A Family Business: A Great Article on Urban Animal’s New Model of Affordable Pet Care

A walk-in veterinary practice, Urban Animal, on Capitol Hill is making its mark by being authentic, asking the tough questions, and offering top quality care in a stylish new space.  Thanks Deanna Duff for the great story you can read here.

Q13 News Heads to Greenwood: Tax Season Looms and Fox News Covers Story of NW Entrepreneur Opening New Kiosks from The Shred Stop

Q13 news cameras rolled into a Seattle Fred Meyer store today to cover the news about a former Navy communications officer whose identity was stolen while he was stationed on board the USS Kentucky.  The vet, Stephen Hershman, became hyper-dilligent about destroying all papers so crooks couldn't strike again.  The process of burning out numerous home shredders led him to launch a new business: The Shred Stop. These shredding kiosks are lined up right by those CoinStars and RedBoxes in area markets.  Watch the story here and thanks to Q13. 

Story by "The Bachelor's" Catherine Giudici: Put a (Pink) Ring on It (Press Coverage for New Gordon James Fine Diamonds Store Opening from Gretchen and Gordon Raine)

In this story Seattleite’s Catherine Giudici declares Gordon James Fine Diamond’s pink diamond custom ring the ring to seal the deal on Valentine’s Day, or any other day. 

Opening soon!

425 Magazine Shares the News Gordon James Fine Diamonds

The Eastside is buzzing about the much anticipated arrival of the first retail jewelry boutique of long-time Eastside residents Gordon and Gretchen Raine.  One regional magazine shares the news about this Northwest couple that's been curating diamonds for decades and is opening a new store in Bellevue this Spring.

Valve Software's Portal 2, Justin Hillgrove's Imps & Monsters and WhimWhams Trend Mashup Toys and Products Debut at Toy Fair 2013 #TF13

 

Pros of A Crowded Coop Deliver Pop Culture to Buyers, Bloggers and Press at Booth 4884

Seattle, Washington – Gamers, geeks and monster-lovers will be sated with the merchandise A Crowded Coop is unveiling at their booth at Toy Fair 2013 (#TF13) in New York February 10-13th. Some of what the consumer product agency’s booth will showcase includes:

- new products from the award-winning Portal 2 video game by Valve Software

- plush toys bringing artist Justin Hillgrove’s Imps & Monsters family to soft, furry life

- plus a brand new line of WhimWhams trend mash-up characters that give the proverbial finger to trends like vampires, geek glasses and Abe Lincoln

Joining their already robust catalog of Valve Software game-related merchandise from game titles including DOTA, Portal and Portal 2, A Crowded Coop will debut its new 80’s Logo Aperture Laboratories Messenger Bag. (The Aperture Laboratories Messenger Bag launched in Winter 2012 is on its third round of reorders with retailers such as Think Geek.) At the show A Crowded Coop is introducing the Team Fortress Archimedes Plush which portrays the game’s blood-splattered white dove owned by the medic. In the category of home décor and accessories, the agency will show the new Portal 2 Weighted Storage Cube inflatable ottoman. Their Weighted Companion Cube string lights sold out over the holidays and the consumer products firm anticipates this home décor game-themed accessory will sell well with gamers and teens looking to personalize their room with affordable, pop culture inspired game motifs.

Collectors of Justin Hillgrove’s Imps & Monsters paintings have been anticipating the release of his first plush toy collection to be rolled-out at Toy Fair. Since 2005 he’s taken poignant themes like bullying, sharing and overcoming obstacles and artfully conveyed them with a cast of friendly monsters, creatures and imps. The new line of Imps & Monsters plush toys will include backpack clips, 6 and 12” plush and other toys depicting creatures like Dominic, Slime Monster and Popo. On Tuesday, February 12 from 10-11:30 Hillgrove will headline a Press and Blogger event at the A Crowded Coop Booth 4884 where he will sign prints featuring his various works and sign up press to receive signed, advance samples of the first plush toys from his collection.

A Crowded Coop founders Brandy Tanner and Mary Olson, veterans of TOY FAIR, will be introducing their own collection this year: Whim Whams. Each WhimWhams plush toy takes three pop-culture trends and throws them into a blender of silliness. Look for Yeti, Abe, Bunny, Monkey and Owl—each combined with two other pop culture sensations.

A Crowded Coop is a Pacific Northwest-based marketer and creator of consumer products released globally. Their product design satisfies consumers in the categories of apparel, accessories, toys, pet and more. In 2010 Olson and Tanner formed A Crowded Coop which serves clients such as Valve Software with its Portal 2, Team Fortress 2 and Dota 2 games, along with Dickies and many more. More info is at www.crowdedcoop.com. 

Seattle Times Story on How One Entrepreneur Had His Identity Stolen and Got Idea for New Business: The Shred Stop in Washington and Oregon

Reporter Sarah Elson's article in the Seattle Times today on Stephen Hershman's business The Shred Stop states, "ID theft leads to idea for shredding kiosks: Document-shredding kiosks are joining Coinstar and Redbox at local grocery stores."

It's not every day you dive, chin-deep into a pile of paper to tell your story.  Hershman was a good sport for this photo by Mark Harrison of the Seattle Times: "Shred Stop founder Stephen Hershman, posing in a bin of shredded paper, has created a business based on document shredding, placing shredder kiosks in grocery stores for use by consumers and small-business owners."

Thanks to Elson and Harrison for this great article.  Read it here.  And for scoping out where The Shred Stop nearest you is, visit www.TheShredStop.com.