Colorado Plateau Advocate magazine, Spring 2015
Native American Business Incubator Network (NABIN) entrepreneurs are working 24-7 to jumpstart their businesses. Not surprisingly, marketing and branding those business hasn’t been at the top of their priority list. Most are just trying to cover their basic overhead costs and generate some income.
Our entrepreneurs need hands-on workshops that yield real results, such as creating effective marketing materials that help elevate their businesses.
In November, six entrepreneurs participated in the first annual Create and Elevate event in Flagstaff. Two days of intense workshops paired clients with creative consultants, business counselors, writers and graphic designers to create a new logo concept, business cards, and websites.
The process encouraged entrepreneurs to think critically about their customer base and how to market to them. Participants left with several logo concepts, business card and brochure layouts, and web content and layout ideas. Since the workshop, the finishing touches have been placed on logos for many of our client businesses and several websites launched. Inspired by the concrete outcomes of the workshop, our entrepreneurs are ready to begin launching marketing campaigns that will position them to be competitive in today’s market.
Baya overlooking one of the retreat’s iconic vistas. Baya can trace her family ties to the area back 14 generations.
The old logo greeted guests at the entrance to Shash Diné Eco-Resort, which is also a working ranch.
The Shash Diné business model allows Baya to work from home, where she can herd sheep and raise her children near family.
Owners and operators Baya and Paul Meehan had been using a Microsoft Word clip art paw as the logo for their glamorous camping retreat 12 miles south of Page, on the Navajo Nation. After two days of intense artistic collaboration, they came away with an inviting new logo for their traditional hogan bed and breakfast. Designed by Randy Barton, it incorporates the beauty of the landscape, the warmth of a hogan, and a bear (“shash” in Diné), which gives the resort its name.