Squadra

The Best of Bedford

2008-09-02T20:52:00.003+01:00

We attended a great networking evening hosted by the Best of Bedford in the Park Inn, in his presentation Trevor showed the video clip below. It is a really great example of how strong the correct branding can be.

Of course you have to have a powerful well crafted branding and a strong logo, which is where we come in.

Great photo printing in Bedford

2008-08-19T12:51:00.003+01:00

We have just had a pile on photos printed by Ross at Ouse Valley Processing, great value for money AND great quality. Not something you see often, check out their online ordering system or pop in to see them in Ridgemount St , Bedford, MK42 9HR.

Ian

Squadra

Grow your business using business cards

2008-08-15T18:16:00.002+01:00

In his article how to build your Empire With Business Cards, Clinton Douglas says,

Today, most business owners don't realize the importance of using a simple business card to generate tons of new customers. He gives these tips.

I started with an eye catching logo and had a design that really said "this guy is a pro."
I kept my message "short and sweet."
I ordered my cards 5000 at a time.
I always hand out at least five at a time
I buy mailing lists and put three cards in an envelope and mail a thousand envelopes at a time

He sums up saying,

Not having thousands of business cards at your disposal at all times is not only stupid it is a crime against your business.

Business card design

Dragon boat results

2008-07-14T21:39:00.002+01:00

The results for the River festival dragon boat race are in , we came 25th out of 33. :)

T-shirt design in Bedford

2008-07-14T21:21:00.003+01:00

Along with a few other i-Lab tenants, we raced a dragon boat at the bedford river festival last weekend, the team, resplendent in our Squadra designed team t-shirts will go down as the team that tried hard, let down by poor attendance we had to race with only 6 rowers (other teams had 10)

We came last in our first race, second in both the next two races, and had a really great day!

Graphic design in Bedford

2008-07-14T21:08:00.003+01:00

If you were at the Bedford river festival and visited the extreme sports arena then you will have seen the banners that we designed for the Bedford i-Kan. You will also have seen some really good trials riding and free running too! For great banner designs go to http://www.squadra.co.uk

Field and Moor

2008-05-28T10:30:00.005+01:00

A long term project is reaching its peak, we have just gone live with a brand new Field sports website for Chelsea Hygiene. This fully Ecommerce site http://www.fieldandmoor.co.uk/ will continue to grow with more products. For more examples of our work click here

Out of this world business cards

2008-05-12T18:48:00.002+01:00

I received one of those list emails the other day from a customer of mine which read

FAVORITE SAYING? Onwards and Upwards

WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? 29th June

WHAT IS YOUR SHOE SIZE? 4

ANY NEW AND EXCITING NEWS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? Ian from Squadra has designed my new business cards and they are out of this world! http://www.squadra.co.uk/businesscards.htm

Inspired by that praise, here is my top 10 business card tips.

Use a logo
Don’t use templates
Develop a one-line slogan
Include your website address
Make your card readable
Make your card stand out from the rest of the pack
Get it designed by a designer to match your branding.
Have your business cards printed on good card-stock
Use both sides
Call Ian at Squadra

So next time you see a card that isn’t “out of this world” why not give them one of mine

Squadra: Where little cards mean big business.

Longbows in the woods

2008-05-07T11:46:00.002+01:00

Want a different day out ? Celtic Harmony are running Longbow archery days. You can learn how to shoot a longbow in the morning, have one of Luca's fantastic lunches then go into the woods and put your skills to the test on realistic 3D targets. Click here for more info
http://www.celticharmony.org/pages/boystoys.php

The hunt is on.

2008-05-06T21:28:00.004+01:00

Its here, the only way I know this is the day I have been looking forward to is the small recycled envelope laying empty on the kitchen table. I stop and admire the branding and the social message that lurks on the empty wrapper, then the hunt is on, someone else could not wait to read the Howies catalog.

I eventually find that it has fallen first into teenage hands, how many brands can cross generations like Howies? How many clothing companies have thier catalogs read cover to cover? Is this the best Ethical, Socially aware and Eco friendly company in the UK and beyond, you decide. Just go to http://www.howies.co.uk/ and soak it all up, order the catalog (give it a sniff when it arrives, it even smells great) then enjoy. While you are there I will have a Classic T Shirt size L in White http://www.howies.co.uk/product.php/1275/7/

We at Squadra are trying to help companies get thier message across in such a captivating way, using eco friendly print, great branding and design. We even have a company bike and canoe to work sometimes! We hope that in our small way we are walking the same path as the great "H" we are certainly buying their products and properganda.

http://www.squadra.co.uk/print.htm

Jute shopping bags

2008-05-02T08:33:00.004+01:00

For those of you that wanted to see a picture of our great value, tough and of course environmentally friendly jute bags. he is a picture.

http://www.squadra.co.uk/contact.htm

Eco friendly shopping bags

2008-05-01T17:15:00.002+01:00

At last we can now supply really strong Jate shopping bags with you Logo on. Click here to see these and a range of other promotional goods that leave a smaller hole in the ozone http://www.squadra.co.uk/print.htm you will also be able to download a PDF catalog too. We can also now supply organic T shirts with your message on too.

More new web work

2008-04-29T12:23:00.000+01:00

We have just put up a new site for Assessco. A nice clean site that could be a life saver. Assessco are fire safety experts. Great place to go if you need a Fire risk assessment doing. Their site is at http://www.assessco.co.uk

New web site

2008-04-24T14:08:00.005+01:00

We have just published a new site for Oblo in Italy, the site is to support the sales in the UK of thier amazing photo kiosks http://www.oblokiosk.co.uk/ .

Oblo are known for their clean and easy to use interface, their cutting edge products and their stunning hardware design by Fausto Boscariol http://www.faustoboscariol.com/

One of the challenges we faced was to show the kiosks in a way that described how they would site on or in the potential customers shop fitting whilst giving a exciting and innovative style to the site. We think this has worked really well.

We are also about to launch two more sites, both full ecommerce site, more of which later.

New Photograhers site

2008-04-13T20:01:00.003+01:00

We have just up-dated Melanies website, ahead of her exhibition in Cambridge in a few weeks (more of which later). the site is really fresh and clean, its shows off her work really well we think.
The site can be seen here http://www.melaniehenderson.co.uk check out the Urban images, we really like them.

The crack

2008-04-07T22:19:00.002+01:00

We have changed our website header image, can you find where the picture was taken? see http://www.squadra.co.uk we have also added a new range of Eco friendly promotional products which we really like. These can be seen here http://www.squadra.co.uk/print.htm

New porfolio pages

2008-03-13T12:04:00.001Z

We have just changed the portfolio pages on the site to show some of our recent projects.
http://www.squadra.co.uk/portfolio.htm
New work for Assessco, Cass Allen, Chelsea Lease & Easy lift

Delphi Ellis visits Squadra HQ

2008-03-12T16:28:00.003Z

We have just had a cup of tea with Squadra friend, Delphi Ellis. An amazing and inspiring lady.She popped in out of the bluewith great stories of filming and webcasts.

She is on GMTV this week, you can take her quiz at http://www.gm.tv/apps/quiz/28676/interactivequiz28676.htm

or visit her website at http://www.delphiellis.com

Shift happens

2008-03-10T10:15:00.002Z

Here is a video that is doing the rounds created by Created by Karl Fisch. It highlights globalization in a really powerful way:

Social Enterprise day 2007

2007-11-16T12:03:00.000Z

Yesterday saw the first Social Enterprise East of England, Social Enterprise day dinner. Held in Cambridge the dinner was a celebration of Social Enterprise in the region. The photography competition winners OWL were presented with their prizes, one of which will be some time working with Squadra.

We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with this group of inspiring people, we will post more as it happens. OWL also win some time with Paul Pibworth , the artist and friend of Squadra.

http://www.happen.org.uk/biography.php?key=29

To view images from the evening click link below

http://www.squadra.co.uk/seee_dinner_index.htm

HRH Prince Edward visits i-Lab

2007-10-25T20:37:00.000+01:00

His Royal Highness Prince Edward visited the home of Squadra in Bedford on Monday 22nd The Earl of Wessex visited i-lab today as part of his trip to Bedford, learning about the successful project and meeting some of the innovative entrepreneurs.

Two of the businesses visited were Squadra clients:

Chelsea Hygiene http://www.chelseahygiene.co.uk/

Skins 4 Things http://www.skins4things.com/

to see photos of the visit click here http://www.squadra.co.uk/royal_visit_index.htm

Photo Competition

2007-10-25T11:38:00.000+01:00

SEEE have launched a photography competition!

Take a digital photo capturing “what is the best thing about your social enterprise?” and e-mail it to SEEE.

Winners will be announced on Social Enterprise Day (15th November) at a special Gala Dinner.

Prizes include a marketing consultation with Squadra Marketing and a session with Paul Pibworth; a full list is available on www.seee.co.uk

Closing date: 31st October

Social enterprise day

2007-10-01T21:15:00.000+01:00

Social enterprise day is 16th November, to help promote the day and enspire young potential social entrepreneurs allow with the rest of us the cabinet office will have available to download a special pdf version of "trailblazers" a magazine by Social enterprise magazine.

http://www.socialenterprisemag.co.uk/upload/documents/document29.pdf

Chocolate anyone

2007-09-19T21:45:00.000+01:00

Inspired marketing? you decide

SEEE AGM

2007-07-12T20:48:00.000+01:00

I have just returned, stick of rock in hand from the Social Enterprise East of England AGM, what an inspirational group of people. They have further conviced me that setting up Squadra was the right thing to do, I was pleased to see my design for their mousemat finally in print, a great way to promote their new website . http://www.seee.org.uk