Comments on: stormhoek cartoon label

By: Glen

Glen — Fri, 12 May 2006 08:51:02 +0000

By: bbm

bbm — Sun, 07 May 2006 01:36:51 +0000

There has been something in the press lately about Ch

By: Dr Snowboard

Dr Snowboard — Wed, 03 May 2006 15:11:13 +0000

Distinctive I agree, though they may have to be a little more life affirming than the ones that suggest this is the bottle to drink yourself to death with as you have no friends and no sex life.…

By: mojotek

mojotek — Wed, 03 May 2006 03:58:08 +0000

I think it’s a great idea. Quirky and unique… the wine crowd would love it.

By: rosalucsemburg

rosalucsemburg — Wed, 03 May 2006 02:52:23 +0000

But it’s your brain that makes a relation, in spite of the randomness! In all the cartoons Hughes showed in the post I could imagine a relation.
Should be a seeming randomness, IMHO.

By: peggy

peggy — Tue, 02 May 2006 16:58:03 +0000

i like the idea of a non-wine-related message. i make a very small amount of pinot noir and have used drawings of baseball players on some of my labels just because i liked the artwork.
i think that if the wine is good, you can do what you like. of course, i am also not fighting for shelf space because of my size.

By: tania, rogue connect

tania, rogue connect — Tue, 02 May 2006 12:22:49 +0000

If you can make your product stand out to the consumer, then a good portion of your work is already done. If they don’t notice it in the first place…
Randomness is an interesting idea particularly for something like wine that is highly traditional and tends not to stray too far from the predicatable. Definitely worth a shot IMO Good luck.

By: rosalucsemburg

rosalucsemburg — Tue, 02 May 2006 06:33:51 +0000

I think it’s a great idea, I’d love it, but If I were the wine producer (I don’t know if you are) I would like to choose among like 20 cartoons, cause any random cartoon might be interpreted as a subliminal message. I like all the cartoons you proposed in this post, but for different (subliminal) reasons I wouldn’t choose any.
(I’m sorry: my English is bad, but I’m Italian)

By: Justin Kownacki

Justin Kownacki — Tue, 02 May 2006 04:05:04 +0000

Interesting approach, and smart way to esnure that as Stormhoek grows, so grows Hugh MacLeod. If nothing else, it should serve the same purpose as a Jones Soda label: cut past the name of the product, which is pointless, and remind people of the image. Only in this case, the images are all produced by the same person, ensuring some kind of brand gets created.

By: Marisa

Marisa — Mon, 01 May 2006 21:05:47 +0000

I think it’s an excellent idea. I think it will generate word-of-mouth, particulary because — as Mr. mansfield noted — some people will go so far as to hold onto emties and display them. I would encourage you to consider to put the cartoon label idea to use on all Stormhoek vintages instead of just limited edition “reserves” as some suggested because it will become universally identified with the brand.
If the wine is good, and let’s assume it is (as I have not had the opportunity to partake of it), then customers will seek it out again with or without label, but they will look for the cartoon. It will create an easy way to remember “that great wine we had last Friday” until the name recognition is firmly in place.
I don’t think your cartoons threaten Stormhoek’s ability to be taken seriously as they are sharp and spare. Personally I would try to focus on using the sardonic without veering into using any that might be construed by some consumers as depressing. I think it’s brilliant.
… and want to know when I can get my hands on a bottle.

By: bbm

bbm — Mon, 01 May 2006 20:24:35 +0000

I think that the people who are worried that the cartoon lables might be gimicky haven’t drunk the wine yet. It seems that the wine is good, drinkable, quashable, plonk. Drink now, enjoy, good at the price and the price is good. The label idea sounds great, but regarding the competition does this mean Miss Roque wins?
My other thought at this stage concerns the fact that every time I am in Tescos and walk down the wine aisle I can’t find Stormhoek. Tescos is the largest liquor and wine retailer in the country, so I assume you are addressing that problem?

By: Shelley Noble

Shelley Noble — Mon, 01 May 2006 06:59:29 +0000

This is truly great, Hugh. You’ve culled an inspired, strong synthesis of reader ideas from last year. And for God’s Sweet Sake, please do the bottles in bright opaque colored glass, exactly as you’ve sketched it. Rock on.

By: dawbie

dawbie — Mon, 01 May 2006 04:28:06 +0000

Wayne Mansfield is right and Sky has a seriously good point about “Sardonic” worries.….….
If you keep the cartoon specific to the batch/breed (=vintage) then you are not doing the gimmick of Molson and are creating something as unique as the wine. Hopefully the cartoon is noteworthy enough to trigger a memory when one looks at the wine bottle memorabilia — hopefully the wine is similarly noteworthy.
You go hugh. How about a bottle for your commentators? I’d love one.

By: -G.D.

-G.D. — Mon, 01 May 2006 00:15:18 +0000

creative enough to be good. it may speak for the wine itself…“take a chance”…“be different”…“hip-cool-geeky”…“good enough to not take itself seriously”.
rock on.

By: Wayne Mansfield

Wayne Mansfield — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 19:43:31 +0000

Labels that talk to you… and can I suggest that you do a series so that, read drinkers like me, will be inclined to keep the empties in a prominent place as a conversation starter.
That would be a perfect lead in to.. and now to my favourite drop of stormhoek..
Just so I cna get ready… who is your stockist (future?? ) in Perth?