Okay so this question really does not belong in this Forum but I am at my wits end trying to get some info.

We have bottled several alcoholic beverages in the past few years, and sold them with a good rate of sucess(mostly offpremise: grocery, liquor stores, ... ). As our market has grown, we are slowly moving towards selling to Bars and Clubs. We realize we need a hipper younger look, and just don't know what to choose from.

I would like your advise on who to trun to for some help/direction.

Thanks,

Alan
saharfoods@earthlink.net

More info:

2 Vodkas at 40 and 50% alcohol
1 Moonshine
1 Strawberry Vodka
2 Brandys

NOw it is time, we tested a TV add and the responce was overwhelming, so I know we have a good product and the demand is there.

SO what I need to do now is to develop a marketing plan around the New Lables, it is the creation of these labels that is giving me a hard time.

Alan

I've had some experience designing labels...have you tried a local ad agency for ideas? They will take into account your target audience, image, etc. and create a great brand. Also, have you looked around the liquor stores to see whats out there? Vodkas are especially innovative in packaging. Look for Rain Vodka for example, the bottle is the shape of a raindrop. It might also help to watch people shop around and pick a bottle...presentation is really important.
My initial response is to do something trendy with the vodka as the market is saturated and people definitely go for something different that looks cool. I'm not sure if you want the same look for your strawberry vodka but that would create cross over sales for both products. Moon shine would be so much fun to label, I would go off the name. Brandies look very similar with dark packaging and an "elegant" look. To differentiate, you could look for a uniquely-shaped bottle. I don't think that brandy is the kind of product that you could label with a new look because of its market.

Thanks JoiltGirl....

That is good advise! I will contact Some local ad agencies today. I had hoped on designing the labels in house...

Thanks Again,

Alan

As an afterthought, you may want to go to the different companies you had in mind to actually make the label...most are hungry for business and if they can't do the actual design, they can at least show you new ideas that people have. I usually agree to meet with printers and packagers even when I don't specifically need anything just because there is always something new and creative out there. Even if you don't want to use an idea thats already been done, you can put a couple of good ideas together and make a great idea that nobody has done.
One company I talked to last week was willing to let me use some dies that previous big budget companies had used to save that expense.

Okay! Lets see what the ad guys say tomorrow! I am so overloaded with work, I think everything will go out of house on this one