Ivy Hartman: Well, it’s beautiful here in Phoenix Arizona as we wrap up our coverage here with NAWBO 2008 conference. I'm Ivy Hartman and my special guest right now is Choo Tay who is the conference chair of this 2008 conference but also she is the owner and founder of Media 88 Inc. Welcome to sbtv.com.
Choo Tay: Well thank you for having me.
Ivy Hartman: Absolutely. Tell us about your business first, Media 88.
Choo Tay: Media 88, we started in 1995. Our web designer is internet marketing, webs design and back then it was really the very early stage of web and I remember that there wasn’t anything in the yellow pages listing when I say “I want to put my Ad in that!” They say “well, we don’t have the category!” That’s how we started. And I said “Well we can create one for you called internet.” So, okay that sounds good. So that’s the way our business started back then.
Ivy Hartman: And it’s grown. I’ve bet there are lots of people in that category in the yellow pages now.
Choo Tay: Yes. Now, is we’ve expand a different version of the web.
Ivy Hartman: So talked, yes. Speaking of that, talk about what you’re doing to set yourself apart from all those other people now who have jumped on that IT band, like at website design band.
Choo Tay: Well when we first started it was just a basic static web pages. At that time not many people know about what a website and use to call World Wide Web. So we have spent a lot of time educating what it is, what it was. And now people are much more sophisticated. Number one, they understand what it is and number two, they no longer want very basic web pages. So, we have to grow and expand according to the market need. So, we have expand to not only the basic website, we expand to web base application and we even have a few application that we service. For example, the Online Event Registration Management, Email Marketing Service, full service or just using our tools.
We have content management system, so we have to go with the trend and we have to go with the needs. So, we can still cater for people who just want the website but generally our clients are more sophisticated. They are like website 2.0, this is a second website and not the first one. So, they already know what they want and then we provide more in depth of how you can enhance and make your website more effective. So that’s why we’re offering our service.
Ivy Hartman: That is truly the trend. Retail on the web, everybody can do. Anything you want, you find any information you want through our website. How much of your job entails, I know the graphic design and all but the quality control, how intuitive is the website in things like that. Do you guys work on that as well with your clients?
Choo Tay: You mean the execute, the detail?
Ivy Hartman: Yeah.
Choo Tay: Yes. We have a team of people, a great designer, and we also have IT staff that do the more of the technical aspect. And what the difference is a lot of company that you are either going to a marketing firm, a design firm, they are greatly creative. Or you can go to IT from there greatly providing you the tools, the technology aspect. But the thing it to match this tool is the key, how effective. Because IT staff generally are very business savvy. They can produce what you asked them but they are not thinking on the other side of the business side. So we know.
In my company we set the parties because we have the skill set up pro, so we know whatever the people want. We are thinking on the other end also so that it can be the most effective for our client.
Ivy Hartman: Okay. That’s your Media 88 role. Talk about being the committee chair for this NAWBO 2008 conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Being an artist, how are you influenced planning and with your committee and your volunteers this year’s event?
Choo Tay: Well, number one I have great people to help me and I find all the expert in all the different area to help me to do all the work and be fantastic. We have a committee member who is a professional event planner and so we just have some plan and ideas of what we want and is executed perfectly.
Ivy Hartman: Now, as the committee chair, your chapter was, is the whole chapter but is the committee made up of people just from the Phoenix, Arizona chapter?
Choo Tay: Well, no. What it is, is the conference is actually a national event. The first day evening with the reception that we particularly had this reception that is our chapter’s team effort. On the national entire conference is the national board. But I do bring in the people who are expert in the area they can into the grid, good job.
Ivy Hartman: I see. This conference really is set apart I think by the setting that we’re in here at the Biltmore Hotel.
Choo Tay: Thank you, I’m glad you like it.
Ivy Hartman: Yeah. And I think there was lots of changes going on like with Erin Fuller and that management group kind of leaving and Helen Han coming in as an interim director. She said she was relieved that you guys have done such a great job because she just come in 30 days before the event.
Choo Tay: Yes. Because we have been working all along, for example, the resection that has been planned like nine months already, so you know the team has been trying to get a lot of things to put them together.
Ivy Hartman: What’s been your favorite thing?
Choo Tay: I think when we start out on Thursday in the team with the native dance and music people just love that and I think it makes the event a little bit neat and people remember on the opening. This time we have great speakers. We do spend a lot of effort and bring the good speaker for members because once they leave they will remember you know how wonderful time to have not only they are getting you know the benefit of the education component, they have fun. I think that’s the key thing there. They have a lot of fun.
Ivy Hartman: I certainly have that fun. Have you been able to sneak in some fun or you just going to be really won it so far.
Choo Tay: No, I had fun. I was at the party last night, the reception and you know everybody was dancing, I have a good time.
Ivy Hartman: It was great the live band and everything else. Your contact information for Media 88, how can we reach you?
Choo Tay: The website is media88.com, so that’s really easy.
Ivy Hartman: Good. Media with the number 88.
Choo Tay: Yes, media88.com.
Ivy Hartman: Thank you for being here with us. Keep it right here as we continue our coverage of 2008 NAWBO conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
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