PARSIPPANY — Daniel A. Scola, Jr., Managing Partner, Hoffmann & Baron, LLP, was a recent guest on Business RadioX.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Host Lee Kantor, Scola discussed the importance of protecting your intellectual property (IP), the different types of IP you could protect as a business owner, and the liabilities you could be exposed to if you do not protect your IP.

According to Scola, “We do a lot of work for large companies, universities, small companies, and startups. I love startups because when investors are looking to put money into new entities that’s where I feel I can be particularly creative and add value.”

Scola continues, “I have a lot of experience judging when something is going to be too close for comfort and that you need to make a change, so you don’t get into a situation which is uncomfortable, maybe a litigation or maybe someone saying the product isn’t differential enough.”

Hoffmann & Baron, LLP, works with a variety of companies; from entrepreneurial to global. For Scola, it’s about small businesses and startup companies. Scola elaborates, “I can tell you many examples where startup companies have come to me and to my firm and we’ve worked with them to develop an IP portfolio. The experience is very different compared to larger businesses with more developed strategies.”

To listen to the podcast click here.

Daniel A. Scola, Jr. is the managing partner of Hoffmann & Baron and also manages the chemical, pharmaceutical/biochemical, and medical device practice group in the New Jersey office. He has extensive experience in polymers, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. He specializes in building IP portfolios and designing strategies to protect and enhance company value. Previously, he was Counsel, patents, and trademarks as well as Assistant Corporate Secretary at The Warner-Lambert Co. and Intellectual Property Attorney at Loctite Corporation.

Prior to earning his law degree, Scola was an adhesive and composite materials engineer at the Pratt & Whitney Division of United Technologies.

Hoffmann & Baron is a full-service law firm specializing in all areas of intellectual property, both domestically and internationally. For almost four decades, the practice has become known for its unparalleled ability to protect and transform ideas into assets.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, not usually seen in the legal industry, the firm attracts world-class attorneys. Hoffmann & Baron is one of the few firms in the country to use a hybrid model to successfully meld its business side with its technology.

Hoffmann & Baron, LLP provides the most cost-effective approach to achieve the best favorable outcome for the client. Commercial success, efficiency, and discipline are their guides. Established in 1984 by co-founders Charles R. Hoffmann and Ronald J. Baron, the firm has offices in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. The firm is proud to serve clients around the globe in all scientific and engineering fields.

MORRIS COUNTY — Chris Ilic was a recent winner of Morris Now’s monthly contest. He won a $50.00 gift card to Delizia Pizza Kitchen. Tell your friends to download Morris Now, and they can be a winner too! Did I mention, everyone who downloads the APP will automatically receive a $10.00 IHOP Gift Card? The APP is available for FREE on Google Play and in the Apple store.

The Morris Now mobile app is more than just supporting our beloved locally-owned businesses. It’s about our entire community and the local residents that make the entire Morris County, New Jersey area a special place to live and work every day!

All the upcoming local events, venues, news, weather, school alerts, and local push notification messages will keep you fully informed about everything going on in the Morris County, New Jersey area. All-in-one, easy-to-use mobile app on your phone at no cost to download.

Our strong passion is also about supporting locally owned businesses, too! We encourage you to not only download our local app but to also use it to locate and support the men and women who own the local businesses in our town. By working together as a community, we can keep the local revenue from leaving the Morris County, New Jersey area by using our proximity-based technology!

Join us in making the Morris area a smarter community to live in while creating closer relationships within our community!

Please also know that our mobile app is proudly owned and operated right here in Parsippany! www.morrisnow.com

#shoplocal #shopmorriscounty

PARSIPPANY —  Dr. Dan Roses, DC, The Nest Family, Pediatric and Prenatal Chiropractic, participated in Staples Small Business Showcase on Saturday, January 21.

“Staples Small Business Showcase” is a member-only feature for Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC) members.  Member business and area non-profit groups can contact Frank Cahill at (973) 559-6000 if they are interested in participating in this program

Staples is located in the Arlington Shopping Center, 760 Route 46. Their store hours are Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can reach them by calling (973) 541-0300.

Dr. Dan Roses, DC, of The Nest, takes care of all ages through chiropractic with a specialty in pediatrics and prenatal care. Chiropractic is a holistic alternative to prescription medication and uses specific spinal adjustments to reduce the amount of interference in the nervous system. Dr. Dan is proficient in multiple chiropractic techniques, including Diversified, cox flexion-distraction, activator Sacro-occipital technique, and Gonstead, and is certified in the Webster Technique for chiropractic care in pregnancy.

The Nest Family, Pediatric, and Prenatal Chiropractic are located at 341 Smith Road.

PACC is a service organization for businesses, merchants, residents, and volunteers that provides education, information, and networking opportunities to the Parsippany Area. PACC works with our local and county governments and stands ready to pursue any matter that can make our community a better place in which to live, conduct business, and make a living. They promote a healthy and prosperous economic climate.

For more information on the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, click here.

PARSIPPANY — NXT LVL Barbershop held a grand opening ribbon cutting on Saturday, January 14. The new barbershop is located at 335 Smith Road.

Celebrating and cutting the ribbon with owner and Master Barber Brian Halpin was Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio, Parsippany-Troy Hills Council President Michael dePierro, Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani, Councilmen Paul Carifi, Jr., Frank Neglia, and Justin Musella. Representing Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Committee were Chairman Frank Cahill, Vice Chairman Dr. Bhagirath Maheta, and Secretary Raj Dichpally. In addition, Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce President Robert Peluso and Board members Nicolas Limanov and Ildiko Peluso. Morris County Commissioner Director John Krickus, Commoners Stephen Shaw, and Tayfun Selen.

Brian Halpin, 40, the owner and Master Barber of NXT LVL Barbershop, has been passionate about cutting hair since high school.

It started as a hobby, then became a passion, so he continued mastering the craft by working in shops throughout Morris County and completing barber school.

Growing up in Parsippany, he always admired how well the community ran with sports, education, etc. His vision was one day to be a part of it, servicing the community here in the heart of Parsippany. The vision is complete, and he looks forward to the future for the NXTLVL brand and me.

NXT LVL Barbershop was established in August 2022. At NXT LVL, they mastered a perfect blend of old-school traditional barbering with the modern twist of fading and sculpting shapes to complement facial structures.

They offer all types of services, from beards, hot towel shaves, and steamed facials. Customer service is the most important attribute, and they welcome everyone from children to adults. They have three 65-inch TVs playing the latest sports games. They offer complimentary drinks and treat every customer as royalty. They deserve the best.

NXT LVL Barbershop is a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.

Greeting cards are widely regarded as one of the best ways to stay in touch with loved ones. The best part is that greeting cards can be customized according to your needs and preferences! For instance, customizing a greeting card by Vista Create and gifting it to your parents must also have fallen victim to this digitization. This blog investigates whether the advancement of technology has rendered well-known greeting cards obsolete.

Do People Still Use Greeting Cards?

Statistics from the Greeting Cards Association say that each year, 6.5 billion greeting cards are bought. In the digital age, almost every single activity that requires manual labor and a lot of effort is replaced by laptops, mobile phones, and computers. Instead of sending out heartfelt letters, the current generation prefers to communicate using email.

Rather than meeting up with our loved ones to stay up to date on their lives, the current generation chooses to text or email them using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Therefore, which individual would choose to put in the effort and purchase, write, and deliver a postcard instead of emailing or texting their loved ones?

However, unlike what most people think, a significant proportion of people would rather put in the effort than text their loved ones. A greeting card is the best way to break through all the digital noise and break up the monotony of texts. Presently, the younger generation has been sending more greeting cards than the older generation did back in their days!

The current generation loves anything that falls into the “vintage” category. Ultimately, spending time writing a heartfelt note on coffee-scented paper, sealing it with a wax seal, and dropping it into the local mailbox is an activity that fits their aesthetic. Since every inch of their lives is surrounded by technology, prioritizing personal gestures like sending greeting cards helps them step out of the digital world for a brief while.

Why Has the Greeting Card Industry Declined?

Despite what we’ve talked about so far, the greeting card business is falling by 3% each year. Due to the decline in purchases, departmental stores like CVS and Walmart were left with no choice but to limit their display space for greeting cards.

Since we have established that the current generation’s interest in using greeting cards has not declined, the ultimate question is: what has led to the industry’s downfall? The answer to this question is quite simple. The advent of technology has not changed the interest in greeting cards. However, it has definitely changed the format greeting cards take.

Today’s generation loves handiwork and the idea of making greeting cards themselves and putting their love into them. During the pandemic, people were bound to the four walls of their residences. Due to the social networking revolution, people were unable to physically drive to stores and purchase cards to express their sentiments to loved ones.

Fortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic led to the discovery of online shopping. People now purchase greeting cards through online vendors or, better yet, customize them according to their needs and design their greeting cards themselves.

Customers are allowed to choose from thousands of designs and print them – all from the comfort of their homes. Individuals can even personalize the greeting card as per their needs. The current generation prefers to design their own card rather than deliver store-bought cards to their loved ones.

The vast majority of people tend to think that greeting cards are obsolete and are no longer appreciated. This statement holds no truth. If anything, the greeting card industry has grown in popularity, and the Covid-19 pandemic played a crucial role.

Conclusion

Greeting cards are all about the impact that they make. The current generation, or as they label themselves, Gen-Z, adores anything that fits their aesthetic. Receiving a heartfelt note from someone you love is an instant mood-changer. While some believe that texts can have a similar impact, that is not the case.

Texts often get hidden in the flood of notifications and are barely paid attention to. Yes, texts may help an individual experience an instant boost of serotonin. However, the happiness of receiving and reading a text is not constant. A greeting card or a thank-you note can be cherished and preserved for life and is much more personal.