Way back in December, I started out my newsletter talking about the great customer service I experienced at my local Subway. Sad to report, but I've been back several times and it just hasn't been the same. I don't go anymore.

Lesson: Be consistent.

Last week, I went to my local Arby's in Swannanoa, lured by all those commercials promising fast-food with healthier menu options. Yes, it's true. The food, while more costly than other fast food joints, smacked of freshness and non-heatlamp radiated goodness, but it also happened fast and I didn't need to leave a tip. What was most unexpected was the fine service. The drink machine was clean. The trash cans were not overfilled beyond capacity. Every table and chair was clean and crumb-free. The cashier discussed the menu with me and told me about his favorites. The food-handler shuffled my fish sandwich to me lickety-split, offered up some condiments and even came out into the dining area and asked me if everything was alright. Yes, everything is all right.

Lesson: You can be whatever you want to be. Go ahead. Redefine your business segment.

In the last month, I have put down two pets due to illness and age. My vet has taken more time than usual with me, helping me through the decision and the grief, even coming to my home with an assistant to perform her final duty for my beloved dog, Blue. I have received cards in the mail after the passing of each pet with signatures and notes from every staff member. I received a heart-felt hug from three staff members on my last visit.

Lesson: You can be professional AND compassionate. These are not mutually exclusive.

I'd like to welcome two new clients with two shiny new websites:

Stratabands : The Art of Union
Stratabands is the new patterned metal wedding ring line from recognized mokume-gane artists James Binnion and Steve Midgett. These award winning designers have decades in patterned metal as masters celebrated for their fine art and specialties in mokume-gane wedding bands.

Steve and James founded XPM Corporation to develop a new industrial process to make patterned metals affordable and in combinations previously thought to be impossible. The XPM process enables new patterns and ring shapes and generates the perfect bond needed to join dissimilar metals. Most importantly, the new XPM process greatly increases the availability of designer patterned metals and dramatically reduces cost.

Buncombe Buckles
Buncombe Buckles Metalworks is a small, one woman company based in Asheville, North Carolina.  Each buckle is designed, fabricated and finished by Celia Gray.  Celia was trained in blacksmithing and metalwork at the Penland School of Crafts during a two year fellowship program from 2001 to 2003.  She has a fine arts degree and is an exhibiting painter as well.

Celia has been making belt buckles as a side project to her artwork since she began her time at Penland in 2001.  She decided to make it into a small business and Buncombe Buckles was officially named and began selling in 2006.  Celia collects inspiration from repeated patterns, great color combinations, old quilts, vintage wallpaper, and weathered and worn surfaces.  Each buckle is designed, made, cleaned, and finished with individual care.

No More Pass or Fail Grading from BBB
from The Entrepreneurial Mind by Jeff Cornwall

The Better Business Bureau has implemented a new approach to rating businesses.  Although it was put in place early in 2009, it is just now getting noticed as its impact is beginning to be felt in the market.

The new system uses a more detailed A+ through F letter-grade, which replaces the old system that rated businesses as either "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory".

As small businesses look to trim their budgets to survive the recession, they need to be aware of any potential impact on quality and customer satisfaction.  Also, expect consumers to pay more attention to such rating reports, as they attempt to focus more on getting the most value from their spending.

The scores are calculated using a variety of measures about the specific business, such as the nature and age of the business, its complaint history, government actions against the business, its approach to advertising, and honors and recognition from its industry.  To get a full explanation of its system click here and here.  You can see if your business is currently graded by searching their database here.

With a new blog being started every second it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. Following are some tips on how to differentiate your blog from the millions of others out there.

1. Pick a unique topic - it is easier said than done to choose a topic that is unique from everyone else today in a blogosphere as crowded as we’re currently in - however opportunities do arise to start blogs on topics that are new trends, products or ideas. Being first doesn’t guarantee success - but it can help.

2. Develop a Unique Voice - while it may not always be possible to choose a unique topic it can sometimes be easier to cover that topic in a way that others do not. Whether it be by using humor, blogging as a character (think Fake Steve Jobs blog), blogging in the 3rd Person (Manolo the Shoe Blogger) or some other way - finding a unique voice or style can set you apart from the rest.

3. Design - having a unique blog design doesn’t mean you need to pay big dollars for a custom design - start with a default one (or a premium design like Thesis) and tweak it with a unique logo, colors and layout. Visual first impressions count and can be the deciding factor as to whether people subscribe to your blog or not.

Read the full article >>

The Complete Guide to Speeding Up your PC's Start-Up
from Lifehacker

Gina Trapani has written a brief and informative article on getting your PC to spin up faster. I gave it a whirl and cut my start-up time in half. Now I'm going to have to find another time to get my dishes washed.
Read the article >>

PlayOn Streams Media Content to Your XBox360, PS3, and Wii (coming soon)

PlayOn offers streaming content from Netflix, Hulu, CNN, ESPN, CBS, and YouTube directly on your TV through your wireless home network. You pay a one-time fee which is $40 or pick a trial period of 14-days. Turn on your XBox, PS3, or HP MediaSmart TV and you're watching content in no time. AND they'll be compatible with the Wii in early 2009. Now this is the kind of digital conversion I can get into.
Learn more at their website >>

Font Picker Previews Text Using Your Own Fonts
from Lifehacker by The How-To Geek

Windows/Mac/Linux (Adobe Air or Flash): Font Picker is a simple application that previews your text using different typefaces to help select from the fonts installed on your own computer.

To use, simply highlight any of the example boxes and type in your own text, which will be replicated to the rest of the items. Use the check boxes to select the fonts you like, and the Clear button to remove the fonts you don't, leaving you with a smaller list of fonts to choose from. If you've ever wondered what font to use in a presentation or logo, this application could be useful, especially for those of us that got stuck with the designer hat at work when it doesn't really fit.

Font Picker is a free download for the (Windows/Mac/Linux) Adobe Air platform, or can be run in a browser without installation. If you want to find new fonts using a similar preview method, check out previously mentioned Dafont, or you can always create your own font with FontStruct.

Wacom Pendulum Art

Pocket-sized has made interesting use of a Wacom Tablet making a pendulum out of the stylus and capturing the lines. Don't know what a Wacom Tablet is? It's a pressure sensitive tablet (input device) that allows the user to draw with a stylus and capture the marks. As a proud owner of a Wacom, I have to say that you just don't realize how restrictive the standard mouse is until you lock and load one of these babies.

See the drawings >>

Dog Eats Burrito in 1 Second

1 second? I think that's an over-estimation.

See the video >>

My name is Heather Gordon, and I am the creative vision and solitary grunt behind Meridian Design. I work with my clients throughout the US and Canada to create unique designs for web and print, and provide guidance in SEO and marketing strategies.

Although trained as a visual artist, I have owned and operated two small businesses, taught courses in art, provided computer training, and have been a public speaker on the subject of online marketing and search engine optimization.

For more information about me and my work:

• Subscribe to my design blog
• Read my previous newsletters
• View my design website and see my client list
• Take a peek at my artwork