myOWs (no, I don't need a bandage!)

(Image property of & copyright myOWs.com; used here only for promotion of myOWs)


Today I received a hot tip in an email from my friend Randy (thanks, Ran!) about a new web tool on the horizon. 'myOWs' is a web service for helping creatives to protect the copyright on their original works.

'myOWs' is an acronym for 'my Original Works', and the site was set to launch in August of this year. Developing a new concept often takes longer than expected, and the service rollout is still  on the drawing board. However, it's set to be the next big thing for creative artists of many mediums, and I'm on board to support it wholeheartedly!

I've added the site link to my right sidebar, along with other tools to help you with copyright and online content theft issues. I'll pass along news about the launch as soon as I hear something.

Check out this Interview with Max Guedy, founder of this incredible concept, on Frisk Design's site to learn more about myOWs and how it can help YOU protect your creative property.... and thanks, Max, for sending me this COOOOL 3-D image of your logo! (He said I could be the first one to share it!!!)

Craig Ferguson read this post and sent a comment in, along with a link to his interview with Max. Thanks,  Craig! The more we all spread the word, the more we people we can help Max help!

Deb's Article in One Coast Advisor (link added)

One Coast is the largest U.S. sales rep agency for merchandise in the retail gift industry. Their website is not only a wholesale sales venue for those products, but also a resource filled with information that helps retailers succeed and a hub that connects people, ideas, and products. It's no wonder that they are known as much for their educational videos, podcasts, and articles as they are for the products they sell - and with many categories of subject matter, the information is helpful to retailers no matter what kind of products you carry.

One Coast contacted me about running one of my blog posts as an article in their biweekly e-newsletter, 'OneCoast Advisor'. It's nice to be asked, for one thing, and it's also nice to be recognized as a resource that can benefit retailers and help them..... yep, you got it: ...'Build Better Businesses'! I'm thankful for the kind acknowledgment of my value ("You have great insights that our retailers would like to read") and am looking forward to this opportunity for exposure to the One Coast reader base. (Thanks, Vicki!)


The most recent newsletter has been broadcast, and my article in it has been added to the OneCoast Advisor Archives. Read it online here.


For more about One Coast, their product lines, their large resource library, and to sign up to receive the 'OneCoast Advisor' newsletter (so you don't miss my article!), go here: http://www.onecoast.com

Image property of One Coast; used with permission.
No renumeration or payment received from One Coast for post reprint or promotional post.

Q and A: Store Lighting for Impact

 

I received the following email last week, asking for my assistance with a retail visual impact issue: how to counteract the darkness of dreary winter weather and early evenings during this season. I thought that since I had just completed a consultation with a new client to solve exactly the same problems, sharing some info about this issue might be helpful to many of you. It also applies to anyone who has a store that is deep with no windows, or that has small windows with limited natural light.

Dear Debi, I own a small card, stationery, gift shop in North Seattle (Richmond Beach). I need help with lighting -  on a sunny, summer morning my shop looks so inviting but when it starts getting dreary out, especially in the early evenings, the shop looks dreary as well. I'm also having trouble with fading. Some is caused by the sun coming through the windows but I think the lights are also a problem. My space has the (ugly) ceiling tiles with inset florescent lights and I have added track lights. Any suggestions or ideas on where to go for help would be great! Thank you, Susan

Hello Susan! I read your email with interest and a smile.... just last week, I completed a consultation with a new client for exactly the same solutions! The darkness and this 'Northwest Gray' sky have more effects than many people realize. Let me offer you a few general solutions to try:

1. Take a look at the color of the walls in your shop. If they are white or a cool color (blue, green, etc) then they are working against the effect you want to have. Using warm, glowing colors such as ambers, golds, caramels, light browns, earthy oranges, etc. will serve to expand the light within your spaces. Even if you just paint the wall across from the windows one of these colors, you'll see a big difference in the way it feels.

The soft green walls in the photo at the top of this post work to bounce light in a large space - but the green is a yellow-based hue that stays warm (as opposed to a 'hospital green' with cold blue undertones).

Five more things YOU can do to improve your store lighting - after the jump!