COMPANY :: Press & Honors
The Fast Track: Scott Nelson says
his website design company has grown quickly because of its focus
on customers and pricing.
Web-based Campbell company continues
growth in slow economy
By Suzanne
Barnecut
Of the 54 businesses named by Silicon Valley/San Jose Business
Journal, Campbell-based Online Design Inc.—a design firm for web
and print media—was ranked the ninth fastest-growing private company
in Silicon Valley.
The company, established in 1998, moved to Campbell in August of
2000 and currently rents space in the Campbell Community Center,
1 W. Campbell Ave.
Its ranking was based on its revenue growth during the past three
years. The company leaped from $296,500 in 1999 to $1,250,550 by
2001.
For the second consecutive year, the journal named Online Design
Inc. the third-largest website design firm in Silicon Valley, based
on the number of websites it developed in 2001. The company has
worked with 500 companies, including Sun Microsystems and Cisco
Systems, and designed 196 websites in 2001 alone.
These are no baby steps for a small company.
Yet Online Design Inc. has only four full-time employees and works
on a project basis with an additional 15-20 contractors in an effort
to minimize overhead cost and better pair individual talent to project
needs.
"We try to make every client feel like they're our only client,"
says President Scott Nelson. "It's really important that our clients
are happy and that we exceed their expectations."
This philosophy is supported by the fact that 70 to 80 percent
of the company's business is generated through word-of-mouth referrals.
Online Design Inc. began when Nelson was in charge of marketing,
automation and streamlining operations for De La Cruz Deli in Santa
Clara five years ago. The store's management asked him to create
a website for the deli's wedding and banquet facility, which was
rented on the weekends.
With a degree in psychology and business marketing from San Diego
State University and only a handful of design classes to his name,
it was an understanding of clients' needs and the creation of easy-to-use
and efficient sites that put him in demand. His services were also
reasonably priced.
"I've always known that I would be most successful by running my
own company," Nelson says. "Kids don't always have a clear-cut idea
of what they want to be when they grow up. I knew I liked working
with my hands and in a social atmosphere. In this business you are
able to achieve both. The interesting people and collaboration on
ideas and solutions for so many types of businesses is challenging
and exciting."
Nelson, 30, maintains the belief that a premium product, priced
reasonably, is the key to success. He runs a lean office out of
the Campbell Community Center, is not prone to dot-com-like splurging,
and has declined venture capital investment offers so he can operate
the company without outside influences.
Another factor that differentiates the company from others is the
accessibility of Nelson and his staff.
"Clients get one-on-one attention here," he says. "We try to focus
on the service end of the company."
Nelson meets personally with every client, and explains that someone
will be available to talk to a client at a moment's notice.
The company is a one-stop web and print design studio offering
a myriad of services, ranging from website development and logo
and print media design to marketing strategies and e-commerce planning.
Nelson says, "Clients can pretty much make one call and we'll take
care of everything."
For more information, contact Online Designs Inc. at 408.358.3588
or visit http://www.odweb.com/.
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