Sarah Clarke’s Post

What's in a name? You may not think often about branding, but the recent WH Smith branding story (or was it a stunt?) is well worth reading about in this excellent and free article from Creative Review (when you have a few minutes). You will learn more about the art, science, role, and relevance of branding through a real-life case study, one on which you are bound to have an opinion! #insurance #reinsurance #insurancePR #insurancecommunications

A recent WHSmith branding ‘trial’ on a small number of shop fronts caused a bit of a stir. Alongside a shortened version of its logo, new signage features a list of products sold in-store and location name. The new white on blue block capital WHS logo caused confusion and has been criticised for its similarity to NHS branding.   Although WHSmith have confirmed they are just testing the new signage and have no plans to roll it out further, the ensuing debate on social media is proof that people really do care about logos and for a brand like WHSmith, where their logo is a high street fixture, attention is particularly intense.   The episode highlights just how carefully rebranding needs to be handled with the strategy and story behind it well prepared. Brands rely on logos and identities more than ever to resonate with customers and consistency is key when people need to know at a glance who is speaking to them - both in real-life and digital space. Rebranding ALWAYS needs to be planned and thought through carefully. Which logos are you most attached to and wouldn’t want to see change?   https://lnkd.in/eC8HrXkf   #branding #brandidentity #logodesign #rebrand #graphicdesign #design #visualcommunication

Signs are more than just visuals; they're brand ambassadors. Discover the crucial role they play in this blog post I found. Ready to take your brand to new heights? Send me a message today! 🚀 https://lnkd.in/eheiXSfm #poyantsigns #signage #business

Should you go for a literal logo? It depends. Here’s why: If your brand name is self-explanatory like BK (Burger King). Having a literal logo isn’t as effective. If your brand name states clearly what your brand is about, I don’t see any reason why you should repeat that in your logo. I think this presents an opportunity to capture something pivotal about your brand in your logo. I feel it’s a wasted opportunity IMO much like a wasted Ad space. Secondly, a literal logo limits your TA’s perception of your brand When Burger King first started in 1954, its menu was simpler, focusing primarily on burgers, fries, and beverages. The original flagship product was the Whopper, introduced in 1957, and it quickly became one of the chain's signature offerings. Over the years the brand has evolved & expanded its menu to include a wider variety of items. The future is unpredictable. You never know what business looks like tomorrow. You may find yourself adding new products to your product line or changing the nature of your business. Which means two things: rebranding your visual identity (costly) or having to spend an arm & a leg on marketing. Whichever direction you take, you'll still end up spending lots of money. “Dickens, but BK is crushing” Yes, the brand is doing significantly well. However, do you know that BK has been in existence since 1954? More so, BK’s marketing is great. I’d argue they spend lots of money on it. If you’re going to go the BK route, you might as well prep yourself financially. Otherwise, why not avoid going there? Meaning you can adopt what brands like Nike, Puma, Dell or Tesla have done. Instead of going with literal logos, these brands have abstract logos. Which say nothing about what these brands do (services provided). That gives them the leverage to add different products to their product lines without feeling the need to rebrand. I’d like to know what you think. If you found this post interesting, please ♻️ repost/share it with a friend. #brand #logo #logos #founders #ceo #branding #brandesigner

If you're a business owner, you've likely heard about the importance of a strong brand. But have you heard that signage is one of the most effective ways to make your brand visible, appealing, and memorable? Visit our blog to explore four big reasons why promoting your brand with signage is so important: https://bit.ly/3HjywQR #Branding #Sign #Signage

Here is what I imagine Reid’s Dairy’s branding could look like if they rebranded for an upscale ice cream parlour 🍦 Remember the iconic cow, train and castle as a kid getting icream with your family in the 90’s? I’ve kept a few of those elements and added modern colours, fonts and an overall inviting feeling to the branding to continue the spirit of this local, family run business. What do you think? Are you looking for a brand identity to boost your business and get the right target audience interested in your product? I bet you’re tired of trying to DIY your logo and researching ways to successfully build your brand. Save that time, and give me a shout. Let’s meet for a coffee (on me), and chat about your dream business! Visit my website by clicking the link on my profile.

Amidst the sea of competition, standing out as a business is hard. So how can your brand shine brighter and attract more attention? The answer might just be as simple as flipping a switch – illuminated business signs. Today on the blog, explore why more and more businesses are utilizing the power of lighted signage to convey and support their brand identity. https://lnkd.in/eKym-bRT

I wonder what the strategic reason was for the rebrand of WHSmith? This is a classic case of thinking that an acronym will adequately replace your well known brand name. Bearing in mind the name WAS the logo, in my opinion this is a classic fail. I also wonder how much they invested in the new logo? Anyone want to hazard a guess? https://lnkd.in/eZWihU77 Would love to take a look at the brand strategy for this. More on this when I have dug a little deeper. #branding #brandstrategy #brandagency

Having worked on a few iconic brands, I understand the desire to modernize the brand visual identity to be more relevant to current consumers while attracting new ones. However, when the brand holds the Guinness world record for the oldest, unchanged brand (not touched in 140 years!), is the change worth giving up the title? Curious what their current customers thought of the original design, how it differed from the POV of future customers they were seeking to attract, and the insights that led to updating a 140 year old logo. More here: https://lnkd.in/ejuyZfAD #Branding #BrandIdentity #BrandBuilding

🚀 In my recent project, I chose to rebrand Warehouse Group, a beloved Canadian restaurant chain! Explore the evolution and insights behind my creative process in my latest Medium article. 📖 From revitalizing the logo to introducing dynamic motion graphics, this project challenged me to explore new avenues in brand identity design. Excited to share this journey with you and hear your thoughts! ✨ #Rebranding #GraphicDesign #BrandIdentity #RestaurantIndustry #CreativeProcess #DesignJourney #LinkedInPost