We all want to wish everyone a merry merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a great New Year. 

Wishing you the best, Plus Factory

So as the end of 2008 approaches us (yes, can’t believe it…..2008….yikes!), I start looking into the goals I would like to set for Plus Factory in 2009. 2008 has been just incredible for us. We have worked on so many great projects, worked with some great clients (and not so great clients =), and met some good people on the way.

Also it was another year for me to learn more about our business, what our clients needs are, and how we can best help them. I’m a big believer in writing down goals to make them happen. The thinking goes, if you don’t have it written down, then its not a goal, and then its nothing for you to achieve. Part of my personal success as an person, an worker and an businessman was to set goals for myself (usually at the beginning of the year), write them down, then keep looking at them, and set up plans on how to achieve them. So with that in mind, here are some goals I want to make for Plus Factory in 2009.

1. Launch our web application products. So part of my excitement is the launch of our first web application for commercial use. We’re currently building a product that we believe offers our clients a tremendous service — its something that every agency/marketer client of ours needs and would probably use if they had access to one.

This is the first of a series of products we are planning to plan, build and launch for 2009. We are looking to make Plus Factory not just the premier digital service agency but also an builder of fantastic web applications and tools. This I’m very excited about and can’t wait to talk more about as we are close to launch.

2. Offer better services to our clients. We are in the service industry, and with the current market conditions as they are, every client of ours will have some constraints or situations that they will have to manage with in 2009. We need to be a better partner and solution for them, to let them succeed. So if its giving more for the same price, or going that one extra review to make the creative perfect, or being more efficient, we will have to make that effort. I want Plus Factory to not only be considered as an vendor but the preferred vendor for our clients.

3. Build long term partnerships. We have worked with many agencies and with our direct clients. Most of our projects have been project based, which works out for all. But what we, as a company, need to do is create longer term relationships with our key clients. If its offering ‘dedicated staff’ on call, so be it (we are building our teams in China, where we can start doing dedicated staff if our clients need that). Our future is based on working with Clients who can open themselves to having Plus Factory as an key component of their delivery process on an consistent basis and embrace the cost-effectiveness we can bring to their bottom line. Again, I think with the market conditions in 2009, more of our Clients may be interested in having Plus Factory be the delivery system for their digital organizations.

4. Grow. We will always have our numbers in our oversea offices compared to the US. That is where we can bring the value to our customers. But one thing I learned with our business is that we need the right staff in the US, to make the organization work. So in 2009 we do plan to grow, in both the US and China markets. But we don’t believe in growing for growing sake, rather we want to take the time to find the right people, people who can fit the Plus Factory DNA, and also improve the organization as a whole. One piece of business advice that I always heard and believe in is you try to surround yourself with people who are smarter then you. And I know if I’m the smartest man in the room, things are in trouble.

So those are the key goals Plus Factory will have in 2009. I think its good to have this down, and I look forward to review this in December 2009, to see how well we did.

We at Plus Factory want to give out a big congrats to Brad Kay, the new president of SS+K. SS+K is an integrated shop that counts on Delta, MSNBC, and Audi as some of their clients.

Brad use to be the Exe Director at DraftFCB (Digital group). Thats how I met Brad. Brad is one of those bright guys who can articulate the matrix of agencies, digital strategy and creative. He will be a huge plus to SS+K especially if they want to make that big step into the digital space.

Plus I remember fondly Brad giving me some good advice when I was expecting my son, and knowing he has a few kids himself so whatever I will be going thru, he’s done it before.

We look to a bright future for SS+K and Brad Kay. Read the MediaWeek article here.

So it took a while, and longer then we thought but the 1st Plus Factory Holiday Greeting Card Tool is ready for use. Click on this link to go to the site. You can create your custom e-greeting card, and send to friends and family members. Credit goes to Simon and the China office in making this greeting tool an reality. 3 cheers to the China crew.

So getting to the end of a great year of business, Plus Factory wanted to kick it off with our Holiday Dinner at Hill Country Barbecue in New York City. Nothing like having dinner with your loverly co-worker, some drinks, tons of BBQ’ed meat and great side dishes. We got there early and were there late. Eating, drinking, talking and spending some good quality time together. Here are the picks. The China office had their own holiday dinner the same night in China…which hopefully they will share with us soon.

No Veggies allowed here.

This is where it happened, but at night and with lots of rain.

This says it all

Bomee, Mehmet and Warren

Tom and his lady, Nikki.

Jonny and his lady, Katie. Voted 'coolest' Plus Factory Peeps.

Caleb enjoying life, meat and whiskey. Life is good.

Ali enjoying NY style BBQ.

Just in case you need help understanding what we were doing.

Tom focusing on the menu.

This captures the mood of the night.

So the china team has been busy getting our Holiday Greeting Card ready (I know, we are getting close to the Holidays, right?). It should be ready soon and as soon as its up, I’ll post the link. So far it looks really really really really cool!

This is old but I still want to make a post about it. Last November, we launched our first E-commerce site for Odin New York. Odin is a chain of boutique men’s retail stores, and they carry very high end clothes for super skinny, chic and hip guys. I actually know one of the owner’s of Odin personally, Eddy Chai. Eddy is a great talent and has a great eye for fashion, design and taste.

Plus Factory was honored to be chosen as the shop to produce his e-commerce store, and the goal was to create a beautiful but usable shopping experience that leveraged the Odin brand (which Eddy has spent years fine tuning).

So on November 15, we were able to launch Phase 1 of the site. You may view it at this URL: http://www.odinnewyork.com

So far it has been doing well, generating sales, creating a new sales channel for Odin, leveraging the brand to the online space. And its Plus Factory’s first E-commerce project to launch.