Six 26 Studio

Madison Wealth Managers is a full service firm that works with individuals, corporations and non-profit organizations, utilizing a broad range of investment, wealth management and financial planning programs. Their staff of experienced professionals guide each client through a personalized planning process appropriate for their specific financial situation. They help define the client’s goals, analyze current information, develop and implement specific recommendations. Then, they regularly monitor progress.

For the past few months I’ve been working on the design for  Madison Wealth Managers new website and also the release of their new book “Retire a Winner”. Check it out and let me know what you think. Also wanted to thank Illuminate This for  the wonderful work on creating videos for the book and presentation make sure you view those too.

I’ve been trying to figure this one for quite some time and I’ve finally figured it out and wanted to share with all of you so you can do the same thing.  If you were trying to do this, you know that gmail is giving you the option under your mail settings to add a pic, and it is asking you to add a URL of the website in order to post your photo. Well, I’ve been doing this and nothing would happen it wasn’t working for me. So, today I’ve decided to do something different. And here is how I did it, share if it worked for you.

• 1. First thing you need to do is compose new email.
• 2. Click on the icon that looks like a photo and add your logo from your computer in the body of the email.
• 3. Email yourself
• 4. After you open the received email, right click on the logo and copy image address
• 5. Then go to your email settings
• 6. Scroll down to your signature, write your name, phone number what ever you want and click on the little picture icon again
• 7. Paste copied url, but you have to use Command C, since right click will not work in this matter- don’t know why.
• 8. Voila,  it should be there, now every time you email someone you will be showing your logo as well.

March is a month full of excitement. We just had St. Patrick’s Day, the opportunity to see a Super moon which only happens every 20 years and Spring has finally arrived; hopefully we’re going to start having more sunny, warm days. In addition to all of the happenings around us I want to introduce you to our featured recommendation for the month of March: Superior Business Products. Superior has it all…SUPERIOR service, the world’s biggest selection, a team of employee-owners with a commitment to excellence, and guaranteed low prices! So let’s get right to the questions.

1. How long has Superior been in business and how did they get started?
Superior Business Products has been in business for 26 years. Steve Sabatino, the person I interviewed, has been with Superior for 10 years. It all started when the founder  Manny Pena of our company decided to go out on his own while working for another office supply company, Union Book. In the beginning, he did everything himself including taking orders and delivering products. He started with a part-time student from Schenectady Community College, in one office in our current building, and as Superior grew, the building became ours and we have been there ever since.

2. That’s really great and I am assuming that because of the background he had it wasn’t as difficult?
It was easier because he had the experience, customer base and contacts. One of the unique things about Superior is that we are an employee-owned company. Over time, we literally were buying back shares of the company from him. Two years ago we became 100% employee-owned.

3. What are some steps Superior took in the beginning to market/promote itself?
When Superior first started it was all word-of-mouth and referrals. Over the course of time we’ve done everything: radio, TV, billboards, print advertising.

4. How does Superior market/promote business now?
Radio and referrals are a huge part how we get new business. All of the sales consultants participate in leads/referral groups. We also have an active role in our community donating money and time to local organizations. Currently, I’m a member of the YMCA board of directors in Guilderland.

5. Is Superior targeting mostly the Albany area or can they provide service nationwide?
We focus mostly in the Capital District, but we have the ability to deliver to the 48-continental United States, next day at no charge. An example would be delivering calculators to California or toner to Texas, both via free next day delivery. Some of the companies we serve have corporate head quarters in the Capital District and have satellite offices throughout the country, so we distribute products daily through a network of 32 distribution centers. When a customer places an order with Superior the product is delivered from the closest distribution center in proximity to that customer and shipped to them via UPS. This has been a seamless process for our customers and given us the ability to meet their needs.

6. What service/products does Superior offer?
We break them down into four different categories:
1. Office Products
2. Business Furniture
3. Coffee and Beverage Services
4. Cleaning and Breakroom Supplies

Office Products is the largest category for us and the basics people think about are copy paper, post-it notes, toner, etc.

Business furniture could be the chairs we are sitting on right now to offices suites, cafeterias, and school classrooms to cubicles where we can do 100 of them at a time. We also handle transactional furniture such as desks, chairs and file cabinets.

As far as coffee, we focus on the Keurig, one-cup brewers; I think it’s the best thing ever. We offer free 3-day demos so customers can try the brewer in their office. The coffee is our fastest growing category and it’s easy to deliver. We also carry Paul DeLima coffee, and Coca-Cola & Pepsi beverages.

The Cleaning and Breakroom category grew from the coffee and beverages to include everything you need for your breakroom, office kitchen, and facility cleaning supplies.

8. At what point did Superior realize that they needed to have a logo for their business?
We had a logo right away. It was very simple in the beginning based on our typestyle for the name Superior. We evolved to a blue bar with the Superior name and as the company grew, the logo changed with it. We updated it recently because we wanted it to encompass what our mission is. Our slogan is “Whatever it takes…and then some” and we tell our customers we’ll jump through hoops for you and that’s exactly what our logo depicts.

9. Does Superior have any promotions right now that others can take advantage of?
We have some ongoing promotions:

10. What are some of your interests/hobbies?
I enjoy working out with weights. I love bicycling; I’ve been a biker for a long time. I actually once bicycled from Seattle, Washington to Santa Barbara, California.

It took me 15 days, riding 100 miles a day; I camped out and it was a fantastic experience.

No, it was just me. I planned on going with a friend but he got accepted to The Air National Guard and had to report to boot camp. I had my gear ready to go so I went forward with the trip.

My greatest enjoyment comes from spending time with my children. I have 3 kids and I love doing all sorts of activities with them. Especially being outside and taking them everywhere; I’d say they are very good travelers. 

They are 10, 7, & 5 years old.

13. What advice would you like to give to a new business owner?
Whatever you do, have a plan and process in place and write them down. As time goes by, you may need to alter these plans, but make sure you are clear on what you want to accomplish. Be able to measure results and inspect what you expect. If you are not achieving the desired results you will need to make adjustments.

E-mail: ssabatino@superiorbponline.com, and you can find us online at www.superiorbponline.com – To order products and see pricing you’ll have to request a username and password.

I’d like to thank Steve Sabatino for his time in providing all of us with wonderful information; I hope you find some value out of it and that you will take the advantage of some products Superior Business Products offers. Please feel free to share this interview on facebook and twitter. If you would like to be the next business featured on my blog let me know or if you know someone that would want to be featured, please let them know.

I’ve found a wonderful article on AIGA website that explains in depth to what is a graphic designer and wanted to share with everyone for today’s Q&A.

Suppose you want to announce or sell something, amuse or persuade someone, explain a complicated system or demonstrate a process. In other words, you have a message you want to communicate. How do you “send” it? You could tell people one by one or broadcast by radio or loudspeaker. That’s verbal communication. But if you use any visual medium at all—if you make a poster; type a letter; create a business logo, a magazine ad, or an album cover; even make a computer printout—you are using a form of visual communication called graphic design.

Graphic designers work with drawn, painted, photographed, or computer-generated images (pictures), but they also design the letterforms that make up various typefaces found in movie credits and TV ads; in books, magazines, and menus; and even on computer screens. Designers create, choose, and organize these elements—typography, images, and the so-called “white space” around them—to communicate a message. Graphic design is a part of your daily life. From humble things like gum wrappers to huge things like billboards to the T-shirt you’re wearing, graphic design informs, persuades, organizes, stimulates, locates, identifies, attracts attention and provides pleasure.

Graphic design is a creative process that combines art and technology to communicate ideas. The designer works with a variety of communication tools in order to convey a message from a client to a particular audience. The main tools are image and typography.

Image-based design
Designers develop images to represent the ideas their clients want to communicate. Images can be incredibly powerful and compelling tools of communication, conveying not only information but also moods and emotions. People respond to images instinctively based on their personalities, associations, and previous experience. For example, you know that a chili pepper is hot, and this knowledge in combination with the image creates a visual pun.

In the case of image-based design, the images must carry the entire message; there are few if any words to help. These images may be photographic, painted, drawn, or graphically rendered in many different ways. Image-based design is employed when the designer determines that, in a particular case, a picture is indeed worth a thousand words.

Type-based design
In some cases, designers rely on words to convey a message, but they use words differently from the ways writers do. To designers, what the words look like is as important as their meaning. The visual forms, whether typography (communication designed by means of the printed word) or handmade lettering, perform many communication functions. They can arrest your attention on a poster, identify the product name on a package or a truck, and present running text as the typography in a book does. Designers are experts at presenting information in a visual form in print or on film, packaging, or signs.

When you look at an “ordinary” printed page of running text, what is involved in designing such a seemingly simple page? Think about what you would do if you were asked to redesign the page. Would you change the typeface or type size? Would you divide the text into two narrower columns? What about the margins and the spacing between the paragraphs and lines? Would you indent the paragraphs or begin them with decorative lettering? What other kinds of treatment might you give the page number? Would you change the boldface terms, perhaps using italic or underlining? What other changes might you consider, and how would they affect the way the reader reacts to the content? Designers evaluate the message and the audience for type-based design in order to make these kinds of decisions.

Image and type
Designers often combine images and typography to communicate a client’s message to an audience. They explore the creative possibilities presented by words (typography) and images (photography, illustration, and fine art). It is up to the designer not only to find or create appropriate letterforms and images but also to establish the best balance between them.

Designers are the link between the client and the audience. On the one hand, a client is often too close to the message to understand various ways in which it can be presented. The audience, on the other hand, is often too broad to have any direct impact on how a communication is presented. What’s more, it is usually difficult to make the audience a part of the creative process. Unlike client and audience, graphic designers learn how to construct a message and how to present it successfully. They work with the client to understand the content and the purpose of the message. They often collaborate with market researchers and other specialists to understand the nature of the audience. Once a design concept is chosen, the designers work with illustrators and photographers as well as with typesetters and printers or other production specialists to create the final design product.

Symbols, logos and logotypes
Symbols and logos are special, highly condensed information forms or identifiers. Symbols are abstract representation of a particular idea or identity. The CBS “eye” and the active “television” are symbolic forms, which we learn to recognize as representing a particular concept or company. Logotypes are corporate identifications based on a special typographical word treatment. Some identifiers are hybrid, or combinations of symbol and logotype. In order to create these identifiers, the designer must have a clear vision of the corporation or idea to be represented and of the audience to which the message is directed.

Graphic Design: A Career Guide and Education Directory
Edited by Sharon Helmer Poggenpohl
Copyright 1993
The American Institute of Graphic Arts

This article was published on inc.com and I thought that it would be nice to share it with all of you. I definitely agree that being polite and smiling it’s definitely something that restaurant host needs to poses. They need to be present when they are working and acknowledge the customer. I still remember some of the great hosts from local restaurants, just because they would say hi and engage in a short conversation with you. It sets a perfect mood to dining. You can find here what other chefs had to say on what they are looking for when hiring.

How do you feel about the idea of never eating alone in a restaurant again. Grub with us is a place where you can go on, reserve a spot then go to the restaurant, meet new people and eat with them at the same people. Feel free to leave your thought and share it with your friends.

This is how I prepare my taco. It is super easy and fast.
MAKES 10 TACOS

INGREDIENTS:

1 tbs of oil
1 lbs of ground beef
2 tbs of taco seasoning
1 small can tomato sauce
1 can of kidney beans
1 cup of water
taco shells

TOPPINGS
Sour cream
Shredded Cheese
Lettuce
Tomato

In a skillet heat oil, add ground beef and work it until it browns up. Then add tomato sauce, kidney beans, taco seasoning and cup of water, cook all of this for another 15 minutes until it is all nicely combined.

Before serving I put taco shells in a toaster to heat them up, plus it gets them nice and crunchy, then I add meat, lettuce and tomato because I don’t want to add extra calories. But you can add shredded cheese and sour cream.

Try it! It’s fast and delicious meal.

I’ve been working on a logo design and the question of how many colors should they have in a logo came up? I want to say that the most important thing that needs to be taken in consideration when designing a logo is to create it black and white first because a logo needs to work well in black and white before it can work in color. After that decision is made, another thing that needs to be considered is what type of media are you going to be printing your logo on. If you decide to print your logo on promotional materials like pens or mugs, these logos are usually printed on PANTONE color process and the logos are priced based on how many colors you have. This will increase your pricing since every single color has to be printed individually. If you are printing it on business cards, brochures and other print media then the logo is going to be printed in CMYK color process and the cost is going to be less. If you are looking to save on the printing then have a 1 color logo or 2 color max. Hope this founds you some value.

Here is the perfect recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis for Valentine’s day and lovers of nutella™

ACTIVE: 45 min :: TOTAL: 3hr, 35min :: SERVES 6-8

FOR THE CRUST
1/2   cup blanched hazelnuts
1       cup all-purpose flour, plus more dusting
2       tablespoons sugar
1/4   teaspoon salt
6       tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1       large egg, beaten
1/2   teaspoon vanilla extract

FOR THE FILLING
2       tablespoon cornstarch
2       cups heavy cream
3/4   cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (nutella)
1/2    teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8    teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:
1. Make the crust: Toast the hazelnuts in a skillet over medium heat until golden, about 8 minutes. Let cool. Transfer 1/2 cup nuts to a food processor. Add the flour, sugar and salt; pulse until the nuts are finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal.  Drizzle in the egg and vanilla; pulse until the dough starts to come together.

2. Turn the dough out onto a sheet of plastic wrap and pat into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour. Coarsely chop the remaining hazelnuts and reserve.

3. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12 -inch round. Press into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, then trim the excess dough. Prick the bottom all over with a fork.  Refrigerate until firm, about 30 mins.

4. Preheat the oven to 350. Line the crust with foil then fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges are golden, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and wights and continue baking until golden brown all over. 15 – 20 minutes. Cool completely on a rack.

5. Meanwhile, make the filling; Whisk the cornstarch into 1/4 cup cream in a bowl. Combine the remaining 1 3/4 cups cream, the nutella spread, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan. Whisk in the cornstarch mixture and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring and scraping the sides of the pan with a rubber spatula. Once the mixture starts to boil, stir constantly until thickened, about 2 minutes. Pour into the crust and swirl the top. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Top with the reserved hazelnuts.