Author Archives: 3Fold
We have a new face around 3fold’s world headquarters. Drumroll…this is Brenton!
Brenton is our new receptionist, and we are nothing but thrilled to have him on the team. When asked for one word to describe himself, he responded with… optimistic.
Here’s a little more about Brenton:
- He’s a recent San Francisco transplant.
- He comes to 3fold wielding ninja-like office organization skills and supurb client welcoming abilities.
- When he’s not being our go-to guy for all things reception, he can be found brandishing a mean swing for his softball team, the Thundercats.
As you stop by the office or call in, we hope you’ll join us in welcoming him to the 3fold team!
Once a year Metro EDGE, a young professionals program of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, hosts Executive Insight exclusively for its valued members. Last year after this same event, I was inspired to reach out to Gordon for a career chat and look where I landed, here at 3fold!
Executive Insight brings together the region’s most influential business leaders to share how they got to where they are today, what it takes to be successful, what missteps to avoid along the way and what it means to be a great leader. This year, our own Gordon Fowler was among the region’s leaders along with this spectacular line-up.
The Hyatt provided an elegant setting for this event with delicious food to fuel the energy and engagement of the crowd. As the event started, each speaker gave a brief overview of who they are, how they got to where they are professionally and personally, and shared advice and insights to help guide the region’s young professionals as we navigate our career choices. In my perspective, the most valuable part of the event was when each speaker went on a “speed date” and sat down with small groups of EDGE members to face the firing squad of questions. The speakers at my table embraced each question and had candid and honest discussions with our group. If I had one hope for next year’s event, it would be for more table time with the speakers.
A few reoccurring themes emerged and helped me think about my journey and how I can use their experience and advice in a positive way.
- There is no typical career trajectory and you CAN do anything you want, regardless of where you are at NOW. Change is possible and you are in control.
- “Everyone can do what they want in life.” – Ginger Elizabeth Hahn, Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates
- ”There’s always room at the top.” “Love what you do.” – Roger Dreyer, Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora, LLP - It’s all about positioning. Position yourself as an expert in your field and craft, and position yourself among those that will help you become a better person.
- “Life is not a vertical career path, life is a checkerboard and you control the positioning.” – Gordon Fowler, 3fold Communications
- “Who you are around makes a difference in who you become.” – Roger Dreyer, Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora, LLP - We all attempt to strike a professional/personal balance, especially as it relates to harmonizing work and family life. An even balance is unrealistic but adjusting and embracing the flow is important. Wherever you are, be present in that situation, whether it is at work or at home with family.
- - “The perfect balance is imperfect…assess regularly and adjust.” – Mike O’Brien, Sacramento Magazines Corporation
- “You can have it all; you just can’t have it all at once.” – Gordon Fowler, 3fold Communications - There are things we can do to stay challenged and keep growing. Embrace the uncomfortable, learn from it, and keep asking questions.
- “Stay curious…keep talking to younger people.” – Fred Teichert, Teichert Foundation
- “Embrace anxiousness, it is a moving force for yourself.” – Yvonne Glenn, Trofholz Technologies, Inc.
A departing thought from one speaker to the Metro EDGE crowd was for us to keep our level of energy, enthusiasm, and engagement up. Thank you to all the panelists for providing us insights from your life experiences; we will use these thoughts to fuel our passion and individual life trajectories. I once again left the event feeling empowered and proud to be a part of Metro EDGE and very proud to be a part of the 3fold Communications team.
* Photos from Metro EDGE and RyanGreenleaf.com
One of the things I really admire about 3fold is its passion for the community. As a member of the 3fold team, this has been proven constantly through the agency’s continued encouragement of my work supporting the music and arts community that I began with Concerts 4 Charity, a nonprofit I founded while in college. That work led me to my latest project, LAUNCH–a celebration of music, art and design that takes place between July 23rd and 28th at multiple venues throughout midtown and downtown Sacramento. And once again, 3fold has been more than on board, the team believing in what we are trying to accomplish and pitching in to help.
So what is LAUNCH and why should people care?
LAUNCH was founded in 2009 by a good friend, Mike Hargis, to create a platform to showcase Sacramento’s amazing creative community. LAUNCH brings local and regional artists together from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines to curate an event that featured the regions best music, art, fashion and design.Over the past three years, LAUNCH has enjoyed great success. But now, we’re ready to go bigger.
Studying other festivals across the country like SXSW, Treasure Island, and Noise Pop, we decided that there was a gap in our own market as there was no large scale indie music festival in Sacramento.
We looked at the elements that made LAUNCH special–its ability to bring artists together and to provide a platform that could showcase the amazing talent that we have in this region–and decided to set out to introduce this talent to a broader audience. Our plan to do this includes:
- Expanding the festival from one day to six, with eight events spread between Monday, July 23rd – Saturday, July 28th.
- Developing programming that tells a compelling story about the talent in Sacramento.
- Incorporating a variety of venues to involve them in the spirit of launch and discovery.
- Developing relationships with people and organizations that support our vision.
LAUNCH is fortunate to have the backing of both the artistic and business community, two groups that are very important to our city. The fact that this event can bring them together is a testament to the powerful platform that we are seeking to create. Some of these backers include: Sacramento Metro Chamber, Midtown Business Association, Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Sacramento Visitors and Convention Bureau, Sacramento365, Sacramento Arts and Business Council, the Metro Edge and many more.
We have worked hard to create a special experience for Sacramento. We hope 8,000 of you come out and support our vision throughout the week and especially at our music festival on July 28th at Cesar Chavez Plaza.
As you jot that down on your calendar and make a list of friends to invite, please also check out this video–created by 3fold partner Franklin Pictures–that will be running on Comcast thanks to another great community partner Jiffy Lube:
[vimeo id="45978156" width="620" height="360"]
For more details about Launch: http://www.launchsacramento.com/
We’re wrapping up Sacramento Fashion Week today, this time with a video blog from our founder and CEO Gordon Fowler. Not only does he have the flair for marketing, he has one of the sharpest scarf collections. Make sure you click through to follow our resident scarf guru for a tour of his favorite selections in this entertaining and informative video!
Last night, several members of the 3fold team took our fashion sense out for a night of culture.
Our team was kindly invited to a dress rehearsal for the Sacramento Opera’s newest show, Rigoletto. From note to note, the performance was exquisite–the singers’ talent and ethereal vocals, as well as the orchestras brilliant performance, perfectly delivered the emotional journey of the show, from anxiety to euphoria.
As entrancing as the performance was, so were the costumes. The costume coordinator Yvette Harding did an amazing job creating historically appropriate flowing gowns and fine jackets with precision. As beautiful as the clothes were, we were even more amazed to learn that all the show’s finery was created in just six days… someone should give her a Sacramento Fashion Week medal!
The Sacramento Opera is a gem in the Sacramento arts community. If you have yet to experience one of their shows, you should check out Rigoletto this week, with performances on February 24th and 26th. To learn more, visit SacOpera.org.
Watch this short behind the scenes interview with Yvette Harding for insights on what to expect at the show and its costumes.
An unintentional pattern has evolved at 3fold over the years –- much like how most of our 3fold women’s names start with A, the 3fold men regularly wear argyle. Sometimes, they show up to work as near-matching pairs! Argyle is not some detail of our dress code included to see if we’re paying attention –- it’s pure love. For Sacramento Fashion Week, we wondered what would happen if all the guys donned their diamonds on the same day, and we weren’t disappointed.
Left: Reservoir Diamond Dogs (clockwise from left: Brian, Curtis, Ross, Clay, Scott, Gordon); Top right: Curtis calculated the details, Ross said his prayers, and Clay led the way; Bottom middle: Clay rocks his socks. Bottom right: No fashion shoot is too important to miss a client call!
It’s officially Sacramento Fashion Week and we couldn’t wait to participate by showing off a little 3fold couture. Three of our team members put their game faces on to show off what they love to wear to work. Check out their duds below!
Clay Nutting
Account Executive
Inspiration for your outfit:
I would say my inspiration is classic, professional and clean. My shoes are from Bows & Arrows, so there is a nod to Midtown. If I had it my way my outfit would be completely artisan. But alas, thrifting can be challenging for the husky businessman.
Breakdown:
Shirt – Banana Republic (Iron Free!)
Pants – From the pants store
Tie – J Crew (I like to mix up my outfit from a variety of big box outlets)
Shoes – Bows & Arrows (an awesome find)
Sunglasses – Although you can’t see them, it is a rule that I never spend more than $20 on my sunglasses, to many car seat incidences, so I get them from Bows or Cuffs.
Amanda Chaffee
Graphic Designer
Inspiration for your outfit:
It can be difficult for creative people to feel comfortable in the traditional approach to professional fashion, but with a bit of research and smart shopping, I seek clothes that excite me and will impress clients at the same time. I listen to a lot of alternative and electronic music and love a lot of the darker fashion that comes with it, so I take inspiration from there and combine it with jackets, blazers or professional skirts/slacks that match the aesthetic.
Breakdown:
Jacket – Heavy Red
Shirt – XOXO
Bottoms – Heavy Red
Tights – Unknown
Shoes – Xhilaration
Accessories – Bracelet: So Good, Inc.; Necklace: Amiko Boutique;
Elise Crispen
Account Assistant
Much of my clothing is a reflection of my southern California heritage — summery, outdoorsy, and bright all year round. However, having recently moved to a region blessed (or doomed, depending on who you ask) with seasons, I’ve learned there are certain “accessories,” such as scarves, leggings and boots, that serve as more than a fashion statement *tinge of sarcasm* – it only took one Winter day of strange glances while in flip flops and with bare legs to realize my summery attire needed to wait for its respective time of year. That being said, I’ve had a lot of fun experimenting with season-specific, “casual professional” looks in the workplace. Blazers have become a staple in my wardrobe and I am always shopping for fun silk or chiffon blouses to pair with dark jeans.
Breakdown:
Jacket – Hinge
Short Gold Necklace – Michael Kors
Red Layered Necklace – Charming Charlies
Dress – BCBG
Leggings – DESIGN History
Boots – Guess
So what do you think about our resident fashion icons here at 3fold? Stay tuned for tomorrow, when the 3fold team confesses their love for very particular diamonds!
In the first two months of the year we celebrate some major leaders and innovators. We take days to remember and honor Abraham Lincoln, our country’s 16th President, who led the collapse of slavery in this country; George Washington, our first President who presided over the writing of the Constitution in 1787; and Martin Luther King Jr., who led the African American Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.
There are many more worthy candidates that don’t get their own holiday, but definitely deserve their due credit in shaking up the establishment and helping others. Some well known, others, not. This list highlights some people who’s vision and action led to creating a positive impact on millions of people worldwide.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver: A longtime advocate of children’s health and disability issues. Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968, which now brings together 4 million athletes with intellectual disabilities in over 170 countries in Olympic style events.
“When we wake tomorrow, let us not forget that we have miles to go to overturn the prejudice and oppression facing the world’s 180 million citizens with intellectual disabilities. But what joy for together we have begun.”
White House Speech
July 10, 2006
Millard and Linda Fuller: Saw the need for decent and livable shelter for those in American and in Third World countries. Out of this need came Habitat for Humanity in 1976. Today, Habitat for Humanity and its volunteers have helped build over 500,000 affordable homes and has served over 2 million people around the world.
“For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people’s love and concern for each other.”
Father John P. Foley, S.J.: In 1995, helped kick start an innovative college-prepatory high school system for low-income families, including one here in Sacramento. Students attend classes and work five days each month in an entry-level job at a professional company with the fee for their work being directed to underwrite tuition costs. There are currently 24 high schools in the Cristo Rey network in 22 cities, serving 6,500 students. A segment that aired on “60 Minutes” can be found on this page.
“Cristo Rey is magical. What you see is that hope, that optimism.”
- Melinda Gates, Co-Chair, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Scott Harrison: In 2006, Harrison was turning 31 and for his birthday, he asked his friends to give $20 to help fund clean drinking water in Third World countries. Over 700 people came to his birthday and donated to the cause. The result was Charity Water, which to date has funded 6,185 clean water projects and assisted 2,545,000 people in 19 countries in getting access to clean water.
“For me, charity is practical. It’s sometimes easy, more often inconvenient, but always necessary. It’s the ability to use one’s position of influence, relative wealth and power to affect lives for the better. charity is singular and achievable.”
Robert Egger: Egger began DC Central Kitchen in 1989. The nonprofit takes donated food from the hospitality business and farms and instills culinary job training to homeless and hungry adults. 3fold had the pleasure of bringing Egger to Sacramento to speak to several of the area’s nonprofit leaders in the 3fold Spark! series and inspired the group with his client’s stories of survival and redemption. In 2011, DC Central Kitchen produced over 1.8 million meals, recovered over 242,000 pounds of fresh produce, graduated 80 students from the Culinary Job Training program and placed over 87% of the 2011 Culinary Job Training graduates into jobs.
“If you chase money, you’ll be on an endless loop. If you chase results, the money will come.”
Looking for something fun, glamorous and affordable to lift you out of the winter doldrums? Starting tomorrow, Sacramento Fashion Week will light up the city in a five-day series of workshops, shows and parties benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Sacramento and Northeastern California.
The glitz begins on Tuesday, February 21 with a free launch party at MIX Downtown from 6 to 9 p.m. The festivities continue through the week with fashion workshops and mixers focusing on style, modeling, make-up and more. Designer showcases on Saturday and Sunday will round off the week.
Some of the events are free to attend, while others require paid admission, with proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish. Check out the Sacramento Fashion Week website for tickets and additional details, read their blog for the latest updates or follow along with them on Twitter to catch all the fun in real time.
To celebrate and support the event, we’ll be showing off our best 3fold couture on the blog each day this week. It may be raining scarves with a chance of glitter, so stay tuned!
You have probably seen QR codes, aka “Quick Response” codes, out there in the wild. For the past couple of years, marketers have been excited by the potential of these little square boxes that you can snap pictures of with a smartphone’s camera to be sent to all kinds of mysterious brand experiences. However, as much as we love them, we also have to wonder if the public will ever embrace this tool to its fullest potential.
In theory, QR codes sound wonderful — they are an a easy way to get more information to or connect with your brand’s audiences. The only problem is, people just aren’t buying it.
Even with the growing smartphone and app markets, QR scanning is often a whimsical experience that soon becomes forgettable. Add to that the too often disappointing execution–you pull out the phone, fire up the scanning app, struggle to get it to scan, and, once it finally works, you end up at the homepage of a company website–where’s the reward, the value for consumers?
A recent article, “Why QR codes won’t last“ by Jon Barocas of bieMEDIA made a compelling argument against the QR’s survival. Beyond that fact that only 5% of American mobile device users have ever interacted with a QR code, the larger impediment is humanity itself. Barocas argues human are inherently visual, we look to images and graphics to link our emotions to the world. QR codes lack this basic visual appeal, they all look the same at first glance, so people’s behavior is not driven to use them. Can this be overcome?
We’ve seen some great QR code examples, like the posters for free puzzles and books at the airport that provide value to travelers looking to pass time in terminals or on flights, as well as some really bad QR examples, like placing a QR code at the bottom of a poster across the tracks of the Tube in England. It’s these bad apples that are overshadowing the potential.
So, yes, QR codes face a steep, uphill battle, but I truly do not think hope is lost. QR codes can still be revived if we start using them in smarter ways, more visually appealing ways. An informative article by Leah Goodman on great uses for QR codes for Marketing Land offered some great suggestions on what to do, what to avoid, and what to keep in mind:
- Make QR codes mobile friendly. When something is meant to be used by mobile phones, the landing page you are sending people to should probably be mobile-friendly. Don’t frustrate your fans.
- Give a reward. Scanning the code takes work and effort by a consumer. Thank them for it. Also, offer a reward that tells them what they get right off the bat. Whether it’s a link to a movie trailer on a print ad or a QR code on a store’s “Closed” sign that gives visitors a coupon for their next visit, make your QR pay off.
- Take action. Whether it’s as simple as “Liking” your page on Facebook or adding a user to an email mailing list, take some additional action beyond the scan. Remember, this is about saving your audiences extra work, so the action you take has to outweigh the time spent scanning the QR code.
- Be creative, but not too creative! QR codes should be fun, but don’t make the experience too difficult that users cannot interact with the code. A giant QR code done by a skywriter? Creative, but probably not practical.
- Build it for low quality phones. Not everyone has a top-of-the-line phone, so make sure your QR code can be easily scanned by low-quality cameras as well.