It's all About You.

As we are updating our website (more to come on this soon), I find myself more interested in the About You section than the About Us section. After all, it is about you, our customer. Without you, we would not have an About Us section, so here’s to you.

ABOUT YOU
To say you are busy is an understatement. You have seen it all, and want more than just products, you want experiences for your recipients. You demand the best, work with the best, and won’t settle for less. You have many tasks to do in a day—finding eco-friendly ideas that genuinely communicate your message and managing gift programs are just two of a hundred or more to-dos on your list. You need an assistant, you need a vacation, you need someone to help make your job easier.

You are emailing us from your blackberry because your boss is retiring in 7 days and you need an amazing gift to give and present at the reception. Seven days later we received this email from you (again from your blackberry).

“Thanks so much for making this work! I can't tell you what a relief that was!”
Michelle, Global TV, Vancouver

You have an event in Paris for top executives. What are you going to give that they don’t already have or can’t just buy? All this and it need to be effortless to travel back to the US, too. You have a budget and can’t go over a penny. Help, you say.

“Thank you. The painting and prints were beautiful. It was a very rewarding experience working with you again! Shipping to Paris was perfect! Thanks for everything!!!!!!”
Glenda, The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta

We tip our Janet Helm hats to you, those who get it all done in a day. I am proud to say we are a part of your team, to help you look great with little effort. Your dedication to helping recognize meaningfully and making the best use of budget is to be congratulated.

Well done! (Now get back to work.)
Janet
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Thinking of Mothers this week – Super Heroes, Super Service

My four year old drew a picture of me as a super hero and told me how super he thinks of me because I read to him and play with him.

Wow, the amazingly positive impact of how listening and simply being there for him reminds me of how customer service is just that: listening to the client, understanding what they want to achieve and delivering what they have asked for. I am extremely proud of the service we provide our clients and want to share some examples of our own heroes at Janet Helm giving Super Service.

Jen, Operations Manager, delivered exceptional customer service this week when she designed and created a custom cardboard box for a client who was traveling to New Orleans with original artwork. Working with a Louisiana photographer, we created stunning b&w framed prints of a jazz player for our client to give to top performers at a special recognition event being held in their honor. Knowing our client was taking the original as carry-on luggage aboard the flight, Jen crafted the perfect box to safely and effortlessly transport the artwork. Jen’s motto: there’s always a way!

Marina, Project Manager, recently completed a project for a client who required 246 unique glass awards to recognize their sales team. Each custom designed award was etched with logos and the recipients’ name and packaged in a custom keepsake box.

As the awards were to be distributed to all recipients located in 59 locations worldwide on the same day, it was critical the shipments be delivered on schedule. Working with three shipping companies, Marina ensured the awards were delivered on time and on budget by the most cost-effective shipping service available. Mission accomplished!

Kat, our graphic designer, continues to inspire our team and amaze our clients with her brilliant work. She enthusiastically takes on new projects and has amazing results. She’s not one to boast so I will for her. Last month, after successfully completing her diploma in Graphic Design, Kat was officially honored as “Top of the Class” for her outstanding achievements. A real super hero!

Celebrate Vancouver

With Earth Day just past, I find myself so much more aware of what little steps I can do, this year more than ever before. As a mom, I feel it is genuinely the right thing to do, as a company it simply makes good business sense as more and more of our clients want green gifts and meeting ideas that are more than the standard ideas - concepts that are stylish, naturally and responsibly.



The timing is perfect as Vancouver, my home town and the location of our studio, prepares to host the winter Olympics in 2010, where sustainability is an integral part of the games. We are excited to help our local and international clients give environmentally innovative ideas. I will keep our clients up to date with our Green Gift Line we are providing.

Please visit the official website of the games http://www.vancouver2010.com/ to see a photograph of my sons, by photographer Janis Nicolay, celebrating the fresh air Vancouver is known for, as well as other people celebrating the countdown excitement, and check out all the exciting news happening in our grand city.

Janet

Creative Awards

I have seen a lot of awards from glass, crystal, to metal. I always find myself wanting more, more for our clients and more for the recipients.

Where is the style, the originality, the genuineness?

I am sharing with you an award we designed and produced to complement a peer to peer recognition program for F5 Networks, a Seattle based company known for its genuine and distinct corporate culture. I have also included a few images of innovative awards I hope will inspire you.

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Occasion: F5 NETWORKS Quarterly Recognition Awards

Provide creative awards that reflect the company's corporate values that the recipients are being recognized for.

Needs to complement F5's peer to peer program, entitled ‘Have a Ball.’

Result: hand blown glass marbles, produced using the client's seven corporate colors representing their corresponding values.

• Instantly recognizable as F5, reflecting the company's genuineness, creativity, and existing program.


• The recipients' name and date are sand-blasted on a marble base created to complement the glass art piece.


• Gift card with values translated into different languages with symbolism and information on the artist was included.


• Custom made shipping boxes added to the perceived value, and ensured ease of worldwide distribution for our client.

“Everyone loves them. The symbolism is perfect for F5. Thank you.”
C.C., F5 Networks, Seattle

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Here are a couple other unique award options to inspire: a hand-carved wood sculpture, and a kiln-formed glass wave.

Wood sculptures available in a variety of woods and shapes.
Choose from a selection of inspiring words, or create your own.

Glass sculptures that can be arranged separately or as a set, as shown. Stand also available.
Waves of Distinction can be commissioned in custom colors.
Sizes 6" w x17" long and up to 12"h x17" long.

To authenticity.

I received an early birthday present in the mail this week from my sister Denise.

I ripped open the brown kraft packaging, to see a New Balance box... we both run, so I assumed a funky running shirt of some kind would be my gift. As I opened the box, I gasped...

not a running shirt at all, but a vintage mohair and wool-blend cape in earth tones of sage green and burnt oranges.

It is so me, I thought, (actually screamed). The vintage label design, the quality, the exclusiveness, all screamed Janet Helm.

(My 4 year old son wanted to play Little Red Riding Hood, I quickly diverted him to one of his own toys ....whew close call.)

Receiving the cape was a wonderful confirmation for me of why being authentic, being me at all times is the only way for me to live, run my business, be a leader, friend, wife and/or mother. It is flow, it works and it is effortless.

I am reminded of the best gifts we design and produce for our clients are the ones that have the most soul- are genuinely about the recipients, proudly and sincerely reflect the occasion, and message of our clients.

To authenticity.
Janet

Inspiration Thursdays

Janet Helm is about capturing the genuine spirit of a client and producing gift experiences that are genuine, well designed and stylish. Our blog is dedicated to all the different ways to add genuineness and good design into your gift giving experiences. It is my hope you browse our blog to find inspiration and get updates and let Janet Helm enlighten your occasions and experiences.

Our blog is called Inspiration Thursdays because it is on that day of the week, during our daily meeting, that the team at Janet Helm share ideas that inspire us. Recent inspires have been everything from taffy wrappers, a spoon, a font, to a 1950's children's book illustrator.

To Thursdays
Enjoy
Janet