kitestring is pretty stoked to launch UnMarketing’s new site. The twitterverse is all a’buzz about the clean new look.

Lets take a look at what some of our favourite twitter peeps are saying:

@WonderMoms_ca: Hey @unmarketing LOVE your new site @kitestring did a fab job. Awesome @nummiesbras video. Proud to say I know you IRL #youcanpaymelater

@PropelCanada: Fabulous job! RT @unmarketing: And again thanks to the crew at @KiteString for hooking me up with my new site http://www.Un-Marketing.com

@blakeurmos: @unmarketing yes, I love your new site by @KiteString , looking damn good

@UnMarketing: And again thanks to the crew at @KiteString for hooking me up with my new site http://www.Un-Marketing.com Love it

Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think!

Happy September everyone!! I’m super excited to post my blog on the first day on, what I consider to be, one of the best days of the year.

For anyone who actually stuck around for the past few months, instead of basking in the beautiful summer that embraced us, you will know that the kitestring team has been hard at work – “nose to the grindstone” you might say. We’ve actually had a lot of fun working on some amazing projects this summer. Fun as they may be, it was still difficult to ignore the hot temps and cool beaches that were calling our name!

But, as I welcome in September today, I suddenly feel like the very tantalizing summer fever that I had been feeling is finally lifted – hurray!

Today brings a new energy – it’s the day to get ready to settle into the last quarter of the year. Reflect on what’s been, what we’ve checked off of our list and what’s still left to accomplish before the New Year approaches.

So, as the sandal tan fades, I invite you to join in the excitement of the season! The team here at kitestring has been doing just that. We’ve brainstormed, We’ve re-focused, we’re excited, and, believe me, the creative ideas are cookin’! The studio’s a buzz as we work on bringing our latest wacky ideas to life!

Needing a little help coming off of the summer vacation high? No worries, drop by the kitestring studio anytime. We can help you with brainstorming, focusing and re-energizing too (after all, it’s what we love to do).

-jenn

Hurray! I love this! My favourite morning show, that I watch religiously, has made a smart move towards a more modern, youthful, exciting look!

Apparently the visual identity and jingle are a throwback, a retro 70s/80s homage to its over half of a century of history.

Maybe I’m excited because I feel like they’re making a visual effort to appeal to me, maybe I’m excited because a prominent Hamilton-based (I know, I know, Channel Zero, but still!) media outlet is unafraid to show off some colour and mention Facebook pages as places to gather more info. Regardless, I’m excited!

The one thing I would suggest, is more Leslie Stewart. She makes even the gloomiest of days tolerable. Maybe give her the full screen during her segment? Anyways…

Good on ya, CHCHTV!

Learn more about what the rebrand entails from Marketing Mag here.

Unfortunately, in downtown Hamilton, young people reportedly enjoying access to “affordable housing” and “vibrant lifestyles” (See previous blog by Meg) also have to share it with a myriad of characters.

You think that being a part of the most accepting generation, as Sesame Street sensitive as I thought I was, I wouldn’t mind sharing a living space with people I a. don’t know b. don’t like c. don’t want to know?

It doesn’t.

As ashamed as I am to admit it…. I have become a crotchety tenant who hates her neighbours.

One thing my generation’s upbringing didn’t prepare us for was being too close for comfort.

When I was in school, if there was a student who was too loud, restless, obnoxious, or grumpy they would be removed from the classroom by the teacher. The head of the class would then proceed to spend the next twenty minutes or so lecturing them about being quiet, polite, and in general, neighbourly, so we could all learn together.

Maybe I’m just a prissy pants who wants hall monitors back on patrol so I don’t have to deal with the fact that I have neighbours who are driving me up the wall.

But what is it about sharing a home with others in clearly defined units that gives me the hebejebes?

Does this shift toward valuing peace, quiet, and a sense of security confirm the onset of full blown stereotypically “adult” attitudes? Or is it a regression backwards to before Big Bird taught me that living with only other birds wasn’t the answer, and that it was all the characters on Sesame Street that made his life filled with happiness?

Apart from all the other unit’s loud noise, smells, and drunkenness, perhaps its because I now recognize something in myself that I didn’t know of and wish wasn’t there.

The report on a important study came out this week that pertains to young people living in Hamilton. If you know me, I probably sent you the survey to fill out in the winter called, Destination Hamilton: Values and Perceptions of Next Generation Talent.
This survey includes everyone under 40 as “young Hamiltonians”.

As reported in the Spectator, the survey indicates that “a lack of quality jobs is the primary reason cited by young people who have left Hamilton or don’t intend to stay”. It also noted that “surprisingly, given its range of post-secondary institutions, the city ranked below average on learning.”

Check out the findings and tell me what you think here.

This Saturday, August 14th from 11 am until 1 am, Hamilton’s favourite street to meet good friends and have good times closes to celebrate summer at the Augusta District Block Party! In Association with the James South District and the Association of Augusta Street Businesses, the party invites all Hamiltonians (Family friendly day time activities!)  to come out and enjoy some good eats, great live music, beer gardens and the great pub venues on the street!

The Hamilton Professional Firefighters Association will hold their 2nd annual Chili Cook-off on site from 11 a.m to 4p.m! Have a taste and then vote for your favourite out of almost 30 chili competitors!

Enjoy live music in two beer gardens on the street, featuring retro 80’s, blues, motown and headlining act, our very own, Tomi Swick!

Join us on Facebook to stay in the loop
and check out augustablockparty.ca for more info!

The latest addition to the kitestring team is probably the most colourful of the bunch! We’d like you to meet Choy, our Betta Fish. Now before you say, “Choy…like Bok Choy?” I’d like to clarify that he was named after the Chinese New Year expression, “Kung hei fat choi”. Maybe that’s his full name?! Choy is visiting us from a local kindergarten class and has adjusted well to life at our creative marketing studio. He fills his days with swimming ’round in circles, swimming up, swimming down, eating delicious “Betta Bits” pellets (which include garlic powder, riboflavin, rosemary extract, beet powder etc.) and lastly putting in his two bubbles when a good idea floats around. Next time you stop by make sure you say hello!

I spy with my little eye someone who is a junior web developer, lives in the Hamilton area, and has good attention to detail.

• Someone who is obsessed with HTML and CSS to pixel perfection.
• This person is on the hunt for a contract position where they’ll work on a project basis.
• They can rock the PHP for back-end heavy lifting.
• Can work with many open source Content Management Systems (Drupal and/or WordPress will do for now).
• Can work with Photoshop and Illustrator to take apart the design, optimize it, and put it back together in website form.
• They’re the type of person who gets seriously jazzed about JavaScript (and jQuery).
• They can work a bit of Flash, but it’s not a deal breaker if they can’t.
• They’re ready to start paying back debts from their higher education in a job they’re excited to roll out of bed for.
• And, they are self-disciplined enough to work independently from home while reporting to kitestring’s Director of Technology.
• Must be able to explain why people enjoy watching The Big Bang Theory, because I’m a geek, and I still don’t get why anyone would think it’s funny. Note: If you think it’s funny, please don’t mention that, or you will be immediately disqualified.

If you found yourself nodding to the above description, maybe we’re looking for you.

kitestring’s relaxed and fun culture might seem appealing, but trust us, it’s not for everyone.

This eight week contract starts immediately, and the lucky contestant will need to have access to Skype for daily interactions and come to the studio for the occasional meeting.

Send your resume, some samples of your work, and bit about why you’d be a perfect fit for this adventure to:
iwant2work@kitestring.ca

Learn more by visiting kitestring.ca

Last week I had the honour of being interview by Linda Ockwell-Jenner, founder of the Small Business Community Network.

You can check it out online here. I’m episode 90. Thanks to Linda for the interview and an overall good time.

P.S. That’s not Linda and I in the picture. In case you were wondering. : D