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2 min read

We ♥ merchandise

Updated: Jun 3, 2023

Patrons love to buy merchandise from their favourite brands. If you are growing a following; consider creating a collection of merchandise for your business.



It’s one of the most cost-effective ways to get your business name out into the market. For established brands, it’s a way to maintain awareness and relevance in the market. If it’s done right, the merch stands out amongst competitors. And if designed to align with your business work culture, it can also increase morale amongst your team.


 

Ways of unifying your team under a common narrative.


 

There are appropriate times to sell or give away branded merchandise. Our experience tells us that once a business has started establishing a reputation, usually, there is a segment within your customer base that wants to signal to others that they are part of that. At this point, following up with merchandise is a great way to grow more. This is called is commonly referred to as turning customers into advocates.


Branded merchandise is different from other retail products. Merchandise offers a tangible way to engage with a brand, making it highly consumable.


A quick Google search can show you how merchandise plays a significant role in building recognition and memorability around a business. Merchandise can be unusual, highly tailored items targeting niche groups like your business advocates. Other kinds of merchandise can be designed to appeal to a wider audience like your first-time patrons.


We can help you make these decisions and build a story for your business that is meaningful to the selected group. We can also consult in getting the merchandise made, with recommendations and guidelines based on our experience.


 

Want to tell a story, that is interesting and emotive, with your merchandise?






1 min read

Printed stories are special

Updated: Jun 3, 2023

Art prints are our most frequently ordered kind of printed story. Second, are book commissions; particularly book design. Since material and printing costs are relatively expensive in Sri Lanka, where our studio is based, a printed story format can take more time and resources.



We always encourage clients to explore print for special situations that play to the strengths of the medium—like a memoir for a business, a family storybook immortalizing a wedding, or a story designed to be framed on a wall where the space is meant to evoke a particular mood. In some cases, the print or publication as an object of desire has meaning in addition to the story itself.


Printed stories, particularly printed publications, are held by human hands. The reading experience is part of the consideration when designing a book or magazine. We consider the pace of the layout, and flow of the text as important criteria for quality in terms of experience and market value.


An important question we ask our clients is whether the printed story will be sold and the price range they are aiming for. This information can help shape a production budget when a client is not sure how much of an investment to make on a printed story.


Print stories help businesses and people establish tangible, sensorial memories and associations with groups that are important to them; they're perfect for milestones and marking special events worth remembering and revisiting.



 

Want to get an idea of the printing cost for a book? Try our book design calculator


 




2 min read

What does your brand look like, and what does it say?

Updated: Jun 3, 2023

There’s always an articulate persona beneath the surface of our work. It’s how we find a path to a story.



Whether it be the origins of the business, the values it aims to uphold, the community it supports or the lifestyle it aspires to; the story is made from the perspective of the persona. We call this a brand articulation framework or BAF.


The BAF drives all creative decisions. It keeps the narrative consistent and on track; in other words, on-brand. It resolves creative conflicts, avoids biases, and unifies the project team under a common narrative.


Every business is unique and makes the discovery process interesting. BAFs usually clarify aspects of your business work culture that leads to better staff onboarding and uncover insights that improve marketing strategies. Often our clients enjoy this part as much as we do; particularly when it helps them with the former.


In some cases, particularly when it comes to an established business looking to scale, we conduct brand articulation workshops. These guided sessions have the same aim as our BAF questionnaire but yield much more information about the business. The outcome is a comprehensive report and staff development in line with the business core.


 

Want to see an example of a BAF report? Learn more


 

As inquisitive storytellers, we are interested in your business narrative. As designers, we enjoy the process of identifying the characteristics of the business persona in the way a good brief does. As business owners, we are preoccupied with costs and earnings. This practice and over 20+ years in brand design are what’s underpinning our ability to articulate the face, voice, and character that tells a meaningful story.




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