Mission Viejo-based 360 Business Consulting had a busy year.
Ron Zayas, president of the marketing, sales and technology consulting firm, said his shop hit its goal of signing on 100 clients in 2006.
“I’m very pleased with the way this year and our company growth pattern is shaping up,” Zayas said.
The shop opened four years ago and focuses on a range of services, including Web work, public relations, marketing, advertising and sales and search engine marketing.
Having a broad selection has been the main driver of his business, according to Zayas.
“To offer only one part of that can lead to a disconnect in messaging, implementation and overall results,” he said.
360 Business Consulting’s clients include PhD Computing Inc. in Glendora, and Los Angeles-based Praxis Computing.
The company saw a big uptick in search engine work this past year, such as copywriting, Web site design revisions and Web marketing, Zayas said.
The shop made some hires this past year to help handle the business, including a chief financial officer.
Podcasting
Santa Ana-based Freedom Orange County Information, the unit of Irvine-based Freedom Communications Inc. that puts out the Orange County Register and other publications and Web sites, launched a marketing campaign to promote an audio service that lets people download news reports on iPods and other handheld devices.
The push includes print and online banner ads in the Register and on its Web site, sending info in a weekly entertainment e-newsletter and running broadcast spots in grocery stores.
Freedom said it hooked up with Altadena-based Taldia Inc. to launch the audio news and podcast service on its site.
Here’s how it works.
More than 30 minutes of audio reports can be found on the Register’s Web site, ranging from top news, business, sports and entertainment.
People can click on a “speaker” icon and listen to a condensed version of the story, or read the full print version.
The free audio reports can then be downloaded to portable devices, such as an iPod or digital music player.
Freedom supplies content to Taldia each weekday after midnight, and the company makes audio summaries of the stories that are ready to be posted by 6 a.m.
The audio clips and playlists will include pre-run advertisements or sponsorships that are sold by either Taldia or Freedom. The two said they will share the sales.
The move is part of Freedom’s push to appeal to wider audiences through different platforms, such as newspapers, magazines and online services.
Calling Board Shapers
Surfboard shapers will get some attention at the next Action Sports Retailer Trade Expo slated for January in San Diego.
The San Juan Capistrano-based trade show said it’s carving out a section for more than 20 shapers, foam and epoxy companies and surfboard accessory brands, including Hamish Superstix and Dewey Weber Surfboards in San Clemente, to exhibit.
The area is co-sponsored by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association in San Clemente.
The move comes about a year after Laguna Niguel-based Clark Foam, which dominated surfboard blank production, abruptly shut its local plant and caused waves in Orange County’s surf circles.
Local retailers and surfboard builders are still talking about the move, and how they’re adjusting.
“The Pavilion will allow us to open ASR up to smaller and midsized surf hard goods producers while providing an educational and networking arena for retailers,” said Andy Tompkins, show director of ASR, which is owned by Chantilly, Va.-based VNU Expositions Inc.
The goal: give retailers more knowledge about surfboards, which have seen slower sales in the past year.
Italian Designer Hiring
Vermani Collezioni, an Italian women’s clothing designer, is on the hunt for workers after relocating its headquarters to Irvine from New York.
The maker of upscale knitwear, coats and other clothing is looking for a designer and senior sales person to join the six-person team, according to President Justin Farahan.
One worker made the move from the East Coast, and the rest, including three designers and someone for stock and shipping, were hired after, Farahan said.
Senior designer Christina Brennar formerly worked at Vermani’s competitor, Irvine-based St. John Knits International Inc.
“The fact that many apparel design and manufacturing companies are located in the OC affirmed our decision to move here,” Farahan said. “We have St. John, Billabong, Hurley and O’Neill, to a name a few, all in the area.”
Plus, Vermani wanted to be closer to the Port of Long Beach so it could cut down on delivery times, Farahan said.
The company said it plans to get its name out to wider circles in OC.
The brand is currently sold in Dillard’s department stores and some 500 specialty boutiques, including Piajeh in Tustin and Vertigo in South Coast Plaza.
The move to OC may also help Vermani build its private label business, Farahan said. The company also makes clothes for other brands, including Guess Marciano. In the past, Vermani’s done work for Nordstrom and the White House Black Market.
“I don’t know yet if being in OC has helped our private label business but perhaps the proximity to buyers on the West Coast will help,” Farahan said.
