Lynn + Jill
Enjoy the Dog Days, Post your dog on our FB page and call Lynn @ 631 668 0007 if you want to discuss your logo, website or ad campaign.
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Super Bowl. Wilson Sporting Goods. One of Lynn’s was so controversial it could only run after 9pm… Clairol Herbal Essences. We’ve come up with campaigns that were loved
and ad campaigns that we’d rather not take credit for all these years later. But neither one of us have ever written an ad that got someone fired. Until now.
In May, the manager of Prudential’s Southampton office called us. He’d heard us give a presentation on branding hosted by Hampton’s Magazine. He wanted to brand himself – make his name better known. “Are you sure you can do that? Don’t you have to stay within Prudential’s campaign?” we asked. “No, I’ve spoken to Dottie. I have permission to go outside the campaign.”
Great! We were all over it. In less than two weeks we turned around a campaign. We presented to the client and the Prudential marketing team in Bridgehampton.
The campaign was approved by all.
The first ad ran Memorial Day weekend and our phone started ringing. “Did you do that ad, it looks great!” “This is the publisher, we LOVE the ad!” The client’s phone started ringing. “Great campaign!” “Very attention getting.” So attention getting, he got a call from one of the owners of the company. “You’re fired.”
Why did he get fired? The corporation says it’s because the ad violated corporate ad guidelines. He (and we) had been assured that he could go out of the guidelines. What really (really!) happened is a mystery, and the resolution will probably occur behind closed doors. We thought we’d share the campaign you would have seen had it run as scheduled. We never thought it would result in anything other than raised awareness and sales.
Tell us what you think. And call Lynn for a print campaign that’s sure to get noticed! 631 668 0007
]]>logo so important? It’s the unifying element or uniform your brand wears every
day. It’s the first impression, the lasting impression…it’s the essence of your
brand’s graphic communication over time. So if you’re starting a company, need
a logo update, or you want to design a logo – here’s what you need to know:
1. Strategy. Don’t even get started without one. As much as you’re chomping
at the bit to start designing, wait and answer these questions: Who are
you talking to. What do you know about them? What is the main point
of difference that they need to know about your product or service?
2. Look at the competition. Don’t do something that exists (Doi! It’s not
flattering, it’s copying.) Learn how people in the sector are communicating.
You don’t want to be inappropriate, arbitrary or irrelevant but you don’t
want to blend in. It helps to have a good name to work with. Make sure
you don’t look exactly like another company. 
3. Color. Color has to do as much with the category as the brand personality.
Of course don’t do the same color as your competitor! We tend toward
simple, pleasing, 1-3 color logos. Clients often tell us their favorite color is
green, but that doesn’t mean that’s the right color for their logo. For Race
Lane we mirrored some of the colors of the room, and kept the palette
very ‘Hamptons.’
4. Font. Font is your tone of voice. It conveys whether the company is
elegant, strong, restrained, conservative, bold, energetic, organic, hip,
(cheesy, cutesy). Font tells all of those stories, it’s about communicating
the brand’s personality. For Hampton & Co. we had a whimsical Jack
Russell representing the beach and chose a more conservative font to
anchor it in the tradition of the Hamptons.
5. Be Memorable. Think about the category benefit, or your product
or service’s benefit. Think about the company’s first initial to dial up
distinctiveness. For Endeavor, a sophisticated restaurant holding
company, Jill used the tines of a fork to create an E. Even the tines’
placement – upward, for energy and aspiration, are intentional. For
Aquatica Aviation, Jill created the A by having a seaplane ‘fly through it’ creating motion.
For HelpCare, the H actually ‘hugs itself,’ conveying warmth and support.
6. Does it pass the T-Shirt test? Does your logo make you proud? Will it work
on a T-Shirt, the side of a truck, your website and your business card?
These are some of the award-winning logos blumenfeld + fleming has
created in the past 8 years. 
Click here or call 631 668 0007 if you want to learn more about how we can help you build a distinctive and memorable brand. Tell us what your favorite
logo is. And if you know someone starting a business, pass this on!
The magazine, Homes of the Hamptons, says their readers’ average household income is $626,000. Dan’s says their readers’ average household income is $381,000. According to Saunders, the average price first quarter for homes in 2010 for the Village of Sagaponack is $6,053,571. And Range Rover of the Hamptons sold 254 Range Rover HSE last year…. starting price is $79k. Not surprising when you realize that Alec Baldwin gets $150,000 for one Episode of 30 Rock (and that’s not counting residuals!)
These statistics could make you feel woefully inadequate, but for many of us who live and work here they’re actually good news.
Manhattan movers and shakers take over our charming hamlets from July 4rth to Labor Day, making our towns unrecognizable (the population jumps from 90,000 to 300,000!) our roads unbearable, and our businesses boom.
We love the onslaught! (though you might not believe it when we’re behind the wheel of a car.) These Prada wearing invaders rely on the builders, restaurants, retailers, caterers, banks and other businesses that rely on us to make them stand out.
So for those of you lucky enough to be in the elite demographic of the Hamptons, SHOP ON! For those of us lucky enough to live and work here, keep smiling and lay off the horn!
If you want to reach folks in the fabulous Hamptons, we know how to get their attention. email us! or call 631 668 0007 and ask for lynn.
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Here’s what’s new this season:
Race Lane
– We did the logo and holding page for this new restaurant at 31 Race Lane in East Hampton, owned by Jay Plumeri and Rowaida Younes. The restaurant promises a fresh twist on delicious classics – and the renovated space with beach hues and a brighter feel looks great. Hop on over.Jay Flagg, Senior Managing Director of Prudential Douglas Elliman, has a new print campaign breaking in Hamptons Magazine. He’s been in the business for over 25 years and knows where the hidden gems of the Hamptons lie.
Landscape Details has new advertising PERFECTION IS IN THE DETAILS AD HERE, and a new website www.landscapedetailsinc.com. Michael Derrig’s aesthetic is unparalleled out here, which is why he and his crew have been up before dawn every day for months.
ELM – Ecological Landscape Management has a new logo and stationery. Website is coming. This company takes organic to level 3.0!
Fort Pond Bay Company – the restaurant/hospitality holding company that owns Harvest, ENE, Harvest-On-Hudson, Half Moon and Stone Lion Inn has 5 new websites launching soon.
Southampton Hospital is rolling out new and improved logos. They just won a patient safety award that no hospital in NYC won. And, the new Emergency Room opens in June.
The Ellen Hermanson Breast Center has a new (pro bono) brochure PDF thanks to us and www.francinefleischer.com.
Old World Mouldings has a new website www.oldworldmouldings.com.
What else is new and worth checking out? Navy Beach is a great new addition to the Montauk Dining scene, and the new chef at the Yacht Club rocks. Outeast, a new gallery space in Montauk opened right next to Duryea’s. Pamela Eldridge is the new associate publisher at HC&G. Kendal Cranston is the new editor! www.yourchitect.com is launching in the Hamptons and worth checking out! ]]>
So, you want your business to rock this summer. You want to build fans, friends and profits. Building your brand is an investment that pays. When you build your brand you build relationships and you stay memorable! You elevate employee enthusiasm and customer loyalty. And especially in this economy, your business seems vital while your competitors fade into oblivion!Call b+f and we’ll help you build your brands, like we’ve helped these guys.
1. Who are you? The answer to this existential question is essential.
So is knowing what makes you better than your competition.
2. Look fabulous in the Hamptons! A distinctive logo that captures
your brand’s essence and appeals to your target market will
become an icon that people remember.
3. Looks only get you so far. Your clients’ experiences (on the phone,
on your website, with salespeople) will build brand loyalty… or not.
4. Every business needs a great website – one that reflects the
brand. The tone, the look and the navigation are all critical. If
visitors are frustrated or confused, they’ll leave. (We just finished this for Old World Mouldings)
5. Print is alive and well in the Hamptons. So are radio and local
news sites. Advertise! And make your budget go further with a
message that really stands out.
6. Don’t be a wallflower. Make sure people find you. Stay relevant
and be responsive (SEO/Facebook/Twitter/blogging, etc.).
7. Give back. Get involved with community organizations! Support
them and they (and their supporters) will be loyal to your brand.
8. Go to the beach – isn’t that why you live here?
Have you heard the rumor that print is dead? Not here on the East End! If you’re grieving the loss of Gourmet Magazine or Metropolitan Home, wipe away the tears, dearie, because here in the fabulous Hamptons, print is alive and kicking.
Why? Well it’s a lot easier to hide your middle behind a big glossy magazine than a smart phone. And here in the land of “do you know who I think I am”, everyone’s searching for his close up.
If you want to reach Hamptonites print’s a great way to do it. Here’s a list of where you should be seen if you’re an advertiser! If you need a great print campaign, logo, marketing plan or website….you already know who to talk to. email me: lynn[at]blumenfeldandfleming[dot]com
- Hamptons Magazine. Ogle the celebutants! Look for yourself and your friends in the photos. Read the list. Drool over the accessories. It’s all there. All summer long. Hampton & Company had great success with Hamptons Magazine last year!
- HC&G. We’re so glad our friend Pamela Eldridge is now associate publisher! If you want to talk to affluent homeowners, this is where to reach them. GreenLogic, the fastest growing alternative energy company in New York got great results in this publication.
- The East Hampton Star. An institution we couldn’t live without! Everyone in East Hampton reads it. One client literally sold out of merchandise opening weekend thanks to an ad in the East Hampton Star.
- Southampton Press (and East Hampton Press). With the most editions and most readers, the Southampton Press also garners the most rewards for reporting and design. They’re also great supporters of Southampton Hospital.
- Dan’s. Weekenders love Dan’s. I sold my house 2 years ago through Dan’s classifieds (hey, we penned the line: Advertise in Dan’s and you’ll be sold!)They give awards to just about everyone for just about anything.
- Edible East End. Brian Halweil and Stephen Munchin care about local farms, farmers, and restaurants. Their beautiful publication makes our mouths water every time we pick it up. They support a lot of worthy causes out here, including Quail Hill a personal fave!
- The Independent. Whether you think piping plovers taste like chicken or you want to protect them, you have to admit Jerry DellaFemina is one funny dude.
What local publications do you read and why? If we get over 100 responses we’ll donate $100 to Peconic Land Trust!
Feel free to comment here or at our Facebook Fan Page
]]>It’s not that Blumenfeld is a horrible name Blumenfeld means flower field. And even though I got called Bloomie and Blumenbutt in grade school, I’m used to it. Compared to Blumenfeld, Fleming’s practically innocuous. It’s a fine, Scottish, American sounding name. (Ok – it does sound like something that gets stuck in your throat.) So what’s the problem? Well, there are a few.
First of all, not everyone remembers the name Blumenfeld. They hear Blumenthal. or Bloomingdales. In the old days – if someone actually remembered your name began with a B – that was all they needed to find you, because they could look in the phone book. When’s the last time you used the phone book? Uh huh, you Google everything like I do, don’t you. So if you Google Bloomingdales I assure you, you’ll never find our marketing, advertising and design firm.
What’s worse, it’s not creative. It’s old fashioned? We sound like an ad firm circa 1950 or worse, a law firm, or an accounting firm- deadly boring. We know, and we’re sorry. We got our first client before we knew we were starting a business, we made a few business cards, made a few ad campaigns, one thing led to another, and before we knew it, we’d won 14 BOLI (best of Long Island awards) and suddenly Newsday and the New York Times wrote about us.
Then our business doubled. And our name seemed far less important than the cool ad campaigns, logos, and websites our clients were hiring us to create. We still hated our name. We made jokes about new names (Jew & Fleming , big fish, ) but business got busier, and like the shoemaker’s kids we didn’t have time to rethink our identity.
Then we won some international and national awards. Now even more people had heard of us. And we’re stuck. Or are we? It’s our job to name new businesses and help them build their images. It’s our job to design logos and develop identities that build brands and develop relationships with consumers and businesses that last for years. Doing it for you – that’s our passion. Doing it for ourselves? A nightmare. It sounds something like this:
“What about Big Fish?” My partner says. “We are big fish out here. “
I say, “It’s taken. Besides, we’re small fish compared to the big Madison Avenue names we used to work with.
“Uh huh, and we don’t want to say we’re big – because they’ll think we’re porkers.”
“What about Sirens,” I suggest.
“You mean like getting caught by the police. Or even worse, horrible females that draw sailors to their deaths.”
We usually have these little chats while taking beach walks. We come back, check our messages and get to go back to work. In 2008 we didn’t even send a holiday card out, because we had too much new business. Lame. We have been thinking of shortening our name, to make it easier to remember. What do you think of blueflem?
]]>Lynn liked Coke. Budweiser? Lame. Dodge Charger and VW spots– pretty funny. ETrade –we both like the campaign but it’s polarizing. Can’t remember what the amusing beavers were even for. Don’t want to see ugly men in underwear. Both Lynn and Jill HATE the GoDaddy spots and cannot understand why a company that wants and needs your trust would ‘go there.’ We recommend them for our clients website hosting, but their ads don’t engender confidence. Charles Barkley better put down that taco! Maybe all the great copywriters and art directors make their livings blogging or in episodic TV?
Oh- Lynn also loved the Flo TV ad edited by Will. I. Am. (but doesn’t really know what it is!) Our friend Keith Burtis has some pretty smart things to say about how the brands who advertised didn’t take advantage of social media tools, which you can read about here.
Tell us what your favorite or least favorite ad was. or more important, us if you need a TV, print or marketing campaign.
]]>Why are so many people calling blumenfeld + fleming for websites? Sure, it’s because we work hard, win awards, and are fabulously fun to work with. But it’s also because businesses who didn’t need to invest in marketing their businesses when everything was booming, know they have to invest in them now. One of the most important marketing tools for any business is a well optimized website that reflects the caliber of the goods and services you’re offering. (Gee, you need a computer. Yeah – it’s that basic, but 7 years ago it wasn’t!)
Think about it, when you want something you go to Google – so does everyone else….(when’s the last time you used a phone book?) So, your website’s home page gives everyone their first impression. Like your haircut, or your storefront, your homepage should make you look great. It should reflect your brand’s essence and personality. It should navigate well – everything should be VERY easy to find (frustrated visitors leave!) And, (our personal peeve) it should definitely have your phone number.
DeMartino’s website doesn’t have a blog. (Their site is primarily used as a showcase/portfolio.) But chances are, yours should. (We’re blogging, but like the shoemaker’s kids our site hasn’t caught up with what we’re doing in real time.) Why is a blog important to your website? Well, there are a few reasons. Your blog generates keywords that speak to search engines. Search engines direct people looking for what you do or what you sell, to you. So much of sales today is guided by search engines – your blog serves as updated content and keyword rich content that Google loves. And when Google loves you, you get seen and noticed.
Other websites we’re proud of? www.kelcoland.com, www.hamptonandco.com, www.hamptonsexquisitefood.com. These websites don’t have blogs – YET! But keep checking back. More and more of our clients understand the value of blogging. (We do too, and our site needs to be updated – but like we said, we’re really busy.) That being said, if you’d like to talk to b+f about your website, your blog, your logo or advertising campaign, please call us for a free consultation.
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