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WALL, N.J. --In the early 1990’s Jeffrey Petersen was a young man and undergraduate student studying aviation engineering, looking forward to becoming a commercial airline pilot. Shortly after starting school Jeffrey began working part time for a local tuxedo shop and after receiving full-time position, he decided to take a break from college. After few years working for someone else, Jeffrey completely fell in love with tuxedo business and learned all aspects of it, therefore, when opportunity presented itself, he purchased his own tuxedo shop named “Tuxedo Den”, which he still operates for over 20 years!
Jeffrey states, “I never looked back! I love the business and I love my job! I’m happy to go to work every single day and I get to deal with something that’s fun!!” Jeffrey loves being in the business that mostly revolves around celebratory events, big part of which are weddings and proms. Therefore, meeting new people brings the most pleasure to Jeffrey and his staff, as Jeffrey continues, “It’s my passion to do something on everyday basis that people are not able to do for themselves!”
One of the most favorite things being in the tuxedo business for Jeffrey, which gives him both pleasure and satisfaction is the fact that he has the ability to do his very best in making sure that customers are going to look their very best, while feeling confident, comfortable, satisfied, and handled with respect, care, and professionalism. “I am blessed!” says Jeffrey, seeing people happy and pleased with his work, makes him fall in love with his career every single day, over and over again.
Through the years, after working long hours and dealing with large quantities of orders, Jeffrey occasionally considered closing the store and getting another job as the pressure of being self-proprietor could be overwhelming at times. However, his close friends and family members reminded him of happy and grateful customers who have come into the shop and said, “We wish we had known about you three years ago when we were getting married, because we went somewhere else and basically were treated completely indifferently.”
Jeffrey knows firsthand how important it is to provide good service to his customers, and his aunt and uncle, who occasionally have helped in the shop, reminded Jeffrey about how much his clients appreciate him doing a great job for them as well. Jeffrey takes the time to walk his customers step by step through the process and that is the reason why clients keep coming back as well as refer Tuxedo Den to everyone they know. Jeffrey put a recent experience in perspective when he himself had to have an eye exam at an eyeglass chain. The receptionist was not at all helpful to say the least. Unlike those big chain corporations who only care about big profits and not each individual client, Jeffrey actually takes his time with each customer, because he truly believes in providing good service and cares about each person he serves. It is what he does, Jeffrey is very personable, and client friendly, his goal is to create an easy, comfortable, and positive experience for all his customers without exceptions.
Prom season is the busiest time of the year and Jeffrey encourages wedding customers to come either before April or after mid-June. Even for a fall season weddings, there is plenty of time to prepare orders. However, during prom season, there is always some commotion of sorts in the shop and Jeffrey says that is the “fun factor”!! “It’s the adrenaline rush for one whom gets working in this business!”
Since opening the store, Jeffrey had a big change at the Tuxedo Den, in the past; it used to be an in-house production, where Jeff and his staff could be working from 7:00am until 2:00 or 3:00 am of the following day. After realizing that the business has evolved with more high-end designer labels and more customizations, Jeff has established a sub-contract relationship with a wholesale distributor in Pennsylvania, which has been successful for quite some time. Jeffrey orders the tuxedos with whatever specialized alterations needed and then when all is ready from head to toe, the order directly sent to customers’ residences. This is such a unique service! The client is then able to try everything on in the comfort of his own home, and if any changes are necessary, or any issues arise, then these issues will be immediately taken care of by Jeffrey in the shop!
Most recently, Jeffrey decided to do a bridal show and was amazed at how well his business has been received. People were extremely interested in his business, appreciating meeting a true specialist in the industry! Jeffrey and Tuxedo Den are all about making his clients have the very best personal experience and his joy is the personal gratification, which he receives when he sees photographs of the events he helped to create. “I enjoy what I do, a job well-done! I did something that makes my customer say WOW!”
Check out Tuxedo Den at www.tuxden.com
Tuxedo Den is conveniently located at 1800 Route 34, North Bldg. 2, Rear 211, Wall, NJ 07719
Call 732-414-1282
By Sharri Schneider
News Reporter
Written by Leah Brown-Klein
Edited by NJ New Jersey
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NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- Dr. Isha Thakur, Doctor of Dental Surgery, opened her office "Smile Brite USA" at 632 Livingston Avenue, North Brunswick in 2013. Dr. Thakur is the clinical instructor and a distinguished Member of Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Staff.
Dr. Thakur received her B.D.S. initial dental degree at MMDC Karnataka, India and in 2009 graduated from UMDNJ, now Rutgers University, with her D.D.S. Dr. Thakur completed her clinical residency program at Rajiv Gandhi University and based on her exceptional clinical skills and test scores, she was accepted at Rutgers University, where once again based on her excellent skills and her ability to complete all her requirements in one year as opposed to the two year program, she was the recipient of the honorary post graduate program during her final year there. Dr. Thakur also graduated from the intense implant program at Hioseen Implant Institute where she completed extensive training in bone grafting, sinus lift and implant placement. In addition to all of that, Dr. Thakur has successfully completed her Botox and Dermal Filler Certification. Dr. Thakur is a certified Invisalign provider and is a member of the American Dental Implant Association, the American Dental Association, the NJ Dental Association and the Middlesex County Dental Association.
Amidst all of her education and establishing her practices in North Brunswick and also in Holmdel, Dr. Thakur is a wife and mother to two young daughters. It has been noted that Dr. Thakur has the fine skills of a surgeon and the gentle caring touch of a mother.
Dr. Thakur looked carefully for two years to set up her practice in the North Brunswick area which is close to East Brunswick, Milltown, New Brunswick, South Brunswick areas. Her criteria was of course location but more importantly she wanted a patient base where people would feel at home and experience her high quality work. She did not want an office that felt “clinical” but more family based practice.
The office is located in a two story home building with an apartment upstairs that Dr. Thakur uses for her personal space when she is in North Brunswick. The office has accessible parking with nine spaces in the back of the office as well as on street parking. It is in a safe neighborhood across from Bank of America and the Sheriff’s Department. Dr. Thakur likes the idea that Livingston Avenue has always been a professional neighborhood with many physicians’ and dentists’ practices and other professional businesses as well.
Dr. Thakur does have her second location in Holmdel in a more professional setting, an office building with medical and dental offices. She divides her time between both offices and her practice is open six days a week. She does have an associate in her Holmdel location in order for her to provide time for her patients in North Brunswick.
Dr. Thakur has extensive training in dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign, root canal, gum disease laser therapy and oral surgery. Dr. Thakur also does cosmetic treatments such Zoom Whitening, which the results are amazing!.
Her office in North Brunswick has been completed renovated with the latest state of the art technology and equipment including less radiation x-rays, intra-oral cameras to assist patients in understanding and viewing their treatments and procedures, and on site electronic billing.
Dr. Thakur enjoys working with children, especially since she herself is a mom. Dr. Thakur also does emergency work and at times, when a patient is in distress and has no insurance, her office provides in house options to help out.
Dr. Thakur‘s main goal is customer care, to “deliver beyond expectations” to each and every client. “You are not a number in the waiting room! “ Dr. Thakur makes certain each patient is receiving the personal and caring service he/she deserves . Schedule a consultation today with Dr. Thakur at her practices located conveniently at 632 Livingston Avenue, North Brunswick and 999 Palmer Ave. in Holmdel by calling 732-247-1175 and check out her compressive website and schedule an appointment on line at www.smilebriteusa.com
Ashley Salinas is seen above Tuesday, July 10th 2018
Reported Story by
David-Douglas Brown
Written by Leah Brown Klein
Edited by NJnewsjersey
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PLAINFIELD N.J.–-Segundo Flores, the President and owner of F&C Professional Aluminum Railings Corp., in the early ‘80s, followed his dream of bringing new machines and technology to a business he knew well, he mentioned in an exclusive interview with NJ News Jersey reporters.
By 1983, he started working in the same type of business, though he did not own it, Segundo said of his early days in the US, after leaving his native country, Ecuador, where his father taught him the business. He credits his dad, who had his own shop in Ecuador, for teaching he and his brother get started in the US in 2002, first using his garage as a home base.
As the growth of building in the area took off, Flores recalled feeling happy to find some initial customers who liked his craftsmanship.
“I said: god thank you,” recalled Flores. Segundo mentions " We service New Jersey and New York! Middlesex County. Essex County, Monmouth County, and Staten Island.
Customers saw his honesty as he grew the business – acquiring more and more work. And, he now has 30 plus employees, he said. My sons sell better than me and they are an integral part of the business.
Asked to name two things he is known for, Flores said: Being able to “do any design the customer likes,” and teaching his family to do better than himself throughout life.
“Customers could come in with photos of [railings at] their home in Portugal,” for the company to duplicate, said Flores, and it’s not a problem.
“Some of my first accounts on the commercial side were from Toll Brothers, Avalon, and Hovnanian Enterprises,” added Flores.
“We build it here at our production facility at 1149 West Front St. in Plainfield, New Jersey and make it fit when we install it,” said F&C project manager, John Gaster, adding that the firm never uses rivets or fasteners such as screws to assemble its frames.
Moreover, Gaster explained that 90 percent of the time, posts are cemented in, while the company’s welded construction for self-latching gates, for instance, stand up to virtually anything with respect to durability.
While most people stick with aluminum frames, many other types are available, noted Gaster.
One favorite system is F&C’s stainless steel, see thru railing, with tempered safety glass – which F&C Professional Aluminum Railings Corp. can install as a replacement for your original stairway railing.
It is not necessary to make a trip to F&C’s showroom in Plainfield although, your always welcome! The company’s trucks are equipped with color samples, various types of paint coatings, profile samples, cover plates, and many accessories/parts you can see, such as the 3.5-inch ball caps that are used to set off posts, among other parts. The sales person will come directly to your home for convenience.
Entrance gate and fencing is not a problem for F&C! We can do a gate as high as 15 feet and the fence would surround the perimeter. Famous Actor Steven Segall was one of our clients. Our sons Fitzgerald and Carlos are working in the business and recently launched a business in supplies all while going to College.
a family business! Segundo Flores (right) with his sons Fitzgerald (left) and Carlos (not seen) July 19th 2018
Reported Story by David-Douglas
Edited by NJ NEWS JERSEY
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MONROE, N.J.--Carl Falco of Falco Design came up with the greatest idea!!! As a college student and early in his career, Mr. Falco worked for an interior design company, Exclusive Decorators, and part of his responsibility was to hang anything that was part of the finished décor. Mr. Falco learned how to arrange pieces of art and artifacts, as someone who has an innate intelligence for spatial relationships. What he learned through this experience was more than just hanging works but importantly about how to balance and arrange pieces, determine proper heights, colors and groupings.
Mr. Falco, created his business, THE HANGMAN PRO!!! Carl is not a handy man but rather a professional hanger who will hang just about anything on your wall and or window!
At this point, through advertising locally in Monroe Township especially, Carl’s clients are mostly but not limited to the 55 and over set, many of whom have relocated and often have downsized but still have family portraits, works of art, antique clocks and other such artifacts to be hung in their new spaces. While Carl has hung paintings perhaps worth thousands of dollars, he told us most of his clients are concerned specifically about their family pictures! The most family pictures he hung in a day were 42!
Mr. Falco consults and hangs in professional spaces as well as residential. THE HANGMAN PRO ! or call us today...732-354-6464
Mr. Falco is all about pleasing the customers so he does make suggestions respectfully but his motto is “to make the customers happy and to do the work in the very best way possible”!!! On occasion, Carl will help with valences or redoing a window blind but that is not his true objective. His goal is to ultimately “do what the client wants me to do with their art work, family photos, and artifacts”.
Carl enjoys working with clients who do have an open mind but more importantly he strives to establish creating trust between the clients and himself. He is respectful and patient as well as meticulous, aware that people are trusting him enough to let him into their homes, and when he leaves a home, one cannot even tell he was there doing the work. Carl has steady customers, such as a woman artist who does large tapestries and so he has returned to her home often to hang her new pieces.
Mr. Falco also hangs televisions, monitors, mirrors, and such objects like antique clocks. His joy comes from the consultation and collaboration with his clients, wanting the homeowners to enjoy their pieces. Often, Carl will lay out pieces on the floor before we hang them along the wall, discuss the concerns and desires of the customers, gently making suggestions but honoring the customers wishes, before putting a hole in their wall!
Carl started The Hangman PRO only six months ago and is looking to expand the business as he already is quite taken up with clients. He has some unique ideas, considering opening his “Hangman PRO Institute” where he would train others to take on this unique and necessary skill set. He also would enjoy doing small seminars for homeowners because it is actually not that hard to hang but it does take spatial ability and design sense in order to arrange pieces in a pleasant and artistic manner. Currently Carl’s business is centrally located in Middlesex County but he would consider moving into other areas of New Jersey as well if he had the properly trained help.
You can find out more about Carl Falco’s The Hangman PRO by going on his comprehensive website
(Which features a showcase of Carl’s work! And also tips for properly hanging your pieces safely and properly). Also visit Carl’s Facebook page!!!
Estimates are always free. Contact Carl by email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Reported Story by David-Douglas Brown
Written by Leah Brown Klein
Edited by Staff Team