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FROM IRAQ TO THE ROCKLEIGH: MEET THE LIEUTENANT COLONEL

By Rachel Segal // Business, Let's Talk Business

Last year’s LTB 2013 was a big hit with big-name talent.

Celebrity speakers like Kevin Harrington, a successful entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” investor, took to the stage to give keynote speeches and host brilliant breakaway sessions. Hundreds of entrepreneurs and business owners learned best business practices and strategies from the best, the brightest and the most successful.

But none of those speakers have flown 1,500 miles per hour – faster than the speed of sound – in an F-16 supersonic fighter jet high above enemy territory.

This year, Lt. Col. Rob “Waldo” Waldman will break the sound barrier and raise the bar to sky-high levels at LTB 2014.

A decorated US Air Force combat pilot, renowned speaker and bestselling author, Waldman has made a name for himself by flaunting his prowess both in the air force and at the boardroom table.

CAME TO LTB WITH A GAME PLAN, LEFT WITH A GAME CHANGER: BENTZY’S STORY

By Rachel Segal // Business, Let's Talk Business

As the owner of a very busy store, Parc Avenue Shoes, Bentzy Wachsman took time away from his bustling business to fly to New York from his hometown in Montreal. The grand occasion? LTB 2013. He came with a game plan: to improve his marketing strategies.

At a young age, Bentzy sold Cutco knives door-to-door. With a natural flare for sales, he was soon recognized as the #3 salesman in Eastern Canada. Determined to accomplish bigger and better things, Bentzy opened a factory that manufactured children’s outerwear. As the first company to introduce ‘fashion’ to outerwear, he took the market by storm. Bentzy expanded this business and sold it to his top competitor. His next business venture – Bentzy’s Food Depot – was also sold to his largest competitor after 8 successful years of growth.

That’s when he bought a modest shoe store and moved it into a newly renovated space. After four weeks, he had already sold more than the previous owners had sold in an entire year. To say the least, Bentzy has a passion for innovative marketing strategies. Always looking for new ways to expand his business, the LTB Summit caught his attention.

ONE SALESMAN’S TALE OF SUCCESS: IT BEGAN AT LTB

By Rachel Segal // Business, Let's Talk Business

Some people are simply born a salesman.

Yitzy Elbaum may not have been born a professional salesman, but he got off to an early start in fundraising at the young age of 15. Motivated to succeed, in just two weeks Yitzy raised over $25,000 for an organization he was involved with. The fruits of success tasted spectacular; he immediately knew that he had found his passion.

When Yitzy Elbaum attended last year’s groundbreaking LTB 2013, he was working as a salesman at Court Street office supplies, an independent office supply and furniture dealer in Brooklyn. A year later, at only 26 years old, Yitzy is now the company’s Sales Manager.

THE STUFF DREAMS ARE MADE OF: ELI’S $50 MILLION REALITY

By Rachel Segal // Business, Let's Talk Business

Most millionaires who’ve made it big in business don’t rely on luck.

If anything, they make their luck. The ticket to achieving greatness is combining brilliant ideas, passion and drive with relentless hard work, trial by error and the unwavering commitment to overcome obstacles.

Take NBA Dallas Mavericks owner, billionaire businessman and celebrity “Shark Tank” investor, Mark Cuban. He didn’t start off “lucky” (or loaded).

No, Mark Cuban’s first job was selling garbage bags with the end goal of paying for an expensive pair of basketball shoes.

We’d venture to say that by and large, business owners make their own luck and create their own opportunities. Even successful business owners don’t add more zeroes to their bottom line without carving out a strategy.

Eli Rosenbloom is the case in point.

A ONE-IN-A-MILLION EVENT: THE LAUNCH PAD

By Rachel Segal // Business, Let's Talk Business

At last year’s first-ever LTB summit, after a buzzing day of motivational keynote speakers, networking opportunities and captivating breakaway sessions, the evening came to a climax. The crowd grew silent. The lights were dimmed. The stage was set for the most highly anticipated event of the day – The Launch Pad – modeled after the ever popular Shark Tank.

Five successful “Rocketeer” investors, who has raised over $3 billion for over 400 companies – came to the Launch Pad ready to dish out upwards of $100,000 for each worthy pitch.

All the investors were eager to empower Jewish businesses by giving them the capital necessary to propel their businesses to the next level. The “star” of the panel was none other than Kevin Harrington, a celebrity “shark” on Shark Tank as well as a successful entrepreneur known for his work in the infomercial industry and founding of “As Seen On TV!”

BIGGER, BETTER, BOLDER: INTRODUCING LTB 2014

By Rachel Segal // Business, Let's Talk Business

History was made last year with the launching of LTB 2013. Hailed as North America’s very first Jewish business conference, it made waves across the Jewish world and beyond. Its impact is still reverberating.

New ideas and business concepts were shared, powerful networking relationships were formed, lucrative financial investments were obtained, and for the over 500 committed businesspeople who came together to learn and grow, it was an event which absolutely changed the face of business.

In the aftermath of LTB 2013, it quickly became apparent that this platform would set the new standard for commerce in the community. Amidst an outpouring of enthusiastic messages of support and gratitude, the groundwork for LTB 2014 was laid with the goal of building upon the success of last year to guarantee a bigger, better and bolder experience.

…Which leads us to the debut of LTB 2014.

My Promise: I Didn’t Write This Article While Driving

By admin // Creativity, Marketing // 5 min read

Do you know the difference between a Rolls Royce Phantom and a Maserati Quattroporte?

I do.

Show me a glimpse of the sleek, artfully sculpted flowing lines and evocative curves of an exotic automobile.

I will tell you the name, make and model instantly. And whether the engine under the hood is a 453 horsepower V8 or 460 horsepower V10. And that the seats are decorated with hand-stitched saddle tan leather trim. And how the interior door handles are made entirely from bamboo.

Allow me to confess: I’m a self-diagnosed car addict.

Do you know our new address?

By Meny Hoffman // Company Culture

This article is being typed on a desk that’s surrounded by stacks of cardboard moving boxes, rolls of sticky packing tape and mounds of jumbled papers.

The wonderful moment has finally arrived: after so many years at our modest headquarters on 13th Avenue and 39th Street, Ptex Group is moving to a brand new office.

I cannot help but think about how much we’ve accomplished here over the past eight years.

We arrived at this location with only a handful of employees who were looking to make a difference in the world of business. Fast-forward to today, where over thirty full-time professionals work hard each day to create innovative marketing solutions that allow Ptex Group to shine.