Spring wrapup
With the summer commencing this week, this entry will look back at some of Grant’s progress in spring campaigns and prepare for the work of the summer.
AMPEL - development and sales
Initiatives at the Additive Manufacturing Prototyping and Experimentation Laboratory proved to be effective. Internally, R&D made huge gains while the sales team successfully completed several transactions.
Following a somewhat foolhardy flurry of purchasing in the winter, the late winter and spring of 2021 were marked by test after test of new materials and methods of 3D printing. Unsurprisingly, this period featured aggressive database growth and refinement of lean systems. Grant led a product team to development, manufacture, and application of an integrated 3D printed microcontroller.
Outside the lab, several 3D printers were sold off following repairs and improvement. The resales business unit holds vast potential, particularly as Grant drives the R&D department to pursue the development of specialized, self-designed 3D printers.
With recent transactions trimming assets, AMPEL has solidified its base. Grant’s dedication to the art as well as an insistence on integration with the Internet of Things means that summer/fall 2021 should continue to see development.
Twentynineteen - clothing and designs
From an old project begun (unsuprisingly) in 2019, the Twentynineteen project stemmed from an interest in the arts and photography. The crowd, elated by this introduction, demanded to purchase accessories and clothing featuring brand artwork which forced Grant to enter the garment/fashion industry. This community began stirring again in early 2021 as new media entered the workspace and invested in the brand. A new direction was introduced by Grant which would force an evolution. This move would redefine the product, inject cash to fulfill expenses, and set the stage for more growth.
Due to personal issues, the quality of artwork produced by the creative team greatly increased during the spring of 2021. More attention was being paid to the brand’s diverse offering, growing the adjoined community. Other brands/founders took notice and were interested in directive advice. Twentynineteen was now a vendor of creative assets and abilities, not just of clothing.
This new product line would feature clothing, yes, but the company would also extend to encompass many of Grant’s own campaigns in the creative arts. For example, a recent project on the blockchain resulted in the creation of digital artwork NFT’s by Twentynineteen, available for purchase with Ethereum or Bitcoin. These tokens, as well as the ability to mint them, are now a part of the Twentynineteen wheelhouse.
Currently under preparation, Grant plans a Summer 2021 line of Twentynineteen Clothing though the official launch date is TBD.
Production - youtube and otherwise
The spring period also featured a drastic investment into Grant Coultrup Productions, the personal brand of the organization. Youtube is a consistent medium and an encouraging community has formed around the audiobook series as well as preliminary episodes of Grante’s World. However, the production of quality content required huge efforts in the beginning, efforts which the organization was spread too thin to bear. Similar to Twentynineteen, foundations have been laid and a community established. Production is now sporadic but scheduled.
The Rowing Channel, whose parent is a partner organization, has been in minimal stages since the impact of COVID on world of regatta rowing. Equipment and systems have seen significant investment during the slow season but operations are scarce.
A short project for the Cleveland Teaching Collaborative provided an opportunity to flex production skills on the move. Over a 3 day period, Grant and project manager Will cultivated the vision, developed a plan, and made a video and podcast pilot featuring the Food for Change project.
Conclusions
With these projects and more, it’s going to be an exciting summer!
