Outstanding service and a name unlike any other set Argyle Octopus Press apart in the minds of the Lincoln company's loyal customers.
Owner Jennifer Rosenblatt says she founded Argyle Octopus in February 2011 because she wanted to create a business "that benefits all the stakeholders, the customers, employees, vendors, and the community.
"I did my stint in corporate America in my early 20s," says Rosenblatt, a native of Tampa, Fla. "I learned what I never wanted to do again. I learned how not to treat customers and how not to treat employees. I got tired of bad bosses. I always loved being in business, but I never felt like you had to be a greedy entity to be a success."
"So I thought I might as well put all this time and energy into my own business. Above all I wanted to create a happy, healthy environment where work matters and has meaning."
Rosenblatt moved to Lincoln in 2006 so her husband, Kurt Knecht, could complete his Doctorate of Musical
Arts in composition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where the Glenn Korff School of Music is directed by Dr. John Richmond. They had become acquainted when Dr. Richmond served as professor and administrator at the School of Music at the University of South Florida, Tampa.
Since its opening, Argyle Octopus, which designs business cards and other print collateral so small- and medium-sized businesses reach their customers more effectively, has enjoyed annual growth as high as 150 percent.
"Lincoln has been a good fit for us," Rosenblatt says. "The local business culture is strong and the resources are tremendous."
The Nebraska Business Development Center's Lincoln office is one of those resources. Rosenblatt has been a client of NBDC for more than a year. Zack Zimmerman, director of the NBDC Lincoln center, says Rosenblatt has utilized his office to help develop a training program for long-term employee development, and for financial coaching, advice and strategy development.
"Argyle has met with NBDC on a monthly basis and has been extremely receptive to our guidance, counseling and coaching," Zimmerman says.
With sales steadily increasing, Rosenblatt has hired two full-time employees in the past year. "Argyle continues to grow at an accelerated pace and its success is an example to other women-owned businesses around the state," Zimmerman says.
Rosenblatt, who calls Zimmerman "our numbers guy," lauds the services she has received from NBDC.
"It's amazing that anyone can come to NBDC and get high-quality business coaching for free."
As for the sweater-clad, eight-legged sea creature that is her company brand, Rosenblatt says she and a relative once discussed opening their own businesses and toyed with possible names. Argyle Octopus was one of the suggestions. "When I finally did open my own business, that was the first name that came back to me."
She's happy it did. "They are two of the hardest words for people to spell," she says, "but it's very memorable."