New Restaurant Company - $250 - Dec. 20th

[nevadabadgirl]

Forum Username: CLee

Company Details: Owns and operates Applebees Neighborhood Grill and Bar in Houston, Austin and East Texas.

Type Of Contest: Logo Design

Contest Title: New Restaurant Company Logo

Contest Deadline: December 20, 2009

Prize Amount: $250

Colors To Be Used: Applebees Red & Green, any other color for company name.

Example URLs: Welcome to Applebee's® for color scheme of brand.

We recently purchased the Applebees restaurants and need a logo for our company. I want the logo to be modern, innovative, fresh and clean.

[HWorks]

My first try. Thanks for looking.
http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/applebee.png

[TheNutz]

hi
can you tell us what is wrong with the current logo that you wanna change it?

[baiskee]

hi
can you tell us what is wrong with the current logo that you wanna change it?

We recently purchased the Applebees restaurants and need a logo for our company. I want the logo to be modern, innovative, fresh and clean.

[deleted member]

Do you still want to use Applebees as the company name? Thanks!

[onesummer]

Forum Username: CLee

We recently purchased the Applebees restaurants and need a logo for our company.

I'm a little confused. Are you the corporate owner of Applebees and are planning a complete rebrand based on a new logo, or are you a franchise owner of a few restaurants? Didn't Applebee's just rebrand 2 years ago?

[CLee]

This is my first time with this... I should be more specific. I'm a franchisee of corporate Applebees (now DineEquity). My company is called Restaurant Partnership of Central Texas, LP (RPCT for short...). Our stores are located in Houston, Austin, and East Texas. I would like the logo to have my company name in it. Either the full or abbreviated will work... I'd like to see some of both.

RPCT currently doesn't have a company logo. Applebees corporate does and we would like to keep something with an "Apple" but blend RPCT's name with part of a more modern Apple.

Thanks everyone.

Catherine

[CLee]

My first try. Thanks for looking.
http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/applebee.png

Thanks for your submission. See my comments below about putting RPCT with the Apple. Thanks.

[CLee]

I'm a little confused. Are you the corporate owner of Applebees and are planning a complete rebrand based on a new logo, or are you a franchise owner of a few restaurants? Didn't Applebee's just rebrand 2 years ago?

We are the franchisee that owns 22 locations in Houston, Austin, and East Texas called Restaurant Partnership of Central Texas (RPCT). They did rebrand about two years ago but I really need a brand/logo with RPCT together with Applebees. Thanks for your question.

[CLee]

Do you still want to use Applebees as the company name? Thanks!

Nope. I want to see RPCT on there with Applebees Apple. So even though it's our company, I want to make sure people very clearly understand that RPCT is "branded" with Applebees as we own and operate the 22 stores and only operate Applebees stores.

[HWorks]

I hope here we are somewhat closer to what you are looking for. I am assuming that when saying 'I want applebee's apple' you want something very close. My entry:

http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...upfx/RPCT2.png

[illumina]

Do you have permission from applebees to use their trademark apple for your branding?
I understand the franchise itself must use the applebees logo, but I have no idea if a corporate parent company can use it.

[Coy]

I'm not sure but I don't think changing the apple bee's logo is Legal.

Are you wanting simply an RPCT logo to go along with AppleBee's logo? to kinda work side by side and have similar looks so that the public knows that RPCT owns/operates this francise in your areas?

All of us designers are wanting to work with you but knowing that altering the Applebee's logo isn't really allowed unless it's the Applebee's company itself requesting it. Even though you own a part of the franchise you do not own the Branding/image of Applebee's, unless legal documentation states that franchise owners are allowed to alter their image.

Looking for a little clarification to get started on some concpets for you.

[HWorks]

Well, I'm assuming the client wants something which recalls their collaboration with that company. We all wait for a clarification then and I for a feedback

Regards.

[CLee]

I made a correction to my instructions above as I want to clarify that I want the Apple to look more modern and fresh. Maybe add some depth of color or make it have shadows. It needs to definitely look like an Apple but it shouldn't be a cut and paste of the Applebees Apple.

We are permitted to associate ourselves with Applebees as a franchise but not permitted to copy their logo as a franchisee so that people don't confuse us with being "corporate" Applebees. I have checked with a trademark attorney with Applebees corporate and she assures me that we are permitted within our franchise agreement to do this. Further, either way, I am sending the logo to her for approval prior to use to ensure no IP infringements. The attorney for Applebees indicated that we are allowed to do any kind of apple we want as long as it's not exactly the Applebees Apple... (two leaves, no leaves, two apples, apple with shaded parts, apple that's different colors, apple that's multiple colors, etc)

SliverFX you're right that what I want for RPCT is something that associates us as franchisees and not to confuse a consumer into thinking we are corporate headquarters in Kansas City. SliverFX -- I like the colors used for name and Apple but could you make the Apple stand up as opposed to leaning down? I'd like to see something where maybe we integrate RPCT's name inside a bigger Apple? That might be interesting... just a thought. Leaf is also a little big... maybe smaller and more like a stem as opposed to a leaf...

Thanks so much. I really appreciate you all for bringing this up. We certainly wouldn't want a logo which we couldn't get corporate approval to use! That would defeat the whole purpose.

Looking forward to seeing some new logos for us. Since we operate in such a diverse part of the country, I certainly want our logo to reflect a company that is modern and forward-thinking.

[Coy]

Thank you soooo much for that clarification. I'm certain it'll make the design team sit a little more easy when designing the logo for you.

[HWorks]

Thanks for your feedback, I'll send you new version tomorrow The first version, infact, was not rotated. I'll let you see it when I make all changes.

[onesummer]

thanks for the clear explanation. I'll definitely be entering a design.

[HWorks]

Well, I followed your guidelines and this is how it came out. I don't know whether this must be considered a new design since I used uour feedback. I'll post as a 2.0 for now.
I have made a writing which blends better with the apple. The second version is a 'negative' with apple outline. Let me know if we are closer to what you have in mind. Regards

http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...fx/RPCT2_2.png

[onesummer]

integrated the apple with the 'C' in RPCT. went with a similar font to the applesbee's text. used green/red colors

http://www.pauljobson.com/clients/logotemp/RPCT.jpg