posted
Well, the Boss seems to have decided to change the name of the company again before we go too far. It seems the new name is creating some confusion in our area and in a few other places.
At this time, it appears we will be going from Taylor Graphics to Creative Signs & Screen Printing to Creative Graphics. We are phasing out a lot of the sign work we've been doing in the past and concentrating more and more on decal and imprinted apparel goods. Frankly there is a lot more profit in them. We just got a new sign shop in town last week (10 sign shops total including us) and they've started a huge price war that I'm not going to even attempt to compete in. I'm not interested in working for free.
Anyhow, I've been told to come up with a new logo not too different from our old "Taylor Graphics" logo, but to make it a bit more upscale. Anyhow, I just wanted to get some opinions on the one I put together tonight. Its tentatively set for a vertical business card right now.
posted
Personally I like number 2 and 3 and of the two number 3 is the cleanest and most conservative (whats your clientele) conservative or upbeat younger...?
I could see using both (dependant on who you are dealing with at the time... I especially like that the layout will work for horiz or vert. formats (nice job) colors are good too.
------------------ Monte Jumper SIGNLanguage/Norman.Okla.
posted
2 or 3 are good, don't waste too much time over this. I am more interested in your business decision to venture in a certain area. What is going on as far as the sign market in your area? I sense some frustration here, not unlike a lot of us.
------------------ Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Since 1978 http://www.wrightsigns.bigstep.com
Posts: 2785 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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posted
# 1 is a pretty cool effect, but the top element overpowers the text below it and the end result is less impact as a whole.
#2 is my favorite. The two color combo makes strong impact visually and bringing the text up to snuggle the dot of the letter i into the top element (which wouldn't work with #1) gives an overall balance and strength to the logo.
#3 Doesn't convey a creative spirit in my opinion.
------------------ Kelli Cajigas aka Janda Dolphin deSigns & Banners “A satisfied customer will tell two friends, a dissatisfied customer will tell ten.”
posted
Number 2 Glenn. Nice work on the logo. I really like the design. On one, it seems a little too busy, and on three, just a little too plain. Two seems as goldilocks would say, just right. By the way, what is the font on the word creative?
------------------ John Deaton III Deaton Design 109 N. Cumberland Ave.,Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-573-9101
posted
I like # 2 as well. The text may need to come down a little for some more negative space. I really like the creative font..
------------------ Pat Neve, Jr. Sign Man, Inc. 4580 N. US 1 Melbourne, FL 32935 321-259-1703 signman@signmaninc.com Capt. Sign Letterville Constituent constituent: "One of the individual entities contributing to a whole"
Posts: 2279 | From: Melbourne, FL, USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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posted
I like #2. To me it shows you can get a little crazy when you need to. Looks good.
------------------ When good things happen...that must be a sign!! Tony McDonald DBA-Ace Graphics & Printing P.O. Box 91 Camdenton, MO. USA (573) 346-6696 <daddyo@advertisnet.com> <tony@brownbeverage.com>
Posts: 1196 | From: Camdenton, MO. USA | Registered: Oct 1999
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# 2 is my vote. I might drop the text down a bit. Being in screen printing for 12 yrs., 2 will be the easist one to screen pring or emb. for a lot of reasons.
Good luck in the screen printing business. It ain't easy either. There's just as many cut throats & a lot of that business can go to Mexico & has.
Let me know if I can help you any.
John
------------------ John Harville J & K Screen Printing Co. 115 Cottonwood Lane Danville, Va 24540 804-797-9014
Still working on a slogan.
Posts: 99 | From: Danville, VA USA | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
Hi Glenn, #2 appears more artistic to me, but I would have to go with #3 because it's cleaner. Vertical formatt seems a little bit under stress here. Maybe if "monogram" part was reduced 50% allowing more room around it and letting your company name have more dominance. Well that's my .02
------------------ Rich Stebbing #945 RichSigns Rohnert Park CA
Posts: 755 | From: Rohnert Park, CA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Gee you must feel like the contestant on "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE" Well I do as well.... My favourite was #2 and I decided that before I asked the Audience.. and thats what seems to be the favourite. All of them looks great but #2 looks better, actually it looks great! Neil
------------------ "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF
Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
I'd like to add a comment on my fav, #2. I like how the color is 'torn' up on the left side. The other sides of the torn effect appear to be cropped. I'd love to see the torn effect around the whole perimeter.
posted
Thank you for your help. I wasn't expecting such a big response. Thank You!
I think most agree that #2 is the one. I got the same reaction at the shop.
I've worked on it a little bit more, adding the secondary copy and doing a horizontal as well as a vertical version......
In response to David's question about the market, here is what is going on.....
First, I have to preface by letting you know that due to some bad business decisions made as far back as 1992, we acquired a huge debt - roughly $360k in the hole as of 1998. I was permitted to make some sweeping changes in 1999 which resulted in a huge net profit for the first time in 6 years. Then Floyd hit and we lost it all. It has taken about 15 months to pull it back together. We also had to borrow $400k though SBDA loans to rebuild the shop and purchase some replacement equipment. There was no insurance. As it stands now, we are about $700k in debt. Now comes the fun part. During the 15 months it took to get back into our shop we lost about 70% of our customer base. And now, we have a new sign shop in town who is lowballing like there is no tomorrow.
Anyone here want to do a coroplast 4x8 for $95.00 or a 3x8 banner for $50?
We've been screenprinting decals, real estate signs, and textiles for a number of years, but never really capitalized on it. I had always been one of those who concentrated heavily on design without regard to the time (i.e. - money) spent. Over the last couple of months, that has been changing. Also, there have been a myriad of personal events over the last 10 years, that while I've had little or no control over, I'm seeing where I will be responsible for solving them.
It all comes down to the need to generate as much cash as possible in the least amount of time. I've been working with a team of MBA candidates for the last 12 weeks looking at what I need to do succeed and bring the company back solidly to its feet.
One of the things we've noticed is the deflationary value of signs that has been occuring over the past decade. Increased competition, increased operating costs and decreasing prices are taking their toll. We looked at other areas of the graphics industry and have come to the realization that there is much more money in screenprinting than in what I used to term "Bread'n'Butter" signs (banners, 4x8's, truck lettering...). Also, there just isn't enough highend work to permit us to service the debts we have incurred.
I'm still working out the details as to the direction I will be taking the business. Frankly, I'm going where the money is (where ever that may be).
To give an example, I can do an "above average" Coming Soon mdo sign for about $275; and make about $75 net profit for 2 hours worth work. In the same two hours, I can screenprint 3000 decals, gross $1500 and net about $750.
I am going to be spending more time going after corporate work (nothing like turning into a salesman ) ; and working to market the company and build brand recognition.
My goal is to generate $1mil annually in gross sales by 2003 and $5mil by 2006. Its going to take a lot of hard work and long hours to do it, but I think it can be done.
I am also pursuing a more profitable career as a faux finisher, I did a job in Feb. and did $10,000 in three weeks, mostly profit. I'm only doing $3,000-$5,000 a month in the sign biz, and the profit level is much lower. I'm bidding on two faux jobs now in the $15,000 to $22,000 range that will take about a month each to complete.
Btw, "creative" is done in "Go Go Squat", available as shareware on some of the font sites. Go Go has great numerals also, It's one of my favorite fonts. Cheers
------------------ Robert Thomas Creative Signs In Beautiful Naples, Fl.
Posts: 965 | From: Bonita Springs, Florida USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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) ; and working to market the company and build brand recognition.
The biz cards really make your look work. The colors pop!
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