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

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

We are celebrating here as our blog portfolio is forever expanding. We’ve been blogging for a number of clients for over a couple of years now, and the main healthy slice of feedback is … that our blogs have PERSONALITY. They have even been described as LEGEND! We all know that it is essential that your brand has personality, and blogging is an ideal medium to channel that personality. And what’s more important, is that your blog does its job well. Our blogging works as our customers have seen increase in their sales due to their website being ranked higher in Google.

Question: What have garden decking and Eddie Izzard got in common?

Answer: Decking is tough and durable, just like Eddie Izzard it seems. If you didn’t know this, Eddie Izzard celebrated completing 43 marathons in 52 days! Wow. Eddie raised over £200,000 for Sports Relief. Read the rest of this blog by clicking here.

What is the relevance of this Q&A? Our client wanted us to mention Eddie’s amazing triumph and said if we could link this story successfully, then we were truly amazing!

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So, if you’re having a problem thinking of something to blog about, you know who to call …

Vicky Vaughan, managing director of The Brand Surgery has just published her book, DO A MADONNA!™, and it seems her writing talent is perfect for blogging. So if you are thinking about having a new website, apart from it having an excellent brand image and logo, you will want your shop to be found after all that hard work. Therefore, give us a call on 01903 824229 or email vicky@thebrandsurgery.co.uk to add a blog to your existing website. We can brand it up to look exactly like your current website.

The Coastliner N700 Nightbus - The Official Pyjama Party!

As you know, we recently worked on the illustrations for Stagecoach Coastliner 700 buses, and we can now reveal that our lovely buses are now going to be working hard throughout the night as night buses between Worthing and Brighton. They are running up to 11.30pm Sunday to Wednesday, and up to 3.30am from Thursday to Saturday. What’s more, the cost is only £5 a ticket from Worthing to Brighton, and if you already have a Stagecoach ticket valid for that daytime, you can take advantage of this fantastic service for only £1 extra.

Jody and myself were pleased to be asked to be part of the launch, and we coudn’t wait to get dressed up in our PJs! Of course I had to wear our trademark brand pink pyjamas.

Do you have a brand or product to launch?

Do you have a new brand or product to launch? The Brand Surgery, branding agency in Worthing, West Sussex are a dab hand at getting maximum exposure for your business. If you would like us to organise the PR for your company, or you need a hand getting your brand ready for a launch, call Vicky on 01903 824229.

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.

DO A MADONNA website designed by The Brand Surgery

At long last, the original brand doctor, Vicky Vaughan’s book, ‘DO A MADONNA!‘ is complete. DO A MADONNA! is being printed right now!

DO A MADONNA! has had it’s first review.

“Everything in DO A MADONNA! is so true! I’ve read many other branding books, but DO A MADONNA! looks at branding in an entirely different way and it is so easy to digest. I work as part of the sales team for the Shropshire Star and I shall be recommending this book to all of my sales colleagues.” Debbie Marks-Rumble, Shropshire Star.

DO A MADONNA! focuses on keeping your brand alive. Vicky says: “It 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.

When you buy my book, you will also have access to the DO A MADONNA! toolbox which 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 and Express Yourself! Once you’ve read the book and discovered the secret to branding, your business will be good enough to grace the cover of Vogue! Buy my book and let your journey to WORLD DOMINATION begin.”

DO A MADONNA! is very reasonably priced at JUST £9 and 5% of all book profits go towards Madonna’s charity: http://www.raisingmalawi.org

Go to www.doamadonna.com to pre-order your book. There will shortly be an e-book version of DO A MADONNA!

If you would like to have some personal branding advice, call Vicky Vaughan at The Brand Surgery, branding agency in West Sussex on 01903 824229.

Get your branding in tip-top shape

Three beauty treatments for your brand, from The Brand Surgery, branding agency based in Worthing, West Sussex

Lite branding package: Non-surgical treatment package!

This package is ideal for smaller businesses who may simply want to ‘freshen’ up their logo. What is included: Our award-winning designers will refresh your existing logo and bring it up-to-date through a secret blend of font and shape evolvement. No research is included. Only £585 incl. VAT. Upgrade to Lite Design & Print Package: lite logo design, roll-up banner, stationery, flyer design and print, all for only £2350 incl. VAT

Rejuvenation programme: Heavy detox!

Our award-winning designers will give your business a complete re-brand which will include five logo designs and web-based research on your competitors and target market. This package includes two set of client amendments. We currently have very good discounts on brochures and leaflets to complement your logo. Phone 01903 824229 for further details. This package starts from £1200 incl. VAT.

Intensive care package: Stretch marks and scar removal!

Ideal for established businesses who have brochures so old that the moths fly out! Our award-winning team will look at your entire business image. This package includes branding consultation including focus group advice, research, logo design. Corporate branding toolbox add-ons available. Call 01903 824229 for further information. Prices start from £2500 incl. VAT.

Proto Promotions Team jackets designed by The Brand Surgery. Photography by Studio IV.

It’s official! The Brand Surgery are now designing clothes and teamwear!

Our client, Proto Restaurant Group commissioned us to design some jackets recently. The design brief was: Proto Restaurant Group wanted a Formula One feel for some corporate team wear for their promotions team. The jackets would be worn at events such as the Splash FM Awards 2010, and other sponsored events. They asked us to brand the jackets with their logos and awards. We also designed some hats, t-shirts and chocolate boxes. We are very proud of this latest extension to our design services.

You can read about the Proto promotions team on their website blog, which we also design, develop and write. Click here to read more about the Proto promotions team and to read our blog writing.

When you have a logo designed, why not advantage of promoting your brand. We produce a number promotional products. Do you remember our Beat the Recession, Make an Impression packs? If not, click here to read about them.

If you have a logo that simply needs refreshing, this can easily been done, without breaking the bank. Call Vicky on 01903 824229.

Vicky is studying an NVQ Level 3 in Management courtesy of Train as you Gain at Northbrook College. This has been excellent for The Brand Surgery as we have been revising our business plans which includes our mission statement.

We all know that in marketing we should use the KISS method – Keep It Simple Stupid! or Keep it Simple & Straightforward is the more polite version. We have applied this theory to our new Mission Statement which is:

The Brand Surgery brings branding excellence at affordable prices to all businesses in Great Britain.

You can’t get much clearer than that! We bring the same jargon free business ethics to all of our services. If this is the first time you have discovered our blog, here is a little more about The Brand Surgery.

The Brand Surgery is a branding agency and offers services such as: Branding consultancy, logo design, design for print, website design & development, PR services, e-marketing services, blog writing services, copywriting services, photography, Illustration and SMS marketing
The Brand Surgery believes in the principle of Givers Gain. We give branding advice and give help to businesses by offering high-end branding services at realistic prices. Our tried-and-tested formula to marketing is HONESTY and HELPING OTHERS. We help businesses and we put ourselves in their shoes. We believe that using honesty when helping our clients with their marketing and promotions is the way forward.

Clients we have helped are so pleased with our expertise that they have passed our name to other businesses that also want to grow. We have advised all of our clients that good branding, marketing and promotions is the key to standing out, especially when the economy is tough. Customers are going to buy from businesses that look professional and established. The customers that have taken our branding advice have thrived throughout the recession.

Everything we advise our clients to do, we test on our business first – from customer care to the envelopes we post our marketing packs in. Give as you would like to receive is our motto for helping businesses to grow.

If you like our business philosophy, then we would love to work with you. Visit our website on www.thebrandsurgery.co.uk or call 01903 824229. We hope you enjoy looking at the rest of our website.

Viking passengers experience 39 hours delay

I don’t know … I’ve been gone for two weeks and the blogging has just stopped. Luckily I came back when I did …

It is actually a major miracle that I made it back after my Egyptian adventures. Drift snorkelling isn’t for Vicky Vaughan. Especially when one’s face mask doesn’t fit. And double-especially when one is extremely short-sighted. Treble-especially when there are twenty identical looking boats which are 200 metres apart, with a strong current and you can’t remember the name of your boat. I have to say that my drift-snorkelling experience was pretty scary, and I am not sure if I still want to swim the channel to raise funds for my charity, Talent within You next year.

Bad Branding Experience

The swimming was just one adventure! The second was my delay coming home. We were delayed by 39 hours and 40 minutes no thanks to Viking Airlines. The worst part about our delay was that Viking couldn’t be bothered to communicate with its 200 passengers in person. They faxed a letter to Sharm airport to tell us the plane had been cancelled. I was travelling alone and if I hadn’t been so well travelled, would have been very frightened. To Viking’s credit, they did provide accommodation for two evenings. If they had of been honest and said we would be staying another two nights, we could of relaxed. Instead, they had us check-in and check-out of the hotel three times. We had four departure times conveyed to us via an Egyptian rep with pigeon English.

The above experience has left me with a bad memory and is what I call BAD branding! Viking should be sitting on the naughty step for a long time. They have broken their brand promise which is (according to their website): Our experienced team has a philosophy of excellent customer service to ensure your flight experience is exemplary.We look forward to being of service to you! LOL!

The last bad experience was with Breo watches. I purchased a Breo Roam watch on the outbound Viking flight, and it was supposed to be water resistant to 10m. Well trust me, Breo watches  are not water resistant. And what’s more, they will not give me my money back because I have no receipt, thanks to Viking Airlines! Answer from Breo to my request for a replacement or refund: Apologies for the experience with the watch. Unfortunately, In accordance with our Returns Policy (http://www.breo.com/customerservices.php) “Returns and exchanges will only be processed if accompanied with proof of purchase. This includes all airline purchases and items bought through resellers”. What an utterly useless response when Viking couldn’t even send a plane to take me home so I could get a receipt!

Good branding experience

Good branding though is the service I received from HSBC holiday insurance, which comes free with HSBC banking. They refunded £25 per 12 hours (OK a bit stingy I know), but they did it by BACs on the phone. It was so easy. Thank you.

So after all of this, I did have a great holiday. We stayed at Three Corners St. George in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The weather was gorgeous. I had great company with my friends who I met at the hotel. I would go to Sharm El Sheikh again – it’s great to be able to trust the weather in March.

While I’ve been away sunning myself, my brand doctors and nurses have been busy working on three websites, brochures, rebrands and adverts. We are also writing a number of press releases for businesses on a national level. Plus the long awaited book, is back from the proof reader, and we are just about to send it to the publisher.  Go to www.doamadonna.com for a sneak preview! Watch this space!

Call Vicky at The Brand Surgery (best branding company in West Sussex) on 01903 824229 or email vicky@thebrandsurgery.co.uk if you would like to give your business some urgent branding medical attention.

Rebranded Coastliner buses are launched

As you may know, we publish the Coastliners Magazine on behalf of Stagecoach, with our sister company Pulse.

We always work hard to ensure the cover of the magazine will not date – especially as the Coastliners magazine has a shelf-life of six months. Although this magazine ran over Christmas, we didn’t want to make the cover too Christmassy as it had to last through to March 2010.

Hidden illustration talent

The boss – and original Brand Doctor, Vicky Vaughan, decided it was time to unveil her hidden illustration talents and created the above masterpiece! Wow! She illustrated the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth and The Brighton Dome, which represented the Coastliner route from end-to-end.  The added benefit of this illustrated cover design, was that the colours Vicky chose, followed the Stagecoach South corporate identity and  branding. The cover was presented to our client, approved, then printed and is actually still in circulation now.

Not long after the magazines were printed, we received a call from Stagecoach South, who were so impressed with Vicky’s illustrations, they commissioned her to illustrate six further landmarks across the south coast in the same style as she created for the cover.

Official launch of illustrations

Illustrations of landmarks along the Coastliners route

We’ve been keeping this work top secret at the request of our client, until now! At last, we have been given permission to tell the world about where the landmarks would appear. As you can see in the photo above, Vicky’s illustrations were part of a design for Coastliner buses.

There are 40 buses in total which will be wrapped in this unique design, and there are four different designs:

• Worthing
• Brighton
• Chichester
• Portsmouth

Vicky says: “I was so proud to see the illustrations in their finished format. The illustrations took a long time, especially the HMS Victory with all it’s ropes, and the Chichester Market Cross with all the fine detail. It was so worth it, so see my illustrations printed so large. I believe these buses will be cruising across from Brighton to Portsmouth for the next few years, and I certainly won’t mind being stuck behind one of the Coastliner buses in future!”

Illustrations can be used for a number of marketing solutions

Now we have unleashed this creative talent from Queen Vic, why not consider commissioning Vicky to do one for you. Illustrations are excellent for:

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

Illustrations of landmarks along the Coastliners route