You are here: Home / Archives for News, Specials, and Everything Else

The Joy of Sugar Plums

December 5, 2011 By

Click image to download as your desktop wallpaper. Enjoy!

It’s been a busy holiday season already for those of us here at Visage Creative, and I imagine it has been for all of you as well. There are projects to get done, events to plan,  parties to attend, presents to buy, family and friends to send greetings to. The holidays can really give you a headache if you let them, not to mention put a damper on any creative juices that may have been stirring before you looked at the calendar one day in October and realized how few shopping days there were left. This year, though,  our creative team has constructed a beautiful new desktop for our daily viewing pleasure to remind us of the most wonderful part of the holiday season–the child-like joy. It is that joy that turns us into little kids this time of year, on the edge of our seats to see how Crazy Uncle B. will like the funky pair of socks we got him, or if the card we wrote our mom will make her cry as much as we did when we wrote it. This time of year, during Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, or whatever special holiday you look forward to, may those visions of sugar plums that kept you awake at night as a little one, desperate for the day to be here, inspire you again. May your creative juices flow with the delight of a holiday season unmatched in its sweet, yummy, dreamy goodness!

Filed Under: Blog, News, Specials, and Everything Else

Introducing Christine Smith – Visage Team Member Extraordinaire

December 2, 2011 By

It’s been a crazy-busy year for Visage – in a wonderful way. But, so crazy-busy that I’m just finally getting a chance to formally introduce our newest Visage team member. Please meet Christine Smith. Christine joined us in August to help facilitate processes for our growing company. As with all small businesses, we worker bees tend to wear many hats and, therefore, conventional titles seem, well, insufficient. If we were to give Christine a suitable title, it would look something like this: Creative Contributor, Client Services Rep, Marketing Assistant, and Office Manager — Extraordinaire!

Christine has a BA from Seattle Pacific University in Literature and Creative Non-Fiction Writing, is a former Editor-in-Chief of Lingua Arts Journal, former PR and Business Manager of Second Essence Arts Journal, and worked for two years in the non-profit sector in Seattle after college. She moved to Phoenix in 2009 where she resides with her husband Ian, their brand new baby girl Charlotte, and their felines Townes and Nori.

Christine’s experience, talents, enthusiasm and can-do, let’s-get-’er-done attitude make her a perfect fit for our company. “I’m excited and proud to be a part of Visage Creative and its beloved network of clients and friends,” Christine says. I say, “We’re excited and proud to have you on our team, Christine! Welcome aboard!”

Filed Under: Blog, News, Specials, and Everything Else

Give back during the season of giving and also get your family photo Christmas cards at the same time!

October 12, 2011 By

This holiday season Visage is taking a big part in an exciting new event, Depeche Noël: The Ultimate Photo Christmas Card Extravaganza to benefit Safe Harbor House of Phoenix. On November 5th and 6th, the beautiful Harper’s Nursery location in Scottsdale will be resplendent in holiday cheer as Phoenix photographers volunteer their time to capture your family memories.

Cost for your photo session and 25 cards and envelopes is only $45. Visage is doing all of the design work for this good cause and Lori will be one of the photographers volunteering her time. This year, start the season of giving off right with something you can enjoy and really feel good about.

Come out and support Lori, give back a little, and get a steal of a deal!

Filed Under: Blog, News, Specials, and Everything Else, Uncategorized

New Wallpaper…for Creativity’s Sake

April 13, 2011 By

Click image to download as your desktop wallpaper. Enjoy!

Well, March definitely blew right past me…so fast that it’s already mid-April and I’m just now getting you some new eye-candy for your desktop. The theme for this wallpaper is “creativity.” In our world here, at Visage Creative, a creative block is a definite hindrance, to say the least. I admit, I have those moments when I wonder if I’m all tapped out. But, really, is that truly possible? I don’t think so. Creativity is a constant part of all of us, I believe. Sometimes it seems to be eluding us, but it’s there. I tend to become unstuck, creatively, just as soon as I relax my mind. A walk, a shower, a nap – it’s during those activities (funny to call a “nap” an “activity”) that the creativity really starts flowing through me. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of believing in and honoring that part of yourself. And, then, as Bernice Fitz-Gibbon put it, it’s “… merely turning up what is already there.” Here’s to adjusting that dial!

Filed Under: Blog, News, Specials, and Everything Else, Uncategorized Tagged With:

Speaking of “Visual Marketing”…

March 8, 2011 By

Here, at Visage, the saying goes: we’re “passionate about image” – of course, particularly as it applies to visual marketing. Helping our clients to make a great first impression and to present a professional image with visual marketing materials that not only look fabulous but also provide a clear, consistent, and deliberate message is what we do. Because, after all, presenting the right business image is a major key to success. It’s vital to not only communicating with new prospects, but also to maintaining customer relationships.

Well, the same is true – and perhaps even more so – when it comes to our personal image. For so many of us, we are our front-line marketing department; we are our own “spokes-model”; we are the literal “face” of our business. If we, ourselves, are not “presentable”, well, even the most fantastic business card or brochure may fall flat.

Enter Jackie Wheeler aka JackieStyle.

Jackie Wheeler aka JackieStyle, Image Consultant

Jackie is a friend and long-time business associate of mine who is also passionate about image. And, she shares that passion as a personal image consultant. Considering that, as far as your business goes, you yourself are a marketing piece, Jackie specializes in visual marketing, just as we do. But, with Jackie, we’re talking visually marketing you – yourself – your person. And, she’s an expert at helping you do that with the right clothing, make-up, accessories, etc. that suit your style and your life.

I recently had the opportunity to work with Jackie on my own wardrobe as I was looking for fresh ideas for my own personal presentation “palette” (so to speak). I put Jackie to the test. And, while I certainly wasn’t surprised, I was absolutely thrilled with her results!

At Visage, we’re always preaching about keeping your website and social media and printed materials fresh and relevant. Well, just as in business visual marketing, your personal visual marketing can sometimes get “stuck in a rut.” And, Jackie is a genius at helping you get unstuck and re-look, re-think and re-deploy your wardrobe in ways that you may have never considered before.

So give some thought to the personal, visual “face” of your business. Does your wardrobe and presentation really reflect who you are, what your business is about, how you want to be perceived? Is that image confident? Successful? Professional? Or are you cultivating (and re-cultivating) the same old, same old… because that’s what you’re used to?

If you live and/or work in the Phoenix metro area, I encourage you to give Jackie a shout. She’s professional, perceptive, has the style know-how and intuition – and she’s fun! Whether you just want to work on your existing wardrobe, or have a special event coming up or planning a business trip, Jackie is the go-to gal. Give her a shot!

You can contact Jackie at 602-980-4545 and you can find her on Facebook by clicking here.

Filed Under: Blog, News, Specials, and Everything Else, Uncategorized Tagged With:

Look what just blew in…

March 1, 2011 By

Click image to download as your desktop wallpaper. Enjoy!

… some new art for your computer desktop… for March. March! Can you believe it’s already March?! I continue to be amazed at how fast time flies. It seems I’m constantly remarking with genuine surprise, “I can’t believe it’s already 3 o’clock!” or, “I can’t believe it’s already Thursday!“, or “I can’t believe it’s already March!” But, it’s true. I can’t believe it’s already March. January and February have been a whirlwind for us here at Visage. We’ve been going non-stop, working on some great projects with our great clients. And, we’ve been lovin’ every very fast minute of it. I hope you’ve also got things in the works that you’re excited about and that March blows lots of good things your way.

Filed Under: Blog, News, Specials, and Everything Else, Uncategorized Tagged With:

February Wallpaper

February 1, 2011 By

Click image to download as your desktop wallpaper. Enjoy!

It’s February – a month that tends to conjure up images of hearts, cupids, candy and roses. And, it’s definitely matters of the heart that inspired our design for this month’s desktop wallpaper. But, we’re not talking purely romance here. We’re talking about life, in general. We’re talking about following your heart and putting all of your heart into whatever (or whomever) your passion may be. Embrace life, love it up, and – as Confucius says, “Wherever you go, go with all of your heart.”

Filed Under: Blog, News, Specials, and Everything Else, Uncategorized Tagged With:

Social Media: Now That I’m Here, What Do I Say?

January 19, 2011 By

If you’re new to the world of social media – and believe it or not, you’re not alone – one of the big questions is “Now that I’m here, what do I say?” Even if you’ve been Tweeting and blogging for a while, sometimes it’s a challenge to come up with new content…content that’s relevant and newsworthy…content that creates a buzz.

It’s not enough to simply post or Tweet something, and it’s been documented that one of the major reasons that people “unfriend” others on Facebook or stop following on Twitter is because of a preponderance of uninteresting, irrelevant Tweets or posts. Our days are busy, and for most of us, we don’t have the time or inclination to learn that a potential vendor or client “just had a weak latte” or “is bored” or “is planning on watching CSI tonight.” We all have unique sets of experiences, interesting backgrounds, individual points of view and areas of expertise. Sharing thoughts, insights, lessons and inspirations drawn from our lives and learnings is a powerful, inclusive way of connecting with others in the social “blogosphere,” and of keeping your social media posts relevant and insightful.

To jump start your social media writing, I encourage you to peruse “50 Content Ideas that Create Buzz.“  It’s a valuable and extensive list that encourages you to draw on all the things that you know, that you see, that you do, that you hear, to provide a bona-fide buzz to your posts. It has some great food for thought, and lots of sources of inspiration as you look to provide fresh, interesting communications. The more relevant and useful your posts are, the more likely that others will read them. The more that others read them, the more they’ll come back, and the more likely that they’ll share them. The more sharing and reading, the more “eyes and ears” you get … and you get the picture. A nice, healthy buzz about your blog – and your website and your business – can be a powerful fuel for the growth of your business.

“Networking” has never been more important than it is today, and as the saying goes “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Today, the power and reach of the internet allows you to “know” more people than were ever before possible – IF they want to connect and know you. So, Tweet away, post to your Facebook, Link on In – but take care to make your connections relevant, fresh and interesting.

Filed Under: Blog, News, Specials, and Everything Else, Uncategorized Tagged With:

Happy New Year!

December 31, 2010 By

Click image to download as your desktop wallpaper. Enjoy!

I love ringing in the new year. It’s time to celebrate the past year’s triumphs and the new year’s potential. For me, it’s also time for serious reflection and reassessment. What worked for me last year? What didn’t? What should I get rid of? What should I keep? (Literally and figuratively.) We’re stepping into a shiny new year, laden with opportunity and possibilities. What will it bring? What will I make of it? I truly get giddy just thinking about it.

At Visage, as we wrap up 2010 and anticipate 2011, we’re celebrating, with gratitude, another great year full of incredible relationships with the best friends and clients, old and new. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you and wish you a very wonderful and prosperous new year. Cheers!

~ Lori and Chris

(Looking for our cool, breezy March 2011 desktop wallpaper?…  Click right here!)

Filed Under: Blog, News, Specials, and Everything Else, Uncategorized Tagged With:

Are “discounts” always valuable?

September 21, 2010 By

Unless yours is one of the (very) few businesses that doesn’t need to look for more customers or more work, you no doubt have some sort of plan or strategy in place to bring in new business. Whether it’s as formal a plan as a documented multi-media marketing campaign, or as informal as giving out a business card to someone that sounds like they’d be a potential client, we employ various tactics and strategies to try to create growth.

One common tactic that many businesses use, or think about using, is offering discounts. Whether it takes the form of a coupon, or a “sale”, or a “special” –  conventional wisdom suggests that a reduced price on an offering can attract a customer that otherwise wouldn’t be involved, and thereby lead to greater future sales.

As well, it’s also a usually-accepted business fundamental that long-term, satisfied, quality customers are essential to business sustenance and growth.

However, as co-related as these two concepts may seem, there’s also an often-overlooked risk involved with discounting that, in fact, may imperil customer acquisition, retention and growth.  The risks revolve around the possibility that discounts may attract customers only seeking discounts, and that both those potentially new customers – as well as your current ones – may see a discount as de-valuing your products, services or other offerings.

This article at Redfin, a real-estate-based company, relates a true “disaster” of a discount offered through Groupon. Perhaps the story here is not so much about the viability of Groupon (or possible lack thereof) but rather it raises some interesting questions regarding the value, timing and strategy of discounts in and of themselves. Some of the reader comments and counter-comments provide some valuable insights as well.

Discounting can be a valuable weapon in your marketing arsenal, but it’s definitely a double-edged sword and can do as much damage as good. Remember: your business is valuable, and value of your business is as important (if not more important) than the volume of your business.

Filed Under: Blog, News, Specials, and Everything Else, Uncategorized Tagged With:
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »