Monthly Archives: February 2012

SafeMart Launches LiveWatch Customer Center for Home Security and Alarm Monitoring Customers

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CHICAGO, IL, Feb 21, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — The leading innovator in home security and alarm monitoring launched the LiveWatch Customer Center today. SafeMart developed the LiveWatch Customer Center to give home security and alarm monitoring customers the ability to customize information, confirm appointments, sign contracts and keep up to date on the latest information about system upgrades and new devices.

In addition to creating one place for customers to go for their own account information, it will provide resources to help customers find ways to improve their home security system. “We spent long hours discussing how customers will interact with the Customer Center and what information is valuable to them,” said Director of Web Development Joseph Mioni.

The LiveWatch Security Customer Center is another step towards SafeMart’s goal of making the delivery of home security seamless for the customer. Plug & Protect(TM) gives the user the ability to purchase, place and activate a customized home security system with alarm monitoring in the comfort of their own home and on their own schedule. The LiveWatch Customer Center takes this experience a step further by moving the contract signing, personalization of alarm monitoring information and future additions to the system online. SafeMart provides consulting to customize the system, review of alarm monitoring and technical support, but the addition of the LiveWatch Customer Center to Plug & Protect(TM) gives the customer the ability to complete portions of the process at their convenience.

“This is the most exciting product launch that we have had since Plug & Protect(TM). The platform will already be the most advanced in the industry and we plan to continue to add functionality as the year goes on,” said CEO Chris Johnson.

The LiveWatch Customer Center will go live today at 12:00pm CST to a select group of LiveWatch customers who have been selected to beta test the platform. Feedback from the beta testers will be reviewed by Mioni and the development team and the final version, LWCC 1.0, will go live before the end of February.

Video: Control Your Home From Anywhere at Any Time

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Do you want to have total control of your home?  The ability to access your home’s security system, door locks, thermostat, video, lights and more is here.  Click the title above to watch our most recent video about LiveWatch.

SafeMart Announces Leap Day Contest!

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SafeMart is excited to announce the Leap Day Contest!

The SafeMart Leap Day Contest:

To enter the drawing for a $29 iTunes gift card:
1) Read the Terms and Conditions (below)
2) Tweet your answer on Twitter (Tweet @SafeMart)
3) Post the answer on our FB wall
4) Wait for the announcement on March 1st to see if you won!

 

“There are three criteria that a calendar must meet in order to be a leap year.
The number must be evenly divisible by ____.  If the year can be evenly divided by 100, like 2000, it will not be a leap year unless it also happens to be divisible by ___.”

 

Question: What are the two missing numbers?

Terms and Conditions: Offer expires at 12:01am on 3/1/2012. Offer is only valid for Facebook users who have “liked” SafeMart or Twitter users who “follow” @SafeMart and who submit an answer by posting on our wall and / or Tweeting the answer with “@SafeMart” in the Tweet. Offer is only available for a limited time, while supplies last and may be canceled or modified at any time, subject to the sole discretion of LiveWatch Security, LLC (dba SafeMart). Maximum of 1 entry via Twitter and 1 entry via Facebook per customer (2 entries total).

Winner is selected by SafeMart from all qualified correct entries submitted by the deadline. If the winner does not redeem their gift certificate within 48 hours of SafeMart announcing the winner, the winner will forfeit the right to redeem the prize detailed below.

There is 1 iTunes gift certificate available with a balance of $29 which will be awarded to the person who answers “The SafeMart Leap Day Contest” correctly and who fulfills the above requirements. This gift certificate is subject to all terms and conditions specified by Apple Inc or any other vendor who is involved in the distribution or redemption of the gift certificate. The gift certificate is not redeemable for cash.

Customizable Home Security by SafeMart: Three Flat in NYC

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Natalie Lee and Shannon Wood got a SafeMart system when they moved into a three flat in New York City. Living alone, the two women feel safer knowing if anything goes wrong, help will be on the way.
“When we get home at night we want to be sure there’s no one in our apartment,” Wood said. “We live in a fairly safe neighborhood, but it’s still New York City and we get a feeling of safety from the system.”
Lee and Wood installed motion sensors in the living room and each bedroom which assure that no one is there without their knowledge, in addition to door sensors and light modules.  They also use the light modules so that they can remotely turn the lights on before they come home, adding an extra level of security.

Just a few years ago, Wood and Lee would never have thought about purchasing a security system for their flat. But with technology and the SafeMart line of products quickly evolving to meet their needs, it was an obvious choice when they moved in together.

“You don’t need to have kids to need a home security system now,” Lee said. “You just need to want a little safety and peace of mind.”

Customizable Home Security by SafeMart: Single Male Living Alone

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Anderson and his family may be the most common type of people to need a home security system, but the incredible technological advances made over the last decade have opened up home security systems to a wider range of people than ever before.

Matt Connolly had never seriously considered getting a security system because he lived alone in an apartment building with a doorman in downtown Chicago.  But when a friend told him about some of the new security products, it suddenly made sense.

Connolly uses his home security system with emPower in a different way than the typical family.  He uses a system with carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, flood sensors, pan tilt cameras and Schlage door handles to ensure his apartment is safe. Even though it’s a home security system, Matt doesn’t have a single component that protects a door or window because he lives in an apartment building with a doorman.  Even with all of the advanced featured, he was also able to set the system up wirelessly and on his own because of Plug & Protect™.
One of the biggest concerns for Connolly is protecting his apartment from fires and carbon monoxide, so the system provides a sense of protection.  Another worry for Connolly is that residents in surrounding apartments could cause damage to his apartment, a fear that his new line of home security products has calmed.
“Other people in the building have had flooding from the people who live above them,” he said. “So the flood detector was a must because it allows me to always be sure there won’t be water pouring through my ceiling.”
Meanwhile, the Schlage door handle provides assurance that only people with his permission get into the apartment. With this easy to set-up device, Connolly is able to let friends who are in from out of town in to his apartment without leaving a key.  When the cleaning woman comes to tidy up his apartment, he simply gives her a unique code and knows when she comes and goes.
While Connolly uses the system to make sure his apartment isn’t damaged, and to let his friends in and out, home security systems can be just as important for those with security concerns.

Customizable Home Security by SafeMart: Suburban Family

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There are thousands of ways to use a home security system.  Our next 3 posts will be about a few specific examples of people using their home security system specifically for their needs.

When Frank Anderson moved his family into a suburban Scottsdale, Ariz. house, one of his most pressing concerns was safety. With two young children and a wife moving into an aging house, Anderson decided not to leave anything to chance and to purchase a home security system.

“It was really about peace of mind,” Anderson said. “This is the first time we’ve lived in a house as a family and I didn’t want to have to worry about if my kids were safe at home.”  So Anderson opted for the total home security package.  He installed sensors at the doors, windows and to detect motion or if glass breaks, in addition to cameras, wireless smoke detectors, a thermostat and Schlage door handles.  And, by opting for the Simon XT with emPower service, Anderson was able to use SafeMart’s unique Plug & Protect™ installation service. This enabled Anderson to place all of these advanced features on his own without wires, hassle or relying on a high priced installer to oversee the installation. “That made a huge difference to me,” Anderson said. “If I’m getting a home security system for my family, why would I let an installer I don’t know into the house to do it?”

Anderson also chose the Schlage door handles so that he can let contractors into his house throughout the day—even when he’s out—without giving them keys to the home. By using Simon XT with empower, Anderson will be able to remotely control all his services easily and wirelessly, meaning that even when he’s away from home he still knows his children are safe and secure.

Perhaps the most important features in protecting his children are the remotely accessible cameras he installed. Now, Anderson can check in throughout the day to see that everything is well at home. “The whole system is so advanced, but it was still very intuitive and easy to install,” he said. “It was really as easy as taking a computer out of the box and plugging it in.  The whole system was ready to go.”

SafeMart Home Security Sponsors Safety and Customers Win

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CHICAGO, IL, Feb 07, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — SafeMart, The Official Sponsor of Safety™ asked thousands that have purchased LiveWatch alarm monitoring to vote for which team would score a safety in the big game this weekend. Although very rare, it only took New York one defensive play to score a safety. The SafeMart customers who participated in SafeMart’s promotion and chose the Giants were rewarded with a month of free alarm monitoring.

“We have always tried to move our business in a way that delivers a better experience for our customers,” Chris Johnson, CEO of SafeMart, said. “That mindset is what created Plug & Protect™ and it’s what drove us to engage with our customers with a promotion for the big game in Indianapolis.”

After all, “Customers decide how they’ll engage with companies, how they’ll receive information about promotions and new products, and how they’ll get answers to questions about existing products. We wanted to see how our customers would react to a promotion centered around a big event. The response was really exciting,” said Director of Customer Loyalty Sam McBride.

SafeMart ran the promotion free of charge as a benefit for current customers, with hundreds of submissions pouring in overnight. “We believe in interacting on a personal level with our customers. We want them to know that we are listening and that we will continue to open channels of communication on different platforms,” said McBride. “We also believe in thanking our customers for their loyalty, which the ‘SafeMart Safety’ promotion did.”

By last Saturday night, SafeMart had hundreds of responses from excited customers who hoped to have something extra to cheer for on Sunday. As it turned out, the game played out perfectly for the customers who favored New York and SafeMart has rewarded the hundreds of customers who won.

About SafeMart: SafeMart has redefined home security. Delivering revolutionary protection and peace of mind, SafeMart delights customers across the country. SafeMart leads the industry with its interactive Plug & Protect(TM) wireless alarm system that empowers customers with cutting edge protection and control. SafeMart provides an unbeatable value and exceptional service with its award-winning LiveWatch alarm monitoring service. SafeMart is the most recommended security company in America.

Five Most Dangerous Cities In America

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According to 2010 data, the metropolitan areas of Detroit and Memphis topped Forbes’ annual list of “America’s Most Dangerous Cities”. The list gathered data from the FBI’s 2010 crime report and focused on metropolitan statistical areas (MSA), large cities with suburbs surrounding them, of populations north of 200,000. Forbes compiled the list according to data the FBI categorizes as violent crimes, consisting of murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

This list focuses on property crimes—burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft. These five MSA have over 5,000 property crimes per 100,000 inhabitants and all of them have robbery crimes over the national average (the only large MSA with over 5,000 property crimes to not make the list is Spokane, WA with 5,039.2). The US as a whole has a property crime rate of 2,941.9.

Note:

  • All numbers are per 100,000 residents
  • If a crime is both a violent crime and property crime, it is recorded as a violent crime.


5) Fayetteville, NC

With a property crime rate of 5,221.4 and a robbery rate of 168.8, the Fayetteville, NC area, which includes Cumberland and Hoke Counties, starts off the list as the best of the worst. The area is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a major US Army base, and the Pope Army Air Field, both located in the city of Fayetteville. In 2008 the city was declared “The World’s First Sanctuary for Military Families” and TIME magazine declared it America’s Most Pro-Military Town”. Despite the military presence, the city of Fayetteville has a property crime rate over double the national average—6,033. Fayetteville’s robbery rate of 168.8 is higher than the national average.


4) San Antonio, TX

The Greater San Antonio region is the largest MSA to make the list—boasting over 2 million citizens—and is a popular tourist destination, with over 20 million tourists visiting the city every year. The population as a whole has a property crime rate of 5,233.1, due largely to crimes in the city of San Antonio. San Antonio differs from other large cities in that it doesn’t have independent suburban cities surrounding it, causing a high density rate inside the city which could be a factor affecting the crime rate.


3) Macon, GA

Macon, GA is the first of two Georgia MSAs to make the list. Including Bibb, Crawford, Jones, Monroe and Twiggs Counties, Macon has a property crime rate of 5,334.1 and a robbery rate of 155.6. The median household income in the city is $27,405 and over 25.5% of the population is below the poverty line, a probable influence on the high rate of theft.


2) Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach, SC is a popular tourist destination, attracting an estimated 14.6 million visitors each summer. Its economy is built on the tourist industry; the area has approximately 450 hotels and 120 golf courses and is marketed largely as a family-friendly destination. Largely unbeknownst to tourists, the city of Myrtle Beach has a theft rate of 113 per 1,000! Muggings and pick pocketing are common crimes against tourists and could explain the high rate of theft, which makes up most of the property crimes in this MSA.


1) Columbus GA

Columbus, GA is this years property crime capital, with the highest theft rate in the nation—5,824.6. The MSA includes Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion and Muscogee Counties in GA and Russell County in AL. The city of Columbus is home to 64% of the total population, and has a theft rate of 49.1 per 1,000 residents and a burglary rate of 18.8 per 1,000 residents.

SafeMart Home Security Named Stevie Award Finalist for Best Customer Service

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Just a month into 2012, SafeMart has already secured another award for having the best e-Commerce Customer Service in the country. SafeMart has been named a finalist for The Stevie Awards e-Commerce Customer Service Award. In this nationwide competition, SafeMart Home Security will either win a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal for having one of the top three e-Commerce Customer Service teams in the nation.The Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service recognizes the accomplishments of sales, customer service, and call and contact center professionals in companies all around the world. As a finalist for the e-Commerce Customer Service Award, SafeMart is recognized for not only its customer service, but also its innovative use of online technology and social media.Joe Thomas, SafeMart Director of Customer Service and Support, said, “We pride ourselves on attention to detail with every phone call. Being nominated for a Stevie Award for customer service is an honor, and we are really excited about it, but it won’t slow us down—each call presents a new opportunity to ‘wow’ a customer with great service.”The world’s premiere business awards, The Stevie Awards organizes the American Business Awards, the International Business Awards, The Stevie Awards for Women in Business and The Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service. This is the sixth annual Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service, and this year The Stevie Awards are presenting Silver and Bronze Stevie awards along with the first-place Gold.Of the more than 1,000 organizations that submitted entries, finalists were chosen based on an average score from 93 worldwide professionals. Past winners of Stevie Awards include E*Trade, AT&T and SalesForce.com.   This year’s award winners will be revealed at an awards banquet in Las Vegas on February 27.

“Our goal is not to ‘satisfy’ the customer, but to deliver such a great experience that they are delighted. In this case, they can’t wait to tell their friends and family,” SafeMart CEO Chris Johnson said. “We want people to walk away from every interaction with SafeMart knowing that we did everything possible to take care of their needs.”

In addition to a nomination for the e-Commerce Customer Service Award, SafeMart will be included in the voting for the People’s Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite Customer Service. Online voting for each category will take place from mid-January to early February.