My first reaction to the new rebranded packaging revealed by PepsiCo yesterday, that is to make its way onto store shelves by June 2021, was “Hey, why didn’t they keep the likeness of Aunt Jemima and honor Nancy Green by renaming the syrup and pancake mix after her.”...
The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world to its core. The CDC and WHO continue to send out the same message: Take this seriously. The vast majority of people have taken proactive measures to avoid exposure, and part of that is restricting how much they leave the...
At Peralta Design, everyone tends to wear many hats. We do what we can to help each other with projects, even if it isn’t what we’re best at. This week, we remind ourselves that branching out is important, but we shouldn’t neglect our strengths either. Everything...
By: Danny Scinto Being an animator and video editor is a strange life. I’m one of those people whose passion aligns with their professional career. I wake up, work on some personal videos, then head to work to make videos for my company, then arrive at home with just...
Before we started our new instagram strategy, we had our goal: Drive users to our page where they see the value and quality of our work and our team. And then we did some research. We looked at some of our competitors and we compiled them. We selected a few favorites...
By Jorge Pezo-Candelario If you’re in business, your web presence is one of the first ways that potential clients will discover and vett you. Chances are you’re just one of many options when it comes to purchasing a product or service and the internet audience is...
It was an exciting day at Peralta Design hanging out with the 2019 JA Interns! Junior Achievement’s purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. JA of Fairfield County is our local partner chapter preparing youth for success in...
Effective Teams “Fly” in a V-Formation just like geese do. “Scientists have determined that the V-shaped formation that geese use when migrating serves two important purposes: First, it conserves their energy. Each bird flies slightly above the bird in...
Business owners need to plan for the best, not the worst. Warning: This will be a rant about the frustrations caused by exaggerated and inaccurate weather predictions and the ramifications from the hysteria that ensues from a business owner’s perspective. We...
The following recaps were penned by Fairchild Wheeler School students Paul Trujillo and Mike Smith who recently spent the day at Peralta Design as part of Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut. These writings are unedited and candid. Enjoy! “Hello, you must be...
On January 16th, 2018 Peralta Design had the privilege and honor of hosting an intimate evening with New Haven Mayor Toni Harp at our Shelton, CT headquarters. We were proudly tapped to design her now famous campaign logo when she ran for her 2nd term as Mayor...
“One of the best strategies you can apply to your business is learning how small, incremental improvements in your core processes can result in geometric growth for the entire company.” – Tony Robbins Often times internal teams at companies can get...
By Laura Olivieri Tulley Recently, I attended my first annual “Peralta Design Hackathon” which was held at The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT. Rather than hold it in the usual conference room forum, Ramon felt that the atmosphere at the aquarium would...
The leader of an organization sets the tone of the culture within that organization. Whether it’s a sports team, a small business or a country. Whoever is at the helm dictates the vibe of the tribe. If the leader is anxious, the team is anxious. If the leader is a...
By Olivia Hale I’ve been asked a few times this summer, “What’s your summer job?” I’m a 16-year-old high school student, so it’s typical to have a summer job, but when I answer their question it’s usually taken with a look of surprise. I’m interning with two...
A Case Study: AcedMyInterview.com First question people ask us is what do you do? The second question is often, “Who are some of your clients?” The reality is that we are a full service digital creative agency, but our niche (you should all have a niche) is the...
Why Usain Bolt would never leave Puma: The Puma + Jamaica Connection By Ramon E. Peralta III Thursday, August 25th, 2016 What is faster than Usain Bolt? Internet Rumors. With the closing of the much entertaining Rio Olympics this past Sunday, there seems to be an...
Fasten your seat belts, We’re Ready for Lift OFF! The crew of the Starship PD at Peralta Design has blasted into the world of web hosting at warp speed: introducing SpaceHost! Teleport to a new dimension of web services at shop.spacehost.pro and you will access an...
By Moises DeLeon Tuesday, July 12th, 2016 Today I make a statement that, in 1998, would have made all of my 5 year old dreams come true: It seems that Pokémon have entered the real world. That’s right, Nintendo’s latest goldmine is the new app Pokémon GO- an...
Responding to client emails is an art form. Of course, using proper English, grammar and tone is important. For now, let’s focus on the timing of client email responses. How quickly (or slowly) you respond can determine whether that client is a Tier One, Tier...
I wanted to honor my cousin, Fabio Peralta, known affectionally in some parts of NYC as the “World’s Greatest Taxi Driver” not just because of his charming personality, strong work ethic, superior driving abilities, (which all Peralta’s think...
As an active member of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council (brbc.org) I can personally attest that as a business organization, it affords many opportunities for networking within the Greater Bridgeport area. Fearlessly and selflessly led by Paul Timpanelli, the...
Like millions of kids, I always dreamed about working for Marvel Comics as an illustrator, when I grew up. I can remember just sitting up late at night, thinking about how cool it would be to draw comics for a living. As an avid collector, of both Marvel and DC...
“A major reason that prospects do not buy is because they do not fully understand what you are selling and how they can use and benefit from it.” – Brian Tracy, “Be a Sales Superstar” Last night I closed a deal on a proposal that I originally submitted back in...
How’s that for a controversial headline. Grabbed your attention, didn’t it? Let me explain. What I’m talking about is cross-pollination, lead sharing, or referral business.Every entrepreneur I’ve spoken to will tell you that up to 100% of their business is referral or...
“Whether you’re on a sports team, in an office or a member of a family, if you can’t trust one another there’s going to be trouble.” ― Stephen M.R. Covey, The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing that Changes EverythingWe spent all day hiking through the bamboo forests on...
My Review of Phantom of the Opera starring Norm Lewis and Sierra BoggessThe Famed Marquis of the Majestic Theatre – The Phantom of the Opera has had a 26-year run on BroadwayI don’t usually review Broadway shows in my design blog, but this time I’ve been...
Every business needs them, every graduating college senior wants to be one, but what makes a good intern? What are the different types of interns, and what types of interns should you avoid? The Unpaid Intern: I give this piece of advice to every intern that...
If you’re able to read this, your life is pretty good. You are alive, you probably ate breakfast, you either have a smart phone or computer and you have internet. Before you read any further, count your blessings and be grateful. If blessings are meant to be shared,...
Plus: Photos from our Open HouseIt’s not everyday that you have the Mayor come by and hang out at your place of business, but we were fortunate to have the honor and privilege of hosting the “Boss of Shelton” at the Open House and official “Opening” of Peralta Design...
The Startup SpecialistI got out for some Fall golf this past Sunday and Pete, who was in our foursome, a salesman for a well-known recruitment company asks me, “So, what do you do again?” After sharing about my company, and what we do at Peralta Design, Pete then...
Recently, someone referred to me as an entrepreneur on one of my Facebook posts. Sure, I subscribe to Entrepreneur magazine, but am I really an entrepreneur, or do I just run a business? Clearly a tech startup founder is an entrepreneur. But is a barber who opens up a...
Case Study: Daktori, The Physician’s Financial Advocate There are times during the startup process where companies switch gears from a branding and marketing perspective. A company may find that as it develops and prepares to launch, the process of defining itself...
Brand Naming and Corporate Identity Brand naming is one of those services we wish we had the opportunity to do more of at Peralta Design. Logo design is still one of my favorite things to do because we do it well and do it often as part of a larger Corporate Identity...
I haven’t written a blog since the Newtown Sandy Hook Tragedy. That whole event was so close to home that it really affected me, and especially my wife, who is a kindergarten teacher. Living just 10 miles away and being connected through mutual friends to some of...
” If you want to touch the past, touch a rock. If you want to touch the present, touch a flower. If you want to touch the future, touch a life. ~Author Unknown Our design firm is experiencing tremendous growth this year and we are poised to continue to expand...
“If you can dream it, then you can achieve it.” Zig Ziglar Yesterday, we lost a legend in the world of motivational speakers: Zig Ziglar, born Hilary Hinton Ziglar (I’d rather be called Zig too) passed away in Plano, Texas, leaving a legacy of quotable...
Tools of the trade. Old School Skills: How many of us have them? Rubber cement. Spray mount. X-acto Blades. Proportion wheel. Cutting mat. There’s something to be said for coming up the old school way in the design world. By old school, I mean coming up as a young...
Have you ever heard of web developers who would hold non-compliant, or non-paying clients hostage by refusing to make updates to their websites? That’s not to say that it wasn’t always warranted or justified, either, but my point is that the only one who could...
We’ve all been there: you posted something on Facebook and hours later you have very few if any comments or “likes”. You wonder to yourself, was it too hardcore for Facebook? Was it too political or not political enough? You might find yourself double-checking your...
“Ever notice that when you exercise in the morning, you feel more alert and productive all day? It’s no coincidence — a morning workout has several advantages for your body and your mind. First, exercise jump-starts your metabolism, and keeps you burning...
OK, I’ll admit it, I’m a talker. I love to share positive news and have been called a ‘shameless self-promoter’ (actually I’ve been called a lot worse). Whenever we get our hands a huge name-brand account, or get to meet a famous person, my first reaction is to want...
We always hear about the many benefits of being on your own: the freedom, being your own boss, making your own hours, hanging out at Starbucks all day, sipping your pumpkin spice latte while you hog up their free Wifi. Sounds good right? But what about getting paid?...
Over the years I’ve worked for all types of bosses. I’ve worked blue collar UPS jobs, newspaper editorial department jobs and suit & tie corporate jobs. I’ve been managed, and I’ve managed team. I’ve worked from home as a sole proprietor and now that I’ve...
My passion for entrepreneurial design was born out of 10 years as Creative Director for Jay Walker at Walker Digital, the Stamford based idea laboratory and business incubator holding over 300 US Patents. I served as Senior Art Director on the start-up launch team...
Hello everyone – I have moved my old blog from Typepad over to WordPress in anticipation of my new company website. Over the next few months I’ll be migrating my old blog postings over to this site. Thanks for following and stay tuned! ...
In the span of my self-employment career, and with the experience and lessons that have come along with it, I’ve gotten a lot better with my finances. Despite what the credit card companies will tell you, if you think you can ‘charge’ your way to success with your...
You can’t do it all. You can’t be everywhere. Don’t over-commit and then talk about how stressed out you are. Saying “No” to yourself as well as to others is not easy to do. Saying “No” can sound something like this, “I can’t commit to this as I have other...
No, I’m not talking about the 1989 Spike Lee classic (though some folks could use a refresher course right about now thanks to the political climate), I’m talking about the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Great...
You know you’re in for a busy week if its Friday afternoon and you’re already starting to feel that Monday morning anxiety. Before I head out for the weekend, I start jotting down appointments, meetings, calls and any creative project deadlines that are due by...
This year’s Presidential election has to be one of the most divisive and fundamentally polarizing contests in a long time. Whether its Black vs White, Rich vs Poor, Democratic vs Republican, Liberal vs. Conservative, you can clearly see a distinct difference...
If you are in business for yourself, you’re very familiar with the phrase “get it in writing’. In design business, its very critical to come to terms with your client as quickly and clearly as possible so that everyone is on the same page. As any (good) lawyer...
Be Professional and Watch Your Business Grow “The mark of a true professional is giving more than you get.” What exactly does it mean to be “professional”? I’ve lost count how many new clients we’ve gained over the years simply because...
“Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.” –Stephen R. Covey Good help is hard to find. When you do find someone that can produce, is personable and...
I have a tendency to overbook on my To Do list. I do it all the time, but I usually have no problem with moving any tasks that don’t get done today until tomorrow. That is, on my good days. I think that there is a direct link to how good I’m feeling about...
“Hit another home run”, “What’s on deck?” and they just ‘threw a curveball’ are just a few of the many baseball metaphors that are used in business. Some other worn out clichés include: ‘step up to the plate’, ‘swinging for the fences’ and ‘striking...
This morning, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of 3rd & 4th grade inner city students as part of a program called Breakfast of Champions. As guest speaker, they wanted me to discuss the “GPS of Success” and tell my story. I shared how I had...
Communication – the human connection – is the key to personal and career success. -Paul J. Meyer Well, this week was another blur, but if I had to look back and pick out one thing that stood out for me, it would have to be the Art of Communication....
“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” – Stephen Covey It’s been a couple of weeks since my last blog and if I don’t start typing right now, it may turn into three. The last few weeks have been a complete...
A few weeks ago I blogged about Deadlines Being Your Friend and I guess you could argue that I didn’t have anything else to write about this week, but you’d be wrong. I could write about how great it feels when a client finally selects a logo that they...
I’m sitting here writing this week’s blog back in the comfort of my home office while Spiderman plays on in the background and my dog snores. Over the last four years, I’ve really made this home office very comfortable and as any of you that follow my...
How many of you can relate to: “I create some of my best work while under pressure.” Or “This won’t get done without a deadline.” “We need this new (logo, website, print project, [insert deliverable here] YESTERDAY”. The problem with deadlines that most...
I need business cards, that’s who. Ancient History? The desktop Rolodex. Have you ever asked a young person (18-25) what a Rolodex is? Do you think they would know the answer? Chances are they probably won’t. Has the Rolodex gone the way of the...
Always knock and always smile. That summed up my first week of interviews for several positions we are trying to fill to keep up with the expanding workload. The interview process has to be one of the most nerve-racking experiences for the person being...
Handsome approves. Instead of enjoying the process of moving into our new office, I must admit that I’ve been pretty anxious about it. One client in particular recently came to visit me for a face-to-face and asked me point blank, “is everything OK?”...
It’s 1:05 am and I’m just wrapping up tomorrow’s presentation. Last minute tweaks that keep me up at night. Being a designer means I’m noticing things that probably no one else will: kerning, leading, consistent placement of logos, etc. I’m up past my...
Putting the exterior signage up on the new digs. Pretty cool. I felt like Ponch from Chips this morning, as I did a partial ‘move-in’ to our new space, spending the entire morning making sure the place looked and smelled just right. I’m new to the...
Town Clerk’s Office Last week I blogged about how excited I was about moving my design company into a new, larger office space. Now that I’ve decided to take my company to the next level, I’ve discovered many hidden hoops to jump...
About 8 years ago, I remember driving down to the local Blockbuster store (remember them?) with 2 overdue movies and 2 overdue games. I was letting the anxiety of what the late fees were going to be, get the best of me. I walked into the store, ready to face...
You learn something new everyday. Yesterday, I found out about Kickstarter, which pegs itself as the “world’s largest funding platform for creative projects” while meeting over coffee with one of my long-time clients and former co-workers, Jeff...
Two years ago I was asked to write a blog entry for a website called Business Life Stories. The concept behind this website, which was started by a friend and business partner was best explained by it’s tagline: “Why I Love What I do” and more stories...
It started out like a regular day in the office: crazy busy and the phone was ringing off the hook. After the usual morning briefing, everyone had their marching orders and we broke out into different directions tackling the priorities at hand. At one point, on...
I was so ready to start blogging about how little interest I had in Pinterest, the latest social media site generating buzz around the web, until I started actually using it. Needless to say, if you were looking for another way to be even less productive during...
I’m a huge fan of Glengarry Glen Ross. In fact, it’s a requirement that anyone who works at my firm must watch it at least a dozen times. Being able to fire off quotes from the movie, especially Alec Baldwin’s motivational speech (probably his best performance...
2012 is already shaping up to be another banner year of exciting projects and growth. Although January is historically a slow time of year, the phone has been ringing off the hook, emails have been flying in and new project proposals are flying out the door. Its...
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