Turning Ideas Into Profits
Sometimes a personal need can be the impetus for a winning business idea. For Kelly Wagner, this was certainly the case. Wagner wanted a day planner that was suited to her own busy lifestyle, one that would allow her to balance her goals and her day to day life. When she realized that this product was not available, she decided to create it for herself and for women everywhere.
However, there were several roadblocks on the path, most notably Wagner’s lack of business experience. Luckily, she enlisted experts to help her get her business off the ground, including graphic designer Laura Thake, marketing expert Bobette Kyle, and office manager Cecilia George. With this team, Kelly Wagner felt confident in developing the idea that would become the Daysteps planning system.
Kelly Wagner designed Daysteps to be her dream planner, a tool capable of helping her manage every aspect of her life from appointments to goals. True to its roots, Daysteps is more than the average day planner. In addition to standards slots for appointments and work obligations, women can use the planner to achieve balance in the many obligations that they juggle and learn to make healthier choices on a daily basis. With nontraditional sections such as ‘Fill Your Heart’ and ‘Clear Your Head’ as well as special tools for household management, this product is uniquely made for modern women.
One unique feature of the planner is that it is highly customizable, acknowledging the fact that every woman has not just a busy lifestyle, but one that is unique in its commitments and life goals. This recognition of modern women is a core part of the brand. The fact that the company was started and is run by a diverse group of women only adds authenticity to the brand.
The logo design is a core part of this brand strategy. The blue and chocolate brown color scheme is one that reflects current fashions, while the font is highly feminine and detailed. The tagline, “Your best day, every day,” is a good representation of the brand, while the wavelike shape in which it is written reflects positive movement that women can achieve by using the planner to get more control over their lives. This logo design is relevant to the audience, making for a brand that entices modern women with promises of much needed balance and support.
Once a professional brand had been created, the next step was to get the message out. The women who run the business aggressively pursued media appearances and had the product placed both in small local stores and on web giants such as Amazon.com. The women also promoted the brand through social media such as Facebook, where many busy women maintain a presence. They are currently in the process of having the brand distributed through major retail outlets. As you can see, creating a strong brand with the help of professionals along with marketing the brand through free and effective channels is one way of achieving small business success.
