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<title>PRCompass / trimarkintern / Voted News</title>
<link>http://www.prcompass.com</link>
<description>PRCompass</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:15:38 -0700</pubDate>
<language>en</language>
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<title><![CDATA[SemiPolitico Political News Review Announces Online Launch]]></title>
<link>http://www.prcompass.com/Government/SemiPolitico_Political_News_Review_Announces_Online_Launch/</link>
<comments>http://www.prcompass.com/Government/SemiPolitico_Political_News_Review_Announces_Online_Launch/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:15:38 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator></dc:creator>
<category>Government</category>
<guid>http://www.prcompass.com/Government/SemiPolitico_Political_News_Review_Announces_Online_Launch/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[SemiPolitico (http://www.semipolitico.com), a politics site dedicated to political news, foreign policy analysis, and campaign 2008 news, has officially launched.  Based out of Chapel Hill, N.C., SemiPolitico is the brainchild of John d'Alessandro and Ryan Kane, two seniors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. SemiPolitico emphasizes user-generated content, and urges its readers to submit articles for consideration.  The site stays true to its moderate roots by offering critical but noninflammatory analysis of the state of politics.The site offers a forum for open-minded discussion, whether through comments, email, or submission of articles.  Visit today at http://www.semipolitico.com <br/><br/>3 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Window World: Helping New Orleans Grow After Katrina]]></title>
<link>http://www.prcompass.com/Home_Garden/Window_World_Helping_New_Orleans_Grow_After_Katrina/</link>
<comments>http://www.prcompass.com/Home_Garden/Window_World_Helping_New_Orleans_Grow_After_Katrina/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:31:01 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator></dc:creator>
<category>Home &amp; Garden</category>
<guid>http://www.prcompass.com/Home_Garden/Window_World_Helping_New_Orleans_Grow_After_Katrina/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(N. Wilkesboro, N.C.) - In August of 2005, Jim Roland's Window World (www.windowworld.com) franchise in New Orleans, Louisiana, was the second-largest in the U.S. While his franchise covered all the territory between New Orleans and Baton Rouge west into Houston, Texas, 85% of his business was in New Orleans.  In the weeks ahead, Jim's New Orleans operation would be hit hard - not by the storm, but by the fact that many of the city's property owners couldn't return to start rebuilding.&quot;For about a month we had no businesswhatsoever,&quot; Jim says. Most of the area'sresidents had evacuated and couldn't return untilofficials declared it safe. Most highways alongthe Gulf were impassable in places; minor roadsnear the shore were still underwater or coveredin debris. Drinking water was scarce, there wasno electric power, and no one knew when eithermight be restored. Doing business was all butimpossible.&quot;Our cash evaporated,&quot; Jim says. &quot;All ourcustomers [had] left town, and we hadno idea what would happen to the business. Itwas a pretty scary time.&quot;&quot;We got a lot of support from ourvendors. And it was nice being part ofthe Window World family. They helped us outa lot.&quot; &quot;Our business went from installing 1,000 to2,000 windows a month to 7,000 to 10,000a month,&quot; he says. &quot;We instantly became byfar the largest single window outlet in thecountry. No one, to this day, is doinganywhere near that amount of work.&quot;Going from no business at all to five ormore times his pre-disaster volume wasno easy task. Everything - computerizedsystems, warehouse space, salespeople,installers, transportation and more- had to be supported or purchased orrecruited or doubled or tripled and put intooperation immediately - simultaneously.&quot;It required a lot more in terms of newlevels of management. It's okay whenyou've got a few salespeople and 3-5crews out installing, but when you'vegot 50 crews, you have to have a levelof middle management to handle thatkind of volume.&quot;All this was happening at one time.We had to know which windows werecoming in at what time and where theywere going, so we had to have a largercustomer service group. We had threeor four inside and five or six outside.We had to buy more trucks to get thewindows out there and installed. And weneeded another level of management inthe production department to supervisethe crews out there.&quot;But finding workers to supervise thecrews wasn't half as tough as findingenough installers.&quot;What's critical is that we were doing thisin the midst of overwhelming pressure onthe available pool of skilled constructionlabor. We were competing for availablelabor with the right skills sets in thetightest labor market in the country.&quot;With all these challenges - not to mentionthe added costs that come with them -Jim had to make one decision that wouldimpact the entire process: how muchwould he charge the Katrina survivorsfor their replacement windows?Regardless of what some vendors sawas an opportunity to charge whateverthe market would bear, Jim Roland'sWindow World didn't charge a pennymore than the regular price. Somepeople were willing to pay two to threetimes more than the regular price, hesays, just to get their windows installed as soon as possible.Of course, keeping his prices the samemeant that Jim had to keep his costs thesame, too.&quot;The labor market was very tight, so werecruited window installation crews in theMidwest - Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota,Indiana,&quot; Jim says.Today, Jim says his business is stillgoing like Mardi Gras revelers. Hiscrews installed 80,000 windows in2006, 75,000 in 2007, and they'restill contracting to install 6,000 to7,000 a month. &quot;We believe we'llcontinue to do that for the foreseeablefuture.&quot; And, in light of the fact that 50%of his business comes from referrals,Jim Roland will probably be able to do thatwithout tooting his own horn. <br/><br/>1 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The Rise and Rise of Window World]]></title>
<link>http://www.prcompass.com/Home_Garden/The_Rise_and_Rise_of_Window_World/</link>
<comments>http://www.prcompass.com/Home_Garden/The_Rise_and_Rise_of_Window_World/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:42:40 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator></dc:creator>
<category>Home &amp; Garden</category>
<guid>http://www.prcompass.com/Home_Garden/The_Rise_and_Rise_of_Window_World/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[For the last six years in a row, the owners ofWindow World (www.windowworld.com) dealerships around the countryhave gathered for a three-day annual meeting.On the surface, the gatherings are similar to annualmeetings held by other franchise organizations. Thereare educational sessions during the day. In the evening,there is networking and entertainment. But WindowWorld gatherings typically feel different than theobligatory annual business meeting.For starters, many of the dealers have seen their liveschange dramatically for the better since buying aWindow World dealership. As a group, they haveexperienced 40 percent compounded annual growthover the past four years. Many have become wealthy.As a result, these annual gatherings (the most recentmeeting was held in August in Cape Canaveral, Fla.)have taken on a true celebratory feel - they are alwaysheld at a resort with all expenses paid; spouses areencouraged to attend (and most do whether they areinvolved in the business or not); and perhaps mosttelling of all, the dealers themselves have taken to callingthe event a &quot;family reunion,&quot; says Todd Whitworth,president of Window World Inc. and son of companyfounder Leon Whitworth.&quot;I think this feeling among our dealers is a testamentto the value-driven way we approach the business,&quot; saysTodd. &quot;We sell a great product at a price people canafford and our dealers have seen the response. It works.&quot;Leon Whitworth, the founder of Window WorldInc., has deep roots in the home improvement industry.Beginning in the early '70s Leon sold aluminum sidingin a bygone era of the siding business. From therehe went on to establish a successful building supplydistribution firm and a window manufacturing firm.According to Todd, all of Leon's business experiencein home improvement, (the good and the bad aspectsof the industry) laid the groundwork for establishing anew kind of replacement window firm in 1995. Andthe beginnings of the company were very humble.&quot;My dad started the company out of what most peoplewould call a roadside shack near Wilmington, N.C.,&quot;recalls Todd. &quot;When I first saw it, my response was:a4You are selling how many windows out of that?' Icould not believe it. And Leon told me confidently thatI would be working for him in a year. I thought: noway. I have a good job and I don't intend to work formy dad. He was wrong. I was working for him 10months later.&quot;Independent of his father's business experience, Toddalso has deep roots in home improvement. Before joininghis father in helping to launch Window World in1997, Todd was a national sales trainer for a windowcompany that eventually became Atrium Windows.&quot;As soon as I got down to Wilmington, Leon wentout and began establishing our dealer network,&quot; saysTodd. &quot;Our first dealer was in Raleigh and we got theball rolling from there.&quot;Since that time, the company's growth has beennothing short of phenomenal. The company now has195 dealers throughout the country, and in 2006 thosedealers sold and installed 89,874 jobs, which translatedto $270,691,333 in sales, or 850,000 windows. Lastmonth, the company installed 100,000 windows andthis year, Todd expects that the firm exceed 1 millionwindows sold and installed.When Leon Whitworth set out to establish WindowWorld, in many ways he was also hoping to establish anew model for doing business in the home improvementindustry, says Todd. He wanted to offer an alternativeto &quot;the dinosaurs&quot; and the old ways of doing things thathave dominated home improvement since the 1970s.&quot;My father started out as a tin man in the early 1970sselling aluminum siding, the same way that everybodyelse sold aluminum siding at the time. It was a really,really high-pressure close,&quot; explains Todd. &quot;And as hewas evaluating what he needed to do to be successful inhome improvement and windows, he did it completelybackwards from what any MBA or business expertwould tell you how to do it. Normally you take yourproduct, your labor, your overhead, and put your profiton it to get your price. My dad started with the price.So he took $189 as a selling price and then backed-inthose numbers.&quot;If I sell it for $189, my labor has to be X, my overheadhas to be X etc., to be able to sell it for $189. Thereal tricky part to that equation was that he could notdo it with a cheap window. He recognized that youcannot have cheap price and a cheap product at thesame time. It has got to be a great value, which meansa low price and a premium product. And since thattime, we have built our business on the slogan: simplythe best for less.&quot;&quot;So it starts with great value for the consumer. Thenthe salesperson needs to make a good income. Theinstallers need to make a good income. The licenseeshave to be very profitable. And if all that happens,&quot; saysTodd, &quot;then we at corporate are profitable.&quot;Most of the time when a Window World salespersonmeets with a customer for the first time, they want toknow where the catch is on the $189 window offer, butthere really is no catch. The salesperson will show thecustomer a good window manufactured by AssociatedMaterials Inc., the same product which recently won aConsumers Digest best product award. They will tellthe customer that they can have that window installedfor $189. But if they want grills (muntin bars), it willbe an extra $32. If they want Low-E glass, that will bean additional $32. These are small and transparentadd-ons at a reasonable cost.Once trust has been established, Window World typicallysells more windows and the job size gets bigger.Says Todd, people begin to look for ways to replace allof the windows in their house.&quot;When my dad told me that he was planning to sellwindows for $189, I thought, I am out training guyshow to sell windows for $600 to $700 a piece. Thatwas my job, to train people all over the country how todo this. There is no way $189 is going to work. Thereis no way you can make money.&quot; Todd recalls thinkingat the time. But it soon dawned on him that Leon wason to something big. Leon, says Todd, had developedand tested a new &quot;cake mix&quot; of operational systems athis Wilmington, NC &quot;roadside shack&quot; that helped keepthe business profitable and on a growth track. The&quot;cake mix&quot; includes everything from marketing andselling to installation. Most importantly, the WindowWorld systems and processes were very scalable to anynumber of locations.Bob Schindler of Associated Materials, who worksvery closely with Window World, summed up the systemsand processes this way: &quot;It is simple. And it is great.&quot;The vast majority of Window World dealers arelocated in the South, the Midwest and the Northeast,but not for long. The company has embarked on anaggressive growth path for locations on the West Coast.Toward that end, the company has hired a full-timesales training consultant based in Santa Barbara, Calif.,close to where the new dealership growth will be. Thecompany's window supplier is also planning anexpansion of its manufacturing capacity in California.The company is expecting that it will open most of itsnew dealerships in California, Oregon and Washington.Yes, the country is experiencing a housing slowdown.And it has even begun to impact the remodeling market,but Window World is expecting to grow in 2008. Andgiven its 10-year track record, very few people doubtthat they will achieve their goals.FAST FACTS ABOUT WINDOW WORLD INC:a4 Chief executive: Todd Whitwortha4 Headquarters: North Wilkesboro, N.C.a4 Web site: www.windowworldinc.coma4 Number of dealers: 195a4 2006 revenues: $270,691,333a4 2006 jobs: 89,874a4 Total number of windows installed in 2006:approximately 850,000 (No. 1 in the U.S.)a4 Window manufacturing partner:Associated Materials Inc., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohioa4 Percent of revenue spent on marketing: 9%a4 Top lead sources in 2006: Newspapers, 48%;Referrals, 21%; Repeat, 13%, Interent, 5%a4 Percent of jobs where Window World wasonly bidder: 12%a4 Percent of jobs with three or more bids: 61%a4 Top challenge for 2008: Continue double-digitgrowth in existing marketsa4 Top opportunity for 2008: Expanding the numberof dealers on the West Coasthttp://www.windowworld.com <br/><br/>1 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Window World Window Products Receive the Good Housekeeping Seal]]></title>
<link>http://www.prcompass.com/Home_Garden/Window_World_Window_Products_Receive_the_Good_Housekeeping_Seal/</link>
<comments>http://www.prcompass.com/Home_Garden/Window_World_Window_Products_Receive_the_Good_Housekeeping_Seal/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:49:46 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator></dc:creator>
<category>Home &amp; Garden</category>
<guid>http://www.prcompass.com/Home_Garden/Window_World_Window_Products_Receive_the_Good_Housekeeping_Seal/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(NORTH WILKESBORO, NC) - Window World, Inc. (www.windowworld.com), the nation's largest replacement window company, is proud to announce the company's ComfortWorld replacement windows have received the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute (GHRI).  The entire ComfortWorld line of windows received this prestigious designation, including; double-hung, sliding, casement, bay/bow and casement/awning windows. Product details are available at www.windowworld.com.  &quot;The fact that Window World has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for our entire window product line clearly illustrates our dedication to providing consumers with the best possible products and service,&quot; says Todd Whitworth, president and CEO of Window World. &quot;This honor reinforces what our family of license-owners and thousands of satisfied customers has known for over a decade.&quot; The Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval is awarded only to qualified products that undergo rigorous evaluation and meet stringent performance requirements conducted by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, a product evaluation laboratory . Only those that pass the evaluation become eligible for the actual Good Housekeeping Seal, requiring the passing of an even more rigorous evaluation, which Window World achieved. Good Housekeeping stands behind all Seal-bearing products with a refund or replacement warranty.  &quot;Obviously, we are not the only ones who stand behind our products,&quot; says Whitworth. &quot;The Window World family has built our business on the concept of 'simply the best for less'. We've been fortunate to grow from one small location in North Carolina to nearly 200 locations nationwide in less than 12 years. And this type of growth is only possible when you offer fantastic products and services at a great price, and stand behind them with a strong warranty. We are delighted to have Good Housekeeping recognize our window products with this honor.&quot; The Good Housekeeping Seal is a strongly recognized mark with consumers nationwide. Whitworth points out The Good Housekeeping Research Institute has been testing products for over 100 years to provide consumers with information on a wide variety of consumer products. &quot;Today's homeowners demand the best possible features at the best possible price. They want a total solution, all backed by a great warranty, and ideally, recommended by a third-party endorsement,&quot; says Whitworth, &quot;And with Window World, that's what they get.&quot; About Window World, Inc (www.windowworld.com): Founded in 1995, our philosophy is: &quot;To provide superior products, installed by professional craftsmen, with guaranteed low prices -- Simply the Best for Less.&quot; This successful business model helped the company expand to nearly 200 locations in 46 states, with sales of more than 1 million windows in 2007. In 2007, Qualified Remodeler Magazine ranked Window World as the nation's largest replacement window company. To contact Window World, Inc., please call 1-800-NEXT-WINDOW or email us at info@windowworldinc.com.The Good Housekeeping Research Institute was founded in 1900 to improve the lives of consumers and their families through education and product evaluation.  The Seal has been reassuring consumers about their product purchasing decisions for nearly a century, and is one of the most recognized consumer emblems in the market today. <br/><br/>1 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[WINDOW WORLD, INC. ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF LEON WHITWORTH, FOUNDER AND CEO]]></title>
<link>http://www.prcompass.com/Home_Garden/WINDOW_WORLD_INC-_ANNOUNCES_RETIREMENT_OF_LEON_WHITWORTH_FOUNDER_AND_CEO/</link>
<comments>http://www.prcompass.com/Home_Garden/WINDOW_WORLD_INC-_ANNOUNCES_RETIREMENT_OF_LEON_WHITWORTH_FOUNDER_AND_CEO/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:05:40 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator></dc:creator>
<category>Home &amp; Garden</category>
<guid>http://www.prcompass.com/Home_Garden/WINDOW_WORLD_INC-_ANNOUNCES_RETIREMENT_OF_LEON_WHITWORTH_FOUNDER_AND_CEO/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[NORTH WILKESBORO, NC - Leon Whitworth, founder and CEO of Window World, Inc. (http://www.windowworld.com), the nation's largest replacement window retailer, announced his retirement and subsequent promotion of his son, Todd Whitworth, to CEO, effective today. Founded in 1995 in a small office in Wilmington, NC, Leon built Window World based on the philosophy:  &quot;To provide homeowner value with the highest quality replacement windows at the lowest possible price -- Simply the Best for Less.&quot;Speaking of Todd, the senior Whitworth said:  &quot;For the past seven years, as President of Window World, Todd has worked tirelessly on the development and positioning of the company.  He and his management team have helped Window World reach new levels, while posturing us for unrivaled future growth.  His promotion to CEO is well deserved, fitting, and perfectly timed.&quot;  The Window World business model has helped the company expand to 195 locations in 46 states, with projected 2007 sales of more than one million window units (making it the largest installed replacement window retailer in the United States).  Qualified Remodeler Magazine has consistently ranked Window World as one of the top remodelers in the USA in its annual Top 500 Remodelers list.  In November, 2004 QR Magazine instituted a &quot;Specialty 200&quot; listing that included only true home improvement companies, and Window World is ranked at #2 on the 2007 list.Marie Whitworth, secretary, and also a long-standing Window World employee, announced her retirement as well.  Of Window World's phenomenal success Marie said:  &quot;In business, while financial considerations must always prevail, our ultimate satisfaction comes from seeing the success or our great family of Window World store owners . . . and their over 250,000 satisfied customers.  Every week we receive letters and phone calls from homeowners thanking us for being who we are.&quot;Todd Whitworth said: &quot;Selfishly, we are sorry to see my parents retire - but we are happy for them and wish them nothing but the best.  My father established an extraordinary team of dedicated remodeling professionals, industry experts and professional craftsmen.  We are also partnered with the best remodeling manufacturers and suppliers in the world. Together we will continue our legacy of providing homeowners a4Simply the Best for Less'.&quot;Leon will remain with Window World in an advisory capacity indefinitely. &quot;I look forward to continued conversations and visits with the Window World family members at future reunions and trips,&quot; said Leon. At the company's recent National Sales Meeting, Leon thanked the audience of 350 Window World owners saying:  &quot;Many people have a dream. Because of you my dream came true. The outstanding success of Window World, both today and tomorrow, is because of you, the Window World family, the best remodeling family in the country.&quot; About Window World:  Window World, Inc. founded in 1995, is based in North Wilkesboro, NC. The company sells and installs residential remodeling windows, siding and other exterior remodeling products in 46 states through its 195 locations.Contact: Dana Deem336-667-2100bingle@WindowWorldInc.comwww.windowworld.com <br/><br/>1 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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