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Tacoma design firm sets up branch office
Tacoma, Wash.-based BLRB Architects PS has opened a branch office in downtown Spokane.
The Spokane branch is located on the fifth floor of the Fernwell Building, at 505 W. Riverside. Architect Greg McCracken is the branch manager and will oversee day-to-day operations. McCracken, formerly of USKH Inc., is licensed in Washington, Idaho, and Alaska.
The firm's current portfolio includes development and construction projects in Wapato and Walla Walla, with others on the horizon, prompting it to set roots in Eastern Washington, says Travis Shumate, BLRB's Tacoma-based marketing coordinator.
Since opening the Spokane office, BLRB has been hired by several new clients, including Stevens County, Eastern Washington University Foundation, and the Touchet School District, Shumate says.
BLRB, which was founded in 1953, focuses on public projects and serves clients throughout Washington and Oregon, including more than 70 school districts, a dozen municipalities, and several state and federal agencies. The firm, which has a total of 40 employees, also has branch offices in Portland and Bend, Ore., Shumate says.
Mike McLean
Supplement franchise debuts Valley outlet
Nutritional supplement retailer Complete Nutrition has opened a store in Spokane Valley and plans to open another on Spokane's North Side, says Nick Inglett, general manager of the franchise here.
The Valley store occupies 2,200 square feet of space at 15106 E. Indiana, near the Spokane Valley Mall.
Inglett says the store has two employees in addition to him.
Complete Nutrition employees have backgrounds in health, diet, nutrition, and exercise, Inglett says. They use a consultative approach to assist customers in selecting nutritional supplements to improve and maintain their health and fitness, he says.
"We speak with you to understand your health and fitness goals, and we recommend our own branded products," he says. "We take time to send personal emails and track customers' progress."
He says people are more successful in reaching health and fitness goals if they have such coaching.
Inglett says the North Side store, which is scheduled to open June 7, will be similar in size to the Valley store, and will be located at 4727 N. Division, in the Northtown Square retail center. It likely will open with three employees, he says.
Omaha, Neb.-based Complete Nutrition was founded in 2004 and has 120 franchises in 30 states.
Mike McLean
Italian import store opens on South Hill
A store carrying hand-crafted items imported from Italy has opened on Spokane's South Hill.
Bramasole-Majolica d'Italia LLC specializes in offering hand-made ceramic and pottery pieces as well as linens, body and bath items, scented paper, and fragrances.
Co-owner Michael Whittle and his wife, Amie, launched the business at 3103 S. Grand, in about 1,300 square feet of space previously occupied by The Plant Wizard. They were inspired to sell items from Italy after several years of appreciating the Tuscany region and collecting majolica ceramics, created as a popular Italian style marked by bold colors and hand-painted designs.
The couple traveled to Italy in 2005 for their 20-year wedding anniversary after being inspired by the movie, "Under the Tuscan Sun," Whittle says. The 2003 film depicts the story of a recently divorced writer who buys a villa in Tuscany. Their business name is inspired by the villa in the film named Bramasole, a Tuscan term which means to yearn for the sun.
The store will carry pottery from the Tuscany and Umbria regions of Italy, Whittle says.
Whittle also works as a Spokane-based vice president of sales and marketing for Southwest Metalsmiths Inc., of Phoenix. Amie Whittle also is a Realtor with Benton Rock Real Estate, in Spokane.
The couple plan to be the store's only employees for now, with store hours noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. They also will offer shopping by appointment, and they plan to create a Tuscan club for special events and discounts.
Treva Lind
Marketing firm moves here from Portland
Blue Dog Marketing, a business marketing and communications firm founded in Portland in 1990, has moved to Spokane.
Owner Jeff Clausen, a Spokane native, says he has leased a small space at 20 W. Main downtown.
"It was time to get back home and away from rain and traffic, and to better serve businesses we've been working with here for over the past five years while continuing to work in Portland, Seattle, and elsewhere," Clausen says.
Blue Dog provides a range of services in public relations, crisis communications, advertising, website development, company and product branding, special-events management, and other related areas to clients throughout the western U.S., he says.
Clausen is the firm's only employee, but he says he contracts with other service providers as warranted to meet clients' needs.
Blue Dog works with real estate brokerage firms, property owners, developers, contractors, and architects. Its client list also includes ports, banks, manufacturers, accountants, health care providers, and sports teams.
Before starting his firm, Clausen worked in communications for Crown Zellerbach Corp. and James River Corp. Among other roles, he worked for the Portland Development Commission for two years as the lead project communications consultant in the development of Pioneer Square and Pioneer Place, in downtown Portland.
Kim Crompton