Card One Concepts BlogSpot

Nanticoke Gardens New Website Goes Live

2009-10-22T08:35:00.003-05:00

Card One Concepts is happy to announce the launch of the new and improved website for Nanticoke Gardens!

Since 1973, Nanticoke Gardens has been the area’s premier grower of high quality bedding plants and poinsettias. As professional growers, they take pride in providing the largest selection of top quality plants in the Greater Binghamton and Broome County area.

Card One Concepts invites you to visit their newly designed website, you will be surprised at the quality and variety of their plants, flowers, vegetables, herbs and more.

Card One Concepts goes Green!

2009-09-18T07:05:00.003-05:00

Card One Concepts, all it's existing and future clients websites, web hosting and email services now run on 100% wind power!

How It Works

Since generating wind energy on site isn't feasible, we're offsetting all of our electricity use with wind-generated Renewable Energy Certificates, which prevent the release of 2,660 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year.

That figure is staggering when you consider the estimated yearly benefit to the environment is equivalent to any one of the following:

* planting approximately 2,390 acres of trees
* not driving 6.1 million miles
* removing 510 cars from the road

Color Tech Tattoo Website Re-Design

2009-09-17T11:42:00.005-05:00

Card One Concepts is very excited to announce the launch of the new and improved Color Tech Tattoo website.

Color Tech Tattoo has been serving Binghamton NY and the greater southern tier since 2000, their qualified staff have a combined experience of over 30 years with tattooing, piercing and other body modifications.

The website was long overdue for an overhaul since it has not been updated since 2001. Color Tech wanted a site that displayed their stunning talent and award winning tattoos while giving them the ability to update it on their own and to keep in touch with their clients as well. So we hooked them up with a blog section that utilizes RSS feeds, so they can post new projects as they get them along with other news and events and allows anyone to leave comments.

We want to thank Color Tech Tattoo for putting their faith in our guidance and experience, while allowing us the creative freedom to design a great looking and user friendly website that showcases their talent.

CR Hamilton Website Re-Design

2009-08-12T08:14:00.006-05:00

Card One Concepts is happy to announce the release of a new website re-design for CR Hamilton out of Long Island, New York. With the fantastic leadership guidance and collaboration of Business Consultant Amy J. Stoddard, this project had many challenges that Amy gracefully overcame.

CR Hamilton has been in business for over 100 years and specialize in product management, storage solutions, warehouse and distribution and overall streamlining of the physical storage and movement of products, records and heavy equipment.

Congratulations to CR Hamilton for taking the initiative to put your best foot forward with an online presence, may your business thrive for another 100 years and beyond!

Card One Concepts Takes First Place in Digital Art Photo Editing

2009-05-21T06:59:00.004-05:00

Card One Concepts is a proud to be a member of CAST (Communication Association of the Souther Tier).

Genesis 19, the annual call for entries titled theme "Collaboration" was held on May 14, 2009. Local Communications professionals came together to celebrate the spirit of collaboration! Over 200 very impressive entries showcased the creative talents of area marketing and communications professionals.

This year Card One Concepts was awarded first place in the category of Digital Art; Photo Editing. The digital art piece that was awarded was a project or more a labor of love, experimentation, and collaboration with local Photographer Kirk Van Zandbergen form Van Zandbergen Photography Studio.

Schaefer's Gardens New Website

2009-04-23T08:15:00.003-05:00

Card One Concepts has been very busy this year working on several exciting projects with businesses all over the souther tiers area.

Schaefer's Gardens is a wholesale plant and flower grower and distributor located a half an hour south of Syracuse NY. As Schaefer's plants and flowers grow, owners Joan and George Schaefer realized that they needed help growing their online presence with a complete redesign of their old website.

Owner Joan Schaefer says:

"I can't begin to tell you how excited and pleased we are with our new site. We are getting lots of compliments...easy to maneuver, easy on the eye......You should bask in your success!"

Teen Rock Shop Open for Business!

2009-04-23T08:03:00.003-05:00

Card One Concepts is always privileged to be a part of projects involving education. Especially when music is involved.

Teen Rock Shop Loacted in Johnson City, NY. Provides a 12 week after school rock and roll workshop for students who are currently enrolled in music lessons and are between the ages of 7-17. Owners Jo and Mike Whitney needed a tool to market their growing business, while making it a flexible and interactive experience for students and faculty to communicate homework, concert dates and even post classified ads on the website.

Welcome to the world wide web!

Welcome to the internet DSofNY

2009-04-23T07:37:00.004-05:00

Card One Concepts is happy to announce the successful launch of the Discrimination Services of New York (DSofNY) website. The first business of its kind, Owner Caroline Bloodgood assists in professional response services and document preparation for her clients who have been discriminated against in New York State.

Congratulation to Caroline Bloodgood on your decision to improve your online presence and allow your business to grow.

NYSSSWA Website Redesign Now Live!

2008-10-24T13:14:00.004-05:00

I am very proud to announce that the new redesigned website for NYSSSWA is now live. The New York State School Social Workers Association. A long time valued client of Card One Concepts, this project has helped improve communication with both members and non-members.

For a limited time they are allowing free access to their Members Lounge.

Congratulations on improving your Online Presence NYSSSWA!

DPC Engineering Website Now Live!

2008-10-24T13:04:00.004-05:00

I am happy to announce that the website for DPC Engineering located in Elmira Heights, NY is now live. This was an exciting project to work on with a new business associate Amy J. Stoddard. Welcome to the web DPC Engineering!

IFCA 75th Annual Conference; Boston, MA

2008-09-16T09:56:00.018-05:00

I am currently attending the 75th Annual Insurance & Financial Communications Association (IFCA) at the Fairmont Copley in Boston, MA. I have to say it has been a wonderful experience so far and has proven to be a wealth of information and networking opportunities.

There are also some very great sponsors that I would encourage anyone in the Communications field to consider adding to there arsenal of communicational tools.

Denise Waggoner from Getty images Inc. who also owns one of my favorite sources for stock imagery IStockPhoto was showcasing some of the most fantastic images to come out of the Beijing Olympics, as they had over 40 Photographers covering the Olympics.

Irwin Hipsman, from Brainshark was also another sponsor that stood out and I believe that Brainshark brings a very impressive communication tool to the table that should be a standard must have in any communications department, weather your a small company or large corporation. I have found that they provide very useful presentational tools that are seamlessly used with everyones beloved presentation software Powerpoint and the best part is it's all handled on their servers so you can say bye bye to your Firewall Paranoid IT guy who will do noting but bog down your communication efforts. Although, I am an avid fan of Mac products and use a Mac every day for my design and communication needs, I would like to see them support Keynote in the future, but they do however support the Mac version of Powerpoint so compatibility is not such an issue really.

I am also happy to announce that today I was approached by one of the IFCA volunteers about doing some volunteer design work on the IFCA website and to help provide Web Hosting Services for the organization in the future so I am very excited to report the outcome of that upcoming meeting as soon as I know more.

Overall I am enjoying the city of Boston and the chance to rub elbows with some of my design peers in the Insurance & Financial sector of design. I want to thank IFCA and all it's members and volunteers for making me feel so welcomed and part of the Organization. I encourage any designer or communications specialist who does do work for insurance or financial institutions to really consider becoming a member of IFCA.

Font Conference

2008-07-26T16:25:00.002-05:00

Anyone who has to deal with fonts on a daily basis will find this little short flick giving them a good chuckle or two.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Speed Painting of Captain Jack Sparrow - Digital Timelapse Painting with Photoshop

2008-06-19T08:57:00.002-05:00

Learn how to draw at 5min.com

Motion Graphics - Freelance Art Directors Demo

2008-06-04T08:21:00.002-05:00

I came across this freelancers motion graphics demo and thought it was impressive. I have alot of people ask me what motion graphics are and this demo clip is a prime example.

Call for Help - Basic Illustrator Techniques

2008-04-15T11:16:00.001-05:00

Drawing a simple waving flag using Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Bridge 101

2008-04-08T20:33:00.002-05:00

How to Define a SIte In Dreamweaver CS3

2008-03-01T21:51:00.002-05:00

Helvetica . . . The Documentry!

2008-03-01T21:24:00.003-05:00

In the little free time I have these days between projects I like to catch up on a few movies from my netflix account. I especially love documentaries and had put an interesting title into my queue a few days ago called Helvetica.

I really enjoyed this movie and recommend any one who has an interest in graphic design and typography to make it a point to watch it. I am sure you will certainly enjoy this flick as much as I did.

Click here for more information about Helvetica.

Put Your Best Foot Forward for Success

2008-02-12T23:11:00.009-05:00

When clients hire Card One Concepts to design and develop a website we provide them with questions designed to help them determine what their web site needs and goals are. The feedback helps map out the foundation of the project and allows the client to really focus on the important details and helps them put into perspective the amount of work involved on their part.

If you are thinking of working with Card One Concepts on a website project you may find the following questions helpful to you before you request a free quote.

Background:

What is the nature of your business?
Who is your target audience?

Message:

What goals does your company intend to reach with a new web site?
What is the primary message you wish to convey to your audience with this site?

Perception:

Use adjectives to describe how you want your site to be perceived by the user. (Examples: conservative, progressive, friendly, formal, casual, serious, experts, humorous, service-oriented, professional, etc)
How is your company currently perceived? Do you wish to carry through the same kind of message through your web site?
What web sites do you find compelling? What do you find the most interesting about these sites?What do you find the least interesting or annoying about these sites?Please provide at least 3 website addresses for reference.
Are there other web sites you've seen that have functionality that you would like to have on your site? Due to differences in server operating systems, not all functionality you see on the web may be available on your site.

Style:

Do you have company colors or a color scheme you want us to use?
Describe any visual elements or styles that can be utilized from existing marketing materials or collateral.
If we are providing graphics, what style would you like them to be in: photography, illustration, cartoon, etc?

Content:

Will this site use existing content? If not, will you be creating content in-house or using an outside provider?
What is the basic structure of the content, and how is it organized?
Will you need to request any sensitive information on your site (social security numbers, credit card numbers)? If so, you will need to acquire a security certificate.

Commerce Sites:

How many products do you plan to sell on your web site? Will the products change often?
Do your products have any variations? If so, do they apply to all the products? Does each product have different variations? List variations.
What is your shipping model (flat rate, by total dollar amount, by piece)?
Will you be charging Sales Tax? If so, which state(s) will be charged? What percentage?
Are there any special pricing rules we need to know about (Ex: purchase 12 of our product and receive a 10% discount.)?
Which credit cards do you accept?
Do you need online credit card authorization (Paypal or Google Checkout)?
Do you want to accept checks or purchase orders?
Review the commerce options we have and see if one fits your needs best. Our sales representatives will be able to help you with this.

Marketing / Updating:

What are your short-term marketing goals (in the next two years)?
How will this web site help to meet your goals?
Do you have an existing or planned marketing strategy in mind to promote this site? If so, please describe.
What do you feel is your number one business problem? (Examples: change image, increase customers, promote company, etc.)
What methods of distributing the URL already exist within the company?
Do you intend on keeping the site updated? If so, how often? Who is responsible for updating and providing content?
What are your budget limitations? Can this project be broken in a phased manner to help you meet your goals?

Have a Safe & Happy New Year

2007-12-31T09:25:00.000-05:00

Card One Concepts wants to wish everyone an very safe and Happy New Year!

We hope this year was as good to you as it has been to us. We look forward to the year ahead, the continued relationships we have with our clients and we can't wait to meet the new ones!

Card One Concepts Unveils a New and Improved vDeck 3.0 Web Hosting Control Panel

2007-11-08T08:22:00.000-05:00

Great news to all Card One Concept clients and future clients -- we'll soon be unveiling vDeck 3.0! This new version of our control panel will give you access to additional tools and services and make it easier than ever to manage your web hosting account.

MORE TOOLS AND SERVICES
To give you an idea of the scope of this new control panel, the current version of vDeck incorporates 75 different tools and services--vDeck 3.0 will raise that number to more than 200!

EASIER ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
In addition, vDeck 3.0 will be even more deeply integrated into our platform than the current version, and it will offer:

* Online access to our support ticketing system.
* Online access to our new improved Knowledgebase.
* Online access to comprehensive tutorials to get you up to speed.
* Customizable user by user web hosting control panel.
* Useful and customizable widgets.
* New and improved Webmail system.
* And much much more!

INCREASED SECURITY AND RELIABILITY
We're revamping our hosting infrastructure, moving from our current distributed, box-by-box deployment to a unified, load-balanced architecture--which will provide greater redundancy for your Web site and e-mail.

UPGRADE PROCESS BEGINS THIS FALL
Card One Concepts is really looking forward to rolling out the new version of vDeck, but we realize that it represents a change. We appreciate your support and patience during this process.

Clients now have the ability to login to their vDeck right from Card One Concepts website by clicking the link labeled "Client Login" at the bottom of any page. We are also working to add vDeck login capabilities to your own website on request for free.

If you have any questions, please ask! As always, you can call us at 607-785-5817 or E-mail us if you have any problems logging in to your vDeck Control Panel.

New Website Redesign Launched"Vestal Central School District"

2007-09-25T11:20:00.000-05:00

Card One Concepts is proud to announce the launch of a new website redesign for the Vestal Central School District

Card One Concepts worked closely in conjunction with Eyedeas Design to redesign a very outdated and poorly functioning website. So we are very proud to announce the launch of the new and improved website for the Vestal Central School District. The new graphic elements, easy to use navigation, and new search capabilities, are just a few of the new features that make the new website a very useful communication tool for parents and faculty alike.

So please visit the website and see what's new!

New Client Website Launched "SonorasGardens.com"

2007-09-25T10:17:00.000-05:00

Card One Concepts is proud to announce the launch of our newest clients website www.sonorasgardens.com

Sonora's Gardens is, as their customers say, "One of the Best Kept Secrets in the Finger Lakes Area." Sonora's Gardens is a full-service garden center in the heart of "The Finger Lakes Area" - Horseheads, New York.

Always a family owned and operated business since its opening in 2001, Sonora's Gardens is the cream of the local garden center crop. They specialize in annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, seeds, fertilizers, soil amendments, mulch, stone, and everything you need to make your garden healthy and beautiful. Grown right in their own greenhouses, their friendly, knowledgeable staff is available to help you choose exactly the right plants.

So please visit the website and see what they can offer you!

Welcome to the World Wide Web Sonora's Gardens!

Volpe & Associates Opens Virtual Office

2007-09-17T15:15:00.000-05:00

In a continued effort to excel in customer service, Volpe & Associates, a printing and promotional packaging company, announces the opening of its virtual store located at www.VolpePackaging.com. With this technology in place, Volpe & Associates expands its ability to provide easy, on-demand accessibility for customers across the U.S. and Canada. Customers not only have access to an expansive range of products and services, they can have fully customized orders fulfilled without leaving their office.

Once entering the virtual store, clients can browse a template library providing an extensive selection of items available for custom print. Custom package design is also available for those clients looking for a specialized product or prototype. A selection of off-the-shelf products has been added to accommodate clients who need orders fulfilled in as little as a day.

This virtual store is designed to enhance Volpe & Associates´ trademark customer service and attention to detail. Steve Volpe, owner and CEO, expresses his enthusiasm for the site´s improved abilities to service customers. “This is a company built on providing customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is everything. Now, with the capabilities of our website combined with our knowledge base I can confidently tell clients they will get exactly what they want, when they want it.”

Geography is no longer a constraint. “We can ship anytime, anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. New York City becomes accessible within the day,” says Volpe. Other clients include: The Toronto Dance Theater of Canada and cd mailers for a mail campaign; Medical Insight of Orange County, CA, and presentation folders; CQE of Columbia, SC, and binders; and a New Jersey television station and hard-to-find video box mailers. When a Clairemont, NH, company called for a leather-bound binder, Volpe & Associates provided everything from the leather samples to facilitating the construction of a prototype for approval before submitting the final order.

Volpe & Associates has over twenty years experience in commercial printing and package development. Learning how to spot trends and stay on the cutting edge of their field has allowed them to grow into a wide range of markets. Their expertise in the field is derived from their willingness to customize each project for their client. Portfolios, clipboards, binders, briefcases, cd/diskette/audio/video holders and menus covers are just a sample of the media they have created to meet clients´ specifications. Volpe & Associates places tremendous value on client relationships and helps each client fulfill their vision. Whether it´s providing step-by-step guidance through an entire project, supplying a client with everything they need to develop a prototype product, or accommodating a short-run print, Volpe & Associates delivers.

New Client Website Launched "MeadowlandsConstruction.com"

2007-07-12T20:31:00.000-05:00

Card One Concepts is proud to announce the launch of our newest clients website www.meadowlandsconstruction.com

Meadowlands Construction LLC is family owned and operated by Peter Grill, a Broome County resident since 1978 and Chamber of Commerce member since 1988. They are committed to providing superior craftsmanship on every job. Don’t put off renewing the beauty and maintenance of your home.

So please visit the website and see what they can do for you!

Welcome to the World Wide Web Meadowlands Construction!