Breakaway News Volume No. 18 Issue No. 5 May 2013

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is coming this month, of course. This year, it will be on the weekend of the 25th and 26th, with Memorial Day itself on Monday the 27th. Get ready to fire up the grill, and remember those who gave their lives for our country.

Triple Joy

You tuned in to watch, and then, just like one of our couriers on a deadline, it was gone. “Triple Rush,” which was on the Travel Channel, went off air after just three episodes. However, Travel Channel is making all eight episodes available online. Surf over to travelchannel.com to watch your favorite couriers ply their trade on the city streets.

Moot Commute

May 17th is Bike to Work Day, part of an effort to get people moving in fun ways that don’t contribute to climate change. Of course, as far as we’re all concerned, it’s no big deal. Heck, we do it all the time. It’s nice to see the rest of the city catch up with us, though.

Kitchen Remodeling

We’re happily ensconced in our new office space (albeit our building number isn’t a prime number. We really had our hearts set on that). Now, it seems, people are getting ready to follow us here, in a big way. 57-story high rises are set to sprout around us, like so much concrete crab grass, soon to dwarf our own little home. Hell’s Kitchen is hot and only getting hotter. What was that line about the heat...?

Boston Strong

Breakaway’s other home is in Boston, We’re so proud of the city and its people in light of the recent tragedy, and our thoughts are with all those affected.

Strange Talk

We’re often asked how we put our hard-hitting, well-respected newsletter together. We’d love to tell you, but it’s a secret. So much so, that we’ve installed the Cone of Silence. Let’s just say that it’s a lot of mutant conversation.

Pay This Way

Ever lay awake in the middle of the night, fantasizing of some other way to pay your Breakaway invoice? If so, seek professional help. Or, you could simply log into our web site and both view and pay your invoice, day or night, with a credit card. That way, you won’t need any Ambien.

Stump the Band

Last month we asked which hard rocking native New York band was celebrating its 40th anniversary.  Answer:  KISS, still rockin’ and rollin’ all night.

T-Shirt Question

With plans to extend the 7 train into Hell’s Kitchen and possibly New Jersey, the 7 line is often in the news. What did they call the color of the famous “Redbird” subway cars? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 18 Issue No. 4 April 2013

Tax Lax

It’s that time of year again, when we all take a deep breath and plunge into those maddening forms that the government likes to send us. It’s tax time, and the deadline is Monday, April 15th. While we can’t help prepare your documents, we can rush them over to the relevant authorities with speed, aplomb, and all due haste.

Utilization

With the move to the new office space complete, we realized that we had a lot of space at the old HQ that went underutilized. We have termed this “the office law of inertia.”  The law maintains that “an item plunked down will remain plunked down until acted upon by another.” In this case, we went through the office pointing at objects and saying, “Don’t need this. Ditch that. Dump these.”

Welcome Wagon

Naturally, to dispose of the above-mentioned plunked items, we acquired a large dumpster. That’s when the Hell’s Kitchen welcoming committee swung into action. That is to say, the other businesses and denizens began throwing their stuff into our dumpster! So, if you’re new to Hell’s Kitchen, remember: Rite of Admittance dictates that you provide a dumpster for your new neighbors.

Pretty Dyer

What’s in a name? In the case of a lonely little avenue which we’ve noticed after moving into our new HQ, not much. From what we can tell, Dyer Avenue is nothing more than a conduit connecting 34th street to the loops out of the Lincoln tunnel. Ought not to be confused with Dyre Ave, or Dire Straits.

The Extra Mile 

Last Mile Delivery is more and more a part of the new economy as people and businesses do ever increasing amounts of online commerce. Someone has to get that item from the local warehouse to its final destination. We can zip anything along that final mile, from small electronics to a sofa. Call and ask about our Last Mile service. 

Paperless Trail 

Breakaway is going paperless. Now, that has been said before, and it is true that after it’s said, it seems like there’s more paper than ever. However, we’ve successfully scanned years of administrative documents, with many standard documents digitized. The one thing we haven’t digitized is our staff. They’re still analog and can all move stuff faster than a pipeline full of bits.

Stump the Band 

Last month we asked what the Lincoln Tunnel was demoted from. Answer: The Tunnel was demoted from Interstate Status to a mere State route, although some signs still say I-495.

T-Shirt Question

This month marks the 40th anniversary of one of the hardest rocking bands ever to come out of New York. Which one? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 18 Issue No. 3 March 2013

Holidays 

It’s March, and that means a slew of holidays. So we at Breakaway wanted to wish all our friends out there a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, a Peaceful Passover, and a tranquil Easter. As for National Kidney Day or Doctor’s Day, well, you’re on your own. But, if you need that keg of green beer delivered, we’re your guys!

We’ve Moved!

By the time you read this, Breakaway will be settled into its new HQ.   The good news is that we’re only moving around the corner from our current office locale, to 444 W. 36th Street. The better news is that Breakaway will take over the whole building, rather than our current two floors, and that means no neighbors. Parrrrty!!!  

Hop, Skip, Jump

Another advantage to our move is that we’ll be closer to the Javits center; in fact, we’re just about a block away. This is convenient for customers who may be presenting at trade shows. Since our warehousing will be unaffected by our move, this is a good chance to improve your logistics when doing shows. Call our warehousing/logistics team for more info.

March Madness

Another tradition of March is that perennial mental condition that affects large swaths of the population, March Madness. Tuesday, March 19th is the official start of this serious condition, and it won’t abate until April 8th. Serious side effects like dizziness and drinking may occur. Don’t operate heavy machinery or deliver your own packages if affected. Call us instead. We promise to remain uninfected. Really.

Spring Forward

March 10th is the time for everyone to Spring forward; Daylight Savings Time is almost upon us. That means, of course, that we all lose an hour of sleep and that your newsletter writer will be much grumpier without that second cup of coffee. It’s not all bad; ten days later, the first official day of spring arrives at the solstice. Just remember to re-set your alarm clocks!

Cargo Bikes

Have a somewhat heavy delivery but don’t want to call a fossil fuel consuming, CO2 producing vehicle? Call for one of our cargo bikes instead! One study shows that every mile traveled by bicycle saves 1 pound of CO2 emission. So give us a call, and get that baby moved, green and guilt free! 

Stump the Band

Last month we wanted to know who created the first modern computer and why? Answer: Tommy Flowers of Bletchley Park created a computer called “Colossus” during WW II to help break German codes.

T-Shirt Question

What was the Lincoln Tunnel demoted from, and why? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 18 Issue No. 2 February 2013

Valentine’s Day

February is that funny month. It’s cold as hell, it’s a few days shorter than the other months, and it’s for lovers. If it hadn’t been for lovers, they wouldn’t have put St. Valentine’s Day in it. Make sure you buy that special someone that extra-special romantic goody, or you’re in big trouble, buster! Better rush those twelve long-stem roses over by Breakaway. What can we say, we’re romantics!

One Flu Over 

An emergency struck the editorial staff of the humble Newsletter when our main copywriter and editor was struck down with the flu. Without anything else to do, he watched a lot of cable news, where he learned that the flu was being used as an excuse for all matter of nefarious doings: missing work, dodging boy and/or girlfriends, cutting school. None of our couriers would do that however. They love riding their bicycles too much. Moreover, none of them have a nefarious bone in their bodies.

Bulk Mania 

It’s become a very popular service. No, not our Belgian fries experiment. That didn’t go so well. No, we’re talking about our bulk delivery service. Get started now; just visit http://breakawaycourier.com/bulk-deliveries/.

Wi Fi Fly

Another calamity that overtook our editor was that his computer died. Not crashed, not froze. Flat out died. Wouldn’t turn on. Gave up the ghost. That meant that we at Breakaway had to scramble to get him up and running. That meant a cheap new laptop. That meant wifi, which meant a trip to Radio Shack. That meant driving our tech department crazy. Isn’t modern tech grand?

Fame at Last

Our messenger C551, Errol Collins, has made us proud! He was recently featured in a photo essay in the New York Times online. This proves once again that Breakaway’s couriers are photogenic and fit to print!

Commute Group

The Times also reports that commuting into the city from the ‘burbs by bicycle is growing more popular, as evidenced in part by NJ’s legendary Ridgewood Commuter Group founded by our president Rob Kotch. The Parks Department is helping out by converting rails to trails. Commuting by bicycle has never been easier. Get out there!

Stump the Band

Last month we asked what “hair of the dog” was. Originally, it literally meant some hair from off of the dog that bit you, to stave off rabies. From that beginning, it has now come to mean treating an ailment with what caused the ailment.

T-Shirt Question

Who created the first true modern computer, and why?  The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 18 Issue No. 1 January 2013

The Hangover

By the time all of our valued customers receive this newsletter, the confetti will have settled, the last refrain of Auld Lang Syne will have been sung, and the last bottle of bubbly will have been drunk, meaning only one thing: monster hangover! Fortunately, our dedicated crew of teetotalers will still be in a condition to deliver you hair of the dog. Happy New Year!!

In Thru the In Door

We were watching the Kennedy Center Honors the other night, when we were struck by a considerably weighty moment of cognitive dissonance: Led Zeppelin being honored at the Kennedy. A band that exemplified bad-boy behavior dressed in tuxes and behaving… well…well alongside the President was just too much for our grey matter. Stairway to decorum?   

Re: Re -

Now that Santa has come and gone, it’s now the season for “re.” You know, as in re-gifting, re-turning, and re-nouncing whatever re-volting gift you re-ceived and could definitely live without. Have no fear; we will bring it back for a re-fund with discretion and aplomb. In other words, re-turns are us.

Bulking Up

Over the holidays, many of you out there in readershipville availed yourselves of our new bulk ordering function on the website. We just wanted to remind you all that the service is up and running the other 364 days of the year. All we need is a spreadsheet with the relevant info. Visit breakawaycourier.com/bulk-deliveries to get started.

Thank You

A huge thank you to all of our customers for having made the Christmas and Holiday season a memorable one. Everyone was generous to a fault, and we’re all at least ten pounds heavier to prove it.

Hey…Still Here?

Something happened recently. Actually, something failed to happen recently: the end of the world as predicted by the Mayan calendar. Wasn’t there supposed to be some all- encompassing cataclysmic earth-devouring mega-tsunami cosmic storm type disaster? Not wanting to brag or anything but, you know, this is the fifth end of the world we’ve survived.  Then again, maybe a big shift did happen. After all, Led Zeppelin was at the Kennedy Center Honors.

Stump the Band

Last month we wanted to know what the original flavor of the crème filling of the Twinkie was, and why it changed. Answer: The original flavor was banana, but during WW II, bananas were rationed so the flavor was changed. The rest is history.

T-Shirt Question

What did “hair of the dog” originally refer to? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 17 Issue No. 12 December 2012

Happy Holidays from Everyone at Breakaway!

Holiday Cheer

By the time everyone reads this, you all will have survived the food-fest that is Thanksgiving, and may have shopped till you dropped on Black Friday. Of course, this heralds the beginning of the holiday season, not to mention a shopping frenzy. Breakaway wishes all our customers a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season. We also want you all to know that we stand ready to deliver for all your holiday needs, large and small.

Post-Election High

Aside from the presidency, a lot of other ancillary issues were decided upon by voters in the various states. We’re predicting that after a year or so, Washington and Colorado will be the only states without a budget deficit. However, there will be a major run on Doritos chips.  

Sugar Crash

Panic in the streets. Wails of anguish. Near brawls and price gouging. Is it another storm? No, only the demise of Hostess, maker of Twinkies, Devil Dogs, and other childhood favorites. With the announcement that Hostess was closing shop, snackers across the country suddenly were gripped with an existential fear usually reserved for the zombie apocalypse. There is a ray of hope; Hostess was told to enter arbitration, rather than liquefy.

Sneaking In

According to a recent talk on TED, all communication is a matter of translation, and that communicating something with humor is more likely to get the other person to think about it, rather than stating it outright. Sort of like a verbal Trojan horse, slipping the idea past your rationalism. Heck, we could have told them that. You’re reading this newsletter, aren’t you?

Holy Sheet!

Breakaway’s updated computer system is now able to import spreadsheets directly; no more faxing or typing in individual names and addresses. As long as the document has columns, and the delivery info is correct, we can now import bulk deliveries directly into our new system. Excel, Access, and other standards are all supported, so long as they are in .csv or .xls format. Call us to get started.

Ganging Up On You

After serious consideration, we have decided that all deliveries will be done Gangnam Style. We are currently sending couriers to South Korea’s Gangnam district a few at a time to learn directly from Psy himself. After the retraining process, you’ll be able to order a Gangnam rush.

Stump the Band

Last month we wanted to know which marathoner said, “Damn! This is better than winning an Emmy!”? The answer: Oprah Winfrey.

T-Shirt Question

What was the original flavor of the crème filling of the Twinkie, and why was it changed? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Important message on avoiding delays during the holiday season:  

As Christmas approaches, our delivery volume will spike dramatically. During peak periods, you may experience delays because many large orders will arrive simultaneously. Here are some tips to avoid service delays during the holiday season: 

1) For faster service, place your large orders in the early morning. It is extremely helpful to have orders placed before 9:00 AM. We open at 7:00 AM. Our peak periods are from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. If we are extremely busy, pickup times can slow down. Trucking deliveries are generally slower because of traffic delays and security checks.

2) If you are planning a large batch of gift deliveries, it helps to have one-day advance notice. You can also fax a copy of your deliveries to us or place your order on our website: www.breakawaycourier.com

3) Label your packages completely.  Packages that are not completely labeled languish in the company mailroom.  Always include the recipient's full name, company name, room number, address and phone number. With post-9/11 security, many office buildings will not accept packages without complete information on delivery labels. Also include your return address on the package.

 4) Call ahead to the delivery point to make sure someone is there to receive your package. If you order an evening delivery, make sure the receiving party is open past 5:00 PM. It might make more sense to schedule the delivery for the following morning.

5) Do not procrastinate! Please do not wait until the last minute for a large batch of deliveries. It is advisable to place large gift deliveries by Friday, December 18th.

6) Please circulate this flyer to all employees who are planning to send large batches of deliveries this holiday season.

7) Enjoy the holidays!

New Notary Public Service

Breakaway now has an in-house New York State notary public, Alex Yockey, shown here with the new tools of his trade.

Breakaway News Volume No. 17 Issue No. 11 November 2012

Storm Season

Hurricane Sandy battered the tri-state area last month, with unprecedented damage to property and businesses. The clean-up promises to be long and costly, as well. We want our customers to know that we’re ready to help in any way we can. If you need a messenger-on-demand, trucking, supplies shipped, logistics, or any kind of help in the five boroughs and/or beyond, call us and ask how we can help.

Call Us Definitely

We’re not sure if it was the remnants of Sandy or some Halloween goblins, but the telephones here at Breakaway have been playing tricks on us.  You can now reach us at 212-279-5024. You can also fax an order to 212-947-3335 or, easiest of all, visit our website at www.breakawaycourier.com to place an order online and get all the latest information. 

Thank You!

 It’s coming. Can you feel it? It’s the quiet thunder of that yearly calorie-fest known as Thanksgiving. Turkeys and casseroles and candied yams and beer and potatoes and beer and cranberry sauce and beer. Did we mention beer? It’s a feast fit for a king. Luckily, as monarch of your house, you can order Breakaway to deliver all your Thanksgiving needs to your door. Except live turkeys. You’re on your own for that one.

 Do It!

That most important of all times in the USA is coming up, the right to exercise your franchise and vote. Breakaway urges all our friends and customers, from all ends of the political spectrum, to peaceably assemble at the nearest voting booth and cast your ballot. You can short-sheet your opponent’s bed afterward.  

Blah Blah Blasé

As we look around, especially in suburbia, it seems that there’s a sameness to everything. Target, Best Buy, Whole Foods…Target, Best Buy, Whole Foods. Where’s the variety? Does everything have to look the same?

Quote of the Day

“Innovation is pretending to be innovative.” For all you literati out there. 

The Extra Mile

Actually, that should be “last mile.” What exactly does this mean? It means that if you are a retailer, and have items that you want to deliver to someone, Breakaway can be your “last mile” deliverer, making sure the item gets to the customer. We already provide this service for Patagonia. If you’re interested, call our sales department for details. All the cool kids are doing it.

Stump the Band

Last month we wanted to know what Nikola Tesla invention was crucial for automobiles. Answer: The humble spark-plug.

T-Shirt Question

Which marathoner said, “Damn! This is better than winning an Emmy!”? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 17 Issue No. 10 October 2012

Boooo-reakawaayy!

The refreshing bite of autumn has blown in, heralding pumpkin ale, sweaters and flannels, and, best of all, Halloween parties! Yes, the time to dress up as a Twilight cast reject or toilet paper mummy is here again. Planning a big All-Hallows bash? Give us a call, and don’t be caught short of jack-o-lanterns, trick-or-treat treats, or corn syrup fake blood.

Order! Order!

The modern economy is made up of orders; for food, clothes, stocks, books, etc. What do they all have in common? You can do them all online. You can order runs from Breakaway online also; just visit www.breakawacourier.com, and let your mouse do the walking.  

Idle Hands

The MTA in NYC takes a lot of unnecessary flack, but not in this instance. News outlets have reported that fares may rise again, but at the same time, they’re hemorrhaging $800K a year. The culprit? Idling vehicles. Inspectors found that MTA employees let vehicles idle more than 20,000 hours a year, wasting 21,000 gallons of gas. Yet another reason to pedal to work.

Trust Your Instincts

He looked like he really didn’t need the job, arriving in a three-piece suit but we took him on as a driver anyway. We should listen to those little voices in our heads, because he became the bane of our existence. We were forced to downsize him as he insisted on driving around with the deliveries strapped to the roof of his impeccably appointed van.

Elevator Talk

“Yeah, well, I told him that already. What will saying that again fix?”

Yet another scintillating conversation overheard by our couriers.

Miss Me Kate

In the modern age, journalism can be pretty gritty, and sometimes ugly. Proudly, we at Breakaway can say that we don’t stoop to sensationalism. Although the photographer begged and pleaded with us, we refused to publish the Kate Middleton pics that several other news outlets have. Hey, we have standards here.

Not All Quicksilver

We know that our “Triple Rush” show and now the “Premium Rush” movie make it look like the messenger biz is all about being hip and riding single-gear, cool bikes, but we also do a fair amount of truck work. We’ve got everything from vans to 24-foot lift-gate trucks. So, if you have a load that would squash a hipster and his bike, call our trucking department.

Stump the Band

Last month we wanted to know who was the first person to have been born to parents who both went into space. Answer: Elena Andrianova Nikolaeva-Tereshkova, daughter of cosmonauts Andrian Nikolaev and first woman in space Valentina Tereshkova.

T-Shirt Question

He’s best known for developing AC current, but what Nikola Tesla invention was crucial for automobiles? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt. 

Breakaway News Volume No. 17 Issue No. 9 September 2012

Weekend Labors

Don’t put that barbecue grill away just yet, because Labor Day Weekend is almost here! This year, Labor Day is Monday the 3^rd, so we’ll be closed that day. Be sure to plan your deliveries accordingly and relax as much as possible so you hit the ground running when you come back to work.

Fashion Victims

September 5^th is the start of Fashion Week here in New York City, which means if you’re lucky, you’ll see a fashion model or three. Then again, this is New York, so you might see them anyway. And if you want to be really stylish, just call for one of our fashion-forward messengers. They’re always ahead of the curve. 

Paper? How Quaint

As we mentioned last newsletter, we now have the ability to do paperless invoicing. This has proved to be a really big hit, and we’ve had a lot of inquiries about it. If you want to save some trees, and some postage, contact us about our new paperless invoicing by e-mailing to paperless@breakawaycourier.com. Birds also deserve a home!

Silver Screen

First, there was “Messenger.” Then, the bigger budget “Quicksilver.” Now, Hollywood is at it again with a new messenger movie, “Premium Rush.” Of course, we know why Tinsel Town keeps coming back for more. They are, no doubt, inspired by the critically acclaimed “Triple Rush” on the Travel Channel (now available on http://new.hulu.com/triple-rush)! Who wouldn’t want to be like our messengers?! On a related note, Breakaway Office Manager AY now has star power in his native Escanaba, MI because of Triple Rush. He always draws a crowd of at least three when he visits.

Synergism

A lot of kafuffle is made of the “global economy,” but we also have a pretty well articulated regional economy. How do we know? Because a lot of our customers do business both in NYC and Boston. If you’re like them, you’ll be glad to know that Breakaway has an office in Boston as well! Call us to find out how we can help you with your business needs between Gotham and Beantown.

Mobile Concierge

Guy Friday. Gal Friday. Gopher. Handyman. Roustabout. All ways of saying the same thing; someone who performs concierge services. From filing to running for coffee, our messengers can provide these services on the run. Just call and ask.

Stump the Band

Last month we asked: What was the longest bicycle sponsorship ever in the UK? Answer: The Milk Race, now known as the Tour of Britain, was sponsored by the Milk Marketing Board for 35 years.

T-Shirt Question

Two American legends passed recently: Sally Ride and Neil Armstrong. Who was the first child born to a mother and a father who had both traveled into space? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.