How brand loyal are you? Brand loyalty, in marketing, consists of a consumer’s commitment to repurchase or otherwise continue using the brand and can be demonstrated by repeated buying of a product or service or other positive behaviors. There are certain brands that have been leading their specific industries for many many years. Some of the brands have even taken over the products’ names for instance Band-Aid is currently American’s #1 bandage brand and many folks refer to bandages as Band-Aids. Kleenex is another great for instance - many folks refer to facial tissues as Kleenexes.

So how brand loyal are you or are you not? Does it matter to you what brands you use or do you always use some of the same brands? The examples above are two great well established brands which have lead their specific industries so much so their product names are used “generically.”

Recently BD ran out of a staple food product “peanut butter” - so to the store one goes to replace the empty container. We have always purchased “Peter Pan” - and always is the real deal. Well when the one comes back with the replacement peanut butter they purchased a jar of “Jif.” This example quickly was a great example of why we are so brand loyal to Peter Pan as we did not really care for the taste of Jif. When one is loyal to a certain brand they typically have had a great experience and get the same results every time.

Peter Pan / Jif with BD

BD was recently at a meeting for INpact Medical Device Network at Bingham•McHale (Indianapolis - Downtown). INpact assist medical device companies to bring new product and technologies to market in timely and efficient manner. INpact also focuses on early stage, entrepreneurial, start-up or small medical device companies primarily in Indiana. Members of INpact are service providers with a primary focus on product development. During this February’s meeting the focus was prototyping. Several of the INpact member companies presented by doing a show and tell style presentation which was very captivating plus impressive. The show and tell aspects really made it real and shed a new light for me personally on the capabilities which exist in the “prototyping” stage of a product/device development.

BD was honored when the name INpact was selected for this medical device network group sometime back as we created the name (INpact) plus we also designed the existing INpact logo. So during the prototyping presentations from INpact members we were very touched to be a part of such a forward thinking neat group of diverse companies.

BD & the INpact logo

One company actually took the INpact logo and created a 3D prototype for all of the members and guest who attended the February meeting to have and take with them. BD would like to thank Bill Fletcher with Online Resources for taking the INpact logo and creating an impressive 3D prototype. Also by Bill doing this 3D piece with the INpact logo it helped many members to better understand some of the capabilities that Online Resources has. It was very neat as a graphic designer to see the name and logo we designed in a 3D piece.

BD & the INpact 3D logo

We at BD encourage companies, groups and networks to develop a strong easily remember-able name then have a strong eye-catching logo with natural movement and flow as these are the 2 most crucial steps into creating a strong brand that can be leveraged.

Everyone has rhythm in some sort of shape or fashion. The toughest thing for many is to discover what your rhythm is and what area it might exist within. I invite you to find your rhythm at Indianapolis’s newest downtown attraction Rhythm Discovery Center. Rhythm Discovery Center is a place for visitors of all ages to experience rhythm and percussion. Explore their wide variety of percussion instruments and artifacts from around the world through interactive exhibits and dynamic multi-media experiences.

Recently Blabber Duckie was in Indianapolis thanks to a client meeting and an INpact Medical Device Network meeting. As I was heading back to my car for the drive back to my office, I discovered Rhythm Discovery Center as I stopped at a near by coffee shop. I was so drawn in to the Rhythm Discovery Center that I felt a break from the daily grind was needed anyways. As a designer I was drawn into the center thanks to the beautifully crafted sign that appeared at the entrance of the center. The use of the rich warm powerful colors instantly caught my eye then I also quickly noticed their well designed logo.

Thanks to my break away from the daily grind at the Rhythm Discovery Center, I too realized that even though I may not have music ability or natural musical talent I still have rhythm and I actually use it daily as a graphic designer. So my challenge to you is to stop take a look around as life presents us with clues daily. Find your rhythm it helps to keep one grounded.

BD at Rhythm Discovery Center

BD at Rhythm Discovery Center

Rhythm Discovery Center

Late September of 2009 I simply took a chance and accepted a coaching role as a Varsity Girls’ Basketball Assistant Coach. My family and friends thought I was a bit crazy because I already had a ton on my plate especially with owning and running Boundless Design.

Basketball has always been near and dear to my heart. Since college I truly missed being around the round ball and hard court. My very first day at conditioning was very scary but it just felt right especially since I was coaching for Indian Creek High School, which is also the high school I graduated from and received nine varsity letters from. So I knew the community (which I still live within) and many of the teachers, so I felt right at home.

Constantly being around 16 teenage girls (15 years old - 18 years old) was an eye opener as they all is some sort or fashion need a mentor, a role model. This season thus far has been very rewarding from multiple view points and wow I have learned a tremendous amount about bball and life in general. As a designer I have also been in the position to pick up a few design projects from signs, to business cards and currently working on t-shirt designs for the youth summer camp programs. I was even asked by Coach Burkman (Head Varsity Coach) to develop a brand unique to the “IC Lady Braves.”

Thanks to this amazing experience I am able to go after what inspires me and to my surprise doors have opened within design as well. So I encourage you to go after what inspires you as you too might be very surprised and pleased on the outcomes.

Our Lady Braves are currently 18-2 with our last regular game tonight at Brown County. Sectionals start next week as we take the hard court Tuesday, February 9 at 7pm at Indian Creek High School.

IC_LadyBraves

I’m sure most or at least many of you have heard the saying - “Don’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover.” Well as a designer and marketer I fully disagree with this statement. A cover tells a lot about the book and the contents within the book, in other words – “sets the pace for what’s to come.” The same is true for a product and it’s packaging.

Recently, I was visiting Target for everyday personal products for myself and my husband. On this visit, my husband had requested deodorant - his regular Old Spice Red Zone. I walked up to the overwhelming shelve stocked full of a vast array of men’s deodorant and to my amazement I was wowed by the ever eye-catching packaging that was before me.

I stood and pondered the variety and then focused in on my husband’s “brand” – Old Spice Red Zone. Even staying within his brand the options were many. So I simply went for a package/design layout that I was drawn to as after all I had to make a selection. There was an Old Spice Red Zone that stood out thanks to it’s packaging and scent name. The top of the package contained the “NFL” logo as Old Spice is an official sponsor for the National Football League. Then to heighten my inquisitiveness the packaging contained a football graphic in a monochromatic style and the name of the scent was “After Hours.” I simply reached to the Old Spice Red Zone “After Hours” deodorant and placed it into my cart.

As I continued my trip through Target I began to chuckle as I was too duked due to great packaging. What can I say though as I knew I was getting a sound product. Well done Old Spice as when I returned home I even went to their website.

Old Spice Red Zone with BD