eLease Equipment Leasing

Thank goodness for mothers everywhere.  There is never a day that I don’t use the wisdom passed on from my parents.  My mother always told me to respect my elders.  In our business we seldom get to finance equipment that can truly lift the human spirit.  We had such an opportunity when a repeat customer who we financed software for last year.    The customer called us and asked if we could finance 8 digital pianos for their assisted living facility.  Most facilities have pianos but these pianos have a digital CD Player that plays requests.

It was the first such request we have ever received.  I have financed all kinds of different equipment including: zambonis and a fence for a tiger refuge in Texas.  When our customers have a need for equipment for their business it is our duty to do everything we can to get them their equipment.  We financed the pianos for the customer and it was music to their ears.  They were surprised and elated eLease were able to lease the peculiar equipment they needed.

When I got in the car that evening to go home I called my mother who worked in the hospice industry for the state of New Jersey as a medical investigator and told her about the customer.  She expressed to me how important music is for people in assisted living facilities. She wished more facilities used these types of technology to help their residents become more active and to enhance residence’s spiritual well being.   She also said that most pianos sit dormant without anyone who knows how to play them. The digital piano allows people to experience a live piano without having to know how to play the piano.

A lot of times mom doesn’t understand what eLease actually does sometimes.  It was a pleasure to share a real world example with her and make a difference for their guests.  I am proud we are able to provide a service so many will enjoy!  Mom was right.

Monday morning the first Monday of March, I turn on the news and hear about oil hitting $103.00 per Barrel. Barak and Hillary are going head to head and gold hits another record. Since I am running about 5 minutes ahead of schedule I pull into a gas station that says gas is $3.19 a gallon. As I pull I see the gas station worker walk over to change the gas to $3.29 that would have cost me an extra $1.60 for the fill up. I was the last customer at that price which I found unsettling. Even scarier is that I heard on the news that gas could go to $4.00 per gallon that will have huge effects on the small business community and households in general.

Some economists have compared this economy to the early 80’s. I can see the comparison but there is no interest rate comparison. The silver lining for entrepreneurs and households is at least interest rates have decreased substantially. This will allow entrepreneurs to borrow with less cost which should help significantly.

I cannot remember a time when the Federal Reserve has lowered the borrowing costs by 1.25% in a month and gas has increased over 13% at the same time. I am started to feel sea sick from all the information and the rapid changes in the capital markets.

With instability opportunities are created. I am always amazed by the resiliency of entrepreneurs to grow their businesses in changing times. We spoke to a vendor today that is selling wind turbines to small businesses in the Midwest to help reduce energy costs! Every market correction has an opportunity to flourish new industry.

Leap Year –February 29, 2008

Just one day.  What’s the big deal right?  With all the talk of doom and gloom everywhere in the news sometimes it can be hard to be an optimist.  However being an entrepreneur you don’t have that option.  In the world of the entrepreneur the glass is always half full.   How many times do we wish we had an extra day in the week or a day in the month to create new opportunities?  They should call Leap Year Entrepreneur Day because it is the only day we have to really catch up.  I for one appreciate the day to help wrap up another request from our customers.

In fact, we funded an entrepreneur in Texas that spent his Leap Year Day flying to California to pick up his new 2006 Cement Truck.  Upon his instructions we wired his vendor $173,500 by 10:00 AM and he started his drive back to Texas.  I bet he appreciated the extra day to get back to see his family.