By Jay Moore
Managing Editor

Wise Elephant LLC, is a marketing communications company that specializes in current and emerging technologies.

By taking a hands-on approach to their clients needs, they are able to provide design and implementation support for traditional as well as new media. The two key employees at Wise Elephant are founder, Jason Moriber (pictured here), and Sheila Shidnia.

Building Momentum
Wise Elephant as founded in 2003. To get the business off the ground, Moriber and his associate worked out of his apartment using the bare essentials including used computers, desks made of nothing more than sheets of plywood, and folding chairs, which made for very uncomfortable eighteen-hour days.

After their first year, they were finally ready to move into a permanent office and had the working capital to buy some decent office furniture.

Walking the Straight and Narrow
As an integrated marketing firm, Wise Elephant offers a broad range of services. Lead Generation, Web Design, and Web Development are the core strengths of their company. Jason and Sheila provide a consultative approach to help their clients determine the best marketing mix.

While dynamic websites and social networks like Facebook and Twitter are some of the newer tools that they use to help their customers reach and engage an ever more demanding audience, they are still able to provide clients with traditional marketing expertise as well.

Teaching an Old Pachyderm New Tricks
One of the keys to their success has been understanding and embracing new technologies, services, and techniques. Print-on-demand publishing, basic web design, online video, blogging, and now social networks are some of the guideposts that they have passed on their trek.

Moriber understands the phenomenal viral effect of quality online video and they plan to relaunch their own online video portal called Filtr.TV late in the year.

For Wise Elephant, social media is the current technology that is changing the way their clients handle communication with their prospects and existing customers.

“Static websites are fading out as destinations, active people are magnetic,” Moriber said. “Being active takes time, so the formula for how clients perceive their marketing needs is shifting. It used to be a monthly budget for ads, or for email broadcasts. Now it’s a mix of time and information.”

The Leader of the Pack
Service is an important part of Wise Elephant’s business. Having multiple ways to contact Jason is one aspect of their service, but they strive to use new social media techniques to enhance their rapport with their customers.

This enhances the value of their product in several ways: the customer sees that Wise Elephant practices what they preach and the client gains an additional level of comfort with social media, resulting in a more comfortable interacting with their own customers.

Moving with the Business Terrain
Moriber emphasizes that while making it through the first year was an obstacle and managing business finances as the market dictates is an ongoing challenge, it has been important for them to never lose sight of their goals and mission.

“Having a small business becomes all-consuming. You have to remember to stay active in your ‘other’ life, as it will only make your work stronger and more connected to its audience,” said Moriber.

New employees at Wise Elephant get a hands-on approach to online marketing. They are required to contribute to the company blog and work with ad agencies, creative professionals, and business executives. It’s a business environment that fosters a desire to excel.

In addition to the planned relaunch of Filtr.TV later this year, Wise Elephant always keeps an ear to the ground for new and Innovative ways to keep their clients at the front of the pack.

Contact Info
Wise Elephant, LLC
6251 Winthrop Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46220
317.259.9201

info@wiseelephant.com
www.wiseelephant.com

By Jay Moore
Managing Editor

Redwall LIVE is a marketing
company that specifically focuses on
special events including, corporate
holiday parties, product launches,
fundraisers, trade show productions,
and any other corporate event that
requires pre-event press exposure
and marketing or on-site audio/visual
design and set up.
A Star is Born
Redwall LIVE traces its roots back to co-founders Derrick Royer and Daniel Herndon’s (pictured here) work managing events for concert tours dating back to 2003. In August of 2006 Derrick and Daniel founded the company Redwall Music. “In 2008 an opportunity presented itself to rent equipment to a concert event. After discovering that this special event had no stage manager to see to it things were executed effectively, we saw the need to bring our expertise to a new client base,” said Herndon. “We’ve opened up to a new, target client base with the branding of Redwall LIVE in July of 2008.”

The Supporting Cast
Currently Redwall LIVE has three key staff members. Derrick Royer serves as the Operations Manager as well as handling Media and Project Design responsibilities. Daniel Herndon provides Marketing and Project Management expertise and Pat Royer is the acting Interior Design Specialist.

The Producers
With their combined talents, the staff at Redwall LIVE are able to offer a complete range of solutions for corporate events. They work with a client to determine the scope of the project before the event. Redwall can provide press releases to the media to promote the event, posters and signage for the venue, advertisements, and marketing expertise before the event. They also have the  knowledge to set up your venue, including audio/visual equipment, interior design, and general event management. Redwall has a lot to offer their customers.

The Right Special Effects
“The goal of a corporate event is to build clientele, build client relationships, train employees or build team connection. These are essential to the growth of a company, therefore essential to the success of an event. Even a Christmas party can be a big part of what makes a company more than just a job to an employee and a bill to a customer. Atmosphere and execution marry to achieve
these goals.” According to Herndon, Redwall offers their clients, “the opportunity to enjoy their event and entertain their clients, the benefit of focusing on what they do best while we take the special project into our hands, and the elements to make the client stand out and impress – a direct component to the success of their business.”

And We Would Also Like to Thank…
Strategic partnerships for Redwall LIVE include facilities managers, other event planning firms that may not be able to provide the same range of services, and marketing firms working with their clients on promotional events. “Even our competition in many cases is also a potential partner,” says Herndon.

Coming Attractions
Plans for Redwall LIVE’s future include an expansion to their website to provide more information about their capabilities and possibly launching a blog. They do not currently have a permanent office to keep overhead low and since most of the consultation can be done either at the venue for the event or at the client’s office, a lease is an unneeded expense. While most of Redwall’s customers are located in central Indiana, Derrick and Daniel’s connections in the entertainment industry allow them to provide their services nationally so a geographic expansion is possible as well.

Contact Info
Redwall LIVE
PO Box 47370
Inianapolis, IN 46227
317.938.3132

LIVE@redwallmusic.com
www.redwalllive.com

By John Gifford
Publisher and Editor

When Doris Barringer-Senni travels to Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Senegal in January and to Tanzania later in the year, she will, as usual, be shopping for herself and for her friends — those she already knows, and some she has yet to meet.

She and her husband, Mohammad Senni, will be picking up numerous items on the trip, such as ceremonial masks, drums, fabrics, and furniture for sale by their business, African Collections Gallery.

This particular business began in February of this year. However, Doris has been shopping in Africa and making these items available to customers stateside for the past 17 years.

In 1991, Doris and her mother traveled to Africa for a massive shopping trip for themselves. When their friends saw the items in Doris’ home, they wanted to buy them. From that point on, Doris as
followed the same plan — shop for what she likes and others will want to buy these items. She may like a particular mask; she’ll buy one for herself and a couple of others to make available for sale.

Doris views her relationship with customers as special. When they come by her home — where the items are displayed in a Gallery — she provides more than items to buy; she shares her experience about each of the items: where she bought it, the story that goes with it, and a vicarious feeling by the customer of having made the trip to Africa with her.

Doris likes conversation, feels that she educates as she sells her artifacts, and will usually serve up her conversation with a cup of African tea. It is a personalized experience.

Doris and Mohammad believe that they have an authenticity that you seldom get in purchasing worldwide items. They know the history of the masks, what tribe uses which drums, and are able to share their enthusiasm and love of the African heritage. In fact, five of their customers became so enthused that they have made trips to Africa themselves. Any travel agent reading this article should contact Doris, because she would like to collaborate with them in setting up an African niche travel service (including her husband Mohammad as tour guide).

So far, African Collections Gallery had been mainly marketed by word-of-mouth, handing out business cards, and participating in area Art Fairs, such as in Zionsville or Brownsburg. Doris has added some unique services. They will stage a house for you to give it that special look which will clinch the sale and the purchaser can opt to buy the decorative items along with the house.

They have also rented some of their pieces to an International Festival in Bloomington that wanted an African representation. In addition, Doris can serve as an Interior Decorator to provide an African motif in your home through furniture and decorative pieces.

If you are looking for unique African items and would like to share a cup of tea while hearing some of Doris’ stories, call Doris at (317) 591-1137 to set up an appointment. Also ask her about the Adinkra symbols that had made up especially in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

African Collections Gallery
Doris Barringer-Senni
Mohammad Senni
3801 E. 36th St.
(317) 591-1137
barring38@aol.com