Moms have always held a special place in our hearts, long before a date was designated in their honor. Ancient Greeks and Romans held festivals to honor maternal goddesses. Early Christians began their own tradition of honoring the Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ, during Lent season. Lilium Floral Design, a Park Place Preferred Partner, and our clients’ go-to custom floral designer shares the history of Mothers Day as it is associated with the gift of giving floral bouquets.
In the 17th century, England expanded this practice to include all mothers, calling it Mothering Sunday. Following a special prayer service, children would bring gifts and flowers to pay tribute to their own mothers.
Today’s moms can thank Julia Ward Howe for visualizing Mother’s Day as we know it in the United States. In the late 1800s, Howe, an abolitionist, suffragette and writer famous for penning the Battle Hymn of the Republic, suggested a national celebration of mothers that would be dedicated to peace. She encouraged women to rise up against war in her Mothers Day Proclamation and initiated Mothers’ Peace Day. It was Anna Jarvis, however, who took the concept to the next level. Jarvis, who had no children of her own but wanted to honor her own mother, lobbied for Mother’s Day to be named an official holiday. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated in 46 countries. While many have their own unique traditions, it customary to honor mothers with flowers, cards, gifts and family meals. In Australia, carnations are worn–red or pink carnations honor a mom still living, and white is worn in memory of a mom who is deceased. Chrysanthemums are also a popular choice because Australian mothers are typically called “Mum.” Japanese children present their mothers with red carnations, which represent gentle strength. Here in the U.S., we tend to select flowers we know are mom’s favorites. The Spring season offers many blooms, including roses, tulips, hydrangea, hyacinths, lilies, and orchids.
While Lilium is a custom florist, Mother’s Day is one occasion when we do design a menu from which customers can order. This ensures we have an ample supply of fresh Spring florals to meet the high demand of this special day. To view our 2018 Mother’s Day designs, visit our website. Orders may be placed online, or by calling 817-481-1565.
Lilim Florals is one of our newest preferred partners, so as a Park Place client we encourage you to visit them and take advantage of some exclusive offers and opportunities.
Park Place Select hones in on your individual experiences, from date nights to your daily commute. For a monthly fee (insurance and maintenance included), you’ll have the option to flip between some of the world’s finest automobiles all from the Park Place Select mobile app.
It’s simple- tell us where you want to go and what kind of experience you’re trying to have, and our concierge will deliver the perfectly matched model and make to a location convenient for you. For example, are you in the mood for a “sporty cruise?” Tell us how many seats you need, why you need a vehicle, and any other details you may find important. You may not be able to pick exactly what vehicle you want, but with our tiers, you’ll have plenty of options available to excite even the most mundane commutes.
Hesham Elgaghil, our Vice President of Strategic Growth, has been with Park Place for a little over 18 years and is the picture of what dedication, hard work, and relentless pursuit can bring you in a company like Park Place Dealerships. Born in Cairo, Egypt, Hesham and his family moved to the USA when he was three years old- a gesture he will always admire his parents for.
“[My parents] sacrificed family, language, traditions, careers, successes etc. and so much from their life in Egypt so that both I and my sister would have a fair opportunity to succeed in life here in the US.”
Although he didn’t start at the top, his 18-year journey through Park Place has made him that much more of an asset to the future of the Park Place luxury group. In November of 2000, Hesham first joined Park Place Motorcars Mid-Cities, now known as Motorcars Grapevine, until 2005. From 2005 to November 2015, he spearheaded the sales efforts at Park Place Motorcars Dallas, performing the role of General Sales Manager, helping the team achieve a top 5 national ranking. Hesham went on to lead efforts to create Park Place’s seamless future retail environment, now known as the “One Touch” experience, while also being responsible for the staffing and opening of Park Place Motorcars in Arlington. He held the position of General Manager for Park Place’s Arlington location from November 2015 to September 2017.
Hesham has most recently cemented himself as one of our newest members of the leadership team as the Vice President of Strategic Growth & Business Development. One of the first items on his list is assisting in the launch of our newest automotive offering, Park Place Select, Texas’ first-ever multi-manufacturer, automotive subscription service offered by a dealership group.
With 18 years of memories, his most prevalent one is when his Park Place family reached out to assist him during one of the most difficult times of his life- when his mother was ill.
“As she passed on, Robert Morris (General Manager of Motorcars Dallas) and Zach Gilbert (New Car Sales Director at Motorcars Dallas) attended her funeral. I will always be grateful for the kindness that was extended to me during the most difficult moment of my life.
His successes are the product of hard work and passions that have driven his performance year after year. One of those passions is his love of sports, primarily basketball. Basketball taught Hesham “commitment, focus, discipline, sacrifice, strategy, anticipation, and most of all, to appreciate and embrace the struggle that comes with the pursuit of success.”
“I have a passion to reach my potential as a person, father, husband and member. Because of my parents’ sacrifice I have no excuse not to succeed. I’ve been fortunate to have the perfect example of hard work, sacrifice, and determination. My parents taught me that giving anything less than 100% of my best effort is unacceptable.”
So as we move into 2018, what does our Vice President of Strategic Growth think about Park Place’s competitive advantage in the luxury automotive market? Well, he sees nothing but success as we continue to connect the present to the future. “While our core will remain the same, we will continue to challenge ourselves by developing innovative strategies and coupling them with brilliant technologies…working to uncover the next future retail environment, just as we did with our One Touch Sales Process.”
In closing, Hesham touches on the various new programs introduced to the public in 2018:
“Several new Park Place strategies are paired with dynamic technologies and powered by artificial intelligence. One to note is our Park Place Select vehicle subscription app. The app uses artificial intelligence to learn and store client preferences. The end result is a machine learning that will understand subscriber preferences and assist us in our evolution of providing meaningful experiences to our clients.”
Using the new seamless integrated in-control technology and its two 10-inch infotainment screens, you stay connected, informed, and entertained whether you are heading to the opera, the open road, or the dirt road. It’s a vehicle that looks equally great, whether in motion or sitting still- introducing the all-new 2018 Range Rover Sport.
Jaguar’s first ever compact SUV is sure to excite the senses. It’s the perfect in-city SUV with its ability to maneuver in tight parking spaces; compared to the F-Pace it shaves off 13 inches in length and about 3 inches in width. It’s really one of the most thrilling compact SUV’s you will ever pilot.
Park Place Dealerships’ Selection Committee has extended registration for the second annual Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase, to be held Saturday, October 13, 2018, at the Four Seasons Resort & Club Dallas at Las Colinas. The Collectors’ Concours is our first stop on the #RoadtoSupercar.
“We were thrilled with the cars that participated in our inaugural event last year,” said Jed Siddle, Park Place Premier Collection Parts Manager and a member of the Selection Committee for the Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase. “This year, we are expanding the Collectors Showcase onto the fairway of the TPC Four Seasons Championship golf course. We’ve increased the number of classes and the number of awards as well. We’ll also have a Club Concours for car clubs to participate and engage with other car enthusiasts.” Registration is now open.
To submit a vehicle for consideration, visit www.luxurysupercarshowcase.com and click on Register Vehicle. The show is limited to 150 selected cars that register and are approved by the Selection Committee. Registration has been extended to September 15th to submit cars to the Collector’s Concours. There will be a $75 entry fee per vehicle, which includes two VIP All-Access Passes ($200 Value), car signage and show credentials, among other benefits. For more information on registration, email info.showcase@10.2.54.33.
Trophies designed by Dallas sculptor Brad Oldham, best known for the Traveling Man installation in Deep Ellum, will be awarded to Best of Show, Chairman’s Choice and Salesmanship Club Choice winners. Awards will be given to Best In Class winners in each of the 10 classes. Trophies will also be awarded for First and Second Place winners in each class.
The luxury lifestyle event benefits the Momentous Institute, owned and operated by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas since 1920, which is committed to building and repairing social and emotional health for children. Each year, the organization serves more than 6,000 children and family members through its nationally acclaimed Momentous School and innovative Therapeutic Services.
Last year’s inaugural event featured more than 100 cars from private collectors in the Collector’s Showcase, including a 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra once owned by Carroll Shelby, a ‘54 Jaguar XK120SE, ‘57 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, ‘60 Porsche 356B Roadster, ’71 DeTomaso Pantera, ‘72 Fiat Dino Spider, 2010 Aston Martin DBS, 2015 Lamborghini Huracan, among others.
Mark Connor with his 1967 Shelby GT 500
The 2017 Collector’s Showcase winners included: Best In Show – 1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost; Chairman’s Choice Award – 1938 Bugatti 57C Atalante; Salesmanship Club Choice Award – 1952 MG Roadster; Best In Class – VINTAGE – 1933 MG Magna L-Type Racer; Best In Class – CLASSIC – 1996 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo; Best In Class – CONTEMPORARY– 2009 Aston Martin DBS; Best In Class – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR – 2009 Koenigsegg CCXR.
John Ridings Lee winner of the “Chairman’s Choice Award” for his 1938 Bugatti 57C Atalante
Park Place represents some of the most coveted manufacturers in the world, including Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Maserati, McLaren, Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover and Lotus, which will be featured at the event.
The Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase, which sold out in its inaugural year, is open to the public with tickets ranging from $25 – $50 for general admission and $100 for VIP All Access, including the VIP Lounge with complimentary food and beverages. Tickets are available online at LuxurySupercarShowcase.com.
The 2018 event will feature fashion from Highland Park Village, live music, specialty boutiques, and a Kid’s Concours area presented by Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, featuring the North Texas Diecast Collectors Club’s interactive Hot Wheels track, freshly popped popcorn, soda pop truck and games. Many of Dallas’ favorite food trucks will also be on scene providing a vast array of delicious options.
Partners to date include the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, Urban Realty Allie Beth Allman & Associates – A Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate, Celebrity Cruises, Absolut Elyx, GH Mumm Champagne, Hill & Wilkinson, Irving CVB and Irving Chamber, The Trade Group, Brad Oldham Sculpture, Hagerty Insurance, Perks & Provisions, Lilium Florals, Lisa R. Daniels, Digital 3 Printing, Fauxcades, Promo Resources, Sunnyland Outdoor Furniture, ExxonMobil, Dealer Industries, Garages of Texas, D Magazine, NBC 5, as well as Patron Magazine.
Participating restaurants featured in the VIP lounge include LAW, OUTLAW Taproom, Dallas Chop House Burger, Dallas Fish Market, Wild Salsa, Oven and Cellar, Taverna, Bistro 31, K?i, Toulouse Café and Bar, Lombardi Family Catering, Cool River Café, III Forks Restaurant, Frost 321 and Make Your Life Sweeter as well as several restaurants from our 2018 partners Chef’s For Farmers.
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,100 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Lotus, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Bugatti, McLaren, and Maserati. A new Porsche dealership will open in Grapevine this summer. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
It’s nice to work in an industry in which the products and services we provide bring happiness to others. We see firsthand the smiles when a Park Place client is taking delivery of their newest, customized ride, or when a Lilium flower arrangement is delivered. Rutgers University recently conducted a 10-month behavioral study that explored the link between flowers and life satisfaction. Findings tell us that flowers and color are a natural moderator of moods and have strong positive effects on emotional health- social.
According to the Rutgers researchers, the presence of flowers provides the following benefits:
Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness. All study participants, in every age group, expressed excitement when receiving flowers. Reactions included surprise, genuine happiness, and gratitude.
Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods. Study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious, and agitated after receiving flowers. They also demonstrated a greater sense of life satisfaction.
Flowers create intimate connections. Giving and receiving flowers creates positive contact between family and friends.
In the Rutgers’ study, the subjects received deliveries of flowers and other gifts, such as fruit and candles. While most deliveries received a positive response, the highest response rate occurred to flowers. Their studies showed that the positive feelings lasted two to three days.
One experiment involved measuring reactions of both men and women receiving a flower in a public elevator. The most common social behavior in an elevator is to get as much distance from the other occupants as possible. However, when the experimenter offered a single flower to each of the occupants, their demeanor changed. They moved closer to the presenter and to one another. The experiment was repeated using promotional pens as stimuli, but the pens did not receive the same response. It may be concluded that there is something about receiving flowers that draws people closer together.
Color Characteristics
In addition, color plays a big part in the emotion conveyed when sending flowers. According to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, “Our response to color is intensely emotional, and flowers can be a catalyst for feelings that stimulate more than just our senses of sight and smell.”
Tradition dictates that certain flowers and colors are associated with specific occasions. However, in terms of emotional health, color choices take on different meanings.
Red, traditionally associated with love and romance, has a positive effect on the immune system. Consider sending red flowers to someone who has recently had surgery, or experienced and illness. Red is also an energizing color for those who suffer from fatigue or exhaustion.
Violet has a calming effect on the mind and nerves. It is uplifting and encourages creativity.
Yellow, psychologically, is the happiest color in the spectrum. It symbolizes the sun and invokes happy and radiant feelings. It is a friendly color that encourages communication. Yellow also stimulates the memory and the nervous system.
Orange conveys optimism and encourages socialization. It is also associated with determination and success.
Blue is most often named as a favorite color. Just as the blue sky and the blue ocean are considered constants in our world, blue is perceived as dependable and trustworthy. Blue invokes feelings that are calm, cool and sedate.
As the most common color present in the natural world, green creates a feeling of tranquility. It conveys a sense of freshness and renewal. Green also signifies prosperity and progress.
Do you know someone who could use a lift today? Or maybe you could use an emotional boost yourself. Draw upon the power of flowers to improve your emotional health or that of someone you love. Call or stop by Lilium, or visit our website, to select the perfect arrangement.
Lilim Florals is one of our newest preferred partners, so as a Park Place client we encourage you to visit them and take advantage of some exclusive offers and opportunities.
Click the logo below to view Lilium’s floral offerings.
Hundreds of Stars fans turned out for the 19th annual Dallas Stars Casino Night at Park Place Lexus Plano. The event raised $350,000, making it one of the most successful Casino Nights in its 19-year history for the Dallas Stars Foundation. The Star-studded event featured the entire Stars hockey team serving as casino dealers, including players, coaches, play-by-play announcers, and front office staff.
“Casino Night is our largest annual fundraiser for the Dallas Stars Foundation,” said Grady Raskin, Executive Director of the Dallas Stars Foundation. “Because of the generosity of our fans and sponsors like Park Place Lexus, we are able to support many different initiatives that make our community a better place to live. The long-term impact for the kids in our community is what pushes us to raise much needed funds.”
DJ S.O.U.L Jah entertained the crowd as fans bid on a selection of autographed memorabilia, including jerseys from current and former Dallas Stars players, as well as unique experience packages such as the opportunity to travel with the Stars team to an away game. Guests enjoyed a delicious buffet from III Forks Steakhouse, Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Tastings and a diamond bar provided by J. Patrick Diamonds, Inc.
“Park Place Dealerships is proud of our long-standing relationship with the Dallas Stars Foundation,” said Jordan Case, President of Park Place Lexus. “Our clients always have a great time and enjoy the exclusive access to the Stars players and coaches. The players always seem to be having just as much fun as their fans. The money raised helps the Dallas Stars Foundation help kids throughout North Texas.”
Park Place Lexus Plano is located at 6785 Dallas Parkway, on the southwest corner of the Dallas North Tollway and Spring Creek.
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,100 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Lotus, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Bugatti, McLaren, and Maserati. A new Porsche dealership will open in Grapevine this summer. For more info, visit parkplace.com.
“Park Place Select will transform the way drivers in Dallas/Fort Worth engage in the luxury automotive category,” said Ken Schnitzer, chairman and CEO of Park Place Dealerships. From date nights to family vacations, and work events to daily errands or social engagement, Park Place Select is a subscription service that is all about your experience.
1. Park Place Select is the first subscription service offered by a dealership group in Texas.
Park Place Dealerships is pioneering a new kind of vehicle experience as the first dealership group in Texas to offer a full-service subscription service. Anyone who is 26 or older, with a valid drivers license and a clean driving record is eligible to participate. It’s a unique, innovative offering and your experts in excellence are excited to offer you an alternative to traditional car ownership or leasing.
2. Your experience is our number one priority- and that’s a guarantee.
Experience luxury and convenience as soon as you download the Select app and your personal concierge will get to work to ensure you receive the right vehicle when you need it. Do you need at least four seats and room for luggage? What about Navigation and blue-tooth? Temperature set at 68 degrees? By 3 PM on Friday? Done. Park Place is Your Place, so simply tell us your needs, your preferences, and the occasion, and our concierge will do the rest.
3. Unlimited flips are available at all three tiers.
We offer three tiers of vehicle subscription- Prime ($895/month), Plus ($1395/mo), and Premium ($1795/month). Whether it’s Monday afternoon or Friday evening, Select offers unlimited vehicle changes (or flips) to all Select clients. So in theory, if you are a Premium member, you could drive a Maserati to work on Monday, a Porsche to dinner on Thursday night, and then flip to a Range Rover on Friday afternoon for your spontaneous weekend road trip Saturday morning. Unlimited flips with a competitive price paired with a Park Place Concierge experience? It’s a perfect match only made in Texas.
4. Maintenance and insurance are included in the monthly fee.
No longer pay for maintenance and insurance on your luxury auto- the Select fees are all-inclusive, covering those pesky costs that are associated with traditional vehicle ownership like roadside assistance, oil changes, major repairs, and cleaning. All you have to worry about is filling up the tank and pressing the gas (or brake when appropriate). Park Place Select isn’t just a subscription service, it’s peace of mind.
5. You can still participate and subscribe even if you live outside our service area.
Our service area applies to where we can actually flip your vehicle. Do you live in Rockwall, Prosper, or Denton but frequently commute to our Select service area? Each subscription allotts for 1,667/miles per month (20,000 per year), so as long as you are driving within 300 miles of our Plano radius point, you can then drive the vehicle to and fro until your next flip.
McLaren Automotive is to offer a track-only version of its newest Ultimate Series model, the McLaren Senna. Unveiled at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show, the McLaren Senna GTR Concept produces more power and torque than the road-legal McLaren Senna and achieves the quickest McLaren lap times outside Formula 1.
A few months ago, McLaren unveiled their most extreme street-legal track car and all 500 units have already been sold. This past month at the Geneva Auto Convention, McLaren made another bold statement releasing a track-only version of the Senna- the McLaren Senna GTR, which will cost $1.4 million.
Only 75 of the most extreme McLaren will go to production, providing “The very limited number of customers who secure this car will be buying the closest experience you can get to a race car without actually lining up on a circuit grid,” McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt said in a press release.
The Senna series is inspired by one of McLaren’s greatest racing drivers, “utterly dedicated to allowing the driver to be the best they can possibly be.” The exact technical details of $1.4 million dollar vehicle will be released later this year, but what we do know is that while the McLaren Senna GTR will weight a similar 1, 198kg as its street legal predecessor (see video below), it will be even faster.
“The McLaren Senna GTR Concept unveiled in Geneva is not the finished article but it does give a clear indication of our thinking for the car, which promises to be the most extreme and exciting McLaren to drive for many years, if not ever.” –Design Engineering Director, Dan Parry-Williams.
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