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Furry Hippo was founded in San Francisco, California in August 2001 by Graham McClusky.  When Graham launched the company, it initially offered computer consulting and web design services.  Furry Hippo has continued to expand its service offerings and grow its partnerships with companies that offer related services to provide complete solutions to its clients. 

In August of 2002, Furry Hippo was relocated and remains headquartered in Point Roberts, WA.  Furry Hippo Incorporated in May of 2006 and continues to expand and grow.  We continue to provide consulting services to our flagship clients in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and are expanding our services to clients in Point Roberts and Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Furry Hippo, Inc. is now focused on providing entertainment industry clientele with cutting-edge information technology consulting while complementing it with an array of creative services including branding, marketing , and design.  Broadening our service offerings has allowed us to provide a more full-service offering to a diverse  client base of small businesses that need the functionality and appearance of a very large company without the high costs associated with infrastructure and services that large companies need.  Developing austere, creative solutions helps our smaller clients grow their companies into larger ones, and unify their marketing strategy and branding across all areas of their business.  In addition, we help them streamline their business processes, increase self-sufficiency and reduce their dependencies on outside support services including our own.

Furry Hippo's founder who has provided consulting services for high profile silicon valley professionals and the Hollywood elite, was recognized in the San Jose Mercury News in an article about the new phenomenon of 'my guys.' Glenn Lovell of the Mercury News reported on this new phenomenon of having an agent do your technology shopping for you.
"Graham McClusky is a ``my guy'' on a grand scale. McClusky worked at a Silicon Valley start-up until the dot-com bust; he likes to refer to himself as 'an expert troubleshooter, a jack of all trades.' He has researched and helped install everything from underwater speakers to home-theater systems to fingerprint ID plates -- all for what he discreetly calls his 'exclusive clientele' in the technology and entertainment industries."

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is why we chose the name; Furry Hippo.  Before brainstorming the name, we sat down and made a list of all of the requirements that a company name should meet, and came up with the following:
  • The name should be distinct & easy to remember.
  • The name should not be associated with one industry because of our involvement in both the Technology & Entertainment industries.
  • The equivalent domain name should be available.
  • The equivalent fictitious business name should also be available.
  • The name should be short and easy to spell and type so that people can find the website or contact us more easily.
  • The name should make people curious and want to know what the company does.
  • The name should lend itself to a fun, distinctive company logo to establish our brand.
  • The name should also be symbolic of the company personality.  
Although a Furry Hippo sounds like a cute and cuddly animal, the Hippopotamus is a ferocious animal and is tougher than most people think.  As a company we may appear cute and cuddly, but we're tougher than you think.

Coming up with the name involved some free association back and forth, and when hippo was decided upon we simply needed to find a descriptive adjective to add to it that hadn't already been used.  So that is how the name Furry Hippo was born.  We have attracted new clients while using our corporate card, because they asked what Furry Hippo was...so it appears the name is working. 

By now, you may be asking where the logo is...well, we have gone through several versions, and will soon be having a design contest for our new logo.  If you would like more information keep checking back here or feel free to contact us .
 
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