Take a look at our services. Whichever you go for, clear thinking is always included.

Brand Strategy

Whether creating a brand from scratch or repositioning an existing one, a thorough understanding of how the product or service fits with its market is needed. Exploiting the unique values of your brand translates into competitive advantage. Firebrand work with clients from the start, identifying brand values, defining brand differential and leveraging this in appropriate brand positioning. From this we help develop consistent brand messages that will build loyalty and attract new customers.

Name Generation

Some of our branding projects start with name generation. Developing the right name for a product, service or company is vital and can identify brand positioning in an instant. Our well-established naming processes identify relevant criteria such as memorability, originality and differentiation by which to evaluate our brand name selections. Substantial candidate lists are generated using proven tools and techniques, group workshops and research. Lists are evaluated using relevancy criteria and shortlisted for feedback. The chosen name is usually then prepared for trademark registration.

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Brand Identity

The brand mark is the visual representation of your brand position and must communicate this through careful use of image, graphic design, typography, colour and implementation. However, a brand is much more than a logo alone. It is the consistent representation of the promise made to your customers through everything from copy tone-of-voice and strapline to typographic treatment and photographic styling. Visualisation proceeds through several stages, always with our client's involvement and approval. These will include design detailing and trial implementation in potential applications.

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Corporate Identity

Corporate identity has an important role to play on many levels. It acts not only as a visual identifier but as a promise of performance and quality. Such is the power of a good identity that it can attract new customers, motivate employees and reassure stakeholders. Firebrand undertake extensive research as part of any identity project to ensure that your requirement is fully understood and the solution is appropriate and effective. This will usually include key competitor analysis, market positioning, value definition, audience profiling and visual audit. The identity development process will then involve many procedures including graphic design, typography, colour theory, copy personality and functional requirements.

It is vital to the success of your identity programme that all stakeholders are on board. We therefore involve our clients in key stages throughout the development process from name generation right through implementation to trademarking, launch and guardianship.

Consistent application is the backbone of identity programmes and Firebrand can create Identity manuals to ensure that guidelines are adhered to and the integrity of your investment is maintained. In addition to literature design, implementation may include elements such as stationery & forms, internal and external signage, presentation materials and display stands, vehicle liveries, advertising templates and websites.

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Marketing Communications

The question that should be asked at the start of any communications brief is not 'What should it look like?' but 'What is it trying to achieve?'. It's a perspective that is designed to deliver results not just awards. It's an approach which has seen sales brochures turned into direct marketing pieces and advertising campaigns become email newsletters. Whatever the strategic objective Firebrand find the most powerful and cost-effective combination to build your brand, raise awareness, drive enquiries and increase sales.

Whatever the communication task, be it an Annual Report, Marketing Brochure, Technical Literature, Sales Promotion, Direct Mail Piece or Presentation Document, we assemble the right skills for success. These might include Design, Typography, Copywriting, Illustration, Photography, Image Editing and Art Direction.

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Retail

There are few more competitive arenas than the retail environment. Packaging provides the final sales link at point of purchase, communicating both the brand position and the product's features and benefits. A full understanding of a customer's relationship with the brand is vital in creating purchasing triggers.

Whether launching a new product or repositioning an existing one, Firebrand will develop packaging or labelling for single brands or complete ranges. Our services include brand name development, packaging design, in-store visualisation, point-of-sale design and in-store promotions.

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Interactive

At Firebrand we believe websites should work very hard for you, which is why understanding what your customers want from your site is our foremost priority. A pleasurable user experience ensures repeat visits, customer loyalty and increased sales and, in turn, a better return-on-investment. Our websites invariably form the hub of a complete communication strategy, complementing and reinforcing offline activity and delivering increased business value.

Website projects demand scientific planning, tried and tested processes and a vast range of skills to reach their full potential. They also need great design, flawless execution and business acumen.

Our sites start out as schematics where information architecture and taxonomy can be defined and documented in a requirements capture. Site maps allow us to test visitor journeys through the site and assess functionality requirements. Wireframes of key pages help to focus on layout and usability factors without the emotiveness of design. A content audit helps identify what is readily available and what will need to be created by way of copy, photography and graphics.

The design phase combines brand visualisation, information design and interface creation. Each are expertly combined with a thorough understanding of the commercial imperative and online strategy. Design templates are coded with the highest levels of web accessibility in mind, always conforming to W3C and DDA standards. When combined with XHTML graceful degradation, sites are not only accessible to those with disabilities but perform well across all browsers and devices.

Whilst Firebrand work hard to keep the user experience as simple as possible, powerful technology often lies beneath the surface. Sites are usually updated by bespoke content management systems, developed to make maintenance by the client quick and easy. Other functionality may include customer databases integrated with internal systems, shopping baskets with secure payment systems or custom business applications.

Testing occurs throughout our development process and includes cross-browser and cross-platform checks along with usability, functionality, integration and accessibility testing.

Search Engine Optimisation functionality is a vital part of any online presence and is incorporated into our websites as standard. Understanding how to apply the correct titles, tags, descriptions, keywords and URLs to a page can have a significant impact on natural search engine listings. Firebrand apply metrics both to our websites and to our email marketing campaigns to measure results and analyse customer behaviour. This allows us to identify anything from the source of referrals to the popularity of news articles and is used to continually improve the effectiveness of a site.

A powerful part of the online strategy for many sites is Email Marketing. Firebrand create campaigns that build brand loyalty, encourage sales and drive traffic to your site. The process includes copywriting, HTML template creation, list management, email-client testing, email despatch, data collection and metrics.

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