"Integrated branding agency Blue Marlin is delighted to announce that it has won a bronze award for its brand identity work for jewellery and homewares retailer Hiho at the Design Business Association Design Effectiveness Awards, held on 22 October 2009.
Blue Marlin picked up the
prestigious award because its work for Hiho resulted in demonstrable
bottom line success within a very short space of time. The design investment
paid for itself in just five months. While the rest of the retail sector
struggled with some of the worst trading conditions seen for a generation
and jewellery retailers in particular suffered spiralling declines,
Hiho chalked up its best ever sales at shows and events with a 31 per
cent like-for-like sales increase. Like-for-like sales at the first
refitted shop in the chain rose by 21.4 per cent.
Blue Marlin global creative director Martin Grimer comments: “Great design is effective design. Hiho was a lovely project that our team in Bath conceived and executed brilliantly. The identity and the retail look and feel were both highly creative and highly cost effective.”
Hiho managing director Andrew Ransford says: “I have no doubt whatsoever that our new identity is the single largest contributing factor to the remarkable success of our business overall. Our design investment will have paid for itself more ten times over by the end of the year.”
Blue Marlin’s work included the changing the brands name from Hi Ho Silver to Hiho to reflect the broadening of its product offer, a new identity and brand look and feel, which encompassed shop interiors and show stands."
