Labor Day is a time to find joy in the fruits of our labor, reflect on our accomplishments, and set new goals. Take a moment to give yourself a pat on the back for all your hard work and dedication and enjoy the holiday weekend. We wish you a happy Labor Day, and hope that you’re able to spend it with friends and family. See you Tuesday!
By Abby See,
NDG Senior Marketing Manager
Whether you prefer American classics, international cuisine, or good old diner fare, our list of Top 10 restaurants in the Washington, DC region has something for everyone.
Recently, NDG staff members put together a list of their all-time favorite places to eat. The list included 20 restaurants throughout Maryland, D.C., and Virginia, and later was reduced to a Top 10 by way of a staff survey.
Check out the results below:
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What do you think? Do you see your favorite place on our list? If not, what are your favorite eateries in the D.C. area?
NDG Communications is proud to welcome our new Senior Graphic Designer, Karen Rinaldi. Karen received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Atlanta and previously worked for Visionista, where she served many design roles in branding and corporate communications. She has a wide range of experience in retail, packaging, branding, and promotions. In her free time, she enjoys running, traveling, yoga, painting, photography, and architecture.
By Hilary Suskey,
NDG Senior Marketing Manager
Based on new research from NDG’s client Stanley Martin Homes, the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area is among the healthiest housing markets in the country. Stanley Martin’s Market Research Analyst Andrew Hughes decided to research the factors that help the D.C. market thrive when others cannot. Click here to learn more about what makes D.C. such a stable and successful market for new homebuilders and real estate in general.
Sarah Eckel,
NDG Director of Account Services
CNBC recently interviewed Stephen Paul, Executive Vice President of Mid-Atlantic Builders, a client of NDG, about the Real Estate Industry and the hurdles that home builders are currently facing.
Stephen Paul, Executive Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Builders
According to the interview, during the month of July, single-family new home starts dropped 4.9%, whereas multi-family starts increased by 6.3%, showing a rise in rental demand. A new trend identified in the interview is multi-generational families moving into one home in order to afford and qualify for a mortgage. Mid-Atlantic Builders is “selling in-law suites with the regular part of the house, and the parents are moving in and actually helping pay,” Paul said.
But when it comes to single-family homes, “the escalation of gas prices, the debt issue with the government, and what’s going on in Europe has caused consumer confidence to fade,” Paul said, adding that buyers are cautious of their next move. “They are anxious to buy, they see the rates are very attractive, the prices are affordable, but they have held off, really starting in May and through the summer.” But, Mr. Paul is certain the market will pick up in the fall.
To read the complete story, click here or watch the full interview here.
By Cindy Mellott
NDG Interactive Media Specialist
In today’s world, the smartphone is a multi-tasker’s dream. As life speeds up between work and play, your smartphone is there, with the option to stay connected regardless of where you’re at, all from the palm of your hand.
A recent staff survey at NDG Communications revealed that 11 staff members have smartphones—with a breakdown of 4 Android-based phones and 8 iPhones. 2 team members also have a Blackberry—and of course there are some us who have yet to buy into the smartphone craze.
While both the iPhone and the Android have a large number of applications which everyone loves—including social media apps, dropbox for work-related needs, and all those fun camera apps like instagram and snapbucket—the main difference between iPhone and Android users is that more than half of our staff with an iPhone are “Mac purists” as Tom Nelson, president of NDG Communications, described. They own Apple products at work and at home and want their products to work seamlessly together.
Droid users often selected models based on characteristics such screen size and operating system, but users of both systems enjoy staying connected with their social and work circles with smartphone apps for Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Google +, and more.
Whether it’s a Droid, Blackberry, or an iPhone, our staff agrees that a smartphone is a huge asset. Do you own a smartphone? What about it do you find to be most beneficial?
By Sara Poynor,
NDG Junior Copywriter
Here at NDG Communications, we realize that in ord
er to move forward and provide the best service to our clients, we must strive to learn something new everyday.
We have a library on site for our staff to use and refer to that includes titles such as “The Tipping Point’ by Malcolm Gladwell on how little things can make a big difference, and Alan and Lauren Ries’ “The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding” on how to build a world-class brand.
In “Hey Whipple, Squeeze This: A Guide to Creating Great Ads,” Luke Sullivan examines good and bad ads while explaining the ins and outs of the industry, making a good read for those new to advertising.
Other topics in our library include programming techniques, search engine optimization, crafting successful messages and advertising, marketing trends, and stress-free productivity. And we have audio and ebook copies of many of our titles as well, since many of us like to listen or read as we commute each day.
What are you reading? Do you have any suggestions for our library?
Hilary Suskey,
NDG Senior Marketing Manager
Life just got a little easier for realtors. Our client, Stanley Martin Homes has just launched TeamStanleyMartin.com, an online realtor resource center created by NDG, where realtors can create personalized sales materials, live chat with a Stanley Martin Realtor Relations Counselor, and learn the latest about future promotions and incentives. Realtors can even make personal tour videos for clients with Flip HD video cameras available on-site at every Stanley Martin community. Go to TeamStanleyMartin.com to register today!
Hilary Suskey,
NDG Senior Marketing Manager
Stanley Martin Homes, a client of NDG, recently released their new Morgan home model in their Selma Estates community in Leesburg, Va.
The Morgan boasts a unique first-floor master suite which features a luxury master bath with dual vanities, seated shower, and separate soaking tub, as well as a large walk-in closet. The first-floor master suite is a growing trend in the home building industry, and is increasingly popular as it offers homeowners a private retreat from children and guests.
Hilary Suskey,
NDG Senior Marketing Manager
We are proud to announce our client, Cardinal Management Group, launched their new website on July 5.
The new website designed by NDG offers web users information in a simple, user-friendly format, making it easier to find things like resources, documents, and more.
NDG was truly grateful for the opportunity to work with the wonderful team at Cardinal Management Group on their website re-development project and we look forward to many future successful collaborations.
