We’re back from a whirlwind tour of parts of China, and when you’re halfway around the world and can’t read the language, design helps, a lot!
A little jetlagged, but we’re leaning into H2 with smiles, air filters on high (‘Oh Canada’) and briefly looking back on Q2 as a way to inform what’s ahead.
Kick back and enjoy a quick tour of some Chinese grocery stores, revel in a wedding, ooh & ahh a brand launch, applaud some line extensions, be shocked by a HUGE award & maybe find some inspiration.
Happy, safe travels wherever your adventures take you.💖
Watching Flowers on a Running Horse
GROCERY STORE AUDITS IN CHINA
That’s a Chinese phrase poetically describing a rushed tour: Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin & Shanghai in 10 days was kinda that. We were awed by an ancient culture wrapped in modernity. Forbidden City & the ubiquity of mobile apps. High-speed trains & terra cotta warriors. Terraced rice paddies & ultra-modern skyscrapers across from The Bund. There’s a wonderful juxtaposition to China & we loved it. Walking grocery stores… there’s so much we had to make a blog post.
Better Together
KRISSY & KATE’S WEDDING
We’re proud to announce that our Seedhouse family has expanded: Krissy & Kate got married! Know what happens when you bring two amazing things together? You get something even more spectacular! It was a weekend full of family, friends, hilarity and the most beautiful, thoughtful wedding vows we’ve EVER heard! Congrats, best wishes & many blessings to K&K for a life full of love & laughter. (Signage by Ash & Laurea).
Joy on a Mission
BUTTER + SUGAR | BRAND STRATEGY, IDENTITY, PACKAGE DESIGN, EXHIBIT BOOTH, BRAND MATERIALS & LAUNCH @ IDDBA
Meet one of the best gluten-free cookies ever! We’re not kidding. Try one. You’ll reach for another! This is a familiar brand story built out of necessity, tested at farmer’s markets, expanded online, further tested in stores & now expanding to Bakery departments in grocery stores everywhere! We were lucky to work with the stellar husband-wife founders and help re-imagine what success looks like. Butter + Sugar officially launched at the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association Show in Orlando!
A Tsunami of Fruits & Veggies
SWITCHBACK FOODS | LINE EXTENSION, LIMITED TIME OFFERS, PORTFOLIO EXPANSION
Good news for people who want to eat healthier but aren’t interested in joining a wellness cult. Switchback added Dragon Smile and Island Wave to the lineup—two fruit-forward blends loaded with real ingredients and none of the weird stuff. They’re convenient, nutrient-dense, and taste like something an actual human would choose to eat. Imagine that, and go get some!
The Bullpen Got Stronger
BIG LEAGUE CHEW | LINE EXTENSION, LIMITED TIME OFFERS, PORTFOLIO EXPANSION
Big League Chew is on a roll, and on-track to sell it’s billionth pack of gum! (Standing ovation!) Pucker up to Fruit Punch and Sour Cherry which made their debut at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo in Las Vegas. These newbies shred – find ‘em at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Walgreen’s, Amazon and hundreds of retailers in between.
Mulligans for Old Tires
PRISM WORLDWIDE | COURSEGRIP ADS, SELL SHEETS, TRADE MATERIALS
The best industrial innovations aren’t always the most glamorous. And sometimes they’re hiding in plain sight. CourseGrip transforms discarded tires into durable anti-slip mats used everywhere from golf courses to manufacturing facilities and commercial properties. We helped develop a campaign for the brand, proving that sustainability, practical problem-solving and cost savings can post a nice victory!
Critical Smash; Story Time
KRISSY VANDERWARKER (IS BA): DIVERSITY IN CANNES FILM SHOWCASE AWARDS
Our very own resident super storyteller wins a prestigious award in Cannes for Best Web Series, which she directed! 🤩 (Insert prolonged, standing ovation). They also took home Best Original Score and Best Editing. We’re beaming with pride over here. (Her work shines across all of our engagements as she leads a lot of the strategic effort here at Seedhouse). We’re lucky to have her, to work alongside her, and may her smarts & talent continue to rub off on us all!
Table Stakes
SEEDHOUSE | FIRST ROUND (PRESENTATIONS)
Most people only see the final logo, package, or brand system. The interesting stuff happens much earlier. This spring, the Seedhouse team attended First Round by Under Consideration, a one-day showcase where some of the industry’s best designers pull back the curtain on how great ideas are presented, challenged, and sold. It helps keep the stick sharp because even the strongest ideas are worthless if they can’t survive the conference table.
“We could go to market with any of these designs and do great.”
MARTY PHIPPS, CEO OF DOMINION HEMP
“The feedback we got on our branding and packaging at the IDDBA show completely aligned with what we wanted to communicate.”
ADAM NOREN, Co-FOUNDER of BUTTER + SUGAR
“A smile is the best remedy.”
CHINESE PROVERB
P.S.
“I like it when a flower or a little tuft of grass grows through a crack in the concrete. It’s so f*ckin’ heroic.”
– George Carlin
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