Jamie's Blog

It starts with a logo

February 22, 2010.

I can not believe that February is almost over, I feel like this year is flying by faster than last year.  I am not sure if it is that my family is so busy, or that I am wearing numerous hats again this year.  I used to think that I could do it all, then I got sort of smart and decided I was not good at everything, so I hired employees.  With time, a Recession and just natural attrition I am back to doing, well not everything, but lots of things.  Some of those things I am not good at.  It reminds me of my second pregnancy, it was not as fun and exciting as the first time.  Don't get me wrong the end result was just as fabulous but the whole being pregnant thing - not so much.  My husband did not spoil me like he did with my first pregnancy.  My 2 year old did not understand when Mommy needed a nap, or had heartburn or why her stomach was huge.   Even my sister forgot and invited me to a wine party......then when I reminded her I was pregnant, she took back the invitation. 

So, doing all these jobs I already did once, it sort of feels like that....not as exciting as the first time.  But, that is okay, just like with the second pregnancy I know the outcome will be fabulous.  One thing I refuse to do is design our new logo.

Possible Logo Designs

I already stated that this was the year we would be going big, adding new things for JPD.  I have found it hard to get started when I have so many things to do, all while keeping up with the rest of my life and work.  Lucky for me I did not have to own 'creating a new logo'. 

I posted the possible logo designs on our Facebook Fan Page and boy did it stirred up some interesting suggestions.  Some did not like any designs, others wanted me to keep the old logo.  A few gave some very detailed art direction to help improvethe logo that was created by a professional artist.  Other suggested I create my own logo since they thought I was more creative....but back to what I do well, I don't do logos.  I do not do graphic design and it is a lot harder than it looks.  Creating a good or even great logo is very hard.

I tried to stay neutral, which was easier since I had not created the logos.  My web designer did send me this link though to have me share with all my fans.  It is a hysterical take on what happens with a web design.  I remember being hired to paint a mural when Grant was a baby and the client asked that I take the eyes from one character and put them on anotherr character.  I was also to change this smile another animal's smile and the eyebrows on one animal she wanted on all the other animals.  It took everything not to strangle her, let me tell you. 

Regardless, the feedback was helpful and was solicited (by me).  Next time I would probably be more clear about which one is your favorite, instead of asking for feedback........which is what I did, and is what I got.  Here are the five preliminary black and white logos he sent us.

Cloud Logo

I liked this logo, the cloud or the speech bubble worked for me. I can see it in colors too.  The fact that we specialize in personalized children's products - I thought it worked.  I did not love it, but I liked it. Yet, no one on my Facebook Fan Page even liked it best...so I went on to our next choice.

Paint Splatter Logo

Personally this one called out to me the loudest, I could see it with the colors of a rainbow, or pastel colors.  I am a geek for paint splattering and a huge fan of Jackson Pollack.  I don't even know why I love splattered paint, since it could just be a drop rag, and even I have done splattered paint pictures with my eyes closed.  Anyway, this one had a number of people like it just fine.  A few suggested we add more splatters, more drips to the logo.  The main reason I did not choose this is that I already get confused with being a painting company enough.   We have been listed in the yellow pages as painters, we have had stores call us to paint their windows, once last year we even had a painter come in looking for a job.  I always tell new entrepreneurs to think twice before picking a company name.

Baby Feet One

I liked the feet, but I was not crazy about the font with the feet.  I thought it was cute though, and again I did not hate it.  I don't think many chose this as a favorite though, it did not make much of an impression on the fans.

Baby Feet Two

This one I thought was adorable and I loved using the feet instead of the ampersand.  I loved the font too.  A number of people liked this one.  Our reason for not going with it is our customer base could possibly be confused and assume we only did baby products.  Our baby gifts are only one part of our entire line of products.  So, this one did not work either.  Is it just me or does this post sound like Goldilocks and the Three Bears?  This logo is too cold, this logo is too hot, this logo is just right.

The Flower Logo

This one won the popularity contest hands down - it was not even a close contest.  Most people liked this design best and felt that it was whimsical like my designs.  A few people suggested the flower's stem be broken up so that you could actually read the flower like an i, which I agreed with.  We chose this design and the only suggestion I offered was the change in the letter "i".  I know some won't like it, but such is life.  I am not one to go back and forth or even waiver or second guess myself.  Also, this was our graphic designer's favorite logo.....so it is our logo.

Not a Bad Wig*

February 1, 2010

Me being me, I always try to do something creative with almost everything I do.  Whether it is a dinner party, a holiday or a child's birthday.  I enjoy taking it to the next level.  It usually works out, I usually knock it out of the park and everyone is happy I went that extra mile.  This is not one of those times. 

I am the chairperson for an event at school for our students & their fathers,  they bring their children and everyone eats donuts 1 day before school starts.  This year I thought it would be fun to go with a whole theme, you know with matching colors and decorations.  The feather in our cap was that we got Krispy Kreme donuts for the big event, so I thought let's go Retro, big pink and turquoise.  My committee all agreed to dress like waitresses and even sport beehive wigs.  I could not believe they were such good sports, but they were.  My job was to order them on line.

Now this may seem like a silly task to some, but I had to do my research and I had to find the perfect wig, and um I wanted it to be pink.  I was also working within a budget and I needed 10 wigs.  I found (what I thought) a great on line costume store, I confirmed they had more than 10 in stock and I was stoked.  Better yet, the wigs were only $14.99 - damn, I am great at this, right? Ya, no.  Job done, project finished I just waited for them to arrive.

I could hardly stand it when they arrived this past Saturday.  I ripped the box open and the first thing was the color.  The pink was all wrong - the box had a light pink cotton candy color looking beehive, the one I had was more fluorescent pink, or licked cotton candy.  No big deal. I put the wig on and looked in the mirror.  Oh GAWD!  The wig had sections of hair poking out and sticking in all directions.  The nice coiffed wig I expected looked more like something an extra from a Dr. Seuss Musical would wear.  It was not good.  Not to mention the wig was sporting a mullet.  I was wearing a bright pink beehive mullet, I did not even know that hair style existed!  This was bad.....

I had my son take a picture of me in the wig, and I took one of the woman on the box it came in.  I typed out this quick email to the manufacturer:

Dear Don,

On January 26, 2010 I ordered 10 of your pink beehive wigs #50813.  My purchase order is 39784.  The wigs that I received and the picture of the wig on the box (and on your site) is completely different.  Not only does the wig not fit, it is crooked and the hair is sticking out in many directions.  The color is not the same as the picture on the box.  I have no idea how I can use these wigs.  Please see the attached picture of me wearing the wig, and the picture of the wig advertised on your site.

Please advise - as I am pretty sure these are NOT the same wigs I ordered.

Jamie Lentzner

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Jamie,

After a wig that size has been stored in a box like that, it will need some styling with a comb and a little hairspray before being worn.  If you would like to send the wigs back, I can only give you a store credit at my costume store and I can not accept any returns on wigs that have been tried on, that is against health regulations.

I am sorry that you are not satisfied with the wigs, but that really is not a bad wig for that price range and I have sold many of them with no complaints.  Wtih a little styling the wig would look much better than the image you sent me.

Please let me know how you would like to proceed.

Don

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Dear Don,

Well, I understand that the wig was shoved into a box, but the wig I received and the picture on the box are two totally different wigs.  The color is not even remotely close.  Also, the hair on the back of the wig near my neck is like a mullet.  It touches my shoulders.  No where in the description of the wig does it say "beehive mullet".  I assure you that was not the look I was going for.  The box also says Deluxe Quality with an exclamation mark, I question your definition of quality.  I can accept not taking returns had I just not liked the product, however your site has false advertising.  And citing a "not a bad wig for that price range" is beside the point.  Again, this wig does not resemble the photograph on your site.

I will try and cut the mullet off and style the wig today.  I do not have much of a choice as the event is next Wednesday.  I also do not have much use with a "credit" at your costume store in February.

Please feel free to use the photo I sent you on your site, so your customers know exactly what they are getting.

Jamie Lentzner

*About once a month I am going to share a little more about me, my life and what goes on at home.  Even though this blog is mostly about my business, I can not help letting some of my personality slip in.