Need your Advise - T Shirt Logo Idea? Help

Fast-Pack.com · Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2002 11:26 am Post subject:

Hello All!,

I finally am going to get some T-Shirts made up for friends and family for advertising. I have a graphic artist that came up with 2 designs, the first kind of jumps out at you, which is good, makes you ask questions, but, I have had a few remarks made by friends that it looks demonic due to the morphing of the box ...... I didn't see it, but if others do, it is not an image I want people to associate Fast-Pack with. The second image they came up with, is kind of plain and I feel is lacking something, but what? I like the way the first one jumps out at you and makes you wonder, what the?, and come up and ask questions, but the second one does not inspire that same action.

Take a look and please, let me know what you think. I need some good advise on these. If you have any ideas you would like to share, PLEASE do! Thanks Again!

#1 http://www.fast-pack.com/test/Fast%20Pack%20PG%20Draft%20%231.jpg
#2 http://www.fast-pack.com/test/Fast%20Pack%201-c%20%20%20PG%20Draft%20%232.jpg

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lebeauchat · Joined: 19 Apr 2002 Posts: 83

I don't know if its just me - both logos lead me to believe you are a shipper - not the supplier of shipping materials.

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Char at Lebeauchat

Fast-Pack.com · Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2002 12:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks Char,

I can see where you are coming from ...... any ideas for a visual for a shipping supply business?

Also, the one thing that I like about the 1st logo was it would make people ask about the shirt and then the person wearing it, could in detail explain the company. I am open to suggestions. Thanks For the input!

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Jason

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mbright1 · Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2002 1:58 pm Post subject:

I don't know about a logo - just choose one...

How's this for a tag line (at least for a T-shirt)?

"Where do boxes come from?

The answer of course, is Fast-Pack.com

DragonLady · Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 66

hmmm....I don't know about anyone else, but I personally would never ask someone about the origins of a T-shirt that advertises anything. Or the arcane meaning behind the picture on one.

For one thing, t-shirts are kinda 'second rate' clothing -they're obtained from all kinds of places, usually worn to only the most casual places/functions, and change hands constantly. They're donated, given away, thrown away, left behind....

Second, oftentimes the answer is something I'm much better off NOT knowing: "Oh, this...I got it when I bit the head off a rat at a local T.V. station's contest! I was the only one that chewed and swallowed!"

I say, go with the "catchy saying" idea. People are much more likely to simply read it, and may even remember it later when they need your services. Graphics of any kind are just looked at and quickly forgotten.

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kjp55 · Joined: 18 Aug 2001 Posts: 1972 Location: East of Rockies

Ask yourself this....When you see someone wearing a Pepsi or Coke T-shirt, does that make you want to go up and ask them the meaning of the advertising on the shirt?

T-shirts are everywhere! Do YOU really pay attention to the logos on the shirts as they pass you by on the street? Auction Rover (now Channel Advisor) sent out T-shirts to every new subscriber when they started up. I have two of them that were never worn. And, I no longer use their services.

I think you are on the right track with your product lines, but T-shirts? No way. I sure hope you aren't planning on selling them. You're not, right??? If you want to spend your money wisely, start by advertising in specialized trade journals (i.e. collector's magazines, price guides [Beckett, Paper Collector's Marketplace, Krause Publications, etc.]) and build your clientelle that way. Also, you could advertise with banner ads on Specialized Web Sites, such as Auctionbytes. That will get you much more return on your advertising dollar than a truckload of T-shirts will.

Ray · Joined: 18 Aug 2001 Posts: 825 Location: South Jersey

cpflds · Joined: 23 Apr 2002 Posts: 994

I wear t-shirts all the time...most with somebody else's logos on them...and I don't consider them low-class attire. It's just my style. (The day I went into this business full-time, which was 10 years ago, I threw out every skirt, dress and pair of heels I owned.)

As for my own logo...I run estate sales as well as sell from my own web-site and on e-Bay...and believe me, whenever I am going to be at an auction, antique/collectible show or hitting flea markets and garage sales, I make sure I have my logo showing on my shirt and business cards in my pocket. I manage to get 3-4 estate sale referrels a year this way; and it's not unusual for someone at another sale to ask "What do you sell?" when they read my shirt.

I recently purchased embroidered khaki shirts that got a lot of notice last week at a huge flea market I went to. As a result, someone who had a lot of Grandma's depression glass to sell, will be selling it to me.

I don't think wearing a logo shirt to the grocery store is going to result in many bites, but worn in the right place around people who are interested in what you offer is a great idea.

FastPack, you might do very well with your shirt at antique and collectible shows. Wear your logo shirt, carry a bunch of business cards and talk to the dealers. I think of it as "personal touch advertising".

By the way, I liked your second logo, but I'd change "Special Delivery" to read "Shipping Supplies" since that's what you do.

kjp55 · Joined: 18 Aug 2001 Posts: 1972 Location: East of Rockies

OK...OK...You're right cpflds,

At special functions, such as those you mentioned (especially since the promotion is for supplies and not for competition with the other buyers at the functions), the shirts might do well to drum up new business from fellow collectors. After all, most buyers at sales and auctions will sooner or later be sellers, and will have to ship something somewhere.

But, as an over all advertising tool in the general public....not a very good investment.

mbright1 · Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2002 8:13 am Post subject:

Name recognition is what its all about, mindshare... People just don't ask, "Hey, what's that company's phone number?" when they see a T-shirt.

But they might remember the name, or if they're later looking for a supplier, in the phone book etc., and recognize your company because of that stupid T-shirt, you're the one who's going to get the call...

I had a dozen T-shirts done up almost 10 years ago for use at a trade show, and even though I wasn't "selling" them, a few people asked about my "company", and one girl liked the shirts so well, that she did in fact make an unsolicted offer, and bought one

Also, I still have a few and wear them regularly - and even after 10 years, they're almost like new... Hanes baby - Hanes

Just don't get them in white... they show stains and dirt too easily. I chose turquoise, forest green, and black.

What's more, when you're working a trade show etc., that shirt will be seen - over and over again, as you're talking to a person...

[ This Message was edited by: mbright1 on 2002-08-22 07:17 ]

lebeauchat · Joined: 19 Apr 2002 Posts: 83

For a logo, how about a character (maybe a box with arms and legs and a big smile) packing a box, surrounded by the products you sell.

Below - Everything for your shippping needs

Hope that helps

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"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." --Sam Levenson

Char at Lebeauchat

Fast-Pack.com · Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2002 8:14 am Post subject:

Hello All!,

Thanks for all of the great input. A couple of reasons I have been wanting to try some T Shirts. I found a great price on them at about $4.00 a shirt, plus the first time set up and art fees are about $50.00 with a low minimum of only 24 shirts. Another reason is, my wife had a t-shirt made up for me along with a golf shirt for my birthday. One day we went to the local theme park and it was hot, so I wore my Fast-Pack T Shirt. While walking in, the attendant at the ticket counter stopped me and asked me what did my shirt say, then I GOT TO EXPLAIN to her all about my business etc. Now even I know that she may never become a customer, but she may have friends or someone around us in another line may have been listening etc. Also, later on I had another person ask me what was the shirt promoting? Yet again, I got to explain and answer questions, what other advertising, billboards, etc can answer customers questions at the same moment they see your advertisement?

These are mostly for Friends and family, and I do not plan on selling these, if anything I would give them away to customers that requested one. I would hate to just send them to anybody and then they get stuffed in a drawer and rot.

Also, I agree with another person that posted here, that when worn to , lets say trade shows, and other targeted areas the t shirt can be a very good marketing tool. I also wear either my t shirt or golf shirt whenever I am running errands for the business during the week. When I make local deliveries, goto the local copy shop to make copies, to local used book shops, antique shops etc. Any way, I am not saying that the T Shirt is the best tool, but when used with other marketing tools it can be very helpful.

Also, another thought, when I see someone wearing a shirt of a popular known item, of course I am not going to go up and ask what the shirt is advertising or about it, no need to, I already know the product. But , it still can send messages to the person reading it. Lets use the example of Pepsi or Coke as someone used a little earlier in this post. Lets say I am wearing a Pepsi T Shirt at my local Theme Park, it is a hot day and the person in line behind me is thirsty, then they see my shirt, will that make that person crave or want a Pepsi over another product? Who knows? But when in front of a potential customer when he is ready to by a similar product is the best possible place for your advertising!

Anyway, sorry to ramble, just thinking outloud. !

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Jason

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Fast-Pack.com · Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2002 8:16 am Post subject:

Hello Again,

I just had another thought. When a person does ask about your shirt, tell them all about your business and DO NOT FORGET TO HAND THEM A BUSINESS CARD !

Good Day !

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Jason

Fastpack Packaging SHIPPING SUPPLIES

We just SLASHED our prices on Cases of Poly Courier Mailers, check them out, happy to send a sample