hedgehog clean
graphic design forum

Hello there,

I work as a road sweeper and do the occasional bit of drainage clearance. The other day I was clearing what appeared to be a blocked drain outside the council offices and after a rather lengthy period of time trying to find what was blocking the drain I finally stumbled upon what appeared to be a business card. Needless to say that when I removed said card, the blockage was cleared and the council once again had flowing sewage. During my lunch break that followed I chose to clean the card partly out of sheer interest and partly to ease the boredom that is lunch breaks at the office.

The business card was that of a logo-design company based in the Somerset/Dorset area where I work. I have no idea how it got there and to tell you the truth, I don't care an awful lot either. What I did care about though was getting in contact with the company. The strange part of this tale is that during the morning’s work where I was clearing the blockage I had been thinking about finding a company that does logo design! (Isn’t that the biggest co-incidence ever?!) The next day I attempted to get in contact with the company but much to my disappointment found out via an answer-phone message that the company had ceased trading back in 1999.

Anyway, I am in the process of starting up my own company but before I go ahead I would like be able to imagine what the logo on the side of my van will look like. Now I know that logo design shouldn't be one of the first things you think about when starting a company but I have always had this peculiar thing where I like to be able to picture things about my future (like my van). My company's name is hedgehog-clean (purposely hyphenated). I deal primarily in the clean-up of the under-side of hedgehogs. I know this sounds a little weird (that's what most people seem to think anyway!) but a few months ago after having talked to a number of farmers in the area who provide much the same service I realised that there may be room in the market for a professional. I have done what I would call extensive-research and cannot seem to find any dedicated cleaners in the Somerset/Dorset area.

The following is just a little background information for you in case I sound a bit mad:

Due to a number of different commercial insecticides that are used these days, mud and soil around the sprayed area can get affected as I am sure you can imagine. Certain insecticides contain an ingredient that acts as a coagulant. This chemical can make soil effectively "more sticky". Certain wild animals such as hedgehogs that obviously live in these places can get caked with this mud which can result in very sticky hedgehogs. The affected soil isn't actually harmful to the creatures but the build-up of this soil on their bodies can make the hedgehogs even slower than they already are at moving around. This as I am sure you can imagine can indirectly lead to the death of hedgehogs on roads.

I did a little internet searching yesterday and came across this and a number of other forums devoted to graphic design. I have looked through a few other threads on here and people seem to very supportive of each other and willing to lend others a hand. I have never done any graphic-design before so it is unlikely that I will be the one doing the work itself. What I suppose I am after is a little help or maybe a few ideas so that when I do find a design company I will have ready an initial design idea to get them started. I had a little think last night and tried doing a few simple sketches and so far I have come up with a picture of either a dirty hedgehog being cleaned or a clean hedgehog looking happy.

I would really appreciate any comments from others and/or any other ideas that people may have after reading about my company.

I thank you in anticipation of any responses,

Ronald Summers

Have you really thought this through? Who would pay you for your service to hedgehogs exactly??!

But whatever, it’s not my money so here’s my two-penneth: you need a good idea of the sort of company image you want to portray – do you want to come across as “homely and trustworthy” or “efficient and business-like”? (I have to say in this line of work “business-like” might be a tad hard to pull off!).

Next you’ll need to decide the name of your company, then put the logo together accordingly. If you’re going for the homely, farmer type thing then perhaps a cartoony style hedgehog (clean or otherwise!!). If you want strict efficiency then I personally would steer well clear of a hedgehog in the logo at all – they make me think of kids’ books!

Anyway, good luck with the venture!

James

You need a proper business plan. No bank worth its salt would lend money to such a hair-brained scheme IMHO

Jane

Quote “a dirty hedgehog being cleaned or a clean hedgehog looking happy”
rotflmao!!!!!

Dom

You should approach a local college or school and offer it as a class project – those sort of places are always looking for nice quirky challenges!

Pete

Hedgehog cleaning???? You’ll find it right next to “stoat hairdressing” in the yellow pages!

Penny

Quote” You’ll find it right next to “stoat hairdressing” in the yellow pages!”

Damn – I thought I would be the first! Maybe I’ll find my niche with “cow counselling”, y’know, for when the tough farm life gets too (moo!) much!!

Nick

I don’t know if this is the best idea in the world, but then again I don’t know much about the countryside so who am I to judge?

You need to start at the beginning. This is a graphic design forum, but my wife is in the process of starting her own company so you’re in luck – I can at least talk you through the first few points:

Firstly you need to stop picturing your van; that stage will come a long way down the line.

Next you need to put in some hours doing some thorough research into the viability of such a company – who will need this service, what alternatives are there already, can you be as sure as you can be that you will be able to make a living from this? Perhaps it would be prudent to contact a small business advisor at a bank, or even just chat to someone who runs their own small firm.

Once you are satisfied that you really are going to go ahead with this, I would suggest starting small, say getting a few flyers or business cards made up to push through letterboxes. Keep your job but try to do this on the side. If the business grows you can always reduce your working hours gradually to accommodate (part-time, then give up). Now is the time to think about your logo, but you should have a good idea of the sort of company it will be by this time and be able to advise a design company better then.

Finally when you’re at this stage you can start thinking about the van and everything else.

Good luck, but don’t run before you can walk!!

Steven

Hello again, It’s Ronald here,

Can I firstly just say thank you to everybody that responded to my post; you wouldn’t believe quite how much it means to me.

James – thank you for your very helpful comment. I do like your idea of a “cartoony style” hedgehog; something I hadn’t really considered before. You then go on to say that maybe I should “…steer well clear of a hedgehog in the logo at all”. I have to say that I don’t like this idea so much; I really do think a hedgehog in the logo is going to be the way forward.

Steven – thank you for all your advice, I appreciate the effort you must have gone to. Can you also please thank your wife for relaying to you any of the information contained in your post. She sounds like a nice lady and you are (probably) very lucky to have her. While I do appreciate all the business advice you (your wife) have given me, I am really only visiting this forum to get help with my logo design.

Has anyone else any idea of what my logo should look like?

Thanks again

Ronald Summers

If you want a cartoon style drawing for your logo then you are either going to have to draw well, know someone who does or contact an artist. The artwork in a logo is vital to you looking professional rather than a shoddy operation.

I’m sure you have a good idea already of what you want it to look like, but I would (if I ever for some reason had to design a hedgehog logo!) go for a simple black and white, line drawing of some sort of chirpy, muddy, soapy, cutesy (eugh) type hedgehog, comically being cleaned.

But that’s just my idea!

James

Ronald,

I didn’t offer any advice on the logo specifically because I think this is a terrible business idea and I just didn’t want you wasting money on decorating your van.

Sorry to be harsh but I’m just being honest. Take my opinion or leave it, just advice at the end of the day, nothing personal.

Good luck though!

Steven
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