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Hutton and Smith Brewery Growing Rapidly!

If you live in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area I’m sure you’ve seen Hutton and Smith Brewery apparel around town, and you’ve probably had a beer or two of theirs. If not, then you should stop what you’re doing and go try one of their beers at their tap room on East MLK or at one of the dozen restaurants around town that have their beers on tap.

About a year and a half ago I met with Joel and Melanie Krautstrunk about helping them brand a business they were going to start in Chattanooga called Hutton and Smith Brewery. Joel and Melanie both come from a Geology background, so the name is to recognize the founders of Geology, Hutton and Smith. They told me during the meeting they were both planning to quit their jobs to pursue their dream of owning a brewery. This sounded like a pretty lofty goal to me because neither one had ever worked in the brewing industry. They must have seen the skepticism in my eyes and before the end of the meeting they offered to let me try one of their home brews, a Black IPA. I don’t believe in love at first sight, but love at first sip undeniably true.

Fast forward one year and Hutton and Smith Brewery is quickly kicking ass and taking names. They officially opened their tap room at 431 East Martin Luther King Blvd and are now featured at dozens of restaurants around Chattanooga, including The Flying Squirrel, Feed Co, Universal Joint, Heaven and Ale, Clydes, and many other top-knotch restaurants.

It’s a great feeling to walk into one of the many great restaurants in Chattanooga and instantly see your clients brand around the room, from a custom designed tap handle, to a sweet trucker hat and t-shirt. Spectruss had a great time working with Joel and Melanie and it’s been great to see them succeed.

If you haven’t already, check out http://huttonandsmithbrewing.com for current beers, tap locations, and directions to their tap room.

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Business

Interview with Sam Silvey – President of Spectruss

This week at Spectruss we took a moment to highlight one of its members, Sam Silvey, and look at the connection between Spectruss and one of their clients Accuserv.

 

 

 

Briefly describe yourself! What is your role at Spectruss.

Hi, my name is Sam Silvey and I like long walks on the beach, the sound of a well built rumbling engine, and all things technology. My attraction to technology came at an early age when I realized it was easier, and more fun, to hack into my teachers computer and change my grade than it was to study for tests. Since I had plenty of time during Saturday School (where bad kids get sent to clean the school for punishment) I was able to hone my hacking skills and make the grades I needed to squeak by. Fast forward 10-15 years and you’ll find me still playing around on computers, but without the hacking of course :). Some would call my role at Spectruss by the title of “President or CEO”, but really I’m a tech geek who loves pushing the envelope and embarking on adventures in and out of the office. Whether it be a custom designed and built e-commerce system integrated with multiple third party programs, or a year long marketing campaign to rebrand a national distribution company, my role is to develop the big ideas and make sure the project is a success.

 

 

How long has Spectruss been working with Accuserv?

Spectruss began it’s partnership with Accuserv in 2013 with the initial rebrand and launch of the Accuserv website and marketing material. Since then, we have become Accuserv’s full blown marketing partner, developing and designing all digital and print material, custom developing numerous e-commerce solutions for each of Accuserv’s massive clients, and keeping Accuserv’s brand fresh and progressive.

 

 

How do web trends influence future development?

As you probably know, web technology changes on a daily basis. Literally. With that said, there are always new bells and whistles for web design and development. As much as I love being the first to do something new, there are many variables to consider such as responsiveness, browser compatibility, and target user demographic.

 

 

Describe the technology you build for them.

We have built a pretty cool system for Accuserv and their clients, if I say so myself. Starting with a WordPress content management system, we custom built an e-commerce store using WooCommerce to allow for Accuserv to manage their own website content and products. From there we worked with a 3rd party company to connect the e-commerce store into their NetSuite system. This allows for them to push and pull real time inventory counts with their warehouse, track accounting and invoicing and manage shipping. Since Accuserv’s clients, such as Texas Roadhouse, KFC, Taco Bell, Long John Silvers and Pizza Hut, need the ability to order products quickly from each location, we built the entire system to work from any device, including your smart phone. We also gave the user the ability to take a photo of the product they are wanting to order on their phone and send it through the system for help identifying the product number.

 

 

Accuserv is a company with specific needs what things do you consider when developing for them to best communicate their brand?

Accuserv is a company that provides services to a wide array of business types and structures. With that said, we try to be as progressive as we can in design and development while keeping the UI and UX easy enough that a less tech savvy user can still be comfortable.

 

 

Brand development for Spectruss is always central to what you do, when identifying how to best develop a web presence for a brand what are the steps that you go through?

Every business has it’s own voice. Our job is to find out what voice the business has, or is trying to have, identify the target market, and then amplify the voice to the market through the appropriate avenue. That avenue could be a custom developed, interactive website, or a full blown campaign that involves video, print and digital media, and advertising. Combining our 10+ years of experience across an array of business types, direct input from the client and independent market research, we aim for perfect pitch and broadcast it to the market using our fields of expertise.

 

 

In today’s web 3.0 ideology a lot has changed sense 2.0, Spectruss is always about looking to the future so what do you believe a big part of that future will be?

One of the biggest limiting factors of the internet in the past has been the bandwidth. What use to take hours to download can now be streamed live to a wireless handheld device. Now with the speed of the internet in the palm of everyones hand, data mining has become a crucial part of our entire culture. From suggested movies and music, to purchasing habits and likes, data on each person is widely available for analyzation and computation. With that in consideration, I believe the future of the web, heading towards “web 4.0” and beyond, is actually a movement away from a “virtual web” and more into a real world integration where data could actually help us make everyday decisions before we even knew we needed a decision to be made. This, of course, borderlines artificial intelligence and opens up a whole other world of possibility… as well as the rise of the machines. But that’s a whole other interview 🙂

 

Categories
Projects

Website Launch : TechTown, Innovation for Education

Spectruss is excited to launch TechTown’s new website this week! TechTown had a very successful Summer at their newly built location in Downtown Chattanooga and decided it was time to update their website design. The new website will open with a full screen, eye-catching video, made by Creative Insomniac. From their, the visitor will be able to scroll into the website and take a virtual tour, purchase passes, or fill out a registration form for their child.

Techtown wanted an easy-to-use interface for managing content, products, and forms on their website. So, Spectruss developed the website on a custom built WordPress platform, allowing them to manage all aspects of their web presence.

With fall camps coming up soon for Techtown, the timeline for this project was very tight. In fact, Spectruss designed and developed the responsive website in two and a half weeks. Not bad for a fully customized, e-commerce website!

The new website is set to launch this week, so be sure to check it out!

Spectruss is passionate about education. We are always interested in working with innovative institutions that can help bring the skills we rely on to the youth of Chattanooga, Atlanta, the southeast  or the nation for that matter. TechTown is a fantastic institute and working not her project was a real treat for us.

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Uncategorized

The Gig City Welcomes TechTown

TechTown, the technology and entrepreneurial learning center, signs with Spectruss!

TechTown offers kids from 7 to 17 various opportunities to learn, explore, and discover in the world of video production, technology, graphic design, and entrepreneurship. Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, this business is eager and ready to open the imaginations of kids across the local area.

Their founder, Paul Cummings, recently returned from Louisville, where he was a keynote speaker at the TechFest Lou and where he spoke about his vision for TechTown. Along with that, TechTown prepares for its grand opening with the “TechTown Mardi Gras Party” this coming Saturday, August 29th. They offer two types of New Orleans-style fun, with all proceeds going to scholarships for children. There’s the “TechTown Party on the Patio” and the “TechTown Party on Broad.” The Party on Broad offers attendees a casual, fun New Orleans Broad Street theme. Party on the Patio, happening simultaneously, will hold a silent auction, live music, cocktail hour, and other festivities. Both events are sure to be a hit in the Chattanooga scene, with locals always eager and excited to jump in on such eventful street festivals and parties.

TechTown seems to be ready and prepared to take Chattanooga by storm by offering the next generation a new and fun way to learn exciting, imaginative skills, and Spectruss is glad to be a part of it all.

Categories
Events

Spectruss Launch Party – Celebrating Nationwide Service

At the Hutton & Smith Brewing Company yesterday, heading towards Chattanooga’s downtown university, Spectruss had its highly-anticipated launch party. Friends and clients of Spectruss casually arrived to the popular brewery and were greeted by some of the Spectruss team, Sam and Justin, along with novel launch-party keepsakes for each guest: Spectruss logo etched glasses.

Originally started as a Web Design firm for the south eastern United States, with the launch of the Spectruss CTR system, we now have taken the steps to expand nationwide. We are excited for our new clients and making this leap. We have had Spectruss Custom clients nationwide for quite some time but with his new system we can open up our ability to work with not only large businesses, but emerging businesses as well.

Spectruss is a content management system (based off of WordPress as a backbone) that allows for two options: One is a subscription-based system where members of certain industries can have high-end websites that have been created from custom templates specific to their industry. Spectruss also offers a custom control side where they work side by side with the business to help create high-quality content, boost SEO, and effectively utilize content marketing to raise the profile of the business so they shine as professionals. What this means is we can supply nationwide access to Spectruss services and technology to businesses of all sizes.

If you are ever in the Northshore Chattanooga area, head towards the popular cafe hot spot Aretha Frankensteins and, just before arriving, check out the Spectruss building with its eye-catching pop art window graphic. Spectruss is just getting started, and we look forward to all the unique opportunities that lay ahead!

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Events

Spectruss at Knoxville AIA Convention “Tennesseeing”

From July 29th – 31st, Spectruss was featured in the exhibit hall of the Knoxville AIA Convention “Tennesseeing,” where architects and design enthusiasts alike gathered to learn from one another and see what’s trending with design.

Spectruss, at booth 52, joined in the excitement and exhibit hall frenzy right upon arrival Wednesday evening, meeting and discussing with attendees from all over the local and surrounding areas. Thursday at the AIA Convention many special guests had their seminars on topics such as: SEARCH and Research, The Architecture of Engagement, and Architect Led Design Build: Taking Control, followed by Thursday evening’s Gala reception and awards dinner.

The team of Spectruss was able to take away many exciting new ideas and plans by attending the AIA Convention, along with getting to meet and become better acquainted with an array of fellow design enthusiasts. The Knoxville area provided an enjoyable supply of compelling local attractions and beautiful architectural buildings to investigate, including the VRBO inside an old downtown building, which housed the Spectruss team while at the expo.

Spectruss is excited to integrate new ideas and keep in touch with new friends, clients, and fellow enthusiasts met while at the enjoyable Knoxville AIA Convention “Tennesseeing.” Look forward to more architectural design conventions involving Spectruss in the coming months.

Categories
Events

Tennesseeing – Upcoming Architecture Convention

This week, from July 29th to 31st, AIA Tennessee (American Institute of Architects) will be holding their convention in Knoxville, Tennessee at the Knoxville Convention Center. Interested parties from all over the surrounding area will get a chance to meet like-minded individuals and established, award-winning designers.

Throughout the convention, attendees get mass amounts of amazing opportunities and content. Tours are offered Wednesday and Friday to explore interesting and creative architectural designs throughout the Knoxville area and local campuses, while back inside the convention, seminars will be held with guests like Eric Bunge, Craig Dykers, and Julie Eizenberg, to name a few.

Starting bright and early Thursday morning, however, the much-anticipated exhibit hall will open its doors at 7:30 a.m. All sorts of interesting and talented companies will be filling the aisles with their booths, catching one’s sharp, creative eye, including your very own Spectruss.

Spectruss will be awaiting your arrival at booth 52 in the exhibit hall, meeting with anyone interested in collaborating. While offering the highest quality website solutions bundled with a first-rate content management system, Spectruss enables design professionals to display their work with a website that guarantees they will stand out. There’s also an opportunity to enter in a chance to receive a six-month free trial of Spectruss services, which includes the ability for website themes built with the architectural industry in mind.

Spectruss specializes in assisting with industries in standing out within they market. Architecture is one such industry we have a wealth of experience and success in when it comes to the branding, marketing and design of Architecture firm web presence.

The AIA Tennessee’s convention titled “Tennesseeing” is sure to be an alluring hot spot for anyone interested in design.
tennesseeing.aiatn.org
facebook.com/aiatennessee

Categories
Projects

Night and Day – Spectruss Demo Reel

Spectruss Videography Demo Reel

Spectruss offers custom services not only in web design, marketing and branding – but also content creation. Brands need to create impact, they need to stand out, we love attention so we have gotten really good at making brands stand out. If you are in need of custom video for your web presence, contact us and we are happy to talk about your project. In the meantime checkout this demo reel below!

Using some left over footage from video projects over the last year, we put together a Spectruss Demo Reel titled “Night and Day”. More videos coming soon, so be sure to check back!

Night and Day from Spectruss on Vimeo.

Produced by Spectruss with combined footage from previous projects to form an “almost storyboard”.

Telling a story is essential behind the success of a brand. For each business, there is a unique story to tell – whether it is from the humble beginnings from which you began, the hardships you faced and conquered, or the idea you turned from nothing to something – these stories bring your customers into your story, they create loyalty and they create meaning. Spectruss can help you with this.

A Quick Look at the Start of Spectruss

Spectruss as we know it today started as a goal inside of a garage, by a person who understood web design, and media. It started as a demo reel of sorts, with hints of what you need, but not the full picture yet. It took time, and hard work – but so does anything that is worth creating. From that hard work, Spectruss went from a humble local web design shop, to a Chattanooga powerhouse, then expanding into Atlanta, or to Kentucky, or the entire southeast. Today it operates nationwide, but it started with a simple idea, and the desire to learn, grow and perfect.