Brand development that increases sales velocity, guaranteed.

CPG brand development that wins in retail.

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$350M
In Annual Sales

Strategic branding and positioning transformed G Fuel from a niche sports supplement to the premier energy drink for gamers, driving brand growth to $350 million in sales and establishing market leadership in the competitive gaming beverage category.

Process.
  • Position: Fortune 500 strategies combined with a proprietary methodology to create unique brand positioning that realizes full market potential.
  • Design: Rooted in a deep understanding of high-value consumer segments, resulting in brand development that drives product trial and fosters repeat purchases.
  • Test: Utilize data-driven insights and consumer feedback to refine and validate at each phase of brand development, iterating for maximum shelf impact and purchase intent.
Innovation.

Our Innovation Capabilities.

Innovation Platform

Define and refine incremental areas of opportunity for your brand to inform your pipeline and focus your resources.

Competitive Product Audits

Better understand your competitors’ positioning, messaging, product formulations and consumer reviews.

New Product Ideation

Generate fresh, innovative product ideas that resonate with your target audience.

Product Idea Screener

Quickly assess the potential of new product ideas to ensure only the best move forward.

Product Naming

Creative naming to convey a benefit, catch attention and drive distinction.

New Product Concepts

Develop breakthrough product ideas that drive incremental brand growth.

Packcept Diagnostic Test

Understand if a new product idea resonates and how to maximize consumer appeal quickly.

Brand Stretch

Evaluate how far your brand can stretch into new categories or segments.

Price Optimizer Test

Determine the best price point for your product to maximize revenue and profit.

Assortment Planning

Defining product range, flavor and variant for maximum consumer reach and frequency.

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Positioning.

Our Positioning Capabilities.

Consumer Segmentation

Identify and group your category's consumers based on purchase behaviors and needs to reveal which segments offer the highest ROI for growth potential.

Usage & Attitudes Studies

Map consumer attitudes, behaviors, and unmet needs within your category to identify the most compelling "jobs to be done" for your target consumers.

Growth Consumer Targeting

Define your brand’s marketing focus across core and adjacent groups and how your message may need to shift per target.

Retail Audits

“Boots on the ground” analysis of retail stores to bring the reality of the shopping environment into your project.

Competitive Product Audits

Review a deep analysis of competing brands’ positioning, messaging, design and product offerings to inform strategy.

Market Mapping

Research, data and perception-based mapping of the competitive brands within your “job to be done” for the consumer.

Brand Personality

Actionable guidelines on how your brand shows up to the consumer.

Value Proposition

Understand why your brand is “worth it” vs. competitive options.

Positioning Test

Don’t guess - know which “way in” works best to promote the value and uniqueness of your product to your target consumer.

Brand Foundations

Tie data, insights and learnings together to express your brand proposition simply in a easy to understand framework.

Design.

Our Design Capabilities.

Brand Architecture

Strategically organized product portfolios to maximize brand equity and simplify consumer decision-making.

Brand Identity

Distinctive visual and verbal identities that resonates with your target audience and sets you apart from competitors.

Copywriting Services

Persuasive, benefit-driven messaging that connects with consumers and reinforces your brand's unique positioning.

Packaging Design

Compelling packaging that captures attention, communicates key benefits, and drives purchase decisions at shelf.

Structural Packaging Design

Develop distinctive packaging structures that enhance product functionality while creating competitive advantage through shelf differentiation.

Pre-Production

Flawless execution from concept to final product with expert pre-press and production guidance.

In-Store Marketing

Create impactful point-of-sale materials that extend your brand story and drive purchase behavior in the retail environment.

Website Design

User-friendly, brand-aligned digital presence that effectively showcases your products and engages consumers.

Ecommerce Assets

Optimized digital assets that help your brand stand out online, increasing engagement and driving sales.

Brand Style Guides

Comprehensive guidelines to maintain brand consistency across all touchpoints and communications.

Brand Activation Toolkits

Essential assets and strategies for successful brand launches and ongoing promotions for in-house and external agency partners.

DTC Design

Develop cohesive direct-to-consumer packaging and unboxing experiences that build brand loyalty and encourage repeat purchase.

Merchandising Strategy

Effective in-store tactics to maximize visibility and drive purchase at the point of sale.

Testing.

Our Testing Capabilities.

Product Idea Screen
Brand Stretch
Product Positioning
Usage & Attitudes
Integration.

Integrated stage-gate brand development with a performance guarantee.

Frequently, brands are developed based on personal preferences or conventional strategies without taking into account the unique aspects of the business or the desires of the target audience. Our process delves into your brand’s values, voice, and objectives and combines them with consumer insights and testing to create a distinctive, performance-ready finished product.

1
Brand Strategy

Crafting a brand strategy with distinct positioning, stand-out messaging, and visuals that attract consumers. Our strategy formulation considers the current identity, recall, and equity to retain loyalty. We then tailor the brand’s voice, messaging, and design for optimal purchase intent.

2
Brand Creative

Data-driven design process exploring various messaging approaches to create the optimal claims hierarchy. With the most impactful words in place, we design multiple concepts for your brand, including logo, color scheme, and typography.

3
Brand Validation

Refining design concepts to final candidates, your product undergoes rigorous consumer testing to validate all elements. Our stage-gate process ensures a successful rebrand by validating at each critical step in the brand development process.

Whistle Pig Logo

I’ve worked with SmashBrand on several projects and they always drive big results.

Todd Bellucci CMO, Whistle Pig
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Frequently Asked Question

Can you provide case studies or testimonials demonstrating the results you have achieved for your clients regarding increased market share or sales growth?

Through our data-driven brand development process, we have helped numerous clients achieve remarkable outcomes. Visit our work page for case studies across many CPG categories.

How long does the brand development process usually take from product ideation to production ready, and what factors can influence the timeline?

Our PathToPerformance™ brand development process, from product ideation to production readiness, typically takes 4-6 months. This timeframe encompasses strategy formulation, design iterations, and testing stages. During the strategy phase, we work closely with our clients to define their brand and establish distinct positioning with their target audience. Once the brand strategy is in place, we move on to the design phase, translating strategic insights into visually compelling concepts. W then conduct comprehensive brand testing to validate decisions and gather feedback from the target audience. Factors that can influence the timeline include: Project complexity. Responsiveness of client communication between our team and the client The number of decision-makers involved. The extent of market research required. Any unforeseen challenges or revisions. However, our experienced team and efficient project management practices ensure we deliver high-quality results within the estimated timeframe.

In addition to brand development services, do you offer marketing or brand activation?

While we specialize in brand development services, including research, design, and testing of messaging and visuals, apart from our brand activation toolkits, we do not provide comprehensive marketing strategy or brand activation services. Our primary focus is crafting a strong brand foundation and positioning that effectively communicates your brand’s values and resonates with your target audience. However, we understand the importance of integrating brand development with marketing efforts to achieve cohesive and impactful results. We can collaborate with your marketing team or recommend external marketing partners specializing in brand activation and strategy. By working with marketing professionals, we ensure that your brand development efforts align with your overall marketing objectives and maximize your brand’s potential in the marketplace.

How much do you charge for your brand development services?

The cost of our brand development services varies depending on the scope and complexity of each project. Our pricing typically ranges between $25,000 to $500,000 and beyond. However, we understand that every client and project is unique, and we are open to discussing unconventional opportunities for promising partnerships. Our pricing reflects the extensive research, strategic planning, creative design, and consumer testing involved in the brand development process. It covers the expertise and dedication of our experienced team, who work tirelessly to craft a compelling brand identity and positioning that drives tangible results for your business. As we discuss your project, we will gain a thorough understanding of your project requirements and objectives. This enables us to provide you with a detailed proposal and a transparent cost estimate tailored to your needs. We are committed to maintaining open communication throughout the process, ensuring you know the costs and value you will receive.

What visual assets do you create as a part of your brand development services?

As part of our full-scope brand development services, we create various visual assets tailored to meet each client’s unique needs. While our agency is predominantly sought after for retail packaging design services, we also offer expertise in various other visual elements contributing to a cohesive brand identity. Some of the visual assets we create include: Packaging designs Logo designs Website designs Trade show booth designs Brand collateral materials Brand style guides We can work each of your requests into the initial proposal or provide these services later.

How do your brand development services differ from strategy or branding?

Our brand development service distinguishes itself from typical strategy or branding offerings by delivering an integrated and iterative approach to brand creation and evolution. While we aim for clients to understand us as the best branding agency, our Path To Performance™ process goes well beyond the look. Here’s a high-level look at how our brand development services differ from those focusing solely on brand design.

Comprehensive Approach: Unlike traditional branding services that may focus solely on brand design or superficial elements, our service encompasses the entire spectrum of brand development. This includes deep market analysis, brand strategy formulation, and the tactical execution of brand elements.

Data-Driven Strategy: Brand management for fortune-100 CPGs understands the need for development grounded in data and research. We go beyond conventional strategy methods by incorporating a rigorous analysis of market trends, consumer behaviors, and competitive landscapes, ensuring that your brand strategy is creative and informed by solid insights.

Customized Brand Design: While general branding might provide a one-size-fits-all solution, we tailor our brand design process to align with your unique business goals and market positioning. Our designs are aesthetically pleasing and crafted to resonate with your target audience and stand out in the competitive market.

End-to-End Solutions: Our services extend beyond the initial strategy and design phases. We offer ongoing optimization for line extensions, rebranding, and future product concepts, ensuring your brand remains relevant and robust in an evolving marketplace. This includes continuous monitoring, adaptation, and enhancement of your brand’s presence and performance.

Performance Measurement: We employ specialized tools like our PREformance™ tests to measure the effectiveness of our branding strategies and designs. This allows us to make data-backed decisions and adjustments, ensuring we optimize every aspect of your brand for success.

In summary, our brand development service is distinct in its comprehensive, data-driven, and customized approach, making us the best branding and design agency for businesses seeking branding services and a complete, strategic, and dynamic solution for long-term brand success and management.

How does your agency approach brand development through packaging?

Our agency’s approach to brand development through packaging is a multi-faceted process that combines creativity with strategic insight to ensure that your product stands out on the shelf and resonates deeply with your target audience. Here’s how we approach packaging as a critical aspect of brand development:

Initial Assessment and Diagnosis: We start by assessing your current packaging design and its performance in the market. This includes understanding your brand’s position, analyzing consumer preferences, and evaluating the competitive landscape. Our diagnosis phase ensures we have a solid foundation of understanding before we begin the design process.

Consumer and Market Insights: We gather insights about consumer trends and preferences by utilizing a blend of primary and secondary research, including data from sources such as IRI. This helps us tailor the packaging to appeal to your target market effectively.

PREformance™ Packaging Baseline Test: We benchmark your current packaging against shelf competitors to evaluate consumer perceptions across various category attributes. This testing phase helps us identify your current packaging design’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Strategic Packaging Design Concepts: We create various packaging design concepts based on our research and insights. These concepts are visually appealing and strategically aligned with your brand’s positioning and the identified consumer preferences.

Consumer Testing and Optimization: We employ our PREformance™ Gut Check Test and Diagnostic Concept Test to assess consumer reactions to the packaging designs. This phase allows us to refine the designs based on consumer feedback, ensuring that the final packaging will have maximum shelf impact and consumer appeal.

Execution and Launch: Once the optimal packaging design is finalized, we guide you through the execution process, ensuring the design is translated into physical packaging. We also assist in the launch strategy to maximize the impact of your new packaging in the market.

Our approach to brand development through packaging is a comprehensive process integrating market research, consumer insights, creative design, and rigorous testing. This ensures that your packaging captures attention and effectively communicates your brand’s unique value proposition, driving brand recognition and customer loyalty.

Our product is still in its early conceptualization phase, so we don't need a package design yet. However, we would like to assess its market viability to present to potential investors. How can Smashbrand help?

At Smashbrand, we understand the importance of assessing product market viability in the early conceptualization phase. To assist you in this crucial stage, we can provide a comprehensive brand positioning strategy tailored to your product’s unique value proposition and target market. Our PREformance™ Positioning Test offers invaluable insights into how potential consumers may perceive your product, giving you a clear understanding of its market potential. Furthermore, we can compile these insights and data into a compelling Buyer’s Deck. This deck is designed to effectively communicate the product’s market viability and potential to investors, helping you secure the necessary support to bring your concept to fruition. Our brand positioning and market analysis expertise make us the ideal partner to help you navigate this early yet pivotal stage of your product’s development.

Talk to us

Contact us to discuss how we can help you experience the full possibility of your brand.

What happens next?
  1. One of our experts will look over your details and contact you.
  2. If needed, we’ll sign an NDA to keep the highest level of privacy.
  3. We'll schedule a discovery call to discuss your specific job to be done and how we can help drive your brand's growth.