Return to Roughstock Studios.
For the sake of brevity, I'll jump right to the crux of this month's newsletter: I need your help. Please read on to find out why...
Help Me Out and Win a Book!
I'm redesigning roughstockstudios.com and I could really use your input. Our visitor statistics keep going up and I want to make sure the site stays as relevant and useful as possible.
I've put together a five-minute survey (less than ten questions) to find out what you'd like to see (or not see, for that matter).
To sweeten the deal a little, one lucky survey participant will be randomly pulled from a virtual hat to receive a free copy of Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, "an entertaining, practical guide to effective communication."
The catch is, you have to complete all the quesions to win the book. Of course, if you don't want to be bothered, you can always email me your comments and ideas. Thanks!
Recently Published: How to Find Green Vendors
The Sustainable Studio, my monthly column about the business of green design, is back! This month I focus on how to implement a sustainable purchasing policy. Although geared towards graphic designers, the advice contained in this article really applies to any industry.
I cover what sustainable purchasing is all about, give you some ideas for implementing your own policy, and show you where to begin your sustainable vendor search:
"So just what makes a vendor sustainable? Is it as simple as finding a printer who stocks recycled paper? There are currently no strict definitions for what makes a business sustainable, unfortunately, so it is up to each of us to find a system that is both meaningful and practical. As a San Francisco-certified Green Business, I have a simple yet stringent purchasing policy in place for Roughstock Studios. I assign a single point for each of the following attributes that a potential vendor meets..."
Read the full article on Business of Design Online.
And of course, I'd love to know your feelings about such a policy. Do you have one in place at your business? What obstacles are keeping you it? Are there any questions I didn't answer in the article? Let me know!
Visualizing Information for Advocacy | This free PDF booklet provides an excellent intro to information design for nonprofits and social change groups. Learn how to communicate complex information in a way that informs and motivates your readers.
Limerick Database | I have a degree in creative writing with an emphasis in poetry; is it terrible that I'm a sucker for a good limerick? (Warning: some of these are dirty.)
Free "Recycled Packaging" Stamp Art | If you're a retailer who uses recycled or reused packaging to ship products, this free stamp art will inform your customers and help spread the word.
That about wraps it up for this month. If you're interested in developing a marketing plan, or looking for a designer or copywriter, or simply feel like getting in touch, just drop me a line.
Best,
Jess Sand
Principal
