Seeking Input From All Members

I’m scrapping a previous business I co-owned with a friend and starting fresh on my own….New logo, new everything….And I’m doing it the right way this time – Business plan and all….

Here’s the old logo….
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I really hate to get rid of it – I sat and watched the guy making it right in front of me….But it just has bad vibes – I need something untouched and new….

That’s where you guys come in!!

I want to know what colors, shapes, objects…anything and everything you think of when fine dining enters your mind….What memories spring to mind, and can they be captured in a single image? A phrase….

I want to get a general feeling for the moods you guys strike up – I want people to see my logo, hear the name and think….wow…I can relate to that, right off the bat….A little “curb appeal” so to speak….

I give you my word I won’t use any of your ideas verbatim….I’ll spin them around and throw in my own thoughts on this matter to create something new – I’m just trying to stick my antennas out there and get a feel for what you, my potential customers think….

When I’ve got the ball rolling, I’ll update you with some of my efforts at conceptualizing them into names and logos….Then maybe I can get some separate feedback on those….

How can I repay you for your priceless input, you ask? Well – I’m available at your beck and call for recipes and/or tips and tricks in the kitchen here.



[edit on 7/11/2005 by EnronOutrunHomerun]

A tall order there

(pun absolutely, shamelessly intended)

Right. When I walk into a really nice restaurant, certain words come to mind.

Comfort.
Taste.
Joy.
Pleasure.
Quality.

The only word I can think that even vaguely covers all of those....is "plenty". Which sounds like it would be a good name for a strip joint. Or perhaps something equally inedible (shush. No "oh, you can eat....at strip joints" comments, thanks)

Though I did used to hang in a really weird little restaurant in England once, called - very simply - "Evoke".

Cos that's what it did.

And one bistro in Norway (of all places) called Educe. Which means more or less the same thing!

This strip joint idea....I like it.....

Thanks for that valuable input though TF!

There's just something about those restaurants with single names - usually in some foreign language - that "evoke" you to give them a try.....Again, I think its just b/c people can relate to it - Especially if the name and the atmosphere really fit well together....

We have a local place called "Mozaiks" - The decor is all....well - you guessed it - And their food is "primo"

I guess I didn't make it clear exactly what form of a culinary endeavor I'll be pursuing though, eh?

As my previous business logo implies, I'm sticking with a personal chef business, but I'd also like to focus heavily on catering - something I didn't really want to do before, but due to the lack of a serious market for personal chefs here in Tallahassee, I'd like to keep that door open, but focus more on the business I can attract.....

And I've seriously got to work on a new pricing system....A lot of people have come to me and requested I do various events, but when I cost it out, they run away..........I'm not charging any more than what I'm worth - It's just that people are, in general, tight-wads.....

So I need to cut corners somewhere - I'm thinking about creating a survey that will analyze what people feel comfortable paying under different circumstances, so I can get a feel for what they're expecting to hear when I give them a quote.....

Here's an idea for a logo/name I came up with this morning....I'll explain a little later....

What the heck?! A blue strawberry?! A red blueberry?! I don't want to eat your food!



I'm thinking of a multitude of meanings with the word "parallel"....a parallel universe where you get the pleasantly unexpected....customers are all treated in a parallel fashion - equally, so to speak......Your experiences with my service last time you used me will be parallel to all your future needs....

And it lends itself well to visual representation....

I made a little play on words with the actual name - Parallell - Adding an extra "l" at the end and closing the "e" into two sets of parallel lines....

The multi-toned shadows to either side of the image are not parallel....Again, a symbolic play on words, suggesting that I'll be offering "unparalleled service"

Whaddya think?!

My only complaint.....It sorta gives out the vibe that all I would do is deserts....Which is why I added the service description at the bottom....

parallellagram yo


throw some meat into the frying pan



dude
I WANT A PERSONAL CHEF!!!!!


/cry

do they make fettichni alfredo? (sp)

Originally posted by Lysergic
parallellagram yo

I WANT A PERSONAL CHEF!!!!!

LMFAO......But can you dig the quadrilaterals?

You want a personal chef eh? Let's talk $$......

do they make fettichni alfredo?

"They"? - lol - You mean do I?

For sure man....You need a recipe or something?

Is it just me, or is it that every time I think about Fettuccini Alfredo, I think about that scene in the Woody Allen movie, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex, But Were Afraid to Ask"

The pleasure zone....LMAO....ooooohhh......mmmmmmm.......

Maybe that can be my logo.....

Dude,

Describe the biz for me..
who is the clientelle?

Is this like an advanced form of catering? More fancy..?
Or do you work for a single person, for longer periods of time..?

Parties?

Then, and only then, will I come up with a name...LOL

Originally posted by spacedoubt
Dude,

Describe the biz for me..
who is the clientelle?

Is this like an advanced form of catering? More fancy..?
Or do you work for a single person, for longer periods of time..?

Parties?

Then, and only then, will I come up with a name...LOL

Let me give a little in-depth description on Voila first - My previous business, so that you can see how this idea has evolved....

It was my original attention to provide my services only to those who could afford them.....I'm fortunate enough to know people who know people in this town......Unfortunately, at the end of the day, they're all tight-wads and won't pay what would be considered "cheap" for the same services friends of mine provide in New York and California, even though they got the dough....And I'm by no means out to rip people off - I just have a lot of professional experience and creativity to offer....

Sooo.....Voila hit the ground.....and that's it....It hit the ground.....

I'm keeping myself open to the chance that I may still find that perfect client - The one who wants me as their full-time personal chef....But I'm also seeking the assistance of a person I know of who has the same passion for cooking as I do and could keep the other end of the business running - Small parties, catering - And of course I would lend a hand in my spare time, or when the need arises, I have people I can trust and hire for part-time work....

So, in essence, I'm looking to open my doors now to all clientele - From the simplest of faire to the most elegant of elegant....I'm not just catering food....I'm catering to the individual needs of my clients......

On a semi-related note, I have an idea for simply trying to get my name out there.....

I know a few people involved in the whole "Pampered Chef" business....Now - I don't really care for the products they offer - they're just too amateur and entry-level oriented for my tastes, but I like their ideas of throwing social gatherings focused around food.....

I'm thinking.....What about a symbiotic relationship? I volunteer my free time to attend a show and spend maybe 10-15 minutes showing these people various tips and tricks - Make it something fun and entertaining - And in return, all I ask is that they allow me to hand out business cards and free gifts (t-shirts with my logo, or pre-mixed spice packets with my card) to the customers...

I figure, if I can get at least one or two people to hire me off of that alone, I'll get my business circulating by word-of-mouth and more than make up for my volunteered time, while it also benefits these Pampered Chef people I know b/c they're learning things to incorporate into their next show....

zouptanuts

Originally posted by spacedoubt
zouptanuts

Ya know what though......That really is a damn good idea....I mean - It would make people laugh, but it in a humorous sort of way it really is self-explanatory.....

I'll have to add that idea to the churn

[edit on 7/12/2005 by EnronOutrunHomerun]

better than

Grits n gravy
Chowderheads?
Appetaters

Meals on wheels is taken..


umm..
Cruisine (rhymes with cuisine), we just drive to your house.

I'll think of some good ones..

Well - I want it to be a name that's taken seriously though too.....

Not to the point where it's automatically assumed that everyone associated with the business is some snobbish dick........But something that can be critically analyzed without some sarcastic comment relating the food to the business name....

I like “soup-to-nuts” b/c it's got enough nomenclature to strike up some appeal instantly, while not being instantly degraded in the mindset of the customers....

I know,
I was just kidding with the other ones..

'cept maybe chowderheads..LOL

I'm not sure if I'll use the idea still or not.....Very much up in there air with all sorts of ideas right now...

But I figured I'd put it into some sort of visual just to get an idea for what it could look like....



I just don't know about using the word "Nuts" in a food business....A particular scene from Fight Club comes to mind

Edit Both of these are tiny compared to the full resolution images I have on my PC.....

[edit on 7/13/2005 by EnronOutrunHomerun]

Awesome looking logo Enron, I love the font, it really suits the business IMO.

Thanks KL

Yeah - I figured a scrolly kind-of whimsical text would fit that one well....The Parallell one I was looking for something crisp, clean and to-the-point...Can't go wrong with a sans serif there....

I'm happy so far with how they've come out - A few rough edges need to be cleaned up....

The question that just popped into my head though? Hehe....Colors....Printing colors is never cheap - Especially in a quality format.....When I had my previous business logo printed on cards and shirts, there was a reason why I stuck to two colors.....

Hmmmm.....I'll have to get a quote and go from there before I finalize things...that is, after I get through the pick-and-choose process.....

Have you decided on a name enron?

Still giving it quite a bit of thought.....I'm trying to come up with at least 2 or 3 more names to consider before I actually pick one......

If I had to pick one now, it would be Parallell.....