The LocalPAGES team is pleased to announce our Business of the Week winner, 2Good2B Bakery & Café! Located at 204 N El Camino Real Encinitas, CA 92024, this one of a kind restaurant is the go-to place for healthy comfort food in San Diego. Their menu boasts of items that are not just good and healthy, but are especially made for allergy sensitive customers, as well. You’ll thoroughly enjoy their menu items which are all 100% free of gluten, corn, soy, and peanuts!

The story behind this business is as (feel) good as the taste of their products. 2Good2B was established by two amazing individuals: Mike Barbanti and Diana Benedek.

Mike started his gluten-free journey in 2007 when he was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. According to him, “Eating the gluten free products that were available kept me from getting sick, but I was making my family and friends sick because I was complaining so much. Something had to change.” This prodded him to research and come up with a gluten-free cake that everyone—even those who aren’t forced to eat gluten-free food—would love. After much experimentation and taste tests, Mike finally baked a scrumptious, gluten-free lemon cake which he put to the test by serving it to his friends who were food snobs and critics. The result? They loved it. This motivated Mike to set up an online business that allowed people to order his baked goods through his website.

Diana, on the other hand, had Fibro-Myalgia, herniated cervical disks, early Hashimoto (dysfunctional thyroid) and arthritis. In order to feel healthy and avoid surgery, she needed to eliminate gluten, corn, and soy from her diet. Similar to Mike, her medical condition motivated her to get cooking (or in her case, baking). Diana was able to develop a gluten-free rosemary bread that everyone loved. She came across Mike’s online 2GoodB business when she needed a gluten-free cake for her son. She was of course, amazed at the quality of the cake, and within eight months, she and Mike teamed up and opened 2Good2B Café and Bakery in Encinitas.

2Good2B serves desserts all day. They offer a wide variety of cakes, cupcakes, and bites with flavors such as Chocolate Turtle, Carrot, Lemon, Coconut, Red Velvet, and more. Do you want a warm meal to prep you for dessert? Check out their breakfast menu that consists of classic dishes including waffles, egg sandwiches and paninis. If you happen to stop by in the middle of the day, you’ll be able to enjoy their lunch items which include pizzas, quiches, and sandwiches.

Yep, whether or not you’re required to eat gluten-free food, 2Good2B is still a must-try if you happen to be in San Diego. If you’re looking for a yummy but healthy Bakery and Café in Encinitas, CA, be sure to stop by or call them at 760-942-4663. Happy eating!

With mobile communications becoming a huge part of the modern day style of living, people are going crazy over cellular phones, basic and advanced. Those with fewer needs on the go stick with the basic route, choosing cell phones that make it easy to make calls and send text messages. However, there is a whole opposing line up of advanced phones for the choosing. Allowing you to surf the internet, download applications, run GPS and a slew of other options on the go (including the basic making calls and text messaging), the smartphones have taken over. Here are some reviews of the top phones, basic and advanced, that are available to you in today’s market.

Basic Cell Phones:

Motorola Brute i686 – While this phone doesn’t have the sleek designs that are often associated with many of the phones on the current market, it does boast a quality that not many can: very impressive durability. All too often, cell phone owners are quick to forget the fragile nature of their smartphone, dropping it and thus, leaving a wonderful crack over the screen. With the Motorola Brute i686, the phone offers a hard plastic case with a thick rubber cover, reinforcing its durability. The phone is said to be military-certified for resistance to dust, shock, vibration, extreme temperatures, and much more. The phone has lived up to its durability claims, with reports of no damage after users have dropped it on concrete, or even left it in water for a solid 20 minutes. Those results are incredible when talking about electrical gadgets. If you’re not worried about the bulkiness and rugged design, and all you want is to talk and text with a reliable, durable phone, this may be the best option.

Nokia X2 – This is a basic cell phone with a few extras. It has a nice design with a full keyboard, allowing for maximized messaging capabilities. The negatives are minimal for a phone specifically designed to be used mainly for phone calls and messaging. The data speeds aren’t very good, with top performance coming in at EDGE, and the screen provides low-resolution quality. The speakerphone isn’t ideal and the phone lacks a dedicated volume rocker, but again, the phone serves its primary purpose. The Nokia X2 does allow for a full HTML web browser (there’s one of those extras), however, with the slow data speeds, it may not be worth it to check out. If you’re looking for a cell phone that makes it easy to send messages, this is it. A good design, a full keyboard and the ability for a few extras makes this phone a solid buy.

Pantech Breeze III – If you’re new to the world of cell phones and mobile communication, or you’re getting a first cell phone for a child, this is a solid pick up. This flip phone has a slim, sleek design with a spacious key pad. The fonts are customizable, allowing you to make them as large and bright as you would like. It features a 1.3 megapixel camera, GPS, 3G speeds and a music player. It doesn’t offer some of the advanced stuff that other phones will get you, but this cell phone was designed with the novice users, kids and senior citizens in mind for a simple design with simple controls. If it’s too easy for you, the phone features an advanced mode as well, allowing access to other options that the easy mode doesn’t offer. While it is useful to some functions, for others it’s not even necessary.

LG Octane – This quite bulky phone gives users a different feel of messaging. It has dual displays in which, with the phone closed, displays like a regular phone. You have a smaller screen with the number keypad like any cell phone. With it open (using a side-flip method), you are given more capabilities with a full QWERTY key board and the full interface which isn’t available on the smaller, closed side of the phone.  The main negative about the phone is the lack of a 3.5mm headset jack, but it doesn’t take away from the awesome messaging features of the phone. On the full QWERTY keyboard, the 2, Q, W, E, and S keys are grayed, providing as a direction pad for when playing games on the phone. Simple, but adds a new dimension, this phone is perfect for anyone looking for a great messaging phone.

HTC Freestyle – Even though it has quite a few negative qualities, the HTC Freestyle is a perfect phone for those who want a middle-ground between simple and advanced. It’s a beginner’s smartphone, providing a user-friendly design and all the essential functions you need for communication. However, with all goods, there has to be some bad right? The phone lacks Wi-Fi options and the speakerphone is barely usable. With that said, the Freestyle gives users a touch screen and the user-friendly interface, which gives it a smartphone feel without the required data plan that could cost many of advanced users around $30 a month or more depending on the carrier. This phone is perfect if you want a beginner’s smartphone, complete with touch screen, but don’t care about the full features of the more advanced smartphones.

Advanced Cell Phones:

iPhone 4S – When people think of technology as a whole, Apple is one of the first companies that comes to mind. This is no different when you’re speaking of mobile technology as they have put out multiple devices (tablets and phones) that have altered the way people live their lives. Apple has allowed people to do a massive amount of different functions with just their fingertips. The iPhone 4S is no exception. The only things that disappointed critics about the iPhone 4S is the lack of a bigger screen and no 4G data speeds. However, iPhone 4S provides a fast processor, amazing operating system and a really unique (and pretty cool) voice assistance program. Siri is essentially a female robotic voice that you speak with and it will provide you anything from directions to contacts, from weather to nonsensical trivia. Simply speak your command or question and Siri responds. For those that want one of the best on the market, iPhone 4S has few challengers.

HTC Sensation 4G – Not enough internal memory and pretty weak speakers; that’s pretty much all you can say bad about this phone. The HTC Sensation 4G gives users a large, beautiful screen. It has a very fast dual-core processor and enhanced user experience in which they added some features to the HTC Sense user interface, making for some great attributes. The phone’s design is extraordinary; giving users a comfortable hold on the phone and a slim build that prevents from having a heavy or bulky device. Its solid performance, excellent design and user-friendly experience add up to make the HTC Sensation 4G one of the best Android powered phones out there.

Motorola Droid Bionic – Fast, sleek design, powerful processor, amazing features for consumers and business users and long battery life; the Motorola Droid Bionic gives you pretty much everything you want from a smartphone. However, it has minor problems and does come at a pretty expensive price. It is claimed to be the thinnest 4G LTE device to ever come out and is the first to be both a dual-core smartphone and a Verizon 4G LTE handset. The Droid Bionic also comes shipped with an upgraded operating system, boasting Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. The phone has very nice multimedia features and enterprise abilities like the Webtop application and great security for the business users. Plain and simple, if you’re willing to make the commitment to the high price and shell out the money, the Motorola Droid Bionic doesn’t fall short and is everything you would need and want from a smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S II – Despite some of the phone’s areas feeling not very durable, the Samsung Galaxy S II proves to belong with the other top smartphones on the market. It boasts a dual-core processor, coupling with the beautiful sleek design to make it a phone in high demand. The phone’s display is gorgeous, although a bit smaller than most. However, the AMOLED Plus screen shows off sharp images and texts all while displaying multiple colors. Running the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread gives the Galaxy S II a very good operating system to go along with its other great features such as preloaded extras like Quickoffice Suite, AT&T Navigator and Yellow Pages Mobile. The bottom line is, this is a gorgeous, very dependable smartphone giving you all the features you can want. It’s among those at the top of the list when you’re speaking of the best on the market. You can’t go wrong picking this smartphone, letting the dual-core processor, the operating system and the impeccable display take you to technology heaven (figuratively speaking of course).

Motorola Photon 4G – While this cell phone has plenty of positive features, it also has some negatives that may turn a plethora of users away. First, its design causes for a heavy, bulky design that not everyone can get a good feel for. The Motoblur interface isn’t for everybody, but there’s nothing tremendously wrong here, just a uniqueness to Motorola products. Also, the image quality isn’t what is expected of the 8 megapixel camera. However, despite the negative features, the Motorola Photon 4G can be described simply as a powerhouse of a smartphone (looks and performance). One of the coolest features on the phone is its HDMI output, allowing users to connect their phones to an HDTV and play videos from their phone on the television. For non-Web videos, the Photon 4G has an amazing 1080p video playback capability, and the ability to capture video at 720p making the media quality on this phone a major positive. With all the features, the security, the data speeds and incredible dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, the Photon 4G is one of the best Android phones on the market.

With so many devices giving you all of your needs (be it maximum or minimal use), it is no wonder the world is almost completely running on mobile communication. It’s relied upon as a source of business and personal uses for a vast range of reasons. Having the world at your fingertips is a very intriguing concept and these devices help you get that, and provide for your wants and desires in a cell phone, whether it be simple messaging and phone call capabilities or the ability to surf the web and check on your business on the go.

Image credit: Dru Bloomfield – At Home in Scottsdale on flickr

So you want to start up your own small business? Well, there are steps you must take before you can even continue on your venture. There’s one question you must ask yourself; what am I going to do? The pillars that hold up a small business are the ideas you put into it. A strong idea for what people may need is what will start your business up and keep it afloat. Here are tips for starting up your business.

First of all, know what you’re going to do; have a plan. Lay out an idea of who your customers are going to be and what they need from you. The customers are a business’ best friend. They keep you around and they put money in your pocket. In exchange for that money, you as a business will need to supply them with whatever it is they need. Be it clothing, tools or even dining, you have to come up with a plan of the demographic you want to appeal to. Deciphering your key demographic will then allow you to put together the ‘what’ part of this equation. Supplying customers with the solution for their needs will put you in business; supplying customers with the best quality solution for their needs will put you well ahead of the competition. So first, make a plan. Know your customers, know their needs, and supply those needs. Make the plan long term for your business in order to track finances and growth. You’ll be happy with the results when you have a plan and stick to it.

Business plans are definitely not the easiest things to devise. Writing up the plan will take multiple steps that you will have to think long and hard on in order to create the perfect plan for you. Of course, know to have an idea of what you’re going to do. Next, figure out a way to make your business special; make it stand out. Give yourself an advantage in any aspect you can, allowing yourself for more clients. With uniqueness and strategic planning comes a great idea. Next step: find out who you’re competing against. You’re definitely not the only one out there trying to make it big in the small business world and what you’re supplying is what other people have to sell. Know your competitors and know how to shine above them. Make people want your product rather than any other place.

After you have an idea of your product, your business identity and your competitors, come up with a solid marketing idea to get people in the know about your business. Have a backup plan to this marketing as well, something to help you turn a prospect into a customer should your initial marketing plans not work as well as you would like. Marketing coud be simple as well, as some sites offer promotions like small business spotlights. Next, figure out the operational strategies of your business. You must know how you want your company to operate, whether on a day-to-day basis or otherwise. Also know the risks you are taking and factor in the potential dangers that are out of your control such as a negative turn in the economy or interest rate changes. Once you know what the risks and dangers are, come up with possible plans to deal with them should they arise.

Once you have those figured out, you will need to know your team. There are always multiple key parts to running a successful business, and your team is one of them. Make sure that your employees, external and internal, are qualified for what you want them to do. Give yourself and your business a high rate of success, by keeping your employees in line of what they have to accomplish. Along with your employees and their accomplishments, you must come up with a realistic timeline in order to accomplish what you would like to. Having a good timeline set up will help you with the following step of coming up with financial projections and goals. You’re going to know how much money you would like to make; you’re going to need to know if you can realistically make that money. Make your goal realistic and keep projections realistic as well. Messing up on one of them can drastically alter your plan should you fall short of your goal and possibly needed income.

Finally, you’re going to have to summarize your entire business. This should include brief financial highlights that you can use to present to potential investors. You need to make sure that it gives investors, and yourself, a solid reason for a mass amount of money to be put into this project. Without visibly good reason to invest money in your project, you may never get off the ground to begin with. With these steps in place, making a business plan will be done right. Along with making a successful business plan, you will also learn even more about your company, helping determine its success or failure based on your ideas. So, make a realistic plan, stick to it, and work hard; your business is on the right track.

Image credit: Sean MacEntee on flickr

The LocalPAGES team is pleased to announce our latest Business of the Week winner, The Varsity LA! Located at 6311 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, this sports bar-slash-lounge in the Mid-Wilshire area may be relatively new, but it’s already a favorite among the locals.

The Varsity LA is the perfect venue for those who want to watch the game with a bunch of friends. “The V” is filled with cushy furniture and lounge areas, so there literally isn’t a bad seat in the house. Moreover, two movie-theater-sized projection screens plus 12 HD plasmas are placed in strategic corners of the restaurant to ensure that you’ll be able to catch all the sporty action no matter where you’re seated.

Do you need to unwind after a stressful work day? Head over to The Varsity between 4 – 7 PM and enjoy the restaurant’s “Pep Rally” (Happy Hour) specials! All call and premium drinks are $2 off, and you can chug down your favorite beer for as low as four bucks! The V also serves yummy dishes such as Calamari, BBQ Chicken Quesadilla, Mojito Chicken Skewers, and a whole lot more—all for just six dollar or less during Happy Hour.

Another delicious masterpiece of The Varsity would definitely be the burger menu. Order the Blue Burger, MONSTER Burger, or the Steak Sliders, and you’ll definitely be satisfied. Unless of course, you’re really hungry, in which case you should, check out The V’s “Main Events” which include Chicken Marsala and Kung Pao Chicken for the carnivores. More of a seafood person? Then try the Beer Battered Fish ‘n Chips, or convert the Kung Pao Chickn into shrimp. The Varsity also has an extensive drinks list, with all your favorite beers on tap, bottle. The wine list is also worth a look, as it’s complete with great Reds, Whites, and Champagnes.

The V also has some awesome weekend specials! Ask about their Sports Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays where you can build your own omelettes and enjoy bottomless Bloody Marys and Mimosas.

Planning your next party or corporate event? You’re in luck! According to the businesses’ website, “The Varsity is available to host private and semi-private events, ranging in size from 20 to 200 guests with availability for sporting events, happy hour, dinner and late night receptions.” If you wish to inquire about their services, or if you just want to get more info about this lively sports bar in Los Angeles, CA, you may contact The V at 323-651-5433 or send an email to mike@thevarsityla.com

When starting a small business, people tend to make the same mistake. Financial control can have a direct effect on how well your business does, if it even gets off the ground. Underestimating the start up costs of a business is the first crucial mistake that any small business owner can make. Before making that leap into the world of entrepreneurism, take the time to make a list. Know what you’re going to need; know how much they cost. Those supplies, those computers, they’re all going to cost you money and you need to know how much that will cost and determine if you have the money for it. Failing to do so will lead to you, and your potential business, falling flat with no kind of backup.

Secondly, don’t just assume that your idea will be a smash. Incorrectly predicting cash flow will cause you to spend more than you are worth which will leave you in a big financial hole. When it comes to your income, underestimating is actually ok. When you don’t make as much as you expect, you could overspend what you thought to be future “profits”, only to find yourself in debt. Keep in mind that in any given month, you can under- or over-perform your expectations. It’s easy to get carried away with wanting to make as much as you possibly can, but in order to be successful in the end, you have to keep your numbers and projections realistic. 

If when starting up your business you fall into debt, try to clear it as quickly as possible. If you need to take a loan out in order to start up your business, do so accordingly. Know how much you are going to need to take out and have a solid plan to repay the debt each month. Failure to keep track of these numbers will put you and your business in the red fast, preventing you from even getting off the ground with a great idea. Never assume that you can easily pay back the debt before you even take the loan; make a plan based on probable and realistic projections, then stick to it. Having a good idea of what you will be able to pay back goes a long way in keeping your business alive while clearing up that unwanted debt.

Finally, don’t go spending all the money you make. Have a budget that you can dip into for supplies, all the while maintaining a set amount to assure that you are making money. Spending all your profits will only cause you to start from the beginning. Be smart with your money, find places and supplies that can help your business for free. You wouldn’t want to have to rely on consistent earnings each month in an economy that screams inconsistency. Stick to a game plan, keep the right amount of your profits for safe keeping. You’ll be happy you did should your business come up short the following month.

These are just a few financial tips to keep you, and your business, afloat. Follow them and you are on your way to having a good shot in the business world. Don’t follow them and you could be just another statistic.

Image Credit: khrawlings on flickr

The LocalPAGES team is pleased to announce our Business of the Week winner, McGuckin Hardware! Located at 2525 Arapahoe Ave Boulder, CO 80302, this beloved business has been serving the local economy of Boulder for over five decades! Don’t be fooled by the its name though, because McGuckin is SO much more than a hardware shop. With 60,000+ square feet of over 200,000 items in 18 different departments, this store is just one of those places that practically has everything. Aside from the usual nuts and bolts that you’d expect from a typical hardware store, McGuckin Hardware also has a wide selection of gardening items, kitchenware, pet supplies, and even toys! If you can’t find what you’re looking for, simply approach someone wearing a green vest, and they’ll be more than happy to help you out.  Customers rave about how the staff members at McGukin are extremely warm and accommodating; some patrons even know certain employees by name.

The business was established by Bill McGuckin in 1955, and started it off as a small fishing shop with four employees. Five years later, he partnered up with his son-in-law, Dave Hight, who then grew the business into the massive store that is today. Dave is truly dedicated to the business. He’s been going to his store every day for over fifty years, and today, at over 80 years old, Dave can still be seen helping and guiding customers.

According to Dave Hight’s son Barry, who also happens to be the President of McGuckin Hardware, they pride themselves in helping local manufacturers into the marketplace. Many of the products that they sell are made in Boulder County. What’s more, it’s not just the local manufacturers who are being helped out, but the local residents, are of course, immensely happy with McGuckin Hardware.  In fact, one LocalPAGES user mentioned that, “Dave employs a lot of locals and helps the economy here in Boulder.” McGuckin Hardware clearly cares about the local community, and goes to show that this business doesn’t just have a huge store, but it also has a big heart.

Not from Boulder, CO? Be sure to check out the McGuckin Hardware website! Their online store offers numerous items in various categories. Customers can even enjoy free shipping on orders of $100 or more.

If you wish to inquire about tools, parts, and beyond, or if you’re just looking for an amazing hardware store in Boulder, CO, you may contact McGuckin Hardware at 303-443-1822.

The LocalPAGES team is pleased to announce our Small Business of the Week winner, The Original Pantry Café! Located at 877 S Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90017-2507, this beloved restaurant has been feeding LA for eight decades and counting! If you’re having a rough day and in serious need of comfort food, then this place can give you exactly what you need.

Established in 1942, The Original Pantry Café started with only five employees and a 15-stool counter.  It survived world-rocking events including the Depression (when they expanded) and the Second World War. Today, the business has grown into a restaurant that can seat as much as 84 people, and feeds 2,200 individuals daily. There is absolutely no pressure in this place as the environment is casual and homey. The Pantry is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is located near several great landmarks including Staples Center and the LA Convention Center, Dodger Stadium, and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, so if you happen to be showing some people around the city, this is the best place to take them for a meal. The venue is very accessible from the 110, 101, and 10 Freeways. Brace yourself though, as The Original Pantry almost always has a line outside. As current owner, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan famously said, “We never close. We’re never without a customer.” Indeed, in spite of that long line, we can promise you that it’s worth it.

The Pantry’s menu has something for everyone. Craving for breakfast food at 7 PM? This place has you covered. Those who brought their appetite can enjoy huge servings of pancakes, bacon, sausages, and eggs, at any time of the day. Carnivores will be pleased to know that they can also wolf down juicy and flavorful Beef Tenderloin, New York, and Top Sirloin steaks at affordable prices. Those who prefer eating on the healthy side will be happy check out their salad menu and vegetable plates. Got a sweet tooth? Choose from their classic cake menu that consists of flavors such as carrot, lemon, and of course, chocolate.

Can’t get enough of The Original Pantry? Head to their website and check out their great selection of merchandise. You can purchase T-shirts, postcards, mugs, and caps to show your love and celebrate this classic establishment.

Yes, The Original Pantry clearly caters to the simple and traditional cravings of most people. If you wish to inquire about their business, or if you just want to say congrats for putting up a great classic American restaurant, feel free to call them at 213-972-9279 or send them an email at info@pantrycafe.com