How are you doing on your branding?

[Former_Member]

I think I've got a cohesive brand established now (working on packaging as we speak), but I'm a bit nervous about adding more colors as I go on down the road.

I think your branding is constantly evolving.

So, how are you doing on your shop's brand?

[EVEofEurope]

The logo I choose is the one I stuck with from the beginning ... I try a few different ones over the holidays but I always come back to this one.
Mine has a story and it is black and white which is easy to rubber stamp on anything.
I am very happy with it :)

[Phoebedreams]

Hi Tiffany. Your shop is uber-cute, I love all the pastels!

I agree about branding, I think it evolves as we become more experienced and confident about what we are doing :)

Having said that, although I think my products are fairly cohesive, I've yet to get around to getting myself a new shop banner/avatar - it's been on my to-do list for ages, so maybe this will give me a push to get started!

[PithAndRootStudio]

My branding has been evolving since I started my shop almost two years ago, partly because my work also continues to evolve. That's why I find it difficult to boil everything down to one uniform message that is recognizable in everything I do. As I continue to play and experiment, I hope that my work will continue to become more unified in a mature style. In the meantime, I'm a little hesitant to lock myself down into one branding strategy. So, I'd say it's a work in progress for me right now.

[designedbyval]

I think I have a distinct brand with my banner, avatar, and business card all using the same logo. I change the pictures in my banner periodically but the logo stays the same.

[Former_Member]

My logo came first and I use it on everything, my products, business cards, postcards, my banner and avatar. I really wanted to make sure it stood out and was noticed.

[TheNorthWayStudio]

I've really been working on the whole branding aspects of the shop--it's coming along, but I'm still thinking of a logo. Overall though, the "rustic" look I've been wanting to go for is finally coming through!

[MinkuLUL]

oh that's a really broad topic! ;) I must say I struggle with it all the time - I was using a logo (a dandelion) for a long time, but it seems that myself and my shop are more recognizable if the logo is a picture of a scarf from my shop... now I'm using this avatar on fb and deviantart and, build my business card and my banner around it. I think it's important to stick to one motive and promote it everywhere ;)
In a way, I can see my idea is similar to yours - you use your gorgeous bowls photo as your avatar - I must say it looks great! I think it would look fine as a logo on a letter or on a business card!

[Former_Member]

Your shops all look so great! :)

I think the hardest part of branding is getting a cohesive style of photos... and picking out a single one to represent your brand.

I'm inspired by combining natural wood tones and colors that make me feel happy and feminine, so the bowl was a complete accidental avatar, lol. I was photographing them like that so I could get a color label chart up, and it just kind of hit me like, "Hey, that would make a great avatar."

This is a new shop on Etsy for me, so we'll see how it works, lol.

[WaterStreetDesign]

Your store is so pretty!
It is cohesive and I get a sense of your branding right away.
For me, it took about 6 months for me to get a feel for what my branding was all about.
Good luck with your lovely store!

[Former_Member]

It's a work in progress, isn't it? Even major brands are constantly changing.

I've tried to work in an old school vibe, literally. I use notebook paper fabric in many of my designs, and my backgrounds are often chalkboard and notebook paper. I was even considering having little golf pencils with my shop name on them to include in my packaging.

[Former_Member]

Like Melissa, I started with getting a logo that conveys my brand's message effectively and use it on everything - Etsy, Facebook, my website, business cards, stickers, mailings, emails, etc. While I will probably change some of the visual elements of my shop banner or Facebook wallpaper occasionally, the logo and color scheme is locked in - maintaining that consistency helps with brand recognition and creates a cohesive look. The part I'm still honing is conveying the same consistent message through other elements of my branding such as product descriptions, content of the about page, etc.

[TheWeeBitThings]

I'm just starting the branding of my shop. I just had a new banner implemented as well as a logo created (they match up). My colors are established. My blog header is coordinated. I've got the look of my packaging down to be cohesive with the logo, now I'm working on adding the logo to the invoices and the small gift I give with every package. It's getting there. Throughout it, I've been considering giving myself room for evolutions.

[Former_Member]

I am thinking about completely changing my branding. When I started this shop, I didn't think about that at all.

[Former_Member]

Initially I had a difficult time branding my business because the business itself kept evolving. But I've had my current logo for about 2 years now and don't plan on changing it anytime soon. I did change the colors of it recently though, and it fits perfectly with the direction my shop is heading so I'm content! You really need to have a confident direction with your business before the branding itself will fall into place and make sense.

[Former_Member]

Tiffany - your look is pretty and bright and clean. It goes really well with your items!

I changed my avatar and shop banner a year after I'd opened, thanks to the input of my team leader Georgina of Nevermore Dolls and Curious Doors.

I never initially intended to be my own model....it just sort of happened. With my shop being called after my Steampunk character (which sort of developed serendipitously to find it's purpose here) , I suppose it was inevitable. So, my initial black and white banner was replaced.

I'm lucky that 'Cap'n G.' and I are able to get together in person now and again. I must admit, for a person who loves making jewellery, I only tend to wear it on special occassions. I never was a girly girl but have long been a Live Roleplayer so taking on a character was the easy bit.

Georgina helped me out with hair and makeup and took some of the photos, along with my brother Matt of ArcaneArmoury. She also photoshopped a few quick banner suggestions. I then designed my banner by myself, keeping my favourite typeface and adding a compass.

I have set backgrounds for my items: copper taffeta, the copper taffeta damask you can see behind me and cream parchment (though I bleach that out a bit occassionally. It isn't *quite* white.)

Even the colours I use for making my items are carefully chosen - I just don't do silver. So, my shop has a growing cohesion.

My next step will come when I have the budget for it. I've found a talented graphic design artist here on Etsy whose style is a perfect fit for The Navigatrix. I plan on getting my packaging and business card designs all done by her. (Thankyou Universe for sending me floods of customers so I can help support other Etsy shops too ;)

I intend to keep refining my branding, gradually.

Regina - I love the your phrase 'room for evolutions'!