XLVI is just over a week away, and with an office full of raving football fans, we wanted to hand-off a nice little promotion to you (sorry, bad pun). As you may know, we're based in Boston, but we have some Giants fans in our midst as well... Needless to say, there has been some trash talking around the proverbial water-cooler. Regardless of whether you are rooting for the Pats or Giants, we are giving you a chance to pick up some limited-edition IdeaPaint PRO colors and get a FREE GIFT, so you can prep your man-cave or family room for the big game.
We have 2 limited edition colors available that will nicely complement the red accents of the Giants' uniform or the twinkle in Brady's blue eyes. Plus, it will give you the space you need to keep score or map out the X's and O's. Or, if you're in to planning ahead, IdeaPaint creates a pretty nice backdrop for Fantasy drafts. But we're getting ahead of ourselves...
If you order either of these colors, you can select a 12-pack of IdeaPaint WRITE dry-erase markers, or a 5-pack of IdeaPaint NOTES, for FREE!
Check out these beauties:
To make sure your walls are ready for the coin toss, and to get your free gift, please call 800.393.5250, or email info@ideapaint.com. This special offer is only available while supplies last!
Drum roll, please! Today, we announce the launch of our new product: IdeaPaint™ CREATE! It's new and improved, brighter and bolder, and available now!
CREATE is an odorless whiteboard paint that easily transforms any smooth surface into an erasable canvas. With CREATE, you can now transform a classroom or office in just four days. Paint on Monday, and you'll be writing on the walls by Friday! Plus, CREATE is a certified low-emission paint that is both LEED compliant and GREENGUARD Children & School certified. At just a fraction of the cost of a traditional whiteboard, CREATE gives you the flexibility to create bigger spaces for your big ideas!
Did we mention installation is easier than ever? CREATE can be installed with a traditional roller or with a spray applicator. You decide.
Says IdeaPaint CEO, Bob Munroe, “CREATE is the ‘latest and greatest’ in dry-erase paint. We are excited to launch this second-generation product—our first major formulation change since we introduced the high-performance dry-erase paint category in 2008.”
CREATE is available in kits that each cover 50sf of surface, and include a roller, stir stick, opener and HELP guide. The first color in our new palette, CREATE White, can be purchased now! CREATE will also soon be available in an incredible selection of new colors, set to ship in March, and available for pre-order now.
Have a look:
If you're ready to change your space (we're talking form AND function), head over to ideapaint.com And if you're considering a project and not sure where to start, what color might work, or how much paint you'll need, we've got pros ready to answer your questions. Feel free to shoot us an email at info@ideapaint.com or give us a call at 800.393.5250
It's a great day to innovate! Happy painting!
In our last post, a recap of 2011, we took a look at a handful of the businesses who have used IdeaPaint to make their work spaces work. IdeaPaint is on the walls and tables of start-ups who are still working out the kinks of their first great idea. It's on the hallways and in the conference rooms of established industry names who are brainstorming next season's best seller. It's pretty simple. IdeaPaint works.
Just yesterday we received this nice write-up from Top Draw, a marketing agency in Edmonton, who writes: "Without the pressures of being neat or tidy within a tiny sketchbook, it’s liberating to let ideas emerge like a stream of consciousness." We've said it before, and the companies we work with can attest as well that IdeaPaint makes work feel less like work.
Featured in video: Reebok, Catz, HubSpot, G2 Technology Group, Cramer, Welch's, Cambridge Innovation Center and, coming soon, Breakaway! Click to read more!
If you're ready to join this list of innovative companies, ideapaint.com is your first stop.
IdeaPaint. Make your work space work.
We have a bunch of exciting announcements coming up in the weeks and months ahead --- but before we let you in on all of our secrets for 2012, let's take a look back at all the people we met and places we saw in 2011!
To start the year off on the right foot, Chris got our bodies in motion at CrossFit Fenway
Things got fishy (in a good way!) during our "In Desperate Need" Facebook Contest
We chronicled the life of a traditional whiteboard
We made friends with the great people at:
Behance
Evernote (with whom we gave away a sweet custom iPad)
Reebok
Cramer
BrainSell
Skitch
and the
Cambridge Innovation Center
Naturally, we celebrated Earth Day
And Whitey's arrest
We made time to celebrate our own successes too. Like winning an SBANE award!
We introduced (re-introduced?) the one-and-only Keith Whittier to the world through our IdeaPaint 360 Makeover Contest during which we made over 6, count 'em 6, schools and businesses, including:
IndieGoGo in San Francisco
Catz in Hingham, MA
iSchool (who was all smiles after hearing the news) in SoHo, NYC
Wy'East Middle School in Hood River, OR
Yes, that's just four. We'll share the final two in the coming months!
We heard from IdeaPainters all over the world, in Macedonia, Kuwait, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Malaysia, Rwanda, Japan, Germany, and Mexico (just to name a few)
And from schools right around the corner: Clap Innovation School, Brooks School
Recently, we contempated VanGogh. Not just once, but twice!
We loved this "up-cycled" desk!
Encouraged you to get up, get on up
Shot a commercial!
Took a second to reflect on the greatness of Steve Jobs
Made using IdeaPaint even easier with our new line of accompanying products
Jumped on the Google + bandwagon
Were very communicative with Santa
All in all it was an incredible year. Think we missed anything? Let us know in the comment section below! Finally, a huge thank you to YOU, for making our job fun and exciting every day.
Back in August, Evernote acquired an awesome company called Skitch that now has Evernote integration and an incredible new iPad app. Skitch lets you draw or type on a photo or screenshot, and then share that new image or sync with Evernote. It's fast, simple and very cool.
Our affinity for Evernote is pretty well documented (remember the sweet custom iPad giveaway last year?). Evernote is an application that lets individuals save and find their notes, images, projects, links and research across all the computers and phones they use. Chances are, if you can see it or think of it, Evernote can help you remember it. Type a text note. Clip a web page. Snap a photo. Grab a screenshot. Evernote will keep it all safe, and is infinitely useful.
One of the more amazing things about Evernote's technology is that it makes your handwritten text searchable (no, seriously). For our customers, this is an amazing way to organize and filter IdeaPaint brainstorming sessions. Have a killer brainstorm, take a picture of the wall and sync with Evernote. Then, you can search for the image based on what you wrote on the wall, and continue the collaboration by adding notes and sharing with others.
Well, Evernote's acquisition of Skitch just made things a whole lot cooler. Now, not only can you organize, store and share your IdeaPaint work, but you can add to it. Skitch's iPad app makes it simple to add type or handwritten notes to an image, use shapes to highlight key areas and more. It's simple to use, and they even smooth out your handwriting! With one click you can share your new image via email or Twitter, or upload to Evernote.
We've been working (and playing) with Skitch a lot over the past couple of weeks, usually with an iPad stylus, and it's quickly becoming an office favorite.
While we're at it, we'd like to shout-out a similarly awesome iPad app, Penultimate. Lots of the same features as Skitch. Evernote integration isn't one-touch, but it is simple enough to save your image and then upload to Evernote later. The handwriting tool on Penultimate is flawless (unlike my penmanship) ---- super smooth and intuitive.
With Evernote, Skitch and Penultimate we are seeing a range of technology solutions that let you take your IdeaPaint sessions off the wall, and continue your brainstorm when and where you choose. Nothing takes the place of live real-time interaction, but these tools can go a long way towards helping you and your colleagues collaborate effectively, and stay organized.
Catz in Hingham is not your typical gym. There are no floor to ceiling mirrors, no TVs broadcasting reality shows, and no people idly flipping through magazines. Instead, from sun up to sun down, there is a constant influx of people ready to work. It was evident upon our first visit that Catz is all walk, no talk.
Training programs and classes are led by a team of knowledgeable and energetic trainers, including Tyler and Todd (who you'll meet in the Makeover video). More than just tucking and tightening, their committed to helping those interested in improving their athletic abilities develop a competitive edge. A read through of some of the customer testimonials gives an interested athlete an idea of the range of athletes they train. As Todd says, "We had a group of moms and dads in here, and then right after we had three year olds. That is very rare in the fitness world." In any one day, you'll see elementary school classes, highschool sports teams, boot camps full of 9-5ers, and professional athletes walk through Catz' door to train with the common goal of physical fitness and personal wellness in common.
Before we sent Keith to get their makeover started, we sent IdeaPaint CMO, Marcus Wilson for a surprise visit. Of course, we took a camera with us. To get an idea of what a Catz workout is like, check out how Marcus holds up in one of Tyler's classes.
As you can see, the Catz facility in Hingham is spacious. Large sections of wall outline communal areas where classes are taught and entire teams frequently train. To further strengthen the community that Catz has created, we decided, with the help of Todd and Tyler, that providing a place for members to post messages, personal goals, and inspirational quotes was ideal. At the same time, we created spaces for the trainers to list workouts for the day, track trainees' progress and stay organized in the office. With such a high volume of gym-goers, making workouts as efficient and seamless as possible was a priority.
With IdeaPaint in various strategic locations throughout their facility, we think Catz is poised for even more well-documented success and, we imagine, friendly competition.
If you're feeling inspired to get in shape, check out the Catz website to find a facility near you. And if you're ready to paint, visit our website to learn about how IdeaPaint can work in your place of business.
As we learned while reviewing entries for the first round of the IdeaPaint360 Makeover Contest, many of the most innovative schools in the country see something special in IdeaPaint™. One such school reflects its innovative spirit right down to the spelling of its name. Drawing inspiration from Apple's revolutionary "i" products, the NYC iSchool, located in SoHo, Manhattan opened in 2008 and has since created quite a buzz as a stand out model for progressive education.
We first met NYC iSchool seniors Alexis and Celina in their submission video. Impressed by students nominating their own school, we were eager to hear their reasoning. Keith made the trip down to New York to catch up with them and to find out how Alexis and Celina envisioned IdeaPaint enhancing their already advanced learning environment.
To start, the NYC iSchool is growing! Both Alexis and Celina are part of the founding class, and will be part of the first class to graduate. Their grade (of 100 students) has witnessed the school expand to accommodate new grades and more students. Their biggest qualm: the lack of personal relationships between students of different grades. While the high-tech ideology grants each student a lot freedom (they can complete work online or from home), it seems that in the fast lane, concessions have been made elsewhere. That's why they called on us. Alexis and Celina wanted to feel more connected to their classmates. In a computer world, they wanted spaces to communicate, not over a screen, but face to face with their peers. They wanted more places for people to come together. What better place to do that than the equivalent of a high school highway - the halls.
Watch as Keith takes these young leaders on a tour through their newly painted school. We think it was so successful we're considering a name change. How does iDeaPaint look to you? :)
Feeling inspired? Drop us a line at 617.714.1050 or email us with questions!
Tucked away in North Andover, surrounded by picturesque New England landscapes, you'll find the Brooks School. Home to 370 students, the majority of whom board, the Brooks Schools is an independent co-ed, college prep school for students grades 9-12. Last month, we paid a visit to check out the latest addition to their impressive facility.
Our first stop was Doug Burbank's classroom where the marquee wall (21' x 11') is freshly covered in IdeaPaint. After seeing IdeaPaint in the Google offices while visiting a former student this past summer, Mr. Burbank decided it was something he needed. He believed, in fact, that it could be a transformative educational tool when it came to teaching math. Within minutes of being in his classroom, it was clear to us that he was right. On his floor to ceiling ladder, Mr. Burbank reminds the casual observer of a character from Harry Potter as he zips along, scribbling functions as he goes. His students have bought into math if not just as something manageable, but magical.
Also on board with Mr. Burbank's plan to make math more accessible was Kihak Nam, Burbank's fellow math department colleague (and former advisee). Instead of painting the walls, however, he painted his desks. The day we visited, his students raced to answer questions in hopes of earning coveted points for an upcoming test.
Admittedly, math is not the frontrunner for favorite subject at most schools, but the duo of Burbank and Nam have amassed a following of converts. Students from both classes expressed the ease with which the IdeaPaint surfaces have been incorporated into everyday lessons. For visual learners, it makes understanding the steps of any given problem easier. For those with creative instincts, it makes math more fun - which is just what Burbank was hoping for. Whether they choose to demonstrate their interest in math in the classroom, in the Math Hallway, as a member of the Math Team or in a visit to Mr. Nam's home study (where there is also IdeaPaint), students have made meaningful connections to a subject that is often passed over in high school and forgotten about in higher education.
Guided by Brooks' mission of providing the most meaningful education in a student's life, Burbank and Nam have started with math. We hear rumors that the English department wants to implement similar measures. Soon, hallways at Brooks will have sonnets and poems to accompany graphs and functions. Sounds like the perfect solution to us.
Many thanks to Emily Young for making this happen and for walking us through all the unfamiliar hallways!
Feeling inspired? Call us at 617.714.1050 to discuss your ideas, or email awesomeness@ideapaint.com.
And now, for the news you've all been waiting for … the winners of Round 2 of the IdeaPaint360 Makeover Contest.
First up, the Egremont Elementary School, in Pittsfield MA, which had 4,242 votes!
Next, from Kinnelon, NJ, Mrs. Levitt's 1st grade classroom at the Kiel School, which had 2,575 votes!
Both finalists have won a one-of-a-kind 500 sq. ft. IdeaPaint installation, a consultation with the one-and-only Keith Whittier, a video documenting the process, and, of course, the continued awesomeness of IdeaPaint in their space.
Before we get to their contest entries, we'd like to thank our 10 amazing finalists, everyone who entered in either round, and all of you who voted! During the first round of this contest a few months ago we could sense the momentum building. We saw the buzz on our social media channels and were convinced that the second round would be even better. We decided to add the element of public voting, and that made all the difference. Our finalists received 10,000 votes from people around the country! It was exciting for us, and we hope just as exciting for all of you who participated, to see each entry call upon their community for support and for those communities to respond the way they did.
So, thanks!
You can expect similar contests in the future because these last two were so successful.
As for our winners, having two schools come out on top was a special treat. We hope to make Mrs. Levitt's class ("one of the greatest places to be") even greater by helping them figure out ways to maximize their space, to make handwriting and math fun, and, to restore indoor recess' cool factor. Room 201, here we come!
We're just as excited to meet the students at the Egremont Elementary School. Their library - a place where so many great ideas already exist - is a perfect place to create space for engagement and dialogue. Their students, some of whom you meet in their video, are ready to see how their big ideas fit into the grand scheme of things. We can't wait to help out.
Makeovers will be underway this winter. As always, we'll keep you posted here on the blog, and via Facebook and Twitter. If you'd like to learn more about how IdeaPaint has transformed schools all over the country, read on.
More and more frequently we've been receiving posts, Tweets and emails from people sharing their recent IdeaPaint installations. From offices and schools nearby, to businesses in other hemispheres, IdeaPaint is making its way, wall by wall, around the world.
One such business is BrainSell, a business solutions company headquartered in Topsfield, MA. We saw their blog article about their IdeaPaint installation (you can read it here) and had to learn more. We caught up with BrainSell's Director of Marketing and Business Development, Sonja Fridell to find out the story behind their decision to go the way of the Paint.
IdeaPaint: How did you hear about us?
Sonja: We were at our partner Hubspot's office in Cambridge and were admiring their walls. They told us all about IdeaPaint and we were immediately sold!
IdeaPaint: We love this part of your mission statement: "Dedicated to helping businesses grow, create a delighted customer base and achieve grand success." How do you achieve this day to day with your clients? How can IdeaPaint help?
Sonja: We do well when we keep things top of mind. Especially when it comes to marketing. So having a 20x7' wall screaming marketing ideas at me encourages me to take action and get things done. Our customers love our weekly webinars and blog articles and the "idea wall" keeps my brainstorming in check.
IdeaPaint: What was the first thing written on the IdeaPaint wall?
Sonja: Haha, it was BrainSell (heart's) IdeaPaint. Did that so we could brag about it on our blog!
IdeaPaint: The funniest? Any pranks?
We draw characitures of our boss, Jimmie BrainSell all the time. He loves it because he's a strapping man in a super hero suit! Also, we always sneak in lines about Casey Anthony. "Q3 Sales: Casey Anthony, 100 licenses" or "Casey Anthony called" We're a very unique group over here (-=
IdeaPaint: If you could paint IdeaPaint anywhere, where would it be?
Sonja: In my kitchen! I love it when friends leave me notes on my very small chalk board. An IdeaPaint wall would be great for that and notes on what to pick up at the store too.
IdeaPaint: What is your dream team of innovative tools (as in similar products)?
Sonja: GoPro Cameras are awesome. They have really innovative social marketing, so I'd include them in anything I'd do that was super human. I also love the new colors and patterns of duct tape (-=
IdeaPaint: How has IdeaPaint helped BrainSell (facilitated brainstorming, increased camaraderie, encouraged doodling, etc)?
Sonja: We collaborate like mad. People put ideas on the board, and we add to them, point to them, star them. We have a sales thermometer up right now on our smaller new wall, we fill it in when we make end of year sales, like a fundraiser. It's very motivating!
IdeaPaint: You tweeted about waiting for the IdeaPaint wall to cure. Describe the anticipation! And then, the fun!
Sonja: Yes, waiting a week was tough. A few times I had to scream at my coworkers to PUT DOWN THE MARKER! But it paid off, we have two great walls now, and they're FULL!
Ahh, another IdeaPaint success story! Our sincere thanks to Sonja for sharing. You can learn more about BrainSell online at www.brainsell.net, and stay up-to-date with Sonja on their Facebook and Twitter.
If you'd like to share your IdeaPaint story, shout an electonic holler at talk2@ideapaint.com.
