The Brand Surgery - Branding, Graphic Design and Web Design in Worthing, West Sussex

I have always wanted to find an excuse to mention the gorgeous Nigel Harman (ex Dennis Junior from EastEnders) in The Brand Surgery blog. Now I have the chance! As part of my birthday celebrations, I was treated to an evening at London’s West End (at the Trafalgar Studios), to watch Public Property, starring Nigel Harman, Robert Daws and Steven Webb.

What a night! Now as you know my book is about to be published, and I have been researching brand promise. My trip to London yesterday meant I used an number of services, from Network South East to the wonderful All Star Lanes, to the wonderful facilities of the Trafalgar Studios (previously the Whitehall).

Bare Minimum

Public Property is theatre stripped back to it’s bare minimum. The actors use only a few props and no scenery. Unfortunately Nigel is not stripped down to bare minimum, but his acting made up for that. In brief, Nigel plays Larry De Vries, a PR man who is looking after a client called Geoffrey Hammond who gets photographed in a dodgy situation with a 16 year old northern lad called Jamie played by Steven Webb. Is Larry really looking after his client or looking after No. 1? I will say no more. You need to click here to see the official review …

Now, I am not one for watching plays, however, in my opinion, Public Property is an act of genius. I normally need the stimulation of music, singing, dancing, scenery and acting of a West End muscial to keep my interest. However, Public Property was over far too quickly! I wanted this public performance to last forever.

Pure Genius Branding

The superb acting in Public Property, plus the captivating dark comedy script draw you in. The script is hilarious, moving and pleasantly shocking! The writer is Sam Peter Jackson and his expertise in script writing, plus the excellent direction, production and management, and the closeness of me and the actors (espeically Nigel Harman) means I now have a new past time – watching plays!

This whole show is excellent branding as far as The Brand Surgery are concerned. The customer care of the staff at Trafalgar Studios, the ambience of the venue, the programme and clever script means that Trafalgar Studio will receive my repeat custom. Just today, I have enthusiastically promoted Public Property to at least 20 clients, colleagues, friends and family.

Just think … If your business gave a performance that deserved an upstanding ovation, just like Public Property, you would be well on you way to world dominance! My trip to Trafalgar Studio has made me an avid fan of theatre and I will now be a regular customer.

If you would like a confidential, free chat about brand creation and brand management, please call Vicky on 01903 824229.

Credits for my day of great brand experience:

Sam Peter Jackson: Creator of Public Property
Nigel Harman: Actor
Richard Dawes: Actor
Steven Webb: Actor
Helen Goddard: Design
Hannah Berrigan’s: Production

Top Tip – Public Property is on for another 2 weeks. Don’t miss it!

The Brand Surgery rates Benefit cosmetics packaging as the best cosmetic packaging by far!

OMG! We love Benefit cosmetics packaging! It’s not just fantastically sexy, it delivers what the packaging promises.

Okay, so we’ve been a bit slow updating our blog, the reason is that I have been celebrating my 40th birthday in true style, being Queen Victoria – I received two weeks of birthday celebrations. One of the many gorgeous birthday gifts I received was this Sexy Starlet cosmetic set by Benefit. Now, I have been mesmorised by the Benefit counter in Boots many times – the packaging design draws me in, and I find I just stare at it for yonkie yoodles. How I maintain self-control mystifies me. Or is it that I am determined not to be won over by packaging? I used to wonder if the product inside was as good as the packaging design promises.

FACT: Benefit cosmetics is truly as sexy as it’s packaging

Hooray! For once I have not been disappointed. Benefit cosmetics are as gorgeous as their packaging. The Foundation Faker is orgasmic – it feels lovely when you apply it – it beats my two ‘expensive’ foundations by miles. The CORALista blusher is to die for – the colour lights up my face – even at 40! And the BADgal lash mascara … Well I haven’t tried this yet, as I am using up an older mascara, but I may just have to be a BADgal and bin the old mascaras. Sorry landfill

What is it that makes Benefit packaging so sexy, irresistable and so god damn cute?

Maybe it’s the pink – we all know that The Brand Surgery love a strong dose of bright pink! Now, we constantly educate our clients to keep their branding consistent, yet Benefit packaging design is different on each product. How many different fonts can one brand include on their packaging? Their designers are breaking all the rules of good design – but the broken rules work so incredibly well. I get excited just by looking at the packaging, it hypotises me – it is irresistably retro – and I have now been converted into a 40 year old Benefit girl – that is a Benefit cosmetics girl – not a benefits girl!

The Brand Surgery ranking table has never looked so healthy. The only points lost were due to Benefit not stating whether the products were recyclable. Giving that most the Benefit products being made of card – we guess they can be recycled. If anyone at Benefit reads this – it would be good to have the recycling logo on the box to encourage people to recycle. Having said that, I can’t bring myself to throw away the packaging. I keep all the products in their cute, sexy little boxes Well done to everyone at Benefit!

Take a look at the Benefit website where you can find out where your nearest store is.