October 25, 2013

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS! 

GOVERNOR CHRISTIE'S GENERATOR GRANT PROGRAM
NEW NJGCA MBP -- COASTAL EYEWEAR KICKS BUTT
MINIMUM WAGE LAWN SIGNS
AUTOMOTIVE TRAINING INSTITUTE SEMINARS
PAID SICK LEAVE PROPOSED IN NEWARK
GAS PRICES DECLINE -- FOR NOW?

NJGCA's fight against generator mandates has been one of the biggest items on my agenda and has taken up an enormous amount of time over the past year.  I know that I have shared this before but it is important to recap for those that are just tuning in. In the two weeks following Sandy, EIGHT bills were introduced in the legislature, all with some sort of mandate that all gas stations install back-up generators. NJGCA has continually argued that the cost of installing a generator is much higher than legislators think, and that generators wouldn't even solve the problem, since the real problem was an inability to get a gas delivery, not an inability to turn the lights on.
 
NJGCA has advocated and fought for programs that will assist those locations that are willing to invest in back-up generation upon their own free will.  You may recall that I asked you to take a survey about generators over the summer. NJGCA has submitted an enormous amount of information to the Governor's Office of Recovery and Rebuilding, and apparently people in the Governor's Administration have been paying attention, because on Monday they announced a Generator Grant Program that NJGCA is thrilled to support.  
 
There are three pieces of good news that come from this program:
 
1.  There is no mandate.  There is nothing in this program that says ANY gas station MUST install a generator.
 
2.  This program offers grants (not loans) to the stations located in a qualifying geographic area.
 
3.  The amount of money available to each station proves that Trenton acknowledges the TRUE COSTS of installing a generator.  That in itself is a victory because I still find myself meeting public officials who doubt that a gas station can't just install a Home Depot generator to power their pumps.
 
You all should consider this at least a partial victory in the battle against mandatory generators at gas stations, and I hope that you all recognize that NJGCA's success on this issue has saved each and every gas station in the state a minimum of $20,000.  We have members who have received estimates that exceed $50,000.
 
I sent a press release immediately after the program was announced that I hope you will take time to read.
 
To read the Governor's press release on the new Generator Grant Program, please CLICK HERE.
 
CLICK HERE to read NJGCA's press release in support of this program.
 
CLICK HERE to read the list of gas stations that are eligible to participate in the program.
 
CLICK HERE to access a map of where selected gas stations are located.
 
Moving on to other exciting news ... Several months ago I asked you to be on the lookout for our new Members Only Webpage.  One of the features is the ability for NJGCA members to access our new Member Benefit Partner (MBP) named Coastal Eyewear.  Coastal has worked to put together an awesome program for NJGCA members, their employees and family members. I mentioned several months ago that my wife was bugging me to order a re-supply of contact lenses for her and I asked her to hold off because I wanted to take advantage of the Coastal Eyewear program for NJGCA members.  Through the Members Only section of the website, I accessed the Coastal Eyewear program and ordered my wife's contacts.
 
Here’s what I found:
 
We previously used 1-800-contacts because they offered us a discounted price from the previous vendor that my wife used.  Re-ordering through 1-800-contacts would have cost $240 plus shipping. Once I established the cost through 1-800-contacts, I signed on to the Coastal Eyewear site which, as I mentioned, I accessed through the NJGCA Members Only website. Through Coastal, I purchased the exact same contact lenses for $185 including shipping.  That's a savings of $65!!  Additionally, I wear eyeglasses.  The next time that I need eyeglasses, I will be entitled to my first pair purchased through Coastal Eyewear completely free. Every year after that I will be entitled to receive the same steep discounts that all NJGCA members have, which will be similar to those I just experienced purchasing contact lenses.
 
We work hard to provide the best benefits to NJGCA members, which only you and your employees can access. If you have any questions about this program, please contact the office and ask for Greg.
 
Please investigate this program.  At a time when it is hard to increase wages and provide more for your employees, the Coastal Eyewear program is a great way for you to offer them a benefit that costs you nothing more than being a member of NJGCA!
 
MINIMUM WAGE COALITION:  Last week I talked again about our efforts to stop the minimum wage constitutional amendment.  I still need more volunteers to take signs.  We have about 60 left.  Let's get these signs out on our lawns so that the public knows that increasing the minimum wage will negatively impact small-businesses, consumers and our communities!
 
Several weeks ago, NJGCA sent out an Events & Announcements to attend a program in Tom's River hosted by Automotive Training Institute.  The invitation included a heavily discounted fee for NJGCA members.  The program was held ealier this week.  These sessions usually contain between 10-20 participants. On Tuesday, 11 professionals attended, and left in awe from the information that they received.  All vowed to immediately begin implementing some of the things that they had learned from the session in their shops.  We expect to announce more of these sessions in the upcoming weeks. Let Me Be Blunt... YOU ARE NUTS IF YOU DON'T MAKE THE EFFORT TO ATTEND.
 
Additionally, I have to draw your attention to the topic of paid sick leave.  The proposal was passed and signed in Jersey City, and now it is introduced in Newark.  This is further evidence of my worry that even when NJGCA is successful in blocking harmful legislation in Trenton, many cities and towns might pursue efforts to enact these proposals on their own. No matter if it is a state law or a town ordinance, it will still negatively impact your business, and you need to be aware of these issues so that we can properly oppose them!
 
Finally, in recent weeks, it seems that I have been providing assessments of the gasoline marketplace more often than usual. “Volatility” and “Roller Coaster” are certainly synonymous with gasoline prices. This week has brought about some steep decreases in the wholesale price of gas. It seems that there has been an unexpected buildup of crude oil supplies recently that have helped the price of crude drop about $10 a barrel, which is approaching last year’s levels. This directly affects the price of gasoline.
 
I have mentioned on several occasions that I expected prices to decline towards the end of the year, following the same pattern that has emerged in recent years.  It seems that these price decreases are exceeding even my expectations, and once again I caution you just as I did a few weeks ago – THIS IS A PERFECT TIME TO GRAB SOME EXTRA MARGIN -- DON'T BE A DOPE -- DON’T BE THE LOWEST PRICE ON THE STREET.  You will need the extra margin now because you may remember that I believe that we will see steep increases towards the end of January and February.  Margins will shrink then. I don’t see anything on the horizon that stops this roller coaster from continuing.  I am begging you to re-consider how you do business and make some extra profit margin while you can. 

Thanks for reading -- See you next week!

Regards,
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS 

Do you have a business for sale?  Are you looking for a new location or opportunity?

• NJGCA was recently able to lend a hand to members looking to sell their business by getting the word out.  Since everyone reading this message is involved in the small business gasoline retail, convenience store, and automotive repair trades, it is an ideal medium to connect with interested buyers and prospects! 

NJGCA also assists members in selling equipment through the placement of advetisments in Road Warrior!

• If you'd like to list equipment for sale, or have an open position you'd like to make other industry professionals aware of, please contact NJGCA at 973-376-0066 and let us help you get the word out!      

If you'd like to list your business for sale, publish a location you're selling, or are seeking a business partner for your establishment, please contact NJGCA at 973-376-0066!

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW
 
10/23/2013:
Jersey Shore business owners star in ad to block minimum-wage hike
A coalition of state business groups in opposition to an upcoming vote on raising the minimum wage has started airing new television and radio commercials this week across the state. The new television spot, which can be seen on www.NoOn2.com, features comments from two Jersey Shore small-business owners -- Bill Gehlhaus, in Keansburg, and Bobby Stewart, in Seaside Heights.  The ballot question would increase New Jersey's minimum wage by $1.00, to $8.25, and tie future hikes to the consumer price index. Businesses have decried the CPI link and the Legislature's use of a constitutional amendment, instead of the legislative process, to attempt to get the increase on the books.
 
10/22/2013:
Newark council to take up paid sick leave next week
The Newark City Council is racing to approve legislation that guarantees paid sick time for tens of thousands of people who work full- and part-time jobs in Newark, according to a joint statement issued today.  The bill would mandate that full and part-time, private-sector Newark workers in businesses with 10 or more employees earn one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours or 5 work days per year. Workers in businesses with nine or fewer employees will be eligible to earn one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 24 hours or three work days per year. Workers with direct contact to the public would be eligible to earn the sick days regardless of company size, and the days can be used to care for themselves or family members.
 
10/21/2013:
N.J. gas stations left without power by Sandy eligible for $7M grant for backup generators
More than 250 gasoline stations statewide left without power by Hurricane Sandy will be eligible for $7 million in federal funding to buy generators to keep the fuel pumping in the event of another large scale power failure, Gov. Chris Christie’s office announced today. The state will make funding available under the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for gas stations near widely used roadways like Routes 1&9, 17, 22, 78 and 80, the Governor’s Office said. Stations were chosen based on their proximity to evacuation routes and their fuel storage capacity. The federal program is voluntary, with most of the selected stations eligible for up to $15,000 to install a permanent connection for mobile generators or offset a portion of the cost of purchasing a generator. About 50 stations with larger fuel storage capacities will be eligible for up to $65,000 in funding toward the purchase and installation of an onsite generator.

10/21/2013:
Jersey City mayor to sign sick-leave legislation
Jersey City's mayor is set to sign legislation requiring small businesses to give employees sick leave. Mayor Steven Fulop says Jersey City is the first city in the state and only the sixth nationally to enact similar legislation. The city's council passed the measure by a 7-1 margin last month. It allows private-sector employees in businesses with 10 or more employees to earn up to five paid sick days a year. Employees of smaller businesses will earn up to five days of unpaid sick time. Fulop was to sign the bill at a pizza shop in downtown Jersey City Monday morning.

TRAINING CLASSES!!
-ALL CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT NJGCA HEADQUARTERS-
66 Morris Avenue - Springfield, NJ 07081 (Union County)

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE

TMP Energy Solutions
Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh   signing up through our energy saving program. We know it’s difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an “accurate” analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available. 

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum KW demand is acquired. By pooling the member’s usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group.

Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require12 months of your most recent utility bills.

There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #’s, meter #’s  service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs.  Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund. 

Contact GREG CANNON at 973-376-0066 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.