To whom it may concern,
This is a letter of reference for Sarah Noble, founder of Sarah Belle Studios.
I, until recently, was the owner of Douglass Safety Systems, a Fire Equipment Dealer located in Sanford, MI, and in operation since 1994. We serve the municipal and industrial firefighting marketplace with a full selection of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and more, all supported by regional salespeople and service technicians across the State of Michigan.
There have been a lot of changes in our products, customers, and the way business is done since the inception of my company. Not only are the products we sell and the standards that mandate their applications and design constantly changing, but the marketplace itself and the way our customers are accustomed to researching their equipment needs has changed. Suddenly printed ads and catalogs were out of date. With the upcoming younger generations rising into the ranks of command positions, we often realize a keyboard and a Google Search are performed long before any thought of searching for a catalog or print ad for information. Our market and the way our customers look for information had forever changed. We had a presence on the web, but I lacked the skills, desire, or time to create and maintain a professional website. I did not know where to begin until I was introduced to Sarah.
One consultation with Sarah started the process of eliminating the Web Site burden, and it quickly became a cornerstone of the way we provide our services. In our original consultation, we discussed our needs and what we hoped to provide. We needed an online catalog, but we also wanted to allow customers to request further information. Over time we expanded access to allow our customers to request and schedule service, demonstrations, product evaluations, and more for their fire departments. In short order, Douglass Safety had a professional web presence. The feedback from customers, Sales, and Service Teams was immediate. It was then that I then realized our investment of time and treasure to bring a professional and useful website into existence was some of the best money my company could have spent.
I tossed Sarah the keys and never looked back. I requested that Sarah constantly maintain and update the site to keep things fresh. We expanded into including training and demonstration videos, new sales photos with interviews, and customer photos with new equipment. Sarah expanded our presence into FaceBook, YouTube, Twitter, and more. The site is now something I take great pride in, and it has been constantly updated, fresh, informative, and worth the time for a visit.
After 26 years of operation, I have just recently merged with the largest fire equipment dealer in the country and I am winding down for retirement. I am convinced Sarah’s skills and support allowed my company that quality “first impression” and allowed us to put our best foot forward to the new buyers. The new owners have an established international internet team now maintaining their web presence, so the need for Sarah’s services has recently declined, but that now creates an opportunity for new clients who need her expertise.
We will be utilizing Sarah’s services in the future if the opportunity presents itself. I have no qualms about recommending Sarah for your internet and social media needs, she IS a very bright bulb in the box, and I promise, you will not be disappointed.
Sincerely,
Douglas Engwis
Douglass Safety Systems
2655 N. Meridian Rd
Sanford, MI 48657
