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AUGUST 2021
POP-A-LOCK FRANCHISES RECOGNIZED AT NATIONAL CONVENTION And a Word on Kindness
During the last week of July, Marilyn and I traveled to Orlando, Florida, to attend the Pop-A-Lock national conference. It was great to see and visit with everyone again, especially since the 2020 conference had been canceled due to the pandemic. Among the many different things that happened at the conference, they handed out awards for the top 10 Pop-A-Lock franchise locations with the best locksmith sales — and both Lexington and Louisville were in the top 10!
While I want to make sure everyone gets their due appreciation in this newsletter, I did want to mention another thought that came to mind when we were traveling to the conference. We sat on a plane in Atlanta with over 250 other passengers and no AC for an hour while we waited to get on the runway — not exactly the ideal conditions for being kind! But that got me thinking about my New Year’s resolution, which was to perform one act of kindness every day. I couldn’t help but think I may have fallen short in making that happen.
“You trusted us to take care of your security needs over this past year, and for that, I am very grateful.”
In terms of locksmith sales, Lexington placed fifth in the nation, and Louisville placed 10th — and that was out of over 300 Pop-A-Lock franchises nationwide! Naturally, I was very proud of this fact as well as grateful for everyone who made this possible. Specifically, I want to thank our general managers, Shane Cochran of Lexington and Paula and Richard Arensman of Louisville, for their hard work. I also want to thank the Lexington locksmiths Brandon Smith and Clay Royce as well as Louisville locksmiths Eddie Abel and Austin Griffith. Finally, I want to thank all the car door unlocking technicians who, despite not technically being locksmiths, have chipped in on enough locksmithing jobs to deserve a thank-you for their hard work. It’s not just our employees who have made this honor possible, however. You — our customers and readers — also helped. You trusted us to take care of your security needs over this past year, and for that, I am very grateful.
It shouldn’t be that hard to perform one act of kindness every day. I don’t think it should even be hard to do more than one each day. However remembering to do so can be difficult. Looking back on this year, however, there were probably days where I didn’t accomplish that goal. Realizing that made me want to accomplish that for the rest of the year. As we start to travel more and more, I’m sure we’ll all encounter situations like the one I found myself in, where impatience and grumpiness easily take over. Instead, I hope I can choose to be kind. If you find yourself in frustrating situations, I hope that in the days or weeks remaining in this year, you can still remember to find opportunities for an act of kindness. I hope you can choose to be kind.
-Doug Barnes
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STAY SHARP AS YOU AGE
By Going Back to School
While you may be happy for the years of wisdom you’ve gained since being in your 20s and 30s, you might be missing the mental sharpness you once had. Why not have the best of both worlds? Scientists have found that the human brain changes with age — neurons fire more slowly, for example, and short-term memory recall can be more challenging — but that we often underestimate our capacity to continue learning as we grow older. Negative stereotypes about aging can reinforce these beliefs. However, new research is showing that older adults who’ve committed to immersive study of a new subject show brain function akin to someone 30 years younger. This goes beyond the tired advice to do a crossword puzzle or work a sudoku puzzle every day. The participants in this research study were learning entirely new-to-them subjects, like how to speak a foreign language, use a new piece of technology, or make art.
to an older crowd with lifelong learning programs. One example is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Washington (UW). UW’s program offers a full course schedule on subjects in the arts, sciences, and current events taught by qualified faculty and provided at an affordable rate. There are over 100 such programs at universities across the U.S. Have a longtime dream to write children’s books? UC San Diego Extension has a certificate program for that! If you’re looking to dive into a single subject or perhaps you’d like to continue working in retirement or shift gears later in your career, certificate programs are a great option. No previous education is required. Most certificate programs are open to all, typically run for less than a year, and easily accommodate part-time learners.
CONVINCED OF THE BENEFITS BUT NOT SURE WHERE TO TURN TO LEARN? TRY THESE TWO SOURCES.
Most colleges are designed with the traditional, 20-something college student in mind, which may not appeal or be a great fit for adults in their 50s, 60s, and beyond. But many universities are starting to cater
Celebrate your years of hard-earned wisdom but commit to keeping your brain young by going back to school this fall.
The Brick-and-Mortar Champion of the Pandemic
How JOANN Fabrics and Crafts Grew
When the pandemic first hit, most brick-and-mortar stores were required to shut down. The unfortunate truth was that many of these stores would never open their doors again. Even giant chains like Macy’s were closing their stores in bulk before the pandemic was even a thought. Yet, JOANN Fabrics and Crafts not only found a way to stay afloat during the pandemic but also thrive. As of Oct. 31, 2020, JOANN was reporting a 24.3% increase in sales to around $1.92 billion, a net income of $174 million. That’s an incredible turnaround, particularly since JOANN was on a watchlist for potential bankruptcy a year prior to the pandemic. While they still retain a massive amount of debt, their recent success puts them on track to be around well into the near future.
to buy and sell unique homemade crafts. During the pandemic, Etsy became a hotspot to buy and sell custom masks and other crafts or accessories. Many of the sellers on Etsy relied on JOANN for their fabric since they knew they were getting a quality product. As the Etsy sellers’ businesses grew, JOANN grew with them. Don’t be fooled; JOANN did not hit that level of growth by depending on Etsy customers. Before the pandemic hit, JOANN created a niche market for their products and became the go-to destination for sewers, tailors, and clothing designers. While these customers could get their fabric from competitors like Michaels, Target, or Walmart, none of these stores can match JOANN’s quality. This is why JOANN grew by 24% while Michaels, a rival craft retailer, grew by less than 1%. By taking a deep dive into a niche market, JOANN developed an extremely successful business model. This is something large and small businesses are beginning to adopt to try to stay ahead of Amazon and other internet behemoths. Time will tell if these other retailers can continue the trend JOANN started.
You’re probably wondering how a company facing bankruptcy turned around during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
Surprisingly enough, Etsy played a substantial role in JOANN’s turnaround. Etsy is a global online marketplace that allows its users
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FORD’S UNIQUE KEYLESS ENTRY Is SecuriCode the Future?
Since 1980, Ford has been offering a feature on nearly 90% of their Ford and Lincoln vehicles that their competitors simply can’t duplicate: the SecuriCode keypad. Even if you’ve never owned a Ford, you’ve probably still noticed numerical buttons on driver’s side doors as you’ve walked through a parking lot. That’s the original SecuriCode keypad. Ford updated the technology in 2009 and replaced the physical buttons with a capacitive touchpad. They also moved the location from the driver- side door to the vertical support at the rear of the driver’s side door. Each keypad is set with a manufacturer’s code, but a custom code can also be implemented. SecuriCode has remained extremely popular with Ford users who have become accustomed to the feature. The last time Ford tried to release a vehicle without SecuriCode, they had to scramble to add it to appease demand. Adventurists and outdoorsmen especially have found the feature extremely useful in their travels because they no longer have to bring their keys with them on hikes or other excursions.
needs to work every time, no matter the weather conditions. If there’s an emergency and you need to drive to the hospital, you won’t get very far if you can’t get into your car. Ford’s competitors have not tried to impersonate SecuriCode because competitors would have to design their own system, which could prove to be too costly or risky. Ford switches and mechatronics manager Joe Scott has stated, “It’s a challenge to design a switch that’s accessible from outside the vehicle.” And, on top of that, Ford has continued to improve the feature. Now, users can program SecuriCode to open the trunk or return a driver’s seat to their preferred preference. It’s important to remember that while errors in the Ford system are few and far between, problems can still happen. If you ever find yourself locked out of your car, call us and we’ll get you inside.
This is why the reliable technology behind SecuriCode is so important: People don’t want to sometimes get in their car; the keyless entry
TAKE A BREAK
MAKE A CAREER CHANGE TO POP-A-LOCK!
We offer:
• 401(k) (company matched) and Legal Shield • Paid vacations • Vehicles stay at locksmiths’ homes
• Company-paid training • Company-paid gas, vehicle maintenance, and insurance • Health and dental insurance
Come join our growing team at POP-A-LOCK! If you would like to have all of the extras above, we are looking for a few good people with the below qualifications:
• High school diploma/GED and valid driver’s license • Clean driving and criminal record
• Ability to work independently • Friendly, professional, and ambitious personality
If you have these few qualifications, we’d love to talk with you. Please send your resume or work history (with contact information) to LouPopALock@gmail.com and become one of our fun team members today!
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POP-A-LOCK 739 MILLPOND ROAD LEXINGTON, KY 40514 POPALOCKKY.COM
LEXINGTON SOUTHERN IN 859-253-6736 502-895-6736 812-288-7576 LOUISVILLE
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
POP-A-LOCK’S NATIONAL RECOGNITION AND A WORD ON KINDNESS PAGE 1
GOING BACK TO SCHOOL LATER IN LIFE
HOW JOANN FABRICS AND CRAFTS GREW DURING THE PANDEMIC PAGE 2 FORD’S UNIQUE KEYLESS ENTRY PAGE 3 MEET ODIN, THE FIREPROOF DOG PAGE 4
Meet Odin, the Fireproof Dog
In October 2017, California was in flames. One of those blazes was the Tubbs Fire, which charred its way through 36,800 miles of forests and vineyards in both Napa and Sonoma County. More than 5,600 buildings were destroyed, and 22 people were killed. But when the flames finally died, a four-legged hero emerged from the ashes: Odin, the Great Pyrenees dog.
“I said, ‘Okay, Odin, take care of the goats. You’ll be fine,’” Roland Hendel told ABC News.
Both Hendels were sure they were seeing their dog for the last time. Their hearts sank even further when they heard their home had burned down completely. But on a trip back to examine the ashes, something amazing happened.
Odin belonged to Ariel and Roland Hendel, two farmers in Sonoma County. When the Tubbs Fire threatened to char their home, they packed up as many of their animals and precious items as they could. Unfortunately, their flock of goats wouldn’t fit in the getaway vehicle — and their goat-herding dog, Odin, refused to abandon them. Great Pyrenees are prized livestock guardian dogs that will do anything to protect their charges, and Odin lived up to his breed.
“In the distance, I saw Odin’s tail,” Roland told ABC. “Sure enough, there was Odin coming at the head of all his goats.”
Not only did Odin survive the fire and run right up to the Hendels for belly rubs, but he also kept every single one of his goats safe! A few wild deer even joined the goats, and he shepherded them through unscathed. The incredible story made the news, and Odin became a local legend. Unfortunately, even legends don’t live forever. This April, Odin passed away after a long life of tail-wagging, treat-eating, and goat-saving. In his honor, Great Pyrenees Rescue of Missouri gifted the Hendels two new Great Pyrenees pups: Buddy and Snowflake. They’re following in Odin’s pawsteps, protecting the goats he loved so much.
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