May has finally arrived and summer is just around the corner! By the second half of May, those the flowers will start to bloom and the sun will start to shine; what better way is there to enjoy the 75 degree weather than a party?

Before you start stocking up on hot dogs and hamburgers, educate yourself on party host etiquette. When you’re conversing and mingling with close friends, it’s easy to forget how much glasses of wine you’ve drank. But as a host, it’s your responsibility to retain composure and ensure guest get home safely.

Don’t let carelessness compromise your or your guest’s fun and safety. Here at MHB Insurance, we will help you brush up on proper party host etiquette.

First and foremost, understand your state’s laws. Although most states enacted the Dram Shop Law (including New York), social host liability varies in each state.

According to the New York Alcoholic Beverage Control (Section 65), no person shall sell, deliver or give away or cause or permit or procure to be sold, delivered or given away any alcoholic beverage to
(1)  Any person under the age of twenty-one years
(2)  Any visibly intoxicated person

New York  courts have also found “social hosts liable under common law negligence and the state legislature has enacted statutes imposing civil liability on those that either provide alcohol to minors or assist minors in procuring alcohol.”

*Please refer to the New York Dram Shop Law regarding social liability.

Other proper host etiquette tips include:

• Minimize your liability by holding your party at a venue that has a liquor license.
• Assigned designated drivers or call a taxi cab for any intoxicated.
• Serve plenty of non-alcoholic drinks and food throughout the party.
• Refrain from serving liquor at the end of the evening.

What Will Your Peekskill Home Insurance Policy Cost?

Let us put together the best possible policy for you, at the most competitive price we can find. We work with some of the most respected carriers in the country, and once we have your information and the features you want, we can start putting together the right plan for you. Call (914) 737-3430

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Peekskill Hotel Insurance: Customer Retention

In any industry, a primary motive is driving revenue growth—the hospitality industry is no exception. Marketing and advertising is a vital tool in attract new customer. However, retaining those customers is an essential cause of success. Great guest experience creates a strong and long lasting relationship. Keep in mind guest experience starts the moment they make a reservation. Here a few ways to build customer retention.

Treat each guest as an individual: Observe who your guests are. Are they here for business or leisure? Are they alone or with a family? How old are they? Many hotels in an edge city have a Starbucks and a bar inside. They notice a similar pattern everyday—business oriented men and women. There is a Starbucks for morning coffee before the big meeting and a bar to meet clients.  Same goes for guests who seek a relaxing getaway. Invest your time and money constructing an exceptional spa and salon. Hire a 24 hour concierge that can direct them to the best shopping plazas and recommend nightlife spots. Give them an experience that caters to their needs.

Feedback: This is an important tool in customer loyalty. Don’t be afraid to reach out to guests; ask them what they liked best and what can be improved. If different guest are constantly recommending an elevator be built in your 4 story boutique hotel, consider it. Evaluate your finances and determine if it’s feasible.

Empower your staff: People are often discouraged to come back when customer service is disregarded.  Inform employees about your expectations. Remind staff to treat all guests with respect. Educate them on the many ways to build rapport.

At MHB Insurance, one of our long-time specialties has been providing insurance to businesses in the hospitality industry across the country. Call 914-737-3430 today. Call today in the Crompond, Buchanan, Verplanck, Montrose, Crugers, Lake Mohegan, Yorktown, Jefferson Valley-Yorktown, Shrub Oak, Lake Peekskill, Putnam Valley, or Peekskill Bay areas.

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Google+ has 250 million users, in which 150 million are active. These numbers may seem minimal in comparison to Facebook’s estimated 1 billion users, but as you may already know, quantity doesn’t always trump quality.

Social networks like Facebook and Twitter are inherently the first tools small businesses go to when they start to integrate social media into their marketing strategy.  But what about Google+?

Small businesses shouldn’t dismiss Google+.  It’s an available, inexpensive and effective resource that many businesses haven’t taken advantage of.  Google+ is an essential tool in creating and developing relationships with your target audience.  It enables small businesses to make their brand visible to the public and drives quality traffic.

Google values authenticity and relevant content. They have taken existing marketing tools, simplified their methods and amplified their results.  Open your small business to a level of growth that may be unreachable by only utilizing Facebook and Twitter.

Want to drive quality traffic in an efficient manner?  Lets start with the basics while keeping in my mind that a business doesn’t grow overnight. Take the time to create an effective plan on implementing and managing your Google+ account.  Maybe it’s designating an employee(s) to manage its activity or maybe it’s hiring a marketing company to manage and optimized it. Either way, cultivate your profile as you would your business.

First and foremost, link your company’s website to your Google+ page and enable other profiles to “follow” it. Create an “About” page with carefully chosen keywords. Then decipher who your target audience is and start implementing the following tools;

By using Google’s algorithm you can methodically increase your ranking in search engines, particularly Google.  This can be done by increasing your number of +1’s and shares.  You can also do this by motivating your customers to recommend your site to their circles.

Like Facebook and Twitter, Google + users must engage with other users.  Appeal to your target audience by sharing content they may be interested in. Remember that this is important if you want them to share and comment on your posts.  And don’t be hesitant to share posts that may not be content specific to your business.

Other key features such as Google Authorship, Google Circles and Google Hangout should also be implemented in your business’s marketing strategy.  For more information on these key features visit an article written by Fast Company’s Dave Llorens.

At MHB Insurance, our agents are trained specialists in all types of Peekskill business insurance. We have the expertise to understand your needs and can design a program that allows you to get the most for your insurance dollar. Whatever your need for Peekskill New York business insurance, whether in the Peekskill, New York area or throughout the state, call 914-737-3430, or fill out and send the handy form on this page. We look forward to getting you the coverage you need…at a price that you can afford.

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In the past decade, the number of breweries has multiplied at an unprecedented speed. Each brewery carries exceptional craft brews and interactive tours that draw in existing and potential customers. But an innovative brew and word of mouth can only accomplish so much. Marketing through various social media platforms allows these breweries to create a virtual community.

It’s not as simple as registering for a Facebook page and you can’t expect your business to grow overnight. Some breweries have gained the most success on Facebook and some on Twitter, but despite their differing social media platforms, they noticed that constantly engaging with their followers draws in customers and builds customer loyalty.

What is a good strategy for microbreweries?

Instead of utilizing social media as a marketing tool, social media provided the avenue for them to express their brand personality. They kept their followers informed of new brews, upcoming events and any other updates by posting pictures and videos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Some have even posted behind the scenes tours of their brewery onto YouTube.

Many of these successful breweries create a virtual community by keeping their followers engaged. They ask questions and encourage customer feedback. They also feature their customers’ photos of drinking their beer on Facebook and company newsletter.

Social media is a powerful marketing tool when done correctly. Don’t forget to keep your content relevant and yours customers engaged.

From your grain bill to your yeast, MHB understands the risks that you face. Let us craft your Microbrewery insurance needs. We have an attractive collection of insurance coverage that is particularly well-suited to the brewing industry.

Get the details today.

For more information on this special program, call (914)737-3430, email us, or fill out the information request form on this page for the Crompond, Buchanan, Verplanck, Montrose, Crugers, Lake Mohegan, Yorktown, Jefferson Valley-Yorktown, Shrub Oak, Lake Peekskill, Putnam Valley, or Peekskill Bay, New York areas.

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Historians propose the origins of brewed beer to date as far back as 3500 B.C. In the late 1970s, the United States marked its recent “Beer Revolution” to be the perfect fusion of cultural diversity and innovation. Microbrewery companies, home brewers, and beer enthusiasts began to be inspired to create better quality beer. Unbeknownst, the momentum to produce craft beer grew exponentially and the number of microbreweries multiplied.

Due to craft beer’s growing popularity and advancement of technology there is an app for that! There are now several beer- related apps available to iOS and Android.

Craft Beer New York - This recently launched app only available to i OS guarantees you will never drink a bad beer again. Creator and author of Brewed Awakening, Joshua M. Bernstein has successfully created a user friendly guide for all of New York City’s beer lovers and enthusiasts. Bernstein ensures that bars and breweries with good ratings offer more than appealing décor and a variety of beer to choose from.

Untappd (available to Android and iOS) – Similar to social networking platforms like Facebook and Twitter, Untappd creates a virtual community of beer drinkers. This community allows users to create a profile where they share their favorite craft beers and bars. The app also provides beer recommendations based on your beer preferences.

BrewGene (available to Android, iOS, and on the web) – BrewGene does it all; beer tracking, beer recommendations, bar locations and menus, and sharing your beer related activities. This app’s creators have produced an algorithm to find beers that you would like based on your past preferences and ratings.

At MHB Insurance, we have an attractive collection of insurance coverage that is particularly well-suited to the brewing industry. Contact us today for more information about our New York Microbrewery Insurance.

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Purchasing a vehicle is a long process. There are several factors that potential buyers sought for in purchasing a new or used car. While these factors often shift in priority for each individual, a car’s reliability is usually one of the most important aspects and for good reason. After all, most people do not want to buy a car that is notorious for being hazardous and problematic.

The design and luxurious features of a car is important, but the mechanical condition and dependability often takes precedence. Although Japanese manufacturers like Toyota and European manufacturers like BMW are consistently making the list of most reliable cars, many manufacturers like Subaru are starting to climb up the list. On the opposing end of the list, notable manufacturers such as Ford and Lincoln have recently proven to have created some of the most unreliable vehicle. In fact, Jaguar exemplified that reliability does not often correlate with the sticker price of a car. In some cases, the most reliable cars are priced at a small fraction of the cost of a Jaguar.

Essentially a car’s reliability is based on the probability of them giving you trouble. The factors behind this include how often they are known to fail and the average cost of repair. According to Consumer Report’s latest survey, here are some of the most reliable cars for New York.

Base price below $20,000:

• Toyota Scion Xd- $15,110
• Subaru Impreza- $17,895

Base price of $20,000-$30,000:

• Mazda CX5- $20,995
• Toyota Sienna- $25,060
• Toyota Camry- $25,990

Base price of $30,000-$40,000:

• Nissan Maxima- $32,420
• Nissan 370Z- $33,120
• Infiniti EX- $36,350
• BMW 3281- $36,500
• Lexus RX- $39, 075

Base price above $40,000:

• Toyota Sequoia- $41,955
• Lexus IS C- $42,510

Our auto insurance Peekskill based professionals can assist you with any Peekskill, New York auto insurance needs concerning your vehicles at home or work. Just fill out our quick and easy form (or call (914) 737-3430) and MHB Insurance will get your quote back to you as soon as possible.

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While it is evident that the rapid evolution of social media has opened the doors of communication for many individuals and groups, social media has also had its daunting faults. It is a paradoxical that something so innovative and advanced as social media can progress society, but at the same time hold society back. It is as if we are living in a dual reality—the virtual world and the real world. The existence of this dual reality has created a lot of controversies. This post is brought to you by MHB’s Peekskill business insurance program.

Initially, many embraced that the prevalence of social media brought globalization to a whole new level. With ease, individuals from all hemispheres of the world were able to connect and interact in unprecedented speeds. Although speed is important, we must not forget that accuracy is just as important.  Accuracy is difficult when an individual is easily able to hide behind a computer or cell phone. Accuracy is difficult when only 7% of communication is based on written and/or verbal. The 93% comes from nonverbal body language, which is something social media cannot express.

This inaccuracy creates these communication barriers and threats.

Authenticity- Anyone is capable of manipulation via a piece of technology. It is effortless to create a whole new identity for individuals and even businesses. Someone who is malicious and vindictive in the real world can easily be the nicest person in the virtual world. Businesses are capable of putting themselves on a pedal stool through social networking sites, but be the polar opposite in the real world.

Face to Face Communication- According to Jeff Bullas, individuals spend an average 15 hours and 33 minutes a month on Facebook alone, while an astonishing 2.9 billion hours per month is being spent on YouTube. Many believe that social media will replace human interaction all together.

Misinterpretation- It is impossible to correctly identify tone through a text message or an e-mail.

Do you think your business is right for social media? If not, why? We would love to hear about it.

At MHB Insurance, our agents are trained specialists in all types of Peekskill business insurance. We have the expertise to understand your needs and can design a program that allows you to get the most for your insurance dollar.

Give us a call today – (914) 737-3430

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Pinterest is easily envisioned as a great marketing tool for weddings, retailers, food vendors- but what about microbreweries?

Pinterest is now the third most popular social network in the U.S. in terms of traffic. Food and drink are among the most popular categories on Pinterest. Microbreweries attract loyal and devoted fans- Pinterest offers another avenue to engage fans and also drive traffic to your website.

Pinterest is a social network that allows users to share, curate, and discover new interests by “pinning” various images or videos to “pinboards” that are classified in any way they’d like. User can either upload images from their computer or “pin” things they find on the web using the “Pin It” button.

So what types of things should you pin? Get creative with your postings. Pin pictures of your staff, and the brewing process. Create user generated contests for your next big recipe. If you participate in any beer festivals, or host tastings or special events, post them. Have a Beer Hall of Fame board where you pay homage to your most popular beers or ones that you support. You could create a board of local events in the Peekskill community, or another one with fun facts about beer.

Make sure you post regularly, and use good quality images. 80% of pins are repins, and according to Pinterest profiler, Repinly, Pinterest users spend 86.2% of the time pinning to their boards. The more original photos and content you upload, the better chance you have at getting engagement.

At MHB Insurance, we have an attractive collection of insurance coverage that is particularly well-suited to the brewing industry. Contact us today for more information about our New York Microbrewery Insurance. 

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San Bernardino is the third California city file for bankruptcy, joining Stockton and Mammoth Lakes in financial woe. But what happens to a city after filing for Chapter 9? How does this affect their insurance? Is New York next?

A bankruptcy can affect an entire city, from police and fire department shortages to pension cuts and creates an all around legal nightmare. One example is the Rhode Island town of Central Falls who declared bankruptcy in August 2011. Taxed with one of the most expensive retirement systems in the country, fiscal mismanagement and declining revenues forced the city to file Chapter 9. The effects were harsh. All of the teachers in the local schools were let go- the state now runs the schools. Volunteers operate the library, and citizens could see their pensions cut in half, according to CNN.

California’s cities have seen significant financial hardship, and more cities are expected to follow. The issue lies in outstanding bonds- Stockton at $700 million and San Bernardino has 18.5 billion. If a city can’t pay for its insurance, the policies lapse at renewal and the city becomes self-insured.

Companies file for “Chapter 11” bankruptcy- a provision that allows them to renegotiate deals, to downsize and fire people. It also allows the option to break up, a scenario that is not possible for a city. Thus, cities file for “Chapter 9” bankruptcy, which covers municipalities. Fareed Zakaria discussed the city bankruptcy trend in a CNN blog:

“California’s pension-related costs rose 20-fold in the decade since 1999. This frightening trend is true almost everywhere in America. And it’s simply not sustainable. A recent Pew research survey found that the gap between state assets and their obligations for public sector retirement benefits is $1.38 trillion. It rose by 9 percent in 2010 alone – and it will likely keep rising until these obligations are renegotiated.”

New York Municipal insurance is legally and politically complex- at MHB Insurance, our goal is to not only design and write municipal insurance policies, but also to facilitate programs that can significantly reduce the cost of risk. Every state, county, city and town has its own unique municipal peculiarities and needs. We can design a Municipal insurance package of coverage that meets your specific needs. From everything from Park Rangers and correctional facilities to water districts and courthouses, we can help you design a program that works for your community. Contact us today for more information about our Municipal Insurance programs.

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U.S. beer sales were down 1.3% in 2011. However the craft brewing industry grew 13% by volume and 15% by dollars, according to the Brewers Association. There are almost 2,000 breweries in operation, some of the highest numbers seen since the 1880’s when it was home brewed.

The beer business has consolidated. If you catch even a few seconds of any Super Bowl commercial, chances are you’ll see one of the elite beer companies who dominate the market. These industrial scale giants (Anheuser-Busche, Molson Coors, InBev), hold a large portion of sales. Americans will drink Coors Light because it is prevalent and readily available. However, more people will go searching for uniquely crafted beer, and that’s where microbreweries have found their successful, booming niche.

The success of the microbrewery industry has fiscal benefits as well. Beer is one of the world’s oldest alcoholic beverages, and is one of the few sectors not having its worst year since the Great Depression. Although not recession proof, the industry is highly resistant to the fluctuating woes that other industries have fallen susceptible to.  And especially in with microbreweries, where distinctly crafted beers garner loyal followers, they have remained strong through the country’s economic woes. Craft breweries such as Stone, Dogfish Head, Lagunitas, Rogue, Great Divide & Cismontane are perfect examples of how to develop loyal followers. From a smoked porter w/ vanilla beans to a milk chocolate stout fermented with Belgian yeast.

One Business Week article attributes this to a larger movement, including younger, more affluent consumers were are more careful about what they eat and drink. Instead of simply consuming what is readily available, people are seeking out brands and products with authenticity and unique flavor rather than mainstream brands. This, of course, is where craft and microbreweries come in. Rich Doyle, CEO of Harpoon Brewery, reflects on this welcome shift:

“Twenty years ago, you’d go into a bar, there’d be eight taps—but they’d all pour the same beer with different tap handles. Now there’s all this variety and choice. It’s the best place in the world to drink beer, at least in terms of variety.”

At MHB Insurance, we have an attractive collection of insurance coverage that is particularly well-suited to the brewing industry. Contact us today for more information. 

Related “Microbrewery Insurance: NY Craft Breweries“

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