If you’ve opened a bike shop or any business, chances are you’ve had to deal with the most important decision outside the business model. The logo.

Easy in theory, difficult in execution.

It goes without saying that in 2017 the words “Bike Shop” with a stock image bicycle centered underneath does not cut it.

Think of McDonald’s, Apple, and Coca-Cola.

These logos are engrained in people’s minds. They have transcended the business and hold a place in pop-culture. There is a reason for this.

Every word, angle, color, and shape can evoke an emotion. The key is turning those emotions into conversions.

5 Awesome Bike Shop Logo Tips

1. Color Choice

Humans have a natural reaction to colors, and these reactions play a big role in how businesses brand themselves.

For a bicycle shop, reds and oranges are associated with strength and endurance and have a very high level of readability. This color is ideal in an industry centered around physical activity.

On the other hand, yellow being an unstable color would not be ideal to promote safety. If in the restaurant business it is known that blue suppresses appetite so its use is few and far between.

More logo basics can be found here.

2. Simplicity is Key

The most timeless logos are the most simple.

This is an era of thousands of impressions. With the swipe of a finger, consumers are pulled in a million different directions, each begging for attention.

The simple truth is the busy logos get left in the dust at the expense of those that are user-friendly and easy to understand.

This tip is a by-product of the social media age. The most effective platforms strip it down giving you what you need before wandering to the latest viral cooking video.

3. Something You Can Build Upon

Logos build brands. This is where Nike excels.

The iconic swoosh is found on everything Nike produces and for good reason. This logo represents a standard of excellence and markets the products to every eye it strikes.

For a bike shop, this logo should be able to transition to shirts, stickers, helmets, water bottles, etc. Any way to make your customers brand ambassadors and create conversation.

Try your hand at making something iconic.

4. Synonymous With Your Service

A big mistake in logo design is creating something that doesn’t speak to the service provided.

If your bike shop repairs bikes and doesn’t sell them, think about including a wrench or toolbox. This aids the customer and leaves nothing up to the imagination.

Confusion will often lead to a lost opportunity.

This is also the best opportunity to highlight something that you offer and the competition doesn’t. Say your bike shop offers additional accessories and parts. Give that stock bicycle the works.

5. Tells Your Story

Ultimately, your logo is you. For entrepreneurs, taking that leap of faith to pursue a passion isn’t easy. Everyone’s story is unique.

Passion resonates. People respond to real, and you can deeply connect with people if your logo is indicative of your message.

Intertwining individuality breathes life into a logo, you’ve got 8 children, the rungs of the bike wheel can be their names. Not only is this logo unique, it’s also yours.

Take the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. The Steelers logo represents the three materials used to make steel, the lifeblood of that city. On the other hand, the Browns logo is simply a helmet.

Many times, the quality of a logo speaks directly to the quality of a business. Keep this and the above tips in mind, your bike shop will thank you.

Surfers come from all different walks of life and everyone finds their way to the ocean for different reasons. But there are a few unifying characteristics that connect surfers together.

The surf companies that have tapped into those unifying ideas with their surf shop logo and ad campaigns have made successful surf businesses.

If you run a surfing company then curating the right surf shop logo can make all the difference in your success.

Here are 5 beach brands that should inspire and inform your design choices.

The Critical Slide Society

This Australian surf company is relatively new but is taking the surfing scene by storm.

Critical Slide Society has dialed in on the sunbleached, relaxed, and carefree characteristics of surfers. They focus their style on muted colors that don’t flash or clash.

Their logo is a simple and clean black and white diamond shape that doesn’t include cheesy images or graphics.

Steer clear from silly graphics in your final surf shop logo.

Katin Surf Shop Logo

Katin is an old Califonia company that was started back in 1959. It all began with one pair of surf trunks that were made for a local surfer and the business soared from there.

Katin has evolved over the years and realized that California surfers have many interests. They love longboards, walking the boardwalks and hanging out on any beach. Their style is relaxed without being sloppy.

They also have a simple all black logo that just clearly states their name. Don’t over think it with too many colors or images. Simplicity and font are key.

TwoThirds

TwoThirds is a company based in Spain that combines their love for surfing with their love of the environment.

Their motto is “protect what you love” and they strive to make environmentally sustainable products for surfers who want to protect the ocean they love.

Their products are ultra laid back, like both the Spanish and the surfing culture.

The TwoThirds surf shop logo is all black with a simple and artistic incomplete circle design. This is an example of a successful logo that establishes a strong brand identity without being too obvious.

Insight

Insight is an older more classic surf company that has been influencing the look of youth surf culture for decades.

This Australian surf company makes youthful clothing that is designed to look even cooler after the wear and tear acquired by partying at the beach.

Their surf shop logo is an iconic black and white four-circle design that any surfer would recognize.

Saturdays

Saturdays is a totally original and unique surf company that makes clothing that can be worn in a bar, on a date, or at the beach. Their clothing has a distinctive city vibe that is unique from the mostly beachy and breezy surf culture.

Their logo shows their name “Saturdays New York City” in a minimalist white type.

It’s tempting to try and make a themed logo with waves or boards, but the most successful surf companies have kept things simple and clean. Whether you’re launching your company with a fresh logo or looking to relaunch a new logo, consider what is already working in the market.

If you want a successful surf company, pay attention to the trends and follow suit. The most successful surf companies these days are catering to the cool, calm and understated vibe of the surf community.

Start designing a logo online that will elevate your surf shop to the next level of success.

Your brand’s logo makes an important statement. Ultimately, it’s your business’s entire mission statement summed up.

It needs to be clean, concise, and show what you’re all about in a second or two. While this sounds simple in practice, it’s far easier said than done.

There’s a ton of work that goes into creating the perfect logo! Especially since you’re already competing for eyes on a nearly minute-by-minute basis.

The golfing industry is no different. Featuring your golf logos can be a great and easy way to get noticed. All you have to do is create a message worth wearing or showing off.

Here are some ways you can cleverly incorporate a message into your golf logos.

How to Incorporate a Message Into Golf Logos

1. The Right Message For the Right Product

The first step in creating a logo that resonates with your audience is to evaluate your business.

What type(s) of product do you sell? What types of people generally use these products?

These are two of the biggest questions you’ll need to ask before coming up with logo placement.

Sometimes, simpler is better. For instance, many golfers associate Tiger Woods with the Nike logo because of his hats and polos.

Obviously, the product you’re trying to sell will play a part in how your logo takes shape.

If you run a golf betting tips website, for instance, you can incorporate a dollar sign into the ‘s’ of the word ‘tips’. Combined with some green font, this makes the consumer think about money.

2. You Don’t Need to Reinvent the Wheel, But You do Need To Reinvent Your Brand

Remember, simplicity is often better. A lot of the more popular logos these days make use of a minimalist style.

In fact, generally speaking, it isn’t necessarily the logo that does the talking. Instead, many companies opt to feature small, subliminal logos or signs within white space.

Or sometimes you can use composite images to create an awe-inspiring effect. Take the Spartan Golf Clubs logo, for instance. At first glance, it’s simply a golfer swinging a golf club with what seems to be a power bar next to him.

But upon closer inspection, note that the power bar, golfer, club, and whitespace create an effect of a Spartan warrior’s helmet.

The best golf logos are ones that are creative enough to warrant a second glance.

3. Incorporate Golf Equipment Into Your Logo

Here’s a fun way you can get a message into your golf logos: feature some golf equipment.

For instance, if your logo contains the letter ‘t’ you could draw the logo to feature a golf tee.

Or if you’re a business that manufactures golf balls, you can use a golf ball as the ‘o’ within your logo.

By using golfing equipment within your logo, you’re letting your audience know what it is you sell. In essence, you’re doing the legwork for them. They won’t need to guess or Google, as your logo does all the talking.

Better Logos for a Better Business

Sometimes it can be difficult coming up with the perfect logo. If you could use some help, or just want to take a swing at creating a logo yourself, be sure to check out our tools.

Your business deserves to be seen by the world, so get creative and have some fun in the process!