About Firebrand Media
The History
Firebrand Media LLC is the result of having a wife in medical school.
While my interest in web page development began in college (on an Apple Perform 6320), the real groundwork was laid as I had to find something to occupy my time while my wife studied during medical school. During that time, I had a freelance web design business under another name (iMall adVentures) which didn't actually transact any business but did lay the groundwork for much of what Firebrand Media has become.
The first site that I developed that actually had an audience of significance was TheShortShoot.com, which is still available (surprisingly!) on the FortuneCity.com free web server that I used at the time. That site, dedicated to my favorite hobbies at the time, NASCAR, NASCAR for Mac racing and Apple Computers, is hard to look at now, but at the time was the best, and most frequently updated site I had ever developed.
The first paying customer (Brad Hopkins holding first check in image below) for Firebrand Media was Morgantown Mitsubishi, which we are happy to report is still a customer.
Since that time, we've added a number of clients, changed our business structure (from sole-proprietorship to Limited Liability Corporation Partnership), gone through three coffee makers, retired a number of computers, learned the importance of CSS, integrated PHP skills where necessary, added Print Advertising, Logo Development, Video Production and DVD Development to our list of services offered and have concentrated on developing aesthetically pleasing advertising materials for businesses of all sizes.
In January 2006 we were honored to have a piece of our work displayed in Layers Magazine (Full Article). We were also featured on the front page of the business section of The Martinsburg Journal on January 22, 2006.
The Team
G. Brad Hopkins
Partner, Creative Director
Has operated Firebrand Media since November 2001 in Morgantown, WV. Prior to the opening of Firebrand Media, Brad operated as a freelance web designer and has participated in the development of websites since 1996.
Linda J. Hopkins
Partner, Office Manager
Has over 31 years experience in the Insurance Industry. In that time she has served in a variety of capacities including managing new and existing accounts, cold calling customers, reconciling checking accounts, and general office duties. In addition to her service in the Insurance Industry, she also maintained the financial records for Tri-State Recycling, Hancock, MD from 1988 – 1994.
The Name
Firebrand Media
The word firebrand, which means "A person who stirs up trouble or kindles a revolt." (Answers.com), has stuck with me since I read it in Proverbs Ch 26 v 18:
18 Like a madman shooting
firebrands or deadly arrows
19 is a man who deceives his neighbor
and says, "I was only joking!"
In this context, firebrand obviously has a different meaning but for some reason it stuck in my head. When it came time to name the business, Firebrand Media seemed like a natural fit.
The Logo
The importance of the logo was generally lost on me when I started the business. Below, you will find the first version of the Firebrand Media Logo that was developed and used when the business was a sole-proprietorship.
The second version of the logo was developed three years later when the business became a LLC Partnership.
The first version of the logo had no real meaning; flames were simply added to the M in Media. Not real creative, in retrospect.
The current version of the logo maintains the flames, which you would expect from a business named Firebrand Media, but has meaning beyond "Fire Good."
The three flames of the logo represent the three types of services that we offer.
Print - Design - Marketing
While each has its own requirements and services offered, each are connected through the principles that make up the foundation of Firebrand Media.
In mid-2005, a new typeface was chosen to represent Firebrand Media. The original typeface (first), Myriad, was replaced with the News Gothic typeface which offers a bold, more professional look.
The Philosophy
Websites are a dime a dozen (or 12 for 10¢ if you prefer). (Not our philosophy, just a fact.)
There are numerous template driven web designs available on the internet. Do a search at your favorite search engine and see. Unfortunately, those site are geared at making one person money - the person selling it to you.
Your business is unique. It's not a McDonald's that is the same as one in Baltimore or New York.
Why should your website, which sells widgets, be exactly the same as one located in Finland that sells doo-dads?
Our philosophy is simple - every business is unique, every business website is unique.
That is why we shy away from template driven websites (although we do offer them).
We want to work with you to create a website, logo, video piece or DVD that shows the uniqueness of your business. That's how you differentiate your business from the Wal-Mart's of the world
The Reason (we do what we do)
We enjoy it. We like helping small to medium sized businesses make money on the internet. We like to stun them with work that rivals that of large businesses in their sector.
More importantly, we feel that this business is an extension of our Christian walk.
v23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.