Resurrection in 2012.

(The following blog entry was originally posted on Blogger on 12/09/12)

If you read my June entry, you gathered that things weren't going so well. Since then, my physical health and our business health have improved. The clavicle has healed up well (though next spring I'll have to go back into surgery to have the corrective hardware removed), and client activity has steadily risen.

That's not to say it's been Easy Street since then, but many new assignments came through in the 4th quarter. What a relief. We had an awful October, a good November, and a very good December. January and February 2013 look pretty decent as well.

One assignment we took on in October was to provide all the promotional creative media (print ads, banner ads, emails and landing pages, for both desktop and mobile) for a new app being launched by a major magazine publisher. This was a very satisfying project, despite one 3rd party bonehead vendor of the client's nearly sabotaging the launch of the email promotions.

We also submitted a proposal and a quote for a rebranding effort for one of our existing clients, which has 5 distinct membership products, all of which are a bit underwhelming from an identity and branding standpoint. And none of them have had a branding program built for them in 10 years. This, from a fortune 100 company.

We also wrapped up a large-scale email program for a big publisher, spanning 6 different titles and containing up to 16 emails per title. It took a year start-to-finish. I think it's the longest running project we've ever had.

I'm also happy to report that much of the stress surrounding our office space in the form of construction noise has diminished, though it's far from over. Another building across the street from us in undergoing a gut renovation. Sigh. The city that never sleeps also never stops jackhammering.

In response to that, we felt there was no other option but to contact our building management and request a different office space — on the courtyard side — NOT on the street side. At least we renewed our lease in November with the option to move as soon as something comparable becomes available in our building. We're not in love with the Port Authority area, but it is changing as more new construction seems to be underway west of 8th Avenue. It's good news bad news.

So that all said, it looks like we'll be sliding into the holidays this year on an upbeat note. The holidays are always an exciting time in NYC, and I won't be traveling for a change. Staying in the city and spending time with my wife and our relatively new family member — a Pomeranian puppy we acquired back in April — will be just fine. Happy Holidays!