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New Sites Launched

In the first part of 2015, we’ve launched several new sites (and site redesigns). Check these projects out, then contact ISI for your own website updates. From a complete design to an existing site that needs some sprucing up, or just moving from your current host- whatever your online needs, ISI can help!

Sparky’s Coffeehouse


Sparky’s site was originally quickly put together before the Coffeehouse opened in January 2014. It didn’t have many images – the only graphic on the site was the logo – and had a basic white background. After the redesign, it has a wider, more attractive format, with more graphics and much more information.

Riverbend Tree Farms


The owners of Riverbend Tree Farms first came to us before Thanksgiving, asking with help with a mass emailing service, before their Christmas tree lot opened for the 2014 season. They had a mailing list and needed a way to contact previous customers, and add first-time visitors to their mailing list for the future. We set up a quick contact form with their logo to get them through this season, and worked on a new site layout to launch in 2015.

Chilly Water Farm, LLC


Chilly Water Farm’s site came together from their current brochure, facebook page, and an unused blog that was still accessible online. We talked to them about how to remove the old content (after we downloaded everything that was still applicable), and developed a cohesive look for the site, with a color scheme that will easily translate to print and other mediums. We set up a PayPal shopping cart for quick, easy ordering of their Get Chillerized products.

VisitAlleghanyNC.com


At VisitAlleghanyNC.com, we developed a brand new blog with a focus on bird watching, that matched the look of the rest of the site.

NC Society of Historians


ISI has hosted and maintained the site for NCSH for several years, and this year added a WordPress blog, increasing the functionality of the site for NCSH president, Elizabeth Sherrill.

Millers Camping


Bill Womble, manager of Millers Camping, was a previous web customer who returned when it was time to update an existing site for the campground. We chose bright new images and a new layout, updating text content and quickly put the new site live. We also added a WordPress blog to the site, and integrated the design of the site into the blog format.

Florida Keys Catamaran Charters


We first worked with the owners of Florida Keys Catamaran Charters to develop the website for their former bed & breakfast inn (which is currently for sale, and hopefully will be reopened when it sells). Recently, they decided to focus on selling the b&b and expand their catamaran charter business. This Spring, we modified both sites, updating information and adding photos.

Crackerfarm


Crackerfarm is the alias of Mike Beyer, a photographer & videographer based in Nashville, TN, who works with bands like the David Mayfield Parade, Langhorne Slim and the Law, and the Avett Brothers. He noticed his WordPress-based store was down when he recently added a new product for sale. After he tweeted for help, we contacted him, volunteering to fix the problem. (The problem turned out to be an incompatibility between his WordPress theme and an updated version of WordPress, which caused fatal errors and killed the shopping cart functions.) We soon changed him over to a new theme, to get him up and running. Then, we redesigned the site, to focus on his photography and improved e-commerce functionality, in a clean minimalist layout optimized for mobile web browsing.

Shady Rest Tree Farm


Shady Rest Tree Farm contacted us to move their site from their previous hosting company. We quickly moved the site, updated their shopping cart software, re-entered their existing catalog inventory, and integrated PayPal Web Payments. There was minimal downtime with the move.

Star Route Books


We also (somehow) found time to rework our own book publishing site.

Please check all of these sites out. You’ll probably learn something new from each of them, and you’ll definitely see a good variety of services ISI can provide. Contact us if you’re considering a redesign, need help with a troublesome site, or are starting out fresh.

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Community Events this Weekend

Big events are happening this weekend!

6th Annual Alleghany Empty Bowls11081179_925937210761567_8451823570232650877_n
In Honor of Bet Mangum

Friday, April 24 at the Sparta United Methodist Church.

The event, which benefits the Solid Rock Food Closet, will start at 11am and last till 2pm.

For the event, we developed a Sponsor Board, posters, invitations, and graphics for the newspaper and social media. The event was also advertised on eAlleghany.net.

1st Annual Blue Ridge Golf Tournament

Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Roaring Gap Club.

Proceeds from the Golf Tournament provide funds for scholarships and vital needs at Blue Ridge Christian School.

ISI designed and printed programs and an event banner, that featured event sponsors.  Well over 100 businesses, organizations and individuals have worked together to produce the tournament.

ISI is proud to be a part of these events, which will benefit so many in our area. This weekend, make time to support these important organizations and have a little Springtime fun in the process!

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Music on the Mountain

11007943_856184561114346_1825254620_nSaturday, April 4th at 7 pm, Alleghany Community Auditorium will be hosting Music on the Mountain!

We made these “Height-Entry” signs, to add a fun look to the “Kids Get in Free” policy at the ticket tables.

The performers will include Kitty & the Stray Cats, S. Main, Alleghany Jam and The Loose Strings Band and Wayne Henderson and Helen White. Wes Brinegar will emcee.

Tickets are $10 at the door (no presales) and proceeds will go to benefit the auditorium. Kids (under the height of our puppy signs) will be admitted free.

We hope to see you there!

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BookFest set for November 22

From 11am till 2pm on Saturday, November 22, 11 regional authors and 1 illustrator will be appearing for book signings at 11 downtown shops.

November’s hosting locations are Alleghany Arts & Crafts, Alleghany Historical Museum, Becca’s Backwoods, Books N’ Friends, Farmer’s Hardware, Imaging Specialists, Inc., Mangum-Cater on Main, Sparky’s Coffeehouse, Studio Redwood, Touch of Grace, and The Vintage Cottage.

Authors are Doug Butler, Chris Cox, Karen Hall, Jeff Halsey, Suzanne Irwin & Zach Hamm, Illustrator, Ellie Kirby, Aaron McAlexander, Elva Sieg, Diane Trott, and Sam Williams.

Alleghany Arts & Crafts:
Ann Black
Ivy Rose
Alleghany Historical Museum:
Doug Butler
After Appomattox: NC Civil War Monuments
Becca’s Backwoods:
Karen Hall
Building the Blue Ridge Parkway
Books N Friends:
Elva Sieg
Celebrating the Underdog by Tom Sieg
Farmer’s Hardware:
Chris Cox
Waking Up in a Cornfield: A Selection of Columns
Imaging Specialists, Inc.:
Jeff Halsey
Star Route Books
Mangum Cater Pottery on Main:
Aaron McAlexander
The Last One Leaving Mayberry
Sparky’s Coffeehouse:
Diane Trott
Cherokee Inc.: The Case of the Incinerated Indian
Studio Redwood:
Ellie Kirby
The White Bear
Touch of Grace:
Sam Williams
Garden Snippets
The Vintage Cottage:
Suzanne Mellow-Irwin
and illustrator Zach Hamm

The Stratford Oaks Tales