New Business Logo welcomes your critique

We have a hot dog cart. We are working on our logo. In the end we have visions of a small town family hot dog / hamburger joint where you can let your kids run around and catch up with your neighbors. A place to drink a beer and relax in an informal community setting.

Anyway, we are working on our logo and would like suggestions/ideas on how to make it really cool. Here is what we have roughed so far. The finished product will be colorful. I'm thinking I need a mustard bottle in my free hand thats squirting mustard to create "The Family". Suttle little things that would add are welcome.

BTW - That's my family. LOL



Thanks

Arnie

I like the concept Arnie...how about more of a family portrait layout?

I think the drawing is fab. Don't like the color. Puke green. Need to put some hot dog colors in there.

I agree with Nightshift - the green is not appitite friendly or inviting.

And how about lessen the human facial characteristics and skew it more abstract cartoonish.

Yeah- this is just the first rough draft I got. She will color everything appropriately as we finalize the overall design. Lots of red, greens , and yellows.

I'm thinking about putting mustard and ketchup squirt bottles in MOM and Dads hands to squirt "The Family" logo. Add bottles to the 2 oldest kids hands to squirt "dog". Thanks and keep the suggestions coming.

Does it need any other props? Whatnots???

Arnie

The human facials are carictures of my family. + I need something that I can torture my kids with as they are growing up.

Arnie

Color has to go, and change the fonts... Otherwise, nice start... Sort of reminds me of the old ads from the 40's thru 60's... Maybe work on that theme in the design/color/layout?

Cool. I'll check into the 50's - 60's style font.

Arnie

Arnie, see if some of these retro ones give you some ideas: http://www.fontdiner.com/main.html

Except for the green looks great arnie!

I wouldnt change the font, has a funky little aspect to it. Dont make it any busier than it its.

Flesh out the characters a little more,send me your shirt size and Ill make you a T-shirt with it.

spud

I'd call it "My Family Dawg" since it is a caricature and represents your family rather than the customer's family. Otherwise you might alienate non-Caucasians.

Not trying to stir anyone up but;

Something as simple as this has a racial aspect to it? I am amazed.

We are all one big happy (sometimes dysfunctional) family, here.

Wouldn't change a thing but the color...like the bright primaries. Check your idea on a tee-shirt, sign, patch, baseball cap, etc. for transfer capabilities. You never know what you'll grow into. To bring race into this is pure fantasy.

That logo is awesome! ...& they're real people! ...As you know, just the color thing.

Sorry but I don't like it.

What does it say? It tells me you have four kids, and that's all. Well no that's not true you have four kids dressed in hot dog costumes.

It's like saying, come see us we are in the old KMart building and we are open. It's very vague but filled with smiley faces. So what, I don't care about smiley faces I like most of America use food as a reward for good performance and hard work.


It identifies you as a family run operation but not what you sell. Oh, ok I assume hot dogs but if you want to get me in your door, grab me with something that makes me think "oh hell I have to try that, right now!"

Don't give me a chance to drive by 40 times before I decide to stop. Tell me in your logo exactly what you sell,why I should stop and taste your product, and that I should stop right now.

I'm redoing my logo because I didn't think of these things when I opened my business. There are numerous studies on line concerning food vs colors. Some colors should never be used in the vending business because they remind people of bad (spoiled) food. I read several and I'm sorry but I don't remember any particular links to pass on. So do some searches on logo development and colors to or not to be used in vending.

Rootsmen your way off base, "you might alienate non-Caucasians" come on
that's just silly.

All of this is just my opinion and should be taken as such.
Jack

Let's all wait and see what it looks like when it get's colored up.

Dr of BBQ- I think you're trying to read way too much into this thing.

Arnie - I think it does need some kind of tag line or slogan under the logo - something catchey like "Best Hot Dog North of the Rio Grande", Best Hot Dog East of the Alamo", something like that.

Thanks for the feedback.

Maybe I'll put "The Family Dawg" at the top

and put

"World Famous Hot Dogs" at the bottom. or something "catchy"

That should remove any doubt as to what we are and what we are selling.

Thanks and keep it coming.

Arnie

Oh, forget the mustard bottles and such. It's "Busy" enough as is. You don't want too much detail because it makes it too difficult to reproduce if you put it on other products, like shirts, caps, print ads etc.

Remember, your Logo needs to go on EVERYTHING! Business Cards, Stationary, clothing, Bags, Napkins, EVERYTHING. So make sure it's reproducable in every format.

I would like some tag line where I can needle the customer a little:

Something like, "Hey, you can't eat just one!". If I put that on my logo I can smile at my customer and let them have it when they only order one hot dog.

Hey -, You can't eat just one."

When I describe to my friends who have never eaten a Chicago style hot dog as "a party in your mouth", they become interested and ask me about them.

This is great. Keep the suggestions coming. I really appreciate it.

Arnie

quote:

Originally posted by ArnieTX

Thanks for the feedback.
Maybe I'll put "The Family Dawg" at the top
and put "World Famous Hot Dogs" at the bottom. or something "catchy"
That should remove any doubt as to what we are and what we are selling.
Thanks and keep it coming.
Arnie

World Famous Hot Dogs is too generic and no one will believe it anyway. It just says Blah, Blah, Blah, Bull S---.

Foodbme

Good point on reproduction.

Thanks

Arnie

I do not like it as an advertising/promotional tool. I think it is fun for the mantle piece, but it is all centered around you and your family. Sure, it is ALL about you and your family for you, but you should never center advertising (especially new business advertising) around you.

Your logo should include your product, mission statement, and/or something to intrigue new customers attention/interest. Your current logo reaches out to people who already know you and identify with you, personally.

It also SCREAMS to me, that there will be children EVERYWHERE. IF/when I am stopping by a place after work for a drink and a quick bite, sometimes I do not want to think about my family, never mind wanting to deal with anyone elses. I think Chuck E Cheese atmosphere, when I look at this logo.

Too personal, and too centered toward you (not product or customer interest).

quote:

Originally posted by ArnieTX

Foodbme

Good point on reproduction.

Thanks

Arnie

Take a lesson from the Fast Food guys. Their logos are simple and on EVERYTHING. And they have Simple, easy to remember slogans.
Here's a test. Name the company-
1. "Billions Sold" -
2. "We Don't Make it 'til you Order It" -
3. ""Where's the Beef?" -

CCinNJ

We live in a small town, rural type area, so this type of place would work well here. I can see your point in a big city, but in small towns like ours people appreciate a family place. And we don't have enough places like that around here.

"Sure, it is ALL about you and your family for you, but you should never center advertising (especially new business advertising) around you."

Why not? We are "The Family Dawg".


Besides, it's a simple cart for now. We don't want to put the horse before the cart. The quality of the product is what counts. And good food around here doesn't need advertising. Word of mouth is king in small town America.

Thanks for the feedback.

Arnie

How about,

"This Dawg will hunt"

LOL - Can you tell I'm from the country? Momma always said,.............

Whoever helps me out with a slogan gets a free hat.

Arnie

Yes, you are the Family Dawg.

Advertising is NOT about who you are, but what you sell and why I (as a new customer) want to consume it.

It does not matter who you are, and where you are located. It is about attracting customers who do not know or care who YOU are.
The people who know you, are not the target audience for advertising.

It is the one tool you have, to make a statement about your product or business, for all those who have no idea what it is all about.

You have already secured the business of those who know you, and your family. In time, people will get to know it is a family place. You do not need to sell family, you need to sell product. No matter where you are, or who you are.

Thanks for the explanation.

Arnie

You are welcome.

It is nothing personal. I have clients in the smallest towns, in rural Vermont that felt the exact same way. They spent money on advertising, only to discover that they were investing money trying to attract business that they already had, naturally.

Sometimes advertising has a reverse effect. It can disuade new business, rather than attract it.

Just my 2 cents.

I wish you all the best.

I value constructive criticism. That's how I learn.

You guys are pro's. There's still a lot of moisture behind my ears.

I'm learning and appreciate everyone's time.



Arnie