There’s something about receiving a thoughtfully crafted gift that makes you feel special. That seemingly simple action lets you know that you are valued, thought of, and celebrated. My sweet branding clients Alyssa and Marissa specialize in sharing that intentionality and the joy of a sweet surprise through their own line of signature gift boxes, and these ladies have gifting down to a science!

Earlier this year, Alyssa reached out to chat about working together to create a visual identity for their brand new business. She and her twin sister were in the early stages of launching this labor of love, and they knew they wanted to move forward with a cohesive logo and overarching identity they could weave throughout each box and its packaging! Together, we crafted a clean, elevated logo and coordinating print collateral that serves as a thoughtful addition to every gift box that leaves their studio.

Before working together, Alyssa shared, “We didn’t have any idea of what actually goes into creating a brand. We always thought it was just colors and logo!” Which is such a common perception, boss lady. In an effort to showcase just how multifaceted and deep the branding journey is, I always guide my clients through my signature brand development process that starts with identifying the heart, values, and mission behind each brand. Alyssa and her sister had a clear idea of how they wanted their products to make their ideal customers feel, but it was our job to work together as a team to craft their brand’s foundation that would connect them with the types of customers who would truly value their work.

Together, we walked through their brand’s core values, ideal client, and brand voice in order to make thoughtful design decisions that would resonate organically with their target market. After walking through this process, Alyssa shared how this process provided much-need clarity, saying, “…we feel like we have a better understanding of what we want our business to represent, how we want people to feel when they see our gift boxes, and the heart behind our business.” Heck yes, friends! That is what this brand development process is all about — inspiring that type of confidence and clarity throughout every touchpoint of your visual brand. 

With the foundation of their brand succinctly defined, we moved onto the design process. We focused on pulling in soft, feminine colors that gave a timeless feel that would truly endure. In order to tie in hues that translate beautifully across a variety of gifts and occasions, we kept a soft, strong grey as a key color in their palette. Whether they’re sending a gender neutral gift or opting for something more minimal, they can easily utilize grey collateral and packaging as a way to offer a branded experience that doesn’t clash with the gift box itself.

From there, we focused our attention to creating clean stationery that packs a punch. We knew that a high-end finishing method like foil stamping or letterpress would not only do their new logo justice, but it would also serve as a memorable, tangible touchpoint thoughtfully tucked inside every order that goes out. Alyssa and Marissa are big believers in handwritten notes in every order, and these crisp stationery cards pressed on toothy cotton paper serve as a beautiful detail that’s worth pinning on your inspiration board!

After their launch, these sweet ladies sent me a custom Gumption & Gleam gift box of my very own, complete with a peony scented candle and a jar of salsa verde. Do these ladies know me or what? Salsa is essentially my love language, and these gals from El Paso did not disappoint.

Be sure to head over to the lovely website they designed to explore their collection of pre-made gift boxes, and learn all about their custom gifting process, as well! You won’t regret trusting these sweet sisters with your next thoughtful gift, especially as the holidays rapidly approach.

Are you ready to create a visual identity that connects you with your ideal clients straight from the heart? Then let’s chat, boss lady! This winter could be your most productive and profitable yet as we partner together to craft an elevated brand that reflects the heart of your life’s work. But design dates are filling up quickly and my 2017 pricing won’t last long. Consultations are totally free to ensure I can serve you well throughout your branding journey, so head here to learn more about my process and then shoot me a message right here! I can’t wait to chat with you, lovely.