Author: Sarah De Nicolais

Sarah De Nicolais graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelors in Communication.

The Business of Branding: How to Use Blogging to Grow your Business

In today’s tech-savvy world, we turn to Google, Bing or another search engine for our unanswered questions. Often times, considering how you think will lead you down the right road for thinking like your potential customers. So it’s not hard to see why so many businesses are blogging. Blogging is one of the many ways you can give your brand a voice, show that there are people behind your business, and relate to your customers. But these aren’t the only benefits of updating your blog regularly; websites with current blog content also rank higher and gain more traffic than those that don’t. So in today’s The Business of Branding post, we’ll show you how blogging can help grow your business.

  1. Broaden your Customer Base

What small business doesn’t want more customers? The first way blogging can help your business succeed is by growing your customer base. As we mentioned before, so many of us head to our favorite search engine when you want to learn something, and by blogging, you make yourself findable in a search. For example, if you’re the owner of a small pet boutique specializing in holistic pet foods and environmentally-friendly pet toys, you may write about the benefits of feeding your animals a grain-free diet. You could also blog about why a certain toy is better for pets’ teeth than another. However, the key to blogging is to make your content compelling and provide value. Give your readers accurate information that answers their questions. The other trick is to play by the search engines rules and use relevant keywords. This will help search engines find your blog to then provide to your potential customers. In your post, include backlinks to the products you refer to and introduce your readers to your products.

2. Communicate with your Customers

Your business’ blog is also a great place to communicate with your customers. Use your blog as a platform to tell your customers about new products, answer commonly asked questions, and inform them of things happening within your company.  Customers appreciate businesses that are honest and transparent and your blog is a great tool to establish your company as that type of business. When others stumble upon your blog, they’ll be pleased to see this is the type of business you are and more inclined to become a customer.

3. Share your Knowledge

Whether you’re in the restaurant industry, a fashion designer, or a manufacturer of custom logo stamps, you’re educated in your area of expertise. Use your blog as a tool to show the world you’re an expert in your industry. For example, if you’re a graphic designer, you could write a detailed blog post about the differences between vector and rasterized artwork is. By providing information that isn’t widely known, you’ll show the world that you’re an authority in your industry and make your work more creditable. Your blog is also a great place to share tips, tools and suggestions that your customers will find beneficial.

Just like no two businesses are the same, no two blogs are the same. Your blog should be an accurate representation of your brand, featuring your logo, color scheme, and your company’s overall identity. Successful blogs provide value to their readers, use relevant search terms, and hold content the world will want to share. It’s also very important your blog is visually-appealing, so include photos, infographics and videos whenever possible. Create a blog your current and potential customers will want to visit with content they’ll want to absorb and watch how it will positively impact your business!

Gift Ideas for your New Years Eve Host

How will you be ringing in the New Year this December 31st? If you’ll be celebrating with your family or friends at someone’s house, don’t forget to consider the time and effort that goes into planning a party. From invitations to food and beverages, planning an amazing New Years Eve bash is no easy task. While hosts enjoy having their loved ones around on such an important day and are happy to play the role, be sure show them just how grateful you are with a small gift. We’ve put together a few of our favorite NYE party host gift ideas to make finding the perfect present easy!

  • Custom Cutting Boards

If your party host is the foodie of your family or friend group, give them a personalized glass or wooden cutting board. This thoughtful yet practical gift is something they can use on both a daily basis and when entertaining guests.

  • Personalized Beer Mugs

A custom beer mug is a “thank you” gift your host will be able to use right away. Bring along their favorite beer and pour them a cold one in their new mug just in time for the ball to drop.

  • Beer Growlers

Is your New Years Eve host a craft beer enthusiast? If they know the difference between saaz and crystal hops, they definitely are. So what better way to thank them than with a custom beer growler?

  • Monogrammed Coasters

Coasters are another great gift that your host can use every time they throw a party or even a small gathering. Whether they love modern, feminine designs, just got hitched, or are an eligible bachelor, there’s a coaster designed with everyone in mind!

  • Personalized Wine Glasses

Does your host love a good glass of wine or champagne? Choose from a clever, funny saying or personalize it with their initials. When it’s time to cheers at midnight, they’ll sip their champagne from their new favorite glass.

  • Custom Wine Bottle Bags

This gift is also great for wine lovers! Choose from a variety of different colors and monogram designs, then pair it with their favorite bottle of wine.

After the ball drops and the new year begins, many of us are working towards our resolutions. No matter how your host defines success, help them reach their goals in the new year with a motivational sign.

  • Custom Photo Gifts

A great photograph is a gift that will always be cherished, no matter who your recipient is. If your host is your close friend, give them a custom photo gift of the two of you that will remind them of your cherished friendship, or use one of their beautiful family portraits.

Not only is planning a party often time-consuming, it can also be expensive. No matter what you choose to bring your host, be sure to let them know you appreciate their hard work and your invitation with a thoughtful gift.

Have a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2018!

The Business of Branding: Logo Design Tips & Trends

Your logo speaks volumes about your company, from who you are to what you do, and is arguably one of the most defining elements of your brand. It’s extremely important when developing your brand identity that you design your logo to accurately represent your brand. In the world of design, trends are ever evolving, but there are also many constants you’ll see in strong, successful logos. So today we’ll give you our tips for designing your company’s logo and share the current logo trends for inspiration.

Variation in logos is essential because it shows no two businesses are the same. While seeking inspiration from other brands and identifying elements that reflect how you want your brand to feel is helpful, your logo should be entirely your own. That being said, there are a few things strong logos all have in common.

What do GREAT logos have in common?

First of all, they’re simple. Often times we get excited when designing our logo and want to include as many different design elements as possible, but this can be distracting to potential consumers. Keep it simple by making every design decision with a clear intention. Why do you want your logo to contain three separate colors, or why do you want leaves surrounding your company’s name? If you can’t answer these questions indefinitely, you’ll know they’re unnecessary.

Secondly, powerful logos are always versatile. Keep in mind you’ll be using your logo across different mediums when you’re in the design phase. Your company’s logo should work well on both your website, social media accounts, printed business cards, or company brochures.

Your logo should also be timeless. We sometimes want to design our logo based on what’s trendy, but if your company is as successful as we all hope it will be, you don’t want to design a logo that will be out of style in 10 years.

Most importantly, your logo needs to be memorable. Be sure to design a logo that your customers will be able to easily identify. Make sure it’s unique and is a clear representation of your brand.

What are some of today’s trends in logo design?

Simplification

Over the last few years, companies like Airbnb, MasterCard and even Google have chosen to simplify their logos.  By choosing simpler fonts and color palettes, they’re able to give their logo a look that’s still easily identifiable as their brand, but is more aesthetically pleasing. Complex logos often make consumers lose focus, which is why large corporations are making their logos more clean cut and memorable.

Texture

By adding certain textures to a logo, companies are able to let their brand speak without really say anything at all. There’s an endless number of different textures to add to your logo to make it feel different ways. For example, some companies add texture to their logos to give their brand a rustic or vintage feel.

Geometric Shapes

For years geometry has been used in logos, but the way designers are using it these days is what’s so unique. Whether the logo is made completely of geometry or is the company’s icon, brands are speaking through geometric shapes. If you choose to go this route with your brand, be sure your design makes sense for your brand.

Hand-Sketched Logos

Hand-drawn logos are popular for smaller or more artistic brands. While they’re generally harder to translate to computers than a digital design, they humanize brands, which is extremely important to today’s consumers. If you want to give your company a small-business feel, a sketched logo may be a good option for you, but be sure you make similar decisions when developing the rest of your brand strategy.

Negative Space

Negative space logos are generally used to attract attention. It also gives the brand an opportunity to build meaning within the negative space. These logos are often designed to make consumers think twice.

Cropping

Cropped logos are rooted in the idea that less is more. This approach to design argues that we don’t need to see the entirety of a letter of word to understand what it means.

Searching for more inspiration for creating a logo? You may find it helpful to view an analysis of some The Best & Worst Real Estate Logos of 2018. This article features useful examples as well as tips for making an unforgettable logo.

Designing your logo will likely be one of the most exciting times in developing your brand. Be sure not to rush through the process, hire professional assistance when necessary, and make every decision with a set intention. Once you’ve decided on a final logo for your company, be sure to keep different versions of your logo, like PSD and other vector art files, in a safe place for future promotional use. In our next “The Business of Branding” post, we’ll share ideas for affordably branding your small business!

Learn how to establish your brand voice and position here.

7 Employee Gift Ideas for the Holiday Season

The holiday season is quickly approaching! For many industries, that means the busiest time of the year is here and businesses will be  working extra hard to keep up with the demand. Whether your company is hiring seasonal employees or your year-round employees will be working longer hours, it’s important that the hard work and dedication doesn’t go unnoticed.

The holidays are a time to show our gratitude towards those around us, and your employees are no exception. There are many ways to show your employee appreciation, from throwing a holiday party for your whole team to gift giving. Here are some of our favorite business holiday gifts ideas to show your employees just how thankful you are to have them on your team!

1. Business Card Holders

Do your employees go to conferences and other external meetings? Do they enjoy going out and mingling with other professionals? Give your team members something classy to carry around their business cards in! These days, making connections means everything. A personalized business card holder is a great way to help your team members make a powerful first impression.

2. Travel Coffee Mugs

Pretty much everyone loves a good cup of coffee, but we don’t always love when our hot cup turns cold, or iced coffee gets warm. A custom travel coffee mug will give your employees an easy way to bring their coffee into work with them and make sure it stays at their preferred temperature. Personalize the outer sleeve with either your employee’s initials, or make them all uniform by adding the company logo.

 

3. Luggage Tags

Do your employees travel often for work? More and more companies are requiring work travel, and whether your team members take a trip twice a year or every month, you want to make sure their trip goes as smoothly as possible. To help add ease to their travels, give your employees personalized luggage tags so they’ll always be able to quickly identify their bags.

4. Fun Desk Plates

We all love a little desk decor. Our work space is our home-away-from-home, and it’s important we feel comfortable while we’re there. A funny desk plate is a great way to keep gift giving light and fun. We love trendy desk plates here at Holmes Custom, so we’ve got many designs to choose from! Give your team member a desk plate that will make them laugh or keep them motivated.

5. Motivational Signs

Speaking of motivation and decor, our motivational signage is a great way to keep your team members going. Not only will it add a pop of color to their desk or office, it’ll also be a gentle, fun reminder to keep working “like a boss.”

6. Funny Coffee Mugs

There’s a coffee mug for every employee in your office within our collection of fun designs. For the coffee lovers that always seem to have a cup in their hand, order them the “Coffee Before Talkie” or “But First, Coffee” mug. There’s also an option for every Harry Potter-lover, Proud Mom or Dad, and Veteran on your team.

7. Employee Awards

If you’re throwing a holiday party, it’s always a fun idea to involve employee awards. Celebrate anniversaries and reaching sales goals, or come up with a list of funny awards. At Holmes Custom, we’ve got a huge selection of awards to choose ranging in price points and designs.

There are so many fun, creative ways to express your gratitude this holiday season. Be sure you don’t let your appreciation go unnoticed and find the perfect gift for all of your team members at Holmes Custom!

 

The Business of Branding: Establishing your Company Culture

What is your company culture and how will it affect your business? You can think of your company culture as the personality of your business, from your workplace environment to team values, company-wide goals to overall expectations. Today we’ll be sharing the importance of establishing your company culture and how this internal element and your business’ brand are closely knit together.

When we think of a great company culture, many of us think of the napping nooks at Google or the tuition reimbursement provided by Starbucks. Many businesses understand that by taking care of their employees, they will in turn be loyal to the company and work hard at everything they do. But what many people don’t realize is that a company’s culture and the business’ brand should be integrated. The most powerful branding starts from within. If you have a team full of individuals ready to show the world how great your company is, whether it’s two or 200 people, you’re already a step ahead of your competition.

Now more than ever, consumers are showing their loyalty to companies they can relate to. They want to see the faces behind the business they’re supporting, which is why humanizing your brand and company culture has become so important. While we here at Holmes Custom have grown exponentially over the years, we value our small business status and our team of #Holmies. Our brand and values makes for a natural connection with so many of our customers because they too are either small business owners or a part of a small business team. We’re eager to help equip their small business with the tools they need and chase their dreams.

Once you’ve defined your brand, you have the foundation for your company culture. What do you value as a company and what is your purpose? If you’re an energetic fitness business helping your customers reach their health goals, your culture should be motivational and competitive.

No matter what your company represents, marrying your brand and culture will give you a powerful platform to create a company that’s both cohesive and authentic. Be sure you’re being unique when establishing what you want your company’s culture to be. It’s easy to look at successful corporations and mock their strategies, but if you create a company culture that is unique to your brand, standing apart will be easy.

When building your team, look for candidates that naturally possess the characteristics you want your business to have. If customer service is a top priority, look for friendly, out-going individuals who want to see your customer’s smile. If you’re opening a high-scale bar that serves craft cocktails, search for drink enthusiasts with keen attention to detail. By finding the right team and creating a solid, transparent company culture, you’re giving your employees the tools they need to succeed. By being clear with your company values, your team will never have to guess what is the right decision and will feel empowered to make judgment calls they know you will approve of.

Once your company culture has been established, let it be known. If you work in an office environment, set a small portion of your budget aside to decorate with motivational signs or other decor to represent your culture. Celebrate achievements with your employees, whether it’s with something as simple as an ice cream social or as big as a weekend retreat for the whole team. Be sure to document it in a professional yet fun and engaging way on your company blog or social media accounts. Not only will your customers enjoy seeing the faces that work so hard behind the scenes, your team will also know they’re a valued part of your company’s mission.

In the next “The Business of Branding” post, you can look forward to learning all about establishing your brand voice!

 

 

 

 

Welcoming Jax Beach Elementary on Manufacturing Day

At Holmes Custom, we love to give back to our Jacksonville community! One of the ways we choose to do so is by hosting an annual field trip for the Jacksonville Beach Elementary School first graders. This is a fun tradition we started in 2010, but something that made this year’s field trip even more special is it took place on Manufacturing Day! Manufacturing Day occurs on the first Friday of every October and it’s purpose is to celebrate modern manufacturing and inspire the next generation of manufacturers. As we prepared for this year’s field trip day, we knew there couldn’t have been a better day to invite these students into our Jacksonville facility.

As the school bus pulled into our parking lot early Friday morning, team members from different departments were ready in their stations to welcome the kids. From customer service to shipping, product development to production, there were hands-on stations set up throughout the building to show the students what we do here at Holmes.

We started the day off with a welcome speech by our CEO, Bryan Croft, then the kids followed him over to the “clock in” area where each student “punched in to work”. Next, they broke into groups and traveled around to the different areas. In our production department, they learned how name tags, buttons, stickers and stamps are made, and at the end of each activity they got a fun gift to bring home.

They also visited our Marketing department to learn about product development and come up with creative ideas for products of their own, from coffee mugs to Halloween stamp designs. Our customer service team taught the students about how we prioritize our customers needs to ensure they’re always happy, and about some of the other products we offer on our websites. In the shipping department, they got to see all the different corners of the country we ship to on a daily basis, and of course, left with a few of our signature tootsie rolls!

“What started out as an opportunity to help my daughters’ school with a field trip to our office has really evolved into a fun event for us and the students,” said CEO Bryan Croft. “This one day a year when we open up the office for 80 or so first graders, we try to teach them what it’s all about here, but also work on what they’re learning in school. We teach them the importance of spelling correctly and taking your time as haste makes waste. We also talk about team building and brain storming new ideas for products.”

Every year there’s at least a few students completely fascinated by some of the manufacturing jobs we offer our community here at Holmes Custom. We pride ourselves on the products we make everyday, but to see how excited these children get about our company is a completely different joy of it’s own.  We can’t wait to welcome the next group of first graders in 2018! To learn more about Manufacturing Day, click here.

The Business of Branding: Establishing your Brand Style

Now that you’ve turned your brilliant business idea into actionable company goals, it’s time to create your business’ identity. What makes a business recognizable? Often times it’s their unique product or their friendly staff, but the way you visually present your company also has a lasting impression. For this week’s The Business of Branding topic, we’ll show you how to establish your brand’s style, from designing your logo to selecting the perfect color palette.

Get Inspired

Many aspiring small business owners dream for years of turning their passion into a full-time job, so finding inspiration for their brand style is easy. Whether you’ve already gathered elements for your dream brand or really aren’t even sure where to begin, creating an inspiration board will help you keep all of your thoughts in one space. Before you begin nailing down your style, look for logos, fonts, design elements and color palettes that speak to you. If there’s a brand you love or that makes you feel something you’d like your customers to feel, look to them for inspiration. While you never want to mock an existing brand, it’s ok to find pieces of inspiration in others. Just be sure your brand is unique in its own ways so it stands apart.

Create your Logo

Once you’ve found different elements of inspiration, the best place to begin is with your brand’s logo. While other elements of your brand’s style will be greatly important in branding your business, your logo is at the core of your brand and should be designed with that in mind. Many small businesses choose to hire a Graphic Designer because they know best how to take your inspiration and create the logo you’ve been dreaming of.

“Designing the perfect logo can seem like a very crucial or stressful task, but breaking it down into smaller steps makes it more feasible, and also a lot more fun,” said Graphic Designer Elizabeth Wyatt. “I recommend coming up with a list of adjectives or ‘buzz words’ that describe or convey what you want a customer to feel when they see your logo. Knowing whether you want your logo to be lighthearted and casual, sophisticated and serious, or anything in between, is a perfect first step that can tremendously help in guiding you or your designer in the right design direction for your brand.”

Whether you hire a designer or create your own logo, it’s a good idea to have different variations. Start with your main logo then design a smaller variation, like an icon, that will be easier to add to pictures, graphics, etc.

Choose your Font(s)

Many people believe their font(s) should be chosen before their logo is designed, but the opposite is actually true. Your fonts should be complimentary to your logo since your logo is the main point of focus. That being said, your typography is still a crucial feature of your branding. Different fonts have the power to make your customers feel a certain way, just like colors do. More and more companies are choosing to use multiple fonts in their branding, but if you do go that route, it’s extremely important your fonts work well together.

Select your Color Palette

When choosing your color palette, consider your company goals and think about what you want your brand to feel like. If you’re opening a holistic spa, you may choose shades of blue which represent loyalty and calmness. Choose shades of yellow if you want your customers to feel energized and positive when they interact with your brand. After you’ve determined what emotions you’d like your company to evoke, choose your brand’s main color and a few complimentary colors. Be sure they aren’t battling one another for your customer’s attention.

Pick your Design Elements

Finally, it’s time to choose your brand’s design elements. These elements can be many different things including textures, graphics or images, to name a few. While they may seem like a minor detail, you’ll be surprised how often you’ll use your design elements when creating your website, establishing your social media presence, etc.

Creating your brand style is one of the most important things you’ll do while getting your small business off the ground! Establishing a cohesive, memorable brand for your business will help you connect with your future customers, and will also make sure they remember who you are. Now that you’ve spent so much time developing your brand style, be sure to compile all of these elements into a brand style guide. Your style guide will help you stay consistent in your business’ branding and will also make it easy for new hires to quickly catch on. Next time, we’ll discuss how to identify your brand’s culture and make your business more relatable to consumers.

 

7 Things you Need for Tailgating this Football Season

 

Football season is officially among us, which means you need to be prepared for your weekly tailgate! Get ready for the football season with these fun but also useful products you’ll definitely need at every tailgate. Better yet, you can personalize each item to add even more team spirit to your pre-game party!

1. Stadium Cushion

Bring your personalized stadium cushion along for both the tailgate and the game! They’re perfect for both the tailgate of a truck or the stadium seats. Be comfortable in style while you cheer on your favorite team. Choose from a variety of different designs, plus add your own names, dates, messages – the possibilities are endless!

2. Custom Koozie

Koozies are one of a sports fan’s favorite accessories. Not only do they keep your beverage cool on a hot day, but you can also represent your team. Personalize your team-themed koozie with your initials to make it even more special.

3. Water Bottle

Staying hydrated during a long sporting event can be a challenge. Bring your custom water bottle along and never worry about getting thirsty. This 16 oz. bottle is stylish, affordable, and you’ll never have to wonder which one is yours!

4. Car Flags

Driving your car to the tailgate? Then you definitely need to be sure you’re representing your team with these personalized car flags! These fun designs are sure to turn heads because no one else will have anything like them.

5. Grilling Utensils

A seasoned tailgater will know it’s not a proper tailgate without a grill. Be sure not to forget your grilling utensils so you can make your hamburgers or BBQ chicken. Personalize the wooden box with your favorite team’s logo.

6. Cutting Boards

If you’re tailgating the right way, you’ll definitely need a cutting board. Chop up your veggies for your burger grilled to perfection or to add to your kabobs for a pre-game meal that will be sure to satisfy.

7. Custom License Plate

Your custom license plate will stay on the front of your card long after the season is over. But while it’s here be sure to let everyone know who you’re rooting for as soon as you pull into the parking lot.

With these personalized products, you’ll be the most spirited fan at the game! Not only will they help you throw the perfect tailgate, but you’ll want to keep using them all year long to bring back this football season’s memories. Get ready for a season of tailgating and cheering your favorite team on with us at Holmes Custom.

Gifts for Dad: Because Nothing’s More Personal than Something Personalized

Finding the perfect gift for Dad can be challenging. What do you buy for the man who already has it all? Another tie? A bottle of cologne? Instead of racking your brain for ways to be unique and creative, make your life a little easier with our guide to the best personalized Father’s Day gifts. Whether he’s a grilling fanatic or loves his man cave, we’ve got you covered.

 

  1. Trendy Monogram Coasters

These leatherette coasters are add an elegant touch to your Dad’s favorite lounging space. They’ll fit perfectly on the end table next to his lazy boy or on the bar in the game room. Personalize them with his initials for a gift he knows you went the extra mile for.

  1. A Mug for the Mornings

Get Dad a gift that will make him smile each time he starts the day with a cup of joe. Customize a coffee mug with whatever sweet reminder you think he would love to see in the mornings, like this Papa Bear design. If coffee isn’t enough to make his day, your message certainly will be.

  1. The Classic Street Sign

Because what Dad wouldn’t love to hang a street sign in his man cave? Customize your order to match his personal style. The possibilities are endless with this classic piece of décor.

  1. Personalized Cutting Board

If your Dad loves to spend time in the kitchen, this may be the perfect gift for him. This laser engraved, bamboo cutting board makes chopping fun and personal. Add his initials, your family’s last name or “Chef Dad” for a personalized, thoughtful gift.

  1. World’s #1 Dad Beer Mug

This “World’s #1 Dad” beer mug is the perfect gift for your favorite beer enthusiast. Give him the gift of a cold beer on a Friday afternoon from his new favorite glass. With three lines to personalize, change up the message as you wish or keep it simple.

  1. Photo Puzzle

Take his favorite memory and turn it into a fun activity you can enjoy together. This custom, 60 piece puzzle is great for Dad to assemble with kids of all ages. The gloss finish will keep the pieces alive as long as the memories.

  1. & 8. Monogram Leatherette Accessories

This present takes the traditional wallet gift for Dad a step further by adding personalization. He always appreciates a new wallet, but make it even more special by adding his name or initials. These custom leatherette accessories are perfect for your entrepreneur or businessman Dad. Gift him a matching folio as well to bring to work meetings.

With an array of personalized gifts to choose from, the perfect gift for every Dad can be found at Holmes Custom. Best of all, all personalized gifts ship next business day, so you’ll be sure to have your Father’s Day gift before June 18th. Shop here to find the best gift for your favorite man!