Here it is! - NEW CL sign - Look carefully...

BirchHillFarmCL
BirchHillFarmCL Forum Participant Posts: 187
Photogenic
edited March 2017 in Certificated Locations #1

Our new CL Sign arrived today.
It is better than I expected (not a plain white backing as the original email appeared to show), but the lettering is still too small to be read by a passing motorist.

Please look carefully and please tell your friends what to look for, otherwise CLs might miss-out on passing trade.

Ian Kelly
01691 622951
Holiday@BirchHill.co.uk
www.BirchHill.co.uk


Birch Hill Farm – a multi-award winning hideaway in the beautiful lake-lands of Shropshire - exclusively for members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club

Read the reviews - look at the photos.

Number 1321 in the 2017/18 Sites Directory
Number 1398 in the 2015/16 Sites Directory

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Comments

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited March 2017 #2

    That new generic sign is not fit for purpose. Not surprised you are keeping the old one.

    I call it blooming dangerous trying to spot such a non descript sign. Clearly the designers do not have any experience of trying to find a CL on a dark and wet night.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #3

    I was driving around rural back roads in Perthshire earlier this week on non-caravan related business and easily spotted the old style CL signs even though I did not know there was a CL in the area. I did not see any of the new ones - but would I even if they had been there? I did see a number of old feed sacks caught on fences though.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #4

    It's too small and too obscure. A handwritten scribble on an old box would be more noticeable. frown

  • metz
    metz Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited March 2017 #5

    Whichever agency came up with that design clearly doesn't understand signage, the design may be fine for letterheads and magazine advertising not good for roadside signs, many years ago when i was an apprentice sign-writer it was hammered into us about readability from a moving vehicle, designers need to aware of this when designing a corporate image.   

     

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited March 2017 #7

    Looks around the same size as the old one to me, its just that the old one in this instance is mounted on a larger board, perhaps Ian can confirm sizes?

     

    I am sure once we get used to the design they will be as easy to spot as the old ones we have been used to since 1907wink

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #8

    Looks about as useful as a Chocolate fire guard

  • NevChap
    NevChap Forum Participant Posts: 180
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    edited March 2017 #9

    Whilst not opposed to the changes we've discussed over and over, I do agree that the new CL sign does not show up like the old one does. Maybe we will get used to it and all will be well. I remain optimistic!

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited March 2017 #10

    A good sign is one that is obvious and requires minimal mental processing in order to assimilate the information it is intending to convey. The new CL sign does not do this.

    This sign needs a re-design or CL owners will take matters into their own hands with their own signs then the entire branding exercise is again in question.

  • PhilHeller
    PhilHeller Forum Participant Posts: 267
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    edited March 2017 #11

    Looks like the same size of board but nearly 50% of the available space is blank with a much smaller font being used. I just hope most CLs forget to return their old signs😂

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2017 #12

    Most obvious difference is that on the old sign the words 'Caravan Club' were large and easy to see. On the new sign the words 'Caravan and Motorhome Club' are not. 

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited March 2017 #13

    I think Ian should attach the new sign on his board then repost so we can see what it looks like in position, most will not be on an additional board so we will have to learn to look out for the new colours.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited March 2017 #14

    Err, he already has.

    Don't say you missed it laughing 

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited March 2017 #15

    Looks to me like he still has the old sign on his board with the new one laid against the post or is there a new picture I have missed?

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited March 2017 #16

    Nothing personal MT, I just have a mischievous sense of humour and could not resist.

    Does give a reasonable idea about the two signs though.

  • NevChap
    NevChap Forum Participant Posts: 180
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    edited March 2017 #17

    Trying to add a photo, sorry for the errors.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited March 2017 #18

    My son in law IS a Graphic Designer and he could not stop laughing when he saw the new sign. Don't think he was too impressed.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #19

    It does look as though the space has not been well utilised.

    peedee

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited March 2017 #20

    Sorry  Oneputt,  I  have  to  disagree  !!

    At  least  the  chocolate  fireguard  would  be  edible  but  I  don't  think  anybody  would  swallow  the  new  sign  !!

  • BirchHillFarmCL
    BirchHillFarmCL Forum Participant Posts: 187
    Photogenic
    edited March 2017 #21

    The signs are printed on a piece of thin floppy plastic and therefore need a back-board.

    Ian
    www.BirchHill.co.uk

  • NevChap
    NevChap Forum Participant Posts: 180
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    edited March 2017 #22

    I'm certainly NOT a graphic designer, but a little cut and pasting and the CL sign could be made clearer with exactly the same wording!!

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited March 2017 #23

    Oh dear it gets worse!

    (Not you Nev, the thin plastic sign)

  • willbee
    willbee Forum Participant Posts: 63
    edited March 2017 #24

    "Members only" print is a tad undersize, and no mention of "5 members only".

    The sign used before the last one was bold and clear, but also did not state 5 members only.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited March 2017 #25

    That's not bad Nev. I quite like the blue bit. It stands out.

    Don't know how to do it on the computer but if the walls I - scream bit is swapped for the red pennant and 5 vans only added I could go with that.

  • forsythia
    forsythia Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited March 2017 #26

    I have to say I like very much the sign designed by Nevchap, especially having more emphasis on Certified Location in blue, this would be much more noticeable !!

  • NevChap
    NevChap Forum Participant Posts: 180
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    edited March 2017 #27

    OK Fysherman, how about this - not going to use the old flag as I'm sure the club won't be changing back!

  • GrandmaMoley
    GrandmaMoley Forum Participant Posts: 23
    edited March 2017 #28

    Unless I have been asleep for the last 6 months what a shame the members could not have had some say in this design of the new logo.

    Change can sometimes be a good thing. (so I am told)!

    The sign...12 inches by 14 inches in size

    It comes across white on some photos in the background.

    In reality it's a grey wood grain effect.

    Which you can see up to about 4 foot away.

    If you look from between 6 foot to 10 foot it looks dirty as if there are marks on the sign(second row down, knot on left)

    When you have more distance, say from your car on the road the background looks white .(Except the swimming pool blue at the bottom)

    The caravan club want the old signs sending back in a pre paid envelope, So I read somewhere but when the sign arrived there was no note to say this and how would they know who had sent theirs back.

    As CL's are all checked by site inspectors every year surely they could check signs have been changed.

    Some owners I would expect will not be able to get their signs off boards, so what happens here?

    I do feel for the site owners that have printed loads of paperwork/business cards/ flyers with the old logo and websites (some people have to pay for people to alter their website.)

    But it's all happened now and we have to go with the flow or do we Ian?

  • BirchHillFarmCL
    BirchHillFarmCL Forum Participant Posts: 187
    Photogenic
    edited March 2017 #29

    I think that points about the CL sign have clearly expressed, including to the Club Chairman at the 'Question Time' event which I attended in Warrington today.

    We have presented the evidence (including the cost of returning the old signs).  I think that it is now time to calm down and let the Club hierarchy make considered decision.

    By the way - today's Club Question Time event was very good.  There will be another on 25 March in Bury St Edmunds  (see page 11 of the March 2017 Club Magazine - at the bottom of the page - beneath the photo of pig-racing)

    Ian Kelly
    www.BirchHill.co.uk

  • Disco2003
    Disco2003 Forum Participant Posts: 85
    edited March 2017 #30

    Well, what did he have to say that made members change their mind about the re-branding and cost??

    "" I think that it is now time to calm down and let the Club hierarchy make considered decision"". 

    That's my worry, apparently the changes were after they did that.

    I'm not that worried abut the changes apart from the cost and effort involved, but if like us you use a lot of CL's we haven't visited before, the lack of visibility of the sign is a big worry.

    Dave

  • Disco2003
    Disco2003 Forum Participant Posts: 85
    edited March 2017 #31

    The new Signs at a main site. The general view shows how noticeable it is, NOT