John Durand and his wife Jennifer get paid to make others look good.
The couple own Summa Marketing, a Redondo Beach-based Web design and marketing operation they started in 2004.
The Durands work with more than 60 clients to offer branding consulting, Web design, marketing and everything else it takes to give a company an on-line presence.
The company works with apparel companies and medical offices to real estate businesses.
"We bring that understanding of marketing, branding and advertising," John Durand said.
The Durands trace the roots of Summa Marketing to Pepperdine University in Malibu, where they each earned a MBA.That is where they realized Jennifer's creative talent with advertising combined with John's technical computer skills could make for a functional business.
After working together for two years, they married and now reside in Hermosa Beach.
"With his experience and my experience we realized we could have a competitive service," Jennifer Durand said.
John Durand added: "I have technical experience, she has a more artistic side I don't have. She does creative. I don't have a creative bone in my body."
Their company has three types of clients. First is start-up companies.
"They kind of need the whole package," Jennifer Durand said, referring to services from strategic research to creative development.
Second, the couple work with large corporations who may bring in the Durands for specific tasks like updating a Web site.
Finally, there are smaller companies that may not have an in-house marketing department.
Companies like the Advanced Eyecare Center of Manhattan Beach use Summa Marketing for an array of services for small businesses just starting out.
Mary Claire Orenic, an eyecare center executive who attended business school with the Durands, brought them in about two years ago when her company opened to supply such services as business card design and Web sites hosting.
"Summa worked with us with the conception of this company. Everything from name selection to creating the logo and really helping with the branding," said Orenic, vice president of business development at the eye care center.
Molly Lavik, who runs Mentorography.com, an online advice site for entrepreneurs, turned to Summa Marketing in 2007 when she wanted to expand her marketing potential and design the Web site. John Durand spruced up the site using techniques like imbedding a Flash animation video onto the site.
John handles the technical aspects of the on-line work using tools like Dreamweaver, HTML Web coding and some Flash animation to personalize each site for clients.
John Durand said building a Web site could take five days or five months depending on wether the site is five pages or 100 pages.
He said some start-ups make the mistake of using something called "Frankenstein marketing," meaning they just take a bunch of pieces and put them together in a disjointed mishmash.
"What's lacking is that strong cohesive brand," that ties it all together, he said.
Jennifer Durand said her business partnership with her husband complements their married life.
"I get to spend all my time with him. That's pretty great," she said.
muhammed.el-hasan@dailybreeze.com
Name: Summa Marketing
Founders: John and Jennifer Durand
Established: 2004
Location: 1603 Aviation Blvd., Suite C, Redondo Beach
Services: Full-service marketing, design and Web site development