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Entrepreneur: Zee Creative Web and Design gets the word out

The Potomac Cannons, a St. Louis Cardinals farm club in Woodbridge, Va., had a pretty good season.

That might be known to only one person in Billings, Mike Marshall. He owns Zee Creative Web and Design and helped set up the baseball club’s Web broadcasts.

Gazette Staff

In Wisconsin, the LaCrosse Night Trains had a lousy indoor football season. But, the team does have a good Web site, thanks to Marshall.

Web design can be a competitive business, but Marshall has found success with the oldest business formula in the book.

"If you work hard for people and do a good job, those people tell other people," he said.

Marshall had helped the Billings Mustangs and the Rim Rockers develop an Internet presence and pretty soon word got around the minor leagues that Marshall had the right stuff.

Zee Creative is located in Billings at 1004 Division St., suite 204, and can reached at 259-6730, or from its Web site at http://www.zcreative.com.

Here’s what else Marshall had to say about building a business and staying busy:

Nature of the business:

We are a full service Web/graphic design and hosting company with clients in several states and Canada. We offer Web design, graphic design, Web site promotion, e-newletters, database-driven Web sites, Flash design, streaming media and Web and email hosting. We support all of the major programming languages (ASP, PHP, ColdFusion, CGI, JSP, Java, ActionScript, etc.) and cater to both Windows and Unix/Linux-based hosting. We also offer computer and networking help to our clients.

Why start this business?

I have always loved the graphic design profession, but could not quite find a niche that fit my desires. I wanted to create something that allowed me to excel in the areas that interest me and that I enjoy the most. I now have that and can create whatever time I need for family.

Where did start-up funding come from?

Personal funds, savings and many late nights.

How long have you been in business?

Zee Creative has been in business in Billings 4 years.

Biggest challenges in running the business?

Balancing my creative side with my technical and business sides. I never have "shifted gears" between them well, especially when the stress is high or things are very busy.

What was done to overcome those challenges?

Finding talented employees and a structuring of the day/week to something that better suits the work at hand. Brett Gneiting, our programmer, has worked out great for us. His strengths compliment mine very well and have eased much of the day-to-day stress. The scheduling helps keep a better flow and keep things from getting too hectic. With both of these, our products are better, our turnaround is better and the day is much more enjoyable.

What is being done to expand the business?

Advertising and person-to-person networking. Most of our business is still word of mouth and we are dedicated to keeping that a strong source of future business. The advertising accents that as well as helps to increase name/brand awareness.

Your worst business mistake?

Being too introverted in business and publicly. I am generally reserved and don’t like the "crowd." so I make it a conscious effort everyday to get out and get involved and talk to people.

Advice for someone running a business?

Get out there. Make yourself get involved with things outside the office, including non-work related. It’s amazing how one can bump into things just by being out and about. Plus it has the added benefit of getting you away from the stress once in awhile.

Number of workers?

Two: Brett and my wife, Sabrina

What’s your five-year plan for the business?

Strengthen and diversify our product line, expand our hosting services, increase our staff and have fun.

A question you would ask other entrepreneurs?

How do you get away from things and truly relax?

If you weren’t doing what you are now, what would be your dream job?

Running a company that reviewed "tech" and graphic industry products. That is one of my favorite parts of the industry… the software, hardware and gadgets.

“Entrepreneurs” appears regularly in the WorkWeek section. The feature will help readers become familiar with new businesses, as well as educate others in the challenges of starting a business. If you have been in business for at least one year and would like to tell your story, please contact:

Chris Jorgensen

Billings Gazette

401 N. Broadway

Billings, MT, 59101

657-1311, office

657-1208, fax

[email protected]

Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?section=workweek&display=rednews/2002/11/04/build/workweek/entrep.inc

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