It’s simple really.

Some small businesses need help.  Sure, they may have help from a designer, who later sends their work to a printer.  In the meantime, the designer also finds them a photographer for staff photos or product photos.  At the end of it all, they are forced to order less materials, settle with less design and at the same time find themselves with a design invoice, an invoice from a photographer and a printing bill.

Thats where we come in.

Intelligent Design Inc. offers all of those pieces and a little bit more.  Our focus is simple, to provide small and medium sized businesses the same resources, quality designs and exceptional marketing tools that are available to their larger competitors.

Full service graphic design, a state of the art photography studio with professional photographers on staff, and the regions most advanced digital printing tools all in one location.   We’re not sure why someone else didnt think of this first.

Located in the historic Chapples Building in Thunder Bay’s south core downtown, we picked the location for a reason.  It’s a landmark that is rich in history and the anchor whats to come in this unique area of the city.  And we wanted to be in the middle of it all.

Our team is made up of professionals who understand the needs of small to medium sized businesses.  Our President and Managing Partner, John Ongaro, brings over 20 years of marketing and design experience to lead the team.  His approach is simple.  Its all about the relationship.  He understands the needs of small business as a former college instructor in entrepeneurship and business marketing.  Combined with his experience as the Radio Marketing Director with one of Canada’s largest media chains, his development and execution of media campaigns through quality design and placement brings his partners message to new levels.

Taking care of our customers is the job of our Senior Manager of Client Services, Kelly Litt. Kelly brings years of professional experience through her work with the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce and various professional boards and organizations.  As a result of her experience, Kelly brings a wealth of knowledge of the businesses in our community and the people who run them. A graduate of Leadership Thunder Bay, Kelly’s skills and organization translates to an advanced level of service for our customers. As a major event planner, she also expands our communications department with a new opportunity in planning campaigns and events for our customers. Her primary focus with IDI is to ensure that our customers will not only have access to all of the services we provide, but she will ensure that our quality standards, values and speed will not be compromised.  As a senior member of our team, Kelly understands the vision of IDI and with that will be able to provide a new level of service and communication to our partners.

Our design team is lead by a true ‘up and comer’….  Bob Gravelle joined the team in 2010 and has quickly advanced to the position of Artistic Director with IDI.  Bob’s passion for design is contagious.  His willingness to work from a clients idea makes him a true partner in the process – and a perfect fit for the company. As an advanced user of industry standard software applications, Bob’s experience not only in design, but in advanced web development makes him a true visionary for our customers.

You see, its not about the flash, the trendy locations or the need to be stars.  Our focus is really simple.  We provide a service that no one else in Northwestern Ontario can match.  It’s one stop. It’s great customer service. It’s unmatched quality.  And its fair and honest prices. It’s what makes us different.

It’s a new year.  Who needs a new look?

You do.

In your business, just like in ours, image is everything.  That’s why its important to stay on top of your image, your look and what your customers see.

When was the last time you had your photo updated?

When was the last time your business cards or advertisements were refreshed?

We can help.

Now’s the time for a new photo, a new look, and new business image. That’s where we come in.

OUR BUSINESS CARDS ARE NOT JUST ON SALE!

These are our prices, this is our service to you everyday.

500 Single Sided  Business Cards

+ a professional portrait

$100.00

1000 Single Sided Business

+ a professional portrait

+ a high-res copy of your photo

$165.00

500 Double Sided Business Cards

+ a professional portrait

$135.00

1000 Double Sided Business Cards

+ a professional portrait

+ a high-res copy of your photo

$195.00

Bring two colleagues, save an additional 25%

A little about our business cards…

Our business cards are all printed on a heavy cover stock – a higher quality stock than the industry standard.  They are precisely colour matched to our customers specifications with exceptional print quality and no exceptions.  We’ll even print you only one to show you the difference.

To complete the order, our cards are precision cut with a laser guided digital cutter that ensures every card is identical, and superior quality is not compromised.  Best of all, they’re completed the day after approval or they’re free.  With a 100% customer satisfaction guarentee, and state of the art printing and production, IDI’s business cards are the new standard in quality and service.

Its hard to believe how much we’ve grown and learned in only 12 months, but here we are.  Over the past year, we’ve had the chance to partner with some really great clients.  From hair salons to educators.  Government offices to construction workers and everything in between.

Like with all new businesses there has been some challenges-  IDI continues to strive to provide exceptional services, quality products, and true partnerships.

This new year will bring with it a few changes to IDI.  Changes that our partners will notice, and changes that further enhance the IDI vision.

As of January 10, 2011, we welcome Kelly Litt to our team as Senior Manager, Client Services.

Kelly brings years of professional experience through her work with the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce and various professional boards and organizations.  As a result of her experience, Kelly brings a wealth of knowledge of the businesses in our community and the people who run them.

A graduate of Leadership Thunder Bay, Kelly’s skills and organization translates to an advanced level of service for our customers. As a major event planner, she also expands our communications department with a new opportunity in planning campaigns and events for our customers.

Her primary focus with IDI is to ensure that our customers will not only have access to all of the services we provide, but she will ensure that our quality standards and speed of service will not be compromised.  As a senior member of our team, Kelly understands the vision of IDI and with that will be able to provide a new level of service and communication to our partners.

Please join all of us at IDI in welcoming Kelly to our team.  You can reach her at our offices at 807.620.1830 or via email at kelly@inteldesign.ca.

It’s been an amazing year for us and we are looking forward to more growth in 2011.  Again, thank you for your patronage in our first year, we look forward to working with you again in 2011.

All the best,

John Ongaro
President, Managing Partner

Intelligent Design Inc.

NOW – FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR BUSINESS CARD SPECIAL ON NOW!

(See IDI on TBT News by clicking here)

Christmas Cheer’s Linda Gambee says she wishes she didn’t have to keep increasing the charity’s goal each year, but she has to be realistic.

Despite surpassing their 2009 goal by $20,000, they spent far more than that. Do the math, she said, and it can’t sustain itself over the long term.

“As a committee we felt it was better to reflect what we actually spend, so we’re not going into our reserves. Last year our goal was $120,000. We raised about $140,000, but we spent about $165,000, so we thought we start with what we spent last year,” Gambee said.

Just three years ago the goal was $60,000.

The organization knows it’s a heavy ask in a community hard hit by the recession and the forest industry collapse, but too many families count on the hampers – which include enough food for a week and presents for children in need – to give up trying.

“We fed about 5,000 families last year and we have already started getting calls, as early as April,” Gambee said. “So we believe that it’s going to just keep growing. There are more people still out of work and still not back to work.

“But we know the community will bring us through. We just know they will. They always do. Our community is just fabulous.”

Though some thought has been given to lessening what’s in each hamper, Gambee said instead they’ve taken a slightly different approach for singles and seniors this year, swapping the traditional turkey for a smaller ham.

That should save some money, Gambee said.

Christmas Cheer is also boosting its marketing image, thanks in part to a local communications company.

Intelligent Design’s John Ongaro said he was only too happy to help spread the word, free of charge, for such a good cause.

“We know that they don’t have the funds that they need to properly promote the campaign as a whole. What we’ve decided to do as a company is put our heads together and our resources together, as well as with the resources of some of our suppliers, to be able to provide the promotional materials that they need, for no charge,” Ongaro said.

“That money should be better spent on food and clothing for children and families in our community instead of on promotions and marketing.”

The fund, begun more than six decades ago, has also gone high-tech, establishing a website at www.thunderbaychristmascheer.com, to help get the word out.

Hitting the Internet has Gambee excited.

“The website will be used for a lot of things. It will be promoting our events that are going on, our blitz days, our times, our office hours, what types of things we’re looking for in terms of food and cash donations,” she said. “But more importantly than that, it can be used for individuals looking up when we start, how they can get their hampers, what they need to do and a phone number for them to contact us.”

Donations may be sent to the Christmas Cheer Fund, P.O. Box 10297, Thunder Bay, Ont., P7B 6T7, or at any Thunder Bay branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia. Food drives will be held at local businesses and schools between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15, as well as at the Parade of Lights on Dec. 4. The donation blitz will be Dec. 11 and 12 at the CLE Coliseum building, with hamper pick-ups scheduled for Dec. 15 and 16.

Canned and dry goods donation can also be dropped off at Quality Markets Centennial Square and Golf Links Road locations, at all branches of the Thunder Bay Public Library or at the Christmas Cheer Fund office at the CLE.

Lisa and Glen decided to call us for this year’s family portrait.  Zoe, a 4 yr old German Shepherd was great.  Probably one of the most vocal dogs ever in our studio!  A photography studio is a pretty ‘different’ environment for a dog – so it took Zoe a bit of time to get comfortable.  Thankfully, our studio is stocked with dog treats at all times.  That helped a lot!!

Family portraits, pets and more.  Let the professionals at IDI Studios make the most of your experience with us.  Our patience in the studio makes the difference.  Book your studio session today and take advantage of 30 free Christmas cards with your order!

IDI is proud to be the official printer of all of the advertising signage and event materials for the 2010-2011 curling season.  So – as part of our sponsorship – our logo is smack-dab in the middle of every button on every sheet!

As an added bonus, all PACC members receive 25% off all of our services if they show their membership card.

The Port Arthur Curling Club and Intelligent Design – another great partnership.  Thanks for having us PACC!

Tonight, the Community Auditorium once again hosted the annual Wine Affair – presented by Performance Kia.  We were there for two reasons.  First, we were asked to photograph the event for the Auditorium staff.  Second – we were really proud to provide the roll-up displays for Performance Kia for this event.  Bruno and Karen needed their displays fast.  With only a 2 day window to get these done – our team pulled together to help them out – and the results are great.

Thanks Trevor for asking us to help with the photos – and Thanks Bruno and Karen for selecting us to help you out with your new displays!

The retailers have already started their planning and so have we.  We’re in full swing for Christmas.  Our new studio is ready for holiday photos of families, pets and more.  In fact – space is beginning to fill as so many people prepare for holiday gift cards, photobooks, calendars and more.  Here’s a little rundown of what we have in ‘store’ this holiday season:

1)  Holiday Portraits:

The holidays are the perfect time to get the family together for a yearly (or not so much) family portrait.  So many times the business of the fall takes over and finding the time to get together for a photo is tough.  Not only that – getting the family interested in being IN a family photo is even tougher.  At IDI Studios, our philosophy is simple.

• We dont take the ‘standard’ family portrait that everyone hates for years to come.
• We’re as flexible in our time and ideas as you need us to be.
• AND – our turn around times and quality might surprise you.

Not to mention our pricing.  Sure we have packages just like the others do.  And yes, we can do any size or quantity you need.  The difference – our turn around time.  Have your family portrait with us and by the time you get home your personal online gallery of proofs is ready.  Email or drop off your order form with your choices and we’ll see you again in a couple of days.  Its that simple!

2)  Greeting Cards:

There’s a big difference between us and the other guys.  Our print quality.  With Thunder Bay’s most sofisticated digital press, our holiday greeting cards are like no other.  Add to that a team of designers and our cards stand out.  So do our prices.  Starting at just $0.75 each – no one can beat the quality, the price and the unlimited choices of designs. Visit us today for a complete selection and some ideas to get you started.  We’re happy to even print your greeting cards with the photos from the other guys.  Why?  Because they’re YOURS – and we think you should have a say.

3) The largest selection of Calendars in town:

With Thunder Bay’s most advanced digital press, we’re able to make calendars like you’ve never seen before.  Any style, any size and for less than you might think.  Our calendars are 100% customizable and our team of designers will work directly with you to get you started.  Flip calendars, pocket calendars, year at a glance and everything in between – we’re able to put together your calendar for 2011 and beyond today.

Photo gifts, fine art reproduction and so much more – visit us or call today.

Their busy salon at the corner of Edward and Arthur needed an update.  Just over a year later, the co-owners proudly display their new logo and newly renovated location and Intelligent Design was there every step of the way.

The old Terra Nova logo was dated at best, and they wanted something that fit their contemporary and current place in the market.  After only a few tests, they fell in love with their new look – and we were happy to help.

Fast forward nearly a year later, and now Terra Nova displays their new logo predominantly at the front of their building – and have completely renovated the inside of the salon.  The new look is truly a work of art – contemporary designs, new equipment and incredible lighting make this salon a definite one of a kind.

We were really proud to be chosen as the agency of choice for Tony and Steve - and even prouder to be invited to photograph their incredible changes and still be a part of their growth.

Thanks Terra Nova!