Verdin* Marketing Ink

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

 

04/25/12 Verdin Qualifies as National ADDY® Award Finalist

 

04/19/12 Patterns and repetition make brands recognizable

 

01/12/12 QR codes and mobile marketing

 

11/07/11 Unique holiday invitation unfolds creativity

 

09/27/11 Global Company Attributes Milestone Anniversary to Being ‘SLO-Grown’

 

09/20/11 Extraordinary local couple honored at Pops

 

08/26/11 Local auto shop holds book drive

 

08/26/11 Community Foundation gets new office

Archives

  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011

Categories

  • Action Hero
  • Advertising
  • Client News
  • Graphic Design
  • Marketing
  • Public Relations
  • Social Media
  • Verdin
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • 805 541 9005
  • ©2011 verdin*avisionforyourbrand

  • 04/25/12 Verdin Qualifies as National ADDY® A...

    We’re happy to announce that Verdin is now a 2012 National ADDY® Award finalist. As a 2012 winner of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) District ADDY® Awards for its rebrand campaign, Verdin is eligible to move on to the National …View More

    Verdin Qualifies as National ADDY® Award Finalist

    April 25th, 2012 - by Whitney Diaz

    Verdin Rebrand (collateral)

    We’re happy to announce that Verdin is now a 2012 National ADDY® Award finalist. As a 2012 winner of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) District ADDY® Awards for its rebrand campaign, Verdin is eligible to move on to the National ADDY® Awards competition, the largest of its kind in the country.

    The Verdin Rebrand Campaign won a gold ADDY® Award at the regional level in March, which qualified the local company to move forward in the competition to the district level, where it won a Silver ADDY® Award. Any entry that wins gold or silver at the district level is eligible to advance and compete in the national competition along with over 1,500 other finalists.

    Verdin, formerly Verdin Marketing Ink, rebranded itself in fall 2011 to convey an evolution that has taken place over the past eight years. Complete with a new logo, tagline, blog, social media presence and more, the rebrand showcased Verdin’s sophistication and personality using a friendly, creative design with a surprising color palette.

    Verdin Rebrand Up Close

    “We have worked with many clients on their branding and rebranding, so our own rebrand was an opportunity to refine our process. We feel the final product really represents who we are as a company, and look forward to applying this same evolved process in branding for our clients,” said Mary Verdin, the agency’s president. “Everything goes back to our clients, including this rebrand and this award. It’s all about them and what we can do for them.”

    The National ADDY® Awards will be chosen from entries from across the country May 4 through 5 in Washington, D.C., by an illustrious panel of judges. National winners will be presented at the National ADDY® Awards Show in Austin, TX on June 5 at the Hilton Austin, as part of the AAF National Conference.

    For more information, or to see samples of other marketing campaigns and materials created by Verdin, peruse our website or “like” the Verdin Facebook page at www.facebook.com/verdinvision.

    Verdin Rebrand (Mailer Set)

    About the American Advertising Federation
    The American Advertising Federation (AAF) is the nation’s oldest national advertising trade association, and the only association representing all facets of the advertising industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it acts as the “Unifying Voice for Advertising.” The AAF also has 15 district operations, each located in and representing a different region of the nation. The AAF’s mission is to protect and promote the well being of advertising by coordinating a unique, national grassroots network of advertisers, agencies, media companies, local advertising clubs and college chapters. For more information, visit www.aaf.org.

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    *

    *

    You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

  • 04/19/12 Patterns and repetition make brands r...

    Patterns. We see them all the time. But why? As graphic designers we often use the elements of repetition and pattern to create brand recognition. Repetition can be something as simple as a color or shape repeated over space, whereas …View More

    Patterns and repetition make brands recognizable

    April 19th, 2012 - by Kelly McCay

    Patterns. We see them all the time. But why? As graphic designers we often use the elements of repetition and pattern to create brand recognition.

    Repetition can be something as simple as a color or shape repeated over space, whereas a pattern is a specific arrangement of repeated shapes and colors. This repetition of colors, shapes and space serves a purpose in the designed work — to create brand recognition.

    Pattern and repetition stimulate feelings in a viewer or target audience and can be traced back to nature, as many patterns and geometric sequences can be seen in the natural world.

    Here at Verdin, we use pattern and repetition across all mediums, including signage. The Verdin circle pattern uses the asterisk from the Verdin logo, as well as the repeated circle shape.

    Many times patterns are used in identity and branding. Branding is much more than just putting a logo on everything. Instead, branding involves creating an entire identity system used to identify a company or organization’s brand. A brand consists of a name, tagline, design, color, symbol and/or any other feature that distinguishes one seller’s goods or services from anothers’.

    A brand can identify itself with the use of printed collateral, social media, stationery, print and online advertising, websites, promotional pieces, internal documents, promotional products, presentations, and so much more. And repetition is one of the many design elements used to carry this out by creating consistency. Pattern is also a way to create texture, to fill a space when white space or a solid color won’t do.

    Here at Verdin, we use pattern and repetition across all mediums, including various pieces of collateral, social media, and signage. The Verdin circle pattern uses the asterisk from the Verdin logo, as well as the repeated circle shape. The asterisk is important to our identity, as it represents all the services we offer and how we have grown to become a full-service agency.

    The six-points of the asterisk equally stand for our six core values: honest, smart, strategic, proactive, preventive, and on target. These represent us, and the repetition of the asterisk creates brand recognition and value in our services. The circles add another dimension to the pattern, both containing the asterisks and giving structure and balance to the pattern. Circles represent a complete wholesomeness and unity.

    The repetition of the circle pattern can be applied in many different places, as you may have seen on our custom birthday cards, front entry window decal, and even on our Verdin wine glasses.

    The colors used in our mailers are solids and tints of the Verdin colors, which also strengthens our brand recognition. The same Verdin colors can be seen repeated in our Verdin striped pattern, which is used on our website and social media pages. The use of this striped pattern is meant to show the different layers (or pages) of our online content, and convey that they are just as much a part of “us” as our print content and all other pieces of our identity.

    The many different uses of pattern and repetition all come together and are recognized as Verdin in many places and spaces.

    Some of my favorite examples of other pattern and repetition uses include
    • This lovely book design using pattern for Penguin Books by Coralie Bickford-Smith
    • The Maminena identity using pattern by MANIFIESTO FUTURA from Mexico
    • This awesome packaging using pattern by Chen Design in SF
    • And this simple yet effective pattern in band poster design by Tad Carpenter.

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    *

    *

    You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

  • 01/12/12 QR codes and mobile marketing

    You’ve heard of QR codes, but do you really know what they are or what they do? As more people use mobile devices (smart phones, tablets, etc.) to access information via the Internet, QR codes will become a standard way …View More

    QR codes and mobile marketing

    January 12th, 2012 - by Whitney Diaz

    sample qr code

    Scan this QR code and like us on Facebook!

    You’ve heard of QR codes, but do you really know what they are or what they do? As more people use mobile devices (smart phones, tablets, etc.) to access information via the Internet, QR codes will become a standard way to provide timely information or special offers.

    So what is it? In short, a QR code is a quick response bar code, originally created in Japan, that allows people to retrieve content quickly on a mobile device. Essentially, it’s a way to rapidly connect users with the content you want them to see.

    Strategies for QR Codes

    Before you start slapping QR codes on your business cards and print ads, think about what your audience and customers, or potential customers, can get out of it. Every aspect of a marketing campaign should tie back to business goals. This is where strategy comes in.

    What are you trying to provide your customers? Are you attempting to reach a goal by using the QR code?

    By clearly defining your goals, you’ll not only provide a great interactive user experience, but you’ll forge a new medium that will help your business reach its goals. Take a look at your customer base or your audience and determine if a QR code is really the right fit for a particular campaign.

    Clearly tell your audience what they can expect when they scan the code. For example, if the code leads back to your business website, include text that says, “Check out our website for more information.” But DO NOT connect your QR code with a website that isn’t mobile-friendly. When people scan QR codes, it’s a safe bet that they using smart phones. So make sure that wherever your QR code leads is safe, mobile content that is both easy to read and engaging.

    Best Uses

    The best uses for QR Codes, according to CRW Graphics, are in print advertising, flyers, posters, invites and other ads.

    If you’re creating a marketing or advertising campaign, think about how you can insert a QR code to provide additional product details, videos, contact details, special offers, links to social media pages, event details and so much more. But have a mobile-friendly landing page or site specifically designed for the campaign so that the user sees the value of that QR code right away.

    Other ways to use QR codes include:
    ·     On business cards (link to your LinkedIn page, or other information about you)
    ·     Scavenger hunts (fun ways to engage audiences)
    ·     Labels
    ·     Promotions, giveaways
    ·     Stickers
    ·     T-shirts

    No matter how you choose to use QR codes, be creative and useful. Your business is unique with unique goals. Try to align your marketing efforts with those goals and you’ll see great success. And remember that QR codes are still relatively new to users, so it’s a good idea to have a line of instructions with the code.

    QR Code Generators
    Here is a list of QR code generators we like to use
    ·    qrcode.kaywa.com
    ·    QR Stuff
    ·    GoQR.me
    ·    delivr.com

    For more information or for help on your next marketing campaign, contact us at (805) 541-9005 or e-mail verdin@verdinvision.com.

    Sources and more information:
    ·    13 Creative Ways to use QR Codes for Marketing
    ·    How NOT to use QR Codes
    ·    How to Integrate a QR Code into Marketing Campaigns

     

    • QR code is a great invention people made. I'm making mobile apps currently and find it really cool to implement QR codes into them. I'm amazed at QR code coupons www.Snappii.com app builder allows to create. They are really helpful for small businesses.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    *

    *

    You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

    Tweet Me.
  • 11/07/11 Unique holiday invitation unfolds cre...

    Like past years, our holiday invitation this year is unique, to say the least. In most advertising and graphic design projects, the designers are given the responsibility of visually telling a story. Instead of your standard open-and-close greeting card, or …View More

    Unique holiday invitation unfolds creativity

    November 7th, 2011 - by Kelly McCay

    Like past years, our holiday invitation this year is unique, to say the least. In most advertising and graphic design projects, the designers are given the responsibility of visually telling a story. Instead of your standard open-and-close greeting card, or your two-sided postcard, this invitation has a bit more to it.

    This year’s invitation is a multi-paneled, multifold piece that required a lot of attention to detail in order for it to work correctly.

    We received the template and sample from the printer, Jano Graphics, and I instantly said to myself, “Oh MY.” I knew there was important information that needed to go on the invite, but with a multi-paneled piece such as this, I had no idea where to begin placing the content. So, like many new design projects, I began sketching. After several tiny thumbnail sketches of what each “fold” of the card would contain, I had a better sense of my dilemma — I was telling a story that people would discover with their own hands. We were putting something into people’s hands that needed to flow smoothly and make sense to them the very first time they received it.

    From there I created storyboards as I took pictures of the sample at each stage of the folding. Then, I mapped out where each section of the flat design shows up in the folded piece. Basically, laying out the order in which the story would be told.

    Once I received the poem (written by our talented duo Megan Mastache and Whitney Diaz), I decided that the poem would act more as an introduction, and the facts would follow inside. The “when” and “where” seemed to be the info people will need the most. That information pops up in the second “panel” and remains visible in the next panel as well. Then we have our iconic squirrel urging us to “Kick off the holidays at Verdin!” followed by the Verdin team stating that we “HOPE TO SEE YOU REAL SOON.”

    Once the overall layout was determined, I got to experiment with type, colors, shapes and illustrations to lay everything into place. The invite ties in elements from our recent re-brand, while still setting it apart as a unique piece for the holidays. You’ll see the repetition of our asterisk, as well as some typefaces used in our current brand mixed with some new ones!

    —Kelly McCay, senior designer

    If you want to check out the invitation, come to our holiday party on Nov. 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. Or call (805) 541-9005 for a sample.

    • Very cute design Kelly! Hope you are doing well.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    *

    *

    You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

    Tweet Me.
  • 09/27/11 Global Company Attributes Milestone A...

    San Luis Obispo’s ClearWater Tech celebrates 25-year anniversary A combination of innovation, talent and lifestyle has contributed to 25 years of success for the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of ozone generation equipment. ClearWater Tech, LLC (CWT), based in San …View More

    Global Company Attributes Milestone Anniversary to Being ‘SLO-Grown’

    September 27th, 2011 - by Whitney Diaz

    San Luis Obispo’s ClearWater Tech celebrates 25-year anniversary

    A combination of innovation, talent and lifestyle has contributed to 25 years of success for the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of ozone generation equipment. ClearWater Tech, LLC (CWT), based in San Luis Obispo, is proud to celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.

    “San Luis Obispo is a beautiful place to live and work. I met my wife here, both of my daughters were born here, and I started this business here,” said Cameron Tapp, president and founder of CWT. “We try to keep the business as local as possible; our machining and sheet metal are all fabricated here in San Luis Obispo, and our painting, pottery coating, graphics, printing, hardware and outsourcing are as well.”

    CWT produces a line of more than 50 different models of ozone generation systems for water and air purification, and serves a variety of applications and markets including commercial laundry, commercial and residential swimming pools, spas and water features, aquariums and zoos, beverage and bottled water, indoor air quality and problem drinking water.

    CWT has marketed sustainable products globally with over 200,000 installations on six continents. The company’s EcoTex™ Advanced Laundry Oxidation Systems for commercial laundries use a proven ozone technology that reduces utilities while providing superior disinfection in cold water. Commercial facilities that switch to EcoTex™ laundry systems usually save more than 50 percent in operational costs.

    “We have grown organically and steadily for 25 years, we’ve never laid people off, and we’ve seen profits year over year,” Tapp said. “Ozone technology is an art and a science combined. We don’t use traditional methods, but we have installations on every continent [except Antarctica], and we’ve been involved in markets ranging from ozone pool water purification for swimming pools in Olympic competitions to Coca Cola bottling processes in Turkey.

    CWT was founded in 1986 by Tapp in a garage on Price Street in San Luis Obispo and has grown continuously for the past 25 years. It is currently located in a large warehouse at 850 Capitolio Way, where it employs more than 40 people.

    “It feels like I just started yesterday,” Tapp said. “There is such a bright future ahead. The foundation is laid, and there are so many tremendous opportunities for ClearWater Tech. We can’t wait to see what the next 25 years has in store for us.”

    More information about ClearWater Tech and its water purification products can be found at www.cwtozone.com or www.Facebook.com/ClearWaterTech.

    About ClearWater Tech
    ClearWater Tech, LLC, based in San Luis Obispo, Calif., is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of ozone generation equipment and related components to serve a wide range of water and air purification applications and markets.

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    *

    *

    You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

    Tweet Me.
  • 09/20/11 Extraordinary local couple honored at...

    Community raises $11,000 in honor of Frank and Lois Martinez for music education programs Two longtime San Luis Obispo Symphony (SLO Symphony) supporters were honored in an inspiring display of community support at Pops by the Sea on Labor Day …View More

    Extraordinary local couple honored at Pops

    September 20th, 2011 - by admin

    Community raises $11,000 in honor of Frank and Lois Martinez for music education programs

    From left to right: Barbara Martinez, Frank Martinez and Gil Stork at Pops by the Sea.

    Two longtime San Luis Obispo Symphony (SLO Symphony) supporters were honored in an inspiring display of community support at Pops by the Sea on Labor Day Weekend.

    Every year one lucky bidder has the opportunity to win the auction for the coveted Maestro’s Baton and to lead the orchestra in a rousing rendition of John Phillip Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever. Often a group gets together to honor a friend, co-worker or family member. All proceeds from the auction benefit the Symphony’s music education programs. This year, a dedicated group of friends and family conspired to raise $11,000 to win the baton auction in honor of Frank and Lois Martinez.

    The Martinezes are renowned for their unwavering support of the arts and the local music community, and were instrumental in SLO Symphony’s early successes. Dr. Frank Martinez served as President of Cuesta College for 25 years and assisted in acquiring concert and rehearsal space for the Symphony in the early 1960’s when Dr. Earle Blakeslee was Music Director. He insisted that Cuesta College be the Symphony’s first real home – a welcoming place where the orchestra could practice, perform and prosper. After Lois Martinez passed away last year, members of the San Luis Obispo community felt compelled to honor them both and devised a plan to win the baton auction in the couple’s name.

    “People wanted to do something special for Frank and Lois to thank them for all that they’ve done and to honor them for their support of the music community,” said Leslie McKinley, SLO Symphony’s Resource Development Director.

    Barbara George, Cuesta College’s Interim Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, and Elaine Coats, the first classified employee ever hired at Cuesta College, along with Frank and Lois’s daughter Barbara Martinez, received the Martinez family’s blessing to recognize the couple in this surprising way. They began sending letters requesting donations to friends and family. Soon, support came pouring in from all over the country, as well as from the local community.

    Just before intermission at the concert, a very surprised Frank Martinez was called on stage to conduct when Barbara George “won” the auction in his name. He was presented with his prize by longtime friend and Interim Cuesta College President Gil Stork and then led the orchestra in Stars and Stripes Forever.

    “It was pretty obvious that he had no idea. I think he’s still in shock, still walking on a cloud,” said George, who was on the stage to help announce the honor.

    This year’s Pops by the Sea theme was “Summer of Love.” A record crowd at the Avila Beach Golf Resort enjoyed tunes from the days of classic Rock ‘n Roll with special guest Grammy-award winner Louie Ortega.  The 20th Annual Labor Day weekend event was hosted by KSBY News Anchor Jeanette Trompeter.

    More information and photos of this special event can be found at www.SLOSymphony.com.

    • Much appreciated for the information and share! Nancy

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    *

    *

    You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

    Tweet Me.
  • 08/26/11 Local auto shop holds book drive

    Rizzoli’s Automotive has partnered with Altrusa International, Inc. of the Central Coast to provide books to local children. The partnership has already resulted in a donation of 700 books for Altrusa’s annual Festival of Books giveaway. Altrusa of the Central …View More

    Local auto shop holds book drive

    August 26th, 2011 - by admin

    Rizzoli’s Automotive has partnered with Altrusa International, Inc. of the Central Coast to provide books to local children. The partnership has already resulted in a donation of 700 books for Altrusa’s annual Festival of Books giveaway.

    Altrusa of the Central Coast’s main focus is literacy. This summer marks their fourth year of giving away books at the Santa Maria Town Center Mall. The organization will be gathering for the Festival of Books giveaway on Sundays, August 7 and August 21. Later in the summer on Thursday, September 8, Altrusa will celebrate International Literacy Day in the “Leisure Room” at the Santa Maria Town Center. They will have an afternoon of board and card games while handing out as many books as possible. There will be door prizes every 30 minutes and free snacks. All ages are welcome.

    Many families that are struggling financially in the tough economy are not able to afford books to have in their homes. Altrusa helps take some of the burden off these families with the community’s ongoing donation of books. “We want to make sure every child in Santa Maria has a book to read this summer,” said President of Altrusa Melinda Aguirre. “We have lots of kids attend our event and get so excited that they can have a book to take home and read.”

    Last year, Rizzoli’s Automotive partnered with the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation for the Raising a Reader Program. A total of 600 books were collected at Rizzoli’s locations in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria. Recently, Altrusa expressed the need for books in Santa Maria and Rizzoli’s offered to continue collecting books throughout the summer to benefit the Santa Maria families in need.

    “The community and our customers continuously demonstrate generosity when we host the book drives,” said General Manager Kyle Rizzoli. “We plan to continue this important community outreach program along with our year-round food drive for the SLO Food Bank.”

    Donations can be dropped off at 2584 Victoria in San Luis Obispo or 1149 W. Tama Lane in Santa Maria.

    About Altrusa
    Altrusa of the Central Coast’s mission is to administer contributions received from Altrusa Clubs to the needs of the community to support and maintain its traditional commitments to literacy projects and to ensure support to local service projects. Visit http://www.altrusaclubcentralcoast.org for more information.

    About Rizzoli’s
    Rizzoli’s Automotive has been a family run business for three generations, taking pride in quality care and customer service. Rizzoli’s is located at 2584 Victoria in San Luis Obispo and at 1149 W. Tama Lane in Santa Maria. For more information please call (805) 541-1082 or log on to www.RizzolisAutomotive.com.

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    *

    *

    You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

    Tweet Me.
  • 08/26/11 Community Foundation gets new office

    SLO County Community Foundation secures future with historic home The San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation (SLOCCF), an organization established in 1998 and dedicated to the quality of life in the community, has recently purchased and moved into the historic …View More

    Community Foundation gets new office

    August 26th, 2011 - by admin

    SLO County Community Foundation secures future with historic home

    The San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation (SLOCCF), an organization established in 1998 and dedicated to the quality of life in the community, has recently purchased and moved into the historic Barneberg House at 550 Dana St. in downtown San Luis Obispo. The new offices bring to life the theme of the SLOCCF’s most recent annual report, “Inspired by the Past, Creating the Future.”

    “When this opportunity became available to us, we knew it was a perfect fit,” explained Executive Director Barry VanderKelen. “This historic home has deep, strong roots in the same community we are committed to supporting and enhancing.” VanderKelen adds, “Owning our building will enable us to put more resources towards supporting the nonprofit community. It was with the help of the Hind Foundation and the Duenow Family that we were able to secure the building, and many others have also contributed to this effort, knowing that the Community Foundation will be here – for good, and for ever.”

    The SLOCCF is the third owner of the Barneberg House and plans to preserve this cultural treasure. The 4,350 square feet gives the Community Foundation plenty of room to grow, and also enables them to make meeting space available for nonprofits and community groups to use.

    For more information about SLOCCF, log onto www.sloccf.org or call (805) 543-2323.

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    *

    *

    You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

    Tweet Me.