Home > Blog
Blog
As the World Interns
We’re pleased to introduce our latest intern, Teresa Ide.
Teresa is a 2009 graduate of Washington State University, with a degree in Advertising Communications and Minor in Psychology (a great minor for anyone working in advertising!) She is interning with us for 8 weeks and will be participating in meetings, proofing proposals and projects, conducting marketing research and will be contributing to our blog.
Teresa grew up in Spokane and her creative outlet is photography. She spent over 4-months on a world cruise as part of her college experience. As a traveler, Teresa is articulate, professional and has gained a great sense of style. During her internship, you’ll find her camped out at our reception desk and she may show up with us at our next meeting with you.
When you stop by our office, please introduce yourself and welcome Teresa to our team.
People and Prezos
Recently, Klündt | Hosmer has been asked to make several presentations about how branding works and the importance of strategic marketing.
In the past few weeks we have made presentations for an alumni business group from Gonzaga University, had a Gonzaga marketing class tour our offices, spoken at a small business development class through the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, and delivered a branding presentation for 200 attendees at a national conference in Seattle.
There is a real interest in utilizing the power of visual communication to build brands and enhance the performance of businesses and organizations. It is fulfilling to share our experiences and expertise to these business groups. Their questions are insightful (hopefully, our answers are as well) and it is encouraging to see business leaders engage with design professionals.
If you are interested in learning more about how to incorporate design into your successful business, get a free subscription to the @issue Journal, published by the Corporate Design Foundation. You can also contact Klündt | Hosmer to deliver a presentation to your corporate management team or business group.
5 Business Blogging Mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Some of the readers of this blog are bloggers themselves. Some even blog for their businesses, or Twitter, or post business updates on Facebook. This morning, Ashley came across a Twitter post with a link to a blog post on business blogging. She sent it to me and I thought it would be of value to you.
Here is something Josh Catone wrote in "5 Business Blogging Mistakes". "Blogging isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. Your blog won’t be an overnight success, and for the first few months it might feel like you’re writing for no one. It can take time to build up your readership and have a regular community of people who participate on your blog. Don’t expect immediate returns from your blog and do expect to put in a lot of hard work."
Josh put in the effort and I ended up reading his blog. And because of ME, you read part of it, too. That's how it works. So bloggers, don't get discouraged.
What you see (and LIKE) is what you get.
At Klündt | Hosmer, we focus on creating visual communication that people LIKE to look at. That is the first step of the journey for us... and for you, too if you work with us. If people aren't intrested in looking at your branding materials, website, brochure, print advertisement, tradeshow display, or poster that you are using to communicate with them, then it really doesn't matter WHAT you say. They aren't going to get it.
Make it look good first... and you have a fighting chance at getting your message read.
Horses, Hats & Champagne
Pounding hooves. Frilly hats. Nose-tickling champagne. These were all featured on the lawn at the Spokane Polo Club last Sunday at the Cobra Roofing Polo Classic, a fundraising event for the Spokane Ronald McDonald House. The Polo Classic is the largest event of its kind west of the Mississippi River.
My wife, Chris, and I were invited to attend with Mark and Marti D'Agostino, owners of Meridian Construction. Marti is also the Development Director for Ronald McDonald House.
Over 1,200 people attended the event, enjoying a fabulous artwalk, an exciting game of polo (won by the Washington Trust Bank team 6-4), fine food by Fery's Catering, and a great silent auction.
While it was a warm, sunny day, guests were comfortable drinking and dining under the shade of white tents, and by the shade cast by hundreds of elaborate hats worn by the beautifully-attired women.
The event was a fun opportunity for people watching, as everyone attended in their polo finery. It was great to see so many friends and clients supporting such a wonderful cause, and impressive and heartening to see such a quality event put on in Spokane. Over 300 volunteers gave their time to assist in making things just right.
Congratulations to the Spokane Ronald McDonald House, and thank you to the volunteers, sponsors and team that coordinated the event. And a particular thanks to Mark and Marti. We really had a great time.
Real Branding Committment
When Klündt | Hosmer says we are big on branding, we mean it.
As a condition of continued employment, all staff were required to get a Klündt | Hosmer tattoo that reads,
"Klündt | Hosmer Abandons Mediocrity". Unfortunately, the tattoo artist was hard of hearing so the tattoos read "Coon Hummer Is Big On Democracy".
We want to point out that this is a good lesson to all clients... don't hire the cheapest guy around. You'll get what you pay for and it may end up tattooed on your a** for life.
We are now looking for a good plastic surgeon who needs a logo and is willing to do work for trade. Please contact Diane Mahan with any suggestions.
Experience vs. The Lesson
Last week Klündt | Hosmer started some internal development work.
Every once in a while it is wise for every business to take a look at what it's doing and how it's doing it. Fortunately, we have a great partner to help us conduct these examinations. John Scherer is a business and personal development consultant who has helped thousands of business executives and their teams reconnect with what drives them.
John has been doing a lot of corporate work in Poland, but on a trip back to the U.S., he stopped by and spent a couple of days at Klündt | Hosmer. On day one, Darin, Jean and I met with John and got clear on our goals for the business and in the personal work that we do. Day two was spent with all of our team, getting clear on the course Klündt | Hosmer can take as we grow from a 22-year-old "mature" company, into a next phase "entrepreneurial" company.
After a "set the stage" session with John, everyone divided into teams and the brainstorming began. We each developed a long list of ways to energize our business, inspire our industry, add value to our clients and be more fulfilled by what we do. It was an awesome two days to reconnect with each other, strive toward a common goal, and bring our "spirits" into our work.
John recently published a new book titled: "The Five Questions That Change Everything". As we continue this corporate exploration process, we will ask ourselves each of those five questions. The answers that come from this inquiry will form the basis of the ongoing development that Klündt | Hosmer will undertake as a company.
As many of us in the business world deal with challenging economic times, it makes me reflect on a T.S. Elliot quote John uses in the introduction of his book, "Everyone gets the experience; some get the lesson."
We are actively looking for and embracing the lesson that will enable us to serve our clients better, strive for excellence in all we do and empower the true spirit of everyone that works at Klündt | Hosmer.
It's pretty darn cool.
Oh Annie...
Many of you remember Annie Stillar, the wonderful interactive traffic coordinator that worked at Klündt | Hosmer (in a variety of capacities) for the past six years.
This spring, she felt led to expand her career horizons and get involved with her passion... youth theatre. So she accepted a summer position working with a theatre organization in Portland, and spent the rest of her spring tooling around Europe to the delight of European guys in a number of countries.
She's back in Portland now, and just emailed us a recent self-portrait photo. All we can say is," Annie, you apparently left your sense of style in your old desk drawer back at Klündt | Hosmer. If you want we'll FedEx it to you. Please."
The Beaver Solution
The Lands Council had an idea: To increase water storage, reduce erosion, increase wildlife habitat, lengthen stream flows, and generate other water benefits for the "dry side" of Washington State... all without building large concrete dams on major tributaries. How? By reintroducing beaver back into their historical watersheds.
But what's the best way to generate land owner and public interest in this program? The timeframe and budget is tight, and the promotion needs to take off in a grassroots fashion.
After talking with me, and hooking up with Michael Pickering from The Hamilton Studio, the Lands Council had their answer.
Together, we developed and produced a 3-minute, cartoon video that introduces the whys and hows of the program, and where to go it you'd like more information. We wrote the script and drew the illustrations. The crew at Hamilton's turned it into a funny black and white video. You can see the video at The Lands Council website or on YouTube. Make sure to pass the video on to your friends. I have already seen it posted to people's Facebook pages, and the program just launched this morning.
In addition to the video, Klündt | Hosmer is producing an 8-page 'zine that will go to land owners and others who are interested in the program.
It's amazing to think that with acceptance and participation in The Beaver Solution, in a decade, there could be thousands of new beaver dams strategically located all over eastern Washington, providing water to a very thirsty landscape. It really is a win-win for everyone involved. Especially landowners and beaver.
Why Spokane? TV Spots Feature Marmots
Klündt | Hosmer had a blast working on the new broadcast advertising campaign for the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau. Local marmots, Stan and Benny, try to figure out why so many visitors come to Spokane.
The spots were concepted, written and directed by Klündt | Hosmer, with additional direction from the CVB. The video crew at Cornerbooth Media handled the talent and shot the footage by the Spokane River near Gonzaga University. Two different scripts were written and recorded to the same video edit. The :30 second spots are airing on television stations throughout the Pacific Northwest, Canada and western Montana, and are being promoted on VisitSpokane.com and YouTube.
Why DO so many people come to Spokane, anyway? Watch the spot and see what Stan and Benny think.
Recession-proof Businesses
A topic came up at the office last week. We were talking about recession-proof businesses and industries. What type of industries do well even when the economy is down, and how do we market ourselves to them in order to generate business our direction?
In researching the topic, I found that the following industries tend to do well (4% to 8% growth during a recession) among many others:
• Family counseling
• Biotechnology
• Video game manufacturers
• DIY retailers (hardware stores/garden centers)
• Debt collection agencies
• Healthcare
• Auto and equipment repair and service
• Firearms and ammunition manufacturers
• Investment advice and portfolio management
• Internet and cable/sat TV providers
In Klündt | Hosmer's world, we have created branding and marketing tools for many of the above industries, including biotechnology, healthcare, internet service providers and financial service firms. We encourage clients in those industries to enhance their marketing to build brand awareness and generate new business during this recession.
I also found out that multi-level marketing programs, i.e., Amway, Avon, Melaleuca also tend to do well in a recession. I wonder what that would look like for a visual communication firm?
"Just sign-up for our program and purchase your own corporate identity package. Then find 10 companies interested in improving their corporate identities, and help each of them find 10 other companies with branding needs. In the next 120 days you may be earning $5,000 to $10,000 a week from the comfort of your own home."
Nah... I think we'll just keep doing it the traditional way. One customized visual communication plan at a time.
