Married Millions

Green Nest - Creating Healthy Homes

GREEN: grên, /gri:n/, /gri:n/: Environmentally friendly; Green has become the symbolic color of environmentalism, chosen for its association with nature, health, and growth.

NEST: IPA: /nest/: A snug, comfortable or cozy residence or job situation; a retreat, or place of habitual resort; to settle into a home.

Green Nest, LLC was created in 2003 by the husband and wife team of Lisa and Ron Beres.

Lisa, a former Interior Designer, started feeling run down and tired all of the time. Being well aware of the abundance of toxic materials in homes today, she began a self journey in search of answers. After much research and numerous doctor visits, she came to the conclusion that her house and choice of products were making her sick.

According to the EPA research, on average, the air inside our "Nests" typically contain levels of pollutants 2-5 times higher than the air outside and in extreme cases can be 100 times more contaminated. The average American spends about 90% of their time inside. It is no wonder the EPA ranked indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental risks to public health. The National Academy of Sciences estimated that indoor air pollution costs our country between $15 and $100 billion each year in related health care costs. The materials used to build and furnish our homes contain a variety of synthetic materials from carpets, paint and foam cushions to insulation and chemically treated pressed wood products. These products, known as VOC's (volatile organic compounds), outgas. This means that the chemical compounds they contain break down with age and are slowly released into the air over time in the form of toxic fumes. In one study of VOCs, the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that while outdoor air at sampled sites contained less than 10 VOCs, indoor air at those same sites contained 150 VOCs!

In addition to these staggering facts, Lisa discovered that xenoestrogens (man-made chemicals that mimic estrogen in the human body) were contributing to her hormone imbalance. These chemicals include common pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, industrial chemicals (such as dioxin, mercury, and PCBs), and metals. Many of these chemicals are used in the production of numerous products that we, as consumers, use every day (e.g., plastics, detergents, hormones such as birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy, antibiotics in animal feed as well as lawn and garden chemicals). Many homeowners use a large number of petrochemical cleaners and other toxic products like pesticides, disinfectants, and air deodorizers liberally around the house. These products produce hazardous fumes when used and leave residues behind that then gradually dissolve into the air over time. The constant application of such a wide variety of chemical compounds throughout the average home greatly increases both the number of dangerous indoor air pollutants and their concentration levels. In addition to all of this, we are exposed every day to chemicals in personal care products and cleaning supplies. It is no wonder our bodies become overloaded and may even develop MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) or EI (Environmental Illness).

It was through this research that Lisa decided to become a Certified Baubiologist (Building Biology - a study derived from Germany which encompasses how buildings impact life and the living environment). With her B.A. from Arizona State University already under her belt, she then decided to incorporate her two passions in life - interior design and health. After making the necessary adjustments to their home, her health gradually became better and she and her husband Ron decided to help other people in their endless efforts to attain optimal health. Together, with Ron who earned his B.A. from George Mason University, they chose to seek "greener pastures." In addition, Ron has also continued his education through Bau-biologie focusing on air, water and indoor materials and electromagnetic radiation.

Whether you suffer from allergies, asthma, hormone imbalance or unexplained fatigue, Lisa and Ron are confident that by incorporating the necessary steps into your "Nest," you will begin to prolong your life and more importantly enhance the quality of it!

Source: Greennest.com

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Golf Lesson with Phil and Sally Cardwell

They say 90% of golf is mental, so it makes sense that whatever beliefs you hold about yourself as a golfer can affect your game for better or worse. Your beliefs are relative to your technique, who taught you, whether you practice enough and how much time you spend on the course actually playing the game. If your technique is wrong, you reinforce bad habits that become ingrained in your muscle memory. So many frustrated golfers are missing the simple fact they can play better golf and greatly lower their score by taking some golf lessons with a pro.

Husband and wife team, Sally and Phil Cardwell are PGA and LPGA professional golfers based at the Links at Shirley, Long Island, who offer tailored golf lessons for every golf level from beginners to professional golfers. "There are not many golf centers around that offer a husband and wife teaching pro team," says Phil Cardwell who competes frequently on the Met PGA Tour and has been a multiple winner on the Pepsi Golf Tour. Phil is originally from Indianapolis and is a graduate of Ferris State University's prestigious Professional Golf Management program. While in school, he interned for three years under the tutelage of Bob Toski, Jim Flick and Dave Leadbetter, the top three golf instructors in the world. Phil teaches all level golfers and coaches many top amateurs and professionals including Danielle Ammaccapane, a LPGA tour player originally from Babylon and reigning 11 year-old junior world champion Zachary Write.

After graduating from Half Hollow Hills High School, Sally moved with her family to Arizona. Shortly after moving there, she began playing golf and decided to enroll in the San Diego Golf Academy. After graduation, she joined the Players West Tour where she met Phil who became her coach and later her husband. The Cardwells owned and operated Lyford Scottsdale Golf School in Arizona which was adversely affected by the terrorist attacks on 9/11 due to declining air travel. They went on to teach at Golf Digest schools before coming to the Links at Shirley. The Cardwells are not your garden-variety golf instructors - they're both exceptional players who have coached elite golfers but are highly adaptable to all levels of golfers including junior golfers.

In the Learning Center, technique is analyzed with state-of-the art video analysis which is important in getting the student to become aware of things they don't realize they are doing. The Cardwells' motto is "Knowledge of the fundamentals is the most important ingredient to becoming a better golfer. Our innovative, learner-friendly methods provide you with complete knowledge of the fundamentals and how they relate to your game." In addition, there are all sorts of kinesthetic learning aids to help you realize the improper techniques you keep reinforcing so you can break free of them faster and move on to a lower golf score.

The Cardwell's program is different than other golf lessons in that students get to play on the par 3 short course. A golfer is interviewed by one of the Cardwells to determine long and short term goals and strengths and weaknesses. Whether you want to play more consistently, increase drive distance, putt or chip better, the Cardwells can help you reach your goals. "We test you in a goal-oriented objective producing environment," says Phil Cardwell. "That may entail repeatedly hitting a target to test for accuracy. The only way to see where you are at as a golfer is to test with an objective in mind. For example, if your short game needs improvement, we define a target zone around a hole and we have you hit five consecutive shots into the target zone before moving on to the next challenge." This goal-oriented practice exposes weaknesses in your game in order to help you begin to eliminate those weaknesses. The Cardwells' highly successful teaching style is evident in the pro and college level golfers the Cardwells teach. If the Cardwells' lessons work for the pros, think how they can help you with your game.

The Cardwells stress that you only get to be a better golfer by playing golf on the course. Many golf lessons are missing this very important aspect. By contrast, the Cardwells' lesson packages offer plenty of playing time on the course. "The driving range serves its purpose, but you only get better by actually practicing on the course," says Sally Cardwell. "Our lessons help you do that. We have a dedicated par 3 18-hole course for that. Short game focus is on any and every shot inside a 175 yard area. With our lessons, you learn to play better golf by learning on the course."

Originally written by Christine Lynn Harvey for www.newliving.com

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Michigan Husband & Wife Dental/Entrepreneurial Team Agree to Open 102 Gelato di Roma's

Drs. Nabil Fehmi and Maryam Beyramian, a husband and wife dental team with offices in suburban Detroit, announced they will extend their entrepreneurial spirit into food service and have agreed to open up to 102 Gelato di Roma's ®, a combination Gelato or Italian Ice Cream and Pizza shops in Arizona.

Allie T. Mallad, Gelato di Roma ® president and chief executive officer, announced the agreement from his company's headquarters here just west of Detroit. Mallad is a former executive at Little Caesar's and at one time the largest franchisee with that organization. He has also franchised a number of other major brand names including Bruegger's Bagels, Baskin Robbins, Mobil Oil, Applebee's and others.

Founded in 2003, Gelato de Roma offers customers 51 flavors of the quality Italian Ice Cream along with pizza, coffee, Calzone and salads. There are currently seven Gelato di Roma's ® in Michigan and five in Southern California.

Fehmi and his wife met at the University of Michigan dental school before opening multiple office practice in suburban Detroit. The dentist/entrepreneurial team also has owned and operated businesses in real estate, web design and language services.

"We visited one of the Gelato restaurants and fell in love with the product and the concept," Maryam Beyramian said. "We wanted to be involved in a growth driven organization, and Gelato di Roma is a unique concept. Allie Mallad is an experienced franchisee and has the leadership qualities to make it work."

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Husband and wife doctor team provide healthy alternative to Googling

Husband and wife doctor team – Sanjay Sharma, an ophthalmologist, and family physician Susan Sharma – have created a new website that provides accurate, timely information for patients looking for medical answers online.

Insidermedicine is a daily news program that is written, reported and produced by Queen's doctors and medical students. It seeks to bring accurate and cutting-edge health information to consumers. The daily program covers topics ranging from disease prevention to breaking news pertaining to specific diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

"We started the service because more patients were coming into our offices with information that they downloaded from the Internet. The problem was that much of the information wasn’t correct," says Dr. Sanjay Sharma, the Chief Editor of Insidermedicine and professor of Ophthalmology and Epidemiology at Queen's.

The site began with Dr. Sharma handling the camera and his wife, Dr. Susan Sharma, handling reporting duties. The team has grown significantly to involve 15 people, including Kate Pulman and Maria Radina, both medical students at Queen’s.

A recent research study conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, a non-profit think tank, showed that while millions search for heath news, only 15 per cent of people seek out the source, and only 1 in 4 look at the date to see how current the material is. This could have major implications for your health.

"If people are attempting to make healthcare decision for themselves or their loved ones on incorrect information, it may affect their health," says Dr. Sharma.

"Our goal is really to get information into patients’ hands at the same time that doctors are reading about it," says Dr. Susan Sharma. "On a daily basis, we have a team of doctors talking to researchers, talking to editors of the major scientific journals and attending medical conferences to create our breaking news stories. In the end we want to take evidence-based medicine directly to the patient."

Each weekday, four to eight videos are filmed to cover topics ranging from health promotion and disease prevention to breaking news pertaining to managing specific diseases like, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

A U.S. version of Insidermedicine can be viewed at www.insidermedicine.com

Source: Queen's University

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Husband, Wife Bring 'Balance' To Downtown

After years of decline and being beaten by the weather, the old Kress store building, 116 W. Erwin St., is seeing new life as an upscale spa and fitness center.

Owners Martin and Michelle Heines officially completed construction on the building's second level, although Michelle had already opened her Pilates and personal fitness training company, Balance, there last year. The work earned the project the 2007 Best Adaptive Reuse-Small City award from the Texas Downtown Association.

"We're really proud to be a part of downtown Tyler and the renovation of the properties that has gone on in downtown," Heines said. "And of course when you put your heart and soul into a major renovation as we've done, you're glad to have the Texas Downtown Association appreciate the effort. We're really overall just proud of downtown, what downtown has become and what it will become in the future."

Heines declined to say how much he and his wife spent rehabilitating the building, which contains 5,000 square feet on each of its two floors, other than "much, much more than I anticipated but what Michelle's customers deserved."

For years, the building languished across Erwin Street from T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza, as building owners around the square refurbished many of their properties. In 2004, Rick Eltife sold Heines the building.

"Michelle and I bought the building, and it has been our dream to remodel this building into a first-class fitness facility that has spa services, Pilates, personal weight-training and her dance company," Heines said.

The structure is not one of the oldest in downtown. A 1946 building, it has a steel-and-concrete architectural style, which was good, Heines said, because it withstood the water that for years had leaked in when it rained.

Although he did not know when the Kress store closed, he estimated the building had been unused for 25 or 30 years.

Michelle Heines began her dance company, Contemporary Dance Techniques, and Pilates studio in downtown in 1997 above Nix Bail Bonds. For the past several years she operated the Pilates studio at Studio 107 Pilates at 107 E. Erwin.

The new location houses the dance studio and Pilates, and Michelle Heines has added weight training and the spa area.

She wanted to provide the type of spa facility one would find in a larger urban area, a Pilates program, a personal weight-training program and a facility for contemporary dance.

The Pilates program opened about five months ago, but the personal weight training and the spa portion of the business only had a soft opening. Saturday night's grand opening festivities marked their official start of business.

Heines credits his wife with being instrumental in designing the building's interior.

"Her vision really led us to the point of where we are today, and it took a long time to get there," he said. "A lot of the building materials are not materials that are typically used by contractors here in town, or subcontractors."

Michelle Heines said she drew from experience in helping design a building that would function and look as she envisioned.

"I have a modern flair about me, so I really like making the building as modern as I can make it," said Mrs. Heines, who earned a master's degree in fine arts from Texas Christian University. "What I did is put all my past experiences in New York and Dallas and Houston and everywhere I danced, and everything I liked and everything I could remember into this building. So this building is like every studio I've ever been in."

She said she wanted Balance to be a "safe haven" for people who want personal instruction and want to be pampered.

Balance employs 10-12 people. They include Pilates trainers, personal trainers, a massage therapist and staff.

Original Article written by By GREG JUNEK, Business Editor for TylerPaper.com

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No shop talk at dinner: Acorn Food ServicesAn emphasis on balancing work and home keeps both sides of this family's life running smoothly.

At the LePera household, there are rules: Dinner marks the end of the workday. No discussion about business is allowed at the table. And weekends are sacred.

Deborah LePera, who launched Acorn Food Services in Philadelphia in 1990 with her husband, Robert, makes sure that those tenets are observed, and he is grateful she does.

"Debbie's really good at demanding balance, and that's been really healthy for me," says Robert. "She'll say, 'You gotta get off that computer! You gotta get out of the office!' I'll try to sneak work in, but she'll give me a dirty look and that's all it takes for me to feel terrible."

Their business, which employs 100 full-time workers and administers food service contracts for corporate and military clients, was Robert's idea. It runs smoothly, competing against billion-dollar industry giants, in part because of his management experience. But Deborah drives the sales, attending bidder meetings and appointments with customers.

"I'm the face of the business," she says.

A few years ago they adopted two infant boys, and what could have been a source of stress for any partnership has instead motivated them to fine-tune their business and strengthen their relationship. Deborah decided to cut back to about 20 hours of work a week and spend more time at home. Even though sales fell by half, Robert was pleased with her choice.

Their goal now is to maintain a growth rate they're comfortable with. "We're pickier," says Robert. "We look at what is profitable rather than just taking on business to say we're growing." The strategy seems to work: Revenues are lower than in 2001 but still a healthy $7 million a year. And the company's profit margins have remained consistent.

With the boys in school, Deborah, who is president and owns 51 percent of Acorn, has increased her workweek to about 30 hours.

"We'd like to live like this over the long term," she says. They try to cook at home as much as possible, and both pitch in with the kids' school projects and the dishes.

Deborah's 21-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, Jessica Proctor, finds the arrangement comforting.

"I love seeing my parents helping each other out and being their own boss," she says. "And if they are working together well as business partners, that reassures me that they're working together as husband and wife."

Meantime, Robert has happily adjusted to a more deliberate pace. In the early years of their partnership, when Deborah had yet to lay down the law, he spent the bulk of their Hawaiian honeymoon on the phone closing up a deal.

"But we hope to fly out again," insists Robert. This time, they'll leave business behind.

Original Article Written By Phaedra Hise, with additional reporting by Ingrid Tharasook For CNNMoney.com

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Families at Play

Husband-and-wife team Brian Kaplan and Lambeth Hochwald, parents of 3-year-old Zachary, have found a way to combine family time together with a business that focuses on family togetherness. Their Parent P-L-A-Y hosts weekend events for families with kids under age 5.

And rather than get-togethers where youngsters are in the spotlight and moms and dads on the sidelines, their events are designed so everyone in the family can have fun. A kid area is staffed with babysitters in orange T-shirts, and visiting educators and entertainers lead kids in activities which have included yoga classes, sing-a-longs, Spanish and French classes, and music time. While this is going on, parents can have some down time — which can include spa treatments, talking to an author, or just kicking back with the Sunday newspaper and a mimosa.

Hochwald, a freelance writer, and Kaplan, a public relations executive, use their professional connections to load up attendees with gift bags worth more than the price of admission. In fact, events, which run about $60, are a great deal even without the fabulous swag. Let’s say you go to brunch instead of Parent P-L-A-Y. Brunch for two, even at a casual place, is at least $25. Add in a Bloody Mary or two, plus food for your toddler, and you’re looking at $50. But at Parent P-L-A-Y, you can also have an hour (or more) of professional babysitting (at least $15). And if one of you gets a free manicure or foot massage, you’re making money.

But what Parent P-L-A-Y is really about is everyone having fun. Kids don’t have to stay with babysitters, and many pop in and out of the ‘adult’ space. But most toddlers want to stay and play with the other kids, where there is a colorful mat, new toys, juice boxes and buckets of Goldfish. At the March event at Tribeca Rooftop, parents could try out luxury beds and a putting green, kids could sample a music time or listen to storytime, and there was live music for grooving families.

At last month’s get-together, Christie Mellor, author of The Three-Martini Playdate, read from her new book, The Three-Martini Family Vacation. Mellor, an actress and mother of two, said her first book “was about how parents can reclaim their lives, and the second is how they can get out of the house. The book is not a travel guide; it’s a tongue-in-cheek look at mommies who are apparently under the impression that if they aren’t zealously interacting with their children all day, every day, they are somehow being remiss in their maternal duties.” There is some actual travel advice, in chapters like “The Theme Park Vacation: A Last Resort” and “Staying with Friends Abroad: Disaster or Enriching Cultural Experience?” Mellor writes that parents must encourage kids to be self-sufficient, whether at home or on vacation.

Of course, Parent P-L-A-Y events encourage leaving the kids, even if it is just a few feet away, so these are perfect for mothers or fathers who feel a stint in day care is a straight shot to juvenile delinquency. The faintly mellow vibe belies the fact that about 100 people, half of them under 5 years old, are having a great time. Hochwald and Kaplan live in Tribeca, so they have been hosting events at downtown venues, but parents are attending from all over the city.

Original Article Written By Judy Antell for NY Metro Parents

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Singing with Your Spouse

BETH AND SCOTT BIERKO are a husband-and-wife team of singer/songwriters and arts-in-education specialists. Since 1993, they have been performing for children and families at concerts in schools, libraries and theaters. Their first DVD, "Beth & Scott: Live in Concert", was recently released and is available on their website, www.bethandscott.net. The Bierkos live in Yorktown Heights with their daughters, Helen, 12, and Stephanie, 8.

One of the questions we hear after a concert is, "How could you two possibly spend so much time together?" Apparently, it is inconceivable to many people that we have been living and working as a couple 24/7 for 14 years. And while it is true that most children's entertainers work alone, we prefer each other's company for several reasons.

First, we are best friends, so we usually want to spend more time together, not less. Second, being a duo all day, every day helps us fine-tune our relationship. Third, at the end of the day or week, we know all of the details of each other's lives because we were there to experience it, too. Finally, we have learned that working together requires the willingness to sort things out when we disagree. After a few angry or silent car rides during our early years, we figured out how to talk things over and make compromises or adjustments.

Though we work full-time, we have created a lifestyle that allows us to be present in our daughters' lives. More often than not, we make them breakfast and take them to their bus stop on our way to a performance or workshop. And after almost every show, we are home for play dates and activities. Instead of pursuing a national touring career, we opted to create a business that keeps us closer to the girls. This is a decision that we have never regretted, even when it meant slower progress in our quest for fame and fortune.

Of course, there are days when it feels like we are walking a tightrope between our work schedule and our family's needs. As hard as we try, we cannot be at home every moment, so we rely on the help of neighbors, grandparents and babysitters. These loving people — our "net" under the tightrope — are essential to our personal and professional success.

New technologies help things run more efficiently, too. GPS helps us move in the right direction and cellphones keep us connected when the traffic slows us down. Of course, we also spend a lot of time at the computer. While the kids are playing upstairs with friends, we are often downstairs writing our e-newsletter, mixing a podcast, or designing a flier. It gets hectic and our eyes often get blurry, but we have learned to thrive amidst the chaos of children and phones ringing off the hook. Luckily, we can distinguish between our children crying out for a little attention (which usually requires them to be patient), or really crying out for help (which requires us to put down the mouse and pick up the pieces of a broken lamp or friendship).

Best of all, our clients, most of them moms, sympathize with the demands of working with children at home. We have booked many gigs in-between temper tantrums on both ends of the phone. The unplanned benefit of some of this drama at home is this: Attending to our off-stage relationships have definitely improved our work on-stage. How else could we confidently write, sing and teach children about tolerance, conflict resolution and communication skills if we were not living these lessons in our own home? We write songs about the challenges of family life because we live it every day. It is all "grist for the mill", as they say.

So, when people remark on the astonishing fact that we spend so much time together as a couple, we try to take it as a compliment, an acknowledgment that we are getting what we want out of life on our own terms. And it of course begs the question of other couples: "How could you two possibly spend so much time apart?"

Source: NY Metro Parents

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Fawnfeather Spa & Salon

Beauty is before me. And beauty is behind me.
Above and below me hovers the beautiful.
I am surrounded by it. I am immersed in it.
In my youth I am aware of it.
And in old age I shall walk quietly the beautiful trail.

This Native American proverb is the driving force behind Fawnfeather Spa & Salon, the area’s newest and largest establishment specializing in total body care. “We believe that there is beauty in every person and at every stage of his or her life,” explains co-owner Fawnfeather Carr, whose father is Apache Indian. “Our goal is to work with our customers in such a way that their individual beauty is enhanced to its fullest. We want them to leave not only feeling great about themselves, but radiating a look that will prompt others to say, ‘Wow, you look terrific!’”

That’s a pretty tall order, but not for this bustling salon. “We are an upscale Spa & Salon, offering superior products and resort-style amenities, yet in a warm and friendly ‘Cheers’-type environment where everyone’s on a first-name basis,” says co-owner Mark LoMonaco, whose main role is that of maitre d’ – greeting customers, taking calls, and making sure everyone is happy.

It’s no surprise if Mark’s name rings a bell to some readers. The 6-foot-3 inch, 315-pound pro wrestler is a world tag team champion and member of the Dudley Boyz, now known as Team 3D. So how does a celebrity tagged with names like Bubba Ray Dudley and Brother Ray fit into a warm and friendly Spa & Salon? “Quite easily,” insists Fawnfeather, his wife of seven years. “He’s really a puppy at heart. He exudes a charm that puts both men and women at ease. In a unisex salon, that skill is key.”

This outgoing husband-wife team is joined by Mark’s dynamo sister Gina, who serves as health and wellness coordinator and marketing director. Laughs Gina, “The three of us have passionate personalities, meaning we’re all very driven to get the job done. Regardless of the task, we all pitch in and help each other out.”

That same team approach is practiced by each talented member of the Fawnfeather Spa & Salon. Unlike many establishments where booth rentals are common (sometimes a breeding ground for inflated egos and extreme competitiveness), staff members here often lend a hand or collaborate on certain style issues and requests. It’s also not uncommon for clients to come in for one service, such as a haircut, only to be treated to a complimentary mini hand massage by another employee while getting their hair done.

“We’re a ‘total experience’ salon. From hair, nails, and body wraps to makeup, tanning, and brow sculpting, our clients don’t need to go anywhere else,” adds Fawnfeather, who has been in the industry since the age of 15 and is a licensed aesthetician. “Although my mother has been in the beauty-care business for more than 35 years, I did not want to follow in her footsteps. However, when I found myself struggling over my own skin care needs, I quickly developed a genuine passion for it.” (She’s also passionate about animals, which explains why the grand opening event raised more than $3,000 for Greyhound Pets of America. The salon expects to do similar events for a variety of animal charities on a quarterly basis.)

The professionals at Fawnfeather Spa & Salon, including Fawnfeather’s sister Ravenflower (a licensed massage therapist), are extremely selective in the products they use, including the number one skin-care product on the market today, Pevonia. “We believe that the product must really work,” says Mark, who emphasizes the extensive product training that is paramount to each staff member’s development. “If you’re going to come in for a $50 pedicure, it better not be with just a good technician who’s really nice. At the heart of the experience better be a top quality product that actually takes care of your skin. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Fawnfeather and one of the elements that sets us apart.”

Another advantage of this salon over others in the area is its commitment to offer “breakthrough” products and services to its clients. From a full line of the most advanced skin-care products for men to being one of the only salons in the area to offer eyelash extensions, Fawnfeather Spa & Salon prides itself in staying ahead of the curve. In fact, services like the beer and pretzels pedicure for men and the popular martini happy hour on Fridays are some of the most innovative (and appreciated!) touches in the salon scene today.

Original Article By Jill Mross For Lake Mary Lifestyle Magazine

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Husband and wife team ties into rising tide of e-business

As the wife of a television news anchor, Kathy Marrou knows about ties.

Over the years, she has helped her husband, TV anchor Chris Marrou, accumulate more than 500 ties.

"I've been buying his ties for 20 years," Kathy Marrou says.

Ties are part of the overall look an anchor presents to his audience, she explains. But no matter what line of work a man happens to be in, ties are a vehicle for self expression.

That's why Kathy Marrou goes out of her way to find colorful and unusual ties to sell on her web site, Ties.com. (The Marrous company itself is called Ties.com.)

"It's been a quest to find ties that make a statement. When a man looks nice, he doesn't have to look like a cookie cutter. He can have his personality come through in his tie. You can have a little bit of flair," she says.

Visitors to Ties.com are bound to find a tie that fits their personality. The site, which offers more than 1,000 different styles, lets visitors search for ties according to color, designer, category, pattern or price range.

These days, it seems, everyone is getting into the tie designing business. Jerry Garcia made a splash when he launched his own line of ties. Now rapper Busta Rhymes is designing ties, too.

One of Kathy Marrou's favorite lines of ties is called Infectious Awareables. Designed by a doctor, the ties feature the molecular structure of deadly diseases.

Only one designer has refused to allow Ties.com to sell its ties, and that's because the designer said his brother is planning to launch a competing web site.

When selling brand-name ties, Ties.com is careful not to undercut the prices charged for those ties in stores.

"We are very, very careful. We do not discount," Kathy Marrou says.

Ties.com isn't the Marrous' first foray into cyber business. And it probably won't be their last.

Several years ago, the Marrous attempted to create a web site that offered news and information about San Antonio using the domain name Alamo.com, which they owned.

But the project, which involved gathering content from a variety of sources, proved difficult and costly. (The site was later purchased by Alamo Rent a Car for $350,000.)

"We just realized we didn't have that kind of capital and time. We knew it wasn't for us," Kathy Marrou says.

In 1997, the Marrous purchased the domain name Ties.com from a domain-name broker for $1,000.

To Kathy Marrou, selling ties over the Internet seemed like a good idea.

Compared to other types of clothing, which come in different sizes and styles, ties come in only three flavors - regular, extra long and boys.

"If you were shirts.com, you'd have to have 30 million sizes of shirts. You don't have that problem with ties," Kathy Marrou says.

Although he helps run the business, Chris Marrou says his wife is the one who is really in charge.

"Kathy makes all the decisions. It's very rare I'll say, `You should get this, or you should get that,'" he says.

At first, Chris Marrou says he was less optimistic about the venture than his wife.

"I thought at worse we would do as well as a men's specialty store. I figured if our expenses didn't get out of hand, we'd be OK," Chris Marrou says.

Kathy, meanwhile, says she was confident the business would become a success.

"I always have known this was going to be a really big business," she says.

"That's why she's the boss," her husband says.

At first, the Marrous didn't know what kinds of ties would sell over the Internet. So they went to a men's wear trade show in Las Vegas and purchased $32,000 worth of ties.

"We tried to get enough variety and see how it was going to move," Kathy Marrou says.

In the real world of malls and department stores, women make 75 percent of all tie purchases. But in the virtual world of tie shopping, the Marrous have found that the demographics are quite the opposite.

Some 80 percent of Ties.com's customers are men, who buy an average of six to eight ties at a time. Women, meanwhile, typically buy just one or two at a time.

Kathy Marrou says men like the site because they can get the ties they want without leaving their office. But Chris Marrou attributes these buying patterns to primal male instincts.

"It's that hunting instinct. You get in a big herd and kill as many as you want," he says.

All of the ties are kept at the company's office. Orders are shipped in a silver can via overnight shipping.

Ties.com's largest base of customers is located in cities where ties are standard business attire -- New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. The company is also receiving a growing number of orders from overseas.

The company has advertised in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times and is preparing to launch a television ad campaign in New York.

In addition to ties.com, the Marrous also own the domain names scarves.com, momsday.com and dadsday.com. They hope to someday create sites using these three domain names and link them all together.

"We don't want to take our eyes off the ties.com ball. But we've learned so much from Internet sales ... what to do, what not to do. It's going to be an easy transition," Kathy Marrou says.

For Kathy Marrou, ties are more than just a fashion statement, though. They're also a piece of history.

Kathy Marrou owns an impressive and unique collection of ties autographed by celebrities.

The collection includes:

• a DNA tie signed by Francis Crick,

• a lion tie signed by animal handler Jack Hannah,

• a stock meter tie signed by investor Warren Buffett,

• a thumbprint tie signed by former FBI director William Sessions,

• a bodybuilder tie signed by Arnold Schwarzenegger,

• a tie signed by Congressman Henry Bonilla on the day the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Clinton, and

• a tie featuring a map of California vineyards signed by film director Francis Ford Coppola, who owns a California vineyard.

Kathy Marrou has built the collection by sending out requests by mail. But her husband has contributed to the collection as well.

During a single NBA Finals game in New York, Chris Marrou got Billy Crystal, Spike Lee, Fran Drescher and New York Knicks great Walt Frazier to sign basketball-themed ties.

The autographed ties, along with ties from different decades, are on display in Ties.com's virtual museum.

"It's a sign of the times," Marrou says of the collection.

Original Article By Sebastian Weiss For The San Antonio Business Journal

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