Decisions Decisions

Have you ever picked a paint color for your bedroom or another room in your house?  It should be fun, right?  You are making a positive change and using color to recreate the space. Well for me, color is stressful! Will this look good in a larger scale?  Will I love it forever or at least long enough to live with it for a while? Will it create the right mood and feeling I was hoping for?  I’ve been known to repaint rooms multiple times. I think I set the record with the bathroom in my previous house- 3 times in 2 weeks – and I hate painting!!

This past week I’ve been in another color dilemma – choosing colors for my logo.  I almost wish I was color blind and could care less!  It’s even harder than picking a paint color for a room- because once I settle on colors- there’s printing and websites and all kinds of things that aren’t so easy to ‘repaint’.

I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that my favorite color (fuschia) may not be right for my logo- unless I want to be the owner of Barbie’s Pilates Studio!  My clients are male and female and the logo needs to be inviting for both.

I also work in the branding/marketing/advertising business – so I know – it’s not about what you like.  Decisions should be made based on who your target audience is and what they will like. What will the folks I am marketing to respond well to and what will the color scheme convey about my business?  Will it be inviting, fit, gender neutral enough and still symbolize what a Pilates class feels like?  Quite simply – Barbie’s place is not what I’m going for – so good bye favorite fuschia. We’ll still be tight – I’ll still continue to paint my nails and buy clothes in you my favorite color!

I’ve found myself becoming a bad client- indecisive, ignoring the rationale and logic, and trying to make decisions with my heart and gut instead. How many times have I said to my clients – let go of what your ‘favorite’ is and put yourself in the position of a consumer. You are not the target audience – what would the target audience think about this? And yet I’m being just like my former clients. I’m learning that when it’s ‘mine’ it’s a lot harder to be emotionless and make decisions from a distance if you will. I’m also know that making the decision that is best for my business will lead to more exposure and more clients.  I love introducing men to pilates – and I can’t do that very well with a pink logo. So I’m putting my favorites and emotions aside and acting like a business person – not a girl picking out the color for her bedroom.

So all that being said- there are going to be some changes around here! Look for a new logo to be unveiled soon – and yes the color scheme will be changing too! It’s an exciting time at 12South Pilates & Personal Training!!