Markets are a great opportunity for vendors. Whether you are trying out a new idea, or you have an established business and are looking to build on your brand, CoLab Market is for you! Markets are a unique way to engage directly with your customers and let them know about what you offer. You might not make every sale, but by letting someone know about the products and services you offer, you are building your customer base and growing your business.
In order to set yourself up for success, we have put together tips on how you can make the best out of your market experience.
Your brand identity tells the story of your business and what you and the business stand for. It's the visual representation people have of your brand. This identity is created through logos, colours, textures, fonts, images, and communication. When considering what your brand identity is or will be, think about who your target customer is. That is, who your customer is - or will be. Think about who you are speaking to and looking to engage with.
Your brand is how you will market your company. It is your business personality. It is the way that your company is presented and how your company will speak to your customers. Customers will be looking for a consistent voice from you, and a strong, unified brand will help you succeed.
When your start to develop your brand identity, think about these questions:
What is your company story?
Where do you see your products being sold?
Who is your customer?
What will your customer respond to and like?
What makes your company unique?
When you have collected this information, you can start putting together branding assets. Start off by brainstorming ideas around what colours, textures, fonts, images, and stories align with your brand. The Canva colour wheel is one of many free tools that can help you choose your brand colour combinations with the exact colour codes.
As for your logo, it's an important identifier of your brand. Think about how a logo translates to various platforms. Generally speaking, a square shape is a good option as it can easily be printed, and works well on social media platforms. Once you have a sense of your brand identity and are ready to develop a logo, you can start sketching. You can also use the free version of Canva, a graphic design platform, or a free logo generator such as Wix, Tailor Brands, or Looka. Once you have a logo, you can use it on everything and it will help to show who you are. Ultimately, this will help you gain brand recognition.
At CoLab Market, or any market you participate in, you have a unique opportunity to make an in-person connection between yourself, your brand and a potential customer.
While markets presents a great opportunity for personalized interactions with your customers, you will not always have this kind of opportunity and that’s where your brand identity becomes essential to your success.