Kari Logan, Co-owner & Media Relations Specialist at C.E.L., is headed to Denver, Colorado to attend the Applewood Peer Group Meeting on behalf of Nexstar® Network. Logan will write an article on the event for Contractor Magazine, a leading trade publication for plumbing, heating and cooling home service contractors.

Nexstar conducts peer group meetings so members have the opportunity to see and learn from the best-run companies. Meetings are hosted by members who open their business, their books and their secrets to fellow members; owners and managers of independent plumbing, HVAC and electrical contracting companies. It’s three days of intense mentoring and participants walk away with tangible strategies that have led to documented success. Peer Group meetings set the standard and raise the bar for other professionals to live and work by.

“I’m looking forward to capturing the essence of this event within the pages of Contractor,” said Logan. “It’s always inspiring to visit the shops of successful Nexstar members with a strong commitment to mentoring and learning from other members through Nexstar’s incredible peer connections.”

According to an article titled “Target Field hitting an economic bull’s-eye” by Curt Brown in yesterday’s Star Tribune, the area surrounding the new Twin’s stadium in Minneapolis is booming with crowds of people – who are all bringing their wallets along with them. This new frenzy of fans is spending both time and money at other venues before and after the game, which has given quite a boost to business in the surrounding area.
The downtown businesses near the stadium are reporting record sales numbers, especially bars and restaurants such as the Loon Café. All the hype and publicity of the new stadium has brought a much larger number fans and visitors than Minneapolis was used to seeing at the Metrodome for baseball games. On top of this, Brown reports that this economic elevation in the area “won’t necessarily be short-lived, though the team’s success will have a bearing on that.”
It’s a little crazy to think that the same team, in the same city, with the same fans can have such a dramatic effect all by making one update. So what about bringing this to a smaller scale and looking from a small business perspective? Can the same company, with the same services, and the same staff bring about an economic boost for the business just by refreshing their location, brand or message?
According to Cindy Leines, Founder & Strategist at C.E.L., each company can require a different strategy to encourage more publicity and growth. “In some cases, it might require renewing a company’s location, brand and message, while others might only need to renovate one aspect to reap significant economic rewards,” said Leines. “At the core, you’re not changing what you offer, but tweaking one aspect or significant message of how you deliver your service.”
So what have you done recently that impacted your bottom line? Do you have any advice for businesses that are trying to make some updates?

How far would you go to show your loyalty to your favorite brands? Many consumers will recommend brands to friends, wear clothing with obvious logos, or even put bumper stickers of logos on their cars. But is there any greater sign of brand loyalty than the willingness to have a logo permanently tattooed onto your skin? That’s commitment that speaks loudly for your company.

According to a Star Tribune article from last month titled “The new branding: company tattoos” by Kristin Tillotson, numerous staff members of Anytime Fitness have gotten the company’s purple logo of a running person tattooed on their skin. Not only is that strong brand loyalty, but it also shows the extreme devotion that Anytime Fitness employees have to their company.

So what do you think: Is there a brand logo that you would have tattooed on your skin? How about the company you work for? Or is this branding going too far?

To read the full Star Tribune article, click here.

It’s summer time once again, which means it’s time to enjoy the fresh air and sun. Looking for a great outdoor activity to experience with family and friends? Kari Logan, C.E.L.’s Media Specialist, has the perfect answer: Bring the garden to the table!

Entertain loved ones and enjoy summer by hosting a homegrown garden party. This past Saturday Kari was on the local NBC affiliate KARE 11 and featured items from the General Store of Minnetonka. The creative items included patio lights, decorative napkins, lighted tree branches, shatter proof wine glasses, a fire pot, ant salt and pepper shakers, and a shish kabob style “FireWire” for grillin. What about the non-breakable plates? Well, let’s just say that host Belinda Jensen was determined to make them live up to their name!

Kari also showed some tasty summer treats – including roasted vegetables and herbs and an organic chocolate cake – from the Country Cake Cupboard & Café located in Long Lake, MN. Other featured items included a cold veggie pizza from the deli at Fresh Season’s Market in Minnetonka and potted plants and herbs from Otten Brothers Nursery in Long Lake.

“It was a pleasure to introduce KARE 11 viewers to products from The General Store of Minnetonka, Otten Brothers Nursery, Country Cake Cupboard and Café and Fresh Seasons Market,” said Kari. “As the ‘entertaining maven’ on KARE 11 News Saturday, I connected the garden with the table to create a homegrown garden party. From plants to food to patio décor, the businesses I featured have it all and they dish it up with impeccable customer service. As a company passionately committed to the betterment of business, family and the community, it is rewarding to bring great people and products together to create entertaining ideas for families and friends.”

Now that you’ve heard from Kari, how can you bring your favorite recipes from the garden to the table in your backyard?

It’s been almost a week since I experienced one of my greatest achievements…setting a new personal record at the Minneapolis Half Marathon. With the support from friends, family, and the C.E.L. team, and the passion I have for running, I finished at a sub 8 pace…a pace of 7:56 minutes per mile to be exact. To describe the emotions and thoughts that went through my head for 1 hour and 43 minutes would be impossible to share. But the run that encompassed adrenaline, nervousness, excitement and determination to accomplish my goal was a challenge. And I was up for the challenge. If you would like to check out the results from my Half Marathon, click here. (link: http://www.mtecresults.com/runner/show?rid=7657&race=34)

I believe the moments in life that challenge us are the moments in life that define us. If you have a fun story of how you were challenged or reached (or exceeded!) your goal, please share!

I have noticed lately that successful businesses don’t do business with other companies simply because they are the cheapest option, or because they promise to be the fastest – the quality of the work and customer service are what count. I talked to Cindy Leines, Founder and Strategist at C.E.L., about what she has seen as an example of a successful small business that she chooses to work with for those very reasons. She gave me the example of one company’s secret that begins with its founder, Joseph Reilly. Joseph “Joe” Reilly is the President of Payroll Control Systems and the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce 2010 “Entrepreneur of the Year.” So I had to ask, what do Joe and his team have that gives the company success?

Cindy was very confident in the fact that selflessness and generosity are two of Joe’s characteristics that have led to success for Payroll Control Systems, which is a leading provider of payroll, payroll tax, time & labor, and human resources solutions in the Upper Midwest. A business owner herself, Cindy is aware of the challenges that a down economy can bring. But even in hard times, Joe has never made an excuse, nor has he compromised quality of work or customer service.

“Joe is resourceful, and he’s a giver,” Cindy said. “He is always willing to go above and beyond for others, and I will continue to do business with them because of their honesty and their quality of work.”

Joe’s recent award for “Entrepreneur of the Year” proves that there is more than just a handful of people who, along with Cindy, will vouch for Joe’s character and his business. It also proves that selflessness and generosity are two things that no business owner should be without.

So what do you think leads to success for small business?

We are proud to announce that after careful preparation and dedicated training, our own Stacy Slygh, Graphic Designer & Brand Specialist here at C.E.L., will be participating in a half-marathon this Sunday, June 6th.

Stacy is an avid runner and has participated in several other races in the past. The Minneapolis Marathon, which is a 13.1-mile distance, will be Stacy’s second half-marathon. Stacy is very excited, and she hopes her hard work and training will pay off. She shared two of her favorite inspirational quotes with me, the first is a quote from Jen Rhines:
“Life (and running) is not all about time, but about our experiences along the way.”

The second quote is from George Sheehan:
“The music of a marathon is a powerful strain, one of those tunes of glory.
It asks us to forsake pleasures, to discipline the body, to find courage, to
renew faith and to become one’s own person, utterly and completely.”

Want to see how the run was for Stacy? I will follow up next week with her and find out how it went. Stay tuned…

Good luck, Stacy! We’re all cheering you on!

photo credit: gomattolson

Do you want to know more about social media, how it can help your company grow and keep up to date on all the latest information?

Check out our social media blog produced by the Social Media Incubator™.

With today’s social media tools, access to communities of prospective buyers is at the fingertips of small organizations – something that in the past has only been accessible to larger companies with multimillion-dollar budgets. However, the challenge for most organizations is managing the execution of social media in a manner that is relevant, measurable and effective.

Too often, small and mid-size businesses try to utilize Web 2.0 social media tools such as blogs, LinkedIn and Twitter without a plan in place to ensure their success. The mission of the Social Media Incubator™ is to help service businesses and organizations unleash the power of social media while researching and developing best practices.
The Social Media Incubator™ is your right hand for managing and implementing social media with a focus on ROI. It is a cost-effect social media solution to help small and mid-size businesses grow.

By Stacy Slygh, C.E.L. Designer & Brand Specialist

As I watched the finale of The Celebrity Apprentice, I realized why I turned down multiple social invitations to engage myself with Bret Michaels for two hours. It wasn’t to stare at his blue eyes and bandana (really!)…I was engaged by the drive and branding passion that he had for Snapple, the same drive that stimulates my creativity every day.

A few things that engaged me during the process:

1. Going above and beyond to exceed client expectations: Despite the roadblocks, he worked overtime to create not one, but two commercials, to further enhance the Snapple brand.

2. Bringing passion into the project: His determination to succeed for his charity (American Diabetes Association), with which he has a personal connection, was carried out through the entire project. From the diet, no sugar (always keeping the demographic top of mind!) Snapple flavor, to his engaging writing skills, Bret’s passion for the brand AND his charity shined.

3. Listening to the client: Branding starts with relationships. In the initial client meeting, you get to know your client and begin creating an expressive, distinguished and emotional image in its entirety. Then, you carry it through to the finished product. Snapple shared their goals and brand strategy for this project in the initial meeting…and Bret listened.

Branding is more than creating an image that looks good. It’s about building relationships and uncovering the details. It’s about gaining insight on the client goals, listening to them, and then interpreting their vision to create a successful brand. It’s about sharing the same drive and passion possessed by Bret Michaels.

This weekend I was walking and shopping in Wayzata and found myself standing in line for 15 minutes in one restaurant. The servers were doing a wonderful job – it’s just that there were a lot of people eating out! There was energy in the air and in the shops. For the first time in months, owners of restaurants and retail shops were smiling…at least the ones that I visited in Wayzata, downtown Minneapolis, and Eden Prairie over the weekend.  I’m hoping it’s a trend that keeps on going… According to the Commerce Department, March showed an increase in retail sales for a third month in a row.  MPR News reported the Commerce Department’s a 1.6% sales increase in March as the “…latest sign of ecomomic recovery.”

The increase was across the board, according to the report.  However, at the same time we have economists that saying the recession is not over.  What do you think?  Is the economy on the rebound?  Share your thoughts and economic forecast.

~ Cindy Leines