Since Kim Bode
and John Kowalski partnered in 834 Baba Design & Marketing, the firm has seen
continual growth. We have new
additions to the team and exciting news of another 834 Baba location. These new additions include Ann
Swanson, our accountant and business manager, Nicole Huston, marketing
specialist and Erin Russ, public relations associate.
Another exciting
change for 834 Baba is the expansion of our offices to the East Coast. As some of you know, John Kowalski, partner
at 834 Baba, is moving to Portland, Maine this week, to be closer to family and
to introduce the east coast to some Sweet Giddyup.
John will be
working remotely with existing clients, as well as, gaining new contacts in the
Portland, Maine, Manchester, New Hampshire and Boston areas. John plans to visit monthly, and his
focus will remain strategy, marketing and branding. 834’s main focus is the West Michigan region, and the 834
Baba team will be dedicating time and effort in the surrounding areas.
The coming 2010
year will see additional growth for 834 Baba, along with a continued focus on
marketing, strategy, design, public relations, event planning, social media,
branding and more. We look forward to making an even larger impact, while
giving back to the communities we reside within.
Involving
yourself in your community can be a chore at times; however, it is beneficial
to participate in the long run.
Business professionals are busy these days with work, classes, and
everyday life activities.
Nevertheless, it is essential for people to get involved in their
community. Professionals can
attend and join networking events, fundraisers, local charities, and
professional groups. Making time
for local events can be time consuming, and may not be for everyone to attend
an event every night. I’m not
saying you have to, but by going to an event once a week or once every couple
of weeks will help you gain recognition within your city or region.
Attending events
or being involved with associations will give people a face to a name. So if they are not in need of
assistance themselves at that point of time they may need you in the future or
pass along your name and services to a friend. This is how connections are made!
I am a Grand
Valley State University student, and making time for networking, groups, and
fundraisers can be difficult at times.
However, I already see a difference in the few months I have been
involved in the Grand Rapids community.
People are recognizing me as well as the phenomenal services 834 Baba
offers. Just yesterday I attended
a gala for Paws for the Cause. I
may not have immediately gained a client, but I sure did expand my connections
and assisted people with links I already had within the community.
Along with
attending events and becoming more involved with your local community, business
professionals have to nurture these relationships. It can be as simple as sending a letter, email, or note the
following business day by thanking them or just a follow up of what you spoke
about during the event.
Also, by connecting with them via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and any
other social network you may have in common.
Getting out there
is important for yourself in general and your company. Below is a list of
organizations in Grand Rapids you may want to get involved in! Please feel free to add other
suggestions as well.
·
AIM
West
·
American
Marketing Association
·
Association
for Corporate Growth
·
Business
Review events
·
Center
for Community Leadership
·
Charity
events
o Gilda’s Club
o Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
o March of Dimes
o St. Mary’s Hospital
o Van Andel Institute
·
Econ
Club
·
Frederick
Meijer Gardens - The Connection
·
Inforum
Professional Women’s Alliance
·
Local
Chambers
o Grand Rapids
o Lakeshore
· Local First
·
PMI
Result Global
·
The
Right Place
·
WMSTI
events
·
Women’s
Resource Center of Grand Rapids
So if you already haven't started, you may want to start your 2010 marketing planning. Reflect on your efforts in 2009. What worked? What didn't? Why? How did you use your CRM system effectively? Was it an integrated approach? Did it support and strenthen your brand? Are there any co-marketing activities that you should take advantage of? What about your clients? Have you developed each relationship as far as you should have? All good questions to reflect upon but also take into account for next year. And the final question.... was it fun?
Take time to truly think about these questions and formulate your strategy, the new year is going to come up faster than you think and in these tough times, getting off to a great start right after the holidays could differentiate you from your competitors.
Enjoy! I'm off planning for 2010.
Seemed like the last couple weeks have been a whirlwind. Getting
things ready for closing on the GR house, buying a house in Maine and
getting all those things ready amidst all the usual marketing stuff.
Seemed like things have been going faster and faster and the last
couple days had the feeling like the wheels are starting to come off.
I'm pretty good at self perception so I knew I was headed down that
path and thank goodness I caught it in time. Err, caught myself in
time. Needed to unplug for a bit, rest, calm my mind and spirit and
refocus. Think about things that really truly matter. Relationships
and people. Oh, and a dose of Kirsten's acupuncture today. That
totally helped (Kirsten the you delicate healer, YOU ROCK). Think she
threw in a couple extra needles. :)
But anyway, this spinning
feeling has calmed. I feel relaxed, energized, ready to go.
Channeling my anxious energy into productivity, fun with the kids and a
sense of peace. Things are in balance and aligned.
Here's the schedule in the next couple weeks:
- 10/30 - Closing on the house in GR
- 10/31 - Moving in with Mom & Dad (ohhh man)
- 11/1 - Movers come for packing and loading truck
- 11/3 - Head to Maine
- 11/4 - Crash at Heather's sister's house for the night
- 11/5 - Close on the new house in Portland, immediate possession
- 11/6 - Movers come and the real fun of unpacking begins
Keep you all posted on things. It's going to be quite a change, but also a great, new adventure. Lobstah anyone?
As you may, or may not know, my family is planning on relocating to Portland, Maine. This past Friday our house finally sold and it really started setting in and becoming a reality. Lots of emotions, happy, sad, scared, excited. Definitely a rollercoaster. It'll be different in working 100% remotely for X-Rite, but lots of new opportunities as well for Baba.
Good stuff all around.
Heather's brother just sent her an email that he had published in the Camden, Maine newspaper last August. It really sums it up from his perspective. She's been away from home for about 10 years and it's time for her to be back near her family.
Here it is:
Coming Home
CAMDEN (Aug 12): This story is fiction, inspired by my sister’s
recent return to Maine.
He stood there as the van pulled in, up on his toes like a
little kid, gazing intently at the tinted windows. His eyes fixed upon the door
as it swung open, not sure exactly what he would see. As a runner passed by
him, sweating in the blazing heat, the man seemed in a different place; a
nervous smile, a bit overdressed, unaffected by those around him. He hadn’t
seen his sister in ten years. Sure, they talked on the phone occasionally,
though not as much as they should have. Letters were written, many unreturned.
It was a busy time in their lives, with kids to raise and careers to pursue.
They were living in different worlds, separate worlds.
Her move away was unnatural from the beginning, the two having
grown up so close. All of those summers at the lake, finding adventures to fill
the days. With no television or phone, what we call quality time today was
seemingly abundant then. The chapters of their young lives were written
together. They had always just been there for each other.
The limited communication over the last decade, though
attributed to lack of time, was more likely a result of stubbornness, a wall
built up to hide true feelings of hurt. She was not to blame; After all, she
followed her heart, which took her to a place far from home. She was, in fact,
the one who would suffer most from the distance.
Now, so many years later she called to see if her family could
stay with him until they found a house; she was coming home. With a husband and
two kids in tow, they rode across the country, to find a new beginning in a
familiar place.
He politely obliged, not showing his true excitement, a bit
afraid that he would get his hopes up for nothing. Having a few days to
contemplate her return, he recalled the days of their childhood, the continuous
stream of stories and events that made up their unique history. They shared a
piece of life that was now far behind them, and it was painful to face the
reality that, having gone their separate ways, they had now grown up.
Finally she appeared, the kids peeking shyly from behind. They
knew him only through pictures. Their big eyes and cute round faces were his
sister 25 years ago. That’s when he knew her best, though didn’t know it until
she was gone. Smiles turned quickly to tears, as the weight of the years poured
from their hearts. Throats tight with emotion it was hard to talk. Seeing her
now was more overwhelming than he expected.
With little said, they walked. The kids, who he should have
known as babies, followed closely behind. Finally she spoke, explaining like
never before her sadness about the time they had lost and her regret that her
kids didn’t even know their uncle.
Finding the words somewhere, he said, “Oh dear sis, when I look
to the days ahead, my plans now include you. For that, I am thankful; for now,
that is all I need. Now let’s go.”