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.

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.

The Brand Surgery goes green

Hey look! The boss has gone greentastic! She’s only recycling her old recycle bins from Worthing Borough Council as plant tubs. What fantastic planters these tubs make! Vicky has planted sugar snap peas, and potatoes and they are almost bursting out the planters waiting to be eaten! Can you get more eco than that?

Along with recyling all her empty wine bottles (and there is a lot of them) we are well on the way to be carbon neutral, along with celebrities like Matt Bellamy, frontman of rock band Muse.

We’ve found these cool websites if you are interesting in following in our footsteps!

• www.Carbonoffset.com
• www.globalcool.org
• funkyeco.sourcingeco.com/

If you fancy saving money on your print bills, whilst saving the planet at the same time, give us a call! We have lots of green e-marketing solutions such as blogging and e-shot, e-zine, and e-newsletter design, and of course, brilliant website design and development. Call Vicky on 01903 824229 for a confidential, no obligation chat.

Blogging services

Blogging … SEO … Keywords … What does it all mean?

The word ‘blog’ is an abbreviation of weblog. Weblog is a log of activities that the blogger has been up to (ooh err). Every organisation, business, charity and artist should keep a blog to encourage visitors to their website, which in turn generates sales. Some organisations even use a blog site as their main website.

To see a good example of blogging, click here

Within one hour of writing of our article on Rebrand Margate, The Brand Surgery website launched to Page 1, No. 3 of Google (if one typed Rebrand Margate into the search bar). This demonstrates how the power of blogging is an excellent tool for search engine optimisation (SEO)! Search Engines such as Google love fresh content, so writing a blog means your website will be searched regularly!

We can hear you asking … “Would anyone who typed in Rebrand Margate be a good potential customer to us?”. We guestimated that the appeal of The Apprentice would be huge and that out of the 1000s of people that clicked on our website, we would get one enquiry. We got ten. Not bad for one hour of random blogging.

Also, the more interesting your website is, the more people will come back to visit and back links will be created – another brilliant SEO tool! Blogs give your site more credibility and thus will generate interest especially if you use the right keywords, which is what The Brand Surgery will help you with.

From only £150pm, we will write one blog entry per week using stories and keywords related to YOUR business.

Call us on +44 (0)1903 824229 or email vicky@thebrandsurgery.co.uk to find out more about how blog can dramatically increase your website traffic and sales.

If all this is double dutch to you, and you feel you and your colleagues would benefit from a spot of gobbledegoop-FREE training, call us on 01903 824229 NOW!

]]> http://www.thebrandsurgery.co.uk/blog/2009/06/thats-blogging-fantastic-new-blog-services-from-the-brand-surgery/feed/ 0 http://www.thebrandsurgery.co.uk/blog/2009/05/brand-new-website-tranquility-music/ http://www.thebrandsurgery.co.uk/blog/2009/05/brand-new-website-tranquility-music/#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 10:19:06 +0000 Vicky http://www.thebrandsurgery.co.uk/blog/?p=562 We are pleased to announce the launch of Tranquility Music’s brand new website. We have created a stunning website which allows you to listen to samples of the music before you buy. We have also created a facility which means you can either download MP3 for your iPod or purchase a CD. Go to www.tranquility-music.co.uk to see the wonderful selection of relaxation, new age & ambient music from today’s leading artists.

Relaxing music for mind body and soul

More and more celebrities such as Madonna, Halle Berry, Danny Glover and even Richard Gere are meditating to alleviate celebrity stress, to beat aging, to promote self-healing and even ease childbirth pain. Meditation has been made trendy with the help of Hollywood stars, however it has been around since the stone age. FACT: If you include meditation as part of your convalescence you will notice a faster recovery. If you need some help with meditating, there are many organisations that can help, or you can download some meditation music from Tranquility Music’s wide range of mediatation music. Click here to listen to samples of meditation music.

If meditation is not for you, there is plenty of other genres to choose from. This music is perfect background music for beauty salons and spas, and ensures you create the right ambience to relax you clients. From the Angel Series to the Life Style Series, you are sure to find the music that suits you and your needs. A vast selection of CDs to choose from, with relaxation at the heart of this genre, you are sure to enjoy browsing through the different sections: Natural Sounds, Meditation, Relaxation, Therapy, Inspirational, Indigenous, Angelic and the Lifestyle. You will be spoilt for choice but, remember, you can come back and visit Tranquility Music any time and, at such affordable prices, you don’t need to feel guilty about treating yourself or a friend. A little aural tonic to aid relaxation is all we need afterall, so enjoy looking through the categories and choosing your favourites.

If you like this website, and would like us to create a similar website for your business, call Vicky at The Brand Surgery on 01903 824229.

Relaxing music for mind body and soul

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