2011: In Review With Schweppe, Inc.
Jan 042011 was a jam-packed year for Schweppe, Inc. During the summertime, we hosted two events showcasing the Schweppe Nostalgia Super Stock Car. Check out this video if you missed it!
We hosted many events during the summer as well, including one of our famous Demo Days, and weekly Fast Thursday events with free popcorn, giveaways and one-day-only specials.
During the fall, we featured our Big Ten Fun Promotion. We integrated our Quick Tips series to the backs of our invoices for your reading pleasure. The promotion included weekly Big Ten Fun Thursday events (run in the same spirit as Fast Thursday). We prepared a brochure for our customers including both NFL and Big Ten Football schedules, quick tips, client testimonies and an events calender. The promotion culminated in an exclusive Commercial Demo Day event! Check out this video if you missed it!
As we entered December, our promotional theme changed to Holly Jolly Holidays! We continued with the Thursday-Series with Holly Jolly Thursday, offering one-day specials , free popcorn and giveaways! We hosted a giveaway for a Kitchenaid Mixer (which we will be announcing the winner of very soon), and sent out over 7,000 invitations to our enormously successful Retail Demo Day event on December 10th! Check out this video if you missed it!
The fun at Schweppe will continue this year, starting…. NOW!
Watch out for this winter season’s promotional theme: Comfort Cuisine! Saturdays will be “Comfort Cuisine Saturday” where we will be offering one-day-only specials, small giveaway prizes, free popcorn, as well as….. COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS! Stay tuned for more info on Comfort Cuisine Saturdays and which days will feature demos!
Don’t forget to follow all of our social media pages: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, FourSquare, Google+, and our fabulous blog of course.
Professional Kitchenware for Life in 2012!
Robot Coupe R2 Food Processor
Dec 22Joe Wagner is seen here demonstrating the features and benefits of the R2 Food Processor by Robot Coupe.
Professional Kitchenware for Life!
How Does Induction Cooking Work?
Dec 21Mike Filippone of The Vollrath Company explains how Induction Cooking Technology uses magnetic energy to create and channel clean and effective heat-energy.
Vollrath Induction Ranges are in stock and available at Schweppe, Inc. in Lombard, IL! Professional Kitchenware for life!
Top Ten Diet Tips
Dec 20The sheer amount of information out there on dieting is dizzying. If it’s not a friend or relative, it’s a colleague at work that has the next best thing for you to incorporate in your diet. Forget the fads and “lose weight in days” gimmicks and learn about 10 proven, time-tested diet tips.
1. Drink water. It’s as simple as that. Water fills you up. Furthermore, when you think you’re hungry, you may just be dehydrated.
2. Lay off sugar in the A.M. Sugar spikes blood sugar resulting in a crash that prompts you to eat again. Replace sugar with protein (try eggs) in the morning to fill you up till lunch time.
3. Get to bed at a reasonable hour. One study has shown that those who stay up past 2:00 a.m. are likely to eat 248 more calories a day than those who go to bed earlier.
4. Stop eating around 8:00 p.m. You’re not burning off a lot of those calories you consume—through movement, exercise, etc.— close to bed time.
5. Eat more often—like six times a day. Eat fewer calories than you burn in each sitting. Starving yourself will only result in big meals that will ultimately undue your sacrifice of not eating. And dinner should be your last meal.
6. Hot sauce=weight loss. Really? Yes, really. Hot sauce raises your body temperature which burns calories. Also, the spiciness can stimulate taste buds leaving you with a feeling of satisfaction resulting in less consumption.
7. Fend off sweets cravings with a jawbreaker. OK, it doesn’t have to be a jawbreaker, per se, just a small hard piece of candy that you can suck on giving you a continuous burst of sweetness with few calories.
8. TV and eating should be mutually exclusive. Studies have shown time after time that you’re prone to eat more when you’re snacking and watching your favorite sitcom.
9. Write down everything you eat. It may seem laborious at first to document everything you eat, but you’ll be forced to confront some hard truths about your current diet.
10. Use smaller dishware at home. It sound silly, but the psychological effect produces real results. Portions look much larger on smaller plates.
Some of these tips might be easier to follow than others. Regardless, pick a few to follow and see how it goes. Use trial and error to figure out which work best for you in terms of long-term results.
Top Ten IL Fall Day-Trip Desinations
Dec 20Here are 10 great fall destinations that you can enjoy in a day. They range from rugged adventures that require hiking boots, to phone-it-in trips that still allow you to truthfully tell your coworkers on Monday that you were exploring nature (leave out the “from your car” part).
1. Buffalo Rock State Park
With a Lewis and Clark ambiance, Buffalo Rock State Park features a promontory with a magnificent sweeping view of the Illinois River. This 298-acre park has long been a favorite picnic area, as well as a nature lovers’ delight.
2. Starved Rock State Park
Looking for something a little less rustic? This park offers guests the opportunity to do everything from dining to shopping to hiking miles of well-marked trails through canyons and waterfalls.
3. Illinois & Michigan Canal Trail
Looking for something really rustic? History buffs, nature lovers and sportsmen can enjoy the sights and sounds of the 96-mile route along the Illinois and Michigan Canal. Along its banks are numerous state parks, restored historical sites, and an abundance of wildlife and distinctive landscapes, ranging from bluffs to rolling hills. So where do you start…
4. Channahon State Park
Here. With 61 miles of trail and excellent scenery, this park is a great starting point for a day on the Illinois & Michigan trail.
5. Chain O’ Lakes State Park
OK, we’ve all been here, but it never gets old. This is a water-oriented recreation area that’s great for boaters, anglers, and skiers.
6. Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area
Close by, but still a relaxing getaway. This acreage features a tranquil setting of flowing rivers, natural prairie, farmland, woodland, swamp, still water, and shoreline—excellent for both nature lovers and sportsmen.
7. Illinois Beach State Park
Into canoodling? Enjoy a romantic 6.5 mile stroll along some of the Midwest’s most scenic Lake Michigan beaches. The park has the only remaining beach ridge shoreline left in Illinois.
8. Kankakee River State Park
It’s officially nice. The naturally channeled Kankakee River is listed on the Federal Clean Streams Register. This park offers an unspoiled setting for anglers, canoeists, hunters, campers, hikers, bicyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts.
9. Moraine Hills State Park
Need a break from flat? From angling to hiking, from discovering rare plants to observing migratory waterfowl, Moraine Hills State Park has it all. The Fox River’s McHenry Dam is on the park’s western border.
10. The Morton Arboretum
Not into rustic at all, don’t have the whole day, obsessed with your smart phone, and don’t even want to get out of the car? Don’t forget this gem of scenic walking, biking, and automobile trails and roads.
Barone’s Pizza: Part 3
Dec 19If you’ve been following the Barone’s saga, you might have noticed that the words “customer service” came up a few times. Here are a few more.
“It’s their expertise and their customer service,” said James Willsey, Barone’s general manager. “They are competitive on their pricing. We just went there to get a deep fat fryer last week. I was in and out of there in 10 minutes with exactly what I needed in my truck. I couldn’t do that in most places. I would definitely recommend Schweppe to others and I have. We’re very happy. It’s been a long and mutually satisfying relationship for both of us.”
“The Willseys are really, really nice people that run one of the great family restaurants in the Western Suburbs,” Schweppe patriarch Ralph Schweppe said. “They are a truly valued customer and I hope that we’ve been able to have some role in their success.”
The bottom line? Eat at Barone’s on your way home from shopping at Schweppe.
Barone’s Pizza: Part 2
Dec 19On the edge of your seat? The Barone’s tale continues….
OK, these people at Barone’s are pretty smart, but then so are we. James Willsey, Barone’s general manager, knows the solution—shop at Schweppe. James and his family have been shopping at Schweppe for just about everything since they opened the restaurant doors in 1973. In fact, if Schweppe has it, Barone’s has probably purchased it at one time or another.
Schweppe sales rep, Tom Nolan has been working with Barone’s for 25 years. “We offer product knowledge and we really believe we have the smartest showroom staff in the Chicago area,” he said. “People that come in to buy equipment are going to get informed answers that may prevent a costly mistake. We really do care that our customers are getting exactly what they need, not just what they want. We know what questions to ask them and take the time to be sure that what they’re buying is best for their situation.”
One of the primary benefits, for restaurants like Barone’s, of having a long-term relationship with an expert supplier is trust. James knows that he can call Tom any time and Tom will have the best, most cost effective solution.
Tom said that when James comes into the store everyone knows who he is and the types of items he’s probably looking for. Schweppe patriarch Ralph Schweppe added with a smile, “But we let Jim browse around, because he always finds something else that he needs.”
“The customer service starts when I walk in the door,” James said. “Of course, they ask me if they can help me with anything—but it’s mostly a joke because I know where everything is.”
As far as James is concerned, trust and time management are factors for choosing Schweppe. “It’s definitely important to have a strong relationship with Schweppe,” he said. “I can call Tom and tell him what I’m looking for and he knows exactly what I need in 30 seconds. I just couldn’t do that anywhere else. The issue of trust is also very important. They know my business inside and out. When I need something—even a large piece of equipment—I know that they’ll recommend exactly what I need, nothing more and nothing less. That’s the number one reason we go to Schweppe.”
Sounds like Barone’s is pretty happy with Schweppe—Schweppe is pretty happy with Barone’s too. Find out more in the next post.
Top Ten Chicago Weather Dressing Tips
Dec 17During the transitional spring and fall seasons in Chicago, you never know what to expect weather-wise. OK, that pretty much applies to the whole year here. Given that, here are 10 tips to ensure that you can leave the house for the day and never be too hot or too cold. Starting from the ground up:
1. The Right Socks
Don’t buy all cotton socks. They shrink, they’re scratchy, and they’re about the worst thing you can wear on your feet—hot or cold weather. In the hot weather, they retain moisture and lead to blisters. In the cold weather they provide very little in the way of insulation. Opt instead for a cotton, synthetic blend.
2. Socks and Sandals.
This used to make taste-makers gasp, but it’s acceptable now. Of course we’re talking about casual dressing here—not the office. Also, we’re talking about attractive sandals that are a little on the rugged side and dark colored socks. This is an extremely versatile combination that allows you to adjust up and down for temperatures easily—just change the socks. This also works well for kids over 3 (old enough to put the sandals on themselves). No Croc-like shoes for adults please.
3. Roomy Footwear.
You will actually get a lot more insulation value from roomy shoes and boots than from tight fleece-lined boots. Air is an excellent, self-regulating insulator—and it’s free. So be sure that any shoes and boots you’ll be wearing outdoors during transitional months (and the winter as well) are a half size bigger than usual.
4. Avoid Rubber Toes
Some winter shoes and boots have rubber or plastic toes. Avoid these like the plague. Rubber and plastic trap sweat and conduct cold, just what you don’t want.
5. Dealing with Jeans
Jeans are just about the worst insulators and tend to trap sweat, again, everything you don’t want. They are the equivalent of cotton socks for your legs. Look for jeans with a little Spandex in them, which is a significant help when it comes to thermal control.
6. Pantyhose
Hate pantyhose? These are actually excellent and versatile insulators. Legend has it that ironworkers in Alaska have been known to wear pantyhose under their work clothes (queen-sized).
7. Trap Air on Top.
Worn over layers, a loose coat with a thin layer of insulation that’s snug around the neck, bottom, and wrists will keep you nice and warm when it’s zipped and will allow you to cool down quickly when it’s opened.
8. Forget the Down
If you’ve ever had the “pleasure” of sleeping with a down comforter, you know it almost always makes you too hot. Besides, when a down coat gets wet, it’s just about useless. Opt for synthetic insulators instead.
9. Go for a Removable Hood.
Never buy a casual coat without a removable hood again. If you don’t need the hood and want to avoid looking like a geek— take it off. When you’re really cold, you won’t care about the geek thing.
10. Layer Wisely
Always start with a thin layer and get progressively thicker. For example, start with a very thin long-sleeved t-shirt, put a thin sweater or fleece on top of that, and finish with a lightly insulated coat (with a hood).
The basic advice is this: go for synthetics, trap heat (not sweat), wear roomy layers, skip the down, and avoid cold conducting materials.
