Category Archives: Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Educational Institution Insurance: Brief Q&A

By Lew Dryfoos | Published May 15, 2013

Pennsylvania Educational Institution Insurance: Brief Q&A Pennsylvania’s educational industry is often volatile; operational cost and funding are continually rising and safety and security is often compromised. So, how can educational institutions meet these unpredictable demands? Dryfoos’s Pennsylvania educational insurance and risk management tools enable educational institutions to uphold their moral obligation of protecting their staff and students. These solutions safeguard their overall purpose of teaching without compromising their reputation or finances. We live in a litigious society and educational institutions often fall victim to costly claims.  Our brief Q&A will help you understand and more importantly, avert these risks. Who is eligible for Dryfoos’s Pennsylvania educational insurance? Primary and secondary schools Higher education institutions Performing arts schools Trade schools What does Pennsylvania educational institution insurance cover? Public liability covers claims made against its staff and governors Indemnity for teachers for education trips Teacher coverage following suspensions due to abuse allegations Personal possessions coverage Property damage Legal expenses Theft What are the common risks  Pennsylvania’s educational institutions face? Serious injury Sexual harassment Bullying Fraud How can we mitigate these risks? Client Portal A resource available through The Dryfoos Group of Insurance Agencies. Provides loss control and risk management information. Access to an online community where you can connect and share information with peers in the educational institution industry Along with your staff, identify common risks and its sources Frequently monitor your school’s programs and operations Practice risk avoidance by choosing alternative school activities that involv less risks Prior to hiring outside vendors, carefully review contracts Work with  IT administrators to identify and avert fraud Your protection is important to us here at Dryfoos. Our specialists can give you expert advice on a plan that is right for you, including a risk management assessment to ensure that you, your staff, students, property and assets are properly protected. It’s more important now than ever before to protect your establishment, staff and students from extraneous risk. Call, email or fill out our form and get on the path to education-based risk solutions with Dryfoos. Call Us Today! 1-800-253-6728 Sources: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/finance/pages/publicliability.aspx http://edmgt.com/pdfs/publications/0067.pdf

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Hazelton Business Insurance: Top Social Media Management Apps

By Lew Dryfoos | Published April 4, 2013

Hazelton Business Insurance: Top Social Media Management Apps Has your business integrated social media in its marketing plan? If so, you know how important and advantageous it is for businesses of all sizes to shift from paper to web. There are a number of social media networking sites developed every year; some cater to the general public, some to the youth and some to businessmen.  But as a small business, it’s important to utilize more prevalent platforms such as, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Google Plus. However, as it applies to all aspects of business, your audience can’t grow overnight. Unless you have a designated social media marketing team, it is difficult to manage all social media accounts. The key to success in social media marketing is nurturing these accounts and engaging with followers. Arbitrarily typing a status or tweet is not efficient. Implementing a successful social media strategy is more than creating profiles and tweeting twice each month; it’s a constant upkeep. The number of inactive accounts is growing because businesses don’t allocate sufficient time to create content and engage with followers. Fortunately, there are a number of useful desktop applications and mobile apps capable of preparing a week’s worth of posts on all social media platforms. But remember, these apps don’t function as efficiently as a human touch. There are few drawbacks, but if you don’t have the time and budget to hire a team of social media enthusiasts, these apps may be the right fit for you and your business. Here are our top two social media management apps! HootSuite- Arguably the best app, HootSuite is composed of several features and serves many functions. At $9.99 per month, HootSuite’s Pro Plan schedules postings for an unlimited number of personal and business accounts. Other features include a built-in analytics system that helps you track your campaigns. They also offer a Free Plan with features such as, scheduled postings on 5 social media accounts and two RSS/Atom feeds. SocialOomph- This app offers a free and professional plan.  The Free Plan offers features such as scheduled tweets and keyword tracking. In addition to its basic features, the Professional Plan also includes auto follow and management of all social media accounts. When you partner with the Dryfoos Group of Insurance of Agents to insure your Bethlehem business, you will have someone working to help…
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Pennsylvania Auto Insurance: Tips on Extending the Life of your Car

By Lew Dryfoos | Published February 8, 2013

Pennsylvania Auto Insurance: Tips on Extending the Life of your Car Purchasing a car is an expensive investment. Many automobile owners save portions of their salary for several years in order to afford a car and some even take out bank loans. The last think you want is a thirty year old Honda, broken in the driveway. Typically, a common car such as a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla can be driven up to anywhere between 100,000 to 200,000 miles before it’s maintenance costs more than purchasing an entirely new car. However, these numbers don’t have to dictate how long your car will last. Those who properly take care of their cars reap all the benefits of your investment. But those who fail to have their car routinely inspected risk the longevity of the car. The way you drive your car and how you choose to maintain its parts often foreshadows the lifespan of your car and the value of your investment. Here are a few tips on extending your car’s life. The Tires: Under inflated tires create heat and stress on the tires, so ensure that you keep your tires inflated to the recommend pressure written in the owner’s manual or on the sidewall of your tires. Rotate your tires every 6,000 to 7,500 miles. Inspect the thread depth for safety. Fluids and Filters: Regularly have your oil changed. The oil filter should also be changed every other oil change. Check the air filter every two months and change if it’s clogged. Change your transmission fluid every 2,500 miles. Check your brake fluids on a monthly basis. Maintenance Checkups: Find a trustworthy mechanic. Do not disregard the maintenance light. Have a mechanic inspect the cause. Ensure that you have your car routinely inspected. How you drive: Accelerate slowly and brake cautiously. Avoid fast and abrupt turns, starts, and stops. During cold conditions, start up your car and let idle until normal operating temperature. Nobody covers Pennsylvania drivers like we do at Dryfoos. We specialize in helping our clients cover their personal automobiles against unforeseen damages and injuries. As independent insurance agents, we have access to many top-rated, financially sound insurers that operate here in Pennsylvania, and can set you up with the most affordable rates and most appropriate coverage. Just fill out our quick and easy form (or call our…
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Pennsylvania Hospitality Insurance: Hotels Welcome Reflagging

By Lew Dryfoos | Published January 8, 2013

Pennsylvania Hospitality Insurance: Hotels Welcome Reflagging As a result of the growing economy, the hospitality industry is beginning to recover. During this time, hotel owners are shifting perspectives and implementing changes. While many hotels have been demolished or gone unchanged, as much as 2,500 hotels were reflagged in 2011. According to Smith Travel Research, that is a staggering 39% increase from 2010. Times have changed and new needs need to be met. Some hotel owners have noticed a change in customers and some have noticed a new design trend. Many hotels are taking these new changes as an opportunity to reflag and rebrand. Initially, reflagging can be very costly, but it does pay off in the long run. Reflagging often raises revenue, increases guest count, introduces new marketing strategies, and creates new business relationships. Sought as a promising opportunity to expand profitability, Stephen M. O’Loughlin converted a Marriott to the DoubleTree. O’Loughlin, president of Lodging Hospitality Management had previously worked with Hilton Worldwide on a different project. Although keeping the brand was taken into consideration, reflagging to Hilton was more beneficial. Reflagging allowed O’Laughlin to convert the Marriott into mid-scale hotel brand, DoubleTree. Reflagging and rebranding is more than changing a hotel name.  Many executives who reflagged have made improvements by addressing  customer complaints and preferences. Some hotels have replaced existing furniture with contemporary furniture and some have hired new employees. The hospitality industry is competitive and hotels are forced to make changes. At Dryfoos, one of our long-time specialties has been providing Pennsylvania Hospitality Insurance to the hospitality industry. If your business is a restaurant, bar, hotel or similar type of organization, you may well have heard of us. We understand your industry. We talk your talk. And we have the insurance products that will fit your unique needs. You may not need it all, but if you’re in the hospitality industry, you need many of them to cover your investments and assets. We’ll show you how to bundle them for maximum coverage and minimal cost. Call us today. 1-800-253-6728 Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/business/to-lure-travelers-hotels-preen-and-change-brands.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=commercial

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Pennsylvania Business Insurance: Increasing your E-commerce sales

By Lew Dryfoos | Published December 6, 2012

Pennsylvania Business Insurance: Increasing your E-commerce sales Cyber Monday and the first weekend of December illustrated the drastic rise in e-commerce sales. According to SiteProNews, Cyber Monday made 1.5 billion dollars in e-commerce sales. There is no doubt that e-commerce driven sales will only increase throughout the upcoming years. Regardless of the size or age of your business, it is worthwhile to invest your time, resources, and money into a functional and appealing website that can be accessed from multiple devices. 1) Optimize your mobile site The number of dollars incurred via mobile purchases is constantly increasing. Potential spenders are looking for a fast and simple online experience. Compress image size in order for the site to load faster Change text alignments so all content fits onto the screen without having to scroll left and right Keep it minimal, but attractive 2) Website Design and Content It should be easy to navigate through the site; each category and sub category is clear and distinct. Only include necessary buttons and text. Ensure the website loads fast and that there aren’t any broken links and images. Aside from the basic info (size, color, availability) include other information such as, the material of a product and length from the shoulder to the hem of a product. Always post high quality photos with a view from numerous angles. Keep the checkout process short and to the point. You can lessen the steps to 2 pages (address, contact info and payment information). 3) Virtual Community and Personalized Experienced E-commerce websites, ModCloth and ShopRouche created a section where its consumers can vote for future products. Take advantage of social media—Arcadia Group LTD brand, Topshop has over 3 million Facebook Fans. They believe that most of their growth is due to their social media profiles. Don’t forget customer service! Although this is a virtual site, the quality of customer service should not be comprised. Try adding a “live help” specialist and a FAQ section.   At Dryfoos, we can cover your Pennsylvania business insurance against the unexpected. Call (1-800-253-6728) or email us today, or fill out the rate quote request form on this page. We can help you put together a comprehensive yet affordable plan to give you all the coverage you need, from one of the nation’s most respected insurance carriers. We look forward to hearing from you.

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How to Properly Store Your Car

By Lew Dryfoos | Published November 9, 2012

How to Properly Store Your Car During the holidays, individuals and families often travel out of state to spend the celebrations with their extended family or out of country to escape the country’s frigid winters. While priorities are fixed on booking flights and hotels prior to their vacation, individuals also need to prepare properly storing their vehicle(s). When a car is stagnant for a long period of time it is susceptible to corrosion. This is where proper storing is very imperative. The effects of inadequate storage include fading exterior paint, rusting on its mechanical components, and the engine, tire, and brake pads may also suffer. In Pennsylvania, winter weather condition can often be severe; so here are a few tips on how to properly store your car. How to Properly Store Your Car How to Properly Store Your Car Tip #1 - Coverage: While storing your car inside a garage is most ideal, not every individual has that luxury. If you are unable to store your car inside, protect it with a weatherproof car cover. Ensuring that your car is covered by nature lowers the exposure to radical temperatures and natural elements. Roll up the windows and put the top up on convertibles in order to avoid critters from inhabiting your vehicle. How to Properly Store Your Car Tip #2 -Cleanliness: Prior to leaving for vacation, clean and apply a coat of wax onto your car. Make sure to clean your vehicle well and pay attention to details such as, wheels and fenders. How to Properly Store Your Car Tip #3 -Fluids: In order to prevent engine damage, ensure that all fluids are full. Buy a fuel stabilizer to avoid damaging the fuel line and keeping out extra airspace (exposes engine to moisture and rust). Ensure that the car’s brake and clutch master cylinders are filled in order to prevent any exposure to water. It is also recommended that prior to storing your vehicle, have a professional change its oil to avoid any future engine failure. How to Properly Store Your Car Tip #4 -Filling up: In order to prevent the accumulation of moisture inside the tank, fill up your gas tank. How to Properly Store Your Car Tip #5 -Lubricant: Apply WD40 to all metal surfaces to avert engine rust. Nobody covers Pennsylvania drivers like we do at Dryfoos. We…
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Pennsylvania Retail Insurance: Back to School Spending Down

By Lew Dryfoos | Published September 7, 2012

Pennsylvania Retail Insurance: Back to School Spending Down The latest shopping trends are not looking good for retailers counting on back-to-school campaigns. Many children, teens and parents are delaying the traditional back to school purchases. This post is brought to you by Pennsylvania retail insurance programs. According to the National Retail Foundation, Back-to-school spending was expected to grow in the largest boost since the recession. But many are delaying it, for several reasons. Some want to wait and see what their classmates are wearing before they make their purchase decisions. Older students especially seem to be waiting until at least after Labor Day, cautious lest they make any fashion error. The difficulty of economic times is always a factor, and some analysts have even attributed it to the unusually hot weather. According to the New York Times, the consequences could be serious if sales don’t rebound. The back-to-school shopping spree is the busiest time of the year other than the winter holidays. Beyond the extensive profits, back-to-school provides a barometer of what is popular to help retailers prepare for the holidays. The postponed sales frenzy is also complicating how stores function. Some have had to alter how they stock, promote, and sell their back-to-school items, some of which have been on the shelves for almost two months. As of August, a survey by the National Retail Federation found less than 8% had completed their back-to-school shopping, the lowest figure in four years. Retailers are responding to the lag in multiple ways. Some are extending sales longer to attract the late season customers. Others are rethinking their back-to-school time, and others are introducing new styles later, in early September. At Dryfoos, we can cover your retail business against the unexpected. Our Pennsylvania retail insurance services include the forward-looking plans your business needs. Contact us today for more information about our Pennsylvania Retail Insurance programs.

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Pennsylvania Home Insurance: Rewarded to Save Energy

By Lew Dryfoos | Published August 3, 2012

Pennsylvania Home Insurance: Rewarded to Save Energy With temperatures soaring this summer, the natural instinct is to turn on the air conditioner. Immediately. But the nation’s utilities companies are taking to Facebook and Twitter, urging customer to conserve energy instead. Another way to save is and save on your Pennsylvania Home Insurance. According to the New York Times, Duke Energy is promoting a series of web videos featuring a girl with her family to dispense energy-saving advice. Tips include everything from using a clothesline instead of the dryer to turning down the air conditioning. A household that uses a lot of electricity might receive a mailing showing that more energy-efficient neighbors wash their clothes in cold water and a coupon for Tide detergent. Others can compete to win new appliances, or points for saving energy they can redeem for discounts at local restaurants and grocery stores. One loyalty program awards participants points for every kilowatt-hour less in electricity they used each month. The points can be redeemed for discounts or gift cards at Amazon and Staples. New York Times describes it as a combination of “social media, competitive games and Big Brotherish data analysis” to encourage customers to buy less electricity. Demographic and behavioral information was used to present specific, targeted discounts to customers- for examples offering school supplies discounts to households with children. Pennsylvania has several energy efficiency programs. A more comprehensive list is available at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and & Efficiency. Numerous Pennsylvania utility companies have rebate programs, including Duquesne Light Company, FirstEnergy, PECO Energy, Philadelphia Gas Works and PPL Electric Utilities. While it seems counterintuitive to encourage people to buy less of their products, many utilities are facing government mandates to encourage more energy conservation, giving the difficulty and expense of building power plants and distribution systems. At least 25 states have set specific goals for reductions in energy use. At Dryfoos, we can make sure you have a comprehensive Pennsylvania home insurance plan. We’ll consider many factors in our recommendation, including the replacement value of your home, amount of personal property coverage, personal liability, and special coverages. Contact us today for more information about out Pennsylvania home insurance programs.

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PA Insurance: How Retail Brick & Mortar Can Beat Online Retailers

By Lew Dryfoos | Published June 4, 2012

In this double dipped recession, most businesses have been struggling. Customers are looking to online retailers such as Amazon and Overstock for prices that are almost impossible to compete with. So how can your Pennsylvania retail business thrive in such harsh conditions? With e-commerce and online United States retail sales projected to reach $226 billion this year, online retailers threaten small local businesses. Because online retail saw a 12 percent increase over 2011, competitive retailers selling within the conventional “brick and mortar” models have to change their business strategy. Caruso is a Los Angeles based developer that has built competitive retail strengths on a signature brand of innovation and design for retailers. Caruso has created a unique mix of culture and community designed to draw in visitors. Today’s savvy consumers value community and attractions based in shopping areas. From the open-air, experiential shopping center concept, retail location has never been so important. Caruso developed this shopping experience that not only combines convenience, broad tenant assortment, but dining and entertainment as well. All dominating social attractions creates a draw for local retail centers while providing an attractive alternative to the typical enclosed indoor mall. These lifestyle centers developed by Caruso have evolved into centers of community. By improving retail brick & mortar shops by creating an experience, customers will come from far and wide; far removed from the e-commerce. Running any business involves risk. That’s why so many Pennsylvania business owners come to The Dryfoos Group. They know our reputation for choosing the right coverage from the right insurer to meet their most challenging commercial and personal insurance needs. We’ve been doing it for more than 100 years. If trust and partnership are what you value in your Pennsylvania insurance agent, we invite you to spend a few minutes considering our solutions for your business insurance or employee benefit plans. Give us a call today for more information 1-888-548-4953 Our goal is to be the last insurance company you ever need. http://www.forbes.com/sites/investor/2012/06/01/improve-retail-brick-and-mortar-and-they-will-come/2/

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Business Strategy: Doodles in the Workplace Retain More Information

By Lew Dryfoos | Published May 11, 2012

Crayons; chalkboards; markers; these are typically associated with a children’s daycare center rather than a place of business. What if these were staples at companies such as Facebook or Zappos? More and more companies are applying less traditional techniques to foster productivity in the workplace. Employees are encouraged to take part in all types of unusual practices, from sketching and doodling ideas in meetings to drawing ideas on the walls. Doodling has been integrated in multiple ways. They are used as an alternative note taking system at meetings to explain complicated concepts to colleagues. Other companies are incorporating white boards, chalkboards and writable glass on surfaces throughout the office to spark creativity. Some are even holding training sessions or hiring graphic recorders to visually record meetings. There are several arguments behind these new practices. This “visual note-taking” can help generate ideas, improve communication and encourage collaboration among colleagues. According to the Wall Street Journal, a 2009 study published in the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology found that doodlers retained more that non-doodlers when remembering information that had been presented in a boring context, such as a meeting or conference call. Software maker Citrix Systems even opened a “design collaboration” workspace in its Santa Clara, Calif., headquarters, stocked with everything from sticky notes and construction paper to pipe cleaners and foam balls for 3-D models. Protect your business with the best coverage plan you deserve. The Dryfoos Group offers a wide range of Pennsylvania business insurance. Contact us today for more information. 

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Pennsylvania Group Benefits: The Quality of Your Healthcare

By Lew Dryfoos | Published April 20, 2012

How much time do you spend shopping for your companies Group Benefits? According to some reports, not as much time as you spend researching your electronics purchases. Jon Cohen, a vascular surgeon and chief medical officer at Quest Diagnostics said the average American spends twice as much time before buying a TV as they do looking for a doctor, speaking at the TEDMED conference in early April. Patients don’t invest the time into their own health. Price, quality, and desire are the three main components that comprise consumer decisions. However the traditional consumerist approach to appraising products doesn’t apply in healthcare. For example, price doesn’t necessarily mean better care. Patients are generally not good healthcare consumers in that they don’t tend to proactively manage and maintain their health. Furthermore, Cohen said, people use the wrong parameters to judge the quality of their healthcare. For example the service at a practice, such as wait time in a doctor’s office, extended hours or availability tend to influence patients more than factors such as experience and judgment. A two-part approach is needed. Patients need to be voracious in managing their own healthcare. If people are motivated for their own health, Cohen argues, then they will be better motivated to be informed about their own health.  And in return, the medical profession must continually strive to meet them halfway to help translate extensive and often complex medical problems. Take the first step to help your employees get the best healthcare possible. At the Dryfoos Group, we offer a variety of comprehensive Pennsylvania Group Benefits programs that can be custom tailored to fit your specific employee benefits needs. Contact us today for more information.

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Workers Compensation: Why It Is Crucial For Business

By admin | Published February 8, 2012

Workers Compensation and businesses go hand in hand. Thinking about going without proper coverage can lead to serious lawsuits and substantial medical expenses to pay for an employee’s on-the-job injury or illness. Whether you obtain coverage through a commercial market, a state fund, or choose to self-insure, Workers Compensation is not only a vital component of conducting business, it is also a requirement in most states. It must be provided to employees of any company with five or more workers, as it’s the sole remedy for injured employees. Although the incidence rate of workplace injuries and illnesses were down for 2010 as compared to 2009, according to stats released in the Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (Annual) Report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number is still quite significant: 3.1 million non-fatal on-the-job injuries and illnesses were reported by the private sector. What can you do as a business to stem Workers Compensation claims in your operation? First be sure your safety program is updated and that all employees are vigilant about following it. Second, work with your insurance agency and company to implement an effective Return-to-Work (RTW) program so that if an employee is injured while on the job, there is a concerted effort to get him or her back to work as soon as possible, even in a part-time position. The key to a successful RTW program is early intervention. Return to Work Programs can reduce business costs by eliminating the need for overtime by other employees or in having to hire temporary workers. They can also help reduce Workers Compensation costs in terms of increased premiums. What’s more, RTW programs can help reduce employee turnover as you mitigate the need to replace the employee. The cost to replace an employee can be up to 1.5 times his or her annual salary. What’s more, it takes a new employee more than 13 months to become efficient at his or her job. And, RTW programs can serve to boost morale. You get the injured worker back on the job and he or she in addition to your other employees will know that you see them as a valuable resource. Workers Compensation can save you from costly lawsuits in case of on-the-job accidents and injuries. Equally important, it helps keep your employees healthy and, if injured, helps ensure that they…
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