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

DO A MADONNA

The day has finally come. DO A MADONNA!™ has been printed! Hoorah!

The book should be available on Amazon.co.uk within the next two weeks. However, you can pre-order the book on the website by clicking here.

Writing a book has been a steep learning curve. The writing was the easy part! The proofing, liaising with the print company and pre-press was the main challenge – and we deal with pre-press departments every day! I can’t imagine what it would be like dealing with these book printing companies if you had no experience whatsoever.

With the above said, we are looking forward to marketing DO A MADONNA and I am looking for speaking opportunities to launch it. So if you know of a venue or organisation who would like to book an interesting talk, this is the one for them. Guaranteed to stimulate people, even during the graveyard shift!

A little bit about DO A MADONNA …

Keeping your brand alive takes much more than plonking a new logo on a new brochure or website. You are your business and this ten-step book will help you on your way to business success. DO A MADONNA!™ is a handy-sized book which will help you discover the ten secrets of successful branding and it also contains tips on colour psychology, plus much more!

You will learn that even well known companies make branding blunders. DO A MADONNA!™ will teach you how to learn from their mistakes

It’s time to get your business into the groove. It’s time to Express Yourself! Soon your business will be good enough to grace the cover of Vogue!

Priced at only £10. Let Your journey to WORLD DOMINATION begin.

5% of all book profits go towards Madonna’s charity: http://www.raisingmalawi.org

Click to launch the full edition in a new window.

Like the beautiful back end of a bus

Do you remember the launch of the brand new Coastliner 700 double-decker buses way back in March? Well they’ve now given birth to baby single-deckers!

We’ve been working closely with Stagecoach South to rebrand the new environmentally friendly single-decker buses, and you can see photos of mummy and baby next to each other. Cute!

You can read the previous blog by clicking here. And you can see the set of illustrations by clicking here.

Finally, don’t forget that the new N700 nightbus will be working from 6th June. You can read our blog about it by clicking here. You can travel between Worthing and Brighton up to 3.30am! The bus will also be travelling through areas like Durrington and other areas where it doesn’t normally travel during the day. Click here to find out more and download the N700 timetable.

If you like our illustration work we would be pleased to discuss how illustrations can help project your brand image in a positive way:

• Websites
• Brochures and leaflets
• Posters
• Newsletters and magazines
• Books
• Exhibition graphics
• Livery signage
• Packaging

Call The Brand Surgery team on 01903 824229 and we will be pleased to help you.

Coastliner 700 bus design by The Brand Surgery

New website for Astute Investment Planning

We were approached by Astute Investment Planning last year to create them new brand image which included a logo, stationery, marketing collateral (leaflets) and a website. Astute Investment Planning provides independent investment advice to clients of professional firms. Our brief was to ‘keep it simple’, so in true Brand Surgery spirit, we did just that.

We presented the client our usual choice of six logo designs, using our unique research formulas. You can see the stationery designs by clicking here. After our client chose his logo, we working on his stationery and marketing collateral, and then his website.

We are now pleased to announce the launch of the Astute Investment Planning website.

“I would like to say that I have received a number of compliments regarding my branding. I have been told that the branding looks extremely professional, fresh, modern and striking. I would have no question in recommending your services to anyone who is seeking either a rebrand or a start up.” Robb Harris, Astute Investment Planning.

If you would like The Brand Surgery, Branding and website agency in West Sussex, to look at your business branding, call Vicky on 01903 824229.

Use colours to increase your sales

Used correctly, colours can significantly increase your sales.

Used correctly, colours can boost your sales. It’s all to do with colour psychology and colour symbolism. If you didn’t know this – colour symbolism is to do with association (colour links to traditions and religions). Whereas colour psychology is how light reflects off objects. Both colour symbolism and colour psychology will have a significant impact on the sales of your business.

If you are setting up in business and are planning to go global, then you should think carefully about colour. Positive colours in the UK can be negative abroad and vice versa. Therefore, your colour choice is as important as your company name. For example, in China, black can mean trust and high quality. In Britain we wear black for mourning, yet we also wear black dresses for celebrating.

True Blue
You should never use blue for food packaging, but blue is great for solicitors and accountants. Why? Blue is the colour of mould and poisonous berries. People on diets would do well to replace their refrigerator light bulb with a blue light bulb – the blue light will suppress your appetite.

On the positive side, blue is the colour of nature. Think of the sky and the sea, which is calming and we feel safe when the sky and sea are blue. Police (worldwide) wear dark blue uniforms. Blue is a great colour for people in authority and if you want to evoke a feeling of trust.

Think Pink
You may have noticed that we like the colour pink here! Pink is a great colour and it has even been known to reduce the feeling of violence as it is a calming colour. In Texas, prison cells are painted pink and inmates wear pink to calm them down – and this includes the male inmates!

With the above in mind, you need to pay particular attention to the colour of your corporate branding including websites, exhibition stands and marketing collateral. If you would like to know more about how correct use of colour can improve your sales, call Vicky at The Brand Surgery on 01903  824229.

The bruises and the pain from Worthing Birdman were all well worth it because you can see that we raised a nice sum for Chestnut Tree House! Thank you to everyone that sponsored us, Chestnut Tree House and The Brand Surgery are very grateful.

It seems like an age ago that we were busy designing our costumes and rehearsing our dance routine! In fact it way way back on Sunday 23rd August that Doctor Vaughan, Nurse Neeru and Matron Sparsis dressed up in their naughty nurses outfits.

We are wondering weather to go for it next year – next year we would certainly wear the padded cycle shorts which were recommended by Sharon Clarke, Worthing Town Centre Initiative who organised this great event.

Anyway, that’s all from us for now. We’ve off blogging for some excellent Sussex businesses who we are proud to call clients!

Have a great weekend – and good luck to everyone at Worthing Business Awards. We’re keeping our fingers crossed!

The Brand Surgery team celebrate

We’re celebrating! We received a call to say we had been nominated for the customer care award in the Worthing Business Awards 2009.

We are delighted to have been nominated for the Customer Care award.

We believe that customer care is key and we train all our staff to treat each of our clients with TLC – as though they are our only client. As we grow we are putting systems in place so that our customers always feel extra special.

The Brand Surgery offer creative solutions such as logo design, leaflet design and website design for business setups to full publishing services for PLCs. No matter what size the client is, we remember that each client is a ‘human’ with feelings.

When we help business set-ups, we know having been in their position once, how scary it can all feel, so we try to hold their hand all the way. We try to imagine what it would be like to be in our customers’ shoes. It is so important that businesses recognise that just satisfying a customer is not enough: Exceeding a client’s expectations is our policy.

It is a shame that some huge companies with large call-centres do not train their staff well enough to make their customers feel important. All these companies tend to care about is their bottom line. We have recently experienced poor mishandling from a large business and we had to contact the Ombudsman to get a response. It makes us mad when businesses don’t respond to complaints and they hide away, or pass the buck.

Customer loyalty is key to staying ahead in business, and if you don’t treat your customers well, they will not stay loyal. We have been working with the same clients since 2001 when our business opened which we think demonstrates why we were nominated for the Customer Care award.

The photo above was taken by by Studio IV Photography. We were very impressed by Studio IV and would recommend them to anyone business who would like a staff photoshoot. They have worked with Splash FM and have an impressive World Superbike portfolio.

Call Vicky at The Brand Surgery 01903 824229 if you would like us to give your business some TLC.

Explosive stuff – Top Gear VW Advertising Campaign

If you watched Top Gear last night – you will see that advertising is not as easy as it looks! It was hilarious – and it proves that you should leave the creative stuff to us experts!

For this week’s Top Gear challenge, Jeremy Clarkson and James May tried to create their own TV ad campaign for the diesel version of Volkswagen Scirocco. Like all creative campaigns, the agency must ’sample’ the product for themselves so they can base their concept on theory. Unfortunately, Jeremy and James liked the car, but it was ruined by the fact it had a diesel engine and was sluggish. How do you spin something positive out of that? It’s tough at the top you know.

In this case the boys needed to focus on the Scirocco making diesel exciting! We all know Top Gear is not serious, and deep down we know that Jeremy and James were ‘avin’ a laugh when presenting their ad campaign concepts! Or were they?

Jeremy presented a clip of a Scirocco on a track with the background exploding! The voice over – “The new Volkswagen Scirocco diesel… It’s explosive. From explosions, to mother-in-law jokes, to blood and guts – this was another Top Gear challenge that had me in stitches. You can see the last night’s Top Gear show by clicking here

So the moral of the story is …. If you have a product to advertise, don’t leave the campaign to chance, call The Brand Surgery on 01903 824229 for a confidential chat. Whether it’s a new mobile phone, a new disposable nappy or a DIY plastic surgery kit – we can turn your campaign into success! From online banner adverts to adverts for magazines and newspapers, to posters at Victoria Station – we will advise and design you the best kind of advertising for your product or service.

Vehicle and Van Livery Design

We were recently asked to design a campaign for Sunny Worthing. We were briefed that the design would grace London Victoria train station and a London taxi and the design should promote Worthing as an innovative and happening seaside resort. Jody and I couldn’t believe our luck! We thought we had woken up on the set of The Apprentice. Our dream job! You may also be aware that we also designed the Worthing Birdman logo, and the Worthing Town Centre Initiative logo.

The Sunny Worthing Campaign concept explained: We decided upon an art-deco design to complement many of Worthing’s Art Deco architecture. We then used Worthing photos in between the sun rays. The waves and clouds are made up of illustrated seashell shapes.

We are delighted with the result. The poster will be showing up at Victoria from the middle of July. If you would like to sample some of The Brand Surgery’s fine graphic design, give us a call on 01903 824229. All discussions are confidential.

PLEASE NOMINATE US IN THE WORTHING BUSINESS AWARDS 2009 TODAY BY CLICKING HERE

Thank you to everyone who nominated us during the 2008 Worthing Business Awards. Last year we were shortlisted for:

• Best Website • Best Microbiz • Best Marketing

We were proud to walk away with Best Microbiz 2008.

In between last year and this year, you may have noticed that has been a recession This has not stopped us! We restructured The Brand Surgery in good time to make our future rosy (pink of course), and in May, we took on a graduate graphic designer from Northbrook College, called Jody, and a web developer called Dean. Business is booming!

We realise your time is precious, and we truly appreciate your nominations for the following categories (one, two or all!):

• MicroBusiness of the Year Award 2009 (1 to 5 employees) Need we say more!?

Award description from the organisers: Whether home, office or workshop based, this is a showcase for those businesses with 1-5 employees. We want to receive nominations for dynamic and innovative businesses with customer service par-excellence and that little something extra which mark them out in the thriving ultra small sector.

• Business Marketing and Promotion Award 2009 For all our funky newsletters, doctors uniforms at networking and our PR (Worthing Birdman etc)

Award description from the organisers: We want to know which Worthing business is the best at marketing itself. Honesty, taste and integrity are a given but we’re looking for innovation and creativity whether in print, image, web or other media. So which Worthing business has done the best marketing job over the past year? You tell us.

• Business in the Community Award 2009 For www.letsrebrandbritain.co.uk and taking on work experience children from local schools

sponsored by:

Award description from the organisers: So many Worthing Businesses give so much back. Whether it’s charity work, helping schools and colleges, or community groups this award is designed to say a big thank you to a business that takes time to care. Voted for by Worthing Herald readers.

• Education, Training and Development Award 2009 Our unique training formula to transform Jody from graduate to commercial graphic designer, and the work experience kids from Worthing schools we take on.

sponsored by:

Award description from the organisers: Education, training and employee development are the keys to business success. The winner of this category will have demonstrated real commitment to developing and motivating their workforce at a time when the cost/benefit equation is more important than ever.

• Worthing Business Person of the Year 2009 For Vicky Vaughan – THE BOSS! For her continuing strength, stamina, GSOH (even in a recession) and passion to exterminate bad branding and to help her clients’ businesses grow.

sponsored by:

Award description from the organisers: Ego, personality, humour, business savvy, commitment and a fair smattering of humanity? You decide. In this category we’re looking for Worthing’s Business Person of the Year 2009. This winner will surely stand out from the crowd.

PLEASE NOMINATE US TODAY BY CLICKING HERE.

Thank you for your time. Lots of love from The Brand Surgery Team, Vicky, Jody and Dean!

Worthing International Birdman

We are FLYING OFF THE END OF WORTHING PIER as part of Worthing Birdman. As you may know, we were more like the DROWNED RATS last year, thanks to the traditional British weather! This year we are crossing everything we have and preying for a beautiful ‘windless’ day. For those of you who were kind enough to donate via this site last year, your donations were passed direct to our chosen charities (Worthing Churches Homeless Project and Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice).

This year, due to popular demand we have decided to raise money for Chestnut Tree House. Vicky (The Brand Surgery boss) is being joined by Neeru Kareer (ex Planning Consultant Extra-ordinaire from Worthing Borough Council). And helping to push these birds to full flight is Andrew Sparsis, from Worthing’s BEST fine dining restaurants, Food and The Fish Factory. You will enjoy seeing us all dressed up – maximum pleasure guaranteed!

So please sponsor us now – click here to do so! Worthing Birdman takes place over the weekend of 22nd/23rd August 2009. You can watch us flying off the end of the pier from 10am on Sunday 23rd August. There may be an extra twist of something very special – but you’ll have to join in the fun to see it. The Gadget Show are also there and this event is being televised!

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Chestnut Tree House, based near Worthing, gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

We are planning on celebrating our ‘hopeful’ victory (staying alive and relatively un-injured), by relaxing with a few drinks in Worthing afterwards. If you are are around – you are welcome to come and buy us some drinks

We look forward to seeing you there.

Lots of love from The Brand Doctor, Matron Sparsis and Nurse Neeru xxx

PS The poster above was designed by The Brand Surgery, graphic and web designers, West Sussex. The Carry on Doctor artwork is taken from the Carry on Doctor original posters and packaging.