Color Impacts Purchasing

Color has as much of an impact on our purchasing power as almost anything else. But where does color psychology come into play when brands go against the grain?

For example, green packaging is for cheese and onion crisps (or chips for our American cousins). Simple, right? Not so fast. Walkers, the UK’s leading crisp manufacturer, uses blue for its cheese & onion, but did it do Walkers any harm? Far from causing confusion, the difference in colour has seen Walkers chart an inexorable march to the top of the UK crisp market.”

Burger King, McDonald’s and KFC all prominently feature red on their signs. Red has been shown to stimulate the appetite, so it should give them a competitive edge over those food outlets that don’t adopt the colour in their branding. And, indeed, the majority of fast-food restaurants feature red prominently in their colour schemes. What do we expect the primary colours of the number one fast food chain in the U.S. to be? Certainly not pink and purple as is the case for Taco Bell.

So, is it better to stand out from the crowd or go with similar branding so that it leads to a universal standard? Perhaps turning left when all others turn right is the way to go. When Apple launched its iMac G3, instead of using beige or grey as was de rigueur for its contemporaries, Apple decided to offer a variety of bright colours. From that moment, Apple began the rise from also-ran to market leader.

Our brains register colour, shape and then text when it comes to a seeing a brand. And of course brands (at least the big ones) conduct extensive research when it comes to choosing colours for their products, depending on the target audience. Want to make something exclusive? Black is likely to be the predominant colour (think American Express’s most exclusive card).

While colour is far from the primary reason why any of these brands has reached the top, it is an example of the kind of mould-breaking thinking that takes them there. In the end, the true color of success can very well be a mark of familiarity or individuality.

Richard Musgrave is a financial assistant at gyro London.

Feng Shui Color Recommendations

Earth colors, from pale yellow all the way to ochre, help ground and anchor us, according to feng shui.(Fotolia.com / May 14, 2013)

By Kathryn Weber, Tribune Media ServicesLiving Space

May 14, 2013

Color plays a pivotal role in feng shui, sometimes called the Chinese art of placement. A key concept in feng shui is that each hue has an influence over aspects of our lives, ranging from our health and wealth to our success and ability to find business opportunities. In fact, all feng shui is related to wealth -- the "wealth" of good health, the "wealth" of opportunity, the "wealth" of love and happy relationships.

You can use these guidelines when doing something as simple as selecting a comforter color so it has exactly the kind of feng shui "wealth" you seek.

When it comes to key influences in our lives, few are important as the bedroom in feng shui, and in particular, sleep. The time we spend sleeping is so central and important to our lives that the colors we surround ourselves with have a profound influence over us. By selecting a comforter color based on its specific inspiration, we'll have more impact on this particular area of our lives.

THE COLOR OF MONEY

In feng shui, the color green is related to business opportunity and earned income. Often green is preferred over the second income color of blue, but these two shades represent different aspects of wealth: generating and accumulated money. Starting with pale blue and ranging all the way to black, these colors represent generating income and business opportunities. If this is what you'd like more of in your life, blues or black comforter colors are the best for your bedroom.

When your finances are on the slim side, colors that represent accumulated wealth are what you want. Those hues range from mint to deep forest green, with a medium green shade as the prime color of amassed money. Target's Room Essentials green Tulip comforter set is a great example of the type of a green comforter that represents accumulated wealth.

MAKING A NAME

There's another indirect route to wealth through your social status, family name, or high profile. In feng shui, this is represented by the color red. Shades can run the range from shell pink to deep orchid. Still another way to success is through networking connections, travel and international contacts. In feng shui, these areas are represented by metallic shades, such as white, gold, gray and silver. Bed, Bath and Beyond's Camille and J. Queen Contessa comforter sets feature the satiny silver and luminous gold shades associated with world travel and networking prowess (bedbathandbeyond.com).

THE WEALTH OF LOVE AND HEALTH

Even those who seem to have it all might be missing some of the most fulfilling aspects of life: love and happiness. When relationships are difficult and love is absent, the element of earth helps to ground and anchor us, according to feng shui. Shades of yellow, from buttercup to ochre, are the shades to choose. A stylish choice is the Trina Turk Ikat comforter set (Macys.com). These shades also represent spirituality, education and making good decisions. For happy family relationships and good health, rich brown and cocoas create growth and harmony.

Why Red and White for Mothers' Day?

Mother's Day is typically celebrated on the second Sunday of May in most countries. It is a time to publicly acknowledge the role of mothers and to honor their contributions. While Mother's Day flowers have become a commercial tradition, the origins of the holiday began with the use of red and white carnations to show respect.

American Tradition

Julia Ward Howe first introduced the idea of setting aside one day a year to honor mothers in the hope that the tribute might extend a mood of peace to the country. In 1870, distraught by the loss of lives in the Civil War, Howe called on the country's leaders to confirm an official Mother's Day proclamation. Many local municipalities embraced her ideas, though the United States government didn't officially mark the day for mothers until 1908.

Carnations

Anna Jarvis took up the cause after Howe's death. Following her passing, Jarvis' daughter Anna continued the battle and handed out carnations to mothers at church services throughout her campaign. Jarvis became indignant when retailers jumped on her carnation giveaways and began selling white carnations to consumers as the official Mother's Day flower. She protested the florist industry to try to get them to stop taking advantage of the occasion -- to no avail.

Taking Off

The tradition of giving flowers on Mother's Day took off and continues well into the 21st century. The National Retail Federation predicts that about $1.9 billion will be spent on Mother's Day flowers in 2011. While carnations are not the only flowers that are used to celebrate moms, many organizations, particularly religious groups, continue with the tradition. The tradition blossomed to include mothers who passed away. A red carnation today signifies respect of a living mother, while a white carnation is worn or given in honor of a mother who has died.

Choices

Mothers today receive a wide range of flowers in varying colors. Mothers also have come to expect meals, jewelry and homemade gifts from their children on their special day. Whether commercialized or straight from the heart, the early efforts of the women who fought for national recognition of a day to honor mothers, single carnation in hand, have spawned generations of men and women who take at least one day a year to show mom that she is appreciated.

Happy Mothers' Day to you, Mothers worldwide. My own

 dear mother is going to be 96 next month! BBL

Using the Color of the Year

Laura Boulton

 Blue Wave. Blue Bloods. However, there’s a new color is in town. Every year I anxiously await the announcement of Pantone’s Color of the Year, and in January, this announcement was released.
Move over blue (actually, the 2012 color of the year was tangerine Tango) emerald 17-5641 has taken the stage. The color is showing up everywhere, from the runway to beauty products, bridal collections to home decor and of course, jewelry.
Perhaps it is the crisp, cold air and longer days leading up to the promise of spring. My thoughts are turning to nature and renewal. In selecting emerald, I think Pantone nailed it. “Green is the most abundant hue in nature — the human eye sees more green that any other color in the spectrum,” said Leatrice Eisman, executive color of the Pantone Color Institute. “As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to bring a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful and universally appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors.”
Emerald is a statement color. I love this rich, jewel tone and its ability to work in a variety of styles. It can also pair with lots of other colors. Don’t be limited to the ordinary when picking your color scheme, whether for a wedding or a dinner party.
Think out of the box with your pairings. As we move into spring, what about emerald and blush pink? While it looks great on its own, this color is also fabulous when complemented by other shades of green like mint. Feel free to mix lighter and darker hues for a woodsy feel. I love the color orange, and for a summer soiree my thoughts move toward a vibrant, bold look of emerald with orange accents.
Classic pairings are emerald and white with hints of black, which makes a refined and elegant statement. For winter, white, gold, and emerald create a luxurious combination. It just exudes glamour.
So how do you incorporate emerald into your home entertaining plans? When it comes to your table, instead of using flowers turn to mosses, ferns and succulents of various sizes and shapes to bring in emerald’s vibrancy.
You can use a mix of lush fabrics like velvet and satin for an elegant feel. Your table setting can also be infused with pops of the color like emerald stemware on a striking, black and white stripe linen, gold menu cards set upon crisp white napkins with an underlying emerald satin ribbon to set it off. Don’t forget to bring emerald into your wardrobe with accessories when selecting your party attire. Wear accents of the color in your jewelry, be it real or faux! Go dramatic using the new beauty offerings like Sephora’s green eye make-up. Or, incorporate the color subtley by painting your nails a laquered, Jets green!
When planning your menu there are many ways to insert the vibrant color in your food. Go natural and green by using fresh herbs for garnish on passing trays, or as an accent with hors d’oeuvres like cones of pommes frites with sprigs of rosemary.
You can also include fresh herbs in cocktails like this gorgeous green creation from the brand ambassador at RIPE craft bar juice.
Serving a signature drink will make a wonderful first impression when guests arrive and get everyone in the party spirit.

Laura Boulton has lived in Darien for 19 years. Before starting her event planning business in 2010, Boulton was in the catering business for 5 years. For more information, visit her website at lauraboultonevents.com or follow her on twitter @LBoultonevents

Laura suggests neat ways to use the new green in food and decor. Green is one of my favorite colors, from tints to shades. Spring is beginning to green up already, so go green!

Color App

If you like apps, the following info could help you add a way to create your own color files.

Need Some Color Guidance? Amy Wax Has An App For That

BY Dana Hawkins-Simons  |  TUESDAY, APR 30, 2013 4:50PM  |  COMMENTS (3)

Have you ever fallen in love with a color? I have—the cool turquoise of the dishes my grandmother used when I was a child.

Color guru Amy Wax of Montclair has just released an app, Color 911, that lets you re-create your favorite colors, select colors from existing palettes, and edit your colors to adjust the hue, saturation, or brightness. You can also organize your personal color palettes into folders with notes, and share with friends, family, decorators, and clients via email, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Grandma Hawkins’ dishes.

The award-winning color consultant told me I could use a photograph of my grandmother’s dishes (which I fortunately inherited) with her app to shop for napkins or wall paint in the same shade, or in coordinating colors. “When it comes to choosing colors, what people really long for is direction,” says Wax. “This app provides that for however you use color in your life.”

Amy Wax, color guru.
Photo by Dan Epstein

One of the app’s most interesting features is the ability to choose from 60 color themes, each of which contains 42 coordinating colors. So, for example, the “retro” palette showcases vintage olives, teals, and corals, the “razzle dazzle” theme is comprised of hot pinks, oranges, and purples, and the “beach house” palette contains soft blues, browns, and pinks.

Wax says one woman told her she’s using the app to choose which flowers to plant in her garden, while another is employing it to help coordinate her spring wardrobe. And Wax says her neighbor’s artsy 11-year-old daughter has fun simply playing with the app.

“It’s an inspiring tool,” says Wax, “and a real game changer for anyone who’s creative.”

Color 911 was built for the iPad with Retina display, and is available on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and iPad Mini. For more information, email Wax at amy@color911.com

Related Posts:

• Color Her Tickled Pink: Amy Wax Wins Benjamin Moore HUE Award

Yellow

Yellow color wakes up any room like the rising sun. The cheerful and uplifting yellow vibes always lighten and brighten any home or office, as well as create a cozy, welcoming feeling. 

From hot sunflower yellow to pale buttery yellow tones - there are many  options to choose from when you are decorating your office or your home.

Yellow color is an excellent  choice for:

• your children's rooms
• kitchen
• living room
• studio or home office

In many ways, the use of yellow color is identical to the use of orange as both are gentler expressions of warmth than red. 

Any dull, dark room with little sunlight will greatly benefit from a yellow based color scheme to compensate for the lack of light and bring the gentle, cheerful warmth of the sun.
Yellow color carries the energy in a gentler way than red and purple; it is the most enchanting of all colors, as well as easy to "live with" in bigger/larger quantities. 

Color researchers believe yellow increases self-esteem and strengthens the overall levels of well being and health.

Wardrobe Color Mixes

Some suggestions for mixing colors to enliven your wardrobe. These would also be good mixes for decor/paintings which I have borrowed from Missus Smarty Pants' website.

·    Soft pink: browns, tan, mint green, olive green, gray, turquoise

·    Fuchsia: gray, tan, yellows, lime green, mint green, browns

·    Tomato red: baby blue, mint green, winter white, gray

·    Cherry red: blues, gray, pale orange, pale yellow

·    Light brown: pale yellow, creamy white, blues, greens, purples, reds

·    Dark brown: lemon yellow, robin’s egg blue, mint, soft purple, lime green

·    Tan: soft pink, dark brown, blues, greens, purples

·    Pale orange: gray, browns, forest green

·    Dark orange: pale yellow, forest green, browns, cherry red

·    Lemon yellow: cherry red, browns, blues, gray

·    Pale yellow: fuchsia, gray, browns, tan, reds, blues, purples

·    Golden/mustard yellow: gray, browns, blues, reds, black

·    Lime green: tan, browns, pinks, dark orange, navy blue, gray

·    Forrest green: oranges, light brown, tan

·    Olive green: tan, browns, grays, creamy white, black

·    Mint green: brown, gray, navy blue, reds, gray, tan

·    Turquoise: fuchsia, cherry red, tan, browns, creamy white, dark purple

·    Electric blue: golden yellow, tan, light brown, gray or silver

·    Baby blue: reds, gray, browns, dark orange

·    Navy blue: soft purple, tan, brown, gray, yellows, oranges, greens, reds,pale colors

·    Purple: dark orange, dark purple, olive green

·    Dark purple: tan, pale yellow, gray, turquoise, mint green, pale orange

This little saying will help you remember what colors go together to create a pleasing look!

And, if you don't already have a color wheel, perhaps it would be a valuable tool to help you choose outfits and furnishings.