When starting a new business, many entrepreneurs make the mistake of getting by with just a logo instead of making the investment in a more robust brand suite. While it’s possible to start a business this way, as total branding geeks and major believers in the power of a memorable brand, we highly recommend against it. Here’s why.  

It’s a common misconception that a logo is the same thing as a brand, and while a logo is definitely important for many reasons, it’s only just a small piece of what defines a brand.

So if a logo design on its own isn’t considered a “brand”, then what is?

The components that make up a complete brand include but are not limited to:

• Brand Positioning

  • Where you want to live in a consumer’s mind 
    

• Brand Story

  • From the very beginning to present day—how and why was your brand created and what do you want people to know about it? Why does it matter to you? What goals did you have in mind when you started? What problem are you solving for people? What value are you adding to people’s lives? What matters to these people—your people? These questions answered can be endless and full of promise. A brand story is full of depth, meaning and is key to defining your brand’s core purpose. 
    

• Brand Identity/Aesthetics

  • This is the aesthetic world of your brand, which is based on creating and curating a distinct point of view. From the instant your audience sees something visual that’s associated with your brand, they make an assumption about who the brand is, what they stand for, and what kind of people they want in their tribe. It lives in the areas described below, but also in content, curation, product and packaging design, and even sales staff (think Apple) and merchandising. 

• Logo

  • The main, distinctive design that represents your brand in the world

• Secondary Logo/Mark

  • Usually a smaller, less prominent but still memorable design piece of your brand. Often, the mark becomes more iconic than the brand name design itself, such as Nike’s swoosh or Target’s bullseye. 

• Color Palette

  • The colors that represent your brand that you strictly adhere to

• Typography

  • The particular fonts you plan to use consistently throughout all pieces of your brand—in your logo, website, print materials and more.
    

• Brand Mission & Vision

  • The why behind what you're doing and the ultimate good you want to achieve through your business. Clear knowledge of these two powerful things and the ability to translate them into something tactile is perhaps the key tenet of a powerful brand.
    

• Brand Voice

  • The kind of voice your brand uses to connect and communicate with your audience
    

• Brand Personality

  • The qualities and characteristics that make up who your brand is

While it’s fair to say that a lot can be interpreted about a business by a well-designed logo, there clearly is so much more to a brand—really, the backbone, the beating heart—that your audience is missing out on when your logo is the only leg you have for your company to stand on. 

Hear us when we say it—starting on the right foot with a full branding package will never be a bad investment and will make a world of difference in the overall effectiveness of your business. Not only does it offer more to your audience in terms of clear and memorable communication to really understand and connect with your brand, it also helps you gain a better grasp on your brand, the how and why behind achieving your goals, and what your strategy should look like moving forward.

Questions? Comments? Drop us a line below or email us a bridget@meghanmarshking.com and let’s dive in.

So you’ve dreamed up a brand—given it a name, a story, a backbone—and you’re ready to bring it to life. Graphic design offers endless possibilities to visually share your brand with the world, and we’ve compiled a suggested list of assets that you should think about having on file for your brand as you get started.

THE BASICS: BRAND GUIDELINES

• Brand Guidelines: Depending on your brand, this can range from a simple one-pager to an entire brand book with extreme detail. This is the personality, psychology, and overall direction of how you want the brand to look and feel in the world. It helps you, and anyone engaging or working with your brand, to consistently convey a clear and meaningful message.

THE VISUAL IDENTITY

If you invest in any kind of design for your brand, it should be your brand identity. This is where your audience’s first impression is formed—and it happens almost instantly—so it’s important to do it right.

We recommend that your brand identity include the following assets: 

• Main Logo

• Secondary logo (in most cases) 

• Wordmark or Favicon 

• Color palette (with Pantone, CMYK, RGB and HEX information for application)

• Typography

  • Font Files, with access to font licenses 

MARKETING MATERIALS

Once you have your visual identity created, you can work on creating marketing pieces over time. A few things you can build with your brand identity: 

The First Wave: 

• Business card design

• Letterhead design

• Stationery suite, including note cards, stickers, a stamp, etc.

• Supporting graphics such as icons, illustrations and infographics 

The Second Wave:  

• Brand Brochure

• Press Kit or Product/Experience Deck or Presentation

• Promotional swag and client gifts that represent your brand

• Packaging, as needed:

  • May apply to proprietary product packaging or how your brand may be carried out of a retail space or shipped in the mail. Includes items such as custom tissue paper, stickers, stamps, shipping invoices, boxes, and custom wares and containers. 

IMAGERY AND PHOTOGRAPHY 

In an ideal world, every new business should budget for real photography that is representative of their brand. However, we understand this isn’t always possible. In that case, we think a proper guide or mood-board around stock photography can be very helpful to anyone who will handle your marketing or social media efforts. But it’s important to note that most savvy consumers these days can sniff out stock photography from miles away. Here are a few assets to think about. 

• Portraits

  • The Founders

  • Staff or Team

• Lifestyle Photography for the website, marketing materials and social media

• Product photography, if necessary 

DIGITAL ASSETS

Your digitals assets are the way to share your brand with the larger world; here’s a checklist of the digital assets you should consider capturing and developing as soon as you are ready to launch:

• Website domain

• Website host and platform

• Social Media accounts, which may include:

  • Facebook

  • Instagram

  • Pinterest

  • Twitter

  • YouTube

  • LinkedIn 

    • Tip: Even if you aren’t ready to get started right away, we always suggest you double check that your handle is available and snag it up before someone else does.

Have questions? Need help? Ready to share your brand with the world? Connect with us and we’ll dive right in.

Summertime and the living is easy—long days spent in the sunshine, heat that warms the bones and hopefully a little extra time to spare to do the things we love. While this 2020 summer may look a little different than most of us pictured, there are still plenty of ways to make the most of this sweet season.

One summer activity that has always been a favorite for the both of us (that we’re thanking our lucky stars can still be done while staying safe and socially distanced!) is reading our days away by the pool. We’ve rounded up lists of our ultimate poolside reads—with Meghan’s full of literary fiction and Bridget’s jam-packed with thrillers—that we think you’ll love just as much as we did. Just click on the covers to learn more and order!

MEGHAN’S PICKS

BRIDGET’S PICKS

Now snag a favorite read, park yourself by your nearest pool, unplug and enjoy it. Check back here or tag us on Instagram @mmkcreative once you’re done reading to let us know what you think!

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We’re just halfway through one of the most pivotal years in recent history and we’ve quickly realized that we’re living through times that will undoubtedly be learned in classrooms. It's an understatement to say much has happened in the past 6 months, with little to no downtime from what feels like the moment the clock struck midnight on January 1st. With groundbreaking news coming at us from every direction, there is one headline that deserves and demands our long overdue time and attention—BLACK LIVES MATTER.

In the past, “Black Lives Matter” has been a phrase that gained momentary attention and then faded into the background with the next news cycle. Now though, it sits in its very rightful place—at the forefront of everyone’s minds—as not only a statement filled with power, passion, and pain echoing around the world, but also as a beautiful movement sweeping the United States and far beyond. The Black Lives Matter movement has given a desperately-needed wake up call to the entire country, and we think 400 years of Black oppression is more than enough don’t you?

With such a movement as “Black Lives Matter”, it is unexplainably important now more than ever to educate yourself on not only the WHAT but even more so the WHY—what exactly is the movement for and why is it happening? What’s been going on (in our country, in our homes, in police departments, prisons, and between humankind) and why are people so upset? We believe it's our responsibility as white women to do the work and educate ourselves by actively seeking the answers to these questions so that we can not only ensure we aren't racist, but become anti-racists and powerful allies for the Black community. This is why we’ve gathered a few of our favorite resources to listen, learn, and educate ourselves on systemic racism, social injustice, and our white privilege—all of which we’ve been experiencing for far too long.

And one more thing, just to be clear—this opportunity to educate ourselves is not about simply going through the motions so we can feel better about ourselves. It’s about little by little opening every last set of eyes and breaking the cycle of racism in our society so the Black community can finally live their lives as they’ve always deserved to live them—empowered, valued, and safe.

In addition to diving into the below resources, MMK Creative has donated to Black Lives Matter, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Color of Change. If able, we encourage you to find an organization that resonates with you and do the same.

MOVIES

The Hate U Give | Hulu

If Beale Street Could Talk | Hulu

13th | Netflix

American Son | Netflix

Just Mercy | Prime Video

TV Shows/Series

Dear White People | Netflix

When They See Us | Netflix

Seven Seconds | Netflix

Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story | Prime Video

Instagram Accounts

@blklivesmatter

@rachel.cargle

@themanacho - “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” IGTV Series

@ohhappydani

@ibramxk

@theconsciouskid - Parenting and education through a Critical Race Lens.  

Books

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates 

Feel Free by Zadie Smith 

Support Black business and opt to purchase from Black-owned bookstores.

FICTION

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Swing Time by Zadie Smith

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin 

PODCASTS

1619 - We particularly loved Episode 3 which explores the birth of American Music with Wesley Morris. 

PLAYLIST

Meghan made a special version of her signature playlists highlighting some incredibly talented Black artists.
Click below to listen.

Keep in mind—this handful of resources are just the beginning, not even scratching the surface of the education and work that needs to be done in our country to invoke real and sustainable change. Here is a consolidated list of black-owned business to be aware of and to support. Mostly, we whole-heartedly encourage you to keep digging—get uncomfortable, use your privilege for good, sign petitions, unlearn your bias, speak up, VOTE. We’re prepared to continue doing the work and we hope you are too.

Featured Art: @christadavid.art

As a creative house doing the majority of our daily work digitally, we are lucky to have the luxury to skip the office and spend our work days in the comfort of our home offices. While the work-from-home life isn’t necessarily best for every personality, we’ve grown to love it. With a lot of our friends and clients getting a taste of the work-from-home life these days, we wanted to round up a few of our best tips when it comes to productivity, routines and making the most of working from home.

Give Yourself Some Morning Time

When working from home, you get the beautiful gift of no stress to wake up in time to get ready, fight traffic and get to the office (can I get a hallelujah). But this luxury often makes it tempting to wake up at the last minute and immediately glue your eyes to your computer for the day. Take it from us—days begin so much better when you give yourself the time to wake up slowly, enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea, eat breakfast, journal or read, maybe take a morning walk or squeeze in a workout, or whatever you might do to enjoy a peaceful morning. THEN make your way to your computer feeling refreshed, awake and ready to tackle the day. We spend the entirety of our days with our eyes glued to a screen, no need to rush it. 

Set Up a Designated Work Space

While it’s a liberating thing to be able to move around and change scenery as you work with everything being done right from your laptop, it’s important to have a space meant only for work to both start the day getting organized and get back to when you need to dig in and focus. Trust us, as soon as you start working from the couch, the bedroom, or the kitchen counter, the boundaries between work and non-work get blurry and you begin to lose that essential thing we all need—work-life balance (more on this later). 

Create a Vibe

A personal favorite of our founder, your designated workspace should be your sanctuary. Make It yours as much as possible, and create a serious VIBE for yourself. You have no coworkers to limit your creativity, after all. Here are a few tips we’ve found useful:

• Light a candle. One of our personal favorites is by our client, Chateau Sonoma. Just subtle enough not to overwhelm, but intoxicating enough to change your outlook for the afternoon.

• Jam out. If you can work with music in the background, get after it, friends. Again, you have no coworkers to dictate your choices. Not sure where to begin? We have a library of choices and a special Quarantunes playlist for these trying times. Jam with us.

• Do you love fresh flowers? Forage a few blooms or some fresh greenery on your next foray out of the house and bundle them up in a small bouquet on your desk. Breathe it in. 

• Seek inspiration. If something in particular speaks to you—a painting, a poem, a quote—pin it up on your workspace. Avoid clutter (depending on your enneagram type this can be the slow death of your designated workspace, so consider yourself warned), but use these visual pieces to create inspiration for yourself. Your home office is the modern day cubicle without anyone there to monitor choices—get wild with it.

Get Dressed!

Let’s be real: this is a constant struggle of ours, but getting dressed for the day is key for overall success when working from home. Do you have to get dressed up or wear anything uncomfortable in order to succeed at this step? No way. Simply the act of getting out of your pajamas and putting on day clothes is huge for your motivation and even more so, your self esteem. While there will be days you confidently decide staying in your pajamas is a great idea (and we fully support that decision) it’s likely that you will notice it to have an effect on your day to day productivity and self image if pajama wearing becomes a constant thing. When we start to feel ourselves getting lazy or feeling crummy after wearing pajamas too long, we always make a point to get dressed and get ready for the day even if we have nowhere to go. Look good, feel good, play good.

Try the Pomodoro Technique

Feel free to google this one but this technique was created to help with productivity and it goes a little something like this...

1. Decide on a task to be done

2. Set a timer for 25 minutes

3. Work until the timer goes off

4. Take a 5 minute break

5. Repeat steps 1-4 four times

6. Take a 25-30 minute break

We love that this technique is simple enough and helps you to stay focused, be productive and have something to work towards (that nice 30 min break!)

Try “Constructive Daydreaming” 

A phrase that Meghan has borrowed from Wallace Stegner’s Crossing to Safety, this is our version, applied to working from home life. Sit down before checking your email (this is key), and imagine how your ideal day will go. Include items that you want to check off your to-do list and projects that you need to make time for (emails be damned). Include anything that will nourish you throughout the day—taking a walk, finding a good playlist, reading for 10 minutes in between projects, or a really good meal. Consider how unexpected things (namely your inbox and phone calls) will factor into this daydream and then set it into motion. 

Don’t Forget Fresh Air

Staring at a computer screen inside all day long may sound easy, but it can be seriously exhausting—for your eyes, your brain and even your body as you sit in the same position all day. When it’s break time, make it a priority to move your body, breathe in some fresh air and soak up the sunshine. Go for a walk, leave your phone behind and be intentional to unplug, even if only for a few minutes. You’ll come back to your work feeling so much better and more refreshed than when you left it, guaranteed.

Do Your Best To Find Balance

In our busy world it’s already seemingly difficult for people to create a healthy work-life balance, and believe it or not, working from home makes that balance even harder. It’s no small feat to separate home life and work life when it all happens in the same place—this is where the importance of a routine comes in. While each day of working from home may look different schedule-wise, it’s important to create a routine for yourself for things like waking up, starting work, lunch time, ending work, etc. Without an office to clock in and out or a boss breathing down your neck, sticking to your chosen routine is entirely your own responsibility. The stricter you are with your time, the better you will get at teaching your brain (and body) to artfully switch between work mode and home mode, ideally giving you that work-life balance you need to be successful at your job while still giving yourself the gift of a home life.

Whether your working from home is new or just temporary, we hope these tips help you make the most of your new normal. Who knows, you may end up loving it and want to join the rapidly growing contingency of us who do it on the daily. 

Have further thoughts to add or tips of your own to share? Going crazy? Need a friend? Tell us about in the comments below.

As creatives who just need a computer, we count ourselves lucky on the daily to have the ability to work from anywhere and everywhere—from our cozy homes to coffee shops to co-working spaces, you name it. But when we work solo staring at a screen all day, music is always our go-to remedy to keep us focused and sane.

As a longtime playlist enthusiast, Meghan makes it her monthly project to create a playlist full of fresh jams and good vibes to get us all through those long workdays—this is her 2019 collection. We hope this music streamed through your speakers, livened up your days and filled up your cup. We love creating and curating the best we know, and we’re always glad to share it with you.

So here’s to good music, great clients and more time spent creating things we love. Cheers to 2020 and all the vibey jams it’s sure to entail!

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There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t count ourselves lucky to have the opportunity to work alongside so many incredible small businesses as they learn and grow. There really is so much that goes on behind the scenes of it all and seeing their hard work come to life never gets old.

This holiday season, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite products from the amazing Sonoma-based companies we work with to create our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide full of quality items to gift to the ones that you love most.

MORE TO LOVE

A few of our favorites from other Sonoma businesses that we love. While they aren’t our clients, we are certainly admirers and wanted to add
just a few more carefully-sourced reasons to shop local this season!

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Subscribe to MMK

Don’t miss our end of the year newsletter going out soon to see all of this year’s good news.

Sonoma—there’s something about this town. I’m writing in the evening with the windows propped open. Outside, a summer’s day gives way as a backyard dinner grows quiet and the pleas of crickets echo into something like silence. It’s dark except for the moon, which casts shadows, playing tricks with my imagination and the breeze. In the morning, it’s just a short walk to the vineyards where I’ve gotten used to the way that leaves move—disguising themselves—and the colors the grapes make when they’re ready for pressing.

I moved here after years in San Francisco and fell into love with life in the “country” in less than a heartbeat; but then again, it’s easy to love a town with a central plaza, Tuesday night Farmer’s Market, and restaurants and wineries everywhere you look. I’m accustomed to familiar and friendly places everywhere I go, and the ease of buying vegetables at farm stands with handmade signs on the road that say things like “Local Peppers, Turn Left in 50 feet.”

Still, there’s something that's still wild and dusty here—this Valley of the Moon—where farmers first settled to mine the land for juice. The rest of us just live here because we know what they knew at first press: there’s something about this town. 

At the request of friends, family, clients and thirsty folks everywhere, get to know the spots from my personal Sonoma that you shouldn’t miss during your next visit to wine country.

EAT

GLEN ELLEN STAR

My favorite restaurant in the area, Glen Ellen Star has mastered the art of wood-fired cooking in a way that’s fresh and seasonal, quintessentially Californian, hip and entirely approachable. They embrace the art of simple food, but with an effortless refinement that you can’t master at home. Just off the main road in downtown Glen Ellen, the red-starred façade offers a no-frills but well-executed interior that makes you feel welcome right away—like you’ve stumbled upon a neighborhood gem. Don’t be mistaken: you have. 

The menu changes with the seasons, and often by the day, but it’s always food that you want to eat—crave-able, straightforward, and of the moment. Vegetable starters are served family style in cast-iron skillets that are shared amongst intimate tables, and the nightly dessert special is best enjoyed with single serve cartons of house made ice cream. Servers bounce around in jeans, red sneakers, and matching t-shirts, and if you’re lucky you’ll eat close enough to see Chef Ari Weiswasser and his team carefully dancing around the central spirit of the restaurant—the open hearth.

Here's a tip: Order all of the vegetables—no, really, just do it. You must try the Tomato Cream Pie before you die and the seasonal pasta is always memorable.

HARVEST MOON CAFE

A quaint and unassuming restaurant just off the Sonoma Square, Harvest Moon offers a surprising, fresh, and completely sustainable menu that changes daily. Run by a husband and wife chef team, I admire their commitment to the bounty of Sonoma County and their commitment to sourcing meat and produce that comes from farms, ranches, and fisheries that uphold their shared principles of sustainability. Their menu is an ode to the hard work of these farmers and their collective culinary experiences as chefs. I’ve never ordered the same thing twice and I am always surprised by what I order—a testament to a great menu.

Though simple in ambiance, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a quiet dinner followed or preceded by a walk around the square or a visit to a tasting room like Pangloss.

Here's a tip: At Sonoma's Friday morning Farmer’s Market, Harvest Moon has a stand of baked goods and breakfast items that people line up for.

EL MOLINO CENTRAL

A perfect stop on the way to Glen Ellen or Kenwood, El Molino is located in Boyes Hot Springs and just might be some of the best Mexican food around. Hey, I’ve even heard it called the best in the Bay Area and that’s saying something. A brightly colored façade offers at-the-counter ordering inside, along with some key takeout items, and a back patio where you can eat under the shade of red umbrellas. The seasonal and soulful menu offers delicious fish tacos, seasonal enchiladas, tamales, and more.

Here's a tip: They only offer one item before 11am, but it’s delicious: Chilaquiles Merida. And trust me on this one: share it with a friend. Grab guacamole with whatever you order and enjoy the thickest, crunchiest chips around.

Photo by Sarah Deragon

SWEET SCOOPS ICE CREAM
 

Do you know why that old adage about all of us screaming for ice cream is true? It’s probably because Joe and Ramie Hencmann have set out to make the world a sweeter place one scoop at a time and it’s working. You can find their incredibly charming ice cream shop right on the square, or look for their Ice Cream Cart at the Tuesday Night Farmer’s Market or at Cornerstone on summer weekends.

Here’s a tip: In addition to all of their creative and delicious flavors made from local ingredients, they make some very delicious vegan flavors. Three words: Vegan Cookies & Cream. You’ll never look back. 

SONOMA'S BEST: MODERN MERCANTILE

For the kind of place that’s perfect to explore, eat, and imbibe, head to Sonoma’s Best to grab lunchtime essentials and local sundries to take along to Jack London Park or Bartholomew Park Winery. Located a little out of the way, it makes for a great jaunt through local neighborhoods. If you decide to stick around, they have a charming outdoor garden where you can enjoy your lunch along with beer on tap and wines by the glass.

Here's a tip: They have an excellent little wine shop—it’s the perfect place to pick up a delicious and reasonably priced bottle for dinner.

STILL HUNGRY? I DON’T BLAME YOU. TRY:

Café La Haye for a charming, white tablecloth dinner just off the square that feels like a local’s spot, located right near my favorite local bookstore, Reader's Books.
The Girl & The Fig or The Fig Café for a chance to eat at one of Sondra Bernstein’s classic Sonoma restaurants.
Sunflower Caffé for a healthy breakfast, lunch, or quick smoothie pit stop.
Frenchie Picnics & Provisions for a perfect grab and go meal for your next picnic in the park.
El Dorado Kitchen for an upbeat vibe with drinks and appetizers at the bar or on the patio.
Delhi Belly Indian Bistro for excellent Indian just off the square.
Café Citti for a wine hangover; head to this checkered tablecloth restaurant in Kenwood where the ambiance and pasta is best served to go.

EXPLORE

JACK LONDON PARK

Long before I ever dreamed of living in Sonoma County, I was fascinated with Jack London Park and the rich and mysterious stories that the land must hold. Once the home of the writer Jack London—famous for penning adventure tales and naming this area the Valley of the Moon—the park features miles of trails and historic buildings from when London called it home. The site includes the ruins of a 19th century winery, which now hosts Broadway Under the Stars, an event worth planning a trip around if you visit during the summer. You can set out to hike the trails or simply explore the museum, the cottage where Jack wrote, or the mysterious Wolf House, where a fire destroyed the structure before they ever lived in it.

In addition to being a writer, London was curious, inventive and experimented with farming methods that he gleaned from abroad—demonstrating early examples of organic and sustainable farming practices that are still used today. It’s one of the most beautiful ways to explore Sonoma Mountain. Often dripping with fog in the early morning, I’ve never had a visit that didn’t prompt a clear head and a hungry pen.

CORNERSTONE SONOMA

Just off Arnold Drive before you get to Sonoma proper is Cornerstone—a modern marketplace featuring boutique shops, tasting rooms, art-inspired gardens, and Sunset Magazine’s Gardens + Outdoor Test Kitchen. I think it offers some of the best shopping in Sonoma so save your sips for of any of my recommended wineries and hit the shops after a stroll through the gardens, which are certainly worth a visit. Here’s the shopping you shouldn’t miss:

Chateau Sonoma: More than just an expertly curated collection of French antiques and artful home décor, it’s a lifestyle experience that recalls the very best things about French culture and brings them to you in a sensory manner. In addition to home goods and antiques, they also carry the collections of local jewelry and handbag designers that make excellent gifts.

Nomad Chic: I actually first discovered this hip boutique in Todos Santos, Mexico and was delighted when they opened a shop in Sonoma. Taking boho-chic to the next level, Nomad carries global, unique, and often handcrafted items for the home as well as clothing, jewelry, and accessories—all that make you wish you were on a beach in Mexico sipping a margarita. 

Artefact Design & Salvage: I dream about this place. A sensory-awakening collection of artifacts sourced from all over the world—furniture, gifts, oddities, and large architectural elements—this is the kind of place where every piece has a story to tell. For example, I own a doorstop that was once a piece of a ceramic stove in the original Hearst castle. Prepare yourself.

FRIDAY MORNING FARMER’S MARKET

If you ever happen to be in Sonoma on a Friday—every week, rain or shine—don’t miss the chance to explore the farmer’s market on Arnold Field. Grab fresh local produce, iced-tea from local purveyor Tea & Trumpets (Earl Grey Lavender and Jasmine Rose are my favorites), and get the Hippie Hash from The Green Grocer—it’s one of my favorite things to eat, ever.

IMBIBE

THREE STICKS

Just off the square, you can step into another world where time is unhurried, wine is an art form, and ambiance is lionized. Located in a historic Adobe—the longest occupied residence in Sonoma and a remnant from California’s Mexican period —Three Sticks is a can’t-miss winery in Sonoma. Thoughtfully preserved, the Adobe is designed by Ken Fulk who artfully layered Spanish influences and antiques with modern finishes, an array of stimulating textures and colors, and a truly unforgettable hand-painted wall. It's an experience that feels uniquely akin to Sonoma today, and yesterday.

The wines? Let’s talk about them. They make some of the best Pinot Noir in Sonoma County and well beyond. That’s all you need to know.

Here's a tip: Book an appointment and take your time, you’re going to want to savor this experience from the wine tasting to the rich space and the completely wonderful and sincere hospitality. 

SCRIBE

Quite the trendy hotspot these days, Scribe lives up to the hype, especially with the reopening of the historic Hacienda, sitting like a citadel at the end of their iconic palm-lined drive. A perfect match for their terroir-driven wines, the Hacienda—a building with bones that date back the 1850’s—has been restored to accommodate an array of food and wine experiences. 

The Hacienda itself is something to behold, a careful blend of nuanced old details—chipped paint, original wood, old windows—with quietly modern furniture that lets the naturalism of your surroundings speak for themselves. Above all, Scribe showcases a reverence for style, the land, and things built over time with your hands. Pair all of this with a glass of Sylvaner or Skin Fermented Chardonnay and you’ve got yourself an afternoon. 

Here's a tip: The food and wine experience at the Hacienda is worth the price—allowing you the opportunity to taste food from the garden and local purveyors, all curated with the same style and panache that goes into the rest of their brand.

PANGLOSS

If you’re on the Sonoma Square and want to find the best environment to enjoy a glass of wine or a tasting, look no further than Pangloss. Named after the eternal optimist in Voltaire’s Candide, the tasting room is spacious and open with restored rock walls, a giant portrait of the author, and books and miscellany—all lending to its modern drawing room appeal. Admittedly, I go most often for the ambiance and energy (it’s often lively), but their food program is well done and there are a few standout wines that pair incredibly well with their thoughtfully curated space.

Here's a tip: If you don’t want the whole tasting you can enjoy a glass of wine or wine flight with food pairings in the lounge area. The bar—which surrounds a built-in olive tree—is for tastings only.
 

STARLING BAR

Wine’d out? It happens. Starling is sort of the cocktail bar in Sonoma. A dive-bar reinvented as a friendly local watering hole with excellent cocktails, fun atmosphere and neighborhood vibe, Starling is the place to get that cocktail you’ve been craving since your Xth glass of Pinot. Seasonal favorites include: the Watmaugh Margarita and Hibiscus Paloma. 

STILL THIRSTY? TRY:

Kivelstadt Cellars for great wines, a cool and laid back tasting room in Glen Ellen, really cool labels, and some of my favorite naming and wine descriptions in the business—be sure to read them!
Westwood for Pinot, Pinot, Pinot just off the square. 
BUMP for another tasting room experience just off the square that offers, wine, art, and a great vibe.
Auteur for the wines and great hospitality in a charming cottage just off the square 

*This blog was originally posted on meghanmarshking.com on August 26, 2017

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POSTSCRIPT: Wow, this got long. Volume 2 is inevitable, as are other locations by special request. I’ve done my best to capture the Sonoma that I adore, but please note there is certainly much left for me to explore.  Did I miss something you love? Let me know. I’d love to visit and write about it.

From the moment we first chatted with Laurence McKee, owner of Turning Point Spa, we were excited and expectant for the work we would do together. After the past 8 months of creating a fresh brand identity for her, transforming her website, designing custom collateral pieces such as business cards and brochures, and continuous collaboration on strategic marketing efforts like social media and SEO, Laurence has become such a valued friend and client of ours and we’re excited to share more about her and her awesome brand with you.

With over 35 years of experience as an esthetician and massage therapist, Laurence was professionally trained in Paris, France and San Francisco, California. Her professional journey with skincare began at the age of 17 with her family business, Institut de Beaute, an upscale spa in the center of Paris. Committed to treating the wellness of the whole body, Laurence is also trained in Ayurvedic treatments.

Rooted in this vast experience and a deep passion for skin care, Turning Point Spa is a unique French Skincare experience based in Marin County that calls people to care for and indulge in the health and beauty of their body, inside and out. Believing in the art of French luxury, the important ritual of self care, the beauty of all skin types, and the joy of slowing down.

Meghan had the opportunity recently to visit Laurence at her new space in Mill Valley, and it was an experience more unique than any spa visit she’s had before (and she’s had many!)

“Visiting Turning Point Spa was like a rebirth for my skin. Upon entering the space, Laurence greets you with her warm, French energy and a hot cup of herbal tea. We sat down to chat about my skin, and how it relates to my busy life and my needs for self-care and occasional restoration. Nothing felt rushed, or hurried. It seemed like we had the whole day together.

The treatment started with a skin analysis tool, which I had never had experienced before. The results gave me insights into my skin that I had never heard, and I learned that I’ve most likely been treating my skin wrong for many years. Laurence then treated me with the most relaxing and healing  lymphatic facial using natural oils from De La Terre and a facial gemstone tool, chosen especially for my skin. The amazonite was used to stimulate cell regeneration for skin that is stressed. After my facial, I was served tea using the same herbs that were used in facial and given some suggestions for caring for my skin over the course for the next few days, and beyond.

I learned more about skin in a few hours with Laurence than I had in many years of facials. I won’t miss the opportunity to continue to be treated by Laurence and her magical art of skincare.”

-Meghan

If you ever find yourself in the Bay area in need of a little self-care day, we can’t recommend Laurence and Turning Point Spa enough! It truly is a spa experience unlike any other. Book an appointment and tell her we sent you to receive 10% off your first visit!

If we have one small piece of formative advice for entrepreneurs and proprietors who are starting businesses and setting out to build memorable brands, it’s this: start with the story first. It sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly uncommon in our world.

It’s quite frequent that we work with founders who already have a brand identity, a website and perhaps even some brand collateral and they have been so busy creating these assets that they can’t articulate their own brand position or core values. Likewise, it’s not uncommon to work with someone who has exhausted all of their financial resources, creative energy and time on building the visual pieces of the brand and then realize, often too late in the game, that they now need this one essential piece of their story to bring it all together—the language of it all.

The language is often the last and final puzzle piece of an asset that you’ve been putting a lot of energy into. But here’s the thing: it needs to be the first. The story should inform the brand identity process. The copy should inform the structure and user experience of the website. Discover the story that you want to tell and then create the assets that will best serve that story. To do it backwards is like attempting to fertilize a seed that hasn’t even been planted yet.

Planting the Seed: Telling the Story

Since you asked nicely, we’re prepared to give you a little free advice to ensure you do it right. Before you set out to create a brand identity, push a website live, or even start advertising your services, you should intricately know and have easy access to the following storytelling pieces for your brand:

1. The Brand Boilerplate
   This is the heart of your story. Let’s say you meet someone (it’s a meet-cute) and have limited time to tell them who you are and what you do, but you don’t have a lot of time (but for purposes of creativity let’s pretend you’re somewhere cooler than an elevator, ok?). What do you say? And if a team member, colleague or partner were in the same situation, would they say the same thing? Beware of the old game of “telephone” and know that if the message isn’t clear at the top, or even in the middle, that the brand message will become less potent and less powerful over time the more it’s shared in a way that’s not cohesive.

2. Mission, Vision, Core Values
   You know the drill. Have fun with them, let them showcase your personality, make them really freaking aspirational. Don’t know where to start? Get help.

3. Brand Promise
   What will people come to truly rely on you for? It better be something and it better provide value.

4. Brand Position
   Who are you in relation to others in your market? What do you do that makes you unique? This is how you will be talked about in the “marketplace of needs” and it’s incredibly important to how you may decide to tell your story and make connections that matter with real humans who need you.

5. Tone and Voice
   It’s the way that you talk about yourself, the words you use to do it, the slang you use (or choose not to use). It’s your verbal personality and all great brands have one that’s indistinguishable from all the rest of the noise. If that’s not a reason to hire a copywriter, I don’t know what is.

6. Look and Feel
   It’s a vibe. Oftentimes, it’s a lifestyle. Talk about it, know it, live it. And most importantly: be so consistent about it that it feels redundant and unchanging at times. Repetition deepens impression. You want to impress the hell out of them.

There’s a lot more that a skilled copywriter or brand strategist can do for an emerging or repositioning brand, but this is an essential start. It’s almost passé at this point, but brand-building has become so intricately tied to storytelling that thinking about telling your story after you’ve already gotten started is to try and recreate something that’s already developed a storyline of its own—it’s just not one that you cultivated. Start at the beginning. Discover who you are, shape the narrative and then build the rest. And certainly, if the story is good, they will come.

If it’s not apparent, we’re pretty passionate about stories, the way that they are told, and how we connect to them. If you have any questions or think we can help, drop us a line!

As creatives, we spend a lot of time at the computer looking at screens and words and brand assets and social media accounts (more than we’d like to admit). We can work from anywhere and everywhere, so the ability to enliven an environment makes a huge difference in the vibe of any given workday. Enter music. As a self-proclaimed playlist fanatic long before this project, Meghan set out to create a playlist of fresh tunes every month of this year. This is how it turned out.

We hope that you jammed with us, that maybe you discovered something new and that the music left behind each month said something about who we were, what we were up to and what we felt. We’re all about creating things that aim to enliven, inspire and create movement. So here’s to all of the good jams in 2018 and many more in 2019.

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