The biggest challenge small businesses face today continues to be operating in a sluggish economy. As a small business ourselves, and despite economic conditions, Brand Iron continues to thrive. Last year was a record year for the company. We attribute our success partly to our willingness to face this challenge head on. Rather than cut back on sales and marketing efforts to save cash, we recognize that now is the best opportunity to market our business. It is a chance to separate ourselves from others, so we continue to be aggressive in its business development and marketing.
Brand Iron’s management philosophy centers around a team-oriented approach made up of individuals who understand and embrace an entrepreneurial spirit. Our firm is made up of individuals who subscribe to this approach. Inherently, this type of spirit produces strong accountability, team work, creative thinking, problem solving and a win-win attitude. This approach ultimately leads to producing outstanding results for our clients.
Exemplary customer service is another essential piece of the foundation for any successful business operation. It may sound obvious, but Brand Iron is committed to demonstrating outstanding customer service from the outset of every client relationship. You would be surprised at the number of businesses out there who don’t put much emphasis on customer service…they operate as though it is a given. Unless you focus on it, the concept gradually slips away. From our initial “Brandstorming” session with every client, we map out clearly defined goals and objectives, detailed time lines and create accountability methods (for both the agency and the client) to ensure success. The final step of our 7-Step Process — “Running the Ranch” – ensures that we monitor progress in all client relationships and demonstrate goal-oriented success. Internally, our Client Services team meets regularly to ensure client relationships stay strong and that we deliver a solid ROI.
-Jim Miller, Public Relations
Brand Iron has been selected as one of the finalists for Small Business of the Year by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. The Business Awards luncheon to announce the winner will be held on Tuesday, April 28th at the Hyatt.
The award criteria includes:
- A for-profit venture
- Locally owned and privately held
- Profitable and/or demonstrating fiscal responsibility and adequate capitalization in the last fiscal year
- A company employing fewer than 100 employees
- In the business for a minimum of five successive years by current ownership
Despite the economic conditions, Brand Iron continues to grow and is coming off one of its most profitable years in 2008. We have addressed this challenge by practicing what we preach: Rather than cut back on marketing efforts during tough conditions, now is the best time of all to market your business. The opportunity to separate your business from the competition is now. Brand Iron continues to be aggressive in its business development and marketing efforts.
Small businesses are the foundation of a successful economy and make up more than 80 percent of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce membership base. We are truly honored to be one of three finalists. Please check back April 29th for the results.
Written by Meghan Herlehy, Design and Marketing Wrangler
It’s true, for a relatively cheap investment anyone can “design” with the same tools as a professional designer. However, there are countless reasons why you should work with a professional designer, such as; quality, dependability, and experience. Designers seem to be a dime a dozen, but there are a few qualities that set good designers apart from the herd.
- Passion – This is the real weapon of a good designer, it cannot be imitated. A real designer is passionate about his/her craft; it is not just a job or a career but a lifestyle. Regardless of what you might say, first and foremost a graphic designer is an artist. Artistic intuition cannot be taught, passion cannot be taught; you either have it or you don’t and that is why not everyone can be a designer. Brand Iron is proud to have a passionate design staff that creates passionate work day-in and day-out for our clients.
- Don’t just re-design, but re-align – You may have heard this in the past, “it’s outdated, your website needs to be re-designed.” There is more to it. Not only does it need to be redesigned, but realigned with the brand. Good design transcends technology, trends and must be aligned with your brand; something that I’m sure you’re neighbor’s 9th grader probably is not capable of.
- Evolve – A lot of designers think that they get a degree and they’re set for the rest of their lives. Sorry to break it to you but it doesn’t work like that; the design industry is constantly evolving, the technology is constantly changing and in order to create successful design a designer must be constantly evolve with the industry. A degree is a good start, but it takes continuous research and learning, determination, attention to detail and hard work to be a successful designer.
As a business owner you should not expect anything less than what was mentioned above, and if you are, you are literally gambling with your livelihood. Perception is everything, and your brand needs to be perceived as the best. Quality branding is what Brand Iron does best; we forge brands and drive revenue.
Written by Andrew Hoffman
Posted in Brand, Brand Strength, Branding, Creative, Website, new blog
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Tagged Brand, Brand Building, Design, Photoshop, Small Business, Successful Design
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