My 10 year old daughter grew an avocado tree from a seed of a bulk pack of avocadoes I bought from Aldi.

That sounds absurd, right?!

First of all, whatever would possess a child to spend their time doing such a thing?

What made her believe it would actually work?

How did she know what steps to take? 

I remember attempting a similar feat as a child. I stuck a seed in a pot of water for about two months. Guess what happened? Unsurprisingly, it turned a vomit-worthy hue of green, slimy and stinky, and I distinctly remember the shriek of my mother finding such a tragic specimen in my bedroom.

But back to my green-thumbed daughters’ propagation success.

The process of propagating Benny

During the final few weeks of the school term last year, she randomly asked me, “Mum, can I please use an avocado seed to try and grow a tree?” (internally high-fiving myself at this point for her impeccable manners). Remembering my own such experiments as a child, I thought,...

I’m here to sprinkle a little sunshine on your day. Although there is so much uncertainty, unease and upheaval circulating our business community at the moment, it’s not ALL doom and gloom. Even if your business is temporarily stalled, you CAN keep your brand healthy through uncertain times.

Some businesses are temporarily closing for the greater good, and the amazing people behind those businesses have my heartfelt gratitude for their selflessness and sacrifice.

Others have cut off their core service or product offering in favour of entirely different substitutes that still fill the needs of their customers, and these businesses deserve a medal for bravery!

There are some very brave souls who are pivoting quickly, adapting to the current climate either temporarily or for the long term. The inspiring owners of these businesses deserve our support and a massive pat on the back for thinking outside the box.

Some businesses are seemingly unaffected, but are perhaps feeling...

“What the heck is a sub-logo and why do you need one?”

Excellent question. I’m so glad you asked.

A sub-logo is a smaller, alternate version of your main logo. It borrows the graphical elements, fonts and colour palette, then fashions them into a version that can be used for different applications. Sub-logos can be any shape. They usually form a more succinct, compact version of the logo. Sub-logos are quite often round to allow flexibility of use for social media profile images, watermarks, favicons and packaging. 

Let’s take a look at an example. 

Lunchbox Mini’s branding identity features a horizontal shaped logo and custom illustrated icons forming the logo mark. In certain situations this may look out of place, be difficult to read, or simply not quite ‘fit’. Imagine trying to squeeze her into a narrow, vertically oriented blog advertisement! Eep! 

Still not quite sure why you need a sub logo? Read on my...

Three easy ways to instil trust in your brand

Let’s not beat about the bush. Investing in visual branding shows your audience that you have faith in your brand. But what can you do to instil trust in your brand if you’re not quite ready to overhaul your visual branding? Or you’ve got the basics sorted but want to step it up a knotch?

Here’s three easy ways to instil trust in your brand:

1. Up-level your printing finishes

Don’t automatically default to the cheapest options. Invest in a fancy card stock, some shiny gold foil or embossing. This shows your audience that you care about your brand. You believe in it so much that you’re willing to go the extra mile to differentiate your business cards or other printed marketing material. Trust me, a little bit of ‘fancy’ will not go unnoticed! 

2. Personal touches

Be purposeful in how you interact with your audience. Spend a little more time wooing a client or include a handwritten note in...

Ready to rebrand? Your questions answered.

Are you ready to rebrand? Not sure? Does the word ‘rebrand’ trigger a racing heart, sweaty palms, a dizzy sense of overwhelm and the desire to run for the hills? Deep in your heart, if this is your response then you probably know that rebranding is on the cards. If your business is growing into more than a hobby, and you know that you’ve outgrown your DIY or budget-friendly visual branding, then rebranding is most likely inevitable. I’ve asked my Hopscotch family what their questions and concerns are when it comes to knowing if they are ready to rebrand, and compiled the top ones here for you.

1. One of the hardest parts is that it takes time to get it right, particularly if you’re picky. It’s hard to know how honest to be in the feedback process because sometimes designers miss the mark.
   
   If you find a visual branding designer who truly understands your brand, what you’re aiming to achieve and who you...

Find your perfect logo designer

Wondering how to find your perfect logo designer? Here are four simple steps to finding a trustworthy designer (and avoid having your logo stolen!).

Recently I shared a conversation I’d had with a lady who had had her logo stolen and presented to another business owner as an original logo concept, that she actually paid a designer for! Craaaaazy, right?! Think it won’t happen to you?

Truth be told, I hear stories similar to this ALL. THE. TIME. So, as promised, here are some simple tips on how to find a trustworthy logo designer who will create an original logo for your biz-baby.

1. Ask for recommendations for graphic designers, branding designers or illustrators who specialise in logo design

Chat to your friends in business who have STELLAR logos and/or branding identities. All the better if they’re in a similar industry and align with your own target audience. Please, please, please avoid Fiverr, DesignCrowd and other overseas...

How do I choose the right logo?

So, what exactly IS a logo and why do you need one? What do all of the different types mean and how do you choose the right logo for your brand? Read on my friends…

Logotypes, logos, alternate logos, sub-logos, logomarks (I could actually go on here). It is all pretty confusing, right?! Since when did it get so complicated? 

Let’s start at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start (thanks Maria – I knew The Sound of Music would come in handy at some point in my life!). As we all know, a brand is not a logo (more on this here). The word ‘logo’ has become an affectionate term for the word ‘logotype’. A logotype is basically customised lettering used to represent a brand name (‘Logos’ is Greek for ‘word’). So when people refer to a logo, they’re actually talking about a visual device used to identify a brand. It can be a symbol, icon, illustration, character,...

It is a common misconception that your brand is simply your logo, especially for those just starting their journey into biz-life. A logo certainly helps to create a visual reference for your brand, along with consistent fonts, colour palette, imagery, patterns, illustrations, brand elements and textures. But your brand is anything that is seen, heard, felt, read or perceived about your business. Anything! Some examples include your shopfront, website, business cards, flyers and even what someone else is saying about your business!

With that in mind, creating a visual branding identity that shoots cupid’s arrow straight into the heart of your ideal client is a confident step to creating consistency and control over emotions and feelings evoked by your brand.

Think about what your brand is saying, and how it makes you feel.

• What’s the clear image that your brand is portraying?
• What specific message is your brand sending?
• Does it appear professional and honest?
• What about...

Have you always thought of your branding as your logo, colours and fonts? If you answered yes, then this episode is going to blow your mind! Perhaps you have these things in place, but still feel like something is missing? You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you struggle to communicate your brand in a way that feels authentic and aligned.

Part of the process of branding is to establish strong foundations so that you can translate your message with confidence through your marketing. Watch this episode to discover what’s missing from your brand.

P.S. I’m opening the doors to my signature brand foundation course, Brand Alchemy on Monday 28 June. To celebrate I’m hosting a free masterclass!

3 Secrets to Fast Track Your Branding Success – even if you’re new to business!

Accelerate your brand growth, and become a magnet for sales.

Learn the exact formula I used to grow my 6-figure brand and the ...