Category: news

We’re excited to share this press release from Quickness RVA, a bicycle based courier service, and one of our favorite clients.

Richmond, VA

2016 has seen an explosion of national companies setting sights on Richmond’s growing restaurant scene, attempting to coax Richmonders to corporate ordering platforms like GrubHub and OrderUp that partner with national chains such as Chipotle and Subway. While these platforms do feature some local restaurants, they make no distinction between local or national, instead prioritizing high-volume chains and those that pay for advertising. Ultimately, these corporate platforms drain money out of Richmond’s local restaurant industry by pocketing sizeable percentages of every order that they process.

In response, many local restaurants have turned to an all-local online ordering platform run by bike courier company Quickness RVA. The platform, quicknessrva.com, features a curated selection of 20+ restaurants and other local businesses, all based in Richmond. Many local favorites are available exclusively through the site, such as Ipanema Cafe, Goatocado, Greek on Cary, and The Naked Onion (full list below).

Regarding the decision to develop the platform, says Jess Izen, Quickness RVA, “Our customers and clients wanted online ordering. The only existing options undermined the Richmond restaurant community, pulled money out of town, and were stacked against local establishments. So, we decided to build our own. About a year ago, we approached KNOWN, a Fan-based digital creative agency, about the project. Now, just shy of 25% of all delivery orders that we run come through our platform.”

According to Greg Darden, General Manager of Ipanema Cafe,
“Quickness approached us already understanding our needs, our vibe. The bike delivery service is reliable & fast but just as important for Ipanema is their respect & love for the Richmond community. Setting up online ordering with Quickness has been a great way to offer our menu along with other local businesses into a market that before had been a bit bleak & chain-dominated.”

Says Jason Ferrell, Owner of Branch & Vine (formerly Olio in the Fan),
“It’s been awesome to be one of the first partner restaurants on Quickness’s online ordering system. They’ve become an iconic part of RVA culture, so we jumped at the chance to be a part of their growth. Our customers love that they can get the convenience of online ordering from a local company.”

From Alex Konstantinidis, owner of Greek on Cary, “I have used OrderUp, GrubHub, all of them, to see who’s better. With the big companies, you definitely lose something (plus they take their own percentages out). For this reason, we’ve dropped them and exclusively use Quickness’s online ordering. Greek on Cary’s been around for five years. We care about working with the local business community. It is more personal, there is passion. As we transition from more of a take-out style Greek restaurant to an upscale sit-down restaurant, Quickness’s site is part of the polish that we are after.”

For more information or to reach participating restaurants for comment, contact:
Jess Izen
Quickness RVA
(214) 356 – 8708
quicknessrva@gmail.com

Current Restaurant Partners
(bold: exclusively available on quicknessrva.com)

Alero Mexican Restaurant
Asado – The Wing & Taco Company
Branch & Vine (formerly Olio in the Fan)
Continental Divide
Deep Run Road House
F. W. Sullivan’s
Goatocado
Greek on Cary
Ipanema Cafe
J Kogi
K-Town Kitchen & Bar
Lady N’awlins
Lift Coffee Shop
Little House Green Grocery
Little Mexico
Olio at the Brownstone
Rosita’s Taco Shop
Sticky Rice
Strange Matter
The Naked Onion
Trolley Market Convenience Store
Uptown Market & Deli

*All photos are from @QuicknessRVA on Instagram.

Known Agency

KNOWN is a full-service web development and design agency specializing in unique, web-based solutions that illuminate new possibilities for our clients. At KNOWN, we believe every organization needs a contemporary, strategic, and well-maintained website. After all, your website tells your story.

knownagency.com

After moving into our new space and adding a couple new people to our growing team, we felt that our brand needed to grow with us. We decided to rebrand to KNOWN and create clean and contemporary collateral to go along with our new space. Our signage is up and our business cards and tote bags are printed!

KNOWN

As our company is growing and expanding, we were happy to find an office space in the Fan that meets our needs. Right around the corner from Strawberry Street Market (our go-to for snacks and coffee), we’re looking forward to offering clients a more sleek, professional meeting space. We also have a great outdoor work station, and we’re right around the corner from Scuffletown Park. Stop by and say “hi!”

KNOWN

If you or someone you know is a web graphic designer, please take note of our latest job posting below.

We’re a small but rapidly growing creative agency looking for a web designer to join the team. Our company focuses mainly on website design and development for a variety of local and national brands, so you’ll never get bored of the same old thing.

Job:

• Branding/Logo Design
• UI/UX Design
• Responsive Graphic Design from Wireframing to Comps for Entire Websites

You will be working on unique web-based redesign projects using the latest technologies for both small and large assignments. This may include designing new logos and branding, determining site structure, audience strategy, wireframe and style tile production for client approval, and generating final site comps that will then be developed into live websites. We place an emphasis on modern design and strive to use new web technologies that will improve the overall UX.

Requirements:

• Exceptional design aesthetic, solid typography skills, and an awareness of contemporary design trends
• Working knowledge of UI/UX and what it means to make a functional consumer interface
• Knowing how to visually and verbally convey ideas
• Working knowledge of web standards and browser capabilities
• Being a self-starter, comfortable working on projects independently, sometimes with loose parameters but firm deadlines
• Experience working on large-scale projects for an extensive user base
• Experience creating wireframes, style tiles, and comps for responsive websites
• Extensive experience with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator is a must
• Positive attitude and good communication skills (a sense of humor never hurts)
• Ability to give and receive feedback/criticism, work/brainstorm in groups

Experience:

1-3 years experience in web-based graphic design in an agency setting is preferred. Knowledge of WordPress and some coding experience is a plus.

Benefits:

• Dog-friendly office
• Flexible hours
• Opportunities for growth and advancement
• Relaxed working environment, casual dress
• A healthy work-life balance
• Centrally located in the Fan/Museum District

Salary is commensurate with experience.

To apply, please send an email to janna@marcredmond.com with a cover letter, resume, and portfolio.

KNOWN

I’ve launched three new websites in the past two weeks with my clients! I’ll be adding them to my portfolio soon, but in the meantime I’ll share them here:

The first website was for GENTAG, Inc., which holds intellectual property in the field of high-tech wireless sensor technology. Their technology will enable ground-breaking wireless medical sensors, geolocation devices, and a lot of other cool stuff including wireless sensors that don’t need batteries! It’s been exciting working with GENTAG’s team to create the website they really wanted. We’re still fine-tuning some things, but it’s shaping up to be a great site for an exciting high-tech company.

Shortly after the GENTAG site was live, another client of mine was prepped to launch. Christopher Walker, founder of LidsLash, invented a solution to a problem a lot of people have, and that’s losing or having sunglasses fall to the ground. LidsLash is a gadget that magnetically and conveniently holds sunglasses on your hat. He timed the launch to be ready for the Redskins Training Camp in Richmond, so they could sell LidsLash through Shopify on their iPads to an ideal audience. We launched the website just in time, and LidsLash is proving to be a great success!

Last, but not least, was the launch of the new Affordable Faces Photography website! Linda Spencer, a fantastic wedding photographer, got in touch with me a few months ago needing some help building a site just the way she wanted it. She had some experience with WordPress and had already created a site herself. But it just wasn’t looking exactly like she wanted.  So, Linda enlisted my help, and we worked together to create her vision.

KNOWN