A New Blend

We just welcomed the newest, vitally important member to our team – a Vita-Mix blender.

Under the direction of Tasha and Linda, the blender has been hard at work making a variation of smoothies and edible concoctions. Its credentials are impressive; it can craft drinks, soups and even bread. You name it, the Vita-Mix can do it.

With the sound and strength of a large power tool, it blends, purees and pulverizes ingredients, turning it all into delectable smithereens. It may just become our best kitchen companion.

So far, we’ve concocted a carrot-celery-spinach-apple smoothie and a mixed-berry-yogurt-bee pollen-apple smoothie. They both came out hearty and appetizing.

Our most recent experiment was garlic hummus; it turned out smooth, creamy and delicious.

As an existing or prospective client, we welcome you to stop by and take advantage of the talents of our Vita-Mix. If there’s something we can blend for you, let us know!

Below: our "homemade" garlic hummus.

The Thing About Maine

A Texan was boasting about his ranch to a man from Maine. “If we got in my truck and started riding in the morning, we wouldn’t get to the other side of my property until evening,” the Texan effused. “Yeah,” said the man from Maine, “I used to own a truck like that.”

This story courtesy of my friend Richard Yeager who lives in Kennebunkport after being quite successful in the advertising business in Philadelphia for many years. The difference in me telling it and Richard telling it is the authentic “Maine” accent he adds. Then it is funnier! (go back and read it with your best Maine accent).

What does that have to do with marketing?

Everything!

Will 2009 Be a Good Year?

One of our favorite clients is a very engaging person who always looks for the positive. His Christmas cards this year reads:

(Cover)  "Will 2009 Be a GOOD year?"

(Page 2)  "Some say they will believe it when they see it."

(Page 3)  "Some say they will see it when they believe it."

(Page 4)  "We say it is all in where you place your believe. Merry Christmas."

Thanks Greg for helping us remember that life isn't something that happens TO us but something that happens IN us. In these challenging economic times we can still choose to find optimism.

Happy New Year!

What makes us unique?

Rather than go into the list of qualities that most certainly is similar to another smart copy writer's list, let me explain our concept of service. I was 16. My dad owned one of those Mr. Softee style soft ice cream trucks and I was the server. Every weekend I worked rural South Carolina pushing a full menu of ice cream products out that sliding window. Of course I ate my share. In addition to the few dollars I was made for the day, ice cream was my pay. Not just any ice cream however. My passion was the chocolate milkshake and I am giving you my recipe; not only for the best milkshake ever but also for success: One pint sized "sweetheart" cup, a measure of milk, fill it with soft serve and give it a full pump of Hershey's chocolate. But then, add an extra pump of chocolate. Put on the steel cup collar and mix it on the mixmaster. I asked my dad what he figured the extra pump of chocolate costs and he said less than a cent. So, I  suggested that we include the extra pump in all of our chocolate shakes. I reasoned that we could be known for having the very best milk shake ever. No one called it "branding" in those days. He agreed and it wasn't long before we sold more milkshakes than any other truck owner in the company. People lined up for em! Dark, deep chocolate and so thick the straw would stand up in it. Yum. I still love 'em. Sixteen years later when I started my own company, I thought about that experience and how it distinguished us. I told my employees about the "extra pump" and decided we would follow this successful philosophy and expand it to include "service." In a time when other businesses were cutting service to reduce price in an unending spiral of downward abyss, I thought just the opposite. Give more but don't ask more and I figured the word would spread. It has. Giving clients an extra pump of service is what makes us unique. More importantly it's not something we think about. It's how we live. The "extra pump" works in everything and it will work for you too.