Plas-Tech Thermoforming
Plas-Tech are specialist manufacturers of engineered vacuum formed plastic components. Their work is to the highest technical standards and their new identity needed to reflect this.
Spotlight on branding: first impressions count
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With so many ways of engaging with an audience, your company's brand needs to work harder than ever before. First impressions do count and it's the style, credibility and the messages conveyed that become the first impressions of what you and your company are all about.
However, the people that need to buy into your brand, first and foremost, are the people who will be representing it.
"Designing and selling a brand to a client is like convincing them to wear clothes that they didn't buy themselves." Paula Scher, www.pentagram.com
Sometimes, during the design stages of a new brand, the above quote can seem appropriate. However, taking the time to listen and develop alongside a client during the process will always produce an outcome which will accurately reflect the company, encourage them to embrace it and will ultimately ensure success.
We were recently approached by a company called Plas-Tech Thermoforming, who wanted us to design and develop a new website for them. I looked at the existing website and branding and I have to admit - it said dirty overalls and oily machines that went kerplunk.
I went to visit the client with this in mind (my first impression!) and whilst the outside of the building didn't really change my opinion, I was in for a bit of a shock!
The factory was immaculate, superbly organised and they were doing clever stuff on expensive machinery - pretty much the opposite of what their existing brand said.
I knew instinctively what was required. As well as a new website, a rethink of the whole brand would be necessary along with exploring brand pillars that more accurately reflected the organisation.
I’m pleased to say that they went for it - and now the company has a brand that accurately reflects the business. People that will never visit the factory will no longer be left with the first impression that Plas-Tech is a back-street operation. They will now view the company as top line, highly skilled, technical and creative with a team that can do simple to unbelievably difficult work.
The rebrand has been a great success. We even heard back that employees were so enthusiastic they were picking up pots of paint in their spare time to redecorate the factory with the new brand colours!
The new brand image has given Plas-Tech’s employees an identity, an idea of who they are and where they work. This will inspire them and the company to pull together to work as a whole with a shared vision. That, after all, is what a good brand should do.
When the sales team are on the phone and point potential customers to their website, the response they receive is now more a case of "okay, let's talk!" rather than "are you sure you can do what you say you can do?" and we are delighted to have helped them achieve this result.
The work doesn’t finish there - a brand with the right start and direction creates the perfect platform for a strong brand in the future.
You can view the brand image we developed for Plas-Tech in our online portfolio or by visiting www.plas-tech.co.uk.