The number 1 thing you need to know is that you'll have to stick with the same colors for a long time. It's pretty rare to see big brands change their visual Identity every year and small business owners should take notes.
e.g. Google logo changed multiple times over the years. You may not have noticed the changes because it's so subtle. But guess what? We can still recognise them by their rainbow type of branding.
An other great example is Barbie. Barbie logo was regularly updated for 6 décades now and yet, the 1st color you think of is pink.
Now you get the picture: you can upgrade and improve your branding overtime but people still need to be able to recognize you.
Of course there are Always exceptions to the rule. IKEA changed their colors and you probably Don't even know it. To be honest I thought that they started with the blue/yellow combo but hey! Their first logo were red and at some point brown. You learned something new today.
Anyway, keep in mind that it's better to stick with the same branding colors to stand out from competition.
Because I'm an online marketer providing services on the internet, I had to follow the same rule. I'm going to use my own experience to help you choose your colors.
1/Choose colors you're naturally drawn to
Open your closet and look at your clothes, do you see a pattern there? Do you see more neutrals or more flamboyant colors? We tend to buy clothes based on their colors most of the time. You can like a dress but if you hate its color, I bet you won't buy it. That's why we're Always asking if it comes in another color (or size)
And if your wardobe looks like a rainbow then look around you:
What abour your home decor? What's your style?
What's the color of your car?
Pay attention to the little details, the color of your favorite purse, your favorite scarf, your Workspace accessories,etc
These are clear indications that you like certain palettes so you need to choose those tones.
For me, my entire room is white, pink and green. My wardrobe is full of bright feminine colors with lots of florals. But I have a black car.
So just take your time and observe your surroundings.
2/ You need to pick at least 3 colors
Why 3? Because you're choosing a palette not a color scheme. What I'm about to say pertains to online branding not floristry techniques.
A color palette displays a range of colors you're going to use to communicate a message.
A color scheme is more like combining the colors that look good together, the typical "color combo" you see everywhere on IG.
Now you should have at least 1 color in mind after completing step 1. Next if you Don't have any inspiration, go on Pinterest and search for "your color aesthetic"
You'll then see your color associated with many different shades. Save the ones you like the most and repeat this process for a Week.
Spend 5 to 10mins a day browsing Pinterest and save the pins. And Believe me that 7 days later, you'll start noticing your aesthetic. At this point you should have 2 colors for your visual Identity.
3/Add neutrals
Let's say you ended up with brown and black. Your 3rd color could be white or beige. You can also choose gold, dark red, orange or green. This type of palette is visually pleasing and most people will find it appealing. On the other hand if you choose purple for example, certain people may find it odd.
Same thing here, go on Pinterest and search for palette ideas.
You'll end up with at least 3 colors and that's how you choose your branding colors.
4/Bonus tips
If you like a particular season or flower then Don't bother Following the steps above. Me for example, my love for spring is relfected in my home decor and wardrobe. I had no difficulty picking the right shades.
Sometimes it's just about your préférences. If you already know your favorite color then go for it. But know that you may get tired of it years from now. Don't worry though, you'll just have to rebrand if it ever occurs in the future.
My favorite color changed over the years, it went from lilac to dark blue to turquoise. And I didn't choose them for my work. So my biggest tip is to proceed with caution.
If you love color theory like I do then you have an incredible advantage compared to most entrepreneurs out there. In simple words, color theory is the art of playing with colors to convey certain messages. It's using color to communicate Something. You can do it with fashion, branding, hairstyle, lifestyle, etc And it all has to do with psychology.
To sum up, here's how you should choose your branding colors as a florist
-Look at your surroundings, details matter
-Find inspiration on Pinterest and give it time
-Use neutrals to enhance your visual identity
And as I said in the intro, remember that you'll have to stay faithful to your palette for quite a while. Make the right choices.
This step is crucial before launching your website. Feel free to reach out on IG if you need help in this area.
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See you later xo
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