Inside East Valley Business

Pawn shop owners are seeing more cash-strapped people hawking their possessions since the economy went south.

Pawn brokers are reporting a spike in business that’s accompanied record foreclosures and increasing bankruptcies and other economic factors, said an official from the Arizona Pawn Association.

“I’ve been in this business for 12 years and every day I can tell you (about) someone who walked in here with their head down,” said Walter Cheeseman, a partner in several pawn shop stores around the Valley and APA vice president. “Am I seeing more of them right now? Yeah. Business is increasing.”

Cheeseman said he has no statistics to show how much business has increased at pawn shops around the state, but estimated that his has risen by about 20 percent in the last year alone.

The National Pawnbrokers Association said 33 percent of pawn shop clientele own their home while 80 percent are employed.

Pawn shop owners are seeing more cash-strapped people hawking their possessions since the economy went south.

Pawn brokers are reporting a spike in business that’s accompanied record foreclosures and increasing bankruptcies and other economic factors, said an official from the Arizona Pawn Association.

“I’ve been in this business for 12 years and every day I can tell you (about) someone who walked in here with their head down,” said Walter Cheeseman, a partner in several pawn shop stores around the Valley and APA vice president. “Am I seeing more of them right now? Yeah. Business is increasing.”

Cheeseman said he has no statistics to show how much business has increased at pawn shops around the state, but estimated that his has risen by about 20 percent in the last year alone.

The National Pawnbrokers Association said 33 percent of pawn shop clientele own their home while 80 percent are employed.

Look for something new on your receipt the next time you dine at an East Valley Extreme Pita restaurant.
Besides the tab and tax for your meal, you’ll get a rundown of the calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein and nutritional daily value for everything you order.
The eatery will also offer tips on how to make your meal healthier, such as “Did you know? If you choose lite mayo instead of chipotle mayo on your pita you will save 160 calories and 10 grams of fat?”
Extreme Pita, which has popular dining spots in Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler and Phoenix, prints the customized receipts in all its Arizona locations. Eventually the company plans to roll out the program nationwide.

Look for something new on your receipt the next time you dine at an East Valley Extreme Pita restaurant.
Besides the tab and tax for your meal, you’ll get a rundown of the calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein and nutritional daily value for everything you order.
The eatery will also offer tips on how to make your meal healthier, such as “Did you know? If you choose lite mayo instead of chipotle mayo on your pita you will save 160 calories and 10 grams of fat?”
Extreme Pita, which has popular dining spots in Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler and Phoenix, prints the customized receipts in all its Arizona locations. Eventually the company plans to roll out the program nationwide.

Just the thought of Super Bowl XLII’s big boost to the local economy is making local tourism leaders salivate over getting another one.
And the bonanza may have been even bigger than originally thought.
Super Bowl Host Committee president Bob Sullivan has been pestering ASU Sports Business Program executive director Ray Artigue for the results of an economic impact study as Sullivan tries to sell local businesses on the benefits of going after the 2012 game.
The study is expected to be completed by month-end.
But Sullivan said he got a hint from Artigue that the final figure is “well over the $400 million” predicted.
“Ray smiles when he tells me, ‘You’ll be happy with the numbers,’” Sullivan said.

Just the thought of Super Bowl XLII’s big boost to the local economy is making local tourism leaders salivate over getting another one.
And the bonanza may have been even bigger than originally thought.
Super Bowl Host Committee president Bob Sullivan has been pestering ASU Sports Business Program executive director Ray Artigue for the results of an economic impact study as Sullivan tries to sell local businesses on the benefits of going after the 2012 game.
The study is expected to be completed by month-end.
But Sullivan said he got a hint from Artigue that the final figure is “well over the $400 million” predicted.
“Ray smiles when he tells me, ‘You’ll be happy with the numbers,’” Sullivan said.

Three in four of you reading this believe the United States is in a recession.
That’s according to a poll by Reuters News Service and New York-based, Zogby International.
Most economists define a recession as being two consecutive quarters – or six months – of decline in the nation’s gross domestic product, which is the total amount of goods and services produced.
The Reuters/Zogby Index – which measures consumer confidence in the economy – fell to a record low last month. Survey officials said the amount of people who believe the nation is in a recession grew from 54 percent last month to 74 percent today.

Three in four of you reading this believe the United States is in a recession.
That’s according to a poll by Reuters News Service and New York-based, Zogby International.
Most economists define a recession as being two consecutive quarters – or six months – of decline in the nation’s gross domestic product, which is the total amount of goods and services produced.
The Reuters/Zogby Index – which measures consumer confidence in the economy – fell to a record low last month. Survey officials said the amount of people who believe the nation is in a recession grew from 54 percent last month to 74 percent today.

Customers of Wells Fargo soon will be able to store critical documents, such as financial statements, insurance policies, wills, passports, and birth, marriage and death certificates, inside an online safe.

With vSafe, documents are scanned into the online service, and customers then can access and recover copies in the event of a natural disaster, theft or hard drive crash, or while traveling, according to the bank.  Customers will be able to access their vSafe account from any Internet connection.

The bank plans to roll out the service to customers this year. It has not yet announced when the service will be available for Arizona customers.

Customers of Wells Fargo soon will be able to store critical documents, such as financial statements, insurance policies, wills, passports, and birth, marriage and death certificates, inside an online safe.

With vSafe, documents are scanned into the online service, and customers then can access and recover copies in the event of a natural disaster, theft or hard drive crash, or while traveling, according to the bank.  Customers will be able to access their vSafe account from any Internet connection.

The bank plans to roll out the service to customers this year. It has not yet announced when the service will be available for Arizona customers.

Following Circuit City’s decision to extend its return policy for HD DVD players, Best Buy will give $50 gift cards to everyone who purchased one of the players from it before Feb. 23.
Blu-ray beat HD DVD in the battle for next-generation DVD, and Best Buy said it regrets that consumers were forced to choose between the two formats and in many cases chose the losing format.
“The DVD format war has divided our customers in a way we haven’t seen since Betamax took on VHS more than 20 years ago,” Brian Dunn, Best Buy’s president and chief operating officer, said in a statement.
Most Best Buy customers will automatically receive the gift cards in the mail in May. The cards can be used to purchase any Best Buy products.
Also, customers who want to get rid of their HD DVD players will be able to trade them in for additional gift cards at www.bestbuytradein.com

Following Circuit City’s decision to extend its return policy for HD DVD players, Best Buy will give $50 gift cards to everyone who purchased one of the players from it before Feb. 23.
Blu-ray beat HD DVD in the battle for next-generation DVD, and Best Buy said it regrets that consumers were forced to choose between the two formats and in many cases chose the losing format.
“The DVD format war has divided our customers in a way we haven’t seen since Betamax took on VHS more than 20 years ago,” Brian Dunn, Best Buy’s president and chief operating officer, said in a statement.
Most Best Buy customers will automatically receive the gift cards in the mail in May. The cards can be used to purchase any Best Buy products.
Also, customers who want to get rid of their HD DVD players will be able to trade them in for additional gift cards at www.bestbuytradein.com

The Federal Reserve may have lowered interest rates by ¾ of a percent Tuesday, but the price of regular gasoline at the pumps in Arizona and the Valley continues to rise for the fifth consecutive week.
Linda Gorman, public affairs manager of AAA Arizona, said the Feds interest rate cut was followed by a drop in the price of crude oil from $111 a barrel down to a little more than $100, but it had no direct effect on the price of gasoline.
“Normally, an interest rate cut weakens the dollar and pushes oil prices higher,” said Gorman. “This (lower crude oil prices) could mean that the market is beginning to normalize with weak demand placing downward pressures on oil prices.”
Statewide, the average price for a gallon of gasoline this week is $3.24, an increase of more than four cents from last week.
Meanwhile, East Valley motorists are paying $3.19 a gallon compared with $2.69 last year. Scottsdale drivers are at $3.239, which is three-tenths of a cent higher than the statewide average of $3.236.
Flagstaff average prices continue to remain the highest at $3.35 while Tucson motorists are still paying the lowest at $3.13.
Nationwide, this week’s average is $3.28 with the cheapest in New Jersey at $3.06. California continues to have the highest at $3.62 a gallon. For more information visit www.AAAAZ.com

The Federal Reserve may have lowered interest rates by ¾ of a percent Tuesday, but the price of regular gasoline at the pumps in Arizona and the Valley continues to rise for the fifth consecutive week.
Linda Gorman, public affairs manager of AAA Arizona, said the Feds interest rate cut was followed by a drop in the price of crude oil from $111 a barrel down to a little more than $100, but it had no direct effect on the price of gasoline.
“Normally, an interest rate cut weakens the dollar and pushes oil prices higher,” said Gorman. “This (lower crude oil prices) could mean that the market is beginning to normalize with weak demand placing downward pressures on oil prices.”
Statewide, the average price for a gallon of gasoline this week is $3.24, an increase of more than four cents from last week.
Meanwhile, East Valley motorists are paying $3.19 a gallon compared with $2.69 last year. Scottsdale drivers are at $3.239, which is three-tenths of a cent higher than the statewide average of $3.236.
Flagstaff average prices continue to remain the highest at $3.35 while Tucson motorists are still paying the lowest at $3.13.
Nationwide, this week’s average is $3.28 with the cheapest in New Jersey at $3.06. California continues to have the highest at $3.62 a gallon. For more information visit www.AAAAZ.com

A Gilbert entrepreneur has found success with a product that he developed in his house.
Erik Rothchild, inventor of a high protein energy drink called WheyUp, said his beverages are now available in numerous countries including Australia, Canada and parts of Latin America.
Rothchild, a fitness enthusiast with a background in sales and marketing, said he began experimenting in his kitchen with combinations of sugar-free energy drinks, fresh fruit, and whey protein, a common supplement used for building muscle mass, when it occurred to him to market it.
A year after winning an exclusive 60-day distribution deal with Scottsdale-based Hi-Health’s 63 Arizona stores, Rothchild said he’s practically quit his day job as an Internet marketer, moved his company out of his home and into a proper office building and won distribution contracts with Kroger grocery stores, GNC and other retail outlets.
Although Rothchild said he isn’t a self-made millionaire yet, he expects to become profitable as early as late-2008.

Tribune File Photo

A Gilbert entrepreneur has found success with a product that he developed in his house.
Erik Rothchild, inventor of a high protein energy drink called WheyUp, said his beverages are now available in numerous countries including Australia, Canada and parts of Latin America.
Rothchild, a fitness enthusiast with a background in sales and marketing, said he began experimenting in his kitchen with combinations of sugar-free energy drinks, fresh fruit, and whey protein, a common supplement used for building muscle mass, when it occurred to him to market it.
A year after winning an exclusive 60-day distribution deal with Scottsdale-based Hi-Health’s 63 Arizona stores, Rothchild said he’s practically quit his day job as an Internet marketer, moved his company out of his home and into a proper office building and won distribution contracts with Kroger grocery stores, GNC and other retail outlets.
Although Rothchild said he isn’t a self-made millionaire yet, he expects to become profitable as early as late-2008.

Tribune File Photo

Arizona Public Service is encouraging its customers to save trees in more ways than one. For everyone who converts to receiving their monthly bills online instead of receiving a paper bill in the mail between March 1 and June 1, APS will donate $1 to a non-profit organization that conducts research to improve the health of trees in urban areas.

A link on the aps.com home page sends customers to the “Go Paperless” option. The program allows customers to receive e-mail notifications when their bill is ready to be viewed and online access to their statements and account history.

In the first week of the program, about 1,000 customers switched to paperless billing, APS said.

APS uses 455,000 pounds of paper in one year for printing bills for its 1.1 million customers. If all customers joined the effort, more than 5,000 trees could be saved, the utility said.

Arizona Public Service is encouraging its customers to save trees in more ways than one. For everyone who converts to receiving their monthly bills online instead of receiving a paper bill in the mail between March 1 and June 1, APS will donate $1 to a non-profit organization that conducts research to improve the health of trees in urban areas.

A link on the aps.com home page sends customers to the “Go Paperless” option. The program allows customers to receive e-mail notifications when their bill is ready to be viewed and online access to their statements and account history.

In the first week of the program, about 1,000 customers switched to paperless billing, APS said.

APS uses 455,000 pounds of paper in one year for printing bills for its 1.1 million customers. If all customers joined the effort, more than 5,000 trees could be saved, the utility said.

A couple of Chicago buddies bagged both free trips to Scottsdale from the Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Take Pity on Me contest.

Polar Bear plunges into Lake Michigan captured on video and in still photos earned the most votes in each category.

Larry Poole and John McComas teamed up to produce entries in both formats. Each won a round-trip three-night visit for two to a Scottsdale resort with golf, spa treatments and shopping excursions included.

Poole’s photo was a landslide winner in the still photo contest. McComas eked out a win among the four video contenders.

And the Scottsdale tourism leaders are thrilled that 2,471 votes were counted altogether and even more curiosity seekers visited the Web site. Traffic to the CVB’s site during the week-long voting period was second only to the week of Super Bowl and FBR Open.

Courtesy of the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

A couple of Chicago buddies bagged both free trips to Scottsdale from the Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Take Pity on Me contest.

Polar Bear plunges into Lake Michigan captured on video and in still photos earned the most votes in each category.

Larry Poole and John McComas teamed up to produce entries in both formats. Each won a round-trip three-night visit for two to a Scottsdale resort with golf, spa treatments and shopping excursions included.

Poole’s photo was a landslide winner in the still photo contest. McComas eked out a win among the four video contenders.

And the Scottsdale tourism leaders are thrilled that 2,471 votes were counted altogether and even more curiosity seekers visited the Web site. Traffic to the CVB’s site during the week-long voting period was second only to the week of Super Bowl and FBR Open.

Courtesy of the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.