We’ve had the pleasure of working with Iaomai Medical Ministries, a San Diego  medical outreach non-profit, and in nearly record time, we launched their new, fully-custom website: check out the live site here!!

Not only was it wonderful working with Iaomai because of the inspiring advanced healthcare they provide to those most in need worldwide, but President Sean Burgess was extremely helpful providing content, managing some multi-browser testing and supporting our artistic efforts along the way! As a thank you to Skybox Creative for our work on the project, Burgess kindly sent our staff an incredibly beautiful and exotic floral arrangement that literally dropped all of our jaws – it has the largest lilies we’d ever seen!

It was very gracious of Iaomai to offer such a warm gesture, and we in turn commend the organization on their medical outreach, which includes both clinical and surgical procedures during their medical trips. Iaomai specializes in the mobilization of advanced healthcare services to under-served populations around the world. Photo galleries for their most recent trips to Guatemala in 2009 and Jamaica in 2008 are available on the site click here, as well as photos of their most recent fund raising event at the Hotel Del Coronado click here.

Without even asking, Burgess provided a testimonial about the entire web development experience and end product:

“Skybox has been one of the freshest breath of business air I have had in a long time. I am so glad we have done business. I hope your business continues to be a huge success and other potential clients see your diversity and creativity in delivering unique and relevant websites.”

The San Diego Entrepreneur Meetup Group is responsible for hosting a variety of networking events and seminar luncheons for San Diego business professionals.

“Power Lunch: 5 Ways to Massively Increase Your Income” was the topic of today’s luncheon. Karie Kaufmann, Certified Business Coach with ActionCoach, presented the group with a variety of practical ideas to help grow your business. Prior to meeting Karie, we learned that we shared a mutual client, David Dent of CodeB San Diego, small world! By eliciting responses from the group, we were able to create a list of ways to; create more leads, increase your conversion rate, increase the number of transactions per customer, increase value therefore increase the average sale (DON’T DISCOUNT was a strong message she wrote out in large type) and increasing your profit margins by looking at ways you can cut costs.

One of the strongest messages I was left with was the importance of forming strategic alliances – creating and nurturing relationships with people who share your target market but don’t compete. One method to find out who the right strategic partners are is to draw a circle on a piece of paper with your target market/potential client in the middle, from there draw lines outward and think of all the possible people they come in contact with. Once you have your list of potential people/industries, find some local companies and introduce yourself. As long as it is a mutually beneficial relationship, they will most likely agree to meet with you and discuss the possibilities.

Prior to listening to the speaker, we played a game of Networking Tic-Tac-Toe, a first for me! We got to find out more about each other’s businesses and target markets by filling in squares on a tic-tac-toe board. Then as the luncheon coordinator, Doug Means, drew business cards out of his pocket, we put x in that square, the first person to get 3 in a row won a gift certificate for a free lunch at Seau’s Restaurant (where the event was held). It was a fun way to make sure you met at least 9 people at the event and really sparked conversation throughout the room.

Skybox Creative and Skybox Ink ♥ networking! We immerse ourselves in networking and learning all we can about business growth and development. The lunch drew a diverse range of business owners/professionals including, Stasia Shimkus of Arbonne International, Kirk Nigel of KNG Construction, Dave Brodwolf of Domination Marketing, Adrienne Moch – Copywriter and President of NAWBO San Diego, Carol Galloway of PartyLite, Ashley Sellers of National Life Insurance, Jan Naylor-Smith of JuicePlus, and of course Karie Kaufmann and Doug Means who put the event together! We would definitely recommend attending one of their events if you haven’t yet!

We’re a month into 2010, and it has been a busy and fulfilling year already!

Skybox Creative’s eco-friendly printing business, Skybox Ink is doing increasingly well, and we are consistently expanding product options and paper stocks. New this year is 100# Linen and rounded corners for business cards and postcards – definitely check out the site – 250 business cards start as low as $14!

Skybox Creative has also been working with some wonderful clients, both new additions to our business family and some long-standing relationships. SKIN1 by Dr. Gram recently changed its name to GRAM Skincare, and we are the branding firm revamping their new look (updated packaging and logo to be presented Spring 2010!)

We are also very excited to be working with new client Iaomai Medical Ministries, a medical outreach non-profit here in San Diego. We are currently in the final stages of their website redesign, and it has been a wonderful experience working with people who are so giving of their time, expertise and spirit to make this world a healthier, happier place. Last year, they provided medical care to almost 1400 people in Guatemala during a 10-day outreach trip – incredible!

Mark it on your calendar – Thursday, March 18, 2010 – the next installment of “Green is the New Black.” Skybox Ink, in association with Skybox Creative, welcomes everyone to our Green Networking Quarterly Series at Se San Diego Hotel in the Gaslamp. More details to come soon, but there will be raffle prizes, great conversation and eco-friendly business brainstorming shared by all!

We’ll do our best to keep you current on everything Skybox here on our blog, but please drop us a line at 619.381.3825 or email info@skyboxcreative.com to inquire about our services!

Skybox Creative attended the Ad 2 – PRSA Holiday event at Side Bar in the Gaslamp District on December 3. The evening was a collaborative holiday celebration for the two organizations.

President of Skybox Creative, Angelina Sereno, and Account Manager, Carly Bartkiewicz, met some ambitious and interesting fellow entrepreneurs, including Jeff Weinberger, Director of Product Development for Ground Up Logic, a company that develops iPhone software, Sabrina Gallier, Search Marketing Manager for Covario and Scott Smith, Sales Manager for CBS Outdoor. After speaking to Emily Cox, we learned about Empower San Diego, a non-profit organization that focuses on political education and community involvement. Kristin Craik shared with us her passion for copywriting and online sales strategies, a writer and social media strategist for La La Lingerie, she stays very busy.

Angelina and Carly found out about the event after meeting Adam Hermsdorfer, President of Ad 2, at an open house for C&S Sales a few weeks earlier. C&S has some incredible custom packaging products, such as invitations, menus and novelty items that are really worth checking out!

The San Diego chapters for Ad 2 and PRSA are both great organizations for local people in advertising, public relations or related industries to meet new business contacts, share ideas and also give back to their communities through fundraisers and philanthropy.

GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK – Free Quarterly Networking Event in San Diego

Thursday, December 17, 2009
7pm-9pm + beyond at Sîren Uber Lounge inside Sé Hotel
1047 5th Avenue, San Diego, 92101

Skybox Creative + Skybox Ink (Green Printing) are excited to announce the launch of our new quarterly FREE Green Networking Mixers in San Diego! We have partnered with Sîren Uber Lounge, inside Sé Hotel (Located just above The House of Blues), to offer a luxurious setting for the events, with a relaxing indoor lounge and heated patio/bar area. Due to the success + demand of our annual networking events, bringing hundreds of people together, we have decided to host quarterly mixers.

ALL entrepreneurs and business professionals are welcome, our Green Mixers simply provide a setting for eco-friendly businesses to connect + collaborate. It also provides the perfect opportunity for companies to learn how they can become more Green. This is an opportunity to grow your business and do something positive!

Thursday, December 17th will mark the first in our mixer series. We are currently seeking sponsors, preferably Green-related for our raffle. We are also seeking cash sponsors ($100 and up) for event food + beverage. In return, you will get up to 5 minutes to promote your business/give out prizes & certificates as well as two months of free advertising on our event website! For more information, contact us at info@skyboxcreative.com

RSVP info@skyboxcreative.com

We ♥ our earth!

Skybox Creative participated in a Going Green to Save Some Green Business Seminar on November 13 hosted by NAWBO’s San Diego Chapter (National Association of Women Business Owners). The event, part of NAWBO’s seminar series, included a presentation by Christine McDannell, owner of Cleanology (green cleaning services) and Adopt A Christmas Tree, which is a program that offers alternative solutions to cutting down Christmas trees.

Many good tips were passed around by those attending, including using an eFax or a scanner to get around using excess paper, saving energy by using natural light when possible and bringing a lunch to avoid to-go waste. Other ideas that might take a little more extensive work included altering your business accounting practices: receiving and paying for bills electronically, and limiting paper waste by having all accounting files as electronic pdfs on a computer and back up drive.

Skybox Creative shared our green business – Skybox Ink – a fully-automated printing website that uses recycled stock, chlorine free paper and soy and vegetable inks for printed materials, but still upholds high-quality standards. Skybox Creative and Skybox Ink are also going to be hosting a Green Business Mixer on Thursday December 17, from 7 – 9pm at Se San Diego downtown. It will be an opportunity to connect eco-savvy businesses and those looking get involved in the green movement. It will also be the first in a quarterly series! For more information, contact info@skyboxcreative.com

Check out how large and small companies are reinventing their brand image at http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/

This site is a great resource for learning about what some of the corporate mega companies are doing to modernize, elevate and sustain branding supremacy.

To find out more about building a brand for your company, contact info@skyboxcreative.com or call 619.381.3825

Skybox Creative is an award-winning web design and branding firm in San Diego. Specializing in all things graphic design, Skybox works hand-in-hand with companies to create lasting, clean and distinctive imagery for your company in the medium of web, print, email, trade show + more.

We had the pleasure of attending the San Diego Small Business Fair last week on Thursday, October 21, 2009 at the Handerly Hotel. This FREE event was sponsored by Michelle Steel, Board of Equalization Member and Southern California’s Elected Taxpayer Advocate. The Small Business Fair held a series of seminars or workshops with information on Surviving the Downturn (presented by SCORE – San Diego), Sales and Use Tax: How to Avoid Common Pitfalls (presented by BOE), Employee vs. Independent Contractor (presented by EDD), Better Business through Better Records (presented by the IRS) and Top Dollar Advice for Tough Economic Times (presented by FTB, EDD, BOE and IRS). The informative seminars presented a plethora of useful information for small or newer businesses in San Diego.

In between the presentations, there was an Expo with several Exhibitors including but not limited to BBB, City of San Diego, Franchise Tax Board, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Board of Equalization, Accion San Diego and many more. We gathered a ton of useful information including “How to do Business with California State Government”, “Taking Care of Business Checklist”, Information on 401(k), Simple IRA Plans & SEP Retirement Plans (for Small Businesses), FAQ’s Booklets, Brochures and more! As all business owners know, time is our most precious asset, so it was extremely helpful that all of this information was available in one place. Now the trick is finding the time to read through it all?!

We did get some important questions answered from the staff members manning the booths. One friendly man from the IRS said something to me that stuck: “Pension means required. Go with a retirement plan that is based on profit, if there is not profit, you don’t have to make any payments.” Wise words…and although it is such a simple concept, it was never so clearly laid out for me.

We stopped by the NAWBO desk and spoke to a savvy business owner by the name of Jere Batten, Treasurer of NAWBO San Diego and president of Batten Accountancy, Inc. She gave us her undivided attention and advice on growing a business. We dropped a couple cards in for the raffle to win a free NAWBO lunch and I won!

I never win ANYTHING, but I guess I was due The monthly luncheon event typically draws around 65 women business owners for a speaker presentation, lunch and mixer. Non-members are welcome but there is a fee to attend the events. For more information on NAWBO events in San Diego: http://www.nawbo-sd.org/component/option,com_jevents/Itemid,92/task,month.calendar/

During the Expo, we also had a chance to mingle with a few business owners that were browsing around. Among these, Antonio de la Cerda of VNet Professionals Inc., Justin R. French of Social Networking San Diego, Gabriel I. Collignon of AKB Solutions, Jenn Vela of 5byseven, Maria Montano of Accion San Diego and others.

It was one of those busy days at the office and we weren’t sure if we should leave, but it turned out to be an eventful and educational experience. I would highly recommend attending an event in the future if you have the opportunity.

For more information on this event and others like it, visit: http://www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/tpsched.htm

To growth + prosperity!

Skybox Ink, Green Printing San Diego, has started off with a bang!

The newest division of Skybox Creative, www.skyboxink.com, was recently announced at our third year anniversary mixer celebration. No doubt it has come at a good time, nowadays more and more people are becoming conscious of making earth friendly decisions. Thank goodness! This has always been a topic very close to my heart, so I am especially proud to launch a sub-division of Skybox Creative that offers green printing products. Not only are we becoming more eco-friendly, we are offering our products at insanely low introductory wholesale pricing for a limited time!

We use soy and vegetable based inks and Zero VOC solvents on ALL of out printing jobs in order to reduce air pollution and improve employee safety. The following paper stocks can be upgraded to our “Go Green” paper for no additional cost: 100# Gloss Text, 100# Gloss Cover, 14pt C2S Gloss Cover, 70# Uncoated Text and 110# Classic Crest Cover.

To learn more about our green printing process, click here to learn more: http://www.skyboxink.com/green

Here is just a short list of products and prices currently available on our Green Printing website:

3.5 x 2 14PT Business Cards Gloss Cover, Full Color 4/4, 2-Sided UV, Quantity 1,000 $28
3.5 x 2 14PT Business Cards Gloss Cover, Full Color 4/4, 2-Sided UV, Quantity 2,500 $50
3.5 x 2 14PT Business Cards Gloss Cover, Full Color 4/4, 2-Sided UV, Quantity 5,000 $64
3.5 x 2 14PT Business Cards Gloss Cover, Full Color 4/4, 2-Sided UV, Quantity 10,000 $120
3.5 x 2 14PT Business Cards Gloss Cover, Full Color 4/4, 2-Sided UV, Quantity 20,000 $225

4 x 6 14PT  Postcards, Full Color, 2-Sided UV, Quantity 1,000 $54
4 x 6 14PT  Postcards, Full Color, 2-Sided UV, Quantity 5,000 $149

Read the rest of this entry »

Clients, guests, industry friends and influential San Diego business associates celebrated 3 years of Skybox Creative last night at downtown’s hottest new venue, S√® San Diego Hotel’s Siren Pool and Uber Lounge.

Close to 200 guests attended the award-winning web design firm’s milestone mixer and enjoyed a balmy summer evening on the luxurious pool deck. Newly made acquaintances toasted upcoming and exciting business ideas during the networking themed event.

An expansive raffle included an array of products and services, including a logo giveaway from Skybox and printing services from their latest venture – Skybox Ink – a full-service green printing website offering wholesale prices to the public. Guest Patty Mallory already shared her good fortune and experience at the event on her blog: click here!

Check back soon for event photos and contact info@skyboxcreative.com for all of your web design and branding needs!