Brand Refresh & Template Designs
for Hawkesbury Chamber of CommerceBackground
The Hawkesbury Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit association which represents the Hawkesbury’s Business & Industrial Communities. They are run by a committee of voluteer business owners and although they do an amazing job to support and grow other local businsses, they are understandably pressed for time and resources.
The committee found it difficult to maintain consistency through the Chamber’s marketing which was reflected in designs that looked unprofessional and were difficult to read. They also found it challenging to use design programs because they didn’t have the tools, resources and guides to give them a roadmap to success.
Although the original brand was designed quite a few years ago and felt outdated, it really just needed an update and a fresh new twist. It was important to keep the identity and flavour that is unique to Hawkesbury locals, but make it more appealing and relatable to modern business owners - the target audience.
My Process
The most notable change was to the main font in the logo. Instead of the dated serif font that became really difficult to read when displayed small, the new font is modern, bold and easier to read when displayed across the variety of necessary applications.
I also made sure that the logo was designed in formats suitable to today’s online marketing channels. By designing an option in a square format in additional to the primary long format, the logo would display effectively in many of the 1:1 formats commonly used on social media and other online platforms.
Although some feedback suggested that the old colours were a little outdated, they are perfectly suited to the unique rural and semi-rural environment of the Hawkesbury. It’s what sets us apart, and so I thought it should be embraced.
By just putting a modern twist on how the colours are used, helps to give the brand a fresh and engaging presence.
The projects I worked on included:
Redesigning the logo and selecting new fonts
Setting up the Brand Kit in the Chamber’s Canva account, so all committee members had access
Designing a suite of engaging social media templates ready for the social media magager to use
Designing a Slideshow presentation for the breakfast meetings that was now cohesive and easier to read in the context of a large event space.
Designing a newspaper advertisement that is eyecatching, easy to read and communicates the essential information needed to stand out in a busy newspaper spread.
Designing a flyer for a major themed social event to both entice the local community and show the professionalism of the business chamber.
Designing Canva templates to advertise upcoming networking events
Set up branded templates within the Chamber’s Mailchimp account so that email communication and newsletters were prefessional, inviting and easy to read on all devices.
Results
The Hawkesbury Chamber of Commerce now has a fresh new brand that not only keeps the unique flavour that the community knows and loves, but presents a professional and cohesive brand that today’s business owners trust and value.
The volunteers now find it easier to create marketing pieces by using the predesign templates, saving them both time and stress.
By having the right tools in place, marketing for the Chamber has become easier and quicker - no longer a dreaded task that gets pushed aside. As their visibility increases, so does their brand presence and connection with new business owners looking for support. Truly a win-win for everyone!
And by taking away frustrations and roadblocks for the volunteer committee members, it’s easier to retain existing valued committee members and attract new ones in the future.
If you’re feeling frustated with how difficult your marketing has become, I’d love to hear from you and talk about the options to get your brand looking more engaging and professional, and give you the tools to equip you and your team for success!
