February 8th, 2010 Knowledge

It’s Super Bowl Sunday. Today marks one of the biggest competitions in sport. At some point this year, at a sales meeting or a marketing conference, someone is going to reference today’s game as a metaphor to illustrate the competitive nature of business. Corporate types like equating the dog-eat-dog of business with the stories of great battles on the playing fields of football and baseball or the arenas of basketball and hockey. They cite golfers, grand slam tennis champions and boxers. Unfortunately, aside from being cliché, such allusions exaggerate and misrepresent.

In regard to business, the term “competition” is itself a misnomer. Businesses have overlap. They have shared interests and goals in regard to offered services/products and target customer demographics. On the surface, these shared similarities appear to be the stuff of competition. However, dig deeper, and the reality becomes that these businesses, while providing similar services, appeal to very different demographics. Would these businesses focus on the unique qualities of their own services/products versus focusing the similarities, any sense of competition would dissolve. Competition is a construct – and a costly one at that.

In the media, competition in business is discussed in terms of large corporations. However, small business is not immune, though the competitive squabbles of these smaller entities are not widely discussed. In the branding process, competition is more often than not the number one concern of a client looking for a marketing edge. This is unfortunate as small businesses have limited resources and are not backed by large purses for marketing and advertising such as that spent by their bigger corporate brethren. While a smaller business should be focused on improving its message and products, many small business owners make the mistake of throwing money they don’t have at ill-perceived notions of competition.

Knowing the nature of our client base at Luxecetera, you can imagine the motivation behind this particular article. As branding consultants and designers for small business, our mission is to aid small businesses in getting the most out of their branding. In addition, we encourage small businesses to do so by focusing their branding on the unique qualities of their business – not focus it on “beating” another small business in a competitive tete-a-tete.

Sure, you work in a market of 20 other photographers, but are you offering the exact same services? Do you have the same approach to your art? Are you looking for the same kind of client? Let’s say you are a caterer in a mid-size metropolitan area. Are you really equipped to be the only caterer in that market? Can you offer enough variety in your menu to satisfy every pallet? Here, let me solve that one for you – no, you can’t. What you can do is make sure that your services or products make the most of your unique perspective and intellectual resources. What you should do is focus on making your business better at what it does – not try to compete with what others are doing. It’s just, for lack of a better word, silly. In some of my experiences with clients, it feels as though I’m talking to some high school student, angry because the popular girl at school got asked out and she didn’t. Please.

I, however, recognize that these are real situations and that, yes, there are some nasty boogers out there who don’t “play fair” and who are wholly caught up in competition. What I tell our clients is to ignore it. You cannot control the actions of someone else. You can control the your reaction to their nastiness. Don’t get pulled into a costly marketing battle with a perceived competitor. Instead, focus on improving your product and your image and the rest will fall into place. If folks put half the energy into self-improvement that they put into competing with others, they would experience unprecedented success. This, I believe, is the most understated dynamic in business.

It’s Super Bowl Sunday and I’m watching Temple Grandin on HBO. Competition in sport, like competition in business, is a trifle. I prefer Grandin’s story of an individual competing against a mental disorder (autism) and working to improve herself and her abilities. That is a better metaphor for success in business. It truly gets to the heart of what defines greatness.

Tyrie Smith is the copywriter and editor for Luxecetera. He has worked in journalism, public relations and marketing for 10 years and, sometimes, watches the Super Bowl for the commercials.

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2 Comments

laure: So, so true. Thank you for reminding me that, yes, I am doing the best I can!   Feb 8, 2010, 6:42pm


camilla: It's funny how some of us wish so much that the photographers we look up to would share with us but we are not willing to share with the ones that look up to us. It's sad. It's great to have a reminder that we don't need to be so competitive and just be the best that we can be! Thanks!   Feb 8, 2010, 10:27pm



January 29th, 2010 Branding

Take a little sneak peek at Meegan Weaver’s new branding and letterpress business cards. This brand is the essence of the K.I.S (keep it simple) approach. These business cards were printed by Mandate Press and custom duplexed using stock from Paper Source.

Meegan Weaver Letterpressed Custom Duplex Business Cards

Using the blind emboss / pressed look on the back of this beet colored stock makes the tagline Tyrie created absolutely shine!

Meegan Weaver Blind Embossed / Letterpressed Business Card

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1 Comments

Avery Smith: Mmmm. The color and blind emboss is scrumptious! :)   Jan 29, 2010, 12:23pm



January 29th, 2010 Templates

Color Anthologie Winter 2010
With each season comes a new color anthologie and Winter’s has finally arrived – 10 unique color palettes full of winter warmth. Inspired by chilly New England nights and icy ocean breezes.

Color Anthologie Templates for Photographers Winter 2010 Edition - Juniper

Color Anthologie Templates for Photographers Winter 2010 Edition
PRODUCT DETAILS:
• Includes 10 distinct color palettes
• Includes one limited edition WHCC CD cover template with color schemes already implemented
• Includes template sizes for both single and double CD cases
• All colors and text can be edited
• Font information will be included with your download
• Compatible with Photoshop CS and later, Windows and Mac

OTHER USES:
• Transfer colors to nearly anything.
• Cards, marketing materials, websites, branding schemes and more!

PALETTES INCLUDED:
• Maine December
• Ski Lodge
• Subway Chill
• First Light
• Snowberries
• Four Corners
• Juniper
• Sunny and Cold
• Crisp Cranberry
• Frigid Pier

Images in samples courtesy of Stacy Larsen & Ashley Jankowski

On a side note: we were VERY impressed with the quality of this CD/DVD Case from WHCC.

WHCC Press Printed CD Case Limited Edition Design

Faux Bois Inspired DVD / CD Case Design

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1 Comments

Kelly R.: I love your Color Anthologies. Great color inspiration!   Jan 29, 2010, 11:45am



January 28th, 2010 Branding

At Luxecetera, our philosophy towards branding is built on the idea of meeting the needs of our clients. Sometimes that means starting from scratch; in other instances, we take an existing idea and make it better. In the case of husband/wife photographers, Seth and Neolle Nielson, our approach to their branding came in the form of the latter. Fishtale Photography as a brand was already a good idea. Built upon the premise of creating fantastic stories through photography, the Nielsons had created a brand message that was unique and fun; they just needed some help to better illustrate that vision through smart design. That’s where we came in, taking their concept about photography as a vehicle for storytelling and translating it into clean, sophisticated design elements. We created a design that honed in on the whimsical nature of a “fish story” (isn’t the tail cute!) and carried that over into every detail of the design – a bubble-inspired pattern, wave accents, and fish/whale silhouettes. These design elements coupled with a color pallet appropriate for a “whale of a brand,” resulted in a good branding idea made great. So, pull up a chair and join us for some real Fishtales.

Project List: logo design, brand elements, tagline development, pattern design, watermark, business cards, letterhead, notecard, pricesheet, livebooks website design.

Fishtale Photography Logo and Brand

Fishtale Photography Pattern Design

Fishtale Photography Business Card Design and Tagline

Fishtale Photography Branding

TNW_0124-web

Fishtale Photography Pricesheet design


ft-ps

Fishtale Photography Notecard Design

Fishtale Photography Livebooks Website Design

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5 Comments

Candice {The Beautiful Mess}: what an ingenious brand and concept. LOVE it!   Jan 28, 2010, 11:23am


Julie Tennill: Beautiful!   Jan 28, 2010, 5:27pm


Gail Kelly: Totally awesome!!! Love the colours!   Jan 29, 2010, 5:38am


Gail: P.s can I ask what the spec is on the B/C's love the texture & the yummy grey colours?   Jan 29, 2010, 9:30am


Melissa Mullen: Absolutely fabulous! Love the colors - looooooove, the biz cards! :)   Jan 29, 2010, 12:42pm



January 22nd, 2010 Freebies

We’re spreading the love here at LUXC just a little bit early. Please enjoy this complimentary Photoshop Template. Happy Valentine’s Day!! Download Now.

PRODUCT DETAILS:
• 1 (5×7) folded/4-sided card template design
• Includes a front, back and an inside design for folded card
• Includes original illustrations
• Some text and all colors can be edited
• Instructions for use & font information included
• Compatible with Photoshop CS and later, Windows and Mac

Luxecetera Valentine's Day Free Photographer Template

Images courtesy of Stacy Larsen Photography.

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15 Comments

Andrea: I love it! Thank you so much!   Jan 22, 2010, 8:34pm


season moore: oh my gosh I am so using this! Love!   Jan 22, 2010, 9:13pm


Kaysha: Aww this is adorable!!! Thanks so much for sharing! :)   Jan 22, 2010, 9:13pm


Amanda Shea: Goodness gracious-ness (on your part!)! Thank you SO much! It's wonderful!   Jan 22, 2010, 9:48pm


Jane Cato: Thank you!!   Jan 22, 2010, 9:54pm


Kimberly Hill: ooo, so adorable! Thanks for the share!   Jan 22, 2010, 11:58pm


Kelly: So creative! Thanks so much   Jan 24, 2010, 7:19pm


Jamie Jones: Thanks! I posted this on my Twitter account, too. twitter.com/mrsjonessoapbox   Jan 25, 2010, 1:31pm


Jennifer: This is great! THANK YOU!   Jan 25, 2010, 3:11pm


andria Fontenot: thanks so much!   Jan 26, 2010, 12:04am


Rachel Williams: loooooove your work and wow.... thanks for giving this template away!! so kind & gracious   Jan 27, 2010, 7:37pm


Jen Harsr: Thanks! So fun!   Jan 28, 2010, 2:01pm


Jill Higgins: Love it - thanks so much!   Jan 28, 2010, 7:00pm


Gail: LOVE THIS!!! Thank you!   Jan 30, 2010, 3:34pm


PJ Lee: That was worth a tweet. Very nice! My favorite type of Artisian chocolate candy.   Feb 8, 2010, 11:33pm



January 22nd, 2010 Branding

Children’s and family photographer Jamie Dunnington needed a makeover. Well, not Jamie herself, she’s wonderful just the way she is, but her company, Dimples & Dirt, was in need of a new, fresh look. Like most of our clients, Jamie realized the importance of a stronger branding image and was finally ready to do something about it. As her company name implies, Jamie’s company image is one grounded in youthful exuberance and an appreciation of natural settings. Considering these elements, we created a brand design based in earthy colors and design inspired by nature itself. In addition, we keyed in on Jamie’s talents as a children’s photographer and created a the playful silhouette of a little girl with her hands in the dirt. The final product is a whimsical, clean look that reminds us just how fun childhood can be. Come play in the dirt with Dimples & Dirt Photography.

Projects Include: Branding, Logo Design, Business Card, Notecard, Custom Splash Page, Customized Blog.

Dimples and Dirt Photography Logo Design

Dimples and Dirt Photography Notecard and Business Card

Dimples and Dirt Photography Brand Illustration

Dimples and Dirt Photography Business Card

Dimples and Dirt Photography Logo and Accents

Dimples and Dirt Photography Branding

Dimples and Dirt Photography Custom Splash Page

Dimples and Dirt Customized ProPhoto Blog


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January 15th, 2010 Branding, Stationery

We got these lovelies in the mail today for Bella Mi Photography. We wanted to take this simple business card and give it a little…. edge! Well Mandate Press helped us do just that. Thanks Kristin for being brave and letting us try out this fabulous process with you. And thank you Mandate Press for doing it so fabulously!

Bell Mi Photography Letterpress Business Cards with Edging

Bell Mi Photography Letterpress Business Cards with Edging

Bell Mi Photography Letterpress Business Cards with Edging

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2 Comments

Jen Harr: They turned out perfect! The edge is incredible. Wanting to contact you soon about marketing items (business cards, etc) Love all of your designs!   Jan 16, 2010, 9:13pm


charleigh: its so simple & classy - your vision & creativity continues to amaze me!   Jan 21, 2010, 7:20am



January 14th, 2010 Templates

Window Frames $30.00

A fun and bold collection designed to be used for templates, digital mats, frames or just about anything you choose! The sky is the limit!

Window Frame Digital Photo Mats

PRODUCT DETAILS:
• 5, 5×7 and 5×5 unique designs
• All colors can be edited
• Instructions for use included

OTHER USES:
• Image Frames
• Birth Announcements
• Save The Dates
• Senior Announcements
• Holiday Cards
• Party Invitations

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2 Comments

Kelly r.: I love these! Just bought today and I think I'm going to make some canvases with them.   Jan 15, 2010, 12:11am


Ashley: Send us a pic of you canvas! If we feature your pics on the blog - we'll send you a 25% off coupon!   Jan 15, 2010, 8:32pm