Bert's Homestore - Brand Refresh
Bert’s Homestore was established in 2005. It sells a vibrant and inspired mix of cookware, home accessories, gifts and retro toys from three stores around our home city of Brighton & Hove. A few years ago we spent a few months working with them on a brand refresh.
Bert’s Homestore – The existing brand
To begin with, we liked some of the elements of the Bert’s brand already. For instance, the retro logo, the old-fashioned service, the brown paper bags and the stamped labels. We also liked the blackboard signage and the quirky, colourful products. Our task was to keep the aspects of the visual identity that we (and Bert’s) liked but to develop a more rounded brand. It was also important to create a wider range of visual assets.
New designs
We started off by designing new in-store labelling, packaging and bags. Next, we helped them establish branded social media channels and develop a brand-new e-commerce website.
Bert’s swing tags on red tin cups – Toop Studio
The logo & strapline
Our first job with the logo was to simplify it. The word ‘Homestore’ was dropped in most of the logo uses. Instead, we created a cleaner circular logo, which worked better online. We also came up with the simple strapline ‘Fabulous Things’.
Brand refresh for Bert’s Homestore – Before and after logo design – Toop Studio
Bert’s Homestore circle logo and strap-line – Fabulous Things
Retail bags
Next, we updated their brown paper bag designs. We added a pattern which was inspired by Mexican oilcloth and Scandinavian folk textiles.
Brand refresh for Bert’s Homestore – Before and after bag design – Toop Studio
Bert’s also used degradable white plastic bags in-store (we believe they have since been discontinued). We adapted the design and created a coloured version.
Plastic bag design – Bert’s Homestore – Toop Studio
In addition, Bert’s also sell fabric shopping bags made of jute. Using their products as inspiration, we created a new version. To see the original drawings that went into this design, go to our portfolio.
Bert’s Homestore – Jute Shopping bag design – Toop Studio
New website
Together with our web partner Moot Point, we began designing and developing a new shopping website for Bert’s. Our temporary holding site design was inspired by our bag designs.
Brand refresh for Bert’s Homestore – holding website design – Toop Studio
We also created a set of social media templates so that Bert’s could post branded updates to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Berts Homestore – Facebook social media – Toop Studio
A new e-commerce shopping site designed by Toop Studio was built by our web partner Moot Point. It featured a custom responsive theme and integration with the company’s stock control system.
Bert’s Homestore – e-commerce website design home page – Toop Studio and Moot Point
Brand refresh – Berts e-commerce website product selection page – Toop Studio
Bert’s website – About Us page – Toop Studio
E-commerce website design – product page – Bert’s Homestore
Does your retail business need a brand refresh?
If you’re a small or medium-sized retail business thinking about undertaking a brand refresh (and you like what we’ve done for Bert’s), then get in touch with us at Toop Studio.
There’s more about our project for Bert’s in our portfolio.
