Saturday, August 8, 2009

WELCOME

I wanted to name my company lagniappe, but due to translation problems from bizarre New Orleans slang-French-Cajun word to New Yorker is a bit of a problem. I will use this platform to tell you what lagniappe is.
Lagniappe: a little something extra given with a purchase. A premium. This tradition is still observed in New Orleans culture and dates back to Normandy, France and Acadia, Canada. When driven out by the British the Acadians brought to New Orleans this generous practice. In selling grain to customers it was placed in a woolen cloth, known as nappe. To compensate the buyer for grain caught in the nappe the seller would through in a couple handfuls from his supply without charge saying, “c’est pour la nappe,” meaning that which was caught in the cloth.

By giving this extra service to the purchaser a satisfied and repeat customer was often assured. Lagniappe is a word that is heard frequently in New Orleans. A number of business people still give it to their customers.”

(Stall, Gasper J., “Proud Peculiar New Orleans: The Inside Story,” Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1984.)

To me, lagniappe means everything else or everything but the kitchen sink. I can create, evaluate, or fix your website, design graphics for the web and for print (logo design, business cards, brochures, any correspondence or promotional materials, etc.), speed up your computers, create massive social networking campaigns, setup and teach you how to blog, and get attention via thinking OUTside of the box (viral campaigns), etc. In addition, if you ever need someone to help you design your workplace, teach you how to use your technology, cook a great meal for a party, or reupholster a couch, I AM your woman.

You will never receive a design that is not original and that is only for you. In addition, I price projects so that they can be actualized. There is a solution for every problem and there is a way around costs. What I require is some flexibility and your trust to take a breath and a leap.

I work along a philosophy based on 3 elements:

(1) simplicity
(2) throwing my ego away
(3) empowering you!

I keep things simple. This does not mean boring. It comes down to my view that if something is not necessary, it should not be there. For example, if you have a computer at your business with applications (the internet) that employees can access at anytime, most likely, your computers are running slowly, productivity is low, and employees are not doing all that they can do. Why? When given a chance to log on to whatever social networking site, search engine, or even, yes, pornographic site, employees will do so. This = low productivity, computer full of worms, lack of focus, and I could go on forever.
Your site should be readable. No fling sparklers with obnoxious music. Why? It is impossible to read and has the chance of crashing. The more streamlined the site, the more effective it is.

You are my client. I will do everything I can to translate your vision into something tangible. I do not force my “art” down your throat. I am not an artist. I am like a translator or a psychiatrist. I take your ideas and vision and use my knowledge to create whatever you need. You will get what you want in your design. You are #1. You choose what you like. I, of course, listen and pick up on cue to present the right ideas that match you.
If you do not like something I am working on, give me your feedback. The best work is done when a synergy exists between a client and myself. My favorite designs have come from making changes with my clients to designs. I want to hear your feedback and make changes.

I do not take it personally when something need tweaking. For me, this is an opportunity to learn, connect, and work as a team to be positive that the end result is what YOU want and need.

Last, the most valuable thing to give someone is the power to help themselves. I will always be elated to teach you how to use your technology. I create tutorials with screen-shots and complete instructions to be positive that when I walk away, you know what to do.

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