Leather Supply Companies - Good and Bad?

[Gulrok]

1 hour ago, Tequila said:

@Gulrok so when should we plan on seeing your new site up and running?  Are you planning on having an announcement?

So at this point - I'm working on the website and trying to get it ready / modular enough to accept new products. 

Things I've done so far

1) I have a tool maker making me custom tools.
2) I have one vendor for hand sewing threads.
3) Website is coming along.

--

Things I have to continue 
1) I want more thread vendors and options.
2) I'm in contact with tanneries w/o contracts/agreements yet.
3) I'm finishing branding - the artist we're working with is driving me a little bit crazy right now. I'm not super happy with the logo.

I'm attaching the logo - thoughts? 

 

EDIT: So the brand name is Union Leather Supply. 

Edited August 12, 2022 by Gulrok

[battlemunky]

I like it @Gulrok. It sounds like you are making a great shop.

Just remember that if you wouldn't use it yourself, or pay top dollar for it, customers shouldn't be expected to either. Don't forget that and you'll be just fine. I think that is where a few of the big names in leather have lost me.

[Klara]

Do you really want to announce to the world that you are a brand new company? I wouldn't include the date for the first 10 years at least...

As for the rest - it's not a shape and colour scheme that immediately appeals to me (I'm not American and the shape reminds me of Opel), but it is distinctive and you can make it stand for high-quality leather supplies.

That said, I am not sure whether any of my suppliers even have a logo... For me a name and Internet address that are easy to remember are much more important! 

 

[JLSleather]

Personally I would SIMPLIFY that logo.  Looks okay, but I think you'll find that LESS detail is better.  On line, simpler images load faster and require less resolution (which makes them, again, load faster).   And in print, you'll find that multiple color printing adds cost quickly.

And - each his own - I do not like "script" fonts, unless it's very brief and recognizable text.  EVERYTHING is legible when its 4" across

 

Simple is good.  Think of some BIG ones everybody recognizes... 

Target - one color, one shape

McDonalds - one color, just a couple "arches"

Nike - just a 'checkmark'

Etc, etc....

 

[Tequila]

I agree the logo is not quite right.  I think I see what the artist was going for a look-a-like Union Railroad logo, but it doesn’t grab me.  I think @JLSleather is on the right track (pardon the pun).  Maybe something like Union on the first line and Leather Supply on the second line.  IMHO

                                                    

[fredk]

and as usual, I'm contrary. I think it looks good the way it is

[RockyAussie]

14 hours ago, Gulrok said:

So at this point - I'm working on the website and trying to get it ready / modular enough to accept new products. 

Things I've done so far

1) I have a tool maker making me custom tools.
2) I have one vendor for hand sewing threads.
3) Website is coming along.

--

Things I have to continue 
1) I want more thread vendors and options.
2) I'm in contact with tanneries w/o contracts/agreements yet.
3) I'm finishing branding - the artist we're working with is driving me a little bit crazy right now. I'm not super happy with the logo.

I'm attaching the logo - thoughts? 

 

EDIT: So the brand name is Union Leather Supply. 

It looks to insipid to me. No strength and it needs to be a lot bolder. For package branding and stamping I would look to how it looks in black and white only and the font needs to be strong and simple to read -

Union Leather Supply

[dikman]

My take is that you're trying for a patriotic flavour (the word Union and parts of the Stars and Stripes?) and being American I can understand that. A simpler font might be better - the lettering used in est 2022 looks quite nice - and yes, drop the 2022, it's too early for that. Personally, if you're going for the patriotic look then a waving flag as the background would look better and will be instantly recognisable. On the other hand you could use the original flag of the Northern States, with the word Union, depends what you're trying to achieve (although I suppose it could upset buyers from the South ).

Union Leather Supply Company has a more olde world feel to it but may be getting a bit wordy? Maybe shorten it to ULSC?

By the way, there's no charge if you use my ideas.

[Constabulary]

If I had to "redesign" the logo, I would do away the Est. 2022 (to early as Klara said), I would use stars with peaked tips instead of rounded and I would use a more pronounced, lets say ribbon type banner like this or similar:

https://www.pngmart.com/de/image/138917

[Mulesaw]

I think that RockyAussie has a good point in that the font needs to be easier to read.

The logo itself reminds me of a logo that is on the burger buns that you can buy in Lidl, but if the service and the products are top notch, the logo is not important for me as a customer. 
 

I would probably go for a logo that would look good on a paper bag or on a shopping bag if that makes sense? given that if people comes into you shop and buy something, a logo that might attract a curious eye while the customer walks home with it would be a cheap way of making a bit of PR. 
Perhaps on a background shape of a half moon knife or something else that a person with interest in leatherworking can recognize. Or the background could be a silhouette of the USA, both of those would work without colour which to me often signifies professionalism. 

Brgds

Jonas