The Finishing Post - News and Portfolio RSS Feed http://www.thefinishingpost.com/ Tuesday, 31 Aug 2010 04:00:12 GMT en-us <![CDATA[Team TFP Girls Night Out]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/49 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/49 Friday, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT This year The Finishing Post ladies (Team TFP) have decided to put on their PJs and walking boots to raise money for local charity St Nicholas Hospice, by taking part in Girls Night Out on Saturday 18th September!
Girls Night Out is an 11.2 mile sponsored walk around the historic streets of Bury St Edmunds starting at 8pm, hence the PJs!
Please dig deep and help us reach our £1,000 target!
It's easy to donate online with a credit or debit card - just go to our JustGiving page:
http://www.justgiving.com/TFPgirlsnightout
JustGiving sends your donation straight to St Nicholas Hospice and automatically reclaims Gift Aid if you're a UK taxpayer, so your donation is worth even more. We hope you'll join us in supporting St Nicholas Hospice.
Thank you!
Allie, Sam, Ruth, Janey, Louisa and Chloe
Team TFP!

]]> <![CDATA[A new venture with 'stile']]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/44 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/44 Thursday, 8 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT Myers Bakery have acquired a new site which they have transformed into a retail outlet selling high-end giftware and stationery.
They already had a name for the outlet (The Country Stile) and an idea for the logo - we designed a range of logos based on their chosen theme, and a modern graphic style of illustration produced in-house was chosen.
The logo will appear on the shop fascias, stationery and other related items.

]]> <![CDATA[Top ten TFP tips for... writing a brief]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/43 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/43 Tuesday, 6 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT Here at The Finishing Post we thought it might be helpful to put together our top 10 tips for writing a brief!

1. Start off with a company profile - don't assume your designer will know anything about your product, service or industry. Tell them what your organisation does, who your competitors are, how you fit into the industry and what your USP (unique selling point) is.

2. What are your aims and objectives? Do you want to create interest in your product or service? Generate sales? Gain new leads? Capture data for future mailiings or campaigns? What is your main message?

3. Who is your audience? What kind of people are you aiming your product/service at? Are you business to business or consumer focused? Where would your audience be likely to find out about your offering? Think about your audience demographic such as their sex, age, where they might shop, what their job is, what they might drive. This will all help to build a profile of your potential consumer.

4. What is your budget? Even if it's only a rough figure you have in mind, it will help the designer understand whether you are looking for a full all-singing, all-dancing campaign or if your budget is a bit more limited. They can then work out the best solution according to your funds available.

5. Timescales – have a think about when you would like to see something at each stage of the project. Give dates for receiving the initial estimate, viewing first stage concepts, feedback, development and final artwork. If you have an advert deadline or final print date in mind it is helpful to work back from this to plan when the final artwork is required.

6. Previous examples of your branding and/or campaigns will be useful to the designer to form an idea of your company image. If you have brand guidelines all the better - company colours, fonts, imagery etc. Is the existing style to be followed or are you looking for new concepts? Do you have existing photography/illustrations you would like to use? It will also be helpful to provide any information you have on your competitors, be it literature, advertising etc.

7. Copywriting - will you be supplying copy or will you be expecting the designer/copywriting to produce this for you? If so you will need to at least supply some key points you would like to get across and some back up information about your product/service.

8. Research - has any been carried out about your product or industry? This can be useful for the designer to steer the project in the right direction or avoid anything that has been unsuccessful in the past.

9. Application - are you looking for a logo, stationery, a brochure, leaflet, website, advertising and if so are there any limitations? The designer can consider these options for you, but for instance if the brochure must be A4 to fit into an already printed folder or if you have booked advertising space to certain dimensions.

10. Finally - communicate! A good client/designer relationship involves good communication. Where account managers are involved these will be an invaluable resource in driving your project forwards. They will keep you up to date of timescales, your budget, design development and expectations, but in turn you can help by providing the information they need to complete your project - copy, files, images, purchase orders. These can all help to move your project forwards and ensure you have a successful outcome and you are a happy client!

]]> <![CDATA[Game, set and match at TFP!]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/42 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/42 Monday, 5 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT To celebrate the tennis finals this weekend and encourage support for 'our Andy' we turned tennis professionals for the day on Friday! Tennis whites (check out our very own 118 boys!), swing ball, a knock about on the neighbouring tennis court (courtesy of our kind landlord) and strawberries and cream were the order of the day. Sadly, Andy didn't do so well, but we had fun practising our back hand!  Next up the British Grand Prix - how can we support our Brit's Jenson and Lewis? Watch this space...

 

]]> <![CDATA[Mixing it up at the Mela]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/41 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/41 Thursday, 1 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT This year is set to be the biggest and best Summer of Melas ever! Westmill Foods are attending four Melas, kicking off with Bradford on the 12th and 13th July, then Manchester, London and Birmingham.  There will be large marquees for taste testing, and competitions for a variety of Westmill Foods brands to raise awareness.  We have designed the marquees, graphics panels, coupons, flyers and recipe cards for these events.

]]> <![CDATA[World Cup Cake!]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/40 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/40 Wednesday, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT As you may know, Janey's cakes are amazing, so we thought you might like to take a look at this one!
A World Cup cake, especially for todays England game!
COME ON ENGLAND!

]]> <![CDATA['Blackthorn' Rate of Sales Kits]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/118 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/118 Tuesday, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT Gaymers needed two rate of sales kits for Blackthorn and Blackthorn Dry to promote the free prize giveaway promotion.

A free game card will be given with the purchase of every pint of cider in bars and pubs this summer.

Purchasers have the chance to win a t-shirt, spirit level or tape measure by peeling back the card to reveal if they have won a prize. An A4 sell-in sheet was designed to introduce the offer to the bars and pubs involved.

]]> <![CDATA['Derms' campaign]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/119 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/119 Tuesday, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT Virbac Animal Health are well known for producing veterinary products - but they needed a campaign to raise awareness of their status as world leaders in veterinary dermatology and their complete range of offerings. 

We designed the ‘global‘ logo which highlights their six areas of skincare expertise. 

The colour palette and graphic devices were then used throughout the campaign, from the consumer DL leaflet and A3 waiting room poster to the CDU and promotional giveaways to give a consistent feel and approach.

]]> <![CDATA['Spring Fair 2010 exhibition graphics]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/120 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/120 Tuesday, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT Once again we were asked by Cesar to produce their exhibition stand panels for Spring Fair 2010. 

We were delighted to produce 15 panels highlighting their hottest licences for this year.

The feature panel and header which ran along the entire stand highlighted their Marvel Heroes range. 

All panels followed strict style guidelines, and were comped together from style guide imagery, whilst retaining maximum on-stand impact.

]]> <![CDATA['Fruit' Photography]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/121 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/121 Tuesday, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT Gaymers asked us to photograph their new berry fruits and pear cider for use on packaging, and in various marketing materials.

We created both a spritzed effect bottle, and a normal dry bottle for use in different applications.

]]> <![CDATA[Yearbook 2010]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/122 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/122 Tuesday, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT Published annually for over 20 years, the Masstock Yearbook has become a must-have publication for UK arable farmers.

Since 1999, we have designed and formatted the book. This year we have managed to include even more essential information and maintain the Yearbook's high production values.

The 100 page publication is divided into two sections: the 'White Pages' - which include key project areas for 2010, energy and green issues, and crop research information. The 'Yellow Pages' at the back contain all the HGCA, SAC and PGRO Recommended Lists.

]]> <![CDATA['OFFICE Notebook' Microsite and Advertising]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/123 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/123 Tuesday, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT Hamelin Paperbrands are currently offering all vistors to their microsite (designed by yours truly) a free A5 Office metallic notebook.

We also produced an A4 advert to go in Moderngov to generate traffic to the microsite.

To get your free rather lovely notebook, simply visit http://www.my-oxford.co.uk/offer
 The offer is only open until 31st July 2010 - so hurry!

]]> <![CDATA[3D Worming microsite]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/124 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/124 Tuesday, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT A new 3D horse worming website we created for our client Virbac Animal Health. Their range of products provide a more targeted and precise approach to horse worming.

We created the 3D worming branding, the microsite and a range of literature and display graphics which were launched at the Suffolk Show this year. Visit the website at: http://www.3dworming.com/

]]> <![CDATA[Fancy racing!]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/39 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/39 Thursday, 3 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT A different kind of design here! This is Olly's team's entry for the 2010 East Bergholt Pram Race. You'll be please to know they took first place in the fancy dress competition!
The race takes place every year on the May bank holiday, and involves dressing up in strange costumes and running around the village pubs, stopping for a half pint at each one. The theme this year was detectives, so Scooby Doo seemed like a great idea!
This was Olly's fifth year running with the team, and the second time they've taken top honours. They were ecstatic about the win and spent the rest of the day celebrating - just don't ask how they did in the race (almost last!). The team were even interviewed for Radio Suffolk!

]]> <![CDATA[New flavour!]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/38 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/38 Wednesday, 2 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT Gaymers have added a new flavour to their range of ciders - Pear cider with Berry Fruits!
They asked us to photograph the new flavour, along with the existing Original and Pear variants, for use on packaging and for a variety of marketing materials. We created both a spritzed effect bottle and a normal dry bottle image.
Gaymers Pear cider with Berry Fruits is available now!

]]> <![CDATA[Peel-back promotion]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/37 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/37 Wednesday, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT Gaymers needed two rate of sales kits for Blackthorn and Blackthorn Dry to promote their free prize giveaway promotion.
A free game card will be given with the purchase of every pint of cider in bars and pubs from the middle of May. Purchasers have the chance to win a t-shirt, spirit level or tape measure by peeling back the card to reveal if they have won a prize. An A4 sell-in sheet was designed to introduce and explain the offer to the bars and pubs involved.
Look out for the offer in a bar or pub near you!

]]> <![CDATA[BBQ time!]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/36 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/post/36 Friday, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT To celebrate the arrival of summer, we had a rather scrummy BBQ this afternoon! Head Chef Alex cooked up a treat of burgers, sausages, chicken skewers (marinated in Patak's tandoori curry paste) and prawn skewers (marinated in Jimmy's satay sauce). We soaked up a few rays on the lawn and all returned to our desks rather full and slightly redder.

]]> <![CDATA['Come Dine with Me' sponsorship promotion]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/113 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/113 Tuesday, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT Constellation Europe wanted to shout about their sponsorship of the popular Channel 4 TV show 'Come Dine With Me'. We produced three roller banner designs and a desk drop for internal use. We also designed a full page promotional advertorial for Kumala for insertion in Asda magazine.

]]> <![CDATA[Website design]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/114 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/114 Tuesday, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT The client needed a multi-functional website that enabled them to communicate to consumers, existing members, potential new members and Associate members. The website incorporates a member search facility to allow consumers to find a member in their area, member news and events and the latest industry news. Visit the site at www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk and search for a member.

]]> <![CDATA[Member communication]]> http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/115 http://www.thefinishingpost.com/campaign/i/115 Tuesday, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT To generate interest in their stand at The National Painting and Decorating Show we created an emailer to send out to existing members to encourage them to attend. We also created a competition entry postcard to generate interest on the stand.

]]>