A major step for us...help? Direction?

[Former_Member]

I've been here for a while---on Etsy since 2006, in business since 2001.

I've decided it's time to completely rebrand my shop...change with the times (and boy have the times changed business/logo wise!) as I don't want to appear outdated.

Great, now I feel old.

Ok, well I'm NOT old, but alas, I feel my shop labels are, my overall look, etc. As our business goals have changed since my husband quit his day job as well---we need to do a bit of an overhaul as we push on in our new direction, as well as perhaps meet a newer target audience along with our original one.

Right now my shop has it's "old" labels/branding in it...it's very scary to undergo this process and I wondered if anyone else has ever completely rebranded their business after years of doing it "the old way", and had any words of wisdom/comfort to share.

[Former_Member]

I guess no one has done this before? LOL Great, now I'm more worried about it all...guess I'm set in my old ways too much.

[Former_Member]

I really like your shop. I don't think it needs an overhaul. You're product pictures look great and I really like your banner. If you were going going to change anything, I would like to see your shop name on your chapsticks for some consistency. I would also include the most important (for searches) three keywords as the start of your titles. Hope this helps!

[Former_Member]

My name used to appear on my lip balms and then I started getting so many custom orders for the other labels that I switched them over entirely. I'm not worried about my photos (but thanks for the compliment!)---but I do need to change my branding since it's not cohesive with the direction I want to take my shop in any more---I was just wondering if anyone else has ever done this--a complete re-branding--and how they best made the transition.

Search-wise I *think* I'm ok but I could be wrong...most people when searching for soap search by scent name first (I assume?) so that's how I've done it...wonder if I should change up a few though.

[Former_Member]

Okay. I wasn't really sure what you were asking. What direction do you want to take your shop? What specifically are you planning on doing? Changing labels on your items and your shop name? The only items titles I would alter would be "East Meets West Body Velvet Lotion - Shea Butter, Rice Bran" to "Shea Butter Lotion...etc." and "Whipped Cream Soap - Candied Ginger Orange Peel Body Souffle" to "Ginger Orange Whipped Cream Soap...etc" for some examples. But that's only because if I were shopping for those items, those are the keywords I would type in.
Best of luck <3

[Former_Member]

When re-branding look at big box stores and the lines they carry-they need to make changes that still fit 'their' look, but update it-for example, WalMart ditched the smily face (which I still miss!) and just used their name for a while (FYI-the star in Wal-Mart represents Sam Walton) they rebranded with a brighter blue and an astrick (spelling?). Subtle changes, but it did update the look and gave a 'fresher' look. Same with brands like Pepsi; they've changed their look over the years, but in such a way that if you see a Pepsi can from 10, 20, 30 years ago you still know it's a Pepsi can; same with Lays, Stayfree, Coleman, etc. Freshen your look, but keep elements from your old look, too.

[Former_Member]

Nicolette---that's very helpful--thanks! Especially the part about "Freshen your look but keep elements from your old look too" The Pepsi can is a great analogy.

[Former_Member]

Karina,
I know BuzzPlanet did a complete overhaul of her labels and branding for her shop and she looks great. Why don't you convo her for any suggestions. Just a thought. :)
to edit she is listed as Puurbody now

[Former_Member]

Thanks Barbara, I just might do that! I've had a new logo designed (not the one in my shop now), and getting my labels worked on as well as banners, avatars, etc. After I brainstorm a bit about fine-tuning my packaging and the new way I want to wrap my bars for shipping, I might give her a shout down the road and see if she has any hints/tips she'd be willing to share with me...this is a long process, boy, lemme tell ya! I'm not looking forward to having to shoot all new photos as well. :/

[Former_Member]

Btw---these look DIVINE!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/90064406/chocolate-hearts-shea-butter-glycerin

[ShopGreyweather]

Karina -
I just added you to my favorites because I think you have some items that would be great for myself and friends. I think you might want to modernize your banner, avatar, and labels. Something with a little oomph or something really understated and simple. Also I think having all matching labels (along with your banner etc) would help create an overall brand effect for you. With each item having different labels it looks like things might not be from the same shop. Love your items though :)

[Former_Member]

Your shop doesn't really need redesigning or anything like that. I think some of your pictures might want retaking but to be honest, maybe it's just that, since you've had this shop for 6 years, YOU feel it looks outdated. Have you considered that to a fresh pair of eyes it looks like any other Etsy shop - which I don't mean in a bad way, I simply mean it looks up to date.

As I said, some of your pictures might want polishing. Using a white background with things like soaps can make them look even fresher, or perhaps if you had a single appropriate prop for each scent it would add to it too - a lemon wedge for lemon soap, some pieces of cinnamon or vanilla for the appropriate scents and so on. Perhaps include some hint of its packaging too?

Honestly though, I'm in love with you Keep Calm and Carry On lipbalms ♥ and I just know that some of my friends would love them too!

[CopperLeafStudios]

>"Freshen your look but keep elements from your old look too"

this is great advice -- I think the key is that you don't lose your identity in your rebranding. Someone brought up BuzzPlanet -- when she rebranded it took me weeks to figure out it was her, and I saw her in the forums regularly. You don't want to confuse your customers, or worse people who were potential customers but hadn't quite made the purchase, by changing too much at once. This happens on Twitter a lot -- people will change their name and their avatar, and they will lose followers because people just don't know who they are. The first rule of business is always "don't confuse your customer". Short of that, freshen up, and enjoy the process! :)

[Former_Member]

Christen BoydfromBelleReveDesigns says

Karina -
I just added you to my favorites because I think you have some items that would be great for myself and friends. I think you might want to modernize your banner, avatar, and labels. Something with a little oomph or something really understated and simple. Also I think having all matching labels (along with your banner etc) would help create an overall brand effect for you. With each item having different labels it looks like things might not be from the same shop. Love your items though :)
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Thanks---you're a sweetheart :)

Yep---work is being done on all of my labelling as we speak, and of course I'll be getting new business cards and all that to match. I really started to do this only a week ago or so---it's all very new to me. I cannot wait to see it all being pulled together as time goes on!

[Former_Member]

Kim WedlockfromDandelionGrenade says Edited on Jan 25, 2012

Your shop doesn't really need redesigning or anything like that. I think some of your pictures might want retaking but to be honest, maybe it's just that, since you've had this shop for 6 years, YOU feel it looks outdated. Have you considered that to a fresh pair of eyes it looks like any other Etsy shop - which I don't mean in a bad way, I simply mean it looks up to date.

As I said, some of your pictures might want polishing. Using a white background with things like soaps can make them look even fresher, or perhaps if you had a single appropriate prop for each scent it would add to it too - a lemon wedge for lemon soap, some pieces of cinnamon or vanilla for the appropriate scents and so on. Perhaps include some hint of its packaging too?

Honestly though, I'm in love with you Keep Calm and Carry On lipbalms ♥ and I just know that some of my friends would love them too!
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I'm not talking about redoing my shop, though---I'm talking about redesigning my brand---two totally different things :)

I like how my shop looks too ;) Unfortunately once I do introduce my new labelling, logo and such, I will have to take over most of my photos :/ If you look at the last photo in each of my listing it shows how they are packaged now---which will be changing (thus new photos!)

[Former_Member]

I just checked your store and I think that your product is nice. Changing the brand I do not think is a good idea bc you have built customers already and sometimes customers come back hoping to find the brand they feel confy and know for some time. I think you banner has too much white and probably updating it will be your best shot. just my thought.

[Former_Member]

I really like the simple look and brightness to the "keep calm" and carry on" lipbalms. I would try to tie the labels on your soaps to be more cohesive with your other products.

[Former_Member]

ChrisfromCopperLeafStudios says

>"Freshen your look but keep elements from your old look too"

this is great advice -- I think the key is that you don't lose your identity in your rebranding. Someone brought up BuzzPlanet -- when she rebranded it took me weeks to figure out it was her, and I saw her in the forums regularly. You don't want to confuse your customers, or worse people who were potential customers but hadn't quite made the purchase, by changing too much at once. This happens on Twitter a lot -- people will change their name and their avatar, and they will lose followers because people just don't know who they are. The first rule of business is always "don't confuse your customer". Short of that, freshen up, and enjoy the process! :)
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Man, I didn't even know that was Buzz until you just said so!!
I'm not changing my business name---that will stay the same,--SoapThatMakesScents as well as my Etsy username (for those curious here on this forum).

[Former_Member]

HK CastillofromBusyHandsbyHKC



says
I just checked your store and I think that your product is nice. Changing the brand I do not think is a good idea bc you have built customers already and sometimes customers come back hoping to find the brand they feel confy and know for some time. I think you banner has too much white and probably updating it will be your best shot. just my thought.
____________

I'm thinking along the Pepsi/Coke analogy that someone used earlier...Pepsi changed their look a few times..same with Coke. It didn't stop millions of people from keeping on drinking it, kwim? I think the idea, as a couple of people have mentioned before, is to not change completely so as to confuse people---but keep a little bit of the old with the new so that the brand is still a recognizable one even with the changes.

[studionubbo]

When I read your first post, I was expecting to go to your shop and see something really outdated! So I was pleasantly surprised to see your lovely shop!

My day job is in branding and others have hit it on the head when they've mentioned freshening things up but still keeping the essence of your brand.

You're well established and so it's important to keep the recognition of your brand. A lot of the time when I've worked on these types of projects, it's about stripping things back a bit and give them a cleaner and more modern look.

If I was working with you, I'd suggest going for some more modern fonts and slightly cutting down the swirls. Just to get some more 'space' into things. I don't think you've got a massive amount of work to do at all :).

Best of luck with it all!

[Former_Member]

Ruthie KallaifromFeatherFunded says

I really like the simple look and brightness to the "keep calm" and carry on" lipbalms. I would try to tie the labels on your soaps to be more cohesive with your other products.
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Yes! My new label designer brought this up too---while the labels I have now are nice, they aren't really cohesive with one another---I'm trying to work on that. It's good to get everyone's advice here :)

[Former_Member]

You're well established and so it's important to keep the recognition of your brand. A lot of the time when I've worked on these types of projects, it's about stripping things back a bit and give them a cleaner and more modern look.

If I was working with you, I'd suggest going for some more modern fonts and slightly cutting down the swirls. Just to get some more 'space' into things. I don't think you've got a massive amount of work to do at all :).

Best of luck with it all!
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Thank you so much for this advice---I'm a huge fan of swirls but I will absolutely consider toning it down a bit and not making it such a forefront in my new labelling.

[Former_Member]

I was just checking out your shop, and it's gorgeous! The banner, pictures, colors, I love everything. It looks very clean and together. I personally don't think you need a re-branding, but I'm sure whatever you decide will be amazing.

[Former_Member]

Ashley, I think what it is mostly is that all of that doesn't scream "me" anymore---at least I don't believe so. I want something where someone sees an item of mine, or a photo of it. and knows it came from my shop---or sees my logo and knows my shop name and directly ties that image to my shop and what I offer--a feeling, an emotion, a moment of recognition--- that sort of thing. I don't know if I ever really *had* that since starting in the business in 2001.