Whole Lot of Cluckin Goin On
I wanted to take a moment to alert the public of a recent development in the Zalaznik family. Over a year ago I made a comment recklessly about how cool it would be to have a chicken so you could have fresh eggs everyday. What I have learned since then is to never randomly spitball ideas in the presence of an 8 year old without facing repercussions and constant annoying followup questions for 2 years. “ADAM, ADAM, ADAM, are we going to get chickens today?” “SWEET BABY JESUS, OK!”
So one day after school without the permission of the wife we went to Theisen's to purchase “A” chicken to shut him up. In doing so the good people at Theisen's informed me that we cannot sell you less than 5 or they will die. WELP.. SEE YA THEN… As I walked away, I saw Brody’s tears start to build up in his eye holes, and me being a pushover, we bought 5 baby chickens. GREAT. SURPRISE ANDREA!
The deal was you will feed, clean, water, nurture, love, and name them, Brody. I want nothing to do with them, and if they die the blood is on your hands (you know, parenting 101). What actually happened was quite the opposite. I raised, fed, cleaned, watered, named, and become the mother hen to these little bastards. I would love to include that Andrea was on board and loved them unconditionally. That also wasn't the case.
Over the year I’ve become rather attached to these shit birds. Raising them as chicks until adulthood in the garage, letting them free roam the backyard and shit on the deck, chasing them around the neighborhood like I’m a crackhead, having neighbors knocking on the door, “ummmm, your chickens are in my yard.” Getting into a fierce battle protecting them from 2 goal driven hawks, a deadly possum at 3am in my nightlies, and drinking whiskey and dressing them up for the catwalk.
We originally had 5 hens, Carol, Daryl, Daryl, Leroy Jenkins & Carter. Carter was always the rebel and ran away more than a few times. One of those times he/she never came back. I like to think she found love and is raising a family of her own somewhere in the Iowa countryside. So now we have 4. All with unique personalities and attitudes.
Despite Andrea completely disgusted by them, refusing to touch, cook, or eat the eggs she secretly loves them. I have come home many times to her letting them in the house (which I have always opposed) feeding them scraps, stale chips, or whatever crumbs Brody left at dinner the night before.
So why am I telling you all this? In the aftermath, we have a surplus of chicken eggs. I can only eat so many in a week before I lay one myself. If you are interested in purchasing some urban farm, free range, washed, fresh eggs we have some for sale.
Zalaznik Design Co. has been recognized as one of the Top Naming Agencies by DesignRush.
The Weekend Gentleman | My Side Hustle
Ladies & Gentlemen,
I will be quick and to the point since the average attention span these days is .5 seconds (and I’ve probably already lost half of you).
I have been designing, building, stressing and cramping, hunched over a computer for 5 months creating a dream of mine. A website/store/blog that gives men and women all the tools they need to be successful at work, home, and at play. I offer clothing, gear, tech, grooming, our own coffee, barware, home and office decor, games, and the list goes on. Everything you will find there is handpicked and tested by yours truly. It will be a place to up your style game, get style tips, learn how to make cocktails, converse with like-minded individuals, and to prove that you can look and feel good without spending a fortune. It's a place where vintage style meets modern design, and to show chivalry isn’t dead.
I invite you to check out my website www.theweekendgentleman.com and see for yourself. Share it and I will send you a code for 10% your entire purchase in the store (plus free shipping).
Thank you for taking the time to read and hopefully share this post. If you want to learn more about being an affiliate, sponsor, advertiser, or blogger message me or email us at info@theweekendgentleman.com. Once again thank you and cheers!
Adam E. Zalaznik
www.theweekendgentleman.com
5 Rules for Choosing a Business Name & Your Logo Design
If you’re starting out as a business then you’d be considering a business name and how to use it in your logo. Here are five rules to keep in mind.
If you’re starting out as a business then you’d be considering a business name and how to use it in your logo. Here are five rules to keep in mind. By Emily Woodward
Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels
By Emily Woodward
Choosing the perfect business name and logo design are the key to starting a branding strategy on the right foot. These are some of the most important steps you’ll need to go through when starting a business. Choosing a weak name or a botched logo design will not put you on the road the success. On the contrary, it will make your job much more complicated and you might even end up having to rebrand before you’ve even had your first sale.
The first thing you need to do is to realize just how important your company’s name and logo are. They both appear on everything, from your website to your merchandise to your social media profiles. In other words, your business name and your logo are the first things your audience is going to see, so make sure they’re perfect for your brand.
Because of how big their impact is, your business name and logo must offer the right first impression. They are to a business what clothes are to a person. You wouldn’t go on a date dressed badly, would you? Well, a potential customer coming into contact with your business for the first time is basically you going on a first date with someone you really really want to woo.
Present your company the right way, and it won’t matter if your offices are in a basement or on the twentieth floor of a fancy building.
Creating a successful business means starting with the basics, especially when it comes to brand marketing. From your business name, tagline to your logo design, everything needs to be on track.
But, this is all easier said than done, which is why we’re writing this article. By following the five guidelines below, you’ll be able to come up with the perfect business name and create the right logo that goes with it.
So folks, keep on reading!
Choose an easy to spell and remember name
This seems obvious, and yet, quite a number of entrepreneurs and startup owners make the mistake of choosing a name that’s too complicated and bad. Sure, it might be stylish, but your customers will definitely not remember you. Your audience should be able to google your name easily and find you without going through intensive research.
Examples of famous and successful companies with easy names to remember include Nike, Puma, Apple, Supreme, Pepsi, Lego, Nokia, Nikon, etc…
As you can see, all these companies’ names have one thing in common: they’re easy to remember, and they’re short, which takes us to our next guideline…
Choose a short name
This is vital. Why you ask? Simply because a short business name is easier to remember than a longer one. But not only that. A long name will not be able to fit in a business card, for example. And this is primordial for promotional purposes, because the longer your name is, the more difficult it is to use it in your marketing efforts.
A short name also looks better when displayed on a billboard or an ad, or when used to create a domain name for your company. So keep it as short as you can.
Make sure your name relays information about what you do
The best names are the ones that make it easy to understand what products and services you offer as a company. Chances are, your company is not going to become an international brand. Still, making sure your name relays information about your industry is a good way to brand your small business. Giving your potential audience and customers a clue about what kind of services you provide is a good way to grab their attention and retain it.
Photo by bruce mars from Pexels
Make sure your logo reflects your company’s values and principles
Just as your business name should reflect what your company does, your logo should reflect your startup in an honest, yet original way. When it comes to business, transparency is key. It might sound obvious, and yet, so many companies rely on copying their competitors or on getting “inspired” to create a logo.
So, make sure your logo design contains all the elements that make you unique, maybe you can use a symbol to describe your services or a specific color scheme that has to do with your industry.
Avoid adding in too much detail
Finally, too much detail might kill your logo and make your company look cheap. Simple logos are also easier to recognize and remember, so avoid adding too much detail to the one thing that is meant to represent you visually. And don’t forget, clean, sleek designs are always the way to go.
Conclusion
Coming up with a business name and a logo might be the first steps to create a company, but as simple as they might seem, they are crucial to your brand’s wellbeing, so make sure not to botch them.
Author Bio
Emily Woodward is a digital marketing executive who follows her passion for writing via freelance work.
Dubuque County Energy District Logo Design
I just received final approval on the Dubuque Energy District logo I had been working on for the past few weeks. Here is the final result and a little back story on the new initiative:
Dubuque County Energy District is a newly-formed non-profit organization committed to building a vibrant economy, resilient community, and a stable climate for generations to come. Working with residents and community partners, we will do this through investments in education, energy planning, market transformation, investment, and advocacy in Dubuque County.