Last Wednesday was my 13th anniversary with DW Green Company—I started working here as a Graphic Designer on December 14, 1998.  Since everyone is already reflecting on the passing of time as we near the year’s end, here are some lessons from my time here. 1. Companies—and people—can change. Real change doesn’t happen often; in fact we sometimes hit a brick wall trying to help a client reinvent. I’ve seen it though, in our company and others: intentional transformation. And it really is something to behold. 2. Brand is the most muddled word in all of business. It would be nice to coin a new word to describe that sub-rational stew of meanings and associations, but at this point I’m thinking it will never happen. 3. Great organizational cultures keep great employees. (They also drive some employees to leave, and that’s not a bad thing either.) 4. Culture is about the little things, and it comes from paying attention to what is true but unsaid in the organization. 5. Companies that stay focused and disciplined in booming times will maintain their momentum through lean times. 6. Business relationships are the foundation of sustainability. Advertising is a fickle industry that sees [...]

Date: August 2011
Client: The Markets, Washington State
Type of Project: Digital Signage Design and Development

As 2011 draws to a close, I would like to thank our clients, business partners and vendors for your business and for your friendship. I’d like to thank each of you for the positive influence and impact you have had on my life and on my company. I am most grateful and appreciative of our relationships. I am honored to work with you. To acknowledge the end of the year, it seems both fitting and proper to share this leadership blessing with you. I am inspired by Mr. Donohue’s words and read them often. For A Leader John O’Donohue May you have the grace and wisdom To act kindly, learning To distinguish between what is Personal and what is not. May you be hospitable to criticism. May you never put yourself at the center of things. May you not act from arrogance but out of service. May you work on yourself, Building up and refining the ways of your mind. May those who work for you know You see and respect them. May you learn to cultivate the art of presence In order to engage with those who meet you. When someone fails or disappoints you, May the graciousness with which [...]

I don’t know about you, but I like direct mail. We receive a fair amount of direct mail offers at our home during the year. My wife, son and myself take advantage of the offers regularly. I’m a bit embarrassed to report that just last week I received a direct mail offer from a men’s clothing store for $300 off a minimum $800 purchase. I redeemed the coupon and ended up spending more than $800! A professional shopper I’m not! Direct Mail is a simple and powerful way to get your message directly to your target audience. A smart and effective direct mail piece can increase store sales by grabbing the attention of potential customers. The design of the piece and the offer are the two main ingredients for successful redemption. One of our clients uses a 11.5”x6” post card promoting four “free” items. Each free item is valid for one week, covering a four-week period. The four-week time frame spreads the distribution cost over a four-week period. They have experienced 7 to 12% sales lift. January and February are excellent months for this type of promotion. Here are some of the benefits of a direct mail campaign. • According [...]

DW Green Company is proud to welcome a new team member, interactive developer Charles Voita. Charles has jumped into our workflow and is already making an impact. We asked Charles a few questions today, here are his responses: Q: What did you do before coming to DW Green Company? A: Before I came to DW Green I free-lanced as a web designer and developer as well as followed a strict study regiment focused on gathering more knowledge of web technologies in real time applications and worked on personal projects. I studied and worked with PHP primarily while focusing on implementing ‘new’ web technology such as AJAX in innovative ways. Q: What do you love to do (both at work and away from work)? A: When I am working I love breaking down procedural tasks into more abstract frameworks. I love coding from absolute scratch. I love learning new technology, from individual functions to full-fledged languages and using them effectively. If I am not learning something new or trying a new idea then I have the chance to get bored. When I am not at work I enjoy writing music, studying, and painting. Q: What are your areas of expertise? A: [...]