tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-200603642010-03-01T13:06:36.972-08:00This blog contains updates about games related contracts and stories.BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-2461853662975176322010-03-01T12:49:00.000-08:002010-03-01T13:06:36.986-08:00

Its less than 24 hours since we wrapped up the 2010 Olympic games. I have so many thoughts and emotions about the experience.As a spectator I sure was lucky to have attended ski cross and the Canada USA hockey game (the not so happy one) and ski jumping. I also had the opportunity to meet a couple of amazing athletes in person. The experience of sponsoring an athlete was very positive for us.

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-63265346029153548822009-12-16T17:40:00.001-08:002009-12-16T18:12:50.544-08:00

There just hasn't been enough hours in a day this past couple months. I think the count for trading pin orders has topped 40 and is still growing!Last Sunday and Monday, CTV news aired a piece on Olympic pin trading. It was a great experience having a TV crew show up, interview me and then shoot some 'b roll' to make the story happen. If you want to watch the news cast, click here and look for

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-74027470141263522652009-10-25T14:24:00.000-07:002009-10-25T14:35:39.698-07:00

Since September, I've felt the 2010 momentum building. The call volumes have increased, particularity for lapel pins. I have a long history in creating lapel pins so this Olympics kind of feels like I'm competing at the top of my game not only as a sales person but as a graphic designer.Recently we were selected by the West Vancouver 2010 office to produce a line of lapel pins that are designed

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-23950180794728906502009-06-25T10:16:00.000-07:002009-06-25T12:49:06.369-07:00

We are getting into the games in our own way around here.The Olympic movement definitely inspires the inner athlete in all of us to reach high and achieve. This year I signed up for the Test of Metal mountain bike race and the Squamish triathlon! The "test" is the stuff of local legend around here. This epic 67km mountain bike race boasts 1200m of hill climbs. I started training in October and

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-49006251472809467892009-06-15T11:09:00.000-07:002009-06-15T12:25:02.853-07:00

Our local community received a nice shot in the arm from VANOC, organizers of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic winter games for Vancouver and Whistler. This past weekend, a $750,000 legacy fund was granted to our community for the creation of recreation facilities of infastructure.“The Sport Legacy Trust Fund is an investment in the future health of this community and an opportunity to build on

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-34703165171717037092009-04-28T12:05:00.001-07:002009-04-28T12:16:49.299-07:00

Slowly but surely, the games fever is taking over our area. Recently I completed a 3 hour volunteer training session in Squamish. I completed a detailed application form online and during the orientation session I was assigned to the media centre in Whistler next February.Why did I choose to volunteer? Probably because I remember being 15 years old and dancing on the tables at the Calgary 88

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-51056082211947559932009-03-23T09:31:00.000-07:002009-03-23T09:56:16.157-07:00

Although this isn't really a 2010 related post, I figure its ok to get off topic once and a while!I often get asked to donate to charities or fundraisers. Its hard to support them all so a few years ago we decided to focus on one group in our community and try to make a real difference. My chosen charity is the Howe Sound Womens centre in Squamish, BC.They focus on six areas of assistance for

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-19527164079099111122009-01-16T13:27:00.000-08:002009-01-16T13:48:03.712-08:00

What's with the funny blog name "Idea Guy"? The short answer I can't legally use the year "2010" when discussing Olympic topics.As soon as the calendar flipped to 2009, all things games related started to happen around here.We've heard from a couple of Official Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games sponsors requesting quotes. So it became necessary to get educated, and fast ,about what we

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-66951198448169558542009-01-16T13:13:00.000-08:002009-01-16T13:23:48.695-08:00

This week, we delivered a bunch of beautiful banners for an FIS World Cup event at the Whislter Olypmic Park in the Callaghan Valley. These very unique banners were commissioned by Cultural Chair Krisztina Egyed of VANOC and the art was provided by artist Rick Harry. Once the art was completed the backgrounds were laid out by reknowned local graphic designer, Susan Butler from Brand Central

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-55454473009813456932009-01-15T13:09:00.000-08:002009-01-15T15:09:32.045-08:00

Ultimate Promotions was selected to produce medals for the FIS Continental cup Ski Jumping event in the Callaghan Valley a in early December. This is the last international medal event for the ladies before the 2010 Olympics.Photo Credit: Dan Gropini Snap Sea to Sky The public backlash regarding the exclusion of female ski jumpers from the 2010 Vancouver Olypmic and Paralympic games has been

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-77019344203675498812008-12-19T12:07:00.000-08:002008-12-19T14:09:10.458-08:00

Ultimate Promotions has a long relationship with the Spirit of BC Committee in Pemberton who organizes "Winterfest". This year in addition to organizing the famous festival, they will play host to the Jamaican Bobsled Team. The Jamaicans are training at the nearby Whistler Sliding centre in addition to Calgary. The local community and Winterfest Organizers sent a delegation to the Vancouver

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-43289974673596243982007-05-29T14:57:00.000-07:002007-05-29T14:58:58.164-07:00

Squamish is going to see its fair share of construction this summer. The most obvious is the Sea to Sky highway upgrades. Some Whistler commuters might be wondering what the new black and yellow “SURERUS” signs northbound on 99 near Alice Lake are for?Another infrastructure project is taking flight from our locale. Fort St. John based Surerus Pipeline has announced that it will be building a

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-61524803333172533112007-05-14T17:44:00.000-07:002007-05-18T14:28:59.934-07:00

One can’t drive around Squamish without running into at least one yellow truck emblazoned with “Kiewit and Sons” on the side. It seems the huge U.S. owned company not only makes a huge impact on our roadways, but on our local economy.Since the start of the Sea to Sky highway project, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of Kiewit paychecks being mailed to Squamish mailboxes.

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-20719744847237045202007-04-17T11:49:00.000-07:002007-04-17T11:53:21.308-07:00

Traditionally web sites were for people who were trying to expand their reach as a business and transcend local boundaries. They were not very useful for local services such as mechanics, hair salons or people in the trades.Local business owner beware! The next big battleground for consumer eyeballs will be with the “local search”. That’s right, smaller service based businesses who usually don’t

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-79221837216099148412007-04-03T14:04:00.001-07:002007-04-03T14:04:31.275-07:00

Any Brackendale citizen knows “Republic Bikes” is aptly named. Lifelong resident and proprietor Armand Hurford jokes that he used to hang out in the café next to his new shop whilst In-Utero. Now the upstart bike shop is tucked away in a tin shed beside the historic Post Office and Bistro.Huford is a mature twenty nine years and riding bikes has taken him many places far and near. First as a BMX

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-16647225969444699832007-02-27T10:29:00.000-08:002007-02-27T10:46:39.510-08:00

If you are a business owner and want to expand your reach or keep in touch with your customer base, email marketing or blogging may be the answer.Some email newsletters are graphics rich and others are text based. If you are looking for a snazzy looking communique, check out web based services such as Constant Contact and Campaign Monitor. They make it easy to learn about this massive topic.

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-44696785987294304312007-02-01T16:25:00.000-08:002007-02-01T16:39:55.684-08:00

Squamish’s Triack Resources represents a new breed of greener entrepreneur.On paper, logger Dave McRae looks like an unlikely champion of eco-business. With stints as a heavy duty mechanic and work in a saw mill, he ended up as an expert in sustainable forest practices. His forestry skills landed him several unique contracts during his career including thinning of Alice Lake campground, the Brohm

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-1169086687433066352007-01-17T18:16:00.000-08:002007-01-17T18:35:24.848-08:00

Squamish Terminals celebrates 35 years of operation this year. It was timely to chat with Ron Anderson, CEO about the impact of this last bastion of big industry.For those of us not in the know about the terminal, it handles a type of cargo that is referred to as “break bulk” meaning that it’s usually obtuse in nature and won’t fit in a container. Most of us have driven past other nearby ports

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-1169086101800496982007-01-17T18:07:00.000-08:002007-01-17T18:08:26.086-08:00

During the past 3 months, a small group of local business owners have been meeting before the sun rises. The seven a.m. time slot is the best time available for Squamish’s super busy business owners.The Business Exchange group is presented by Community Futures Development Corporation. Fifteen non-competing business owners and managers from a cross-section of the community were accepted into the

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-1169086057320492312007-01-17T18:06:00.000-08:002007-01-17T18:07:37.640-08:00

In November, the Squamish Sustainability Corporation hired a new Business Development Lead. David Thomson comes to SSC from the BC lottery Corporation and has a penchant for marketing and branding. He is definitely a people person. Dave grins ear to ear when asked about the key areas that he hopes to usher in new growth. Standing before an aerial view of Squamish he points to the Airport,

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20060364.post-1169085847008801832007-01-17T16:36:00.000-08:002007-01-17T21:43:13.977-08:00

Wal Mart will do two things to Squamish business. The strong and the well-strategized, will survive. Those competing strictly on price, will not.Here are some strategies you can employ right now to combat “price based” competition.Strategy 1: Ask your best customers why they do business with you and document it. In 2002, my family business had to stop manufacturing and start importing because of

BadCraigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152444643551062745noreply@blogger.com