Tag Archives: Business

Small Business Spotlight: The Revolutionary Lounge Cafe

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We are pleased to present a blog post which features one of our current businesses, how they got started, and how First Financial has helped them grow their business. If this inspires you to want to expand your business goals or see how First Financial can assist you further, feel free to reach out to us. Keep reading to learn more about our featured Business of the Month, The Revolutionary Lounge Cafe in Toms River. 

The revolution is here! Peter Perea and Jill Mulligan have teamed up to create The Revolutionary Lounge and Cafe, a coffee house that has adopted a theme based on the United States’ part in the American revolution.

Peter Perea (Builder and Handyman) and Jill Mulligan (General Manager and Chef)

Years in Business: 8 years

What do you love most about the business?

It’s a cliche answer, but it would be the people. We have a really wonderful and loyal following throughout Ocean County and even further. Folks who love real coffee, real tea, and simply just real ingredients and local flavors – are able to appreciate what we do and that’s awesome to see. Beyond that, we are able to take more time with having a creative design inside our space. Certain coffee chains are all the same inside, but our cafe has the love of a lot of people throughout it’s design, and that’s enjoyable to see for a change. Not to mention, we have a continuous flow of coffee and espresso available at all times which doesn’t hurt either!

What has your biggest challenge been in business?

The biggest challenge is simply choosing what you want to do today, tomorrow, next week, and next year. Business is always changing and evolving, and you want to do everything – but when you’re small you’ve got to pick and choose what works best for you. That can be tough when you’re a little impatient and want to give everything a try.

What do you like most about banking with First Financial?

Cliche again, but the people and the cozier atmosphere. Sure, it’s still a financial institution, but FFFCU isn’t some giant too-big-to-fail Wall Street heavyweight…it’s a local place with local people whom we’ve come to know and appreciate. The folks at First Financial know our business, and that’s a lot more than you’ll get out of any big bank. We’re a small business, so we want to support the companies out there that support small businesses too, and that’s First Financial.

What is your key to success?

Most people will occasionally complain that they don’t have enough hours in the day to accomplish everything they want, but we’ve discovered that with a continuous flow of caffeine you can reach hummingbird-like speeds and squeeze about 2 hours out of every 60 minutes. With 48 hours in a day how can you fail?

To learn more about The Revolutionary Lounge Cafe and see their menu, click here, email hi@revlounge.com or call 732.608.7819. You can visit their new location at 1256 Indian Head Road in Toms River.

Ready to grow your business? Call the Business Development Department at 732.312.1500, email business@firstffcu.com or stop by any branch location. Learn more about our Business Account products and services on our website.

Small Business Spotlight: The Best Auto Reconditioning Center in Neptune

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We are pleased to present a blog post which features one of our current businesses, how they got started, and how First Financial has helped them grow their business. If this inspires you to want to expand your business goals or see how First Financial can assist you further, feel free to reach out to us. Keep reading to learn more about our featured Business of the Month, Daryl Jackson: Owner of The Best Auto Reconditioning Center. 

Daryl Jackson: Owner of The Best Auto Reconditioning Center

Protect your investment with The Best! Owner Daryl Jackson has been in the car detailing business for over 40 years, and has owned The Best Auto Reconditioning Center since 2011. The Best Auto Reconditioning Center takes great pride in detailing, and recently received a five star rating on Google. Daryl’s shop on Route 35 in Neptune is friendly, knowledgeable, and always has unique smooth jazz playing in the background. Having your car washed and waxed regularly is one of the easiest ways to preserve its paint and keep it looking great! To learn more visit @BestDetailNJ on social media or thebestautoreconditioning.com. 

Owner: Daryl Jackson

Years in Business: 40+ years – 8 owning The Best Auto Reconditioning Center.

What do you love most about the business?

The thing I love the most about my business is making people happy.

What has your biggest challenge been in business?

Trying to respect other detailers and looking out for my customers’ best interest, but also making them understand that I am going to do a great job.

What do you like most about banking with First Financial?

The thing I like the most about banking with First Financial, would probably be how simple it is to do business there.

What is your key to success?

LOVING what I do!

Ready to grow your business? Call the Business Development Department at 732.312.1500, email business@firstffcu.com or stop by any branch location. Learn more about our Business Account products and services on our website.

Small Business Spotlight: Nino’s Coal Fired Pizza in Brick

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We are pleased to present a blog post which features one of our current businesses, how they got started, and how First Financial has helped them grow their business. If this inspires you to want to expand your business goals or see how First Financial can assist you further, feel free to reach out to us. Keep reading to learn more about our featured Business of the Month, Anthony Schifilliti: Owner of Nino’s Coal Fired Pizza. 

Anthony Schifilliti: Owner of Nino’s Coal Fired Pizza

Get your fresh pizza from Nino’s Coal Fired Pizza in Brick, NJ. Owner Anthony Shifilliti has been in the restaurant business for over 31 years, and has owned Nino’s for the last 10 years. Nino’s takes great pride in their food and customer satisfaction. During the week – Nino’s has theme nights, from 20% off your bill to children under age 10 eat for free with a regular adult entrée.

Business Owner: Anthony Schifilliti

Years in Business: 31 years

What do you love most about the business? Interactions with the customers and the satisfaction of what we create here at Nino’s.

What has your biggest challenge been in business? Not being complacent, I am always trying to improve the overall product.

What do you like most about banking with First Financial? First the one on one personal relationships, I know everyone by name and know I am not just another member. I love to recommend everyone I can to First Financial Federal Credit Union!

What is your key to success? Being excited, having passion, and truly putting the product and customer satisfaction before profit.

Visit Nino’s website for more information and to check out their delicious menu! 

Ready to grow your business? Call the Business Development Department at 732.312.1500, email business@firstffcu.com or stop by any branch location. Learn more about our Business Account products and services on our website.

Small Business Spotlight: Certified Auto Mall in Howell

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We are pleased to present a blog post which features one of our current businesses, how they got started, and how First Financial has helped them grow their business. If this inspires you to want to expand your business goals or see how First Financial can assist you further, feel free to reach out to us. Keep reading to learn more about our featured Business of the Month, Certified Auto Mall in Howell. 

This month’s Small Business Spotlight is Certified Auto Mall located at 5499 US Highway 9 North in Howell.  Certified Auto Mall specializes in sales, service, and towing. Their phenomenal reviews speak for the excellent quality, value, and service that they provide.

Art Stahnten and his family have been in the automotive industry for nearly 40 years and have been helping the hardworking Howell community stay in motion for the last 17 years.

Art grew up in Newark working from an early age at a gas station/automotive repair shop. The owner of the station would repair vehicles on credit so that his customers could continue to drive to work. This drive to help hardworking local people really made an impression on Art and he still operates Certified Auto Mall in this way today.

Art enjoys meeting and helping people and is very grateful to have such wonderful, loyal customers.  His favorite thing about banking with First Financial is that we are local and easy to get in touch with. The staff at Certified Auto Mall has yet to meet one person at First Financial that is not extremely nice and customer service oriented.

If you are in the market for a quality used automobile, reach out to the friendly staff over at Certified Auto Mall on Route 9 North in Howell!

Ready to grow your business? Call the Business Development Department at 732.312.1500, email business@firstffcu.com or stop by any branch location.

Small Business Spotlight: Clarity Salon in Brielle

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We are pleased to present a blog post which features one of our current businesses, how they got started, and how First Financial has helped them grow their business. If this inspires you to want to expand your business goals or see how First Financial can assist you further, feel free to reach out to us. Keep reading to learn more about our featured Business of the Month, Clarity Salon in Brielle. 

We sat down with Tracey Mahady the owner of Clarity Salon in Brielle to talk briefly about her business.

After 25 years in the industry, Tracey took a break to care for her father whose health was declining. She wasn’t sure she wanted to get back into a traditional salon setting, so her father suggested that she open her own small place. That small place she opened five years ago is not so small anymore!

Clarity prides themselves on using the best high-end organic hair care products. These products function at a very high level and do not contain harmful chemical ingredients.

Tracey’s favorite part of owning the business is that it truly is hers.  She has cultivated a wonderful working environment for her five employees where everyone is treated fairly. The environment is fun, creative and simply beautiful. Customers are welcomed with personalized service and the finished product is excellent.

Clarity Salon and First Financial FCU have worked together since the start of Tracey’s business venture. Tracey enjoys that we are very personal, reachable and there are no hiccups with her banking. The member service that we provide, is exactly what Clarity prides itself in providing to its customers – so the two business philosophies really go hand in hand.  Obtaining a business line of credit for Clarity was a smooth process and really helped to kickstart the success of the business.  Tracey would absolutely refer First Financial to friends, family and other business owners.

First Financial’s Business Line of Credit features:
• No pre-payment penalties
• No application fees
• Flexible terms and fixed monthly payments
• Advance from the line of credit as you need it!

Ready to grow your business?
Call the Business Development Department at 732.312.1500, email business@firstffcu.com or stop by any branch location.

Down to Business: What to Consider When Writing a Business Plan

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Remember writing term papers in high school or college? You had to prove a point using evidence provided by your research of the topic. In many ways, a business plan is proving the following thesis: “I can successfully operate a sustainable business.” So what research do you need to prove this idea?

  • Market Research – Who are your competitors in the area? What are their prices for comparable services? How will you differentiate your product/service from theirs?
  • Financials – Create realistic projections for the money you will make and lose over the next 3 years. Explain how you came up with these figures, and how they will figure in to the growth of your company. Also include the amount of money you, your partners, and your investors (if applicable) are contributing to the start up.
  • Biographies – Who’s who in the organization? What skills, experience, and talent does each of the business owners/partners bring to the proverbial table? Understand how each person will make the business successful.
    • What are the duties of each person employed by the company?
    • Each person should provide a personal financial statement
    • How will matters be resolved if the partners cannot agree on an issue?
  • Marketing Plan – How will your potential patrons know about your business? How much of your budget is devoted to marketing? Depending on the type of business, will you do traditional advertising, or organic word of mouth marketing?
  • The Company Itself – What product or service are you providing, and how will you be doing this? How did you originally get involved in the industry? What makes this industry a worthwhile use of your time, energy, and money?

These are only a few of the aspects to consider when creating a business plan. You can find many seminars on how to write a business plan for little to no cost at local libraries, local community colleges – particularly Brookdale Community College, and of course at First Financial Federal Credit Union. Formal templates can be found at www.SBA.gov or www.SCORE.org. Use these questions provided, along with one of their templates, to prove your thesis – you can, in fact, operate a successful business…once you have the right plan!

For more information about any of First Financial’s business accounts and services, you can contact Business Development by emailing business@firstffcu.com