Happy National S'mores Day!

Today, Wednesday, August 10, is National S'mores Day! This delicious holiday comes at the perfect time of summer. It reminds us to enjoy time outside with friends and family on a beautiful warm night one last time before the back-to-school routine!

For many, lasting memories are made around a fire pit with the help of these ooey-gooey classic American treats. Here at Benny's we LOVE s'mores, and we've got everything you need to fire up your own.

Smorpak

Your conveniently located Benny's stores have s'mores products that are just as convenient! Our favorite is the Smorpak, an item that includes SmorStix, marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers all in one (everything but the fire)! We have all of these items individually as well, from your favorite brands like Honey Maid graham crackers or Hershey's chocolate bars! Here are a couple of unique ways to "spice up" your s'more recipe:

• Pick up a pack of DELICIOUS toasted coconut marshmallows at Benny's, and substitute these yummy treats for original marshmallows.
• Switch your Hershey's chocolate bar our for a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup to create a s'more for the peanut butter lover!
• Use chocolate graham crackers to make double chocolate s'mores!
• Add a dab of peanut butter and a few banana slices to your traditional s'more for a colossal treat!

We hope you treat yourself today!

Your Favorite Store,

Benny's

Victory Day 2011

What is Victory Day? Rhode Islanders get a state holiday on the second Monday of August each summer. So what's the "victory" anyway, and why are we the only state in the union that celebrates this day?

Victory Day is celebrated in honor of the anniversary of the Allies' victory over Japan during World War II. Japan's surrender during the second week of August 1945 determined the placement of the official state holiday as the second Monday in August. Rhode Island was the only state in the union to adopt the celebration as an official state holiday, and held its first Victory Day in 1948. Rhode Island still celebtrates the holiday as a tribute to the large number of sailors it sent and lost in the Pacific front. Victory Day is observed in order to commemorate the brave veterans who sacrificed for their country during the Second World War.

While Victory Day is a controversial state holiday, it is a day every summer that families can spend a long weekend together. This Victory Day, we hope that you and your family enjoy some outdoor fun. Make one more trip to Benny's for those last-minute summer essentials, like outdoor furniture, camping, beach, and pool items before you return to shop for back-to-school supplies!

The "Victory Day Kissing Photo"

Benny's: Your Summer Camping Gear Headquarters

For many families, camping trips are a summer tradition. Camping is a great way to gather together and escape into nature, away from all of the distractions in today's world such as computers, media, and Internet. These technologies have significantly changed our lifestyle, so every once and a while it's great to slow down and enjoy simplicity. At Benny's we can provide you with everything you need for a camping weekend in Southern New England.

Now through Saturday, July 30th, Benny's is holding its big annual summer clearance, making it the best time to pick up your must-have camping items.

Here is a great camping gear checklist from Benny's:

• Tent - right now, you'll save $5 to $10 on each! We've got high quality dome tents that fit 2, 3 or 4 campers, starting at $14.99.
• Tarp - We've got a large assortment in many colors and sizes; pick up one to cover your outdoor patio furniture too!
• Air beds - Our assortment of twin, full, or queen comfortable air beds are available at reduced prices. We LOVE the amazing air beds with built-in electric pumps (they inflate and deflate in less than 3 minutes, and come in a storage bag!)

• Air pump - During our clearance, save $5 on this camping tool.
• Sleeping bag - We have youth and adult sizes available in store!
• Outdoor folding mesh chairs - Starting at just $7.99, all chairs come with a cup holder and easy carry storage pouch. Lounge or canopy chair varieties are also in store.
• Life vests - At Benny's you'll find youth and adult sizes, even some with favorite characters, like Dora the Explorer (well, those only come in kids' sizes).
• "Outdoor kitchen" accessories, coolers, and fire starting materials.
• Nuts for the trail mix, Hershey's bars, marshmallows, graham crackers for smores, and jugs of water.

• A utility knife, rope, and flashlights.
• Sunscreen, bug repellent, and clothing that is easy to layer to stay safe!

Here are some camping tips for beginners:

• After you purchase a new tent at Benny's, it is best to practice pitching the tent before you arrive at the campsite. That way, it can be done quickly and easily in case of bad weather.
• Place a tarp underneath the tent to avoid weather damage on the tent.
• Try your best to pitch the test on a natural bed of soft, flat soil. Don't pitch at bottom of hills or valleys to avoid water logging.
• No matter what time of year you go camping, it is best to always dress in layers to control your body temperature through the day and night.
• If you are camping in a heavily-wooded area, keep a GPS or compass handy.

Click here for a list of campsites in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Happy Camping!

Your Favorite Store, Benny's

Benny's Latest Claim to Fame

Below is our newest TV commercial! It was shot just a few weeks ago at our store on Atwood Avenue in Cranston. Watch it here and be sure to stop into Benny's to pick up the summer clearance deals mentioned in this ad, and so much more! The BIG summer clearance sale is happening now through Saturday, July 30. These great deals typically "fly off the shelves" during this sale each year, so hurry in! Don't miss out!

A special thanks to all those who helped us create a FANTASTIC commercial!

Let us know what you think of our new commercial!

Our Customers Drive on with Quality Cooper Tires

At Benny's, we know quality and safety, which is exactly why we have been providing our customers with Cooper Tires for over 60 years. Cooper Tire is an extraordinary company that manufactures some of the highest ranking products in the automotive industry. We are proud to carry such great tires at famously low prices. And from now until the end of July, Cooper Tire and Benny's are helping customers save more with a summer rebate and sale!

The Cooper Tire family took its first steps into the manufacturing business in 1914, when John F. Schaefer and Claude E. Hart purchased M & M Manufacturing Company, followed by The Giant Tire and Rubber Company, both in Akron. Two years later, the duo moved their business to Findlay, Ohio, where it grew immensely through mergers, expansion, and wartime production. In 1946, the firm officially changed its name to Cooper Tire and Rubber Company.

Cooper Tire continued to grow, as they entered the New York Stock Exchange, built additional manufacturing plants, enhanced their distribution system, and earned a spot among Fortune 500 companies to become one of the leading industrial companies in the country (all within half a century!). Today, with over 65 manufacturing, sales, distribution, and technical centers around the world, Cooper Tire shares its strong value of customer service with its loyal retailers (such as Benny's!) globally.

This summer, Cooper Tire and Benny's say thanks to their customers with special deals. Now through July 30, stop into Benny's and save up to $21 per Cooper tire purchased. In addition, through July 31, Cooper Tire is offering a $50 mail-in rebate prepaid Visa card with the purchase of four CS4 Touring or Discoverer H/T tires available at Benny's.

Click here to visit the Cooper Tire Facebook page, and download the official rebate form today! The rebate is available until July 31st, so stop into Benny's and pick up your Cooper Tires today!

Click here to view the tire clearance prices on our website. If you aren't sure of the size you need, our automotive sales associates will be happy to help in store! Also, if we don't have your car's tire in store, we will be glad to special order your tires. Did you know that we'll also mount them for you at no charge? Now that's a Benny's deal!

How to: Benny's Basic Pool Care Tips

It's hard to believe, but we are already halfway through the summer season! With some of this year's wild weather conditions, it is extra important to keep an eye on your pool's safety. Benny's has everything you need to maintain your pool's cleanliness throughout the entire summer. Now is the perfect time to check your in-ground or above-ground pool's pH levels, chlorination, and give it a good mid-summer clean.

There are many steps involved in keeping your pool in the best condition for the entire season. At Benny's, we've got fantastic pool chemicals from Robelle, and a full line of pool cleaning equipment. Here are some important tips to using your pool care products from Benny's:

• Check your pool chemical levels regularly. Your pH level should read between 7.4 and 7.6, and your alkalinity should read between 100ppm (parts per million) and 150 ppm.

• Prevent pool problems such as algae growth by cleaning the pool on a regular basis. Skim the top of the water, vacuum the bottom, and brush or scrub the walls.
• Eliminate algae growth by using shock treat, available in powder or liquid form. Click on the Shock Calculator to find out how much shock it will take to rid your swimming pool of algae.

• Algaecide is also preventative that can be used throughout the season to avoid this problem if it is reoccurring. We've got it available in quart or gallon sizes.
• Before you even get home to the pool, be sure to keep bottles of liquid shock treatment purchased at Benny's upright in your car on the ride home. This product will stain (and make a mess!) if it spills so please be careful!
• If your pool is becoming cloudy, purchase a gallon of pool water clarifier at Benny's. This chemical clots together the tiny particles that are causing the clouds so that they will be more easily trapped by the pool filter.

• Keep your pool chlorinated throughout the season; purchase chlorine tabs at Benny's, available in 4lb., 7lb., 15lb, or 25lb. sizes.

Check with a friendly employee at your local Benny's if you're not sure what products are best for your pool situation. Our expert sales team will be more than happy to assist you. Don't forget to check out our excellent selection of pool toys, floats, accessories, and safety gear, too!

Benny's Beach Guide

Here in Southern New England, we are fortunate to live so close to the coast. If you're a beach goer, we know you all head to the shore as often as you can (and usually at the same time, causing that horrid Route 1 beach traffic each weekend!) The summer weather got a late start this year, but at Benny's we're more than ready to help you gear up for your beach "daycation!"

Narragansett Town Beach narragansettri.gov

The most important beach accessory is sunscreen, yet many Americans avoid this life-saving product. A Consumer Report survey reveals that 31 percent of Americans don't use sunscreen. At Benny's, we've got a wide selection of sunscreens in a variety of SPFs in lotion and spray-on options to make sure you and your family stay sun smart at the beach.

We've got lots of other options to stay safe in the sun, too! Pick up an umbrella, sunglasses, hats, or T-shirts (with your favorite store's logo) at your conveniently-located Benny's.

Stay comfortable at the shore with a beach chair from Benny's. We've got many styles, from reclining and canopy chairs to lightweight and children's chairs. Don't forget a beach towel to dry off, and a cooler for refreshments. Pack the shovels, buckets, and other sand toys for the kids! Do you have too much to carry now? There's a "Wonder Wheeler" for that. (available at Benny's!)

Our Benny's locations are conveniently located on the way to the shore. With the help of our friendly and helpful service and great assortment of beach favorites, you'll be on your way to the beach in no time!

We've made a special list for our beach-loving customers:

Click here for a list of directions from your favorite beach to the nearest Benny's location!