC, a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Accelerated Wealth Advisors, LLC and Accelerated Wealth, LLC are affiliated entities and do not provide legal or tax advice. The information contained herein is obtained from sources deemed to be reliable. Accelerated Wealth Advisors, LLC and Accelerated Wealth, LLC cannot be responsible for the accuracy of the information being presented. Not an offer to buy or a solicitation to sell securities. See your accountant or legal counsel for tax or legal advice. Not affiliated with or approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency. All investing involves risk. Contact Details Accelerated Wealth Advisors, LLC Sloane Herman +1 719-466-5639 sloaneh@acceleratedwealth.com Company Website https://www.acceleratedwealth.com

June 15, 2021 01:05 PM Mountain Daylight Time

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Increase In Early Retirement Forcing Americans to Collect Permanently Reduced Social Security.

Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC

Contact Details Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC. Jennifer Lang +1 870-413-6993 mail@jenniferlangfinancialservices.com Company Website https://www.jenniferlangfinancialservices.com

June 15, 2021 10:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Printing Franchise in Bethesda, MD Celebrates Grand Reopening

Minuteman Press International Inc

Located at 8210 Wisconsin Avenue, Minuteman Press in Bethesda held its grand reopening event on May 15 th in conjunction with the Rockville Chamber of Commerce. Owner Leslie Klein was excited to celebrate the renovations of her center as well as the return of local community events to Bethesda. She says, “We redid our lobby, added a new envelope printer, and rearranged our layout to optimize our production and best serve our clients. It feels fantastic to celebrate our grand reopening!” As she reflects on her grand reopening as well as the past year, Leslie says, “The pandemic took its toll on everyone and we are just thrilled to be able to move forward. Last year, we remained open as an essential business and continued to support and serve our community in any way we could. For example, I reached out to all of the local school districts and we ended up printing and distributing 3,000 graduation yard signs, which was really gratifying.” Today, Leslie is happy to get back to business. “As soon as networking events opened back up, I jumped on board and attended all sorts of networking and speed networking sessions. This past week alone, I received two jobs for orders from people who referred me from those events. It feels great to get back out there and let people know what Minuteman Press in Bethesda is all about.” Some of the popular high-demand items that Leslie’s team provides to clients right now include bulk mailings, banners and signs (large format printing), promotional products, and custom printing for events and trade shows. Leslie says, “Community events are coming back and this summer is already heating up for us. We have already been selected to be the print supplier for two golf tournaments. For one of the upcoming golf outings, we are producing 60 double-sided yard signs, retractable banners, table tents, and promotional magnets.” Leslie adds, “As for bulk mailings, I’ve done my research on direct mail and I’ve really made it a point of focus at networking events. I talk about direct mail in Chamber groups, my BNI group, and to my customers. We are able to help them market themselves and our ability to design, print, and do the mailings for them makes it easy for our clients.” “Our clients will give us an idea of what they want and as marketing and printing professionals we’re able to help them figure out what they really need. We are a small business with a team that works really well together. What I’ve learned is that print is here to stay and we can assist our clients with customized products and services that make sense for their needs and their bottom lines.” -Leslie Klein, owner, Minuteman Press franchise, Bethesda, Maryland From Nursing to Printing Prior to buying Minuteman Press in Bethesda in November 2019, Leslie Klein worked 25 years as a nurse and also spent time raising her three children. She says, “I loved being a nurse but I always wanted to do something entrepreneurial for myself. My husband and I decided to go to the local franchise show in April 2019 because it was fun to see what opportunities were out there. I always thought I might end up with a business related to gardening since it’s a hobby of mine, and I also looked at other options such as an eyelash/cosmetics franchise. I met Minuteman Press Regional Vice President Bob Heimbuch at the show and learned about printing. We did our research, the price was right, and by the middle of May we put down a deposit for Minuteman Press in Bethesda.” “Minuteman Press provided me with a turnkey business where I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. I love everything about the ongoing local support Minuteman Press provides as well as the business model where I have nights, weekends, and holidays off. I enjoyed being a nurse but the hours were hard and I left the field to raise my kids. I love what I am doing now and I feel my quality of life and work-life balance are far superior than when I was working in hospitals.” -Leslie Klein When asked about the rewards of owning her own business, Leslie answers, “My staff is absolutely amazing and we work well together to best serve our customers.” She concludes, “Being able to fulfill custom orders and keeping my clients happy is such a great feeling. Being able to learn and grow with them is my ultimate reward.” Minuteman Press in Bethesda has been awarded the 2021 Best of Bethesda Award in the Commercial Printers, Designers & Marketers category. The award from the Bethesda Award Program recognizes Leslie and her team for working to “enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Bethesda, call (301) 656-1188 or visit https://www.mmpbethesda.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

June 15, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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