Selling?! Grab Their Attention!

The real estate market is still humming along, but agents are facing more and more competition from new agents, sell by owner, and internet-based real estate brokerage firms. Traditional agents must do more for their clients and stand out to potential buyers and sellers to justify their traditional higher fees in the age of internet. Agents must be proactive, creative, and have the right experience to attract the right clients. This is where CW Designs can help.

Over the past few years we have created more and more material for real-estate agents and property developers looking to get a competitive edge. One of the most in demand pieces are our custom maps. A custom map can highlight an agents recent sales, a hot new location with properties available, or surrounding attractions. These maps can be incorporated into all sorts of promotional material including; mailers, door-hangers, magnets, handouts for home showings, and even websites.

In addition to custom maps we also create business cards, stationery, signage, and logos. Our designs stand out and grab the readers attention. An agent that stands out is one that will stand out to potential buyers! We want agents to think outside the box because when you can sell yourself clients know you can sell their home. Check out some of the latest designs we have created for locally and around the country.

Wagner Realty

Kyle Robinson

Kyle Robinson

Broken Bow Get-a-Way!

Since moving to Texas Carol and I have been hyper focused on raising our family and building an even more successful business, consequently our time for travel has been confined to long weekends and day trips around North Texas and Oklahoma. Surprisingly, there are many beautiful places and interesting towns that have satisfied our hunger for travel. Crepes overlooking the Seine have been replaced by breakfast tacos overlooking Lake Travis, and the latter may be even more enjoyable out of sheer need to get away. Recently, we found another wonderful get-a-way called Broken Bow Lake, just 3 hours away in south-eastern Oklahoma near town of Hochatown. Hochatown/Broken Bow Lake is a charming blue collar area that is quickly gaining a reputation for its beautiful views, fishing, food, and local brewery. Nestled in the arms of the Hochatown and Beavers Bend State Parks, Broken Bow Lake is 14,000 acres with shores that sparkle pink from quartz formed 300 million years ago during the Pennsylvanian period. It really is a bazaar site to see. There are no homes on the lake and camping is designated in a few areas. The uninhabited shores offers a beauty not found in the normally crowded shores of most lakes, rather the local luxury cabins are located a short drive from the lake, and luckily we had a great connection.

As it turns out, we had some friends that own cabins in a gorgeous area of town hidden among the enormous pine trees that stand guard like soldiers at attention. Roughing it is not an option in these exquisitely finished homes. These fully finished "cabins" have all the modern touches while still paying homage to their surroundings. Rich woods and exposed beams bring the outside in. We had a wonderful time relaxing on the deck, grilling out, and enjoying cold beverages in the hot-tub. The kids had fun rock hunting and splashing in the clear-water stream that twists and turns around the properties.

There are plenty of places to keep the kids busy as well, but because of the remote location a map tends to help (see the one we created after our trip). Our friends liked it so much they are leaving them for their guests. A short drive away, we found a great little spot for mini-golf and paddle boating that the kids did not want to leave. There great spots for fishing, hiking, and bird watching as well. Whether you want a nice peaceful spot to finish that book, or to get out there and get your hands dirty, Broken Bow offers both.

Matching the stunning vistas and fun is the delicious food including wonderful southern fare, a family friendly pizza joint with cold beer, and a spot known for fried chicken that would be worth the drive alone, as well as a grocery store with everything you need. Broken Bow is really just the right balance of nature and convenience. A lovely get-a-way.

Next time your itching to get out of the DFW area, check out our list below of our favorite places to stay, play, and eat while in Broken Bow.

 

Broken Bow Oklahoma Map.png

Family Business

This past Wednesday our family (CW Designs) took a field trip to The Alexa Machine Company in Dallas to watch one of Carol's designs screen pressed for the first time. A while back Carol and I started thinking about creating a map that highlighted some of the awesome places to eat on the Square in McKinney, TX. Carol spent months going over layouts, concepts, and materials while I offered my occasional two cents! Finally, last week we had a layout and concept that we liked. Carol always wanted to have one of her designs screen printed on a tea towel, clearly her first generation Scottish roots were at play. We looked around the Dallas area to find a shop that would best fit our needs and were rewarded when we found the people of The Alexa Machine Co.

The Alexa Machine Company is a small family business that services small businesses like CW Designs. Roseamber and her husband, Jan, own the small shop located in a nondescript business park in North Dallas, but their work is anything but nondescript. They are truly dedicated to their craft and take pride in bringing an artists vision to life. They've worked with bands from all over Dallas, small businesses, and even some of Dallas' best know artists.  Besides being kick ass at what they do, they are down to earth people who know the challenges a small business faces. We spent the morning talking about pigments, Jan's former life in metal bands, and discussing the leap of faith it took to do something they loved.  It was a pretty great morning and it reaffirmed our efforts in making CW Designs a full on family business. Owning a small business has made us acutely aware of where our money goes and who it goes to and when Carol and I were watching Jan and his assistant set up the press in an increasingly warmer garage while humming classic rock tunes I saw where our money was going and it made me smile.

This map only highlights a small portion of what makes McKinney a great town. We hope that you'll support all of the great small businesses in McKinney because that's what makes it special and why Money Magazine rated it the #1 place to live in America. Small businesses across the country are what makes this country great and we appreciate every order from newly engaged couples, small businesses, real estate agents, and wedding/event planners from all across the country and the globe. Your money goes to helping us achieve our goals as a small business and to provide for our children.

The final result!

The final result!

Support a small business on ETSY, buy from artisans, and shop at your neighborhood grocer. Should your travels ever take you to the burgeoning outpost of McKinney, head to the Square and shop, have a drink, and eat a fantastic meal, all while knowing you are helping a small business and a family. Oh, and buy a tea towel to remember your trip.