My cat approves so it must be good. So if you’re feeling your image is in need of a good grooming have a look at www.applaws.co.uk – if you like what you see, we’ll do one for your business too. And you don’t even need a pet.

QR (Quick Response) codes are springing up everywhere, as awareness by consumer and producer grows that it’s an instant way to get more information on a product by scanning the QR code with your smartphone and taking you instantly to a web address.

And it works even harder if there’s an offer involved – especially at point of sale, where the consumer is already in buying mode.

The back label can only offer a limited amount of information – now after a flash with your smartphone you can not only get comprehensive tasting notes, but also vineyard philosophy, food pairings, customer feedback and links to other related products – giving the consumer the benefit of making a more informed purchase.

As long as your website is in good shape to convert that interest the potential is enormous.

We’d be delighted to chat about how it might work for you.

Cheers!

Wine labels. Little squares of magic – advertising a taste of loveliness within. But unless you’re a sommelier or at least a bit more knowledgeable than the average punter, choosing a wine is a leap of faith – and we’ve all been disappointed after making the wrong choice.

Apparently we now buy over 70% of our wine from supermarkets – up from 10% in the 80’s.

And a walk down the wine aisles delivers a disarming array of product, all competing for attention. Some wineries place great importance on the label design while others do not. Smart wineries have embraced the concept of ‘shelf shout’ and employed talented designers (present company included) to maximise the short span of attention allowed from hard-pressed shoppers, notably the New World wine growers, whose financial success attributed to striking label designs has led some European producers to follow suit.

So it is no longer acceptable to simply put an image of a Château on your label, which could look stuffy or old fashioned – or even worse, take up the printers offer to ‘come up with a few ‘free’ designs’ – rather produce something stylish, inviting, non-intimidating and appropriately targeted.

Of course the elegance of the label alone does not determine the wine’s quality. Labels with the varietal and brand name are preferred by most New World, and increasingly European consumers. The skill is in combining these elements – a skill which we are delighted to share.

We have produced a briefing form which when filled in will help us to create a compelling label design. Let us know you’re interested and we’ll send you a copy.

Cin cin!

Food & Wine Case Study

Bon appetit…

No brief, no images, little copy, no logo and “She’d like to take it to a meeting this lunchtime…”.

OK it isn’t going to be entered for a D&AD but it’s pleasing enough, and apparently worked – with lots of new volunteers offering their time to a worthy cause.

I’ll never say it out loud, but sometimes short deadlines aren’t the worst thing in the world…

It’s the world’s first 75% meat complete dry dog food and 80% meat complete dry cat food. Made with no hard to metabolise cereal or unnecessary fillers, Applaws is designed to satisfy dogs and cats natural requirement for meat – since that’s what their digestive system was designed for.

Great dog and cat shots, beautifully designed packshots (I did that) and plenty of restful white space.

Purrfect (sorry, couldn’t resist).

The timeframes from receiving copy and images to delivery are notoriously short, and accuracy is vital – so it’s hands on and heads up for the duration.

We love it.