Our customers are rock stars!
A Business Built on Great Customers
This business is only as good as its customers, and we have the best customers.
Case in point: the busier we get, the less attention web administration seems to receive. But it's too important to ignore for very long. This morning, I was determined to bring the Video/News section of our website up to date. This involves the painstaking task of writing press releases, proofing them, and then re-writing them. I know it isn't as bad as breaking rocks for a living, but it is still a job that I do not look forward to.
At some point, you need to include testimonials to add credibility to the releases. And this is when I am reminded how good our customers are.
Thank you, Jeff Marcus. You have been a steadfast supporter for many years, and we appreciate it. Now go support Jeff. This is good stuff.
The 1st Half of 2011
Reflecting on the First Half of the Year
The end of June marks the conclusion of the first half of the year. Last year was a good one, and so far, this year is ahead of last year. The business mix has evolved over the years, and we've been fortunate to be well-positioned to leverage these changes.
Red Wing Digital has been a significant time and financial investment. While there are still a few issues to resolve, the product inventory is now in place, and the product design details have been finalized. Orders have been increasing at a steady and realistic rate. We are currently addressing packaging and shipping issues and continuously seeking more production space.
This year marks our 10th year in business, and we've been tracking business patterns since the very beginning. Typically, the second half of the year is much busier than the first, for several reasons.
We owe our success to our loyal customers. Thank you for your continued support.
Reading outside weather
A Late Spring Brings Unexpected Benefits
This year, spring arrived 16-18 days later than usual. It was an especially long winter with heavy snowpack and a slow warm-up.
Typically, a late spring is seen as a hindrance to the economy. Crops are planted later, shortening the overall growing season.
However, there are benefits to a late spring. Postponed projects and maintenance issues can be addressed, and when spring finally arrives, we can sit in the sun and enjoy a good book.
Red Wing Digital is officially launched!
Red Wing Digital Launches Today!
It took longer than hoped and cost more than expected, but Red Wing Digital was finally launched today.
Red Wing Digital is a targeted business providing products for fine-art and passionate photographers. The initial product is the Panel Print, with more products to follow. What makes this website unique is its point-and-click selection of products and the print-on-demand nature of the interface.
The most exciting part of the website will be the guest contributors. These guests will provide inside tips for their specific photography niches, making the website a portal for photographers who are always striving to advance their skills. So far, contributors will include:
Stacy Bengs (Stacy Bengs Photographer) discussing sports photography and photojournalism
Barbara O'Brien (Barbara O'Brien Photography), a talented animal photographer
Clare Polencheck (Off the Cuff Photography), an especially skilled portrait photographer
It is a privilege to work with such talented and creative individuals, and this will be a lot of fun.
The above Panel Print is 'Red Wing Boathouses' by Dr. Jack Alexander and is on display at Red Wing Fairview Hospital.
Visit the new site at RedWingDigital.com.
Barge season begins
Mississippi River Ice Breakup Signals End of Winter
The ice on the Mississippi River has broken up enough to allow barge traffic to begin moving upstream. This is significant for the area as it officially signals the end of winter weather.
We experienced a significant blizzard in December, and without a mid-winter melt, the snow accumulated all winter, resulting in the fourth snowiest winter on record.
This has led to flooding concerns along the Mississippi River. However, just as the days began getting longer, we entered a prolonged period of weather that hovered around the 32-degree mark. This substantially slowed the melting, and the river crested just below the flood point. Another crest is expected in about three weeks when the runoff from up north reaches this area.
The photo above was taken from the Eisenhower Bridge.
Writer’s block
Breaking Through Creative Roadblocks
In the creativity industry, there's a tongue-in-cheek rule of thumb: if you hit a mental roadblock, run headfirst into the nearest wall. This jolt will reset your mental wiring, and you'll either cure the writer's block or forget what writer's block even is.
Alternatively, you could simply look out your window and write what you see.
Right outside my work window, there's a small mountain of snow. It has been larger before and was actually completely removed at one point. Now, it'll probably just melt in place for the rest of the year. Melting snow usually isn't pretty.
However, it's a hopeful sign of spring. This winter was unusually typical, with several significant snowfalls and a couple of serious deep freezes. We will have flooding, and it will be a messy spring.
And the weather forecast today? More snow
Wolf Moon over Downtown Red Wing
Capturing the Wolf Moon: A Yearly Tradition
This is a photo I try to capture every year. It is the largest and brightest full moon of the year and is called the Wolf Moon.
Last year I missed the opportunity, but in 2009, I managed to capture it about 5 minutes after it was at its most dramatic (Full Moon over Barn Bluff).
This year, I suddenly remembered it was Wolf Moon time and jumped in my car, driving all over town to find an interesting perspective. I pretty much ended up where I shot this moon two years ago. You have to be quick because this moon rises very quickly.
Shot in RAW, 47mm, 1/200 second at f/2.8, handheld.