How Current Is Your Communication Style?
by Andrea Cook 
Today’s marketplace has changed. Men don’t wear hats to the office anymore. Like it or not. A lot has changed. However, businesses still require communication material. If your collateral needs updated, contact The Midas Center. We are professional visual communicators.
Your marketing material represents your professional image at a glance. Every interaction you have with the public through marketing items, from the logo on your business card to your web site and brochures all communicate the quality of products and services you offer. What are you communicating?
TMCSuccessful Brands Motivate and Build Trust
by Andrea Cook 
The Midas Center's main objective is to help businesses and organizations succeed. We do that by trying to build a solid brand that contains an image and message that is credible, attractive and motivating. To do this, it takes creativity to develop the right elements and manage the right media mix.
A successful brand takes investment in both time and money. It takes more than just a logo and copy to have the power to reinforce your brand and motivate the public to act.
In an article titled, Harris Poll Finds: St. Jude's Research Hospital and Susan G Komen for the Cure are among Most Trusted Non-Profits written in Business Wire shows the top ten brands of non-profits. It refers to a study by EquiTrend® that, "evaluates measures including: Equity, Customer Connection, Commitment, Energy, Brand Behavior, Brand Advocacy, and Trust. The keystone to the program is Equity, which provides an understanding of a brand’s overall strength and is determined by a calculation of Familiarity, Quality, and Intention to Donate."
It is important that organizations and businesses know their objectives and when implementing a new identity or branding campaign, realize the overall investment. Successful brands can have a profitable return on investment (ROI) if strategically designed, developed and executed properly.
Mistakes Businesses Make Trying To Go Green
by Andrea Cook We've been borderline-obsessed with thinking how we can improve our dedication to eco-friendly working, living and learning.
Since being recognized as a finalist for the Indiana Green Business's Entrepreneur of the Year, we admittedly acknowledge that we are unqualified to represent such a noble title.
True confessions: at times we don't use both sides of our paper, we drive more than ride our bikes or walk, we will use plastic bags if and when we frequently forget our recyclable bags and we even shop at Wal-Mart.
Just yesterday "green" guests came to our offices and we politely offered drinks, as in coffee or water, and one of the gentelmen kindly declined and reminded us of the plastic bottle conundrum. Yes. Conundrum.
In the spirit of taking green initiatives mainstream, we would like to share an interesting article we throughly enjoyed. We hope you will find it interesting and thought-provoking as well.
"Five Mistakes Businesses Make Trying To Go Green," written by Jill Fehrenbacher CEO, founder, Inhabitat.com. Read article >>
Together, businesses can impact the green initiatives and take steps to save the earth. As for this little marketing shop in small town Indiana, we admit we have a far way to travel to reach the ideal image of an earth-saving business.
The Midas Center: Taking Green Mainstream Part II
by Andrea Cook 
You may recall a previous post written here about the first installment of The Midas Center's Core Values. One of the core values uncovered in that article is the high importance The Midas Center places on visual integrity(TM).
Visual Integrity(TM) is so important that The Midas Center trademarked the term. From the office decor to the printed and online materials, there is the highest regard for aesthetics and visual appeal. This focus on visual appeal translates through The Midas Center's communications for its own marketing purposes and is applied to each and every client communication tool, too.
This post would like to introduce its next core value: eco-friendliness. The Midas Center understands that the choices their team makes in day-to-day living and working isn't perfect, but does place attention on the social responsibility to be better stewards of our earth and its valuable resources. From the office decor to the portfolio of "green" clients, The Midas Center is dedicated to do all it can to "Reuse, Recycle, Reduce."
In October 2009 when The Midas Center restarted its business in downtown Plymouth, owner Andrea Cook needed to make purchases for office furniture and decor. She was pleased to find 100% of the office furniture from local thrift stores like Salvation Army, ReStore and the Recycle Depot. From the paint on the walls, that by the way just happens to be a perfect match of Pantone 131 - the gold in The Midas Center's logo, to the conference tables, chairs, kitchenette cabinetry, counter-tops and presentation easel, the office furniture is all second-hand.
When items are purchased from thrift shops or second-hand stores it is a win-win for so many people:
- The items were saved from going to a landfill or collecting dust in someone's basement.
- The cost of the items were budget-friendly, for example, the office chair was purchased from the Culver Wesley United Methodist Church annual rummage sale for $4.
- Repurposing materials can be fun, such as an old door into a large desk can promote creativity, develop into a hobby and reduce stress.
The Midas Center is proud to be green. The eco-friendly choices that have been made for this business has not only been earth-friendly, budget-friendly, they have also helped our business grow. Sharing values and interests in the community opens the doors to new opportunities with other businesses. It also builds awareness in the community. The Midas Center is purposeful on taking green mainstream.
More details on taking green mainstream to follow...
Sneak Peak at Tomorrow's Presentation
by Andrea Cook 
We're looking forward to our presentation tomorrow on Social Media.
The Midas Center continues to offer free workshops monthly as part of a Brown Bag Lunch Series to help businesses in the community grow. We plan on covering the basic information on what social media is and how business leaders can tailor their own plan to utilize this new frontier and grow their business and careers.
We have several seats reserved and we'relooking forward to presenting this interactive presentation which will start promptly at noon at The Midas Center in downtown Plymouth. We have created this 30-minute session to be informative and inspiring!
Some guests have preordered a Sisters Tea & Eatery boxed lunch as part of their online registration. They are are expected to bring $5 and plan to arrive a few minutes early to pick up their lunches at The Midas Center.
We will be uncovering what a social media pioneer is, basic social media needs and basic tools and their rules. From Far and Away to Success in 30 minutes!
If you are interested in attending our next free workshop, mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 20, 2010 when we will present our next part of the Brown Bag Lunch Series titled, "Branding: It's Not Just For the Cows."
