Avantgarde Translations Expands to New U.S. Location

PRLog (Press Release) - Dec. 15, 2010 - Charlotte, NC  – Avantgarde Translations recently relocated its U.S. corporate office to an office suite on Fairview Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. The expanded facility supports strategic operational initiatives anticipated in the firm’s plan developed in 2006. According to U.S. President and company co-founder, Memuna Williams, staying on course with the firm’s strategy has been pivotal to sustaining and growing in spite of the economy taking a downturn in 2007. “Understanding that a company must be positioned and prepared to take advantage of diverse opportunities, especially when economic shifts occur, is why having a strategic plan is critical to a business,” stated Williams. “Because we had a plan in place and have continually monitored and adapted as needed, it has enabled us to decisively proceed, making strategic investments in order to pursue opportunities and position our company for growth in spite of the recession.”

The firm’s prowess in making investments while many other firms were making cutbacks caught the attention of author and entrepreneurial strategist, Sherré DeMao, who featured Avantgarde Translations in her newly released book, 50 Marketing Secrets of Growth Companies in Down Economic Times. In Secret #9 entitled Investments vs. Expenses, DeMao shared Avantgarde Translations’ plans to invest in both staffing and an office location because it realized that both initiatives were essential for the company’s future sustainability and ability to expand effectively. “Too many companies confuse what is an expense with what is an investment, specifically during down economic times,” stated DeMao, “which causes poor long-term decisions that further cripple a company. Avantgarde Translations is an excellent example of staying on course while adeptly shifting to where opportunities exist.”

The firm’s strategic plan also included becoming recognized and certified as a Women Business Enterprise and Minority Business Enterprise. These designations were achieved in 2008 and 2009 with the firm securing 8(a) program certification through the Small Business Administration in March of 2010. The combined initiatives have resulted in the firm maintaining growth in sales each year. Plans are in place to expand its Canadian operations in 2011. “We consider these times a true test of a company’s ability to anticipate and stay focused in order to identify and shift where opportunities still exist,” stated Williams,  

DeMao concurred, “Commerce never stops entirely. Business may not be transacting at breakneck pace, but it is still occurring. There are always opportunities for business if you are willing to see it. And seeing it is exactly what Avantgarde Translations has done.” DeMao included Avantgarde Translations as a success story in two areas within her book. In addition to the example on the company’s investment strategy, the company’s approach to making strategic affiliation decisions was also shared as a success story.

About Avantgarde Translations
Established in 2004, Avantgarde Translations is a language services company offering an array of multilingual services including translation, editing, proofreading, translation reviews, and cultural consulting. The company focuses on enriching and enhancing multilingual communications by bridging the linguistic and cultural gaps that exist between different languages. This enables Avantgarde Translations to provide customized language solutions that go beyond the word to deliver an effective message for its clients. With offices in Charlotte, North Carolina (USA), and Mississauga, Ontario (Canada), the company focuses on a broad client base throughout eastern Canada and the eastern United States. Clients range from Fortune 100 companies to private specialized international businesses in a variety of industries. Institutional and government organizations also seek Avantgarde Translations’ expertise. The company was recognized in 2006 for its entrepreneurial and business savvy, when it was named Rising Star of the Year by the National Association of Women Business Owners in Charlotte. Avantgarde Translations is certified as an 8(a) program and Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Enterprise through the Small Business Administration, a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) by the Minority Supplier Diversity Council of the Carolinas. More information about Avantgarde Translations can be found at www.avantgardetranslations.com.

About 50 Marketing Secrets
How are companies, even in the hardest hit industries, thriving in the current recession? How have they grown while others have floundered or gone out of business? 50 Marketing Secrets of Growth Companies in Down Economic Times answers these questions and more with powerful how-to impact that enables business owners to immediately put these secrets into practice in their business the minute they finish reading them. The book’s content is based on nearly a decade of experience working with entrepreneurial companies and ground-breaking research conducted by author Sherré DeMao’s marketing firm, SLD Unlimited Marketing/PR, Inc., released in 2004 after the economic downturn of 2002/2003. Comparing successes realized in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy, DeMao saw the same success factors identified in the research proven again during the current economic times.  50 Marketing Secrets shares proven tactics and strategies to build growth companies through these documented success secrets, featuring more than 60 entrepreneurial success stories or examples supporting each secret. Companies featured include Business Journal Fast 50 companies, Inc.500/5000 companies, and companies coast to coast that grew in 2008 and 2009 in spite of the recession. DeMao specifically included examples and success stories of companies from industries that were hardest hit by the economy to prove how the secrets and knowing them can make a difference. More than 30 North Carolina companies are also represented in the book. Released in November, the book has garnered two national reviews including being a Top Business Shelf Pick by Midwest Book Review’s Small Press Bookwatch and designated a 5-star Read by Armchair Interviews Book Review. The book is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Books-A-Million among numerous other retailers and directly through the publisher. For more information, visit www.50marketingsecrets.com.

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SLD Unlimited is an award-winning marketing strategy, image, and public relations company specializing in working with start-up to mid-sized entrepreneurial companies. The firm also includes a marketing training division and a publishing division.