Here at Our Time Designs, we refuse to give in to the media hype that the economy is in absolute dire straits. Because when we look around, we see businesses in our own Richmond and Tri-Cities community that are not only surviving—they’re thriving!

Sure, times are tough, but that just means there’s more opportunity for the people and businesses that are smart enough to look around and find new niches in the market—and new ways to make money.

We want to help our local community businesses do just that—find new profitability in this changing new economy. Because when businesses thrive, the community as a whole is strong [ ... ]

A lot of companies ask what seems to be a very basic question, "Do I have to be concerned about branding as a small-business owner?" Absolutely! Your company has only one chance to make a great first impression. Your brand is intangible and has nothing at all to do with any real estate, inventory or how many vehicle fleets your company may count as assets. Instead, it refers to the reputation behind your company's name and logo. Branding must be consistent and positive with a single message that can be understood by all buyers. Your message must have powerful graphics that not only capture the buyer’s attention but also explain the message. A successful image is the foundation of every successful company.  [ ... ]

I recently got a great compliment from a man I work with on a regular basis, editing and proofreading his terrific copywriting. This guy is a real pro—he works with and knows the big names in copywriting, like Gary Bencivenga and Joe Vitale, just to name a couple. He does really great work. No, AMAZING work! I’ve been fortunate to get to w [ ... ]

The metrics of success and failure from business to business are very personal. The definition of success is as subjective as an oil painting of happiness. What you consider success will largely impact whether or not your business succeeds.

Numerous studies have looked at small-business failure rates over the past 30 years. The good news is that sta [ ... ]

What are you selling? A product? A service? Your image. Your trustworthiness. Or, are you selling a solution—an answer to the pressing needs of your customers? When you can get into the heads of your audience and find out what it is they want, what it is that will make their lives easier, then you will know what you are selling. People don [ ... ]