Samantha's Portfolio

The Corvallis Advocate • 22nd June 2020

Meet Dax, Philomath’s Delivery Robot

Philomath residents are possibly among the first in the world to receive their food deliveries from a robot.

Dax is a three foot tall, semi-autonomous service robot who has the ability to keep food hot or cold. Currently, Dax is making free deliveries for businesses and individuals in Philomath within a specific delivery area.

The Corvallis Advocate • 29th April 2020

CSA Boxes: Eat Local, Support Small Farms

As spring arrives, so do local Farmer’s Markets and Community Supported Agriculture subscriptions. CSA subscribers pre-purchase fresh produce directly from local farmers, who typically box or package the goods to be delivered or picked up monthly or at regular intervals.

This year, many small farms are relying on direct community support due to economic uncertainties.

The Corvallis Advocate • 5th March 2020

Corvallis Mystery & Puzzle Rooms

Can Your Team Crack the Case?

For those that enjoy a good group puzzling session, community escape rooms, and mystery-themed games provide an immersive and interactive experience. Corvallis is home to three businesses offering unique group experiences that combine live-action gameplay, solving mysteries or puzzles, and storytelling. Escape Corvallis, Spiritopia, and The Conundrum House have each created team-oriented challenges for two or more participants.

The Corvallis Advocate • 6th February 2020

Softstar: Local, Sustainable Shoes

Founded in 1985, Softstar Shoes of Philomath, Ore. has maintained its commitment to crafting healthy footwear while using environmentally sustainable practices. Owner and CEO Tricia Salcido purchased the business along with Larkin Holavarri in 2005 from founder and shoemaker Tim Oliver, who is now employed as a Softstar “elf,” a reference inspired by the Brothers Grimm tale, “The Shoemaker and the Elves.”

The Corvallis Advocate • 23rd November 2019

Local Etsy Top Picks

Buying unique, handcrafted items is made easy by online marketplaces such as Etsy, where shoppers can support their local economies by purchasing from resident artists, crafters, and makers, without having to set foot in a store or gallery. The plethora of featured shops caters to everyone’s personal tastes, holiday hunts, and price points. While Etsy offers vintage items and craft supplies, we’ve narrowed our search down to ten top-rated shops from Corvallis, selling hand-crafted items. From th

The Corvallis Advocate • 23rd November 2019

Board Game Start-up Mountaineers

Imagine climbing a mountain with your friends and family without ever having to leave the comfort of your home. This is the experience that Corvallis game developer Corey Wright aimed to create with his newly released board game Mountaineers.

A mountain climbing themed, three-dimensional board game, Mountaineers was released by Corvallis board game start-up Massif Games, and funded through a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $145,000 with the support of 1,686 backers. According to Kickstart

The Corvallis Advocate • 20th June 2019

Gadusol: Safer Sunscreen for Fish & Humans

Every summer, ocean lovers face the sunscreen dilemma. Fully protective sunscreen helps prevent sunburn and skin cancer, yet some popular sunscreen ingredients may harm marine life and the environment. Gadusol Laboratories is a Corvallis-based startup that hopes to offer a nature-inspired solution to the sunscreen dilemma by developing new sun protection alternatives based on a naturally occurring compound, called gadusol, found in marine organisms which provides UVB protection to the organisms.

The Corvallis Advocate • 22nd March 2019

DiCarlo Sex Tech Awarded State Business Grant

The State of Oregon awarded a business development grant of $99,637 to the Bend/Corvallis based sexual technology company Lora DiCarlo. Representatives from Lora DiCarlo believe they were the first sex tech company to receive a grant from any state government body.

The Business Oregon Enhanced Phase 0 Grant supports the commercialization of the Osé personal massager that is the first product designed for hands-free blended orgasms. Lora DiCarlo founder Lora Haddock previously explained to an Ad

MUO • 26th September 2022

How to Buy Audiobooks on Spotify

Spotify wants to be your one-stop platform for listening to music, podcasts, and audiobooks. On September 20, 2022, the service rolled out a new audiobook feature for users in the US, with plans to expand to listeners worldwide.

Audiobooks are a departure from your usual Spotify experience. Instead of ad-supported or subscription-based streaming, you purchase individual audiobooks to stream through the app. Over 300,000 titles are available, including best sellers across genres.

Spotify curate

MUO • 15th September 2022

7 New Roku OS 11.5 Features Worth Checking Out

On September 12, 2022, Roku announced plans to release OS 11.5 with new or expanded features. This anticipated update will add more personalized features, make it easier to find new shows, and may help you manage your streaming cross-channel. The update is rolling out over the next few months.

MUO • 24th August 2022

HBO Max Has a New UI: 6 Changes All Users Should Be Aware Of

You may have noticed the HBO Max interface looks a little different now. That's because Warner Media rolled out a new UI for the HBO Max app on August 8, 2022. The changes are designed to address some stability issues people have experienced while using HBO Max, while also improving the app in noticeable ways.

Social Media Marketing Tips and News • 15th July 2021

How to Use Social Media to Promote a Local Business

Pinterest and Instagram are marketing gold mines for local travel and hospitality brands. Using these social media platforms, it is easier than ever to reach and engage future guests.

But sometimes small businesses with limited marketing budgets overlook the importance of social media marketing beyond Facebook. Sadly, they miss out on opportunities to connect with potential guests early in their vacation planning process.

The good news is with a little planning and creativity, you can draw peo

The Corvallis Advocate • 7th March 2019

Local Winemakers Tips', Tasting March 16

Downtown Corvallis will transform once again into a wine tasting paradise on Saturday, March 16 for the annual Downtown Corvallis Wine Walk. From 3 to 7 p.m., retailers will host tastings of regional wines and other craft beverages. Among the featured wineries are Tyee Wine Cellars, Spindrift Cellars, and Compton Family Wines, who together offer these five tasting tips for all wine walkers to try:

The Corvallis Advocate • 11th April 2019

La Familia Cider Wins Corvallis Shark Tank Competition

Representatives from six regional start-up businesses pitched their brands to a panel of entrepreneurs at the Willamette Innovators Network’s (WIN) Shark Tank event this year.

WIN organizers indicated the 2019 Shark Tank is their biggest yet. Previously, they held the event at The Vue and sold out, so for 2019 they moved to the Majestic where they sold over 100 tickets.

The Corvallis Advocate • 7th March 2019

Lora DiCarlo Battles Sex Tech Bias

It all started with an orgasm, according to Lora Haddock, founder of Lora DiCarlo. The Oregon sexual tech company gained worldwide attention when their debut product won a Consumer Electronics Show Innovation Award, only to have it taken away due to the show’s so-called standards of decency. Since the Consumer Electronics Show previously included male-oriented sex tech products, this decision prompted conversations about sexual bias in the technology industry.

The Shutterstock Blog • 11th March 2019

Spring Cleaning Your Small Business' Marketing Strategy

Spring means a new quarter and new opportunities for your small business. Here’s how to refresh your marketing strategy for the season of growth.

For many people, spring signifies new beginnings. It’s also a chance to refresh and declutter their homes and lives. Your small business marketing may also benefit from a little spring cleaning.

For small business marketers, spring marks the end of Q1 and the start of Q2. So, now is the perfect time to evaluate your online branding and messaging. Tak