Today was a good day
A Pleasant Surprise from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune
This morning, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune business columnist Dick Youngblood wrote a very favorable column about our business here in Red Wing. It was a lot of fun getting to know Dick over several conversations and meetings, and I really didn't know what to expect. Needless to say, I was very happy and a bit embarrassed by the attention.
But it was the sub-headline on the second page of the hard-copy article that really made me smile. For many years, I thought I was a "washed-up sales rep" when, in fact, I was only a "burned-out sales rep." Imagine my relief.
You gotta love it. 😊
The article can be found here.
Thanks for the article, Dick, and thanks for the support, Dave Murphy from Red Wing Shoes.
Better living through framing
Innovative New Products from Red Wing Framing Gallery
Since the beginning of 2009, Red Wing Framing Gallery scientists have been quietly and diligently working on a number of new products. With the advent of 'digital everywhere' technologies, customers have been eager to use their own images to decorate their environments in ways that reflect their lifestyle and taste. Our challenge is to meet this expectation with innovative and unique products.
Two exciting products are nearing introduction:
Gallery Panel: Targeted at contemporary customers who want a unique and fresh way to present their images, the Gallery Panel is elegant with old-school details but also offers a bold and progressive presentation. Think of it as a harmonious blend of ebony and ivory.
Image Sandwich (I-S): Still in the early stages, this product is a bit further behind in its introduction. The I-S will be a transmissive image that allows light from behind and lays flat on a wall. Early prototypes are promising, though practical size limitations may need to be determined. As a humorous note, I-S Version 2.0 might also function as a PDA. :)
The European marketplace tends to be more aggressive in pushing image technology. Interestingly, some of the best ideas come from European organizations that have been in the image business since the Middle Ages. We aren't above learning from our European counterparts, but it's essential to remain unique and creative.
We will announce new products as they are ready, and teasers are always free and unsolicited.
And please disregard any misinformation.
Word of the Day:
Pugnacious.
1) That which is about the mannerisms and/or characteristics of the pug-nosed dog. E.g., "That dog is sure pugnacious!"
2) George Will.
Ode to Tom
I have been meaning to take this photo for years. The locals will recognize it as Wisconsin Highway 35 (northbound), just outside the Red Wing Airport. This stretch of road is in rough shape and road crews have aggressively patched most of the cracks.
Who is Tom? Is this a cry for recognition? An epithet for a lost friend? Or maybe it was the last day of seasonal labor?
Ode to Tom.
April 1st victim
Wow. Hook, line, and sinker. You got me good. Might as well stuff me, mount me on the wall, put an apple in my mouth, and serve me at a picnic.
So, if a friend of yours told you that he was just awarded an NSF grant (despite not being qualified) to document glow-in-the-dark Antarctic rabbits from a 1980s Russian nuclear accident, would you believe him?
I did. But it was a very convincing set-up.
And then I noticed the calendar.