A Word About Pricing

Some of our customers try to bargain with us. We realize pricing is a game to some people. My mother-in-law is like that. She won't buy anything unless it's on sale, and she has fun sharing how she made the best deal possible.  

It makes sense to me to look for bargains on commodities. Paper, toothpaste, socks - it's all kind of the same to me, so if I come across a bargain on a commodity I go for it. On the other hand, I would never try to bargain with a surgeon or the guy that's fixing my brakes. If my life or peace of mind are on the line, I'll worry about how to pay for it later. 

So when it comes to Church Logo Gallery, you might wonder why we charge what we do.

First, we set our prices so we can cover our fixed business costs - phones, software, computers, web development and other fixed costs. You'd be surprised how many fixed business costs there are. Then we need to cover our people. No one here is getting rich, or at this point making enough to retire on, but we do need to eat. All of us give to our churches with the expectation that our pastor's will be paid fairly. When you pay for a project you're helping us to get paid a fair wage for the work we create, and allow us to stay in business.

You're also paying for our skills. We currently employ 4 designers with close to 60 years experience between us, design work that is consistently recognized on a national level, and experience that includes senior designers, a creative director, and the product manager of the largest church marketing company in the U.S. This benefits churches because we understand your needs, have a wealth of experience, and provide exceptional results. It's value you can see, and it's experience based on a solid track record that you may not see, but benefit from anyway.

If getting the lowest price is your main concern, you may need to go somewhere else. If it's great work that will enhance your ministry, done by professionals who care and can meet your needs, and will do everything we can to exceed your expectations. That's what we're all about. Great work, great customer service, and at a fair price. 

The 7 Laws of Winning Logos

OK, these aren’t laws. These are actually more like 5 things designers agree on, and 2 that I would I wouldn’t let go of for anything.


1. Well Crafted
Good software in the right hands is a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, the work of an amateur is hard to disguise, so go with a pro who knows what they are doing. It will be money well spent.

2. Reproduces Well
Some logos look great on your computer but don’t print well. Or they don’t work in black and white for a phone directory ad. Ever try to make a banner with a small TIF file when what you really need is an EPS file? Make sure your logo works for all the applications you will need.

3. Enduring
We worked with a church that had their previous logo for over 50 years. Styles change more quickly these days, so it's unlikely your new logo will take you to the second half of the century. The saying, ‘Nothing dulls faster than a cutting edge' also applies to the lasting power of logos. The more trendy your logo is, the sooner it will be out of style. A more timeless look probably won't look as fresh. If you want your logo to look good and last, go for a balance of the two.

4. Memorable
It seems obvious - I mean, who would purposely create a forgettable identity? Good logos are interesting and recognizable.

5. Distinct
Your logo shouldn’t look like everyone else’s. A few years ago it seemed like everyone added a swoosh to their logo. Originality stands out.

Our Top 2 Traits for a Great Logo:

6. You Gotta Love It!
Have you ever had a car where the best thing you could say was it got you from point A to point B? Your logo shouldn’t be like that. Your logo should be like the car you enjoy being seen in, that gives you a little boost of confidence (bad theology, but you know what I’m saying). It’s the car that when your friends say they like it you point out even more things you like about it.

A good logo is satisfying. It creates a great first impression, makes you feel like you’re the captain of a winning team or a smart CEO. If it means paying more to take it to that level, consider it a worthwhile investment. You have to live with it everyday for years. Make sure you like it, or better yet - love it.

7. It Fits
When you look at your logo you should feel like ‘That’s us.’ It has the right personality. Whether it visualizes a value that's central to your church, a nearby landmark, a symbol synonymous with your church, or communicates what your church is in the process of becoming - your logo needs to match your church. If it communicates something you aren’t, people will catch on quickly and you won't be able to repair the damage soon enough.

No one knows your church like you do. Pick a skilled designer who understands churches, but realize what you bring to the table equally determines whether your logo will be successful or not. You, plus the right designer equals a winning team - and better yet, a winning logo.

The World's Best Church Logo!!!

I’ve come across a few sites that claim to show the best logos ever created. Some are business logos, and I’ve seen a couple of sites claiming to show the best church logos. Maybe I shouldn’t complain - our logos have made it into a few books and sites featuring logos judged to be in the top of their class. I’ll admit, too, that there are logos that are favorites of mine because of a clever visual pun, hidden meaning, pleasing design, or other detail that gets a designer like me excited.

Here’s the problem I have with judging a logo as “the best.” What is it the best for? I saw a clever logo for a St. Peter’s Church. It was of a rooster - you know, when Peter denied Christ and the cock crowed. It’s been over a year since I saw the logo and I still remember it. I laughed, and it was nicely done, but is this the image you would want people to associate with your church? ‘Oh yeah, those guys go to the church that denies Christ,’ or worse yet, the unchurched person that doesn’t make the association to begin with and wonders what in the world a rooster has to do with being a Christian. I think it’s clever, but even I would deny being a member of that church – award or no award.

Context is critical. The values a logo promotes, or the emotion it evokes may work great for one church, but do nothing for yours. The best logos today probably won’t make the list in a few years. Tastes change. Your community will change, and probably your church, too. You want a logo that will have staying power, but nothing stays current forever. In design as in cutlery, nothing dulls faster than the cutting edge.

The point is this: A logo is only best if it’s best for you. If your church is EastPointe, it won’t do you any good to have a logo showing a stream. It would make perfect sense to have a logo that in some way denotes East or comes to a point. While we can admire the style or certain aspects of other logos, the most important thing is that it communicates a compelling aspect of your church or in some way tells your story. If it does that, tell everyone you know that you were smart enough to get your hands on the world’s best church logo.

The Benefits of Good Communication

Who is Your Communications Officer?

The local paper profiled a new city communications officer, a first for the city. The reporter asked why the city needed a communications officer. She said:
• Each resident was a shareholder in a multimillion dollar organization that needed to be informed.
• Communication is more complex than in the past.
- The use of visual images, or
- Other communication vehicles
made a difference in communicating effectively.
• A dedicated communicator ensured that the right message got to the audience at the right time.

When asked about her responsibilities, she included:
• Informing residents about programs, projects and services.
• Making sure the messages were disseminated through the right media.
• Coordinating special events and meetings.
• Creating and maintaining a clear identity for the city.
• Providing photography, graphic design, and production services.

How do the residents benefit from her services?
• They feel more plugged in.
• They have easy access to understandable information.
• Residents would view the city as being more transparent.
• Good communication fosters support, partnerships and understanding
between the residents and the city.
• Residents would be aware of the many good things taking place in the city.

I immediately related what she was saying to churches. By developing a system to communicate through your website, newsletters, brochures, and during worship, you can realize the same benefits my neighboring city did. Depending on the size of your church, this doesn't necessarily take a full time staff member to do.

Food for thought.

The Genesis of Church Logo Gallery

A friend of mine owned a store in a prime location. He said a lot of thought went into the place, most of it AFTER he opened. I think that’s how its been with Church Logo Gallery, too. We went into it thinking talent, passion, and caring about customers were a winning formula - and we still do, but business skills, marketing know-how and continual upgrades to both product and processes have played an important part as well.

Church Logo Gallery officially started in 2002 after I left Outreach, Inc. I had been the Product Manager after serving as the Art Director (Creative Director) since 1999.We got off to an exhilarating and exhausting start. My staff consisted of a designer fresh out of college with loads of talent and a few months experience. Together, we created 72 new designs, a handful of new products and a 48 page catalog in two months. It nearly killed me, but sales exploded and we had a happy sales staff.

As enjoyable as it was creating new products, my passion for designing logos never dimmed. I love telling a story in a nutshell, of communicating a vision and capturing the personality of a church in a small space. When I left Outreach I was able to focus on the area I enjoy most. While I brimmed with optimism, my friends and business advisors all wondered if I had lost my mind. Logos for churches - were there really enough churches out there who needed a logo? Six months into it I began to wonder myself. Sales were slow. I thought then, and still do, that if you do great work and let people know about it the rest will fall into place. Sales picked up. A large web developer called. Lifeway picked our logos to sell on their Specialty Imprints website. Little by little we grew. My designer from my first days at Outreach, Melanie, has been with Church Logo Gallery from the beginning, and more recently another Outreach graduate has joined us. We’ve added much needed support and accounting help.

So here we are five years later - still passionate about serving churches with all we have. Wisdom from hard work and experience is taking root. While we’re getting stronger on the administrative side, our work is winning more recognition from both churches and the design industry. In 2007 we picked up twice as many awards as we did in 2006. We’re still learning from our customers and through trying new approaches in communicating the timeless message of Good News our faith hs to offer. To all the pastors and churches who have teamed with us, thank you. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you on the front lines.

The Power of a Brand

In a recent study, researchers served preschoolers carrots and other veggies from plain containers. To no one’s surprise, the kids didn’t give the snack a passing grade. Then they were served the same food in containers that included a McDonalds logo. The kids liked these vegetables. The only difference was the logo.

We are not impartial to brands. They stand for something, and the companies that can effectively articulate what they stand for are able to not only stand out but build trust and loyalty with their customers. The McDonalds logo meant something to those young kids. Can you articulate what your church stands for? Does your logo help tell the story? It should.

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