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Congratulations to Encinitas Foreign & Domestic Auto Repair! Their website, at www.runcarrun.com, has just been named one of  the Top 10 Automotive Repair Web Sites by industry leading magazine Auto Inc.

The Auto Inc. “Top 10” contest includes submissions from companies all over North America, and the results were just published in the January edition of the magazine, in an article called “Cream of the Crop.” The start of the article reads, “As usual, we were overwhelmed by the number of entries we received this year for Auto Inc.’s 12^th annual Top 10 Automotive Repair Web Sites awards,” and goes on to say that the sites were evaluated using the following criteria: First impression, visual design, appearance, navigation, consumer friendliness, technical, objective/ purpose, innovation, credibility, interactivity, and encouraging action.

The EFADAR site was designed with user-ease and interactivity as a top priority. Aesthetically, we created the graphics with EFADAR’s neighborhood, the southern-California beach town of Encinitas, in mind. “Very unique-looking site,” said one of the contest’s judges. “Nice use of color and design to reflect the surrounding community.”

EFADAR co-owner Julie Macaluso said, “Our Web site combines innovative design with user ease, large iconic buttons, easy-to-understand graphics and all vital information at the customer’s fingertips. We had a lot of fun with the redesign and are extremely happy with the results.”

We would agree – this redesign was a particularly fun and rewarding one. The Macalusos found Durrani through the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, and they came to us seeking a complete overhaul of their online presence. The thing that made their project so fun was that, after discussing their goals and branding, they stepped aside and let us go to work – no interjections or rounds of massive edits. They hired us for our expertise, and they took full advantage of it. Too often, a creative agency becomes a captive of a business-owner’s own personal creative ideas, and the whole reason behind hiring an agency is lost. Design can be seen as subjective, but marketing-driven design is a finely-tuned science, and the EFADAR website is a perfect case study of what can happen when a client trusts the experts.

We are honored to be a part of the EFADAR family and to count them among our clients, and we’re excited that their website has been chosen for this award. Check out the full article online at: www.asashop.org/autoinc/jan2010/topten.htm

Call us cliché, but we think that with the coming of the New Year comes an opportunity to look back on the year that has passed and forward to the year ahead… to realize the things that we have done well and the things we could do better.  On this last day of 2009, each of us at the Durrani office has named one or two of their New Years Resolutions:

I really want to improve the "no reason" surprise gifts and spontaneity so my wife knows how much I love her.  I also want to get in the water and surf way more than I did in ‘09 and just get in better overall shape so I can keep up with my new little girl.” – Matt Harding

My New Years Resolution is about more quality and focus personally and professionally.” – Elise Harding

My new years resolution is quite simple, workout and be active. I did a lot of sports growing up and into high school, but in college for 5 years I didn’t do anything.  Now I want to get back to being active, whether it be sports, karate or working out.” – Tyler Boettcher

Budget, body and burrito detox!” – Michaela McNamara

I’m not shaving my armpits for a whole year.  Just kidding!  I’m not dyeing my hair for a whole year – seriously!” – Brooke Kellestine

In 2010 I will try new things, meet new people, and go new places.” – Carrie Sinclair

Delegate more, work less, and start cycling again.” – Joe McDonald

We’re excited for what the New Year holds… All the best to you in 2010!

Have you ever been to a tradeshow, corporate event, or retail shop and marveled at the creative and innovative designs surrounding you?  We certainly have… and that’s only one of the reasons that we’re thrilled to announce the newest addition to the Durrani client family: DisplayWorks!

DisplayWorks is a premier exhibit house with over 30 years experience, an award-winning portfolio, and client list of high-profile companies spanning a wide range of industries.  They create custom-designed themed environments, including tradeshow exhibits and booths, interior environments for retail and corporate spaces, and event decor.  DisplayWorks operates under the motto Listen. Analyze. Create. which drives their service-oriented approach to each client and each project. 

DisplayWorks came to Durrani to redesign their website, and  we are excited to create the new site to be an online showcase of their extensive portfolio as well as a tool to show potential clients all of the services and experience that they provide.

Durrani Design + DisplayWorks.  We think this will be the beginning of a beautiful partnership.

Our very own Durrani Design website was recently chosen by the website Reencoded.com, which is a resource for web designers and developers, as an example of great background design!  At Durrani, one of the things we’re proud of is our intricate, detailed background images.  And as Reencoded.com notes in their post, “background images are one of the core features in web design that help  make a website design visually interesting.”

We’re excited to be recognized for our design, and to be a part of this collection of great websites.  Check out the article at http://www.reencoded.com/2009/08/23/website-background-images-examples-and-implementation/

Want more business?  Of course you do.  What better time to focus on taking your business to a new level than a new year – and a new decade?  Read on, and make it your resolution to follow these tips in 2010:

1.  Be your own editor.  Read through your site.  Does it contain statements that are outdated?  Is your sales pitch lackluster?  Are your product descriptions descriptive enough?  How about the Copyright date… at the very least, that should changed to 2010.  It shows your visitors that you’re on top of your online presence.

2. NEW NEW NEW! New banner graphics, promotional boxes, and details on your website will show your audience that you’re investing back into your business, and it will keep them coming back for more!

3.  Start (or ramp up) your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) efforts.  At Durrani we say that having a great website without SEO is like throwing a huge party and not inviting anyone.  The goal of Search Engine Optimization is to capture your target market and lead them to your site – SEO gets people to your party.   In 2010, invite more people to your party.

4. Put your email account to work.  Email campaigns are one of the most effective and inexpensive marketing methods out there.  With a professional, branded design and targeted, concise messaging, an email campaign can create a sustained connection to your audience, and get the word out about important news, offers and promotions.

5. Here, take my card…  Even in an era dominated by all things digital, there’s still something to be said for strong print marketing.  Consider business cards – being able to hand out a well-designed, branded business card adds credibility and makes a good impression.  And print collateral – including brochures, one-sheets, and postcards – gives your target market something tangible that will remind them of your services.

6. Everyone loves a “deal.” You know it’s true, we all love a good promotion.  Getting something for free is even better.  We encourage our clients to offer incentive, especially for e-commerce business.  Promo codes in an email campaign, free shipping, or even a referral incentive program can go very far in getting that business that’s been sitting “on the fence”.  

7. Blogging: not just for the young folks anymore.  When a blog is built and maintained properly (read: often, but not too often), it can be instrumental in Search Engine Optimization efforts as well as steady viewership.  It can also give your business an easy and quick outlet for your press releases, news, and promotions – one that you can update yourself.  Durrani can create a blog that is fully integrated with your existing website design, so that it looks professional and thoughtful – and we can be as hands-on or hands-off as you’d like in your blogging adventures. 

8. Get social with your media.  Whether you love them or hate them, social media outlets are here to stay.  LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr… they can be used to your advantage in business, if they’re done specifically and surgically.  We can help you assess which of these avenues would work for you, and help you get started.  At the very least, one media outlet that every business should utilize is press releases.  Press Releases help with SEO as well as public perception, and we can handle the writing and release for you… no-hassle PR!

9. Educate yourself.  What’s new in your industry?  Are you keeping up with the metaphorical “Joneses” or are your website, your branding, and your marketing falling behind the times?  It’s always a good idea to keep a finger on the pulse of your business in relation to your competition – and to know when to make changes or additions.

10. Give your brand a facelift.  Every company needs a good makeover once in awhile.  Is 2010 time for yours?

Overwhelmed?  Don’t be… Durrani is here to help!  We want to assist our clients in growing and expanding their businesses.  That could mean designing a new marketing piece, launching an SEO campaign, or re-branding… it could also mean sitting down and creating an effective marketing plan involving many of these pieces.  We want to make 2010 the best year ever for our clients!

Durrani is excited to announce that KiddieCorp, a national provider of high quality children’s programs at corporate and special events, is teaming up with us for their website redesign and development project!

KiddieCorp has been operating in San Diego since 1986 and has over 175 clients—making them a highly visible and trusted name in the meeting planning industry for over two decades. Their focus on safety, fun activities, consistency and complete service has made them a trusted name in their industry, but now they’re ready to bring their website into the new decade! They came to us looking for a fresh, professional makeover to their site that stays true to their existing corporate branding. For a company that combines a professional service with fun child care, we’ll be creating a new design that really showcases KiddieCorp’s expertise on both!

We’re looking forward to working with KiddieCorp president Chris Tempesta the rest of the KiddieCorp team to take their business to the next level!

Growth in a business is a great thing.  So is the ability to adapt and transform based on changing needs.  Often, we focus so intently on growing and transforming our clients’ businesses that we neglect the active and outward growth of our own.  In the past few weeks, however, we’ve been transforming our "look".  Literally. 

What we’re trying to say is… we’ve gained a few pounds, and we’re planning on gaining a few more.

So far, we’ve put up walls to create a separate work area as well as an area for private meetings, and painted and finished it’s interior.  But we still have a few projects left to complete, including creating a space in the front of our office to accommodate our retail division S.A.W., and changing up our color scheme in here with some new paint.

So if you come in for a meeting, don’t be alarmed by the lumber sitting atop a spare desk or the power tools huddled in the corner of the room.  It’s all a part of the process of adding to our office to transform it into a more effective space that will allow us to grow in new ways.  And we’re excited for that growth!

With the launch of the new Durrani online retail division, S.A.W., we have had to take all of the advice we’ve given clients through the years about e-commerce and put it into practice in a very real way.  We always tell clients to stay in touch with their customer and their industry, and stay ahead of the curve when it comes to new trends, products, and techniques.  Since tradeshows are often a great way to do this, this weekend meant a trip to the Action Sports Retailer (ASR) show in downtown San Diego for the Durrani / S.A.W. team. 

In the Action Sports apparel industry, ASR is THE place to be, as it showcases products from over 700 brands in the action sports fashion and streetwear industry and promises to "ensure the growth of your customer base and keep your current customer satisfied."  It’s a place to check out new product lines, get a feel for the way the industry is trending, get some face-time in with the brands we already carry and forge relationships with those we’d like to carry.  Michaela McNamara, lead buyer for S.A.W., said,

"Meeting with others in the action sports retail community and networking are invaluable to our business.  The biannual ASR show is a great opportunity to see what products and trends will be a hit next season. It gives us a chance to forecast our purchases and determine the direction we’d like to take S.A.W." 

Some of the people and brands we were introduced to over the weekend include: Andre Sickinger with Filtrate Eyewear, an Australian sunglasses brand breaking into the US market; Ryan Farrelly, co-founder of Freeline, a company that invented and sells custom skates designed to give the feeling of skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing all in one; Malan Lai, owner of Laiph (pronounced Life), a Hawaiian brand that is dedicated to surfing, the ocean, and the outdoors. Their music, art and surfing influences are translated into their t-shirt, boardshorts and hoodie designs; and Ryan Davis with Spacecraft, an eco-friendly brand that specializes in handmade beanies that are knitted by local Indonesians in their villages.  These are some of the newer brands we’d like to incorporate into S.A.W.’s product line in the near future.  Check out S.A.W. online at www.skullsandwings.com

We were recently quoted in the September 10th issue of the online newsletter Ecommerce Notes, by Practical Ecommerce. This is something we stress to clients all the time. Sometimes in the rush to get their site designed and launched, many overlook just the simple basics like having solid product descriptions and clear images.

“Image is everything and online shoppers need to come as close to touching and feeling a product as possible. You need to overcome the obstacle of customers not being able to experience your product, like they can in a retail store. Take time to present your products in the best possible way with clear and vibrant images and accurate descriptions."

Joe McDonald, Managing Partner, Durrani Design

Click here to view the full newsletter and learn more about Practical Ecommerce.

Durrani Design and the launch of the new online apparel division, S.A.W. (at www.skullsandwings.com) was mentioned in the Regional Report section of the recent issue of the San Diego Business Journal.

ENCINITAS: Can’t Find Apparel You Want? Surf on Over to S.A.W.

Durrani Design has launched an online apparel division called SkullsandWings.com, dubbed S.A.W. The new operation sells boutique skate and surf brands that are hard to find on the shelves.

Durrani Design started in April 2007. Co-founder Joe McDonald says S.A.W. will address the gap in the market between what core retail stores will carry and emerging brands that are hard to find. The retailer has collected a lineup of local and edgy brand lines such as Raen sunglasses, Dekline Footwear, Ogio gear and Vestal watches, as well as green brands, including Elwood Clothing, Hippy Tree surf wear and MNKR Clothing.

“These days it’s getting harder and harder to separate the clothes from the lifestyle and the person,” said McDonald.

— Ned Randolph

Read more online at www.sdbj.com