Brand, or fail

Branding is the very essence of your business.

Too harsh? Perhaps. But the sentiment remains. Branding is everything. Use design, or as David Kester, former chief executive of the Design Council, argues, ‘risk failure.’

Sure, you can whip up a logo on Canva, or pay Fiverr some loose change to make it for you. But don’t be fooled: a pretty logo is not a brand strategy.

Branding is the very essence of your business. It is not tangible; it is who you are and what you do. Design, typography, tone of voice, colour – branding is the full package, and encompasses every aspect of your business. Done right, and it can be your most powerful income-generating tool.

This week, the team here at Fox Graphics Design and Marketing have joined forces to explain why branding is the very foundation of business success.

Fox tips – “treat people as you would like to be treated”

Get under their skin

Every client’s business is unique. Clever branding will not only allow you to be heard above the noise, it will clearly differentiate your position within today’s saturated market.

The process starts by discovering your USPs. What really sets you apart from your competitors? When uncovering your core values, we advise clients to select four words which encompass their ethos. With these four pillars in place, the foundation is set for an impactful brand strategy.

Branding conjures curiosity, and speaks to your customers before they even receive services or goods. So branding should be awarded the time it deserves and requires. It is essential that the strategy is holistic, structured and comprehensive. The final brand package should authenticate your business, and constantly repeat and reinforce your values. If your branding is forever changing, customer loyalty is affected and you decrease your chances of gaining repeat customers.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Your logo sits on all of your communications, from your social platforms to your marketing materials. It is your primary graphic, so you have to love it. To believe in it, and be proud of it.

The impact of your logo supports brand recognition. Your customers should associate your logo with a feeling or promise synonymous with your business. Remember, trust equates to loyalty, and loyalty generates sales.

Many businesses want to rush ahead and quickly create a logo. But this can leave you walking a rocky path ahead. A new logo will not miraculously define or redefine your brand. So although it is tempting to begin the design process straight away, take stock and focus first on discovering the true essence of your brand.

Here at Fox, we know the transformative impact branding can have on your mindset. When you look the part, you feel the part. If you have faith in your branding, you can be confident in charging what you are worth.

Trust Fox

Established in 2008, Fox Graphics and Marketing add a personal touch to branding. Fox will ensure that you stand out from the crowd and achieve a branding package you can be truly proud of.

With a powerful, multi-sector portfolio, we are known for our client-centred approach to branding. So if you are just starting out in business, or you have lost your sense of direction, trust our specialist team to listen, understand, interpret and deliver.

The Fox team are a family and we endeavour to support as many businesses as we can. Through our Fox Networking events, we introduce like-minded colleagues, building a community based on trust, support and connection. (Our tea and cake trays are not too bad either.)

We also host our increasingly popular Brand Strategy Workshops for clients across Greater Manchester and Cheshire. Described by a recent attendee as ‘inspirational’, this is an essential course for both start-ups and those considering a rebrand. With only a select number of attendees, we are able to work closely with each representative to discover the beating heart of their business. Leave feeling refreshed, motivated and ready to implement your new marketing strategy.

If you are ready to build and bolster your brand, call one of the Fox team on 01625 468038, and let’s begin.

Many thanks and Good Luck!

kate@foxgraphicsdesign.co.uk

mobile: 07927 131600

Kate Fox

“Design adds value & we’re here to help businesses improve & strengthen their market communication & message.”

Established in 2008, FGDM work with a diverse range of businesses to help them improve their market image involving branding, digital, animation/video, websites, direct marketing, exhibitions, marketing material designed to build and bolster brands.

6th September 201817th April 2019

Business Innovation Award

I hope you had a relaxing, recharging summer and productive time. I just thought that I would say hello. And thank everyone for all your kind and supportive words, these have touched me and were totally unexpected.

This award has been fun, totally unexpected and no dinner ceremony which would have cost thousands, but as it is Cheshire, I asked my friend and colleague to do this image of me at the top of a hill with the fantastic area of Cheshire behind me, before the green grass turned brown. What a great place to live and work! Thank you to all my clients, associates and friends.

Based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, Fox Graphics Design & Marketing supports a range of clients, helping them to grow and become more visual in their professional arena. We spoke to Creative Director Kate Fox to learn more about the firm’s work and her pride in the success it has achieved.

Since its inception in 2008 Fox Graphics Design has worked hard to achieve success, working closely with its clients so that they can focus on their business and clients, safe in the knowledge that their branding, marketing and design needs are all met. It is Kate’s vast experience in the industry and commitment to excellence for her valued clients, that ensures that they keep coming back for more, as we found out.

“Through my work at Fox Graphic Design, I help ambitious business owners grow their business, and make sure their customers see them in their best light. To achieve this, I draw on my years of knowledge and experience to create branding and visuals that convey the right messages to the right people, help you plan and execute your marketing campaigns, all while letting our clients do what they do best; run their company. We can take care of everything from branding a clients’ company, to creating a stand out exhibition display, to even managing their marketing from beginning to end.

“Whatever project they ask us to undertake, when working with our clients we listen continually so that we can understand the client’s needs. By taking the time to gain an insight and develop strategic design solutions we are able to help their business grow and thrive. We can help companies enhance and expand their image/message and take them into new markets while consolidating their position on all media platforms alongside traditional methods.”

With regards to the future, it is Kate’s belief that her firm will continue to expand and enhance its offering over the coming years, using its current achievements as a springboard from which to launch itself into the global market, as she proudly concludes.

“As we look ahead, our plans are to develop Fox Graphics Design by adding adventurous decision makers that are driven to success in their fields to our already exceptional team. The next decade will also see us expand internationally, growing our global reach to ensure that we continue to provide our award-winning services for many more years.”

Company: Fox Graphics Design & Marketing

Address: Studio 42, Beechfield House, Winterton Way, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 0LP, UK

Phone: 01625 468038

24th July 201817th April 2019

Some pointers on thinking and planning exhibition stands and marketing events.

Make Sure You Go to the Right Exhibit

Exhibiting can be an expensive and demanding process in terms of time, money and people you want to stack the odds in your favour early on.

Going to the right exhibition is a good start.

The first step is to do some homework:

Visit the exhibitions you are thinking of attending,

Talk to people that have exhibited there before (you can usually find a list of exhibitors in old tradeshow handbooks or online).

Ask the exhibition organizers what sort of marketing activities they have done in order to promote the event.

Find out about:

The amount of people that visit the show

The sorts of exhibits and displays at the show and the ones that are drawing the biggest crowds.

And ask yourself are the people attending the show your target market

Have a clear set of goals and set explicit realistic objectives

Is the aim of attending an exhibit:

To increase brand awareness?

Increase your client list by 5%?

Launch a new product or service?

Reposition the business or a product?

Generate leads?

Do you have a clear picture of your target audience?

If you cannot answer the question: “Why am I here?” – you are probably in the wrong place.

A clear statement of your goals and measures of success will help you:

Choose the exhibition you want to participate in

The sort of display you want

The people you need to bring

The gifts, publications, information and merchandise you might need

Even the competitions or lead generating activities you want to use

In addition measurable goals will help you evaluate your exhibition experience.

You Have 3 Seconds

Typically as an exhibitor you can expect no more than three seconds of a passerby’s attention.

In those three seconds your typical target audience visitor need to understand:

Who you are

What you do

Make Sure You Have the Right People on the Stand

The people on your stand are your brand and business ambassadors.

Staff need to be:

Knowledgeable about the product or service as well as the business

Appropriately dressed

Be aware of and follow exhibition etiquette (no gum, no personal calls, be attentive)

Remember: A good sales person may not be as good at the exhibition as the rolls of engagement are different.

Pre-show training is a must.

Have A Decision Maker Available

Have a decision maker available. Trade show and exhibitions are places where decisions are made and deals are arranged.

Make sure you have a decision maker at the stand or ready access to one.

Find a Balance

It may be tempting, especially at your first trade show to go all out and aim to make a big impression.

As a first time exhibitor it is important to find a balance between making an impact and staying in budget.

(Credit to Gill Keinan)

We try to think and prepare for every eventuality so that there are no surprises and our clients are confident and happy with their exhibit – Happy to listen and help!

Shout out your product/service or concept. Keep it simple, effective and wave your flag!

We like to be in on the discussions early in the company’s planning to market themselves in the world arena or locally, so that we can get under the skin of what the message is and try to ensure the final design, impact and message has the effect required and ROI.

Those companies that have not exhibited at large fairs and abroad will benefit from having the whole message looked at and planned, ensuring that when clients are standing at their exhibit selling and promoting their company, they have all the tools, sales material and visual message to help them do their jobs effectively and professionally.

Hope this is helpful, contact Kate at Fox Graphics Design & Marketing for a chat to see if we can help. Free consultation – www.foxgraphicsdesign.co.uk m: 07927 131600

More examples and information about exhibitions – https://foxgraphicsdesign.co.uk/what-we-do/exhibition-stand/

26th March 201817th April 2019

Remember to ask for Recommendations on LinkedIn and give them too

21st March 201817th April 2019

Follow the Fox!

Follow the Fox….using animation, typography, branding, colour and creativity + upbeat music, we have created and executed this fantastic fresh, classy, contemporary and cutting edge visual communication!

View animation here please!

We have launched our new animation branding, to demonstrate that within 45 seconds businesses can communicate and engage globally. The visual imagery and core messages, including what people say about the company are communicated in a easy to digest visual method whilst reinforcing the brand with contact details for the website and social media icons.

Whilst relaxing drinking a coffee or on the move in the increasingly busy technological noise in business, we hope that this puts a spring in your step and a smile in a busy working day!

Guillaume Apollinaire (French: [ɡijom apɔlinɛʁ]; 26 August 1880 – 9 November 1918) was a French poet, playwright, short story writer, novelist, and art critic of Polish descent.

Apollinaire is considered one of the foremost poets of the early 20th century, as well as one of the most impassioned defenders of Cubism and a forefather of Surrealism. He is credited with coining the term “cubism” in 1911 to describe the emerging art movement and the term “surrealism” in 1917 to describe the works of Erik Satie. The term Orphism (1912) is also his. Apollinaire wrote one of the earliest Surrealist literary works, the play The Breasts of Tiresias (1917), which became the basis for the 1947 opera Les mamelles de Tirésias.

Two years after being wounded in World War I, Apollinaire died in the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918; he was 38.

Calligrammes:Poems of Peace and War 1913-1916, is a collection of poems by Guillaume Apollinaire which was first published in 1918 (see 1918 in poetry). Calligrammes is noted for how the typeface and spatial arrangement of the words on a page plays just as much of a role in the meaning of each poem as the words themselves – a form called a calligram. In this sense, the collection can be seen as either concrete poetry or visual poetry. Apollinaire described his work as follows:

The Calligrammes are an idealisation of free verse poetry and typographical precision in an era when typography is reaching a brilliant end to its career, at the dawn of the new means of reproduction that are the cinema and the phonograph. (Guillaume Apollinaire, in a letter to André Billy)^[2]

Follow the Fox…….

Call Kate on 01625 468038 Cheshire

02037 802160 London

(001) 833 253 5676 USA

www.foxgraphicsdesign.co.uk

I would also like to thanks Gary Carse and his team (Sian & Ash) for their support and patience with this commission and highly recommend them, they took my vision and between us, turned my animation into reality. Thank You!

Follow the Fox…….

Whilst relaxing drinking a coffee or on the move in the increasingly busy technological noise in business, we hope that this puts a spring in your step and a smile in a busy working day!

Follow the Fox, for advice on getting customers to take note of your brand, how to develop your brands image and becoming memorable!

Call Kate on 01625 468038 Cheshire

02037 802160 London

(001) 833 253 5676 USA

www.foxgraphicsdesign.co.uk

14th March 201817th April 2019

Supporting ‘Prevent Breast Cancer’ charity

Prevent Breast Cancer, our purpose is in our name.

Our little pebble in the pond!

Fox Graphics Design & Marketing has for many years promoted charities through business, instead of giving our time for free or money, we have felt that supporting and helping to raise awareness within the business community of chosen charities is more effective and has been proven so, with our first charity many years ago – KidsCan, see the story here! and how the ripples on the pond kept going.

The reason we have chosen this charity to go on Kate’s cards is that she lost a friend 18 months ago to Breast Cancer and it was awful because although detected early she unfortunately had the one type that was not curable. She also has many happy friends that have been lucky enough to survive this, by early diagnosis.

If you would also like to do this, please get in touch as Kate will prepare the artwork free of charge.

Predict. Prevent. Protect. You could call it our mantra.

As the only UK charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer, we’re committed to freeing the world from the disease altogether. Unlike many cancer charities, we’re focused on preventing, rather than curing. Promoting early diagnosis, screening and lifestyle changes, we believe we can stop the problem before it starts. And being situated at the only breast cancer prevention centre in the UK, we’re right at the front-line in the fight against the disease.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is simple: to create a future free from breast cancer, where there is no before or after diagnosis. And thanks to better predictive tools and early intervention, we truly believe that for future generations, breast cancer will be a thing of the past. This means acting now, to help more people live a life that’s free from the disease. It means funding research aimed solely at preventing breast cancer. And it means creating a world where thousands of people are spared from ever experiencing the pain and suffering it causes. Put simply, our purpose is in our name.

We Predict – by identifying who is at risk of breast cancer.
We Prevent – by offering preventative interventions, to stop breast cancer before it starts.
We Protect – by shielding future generations from breast cancer.

Registered Charity Number 1109839, Prevent Breast Cancer, Registered in England No: 4831397

Exerts from previous blog about how this works well with charities –

‘It’s not an advert – it’s a dedicated space,’ Kate explains. ‘We wanted it to have the right message, which isn’t about us being great, it’s about raising the profile of this charity.’

The actions of Fox Graphics demonstrate the way in which any business can help a charity, regardless of money, if they choose to think in a very open-minded way.
The exposure that Fox Graphics generated for KidsCan enabled people to see not only the good that KidsCan was doing, but also the good that Fox Graphics was doing.

‘It was a pebble in the pond and the ripples were unbelievable,’ Kate explains. ‘I did it to help them, not thinking it would help me!’

At networking events it became the perfect icebreaker, stimulating conversation as people wanted to find out more about the charity and the reasoning behind Kate’s decision to help them. Kate believes that her business was highly regarded for the values it showed through its connection with a charity. Fox Graphics was shown to be run by decent people, people that others wanted to do business with.

www.foxgraphicsdesign.co.uk

Continue reading “Supporting ‘Prevent Breast Cancer’ charity”

3rd March 201817th April 2019

Fox Graphics Design & Marketing Re-brand

We have finally found time to re-brand with the Marketing wing of the Fox business. We coincided our branding with the Co-hosting event on Valantine’s day with Macclesfield Chamber of Commerce and 2 other companies. (see previous blog here).

We have invested in some lovely laptop/ipad shoulder bags, posh pens and A3 desk pads, alongside the new fresh marketing banners and website. watch this space on the logo! I can highly recommend the items, people just say ‘oooh, is that for me!’ and smile or they say ‘pressies’. Giving is great, and people always like a pressie! we don’t just give pressies we give time to listen, help and share ideas with clients, contacts and people who are thinking of going into business on their own!

We have started finding our own niche after 18 months of relaunching from having a year of being seriously ill, whilst keeping Fox Graphics in business. We are heading into celebrating ‘being in business for 10 years’ in June this year. I started the business having finished my degree at MMU in Graphic Design and just jumped into setting up Fox Graphics.

Having had 12 years of senior operational management experience in the Hotel and Catering industry nationally and overseas. Then International recruitment experience and training the long term unemployed back into work, I had a whole range of skills to call on that I didn’t realise I needed to set up a business. oh yes, and no one told me it was the beginning of a recession!

At the time, I was by then a single mother with a teenager. I had only gone to Macclesfield College to learn how to switch on a computer and 6 years later I came out of MMU with a first class degree! So, I’m current, seriously techie and on the far spectrum of creative, which was normal for me, I just thought everyone else was the same as me until I met my class mates at uni and found that I had finally met a group of people who were similar.

I had a very different upbringing where my Father lived in Paris, behind the Sacre Coeur, my Auntie in Switzerland, and my family in Cheshire, oh, and Anglesey! So my playgrounds were watching artists in Paris and spending days with my brother absorbing the art and world of the Champs Elyses, La Louvre, museums, art galleries, cathedrals, the posters on the Metro and all that was creative in Geneva, in the Alps and London. Years later I realised that my eyes had been taking pictures for research in my head and I still do that.

These are my resources that enable me to keep designing and keep fresh. Someone asked me recently, how do you know it is a good logo. I know instinctively and all our work is crafted creatively, proudly designing for the business, company, sector, person not to trend. Being ahead of the trend and knowing what might be next or in front of the next style is the clever thing.

I am so excited about this next chapter in the Fox business. Digital marketing, video, animation, technology and virtual reality has well and truly arrived and businesses need to jump on board, embrace it and engage! We can help your company find the best methods of achieving your goals and outcomes with design, marketing and a dose of common sense whilst being different and grabbing attention and moving forward.

Thank you for all the support from my friends, colleagues, clients and connections who have helped us evolve! and I’m just loving our new HQ!

Kate Fox, Fox Graphics Design & Marketing

Tag: digital marketing

Brand, or fail

Brand, or fail

Branding is the very essence of your business.

Get under their skin

Kate Fox

Business Innovation Award

Some pointers on thinking and planning exhibition stands and marketing events.

First time exhibiting! Here are some tips!

Remember to ask for Recommendations on LinkedIn and give them too

Follow the Fox!

Cutting edge visual communication! Follow the Fox…..

Inspiration

Inspiration from Calligrammes whilst studying at University

Contact

Supporting ‘Prevent Breast Cancer’ charity

Prevent Breast Cancer, our purpose is in our name.

Prevent Breast Cancer, our purpose is in our name.

Fox Graphics Design & Marketing Re-brand

Design & Marketing Re-brand

my playgrounds…

email

phone

Contact