Fini Concierge Holiday Food Drive

During the next 6 weeks, highlights of the holiday season often include festive times with family, large group meals, gift giving, fun parties and travel. It is also an important time of year for us to remember those within our communities that may need extra help providing for their families and would greatly benefit from our generosity.

"In Eastern Massachusetts:

320,000 people or 7% of the population uses emergency food programs annually.

57% of the people served have to choose between food and rent, medicine, or heat."

This year Fini Concierge is hosting a dry and canned food drive and we are inviting the Fini Concierge community to join our efforts.

Individual Contributions:
Leave us a bag of canned or dry goods and we'll pick it up at no cost to you to add to our donations.

Company Participation:
Get your workplace involved - we know that the end of the year is a busy time for most workplaces and designating someone to organize a charity campaign can be difficult. Fini Concierge will do all of the organizing for you, all you need to do is promote the food drive to your team. Our staff will provide a collection bin and pick up donations as needed. We'll even provide a flyer that you can email and post with information on how to donate.

Our goal is to make giving easy for you and your companies this year - and together we believe that we can make a really big impact on our local communities. All participating individuals and companies will be named when donations are made.

Fini Concierge will be donating food collected to the follow organizations benefiting Greater Boston and Cape Cod:

Greater Boston Food Bank

“The GBFB is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England with a mission to help end hunger in eastern Massachusetts. Each year the Food Bank distributes more than 34 million pounds of food and grocery products to nearly 600 member hunger-relief agencies”. Please click on the following link for more information: The Greater Boston Food Bank

Lower Cape Outreach Council

The Lower Cape Outreach Council “provides emergency assistance of food clothing and financial support to individuals and families in Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, Harwich, Orleans, Provincetown, Truro and Wellfleet”. The LCOC has opened food pantries in each of the towns they serve. Please click on the following link for more information: The Lower Cape Outreach Council

Preferred Items for Food Donation

• Pasta/Tomato Sauce

• Soups and other canned goods

• Coffee

• Condiments

• Cereals/Rice and other boxed goods

• Turkey's for Thanksgiving

• Toilet Paper, Hand Soaps, Toothpaste, Liquid Laundry Soap

Please contact us to let us know how you would like to get involved. In advance, we appreciate your support of our holiday food drive!

Chantal, Eddie, Marissa and Allison

The Fini Concierge Team

Organizational Strategy #3

Get rid of stuff. Set a time frame that you are comfortable with -- 6 months or 1 year. If you haven't used or touched an item in this time frame, put it in the to be donated or to be junked pile. Ask Fini Concierge to help you by picking up clothes, books, toys or anything else accumulating in your space and we will drop it off to Goodwill or other non-profits that have a need for these items.

Did you find this strategy helpful? What areas are you having the most trouble with? Let us know and we can work with you on your specific needs. Also, please share your own favorite organizational strategies with us or let us know if you have questions about how to make any of our tips work for you.

Organizational Strategy #2

Never touch a piece of paper more than once (in some cases this may be impossible but if you practice this as much as possible you will end up saving yourself a lot of time and may naturally start to avoid procrastinating). Check off the to-do item that the piece of paper provokes -- whether that means making a phone call, sending an email, or putting it away in a file to be saved.

Did you find this strategy helpful? What areas are you having the most trouble with? Let us know and we can work with you on your specific needs. Also, please share your own favorite organizational strategies with us or let us know if you have questions about how to make any of our tips work for you.

Organizational Strategies

Sometimes just thinking about getting organized is overwhelming. What do you start with first? Computer files? Photographs? Closets? Your office? There are so many places to start and so many steps to take -- but even taking that one step can help tremendously. There are many strategies to use to get organized. Some we've heard along the way and many we have used ourselves. In the upcoming months we will be sharing our tips with you. Here is the first one:

Always keep daily items in the same place. Keys, wallets, sunglasses and anything else you take with you every day. Use a bowl or a valet that sits near your door. By creating a routine for these easy to lose items you will lose them less often and will save yourself time. Being more organized at the start of your day will lead you to a more productive day with less stress.

Did you find this strategy helpful? What areas are you having the most trouble with? Let us know and we can work with you on your specific needs. Also, please share your own favorite organizational strategies with us or let us know if you have questions about how to make any of our tips work for you.

Second Home Owners on the Cape

For the second home owners on the Cape the fall is not peak season to visit or rent, so instead use this time to your advantage to spruce things up at your home or vacation rental. It’s definitely time to “clean house,” whether it’s by finding a new housekeeper or tending to a project you’ve been putting off. The easiest way to start is to go room by room making a list of what needs fixing. Let us know if you need or want ideas, assistance or referrals.

As Summer Comes to a Close

As summer comes to a close, it’s time to put your swimsuit away and switch into another gear. When you think of Cape Cod you think of the beach and sun, but there are plenty of activities to do in the fall. Which in many opinions is the best time to visit the cape.

The Cape is full of fall festivals and art and craft fairs. The Harwich Cranberry Festival in September kicks off the harvest of the famous cranberry bogs, and the Oyster Festival in Wellfleet is one of the largest in the area. Provincetown also hosts many fall Arts festivals that welcomes local artists and musicians from all over the Cape.

It may be a little cooler, but you can still enjoy some of the same activities you enjoy during the summer. Bike trails, nature walks, sand dunes, and unforgettable sunsets are even more beautiful with the crisp fall air. Most restaurants and shops stay open during the off-season and offer some great discounts. And here’s a little secret: the public beaches are free and welcome dogs after Labor Day so dust off Busters leash!

Social Networking

Fini Concierge can now be found on both Facebook and Twitter! Like many other small businesses Fini has decided to jump onto the social networking train. But everyday, as we post new info and tweets we find ourselves asking: does business actually get done on these sites and can they actually help our business grow?

Apparently, each day 5 to 10 thousand new people join Twitter and current estimates of total users top out around 5 million. Now that’s a lot of potential To Do lists, right? We know they won’t all become clients, but it definitely is a lot of exposure. With every tweet our brand grows, and with every re-tweet Fini’s info is spread to new places that we might not have otherwise reached. This exposure also gets us thinking: should we put together a Twitter marketing plan (I have been told that there are tools to help create one) and schedule a certain number of tweets a day?

Being green to the Twitter “phenom” we are realizing there is much to be learned. Some of the best advice I have read is to find a peer in your industry and “follow” them and then check out who they are “following”...sure enough you will find a Who’s Who list that you must “follow.”

As we become more Twitter savvy by tweeting, re-tweeting, following, etc., our list of “followers” continues to grow day by day, and we begin to realize the full potential of this PR tool. We are betting that these new “followers” would not have stumbled across our info and website without the aid of Twitter. Therefore, Fini Concierge IS getting a lot of business done and we sure are growing! Consider It Done!

Win 4 Free Hours of Fini Concierge Personal Assistant Services!

Could you use some help tackling your to-do list? Getting help is as easy as helping others get the assistance they need…Introduce your clients, friends and family to Fini Concierge! Fini Concierge is giving away 4 free hours of assistance to the real estate agent on Cape Cod who refers the greatest number of people to Fini Concierge between July 15 and August 31.

Last spring, Boston-based personal assistance company Fini Concierge expanded its service area with an office in East Orleans to serve Cape Cod and the Islands. Fini Concierge is a team of experienced personal assistants. Our team is available to perform a wide variety of time-saving tasks, streamlining the lives of Cape Cod residents and visitors by providing one resource to call to handle a wide variety of needs in their lives.

Since 2004, the Fini Concierge team has provided as-needed personal assistance to Greater Boston residents, handling everything from dry cleaning pick-up, bringing cars in for service and waiting for repairmen to planning parties and arranging complex travel arrangements. In addition to the day to day services that we offer to our Greater Boston clients, we also offer services such as:

· Opening and closing seasonal homes
· Stocking kitchens prior to guest’s arrivals
· Conducting home check-ins during the winter months for second home owners that are

not available to come down to the Cape frequently
· Planning seaside weddings and family reunions

Fini Concierge’s Cape team also handles small projects that make a big difference such as:

· Taking clothes to the laundromat
· Delivering a picnic basket lunch
· Providing recommendations on area activities and restaurants
· Running to the store for forgotten provisions such as sunscreen and bug spray

Personal assistant services cost $47 an hour, with a one-hour minimum in addition to monthly packages with reduced rates for clients in need of ongoing assistance. Referrals must pursue learning about Fini Concierge in one of the following ways: have a phone or email “conversation” or in person meeting with a Fini team member about our services.

Do you need to learn more about Fini Concierge so that you can pass along helpful information? View our website at http://www.finiconcierge.com/ or contact Allison Boxer at anadeau@finiconcierge.com to learn more or request brochures to pass along. You can also follow the Fini Concierge team at TWITTER and FACEBOOK.

On September 1st, Fini Concierge will announce the winner of our Cape Cod Summer Promotion – and if you’re the winner, starting utilizing your free hours or give them to someone who could use an extra hand. We look forward to working with you soon!

Testimonial

Recently Fini Concierge has been collecting new testimonials. We really appreciate your willingness to share your experiences with others about the work we do. We are happy to share a recent client testimonial with you below:

"Fini Concierge was able to pick up my race packet for the Boston Marathon. This was a one time incident, but Fini definitely made my life less stressful that day I need the race packet. Marissa and Chantal were prompt and courteous to any requests and/or questions that I had leading up to the service I had asked them to do."

S. Quintanar
Chicago, IL

If you would like to share a testimonial about your experiences with Fini Concierge, please contact us for details at mbennett@finiconcierge.com

Host with the most

This is the time of year when your calendar begins filling up with summer events. Some of these events will be hosted by you. From the 4th of July to Labor Day summer months are filled with weddings, birthday parties, anniversarys, evening soirees, backyard bashes, picnics, private dinners and large events. We are here to help you organize a seamless event!

During the hot and hectic summer months you may find yourself running in all sorts of directions to pull together a special occasion. To keep your cool, discuss your plans with Fini Concierge and let us incorporate our event planning expertise into your summer. We will work closely with you regarding all details to ensure your personal style shines through. You will also be able to relax and enjoy yourself at your own event.

We can make sure that you are the host with the most by taking care of the following:

• Invitations (ideas, themes, addressing, stamping, and mailing to guests)


• Coordination and follow up of RSVP list


• Decorations (ordering, setting up, taking down and returning rented items)


• Liaison with hired professionals (caterer, bar service, servers, florist, entertainment, photographer, rental/furniture equipment, cleaners for before or after event)


• If you are not planning on hiring a professional, Fini Concierge can take your beverage, flower, grocery and/or rental order and deliver to your event)


• Menu Planning (create menu for guests, grocery shopping, and hard to find items)


• Gift or favor ideas (including pick up/order, wrap etc.)


• Clean up and rental return

Moving Tips

If you or anyone you know is moving this summer, you already know that there are a million things that need to be done to get ready for a move. From finding resources and making contact with vendors to planning timelines and packing all of your possessions. Fini Concierge will help you sort through your moving to do lists, will help you complete items on the to do list and will even send you reminders about important dates.

We also wanted to share a few moving related tips with you to help you get started. Contact Fini Concierge directly for the rest.

1) Obtain more than one moving quote. Compare estimates, references and costs.

2) Take photos to create a digital inventory of your items.

3) Secure any travel or hotel arrangements that you may need during your move--for you, your children and/or your pets.

4) Make a plan for the day of your move. Who is going to be on site to monitor the packing and moving? Who is going to coordinate the arrival of the cleaners or locksmith?

5) Research local resources before you move. Find a new school, a new doctor and make sure you know where the local dry cleaners and grocery stores are so you can pick up things you need right away.

Fini Minimizes Travel Hassles

We know your travel calendar begins looking very hectic during the summer months. Whether for business or pleasure, reducing or eliminating travel related hassles will make your trip more enjoyable and well worth the time. Fini Concierge is here for you in order to take care of the following tasks:

PLANNING YOUR VACATION OR THREE DAY WEEKEND GET AWAY: Fini Concierge will assist you in finding the perfect new spot to venture to with friends or family this summer. We can provide you with a day by day itinerary filled with dining, lodging and activities based on your personal preferences.

MAKING YOUR RESERVATIONS: Fini Concierge will place all of your reservations. In addition to making reservations for flights, we will also be sure your hotel reservation is made and any sightseeing plans are booked and confirmed.

LAST MINUTE ITEMS: Fini Concierge will pick up everything you need for your trip. From travel activity bags to keep your kids occupied on the plane or in the car, to sunscreen, batteries, or snacks.

PASSPORT SERVICES: Fini Concierge will make sure all of your travel documentation is taken care of in time for your trip.

GETTING TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT: Fini Concierge will hire and arrange car service to pick you up at home and drop you off at the airport to be sure you arrive on time for your flight. With this option you eliminate parking hassles as well.

PEACE OF MIND CHECK IN: Fini Concierge wil check in on your home, giving you peace of mind. We can also check your mail, feed your cat and water your plants while you're away.

Tips on Choosing the Right Cape Cod Rental

So you've decided to rent a beach house this summer on the Cape for your next trip or family vacation. Great! But where do you begin? The amount of vacation rental websites can be more overwhelming than useful. Here are some great tips for finding a nice vacation rental and you're in luck because rentals are still available.

Start Early

Ideally you will want to begin planning your summer vacation right after the holidays. If you do so, you will have a larger selection to choose from. When you begin your early search ask about early booking discounts. Sometimes you'll find that in exchange for the security of having their property rented, an owner and agent will offer a discount, sometimes as much as 10 percent. But don’t worry if you didn’t get a jump start there are some advantages for a late planner.

Know What You Want

1. Need to bring Buster? Make sure pets are allowed.

2. Have small children? Make sure the house is equipped with baby gates for the stairs.

3. Vacationing with an older family member who isn't very mobile? You might want to make sure you're only a short walk from the beach and there is a ramp or first floor bedroom available.

4. Plan on having cookouts? Ask if the grill is in good shape. Get the details in writing and bring them with you to be sure everything is as promised.

5. Have your heart set on an outdoor shower? Make sure to ask before committing.

6. Planning on spending the entire time on the beach? Find out how long of a walk the rental is from the sandy shore.

7. Also, be sure you have the name and phone number of someone you can call if anything goes wrong during your stay.

Imagine

Imagine arriving at your vacation destination and discovering a fully stocked refrigerator, fresh flowers on the table and wine chilling on the deck instead of spending your first few hours of vacation fighting the crowds at the supermarket?

Imagine not feeling stressed if you can’t make it down to the Cape to check in on your second home during the winter because you can call your as needed assistant to check in for you?

Imagine having your to-do list completed while you’re enjoying time with your family, putting in a couple of extra hours at work or lying on the beach?

Fini Concierge provides personal assistance on an as needed basis to people on Cape Cod and in the Greater Boston area at surprisingly affordable hourly rates.

Preplan for gifts for the month or the season

Purchase birthday cards, personalized stationary, wrapping supplies and stamps weeks ahead of your needs so you can mail cards and gifts right away. Find gifts that are appropriate and meaningful for all ages. Consider online gift cards (or online e-cards), Visa check cards and other simple gifts that will be appreciated by everyone. Personalize your gift with a message to create a signature touch.

Fini Concierge can assist you with every aspect of this process. We have frequently helped our clients by providing gift options and then making sure the gift is picked up or ordered and delivered on time! Time and time again our clients have expressed their feelings of gratitude for assistance with this task because it is time consuming but is something they still want completed with their personal touch.

Fini Concierge, Your Car & The Ferry

Having your car on the Island during your vacation makes life a lot simpler. Getting your car to and from the Island can sometimes put a wrench in your vacation planning!

But now it doesn’t have to…

Fini Concierge is available to help coordinate the transportation of your vehicle. Fini Concierge will:

• Make ferry reservations
• Drive your car to and from the ferry
• Ensure that your car gets on the ferry safely

Supporting Local Community

Fini Concierge has been dedicated to supporting the local community over the past number of years by attending community events, participating in local walks and donating to local charities and auctions. This is one of the many reasons I (Marissa) love working here! These experiences not only enrich the business as a whole but also enrich each of us personally. I believe that each of our daily interactions with clients and service providers is always another chance to support our community. If you are a business owner, how do you support your local community? And if you are not a business owner, how would you like to see local businesses supporting the community?

Seasonal Tips

The long winter months are over, spring is in bloom, & before we know it summer will be here. To make sure your home is prepared for the season, start on these seasonal maintenance projects.

Running low on time? Call on Fini Concierge to help with all your spring & summer maintenance needs and Consider it done.

Inside Your Home:
1) Have your AC vents checked.
2) Make sure that your window and door screens are intact.
3) Remove any insulation you put on outdoor water pipes in preparation for winter, and check for any possible leaks.
4) Clean, clean, clean. Hire house cleaners to do a through cleaning.

Outside Your Home:
1) Spring is the time for gardening and flowers.
2) Make sure that your sprinkler system is in working order.
3) Take out your patio furniture and make sure it gets a thorough cleaning and repair.
4) Clean your gutters
5) A fresh coat of paint on will make a dramatic difference on anything indoors or out.

Working with Service Providers

Have you ever felt frustrated, stressed or upset when working with a service provider? Sometimes it can be difficult to communicate with a professional when you don't have the terminology or knowledge about your project or when your service provider doesn't understand your needs. Tell us about an experience you have had with a service provider, good or bad, and share the kind of support or tools you think could have helped you get through the project?

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a service provider and sometimes you just don't have the time. From start to finish, communication is a big part of working with a contractor. The project needs to be clearly outlined, a time frame needs to be estimated, a cost estimate needs to be provided, follow up is essential and flexibility is required. Many times when starting a project, other projects are discovered and the scope of the original project changes. With the steps of this process in mind it is no wonder that miscommunication can happen and that frustration or stress can develop.

Through experience, we have developed relationships with many reputable, reliable and trustworthy service providers. By understanding the in's and out's of this process we can really save our clients time and stress in order to complete well done projects. This doesn't mean every project goes off without a hitch; but we are experts in making sure these hitches don't hinder the integrity of the project.

Gearing Up For The Cape

As the weather starts to warm up and we start taking our summer gear out of the attic, it’s a sign that summer is FINALLY around the corner. There are many summer destinations, but there isn’t anything better then hopping in the car after work on Friday and in a quick 1.5 hours you find yourself on the Cape with your toes in the sand and drink in hand before the sun sets.

We at Fini Concierge are especially excited about this summer on the Cape. With the opening of our new office last spring we were able to meet a lot of great people and to develop a lot of new ideas that we are excited about sharing with our clients this summer. However, we are always looking for new ideas to help grow Fini’s Cape office as well as develop relationships with new and old vendors. This is where we enlist you (our blogger) to help do some foot work.

What services do you think would be helpful to offer to our Cape clients?

The Fini Concierge Blog -- Revitalized!

The Fini Concierge blog has been dormant for many months but will have new life breathed into it with the help of other members of the Fini Concierge team. Now, instead of just hearing from me – Chantal, you’ll now have the opportunity to hear from other members of our team, including Allison Nadeau and Marissa Miller Bennett.

We look forward to continuing to share our experiences, tips and lessons learned with you through our blog – we hope you’ll enjoy reading it and please, we always want to hear from you, so send us your feedback!