Business Observer

+ Keller Williams bolsters luxury efforts
Keller Williams Realty of Manatee announced recently that Roberta Burish will facilitate the Luxury Homes arm of the company.

Dedicated to serving the high-end home market, the members-only division offers eligible associates extensive training and a luxury home designation. 

“We are excited about bringing this distinctive level of service to our area,” said Team Leader Cindy Warren. “Roberta along with Dale Key will focus their efforts on assisting clients in the fast growing luxury home market.

The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing will provide the educational requirement as part of a continuing partnership with Keller Willams. For more information, visit Keller Williams Realty online at www.kw.com.

+ Prudential agent wins Medallion hunt
Pat McMillan, of Prudential Lakewood Ranch Realty, recently received a weekend stay at the Longboat Key Club for winning in Medallion Home’s Treasure Hunt campaign.

To qualify, McMillan followed a treasure map that included model tours of each of the local builder’s neighborhoods. By visiting all of the locations on the map, Pat was qualified to enter and won the drawing for the Longboat Key Club getaway. The package includes accommodations for two, dinner at the resort’s restaurants and a spa treatment at the Island Spa House.

For more, visit www.MedallionHome.com.

+ Publix Supermarkets adopt new coupon policy
Publix Supermarkets have adopted a formal coupon policy that will become effective May 23.

The policy states Publix will accept manufacturer’s coupons (one per item), Publix coupons (no copies), valid Internet coupons and coupons from nearby competitors identified by each Publix store. For competitor’s coupons, each store will post accepted competitor’s names at the store.

Publix will accept coupons from competing pharmacies for prescriptions only, not percent-off items. It also only will accept coupons for identical merchandise it sells.

Manager approval is needed for individual coupons more than $5.

The supermarket will continue offering buy-one-get-one sales, with each item being considered a separate sale. It will accept a manufacturer’s coupon and either a Publix or a competitor coupon at the same time.

+ Neal Communities ranked in top 100
BUILDER Magazine has ranked Neal Communities No. 94 among homebuilders in the United States based on number of closings in 2010.

With 272 closings, this represents a 55% increase over 2009, when the company was ranked No. 126. It is one of only two privately owned, Florida builders on the list.

“I am very proud of our team,” said Pat Neal, president of Neal Communities. “This is the first time we have made it on the top 100 list. We have continued to work hard, move forward, create new communities and we have even hired more people, all in efforts of preparing for the uptick.”

Neal Communities celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2010, successfully opened three communities, including Central Park at Lakewood Ranch, which has sold over 100 homes in less than nine months. The builder also started building in Sarasota County and added four new divisions within its family of companies: Neal Signature Homes, John Neal Homes, Charlene Neal pureStyle and Waterscapes Pool & Spas.

For more, visit nealcommunities.com.