Archive for BRANDING

Several years ago, my wife (Donna Bolin) and I purchased the Wichita, KS franchise for OxyMagic Carpet Cleaning. It wasn’t as though we needed more to do. She is a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Plaza Real Estate and I own THINK-TANK (you’re here), a marketing and design firm.

In any event, after Kelly Bolin (Donna’s son) expressed interest in purchasing the KC franchise, we were impressed enough by the results that we got in the demo vs. what we’d experienced with steam cleaning that we moved ahead with purchasing the franchise.

Recently, we purchased a smart car to promote the business (both are ECO-FRIENDLY and just “smart”). To help those not yet familiar with oxygenated cleaning, we just launched the new OxyMagic of Wichita YouTube Channel where we will be uploading a series of training and instructional videos. Get to the Channel by clicking the photo.

Most businesses know by now the power of video for marketing (or SHOULD). However, it still surprises me just how many DON’T have a single video on their web site or on YouTube. Maybe they feel that they don’t have the right equipment (although that excuse is a fantasy in this time of HD video cameras for under $200). I’ve heard many suggest that they wouldn’t be very good in front of the camera. Or they protest that they don’t know what to say. Yada. Yada. Yada.

Well, Google has just handed you a VERY COOL new way to put a video on YouTube AND your web site with NO camera, NO editing software, NO script NO need to appear on the video…and create it all in less than 10 minutes.

See the sample by clicking the graphic below and produce one for your own personal or business brand enhancement.

Several months ago, THINK-TANK helped Brad Minear with the visual branding for his Homes Giving Hope project at J.P. Weigand & Sons Real Estate in Wichita, KS. Well, now Homes Giving Hope has a achieved a very significant milestone. It’s been less than 16 months since the HGH concept was introduced and, as of today, Homes Giving Hope gifts and gift commitments (gifts related to pending sales) now exceed $10,000. These gifts have been delivered to 10 organizations whose mission, values and efforts are consistent with the objectives of HGH. Congratulations to Brad and to his vision for “Making a Difference…One Home at Time!” Learn more here.


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A few months ago, we completed the re-branding for Leewood Homes. Since they are more diversified now than just selling homes, they wanted to have a dramatically new a more unique look. They were so pleased with this that they asked us to create the visual brand, signage, marketing pieces, etc. for their new development near Rose Hill, Kansas called RockWood Falls. Here’s the look for their new entrance sign. Their new web site will be coming online soon.

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Chip & Dan Heath have become well-known for provocative insights about how to stand out in a crowded marketplace (the focus of THINK-TANK as you will see if you look around here). Their most notable book is “Made to Stick” (click in right sidebar to order now). In this video featuring Dan Heath, you’ll get some interesting examples about “how” to stand out. Check it out!

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Larry Levich LogoA couple of years a ago, Larry invited THINK-TANK to assist him with creating a visual brand to set him apart as a real estate professional at J.P. Weigand & Sons Real Estate in Wichita, KS. This included designing a logo, a Motion Card Business Card, a new web site, collateral materials and other promotional tools.

Larry has a reputation for insisting on old-fashioned service (for instance, he doesn’t permit callers to be put into voicemail; rather mandating that he be immediately contacted for a prompt return phone call) and hard work. Apparently, this resonates with a number of home buyers and sellers considering that he has been awarded the #1 Residential Agent for the entire company for the second year in a row.

You can see Larry receiving that award in this video. Congratulations Larry!

Categories : BRANDING, DESIGN
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We all know by now what appears to be the sad truth about what has happened to Tiger Woods’ squeaky-clean reputation being severely tarnished by admitted “infidelity.” But, when you are one of the highest-paid athletes in the history of sporting AND your “brand” is not just golf but your personal identity…your looks, your smile, your charisma, your personae, your style, your business savvy, your history, your skill, your mystique, etc., then the “Marketing of Tiger Woods” is essential to the ongoing life of the “brand.”

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I have to admit that I haven’t been involved much with social media marketing (Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Linkedin, etc.) until about 6 months ago. However, there is a mountain of evidence showing how valuable this can be for building your business.

If you are involved with sites like Twitter (or others), it is IMPERATIVE that you extend your “visual brand” to these locations as much as you would with your Business Card.

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For years, Leewood Homes has been a respected name in Wichita, KS homebuilding. Joe Lee has been the patriarch of the business for decades. As Rod & Cheri Lee have become more involved in expanding the business, they are now including commercial building projects as well as residential both in Wichita and outside of it. Even in a difficult building climate, they have continued to attract new business around the state because of their reputation, attention to detail and innovative design and planning expertise.

Rod & Cheri wanted to update the Leewood Homes look with something that was more classy and they showed their broader building involvement.

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Categories : BRANDING, DESIGN, LOGO DESIGN
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