Of course, there are budget restrictions and there are companies that will produce unlimited revisions and concepts for tiny fees, in the hope that this option will attract more work/turnover. But surely, the time and effort in producing these ‘multi’ concepts must surely eat up any profit that the ‘design’ company makes and no doubt the quality of the first concepts must wane after several stages of tweaking and ‘can we just…’ requests from a badly-handled client?

Good designers’ prices will always be higher than ‘logo factories’ or clip-art-based designers who just create something with a swoosh or a trendy, internet ‘glossy’ button look. Good logo designers will listen and question the client to make sure they understand the in’s and out’s of what the identity needs to represent, BEFORE quoting and definitely before putting pen to paper or mouse to mat. (The times I get asked the ‘how much for a logo’-question! Every logo project is different and so every fee is different. I don’t agree with fixed rates as sometimes a logo may be simpler and thus warrant a lower fee… and you wouldn’t want to pay more than you need to would you?!)

If the service you provide offers great quality benefits to the end user, having invested in the staffing, tools, transport, premises, office equipment, printing, time and effort, surely design should be regarded as equally valuable part of your company?

If budgets are tight, then talk to your designer about possibly spreading the payments over weeks or months.

Apart from working with talented design graduates, you really do get what you pay for with logo design and a good portfolio of proven logo design work is critical when Googling for possible companies to work with.

So, when you next need a new logo or perhaps a change of direction or tidy up of your current logo, don’t shop by price alone. Let the portfolio and character of the designer play more of a part in your decision before clicking away.

Always interested in hearing what other designers or visitors to my site think, so do let me know.

Remaking your hang tags for the better by Andrew Michaels.

Are your hang tags looking dull? Do they seem like they have passed their prime? If this is happening already with your color hang tags, then it might be time to remake them. There are five simple steps you can follow to remake your hang tags and make them look new and exciting.

1. Revamping your logo: Hang tags are of course primarily focused on the logo or “brand”. Hence in the process of remaking your hang tags, it is important to revamp your logo. You may need to redesign your logo so that it looks up to date with the latest design styles. If possible try to hire a graphic artist to do several new versions of your logos for hang tag application. Try to choose one that best represents the lifestyle of your brand to get the best impact with your hang tags.

2. Use a totally different color: As a nice tip, you should also try to adopt a new color scheme for your hang tags. If in the past you were using very standard colors, like red, green, yellow or blue, you might want to explore other more interesting colors like pastel colors or neon ones. Using a different color scheme can immediately change the mood and impact of a hang tag. The more different it is from the former design the newer and fresher it should look for most people. This should be your aim in remaking your product hang tags.

3. Change the layout and dimensions: Beyond colors, you may as well change the layout and dimensions of your hang tags for its remake. If you were using a horizontal orientation with your design earlier, then why not try a vertical one for the next design. The layouts of course will change to adopt to this orientation, making the hang tag look more different.

4. Improving hang tag materials: The hang tag’s material should also be considered for any kind of remake. In the past you may have been using simple materials like flimsy paper and cardboards, but this will not fly anymore if you want to remake them anew. Try using other materials to such as glossy paper, textured paper, plastic, wood and even metal. This gives the hang tag that hardier edge that makes it look more “high quality” in the eyes of customers. Perfect if you want to renew your image as a quality brand through the hang tag.

5. Improving hang tag printing: Finally, be sure to improve the quality of your hang tag printing. Make sure that you hire more modern hang tag printing firms with up to date printing machines. The better and clearer your prints are, the more professional they will look. This professional edge is essential in making your new hang tags as good and as distinct as possible.

With all these changes combined, you should well be on your way for a proper remake with your hang tags. Remember them well and apply it for your own remake of color hang tags.

Start Your Private Label. How to launch your own clothing line.

Are you into fashion? Are you being told that you should?
What is stopping you from getting started in the fashion industry? Read this article to find out how to start your private label. Follow the links for more information and get one step closer to launching your own clothing line.

To create a clothing line is a question of imagination, it’s all about you: what fabrics, colours, cut and generally the style you like.
On the other hand, successfully launching a clothing line means it has been created, made available to the final consumer,,, and ideally they like your style.

When there’s a buzz, when a new brand of clothes is welcomed by a large public, purchased and spoken about, it can decently be said that the fashion line has been successfully launched.

For a fashion line to be successful when launched, you need to have thoroughly prepared the launch.

I like the term “to launch a clothing line” because it sounds very similar to launching a rocket in the sky:
You calculate a number of factors long in advance, create the rocket and then launch it.
At the time of launching, one do not have any guarantees of anything.

You can only hope that all the hard work of organizing the distribution, the marketing will translate in sales.

Hope? No, Preparation!

Preparation is certainly a keyword.
The idea, in my mind, is to do as much as possible before the launch of the clothing line: market research, partners’ research, networking, and advertising.

We all tend to be optimistic about the figures, we think that the sales will come easy and we underestimate the costs related to the sales.

All successful clothing lines have been launched by business people who know:
- How to create an event
- How to convince potential distributors
- How to give life to the fashion line with a story
- How to keep the clothing line in the stores
- How to satisfy new and returning customers with new styles of clothes.

When you launch your own fashion line, your personality matters, some will start small, some big.

Some will have their risk based on research, some on their gut feelings.
It’s important to know yourself and your market so that harmony can establish.
Start a clothing line! It might be the best time of your life; it can also be very challenging and rewarding.

To all the ones planning to play a part in fashion and the clothing industry, I would like to wish good luck and remind them that the road to success can be a long one.
Your determination will matter.

How to launch a fashion line – Addendum dated 8th December 2008

I suggest that you start by creating your Ltd Company, register your Brand with the local authorities and purchase the matching domain name even if you don’t rely on on-line sales to distribute.
Research your market; find ways to reach your targeted audience. See how you can place your brand in shops.
Do you know someone famous? Associate this person to your business.

Get some samples made, make a list of the changes to be made when mass-producing.
Finally, get a small run delivered to you and communicate on it. Keep in touch with your clothing manufacturer so that you are aware of the right timing to re-new your stock.

Article Tags: Clothing Line, Fashion Line

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lilian Lemaire is the managing director of http://www.ellen-clothing-manufacturer.com

This article comes from Lilian’s business blog: http://www.clothing-manufacturers.net/launch-fashion-line/

Other article about how to start a clothing line: http://www.ellen-clothing-manufacturer.com/Create-Clothing-Line/