Hey lovely,
Your logo is not your brand. It’s a visual representation of your brand. That’s a big difference.
Logos can become iconic and then often become what people think of as the brand. It’s the story behind the logo, behind the colours, behind the message that’s important. This goes for your business and for your personal brand.
So, how did my visual brand began?
Well, it started with a tattoo!
Yes, this is my foot.
The tattoo came first, and then the logo. I got this tattoo in 2009 while studying in Mexico. I had been thinking of it and picturing it in my head, even drawing it, for 5 years. But it was only after hearing that my grandmother, Doris Lovell, had passed away (just 3 months after we lost my Grandfather) that I said, I’m going to get a tattoo!
I love my tattoo, and I got it facing me. Lovell is my name. Lovelly is my brand. And what I embody.
What does Lovelly mean?
I’m lovely by name, lovelly by nature. Of course this is a play on my surname but many years ago I was asked “why the double L?” Someone else offered “double the life” and I’ve owned that ever since. I am engaging, personable and charming as is consistent with the typical lovely characteristics, but I also bring my enthusiasm and passion for life to my work. What you see is what you get and with me it will always be lovelly.
So when I started my business at the end of 2009, I asked my friend at Uni who had indesign to take the photo and turn it into a logo. She did just that and it’s still the same essence of the initial image and logo today.
However, my brand has evolved, as have I! It’s grown with me Fundamentally it’s still the same. I’m still me! Always will be lovelly, and the tattoo is still on my foot.
But what I do in the business has changed dramatically!! And that’s ok.
So here’s the timeline of Lovelly:
Feb 2009 – tattoo
September 2009 – register business name and ABN
October 2009 – Ask my friend Penny to create logo, business cards made
2010 – Facebook page
2012 – Website – 3 years later!
2016 – Logo re design for my new business Lovelly pet sitters, contra for pet sitting a client’s pet.
2019 – celebrate 10 years … invest in my brand, finally!
2019 – Graphic designer to make a visual brand guide and create my new logo and assets, still with my tattoo present
Late 2019 – Ray Pastoors from LYF built my website, until then I had used WordPress and done it myself.
2022 – I continue to work on my message and share my mission, understanding that I will always need to put in the work, and walk the walk with my clients.
And … it continues to evolve. The last three years have been the biggest change yet!
Why, because I have grown and changed with it.
Start now! Grow and evolve with your brands.
But you need to start somewhere.
It’s ok to have a free site, do things yourself and have something that’s good enough to get started.
As you work in the business, you will get clearer on your message and evolve – then invest as you go!!
Are you ready to start your brand or is it time to invest and take it to the next level??
Cheers,
Emma “Lovelly” Lovell