Every spring, I purge all the extra junk in my house. I clean out all the closets, tidy cabinets and pantry and generally rid my home of all the clutter and detritus that seems to accumulate over the course of a year. Then I host a yard sale, allowing my neighbors to purchase previously […]
Logo Series: McDonald’s Golden Arches
This article is the first in a series discussing specific company logos, their designs and histories. The definition of the word logo is, “a graphic representation or symbol of a company name, trademark, abbreviation, etc., often uniquely designed for ready recognition.” (1) The best logos, used consistently, provide a strong corporate identity of the businesses […]
Small Business Success Stories: Mobile Medical
Last week I had the pleasure of speaking with Rick Cochran, President and CEO of MMIC (Mobile Medical International Corporation). Mr. Cochran was named the 2011 Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Association. He has also received many other awards for his contributions to business and community and in […]
Small Business Success Stories: Monet Medical
Each year, the U.S. Small Business Administration honors entrepreneurs from all over the country. One exceptional individual is chosen from each state to receive an award and special recognition during Small Business Week in Washington, DC. In 2011, Andrew Caprio, owner of Monet Medical, was chosen as the Utah Small Business Person of […]
4 Reasons to Delay Your Grand Opening
How important are first impressions? Everyone from your mom to your professors in business school told you that they’ll make or break you. If you’re getting ready to open the doors of your brand new business and introduce yourself to the public, you should be thinking about the first impression you’ll make. It’s difficult […]

Attending a Trade Show: How to Walk the Show
Attending a trade show is a lot of work – you’ll be walking for miles, talking to dozens of people and gathering tons of information. It can be overload… but it can also be fun if you know what to expect before you get there. In our article this morning, Attending a Trade Show: […]
5 Functions of a Sign
Think all signs are the same? Think again. In many cases, the effectiveness of a sign is determined by its use. Is it going outside on your storefront or hanging in window? Is it leading your customers to an event or simply helping them navigate to your store? When starting the design process, think […]
Small Business Success Stories: The Toaster Oven
Recently I had the pleasure of speaking to Mitch Monson, co-founder of The Toaster Oven, a small chain of sandwich shops in San Francisco and Berkeley, California, for our small business success stories series. He gave me some insights about how the company got started, what they do and how they have become one of our […]