Aylesford Won the Challenge

Fundraising Season is well underway here at HHL. Here is a quick update:

We just finished our water drop campaign! We reached our $1000+ target and we are so excited for how much progress we made that we are going right in to fundraiser #2. We appreciate every dollar donated to Splash for CF! We have such generous customers and we are so thrilled to be kicking off our Splash for CF campaign with a bang!

I must also mention, HHL enjoys a little competition between the two stores, and the Aylesford store DID win the “who can raise more challenge”! Our top fundraiser was Craig in our Aylesford store with Chet leading fundraising here in New Minas! Great job to all of the staff members who participated and a huge thank you to all of those staff members and customers who donated! Great Job!

 

We are now raffling off a beautiful antique print! It is of an unknown artist but I would suggest that who ever wins to have it appraised! It is absolutely stunning and we are very thankful to Debby vandenHof for donating it. The print will be on display in New Minas for a month and then in Aylesford for a month, and we will do the draw at our Family Fun Day in August! (It’s on Aylesford…we are going to win this one!)

August 24^th is our family fun day here in New Minas complete with a yard sale, BBQ, bouncy kingdom, face painting, games, photo booth and more!! J We are so excited to have our staff come together and work as a team to help support a great cause! We hope to see you there!

If you would like to know how you can participate in any of the Cystic Fibrosis Fundraising, or if you would like to book a yard sale table at our Family Fun Day, please email me at liana@holandhomeleisure.com

 

Thanks all for now

Talk soon,

Liana Rhodenizer

Apple Blossom Fun

Apple Blossom is in full force here in the beautiful Annapolis Valley. Tourists are flocking in for the events and we are excited for a busy weekend here at the store! Apple Blossom in the Valley is when everyone comes “home” to see family and friends, to catch up and to have a little bit of fun!

What is my Apple Blossom Tradition?

Every year since opening the Lifestyles Plaza here in New Minas we have got to watch the parade from the store and enjoy some of the festivities when typically we would have to work! We are on the parade route so the road and the store shuts down during the parade! We bring some furniture outside, sometimes light the BBQ, and share some snacks! It is a great way to relax after “May” and to enjoy everyone’s company! I love the atmosphere of Apple Blossom. I often bring my camera and capturing a few moments of the day and sometimes have my family join me to watch the parade from the store. Not too bad of a day at work!

I was excited to hear that Hope Blooms are the honorary parade marshals this year! The young entrepreneurs from the North end of Halifax became known across Canada with their winning performance on Dragons Den with their community garden and salad dressings! Their story has touched so many hearts, and their ability to empower youth and the community is just so inspiring. They maintain and manage gardens of fresh organic vegetables and have created their own salad dressing… and so much more! What a wonderful program teaching our youth and paving away for their future. Their Motto... Plant a Seed and Harvest a Dream really makes you think! Please everyone check them out!

http://hopeblooms.ca

 

We are actually quite busy here on parade day, so if you are planning a trip up to New Minas and are from out of town, please keep in mind Commercial Street will be closed from 12:45pm-2:30 (ish). If you get trapped at the store, you are more than welcome to watch the parade with us J

 

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Apple Blossom!

Talk soon,
Liana Rhodenizer

We survived!

Well, we survived the sale! I do believe Mike v mentioned this was the 23^rd time HHL has had our Big Victoria Day weekend sale! The sale brings a lot of new and familiar faces into the store, which makes for a fun, exciting and busy weekend!

 This sale marked the beginning of my 10^th year here at HHL. Mind you I was off a year on Maternity leave, I still feel like I’ve been here a while!! I still remember my first sale in 2005 in the old New Minas location. Boy, have times changed!

 

One thing I wanted to make sure didn’t go unnoticed, is the fact we have so many people here @ HHL who more than pull their weight during the sale putting in extra hours and days! Great job to the HHL team; all of your extra time is appreciated! A shout out to our Accountant Cathy who came in on her day off to work sale Saturday in the New Minas store! We appreciated your 12 years of knowledge on the floor!

A huge Thank you to all of the staff, our awesome customers, and our families for putting up with us during sale week!  

In other exciting HHL news, our Swim Spa is up and running here in New Minas! So if you’re curious as to what they are all about come on in and check it out!

 

Talk soon,

Liana Rhodenizer

#SHOPLOCAL

Trending on social media is the #shoplocal hashtag. It relates to me both in my work life and my personal life. I think it is something important to take note of! We live in such an awesome place! Shopping in family owned businesses, farmers markets, and supporting local artists and crafters is an amazing way to support your local community.

You are supporting “mom & pop” businesses and work at home parents who are trying to support their family by doing something they love. Did you know that Holland Home Leisure started from the owner’s home in 1980? WOW! Talk about a dream come true after years of hard work, blood sweat and tears! Together with our new owners Mike and Debby and Mark and Andrea work towards making Holland Home Leisure a great part of the community, by supporting local suppliers and providing upwards of 30 jobs to the area. 

Supporting local often ensures you are asking an expert, someone who has put their life into their products, their company, and they hope they can do everything in their power to make you happy and satisfied! Customer satisfaction is one of the most enjoyable parts of my job, seeing the happy faces of clients after they have enjoyed their hot tub in the first snowstorm of the season, or seeing their kids faces when they first jump in the pool on May 5^th with 44 degree water! BRR... 

This Mother’s Day are you supporting local?

There are so many wonderful Annapolis Valley companies to choose from: local restaurants, local produce to make a wonderful meal on your own, artists to create a homemade gift, and specialty shops that provide high quality products! Think outside of the box and find a unique alternative to the average gifts!

I wish all of our HHL Moms both clients and staff, including those who are moms at heart, a wonderful  Mother’s Day. I hope you are spoiled with attention by those who love you!

Talk soon,

Liana Rhodenizer

                                                                                            

 

I’m happy to share this free printable sign I have hanging in my office created by a wonderful Local Graphic designer *http://www.creativedestiny.ca/2014/05/08/i-shop-local-free-printable/ A Creative Destiny*

Spring has Sprung @ HHL

Hi there,

Our season is in full swing! Believe it or not pools are being opened, water tests are being brought in and the store is busy with the hustle and bustle of spring! Although the weather hasn’t been the best, all of us here at HHL are optimistic for a bright and sunny Summer!

Katie and I have been busy keeping you informed of all the happenings at HHL with social media. If you haven’t done so already please follow us on our Facebook page and be the first to know about upcoming sales and promotions! Along with social media, we are working closely with the local radio stations making sure our ads are fun and current; keep an ear out for those as well! We have also been advertising in The Grapevine based out of Wolfville, Fine Lifestyles Magazine-HRM and many more local paper publications! It has been a bit of a learning curve, but has been exciting  joining forces with  many of the great marketing options in Nova Scotia!

Anne, our New Minas Store General Manager is getting the store ready for our big Victoria Day Weekend Sale! The sale runs from May 12-19^th and almost all products in the store are on Sale! It is the busiest week of the year here at HHL so we have warned all the new staff of what is to come, and the seasoned staff members are mentally preparing for the ‘wild’  that is about to be upon us! We all secretly like the excitement it brings to the store! Shh…

Craig, our Aylesford Store manager has done some amazing work prepping his store for Summer! The store is fresh and energized with a new coat of paint, new shelving and a freshly waxed floor! The outside has seen a facelift as well, with a brand new Above Ground pool on display! Huge thanks to Scott and his crew for installing that for us last week. Looks great!

Andrea here in our New Minas, our Chemistry Manager, is getting knee deep in 2014 Pool Chemistry. She is taking on the role with fresh eyes and a lot of heart, and we are excited to see her grow her knowledge in the category and beyond! She will be helping you keep your pool crystal clear all summer, and your hot tub sparkling and safe for the whole family to use!

Liana Rhodenizer Photography

 

Kristi and Debby have been working hard in our Service Department organizing the construction and service crews, maximizing their time and energy! Without them we would be at a loss! You may notice us transfer your service related questions to their lines in our Aylesford store, their knowledge is truly irreplaceable!

Attached are a few photos of our Chemistry Manager, who was our model for the next issue of the Fine Lifestyles Magazine!

*Liana Rhodenizer Photography

 

Talk soon,

Liana vandenHof- Rhodenizer

"April Fools"

Only one of our staff members had a little joke played on them yesterday! Debby, who is new to the Service Department had a very general conversation about parts with a young boy doing a school project. She worked out the details for him and called back, at this point her took the opportunity to ask if we sold Cold Tubs. She apologized and explained we only sell hot tubs. He then explained he was from Alaska and they fill cold tubs with dry ice.  At this point she just repeated we only sell HOT tubs!

He then said “April Fools” and hung up…. We are wondering if he wants the plumbing parts?

Interviews have been done, so soon you will see fresh faces around the office. Staff are getting settled in their new roles at HHL. I mentioned in the last blog, Katie and I are taking on the Marketing at HHL. Craig McNutt is getting ready to move to the  Aylesford store  for the Summer as Store Manager. If Craig is Store Manager, where is Debby you ask? Well, Debby is busy working on our service team heading customer service! Andrea is currently filling the role of Chemistry Manager while Jenn is on maternity leave, and she is getting the lab ready for a busy Spring.

 

Looking out the window and seeing snow fall is not how I envisioned an April morning to be. I realize, living in Nova Scotia, that this isn’t horribly uncommon but STILL! I am tired of Winter!

Do you have a case of the winter blues? HHL is busy getting ready for spring in many ways!

Talk soon,
Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer

 

A little link to brighten your day
http://www.creativedestiny.ca/2014/04/01/spring-printable-free/

Created by A Creative Destiny, a local Graphic Designer.

She has a free download for Spring and we have it up on display!

On the Radio

My two year old recently made a simple statement while in the car bringing me to work, “Mommy’s Home”.

I thought it was cute. He didn’t say it in a sad way, he loves to run into the store to color at my desk, listen to his voice echo and run and see his Papa in the back office.

Katie and I have been busy working on the 2014 marketing for Holland Home Leisure and we are having a lot of fun with this new challenge. We have met some amazing members of the community involved with the different forms of media, and we are enjoying creating some fun and different ads for both print and radio.  Part of our research has been going through Debby’s old ‘Radio Binder” dating back to ads she wrote in 1996.

It is no secret that my HHL family is more than just my work family, so reading the ads that I had heard on the radio years ago has brought back fond memories. Reading the words “Hi, I’m Debby from Holland Home Leisure”, reminded me of being young and thinking it was SO COOL my mom was on the radio. Lines like “Mike and I welcome you into the store this Victoria Day Weekend” made me think… it was like they were inviting you into their home. For 34 years this has been their home away from home. The ads had such a comforting feeling… and I can hear her upbeat voice now! Frankly, I am going to miss them!

2014 is bringing on a big change where radio is concerned; you will be hearing a new voice on the radio representing HHL. Andrea Van Zoost will now be doing our radio recordings, so keep an ear out to hear them! So far they are sounding great!

 We want to thank Debby for taking so much time over the years, not only recording but also writing a huge portion of the ads. You have done a wonderful job!

Talk soon,

Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer

Debby's Binder!