But how mad is that here I am in the hills behind Byron Bay on the laptop and Dave is in some big city in America and together we are collaborating on making a small funky ad which he will work with me to upload into the social media networks and help me drive business to my site!  Completely love the internet community!

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It seems to me that to get the best our of the team you have to give them the best and rewards that are unexpected and fun are really well appreciated.  I really appreciate the extra help these two staff members have given me in the last few months and I think they were both pretty thrilled with the days events.  After all while we had Breakfast on the Gold Coast, we had lunch in Sydney and dinner in Brisbane!

It was a perfect day to see the Opera House and cruise on the harbour.  Sadly I broke my sunglasses and it may be months before we get back.  However we checked out the current uniforms that were being worn and know we are more than easily keeping up with the marketplace for design, competitiveness and quality, infact Complete Uniforms leads the way for customised unique quality sports team uniforms and school wear.

With this in mind and a free day for discussion we swapped some tremendous ideas for business growth and product strategy.  The day infact was not just a rewards day but a substantially important day for creation of new business initiatives. 

My main point from this ‘blog’ is to really let others understand that it is important to recognise staff for their commitment and it is important to have time with staff in a nonwork environment to help develop company strategy.

Reward Staff

Listen to Staff

Complete Uniform Solutions truly believes the most important and valuable asset to its business is the great contributions made daily by the staff.

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Some of the best priced custom jackets are being supplied this year featuring zip in hoodies, great fleece lining, seam sealing for waterproofing, zip pockets and flash extras with piping and contrast colours.  Best of all our factories do an excellent job with the embroidery and printing on these garments and minimal cost.  How many do you have to order!  Not that many our minimum order for custom manufactured sublimated or cut and sew garments for sports teams is just one team!

Obviously the pricing is structured to be better when you do the whole club, so rethink the look of the club this season, have a go with our online designers and send in some of your ideas.  We will complete the designs for you to present to other club members and no worries our delivery schedule is so fast your uniforms and shirts will be ready in 5 weeks!

If you are not sure what you want just email us an enquiry with your club colours and we will redesign a whole look for you. You can use part or all of the products on the design to brand the club and unite the team and supporters.  Image is Everything!

Gentle Giants and Complete Uniform Solutions have welcomed on board two new staff members so that we can better service our clients with fast and efficient purchasing of uniforms.

We offer specific deals to our schools for the purchase of sports team apparel when they already purchase their school uniforms from us at a wholesale arrangement.  Not bad save time and be efficient use our team we’re here for you.

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Those of you that know our company, Gentle Giants Clothing or know it as Gentle Giants Sportswear & Uniforms will be familiar with our recent expansion via the purchase of  Summerland Corporate Uniforms, Lismore.  This has enabled us to now offer two extensive retail showrooms with efficient service, build our client portfolio and it has kept us busy.

It is now 6 months running both businesses.  We have had to create new accounting systems and train staff etc.  All the things that are necessary to keep things running smoothly.  BUt importantly we are now looking at moving to larger premises and rebranding.  So now I need to consider company names, logos and websites. 

Our business names have in the past been what they were when we purchased them.  No changes.  Now five nearly six years on for Gentle Giants, a manufacturer of school uniforms, sports team apparel and surf club clothing we need to get creative. 

Coming up with names was not so hard, finding names and domains that were available has been tricky. I think we are nearly  there so be prepared for the surprise as we relaunch ourselves.

My considerations for name were mainly that it was memorable and directed people to what we do.  We custom manufacture uniforms. We offer unique and complete uniform solutions.  We work with organisations to make sure their staff look good and reflect well on the company.  We work with schools to design develop and deliver quality school uniforms etc etc.

The great rules we have to consider now with our logo design are:

* not to use more than 3 colours

* keep it simple, stupid

* fonts must be easy enough for Grandma to read

* logo must be recognizable

* a unique shape or layout

* ignore what your spouse says

* confirm it is appealing to more than 4 people

* make sure it is recognizable in one colour also

* make sure it is recognizable when resized

* make it look timeless

* consider the places the logo will be used

* a connection with what it represents

* a photo is not a logo

* the logo hould be solid

* the logo  should invoke feelings of confidence

* the logo should be functional

* the logo should be balanced

* avoid bright neon colours

Gosh there is a lot so perhaps to make sure I get the right logo with the best possible artwork I will need input and advice.  Anything I have missed off the list of considerations please let me know.   This logo must present well on my signs and especially on my website.  We have a whole rebuild happening there to reflect our changing business.  

Send me some comments re logo designs so I can get it right.

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As Kate points out for an online business, and in todays world I think we all operate online, brand recognition is the experience your client has online on your site.  Your site is your brand and so your logo on your site is branding your business.

This means you must plan and design your logo with care.  No quick clip-art concepts need apply.  There is a high cost to pay for attempting to save money on a business image.

Fairly recently a client came to us to organise staff uniforms and some promotional caps, pens, keyrings etc for clients.  They had just purchased an existing business with a not great reputation for reliability and wanted to overhaul public perception. The business had no logo to speak of and the new owners needed things NOW, ads were booked and the doors were open.

But with the expense of purchasing the business etc they had left no budget for graphic design etc. They selected the cheapest shirts possible to use for their uniforms, they made a quick logo with some clip art. Neither partners were particularly happy with it but they decided to go ahead. 

Not even a year later they were in to see us, new uniforms were needed, a new logo was given to us to set up for embroidery.  And again it was adequate but not great, it lacked the depth of creativity and statement that a good graphic artist brings to logo design.  However these business owners needed to cut corners, needed uniforms for a trade show, they needed new business cards and other stationery. NOW.  They promised me that they would come back to redesign the corporate logo/image to better reflect their desires for the public persona of the business.

Really?

These guys are just like many business owners.  They did not plan for the possible costs involved in the creation of the image with which their business or product would be introduced to the target market.  They then spent more on products they were not happy with plus lost valuable time building a business identity.  It is easy to do.. but the bottom line 

- take the time to work with the graphic designer.  For identity design take the time to research the businesses target  market, local competition and industry before even starting with design

- budget time and funds for the design project

Realistically your logo design is an investment into the image and the future success of your business.  You will use merchandise to distribute your brand in a smart and creative marketing method.  the more often people encounter your brand identity the more benefits you receive through familiarity, credibility and visibility.

Merchandise can be more effective than advertising or work hand in hand with your advertising campaign – with results that impact your bottom line.  Giving away imprinted merchandise keeps your brand front of mind and so you need the logo/image to be well thought out.

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The big question that we are concerned with is running a successful small business in a  rural town.  Well it is no different to running a business in any town.

As an entrepreneur you wear many hats, we all know that one.  It’s one of the things that make being an entrepreneur so exciting.  At the same time you are developing your product, you’re ensuring everyone is on task, trouble shooting etc etc.

In all this process don’t forget the marketing, specifically the branding. 

Many business owners think that salesmanship and marketing are enough to succeed in business.  But there is another level to aspire to!  Creating a brand.

Your brand creates your image, and proper branding places you in the marketplace and creates loyalty.

Brands are not just logos or tag lines.  Brands are a statement of who you are, why you are different and why a buyer should purchase from you.  it is important to consistantly communicate your brand.

For this you need a good logo.  Your logo should be memorable.  Think the golden arches.. very memorable.  Your logo should be able to be reproduced as a great print and/or embroidery. 

There are a lot of factors to consider with logo design as part of your branding.  We are just getting started on the topic.  The many different promotional products that you will purchase to display your branding and message means you must get a quality design, quality artwork and presentation. It is critical.

Gentle Giants Sportswear & Uniforms strives to communicate with your company in a strong working partnership that develops and translates your brand and concepts into striking visual designs for products and uniforms.

Ballina Lighthouse JSLC nippers uniforms

There are many great books you can read and websites you can view to help you with understanding the importance of brand recognition and how to create a brand.  One of the sites I have found incredibly helpful is http://www.articlealley.com/article_1719_15.html

On my next blog entry I hope to cover more about branding, staff uniforms, logos, and promotional products. 

Cheers

The team at Gentle Giants – logos’R'us!        

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I look forward to finding out more about your fabrics Lee.  It was nice to meet you at the Business Awards Dylan and congratulations on your win.  I think we are all winners to be living here and working here!  No Harbour Bridge traffic delays..

The awards were a great night and they are another example of supporting the local community and networking in a small town.  Surprisingly they are highly competitive as there are a substantial number of successful business operators here.

Gentle Giants entered the small business manufacturing section.  We are one of the few uniform suppliers/uniform wholesalers left that still manufacturers a large amount of product in Australia.  We do also have to be competitive on the world market so we manufacture off shore too!  I have been amazed to find that many companies that supply school uniforms and sports team apparel actually do not make the garments nor do they do the embroidery and printing.  We do it all and it keeps us busy and it keeps us happy.

Business is busy-ness!.

If you are in a smaller population area I urge you to join your Local Chamber of Commerce and attend these award nights.  If you do not have time to put forward a submission then perhaps enter into a sponsorship arrangement with the Chamber and supply some giveaways and/or sponsor a particular award.  You will get great publicity out of it!

So our website is picking up more traffic now, we have a new design and quote maker feature on the website and seems a lot of people are enjoying have a play with design, uploading graphics, names and numbers to the shirts and emailing in for quotes and comments.  I am still running the older Garment design feature on the site also.

Let me know what you think of the features, do you prefer the first Garment Generator or do you prefer the new Quote and Design Maker.

Keep the comments flowing!

cheers

Gentle Giants

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