Green News
Woman invents innovative solution to starting business in slow economy
October 18, 2009
By Arundi Venkayya Cox, Staff Writer 6:18 PM Saturday, October 17, 2009
Angela Brown had always wanted to start her own business. But, when she started to explore the option, the harsh reality of the recession hit her.
“Financing was a bit tough,” she said. “I wasn’t sure I would be able to take out a large business loan. I decided it was time to be innovative and come up with new solutions.”
So, Brown gathered a group of colleagues she met through college and traditional networking forums and created Terra Verde, a “full-service marketing and communications company.”
“It’s not a traditional agency,” said Brown, who is president of the West Carrollton-based company. “It’s the solution that I had in the recession, where instead of putting down the overhead to hire full-time employees, I take advantage of consultants.”
Brown works with about 12 people now, some of whom are freelancers and some of whom have other jobs. That gives her the opportunity to work with consultants that meet clients’ specific needs.
The consultants primarily work from home and the group gets together weekly, she said. The concept allows Brown to avoid paying salaries, rent, equipment costs and other overhead costs.
“Essentially, we become part of their staff, temporarily,” she said. “We act as part of their company.”
Terra Verde works with clients in two ways, Brown said. They provide marketing and communications services including public relations, technical communication, graphic and Web design services and they “actually teach them how to market.”
The company offers consulting and business building events and is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs, Brown said.
“We encourage more people to become entrepreneurial,” she said. “When opportunities are scarce, create your own opportunities. This was one of the ways I could practice that in my own business.
“As a marketing firm, Terra Verde is there to support local businesses and encourage people to either start up businesses or grow existing ones.”
For more information about Terra Verde, visit www.terraverdemarketing.com or e-mail angela@terraverdemarketing.com.
New Organization Provides Non-Traditional Approach
September 30, 2009
Dayton, Ohio – Terra Verde, a full-service marketing and communications company, has begun servicing businesses with an unprecedented business model that focuses virtually all its resources and energies on helping their clients.
Terra Verde has a seasoned and talented staff of over a dozen, and it is growing. However, it is not burdened with salaries, rent, equipment costs, or virtually any overhead with which its competition is faced. Founder and President Angela Brown explains that Terra Verde (Green Earth) is comprised of marketing and advertising specialists, some of whom operate their own successful freelance businesses, or work as employees for area companies. Its target is small and medium-sized, locally-owned businesses.
“I designed Terra Verde to be a non-traditional, user-friendly way for small companies to receive the same marketing expertise and service as larger companies,” she noted. She elaborated that her staff is used seamlessly as needed, and that Terra Verde’s clients have confidence in knowing all their needs can be met effectively and affordably through one convenient source.
As a core marketing arm for clients, Terra Verde contributes to the entrepreneurial nature of small business owners, to lighten the load and provide assistance to the myriad of marketing responsibilities. “As the economy recovers, I think our timing is perfect,” Brown said. “The positive side to a recession is that it forces people to get creative, open new businesses, and expand many existing ones.” A few current clients include Ladies Who Launch, Restin’ In Destin, Game On!, and Preen Apothecary.
Team members include specialists in graphics, public relations, photography, marketing and branding services, copywriting, multimedia web development, event planning, sales, and other areas. Their combined experience is hundreds of years. “Instead of having each freelancer operate on their individual ‘island,’” Brown commented, “It makes much more sense for us to pool our resources and offer the strength of a full service marketing company.” The plan is for Terra Verde’s roster to grow as new strategic alliances are formed, and to expand its business regionally and beyond.
Brown, who is a graphic designer and a Certified Usability Specialist, also provides the direction, coordination, and inspiration for Terra Verde’s development. Despite her youth, she is a natural organizer, and is able to direct her talent roster in a way that keeps everyone’s ego in check.
Her background includes project management, technical writing and editing, graphic design, and web usability. Her degree from Cedarville University is in Technical and Professional Communication. “We’re not primarily interested in industry recognition, but in the success of our clients. Recognition is simply a byproduct of a job well done. If our clients see increased revenue streams and growing client bases as a result of efforts, then we have succeeded. That’s the bottom line of our growing business,” Brown concluded. For additional information, please visit www.terraverdemarketing.com.
Terra Verde Wins 2009 Best of Dayton Award
US Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement
Washington DC, June 8, 2009– Terra Verde has been selected for the 2009 Best of Dayton Award in the Business Consulting category by the US Commerce Association (USCA)
The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small busienss through service to their customers and community.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gatherd by the USCA and data provided by third parties.
About the US Commerce Association
The US Commerce Association (USCA) is a Washington DC based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local businesses through public relations, marketing, and advertising.
The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in the community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce, and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size business and business entrepreneurs across America.
Source: US Commerce Association
Contact: Publicrelations@us-ca.org
URL: www.us-ca.org